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World’s smallest bear finally has its time in the sun. But is that a good thing?

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:16:00 GMT

Hong Kong (CNN) — The world’s smallest bear is finally having its moment in the sun – thanks to a viral video that sparked a conspiracy theory on Chinese social media.Public interest in sun bears, one of Asia’s most endangered and intriguing animals, has rocketed after video footage emerged showing a bear named Angela in her enclosure at the Hangzhou zoo in eastern China standing upright on a rock and waving her paw.The video sparked a global debate about the bear’s uncannily human-like appearance, so much so that conspiracy theories began emerging that Angela was really a human dressed in a bear costume.Experts have since debunked those theories, attributing the misunderstandings in part to the relative obscurity of the sun bear, whose numbers in the wild are thought to have dwindled to between 1,000 and 2,500, according to conservation groups.Various wildlife conservationists told CNN that they now hope all the attention surrounding Angela will help to raise awarene...

Simone Biles wins her first competitive gymnastics event since 2021

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:16:00 GMT

(CNN) — In her first competitive event since 2021, legendary gymnast Simone Biles made a triumphant return, claiming first place in front of a packed house at the Core Hydration Classic Saturday.The gymnastics superstar scored a 14.0 on the uneven bars, a 14.8 on the balance beam, a 14.9 in the floor exercise and a remarkable 15.4 in the vault before a roaring crowd in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, just outside Chicago.Overall, Biles finished in first place in the all-around, floor routine and balance beam. She placed third on the uneven bars.The seven-time Olympic medalist made her first appearance since pulling out of several events at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.Her scores put her ahead of competitors Jordan Chiles, Leanne Wong, and Katelyn Jong.During her floor routine, Biles performed a double layout with a half-turn – a move named after her, to earn score of 14.9.Biles then performed a Yurchenko double pike, considered the hardest women’s vault in the world, to earn...

Tylor Megill’s struggles continue as Mets lose another one to the Orioles, 7-3

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:16:00 GMT

BALTIMORE — The Mets have often touted the “peripherals” of their struggling starters, saying their underlying numbers indicate good things to come.This was the case before Tylor Megill made his first start since June 21 on Saturday at Camden Yards. There were some good peripherals — like his early-innings velocity — but the overall results still weren’t there, as the Mets fell 7-3 to the Baltimore Orioles. It was the fifth straight loss for the Mets and the second straight series defeat.The Mets (50-60) and Megill have been equally flummoxed this season as to why the big right-hander has struggled. Megill (6-5) was hit hard from the start Saturday, giving up a two-run home run to Gunnar Henderson before recording a single out.After joining the team in Baltimore to take the place of one of the pitchers the Mets traded away at the Tuesday deadline, Megill lasted only 4 2/3 innings, exiting after giving up five earned runs on nine hits and striking ...

Orioles delight sellout crowd with 7-3 win over Mets behind Gunnar Henderson’s two-run homer, Kyle Gibson’s quality start

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:16:00 GMT

Before the game, Orioles fans at Camden Yards reveled in nostalgia. During it, they need not rely on the past for positive feelings.After commemorating the 1983 team that won the franchise’s last World Series, rookie Gunnar Henderson, veteran Kyle Gibson and the rest of the 2023 Orioles continued playing like a club that could also compete for one.Henderson hit a two-run homer in the first, Gibson pitched seven innings of three-run ball for his fourth straight quality start and the Orioles defeated the New York Mets, 7-3, in front of a sellout crowd.Anthony Santander also homered, and Ryan O’Hearn, Ramón Urías and Adley Rutschman delivered RBI hits to provide the rest of Baltimore’s offense. Relievers Danny Coulombe and Yennier Cano followed Gibson with scoreless innings to slam the door.With 12 hits Saturday, the Orioles have tallied 10 or more knocks in five of their past seven games. They’re 82-for-248 at the plate — good for a .331 batting...

Simone Biles dazzles in her return to easily claim U.S. Classic

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:16:00 GMT

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. (AP) — Simone Biles began her first competition in 732 days by briefly running around during introductions, unsure of where she was supposed to go.It’s the only time she seemed out of place. Once Biles saluted the judges, it was the same as it ever was.Biles soared to victory in the U.S. Classic on Saturday night in her return following a two-year layoff after the Tokyo Olympics, the case of “the twisties” that forced her to take herself out of multiple events in Japan seemingly firmly in her rear-view mirror.Wearing a black-and-white bedazzled leotard, the 26-year-old Biles seemed in her element in front of a sold-out NOW Arena crowd that was littered with signs of support. Her all-around score of 59.100 was easily the best of the night, remarkable considering she’d only really started training seriously in late April after her marriage to NFL defensive back Jonathan Owens.She’s taken a muted approach to her return to the sport sh...

North Korean leader Kim tours weapons factories and vows to boost war readiness in face of tensions

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:16:00 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un toured the country’s key weapons factories, including those producing artillery systems and launch vehicles for nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, and pledged to speed up efforts to advance his military’s arms and war-readiness, state media said Sunday.Kim’s three-day inspections through Saturday came as the United States and South Korea prepared for their next round of combined military exercises planned for later this month to cope with the growing North Korean threat.Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest level in years as the pace of North Korea’s missile tests and the joint U.S.-South Korea military drills, which Kim portrays as invasion rehearsals, have both intensified in a tit-for-tat cycle.Some experts say Kim’s tour of the weapons factories could also be related to possible military cooperation with Moscow that may involve North Korean supplies of artillery and other ammunition as Russian President V...

PHOTOS: Day 3 of Lollapalooza

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:16:00 GMT

CHICAGO — The Lollapalooza Music Festival 2023 kicked day two off with some rain. PHOTOS: Day two of Lollapalooza 2023 Here are some of the images recapping day three. Pardyalone poses with festivagoers on day three of the Lollapalooza Music Festival on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, at Grant Park in Chicago. (Photo by Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP)Festivagoers are seen in the rain on day three of the Lollapalooza Music Festival on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, at Grant Park in Chicago. (Photo by Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP)Tom Odell performs on day three of the Lollapalooza Music Festival on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, at Grant Park in Chicago. (Photo by Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP)Festivagoers are seen in the rain on day three of the Lollapalooza Music Festival on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, at Grant Park in Chicago. (Photo by Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP)Festivagoers are seen in the rain on day three of the Lollapalooza Music Festival on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, at Grant Park in Chicago. (Photo ...

White Sox-Guardians game delayed after brawl, 6 ejected

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:16:00 GMT

CLEVELAND (AP) — Tim Anderson of the Chicago White Sox and José Ramírez of the Cleveland Guardians exchanged punches at second base Saturday night, triggering a bench-clearing melee in the sixth inning that led to six ejections.Ramírez appeared to connect with a right hand to the face of Anderson, who fell backward to the ground. A long fight ensued, one of the nastiest in the majors in recent years.Cleveland manager Terry Francona, third base coach Mike Sarbaugh and closer Emmanuel Clase, and Chicago manager Pedro Grifol were ejected for their actions later in a brawl that included multiple flare-ups on the infield and in foul territory. It took 15 minutes before order was restored.The altercation began when Ramírez slid headfirst into second with an RBI double and Anderson stood over him, straddling Ramírez. When Ramírez got up, he pointed his finger in Anderson's face and yelled, prompting them to square off.Anderson dropped his mitt and threw the first punch, setting off a fight...

Texas' Dylan Disu hosts basketball camp at Hendrickson

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:16:00 GMT

Pflugerville (KXAN) - Dylan Disu left the Austin area after high school to play college basketball at Vanderbilt. Following two years at Nashville, the Pflugerville native came back home to play basketball at Texas."Especially my second year with Covid limiting travel, I didn't really get to play in front of my family or people that I knew too much," said Disu about playing at Vanderbilt. "Just to represent Austin basketball, it means a lot to me."Disu had been fighting injuries over his time with the Longhorns but really surged at the end of last season, powering Texas to an Elite Eight run. Now he returns for a third year in burnt orange."I had a lot of fun last year," said Disu. "I think that's what really came into play. Toward the end of the season and especially during Big 12 play, we had a lot of fun."The Pflugerville Hendrickson graduate hosted his first basketball Saturday back at his old high school. The community that supports him greatly clearly means a lot to him."I rem...

Ryan Jeffers, Twins hammer Diamondbacks, 12-1

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:16:00 GMT

Kenta Maeda pitched another gem since returning from the injured list in late June, and Ryan Jeffers went 3 for 4 with a double, two home runs and four RBIs as the Twins demolished the Arizona Diamondbacks, 12-1, Saturday in front of an announced crowd of 34,044 at Target Field.Michael A. Taylor and Max Kepler also homered for the Twins, who have won four of their past five games and extended their American League Central lead to 3½ games over second-place Cleveland, which lost to the Chicago White Sox Saturday night.“It looked good, it felt good,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “We got rolling in a lot of ways. There were good swings. Everywhere you looked there were good swings.”Kepler’s homer, a one-out solo shot off newly acquired Paul Sewald in the sixth inning, hit the Delta Sky Suite above the batter’s eye in center and gave the Twins a 10-1 lead.Matt Wallner drove in two runs for the Twins, the second on a line drive to right off catcher Carson Kelly, called upon to mop up in ...