A 58-year old martial arts expert has come up with a novel idea of teaching the elderly to defend themselves using their canes. Kevin Garwood, of Gorleston, near Great Yarmouth, has put up a special martial arts class for pensioners - apparently - his lessons are paying off.

Local police in Kansas City has arrested a 21-year old man for allegedly possessing a highly-hallucinogenic toad. Police said David Theiss planned to get high by licking the Colorado River Toad's venom glands, which can induce hallucinogenic effects.

Whereas students used to learn the writings of Dante within the four walls of their classrooms, Italian teenagers now are flocking to nightclubs to hear the 14th century poetry of the literary great. Passages from Dante's works including The Divine Comedy have been set to music by leading Italian disc jockey, Alessio Bertallot which aptly accompanies Italian actress Lucilla Giagnoni's reading.

estern Europe's highest peak Mont Blanc (French for white mountain) is taller than ever as snow piled atop its summit, experts described it as a weather change related occurrence. The height was found to be 15, 783. 79 ft (4,810. 90 m) on Sept. 15 and 16 respectively - a 7. 05 ft (2. 15 m) increase in two years.

A solo physician flying a one-seat plane across Mississippi had the shock of his flying career when he discovered a gray rattle snake aboard. Dr. Ed Carruth noticed the reptile as it began "licking" his arm.