Reckless Reality |

In a latest attempt to fight against the recently-enforced smoking ban, a café has been renamed True Universal Smokers’ Church of God.

THE NETHERLANDS – The Dutch are not going to giving up fighting against the recently-enforced smoking ban.

A pub in the southern city of Maastricht forms an association for smoking members.

Cor Busch from the northern town of Alkmaar has taken the idea further by renaming his Café Lindeboom the True Universal Smokers’ Church of God in Amsterdam.

Visitors can join the congregation and receive a pass to honour God with smoke, fire and ashes. Dozens of pub owners have joined the Smokers’ Church in order to avoid the smoking ban on the grounds of religious freedom.

PATNA, India (Reuters) – A state government in eastern Indian is encouraging people to eat rats in an effort to battle soaring food prices and save grain stocks.

Authorities in Bihar, one of India’s poorest states, are asking rich and poor alike to switch to eating rats in a bid to reduce the dependence on rice. They even plan to offer rats on restaurant menus.

“Eating of rats will serve twin purposes — it will save grains from being eaten away by rats and will simultaneously increase our grain stock,” Vijay Prakash, an official from the state’s welfare department, told Reuters. Read the rest of this entry »

If you are looking for a holiday home on the French Riviera, the stock of available properties just got smaller.

With grounds so grand that it takes a reputed 50 gardeners to tend them, the Villa Leopolda in Villefranche-sur-Mer has been snapped up by a mystery Russian billionaire.

Built by King Leopold II of Belgium in 1902, the sumptuous villa has been graced by world leaders and superstars.

The previous owner, the late banking billionaire Edmond Safra, is said to have entertained Ronald Reagan and Frank Sinatra there.

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