Offbeat - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

Friday 24 May 2013

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Paignton Zoo reptile keeper Sam Lomax with one of three tiny baby crocodiles (Paignton Zoo/PA)

Baby crocodiles make public debut new

Three tiny baby crocodiles which are only 11 inches long have made their public debut at a zoo.

Jayden and Will Smith meet Boris Johnson at City Hall in London

Johnson works on silver jubilee rap new

Boris Johnson has admitted he wrote a rap on the Queen's silver jubilee.

Timothy Blair, aka rapper Tim Dog, was sentenced in 2011 to 14 days in jail and five years probation for swindling 32,000 dollars from a woman

Arrest warrant for 'dead' rapper

Lack of a death certificate or burial site and sparse obituary information has led to talk in hip-hop circles that rapper Tim Dog, who owes thousands of dollars to women he was convicted of swindling, faked his own death.

Researchers say the remains of King Richard III were buried in a hastily dug grave (University of Leicester/PA)

Richard III was in 'untidy' grave

The remains of King Richard III, which were discovered under a city car park, were found in a hastily dug, untidy grave, researchers have revealed.

One unusual insurance claim arose when a swan crashed through the roof of a holiday home

'Indoor beach' among oddest claims

A holiday home insurer has revealed some of its strangest ever claims, including a swan crashing through the roof and guests creating an "indoor beach".

War Horse author Michael Morpurgo, right, with Joey, who will appear at Wembley before the Champions League Final

War Horse puppet on Wembley turf

Joey the giant puppet from West End hit show War Horse is to tread the turf at Wembley by putting in an appearance before the Uefa Champions League Final this weekend.

Grower Andy Roe has created 'the perfect tasting green tomato' (Marks and Spencer/PA)

M&S hails new sweet green tomato

Marks and Spencer is selling what it claims is the first ripe and sweet green tomato on the high street in a trial with a Lancashire farmer.

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

Flag of Europe replaced at Holyrood

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.