Offbeat News

3:38 PM
19-November
2009 Israeli, Palestinian Olive Crops Beset By Theft And ViolenceIn Israel and the Palestinian territories, the olive is part of the Mediterranean diet and its oil has been valued since ancient times. But this year mother nature has provided a poor harvest, driving up both the price of the olives and the level of friction between those fighting over what few olives that are left.
Topics: World, Environment, Offbeat

3:34 PM
19-November
2009 Saudi Clerics Told to Keep Sermons ShortSaudi authorities have told the kingdom's imams to shorten their Friday mosque-sermons to prevent unnecessary congestion in places of worship. The instructions are the latest in a series of measures taken by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Islamic Affairs to safeguard the health of worshippers against the H1N1 virus ahead of the Hajj.
Topics: World, Offbeat, Health

3:04 PM
19-November
2009 Filipino Residents Cook At Dump Oozing With MethaneResidents of Marikina City have turned a dump into a kitchen as methane seeping from the ground there is used to cook food and boil drinking water.
Topics: Offbeat, World

12:17 PM
19-November
2009 Ozark Cop Tases Unruly 10-Year-OldAn Arkansas police officer used a Taser on a 10-year-old girl because of her unruly behavior. The officer was given permission by the girl's mother, but the girl's father is outraged.
Topics: United States, Offbeat

11:21 AM
19-November
2009 Police: Eviction Notice Leads Davie Couple to ArsonA Davie couple has been arrested for setting their mobile home on fire after being served an eviction notice. The couple was told to move their home off the premises of a mobile home park, but police said they decided to torch it instead.
Topics: United States, Offbeat

   

10:41 AM
19-November
2009 Arkansas Officer Uses Taser On 10-Year-OldA police officer in northwestern city of Arkansas used a Taser on a 10-year-old when he was called in to help the child's mother give the girl a shower before bedtime. The girl faces a charge of disorderly conduct, while the officer was suspended with pay.
Topics: United States, Offbeat

9:46 AM
19-November
2009 Vietnamese Authorities Seek Death Penalty For College Student Who Committed Valentine's Day KillingProsecutors are seeking the death penalty for a college student who confessed to slitting her wealthy ex-boyfriend's throat with a fruit knife on Valentine's Day. The trial is slated to begin next month.
Topics: Offbeat, World

8:01 AM
19-November
2009 Pharmaceutical Firms Forge Deal To Create, Sell Anti-Smoking VaccinePharmaceutical firms GlaxoSmithKline and Nabi Biopharmaceuticals have entered into a $540 million exclusive licensing agreement to develop and market an anti-smoking vaccine.
Topics: Good, Offbeat

7:16 PM
18-November
2009 Philippine Agri Chief, Officials Charged With Rigging $9.7 Million Ice Machine BidsA businessman filed graft charges against the head and 13 officials of the agriculture department Wednesday for allegedly rigging the bidding for a $9.7 million (456 million pesos) refrigeration equipment.
Topics: World, Offbeat

3:54 PM
18-November
2009 Canadian Scientists Develop Medical Paralysis Beam Similar To Star Trek's PhaserReminiscent of Star Trek phasers and ray guns seen in Sci-fi movies and comic books, Canadian scientists are reporting development of an internal on-off "switch" that paralyzes animals when exposed to a beam of ultraviolet light.
Topics: Health, Technology, Offbeat