Reuters: Oddly Enough

A new wrinkle in smoking enforcement...

Tue, 13 May 2008 02:14:52 +0530

TOKYO (Reuters) - Cigarette vending machines in Japan may soon start counting wrinkles, crow's feet and skin sags to see if the customer is old enough to smoke.

Man pokes shark in eye during attack

Mon, 12 May 2008 22:20:31 +0530

SYDNEY (Reuters) - An Australian swimmer survived a great white shark attack by poking the creature in the eyes as it dragged him through the water after badly savaging his left leg.

Olympics bonuses tailored to prevent squandering

Mon, 12 May 2008 22:19:55 +0530

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand is offering its athletes big cash incentives for Olympic gold medals -- but will pay out in installments to stop them squandering it.

Nepal king makes animal sacrifices to power goddess

Mon, 12 May 2008 22:19:20 +0530

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepal's King Gyanendra, facing imminent ouster from the throne, made perhaps his last royal public appearance at a shrine outside Kathmandu on Monday and offered annual prayers to Kali, the Hindu goddess of power.

Men charged after skull dug up, used as bong

Fri, 09 May 2008 22:57:15 +0530

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Authorities in Texas have filed corpse-abuse charges against two men who allegedly removed a skull from a grave and used it as a bong.

Chef wants to outlaw out-of-season vegetables

Fri, 09 May 2008 22:56:53 +0530

LONDON (Reuters) - Celebrity British chef Gordon Ramsay said restaurants should be fined if they serve out-of-season fruit and vegetables.

"Self-important and irritating"

Fri, 09 May 2008 22:56:29 +0530

LONDON (Reuters) - England is an irritating and insular country full of overweight, binge-drinking, reality TV addicts, a new guide warns tourists.

Book lifts lid on star of eerie first Dracula film

Sat, 10 May 2008 00:22:06 +0530

BERLIN (Reuters) - The first screen portrayal of Dracula was so eerie, some critics asked whether the actor himself could be a vampire. But since his death, little has been done to resurrect Max Schreck's reputation -- until now.

Royal jewels, rare watches to test auction market

Fri, 09 May 2008 22:55:23 +0530

GENEVA (Reuters) - Auction houses offering royal jewels and rare luxury watches in Geneva next week shrug off any suggestion that the global economic downturn will dampen what they say is still a strong market for high-end pieces.

Woman fired for giving 16-cent treat to toddler

Fri, 09 May 2008 17:12:26 +0530

TORONTO (Reuters) - An attendant at a Canadian restaurant who was sacked for giving a bite-sized doughnut, worth 16 cents, to an agitated toddler was given her job back on Thursday after the case received wide media attention.