World Briefs

The discovery of tortoise remains at an archaeological site has given valuable clues into how the British love of pets developed over the years, an archaeologist said.

Richard Thomas, from the University of Leicester, said the bone, belonging to a late 19th century tortoise, was found among skeletons of cats and dogs in Stafford Castle, Staffordshire.

Although the keeping of tortoises as pets had occasionally been recorded from the 17th century, he said the find was the first example of a possible pet tortoise to have been recovered archaeologically. (PA)

Vuvuzela voted word of the World Cup

Vuvuzela has been voted the word of the World Cup by global linguists who yesterday said the tournament will be best remembered for the name of South Africa's deafening trumpet.

"Long after individual matches and goals are forgotten, this will be remembered as the Vuvuzela World Cup," said Jurga Zilinskiene, managing director of London-based firm Today Translations.

Vuvuzela was chosen by 75 per cent of more than 320 linguists from over 60 countries, who were asked to choose the word with the biggest impact on the tournament.

The tuneless plastic horn blown by fans was a top World Cup newsmaker and has been snapped up abroad. Experts have warned it can damage hearing.

The much-debated official Jabulani ball, mascot Zakumi and the Bafana Bafana national South African team each won four percent of the votes. (AFP)

Child tantrums

Parents should not be forced to foot the bill for cleaning costs if their child suddenly throws up in a taxi, a German court ruled yesterday.

The district court in the southern city of Munich was ruling on the case of a couple whose nine-year-old daughter was sick in the back seat of a taxi after they had asked the driver to stop as the girl was unwell.

The driver demanded €190 for cleaning as well as €800 to hire a replacement cab.

The presiding judge urged the parties to settle the case amicably, according to a press statement, saying it would be "sensible" for the parents to pay for the cab to be cleaned. However, the parents of the nine-year-old refused.

The judge ruled that there is no "absolute liability" for children. (AFP)

Marathon push

A father of two is hoping to set a world record by pushing a car the length of a marathon course.

Adrian Kane, 35, wants to raise £50,000 in honour of his mother Eileen, who died from cancer earlier this year.

Mr Kane, a tax adviser from Woking, aims to push a Smart car 26.2 miles in 24 hours on July 31, supported by wife Nikki, 36, and children Darcy, two, and Harriet, nine months. He will give money raised to the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and the Stroke Association. (PA)

Hot spot

Scientists on a deep-sea expedition off Indonesia have discovered a towering volcano rising 10,000 feet from the ocean floor, yet remaining far below the surface.

"This is a huge undersea volcano, taller than all but three or four mountains in Indonesia," said one of the research team.

They hope the maps and video produced from the journey will pave the way for others who want to follow up on their preliminary findings. (PA)

Legless

A one-legged man had his false limb set on fire by friends as a forfeit after losing a drinking competition.

The 47-year-old suffered severe burns to his buttocks and lower back and needed hospital treatment.

He told police in New Mexico that at six beers, he drank the least, and agreed to let his friends set him on fire. (PA)

Text pest

A Californian woman has been jailed for a year for sending hundreds of threatening text messages to herself.

Jeanne Mundango Manunga told police her former boyfriend and his sister-in-law were responsible.

Ms Manunga started sending the messages after she and her boyfriend split in 2008. (PA)

More bull injuries

Three people were injured in yesterday's fast-paced running of the bulls at Spain's San Fermin festival but there were no gorings, officials said.

Navarra Hospital doctor Fernando Boneta said three people had been taken to two local hospitals, all with arm or leg injuries. None was in a serious condition.

The most dramatic moment of yesterday's run came when one animal just missed goring a runner in the face.

The bull's right horn smacked against the runner just below its tip and knocked him backwards on to the cobblestone streets.

The run took just two minutes, 17 seconds and was led by a quick, muscular black bull from the Victoriano del Rio breeding ranch. (AP)