No answer: a cursed mobile number is put out of service

A cell phone number in Bulgaria has been withdrawn from service after the mysterious deaths of its last three owners. The number ? 0888 888 888 ? first belonged to the owner of a Bulgarian mobile phone company who died of cancer at the age of 48 amid allegations that he had been poisoned by business rivals. It then fell into the hands of a mafia boss, Konstantin Dimitrov, 31, who was gunned down in the Netherlands in 2003. The final owner was Konstantin Dishliev, a businessman and drug runner from Sofia, who was assassinated two years later. A decision has now been made to suspend the number for good. Callers get a recorded message saying the phone is: "outside network coverage."

A 2,000 calorie milkshake has been labelled "the worst drink in America." Created by the Cold Stone Creamery, the Cold Stone PB&C is made with chocolate ice cream, peanut butter and milk. It provides 2,010 calories, 131 grams of fat and 153 grams of sugar, or the equivalent of 30 chocolate chip cookies. Men's Health Magazine, which compiled the list of the top 20 most unhealthy drinks, warned consumers to "plan on buying some bigger pants on the way home."

The world land speed record for a lawnmower was smashed twice in a single weekend. Sitting astride the petrol driven mower, Don Wales reached a top speed of 86.069mph (138.51 kph) on a beach in Carmarthenshire, Wales. On the second run, the mower managed 87.833mph (141.353 kph). It broke the previous record of 80.72mph, set by an American team four years ago. Mr Wales is the grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell, who held numerous land and water speed records in the 1920s and 30s. The eventual goal of the team is to take a lawnmower to 100mph.

What is believed to be the world's oldest practising doctor has celebrated his 100th birthday.

Dr Walter Watson, an obstetrician from Atlanta, Georgia, still gets up at 6.45am to get ready for work. He estimates he has also delivered 18,000 babies over 63 years. They include 17 members of one family. Mr Sabra Allen, 77, a retired hospital administrator said he had delivered five of her children and 12 grandchildren. "There ain't no one like him," she said. "He's the best."

Experts were baffled by a mysterious animal found dead in a lake in Canada. The body of the creature, with a bald face and warthog like tusks was photographed near the waters of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug in northern Ontario. Some members of a local Native American community say the pictures show omajinaakoos, a local beast whose name translates as the "ugly one" and whose appearance is a sign of bad luck. Other say it is nothing more than an otter or beaver that had been in the water for too long.

Police investigating an unpleasant smell coming from an apartment on the South Side of Chicago discovered an elderly couple buried under a mound of rubbish. They were alerted by neighbour who were worried that the couple had not been seem for some time. After digging through rotting food waste and other rubbish, the pair were dug out and taken to hospital were they were said to be in critical condition.

A gang of robbers in Germany succeeded only in completely destroying a bank. Explosives planted by the criminals flattened the building containing the bank, in the village of Malliss. However the night-time blast, which also damaged nearby cars and buildings, failed to blow open the bank's cash machine and the gang were forced to flee empty-handed.