22+ min ago (656+ words) A long-lost painting by Baroque master Peter Paul Rubens, which was hidden for more than four centuries, sold for $2.7 million at an auction Sunday in Versailles. The painting, which depicts the crucifixion of Jesus, was recently found in a private townhouse in Paris. It was part of a... Rubens' Crucifixion Depiction, Lost for Centuries, Brings $2.7M A long-lost painting by Baroque master Peter Paul Rubens, which was hidden for more than four centuries, sold for $2.7 million at an auction Sunday in Versailles. The painting, which depicts the crucifixion of Jesus, was recently found in a private townhouse in Paris. It was part of a French collection and was initially thought to be from one of the many Rubens workshops that existed at the time. The artwork was rarely valued at more than $11,500, the AP reports. "I immediately had a hunch about this…...

43+ min ago (210+ words) The painting was recently found in a private townhouse in Paris. It depicts the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It was part of a French collection and was initially thought to be from one of the many Rubens workshops that existed at the time. The artwork was rarely valued at more than 10,000 euros ($11,500). Nils B'ttner, an expert known for his research on Rubens, explained before the auction that the master often painted crucifictions but rarely depicted "the crucified Christ as a dead body on the cross." "So this is the one and only painting showing blood and water coming out of the side wound of Christ, and this is something that Rubens only painted once." The Osenat auction house said the painting's authenticity and provenance were confirmed after scientific analysis. It said microscopic examination of the paint layers revealed not only…...

1+ hour, 19+ min ago (329+ words) A wave of frog die-offs in Central America may have led to a surge in malaria cases among humans'among other woes. The Washington Post shines a light on the "frog apocalypse" and the culprit behind it: a lethal fungus known as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis , or Bd, which has decimated frog... Disappearance of Frogs May Be Making Some Humans Sick A wave of frog die-offs in Central America may have led to a surge in malaria cases among humans'among other woes. The Washington Post shines a light on the "frog apocalypse" and the culprit behind it: a lethal fungus known as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, or Bd, which has decimated frog populations globally since the 1990s. The fungus weakens frogs to the point of death, and some 500 amphibian species have been impacted, with nearly 20% of those "decimated." And as frogs disappeared, so did their tadpoles'key…...

1+ hour, 28+ min ago (262+ words) Thieves have pulled off an unusual heist in France's Champagne region, making off with nearly half a ton of snails. The haul, valued at $100,000, vanished from L'Escargot des Grands, a farm run by Jean-Mathieu Dauvergne, in an overnight caper last week, reports the Independent . Most had been destined... A Very French Heist: $100K Worth of Snails Thieves have pulled off an unusual heist in France's Champagne region, making off with nearly half a ton of snails. The haul, valued at $100,000, vanished from L'Escargot des Grands, a farm run by Jean-Mathieu Dauvergne, in an overnight caper last week, reports the Independent. Most had been destined for the Christmas menus of high-end restaurants. "This is definitely not the kind of post we thought we'd write as the holidays approach," reads a Facebook statement from the farm, per CNN. "We've been robbed and our…...

1+ hour, 39+ min ago (376+ words) The oldest beer brewing school in the United States is pulling up stakes and moving to Canada. After more than 150 years in Chicago, the Siebel Institute of Technology is relocating its classroom operations to Montreal, citing recent US regulatory changes that have made it harder for international students'the... America's Oldest Brewing School Is Moving to Canada The move has left some in Chicago's beer community lamenting the loss of an institution deeply tied to the city's working-class and immigrant history. "If you talk to brewers of the modern era'not just in Chicago, but across the nation'it really is the place where people go and learn the trade," said Liz Garabay of the Beer Culture Center. Still, she acknowledged that Montreal, with its vibrant food and beverage scene, is a fitting new home. The Siebel Institute highlighted Montreal's "vibrant, safe, and…...

1+ hour, 42+ min ago (489+ words) When you're stumped by what to get Aunt Myrtle this holiday season, there's a bot for that. Although AI-powered purchases are in early stages, the shopping assistants and agents rolled out by the likes of Walmart, Amazon, and Google can do more than the chatbots of holidays past, reports the... Holiday Shopping, Now With More AI When you're stumped by what to get Aunt Myrtle this holiday season, there's a bot for that. Although AI-powered purchases are in early stages, the shopping assistants and agents rolled out by the likes of Walmart, Amazon, and Google can do more than the chatbots of holidays past, reports the AP. The latest versions were designed to provide personalized product recommendations, track prices, and to place some orders through unscripted "conversations" with customers. Those features are on top of shopping updates from AI platforms…...

1+ hour, 54+ min ago (327+ words) Former military contractor Nathan Seabrook brought battlefield tactics to Minneapolis in 2021, turning a local mall into a flashpoint for questions about private security, police violence, and the legacy of America's forever wars, as detailed in a piece by Eamon Whalen for Mother Jones . After George Floyd's murder and the... Mall Cops With Assault Rifles: Minneapolis' New Reality Former military contractor Nathan Seabrook brought battlefield tactics to Minneapolis in 2021, turning a local mall into a flashpoint for questions about private security, police violence, and the legacy of America's forever wars, as detailed in a piece by Eamon Whalen for Mother Jones. After George Floyd's murder and the unrest that followed, Seabrook, an Iraq veteran, returned home and founded the Conflict Resolution Group, a private security firm staffed by former soldiers and contractors. CRG was hired to clear protesters from a memorial…...

1+ hour, 54+ min ago (514+ words) The death toll in Hong Kong's apartment complex blaze rose to 146 on Sunday as investigators discovered more bodies in the burned-out buildings. A steady stream of people placed bouquets of flowers at an ever-growing makeshift memorial at the scene of the disaster, reports the AP , among the worst in... In Hong Kong, the Fire's Grim Toll Keeps Rising The death toll in Hong Kong's apartment complex blaze rose to 146 on Sunday as investigators discovered more bodies in the burned-out buildings. A steady stream of people placed bouquets of flowers at an ever-growing makeshift memorial at the scene of the disaster, reports the AP, among the worst in the city's history. The Hong Kong police Disaster Victim Identification Unit has been going through the buildings of the Wang Fuk Court complex meticulously and has found bodies both in apartment units and…...

2+ hour ago (283+ words) A Maryland man is facing charges over his allegedly jaw-dropping reaction to young Christmas carolers: Police say he brandished a gun at three 12-year-old girls who were singing outside his home, reports People . Authorities in Anne Arundel County say Paul Susie, 58, was arrested in Annapolis after the girls knocked... Cops: Homeowner Pulls Gun on Young Carolers A Maryland man is facing charges over his allegedly jaw-dropping reaction to young Christmas carolers: Police say he brandished a gun at three 12-year-old girls who were singing outside his home, reports People. Authorities in Anne Arundel County say Paul Susie, 58, was arrested in Annapolis after the girls knocked on his door twice and announced they were caroling, according to a press release. Police say Susie appeared at a bay window and pointed a firearm at the girls, who quickly fled. The mother of…...

2+ hour, 43+ min ago (440+ words) The number of dead and missing in Southeast Asia continues to climb after some of the heaviest rainfall in years: More than 400 are dead in Indonesia, and hundreds more are missing in the three provinces of North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh, according to the National Disaster Management Agency,... Hundreds Dead, Missing in Southeast Asia Floods The number of dead and missing in Southeast Asia continues to climb after some of the heaviest rainfall in years: - More than 400 are dead in Indonesia, and hundreds more are missing in the three provinces of North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh, according to the National Disaster Management Agency, per the AP. - Sri Lankan officials said deaths from floods and mudslides in that island nation have risen to 193. - About 160 are dead in Thailand and 90 in Vietnam, per the New York Times. - Nearly 300,000 people have…...