World Briefs

An Australian couple were caught drink driving three times in three hours yesterday - along the same street.

Victoria police said they first encountered a 37-year-old man driving along Montague Street in Melbourne shortly after midnight. He was breath-tested and found to be over the legal alcohol limit for driving. They observed the female passenger in the car was also alcohol affected and warned her not to drive.

Just over an hour later the pair were pulled over again in Montague Street and this time the 27-year-old woman was driving. She was breath-tested and also found to have too much alcohol to drive.

"The pair were nabbed a third time on Montague Street about 3.05 a.m. when the man was breath tested and refused to accompany police back to the station," police said. (AFP)

Former prostitute unmasks herself

A research scientist revealed herself as the former call girl who writes under the pseudonym Belle de Jour.

Dr Brooke Magnanti, who is currently working for The Bristol Initiative for Research of Child Health, said the "massive secret" was making her paranoid and affecting her behaviour.

Interest in the author's true identity increased when her memoirs were turned into the TV series Secret Diary of a Call Girl, starring Billie Piper.

Dr Magnanti, 34, who lives in Bristol, said she decided to unmask herself because she feared an ex-boyfriend might reveal Belle's true identity. (AP)

Garlic-free menu for festive season

A leading hotel chain is banning garlic from its Christmas menu, saying the move will increase workers' chances of stealing a festive kiss from colleagues.

Holiday Inn said its Fresh Breath Menu, will be completely garlic-free - no garlic bread, sausage or sauces.

A spokesman said: "With the party season fast approaching, we saw now as the perfect time to introduce a garlic-free menu to boost people's chances of a kiss at their work Christmas party." (AP)

Cash hand out creates chaos

A large, unruly crowd forced an internet site to cancel a promotional stunt to hand out tens of thousands of euros in cash in Paris.

About 5,000 people gathered last Saturday to await the handout near the Eiffel Tower, blocking traffic and leading to security fears. Police said officers and marketing site Mailorama.fr decided jointly to call off the stunt.

Some in the crowd were apparently angry about the cancellation, overturning a car and throwing projectiles at police. (PA)

'Let them eat vegetables'

Brigitte Bardot, one-time French screen goddess turned animal rights activist, wants the EU to institute a "Vegetarian Day" as part of the battle against global warming.

In a letter last week to European Commission chief José Manuel Barroso, Ms Bardot said she wanted to draw Mr Barroso's attention to the need to question cattle-farming as its "effects on the environment are of concern". Quoting studies by the World Bank and the UN food agency FAO, Ms Bardot said cattle-raising not only caused high carbon emissions but also polluted soils and the water table.

"If 'developed' nations were to reduce their meat consumption, there would be less famine, which kills almost six million children each year," Ms Bardot wrote, adding, "Our collective duty is to act... by promoting a vegetarian diet. A European 'Vegetarian Day' would be a strong symbol". (AFP)

Caning the dead

A Ugandan government official said the bodies of those who die because of drinking a local illicit gin should be caned six times before burial as an example to the living.

Some who make the local gin, called waragi, have begun distilling it with poisonous methanol. Over 50 people have died in the last two months in Uganda from drinking the poisonous gin.

In Uganda, the bodies of those who commit suicide are also caned as a form of dishonour and to warn against such behaviour for the living. (PA)

Sicilian Mafia leader arrested

Italian police yesterday captured the number two leader of Sicily's Cosa Nostra Mafia, Domenico Raccuglia, after 15 years on the run.

Mr Raccuglia, 45, who has been sentenced separately to three life jail terms including for his role in the kidnapping and murder of a teenager, was arrested in Sicily's Trapani region.

At the time of his arrest, he tried to escape from a balcony in the apartment where he was hiding. Mr Raccuglia was considered a potential contender to become the new boss of the Mafia in Palermo.

He was sentenced to life in prison for his involvement in the killing of the teenage son of a Mafia turncoat. The 14-year-old boy was kidnapped in 1993 and was kept hostage for more than two years before being killed. His body was then dumped in acid. (AFP)