World Briefs

An Elvis Presley impersonator was forced to abandon his attempt at a world record singing marathon.

Simon Goldsmith, 36, of Little Bealings, Suffolk, had hoped to sing for more than 43 hours, 11 minutes and 11 seconds. After performing Elvis hits non-stop for more than 35 hours, the delivery driver had to abandon the attempt at the White Lion pub in Lower Ufford, Suffolk, on medical advice.

The Guinness World Record was set by Thomas Gothje, from Germany, in 2004. (PA)

Iran tests home-built torpedo

Iranian warship the Jamaran yesterday test-fired a home-built torpedo for the first time as part of ongoing naval war games in the Gulf, state TV's website reported.

"This torpedo is anti-submarine and when it is fired from the warship, it automatically hunts for the submarine and destroys it," navy commander Arya Hassani was quoted as saying.

The report said the torpedo was fired from the Iran-built Jamaran, which was deployed earlier this year. It has a displacement of around 1,400 tonnes and is equipped for electronic warfare.

On Wednesday the Islamic republic's navy began eight days of manoeuvres in the Gulf, Sea of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean covering an area of 250,000 square kilometres. (AFP)

Detonators in judge's letterbox

Two detonators were found in the letterbox of a Spanish judge in the restive Basque country yesterday, apparently designed to intimidate as no explosive was attached, a regional police spokesman said.

The devices and a cable which was also found were not immediately attributed to a nationalist urban guerrilla close to the armed separatist group ETA, but the regional interior ministry said there seemed to be a "logical" link between the two.

The find was made in the port city of San Sebastian.

ETA, which is blacklisted by the EU and the US, is blamed for the deaths of 829 people in a four-decade campaign of bombings and shootings to demand a Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwestern France. (AFP)

Win some, lose some

A man's lucky day at a New York state casino went up in smoke - along with his winnings.

Kenneth Lamoree said he returned to his home after winning more than £2,000 at the Turning Stone casino in Verona, but a little more than an hour later, a fire broke out in the home he shares with his fiancée and their three children.

The house suffered extensive damage and its contents - including Mr Lamoree's wallet with his casino winnings - were believed to have been destroyed. (PA)

Harrods to be 'even greater, better'

Harrods, the world-famous de-partment store, will be made "even greater and better", its new owners promised yesterday after Mohamed al Fayed decided to sell up and retire.

The Qatari royal family is buying the store for a reported £1.5 billion through Qatar Holding, the investment arm of the Qatar Investment Authority, which trades on behalf of the state.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani in a press said, "What I can assure you is that Qatar Holding will do their best to upgrade this monument to make it even greater and better for the tourism and also for the British people," adding that within three months the new owners would create a "road map" to make Harrods "more impressive".

Asked if he had ever shopped at Harrods, he joked: "If the shop will have customers like me I don't think Harrods will make profit, but maybe if it's my wife, yes." (PA)

The kennel of God

A church in Massachusetts church has launched a new monthly worship service - for dogs.

Calvary Episcopal Church is offering its first "Perfect Paws Pet Ministry" aimed at giving pooches and their owners improved odds at getting canines into heaven.

The Danvers church plans to hold the service on the third Sunday of every month, complete with communion for the humans and special blessings for pets. Dogs will get special treats. (PA)

Israeli monument for Red Army

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that Israel will build a "victory monument" to the World War II efforts of the Soviet Red Army to defeat Nazi Germany.

"Establishing a national monument is meant to express thanks and appreciation to the Russian people and the Red Army for their sacrifice and heroism that led to the victory of the free world over Nazi Germany on May 9, 1945," said a statement from Mr Netanyahu's office.

The decision marks a U-turn for Israel which had strained relations with the Soviet Union that supported Israel's Arab foes during the Cold War and persecuted Jews who wanted to emigrate to Israel. Mr Netanyahu decided on establishing the monument during a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Russia in February. (AFP)