Reuters - Oddly Enough

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Wednesday, April 5, 2017

New U.S. spelling bee rules aim to prevent T-I-E-S

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Scripps National Spelling Bee winners aced "gesellschaft" and "feldenkrais" to be named co-champions of last year's competition, but it was the word "tie" that gave organizers a headache.

'Hideous' Cristiano Ronaldo statue sparks social media laughs

FUNCHAL (Reuters) - When the island of Madeira on Wednesday renamed its airport in honor of its hometown hero Cristiano Ronaldo, all eyes were expected to be on the four-time world player of the year who is adored not only for his soccer skills but also his model looks.

Warren Buffett adorns Cherry Coke cans in China

(Reuters) - Coca-Cola Co is putting the likeness of Warren Buffett on Cherry Coke cans in China, hoping to benefit from its biggest shareholder's popularity in the country.

Done the rock trick, now to hatch some eggs: artist tries bizarre new feat

PARIS (Reuters) - French artist Abraham Poincheval, who famously spent two weeks inside a bear sculpture and a week inside a rock, began his latest feat on Wednesday - hatching eggs.

At U.S. contest, may the smelliest sneaker win

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Seven young contestants from around the United States put their best and smelliest shoe forward at the 42nd National Rotten Sneaker Contest in New York City on Tuesday.

Town of Reduction, population 60, up for sale in Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, Pa. (Reuters) - Got $1.5 million to spare? If so, tiny Reduction, a one-time company town built to house workers at a long-vanished garbage-processing plant in western Pennsylvania, could be yours for the asking.

Scientists launch campaign to restore Pluto to the planet club

(Reuters) - A team of scientists seeking to restore Pluto to planethood launched a campaign on Tuesday to broaden the astronomical classifications which led to its demotion to a "dwarf planet" a decade ago.

Senegal Islamic channel blames 'criminal act' for porn broadcast

DAKAR (Reuters) - A Senegalese Islamic channel shocked viewers with half an hour of hardcore pornography in the middle of the day, in what the TV station on Wednesday attributed to a "criminal act".

Good luck coins prove fatal for Thai "piggy bank" turtle

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A 25-year-old Thai sea turtle died from blood poisoning on Tuesday, never recovering from an operation to remove 915 coins from her stomach, thrown into her pool for good luck, veterinarians said.

'You know there's crocs there' says teen bitten after jumping in river

(Reuters) - An Australian teenager who was bitten by a crocodile when he jumped into a river in northern Queensland on a dare is now recovering in hospital and looking forward to a date with the British backpacker he was trying to impress.