Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi is to undergo treatment for cancer after being diagnosed with lymphoma.
A statement released on behalf of the band said: “Iommi is currently working with his doctors to establish the best treatment plan – the Iron Man of rock & roll remains upbeat and determined to make a full and successful recovery.”
The hard rock pioneers recently reformed with their original line-up to work on their first album together for 33 years. The group, widely credited with creating heavy metal, insist they will plough on with plans for the new album.
Left-handed player Iommi, 63, lost the tips of two fingers working in a sheet metal factory as a teenager but learned to play with thimble-like devices to extend them.
Trapped child dies in sewer
Russian rescuers yesterday found the body of an 18-month toddler who was swept away in the sewage system with his mother when the pavement buckled under them in Bryansk.
The mother was walking her child in a stroller through the city’s main square on Sunday when the pavement suddenly gave way because of a ruptured hot water pipe. The baby fell out of his stroller and vanished while the woman’s husband managed to pull her out of the gaping four-square-metre hole using a rope.
Police had initially found torn pieces of the toddler’s clothing before recovering his body some 28 hours later nearly six kilometres away from the original spot.
Picasso painting stolen
A Pablo Picasso painting gifted to Greece by the Spanish-born master was stolen from Athens’ National Gallery early yesterday with two other important artworks.
Woman’s Head, a 1939 oil on canvas, had been given by Picasso to the Greek state in 1949 in recognition of the country’s resistance to Nazi Germany.
Mill, a 1905 oil painting of a windmill by Dutch artist Piet Mondrian was also stolen, along with a sketch of St Diego de Alcala by 16th century Italian artist Guglielmo Caccia, known as Moncalvo.
The authorities did not specify the value of the artworks stolen, but Skai TV said they were worth about €5.5 million. The gallery was on reduced security staffing owing to a three-day strike.
Home for extra-toes kittens
Two kittens born with an extra 18 toes between them have been found a new home by an animal charity.
Fred and Ned, two four-month-old cats, are currently being looked after by Cats Protection in Gosport, Hampshire, UK. Known as polydactyl cats, Ned has an extra eight digits, while his brother Fred has 10 more than the usual 18, making a total of 54 digits between them.
Branch volunteer Kate Stapleford said: “Fred and Ned are special in that as well as extra toes on the front paws, Fred has extra toes on his back paws. Our vet said he’d never seen that in 40 years in practice.”