World Briefs

Britain’s biggest police force apologised yesterday to more than 1,100 victims of crime after admitting it had “inadvertently” shared their e-mail addresses with other victims.

London’s Metropolitan Police was emailing out a survey about the service it provides when the blunder occurred on Monday.

“In total 1,136 emails were sent out in seven batches of between 119 and 198 recipients, but because the addresses were put in the wrong box they were visible to the other recipients in the batch,” the Met said in a statement.

“No other personal details were revealed and we are contacting everyone affected to explain what happened and to apologise.”

Deadly spider is captured

A team of Royal Navy aircraft engineers spoke of their shock yesterday after they found a deadly black widow spider stowed away on a helicopter which had returned to the UK from training sessions involving Prince Harry.

The aircraft had returned to Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton, Somerset, from a training exercise in, California, which had involved Prince Harry. The spider had somehow survived the sterilisation, or “bug-bombing” that all of the aircraft and equipment undergo prior to returning to the UK.

A navy spokesman said: “The discovery led to the hangar being fully fumigated, after which a male black widow and an egg pouch were found.”

The action prevented a potential infestation of the unwanted spiders.

Shepherd’s pie for winter

Shepherd’s pie has been named as the most popular comfort food to see people through the cold winter months, according to research in the UK.

Six in 10 people opted for the traditional meat pie with mashed potato topping as their leading winter warmer.It was followed in second place by the Italian classic lasagne, which was also named as the most popular winter comfort food by young people aged 18 to 35. The research by YouGov was carried out online among 2,009 adults.

High-tech but illegal idea

An Austrian school head narrowly escaped being arrested after foiling potential exam cheaters with a high-tech – but illegal – idea.

Gerhard Klampfer used a jamming device to prevent pupils from doing internet research on their mobile phones during final exams last summer.

But under the Austrian law only police, the military and security services can jam signals. He was let off with a warning.

First lady is pumping iron

Politics has a new Iron Lady - after Michelle Obama knocked out 25 stunning press-ups on American TV.

President Barack Obama’s wife was being interviewed by Ellen DeGeneres and promoting her health agenda just when the prime-time Television host challenged her.

Ms DeGeneres, 54, asked the First Lady how many press-ups she could do and wondered if it was more than her. The First Lady embraced thecompetition, taking off her black leather jacket as the audience applauded.

The pair performed the repetitions together until they got to 20 press-upswhen Ms DeGeneres stopped, a little out of puff.