Irish physician Dr. Brendan Kelly conducted a tongue-in-cheek study, the findings of which he published in the medical journal Lancet. Dr. Kelly randomly selected 20 medical romance novels and found that majority leaned towards "brilliant, tall, muscular, male doctors with chiselled features, working in emergency medicine" who were "commonly of Mediterranean origin and had personal tragedies in their pasts", according to The Associated Press (AP).

Newspapers across Germany are highly criticizing a competition to find the "worlds most beautiful bottom" launched by German underwear firm Sloggi. Alleging that the competition promotes "pornography," several Swedish newspapers have taken exception to the competition.

In a bid to attract only the best people, an online dating site in Arizona has decided to publish the pictures of only attractive people on their sites. The decision, says the site owner Allena Brown, was prompted by the submission of pictures by a man who was seen in flannel underwear and holding an axe.

Thailand on Friday holds the tenth annual Miss Tiffany Universe pageant. The beauty contest which brings on stage the most beautiful transvestites from all over the nation, is one of the country's most watched event with millions of viewers. Started as a transsexual cabaret in Pattaya, a resort town about 68 miles southeast of Bangkok, the show has evolved into a full fledged national competition, whose winner like any traditional beauty contest is beset with loads of prizes and contracts with advertising firms.

A mayoral candidate in the Philippines lost the support of his mother, brother, girlfriend and other relatives for pushing the eviction of residents from land he has been claiming. Magdaleno Pena's mother, Lina Pena, and brother, Bonifacio Pena, voiced their support of Samson Mondia, who is running for mayor of Pulupandan town against Pena.