An animal rights group yesterday called for Knut the polar bear (left), who shot to global stardom as a cub in 2007, to be castrated to avert incest with his cousin.

The three-year-old darling of Berlin Zoo was given a female companion, Giovanna (right), last year but the German chapter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) warned against their mating.

The group's zoo expert, Frank Albrecht, noted that Knut and Giovanna, known as Gianna for short, had the same grandfather.

Any offspring would threaten the genetic diversity of the polar bear population in Germany and risk susceptibility to a condition known as "incest depression", he said.

"Knut fans need to know that only Knut's castration would allow a long life together with Giovanna," Mr Albrecht said in a statement.

After chilly introductions, the two have gradually grown quite close. The housing arrangement, however, was initially intended to be temporary.

Knut drew an outpouring of sympathy around the globe after his mother cast him out as a cuddly cub.

The cult of Knut spread around the world and his first public appearance attracted some 500 reporters, including around 100 camera crews. (AFP)

Caught in the act

German police detained a nightclub reveller they caught trying to snort amphetamines off the top of their unmarked patrol car.

The 26-year-old began lining up the powdered drugs on the roof of the car in a disco car park, when the two police officers surprised him, a Nuremberg police spokesman said yesteray.

The man had no idea the normal looking vehicle belonged to the police, and it was coincidence that the officers - who were walking by their parked car - discovered him just as he was about to take the drugs.

"He's got horrible luck," said Bert Rauenbusch, police spokesman in the southern German city. (Reuters)

British lawmaker fined for insult

The European Parliament fined a British EU lawmaker yesterday for calling the EU's new President Herman Van Rompuy a "damp rag" in a rant in the chamber.

Nigel Farage, the UK Independence Party's foremost euro deputy, was fined almost €3,000 for the comments he made last week during Van Rompuy's first appearance before the house.

"He really hoped that I would back down today and I haven't," said an unrepentant Farage after a meeting with EU Parliament president Jerzy Buzek, adding that he would appeal against the fine.

Mr Buzek, who pulled Mr Farage in after the speech, said he defended "absolutely Mr Farage's right to disagree about the policy or institutions of the Union."

However that doesn't give him the right "to personally insult our guests in the European Parliament or the country from which they may come," he added. (AFP)

Dying wish

A life-long smoker had his dying wish honoured when he had the words "Smoking Killed Me" placed on signs in his hearse.

Albert Whittamore, known as Dick, died last month aged 85 after suffering for years from emphysema, a progressive lung condition he blamed on his habit.

He wanted the ill-effects of his smoking to act as a warning to others and dictated in his will that the signs be placed inside his hearse as it passed through his home town of Dover in Kent. (PA)

Lazy driver

A dog owner too lazy to walk his pet has lost his driving licence after getting caught walking the animal while driving his car.

Paul Railton, 23, of County Durham, had wound down the window of his Nissan Navara to exercise his lurcher when police caught him.

After police officers reported seeing him driving at 5mph along a country lane in County Durham, Railton admitted to a court he had not being in proper control of a vehicle. He had three penalty points added to his licence meaning he was banned by JPs in Consett from driving for six months. (PA)

Terrorist threat

South Carolina is planning to repeal a decades-old law that requires anyone planning to overthrow the government to register its activities.

The "subversive activities registration act" says any organisation which wants to remove local, state or federal governments must pay five dollars and register.

State senators said the 1951 statute, meant to deter communists, is making South Carolina look bad. (PA)