VIENNA - With the precision of a surgeon, Andreas Rupp carefully wraps sensor strips around a 21-tonne bell in Vienna's famous St Stephen's Cathedral.
Europe's second-largest bell, nicknamed "Pummerin", is one of several famous bells across the continent being checked to determine their life spans, and unlock the secret of the optimum chime.
Don't Panic! Lighten Up!
Japanese manga cartoons have become a multi-billion pound global market, commonly associated with martial arts warriors rather than with nuns and monks. But the Catholic Church in England and Wales is launching its own comic strip this week to attract teenagers into the priesthood.
It is using the comic book art form in an advertising campaign that aims to combat the dramatic decline in the number of applicants for ordination, and the resulting dearth of young priests.
The Church hopes that its manga comic, with pictures of nuns and monks playing pool and surfing the internet, will help to improve the image of the vocation, which leaders believe is seen as "monotonous and boring".
It is using the comic book art form in an advertising campaign that aims to combat the dramatic decline in the number of applicants for ordination, and the resulting dearth of young priests.
The Church hopes that its manga comic, with pictures of nuns and monks playing pool and surfing the internet, will help to improve the image of the vocation, which leaders believe is seen as "monotonous and boring".
LOS ANGELES - Whenever Antonio Moreno wanted to see his girlfriend, police say, he'd jump in a car and drive right over.
SYDNEY - It's close to midday on one of the busiest streets in Sydney's centre and Juan Mann is getting nervous. Known to millions as the "free hugs guy," he is worried about the lunchtime rush. And with good reason.
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| Sydney's 'free hugs guy'. |
LONDON - A large English cheddar cheese has become a star of the Internet, attracting more than 1 million viewers to sit and stare at it as it slowly ripens.
ANKENY, Iowa - Several classrooms at Des Moines Area Community College were evacuated after college officials became nervous about a suspicious package.
A French man who posted a clip on the Internet that showed him driving at 225 kph in street with a speed limit of 110 kph was arrested and is to be tried, police in the eastern French city of Luneville said.
The young man signed his video clip 'Loic and his Push Scooter' and posted it on the site YouTube, where a police officer, made curious by the subtitle I Will Never Be Late, came upon it.
To prove how fast he was driving, Loic had a passenger film the speedometre, which showed his car reaching a speed of 225 kph. The video also revealed the make and model of his car and a scratch on the windshield that made it easy to identify.
The young man signed his video clip 'Loic and his Push Scooter' and posted it on the site YouTube, where a police officer, made curious by the subtitle I Will Never Be Late, came upon it.
To prove how fast he was driving, Loic had a passenger film the speedometre, which showed his car reaching a speed of 225 kph. The video also revealed the make and model of his car and a scratch on the windshield that made it easy to identify.
A German phone thief led police right to his front door when they called the stolen mobile to say he had won some free beer and he willingly gave his address.
"An officer called and said, 'You've won a crate of beer'," said a spokesman for police in the eastern town of Neustrelitz Friday.
"An officer called and said, 'You've won a crate of beer'," said a spokesman for police in the eastern town of Neustrelitz Friday.
George Bush has finally given a response to the age-old question: can the president really dance?
After a 30-second boogie on the White House lawn, the answer is: it depends what you mean by dancing.
A besuited Mr Bush was making an appearance for Malaria awareness day in the Rose Garden on Wednesday when the Kankouran West African dance company brought in for the occasion invited him to join in.
The leader of the free world gamely agreed and set about swaying his hips, moving his hands from one side to another, holding his palms above his head, and even commandeering the drums for a few moments.
After a 30-second boogie on the White House lawn, the answer is: it depends what you mean by dancing.
A besuited Mr Bush was making an appearance for Malaria awareness day in the Rose Garden on Wednesday when the Kankouran West African dance company brought in for the occasion invited him to join in.
The leader of the free world gamely agreed and set about swaying his hips, moving his hands from one side to another, holding his palms above his head, and even commandeering the drums for a few moments.
A man arrested on Wednesday for allegedly trying to use a stolen credit card at a drugstore got a break from a judge after passing a sort of Bible quiz.
When Eric Hine appeared in court this morning, his attorney described him as a church-goer, hoping the judge would set a low bond.
Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge John Burlew was skeptical and asked Hine to recite the 23rd Psalm.
He did: all six verses. Some in the courtroom applauded.
When Eric Hine appeared in court this morning, his attorney described him as a church-goer, hoping the judge would set a low bond.
Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge John Burlew was skeptical and asked Hine to recite the 23rd Psalm.
He did: all six verses. Some in the courtroom applauded.
