Hot dog eating champs seek to repeat in Nathan's Famous contest
NEW YORK (AP) — The Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest is marking the United States’ 250th birthday with chomp and circumstance. Saturday's competition comes after an eventful year for the annual wiener showdown and one of its stars. Contest sponsor Nathan’s Famous was sold in January to packaged meat giant Smithfield Foods. A few months later, reigning men’s champ and record-holder Joey Chestnut was accused of slapping a man in an Indiana bar and pleaded guilty in April to a misdemeanor battery charge. But the frankfurter fest rolls on in New York's Coney Island. Chestnut and Miki Sudo are set to defend last year’s wins in the men’s and women’s divisions, respectively.
Australian officials ask fans to respect the privacy of Neil, a 1-ton seal who respects nothing
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Neil, a 2,200-pound elephant seal, has returned to his birthplace on the Australian coast, causing quite a stir. Unlike other locals, Neil brings fame, fans, and property damage. This 5-year-old seal has a social media following twice the size of Tasmania’s population, and his antics include bending traffic bollards and blocking roads. But officials are urging fans to give Neil space, fearing his popularity could lead to dangerous encounters. They've urged locals not to post his current location. Neil's behavior, like picking fights with cars, is typical for juvenile seals practicing dominance. Experts say coexistence is key as Neil continues to grow and attract attention.
Rare copy of Declaration of Independence found by UK National Archives in papers of captured US ship
LONDON (AP) — Michael Scurr, a volunteer at Britain’s National Archives, has discovered a rare early copy of the Declaration of Independence. He found it while cataloging 18th-century documents. The document is one of only 11 known copies of the Exeter printing, made just days after the original was signed in 1776. This version was captured from a ship under the direction of the Continental Congress. Experts say it highlights the ideals for which Americans fought. Historians in the U.S. are excited, calling it a tangible connection to the past and proof that more discoveries await.
Sightings of humpback whales surge in Rio de Janeiro, fueling demand for whale-watching trips
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Humpback whales are increasingly spotted off Rio de Janeiro as their population recovers from past commercial whaling. The population has grown from about 2,000 to 35,000 in 40 years, says Enrico Marcovaldi of the Humpback Whale Project. They are now often seen in Guanabara Bay. In 1982, the International Whaling Commission issued a pause in commercial whaling that began three years later. Between June and November, these whales migrate through Brazilian waters. Their presence boosts tourism, with companies like Rio Ocean Club offering whale-watching trips. Louise Raulais from the club says the whales inspire a deeper connection to the ocean.
Puppy love as dog walker turns his pack of 13 into Argentina jersey-clad World Cup followers
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — A dog walker in Buenos Aires has turned a pack of 13 pups into local celebrities by dressing them in Argentina jerseys. Nahuel Meneghini is known as "Nano" and he walks the dogs through the city center to show his support for Lionel Messi’s squad amid World Cup fever. The dogs wear jerseys and leashes in team colors and have become a hit on social media. Meneghini plans to keep them all dressed the same way, hoping Argentina can claim its fourth World Cup title.
Harvard professor with polarizing alien theories is picked to lead Trump administration UFO council
WASHINGTON (AP) — A polarizing Harvard astronomer has been appointed to lead a Trump administration panel studying UFOs. Avi Loeb is leading a new Science Advisory Council tasked with finding the origin of unidentified objects spotted by military pilots and others. It’s part of a broader administration effort studying possible national security risks posed by UFOs. Loeb’s theories have won praise in UFO circles but put him at odds with other astronomers who say he jumps to exotic conclusions. Loeb said he’s taking a grounded approach with the Trump administration work, assuming unidentified objects are human-made unless evidence proves otherwise.
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.
