World Briefs

CNN chat show host Piers Morgan told the British press ethics inquiry yesterday that he had no reason to believe phone hacking went on at the Daily Mirror during his editorship of the tabloid.

Mr Morgan did not want to elaborate on the circumstances in which he heard a voice message left by Beatles star Paul McCartney on his then-wife Heather Mills.

He said he was never “directly involved” in hiring private investigators at the Mirror, which he edited between 1995 and 2004. Mr Morgan, who also edited the now-defunct News of the World from 1994 to 1995, gave evidence to the inquiry in London via video-link from the US.

The television show host said he was unaware of any phone hacking going on at the Mirror under his leadership, saying: “To the best of my recollection, I do not believe so. Not a single person has made a formal or legal complaint against the Daily Mirror for phone hacking.”

Hunt for croissant robber

French police said yesterday they were on the hunt for a man in his 40s who has held up a series of bakeries in Paris suburbs to steal croissants and other baked goods.

Since December 9, the man has robbed five bakeries in western suburbs, police said, each time using the same modus operandi.

After placing an order, the man holds up what appears to be a fake revolver, points it at the person behind the cash register and takes his pastries without paying.

No one has been injured in the robberies and in each case the value of the goods stolen has been low, at between €8 and €20.

Jon Bon Jovi is still rocking

Rock singer Jon Bon Jovi wants fans to know he is not dead and has posted a photo proving it.

False reports of the New Jersey-born musician’s death spread online after a fake news release surfaced on social media sites.

Bon Jovi is shown in a picture on his Facebook page holding a sign that reads, “Heaven looks a lot like New Jersey”. Below that is scrawled Monday’s date, when the star was performing at a charity concert.

French Santa arrested

A French Santa spent several hours in custody after threatening a Christmas tree seller who set up shop next to his grotto in Bordeaux, an official said on Monday.

The market employee, dressed as Father Christmas, threatened the vendor, who happened to be his nephew, with an unloaded gun at the market in Bordeaux, southern France, starting an altercation on Sunday. “It’s a family problem,” market spokeman Florence Cambon said.

The arrested Pere Noel was released later in the day, but his pine-tree selling nephew has filed an official complaint.

“From tomorrow (Tuesday) we will have a new Father Christmas until December 24,” Mr Cambon promised.