World Briefs

The original manuscript of Albert Einstein's groundbreaking theory of relativity, which helps explain everything from black holes to the Big Bang, went on display in its entirety for the first time yesterday.

Einstein's 46-page handwritten explanation of his general theory of relativity, in which he dem-onstrates an expanding uni-verse and shows how gravity can bend space and time, is being shown at the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Jerusalem as part the scholarly association's 50th anniversary celebration.

Einstein contributed the man-uscript to the Hebrew University in Jerusalem when it was founded in 1925, four years after he was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics. His will bequeathed the rest of his papers to the university on his death in 1955.

First published in 1916, the general theory of relativity remains a pivotal breakthrough in modern physics. (PA)

Bungling spy

A bungling German spy posted to Britain to uncover RAF secrets sent back only "entirely worthless" information, his MI5 file shows.

Swiss-born Werner Strebel be-came involved in espionage because he thought it would be an easy way of getting money to fund a cushy lifestyle, his Nazi controller complained.

He was told to obtain an RAF pilot training manual and to report in detail on the RAF station in Dunstable, near Luton, Bedfordshire. But he apparently sent back only three secret messages, all of which were considered "quite useless" by Nazi spy chiefs. (PA)

Protected pud

Yorkshire pudding makers could win the same special protection afforded to Champagne and Parma ham producers to stop rivals from outside the county cashing in on the famous name, a regional food group said.

The Sunday roast favourite could win European rights, meaning they must be made within Yorkshire or Humberside if they are to be labelled as such. Three manufacturers - including the popular Aunt Bessie brand - were in talks about applying for the special status. (PA)

Head concho

A sixth-generation Key West man who first blew a conch shell as a child played two simultaneously to take top honours in the Florida island's 48th annual Conch Shell Blowing Contest.

Clinton Curry, 36, followed his two-toned toot with a portion of composer Aram Khachaturian's Sabre Dance on a single shell. The contest drew more than 40 entrants. The top group entry and audience favourite was a "Conchestra", whose 22 members performed a conch-shell accompaniment and offbeat dance to a recording of the Village People hit YMCA. (PA)

Women drivers on direction, parking

Almost half (47 per cent) of women drivers reckon their sense of direction is not very good, according to a poll out yesterday. As many as 25 per cent often get lost while driving and, of these, two in three lose their way in their own home town, the survey from courier company Boxby.co.uk found.

Of the men surveyed, 85 per cent believed their sense of direction was very good, with only 11 per cent reckoning it could do with some improvement.

The poll also found that 29 per cent of women admitted they had asked a partner or friend to park their car, with 42 per cent saying they would drive past a space in a car park if it looked too difficult to get into.

In contrast, two thirds of men said they had never been beaten by a parking space. (PA)

No lawyers for animals

Switzerland boasts laws to protect goldfish from being flushed down the toilet and to guarantee companions for lonely animals but yesterday voted against assigning lawyers to abused creatures.

Just over 70 per cent of voters chose the "no" option in a referendum on the issue and nearly 30 per cent said "yes", according to results released after the day's voting.

Yesterday's referendum was initiated by the Swiss Animal Protection (PSA) group and would have obliged all cantons to name a lawyer for animals during judicial proceedings.

Legal representation in cases involving mistreated animals has been compulsory since 1992 in the Zurich canton. But pet politics could have been taken to a new level if voters had extended the right to the other 25 mini-states. (AFP)