World Briefs

A man by the name of Jesus Christ was run down by a motorist at a crossroads in Massachusetts.

Officers checked the 50-year-old victim's ID and discovered that his legal name is Lord Jesus Christ. He was taken to hospital for treatment of minor facial injuries.

The victim might have forgiven 20-year-old driver Brittany Cantarella over the incident in Northampton, but police have not - she has been charged with failing to yield to a pedestrian on a crossing. (PA)

Muslim workers forced to eat pork

A Taiwanese garment factory owner has been indicted on charges of forcing three Muslim women workers from Indonesia to eat pork, officials said yesterday.

Prosecutors are seeking an eight-month jail term for Chang Wen-lin, the owner of Hsin Hua Hang company.

"The employer had threatened to deduct the salary of the three women if they refused to eat the meals that they offered to the local employees," prosecution spokesman Cheng Hsin-hung at the Panchiao District Court, said. The factory owner said she thought that eating pork would provide them with energy. (AFP)

Atlantic ash

Saudi Airlines said yesterday it had halted flights between the United States and Saudi Arabia because of the cloud of volcanic ash from Iceland over the Atlantic.

The state carrier's assistant director general, Abdullah al-Ajhar, said the airline wanted to preserve passenger safety in cancelling its twice-weekly direct Washington-Riyadh and New York-Jeddah services.

Some transatlantic flights between Europe and North America were also being delayed and rerouted because of the ash cloud from the volcano.

Iceland's Eyjafjoell volcano erupted on April 14 and caused travel chaos worldwide, with airspace closed over many European countries for a week over fears the ash would damage aircraft engines with fatal results.

It was the biggest aerial shutdown in Europe since World War II, with more than 100,000 flights cancelled affecting some eight million passengers. (AFP)

Murder unwritten

A man who spent almost 10 years in jail after being convicted of murder has been acquitted and freed after his "victim" turned up alive.

The Higher People's Court in China's central province of Henan acquitted Zhao Zuohai, 57, after the man he was accused of killing, Zhao Zhenshang, now 58, returned to his village.

The incident raises concerns about police torture, which Zhao Zuohai's relatives say was used to force him to confess to the crime. An investigation is under way and Zhao Zuohai will receive about US$45,000 in compensation. (PA)

Drop dead fabulous

Run For Your Life... the Beatles are to be transformed into zombies for a new movie.

Film bosses have snapped up the rights to a book which casts the Fab Four as flesh-eaters, Paul Is Undead.

The book, by Alan Goldsher, is being brought to life by movie company Double Feature whose bosses produced hits such as Pulp Fiction and Erin Brockovich, according to leading film blog Deadline. (PA)

Booze with a kick

The owner of a donkey that could be one of the oldest in the world put her longevity down to a penchant for Guinness.

Rosie gulps down two-thirds of a pint every day with her food to keep her healthy.

Lesley Manger, who runs Kenstud Pony Rescue in Belper, Derbyshire, said Rosie is believed to be around 54 years old - but they cannot confirm her age. (PA)

Lollipops show drivers the stick

Lollipop ladies (and men) have a new weapon in the battle against dangerous motorists - cameras fixed to their trademark poles.

Three school crossing patrols in Somerset are to trial the technology to combat "lollipop rage", which flares up 1,400 times each year nationally.

The trial is taking place outside Paulton Primary School, in North East Somerset, as well as Widcombe Junior School and the Royal High School, both in Bath. (PA)

Shooting pains

A man who shot himself in the groin has been convicted of illegal discharge of a firearm.

David Leroy Blurton claimed someone hit him in the back of the head and he was trying to defend himself, but the 50-year-old was convicted by a jury as investigators said there was no evidence of an attack.

Prosecutors say Mr Blurton had been drinking before the incident in the car park of a grocery store in Dillon, Colorado. (PA)

Sleeping at the wheel

A high-speed train driver in Taiwan has lost his job after being caught dozing off while travelling at nearly 300 kilometres an hour, officials said yesterday.

The incident happened when the train carrying hundreds of passengers was travelling on a stretch of line just south of Taichung city in the centre of the island.

"The driver had taken sleeping pills and was not fully conscious while on duty," Ted Chia, spokesman for the Taiwan High Speed Rail, told reporters.

Train controllers noticed that the driver did not appear to be touching the controls and immediately alerted the cabin crew.

Using the train's automatic systems, they managed to take control of the train for about 13 minutes until it glided safely into Taichung station, according to the spokesman. (AFP)