World Briefs

A serpent originally included in a 16th century portrait of Elizabeth I but painted over shortly afterwards has "reappeared," the National Portrait Gallery in London said yesterday.

Degradation over time has revealed that the monarch was originally painted holding a serpent, the outline of which is now visible again in the work by an unknown artist dating from the 1580s or early 1590s.

But at the last minute the emblem was covered, and the queen was depicted holding a small bunch of roses instead.

The gallery said it was not sure why the change was made, but suggested that it may have been to do with the ambiguity of meaning the symbol carried.

While a serpent was sometimes used to represent wisdom, prudence and reasoned judgment - all fitting attributes for a queen - snakes also symbolised Satan and original sin in the Christian tradition. (Reuters)

Stage fright

Performers in London's West End are having to cope with a different kind of stage fright in the form of mice, rat and flea infestations in theatres, according to a new survey by actors' union Equity.

The union said that three quarters of actors and stage managers reported regular infestations including mice, rats and fleas.

Equity general secretary Christine Payne said the findings suggested that each night, more than 600 actors and stage managers would go to work knowing they were likely to see and smell vermin, "both living and decomposing," at work.

Individuals surveyed reported that floors had been eaten by mice which also left droppings and unpleasant smells.

"I had tiny bite marks on my lipstick recently when I left the lid off," one respondent said. (Reuters)

Nude snow sculpture covered

Police in New Jersey ordered a snow sculpture modelled on the famous nude Venus de Milo to be covered up after a neighbour complained.

Elisa Gonzalez carved the ancient Greek-style torso from snow on her front lawn in Rahway.

"It looked very beautiful," she said. "We got a lot of attention from people in the neighbourhood. Some of them got out and took pictures and spoke to us."

One neighbour, however, clearly felt the snow nude - headless, armless, and cut off above the knees - was too hot.

"We had a visit from the local police who told us that a neighbour had complained about the statue and we needed to cover it up or knock it down," Ms Gonzalez said.

The original Venus de Milo, in Paris' Louvre museum, depicts a nude woman. She also is without arms, although her head is intact. (AFP)

Singapore sticks to chewing gum ban

Singapore is often praised for being clean and green, and a government official said yesterday that was precisely why buying chewing gum would remain illegal in the city state.

Maliki Osman of the Ministry of National Development told Parliament, "The government stands by its decision to ban chewing gum as rational, based on maintaining a clean and comfortable living environment for all Singaporeans to enjoy."

Singapore banned the sale of chewing gum in 1992, citing littering - sticking used gum on tables and chairs - as well as vandalism. Passengers reportedly started sticking chewing gum on the door sensors of commuter trains, disrupting services. (Reuters)

Sheriff misfires

A claustrophobic deputy has lost his job in a Kentucky sheriff's department after accidentally locking himself in a jail cell and trying to shoot his way out of it.

No-one was hurt when Charles Wright fired his weapon on the first day a new £9 million prison centre opened.

Sheriff Ralph Curry says the former deputy has agreed to pay for the damage he did to the cell. (PA)

Wounded mamba attacks woman

A Siberian woman was in critical condition in a South African hospital after inadvertently walking into the path of a wounded green mamba, an emergency official said yesterday.

Sapa news agency reported that the snake, run over by a car at a shopping centre in Kwa-Zulu Natal province, lashed out at the woman as she crossed the street, biting her twice on the leg.

"She is critical. The information we have is that she is from Siberia," Netcare 911's Jeff Wicks said.

The green mamba, found in eastern and southern Africa, is generally not an aggressive snake, but will strike if provoked. (Reuters)

Macabre museum

The Los Angeles Police Department has apologised to the family of Robert Kennedy for exhibiting the shirt, tie and jacket the senator wore when he was assassinated in 1968.

They were included in an evidence exhibit at a homicide investigators' conference held in Las Vegas.

Mr Kennedy was gunned down by Sirhan Sirhan at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles in 1968. (PA)