UPI NewsTrack Quirks in the News
Published: May 7, 2008 at 5:00 PM
Python swallows family's kitten
DARWIN, Australia, May 7 (UPI) -- A Darwin, Australia, family said its 8-week-old kitten was swallowed whole by a python that invaded its backyard.
Asha McLaren said her daughter, 14-year-old Taara, went to feed the family's five adult cats and four kittens at about 7 a.m. Tuesday when she noticed one of the young felines, named Kohl, was missing and a massive snake was in its place, The Australian reported Wednesday.
"My daughter went out to feed the cats and they normally all come running at the sound of the dish, but Kohl was missing," McLaren said. "She then looked around and saw the snake. She called out to me, saying there was a big snake and that she thought it had eaten Kohl."
"When I went out I couldn't believe it. It had a bulging belly and when we couldn't find Kohl anywhere it was obvious he'd been eaten," she said.
McLaren said a professional snake catcher captured the python and an X-ray was taken that proved the bulge in its belly was indeed from eating the kitten.
Some object to nude festival in Italy
AGRIGENTO, Italy, May 7 (UPI) -- Some residents of the Agrigento area on the Italian island of Sicily have objected to an upcoming naturist festival at Capo Bianco beach.
The residents, as well as members of the Catholic Church, claim the May 23-25 Capo Bianco festival would be an illegal use of the beach for nude sunbathing, The Times of London reported Wednesday.
Italian law forbids nude sunbathing, but exceptions are made for beaches where local councils approve the practice and the areas are overseen by naturist associations.
Mayor Cosimo Piro of Cattolica Eraclea, the nearest village to the beach, issued a recent regulation allowing "free use of Capo Bianco by lovers of nude sunbathing." The mayor, a member of the Christian Democratic party, said the practice would help the beach draw tourists.
However, some have argued the mayor's regulation is not legally binding.
"The beach belongs to the state, not to the local council," said Father Giuseppe Miliziano, a local priest. "If the state decided to allow people to take their clothes off, there is not much I could do about it. But as far as I am aware no such authorization has been issued."
Canadian jailed despite aching eyelashes
WINDSOR, Ontario, May 7 (UPI) -- A judge in Canada has sentenced a Windsor, Ontario, man to jail despite the defendant's plea for mercy due to a rare and painful problem with his eyelashes.
The man, whose name was withheld, claimed to have Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a condition that causes eyelashes to grow inward and requires daily medical care.
The Windsor Star said the defense lawyer said her client, who wore sunglasses to court, had been to 171 doctors in his lifetime in a vain effort to get help for the condition, which was caused by a drug reaction as a child.
Ontario Justice Greg Campbell Tuesday rejected the motion for house arrest in the domestic violence case. Instead, he handed down a 100-day sentence and said the jail nurse could handle the required treatments.
Report: Canadian PM's house falling apart
OTTAWA, May 7 (UPI) -- Officials in Ottawa say the official residence of the Canadian prime minister is falling apart and could become an international embarrassment.
The 10,500-square foot, 34-room house at 24 Sussex Drive where Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his family live is laden with asbestos and all the windows, plumbing and electrical systems need replacing, and the building is not accessible to the disabled, said federal Auditor General Sheila Fraser in a report.
The auditor's report said windows and caulking are cracked, the tracks on windows are loose, and the window air conditioners are old, noisy and don't work very well, which is embarrassing when foreign heads of state or dignitaries arrive.
The National Capital Commission, which administers Canada's official residences, estimates it would take 15 months and $9.7 for the renovations to be done, the Ottawa Citizen reported.
However, a spokeswoman for Harper told reporters he's not willing to move out and said he feels none of the repairs are urgent, the report said.
DARWIN, Australia, May 7 (UPI) -- A Darwin, Australia, family said its 8-week-old kitten was swallowed whole by a python that invaded its backyard.
Asha McLaren said her daughter, 14-year-old Taara, went to feed the family's five adult cats and four kittens at about 7 a.m. Tuesday when she noticed one of the young felines, named Kohl, was missing and a massive snake was in its place, The Australian reported Wednesday.
"My daughter went out to feed the cats and they normally all come running at the sound of the dish, but Kohl was missing," McLaren said. "She then looked around and saw the snake. She called out to me, saying there was a big snake and that she thought it had eaten Kohl."
"When I went out I couldn't believe it. It had a bulging belly and when we couldn't find Kohl anywhere it was obvious he'd been eaten," she said.
McLaren said a professional snake catcher captured the python and an X-ray was taken that proved the bulge in its belly was indeed from eating the kitten.
Some object to nude festival in Italy
AGRIGENTO, Italy, May 7 (UPI) -- Some residents of the Agrigento area on the Italian island of Sicily have objected to an upcoming naturist festival at Capo Bianco beach.
The residents, as well as members of the Catholic Church, claim the May 23-25 Capo Bianco festival would be an illegal use of the beach for nude sunbathing, The Times of London reported Wednesday.
Italian law forbids nude sunbathing, but exceptions are made for beaches where local councils approve the practice and the areas are overseen by naturist associations.
Mayor Cosimo Piro of Cattolica Eraclea, the nearest village to the beach, issued a recent regulation allowing "free use of Capo Bianco by lovers of nude sunbathing." The mayor, a member of the Christian Democratic party, said the practice would help the beach draw tourists.
However, some have argued the mayor's regulation is not legally binding.
"The beach belongs to the state, not to the local council," said Father Giuseppe Miliziano, a local priest. "If the state decided to allow people to take their clothes off, there is not much I could do about it. But as far as I am aware no such authorization has been issued."
Canadian jailed despite aching eyelashes
WINDSOR, Ontario, May 7 (UPI) -- A judge in Canada has sentenced a Windsor, Ontario, man to jail despite the defendant's plea for mercy due to a rare and painful problem with his eyelashes.
The man, whose name was withheld, claimed to have Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a condition that causes eyelashes to grow inward and requires daily medical care.
The Windsor Star said the defense lawyer said her client, who wore sunglasses to court, had been to 171 doctors in his lifetime in a vain effort to get help for the condition, which was caused by a drug reaction as a child.
Ontario Justice Greg Campbell Tuesday rejected the motion for house arrest in the domestic violence case. Instead, he handed down a 100-day sentence and said the jail nurse could handle the required treatments.
Report: Canadian PM's house falling apart
OTTAWA, May 7 (UPI) -- Officials in Ottawa say the official residence of the Canadian prime minister is falling apart and could become an international embarrassment.
The 10,500-square foot, 34-room house at 24 Sussex Drive where Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his family live is laden with asbestos and all the windows, plumbing and electrical systems need replacing, and the building is not accessible to the disabled, said federal Auditor General Sheila Fraser in a report.
The auditor's report said windows and caulking are cracked, the tracks on windows are loose, and the window air conditioners are old, noisy and don't work very well, which is embarrassing when foreign heads of state or dignitaries arrive.
The National Capital Commission, which administers Canada's official residences, estimates it would take 15 months and $9.7 for the renovations to be done, the Ottawa Citizen reported.
However, a spokeswoman for Harper told reporters he's not willing to move out and said he feels none of the repairs are urgent, the report said.
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This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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