The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Chiang Mai University are conducting a workshop in Thailand about insect consumption, collection, harvest, processing and marketing.

The workshop aims to impart to forest managers the knowledge on insects and insect management possessed by traditional forest dwellers and forest-dependent people. It also aims to provide income and jobs in rural areas for people who capture, rear, process, transport and market edible insects.

A cosmetics line called "Looking Good For Jesus" has been pulled from a leading department store in Singapore after Catholic residents protested the marketing gimmick as blasphemous. Reports said the retailing giant Top Shop in the Lion City, which is home to about 4.4 million Christians, had no choice but to clear its shelves of the products.

The makeup line sold items like "Virtuous vanilla" lip balm and a "Get Tight with Christ" hand and body cream, featuring a picture of Jesus Christ between two women.

Golf balls swallowed by and extracted from a snake were placed for sale on eBay, with the highest bid totalling $1,401 Australian, or $1,253 US.

The four balls which were taken from inside a carpet python at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary last week were posted for sale on the online auction, still unwashed. The winner will also receive X-rays and photographs of Augusta, the python, with the balls still inside, and after the balls were taken out by surgery.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill on Wednesday merging two separate state departments into a new agency to combat high-tech identity theft.

The California Office of Information Security and Privacy Protection was created to assist consumers, law enforcement, businesses and advocacy groups in compliance with consumer privacy laws. It combines the Office of Privacy Protection in the Department of Consumer Affairs with the state Information Security Office.

An Italian company specializing in coffins has come up with anovel idea of selling its products by unveiling its 2008 calendar with scantily-clad models posing behind its caskets.

Maurizio Matteucci, owner of Cofanifunebri, said his calendars are available at his company outlets for $14.23.