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Researchers at Northeastern University, MIT help teach parrots to make video calls through study

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:02 GMT

New research has led to birds making new friends through video calls. Researchers at Northeastern University and MIT helped teach a group of parrots how to video-call one another using Facebook Messenger as part of a recent study. The same researchers recently discussed their findings in conversations with 7NEWS. “We are increasingly having more and more smart technology, if you want to call it this, in our homes,” said Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas of the University of Glasgow. “And these are sort of seeping into the animals that we share our homes with’s lives.” Through this work, the parrots would first ring a bell to request a call. Their caretakers would then present them with a tablet featuring pictures of parrot friends who were available to select. The parrots could then use their beak to interact with the screen and “talk” to another bird. Researchers said they observed a number of factors and found natural behavior in virtual encounters. “W...

Red Sox undone by Chris Sale’s zero-strikeout start, fall to Orioles 5-4

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:02 GMT

Chris Sale’s feast-or-famine season continues, and with it, the Red Sox’s ups and downs.After striking out 11 Minnesota Twins batters in his last game, the veteran southpaw had the polar opposite start in Baltimore Monday night. Over five innings, he allowed five earned runs on nine hits (eight hard-hit), walked one, and couldn’t get a single strikeout. Blowing a 4-0 lead early, the Red Sox lost the series opener 5-4.It’s a new twist on a tale that’s become all too familiar for Boston this year: instead of the starter putting the lineup in an early hole, he gave away an early lead, leaving behind a mess the team couldn’t clean up. They’re back at .500 yet again.Sale’s location was all over the place early, but he was able to avoid trouble for a few frames, thanks to a few lucky breaks and a some stellar defense. The Orioles renovated Camden Yards’ left field wall last year, pushing it back to prevent home runs, which helped the v...

Boston police seek public’s help identifying suspect in sexual assault

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:02 GMT

City police have issued an alert for help identifying a man suspected of a sexual assault Saturday night in the Back Bay.The alleged attack occurred in the area of Beacon Street and Public Alley 908, police said, at about 11:45 p.m.The suspect is described as a possibly Middle Eastern male, 5’8” – 5’10”, medium to heavy build, with dark curly hair and facial hair, wearing a navy-blue shirt with tie-dye design and black baggy sweatpants with two (2) white stripes. The suspect reportedly spoke English with an accent and also spoke in another language.The Boston Police Sexual Assault Unit is actively reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident. Anyone with any information is asked to call detectives directly at (617) 343-4400.

Orioles rally again, beat Chris Sale and the Red Sox, 5-4, for 7th straight win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:02 GMT

On back-to-back days, the Orioles faced left-handed starting pitchers who have dominated Baltimore in their careers.The way the Orioles performed in the first game, despite winning 2-1 on a walk-off wild pitch, wasn’t an encouraging sign for how they’d fare in the second. Already in a hitting slump, the Orioles on Sunday could barely touch Detroit Tigers starter Eduardo Rodriguez, who was perfect until he had two outs in the seventh inning.They didn’t have the same issue Monday.The host Orioles were all over Boston Red Sox starter Chris Sale, tagging the once-dominant left-hander for nine hits and five runs, as Baltimore came back from down four to win, 5-4, and extend its winning streak to seven games.The Orioles (15-7) are now 8-0 in series openers and have won 11 of their past 13. Seven of those 11 triumphs have been in come-from-behind fashion. Baltimore also overcame four-run deficits on April 11 against the Oakland Athletics and on April 16 against the Chicag...

What’s working for Eloy Jiménez at the plate recently — and how can the rest of the Chicago White Sox offense follow?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:02 GMT

Eloy Jiménez was in a funk heading into the weekend series against the Tampa Bay Rays.The Chicago White Sox outfielder/designated hitter was 6-for-33 (.182) in his previous nine games, then struck out in his first two at-bats Friday.His third trip to the plate, he connected on a Cooper Criswell slider for a solo home run to left. That homer had an exit velocity of 105.6 mph.Jiménez topped it a day later with an exit velocity of 107.5 on a 434-foot homer during the second inning. The ball left the park in such a hurry that Rays left fielder Randy Arozarena didn’t move.Those were the first two homers of the season for Jiménez. Not that he was concerned about the drought.“I’m not really thinking about power first,” he said after Sunday’s 4-1 loss to the Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla. “I think about hitting first, good contact, good at-bats, and I know the power is there. I don’t need to worry about that.”Jiménez drove in...

Man attacked at South Bay restaurant dies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:02 GMT

CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- A 59-year-old man who was assaulted at a restaurant in Chula Vista died last week due to his injuries, authorities said.Jose Perez Fong, of San Diego, was identified as the deceased, Sgt. Anthony Molina with the Chula Vista Police Department said in a release Monday.The incident occurred at Papagayos Grill and Cantina on Otay Lakes Road on April 15. According to police, Fong was assaulted while inside on the crowded dance floor for unknown reasons. Body found in rural East County was victim of hotel murder: police Fong was being treated in the Intensive Care Unit at Scripps Mercy Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries Friday, Molina said. The suspect has yet to be identified.Anyone with information is asked to contact San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477 or submit a tip via P3tips (online or mobile application) http://p3tips.com/409 if they wish to remain anonymous.  They can utilize this method to alert detectives if they have video or any kin...

Toronto police concerned for safety of missing baby, woman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:02 GMT

Toronto police are trying to find a missing woman and baby who were last seen on Monday afternoon.Police say Adrienne, 33, and one-month-old Kaliea, were last seen in the in the Morningside and Staines avenue area at around 3:30 p.m.Adrienne is described as five foot six, with a medium build, and black hair.She was last seen wearing a pink jacket, a pink shirt, black pants and black shoes. She was carrying a baby carrier with a pink blanket holding KaleiaPolice have not revealed the relationship between the woman and baby, but say they are concerned for their safety.

Mob kills 13 suspected Haiti gangsters with gas-soaked tires

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:02 GMT

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — A mob in the Haitian capital beat and burned 13 suspected gang members to death with gasoline-soaked tires Monday after pulling the men from police custody at a traffic stop, police and witnesses said.The horrific vigilante violence underlined public anger over the increasingly lawless situation in Port-au-Prince where criminal gangs have taken control over an estimated 60% of the city since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Six more burned bodies were laid in a nearby neighborhood later Monday, and some witnesses said that police killed them and residents set them on fire, but the AP could not verify the accounts independently.Haiti National Police said in a brief statement that officers in the city’s Canape Vert section stopped and searched a minibus for contraband early Monday, and had confiscated weapons from suspects before they were “unfortunately lynched by members of the population.” The statement did not elaborate on ...

$1.6M settlement reached in handcuffed prisoner’s 2014 death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:02 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The family of a handcuffed inmate who was shot and killed in 2014 by a prison guard trainee reached a $1.6 million settlement with Nevada prison officials on Monday, capping a nearly decadelong legal battle that raised questions about the use of shotguns in state prisons.Less than two years after Carlos Manuel Perez’s death in November 2014 at High Desert State Prison, Nevada’s Department of Corrections announced it had removed shotguns from all of its facilities. U.S. District Judge Daniel Albregts accepted the terms of the settlement as a fair resolution after several hours of negotiations Monday, although the deal is pending final approval from the state’s Board of Examiners. The settlement could go before the board as soon as June or July.“There’s nothing that could bring him back or make up for that loss, but I think today’s settlement takes strides toward that,” Albregts said while addressing the slain inmate’s brother.The deal marks th...

Montana transgender lawmaker silenced again, backers protest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:02 GMT

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana Republicans persisted in forbidding Democratic transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr from participating in debate for a second week and her supporters brought the House session to a halt Monday — chanting “Let her speak!” from the gallery before they were escorted out.Zephyr defiantly hoisted her microphone into the air as her supporters interrupted proceedings for nearly half an hour in protest of Republicans denying her requests to speak on a proposal that would restrict when children can change the names and pronouns they use in school and require parental consent.The interruption — hours after supporters rallied on the Capitol steps — was the latest development in a standoff over Zephyr’s remarks against lawmakers who support a ban on gender-affirming care for minors. Zephyr, a first-term Democrat from Missoula, hasn’t spoken on the Statehouse floor since last Tuesday when she told Republican colleagues they would have “blood on their hands” if the...