World Briefs

A previous generation might have forged images of communist leaders, but three brothers in an Albanian village have carved six tonnes of red stone in a tribute to the speed and power of a Formula One racing car.

What the three Gjini brothers - hardworking and humble stone masons - started as a gift to a cousin has already turned into a sensation in one of Europe's poorest countries where F1 races have many fans.

Alfred, 24, the youngest of the brothers, said he started thinking of carving an F1 car in stone when a cousin began looking for something extraordinary to exhibit in his car parts and fuel station.

The car body is of red marble, called Rosso Albania (Red Albania). The mirrors, exhaust and fuel pipe are made of white stone while the tires are mud-green stone.

The wheel, also of stone, moves around. The car does not. (Reuters)

Online dating more popular

Any lingering stigma about finding true love online seems to be fading, particularly among older adults, researchers found.

In a study of 175 newlywed couples scientists at Iowa State University said those who met through online dating agencies, or social networking sites, tended to be older than other couples who met through traditional ways offline.

They were also less likely to be marrying for the first time and had shorter courtships before tying the knot - 18.5 months instead of 42 months.

"In many cases, there are real structural forces that encourage the support and use of these technologies," said Alicia Cast, an associate professor of sociology at the university.

"And one of them is just structural constraints on people's time - such as people who have kids, or have full-time jobs, or work long or extensive hours," she added in a statement.

But the online spouses were as attractive, intelligent and had the same self-esteem levels of the offline couples. (Reuters)

Mountain renamed Avatar

A craggy peak in a scenic part of China has been renamed after floating mountains featured in Hollywood blockbuster Avatar, with the province hoping to cash in on the movie's massive success.

The Southern Sky Column in Zhangjiajie in Hunan province formally had its named changed to Avatar Hallelujah Mountain in a ceremony yesterday.

The government said the floating Hallelujah Mountains in the movie were inspired by the Southern Sky Column, as a Hollywood photographer spent time shooting there in 2008.

Avatar has so far made around $80 million in China, and has become the country's most popular film ever.

Zhangjiajie hopes to capitalise on that fame. (Reuters)

Stabs father in PlayStation row

An Italian man who argued with his son over Sony PlayStation tactics was recovering in hospital yesterday after the teenager stabbed him in the neck with a 40-cm kitchen knife, police and hospital officials said.

The man, identified as Fabrizio R., suffered a deep cut to the throat after his 16-year-old son, Mario, attacked him during an argument on Sunday over the soccer video game FIFA 2009.

Police said the argument broke out when the 46-year-old storekeeper offered his son advice on tactics to improve his play, and then turned the TV off in response to his son's behaviour.

Fetching a knife from the kitchen, Mario stabbed his father in the neck before returning to clean the weapon at the kitchen sink in front of his mother and leaving it to dry on the draining-board.

The game had been given to Mario a few days earlier, as a birthday present. (Reuters)

Presidential veto

President Barack Obama has declined to serve jury duty after being summoned in Illinois.

Mr Obama was listed to serve at the Bridgeview courthouse in suburban Chicago starting today.

With his first State of the Union speech set for Wednesday, he has a busy week ahead. (PA)

Pet subject

A mother forced her 12-year-old son to kill his pet hamster with a hammer as punishment for bad school marks.

Lynn Geter, 38, faces charges of animal cruelty, child cruelty and battery.

Police in Georgia said that the boy told his teacher who reported it to child welfare, who contacted the police. (PA)