World Briefs

North Korea made good on its promise to carry the World Cup clash with Portugal live but a hail of goals from the European side left the commentator speechless, South Korean media reported yesterday.

The communist state's Korean Central TV Broadcasting Station had aired recorded footage of the team's first group match against Brazil. The North, making their first World Cup appearance for 44 years and ranked lowest among the finalists, put up a dogged defence against the five-time champions from South America before going down 1-2.

Apparently encouraged, the station aired Monday evening's game in real time - reportedly the first-ever live World Cup broadcast in the football-mad nation. A commentator expressed disappointment when Portugal scored their first goal 29 minutes into the first half, according to South Korean media that monitored the broadcast.

The North Koreans should have been more alive to the forward threat posed by Cristiano Ronaldo's team, he said. "If we play our own style of game, we will be able to score."

The hopes were soon to be shattered. Portugal added an avalanche of six goals in the second half to knock the scoreless North out of the tournament.

The broadcast ended immediately after the final whistle. (AFP)

Hazardous sculpture

A sculpture submitted by a final-year student at the Royal College of Art has fallen victim to health and safety rules and been dismantled for being a "hazard".

Pablo Wendel, 29, occupied a vacant fish and chip shop near the famous college, whose alumni include David Hockney, Bridget Riley and Tracey Emin, for his degree show.

The German sculptor made the mistake of failing to carry out a risk assessment at the art school before he built his installation. As a result, the college intends not to allow visitors to enter the shop where Mr Wendel is displaying his work. (PA)

Selling degree

An honours degree in sales will be on offer at Harrods, it was announced.

But the qualification will not be available to the general public. The retailer has revealed it is to offer the degree to its staff as part of a plan to boost career prospects.

The two-year BA honours course will teach students "the art of selling", with modules on human behaviour, psychology and business enterprise. (PA)

Highly seasoned

An airline is so proud of its in-flight food it plans to start selling take-aways.

Thai Airways is introducing seven ready-made curry sauces to be sold later this month at shops in Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai.

The company said its target market was the business traveller who had enjoyed their in-flight meal but had no time to cook Thai food at home. (PA)

Murderer beheaded and nailed to a cross

Saudi Arabia executed two murderers including a Yemeni whose body was nailed to a cross after he was convicted of killing a fellow countryman and his daughter, the Interior Ministry said yesterday.

Shaaban al-Nasheri was beheaded for shooting dead Dhayeh al-Manbahi after barging into his family home in the southwestern town of Jazan, the ministry said in a statement cited by the official SPA agency.

Mr Nasheri was also found guilty of raping and killing Mr Manbahi's daughter before shooting and wounding her sister.

Following his execution, the murderer's body was nailed to a cross in Jazan.

In the second case, Saudi national Mohammed al-Zahrani was decapitated in El-Baha, in the southwest, for shooting dead compatriot Said al-Zahrani over a land dispute.

Rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under Saudi Arabia's strict Islamic law. (AFP)

Dress sense

A suspected German al Qaida member wearing a woman's burka was detained after leaving Pakistan's militant heartland close to the Afghan border.

The 27-year-old man, allegedly an expert in making suicide vests, crossed into Pakistan from neighbouring Afghanistan a few months ago.

Police said the German was in a vehicle with a local man and his young daughter when he was picked up at a check post. (PA)

Washed up

A man loading his clothes into a washing machine narrowly escaped injury when a van crashed through the wall of a launderette and came to a stop next to him.

Police said 42-year-old Heather Boettner of South Portland, Maine, told them she pulled her van into the car park in South Portland, Maine while talking on a mobile phone.

Her foot slipped off the brake and she crashed into the building. The man left to finish his laundry elsewhere. (PA)

A prayer for England

A British bishop has penned a special prayer in the hope that divine intervention can help England rediscover their World Cup form.

Nick Baines, Anglican Bishop of Croydon in south London, said while it might take "too much of a miracle" for his side to win the World Cup after lacklustre draws with the United States and Algeria, he wanted to try and help the side.

Writing on his blog, he joked that he had written a first prayer which consisted of just two words: "Oh God".

His second prayer is slightly longer and reads: "God, who played the cosmos into being, please help England rediscover their legs, their eyes and their hunger: that they might run more clearly, pass more nearly and enjoy the game more dearly. Amen."

England need to beat Slovenia today to be sure of progressing to the last 16. (AFP)