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Swiss president celebrates 60th with anyone born on same day

Swiss President Simonetta Sommaruga is turning 60 on May 14 and is planning a party with a difference by inviting along all Swiss citizens who share her birthday. There were 94,372 births in Switzerland in 1960 -- the year Sommaruga was born -- meaning that the average maximum number of invitees would be around 258. Sommaruga is not taking any chances with potential gatecrashers and is asking prospective celebrants to submit a copy of their passport through the presidency website.

Superfan prays to Trump idol ahead of US President's India visit

Die-hard Donald Trump fan Bussa Krishna is celebrating the visit of his hero to India next week the only way he knows how -- offering prayers to a life-sized idol of the US President in his home. The 33-year-old has built the statue -- where he performs the Hindu prayer ritual "pooja" usually meant for deities -- in the backyard of his house in Jangaon district in India's southern state of Telangana. "Trump sir, you are my god," the devotee told AFP after performing the pooja.

'Owner' makes claim to ghost ship grounded off Ireland

The purported owner of a "ghost ship" grounded off Ireland's south coast after drifting crewless for more than a year has made contact with authorities, a government agency said on Wednesday. The 77-metre (250-feet) cargo ship MV Alta ran aground on rocks outside the village of Ballycotton near the southern city of Cork, during high seas caused by Storm Dennis last weekend. Under Irish legislation, the Revenue service acts as the "Receiver of Wreck" and has administrative responsibility for dealing with wrecked vessels.

'Ghost ship' washes ashore in Ireland after Storm Dennis

A "ghost ship" drifting without a crew for more than a year washed ashore on Ireland's south coast in high seas caused by Storm Dennis, the Republic's coast guard said. The abandoned 77-metre (250-feet) cargo ship MV Alta ran aground on rocks outside the village of Ballycotton near Cork, Ireland's second city, bringing an end to her months-long voyage. The Alta's odyssey began in September 2018 when she became disabled in the mid-Atlantic en route from Greece to Haiti.

Armed gang steals toilet rolls in panic-buying Hong Kong

A gang of knife-wielding men jumped a delivery driver in Hong Kong and stole hundreds of toilet rolls, police said Monday, in a city wracked by shortages caused by coronavirus panic-buying. Toilet rolls have become hot property in the densely packed business hub, despite government assurances that supplies remain unaffected by the virus outbreak. "A delivery man was threatened by three knife-wielding men who took toilet paper worth more than HK$1,000 ($130)," a police spokesman told AFP.

India's 'Usain Bolt' buffalo runner turns down sprint trial

A buffalo jockey in India has refused to take part in a track and field trial after his record-setting performance in a traditional footrace drew comparisons with Olympic sprint legend Usain Bolt. Srinivas Gowda and his buffaloes ran 142.5 metres in 13.62 seconds, setting a record in the annual race known as Kambala in the southern state of Karnataka.

Mexico's giant pandas are Chinese in name only

Xin Xin and Shuan Shuan are the main attractions at the Chapultepec zoo in Mexico City but what makes them truly unique, zoo officials say, is that they're the only giant pandas in the world not owned by China. Many young pandas born abroad in captivity are later repatriated to China, where the species originates.

Russian soldier rolls out tanks for romantic manoeuvre

A Russian soldier has pulled out all the stops to propose to his girlfriend, with his fellow officers manoeuvring 16 tanks to surround the couple in a heart shape. The high-octane romantic stunt was filmed in a video published by the defence ministry on Friday, Valentine's Day. Lieutenant Denis Kazantsev led his long-term partner Alexandra Kopytova into the centre as she held her hands over her eyes, the defence ministry's TV channel Zvezda reported.

Virus-hit Hong Kong says it with face masks, not flowers

Hong Kong's flower markets are lamenting dismal Valentine's Day sales as the city battles the deadly coronavirus outbreak, with admirers joking that a box of face masks is a better way to say "I love you" than a bouquet. Aman Fong, an art director at a flower shop in the district of Mong Kok, says the usually bumper week leading up to Valentine's Day has been horrendous for business.

Jellyfish hurl venom 'grenades' to snare prey

A species of jellyfish hunts its prey by hurling venom grenades to create "stinging water", researchers said Thursday, solving a long-standing mystery as to how they gather food without tentacles. The Cassiopea xamachana jellyfish, found in shallow waters around Florida, the Caribbean and Micronesia, is a frequent nuisance to snorkelers and surfers who appear to get stung without touching the creatures. It was thought that the stings came from detached tentacles or younger specimens.

Oxford Dictionary updates 'Yid' definition to include Tottenham fans

The Oxford English Dictionary has updated its definition of the word "Yid" to include "a supporter of or player for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club", publishers announced Wednesday. The word has often been deployed as a term of abuse against Jews but a section of Spurs' support has taken to using it in terrace chants. North London club Tottenham have traditionally drawn a significant number of fans from the area's local Jewish community and this has led to anti-Semitic abuse from rival teams.

Aussie croc wrangler joins Indonesia bid to save tyre-tied reptile

An Australian television personality has thrown his hat in the ring to help capture a giant Indonesian crocodile and remove a motorcycle tyre stuck around its neck. Matt Wright, host of National Geographic's "Monster Croc Wrangler" show, was on the island of Sulawesi Thursday with a team using traps baited with duck, a drone and even a harpoon in a bid to reel in the reptile. Wright told more than 200,000 followers on Instagram that the team had trapped a smaller croc on Wednesday "training for the main event".

Maple syrup-drinking Pospisil stuns top seed Medvedev

Rotterdam (Netherlands) (AFP) - Canada's Vasek Pospisil, who stunned fans by sipping maple syrup during the Montpellier ATP final at the weekend, continued his impressive form Wednesday when he defeated top seed Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-3 at the Rotterdam tournament.

World's oldest man crowned in Japan aged 112

A 112-year-old Japanese man has been crowned the world's oldest male, claiming that smiling is the key to longevity. Chitetsu Watanabe, who was born on March 5, 1907 in Niigata, north of Tokyo, was officially given the title at his nursing home in the city, Guinness World Records said Wednesday. The previous record holder, Masazo Nonaka, also Japanese, died last month at 112 years and 266 days.

World's most expensive whiskies go up for sale

Some of the world's rarest and most expensive whiskies went on sale on Friday in an online auction of a private collection amassed by a late US soft drink bottling tycoon. The Whisky Auctioneer company said its "Perfect Collection", which was built by the late Pepsi bottling company executive Richard Gooding, includes 100-year-old bottles believed to be worth more than a £1 million. The 3,900 bottles mostly comprise single malt Scotch whiskies that will be sold in two lots.

Teen who threw boy from UK gallery 'told of plan to kill'

A British teenager who threw a six-year-old French boy off the 10th floor of London's Tate Modern art gallery had said he planned to push someone off a high building, the BBC and Daily Mail reported Friday. The two news groups obtained a recording of Jonty Bravery, who has autism, reportedly telling care workers a year ago that "in the next few months I've got it in my head I've got to kill somebody". Bravery's care provider said they had "no knowledge or records of the disclosure".

Brazil mistakenly publishes robbed tourist's rant

A tourist who was robbed while vacationing in Rio de Janeiro posted a disgusted message online... only to have Brazil's national tourism board post it to its official Instagram account by mistake. Embratur, as the tourism board is known, shared the message on its own Instagram account Tuesday evening, leaving it up long enough for the gaffe to go viral before deleting the post.

Rubik's Cube "Mona Lisa" goes on sale in Paris

A street art Rubik's Cube version of the "Mona Lisa" is expected to sell for up to 150,000 euros ($166,000) when it goes under the hammer in Paris this month. Made from 330 Rubik's Cubes by the French artist Invader -- famous for his ceramic Space Invaders figures inspired by the vintage pixelated video game -- is called "Rubik Mona Lisa". It is the first of a series of works in which the artist has recreated some of the great paintings of art history in Rubik's Cubes.

Don't mention the word! But Boris insists no 'Brexit' ban

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday insisted that "Brexit" was not banned, despite not mentioning the word in a speech setting out Britain's negotiating position with Brussels for trade talks. Britain on Friday became the first country to leave the EU after 47 years of membership, capping more than three years of division and debate following a landmark 2016 referendum. "Brexit" was named word of the year by dictionary publisher Collins in 2016, as usage surged by more than 3,400 percent before, during and after the referendum nearly four years ago.

Villa fan Tom Hanks celebrates 'win', four weeks before match

Paris (AFP) - Tom Hanks attracted attention on social media Sunday after the Aston Villa supporter posted a tweet appearing to celebrate the English side's League Cup triumph -- a month before the final.

Street sign smashes into police car's windsheild

Police in West Jordan, Utah, are looking for the driver of a van that struck a street sign in the median of a roadway Tuesday night, sending it flying into the windshield of a police car. The incident was captured on the police car's dashcam. (Jan. 31)

Dogs, 'hot girls' and dark humor: a week on the US campaign trail

Beautiful women mustering for Bernie Sanders, Michael Bloomberg not knowing how to stroke a dog properly, Joe Biden joking about his own mortality and Andrew Yang wanting to change the NBA logo: a few of the offbeat highlights from a week on the US campaign trail. Electoral targeting is an art rather than an exact science, as the country was reminded this week when President Donald Trump's campaign manager said he had received text messages urging him to vote for... Bernie Sanders.

Pasteurised camembert? French cheesemakers vote 'Non'

A battle over the future of camembert came to a head Friday after French producers voted against allowing pasteurised versions of the classic raw-milk cheese. A narrow majority of northern French cheese-makers -- 53 percent -- rejected a plan that would have given industrial producers the right to use the exclusive "Camembert of Normandy" label, even when using modern techniques denounced by purists. Producers rejected the enlarged AOP (Protected Designation of Origin), Patrick Mercier, president of an association that had been pushing for the changes said in a statement.

Brexit Party piped out of Brussels

Members of the Brexit Party left the European Parliament on Friday, just hours before Britain was to exit the EU, waving the Union Jack and accompanied by a lone bagpiper. Party leader Nigel Farage had left Brussels on Wednesday after the parliament's historic vote to ratify Britain's EU divorce papers and end a 47-year relationship.

British man found guilty of trying to steal Magna Carta

A man was convicted Friday of attempting to steal a priceless 1215 original version of the Magna Carta, smashing its case with a hammer. Mark Royden, 47, attacked the protective glass surrounding the historic manuscript at Salisbury Cathedral but was chased off by tourists and eventually cornered by stonemasons. Royden was found guilty by a jury at Salisbury Crown Court in southwest England of attempted theft and criminal damage to the security case costing £14,466 ($18,900, 17,150 euros) to fix.

Brexit fight takes over pop charts on eve of departure

Having fought a titanic political contest for three years over Brexit, Britain's "leavers" and "remainers" are now doing battle in the pop charts on the eve of their EU departure. The piece from Beethoven's ninth symphony is performed by the Johann Strauss Orchestra, led by Dutch conductor Andre Rieu, and has shot to the top of the country's iTunes download chart. Britain opted to leave the EU by a margin of 17.4 million to 16.1 million votes in the seismic 2016 referendum.

Goodbye Mr Bean: EU missing Britain's 'sense of humour'

With Britain Brexiting, a lot of things are changing in the EU. "The first thing (being missed) is the sense of humour" Britain's EU commissioners brought to meetings, European Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager told journalists. For the past couple of months Britain has largely stopped sending its national officials to EU meetings and Julian King, Britain's last commissioner, was not re-appointed to EU president Ursula von der Leyen's new commission.

Moonstruck: Japan billionaire cancels hunt for lunar love

A Japanese billionaire who launched a public search for a girlfriend willing to join him on a trip into space abruptly cancelled the hunt on Thursday, despite attracting nearly 30,000 applicants. Yusaku Maezawa earlier this month said he was looking for a mate willing to join him when he heads on a trip around the Moon in 2023 or later, as the first private passenger on a voyage offered by Elon Musk's SpaceX.

Pompeo loses his temper with journalist over Ukraine questions

Shouts, glares and unprintable words: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lost his temper at a journalist after she questioned him on the administration's stance on Ukraine, the country at the heart of President Donald Trump's impeachment trial. It began when Pompeo gave an early morning interview to NPR radio. Much of the discussion dealt with Iran, but journalist Mary Louise Kelly closed by asking Pompeo about Ukraine.

Turkey delivery man risks 18 years for spitting on pizza

A Turkish prosecutor called for a sentence of up to 18 years for a delivery man who spat on a customer's pizza before handing it over, local media reported Thursday. The incident -- which happened in 2017 in the central city of Eskisehir -- was captured by a security camera in the customer's apartment block, according to news agency DHA. The defendant has already been fined 4,000 lira (600 euros) for endangering a customer's health, and prosecutors are now seeking a lengthy prison sentence for "poisoning food", DHA reported.

Aussie Open 'bananaman' bites back after fruity fallout

Elliot Benchetrit said he's stunned by the "out of control" backlash after he asked a ballkid to peel his banana at the Australian Open, hitting out at the umpire who told him to do it himself. The French player, dubbed 'Bananaman' by Australian media, handed a banana to a ballgirl during a qualifying match, saying he was struggling to get the skin off as he had cream on his hands.

'They're not dead': Falling iguana alert in Florida amid cold snap

Green iguanas are considered a nuisance in Florida, where they are blamed for causing considerable damage to everything from seawalls to sidewalks -- not to mention menacing endangered butterflies and snails. Such conditions are unusual in the normally balmy US state, where winter temperatures typically don't fall below 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius) or so. Many people don't have the proper heating at home or clothing to cope with the freezing temperatures -- something also true of the state's animals.

War-time bomb made safe in Cologne

German experts defused a World War II bomb in Cologne on Tuesday that had forced the evacuation of thousands of office workers and disrupted rail and ship traffic. Construction workers found the bomb on the right bank of the Rhine river on Monday evening, prompting the evacuation of nearby offices including those of broadcaster RTL and the Cologne Opera. The nearby Hohenzollern rail and pedestrian bridge, which leads to Cologne's famous Dom cathedral and central train station on the opposite bank, was closed during defusing work, severely disrupting rail traffic.

Double trouble: Too many show for Sri Lanka twins record bid

A Sri Lankan attempt to set a world record for the largest gathering of twins may have failed Monday after an unexpectedly large turnout overwhelmed organisers who vowed to try again. Organisers from the Sri Lanka Twins group had called on multiples across the island to pack a sports stadium in the capital Colombo to try to break Taiwan's Guinness World Record set in 1999 of 3,961 pairs of twins, 37 sets of triplets and four sets of quadruplets.

Viral video reunites Bangladeshi with family after 48 years

An ailing Bangladeshi who went missing almost half a century ago has been reunited with his family after a video appeal on Facebook seeking help for his treatment went viral. Habibur Rahman was a 30-year-old businessman and father-of-four in the northeastern city of Sylhet when he disappeared in 1972 after travelling for work to the port city of Chittagong, his family said. Rahman became an itinerant living in Sufi shrines in Moulvibazar district according to his caregiver Rajiya Begum, who has been looking after him for the past five years.

Sky-high chicken prices on French island ruffle feathers

Long-simmering anger over the high cost of living in French overseas territories resurfaced this week with a tweet about an organic chicken from mainland France which sold for an eye-watering 51 euros. A lawmaker from French Guiana posted a photo of the bird and lashed out at French supermarket chain U over the price in an outlet on the Caribbean island of Saint-Martin. Serville said he had written to French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe in March asking him to take "concrete steps" to fight inflation in the French Caribbean where hypermarkets earn profit margins of up to 55 percent on food items.

'Big Ben bongs for Brexit' battle turns pricey

Britain's bewildering battle to get Big Ben to bong for Brexit is becoming brutal -- and big-budget to boot as public cash donations flooded in Friday for a celebratory peal. Big Ben has been mostly silent since restoration work on parliament's Elizabeth Tower, which houses the clock, began in 2017. Parliamentary authorities say the floor in the tower workers use to look after the bell has been removed and the ringing devices taken out.

As Brexit clock ticks, UK in ding-dong over Big Ben bongs

The question exercising Britons as they face their last few days of EU membership is not about trade or sovereignty but whether Big Ben should ring out for Brexit. The world famous bell in parliament's Elizabeth Tower has been largely silent since August 2017 while undergoing repairs, but some Brexit supporters want it to sound on exit day on January 31. The House of Commons authorities rejected the idea after being told it could cost up to £500,000 (585,000 euros, $653,000), which Speaker Lindsay Hoyle noted was about "£50,000 a bong".

Mexico gets 'Chapo' beer

Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman may be serving a life sentence in prison, but the Mexican drug kingpin can now boast to having his own beer. El Chapo Mexican Lager was launched by Guzman's daughter Alejandrina, who runs a fashion and lifestyle company built around her father's brand. The company, Chapo 701, unveiled the craft beer Tuesday at a fashion trade show in Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city.

US chief justice lobs an 'OK Boomer' in age case

Chief Justice John Roberts cracked up the normally somber US Supreme Court on Wednesday by dropping an "OK Boomer" reference while hearing a case involving age discrimination in the workplace. "So calling somebody a 'boomer' and considering them for a position would be actionable?" he asked as the courtroom erupted in laughter. Justice Stephen Breyer also made an age joke during the court session while talking about someone being considered for promotion.

Swedish military duped by 'officer' with faked diploma

A Swedish man who got a job in the military using forged credentials was promoted to work as staff officer at NATO's headquarters and served in a UN mission, the military and media said on Wednesday. The man lied about his experience and forged a diploma from the officers' academy, according to the Dagens Nyheter newspaper. The Swedish Armed Forces conceded that the man had been "wrongfully employed" and confirmed in a statement he had served at NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Belgium.

French forensic police hold gory protest for equal rights

French forensic investigators on Wednesday set up a gruesome but staged crime scene in Paris complete with bloodied bodies and dismembered limbs, in an eye-catching protest to demand the same labour benefits as their regular, armed police colleagues. The job is "extremely difficult" with "many strains", said Soazig Henrio, of the Snipat union for forensic and scientific police.

Pet sounds: Spotify unleashes podcast for lonely UK dogs

Online music giant Spotify on Wednesday launched a podcast for dogs left home alone in Britain, after its polling suggested most owners believe audio recordings help calm their canines. The playlists utilise the vocal skills of "Game of Thrones" actor Ralph Ineson and Jessica Raine, the lead actress in the BBC series "Call the Midwife". The pair offer "dog-directed praise, stories, affirmation messages and reassurance", Spotify said as it unveiled its new "My Dog's Favourite Podcast" offering.

'Bung a bob for a Big Ben bong': Boris floats Brexit bells crowdfunder

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday said the government was working on a crowdfunding plan to get the currently silent Big Ben to chime when Britain leaves the European Union. Some eurosceptic lawmakers have been pushing for a celebratory peal to mark Brexit at 2300 GMT on January 31, despite the tower in which the world-famous bell is housed being closed for repairs. Former House of Commons speaker John Bercow rejected the request, but hopes were raised when he was replaced just before last month's general election.

French 'Spiderman' stages protest climb against pension reform

A daredevil French climber on Monday made his own contribution to a long-running protest against planned pension reforms, scurrying up a towering skyscraper just outside Paris. "People spend 40 years of their lives slaving away, often in a job they don't even like," Alain Robert told AFP before beginning his climb. Robert, known worldwide for scaling landmark towers without ropes -- and usually without permission -- began his ascent of the 187-metre (614-feet) Total building in the La Defense business district at around 10:30 am (0930 GMT).

Two WWII bombs made safe in Germany

Two World War II-era bombs were made safe in the western German city of Dortmund after around 14,000 people were evacuated, the city said Sunday. Officials there warning on Saturday that unexploded bombs dropped by Allied forces during the war might be buried in four sites in a heavily populated part of the city centre. Two unexploded bombs weighing 250 kilogrammes (550 pounds) each, one British and the other American, were found and made safe.

Three dead after French kayak accident in Channel

Lille (France) (AFP) - Three people have died while kayaking off the northern French coast, authorities said Sunday.

Gold bar found in Mexico was Aztec treasure: study

A gold bar found in a Mexico City park in 1981 was part of the Aztec treasure looted by Hernan Cortes and the Spanish conquistadors 500 years ago, a new study says. The 1.93-kilogram bar was found by a construction worker during excavations for a new building along the Alameda, a picturesque park in the heart of the Mexican capital.

Navy brings emergency beer to fire-hit Aussie town

Australia's navy tasked with rescuing bushfire-trapped residents on the southeast coast received a new mission Friday -- delivering beer to a country pub on the verge of running dry. More than a thousand people have been evacuated from the town of Mallacoota, with the military sending landing craft to collect families trapped there since New Year's Eve. Carlton and United Breweries said Friday it had dropped the alcohol at the Cerberus naval base to be delivered to the Mallacoota Hotel, after it was on the verge of running out.

Cardboard beds won't fold under Olympic pressure, says manufacturer

Randy athletes worried that eco-friendly cardboard beds could curtail their sex life at the Tokyo Olympics can breathe easy -- they're sturdy enough, say manufacturers. While the snug singles at the athletes' village underline Tokyo's commitment to sustainability and delivering a 'green' Olympics, fears they could fold under pressure look to be unfounded. "We've conducted experiments, like dropping weights on top of the beds," said a spokesperson.