Buddhist monks resume 2,300-mile walk for peace after accident near Houston
HOUSTON (AP) — A group of Buddhist monks is continuing a 2,300-mile walk across the U.S. to promote peace after two were injured in a traffic accident near Houston. The monks began their journey on Oct. 26 from Fort Worth, Texas, aiming to raise awareness of peace and compassion. They plan to travel through 10 states before reaching Washington, D.C. On Wednesday, their escort vehicle was hit by a truck on U.S. Highway 90, injuring two monks. One monk required surgery but is expected to recover. The group plans to continue its walk with local law enforcement support.
Owl partially covered in concrete is cleaned up and recovering after rescue in Utah
An owl found partially encased in concrete after it got inside a cement mixer in southwestern Utah is expected to fly free again after it was painstakingly cleaned by animal sanctuary workers who described the bird as a “fighter.” The owl arrived at a Utah sanctuary with part of its body covered in concrete. Sanctuary workers removed the concrete after several grooming sessions. Its feathers are frayed, but the bird is expected to be released in late spring or early summer of next year. The sanctuary believes it's a young male due to its size.
Gustav Klimt portrait that spared its subject from Nazis breaks modern art record with $236M sale
A Gustav Klimt portrait painting has sold for a record $236 million at an auction where a solid gold toilet also sold for $12.1 million. The pieces were up for auction Tuesday evening at Sotheby’s in New York. The painting “Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer” helped save its Jewish subject from the Nazis during the Holocaust. And the fully functional toilet is by Maurizio Cattelan, the provocative Italian artist known for taping a banana to a wall. It’s one of two such toilets that Cattelan created in 2016. The other one has disappeared after being stolen.
Australian prisoner sues for his 'human right' to eat Vegemite
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A prisoner in Australia is challenging a state's ban on Vegemite in prisons, claiming that denying him the polarizing yeast spread violates his human rights. Andre McKechnie has taken his case to the Supreme Court of Victoria, arguing that the ban breaches his right to "enjoy his culture as an Australian." Vegemite has been banned from Victorian prisons since 2006 because it interferes with narcotic detection dogs and can be used to produce alcohol. Critics, including victims' advocates, say they find the lawsuit offensive. McKechnie, who is serving a life sentence for murder, seeks a court order to overturn the ban. His lawyers have not commented.
Make way for the flock! Hundreds of sheep head through German city to their winter pastures
BERLIN (AP) — Pedestrians in the German city of Nuremberg made way for hundreds of bleating sheep on Sunday as a flock of the animals was herded through the center on its way to its winter quarters. Curious bystanders lined the streets on Sunday as the roughly 600 animals in shepherd Thomas Gackstatter’s flock hurried past on what has become a popular annual spectacle. The sheep were on their way to winter pastures west of Nuremberg from the city, where Gackstatter’s sheep and other herds are used in various meadows over the summer to keep the grass neat.
Reaching 67 points is creating a '6-7' frenzy at college basketball games across the country
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma coach Jennie Baranczyk hears the popular catchphrase “6-7” all the time at home, possibly more often than please and thank you. Getting an earful of it at a women’s basketball game, well, that was new for the mother of three. Baranczyk and the sixth-ranked Sooners became the latest college team to send fans into a frenzy when they hit 67 points in an 89-61 victory against North Alabama on Friday. Hundreds of students on a field trip screamed their approval along with the ubiquitous phrase and juggled their hands up and down to mimic a video that went viral earlier this year.
Arachnid super-web reveals the surprising 'constant party' life of cohabiting spiders
The results of the new study, published last month in the journal Subterranean Biology, spread rapidly online due to the striking images of the giant 1,140-square-foot spider web, a carpet-thick sprawl that stretches along a narrow passage wall inside Sulfur Cave, which extends into Albania from its entrance in Greece. But the most surprising thing about the spider colony — which boasts an estimated 110,000 spiders — had less to do with its enormity and more to do with what scientists found inside the huge mass of funnel-shaped webs. Scientists say it could offer clues into the natural world.
Baby sea otter is reunited with mother in central California after dramatic rescue
The Marine Mammal Center has rescued a sea otter pup in Morro Bay, California, after it was separated from its mother. The center received a call about distressed cries from the water. Experts identified the sounds as a 2-week-old otter pup. On Monday, employees and the Morro Bay Harbor Patrol used a recording of the pup's cries to lure the mother. After two hours, a female otter followed the boat, leading to a successful reunion. Sea otters are crucial for biodiversity but remain threatened. There are only about 3,000 in the wild today.
A flooded restaurant in Thailand brings delight with swimming fish among diners
NAKHON PATHOM, Thailand (AP) — A restaurant in central Thailand has become an internet sensation after a nearby river flooded it with water and fish. Families enjoyed lunch at Pa Jit restaurant in Nakhon Pathom province, about 30 kilometers from Bangkok, with toddlers watching river fish flapping around their thighs. The owner says profits have doubled since the flooding began. Customers love the unique dining experience, with some coming just to feel fish nibbling on their feet. Pa Jit can expect a few more weeks of flooding due to high tides and the monsoon season.
Heady odors and sensory overload as 5,200 cheeses compete for the World Cheese Awards
BERN, Switzerland (AP) — The World Cheese Awards in Switzerland have kicked off with a sensory overload of smells and flavors. The event features over 5,200 cheeses from 46 countries, including nearly one-fifth from Switzerland. Judges and visitors navigate a medley of odors, from “stinky socks” to “sick dog.” The competition includes strict rules for judges, who evaluate cheeses on aroma, texture, and flavor. This year's winner is a Swiss Gruyere from Vorderfultigen Mountain Dairy. Other finalists include cheeses from France, Britain, and Japan. Organizers claim it's the largest cheese-only event in the world.
