World Briefs

From his studio, Cuban artist José Fuster looks out over what he has wrought in the seaside village of Jaimanitas and says, "I am completely crazy".

Below, wildly colourful mosaics and large, fanciful sculptures cover his home and yard in an explosion of art that has transformed the humble neighbourhood into an island of brightness among Havana's well-worn suburbs.

His home and studio are the epicentre of a work in progress in which Mr Fuster, 62, has adorned houses on two streets with Picasso-like paintings and playful ceramic figures of the palm trees, roosters and crocodiles that reappear in all his art. In front of his house, he has created a sort of tiled park that is a large communal chess board; behind that, a massive eight-metre tall tribute to five Cuban agents jailed for spying in the United States, lauded in Cuba as the "Five Heroes".

It is a fantasy land that is Cuban to its core in its bright colours, comical icons and political undertones.

Mr Fuster has been called the Picasso of the Caribbean for his quirky style. (Reuters)

Journalists get 'Sexy' White House call

Journalists based in the United States got a shock on Thursday when they dialled a toll-free number to join a conference call with senior officials accompanying US President Barack Obama in London.

The number turned out to be a sex chat line inviting callers to use their credit card numbers. "Do you have any hidden desires?" a sultry voiced woman asked. Well, do you feel like getting nasty? Then you came to the right place - brought to you by the girls of Swank magazine," she said.

Reporters finally got through to the two officials in London - National Security Advisor James Jones and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton - when they gave up on the US "800" number and instead dialled an international number.

The White House did not offer an explanation when asked how it sent the wrong number in an e-mail listing both numbers - one for journalists in the United States and the other for those overseas. (AFP)

Female ministers blotted out

Israel's ultra-Orthodox publications have decided to blot out the two women Cabinet ministers in pictures of the new Israeli government.

"Find the lady," headlined the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper over a photo of the Cabinet line-up published in the Yated Ne'eman religious daily, which covered Limor Livnat and Sofa Landver with the silhouettes of two male ministers.

The Maariv daily showed an undoctored group photo of the 30-member Cabinet next to altered versions in the daily and the Sha'a Tovah religious weekly, which simply blacked out the faces and figures of Ms Livnat and Ms Landver.

Citing concerns for feminine modesty, ultra-Orthodox Jews refuse to publish images of women in their newspapers, a core source of information because the reclusive community generally shuns television, the internet and most radio stations. (Reuters)

Separate bus for immigrants

Plans for separate bus routes for residents and immigrants in Foggia, Italy have revived a debate over the treatment of non-EU citizens.

Authorities in Foggia say the new 24/i bus service will take foreigners directly to an immigrant hostel, by-passing a neighbourhood served by the existing 24 bus.

"At the heart of the decision are the clashes between immigrants and residents," Foggia's mayor Orazio Ciliberti said in La Repubblica newspaper. He said immigrants would be free to travel on any bus they choose.

"We are not talking about racism, but about providing a better service."

Authorities say friction has been rising between residents of Mezzanone and the immigrants who live in the Cara centre after a series of robberies blamed on foreigners.

Recent tough measures, including a crackdown on illegal immigrants, have boosted Mr Berlusconi's government standing at home where immigrants have been charged with a number of high-profile rapes. (Reuters)

Berlusconi startles the Queen

Italian newspapers ribbed Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi yesterday for startling Queen Elizabeth of Briatain by shouting out to the US President after a group photo with G20 leaders.

TV footage shows Mr Berlusconi calling out loudly "Mr Obama! It's Berlusconi". The footage shows the Queen looking startled by the shout. She turns as if to see where the noise was coming from and makes a comment with one gloved hand raised.

Mr Berlusconi's office issued a statement saying he "never said what is attributed to him by news agencies regarding President Mr Obama".

Mr Berlusconi, a 72-year-old media magnate in his third term in office with a high rating in opinion polls, has a history of diplomatic gaffes, twice recently referring to Mr Obama's skin colour - or "sun tan. (Reuters)