Recovery of missing dog Boro brings hope after Spain's train crashes
MADRID (AP) — After back-to-back fatal train crashes in Spain, Thursday brought the good news that Boro the missing dog was found. Days earlier, Boro's owner Ana García issued a desperate plea to help find the dog. Boro had bolted Sunday after the high-speed train crash in southern Spain. Forest firefighters in southern Spain said Thursday that they had found and returned the black-and-white pooch. Spaniards online celebrated the glimmer of hope that Boro's discovery provided in an otherwise grim week.
Rhode Island may ditch Mr. Potato Head license plates after Hasbro moves to Boston
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Islanders have long been able to choose Mr. Potato Head for their specialty license plates. However, Hasbro's decision to move its headquarters to Boston has motivated two lawmakers to propose ending the option of Mr. Potato Head plates. The proposal was introduced earlier this month. Currently, the plate costs $40, with half supporting the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Mr. Potato Head plates were first issued in 2002 to mark the toy's 50th anniversary. The toy, which debuted in 1952, originally required kids to use a real potato before Hasbro added a plastic version.
A former flight attendant is accused of fooling airlines into giving him free flights. But how?
HONOLULU (AP) — Authorities say a Canadian man posed as a commercial pilot and working flight attendant to obtain hundreds of free flights from U.S. airlines. Authorities say 33-year-old Dallas Pokornik of Toronto pleaded not guilty Tuesday following his extradition. He was arrested in Panama after being indicted on wire fraud charges in federal court in Hawaii last October. Court documents say Pokornik used fake employee identification to obtain tickets reserved for pilots and flight attendants on three airlines for four years. The indictment did not identify the airlines except to say they are based in Honolulu, Chicago and Fort Worth, Texas.
Sri Lanka unveils a rare purple star sapphire claimed to be the biggest of its kind
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — A massive purple star sapphire weighing 3,563 carats has been unveiled in Sri Lanka. The owners, who wish to remain anonymous, are ready to sell the gem, estimated to be worth at least $300 million. Named the "Star of Pure Land," it's the largest documented natural purple star sapphire. Consultant gemologist Ashan Amarasinghe says the gem shows a well-defined asterism with six rays, making it unique. The stone was found in 2023 near Rathnapura, known as the "city of gems." It was certified by two laboratories.
Mummified cheetahs found in Saudi caves shed light on lost populations
NEW YORK (AP) — Scientists have uncovered mummified remains of cheetahs from caves in northern Saudi Arabia. The seven mummies range from 130 to over 1,800 years old. Mummification prevents decay by preserving dead bodies. Researchers aren’t sure how these new cats got mummified, but the caves’ dry conditions and stable temperature could have played a role. In a first for naturally mummified large cats, scientists also peeked at the cheetahs’ genes. That could help with future efforts to reintroduce the cats to places where they no longer live. The study was published Thursday in the journal Communications Earth and Environment.
Florida deputy captures runaway emu and returns the large, flightless bird home unharmed
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida deputy has captured a runaway and safely returned the large bird to its home. Officials say a St. Johns County deputy responded last Friday to a rural area west of St. Augustine following reports of the bird’s escape. The deputy attempted to secure the emu, but the flightless bird kicked several times using its large talons and fled. After a short chase, the deputy cornered the emu, secured it with a makeshift lasso and cuffed its legs together to render the talons useless. The emu was returned to its owners unharmed. Emus are native to Australia and can grow to be over 6 feet tall.
Rio de Janeiro zoo animals are treated to popsicles as the city faces scorching summer weather
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Animals at Rio de Janeiro’s BioParque zoo received popsicles and frozen treats Tuesday as the city faced another day of extreme heat during Brazil’s summer. Jaguars, monkeys and other animals were given an iced diet prepared according to each species’ needs, zoo officials said. Some received frozen fruit, while others were offered mixtures containing frozen blood. Temperatures in Rio de Janeiro rose over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) on Sunday and Monday, prompting city authorities to issue a Level 3 heat alert and warn of health risks linked to prolonged exposure.
California homeowner rolls out 'unwelcome' mat for black bear living under his house
A huge black bear has finally been evicted from a crawl space under a Los Angeles area house where it had been living since Thanksgiving. Altadena resident Ken Johnson said the animal twisted gas lines and toppled bricks as he came and went. California wildlife officials tried air horns and shooting paintball guns, but the bear wouldn't budge. So Johnson turned to BEAR League, a nonprofit that says it specializes in “living in harmony with bears.” One of its experts climbed into the crawlspace behind the bear and encouraged it to leave. Then they put out an electric "unwelcome mat' to shock the bear into staying away.
Some dogs can expand their vocabulary by eavesdropping on their owners
NEW YORK (AP) — A new study finds that some gifted dogs can learn the names of new toys by eavesdropping. It's a skill that has only been observed in a few animals, like parrots and apes. Ten gifted dogs watched their owners hold a new toy and talk to another person about it. Then the pups were told to go to another room and retrieve that specific toy from a pile. Seven out of 10 succeeded. Only a select group of pooches is capable of this, and scientists aren't yet sure what's behind it. The new research was published Thursday in the journal Science.
Rescuers use drone technology to find dog that escaped along New Jersey Turnpike
Associated Press (AP) — A dog traveling from a South Carolina shelter to a planned new home in Maine escaped during a bathroom break along the New Jersey Turnpike. Abbie, a 9-year-old golden retriever mix, wandered for about 25 miles before her tracking tag and drone technology enabled rescuers to find her the next day. Abbie was among several dogs being transported. Volunteers eventually pinpointed her location in a wooded area using thermal imaging from a drone. Woodbridge police rescued her early Sunday. Abbie suffered a hip injury that will require surgery but was otherwise fine, and now she's back with her foster family in South Carolina.
