Offbeat
The most recent Offbeat stories.
Secret Chinese wartime factory to open as resort
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China is to create a tourist resort in a giant cave used by the former Nationalist government as a secret aircraft factory during World War II, the official Xinhua news agency said.
Russian rat shortage on eve of Year of the Rat
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Moscow pet shops are reporting a run on rats, as keen astrologically-minded Russians snap them up ahead of the New Year, which is the Chinese Year of the Rat, Interfax news agency reported.
'Missing' swimmer found at home
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Surf lifesavers say a large-scale search for a man reported missing at Scarborough yesterday could have been avoided if he had told friends he was leaving the beach.
Newlyweds caught up in drag racing from church
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A newly married couple feared for their lives after their chauffer-driven car was caught street racing in Sydney's west.
Giant shredder helps purge bad memories of 2007
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New Yorkers who suffered a tough 2007 took their anger out on photographs of ex-husbands, old letters and annoying mobile phones, consigning their bad memories to a giant shredder.
Suspected burglar gets trapped in pub chimney
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Firefighters in Alice Springs have rescued a man who was trapped in a chimney for more than 10 hours.
Japan's inmates dislike 'unstylish' pyjamas: survey
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Japanese prisoners dislike their unstylish pyjamas, feel their cells are too small and want better meals, a government survey has found.
Dead mouse falls out of Christmas cracker
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A New Zealand woman who pulled apart a Christmas cracker got more than the party hat and joke she had expected, finding a dead mouse.
Brothers hand out Christmas cash at mall
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Shoppers in the US got a Christmas Eve surprise when a pair of brothers handed out $US100 notes at a mall on Long Island in New York.
Clinton urges Iowa voters to caucus on wrong day
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US Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton may have shot herself in the foot trying to get Iowa voters to pledge support to her by encouraging them to go caucus on the wrong date.
Researchers unveil seven great 'medical myths'
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Reading in dim light will not hurt your eyes, you do not need eight glasses of water a day to stay healthy and shaving your legs will not make the hair grow back faster.
Kyrgyzstan touted as Santa's new home
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Seeking a novel remedy to revive its rickety economy, the tiny ex-Soviet state of Kyrgyzstan has declared itself the new home of Santa Claus.
Malaysian referee pulls out red card, then a gun
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A Malaysian referee took out his gun and fired warning shots in the air after a local soccer match turned unruly following the suspension of a player, a newspaper said.
Pigeon poo plunge wins New Yorker $7m
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A former New York doorman who slipped on a pile of pigeon droppings on a subway station's stairs has been awarded over $7 million in compensation.
'Silent' Xmas song climbs the NZ music charts
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An unusual music CD has made it to the big time in New Zealand this Christmas.
Driver fined, 20 years after cutting corner
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The long arm of the law has finally reached a Queensland man who was convicted today for a driving offence he committed in Alice Springs 20 years ago.
Prehistoric fish named after fossil hunters
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Two amateur fossil hunters from the outback town of Andamooka in the far north of South Australia say they have been given the Christmas present "from hell".
Grenades tumble out at tollgate
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Serbian officials say boxes of hand grenades tumbled out of a Serb Army truck when the driver pulled up to pay his highway toll.
Chinese city bans public Christmas trees
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A Chinese city has beaten the Grinch at his own game, banning Christmas trees from shopping malls, restaurants and other public places because they pose a fire hazard, a newspaper reported.
Russian railways seek help from dancing robots
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Russian railways want tiny robots to replace humans in difficult maintenance work, and they want Russian-made androids that can dance and talk.
Foam blast tames 3.3m anaconda
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Finnish firefighters called to help a pet owner with his agitated and aggressive anaconda succeeded in taming the dangerous beast by spraying foam on it.
Snaky smell helps squirrels stay safe
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It is scary being a little, tasty squirrel, but some species of the rodents have come up with an intimidating camouflage: snake smells.
Japan's defence minister braces for aliens
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As Japan takes a more active role in military affairs, the defence minister has more on his mind than just threats here on Earth.
Pedestrian charged for walking over car
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A pedestrian has been charged with damaging property after walking over a car that was parked illegally on the sidewalk in Greece's congested capital.
US prisoners escape in Hollywood style
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US police are hunting for two prisoners who escaped from a New Jersey jail in a breakout reminiscent of the Hollywood film The Shawshank Redemption.
