A pacing Chihuahua helps Swiss rescuers find a man who fell into a glacier

GENEVA (AP) — Rescuers in Switzerland are hailing as a “four-legged hero” a furry Chihuahua that paced atop an Alpine rock after its owner fell into a crevasse. The dog's presence helped a helicopter crew find its owner. Training and rescue squad Air Zermatt says the man was exploring the Fee Glacier on Friday when he broke through an ice bridge. He called for help using a walkie-talkie. Rescuers noticed the dog to zero in on his location. They rappelled down and extracted the man, who was not identified. A spokesperson for the rescuers says, “Imagine if the dog wasn’t there."

Bees attack French town, leaving 24 injured

AURILLAC, France (AP) — Bees have attacked passersby in the French town of Aurillac and injured 24 people. Local authorities say three victims from the Sunday morning attack were initially in critical condition but have since improved. One of them was a 78-year-old person who suffered cardiac arrest and was resuscitated. The mayor of Aurillac explained on Monday that Asian hornets likely provoked the bees which had lived in a rooftop hive for more than a decade. Firefighters and medical teams treated victims. Police secured the area until the attack ended. The beekeeper has since relocated the hive outside the town. Officials described the incident as unprecedented in its scale and severity.

A lion attacks a woman in an Australian zoo, severely injuring her arm

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A woman has sustained severe injuries to an arm when she was attacked by a lion at an Australian zoo. The Darling Downs Zoo says the woman, aged in her 50s, was watching animal keepers working in the Queensland state zoo’s carnivore precinct on Sunday morning when she was attacked. A zoo statement said she was flown by helicopter from the rural town of Pilton to the state capital Brisbane where she underwent surgery. Her condition was stable. Several news media have reported the woman lost the injured arm. The zoo says staff are working with government workplace safety investigators to determine how the incident happened.

Thousands celebrate baby hippo Moo Deng's first birthday at Thailand zoo

CHONBURI, Thailand (AP) — Thousands of fans have flocked to Thailand's Khao Kheow Open Zoo to celebrate the first birthday of Moo Deng, the baby pygmy hippo that has become a social media sensation. Starting Thursday, the zoo launched a four-day event featuring free entry for children under 12. Fans from around the world, including the U.S. and Malaysia, traveled to see Moo Deng, who charmed visitors with her playful antics. The zoo also held auctions for Moo Deng-themed items to support animal care. Pygmy hippos, native to West Africa, are endangered, with only 2,000-3,000 left in the wild.

Joey Chestnut reclaims title in Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest, wins 17th Mustard Belt

Famed competitive eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut has reclaimed his title at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest after skipping last year’s event. The 41-year-old from Westfield, Indiana, secured his 17th Mustard Belt in 20 appearances before cheering fans at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. He had missed the 2024 competition over a contract dispute involving a deal he had struck with a competing brand, the plant-based meat company Impossible Foods. Defending champion Miki Sudo won her 11th title in the women’s division. The event, held outside the original Nathan’s Famous restaurant, dates back to 1972 and draws large crowds of fans.

Snake on a plane delays a flight in Australia

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian domestic airline flight has been delayed for two hours after a stowaway snake was found in the plane’s cargo hold. The snake was found on Tuesday as passengers were boarding a Virgin Australia flight at Melbourne Airport bound for Brisbane. Snake catcher Mark Pelley said turned out to be a harmless 60-centimeter green tree snake. Because the snake is native to the Brisbane region, Pelley suspects it escaped from a passenger’s luggage during a flight from Brisbane to Melbourne. The snake is a protected species. It has been given to a Melbourne veterinarian to find a home with a licensed snake keeper.

China's humanoid robots generate more soccer excitement than their human counterparts

BEIJING (AP) — Humanoid robots have captivated fans in Beijing with a fully autonomous soccer match powered by artificial intelligence. On Saturday, four teams of robots competed in a 3-on-3 tournament, marking a first in China and previewing the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games. Organizers highlighted that the robots operated independently, using AI-driven strategies without human intervention. Equipped with advanced sensors, they navigated the field and even stood up after falling, though some needed assistance. Tsinghua University’s team won the final match, defeating China Agricultural University 5–3. The event reflects China’s push to develop AI-powered robots, using sports as a testing ground.

What's that in the sky? We're not sure, but the fireball was very bright

McDONOUGH, Ga. (AP) — An object bright enough to be seen streaking across the midday sky has fallen across parts of the Southeast U.S. The National Weather Service in Peachtree City, Georgia, says the object was likely either a meteor or space junk. Most of the reports of sightings came from Georgia and South Carolina around 12:30 p.m. Thursday. Authorities say someone in Henry County, Georgia, reported a rock came through their roof about the time they heard the sonic boom from the fireball. The weather service posted photos of a hole in the ceiling about the size of a golf ball and reported a crack in a laminate floor.

An Alaska brown bear has a new shiny smile after getting a huge metal crown for a canine tooth

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) — An Alaska brown bear at the Lake Superior Zoo in northeastern Minnesota has a gleaming new silver-colored canine tooth after a first-of-its-kind procedure. The 800-pound bear named Tundra was put under sedation Monday and fitted with a new titanium alloy crown. The zoo says it's the largest dental crown ever created. The hour-long procedure was done by Dr. Grace Brown, a board-certified veterinary dentist who helped perform a root canal on the same tooth two years ago. Brown plans to publish a paper on the procedure in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry later this year.