World Briefs

Thousands of people all over France marched to protest at expulsions of gypsies and other security measures adopted by President Nicolas Sarkozy’s government.

Protesters blew whistles and beat drums in Paris, the largest demonstration among those in at least 135 cities and towns and elsewhere in Europe yesterday.

Human rights and anti-racism groups, unions and left-wing political parties were taking part in the protests.

They accuse Mr Sarkozy of stigmatising minority groups and seeking political gain with the security crackdown. They also say he is breaking French traditions of welcoming the oppressed, in a country that is one of the world’s leading providers of political asylum. (AFP)

Homemade rocket fails

The first launch attempt of a homemade rocket built by two Danes failed yesterdaybecause of a technical glitch, according to Danish media.

Live footage of the launch off the Baltic island of Bornholm appeared to show brown smoke coming out of the rocket after the countdown.

Experts interviewed by TV2 News said the likely cause was a failure of the ignition system. (AFP)

One in 20 UK tourists returns with STD

Nearly one in 20 British holidaymakers will have returned home with a sexually transmitted disease contracted while on holiday this summer, a survey showed yesterday.

As many as 23 per cent of people admitted to having had sex with a stranger on holiday, the poll for price comparison website Travelspec.com found.

Of these, three per cent thought they had slept with someone but could not really remember because they were too drunk.

The survey, based on responses from 6,000 people, also showed that 10 per cent of men, but only four per cent of women, had had sex on a plane.

A total of 35 per cent got drunk every night when away, with 40 per cent of men and 32 per cent of women admitting to having had sex on the beach. (PA)

Erotic ads removed

The US-based online marketplace Craigslist appears to have surrendered in a legal fight over erotic ads posted on its website, shutting down its adult services section and replacing it with a black bar that simply says “censored”.

The move comes just over a week after a group of state attorneys general said there weren’t enough protections against blocking potentially illegal ads promoting prostitution. It’s not clear if the closure is permanent, and it appears to only affect ads in the US.

The listings came under new scrutiny after the jail house suicide last month of a former medical student who was awaiting trial in the killing of a masseuse he met through Craigslist.

Critics have likened the services to virtual pimping, while Craigslist maintained the site was carrying ads even tamer than those published by some newspapers. (PA)

Balloonists’ flight ditched

Three hot air balloonists planning to set off from Nancy in eastern France yesterday in a bid to reach England and retrace a route only ever travelled once before, were foiled by a gas leak.

Yesterday afternoon, while the balloon was being inflated, a strong gust of wind forced it to the ground, detaching key parts and causing a gas leak, one of the organisers explained.

The incident meant there was not enough gas for the trio to make the trip, which was expected to last between 24 and 36 hours.

“Just two of us could have tried to make the trip, rather than three, but then we would have flown too high. Also, the forecast in England was not ideal,” one of the balloonists Benoit Pelard said.

Pelard, a hotel manager, was to be joined by two experienced balloonists, Laurent Lajoye and world gas balloon champion Sebastien Rolland.

“We will try again, later,” Pelard said. “We will only tell people once we have done it,” he added. (AFP)

Horse freed

Fire-fighters had to rescue a horse and its groom after the animal broke free and kicked its way into the front of its horsebox, officials said.

The two-year-old colt became trapped after forcing its way out of the rear section while being transported on the northbound carriageway of the A23 at Bolney, West Sussex.

The startled driver and groom stopped immediately and dialled 999. The groom stayed in the cab but had to be pulled free by fire-fighters after being struck in the head by the horse. (PA)

Buried cash

Police in El Salvador found two buried oil drums stuffed with millions in cash possibly linked to the illegal drug trade.

The first barrel was found on a ranch in the town of Penitente Abajo.

After three days counting the bundles of $100, $50 and $20 bills, authorities said it contained about nine million in US dollars. (PA)