Plan to limit 'vertical drinking' decried by pub landlords and UK politicians
LONDON (AP) — A proposal by one local government council to limit "vertical drinking" in London has sparked controversy. The council aims to reduce noise and disorder in central London's bustling West End by encouraging more table service in pubs and restaurants. Critics, including Prime Minister Andy Burnham and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, argue that standing with a pint is a cherished part of British culture. Lesley Lewis, a pub owner in Soho, says discouraging this tradition could drive customers away. The council insists the draft policy is about safety and does not aim to bar anyone from standing and drinking. The policy remains open for public comment.
Why celebrities from Zendaya to Kylie Jenner are wearing Fecal Matter
Zendaya, Kylie Jenner and Demi Moore have all walked the red carpet in Fecal Matter. That's the English translation of Matières Fécales, the fashion brand that has had a pivotal year. Their avant-garde designs and theatrical runway shows have made them the talk of the fashion world with a dark and edgy take on ball gowns. Take Zendaya's angelic look at the New York premiere of “The Odyssey” or model Gabbriette Bechtel's wedding dress. The design duo Steven Raj Bhaskaran and Hannah Rose Dalton are set to unveil their latest collection at Paris Fashion Week in September.
Rubber ducks by the thousands splash into Chicago River for annual Special Olympics fundraiser
CHICAGO (AP) — A deluge of 90,000 rubber ducks poured out of a truck and into the Chicago River. They they bobbed along a stretch of the skyscraper-lined river in the annual Chicago Ducky Derby that raises thousands of dollars for charity. The truck dumped the ducks Thursday from one side of a half-raised bridge. After forming a yellow pool in the river, the ducks floated for around 15 minutes before a winner and runner-up were plucked from the water. The annual event, a fundraiser for Special Olympics Illinois, draws thousands of participants. The winning duck was picked by Becky Cavanagh, the Ducky Derby ambassador and a 13-year Special Olympics athlete.
Wildfire near Athens leaves rescuers scrambling to reunite hundreds of animals
MEGARA, Greece (AP) — A wildfire that swept across mountains and coastal areas west of Athens has left hundreds of animals displaced. Volunteers rescued more than 280 pets and wildlife during days of extreme heat and shifting winds. Animal welfare advocates say increasingly severe wildfires across Europe are exposing a lack of resources to protect animals. One organization is calling for a dedicated European Union rescue service and measures such as “fire refuges.” Rescuers in Greece are now working with authorities to reunite animals with owners and arrange temporary shelter.
Capybaras keep their chill while crashing Brazilian legislature
CUIABA, Brazil (AP) — Capybaras have been making surprise visits to a Brazilian state legislature. These chill rodents strolled into the legislative building in Cuiaba, Mato Grosso, last week, catching lawmakers off guard. The building is next to a park filled with wildlife. Staffer Nayara Bueno filmed the capybaras on July 30 and tried to guide them back to the park. Bueno said they show up often, so people have gotten used to them. Capybaras are popular online for their calm demeanor and social nature. Their visit caused no damage to the legislature.
Top dogs ride waves at annual World Dog Surfing Championships
PACIFICA, Calif. (AP) — Dogs are catching waves at the World Dog Surfing Championships in Northern California. Spectators cheer as canines of all sizes compete, judged on wave size, board time and confidence. The event, now in its 10th year, takes place in Pacifica, near San Francisco. It includes pet adoptions and fundraising for animal charities. Dogs, wearing colorful life vests, are assisted by humans to find the best waves. The competition features heats for small, medium, and large dogs, with the top scorers facing off for the prize. There are also tandem contests with multiple dogs or dogs and humans sharing a board.
A book found bricked in a fireplace is returned to an Australian library, 150 years overdue
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A book on Greek antiquities has been returned to an Australian public library about 150 years late, with water damage from years bricked into a fireplace. “Antiquities of Athens" was part of the original collection at the Kiama Library when it opened in 1872. Resident Ross Simmons returned the book last week. He found it during home renovations inside a tea crate bricked into a sealed fireplace. He suspects his ancestor borrowed the book. The book included a list of rules about borrowing books in the 1870s, including that households whose members had a known ability to read could borrow more books. The returned book will be displayed in the library’s local history collection.
TSA finds stolen Civil War-era cannonballs in a passenger's suitcase at an Alabama airport
GULF SHORES, Ala. (AP) — Law enforcement officials say a set of stolen Civil War-era cannonballs was discovered in a passenger’s suitcase during a routine security screening at an Alabama airport. The federal Transportation Security Administration said the relics were discovered at Gulf Shores International Airport on July 18. A TSA agent opened the luggage and found five small cannonballs wrapped in paper towels. TSA said the cannonballs were inactive. Police determined they were stolen from Fort Morgan in Gulf Shores and dated to the American Civil War. The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday that a juvenile stole the cannonballs from a storage area. They were returned and the institution declined to press charges.
Rotten fish sauce that has long stunk up a small Canadian town is finally being removed
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — The townspeople of St. Mary’s can now breathe a sigh of relief. They are finally getting rid of the foul smell of rotten fish that has for years wafted over their tiny community in Canada’s easternmost province. The source of the foulness were some 110 tanks left behind — each holding 3,000 gallons of fermented fish sauce — when the Atlantic Seafood Sauce Company was abandoned more than 20 years ago. As years passed, the sauce kept on fermenting and the townspeople could smell. St. Mary’s volunteer mayor, Steve Ryan, says after a lengthy “crusade” the town finally got the provincial government to fund the cleanup that started this week.
Montana man hikes out of the mountains to get help after he was impaled by a trekking pole
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — David Cifaldi was approaching the top of Montana’s highest peak with two friends when their hiking adventure took a dangerous turn: Cifaldi slipped and impaled himself on his trekking pole. The steel-tipped pole protruded awkwardly from his side but missed any major organs. Worried about the high cost of a helicopter rescue, Cifaldi and his companions notified authorities of their situation and hiked out the 10 miles to a trailhead with the pole still impaled. They later drove to Billings where Cifaldi was treated at the same hospital where he's employed as a wound care nurse.
