World briefs

Pop star Justin Bieber will have to pay the bill for his monkey’s two-month stay at a Munich animal shelter.

The cost of care, food and vet visits for capuchin monkey Mally is several thousand euros, a spokesman for Munich’s customs of-fice said.

Thomas Meister said Bieber has not claimed the monkey which was seized by authorities on March 28 when he failed to produce its papers after landing in Munich on tour. The shelter said the singer’s management company has asked that the 20-week-old monkey be placed in a zoo. (PA)

George Michael injured in car crash

Pop singer George Michael has suffered minor injuries in a car crash, his publicist said yesterday.

The 49-year-old star is “fine” after a car he was a passenger in crashed on the M1 yesterday evening. East of England Ambulance Service said a man in his 40s was flown to a specialist unit in London with head injuries after the crash at junction 6a in Hertfordshire where the motorway meets the M25.

“George Michael was a passenger in a vehicle involved in a traffic accident yesterday evening, no third party was involved,” his publicist said, adding, “He is being treated for superficial cuts and bruises but is fine. We have no further comment at this time.” (AP)

‘Nakedme’ project in London

Two Australian “crusaders without clothes” have stripped off beside some of London’s most famous landmarks in a project to promote nudity, the Daily Mail has reported.

Sam Hatfield and Fiona Skelton bared all at Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye. They also offered their own interpretation of the well-known image of The Beatles by strolling across the zebra crossing in Abbey Road.

The stunts are part of their “Nakedme” internet project – a “worldwide crusade” to “make nudity more acceptable”. (PA)

Woman determined to quit smoking

A California woman who slapped a police officer to get arrested got her wish to go to jail in the hope she can quit smoking there.

Etta Mae Lopez pleaded no contest to smacking Sacramento county sheriff’s deputy Matt Campoy after he left the main jail at the end of his shift. Mr Campoy said Lopez hit him and then told him it was intended to get his attention and hopefully help kick her habit because tobacco is not allowed in jail.

Authorities say Lopez waited all day for a uniformed deputy to come out to ensure she struck a law enforcement officer. She pleaded no contest to misdemeanour battery and got 63 days’ jail, with credit for the three days she served this week. (PA)

Cygnets herald arrival of summer

Legend has it that the hatching of the first cygnets marks the start of summer – and hundreds of fluffy cygnets are beginning to hatch at a Dorset swannery.

Swanherds at Abbotsbury Swannery noticed the first signs of hatching when the pen – a female swan – became restless and began hovering over the nest, to allow the emerging cygnet more room to peck its way out of the egg.

About 100 breeding swans at Abbotsbury Swannery have produced 500 eggs which will carry on hatching until late June. (AP)