Offbeat - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

Thursday 23 May 2013

Hi °C | Lo °C Change

The Flag of Europe outside Holyrood was spotted flying with just 11 stars

Flag of Europe replaced at Holyrood new

The Flag of Europe outside the Scottish Parliament has been replaced after it was spotted flying with just 11 stars.

Eighty-year-old Japanese adventurer Yuichiro Miura, right, is greeted by his friend climber Kenji Kondo (AP/Miura Dolphins)

Man, 80, oldest to climb Everest

Eighty-year-old Japanese mountaineer Yuichiro Miura has become the oldest man to reach the top of Mount Everest.

vets had to surgically extract a four-pound hairball from tiger Ty (AP/Courtesy BluePearl Veterinary Partners, James Judge)

'Hairy moment' for 400lb tiger Ty

It's not unusual for a cat to get a hairball, but a 400lb tiger needed help from vets when he could not cough up a football-sized fur lump by himself.

A teenage boy became stuck in a chimney in Carluke, North Lanarkshire

Crews rescue boy wedged in chimney

A teenager had to be rescued by the fire service after falling down a chimney.

Stray mongrel Patrick had to have an operation after he swallowed a wooden kebab skewer whole (Battersea Dogs and Cats Home/PA)

Rubber duck becomes a dog's dinner

A mobile phone, a rubber duck and a £20 note have all ended up inside dogs' stomachs, according to a new survey.

Lieutenant Colonel Dudley Clarke photographed by Spanish police dressed as a man and as a woman (National Archives/PA)

Cross-dressing spy 'embarrassed' UK

Spies might be supposed to be masters of disguise, but a British intelligence officer caused embarrassment to his political masters through his penchant for dressing up, according to official papers made public on Thursday.

Lydia Davis is congratulated by publisher Simon Prosser as she wins this year's Man Booker International Prize

One sentence story writer honoured

An author who pens stories the length of a sentence has scooped this year's Man Booker International Prize.

High-fructose corn syrup, used as a sweetener, can induce behavioural changes similar to Class A drugs, according to new research

Sugary syrup effects 'like drug'

A sugary syrup widely used in processed foods like biscuits can cause behavioural changes similar to the effects of cocaine, according to new research.

Samantha Cameron's nose takes centre stage in the 'ideal female celebrity' face

Image shows 'ideal woman celebrity'

This is how the ideal female celebrity would look, according to a new survey.

Design student Jocelyn Mather has knocked up four handbags using the lining of a cow's stomach

Cow handbag design offal-y daring

As fashion designs go, some might say it is just offal.

Lady fell ill after eating a four-and-a-half inch lolly stick (Julian Brown/PDSA/PA)

Puppy swallows whole lolly stick

A puppy survived after swallowing a four-and-a-half-inch lolly stick, vets have said.

New St Edmundsbury mayor Terry Buckle accidentally drove into a Tesco Express

New mayor crashes car into shop

The new mayor of an area of Suffolk is recovering after driving his car into a branch of Tesco Express.

Octogenarians race in Everest duel

An 80-year-old Japanese extreme skier who just missed becoming the oldest man to reach the summit of Mount Everest five years ago is back on the mountain to make another attempt at the title.

Hampshire Constabulary's former chief constable Alex Marshall was warned in 2010 that the force could not afford the bill to refurbish the site

Police force to sell unused £11m HQ

A police force that spent more than £11 million on a headquarters it has never used has announced it will sell the site after it has been empty for five years.

A first editor Harry Potter book annotated by author JK Rowling

Harry Potter edition fetches £150k

A first edition of the first Harry Potter book, personally annotated by JK Rowling, has sold for £150,000 at auction.

Over 300 historic London street signs are to be sold at auction later this month

Historic street signs snapped up

Some of London's most recognisable street signs, including those which have stood in Downing Street and Abbey Road, have fetched thousands of pounds at auction.

Three forgers have been jailed for making fake pound coins

Three jailed for fake £1 coins plot

Three forgers have been jailed for what police believe is the largest ever plot to make fake pound coins in the UK, some of which may still be in circulation.

The Welsh First Minister says bad weather is to blame for a drop in tourist numbers

Wales needs better weather: Jones

Wales needs better weather if its tourism industry is to prosper - says the country's own First Minister.

Justin Bieber's pet monkey Mally was seized by German customs two months ago (AP)

Germany nationalises Bieber monkey

Justin Bieber's pet monkey is set to become the property of Germany.

Clinton Shepherd rode the Ferris wheel at Chicago's Navy Pier for more than two days (AP)

Ferris wheel world record broken

A manager of Chicago's Navy Pier rode the tourist spot's Ferris wheel for more than two days, bringing the world record for the longest ride to the birthplace of the amusement park favourite.