■ United States
Monopoly victor crowned
A rolling Monopoly game that started on a chartered train dubbed the "Reading Railroad" ended with a victorious national champion. Matt McNally, of Irvine, California, took the top prize Saturday, walking away with US$15,140 in real money -- equal to the amount of funny money in a Monopoly game. Forty-eight contestants from around the US competed to become this year's national champion, playing elimination rounds on the chartered train. It was wrapped in giant images of Marvin Gardens, Pennsylvania and Baltic Avenue and other Monopoly game properties. The players climbed aboard in Chicago and started rolling the dice as the train chugged toward Atlantic City for the finals. Besides taking home the money, McNally will represent the US in the 2004 World Monopoly Championship in
Hong Kong.
■ United Kingdom
Starvation stunt set to finish
US showman David Blaine was to swap his plastic box by London's River Thames for a hospital ward when his 44-day starvation stunt ended yesterday. Filthy, unshaven and complaining of black-outs, Blaine will be taken to hospital by ambulance to begin what he describes as the most dangerous stage of his feat. "The hardest part is when you come out and you are brought back to nourishment," he said in a recent interview. The illusionist will build his strength slowly with mineral supplements before tackling solid food, a spokesman said. Blaine has been suspended in a see-through box beneath a crane next to London's landmark Tower Bridge since Sept. 5, apparently with no food and only one tube for water and another for urinating.
■ Tanzania
Man cuts off genitals
A Tanzanian man cut off his genitals in an attempt to win sympathy from creditors after squandering their money on prostitutes and alcohol, a newspaper reported on Saturday. The 24-year-old reached the decision after realizing he could not pay back millions of shillings lent to him by friends and relatives to invest in a business venture. The Guardian newspaper said the man's condition was improving after he received treatment at his local hospital in the east African country's northern Manyara region. The report said it was the second such incident in the area in two months. Another man slashed off his genitals upon failing to settle a 300,000 shilling (US$287) debt.
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