Japan's monkey sensation Punch gets thousands of birthday messages as he turns 1 on Sunday
ICHIKAWA, Japan (AP) — Punch, the orphaned monkey at a Japanese zoo that stole many people’s hearts by clinging to an orangutan plushie, is marking his first birthday Sunday. The zoo has been flooded by well-wishing messages from his fans around the world — even though he now has friends and is no longer holding on to the toy. Punch still attracts big crowds, and has received some 2,500 birthday cards from around the world, said Takashi Yasunaga, head of the Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden.
'Spider-Man' superhero jumps to the aid of a man using wheelchair to cross several lanes of traffic
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A man using a wheelchair was struggling to get across six lanes of traffic on an Arkansas roadway when help came in an unexpected way — from a spidery superhero in a Jeep. Christopher Hellenthal was still wearing a Spider-Man costume from a superhero-themed event at the trampoline park where he works when he saw the person in need Tuesday. Stopped at a light in his red Jeep, Hellenthal jumped out and swiftly rolled the man in the wheelchair across the crosswalk to safety before the light changed in seconds. The moment was captured by a street security camera and shared on social media by police in Jonesboro, who thanked Hellenthal for getting the man safely across.
With swords, axes and shields, fighters go head-to-head in medieval combat world championship
SPØTTRUP, Denmark (AP) — With swords, axes and shields, competitors from 30 countries are going head-to-head in the grounds of a Danish fortress in a modern version of old-fashioned battle. The International Medieval Combat Federation’s annual world championship roared into gear in northern Denmark this week. First staged in Spain in 2014, it features armor-clad competitors fighting with 14th-century medieval weapons. But it’s also a modern combat sport with safety rules and sporting conventions. The sport, an unflinching blend of mixed martial arts, fencing, and historical reenactment, has been growing in popularity.
A Minnesota town now boasts the world's tallest nutcracker
LUVERNE, Minn. (AP) — Luverne, Minnesota, now boasts the world's tallest nutcracker, Verne the Patriot, standing at over 65 feet. The quirky landmark, located off Interstate 90, was unveiled in a weekend event at a rock shop called Those Blasted Things. The town has more nutcrackers than people, and Verne has already boosted local tourism since he was completed three weeks ago. Luverne's nutcracker theme began with resident Betty Mann, who donated her collection of over 2,500 nutcrackers to the town's historical society. Verne's construction cost around $600,000, funded by donations and grants, and has been submitted for a Guinness World Record.
3 women's world records set at the annual Lumberjack World Championships in Wisconsin
HAYWARD, Wis. (AP) — Three new women's world records have been set at the Lumberjack World Championships in Hayward, Wisconsin. The event, filled with sawing, chopping, logrolling and cheers of “Yo-Ho!” ended Saturday. Karolina Urbanová from the Czech Republic set records in the Women's Underhand Chop and Women's Standing Chop. Meredith Ingbretson of Hayward set a record in the Women's Boom Run, sprinting across the water and back over eight red cedar logs in 13.78 seconds. This year, 66 men and 40 women from 16 states and nine countries competed. The competition also features wood-carving, live music and axe-themed activities.
George Santos' next gig? Reality TV show contestant
NEW YORK (AP) — George Santos has worn many hats: Serial swindler, congressman, expelled congressman, federal prison inmate, clemency recipient, podcast host, online betting influencer under investigation by the federal government. The obvious next gig? Reality TV show contestant. In September, Santos will appear on the fifth season of Fox’s “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test,” a grueling contest where participants will be subjected to chemical gassing and other military themed challenges in a Malaysian jungle. The network on Wednesday said he will go up against more than a dozen other contestants — including former NBA player Matt Barnes and actor Ruby Rose.
'I'm Joe Lombardo': Nevada governor not ticketed after being pulled over in a traffic stop
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo was pulled over in a May traffic stop in Las Vegas and wasn't ticketed. He immediately identified himself as Joe Lombardo at the time, and the interaction with the police officer who stopped him lasted about 15 seconds. The governor's campaign says he was briefly stopped over a question about whether he had come to a full stop before turning right on red, and says the governor fully complied with all instructions. The president of a police union that endorsed the governor says it is common practice to let a driver go without a citation. Lombardo’s campaign said the governor and his wife were headed to the airport when they were pulled over.
Erling Haaland is Norway's World Cup machine — and the internet's babygirl
Erling Haaland has become a social media sensation during the World Cup. Known for his towering presence and impressive skills, the Norwegian player has scored seven goals in four matches. Fans have embraced his quirky online persona, dubbing him “babygirl” and “princess” due to his endearing qualities. Haaland's playful social media presence includes cheeky selfies and vlogs and has attracted a wide audience beyond soccer enthusiasts. This phenomenon highlights the growing trend of athletes as pop culture figures, with fans forming parasocial relationships. Haaland's fame is part of a larger cultural shift where sports figures engage directly with fans online.
Museum honors a late artist by covering its floor in enough peanut butter to make 15,000 sandwiches
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — More than 800 pounds of peanut butter have been spread across a museum floor in the Netherlands. This tribute honors Dutch artist Wim T. Schippers, who died last month. Schippers, known for his conceptual art, first created the peanut butter floor in 1969. He also voiced Ernie and Kermit the Frog in the Dutch version of “Sesame Street.” The work is now on display at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam. Schippers created it as part of a Floor Covering Series, which included floors covered with glass shards and salt. The exhibit will run for two months.
The GOAT: Hooved friend provides moral support to firefighters in Colorado
A goat named Goldie has been accompanying crews fighting a small wildfire in Colorado. Goldie — short for Golden Oreo — followed firefighters over two days this week as they actively engaged the flames and cleared brush. She even took care of a bit of it herself by chomping on leaves. Wildfires have been raging across the West due to a record lack of snow, high temperatures and erratic winds. Cooler temperatures and precipitation Thursday helped control the flames in Colorado Springs. Crews expect to make more progress Friday.
