Offbeat - AFP

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - A top minister slammed Malaysia's taxi drivers Wednesday, saying they were more of a problem for the tourism industry than the nation's notoriously filthy toilets. Full Story »

LONDON (AFP) - Britain's Prince Charles borrowed nearly 3,000 pounds from his protection officers after the royal found himself short of cash and needing to fork out for "travel expenses," a report said Wednesday. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Imagine tearing open that large present under the Christmas tree with your name on it and finding inside... a fire extinguisher. Full Story »

LONDON (AFP) - Prime Minister Gordon Brown admitted Tuesday he should oversee the family computer more closely, after his young son posted a string of gobbledegook on his wife's Twitter page. Full Story »

MOSCOW (AFP) - Moscow's outspoken mayor on Tuesday blamed meteorologists for failing to predict thick snowfall that paralysed the city's road network this week. Full Story »

TAIPEI (AFP) - A local politician in Taiwan has been charged with defamation after pulling off the wig of a rival lawmaker and then boasting about the incident on his name cards, an official said Tuesday. Full Story »

MELBOURNE (AFP) - A compulsive gambler who wagered close to 1.4 billion US dollars during a 16-month betting spree lost his lawsuit against Australia's largest casino Tuesday when a judge ruled he was not exploited. Full Story »

BERLIN (AFP) - A Swedish motorist fled terrified from his hire car after a snake suddenly slithered out from behind the dashboard onto the steering wheel, German police said on Tuesday. Full Story »

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - A Malaysian woman has been arrested for keeping endangered animals including a leopard cat, a honey bear and a slow loris as pets in her apartment, reports said Tuesday. Full Story »

WELLINGTON (AFP) - A German visitor was caught trying to leave New Zealand with 23 geckos and 20 skinks hidden in his underwear, a court was told. Full Story »