Town seeks new life via $1/week rent
SYDNEY (Reuters) – An Australian rural community desperate to encourage new families to move in and revitalize the town is offering to rent farm houses to interested families for one Australian dollar a week.
Plan to lift smoking ban in small pubs
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Bowing to resistance to a smoking ban imposed on the nation’s bars and cafes more than two years ago, the new Dutch government has opted to partially reverse the health measure for small pubs.
Fur flies over ruling on Hello Kitty rabbit
TOKYO (Reuters) – Sanrio, the maker of Hello Kitty character goods, said on Thursday it planned to object to a Dutch court ruling that its rabbit character Cathy too closely resembled Miffy, a popular Dutch rabbit character.
Raccoons attack Georgia baby in her crib
A 9-month-old baby is in critical condition at an Atlanta hospital after she was attacked by two raccoons while sleeping in her crib in the same room as her mother.
Ashamed to be Detroit? Not this tiny Ore. town
Detroit – the one amid the conifers of Oregon and not to be confused with a certain Midwestern Motor City – will remain Detroit.
Domino’s Pizza to pay $31,000 for one hour of work
It’s a dream job for slackers. Domino’s Pizza Japan, Inc. is offering a 2.5 million yen part-time job in December.
Schwarzenegger son hosts rowdy party
Police say Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 17-year-old son was co-host of a rowdy alcohol-fueled Halloween party where Los Angeles officers cited several people for underage drinking.
Study: Crime leaves alone homes with big trees
The U.S. Forest Service has found a new branch of crime-fighting. A study by the service has found less crime occurs in neighborhoods with big trees in the yards and on the streets, and more crime at homes with smaller trees.
Zoo Atlanta giant panda gives birth to 3rd cub
A giant panda at Zoo Atlanta has given birth to her third cub, the only panda birth at a U.S. zoo so far this year.
Viral YouTube and World Cup octopus oracle Paul’s successor unveiled
Internet and World Cup seer Paul the OctopusA died last week , but his successor, also named Paul, was unveiled on Wednesday.
Town name change in question in UK
The British town of Staines is sandwiched between an airport and an industrial park, has been ridiculed by comedian Sacha Baron Cohen and is saddled with an unfortunate-sounding name.
Octopus oracle’s successor makes public debut
Paul the Octopus’ successor has made his public debut a ‘ but his keepers aren’t yet promising deep soccer insight from the youngster.
‘Superheroes’ arrested for assault
It was Spider-Man versus Captain America. But it wasn’t in a comic book. Police in Stamford, Connecticut, say they busted a man dressed as Captain America and another as Spider-Man, after they got into a fight.
No Male? No Problem For Female Boa Constrictor
By Mick Kulikowski, North Carolina State UniversityIn a finding that upends decades of scientific theory on reptile reproduction, researchers at North Carolina State University have discovered that female boa constrictors can squeeze…
Law curbs McDonald’s Happy Meal toys
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – San Francisco has become the first major U.S. city to pass a law that cracks down on the popular practice of giving away free toys with unhealthy restaurant meals for children.