Customers enjoy cuddling with pigs at a stylish Japanese cafe
TOKYO (AP) — At first, there were cafes that allowed pets. Then came cat cafes, and the latte took second place to cat interaction. Pig cafes have recently become popular in Japan. Dozens of people gathered at Tokyo's Mipig Cafe on a recent morning, taking selfies and smiling broadly. The miniature pig wandered around the room, looking for a comfortable lap to snuggle. For his first 30 minutes he pays $15 and a reservation is required. Mipig Cafe, located in fashionable Harajuku, is one of 10 pig cafes opening across the country. Known as “micro pigs,” these animals grow no larger than a Corgi dog as adults.
X suspends some searches for Taylor Swift as explicit deepfake images spread
Social media platform X has blocked some searches for Taylor Swift after pornographic deepfake images of her surfaced online. If you try to search for her name without the quotes on the site, you'll receive an error her message and be asked to try the search again. However, if you put her name in quotes, posts that mention her name will now appear. A sexually explicit and abusive fake image of Swift began circulating widely on X last week. That has made her the most high-profile victim of a scourge that tech platforms and anti-abuse organizations are struggling to solve. Company X executives said this is a “temporary measure” and “is being done out of an abundance of caution as safety is our priority in this matter.”
A judge denied the temporary conservatorship Mr. Scheer had sought on behalf of his son, but the matter is not over yet.
LOS ANGELES (AP) – A Los Angeles judge has denied Cher's request to have temporary conservatorship over her adult son. At a hearing Monday in a Los Angeles courtroom, a judge ruled that 47-year-old Elijah Blue Allman needs the court to administer his estate because he struggles with mental illness and substance abuse. I was not convinced by Cher's lawyer's argument that there was. Scheer watched the hearing remotely and appeared on a large screen in the courtroom, but he did not speak. The problem is not over yet. A hearing on Mr. Scheer's long-term conservatorship request for Mr. Allman is scheduled for March.
Dying thief who stole 'Wizard of Oz' ruby slippers from the Judy Garland Museum receives no jail time
DULUTH, Minn. (AP) – A near-death thief who confessed to stealing the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” was sentenced Monday to no prison time. . Terry John Martin, 76, stole the slippers from the Judy Garland Museum in the late actor's hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota in 2005. Martin's lawyer said Martin went straight, but he wanted to get “one last point.” His lawyer said Martin succumbed to temptation after being persuaded by an old mob-connected associate that the famous shoe contained real rubies. Instead, it is decorated with sequins and glass beads. Both sides recommended a prison sentence for Martin, saying he only had months to live.
Alex Murdaugh denied new double murder trial after judge hears allegations of jury tampering
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – A South Carolina judge has rejected a motion for a new double murder trial for Alex Murdaugh after hearing claims that jury tampering influenced the guilty verdict. Rejected. A man convicted of murdering his wife and son, disbarred as a lawyer, and admitting theft has appeared at a hearing. One juror questioned Monday said Colleton County Clerk Becky Hill's comments during the trial made it seem as if Murdaugh was already guilty. But her juror also said pressure from other jurors persuaded her to vote guilty. All 12 said they supported the guilty verdict, and all but one said they were unaffected by the clerk's remarks.
Minnesota state trooper accused of fatally shooting driver Ricky Cobb II makes first court appearance
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A judge has ruled that the Minnesota police officer charged in the shooting death of motorist Ricky Cobb II will be released without bail. A judge on Monday ordered Officer Ryan Londregan to surrender his passport and avoid contact with witnesses and Mr Cobb's relatives. The hearing was Wednesday's first since Ron Regan was charged with second-degree intentional homicide, first-degree assault and second-degree manslaughter in the death of Cobb, a 33-year-old black man. . The shooting happened in Minneapolis, where the police killing of George Floyd sparked global protests nearly four years ago. Cobb's relatives insist he will receive justice. Londregan's supporters say he was acting to protect himself and his fellow service members.
King Charles III discharged from London hospital after prostate surgery
LONDON (AP) – King Charles III and his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, have been released from a private London hospital following unrelated treatment that has made the royal family's health headline headlines in Britain. . The 75-year-old monarch was admitted to the London Clinic, and his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, also recently underwent abdominal surgery. Charles left the clinic on Monday. The monarch was diagnosed with the benign disease on January 17 after experiencing undisclosed symptoms. Charles was urged to cancel his engagement and rest before the procedure, which was to be completed by Friday afternoon. The king decided to announce the surgery in advance to encourage other men to undergo prostate examinations in line with public health recommendations.
N. Scott Momaday, Pulitzer Prize winner and giant of Native American literature, dies at age 89
NEW YORK (AP) — N. Scott Momaday, the Pulitzer Prize-winning storyteller, poet, educator and folklorist, has died at age 89. HarperCollins announced Wednesday that he died at his home in New Mexico. His debut novel, The House of Dawn, is considered the beginning of modern Native American literature. This book was published in his 1968 and tells the story of a soldier during World War II who struggles to return home. Much of it is based on Momaday's childhood in New Mexico and the conflict between the ways of his ancestors and the outside world. He was born in Oklahoma and was a member of the Kiowa tribe.
Prosecutors say “greed and revenge'' drove two men suspected of murdering Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay
NEW YORK (AP) — The trial of two men accused of killing Run-DMC star Jam Master Jay resumes Tuesday after opening statements and testimony on the first day of the long-drawn-out trial. . The jury heard testimony Monday from the crime scene investigator who collected the evidence and the detective who was first on the scene in the 2002 murder. Prosecutors say Ronald Washington and Carl Jordan Jr., both close friends with the pioneering DJ, were motivated by “greed and revenge” to ambush him at his recording studio. Prosecutors said he killed Jammaster Jay, a 37-year-old man who had broken out of a cocaine deal.
Toyota asks owners of older models of Corolla, Matrix and RAV4 to park until airbags are replaced
DETROIT (AP) – Toyota and General Motors are shutting down owners of about 61,000 older Corollas, Matrix, RAV4s and Pontiac Vibes because their Takata airbag inflators are at risk of exploding and splintering debris. We have told them to stop driving. Monday's emergency alert targets certain 2003 and 2004 Corolla compact cars and Matrix hatchbacks, as well as 2004 and 2005 RAV4 small SUVs. Also included are 2003 and 2004 Pontiac Vibes. Owners should contact the dealer rather than drive the car in. repair. Dealers offer options such as mobile repairs, towing your car to the dealership, and pick-up and delivery.
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