Army sniffer dog Sasha given top military award

An army sniffer dog who died six years ago in Afghanistan is to be awarded the highest military award for animals.

L/Cpl Rowe and Sasha his sniffer dog

Sasha, a yellow Labrador, was trained to hunt out explosives and make sure areas were safe for fellow soldiers.

She died with partner Lance Corporal Ken Rowe in a Taliban attack in 2008.

The animal charity the PDSA, which gives the award, says the Dickin Medal is the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross - the highest military honour a person can receive.

Col Neil Smith QHVS, who is in charge of the Army's animal unit, said: "Sadly, this award is posthumous as both Sasha and her handler, Lance Corporal Ken Rowe, were killed in enemy action in Afghanistan in 2008.

Sasha will be the 65th animal to receive the PDSA medal

The PDSA says that Sasha's skill helped save the lives of many soldiers and civilians.

From CBBC newsround

Zonkey baby, part zebra, part donkey, born in Mexico

A really rare animal has been born in Mexico.

It is a cross between a donkey and a zebra.

This type of animal can be called a zonkey or a zedonk.

Take a look at the cute baby.

From CBBC Newsround

What to do if a jellyfish stings you?

Prime Minister David Cameron has been stung by a jellyfish while on holiday on the Spanish island of Lanzarote.

There are lots of myths about what to do when a jellyfish stings you like urinating on it, but that could actually make things worse.

So what do doctors advise?

Jellyfish

There are about 200 different species of jellyfish. Most live for only a few weeks, but some are known to survive a year or longer.

Their bodies vary in size from about 2cm to 40cm wide but some species are a lot larger and can be up to 2 metres wide.

Blue jellyfish

What to do if a jellyfish stings you?

Most jellyfish stings are mild and don't require treatment, or you can treat them yourself.

However, dial 999 if there are severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, or if a large or sensitive area of the body like the face has been stung. In the worst cases jellyfish stings can kill.

Someone stung by a jellyfish should be treated out of the water and they should stay as still as possible because movement can make things worse.

Any remaining tentacles should be removed using tweezers or a clean stick. An ice pack on the affected area will help too.

                         Jellyfish can occur in all oceans. 

Applying shaving cream to the affected area will help prevent the spread of toxins.

Use a credit card or shell to remove any small poisonous sacs that are stuck to the skin.

After a jelly fish sting, any pain and swelling can be treated with painkillers.

What not to do?

Though lots of people talk about urinating as a treatment for a jellyfish sting it's unlikely to help and could even make things worse.

Vinegar is no longer recommended either and other substances like alcohol and baking soda should also be avoided.

Source: Advice comes from NHS

Baby seal visits city in Sweden!

A baby seal has been attracting a lot of attention in Sweden!

It was spotted in Sundsvall city's harbour having apparently lost its way while swimming in the Baltic Sea.

Local residents turned up to meet the pup, which seemed in no hurry to get back to its swim.

It's not unusual for seal pups to leave their parents when they're 2-3 weeks old.

The seal population is big at the moment, so it may be the first of many visits to the city!

Americans construct tiny houses – and new lives

More and more Americans are building tiny houses, drawn to the prospect of financial freedom and a smaller ecological footprint. Gianna Palmer reports on the growing movement from Charlotte, North Carolina.

When Sicily Kolbeck first told people she was planning to build her own house, they often assumed she meant a doll house. "I got a lot of, 'That's cute,'" Sicily recalls.

In reality, Sicily, 13, aimed to become part of a burgeoning movement. Sicily didn't have any construction expertise when she read about these scaled-down houses online and was inspired to build her own.

"I would make forts, but those were made of blankets," she says. Sicily isn't so different from many fellow tiny house builders in this respect.

"Most folks who are interested in tiny houses don't have any building experience," says Ryan Mitchell, 30, who runs TheTinyLife.com and organised the inaugural Tiny House Conference earlier this month in Charlotte, North Carolina.

But building smaller doesn't necessarily mean easier, as tiny houses generally use the same materials and building conventions as traditional houses.

READ MORE

From BBC Magazine

Animal lovers go crazy for London's cat café

London's first cat café has given cat lovers the purrrfect opportunity to enjoy a hot drink with some furry friends.

The café opened its doors in March and is already a huge success, with 3,000 bookings made within its first hour.

In fact, Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium is so popular it's booked up until June.

Popular in Japan, cat cafés are a haven for lovers of all things feline, where customers can stroke, pet and coo over the animals.

One of the friendly faces at the cat café

"The idea is you can come have a peaceful lunch or high tea and be surrounded by cats. If you're lucky one of them will fall asleep on your lap," said Anna Kogan, co-owner of Dinah's.

The café has 11 cats, donated by people leaving the country or unable to care for them.

Anna says she plans to adopt more cats if they get the go-ahead from the local council.

From CBBC Newsround

Cat cafe opens in London, the purr-fect cup of coffee