World briefs

Children in a New Zealand school have been banned from bringing cakes to share on their birthdays, due to new government healthy eating guidelines.

Pupils at Oteha Valley primary school north of Auckland have been told they are allowed to celebrate their birthdays, but the cake must stay at home, the New Zealand Herald newspaper reported.

The Ministry of Education has been on a fat-busting crusade, introducing sweeping guidelines against unhealthy food in New Zealand schools. Oteha Valley has a large number of pupils born in September and October, and there can be up to four cakes a week in some classes, principal Megan Bowden told the Herald.

Hawk swoops down on girl

Something unusual was flying at Boston's Fenway Park yesterday when a hawks not a ball, injured a young girl touring the baseball stadium.

A red-tailed hawk, nesting near home plate, swooped down and scratched the eighth-grader's head as she visited the Boston Red Sox's home, a team spokesman said.

The girl, who paid $10 for the tour, was treated and released from a local hospital, the spokesman said, adding "it was an unfortunate incident but the girl is fine now".

Workers later removed the hawk's nest in time for Tuesday's opening game when some 37,000 fans are expected to crowd into the stadium. It is not uncommon for birds to nest in the ballpark in the offseason, feasting on mice and rats. They usually leave when crowds arrive, the spokesman adde.

Weight limit on donkey rides

Relief is in sight for Britain's hard-working beach donkeys - from now on they won't have to carry anyone weighing over eight stone. Nor will they have to work more than six days a week or have to show off their foals to tourists, under a new national code of practice unveiled yesterday.

Blackpool, which with 200 animals has the largest number of working donkeys, has become the first resort to adopt the new rules. The charter from the Donkey Sanctuary charity says anyone over the eight-stone (51 kg) limit will not be able to ride Britain's 850 resort animals - and that includes overweight children.

The charter, backed by the British Equine Vets' Association, stipulates the animals should always have one full day of rest per week. They should also get an hour's lunch break if working for long periods.

World's oldest punter

A 101-year-old Londoner, billed as the world's oldest punter, took time out from training for the London marathon to stake £101 on outsider Cornish Sett winning today's Grand National at odds of 101-1.

Buster Martin, who is also bidding to become the world's oldest marathon runner, still works as a plumber, drinks beer, smokes cigarettes and enjoys staying out late.

Bookmakers William Hill are, in turn, offering odds of 101-1 that the doughty centenarian can finish the marathon later this month within 12 hours.

Pies win exclusive food status

One of Britain's most traditional foods has won exclusive protected status from the EU, campaigners announced yesterday. After a 10-year battle, the Melton Mowbray pork pie has been registered for protected geographical status under the European Protected Names Scheme.

The EU's approval gives the pie the same status as France's Champagne, Italy's Parma ham and Mortadella Bologna as well as another local food - the Stilton Cheese.

The pies originated from Melton Mowbray as a portable snack for hungry labourers and are defined by their bulging walls and greyish uncured pork fillings. They were later adopted by hunting aristocrats.

Held over severed head murder

Two Lithuanian men were arrested yesterday over the murder of a woman whose severed head was found in a plastic bag on a Scottish beach. Police said the men, whom they have not named, were being questioned over the death of fellow Lithuanian Jolanta Bledaite.

The men, aged 19 and 40, have not been charged. Inquiries involving more than 50 officers were continuing to establish why and how she was killed.

Ms Bledaite, 35, was identified after hundreds of calls were made to police following the discovery on Tuesday of her severed head by two sisters aged 8 and 11. Two hands were also found on the foreshore at Arbroath, in eastern Scotland.