A prisoner on the run for 25 years has been awarded one of Spain’s Basque country’s top literary awards, but he cannot have the prize unless he gives himself up.
Joseba Sarrionandia, now 53, escaped from jail in San Sebastian in 1985 while serving time for belonging to the militant separatist group ETA.
The Basque regional government is withholding the £15,500 prize until he comes forward and “regularises his legal situation”.
Sarrionandia escaped by hiding inside the large speakers of a musical group that had performed at the jail. His spectacular exit was worthy of a movie scene and inspired a song named after him.
A government-sponsored jury gave him the award for essays in the Basque language, which is called euskara. (AP)
Drying out
The tiny Pacific island nation of Tuvalu has declared a state of emergency because of a severe shortage of fresh water.
New Zealand’s foreign minister Murray McCully said water was scarce in the capital Funafuti, as well as in a number of outlying islands. He said New Zealand’s defence services were flying to Tuvalu armed with supplies including two desalination units. The New Zealand Red Cross is also contributing supplies and help.
Fewer than 11,000 people live on Tuvalu’s series of low-lying coral atolls. (AP)
Arrested on stage
A singer known for his 1990 chart-topping love song was hauled off a Massachusetts stage and arrested, accused of owing $420,000 dollars (£271,000) in unpaid child support.
Steven Hill, of Las Vegas, who performs as Stevie B, was arrested on Friday night at the MassMutual Centre in Springfield, where he was on tour, police said.
Hill is best known for the song Because I Love You (The Postman Song). It reached No. 1 on the US Billboard charts in late 1990. (AP)
Clocking out
Trade unions yesterday kicked up a storm in Belgium over a rule ordering 10,000 French-speaking civil servants to clock out whenever they stop work for a smoke, with each minute sliced off their wages.
“The rule is that when you go out or come back into a building you clock in,” Hugo Poliart, the spokesman for the administration of the French-speaking Wallonia region, said.
But unions say the rule discriminated against smokers.
The order dates back to 2009 but has resurfaced following a request for clarification from one of Wallonia’s 400 administrative centres, in charge notably of transport and the environment. (AFP)
Chemical fire
An industrial plant in Texas erupted in flames yesterday, sending vast black plumes of toxic smoke into the sky and a stream of blazing chemicals pouring from the site.
US television pictures showed the inferno burning out of control at the Magna Blend, Inc. chemical plant near the town of Waxahachie, with the potentially toxic smoke blackening skies for miles around.
A local environmental official contacted by CNN was unable to say what caused the huge fire in the town south of Dallas. (PA)
Cornish Bible
It has been translated into thousands of languages and dialects around the world. Now the Bible has been translated into a British language for the first time – Cornish.
The Christian holy book – An Beybel Sans in Kernowek, the Cornish name for the language – took Celtic language specialist Professor Nicholas Williams around 13 years to finish.
He completed the New Testament in 2002, but after six years of work his Old Testament has just been completed. It has now been published, with around 50 copies of the large “pulpit-sized” version of the book sold to subscribers. (PA)
Scooting record
An injured former soldier has claimed to have broken the world record for the longest distance travelled on a mobility scooter in 24 hours – despite an unexpected assault by a hungry badger.
Although the attempt has yet to be verified by Guinness World Records, former Corporal Mark Newton, of Loughor near Swansea, travelled 182 miles in 24 hours – surpassing the previous record of 154 miles.
His epic challenge took place at Pembrey Country Park and involved him travelling round a three-kilometre circuit through the night. (PA)
Pet subject
A couple were attacked by a wild bear that ran into their home in Pennsylvania chasing their pet dog.
Police said the man was scratched and bitten and his wife was attacked as she tried to chase the animal away.
Both were taken to hospital for treatment. The dog escaped unhurt. (PA)
Rock star
As far as private islands go, New York’s Rat Island is not exactly luxurious, more just a pile of rocks that once housed quarantined typhoid patients.
But the island sold at auction for £100,000 although its new owner’s plans remain a mystery.
The island is located off the Bronx. It boasts 360-degree views of the water and measures just under three acres – during low tide. (PA)