Euro News

Bordeaux, France just surpassed Paris in a new ranking of the world's most beautiful cities, with Europe dominating nine out of the top 10 spots. The rankings are based on buildings that adhere to the 'golden ratio' for balanced and harmonious structures. Venice takes the lead as the most beautiful city, followed by Rome and Barcelona in second and third place respectively. Despite iconic landmarks, Paris lands at 12th place. In fifth place is the only non-European city to make the top 10: New York City.

9 Out of 10 of the World’s Most Beautiful Cities Are in Europe, Says New Ranking

BBC News

A museum in Dorset, England,  has been crowned the UK’s quirkiest lavatory stop after winning big at the 2025 Loo of the Year Awards.

The Sherborne, housed in the restored 18th Century Sherborne House, picked up the Quirky Award for its “beautiful and sumptuous” toilet facilities — which have become a surprise hit with visitors.

“This is exactly the sort of thing we’d love to be known for,” said chief executive Liz Gilmore. “We do have the most gorgeous and flamboyant toilets. We couldn’t be prouder.”

Describing them as “an experience in themselves,” Gilmore highlighted the vivid design touches: the women’s loos are filled with tropical birds and plants, complete with red velvet furniture. The men’s feature an underwater theme with “gorgeous fish and incredible hues of colour.”

The museum, which reopened in 2024 following a three-year, multi-million pound restoration, was nominated for the award by an anonymous member of the public. Gilmore sees the win as more than just a talking point.

“It’s recognition of what we’re trying to do culturally — for the town, for the whole region,” she said. “Every aspect of the restoration thought about meticulous attention to detail.”

The Sherborne’s toilets are free to use, whether or not visitors are exploring the museum.

Now in its 38th year, the Loo of the Year Awards celebrate outstanding public toilets across the UK and Ireland, judged on accessibility, cleanliness, design, and overall user experience. The overall winner, and recipient of the coveted Golden Loo Seat Trophy, was Cardiff’s St David’s Dewi Sant shopping centre.

Still, for The Sherborne, the Quirky Award might be the most memorable prize of all — and just one more reason to visit.

‘Gorgeous and Flamboyant’: Museum Wins Award for its Unforgettable Toilets

Russell Curwen, a volunteer blood biker who died while delivering emergency medical samples in 2018, has been posthumously awarded the Elizabeth Emblem — a national honour given to families of public servants who die in the line of duty.

The emblem, named after the late Queen Elizabeth II and first introduced in 2024, was presented during a ceremony at Kendal Town Hall on Monday. It was handed to Russell’s father, Kenny Curwen, by His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria, Alexander Scott.

“Russell has never left us,” his father said during the ceremony. “You just don’t imagine you’re going to be in this position. Russell was always there and when we lost him we thought we had lost him forever — but we haven’t.”

Russell, who was 49 at the time of his death, volunteered with North West Blood Bikes, a charity that transports urgent medical items such as blood and pathology samples between hospitals and labs. He died on 5 May 2018 after his motorcycle collided with a car in Lancaster while responding to an emergency call. An inquest later found that he had gone through a red light using blue lights and sirens when the crash occurred.

Coroner James Newman, who issued a prevention of future deaths report, stressed that the report was not a criticism. Instead, it called for clarity around the legal framework for emergency exemptions to road traffic laws when applied to blood bike charities and similar volunteer groups.

Russell’s death sparked an outpouring of support from the motorcycling community. Before his funeral, nearly 500 riders took part in a procession through Kendal to honour his service.

Westmorland and Furness Council described the Elizabeth Emblem as “a permanent national tribute to Russell’s selflessness and sacrifice, and a symbol of the profound gratitude owed to him for his service.”

Lee Townsend, vice chairman of North West Blood Bikes, called Russell “a great guy” who gave his time to help others.

This marks only the second time the Elizabeth Emblem has been awarded in Cumbria, underscoring the significance of Curwen’s dedication and the lasting impact of his volunteer work.

Volunteer Blood Biker Honoured Posthumously with Elizabeth Emblem for Ultimate Sacrifice

At 79 years old, Cath Lyon has finally clocked off — more than six decades after she first joined the NHS.

Known affectionately as “Mamma Cath” by colleagues at Hull Royal Infirmary, she started her career on August 1, 1962, when she was just 16. On Monday, she officially retired from her role as a staff nurse in the emergency department, ending an extraordinary 62-year run of service.

“I have loved every minute of it,” Cath said. “Just being able to help patients when they need it, even if it’s something as simple as making them a drink or fetching them a blanket.”

Cath’s career began as a white cadet, balancing nursing studies with administrative tasks in the X-ray and pharmacy departments. Her first job as a staff nurse was in neurosurgery — a time she remembers fondly, especially the luxury of having a night cook who would make staff “any food you wanted.”

She later became a night sister, a role that no longer exists and has since been replaced by site matrons. But for the past 20 years, she was a fixture in the emergency department, a steady and familiar presence during some of the hospital’s busiest shifts.

She’s seen the NHS change dramatically over the years. “Everything was pen and paper when I first started, there were no computers,” she said. “The hospitals are also much busier than they used to be.”

Asked what it takes to be a good nurse, Cath was characteristically matter-of-fact: “A good pair of hands and a good brain.”

Now a grandmother of four, she said she’s looking forward to spending more time with her family.

Her colleagues say she’ll be deeply missed.

“Cath is the kind of nurse who becomes the heartbeat of a place,” said Matron Emma Jones. “Her legacy is stitched into the walls of the emergency department. She kept us going through the hardest nights with perfectly timed midnight snacks, and she never allowed standards to slip.”

Jones called her “caring, honest and endlessly devoted,” and praised her example of “compassion with backbone, humour with authority and love for patients and colleagues that never once clocked off.”

“We will miss you, Mamma Cath,” she added.

‘Mamma Cath’ Retires After 62 Years of Nursing, Just Shy of Her 80th Birthday

It was a night of celebration, canine charisma, and a landmark victory at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday as a Doberman pinscher named Penny took home the top prize at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Penny emerged victorious after two days of competition featuring more than 2,500 dogs representing over 200 breeds. She beat out six other finalists in the Best in Show round, judged by how well each contender matched the ideal standards for their breed.

Along with the trophy, ribbons, and national bragging rights, Penny now holds the distinction of winning the milestone 150th edition of Westminster — the most prestigious title in American dog shows.

The final seven featured a diverse and highly competitive lineup. Alongside Penny, there was Zaida the Afghan hound, JJ the Lhasa apso, Cookie the Maltese, Graham the old English sheepdog, Cota the Chesapeake Bay retriever, and Wager the smooth fox terrier.

Beyond the finalists, plenty of dogs won over the crowd with charm, quirks, and personality. Calaco, a hairless Xoloitzcuintli, strutted around the ring like he owned it. Beamer the vizsla hopped into a handler's equipment box to the audience's delight. Storm the towering Newfoundland drew laughs by leaping onto his handler mid-ring. And Oliver the golden retriever had fans cheering so loudly it drowned out the announcer. Then there was Lumpy the Pekingese, whose name alone had the crowd chanting.

One breed made its Westminster debut this year: the Danish-Swedish farmdog. A small, agile working dog, the breed was officially welcomed to the show in 2026. A dog named Millie advanced to the evening round after besting her fellow farmdogs earlier in the day. For longtime enthusiasts like Brita Lemmon, who began working to establish the breed in the U.S. back in 2000, it was a proud moment. “It’s been a very exciting journey,” Lemmon said.

The show also spotlighted lesser-known stories of devotion and determination. Joseph Carrero, a heavy equipment operator from Indian Springs, Nevada, walked the ring with Dezi, his 190-pound Neapolitan mastiff. Carrero had dreamed of owning a "Neo" since he was a teenager. He started showing after a breeder's encouragement, and now breeds and handles his dogs himself — all while holding down a full-time job. “It’s really hard for us to do this, but we enjoy it, and he enjoys it,” Carrero said.

For Natalee Ridenhour of Royse City, Texas, the Westminster ring was a full-circle moment. Boerboels — large South African guard dogs — had once played a role in how she met her late husband. On Tuesday, she and a Boerboel named Invictus took part in the show. Though they didn’t make it past the opening round, Ridenhour was beaming. “Honestly, the big win is: You’re about the 50th person who’s gotten down in his face and loved on him,” she said as a visitor gave Invictus some well-deserved attention.

But in the end, the spotlight belonged to Penny. Her win marked not just a personal triumph, but a defining moment in Westminster history — a Doberman pinscher earning top honors in the show's landmark year.

Penny the Doberman Pinscher Wins Best in Show at Westminster's 150th Anniversary

Fox News

Washington, D.C. has a new arrival — and she’s already making headlines.

In the early hours of Monday morning, a baby Asian elephant was born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, the first elephant birth at the zoo in nearly a quarter century. The 308-pound female calf arrived at 1:15 a.m. inside the Elephant Trails exhibit, with animal care and veterinary staff on hand to oversee the delivery.

The newborn’s mother, 12-year-old Nhi Linh, is a first-time mom. According to the zoo, she’s doing well and has been closely bonding with her daughter since the birth.

“After waiting nearly 25 years for an Asian elephant calf, this birth fills us with profound joy,” said Brandie Smith, director of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. “When you see the calf and those heartwarming interactions with the herd, I hope you’ll be inspired to help save this endangered species.”

Asian elephants are classified as endangered, with fewer than 50,000 left in the wild. Habitat loss, disease, and human conflict continue to threaten their survival, making successful births like this one especially meaningful.

The calf was born after a 21-month pregnancy — the longest gestation of any land mammal — and her arrival was part of a breeding plan developed through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan. The program is aimed at preserving genetically healthy populations in zoos nationwide.

Nhi Linh, who was born in Rotterdam and came to D.C. in 2022, stands about 2.3 meters tall and weighs around 3,000 kilograms. She’s described by zookeepers as “go with the flow” and energetic. The father, Spike, is one of the zoo’s largest residents at 3 meters tall and 6,000 kilograms. Born in 1981, he has sired calves at other zoos, though none have survived — making this birth a first for him as well.

Photos released by the zoo show the calf nestled beside her mother just hours after birth, surrounded by staff. While the public can’t see the calf just yet, officials say her debut will depend on her health, behavior, and weather conditions.

In the meantime, animal lovers can help choose her name. The zoo has launched a public vote, with a $5 donation counting as a vote. All proceeds go toward elephant care and conservation. The four Vietnamese name options are:

• Linh Mai, meaning "spirit blossom"
• Thảo Nhi, meaning "gentle and beloved"
• Tú Anh, meaning "bright and intelligent"
• Tuyết, meaning "snow," in reference to a recent winter storm in D.C.

Voting closes at noon on February 13, with daily updates posted online. Admission to the zoo remains free, and no special ticket will be required to visit Elephant Trails when the calf is ready for visitors.

For now, the baby elephant is staying close to mom, taking her first steps into the world — and into hearts across the country.

National Zoo Welcomes First Baby Elephant in Nearly 25 Years

NBC News

A New Jersey high school basketball game turned into a life-or-death emergency when 16-year-old Tahsir Carter collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest. Thanks to a rapid response by an athletic trainer and two doctors in the crowd, Carter is alive and recovering at home.

The incident happened on January 27 during a varsity game at Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale. Carter, a junior at Teaneck High School, had stepped off the court to get water while the game was paused for another injury. That’s when he suddenly dropped to the floor.

“I heard someone say ‘Man down, need an AED,’ so I ran over there,” said Peter Koeniges, the school’s athletic trainer. By the time he arrived, two doctors who had been watching from the stands were already by Carter’s side.

Koeniges immediately used his AED to deliver a shock to Carter’s heart and followed it with CPR. The quick action kept Carter alive until paramedics arrived.

He was taken to Hackensack Hospital, then transferred to Mount Sinai, where doctors diagnosed him with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy — a heart condition sometimes referred to as “athlete’s heart.” It’s often undetected in young athletes and can trigger sudden cardiac arrest with no warning signs.

Carter had a small defibrillator implanted last Thursday to help prevent future episodes. Just days later, he was walking again with his mother.

“It’s still shocking,” Carter said. “I’m glad to be here, glad I had the support of people to help me.”

His mother, Lattice Chess-Story, called the response “divine intervention.”

“You couldn’t have asked for a better crew in an emergency situation,” she said. “The way they acted so fast is the reason Tahsir is still here.”

She added that Carter wasn’t without oxygen for long, which made all the difference. “That makes all the difference when you revive a person,” she said.

Carter credits Koeniges and the two doctors with saving his life. “I’m very grateful he was there and that he reacted quickly so I’m still here,” he said. “I plan on seeing him soon and I thank him a lot.”

Koeniges emphasized the value of preparation and routine emergency drills. “Everything we did ahead of time is what made the positive outcome for this young man,” he said. “Rehearsing it as often as you can really helps.”

Carter is expected to return to school in Teaneck by the second week of February. After what he’s been through, he’s now thinking about a future career in sports medicine or athletic training.

A Teen Basketball Player is Recovering After Cardiac Arrest on the Court Thanks To Quick Action By This Trainer

The Cool Down

When a shopper in Salisbury, England picked up a dusty Zeiss Ikon Baby Ikonta camera for just £10 at a local thrift shop, they expected a bit of vintage flair — not a historical time capsule.
The camera, built in the 1930s, came with an unexpected surprise: a roll of used film still tucked inside. Recognizing the potential value, the buyer brought the find to Ian Scott at the Salisbury Photo Centre, a local expert known for handling delicate film.
It turned out to be a smart move. After careful processing, Scott uncovered a handful of remarkably well-preserved photographs. The images showed scenes from a ski trip and an outdoor luncheon, all captured decades ago and never seen until now.
“With old film, you never quite know what condition it might be in or whether it has been damaged by light or dust over time. It was amazing how clearly the photos came out after so many years,” Scott said.
One of the images contained signage referencing Cow & Gate, a longstanding baby food company in the UK. The business, tagged in a social media post, replied, “It’s so special to see Cow & Gate featured in memories like this. Thanks for bringing these unseen images back to life.”
It’s the kind of discovery that reminds shoppers why secondhand stores hold such unique appeal. Beyond the discounts and sustainability perks, thrifted items sometimes come with lost stories — or, in this case, lost snapshots — that connect strangers across time.
The lucky buyer remains unnamed, but their instinct to check inside the vintage camera ended up rescuing nearly a century’s worth of memories from permanent obscurity.

A £10 Thrift Store Find in England Turned Out to Hold 90-Year-Old Secrets

A group of high school students in Coronado, California is turning backyard fruit into lifelines for families in need — and they’re doing it one weekend at a time.

The student-led effort is part of a program called Coronado Crops, now in its third year. Run by the volunteer group Emerald Keepers, the initiative asks local residents to donate excess fruit from their gardens. High school interns then pick it, box it, and deliver it to the Imperial Beach Neighborhood Center Food Pantry.

“Since 2024, Coronado Crops has successfully harvested and donated more than 1,400 pounds of fresh produce,” the group wrote on Facebook. “Our goal is to double that amount this year but we need your help!”

The fresh fruit donations help fill a critical need. According to the San Diego Food Bank, nearly 850,000 people in the county struggle to access three nutritious meals a day. Fresh produce — particularly ripe fruit — is one of the hardest things to come by in food banks, where non-perishable goods are more common.

The program doesn’t just help families. It also helps homeowners who are overwhelmed by over-productive fruit trees. Left alone, fallen fruit attracts pests like rats or ends up in landfills, where it releases methane as it rots. It’s an easy way for residents to support both their neighbors and the planet, without spending a dime.

Emerald Keepers makes the process simple. Residents can fill out a quick online form or email the group directly to schedule a weekend pickup. The interns do the rest.

One commenter on the Coronado Times praised the program for returning for another year.

The effort is small-scale but significant, especially in a country where more than 80 million tons of food are wasted annually, according to the nonprofit ReFED.

With students stepping up to bridge the gap between local abundance and growing need, Coronado Crops is proving that a little fruit — and a few committed teenagers — can go a long way.

High School Students are Combatting Hunger and Food Waste by Collecting Excess Fruit for a Local Pantry

Gizmodo

Rescue crews came up with an innovative solution to assist a hiker lost on one of the tallest mountains in Colorado in January.

The Summit County Sheriff’s Office released this footage, which was captured by a drone equipped with thermal imaging. In the video, the hiker can be seen waving up at the drone, which then drops a flashlight to him.

According to CBS Colorado, a 19-year-old hiker was stranded on Quandary Peak, located in Summit County, after he was caught in a snowstorm. It was getting dark and the hiker’s phone battery was nearly dead, which would have left him without a source of light.

The sheriff’s office managed to locate the hiker and provide him with a flashlight, which assisted him in navigating down the mountain. He eventually met up with rescue teams and was reunited with his grandparents, CBS reported.

Creative Rescue Team Used a Drone to Drop a Flashlight to a Stranded Hiker

Smithsonian Magazine

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo just got a whole lot cuter.

In the early hours of February 2, a female Asian elephant calf was born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) in Washington, D.C., marking the first elephant birth there in more than two decades.

Weighing in at 308 pounds and standing 98 centimeters tall, the calf was born at 1:15 a.m. after a 21-month pregnancy. Zoo staff performed an exam shortly afterward and described her as “healthy, alert and bright-eyed.”

“She was born very quickly after the signs began,” said Robbie Clark, the zoo’s elephant manager and acting curator of Elephant Trails. “I’m honestly still absorbing what happened. I haven’t slept since she was born.”

The calf is the first offspring of 12-year-old Nhi Linh, who came to the zoo in 2022 as a gift from the Rotterdam Zoo in the Netherlands. Her father is Spike, a 44-year-old bull on loan from Zoo Miami since 2018. Their pairing was the result of careful planning under the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan, which aims to increase the genetic diversity of endangered animals in human care.

Clark described Nhi Linh as “feisty and rambunctious,” while keepers say Spike is easygoing. Genetics, health, and temperament all played into the decision to breed the two.

The newborn is not yet on public view and may remain behind the scenes for several weeks while she bonds with her mother, the herd, and animal care staff. For now, the calf and Nhi Linh are separated by a barrier, but they can hear and smell each other. Caretakers say that Nhi Linh is the only elephant responding to the calf’s calls, a promising sign.

“Once we can secure that bond — and typically, the magic point is nursing — then we’ll give them a little time to learn how to orientate around each other,” Clark explained.

To mark the occasion, the zoo is inviting the public to help name the calf. Through February 13 at noon, fans can vote for one of four Vietnamese names by donating at least $5 to the zoo’s Asian elephant conservation efforts. Each dollar equals one vote. The options are:

Linh Mai (“spirit” + “apricot blossom,” associated with Lunar New Year)

Thảo Nhi (“gentle little one”)

Tú Anh (“talented and intelligent”)

Tuyết (“snow,” in honor of her winter birth)

The winning name will be announced later this month.

This birth is a milestone for a species that needs every bit of help it can get. Fewer than 52,000 Asian elephants are left in the wild, scattered across South and Southeast Asia. They're now 10 times more endangered than African elephants, according to Peter Leimgruber, NZCBI’s director of conservation and science.

“Many of the things we learn here — technologies, the science — we can directly transfer to these places [where the animals live],” Leimgruber said.

Staff are already doing that, he added, from tracking hormone levels to guide breeding, to sharing tools for monitoring reproductive health and selecting genetically diverse pairs.

The zoo has been monitoring Nhi Linh closely for months. In late January, staff noticed a significant drop in her progesterone levels — a key sign that labor was near. By January 25, the team began a 24/7 watch for more obvious signs, like tail flapping and abdominal contractions.

Then, just after 12:30 a.m. on February 2, came a visible “bulge,” a sign the calf had entered the birth canal. Within 30 minutes, Nhi Linh’s water broke and the calf was born.

The last Asian elephant born at the zoo was a male named Kandula, delivered in 2001. He left for the Oklahoma City Zoo in 2015. His mother, Shanthi, lived out her life at the National Zoo and passed away in 2020 at the age of 45.

This time, it’s Nhi Linh’s turn — and so far, all signs point to her being a devoted mom once that first connection is made.

“She’s alert. She’s listening,” said Clark. “And she’s the only one responding to her calf.”

In a few short weeks, the zoo hopes mother and daughter will be inseparable — and ready to meet a public eager to say hello.

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