Mafia fugitive busted on YouTube cooking channel

And other stories from the stranger side of life

A saucepan

A mafia fugitive has been caught after appearing on YouTube cooking videos in which he hid his face but accidentally showed his distinctive tattoos. Marc Feren Claude Biart had been on the run since 2014, after Italian prosecutors ordered his arrest for cocaine trafficking. He was leading a quiet life in the Dominican Republic until he appeared on a YouTube channel in which he showed off his Italian cooking.

Humans could spit venom

Humans could evolve to spit potentially deadly venom as a self-defence mechanism, according to a new study. Scientists have found the genetic foundation required for oral venom is present in both reptiles and mammals. Under the right environmental conditions, humans could therefore develop the ability to spit it at enemies. Study author, Agneesh Barua, joked that the news “definitely gives a whole new meaning to a toxic person”.

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McCartney letter set for auction

A letter from Paul McCartney settling a “debt” for a missing holiday blanket is going up for auction. The singer made off with the bedding after staying at a farmhouse in Wales with fellow Beatle George Harrison. Several decades later, after he was chased up by the venue’s owner, he responded with a cheque for £30. His accompanying letter has a starting price of £3,000.

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