Latest news with #Ici
Hamilton Spectator
15-07-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Unusual' bee attack in France injures 24. Could it happen in Ontario? Here's what can trigger swarms
A recent bee attack in a French town injured some 24 people — three of whom were rushed to hospital in critical condition. The 'unusual attack' came on suddenly near a rooftop apiary in the central-southern French town of Aurillac, as hundreds of bees swarmed a group of passersby on Sunday, July 6, according to a BBC article . A 78-year-old woman was reportedly stung more than two dozen times and had to be resuscitated after a cardiorespiratory arrest. According to French publication Ici , Asian hornets were found in the apiary — a known natural predator of bees. Preliminary evidence suggests, it was the hornets' invasion that led to the attack. Several Asian hornet species are serious predators of honey bees — the type of bees managed by beekeepers in Canada, the province of Ontario says. Alice Sinia, an entomologist with Orkin Canada, explains there are many factors that influence a beehive's behaviour to swarm and attack people, pets or other animals. Killer bees, also known as Africanized bees, are genetically adapted to be more defensive than the European honey bee, known as the common honey bee. 'Killer bees are more likely to swarm and attack — even with no to less provocation,' she said. Hot and humid conditions such as what we are experiencing now in Ontario make bees irritable and aggressive and they can easily attack, Sinia said. A perceived threat or hive disturbances (such as an invasion from Asian hornets) can be risk factors for bee attacks. Sinia said hives located near or in public places — along paths, in playgrounds, in parks — can receive constant disturbance and make bees feel threatened. 'Vibrations when people walk by or vehicles drive by, loud noise, excessive scents (perfumes) — all these can irritate bees and cause them to swarm and attack,' she said. Large hives can also pose a problem. When the colony is too large, maintaining the microclimate within the hives is more difficult. It makes it harder to regulate hive temperature causing the colony to break up. 'They swarm and during the process they can be aggressive as they locate a new hive and reestablish,' Sinia said. A weakened or dying queen in the hive makes the bees restless and aggressive because the queen controls and manages the hive through her hormones. Any beehive experiencing these stressors at any given location can attack, she added. Africanized honeybees tends to be more defensive. Their genetics have evolved that way, so they are more likely to swarm in large numbers, attack and chase trespassers for longer distances. Sinia said killer bees have been reported in some parts of Ontario, but are not widespread or established. 'The chances of being attacked by killer bees in Ontario is almost none,' she said. Sinia said while large bee attacks in Ontario have not been reported, they can happen. If an attack did happen in Ontario, Sinia said it would most likely stem from wild bees rather than from domesticated hives. Sinia said the only major bee swarm incident in Ontario was in August 2023 — when a truck trailer carrying millions of bees overturned in Burlington causing the bees to swarm neighbouring areas. 'That was human caused, not natural,' she emphasized. Wild bee hives are often hidden. They can be near a path, walkways, trails, in trees, in parks, near fence lines, wooded areas and human-made structures. 'Their behaviour is adapted for survival in the wild,' said Sinia. 'Therefore, they are more aggressive, less withstanding of disturbances than domesticated honey bee, so will attack readily.' While their hives are smaller, they swarm more frequently, which increases the likelihood of a human encounter. Bee stings can be fatal in some people because they can cause severe allergic reactions — anaphylaxis — which can result in death, if not treated immediately. 'The stings are painful, large volume of stings from swarm of bees can cause severe localized pain and swelling which can result in infections,' said Sinia. 'A large volume of stings can overwhelm the body causing organ failure, resulting in death.' You should always carry an EpiPen if you are allergic to bee stings. Sinia said generally bees aren't aggressive. 'They will not attack people or other animals without a cause — unless provoked or threatened,' she said. 'They are beneficial not just for honey production but pollination and balance of the natural ecosystem.' Never disturb beehives and report a feral hive you see one to local authorities. Be aware of the environment if walking in vegetated areas. Bee stings are barbed. When they sting, the stinger detaches from the bee leaving the venom sac trapped or hooked into the skin. The stinger can continue to release venom into the body for up to 20 minutes or so. Don't puncture the sac as you remove the stinger. Just use your fingertips or the tips of your nails to gently lift it out of the skin. It's important to remove the bee's stinger right away if you get stung. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Mint
01-07-2025
- Climate
- Mint
Heat Wave Shuts Top of Eiffel Tower as Europe Put on Red Alert
(Bloomberg) -- Europe's heat wave is set to peak over the coming days, with a blast of Saharan air triggering red alerts from France to the Swiss Alps. The top of the Eiffel Tower will be shut to visitors over the next two days, as temperatures in Paris climb as high as 41C (105.8F) on Tuesday. Red alerts have been issued for the French capital and 15 other departments due to the heat wave that's been baking the country since June 19. Temperatures across the Iberian peninsula could climb even higher, with 43C forecast for parts of Spain. Similar highs could be reached in Beja in Portugal, where a June record of 46.6C was recorded in Evora on Sunday. London could hit 34C, before cooling from Wednesday. Climate change is boosting the intensity and frequency of heat waves, stressing power systems and threatening the health of millions of people. The soaring temperatures are also triggering extreme weather events from violent storms to wildfires across Europe, the fastest-warming continent. About 1,350 French schools are partially or fully closed on Tuesday due to extreme heat conditions, while more than 5,000 homes suffered electricity cuts in the Ardèche and Drôme regions, according to France Info. Trains between Paris and several cities, including Toulouse and Limousin, have been disrupted due to the heat wave, Ici radio reported. In the city of Bourges in central France, local authorities offered citizens free access to air-conditioned spaces in libraries, conservatories and public halls including in the airport. In Italy, regional emergency orders have also been issued to ban outdoor work during the hottest hours of the day until mid-September. Temperatures in the tourist mecca of Florence are forecast to climb as high as 40C on Wednesday. Germany has issued red heat alerts for five districts west of Cologne and three other areas in the south. There are red warnings for violent thunderstorms in the Swiss Alps. --With assistance from Chiara Albanese and Sofia Horta e Costa. More stories like this are available on
Al Etihad
26-06-2025
- Climate
- Al Etihad
Two dead as severe storms batter France
26 June 2025 09:34 PARIS (dpa)Two people have died in France amid severe storms that swept the country following a spell of extreme heat, local media reported on Wednesday, citing the Tarn-et-Garonne department in southern France, a 12-year-old boy died when a tree fell near a stream as he tried to reach safety with his family, broadcaster BFMTV reported, quoting emergency in a village in north-western France, a quad bike rider died after crashing into a tree that had fallen across a road, broadcaster Ici many parts of France, temperatures soared well above 30 degrees Celsius before giving way to violent thunderstorms. Gusts of wind reached up to 120 kilometres per hour, prompting a severe weather warning for 57 services were heavily engaged in responding to incidents as over 100,000 households lost power temporarily, civil defence officials Paris, Prime Minister François Bayrou urged residents in affected areas to exercise extreme caution. He experienced the impact of the severe storms over Paris, where heavy rain caused water to seep into the parliament building while lawmakers were in session, forcing a brief pause, according to reached 112 kilometres per hour at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Heavy rain flooded many metro stations and caused traffic problems. In just 20 minutes, the temperature in Paris dropped by 11 degrees Celsius.
Vancouver Sun
23-06-2025
- Vancouver Sun
145 people reportedly attacked with syringes at a street festival, 12 suspects arrested
A total of 145 people in France were reportedly assaulted with syringes while attending a country-wide street music festival over the weekend. The festival, called Fete de la Musique, took place at locations across the country and attracted millions of festival-goers, according to French media such as France24 and RFI . Overall, there were 12 arrests related to the syringe attacks, the interior ministry said. On June 21, Paris firefighters said they were receiving a large number of calls related to high attendance at the festival in a post on X . According to Paris police, there were 13 cases of people saying they were pricked in the capital, The Guardian reported . It was not revealed by authorities what the contents of the syringes were; however, the interior ministry said some victims were taken to hospital for toxicology tests. French publication France Info reported that investigations were opened after three victims, a including an 18-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl, became ill. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Meanwhile, François Grosdidier, the mayor of Metz, a city in northeastern France, said there had been a 'call for syringe assaults' on social media in the major cities where the festival was taking place. At 9:15 p.m., Grosdidier said the first such assault was reported in Metz. The victims were approximately 15 young girls between the ages of 14 and 20 years old. Using video footage of a suspect, police were able to identify and arrest him. Grosdidier said he hopes the investigation will help authorities identify other assailants. A post shared by François Grosdidier (@francois_grosdidier) Grosdidier also said that police arrested an individual who slapped a young girl and broke up some fights in the area, likely provoked by alcohol consumption. He posted a series of photos from the festival that showed him speaking with authorities. French media such as Le Monde as well as The Guardian corroborated Grosdidier's point that there were calls on social media platforms to assault festival-goers with syringes. The attacks were wide-ranging, with four arrests in the southwestern city of Angoulême and roughly 50 victims . In the Normandy region, several women in Évreux and Rouen were reportedly pricked with needles, per French media site Ici . Investigations were opened and it was not immediately clear if the syringes had any substances inside them. In the city of Tours, Ici reported that there were 13 people who were victims of a syringe attack. There were also attacks reported in the northeastern city of Thionville and commune of Sarreguemines . In Vesoul, a commune in eastern France, the local trade association posted a warning on Facebook . 'For several months, numerous cases of syringe attacks have been reported throughout France, often during festivals or soirées,' the caption of the post said in French, adding that the syringes could be filled with dangerous substances. A video accompanying the post said that those pricked with a syringe may feel suddenly ill or suffer from dizziness. It urged festival-goers to be vigilant. There were more than 370 people detained throughout the festival weekend across France for a variety of charges, according to Agence France-Presse. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Ya Biladi
26-04-2025
- Ya Biladi
France : Murder in a mosque shakes La Grand-Combe
A man was fatally stabbed on Friday morning inside the grounds of the Grand Combe mosque. His body was discovered around 11:30 AM during prayer time, while the suspect remains at large. According to Ici, the public prosecutor in Alès, Abdelkrim Grini, stated that the two men were alone in the mosque early in the morning when the victim was attacked during the morning prayer, sustaining dozens of stab wounds. A murder investigation has been opened and assigned to the Nîmes research section, with support from the Alès research brigade. A man was brutally murdered this morning in the Grand Combe mosque. I hope the investigation will quickly apprehend the perpetrator and shed light on this horrific event. I want to express my support to the victim's family and my solidarity with the… — Bruno Retailleau (@BrunoRetailleau) April 25, 2025 Meanwhile, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau called for the investigation to swiftly apprehend the perpetrator and clarify the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. On X (formerly Twitter), he also expressed solidarity with the Muslim community, «affected by this barbaric act of violence, in their place of worship, on the day of the grand prayer». Media outlets note that this is the fourth murder in three weeks in the Alès area. The suspects in the killings in Saint-Martin-de-Valgalgues and Saint-Christol-lès-Alès have been charged with murder and placed in pre-trial detention. A third suspect, involved in another case, was arrested in Spain and is awaiting extradition to France.
