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A giant plastic statue of Michael Jackson has been unveiled ...

(AFP) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:57:34 GMT

(AFP) - A giant plastic statue of Michael Jackson has been unveiled in a village near the Swiss city of Zurich, ahead of a ceremony to pay homage to the late pop icon, organisers say.(AFP/Sebastian Derungs)

Dandelions grow at the edge of a path. A German gardener's ...

(AFP/File) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:08:56 GMT

(AFP/File) - Dandelions grow at the edge of a path. A German gardener's house was left a smouldering wreck after he set it on fire while trying to get rid of the weeds with the help of a flame-thrower, police have said.(AFP/File/SCOTT OLSON)

A Thail police car. A Thai thief broke into a house but promptly ...

(AFP/File) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:46:23 GMT

(AFP/File) - A Thail police car. A Thai thief broke into a house but promptly fell asleep inside before stealing anything and was eventually discovered by a housemaid, police have said.(AFP/File/Nicolas Asfouri)

Tea being served. Tea, water and biscuits are on South Africa's ...

(AFP/File) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:42:34 GMT

(AFP/File) - Tea being served. Tea, water and biscuits are on South Africa's recession menu to replace lavish meals at some government meetings as the belt is tightened on public spending, a spokesman said on Thursday.(AFP/File/Khalil Mazraawi)

A restaurant in Rome which presented a Japanese tourist with ...

(AFP/File) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:58:24 GMT

(AFP/File) - A restaurant in Rome which presented a Japanese tourist with a bill for nearly 700 euros (980 dollars) after a meal with his fiancee has been closed down by the authorities.(AFP/File/Marcello Paternostro)

A plane from the Air New Zealand airline is shown taxiing past ...

(AFP/File) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:54:26 GMT

(AFP/File) - A plane from the Air New Zealand airline is shown taxiing past the air traffic control tower at Sydney Airport in 2007. New Zealand's national airline has come up with an imaginative way of encouraging passengers to pay attention to the pre-flight safety video -- showing cabin crew in the nude.(AFP/File/Greg Wood)

As Australia prepares to battle England for the Ashes, Prime ...

(AFP/File) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:04:25 GMT

(AFP/File) - As Australia prepares to battle England for the Ashes, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd revealed Wednesday that his sporting hero did not hail from Down Under. Rudd nominated West Indian all-rounder Garfield Sobers, pictured here in 2000, when challenged to name his all-time favourite sports star.(AFP/File)

This recent handout photo provided by the Polish customs office ...

(AFP) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:04:13 GMT

(AFP) - This recent handout photo provided by the Polish customs office shows scorpions discovered by Polish customs agents in Warsaw in a package posted from Hong Kong. Polish customs officers have intercepted a package posted from Hong Kong containing 39 scorpions -- 32 of them still alive -- addressed to a student in Poland's south-west city of Wroclaw.(AFP/Ho)

A street sign designates the street outside the former childhood ...

(AFP/Getty Images/File) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:45:36 GMT

(AFP/Getty Images/File) - A street sign designates the street outside the former childhood home of Pop Star Michael Jackson in Gary, Indiana. Residents of a Ukrainian village want to rename it after the late pop superstar Michael Jackson, a lawmaker who represents the village has told AFP.(AFP/Getty Images/File/Tasos Katopodis)

A policeman stands guard in London in 2007. A British pensioner ...

(AFP/File) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:34:34 GMT

(AFP/File) - A policeman stands guard in London in 2007. A British pensioner and former boxing champion beat up a knife-wielding burglar who broke into his home, leaving him battered and bruised, newspapers said.(AFP/File/Chris Young)

Australian currency. Two Australian households were in shock ...

(AFP/File) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:21:44 GMT

(AFP/File) - Australian currency. Two Australian households were in shock after winning the nation's biggest-ever lottery jackpot, worth more than 100 million dollars (80 million US).(AFP/File/Torsten Blackwood)

A 'wonky' carrot pictured in a market in Herouville-St-Clair, ...

(AFP/File) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:22:36 GMT

(AFP/File) - A 'wonky' carrot pictured in a market in Herouville-St-Clair, Normandy, France. Bendy cucumbers, knobbly carrots and other strangely shaped fruit and vegetables, long the source of jibes over EU micro-regulation, will be allowed back onto European supermarket shelves this week.(AFP/File/Mychele Daniau)

European Union Commissioner for Agriculture Mariann Fischer ...

(AFP/File) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:22:36 GMT

(AFP/File) - European Union Commissioner for Agriculture Mariann Fischer Boel of Denmarkin, seen here in May 2009, holds a press conference. Bendy cucumbers, knobbly carrots and other strangely shaped fruit and vegetables, long the source of jibes over EU micro-regulation, will be allowed back onto European supermarket shelves from Wednesday.(AFP/File/Dominique Faget)

Bruno, the alter ego of British satirist Sacha Baron Cohen, ...

(AFP) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:17:38 GMT

(AFP) - Bruno, the alter ego of British satirist Sacha Baron Cohen, arrives in shining armour with a horse dressed in fishnet stockings and studded leather straps for the Australian premiere of his self-titled movie at the State Theatre in Sydney, on June 29. Bruno also declared Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is "uber-cute" -- and even hotter than US President Barack Obama.(AFP/Torsten Blackwood)

Bruno, the alter ego of British satirist Sacha Baron Cohen, ...

(AFP) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:17:38 GMT

(AFP) - Bruno, the alter ego of British satirist Sacha Baron Cohen, is greeted by fans as he arrives in shining armour for the Australian premiere of his self-titled movie at the State Theatre in Sydney, on June 29. Bruno also declared Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is "uber-cute" -- and even hotter than US President Barack Obama.(AFP/Torsten Blackwood)

A sorcerer using a human skull during black magic rituals. Nearly ...

(AFP/File) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:52:30 GMT

(AFP/File) - A sorcerer using a human skull during black magic rituals. Nearly 18 percent of the Italian population -- 11 million people -- trusts self-styled sorcerers and healers, a consumer watchdog said in a report Monday.(AFP/File/Romeo Gacad)

People are seen observing demilitarized zone separating South ...

(AFP/File) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:13:34 GMT

(AFP/File) - People are seen observing demilitarized zone separating South Korea and North Korea, in Paju. SKorea's normally publicity-shy intelligence agency is creating a stir among liberal groups with a "spot the spy" flash video game offering a variety of prizes. The game challenges users to pick out spies and those who sympathise with communist North.(AFP/File/Philippe Lopez)

The back, or 'heads' side of a correctly minted 20 pence ...

(AFP/HO) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:04:32 GMT

(AFP/HO) - The back, or 'heads' side of a correctly minted 20 pence piece. A rather costly error by the Royal Mint has seen the issue of tens of thousands of 'dateless' 20p coins -- driving their value up to around £50 each.(AFP/HO)

French makeup artist Helene Jonca applies the final touch to ...

(AFP) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:42:31 GMT

(AFP) - French makeup artist Helene Jonca applies the final touch to US President Barack Obama's wax figure in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Obama's wax double has joined the pantheon of world leaders and stars at the Grevin Museum in Paris after being unveiled at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.(AFP/Pierre Verdy)

Communist party supporters carry a red flag during a rally in ...

(AFP/File) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:36:24 GMT

(AFP/File) - Communist party supporters carry a red flag during a rally in central Moscow in 2007. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has astonished the leader of the Russian Communist Party by presenting him with an unexpected birthday gift -- an early Soviet edition of the Communist Manifesto.(AFP/File/Janek Skarzynski)

A plane is seen sitting on the tarmac at Kathmandu International ...

(AFP/File) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:38:48 GMT

(AFP/File) - A plane is seen sitting on the tarmac at Kathmandu International Airport. Nepal's anti-corruption authority has come up with a novel solution to rampant bribe-taking at the country's only international airport -- the pocketless trouser. The authority said it was issuing the new, bribe-proof garment to all airport officials after uncovering widespread corruption there.(AFP/File/Devendra Man Singh)

Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen arrives dressed as a schoolboy to ...

(AFP) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:10:30 GMT

(AFP) - Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen arrives dressed as a schoolboy to attend a press conference in Sydney, on June 29. Cohen's alter ego, gay Austrian fashionista 'Bruno' is in Sydney to attend the Australian premiere of his self-titled movie on June 29.(AFP/Greg Wood)

Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (left) is "uber-cute" ...

(AFP/File) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:10:30 GMT

(AFP/File) - Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (left) is "uber-cute" -- and even hotter than US President Barack Obama, according to gay fashionista Bruno. Bruno, the alter ego of British satirist Sacha Baron Cohen, declared his admiration for the bespectacled Australian leader while on a visit in Sydney to promote his self-titled film.(AFP/File/Jim Watson)

Newlyweds are pictured in Ireland in 2002. Too much time spent ...

(AFP/File) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:50:17 GMT

(AFP/File) - Newlyweds are pictured in Ireland in 2002. Too much time spent on the Internet is causing increasing friction between couples in Ireland, a marriage counselling service said Friday.(AFP/File/Nicolas Asfouri)

Two Russian women got an unpleasant surprise when their former ...

(AFP/OFF) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:44:20 GMT

(AFP/OFF) - Two Russian women got an unpleasant surprise when their former boss paid them more than 1,000 dollars to settle a labour dispute -- in dozens of heavy bags full of tiny coins.(AFP/OFF)

US senior citizens at a political rally. American seniors 'remember ...

(AFP/File) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:40:57 GMT

(AFP/File) - US senior citizens at a political rally. American seniors 'remember when' long after their British counterparts have forgotten what day of the week it is, researchers report in a study released this week.(AFP/File/Paul Buck)

Sri Lankan navy soldiers march in Colombo on June 7, 2009, the ...

(AFP/File) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:48:48 GMT

(AFP/File) - Sri Lankan navy soldiers march in Colombo on June 7, 2009, the National War Hero's Day. Sri Lankan police say they have arrested an astrologer after he predicted serious political and economic problems for the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse.(AFP/File/Ishara S. Kodikara)

A view of centre court at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. ...

(AFP/File) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:51:07 GMT

(AFP/File) - A view of centre court at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. A view of A church by the Wimbledon championships is letting tennis fans park above the bodies in the graveyard, a newspaper reported Thursday.(AFP/File/Glyn Kirk)

Drivers on London Underground trains have started reading out ...

(AFP/File) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:34:23 GMT

(AFP/File) - Drivers on London Underground trains have started reading out quotes from thinkers like Jean-Paul Sartre, seen here in 1979, and Mahatma Gandhi in a bid to cheer up passengers, officials said Thursday.(AFP/File/Gabriel Duval)

A statue of Colonel Sanders, US fastfood chain Kentucky Fried ...

(AFP/JIJI PRESS/File) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:35:18 GMT

(AFP/JIJI PRESS/File) - A statue of Colonel Sanders, US fastfood chain Kentucky Fried Chicken's founder, is displayed by Osaka city officers after it was recovered from the sludge of a river nearly a quarter century after it went missing in March 2009. The "curse of Colonel Sanders", blamed for the Hanshin Tigers Japanese baseball club's quarter century of bad luck, was declared exorcised in a full Shinto rite Thursday.(AFP/JIJI PRESS/File)

A man hitherto not renowned for spectacular deeds, by day Boris ...

(AFP) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:28:10 GMT

(AFP) - A man hitherto not renowned for spectacular deeds, by day Boris Gryzlov, seen here in May 2009, is the dour and besuited speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament... but at night he becomes "Gryzlov Man," the hero of the latest Internet superhero comic strip ready to save Moscow from all evil(AFP/Ibragim)

Pigeons fly over the historical centre of Sibiu city in March ...

(AFP/File) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:03:50 GMT

(AFP/File) - Pigeons fly over the historical centre of Sibiu city in March 2009. Pigeons may sometimes appear to randomly target city sculptures with their droppings, but according to a new Japanese study they also have the potential to become discerning art critics.(AFP/File/Daniel Mihailescu)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (seen here in 2007) paid ...

(AFP/File) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:06:17 GMT

(AFP/File) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (seen here in 2007) paid a surprise visit to a Moscow supermarket, instructing startled managers to lower their prices, according to the press. The visit appeared to be the latest in a series of media stunts by Russia's strongman to show the public that the government is in control of a financial crisis that still shows no sign of easing.(AFP/File/Dmitry Astakhov)

Tony Chan leaves the High Court in Hong Kong. Chan, who is fighting ...

(AFP) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:51:00 GMT

(AFP) - Tony Chan leaves the High Court in Hong Kong. Chan, who is fighting for the 13 billion dollar estate of Nina Wang said in court that he and the eccentric tycoon burned money for fun.(AFP/Mike Clarke)

Fact file on Hong Kong billionaire Nina Wang, who died in 2007 ...

(AFP/Graphic) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:51:00 GMT

(AFP/Graphic) - Fact file on Hong Kong billionaire Nina Wang, who died in 2007 leaving a fortune to her feng shui master according to a will now under dispute in a court case. 90x60mm(AFP/Graphic/Martin Megino/Gal/Js)

Monks and believers are seen cleaning the 15-meter-tall Buddha ...

(AFP/Jiji Press/File) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:43:00 GMT

(AFP/Jiji Press/File) - Monks and believers are seen cleaning the 15-meter-tall Buddha statue at the Todaiji temple in Nara, western Japan. A Japanese company has reportedly agreed with the ancient temple that it would withdraw a controversial plastic figurine -- a seated, grinning Buddha with a bulge between its legs -- that was sold at the temple.(AFP/Jiji Press/File)

Wallabies are getting "as high as a kite" on opium ...

(AFP/DDP/File) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:20:31 GMT

(AFP/DDP/File) - Wallabies are getting "as high as a kite" on opium in Australian poppy fields and flattening crops as they hop round in circles, according to a report. The marsupials, which look like small kangaroos, have been getting into medical opium crops in the southern island state of Tasmania and chewing on the plant's intoxicating heads, state officials said.(AFP/DDP/File/Philipp Guelland)

A monkey urinated on Zambian President Rupiah Banda, seen here ...

(AFP/File) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:50:02 GMT

(AFP/File) - A monkey urinated on Zambian President Rupiah Banda, seen here in 2008, as he spoke to reporters outside his State House offices on Wednesday.(AFP/File/Alexander Joe)

Orthodox priests on Moscow's Red Square. The Russian Orthodox ...

(AFP/File) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:00:38 GMT

(AFP/File) - Orthodox priests on Moscow's Red Square. The Russian Orthodox Church has agreed to send priests to help bailiffs "shame" debtors and men dodging their alimony payments, the Kommersant newspaper reported on Wednesday.(AFP/File/Alexey Sazonov)

Frogs Raja (left) and Rani are married with full Hindu rituals ...

(AFP/File) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:48:45 GMT

(AFP/File) - Frogs Raja (left) and Rani are married with full Hindu rituals in a ceremony to usher in the delayed monsoon rains, near Futala Basti in the city of Nagpur, some 860 kilometres (530 miles) east of the Maharashtra state capital Mumbai. Tradition dictates that if frogs are married off with full Vedic or Hindu rituals, the rain god is pleased and the heavens will open within days.(AFP/File)

Villagers solemnize a frog marriage as they pray for rain at ...

(AFP/File) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:11:48 GMT

(AFP/File) - Villagers solemnize a frog marriage as they pray for rain at Maghlipara village, some 35 kms from Agartala. Frog marriage is traditionally observed by the rural folks according to the Vedic rites and rituals to appease the gods to bring in rain.(AFP/File/Parthajit Datta)

US President Barack Obama listens to a question during a press ...

(AFP) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:36:59 GMT

(AFP) - US President Barack Obama listens to a question during a press conference on June 23, in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC.(AFP/Nicholas Kamm)

Dwelling on tragedy in Iran and poking fun at his "Spock-like" ...

(AFP/DDP/File) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:36:59 GMT

(AFP/DDP/File) - Dwelling on tragedy in Iran and poking fun at his "Spock-like" ears, President Barack Obama flashed with impatience and compensating wit in a joust with White House reporters. Passionate when marveling at the courage of Iranian demonstrators, Obama was dismissive -- "only I am the president" -- when swatting away Republican attacks, and seemed a touch irritated by the more trivial questions.(AFP/DDP/File/Sebastian Willnow)

A saltwater crocodile seen here in Australia's Northern ...

(AFP/File) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:09:36 GMT

(AFP/File) - A saltwater crocodile seen here in Australia's Northern Territory in 2008. A 3.5-metre (11-foot) saltwater crocodile remains at large in northern Western Australia despite the best efforts of professional shooters, public broadcaster ABC said.(AFP/File/Greg Wood)

German police on Monday smashed a gang of suspected kidnappers ...

(AFP/DDP/File) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:03:31 GMT

(AFP/DDP/File) - German police on Monday smashed a gang of suspected kidnappers aged between 60 and 79 -- an act which highlighted the greying of Germany's population.(AFP/DDP/File/Lennart Preiss)

Australian tourists pose with their beers in a beer tent in ...

(AFP/File) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:43:59 GMT

(AFP/File) - Australian tourists pose with their beers in a beer tent in Munich during the Oktoberfest beer festival. Australians have been urged to give up booze for a month to raise money for cancer, in an unusual stunt that may do as much for participants' livers as it does for hospital wards.(AFP/File/John Macdougall)

A young coconut. A kung fu master has jabbed his way into the ...

(AFP/File) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:35:11 GMT

(AFP/File) - A young coconut. A kung fu master has jabbed his way into the Malaysian records book after piercing four coconuts with his index finger in a little over 30 seconds, a newspaper has reported.(AFP/File/UPALI ATURUGIRI)

A sea turtle. Ukrainian border guards have seized 250 turtles ...

(AFP/File) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:18:11 GMT

(AFP/File) - A sea turtle. Ukrainian border guards have seized 250 turtles being smuggled into the country on a train, where they had been hidden and strapped down with tape to prevent them from moving, officials have said.(AFP/File/Richard Bouhet)

A coconut vendor is pictured pushing his cart along a street. ...

(AFP/File) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:03:16 GMT

(AFP/File) - A coconut vendor is pictured pushing his cart along a street. A kung fu master has jabbed his way into the Malaysian records book after piercing four coconuts with his index finger in a little over 30 seconds, according to a newspaper report.(AFP/File/Ishara S. Kodikara)

A man withdraws money from a bank machine in Kuala Lumpur. It ...

(AFP/File) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 07:47:16 GMT

(AFP/File) - A man withdraws money from a bank machine in Kuala Lumpur. It was no speedy smash-and-grab when a thief, dressed like a Formula One driver, failed in his attempt to break open an ATM in the country with a forklift, reports have said.(AFP/File/Jimin Lai)