Feliks the eagle is back home in Serbia after a kidnap ordeal in the Middle East
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Feliks’ journey resembles a Hollywood movie script, with kidnappers, smugglers and clandestine border crossing. Feliks is a young eastern imperial eagle from Serbia, who last year set off on his first migratory flight only to be caught by poachers in the Middle East, sold illegally and retrieved in a daring cross-border mission. While Feliks returned to the Balkan country safely last week, his yearlong ordeal highlighted both the widespread practice of profit-driven, illegal animal trade and the unfaltering struggle by animal protection groups to counter it.
A rare dinosaur fossil from Antarctica is found tucked away in a drawer
NEW YORK (AP) — Scientists have stumbled on a rare dinosaur fossil from Antarctica tucked in a drawer. It comes from the tail of a long-necked, plant-eating dinosaur called a titanosaur. The fossil was discovered in 1985 during an expedition meant to map the area's rock layers, and was recorded as belonging to a large reptile. Decades later, scientists have analyzed the bone and confirmed it was a dinosaur. Dinosaur fossils are rare to find in Antarctica because of the unforgiving ice caps. The findings were published Monday in the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica.
Heat forces yodelers at annual Swiss festival to sing in fountains
BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — Yodelers at a festival in Basel, Switzerland, turned city fountains into rehearsal spaces during Europe’s June heat wave. From Friday to Sunday, singers and alphorn players performed throughout the city. Spontaneous yodeling echoed through restaurants, surprising diners who later joined in. Around 12,000 performers and nearly 200,000 visitors attended the Eidgenössisches Jodlerfest. This year, fountain rehearsals became the festival’s defining image as the city battled record temperatures. The festival included yodeling, alphorn playing and flag-throwing competitions.
Vancouver turns its Science World museum into a giant 17-story soccer ball for the World Cup
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — It started with a whimsical idea. Why not transform the landmark Science World museum in downtown Vancouver, the geodesic dome-topped building not far from BC Place stadium, into a gigantic 17-story soccer ball for the World Cup? Easier said than done, actually. But now the larger-than-life replica match ball has become the iconic symbol for Vancouver during the World Cup, a favored shot by both broadcasters and social media posts. And inside is an exhibit on the technology surrounding the beautiful game.
Gracie the Giraffe, who went missing after wandering off a Texas ranch, is finally found
Gracie the Giraffe has finally been found in Texas. She was missing for about two weeks after wandering off a remote private ranch and when she was located Friday, the open range appeared to have agreed with her. Real County Sheriff Nathan Johnson said Gracie, who is about 3 years old, was spotted about 4 miles south of her enclosure during an aerial search in the Texas Hill Country. He said Gracie’s owner contacted his veterinarian and began putting together a team to bring the giraffe safely back to the ranch. Ranch owner Vick Jones said she was in good shape and he saw her standing and swishing her tail.
St. Bernard dogs still roam the Swiss Alps as part of this 'living museum' and its breeding program
BOURG-SAINT-PIERRE, Switzerland (AP) — St. Bernard dogs walk the same mountain paths their ancestors patrolled for hundreds of years at the Great St. Bernard Pass in the Swiss Alps. Down in the valley, Barryland, a museum dedicated to the iconic dogs, celebrates its first year. Since opening last summer in Martigny, Switzerland, over 130,000 people have visited. Tourists can watch grooming sessions, use augmented reality to explore the mountain pass, and learn about the dogs' history. The St. Bernards, once famous for mountain rescues, are now too large for such tasks. Instead, they visit hospitals and schools, continuing their legacy of service and companionship.
Will Red Grooms' whimsical, wonderful Tennessee Fox Trot Carousel ride again?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee State Museum in Nashville is considering how to bring a beloved whimsical carousel back to life. The Tennessee Fox Trot Carousel was the creation of Nashville-born artist Red Grooms, featuring imaginative renderings of figures from Tennessee history including Chet Atkins and Davy Crockett. The downtown Nashville riverfront attraction, beset by financial struggles, was dismantled in 2003 and put into storage by the state museum. Museum Executive Director Ashley Howell is trying to find partners to help fund the ride's rehabilitation and admits the most common question she hears from members of the public is: “What about the Red Grooms carousel?”
Merlín the duck takes a trip to the stadium, but FIFA rules keep him out of Mexico match
MEXICO CITY (AP) — A viral sensation from this World Cup, Merlín the duck was at Mexico City's stadium before the national team's match against the Czech Republic. But he ultimately couldn't stay for Wednesday's game. The duck became famous after being seen in downtown Mexico City during celebrations of Mexico's opening victory. Accompanied by his owners Wednesday, Merlín traveled to the stadium under strict security. Although he couldn't stay for the match due to FIFA regulations, he filmed a segment with Televisa. Merlín has become a social media phenomenon and an unofficial mascot, even meeting President Claudia Sheinbaum. Despite not being in the stands, his owners believe Merlín brings luck to the Mexican team.
Paris Diamond League to go ahead with safety measures amid historic heat wave
PARIS (AP) — The Diamond League track and field meeting in Paris will proceed as planned despite a historic heat wave. Organizers have confirmed the event at Charlety Stadium will take place on Sunday. Paris police had requested a cancellation due to the extreme heat affecting the city since June 21. The French athletics federation says the event will be held in an adapted format to ensure safety. Only professional competitions will occur, with other activities canceled. Measures include delaying stadium opening, reinforcing medical services and providing more water and shade. France is under a red weather alert, with temperatures reaching record highs.
Failed robbery on small Caribbean island of Tobago spawns memes and Batman references
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) — Police in Trinidad and Tobago say they are searching for a group of robbers caught on camera using a backhoe to try and steal a cash machine but bungled the movie-style heist so badly they ended up as memes. Security camera footage shows at least four suspects fumbling around the crime scene. One of them bore a striking resemblance to Batman, wearing all-black clothing, a black ski mask and what looked like a black poncho that blew in the wind like the superhero’s cape. That person is seen tripping over debris and falling on the floor as they try to direct the backhoe. The incident occurred Wednesday.
