Buddhist monks pass halfway mark on 2,300-mile Walk for Peace through US

Despite injuries, walkers and pet dog continue trek to promote ‘peace, loving kindness and compassion’ in the US

Kindness of strangers: stranded on a tiny Indonesian island, a local took us under her wing

Noticing how out of place we looked, she asked in English if she could help us

Six great reads: Mondrian’s hidden inspiration, the friendship secret and heat for Heated Rivalry

Need something brilliant to read this weekend? Here are six of our favourite pieces from the last seven days

Horses leap through flames and pets go to church in Spanish animal rituals honoring St Anthony

SAN BARTOLOME DE PINARES, Spain (AP) — Hundreds of Spaniards watched horses gallop through towering flames, hours before pet owners in Madrid on Saturday took their dogs and cats to church to be blessed with holy water.

My cultural awakening: an Eddie Izzard routine inspired me to learn French

Being able to understand the comedian talking in French in his Dress to Kill show led to me learning several languages and working on the continent

‘I always knew my dogs loved the wind on their faces’: Thiago Bernardes de Souza’s best phone picture

When the Brazilian photographer heads out on his motorbike, his rescue pets come along for the ride …