Saudi Arabia, where sports events for women are banned, is considering sending a female athlete for the first time ever to the Olympics this year taking place in London, following criticism from abroad.
The issue of women in sport remains extremely sensitive in the ultra-conservative Muslim state, where the authorities shut down private gyms for females in 2009 and 2010.
Al-Sharq newspaper has said that equestrian jumping contestant Dalma Malhas, 18, is likely to be Saudi Arabia’s only female athlete at this summer’s Olympics. Saudi Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, also the powerful interior minister known for his opposition to women being given the right to drive, has given the nod to sending the her to the Games, according to local media.
But the decision has yet to be officially declared.
Lucky wallet saves man
A convenience store worker escaped with bruises when his wallet stopped a bullet as he was shot in a struggle with an armed robber.
Three men entered the store in Modesto, California, last week as the worker was getting money out of the cash register. In his struggle with the gunman, a bullet lodged in the wallet in his trouser pocket.
Police arrested two men, aged 18 and 21, who were booked for investigation of attempted murder, robbery and conspiracy.
300 Danes ‘win’ billion lottery
Three hundred Danes believed a dream lifestyle of champagne and caviar awaited them this week after they were announced billionaire lottery winners – until they discovered it was a mistake.
All 300 winners had received an e-mail message from the head of the Danish state-run lottery company Danske Spil congratulating them on the astronomical sums they had won, Danske Spil spokesman Thomas Roersig said.
Honeymoon in Afghanistan
A newlywed couple are enjoying a novel start to married life – with a honeymoon in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Squadron Leader Rachel and Lieutenant Commander Gareth Mawdsley enjoyed a fairytale wedding at a Georgian manor house last year. But they only spent a few nights together before pre-deployment training began for their tours of Afghanistan.
The couple, who met through their roles in the military, both began a six-month spell at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan’s Helmand province in November. While they admit a war zone would not be their first choice of honeymoon destination, they still find time for romance.
Rachel, 35, is in the RAF while Gareth, 32, is in the Navy and so the couple live in separate communal quarters and rarely have time alone. Still, Rachel said, “It’s not our perfect honeymoon but it’s worked surprisingly well.”
Hijacked helicopter in jail break
Two Russian men have managed to hijack a helicopter at gunpoint and then break their friend out of jail by lowering a rope ladder over a prison colony.
“According to preliminary information, the escaped inmate was convicted of murder and had served half his sentence,” the Investigative Committee said in a statement.
Investigators did not explain how precisely the helicopter heist occurred, saying only that the two men threatened the crew of a helicopter owned by a private company in Vologda, north of Moscow. After ordering the crew to fly to the penal colony, the Russian men “lowered a rope ladder and a man climbed aboard.”