Rushdie feels knot unnecessary

Having tied the knot four times himself, controversial Indian-origin writer Salman Rushdie says he doesn’t think marriage is “necessary”, PTI reports from London. Attacking the institution of marriage, Rushdie said he did not believe in it and that women rushed to the altar only because they wanted to wear a “wedding dress”. The author of Satanic Verses has been married four times, most recently to Padma Lakshmi, from whom he split last year.

Biggest squid has ‘beach ball’ eyes

The largest squid ever caught began to reveal its secrets Wednesday, including eyes the size of beach balls that one scientist said were likely the biggest ever known in the animal kingdom, AP reports from Wellington. The 495-kilogram squid is slowly thawing under the fascinated gaze of a team of scientists in New Zealand.

UK to auction rare Indian coins

Rare coins issued in India before and during the British rule will be sold at an internet auction by the prominent London-based numismatics firm Baldwin’s next week, PTI reports from London. The coins for sale on May 6 have been divided into several lots: those belonging to the Bengal Presidency, Bombay Presidency, Madras Presidency and Colonial and Regal Coinage Lots.

Apple that does not go brown

Australian scientists have come up with an apple that does not go brown when cut. Unlike most apples, which go brown almost immediately, the fruit stays a pale pink colour for several hours after it is exposed to air.

It will be sold under the name Enchanted, and state minister Kim Chance said today he hoped its unique qualities would make it popular worldwide.

Stabbed Indian driver ‘stable’

The condition of an Indian student working as a taxi driver, who was stabbed and left to die on a pavement, has improved but is still serious. Jalvinder Singh, 23, was admitted on Tuesday. He had been lying on the pavement near a hotel for two hours, and on the verge of hypothermia. His car was smashed and was a few metres away from where he lay bleeding.