Two pubs claim to be London's oldest riverside pub. Which one is right?

LONDON (AP) — Two pubs in London's East End are vying for the title of the city's oldest riverside pub. The Mayflower and the Prospect of Whitby both claim this honor. The Mayflower, named after the Pilgrim Fathers' ship, features historical artifacts and a "Descendants Book" for those linked to the Pilgrims. Across the Thames River, the Prospect of Whitby boasts a long pewter bar and a history tied to the infamous "Execution Dock." Despite the rivalry, both pubs embrace their rich histories to attract visitors. The debate over the title remains unresolved due to historical complexities and lack of official certification.

Radioactive wasp nest found at site where US once made nuclear bombs

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Workers at a South Carolina site that once made nuclear bomb parts have found a radioactive wasp nest. Officials say there's no danger to anyone. Employees checking radiation levels at the Savannah River Site near Aiken found the nest on July 3. It was near tanks storing liquid nuclear waste. The nest had radiation levels 10 times above federal limits. Workers sprayed it with insect killer and disposed of it as radioactive waste. No wasps were found. Officials say the nest was likely contaminated from residual radioactivity. Watchdog group Savannah River Site Watch criticized the report for lacking details on the contamination source.

Thousands watch Chincoteague wild ponies complete 100th annual swim in Virginia

CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. (AP) — Thousands gathered in Virginia to watch the Chincoteague wild ponies make their annual swim across the Assateague Channel in the 100th anniversary of the popular tradition. Foal No. 36 was the champion of the short channel swim on Wednesday and crowned “King Neptune.” That is the title given each year to the first to complete the swim, according to the Chincoteague Fire Department. The horses were made famous in the 1947 classic children’s novel “Misty of Chincoteague” by author Marguerite Henry.

Utility workers in Peru unearth pre-Incan tomb with 1,000-year-old remains

LIMA, Peru (AP) — Utility workers in Peru's capital have discovered two pre-Incan tombs while expanding underground gas networks. One tomb was empty, but the other contained remains about 1,000 years old, along with clay and pumpkin shell vessels. Archaeologist José Aliaga says the vessels' design links them to the pre-Incan Chancay culture. Lima, a city with over 400 archaeological sites, often reveals such finds during construction projects. The company responsible for the gas network has made over 2,200 discoveries in two decades.

It’s moo-ving day for dairy cattle at Michigan State University

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Dozens of dairy cattle are on the move at Michigan State University. About 80 cows hoofed it Monday to their new home, the Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center. The East Lansing school says the $75 million facility will allow students to learn on a modern farm that’s equipped to replicate even the most high-tech operations in the world. Dairy is the No. 1 contributor to the state’s agricultural economy. George Smith, who heads Michigan State’s AgBioResearch department, calls it a 21st century cattle drive. Another 180 cows will be moved as well. The new complex is significantly larger than the existing dairy farm, which was constructed in the 1960s.

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.

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.