A library in high-tech Estonia is getting children to read out loud to dogs to boost their confidence, reading and social skills with a little help from man's best friend.

Tentel the long-haired Afghan Hound, a peppy Golden Retriever named Elli and a fluffy Newfoundland named Leero lend their ears at the library in the eastern city of Tartu twice a month.

A Philadelphia television news reporter covering the aftermath of a snowstorm in New Jersey has gotten pelted by snow from a passing plow.

WTXF-TV's Steve Keeley was blasted with a wall of snow from the plow Monday morning while reporting live from the side of a road in Woodstown.

A farmer in central Minnesota has created a towering tribute to winter's excess.

Greg Novak says he's invested hundreds of hours to build a 50-foot snowman named "Granddaddy" that he hopes will wake onlookers from their winter doldrums. And he admits it has some neighbors questioning his sanity.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has taken a quick time out for some baby talk as he heads overseas to deliver a strong diplomatic message of U.S. support for Ukraine's government against a Russian military incursion.

Officially, the late-night stop in New York was to refuel Kerry's plane before flying to Kiev, where he is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian leaders on Tuesday afternoon.

A huge snake has won a life and death battle against a crocodile in Australia, swallowing the animal whole after a lengthy struggle before amazed onlookers.

Travis Corlis, who watched the fight at Queensland's Lake Moondarra, near the mining town of Mount Isa, on Sunday, said the snake, thought to be a python, was about 10 feet (three meters) long and "healthy looking".

Six luxury humidors fetched more than $1.1 million Saturday at the gala closing the 16th annual Cigar Festival in Havana.

The humidors were packed with Montecristo and other prestigious cigars along with a painting by Cuban artist Zaida del Rio.

Sci-fi flop "After Earth" starring Will Smith and son Jaden earned three Golden Raspberries on Saturday at the annual Razzie worst-of film awards, Hollywood's hall of shame.

A day before the Oscars, spoof comedy compilation "Movie 43" won worst picture, while Adam Sandler, a perennial Razzie favorite, went home empty-handed despite being nominated in seven categories.

Newly minted Oscar winner Jared Leto delighted journalists on Sunday by promptly inviting reporters to fondle his coveted statuette.

The 42-year-old star picked up the ultimate accolade of an honor-laden awards season for his performance as an AIDS-stricken transgender woman in "Dallas Buyers Club."

Two female prison workers have been fired for compelling inmates at the facility to give them massages, officials in Ecuador said on Friday.

The women, employees at a men's prison in the port city of Guayaquil, were found out when security cameras captured one of them reclining, receiving a foot and shoulder massage from an inmate.

Atlanta police are searching for a woman dressed in a Waffle House uniform who walked into a restaurant pretending to be an area manager — and left with about $100 in cash from the register.

The heist happened shortly after 6 a.m. Wednesday at one of the chain's 24-hour diners on the city's southeast side.