Reuters: Oddly Enough

Horny Goat Weed may offer Viagra alternative: study

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:31:35 -0400

LONDON (Reuters) - A Chinese herbal remedy called horny goat weed is a promising alternative to Viagra for impotent men, Italian researchers said on Monday.

Swiss high court strikes down Geneva smoking ban

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:57:15 -0400

GENEVA (Reuters) - Smokers in Geneva were given a reprieve on Tuesday after the top Swiss court struck down a ban on smoking in public places, in force since July 1, saying the local government had overstepped its powers.

Student celebrates $12 million lottery win

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:55:18 -0400

LONDON (Reuters) - The credit crisis and tight student budgets hold no fears for a British teenager who won 7 million pounds ($12.68 million) on the Lottery.

Prize goes to "Mickey Mouse" Venice idea

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:57:52 -0400

VENICE (Reuters) - A proposal to turn the lagoon city of Venice into a Disney-style theme park has won a prize from a famed Venetian academy, even though it rejected the idea.

Moscow super-rich pour millions into luxury homes

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:53:49 -0400

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The world outside may be in the thralls of crisis, with house prices plunging, markets slumping and banks collapsing; but Russia's cocooned super-rich can still spare 2.5 billion roubles ($99 million) for a Moscow townhouse apartment within strolling distance of the Kremlin.

Planes circle isle after controller overslept

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:54:03 -0400

ATHENS (Reuters) - Two airplanes due to land on the Greek island of Lesbos had to circle above the Aegean sea for more than half an hour because an air traffic controller overslept, police said Monday.

Prisoners allowed to order out restaurant food

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:03:50 -0400

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian prisoners are set to be allowed to order meals from any restaurant they choose after a trial run during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan was deemed a success, a senior security official said Saturday.

Shop checkouts, falling cup film vie for art prize

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:59:59 -0400

LONDON (Reuters) - A messy supermarket checkout flanked by a mannequin doll on a toilet will vie with a video of a teacup and saucer smashing on the floor for Britain's Turner Prize, one of the contemporary art world's top awards.

Move over priests-Nepal state names "living goddess"

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:58:43 -0400

BHAKTAPUR, Nepal (Reuters) - Nepal's new Maoist-led government has appointed a 6-year-old girl as a "living goddess" in the ancient city of Bhaktapur, for the first time snapping the link between the ancient ritual and the ousted monarchy.

Twins who swapped roles charged with fraud

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:10:50 -0400

ROME (Reuters) - An Italian woman who worked as a part-time judge as well as a lawyer was substituted by her identical twin sister in court so she would not lose out on legal fees when she had two simultaneous engagements.