World Briefs

The actor who once declared that “greed is good” is telling the US Congress to remain generous with foreign aid.

Michael Douglas visited the State Department to discuss nuclear disarmament efforts and speak out against congressional efforts to slash billions of dollars in foreign assistance.

The 67-year-old Oscar-winning actor told reporters: “People don’t really take the time to understand just how important diplomacy is. It takes a long time, it’s quiet. But it certainly is a lot cheaper than a war.” Mr Douglas campaigns against atomic weapons for the UN and the anti-nuclear group Ploughshares. (PA)

Bookmaker bets Greece

British bookmaker William Hill offered odds of 4/6 yesterday that Greece will cease to use the euro by the end of 2012, the first time it has bet odds-on that Athens will exit the currency.

It came after Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou’s shock decision earlier this week to offer a referendum on the euro, which has stunned fellow eurozone nations and sparked a revolt among his allies in Athens.

“For the first time we are betting odds-on that the Greeks will quit the euro,” said William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe in a statement.

They offered odds of 11/10 that the Greeks will still be using the euro on December 31, 2012. (AFP)

Escaped hyenas recaptured

Two hyenas escaped from a South African wildlife park on Wednesday by chewing through an electric fence during a power outage, but were recaptured within half an hour, the park said.

“The power went off... and the hyenas – who will chew through wire and even iron bars – managed to escape,” said Earl Smith, general manager of the Lion Park, located just outside Johannesburg.

“The hyenas always try to escape if there is a long power failure. The lions don’t try to escape,” he told the Sapa news agency. He said park employees tracked the hyenas and recaptured them near one of the main roads leading into Johannesburg.

He described the animals as “shy and timid” and said there was never any risk to the public during their foray into freedom.

Superhero fired

Seattle’s masked crime-fighter Phoenix Jones has lost his day job. The superhero – real name Ben Fodor – was told by state officials that he could no longer work with vulnerable children because of his October 9 arrest for investigation of assault. He said he was breaking up a late-night fight and used pepper spray in self-defence.

Reports said the 23-year-old has not been charged, but the case is still before the city attorney. An assault conviction would ban him permanently from working with vulnerable people.

Ashes to ashes

Blow-up dolls, vibrators and an urn containing ashes are among items placed in recycling bins, a council has revealed.

Enfield Council in west London said it “beggared belief” what some of its residents tried to recycle as it published a list of some of the most extreme cases. These included dead pets, oil paintings, a fish tank, sex toys, and a plastic Christmas tree which was placed in an organic waste bin. Refuse collectors discovered an urn containing the ashes of a person or animal - so placed it back on the property’s doorstep.