A US jail inmate said he is being subjected to cruel and unusual punishment because he cannot have pornography.

In a hand-written lawsuit, 21-year-old Kyle Richards claims his civil rights are being violated at the Macomb County Jail.

Mr Richards said denying his request for erotic material subjects him to a “poor standard of living” and “sexual and sensory deprivation”.

The Michigan Department of Corrections told The Detroit News that prisons allow some pornographic material, though it is banned at the jail. The American Civil Liberties Union said prisons have a lot of leeway.

Mr Richards was charged with bank robbery after police followed a trail of snowy footprints and dropped money to his apartment from a bank robbery scene in January in Fraser, north of Detroit. (AP)

Banana mobile

A man in caused a stir in a US town when he drove through the streets in a giant motorised banana.

Steve Braithwaite bought the former pickup truck from a scrapyard two years ago with a “crazy idea to do something ridiculous”.

When he cruised through Flint, Michigan, locals turned out to take pictures. He said he had no idea how much he was going to enjoy people laughing and smiling at him. (PA)

Lightning strike

Lightning strike at a camp of US Civil War re-enactors in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, has sent five people to hospitals.

The Gettysburg Anniversary Committee said in a statement that during a severe thunderstorm yesterday, lightning struck a tent pole in the Confederate artillery camp, resulting in moderate injuries to two people and minor injuries to three others.

The five were taken to Gettysburg Hospital. One is in stable condition. Two others in stable condition were treated and transferred to York Hospital. Two others were treated and released.

Re-enactment officials said a search of the site by staff and local fire departments turned up no other injuries. They say three small tents were damaged. (AP)

Lavish weddings

President Hamid Karzai has advised Afghans not to hold extravagant wedding parties saying that they were “against the national tradition.”

Since the fall of the Taliban nearly a decade ago, marriage ceremonies in Afghan cities have often gone from being simple family affairs to lavish parties for up to 1,000 people in neon-clad wedding halls.

The ability to put on such an ostentatious display of wealth has become a test of honour for the groom, who traditionally foots the entire bill himself and sometimes also has to pay a dowry to his bride’s family.

But Karzai’s government is discussing moves to clamp down on the trend. (AFP)

No fat police

Russia’s interior ministry has issued a warning to its pudgy police officers – lose weight or get the sack.

Russia seeks to cut its bloated police force and improve its image among foreign tourists and investors. President Dmitry Medvedev has vowed to cut the police force by a fifth, and increase its professional level. The officers have even got a new uniform. Now they have just a month to pass tests to prove their suitability in the slimmed-down force.

“The fat and paunchy will not get through,” Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev was quoted as telling a private meeting. But chief spokesman for the interior ministry, Oleg Yelnikov, stressed that Mr Nurgaliyev made the comment unofficially and that the written rules for testing do not specify weight, only physical targets.

Mr Yelnikov said “If a man weighs 180 kilograms and runs the distance in 10 seconds, then there’s no problem”. (AFP)

Young vandal

A boy of three has been caught vandalising cars in a street near his home, UK police have said.

The little boy, seven years below the age of criminal responsibility, was too young to be charged with any offence.

The incident near Rotherham, South Yorkshire in May, was revealed by police following a Freedom of Information Act request. (PA)

Swede hearts

British holidaymakers see Swedes as the best-looking people around the world, according to a survey.

But many of those surveyed reckon there is much to admire without going abroad, as England was voted the sixth most handsome nation in the poll by travel agent www.sunshine.co.uk.

While Sweden topped the best-looking table, Brazil was second, Italy third, Spain fourth and Australia fifth. (PA)

Head of beer

Last orders may have been called on Britain’s original brand of beer shampoo, but the boozy treatment is coming back by popular demand.

The Linco brand of beer shampoo and conditioner, made from specially developed hops, was discontinued earlier this year.

But now high street health and beauty retailer Superdrug has made its own range of beer-based hair treatments. (PA)

Angry bird

Bicyclists in the US say they are getting whacked on the head by an angry bird.

Riders in Pendleton, Oregon, said that a male hawk is dive-bombing them because they are too close to a nest he is guarding in an old cottonwood tree.

Bicyclist Mark Temple said the bird came in from behind like a fighter plane and whacked him on the helmet. (PA)