World Briefs

A photograph of a man wiping his bottom with the French flag prompted the government yesterday to demand criminal proceedings against the artist that produced it.

The image, one of the winners in a photo contest organised by the book and record shop FNAC in Nice, sparked a controversy after it appeared last month in a free national newspaper, Metro. Justice Minister Michele Alliot-Marie "has demanded that criminal proceedings be launched against this unacceptable act," said Justice Ministry spokesman Guillaume Didier.

The state prosecutor in Nice, Eric de Mongolfier, said he had examined the case last month at the ministry's request and ruled the photograph did not constitute an offence since it was done in a "creative spirit". (AFP)

Burglars break into prison

It would make a good gag for a comedy if it weren't actually true: thieves have broken into a Dutch prison to steal the inmates' televisions.

Twice in the last six weeks, burglars broke into a minimum-security prison and stole TVs from cells while prisoners were on weekend furloughs, a spokesman for the justice ministry said yesterday.

The prison, in Hoorn, northeast of Amsterdam, is for inmates near the end of their sentences. The facility is what the Dutch government calls a "very modestly protected environment," where prisoners transition back into society. They are typically allowed weekend leave, which is when the burglars decided to take advantage. (Reuters)

Losing time

Plans to unearth a time capsule buried at a school more than 40 years ago could be put on hold because no one can remember where it is. Children at Ling Moor Primary School in North Hykeham, Lincoln, were hoping to find photographs, newspaper articles and mementoes from when the school was built in 1969.

They hoped to add their own artwork and videos of what school life is like today to the time capsule. But any record of where it was buried has been lost. (PA)

Giant crab

A giant deep-sea crab - more than three feet and three inches long - which wandered into the nets of a Cornish fisherman is probably the largest ever found in British waters, experts said.

The rare box crab, normally found at depths of three kilometres, was caught 80 miles west of the Isles of Scilly at 60 fathoms (110 metres) by skipper Matthew Keast, who was fishing for turbot.

The monster, nicknamed Spud due to its potato-like body, is believed to be only the eighth of his kind brought up in the UK since 1900. (PA)

Bus-driving bookworm

A bus driver is facing dismissal after he was filmed apparently reading a book at the wheel, his employer has confirmed. National Express West Midlands said the driver, who has not been named, was suspended after footage of the incident was posted on the internet.

The company was alerted to the alleged misconduct after a passenger filmed the driver in Birmingham apparently flicking through the pages of a book while driving along a dual carriageway. (PA)

'Computer' tusks

More than a ton of elephant tusks have been found hidden in crates labelled as computer printers at Bangkok airport.

The 296 tusks were confiscated after a tip from authorities in Qatar where the ivory was shipped from.

It is a new sign that Thailand is emerging as a hub for the illicit ivory trade. (PA)

Crocodile joins aerobics class

A water aerobics class at a holiday park in Australia had to be postponed when a five-foot crocodile joined in.

Workers at the Howard Springs Holiday Park on the outskirts of Darwin went to the pool to scoop out leaves ready for the class when they discovered the crocodile.

A government ranger was summoned to remove the visitor, which was identified as a freshwater crocodile - generally considered to be capable of giving a nasty bite but rarely fatal to humans. (PA)

Cash for ash

A terminal cancer victim in Oregon is hoping to sell adverts on his cremation urn to pay for his funeral.

Aaron Jamison has just months to live after contracting an aggressive form of colon cancer. He said he did not want his wife to have to struggle with bills after he dies. (PA)