Vandals set fire to a mouse statue that's a TV star and mascot for a German broadcaster

BERLIN (AP) — Vandals have set fire to a mouse statue that’s a TV star and mascot for children’s programming at German broadcaster WDR. The cartoon mouse, known only as “Die Maus,” is the eponymous star of “Die Sendung mit der Maus” (The Show with the Mouse) since it first aired in West Germany in 1971. The statue — featuring the character's famous orange body with brown ears, arms and legs — greets families and children outside a media building in Cologne, Germany. The fire blackened parts of the mouse’s face and arm. WDR's head of children's programming said a piece of childhood was attacked.

Emailed job application supposedly from Xavi was bogus, Indian soccer federation says

Indian soccer officials say that a job application to coach their national team it apparently received from former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández was fake. The federation says it also received a bogus job application from Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola. Xavi has been taking a break from coaching for the past year. Indian media reported that Xavi had applied for the role. India is looking to replace Spanish coach Manolo Márquez after he left the position by mutual consent earlier this month.

A bull moose is blocking a New York mountain trail. Wildlife researchers don't know why

New York wildlife officials have closed a trail in the Adirondack Mountains this summer due to a bull moose lingering around the area. The Goodman Mountain trail has been closed since June 6. The moose is staying near the summit, which is unusual for this time of year. Wildlife staff suspect an underlying illness might be affecting its behavior. The moose appears thinner than expected, but no obvious signs of disease have been found. The trail remains closed to prevent potential danger to hikers. The state is monitoring the moose with trail cameras and regular visits.

A cat named Leonardo da Pinchy doesn’t want your affection. He wants to steal your underwear

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A laundry-stealing cat with expensive taste has puzzled and delighted a neighborhood in Auckland, New Zealand, by committing an unstoppable wave of burglaries from clotheslines and even bedrooms. So frequent are crime sprees by Leo — now nicknamed Leonardo da Pinchy — that his owner Helen North this month tried to find the owners of dozens of items from the cat’s hauls by posting pictures of the garments on Facebook. Leo’s raids yield up to nine items a day, including cashmere and silk worth hundreds of dollars. Many neighbors are amused by the antics, although those with cat allergies now dry their clothes indoors.

Zookeepers in Prague turn into puppeteers to save baby vultures

PRAGUE (AP) — Zookeepers in Prague have become puppeteers to save newly born birds rejected by their parents. A lesser yellow-headed vulture hatched three weeks ago is one of them. Bird keeper Antonín Vaidl said Thursday the parents were not ready to care for their two babies, despite doing so in 2022 and 2023. The firstborn is being kept in a box and fed using a puppet that imitates a parent bird. Another chick is expected soon. Vaidl said the puppet ensures the bird will be capable of breeding, as it prevents the chick from getting used to people.

Man posed as an ambassador and ran a fake embassy, Indian police say

NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian police have arrested a man accused of running a fake embassy from a rented building near New Delhi. Authorities say the suspect posed as an ambassador, promising overseas jobs and scamming people for money. Police recovered fake diplomatic plates, forged seals from India’s foreign ministry and other nations, and doctored photos of Jain with world leaders. Officers also seized four cars, international flags and over $52,000 in cash, including foreign currencies. Jain is facing charges of forgery, impersonation and money laundering through shell companies. Neither Jain nor his lawyer has commented on the allegations.

Giant trolls have a message for humans about protecting the planet

WOODSIDE, Calif. (AP) — Danish artist Thomas Dambo creates giant wooden trolls from recycled materials to promote environmental awareness. Over 12 years, Dambo and his team have built 170 trolls in more than 20 countries and 21 U.S. states. These sculptures, some up to 40 feet tall, are made from discarded items like wooden pallets and old furniture. An installation of six trolls, called "Trolls Save the Humans," is currently on display at Filoli, a historic estate near San Francisco. Dambo says the trolls aim to teach humans how to live sustainably. Dambo said his global project attracts millions of visitors annually, highlighting the value of recycling.

Ground squirrels are taking over a North Dakota city and officials are not amused

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — Ground squirrels have proliferated in Minot, North Dakota's fourth-largest city. They've burrowed everywhere from vacant lots to school grounds, residential areas and the downtown area. They're particularly plentiful on an Air Force base north of the city. A pest control operator who is leading the fight against them likens it to one man taking on a massive storm. He traps thousands of the rodents per year. A combination of the area's plains habitat and few predators in town make Minot a nice home for the tunneling rodents, which can harbor disease from fleas and create hazards with their holes.

Largest piece of Mars on Earth fetches $5.3 million at auction, but young dinosaur steals the show

The largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth has sold for just over $5 million at a Sotheby's auction in New York. But a rare skeleton of a young dinosaur stole the show, fetching more than $30 million in a bidding frenzy during Wednesday's sale. The buyers were not immediately disclosed. The 54-pound meteorite is believed to have been blown off the surface of Mars by a massive asteroid strike. It was found in the Sahara Desert in Niger in 2023. The skeleton is one of only four known Ceratosaurus nasicornis skeletons and the only juvenile one. Its parts were found in Wyoming in 1996. It had been estimated to sell for up to $6 million.