• Most Popular
  • Most Shared
A martial arts enthusiast pulls a vehicle with a rope connected to his eye sockets during a performance in Hefei, Anhui province November 30, 2009. Picture taken November 30, 2009. REUTERS/China Daily

Pictures of the year: Oddly

A look at the year's best strange and unusual photos.   Slideshow 

    Lottery winner's sweet wish...

    LONDON
    Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:03pm EST
    A man poses with coins as he empties a money jar in central England January 16, 2007. REUTERS/Darren Staples

    LONDON (Reuters) - Retired hospital porter Steve Smith, who is suffering from a potentially fatal heart defect, won almost 19 million pounds ($38 million) on Britain's National Lottery -- but said he would give it all up if he could spend a few more years living with his wife Ida.

    Oddly Enough

    "I have a one in 10 chance of living. It's like a ticking time bomb," said the 58-year-old Smith, enjoying a bittersweet glass of celebratory champagne with his wife Ida.

    Smith, who has an aortic aneurysm, told reporters when collecting his check: "It's Ida I worry for, it's leaving her behind. I would give all that back if I am allowed to still be with her because there are no shops in the cemetery are there?"

    Smith landed the giant prize with an extra stroke of luck -- the couple stopped off on the way home from a family visit to buy some lucky dip tickets and it was one of those which hit the jackpot.



    More from Reuters

    Photo

    House prices stall, consumer confidence up

    NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. consumer confidence rose to a three-month high in December, while prices in the hard-hit housing sector stalled in October, breaking a five-month string of gains.

    An employee swipes a customer's credit card through the card reader at a restaurant in Tokyo February 19, 2005.REUTERS/Issei Kato

    Taking a swipe at credit cards

    New legislation meant to protect consumers could be a "game changer" for the industry -- and not in a good way.  Full Article 

    A traveller lifts her arms as she stands in the new security scan at Schiphol airport, Netherlands, May 15, 2007.REUTERS/Jerry Lampen

    Are you ok getting "naked"?

    Full-body scanners can detect weapons under clothing but also expose passengers to operators. Should security trump privacy?  Full Article | Video