World Briefs

Former British MP Lembit Opik has been bitten by a snake while enduring the latest I’m A Celebrity challenge.

The contestant was nipped on a finger after he thrust his hand into a box containing the angry reptile to avoid elimination from the ITV1 show.

Mr Opik, who endured 13 years of backbiting in Westminster, will be seen receiving the bite in a double bill of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! (PA)

Hunt for missing millionaires

The UK National Lottery has urged players to check their tickets in case they are one of four missing millionaire winners.

The players each won £1 million in the EuroMillions Millionaire Raffle draw on November 12 but have yet to claim their prize, a National Lottery spokesman said.

The winning tickets were bought in Blackburn, Stoke-on-Trent, the London Borough of Ealing and the Arun District Council area of West Sussex.

The ticket-holders have until 5.30 p.m. on May 11 to make their claim.

The special draw gave away 10 £1 million prizes. Six winners have already claimed their prize. (PA)

17th century shipwreck found

The wreck of a ship apparently dating from before 1700 has been discovered in central Stockholm, the Maritime Museum in the Swedish capital said yesterday.

The discovery was made by labourers close to the royal place and in front of Stockholm’s Grand Hotel during renovation works to a quay.

“The discovery of the wreck is extremely interesting given the place where it was made,” said the museum’s director Hans-Lennarth Ohlsson. (AFP)

Swimsuit rebuke

Singapore has rebuked its national water polo team for wearing swimming trunks that feature an “inappropriate” likeness of the city-state’s flag.

The trunks, which were designed by members of the men’s team currently competing in the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, show the flag’s white crescent moon jutting up from the groin area with five stars to the side on a red background. (PA)

Driving ban for transport minister

The Czech Republic now has a transport minister without a driving licence.

Vit Barta has been banned from driving for six months and fined for using a false licence plate on his car.

Transport Ministry spokesman Tomas Dombrovsky said the ban and fine of 5000 koruna (£177) came after Barta was found driving his Maserati home from his wedding in July. (PA)

Boys rescued after two months at sea

Three Samoan teenage boys are lucky to be alive after they were stranded in a dinghy on the Pacific Ocean for 50 days.

The boys’ small aluminium boat went missing from a small coral atoll in Tokelau, 500 kilometres north of Samoa, on October 5.

Their ordeal came to an end yesterday afternoon when they were spotted by fishermen north-east of Fiji, 1,300km from where they disappeared.

The boys – Samuel Perez, Filo Filo (both 15) and Edward Nasau (14) – were feared dead and had apparently been swept out to sea after trying to row 60 miles between two small islands. (PA)

James Bond pistol

A Walther PPK pistol held by James Bond in the classic From Russia With Love image has sold for more than a quarter of a ­million pounds.

The gun actually an air pistol sold for almost 14 times the ­highest estimate given by experts.

It sold for £277,250 at the memorabilia sale at Christie’s in London. It had been originally expected to fetch between £15,000 and £20,000.

The new owner of the gun wished to remain anonymous. (PA)

Royal honour for lingerie creator

Businesswoman Michelle Mone wore a bespoke low-cut corset to receive an OBE at Buckingham Palace and revealed that she hopes to design Kate Middleton’s bridal lingerie.

The creator of Ultimo lingerie designed the risqué black outfit, which revealed a sheer bra underneath, especially for the ceremony.

It was only completed at the last minute, leading to worries for the co-founder of MJM International, who admitted the ceremony was “so nerve-wracking”. (PA)

Cow goes on a ­rampage

Police had to catch an unusual suspect on the run after a cow broke out of its field, charging through fences of three back gardens before it was finally cornered.

Nottinghamshire Police said it was “extremely lucky” nobody was injured after the cow escaped from a field in Bassingfield, Notts, and went on an hour-long rampage.

A spokesman said the animal broke through an electric fence at about 12.30 p.m. and got on to the A52, heading towards West Bridgford, police said.

Officers tried to corner the cow but it charged at them, causing one to “take evasive action” to avoid injury. It was finally cornered, calmed down and put in a trailer. (PA)