Interesting & funny news from around the world, Интересные и забавные новости со всего мира

[Быкоросёнок]

Equine extraction: Stuck pony rescued from tractor tire

An animal rescuer in England came to the rescue of a pony that somehow ended up completely stuck inside a large tractor tire.

RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Nicola Riley responded to the property in Stoke-on-Trent where the pony was found on its side, trapped inside the tire.

Local residents helped lift the tire while Riley worked to extract the equine.

"It was a very delicate rescue," Riley said in an RSPCA news release. "The poor pony was completely wedged against the tire and understandably very scared and uncomfortable."

"We had to take a staggered approach to free him safely — first easing out his front feet, then carefully working his shoulder free before finally releasing his neck and front end. Thankfully, everyone worked really well together and we managed to get him out without causing any injury," she said.

Riley said she stayed with the pony for about an hour after the rescue to make sure there were no lingering effects from the ordeal.

"He soon returned to grazing and walking around the field again," she said. "But this could have ended very differently, so I'm really grateful to the local residents who stopped to help."

[Быкоросёнок]

[Annix]

Cheese-rolling legend beaten by German YouTuber
World Record holder Chris Anderson, 38, had come out of retirement after being challenged by YouTuber Tom Kopke.

The Gloucestershire cheese rolling contest's most successful ever competitor has been beaten by a German YouTuber.

World Record holder Chris Anderson, 38, was pipped to the finish line by Tom Kopke, 24, in the death-defying annual race - which sees contestants chase an 8lb double Gloucester cheese down the steep Cooper's Hill in Brockworth.
"This year's cheese will taste the sweetest of all the cheeses I have won," Mr Kopke said after the race.

Recent hot weather had made it firmer and more dangerous for the competitors - with temperatures soaring to past 30C in recent days.
This year's instalment gripped fans after Mr Anderson came out of retirement, following a direct challenge by Mr Kopke.

Mr Anderson, from Brockworth, has won the competition 23 times.

But since his retirement Mr Kopke, from Munich, had taken over the annual race, winning it the last few years.

[Annix]

[Быкоросёнок]

British man becomes world's oldest wing walker at 98

A 98-year-old British World War II veteran officially became the world's oldest wing walker when he stood atop a flying plane in England.

Harry Heasman spent more than 9 minutes atop the plane at a height of over 1,000 feet on Saturday at Duxford Airfield in Cambridge.

A Guinness World Records adjudicator was on hand to officially certify Heasman as the world's oldest wing walker.

"I have dreamed of doing this since I was a young child and to finally live that dream at 98 years old and to be a Guinness World Records title holder is beyond anything I could have ever imagined," Heasman told Guinness World Records.

The nonagenarian said he spent 11 months working with a physical trainer to get his body and mind ready for the attempt.

His record attempt raised money for the Lennox Children's Cancer Fund and served as a tribute to his wife and son, who both died after battles with cancer.

"Harry is proof that it is never too late to chase a dream. At 98 years old, what he has achieved is nothing short of extraordinary. Over the last few months, I've had the privilege of getting to know him and seeing the determination behind this challenge," said Lindsey Bidwell, a representative from the Lennox Children's Cancer Fund.

"To do this whilst raising money to help children with cancer, makes it even more special. Harry truly is a national treasure, and our team and the families he is raising money for will be forever grateful," she said.

[Быкоросёнок]

[Annix]

Trio sentenced over 'bear costume' insurance fraud scam in California
Three people have each been sentenced to 180 days in jail after a bizarre scam which saw someone in a costume damage luxury cars.
Three people have been jailed for insurance fraud after claiming their cars were damaged by a bear - only for the assailant to be somebody dressed in a bear costume.

The trio used a bear suit to stage the fake attacks inside a Rolls-Royce and two Mercedes in an effort to get their paws on $141,839 (£111,788) in insurance payouts.
Home surveillance footage submitted to an insurance company shows the so-called bear entering and damaging a 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost while it was parked near Lake Arrowhead, northeast of Los Angeles, on 28 January 2024.

Investigators later found two additional fraudulent claims submitted to separate insurance companies, involving different vehicles on the same date and in the same location.

Images released by the California Insurance Department (CDI) show minor scratches on the car doors and seats that were intended to pass for claw marks.
Detectives later discovered the bear suit inside one of the suspects' homes. The department had called the investigation "Operation Bear Claw".

Alfiya Zuckerman, 39, Ruben Tamrazian, 26, and Vahe Muradkhanyan, 32, all pleaded no contest to felony insurance fraud, and were on Thursday each sentenced to 180 days in jail, to be served through a weekend programme.

[Annix]

[Быкоросёнок]

Indian man earns world record for collection of 858 paper cups

An Indian man with a lifelong passion for collecting earned a Guinness World Record for his collection of 858 different paper cups.

Sunil Joseph, 57, told Guinness World Records his collecting habit started with stamps, coins and matchbook stickers when he was a young boy.

"This early curiosity evolved into a lifelong passion, leading me to curate diverse collections ranging from razor blade wrappers and airline boarding passes to coffee mugs and tea bags," he said.

Joseph earned his first Guinness World Record for his collection of 5,986 phone cards in 2014.

"The specific focus on phone cards, which led to my first major milestone, began in 1997. While looking through my brother's wallet — he was working in the Merchant Navy at the time — I discovered a phone card from the UAE. The design and the concept intrigued me so much that I began seeking out cards from every corner of the globe. Over the next 15 years, my collection grew to over 12,000 cards representing 245 different countries," Joseph said.

"Although I had thousands of cards, I submitted 5,986 for the official count to secure the title. While that specific category has since evolved and the record was eventually surpassed, I remain confident in the depth of my archive. However, rather than retaking that title, I have shifted my focus toward new challenges."

His latest challenge earned him the world record for the largest collection of paper cups. He said his 858 cups come from 31 different countries.

"This growth is rarely a solitary effort. My friends and relatives across various countries frequently contribute items they find, helping the collection expand far beyond what I could gather alone," he said.

Joseph said he has already filed an application for his next Guinness World Records title: the largest collection of wedding invitations, which is currently held by Sofia Sakalaki of Greece, who has 600 invitations.

[Быкоросёнок]

[Annix]

Monkeys eating soil to settle upset stomachs from junk food, says research
Chocolate, crisps and other similar foods have negative digestive effects for the macaques, but the soil can "alleviate" symptoms, researchers said.

Monkeys in Gibraltar have learned to eat soil to settle their stomachs from all the junk food they consume, research suggests.

Scientists believe the dirt helps the monkeys line the gut to stop irritation from foods which are "extremely rich in calories, sugar, salt and dairy".
The soil also provides bacteria and minerals missing from junk food offered or stolen from tourists, such as chocolate bars, crisps and ice cream.

The snacks have negative digestive effects for the macaques and can cause symptoms from nausea to diarrhoea, but the food is "as delicious for them" as it is for humans, according to a Cambridge University study.

Animals in frequent contact with Gibraltar's visitors were observed to eat more dirt, with this behaviour higher during peak holiday season.
The researchers think the behaviour is likely to have been learned socially as different troops of monkeys have preferences for certain types of soil.

Experts said the soil acts as a "barrier" in the digestive tract and limits the absorption of harmful compounds.
Dr Sylvain Lemoine, a biological anthropologist from Cambridge's Department of Archaeology, added: "This could alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms from nausea to diarrhoea.

"Soil may also provide friendly bacteria that helps with the gut microbiome.

"Non-human primates become lactose intolerant after weaning, so dairy is known to cause digestive issues in monkeys, and ice cream is hugely popular with Gibraltar's tourists and consequently its macaques."

[Annix]

[Annix]

Barbie event issues refunds after comparison with infamous Glasgow convention
Barbie Dream Fest in Florida had one attendee claiming they'd been "Wonka'd" – a reference to a disastrous Willy Wonka-themed event in Glasgow.
The organiser of a Barbie event in Florida is issuing refunds after photos from attendees drew mockery on social media – and a very unflattering comparison.

Barbie Dream Fest in Fort Lauderdale promised an interactive dream house, roller-skating party, fashion show, workshops, and more, with tickets ranging from $69 (£52) to $449 (£340).
But it didn't meet expectations for some fans, with the line-up of attractions – providing shots of pink in an otherwise rather dour-looking convention centre – being compared to an infamous Willy Wonka event in Glasgow.

That disastrous dedication to one of literature's most recognisable characters also saw refunds issued. Children were even left in tears, and police were called too.

There was no such intervention at Fort Lauderdale but one Barbie fan said on social media: "We got Wonka'd!"

A spokesperson for Mattel, which owns Barbie, has acknowledged the reaction after some attendees told Sky's US partner network NBC News of their experience.
Not the calibre of Barbie'

Brenna Miller, who paid nearly $500 (£379) for a VIP, three-day "Dream Pass", said the advertised dream house was nothing more than a 10ft tall cardboard cutout.

The roller-skating "rink", she said, was essentially an "animal pen" with sheets that said "roller disco". It only accommodated children, when promotional material had suggested adults could take part, she added.

"This was not the calibre of Barbie at all," she said.
Alexandria Dougan, 33, attended with her sister and niece, who was celebrating her seventh birthday.

Each adult spent $70 (£53) for a day pass and $30 (£23) for her niece, but they all left after about an hour.

Ms Dougan said the "humongous" hall was too big for the number of displays. Her niece was unable to experience the bike course because the only bicycles available were too small. The bigger ones had all broken.

She told NBC: "There should have been some type of overseeing of events or backup plan to make sure it is what you posted on social media, because it was not that."

What have organisers said?

In a statement to NBC News, a spokesperson for Mattel said the event was "created by Mischief Management, which licensed the Barbie brand from Mattel".

"We are working with Mischief Management, who are managing attendee feedback and issuing full refunds to everyone who purchased tickets," they added.

"We want every fan experience to be an excellent one."

Mischief Management confirmed it will be providing full refunds and thanked those who attended.

"Mischief Management is incredibly grateful to everyone who joined Barbie Dream Fest," the statement said.

"Bringing fans together - alongside Barbie role models, designers, partners, and global icons who embody the true spirit of Barbie - was at the heart of this event.

"Barbie Dream Fest was created as an intimate fan convention designed to foster meaningful connection, inspiration, and closer access to Barbie and her world."

[Annix]

[Быкоросёнок]

World's largest golf ball pyramid constructed on Texas course

A trio of golf fans paid tribute to their game of choice in Texas by assembling the world's largest golf ball pyramid from 19,019 balls.

Michael Furrh, Debbie Reynolds and Terri Janak led a team of volunteers in the golf ball pyramid construction at Benbrook Lake as part of the 2025 Benbrook Heritage Fest in September.

The finished structure was comprised of 19,019 balls, beating the record of 17,575, which was set by Pennsylvania man Zachary Krivda in 2022.

The record-breaking pyramid featured 38 rows of carefully stacked balls, and the team was not allowed to use any adhesive or other product to keep the balls in place. The base of the pyramid was braced by a custom-built wooden stage.

[Быкоросёнок]

[Быкоросёнок]

Wandering black bear visits two Massachusetts schools

A young black bear visited two Massachusetts schools as it wandered through Worcester with police in pursuit.

The bruin was spotted climbing over garden walls Thursday on Highland Street, prompting a lockdown at the nearby Doherty Memorial High School.

Students were kept inside until the bear left the area.

The animal was later spotted about two miles away, on the campus of Clark University.

Police said the bear eventually returned to the woods on its own, and environmental police are keeping tabs on it.

Dave Wattles, a black bear biologist with MassWildlife, said the bear appeared to be about a year and a half old, and had likely only recently separated from its mother.

He told WBZ-TV the bear is "essentially a teenager trying to find its own way in the world."

Wattles said bear sightings in the area are likely to increase as the animals enter their mating season.

[Быкоросёнок]

[Annix]

Jonathan, the giant tortoise, the world's oldest living land animal 'is alive' after getting caught up in alleged crypto scam
Reports of the nearly 200-year-old creature's demise were posted on X by a hoax vet account and Jonathan was later revealed to be alive and well.

A giant Seychelles tortoise, believed to be the world’s oldest living land animal, is alive and well after claims he had died turned out to be part of an alleged crypto scam.

Posts emerged on Wednesday claiming Jonathan, who is thought to be 193 years old according to the official website devoted to him, was dead.
The message read that he was "heartbroken" to announce that the "beloved" creature "has passed away today peacefully".

Describing himself as Jonathan's "vet for many years", he said: "Rest easy, old friend. You'll be missed more than words can say" and later thanked people "for the outpouring of love for Jonathan as we mourn his passing".

But the Friends of the British Overseas Territories, quoting the island's governor, Nigel Phillips, said "the real Joe Hollins does not have an X account, and that Jonathan the tortoise is alive. This account is soliciting crypto donations, has recently changed its username".

Mr Phillips "has confirmed Jonathan Tortoise is alive and well - he has just checked on him", he added.

[Annix]