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

The Guardian

A loyal dog who spent 10 years beside his late owner’s grave has inspired a new state law in São Paulo, Brazil, that allows pets to be buried alongside their humans.

The legislation, already nicknamed the Bob Coveiro (“the Gravedigger”) Law, was signed this week by São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas. It formally recognizes the deep emotional bond between people and their pets, and permits the burial of dogs and cats in family plots, provided the grave rights belong to the pet owner’s family.

Bob, the long-haired mixed-breed dog at the heart of the story, gained national affection for his steadfast loyalty. After his owner died in 2011, Bob refused to leave her grave in the Taboão da Serra cemetery, about 20 kilometers from São Paulo’s city center. Despite repeated attempts by relatives to bring him home, Bob always found his way back. Eventually, cemetery staff adopted him, building a kennel for him on site and caring for him for the rest of his life.

Beyond guarding the grave, Bob became something of a gentle mascot. Nicknamed “the Gravedigger,” he was known to follow funeral processions, often carrying a ball in his mouth, offering what many mourners saw as a small gesture of comfort in times of grief.

In 2021, Bob was fatally hit by a motorcycle after leaving the cemetery grounds. There was no legal provision for animals to be buried in human graves at the time, but the city council made an exception. Bob was laid to rest next to his former owner.

Public reaction was overwhelming. The local NGO Patre, which works with stray animals, led a successful crowdfunding campaign to install a statue of Bob in the cemetery. The plaque beneath it reads: “Our tribute and gratitude for your lessons in love and loyalty. In the face of grief, [Bob] taught us to ‘offer little balls’ and attention when others need it most.”

The new law’s co-author, conservative state deputy Eduardo Nóbrega, wrote online: “Anyone who has lost a pet knows: it’s not just an animal. It’s family.”

He added that the new rules offer a more affordable and meaningful option than cremation, which can be costly and often forces families to dispose of remains in undignified ways.

São Paulo is not the first state in Brazil to legalize pet burials in human cemeteries. Similar laws are already in place in Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina, and a federal bill is currently awaiting debate in Congress.

The issue hasn’t been without resistance. In Paraná’s city of Apucarana, councillors initially opposed the idea in 2024, calling it inappropriate for “sacred ground.” But after public debate, the proposal passed.

For supporters, the Bob Coveiro Law is about more than burial rights — it’s a tribute to the bond that defies words, and sometimes, even death.

This Dog Who Guarded His Owner’s Grave for a Decade Just Inspired a New Burial Law in Brazil

Talker News

Whipsnade Zoo is celebrating a colourful new arrival: a rare François’ langur baby born on February 1 — and he’s turning heads with his vibrant orange fur.

The endangered monkey, born to 10-year-old mom Nguyen and 9-year-old dad Wang, is part of an international conservation breeding program aimed at saving the species, which numbers fewer than 2,000 in the wild.

Unlike the sleek black coats of adult langurs, infants are born a vivid orange — a striking contrast that serves a purpose. “It’s an evolutionary quirk thought to allow parents to easily spot their youngsters when they’re being cared for by other members of the troop,” said a zoo spokesperson.

Amanda Robinson, Whipsnade’s section manager of primates, said the first clue came not from staff but a curious visitor. “We knew Nguyen was expecting, but when we completed our morning rounds on Sunday, she hadn't given birth yet,” Robinson explained. “Only an hour later, when a visitor began asking us questions about an ‘orange monkey,’ we knew that could only mean one thing!”

The baby’s birth is more than just adorable — it’s significant. Native to China and northern Vietnam, François’ langurs are threatened by illegal hunting, particularly for their meat and use in traditional medicine. As a result, managing healthy zoo populations is seen as a vital safeguard against extinction.

“Sadly, it’s estimated that only 2,000 of these primates remain in the wild, so every birth is a ray of hope for the species,” Robinson said.

The newborn's vivid colour won’t last long — it will gradually darken to match the rest of the troop — so visitors are encouraged to stop by soon. “I’d definitely recommend coming to see him in his home at Monkey Forest whilst he's still tangerine,” said Robinson.

Bright Orange Baby Monkey Born at UK Zoo Offers Hope for Endangered Species

USA Today

Golden retrievers took center stage — and every street corner — in Golden, Colorado, on Saturday, as thousands of dogs and their humans gathered for the annual Goldens in Golden event.

The free celebration, held each February near International Golden Retriever Day (February 3), has become the world’s largest unofficial gathering of the famously friendly breed. This year’s turnout set a new record: 5,500 golden retrievers and more than 16,000 people descended on a city with a population of just over 20,000.

The morning kicked off with golden retrievers posing for group photos under the city’s iconic Welcome Arch — three separate times. Tumbleweeds of golden fur collected in the streets while crowds cheered on dogs in a fashion show, and voters cast ballots in a “Golden Election” that crowned a golden retriever named Cash as the new Canine Mayor.

For Maddi Smith, who brought her golden Davis from Loveland, Colorado, the event is about more than photos. “I just feel in love with how kind they are, how cuddly. They’re just your best friend,” she said. “They’re born without mean bones.”

Some dogs hitched rides on their owner’s shoulders when the streets got crowded. Others played in a park designated for puppies or mingled in a “senior zone” for older dogs near a fire hydrant sign.

Golden Mayor Laura Weinberg said it’s “probably one of the happiest days in the city all year.”

“You see a lot of happy people and pets,” she said. “Golden retrievers are very friendly dogs. They also seem to have very friendly and community-minded owners that come out with them to the event.”

Fans came from 44 U.S. states and nine other countries, including Canada, Australia, France, and Argentina. What started in 2019 as a local winter event to boost foot traffic has grown into a major tourism draw.

“The first quarter has for a long time been one of the slowest times in Golden and for our small businesses,” Weinberg said. “Some of our businesses say that this day is their busiest day of the year.”

Hotels, restaurants, and vendors all saw a boost. At one bar, two golden retrievers sprawled across the floor in front of the bathroom, forcing patrons to pet them before passing — earning the nickname “the golden gate.”

This year’s event expanded to accommodate the surge: pet-friendly shuttles ran from remote parking lots, vendor areas were spread throughout the city, and festivities stretched from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

First-timers Charla Cameron and Maria Loredo traveled from San Diego as a retirement gift for their 11-year-old golden, Monty, a former bed bug detection dog. “It’s amazing,” Cameron said. “It’s cool to see an event catered to dogs.”

Others, like Jonathan Carley from Thornton, Colorado, came to celebrate his birthday with his golden Bubba. “I couldn’t think of a better place to be,” he said.

Rescue groups were also well represented. Maeve and Miles, two goldens adopted from Colorado-based shelters, showed off matching flower garlands and wagged their way through the crowd.

Even some non-golden breeds tried to sneak in — two black Labradors came in disguise, wearing golden manes to blend in.

Ashley Bailey, who made the trip from Ogden, Utah, with her goldens Cinder and Lottie, summed up the event in four words: “This is so much fun.”

And in a town named Golden, for one day every year, it really does feel like goldens rule the world.

City of Golden Turns Into a Sea of Fur As 5,500 Golden Retrievers Take Over for Annual Celebration

GoodGoodGood

What if, instead of building a wall to keep people out, we knit a blanket to welcome them in?

That’s the question Los Angeles artist Jayna Zweiman posed back in 2017, when she launched the Welcome Blanket project in response to the Trump administration’s plans for a U.S.–Mexico border wall. Her idea was simple but bold: collect 2,000 miles worth of handmade blankets — the same length as the proposed wall — and give them to immigrants and refugees as a gesture of warmth, humanity, and belonging.

She hit her initial goal fast. Thousands of crafters sent in packages, helping her surpass 6,000 blankets in record time.

So she made the goal even bigger.

Now, Zweiman wants to gather enough blankets to encircle the globe — 24,901 miles in total. That would take an estimated 36,521 lap-sized blankets, each measuring 40 inches by 40 inches. So far, she’s received around 8,000.

“Taking part in Welcome Blanket is a tangible way to recognize and celebrate our global humanity,” Zweiman writes on the project’s website. “My hope is for Welcome Blanket to become a new American tradition and for every refugee family to receive this symbolic and practical gesture.”

Crafters can knit, crochet, sew, or quilt their blankets. Some are displayed in galleries before being sent to resettlement organizations, while others go directly to families. Each comes with a letter or message from the maker. Some are stitched into the fabric, like a square that reads, “you belong here,” or a hand-sewn tag that simply says, “welcome home.”

Zweiman is no stranger to crafting as activism. She also co-founded the Pussyhat Project, the sea of pink hats that became a symbol of protest during the Women’s Marches in early 2017. It’s one of the largest crowd-sourced art projects in history.

“[My] innovations in craftivism have been rooted in design strategies to make spaces and systems for people to connect through craft,” Zweiman explained.

Welcome Blanket takes that vision and expands it. In a time of polarized immigration debates and hard borders, this project asks something gentler: What would it look like to respond with care? To send a message — stitched, square by square — that says, you matter?

The blankets aren’t just practical. They’re powerful. And as long as there are people willing to pick up yarn and needles, this global gesture of welcome keeps growing.

Blankets Instead of Barriers: How This Artist Aims to Wrap the World in a Warm Welcome

Good News Network

On her 29th birthday, Shedly Appolon nearly lost everything — her life, and that of her unborn child. Instead, thanks to a quick-thinking stranger, she’s now holding her newborn daughter and calling her a miracle.

Appolon was driving along I-95 in Martin County, Florida, when she started feeling dizzy behind the wheel. Moments later, her car veered off the highway and plunged into a nearby pond.

Confused and scared, she called her fiancé and told him she was “in the water” before the phone went dead. Meanwhile, her car was tilting forward, water rising through the footwells and the doors sealed shut.

“I tried to open my driver’s side door and my passenger door, but they were both submerged in water, so I couldn’t get out,” Appolon told WPBF. “I started feeling water on my feet. So, I started to panic a little.”

As the car filled with water, Logan Hayes — a complete stranger — didn’t hesitate. Witnessing the scene unfold, he shed extra layers of clothing, sprinted to the edge, and dove in.

He reached the car just in time.

“When he swung that door open, I was like, you are an angel,” Appolon said.

Experts say opening a car door once it’s submerged is nearly impossible. The water pressure makes it far too difficult unless you act quickly before the car goes under, or you break the glass. Even that requires tools and composure most people don’t have in a moment of panic. Hayes managed to beat the water, unlocking the back door just before it was too late.

Emergency responders rushed Appolon to the hospital, where doctors decided to perform an emergency C-section due to the trauma and stress. Her baby, Ivory, was born seven weeks early, weighing just under 1.8 kilograms.

Her fiancé, who had rushed to the hospital after that panicked phone call, arrived shortly after the delivery. Ivory, now safe in her parents’ arms, is being called a “miracle baby” by Appolon — a fitting title after the events of that day.

Hayes said he doesn’t feel like a hero. “I was just happy to be at the right place at the right time,” he told local media.

Right place, right time — and just in time.

Heroic Bystander Saves 8-Month Pregnant Woman from Sinking Vehicle – She Gave Birth Hours Later

BBC News

It took more than three decades, but Bee Costello-Bates finally walked across the stage to receive her university degree.

Costello-Bates, who lives in Hereford and now works as a journalist, completed her Bachelor of Arts in Politics at the University of Bristol back in 1993. But at the time, she skipped graduation—her father had just received a devastating diagnosis, and the moment never felt right.

"Not attending my graduation ceremony was always at the back of my mind, and it was something I regretted not doing, especially after seeing my nieces and nephews graduate and enjoy the experience so much," she told BBC News.

On Wednesday, that regret was put to rest. With her 11-year-old daughter and husband cheering her on, Costello-Bates finally donned a cap and gown at the Wills Memorial Building, officially collecting her degree.

The moment came full circle in more ways than one. After years in journalism and public relations, Costello-Bates reconnected with her alma mater through the Bristol Mentors scheme, a programme that pairs current students with alumni mentors. Her involvement led to mentoring students like Holly Smithurst, a history and Spanish graduate who was interested in journalism.

Smithurst described Costello-Bates as “a real inspiration.”

"Bee went above and beyond to support me. Her advice and knowledge were absolutely amazing, and she went through all the options available to me," she said. "It's great that she's graduating, and I hope she has a wonderful day."

Costello-Bates said mentoring has become "one of the most fulfilling experiences" of her career.

Imogene Halsey-Dudley, the university’s head of alumni engagement, said the school is grateful for her ongoing support.

“These students are from underrepresented groups and often face wider challenges than their peers, and the help given by mentors like Bee is invaluable,” she said.

From missing her own milestone to helping others reach theirs, Costello-Bates’ return to Bristol wasn’t just about a diploma—it was a moment of joy, reflection, and giving back.

This Politics Graduate Got Her Degree 33 Years Later, With Her Daughter by Her Side

YR - Aurora News

Richmond Hill is inviting residents and visitors to explore its cultural hotspots — and rewarding them for doing it.

The city’s new Passport to Culture program lets participants collect digital stamps as they visit museums, art galleries, public art sites, and live events across the community. Those who collect six stamps by December 1, 2026, can enter to win a cultural prize pack that includes an overnight stay at the Sheraton Hotel and tickets to a show at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts.

From outdoor concerts and guided tours to tucked-away galleries and festivals, Richmond Hill’s cultural offerings are available year-round — and the program is designed to be flexible and family friendly.

Here’s how it works: visitors can use their phones to scan QR codes posted at participating locations such as the Heritage Centre, the David Dunlap Observatory, downtown art spaces, and special events. Each scan instantly adds a stamp to your digital passport.

Most locations are free to access, though some programs may require admission or advance registration.

The initiative is timed to encourage discovery during Family Day, March break, and weekend getaways — but since it runs all year, locals can take their time and revisit sites as seasons change.

To get started, visit RichmondHill.ca/RHCulture or simply scan the QR code at any participating location.

Richmond Hill Launches ‘Passport to Culture’ With Prizes for Exploring Local Attractions

Sunny Skyz

What started as a frozen disaster for one Philadelphia teacher quickly turned into an internet sensation—and a heartwarming twist.

After a winter storm and a stretch of subzero temperatures, 24-year-old Tianna Graham found her 2016 Honda Civic completely encased in a thick sheet of ice. Graham, a fifth-grade math teacher at Community Academy of Philadelphia, shared a video of the frozen vehicle on TikTok. It exploded overnight, racking up tens of millions of views.

In the background of her video? A towering Carvana car vending machine. The coincidence didn’t go unnoticed. Carvana saw the viral moment and reached out with an unexpected invitation.

When Graham arrived at the vending machine with her mother and sister, she was hoping for a small discount on a replacement. Instead, she watched as a shiny 2022 Honda Civic descended from the machine, decked out with a giant red bow. The car came packed with school supplies—and even an ice pick, just in case.

“I was shocked, in disbelief,” Graham said. “It’s a beautiful car.”

According to Carvana, the car—with about 28,000 miles on it—will be completely free once the paperwork is finalized.

Graham is already planning her first drive: a trip to Ocean City, Maryland, to attend a National Federation of the Blind convention with her sister, who is blind. Graham is also working on a graduate degree to become an orientation and mobility specialist, helping blind individuals navigate the world independently.

Reflecting on the viral turn of events, Graham said simply, “All things do happen for a reason. Anything bad that is happening, something good can always come out of it.”

Carvana Replaces Teacher's Car After Police Advice Leads To It Freezing Solid

Africa News

At this year’s Rio Carnival, the thunderous beat of progress will be led by a woman.

For the first time in the history of Brazil’s most iconic celebration, a samba school’s main drum section — long considered the male stronghold of Carnival — will be led by a woman. Laísa Lima, a lifelong samba devotee, will take centre stage as the head of percussion for the Arranco do Engenho de Dentro samba school during Saturday’s parade at the famed Sambadrome.

"I don't know who started this business of saying that percussion instruments were not for women," Laísa said. "Many drum sections banned women from participating. Fortunately, that taboo was broken."

Laísa's roots in samba run deep. Her father was a renowned carnival designer and director, and by age 16, she was already leading the tambourine section of the celebrated Beija-Flor samba school. She later honed her percussion skills at Arranco — the very school she now leads.

The Rio Carnival runs from February 13 to 21, with 15 samba schools competing for a coveted spot in the “Special Group,” the top-tier league of the annual competition. Each school fields up to 4,000 performers, and each must move in harmony — in choreography and rhythm — with the heart of the parade: the drum section.

"There are 250 in the drum section this year," said Laísa. "Two hundred and fifty hearts beating in the same cadence, with the same purpose and conquering the same aim."

That rhythm is no longer reserved for men. At Arranco, around 30 percent of the drummers are women — a figure still rare among samba schools, but growing steadily.

"Many people have that old belief that women are the weaker sex,” Laísa said. “However, the drum section is not about masculinity or strength. It's about feelings and about people management.”

The rise of women in samba percussion has been decades in the making. Thalita Santos, a drummer and conductor, has spent years working to promote women in the craft — through community projects, local performances, and small neighbourhood groups known as blocos, where many female percussionists first hone their skills.

“Many women who dance learn to play. Many women who play learn to dance,” said Thalita. “Nowadays in carnival, women can occupy any space, be it dancing or playing.”

She added, “It's no longer a division where women dance and men play. That’s fortunately over. Now we are in the process of increasing the number of women playing."

Saturday’s parade will be another step forward — a reminder that Carnival is evolving, and that tradition and transformation can share the same beat.

Women Break Rhythmic Barriers at Rio Carnival, With First-Ever Female Leader of Major Drum Section

Smithsonian Magazine

Sitting in his family’s New York City living room, 14-year-old Miles Wu wasn’t expecting a piece of paper to change how he viewed the world. But after folding and testing variations of a centuries-old origami technique known as the Miura-ori, Wu found that a simple sheet—when folded correctly—could support more than 10,000 times its own weight.

That surprising discovery launched Wu from a curious teen with a passion for paper folding into the national spotlight, earning him the $25,000 top prize at the 2025 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, the most prestigious STEM competition for U.S. middle school students.

“I was really shocked by how much [weight] these simple pieces of paper could hold,” Wu said.

Wu, a ninth grader at Hunter College High School, had already spent six years folding origami for fun. But in 2024, he started exploring how it might intersect with science and engineering. What began as a hobby turned into a full-on research project after he learned how origami structures were being used in stents, catheters, and even spacecraft.

One pattern in particular caught his attention: the Miura-ori, a fold famous for its ability to collapse and expand in one motion. Invented by Japanese astrophysicist Koryo Miura, the fold has been used in space missions to deploy solar panels. Its strength and compactness made Wu wonder—could it also be used here on Earth, especially in disaster zones?

Inspired by wildfires and hurricanes in the U.S., Wu began asking how to create emergency shelters that were strong, fast to deploy, and affordable—something existing designs rarely achieve all at once. He wondered if origami could fill the gap.

To test the strength of various Miura-ori designs, Wu created 54 pattern variants and ran 108 trials using different types of paper. He used a scoring machine to ensure precision and converted his family’s apartment into a lab, eventually buying 50-pound exercise weights after household items like books and pans weren’t heavy enough.

“I assumed the strongest design would hold around 50 pounds,” Wu said. “But they held up to 200. I needed heavier weights just to make them break.”

The most impressive design held more than 10,000 times its own weight. To visualize that, Wu said, “it’s like a New York City taxicab supporting the weight of over 4,000 elephants.”

Wu’s winning project stood out not just for its research depth, but for its relevance. “He transformed a lifelong passion for origami into a rigorous structural engineering project,” said Maya Ajmera, president of Society for Science, which runs the challenge. “He really distinguished himself through creativity, leadership, and scientific inquiry.”

Engineers were impressed too. Glaucio Paulino of Princeton University, a leading expert in origami-inspired structures, called Wu’s project “an excellent parametric exploration” of how fold geometry affects strength.

That said, Paulino noted that scaling up to full-size emergency shelters comes with challenges. “Strength doesn’t scale linearly,” he said. Larger structures would need to handle complex forces and include joints, arches, and design features to handle real-world loads and stresses.

Wu knows the road ahead is long. He’s already thinking about new tests—measuring how his folds perform under multidirectional forces—and developing shelter prototypes using curved or modular Miura-ori sheets. His ultimate goal? To turn folded paper into life-saving architecture.

“I definitely want to keep exploring how origami intersects with STEM,” he said. “This is just the beginning.”

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