UbuneBlog

Two teenagers have set themselves on fire near a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in south-west China amid rumours that dozens of monks were ready to ‘sacrifice their lives”, rights groups said on Friday. The teenagers – Choepel and Khayang – were former monks from Sichuan province’s Kirti monastery, the scene of repeated protests, the London-based Free […]

Money is the cause of, and solution to, a family spat, writes Michael Idato. For fans of The Simpsons it is devastating news: their beloved television program could, after 23 years and 488 half-hour episodes, come to an end. The six main voice actors – Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria […]

His approval ratings may be plummeting at home but in China, US President Barack Obama is king – or at least the kitsch products bearing his likeness are. Take a stroll down a hutong – narrow alley – lined with shops in the capital city Beijing and you will see Mr Obama dressed up in […]

A Hitler lookalike appeared on key rings and magnets on sale at 7-Eleven stores in Taiwan, triggering a strong reaction Monday from the de facto Israeli embassy, which said it was “appalled.” The items, seen at several 7-Eleven convenience stores in Taipei, sported an Adolf Hitler-style cartoon figure with a short black mustache, a brown […]

“SNAPPY” the crocodile has no one to blame but himself for changing colour, his owner says. At first glance, it looks like “Snappy” has tanned up for the Brownlow. But the cranky chameleon has no one to blame but himself for changing colour – after apparently biting off more than he could chew. Owner Tracey […]

Texas death row inmates will no longer get their choice of last meals, after the menu request of a man condemned for a notorious hate crime slaying left a bad taste in the mouth of a prominent senator. Lawrence Russell Brewer, who was executed on Wednesday, asked for two chicken fried steaks, a triple-meat bacon […]

Russian billionaire and British newspaper proprietor Alexander Lebedev hurled punches at a fellow Russian businessman during a television talk show, sending the property developer flying across the studio. Sergei Polonsky, himself once a billionaire who lost part of his fortune during the economic crisis, goaded Mr Lebedev on the pre-recorded show, announcing that he would […]

News from Australia. CONFRONTING images of a 34-year-old man dying from lung cancer and a premature baby struggling to breathe are among the new warnings that will cover the front of cigarette packs from next year. Fifteen new pictures will replace the photographs that have been used since 2006 as the federal government steps up […]

A US company is giving new clients a voucher to buy an AK-47 assault rifle to defend themselves from violent crime. Sarasota-based MerchantService.com provides small stores and businesses with cash machines and credit card processing services. Its No Merchant Victim program now offers a voucher that can be used to buy a gun such as […]

Bejewelled scale model Lamborghini expected to fetch more than six times as much as the real car. One highly detailed toy car, or six Lamborghini Aventadors? To most the decision makes itself, but an elaborate new scale model of the range-topping Lambo has been tipped to fetch nearly five million dollars when it comes up […]