WORLD: The annual descent into media madness known as the silly season is upon us. The Dáil, the House of Commons, the machinery of Euro rule in Brussels have all shut for summer and the courts will be winding down soon as well.
It is during this period, between now and the end of August, that editors of otherwise sound judgment become tempted by rumours of Elvis and suggestions of five-legged cows in Bavaria.
Irish Times readers will find all such distractions in this new daily slot.
Berlin: A German firm has begun offering sunglasses and prescription spectacles with detachable frame arms that double as chopsticks or forks.
The glasses designer says there is growing demand from time-pressured sushi fans eating their favourite food on the go.
"The idea came from the common need for cutlery at any time," said company director Ralph Anderl, who also uses his personal frames to eat the Japanese raw fish delicacy. "Our so-called sushi specs have been a particular hit in Japan," he added.
The spectacle frames, costing from €270, are made from lightweight stainless steel and fit together without the use of screws.
Tokyo: People who like talking to their plants can now enjoy a musical accompaniment, thanks to a Japanese invention that turns petals and leaves into amplifiers.
Called the Flower Speaker Amplifiers, the gadget made by Let's Corp is hidden in a vase or a potted plant and sends music at just the right frequency to vibrate up the stems and then be converted into audible sound by the plant as a whole. A device such as a CD player or radio can be connected to it.
"Anywhere where you would want music naturally integrated with a natural surrounding," said Hirohiko Okugawa, a manager at Let's, referring to locations for the device, which he expects to be popular for hotels and hospital lobbies.
The inventor of the gadget, Keiji Koga, said: "We are finally able to experience plants and flowers with all five of our natural senses."
Sydney: Cinders is a juvenile Australian Grey Headed Flying Fox who, according to the picture caption supplied by the Associated Press, appreciates the value of dental hygiene. Grey Headed Flying Foxes, also known as Fruit Bats, are found along the Eastern Coast of Australia and due to their feeding habits, are a vital part in the pollination of many Australian Eucalyptus trees. As regards brushing teeth, no further details are offered.
Prague: A Czech police officer took a police campaign to cut traffic accidents a little too far when he shot at a pedestrian who crossed a road on a red light.
The policeman in the western city of Pilsen first fired a warning shot in the air. But when the man refused to return to the pavement, the officer shot at him twice but missed, according to the online edition of the Czech newspaper, Pravo. No one was injured. The police officer faces a criminal investigation.