News of the World

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Dear readers, please don't hate  cats!

Cats classified as 'invasive alien species' by Polish scientific institute

Study found that cats hunt and kill birds and other wildlife
but cat lovers are responding to the new accusation

The study, headed by PASIFIC biologist Wojciech Solarz, found that the damage that cats cause in terms of hunting and killing birds and other wildlife was enough justification to consider the animals invasive.

The "Felis catus" species, otherwise known as the house cat, was entered into a national database powered by the academy’s Institute of Nature Conservation — which holds 1,786 other species — and it heard no objection to that.
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The scientist told the AP that the public may have been become upset by false accusations that the institute was pushing to euthanize feral cats.

In an appearance on independent broadcaster TVN, Solarz mentioned that cats kill 140 million birds in Poland every year.
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The institute emphasized that it was only recommending that cat owners limit the amount of time their pets spend outside during bird breeding season.

Becky Robinson, president and founder of the Bethesda, Maryland-based, Alley Cat Allies — a leader in a global movement to protect cats and kittens — is skeptical, however, that other parts of the world, such as Australia and New Zealand, won't continue efforts to get rid of cats.

Texas' Trump-themed burger joint draws in tourists

The 'Trump Tower' is a 16-ounce burger with American cheese and 'Trump' sauce

A Donald Trump-themed burger joint in Bellville, Texas, about 50 miles west of Houston, has become a big tourist draw and hit with the locals after opening in 2020, according to a profile this week in the Houston Chronicle.

Roland Beainy, a second-generation Lebanese American, opened Trump Burger just before the last presidential election, serving meals like the "Trump Tower," which is a 16-ounce burger with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and "Trump" sauce.
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Every burger comes with "Trump" branded on the bun. The menu also jokingly features a "Biden burger," which is just one ounce of beef for the tall price of $50.99.

US Navy developing water-based drones to combat
China 'pacing challenge' but wary of 'unproven technology'

One way that the Navy has identified water-born drones as an affordable but effective means of delaying that challenge: the Navy’s 5th Fleet has already deployed smaller drones of this nature in waters off the Middle East.

Four of the largest drones currently deployed will take part in a multi-nation naval exercise in the Pacific Ocean during the summer.

The drones would allow the Navy to maintain fleet size in comparison to China’s own growing fleet while hitting three targets: weapons range, scouting, and command and control. The technology also would avoid costly mistakes that have arisen with traditional ships in recent years.
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The Navy’s budget for the new fiscal year includes $433 million for "crewless surface vessels."

But retired Navy officer Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va., urged caution in just throwing "all the resources at (robotic ships)" after years of failed ship programs, even though supporters highlight the cost-saving benefit of building drones over ships.

 Sadly, this wasn't a good weekend for actresses at all.

Pat Carroll, actress who voiced Ursula
in Disney's 'The Little Mermaid,' dead at 95

The Emmy Award-winning actress passed away at her home on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, while recovering from pneumonia, according to Variety.
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Carroll found a niche as a comedian on the late-night circuit beginning in the 1940s, and voiced several cartoon characters through the years before earning an Emmy for her work on "Sid Caesar’s Hour."
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She costarred as Prunella in a 1965 production of the musical version of "Cinderella," and worked on "Laverne & Shirley," "Busting Loose," "The Ted Knight Show" and "She's The Sheriff."

Other appearances included "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "The Love Boat," "Designing Women" and "ER."
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In 1989, she played the villainous sea witch Ursula and sang "Poor Unfortunate Souls," a role she once said was one of her all-time favorites.