A 29-year-old chef yesterday admitted killing a swan, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said.
Mohammed Miah, of Bedford, is due to be sentenced by magistrates in Bedford on June 18, said an RSPB spokesman.
Mr Miah was charged following an investigation by police and the RSPB.
Prosecutors say he killed the swan in Bedford during the early hours of May 10.
The RSPB spokesman said a charge of stealing the swan had been dropped. (PA)
Musical treat
A policeman who played ice cream music over a tannoy to calm a gang of unruly youths acted inappropriately, his commanders said.
The officer broadcast the catchy ditty from his police Land Rover to around 15 teenagers who were throwing bottles at the vehicle in west Belfast.
The tune seemed to strike the right note as the youngsters stopped acting aggressively. But top brass in the Police Service of Northern Ireland did not see the funny side of the incident in the Glasvey Drive area of Twinbrook and have spoken to the officer in question about his future conduct. (PA)
Lightning strikes in Lake District
Four people were taken to hospital following lightning strikes in the Lake District, the Royal Navy said.
A helicopter from HMS Gannet at Prestwick, Ayrshire, was initially deployed following reports of a male casualty near Langdale, Cumbria, who had suffered a suspected shoulder injury.
While flying in the area, the crew were then alerted to the spate of lightning strikes in Grasmoor, Crag Hill and Whiteless Pike. All the casualties were dropped off at Buttermere Hotel in Buttermere where they were then taken by ambulance to West Cumberland Hospital. None was thought to be seriously injured. (PA)
Mexicans face battle of the bulge
Mexico is hoping to battle a growing child obesity problem by banning the sale of junk food in its schools.
Getting the axe along with modern soft drinks and sweets will be salted tamarind sweets, pork rinds and atole, a thick and sweet cornstarch-based drink served hot in the morning.
Tortas - the popular, often overstuffed, greasy, meat-packed sandwiches - are also out. Only low-fat tacos, burritos and salads will be allowed. (PA)
Leap frogs
A plague of frogs forced the closure of a main Greek road for two hours.
Traffic police said "millions" of the frogs appeared near the town of Langadas, near Thessaloniki.
The road was closed after three drivers skidded off while trying to dodge the frogs. (PA)
Love conquers all
A rare member of the rhino family was born despite being "notoriously difficult" to breed in captivity, because its parents 'love' each other, a zoo said.
Malayan tapir Kamal was born at Edinburgh Zoo last month although the animals, a distant relative of the rhinoceros and horse, are often unwilling to mate in captivity.
But keepers at Edinburgh Zoo are convinced they had a successful mating because Kamal's parents, Sayang and Ka, are a devoted couple. The pair have already had two offspring together. (PA)
Dream trip
An airline is trying to find out how a sleeping passenger was left on board a flight for four hours after it landed in Philadelphia.
The passenger did not wake up when her United Express flight from Dulles airport outside Washington landed shortly after midnight.
She was eventually woken by cleaners. (PA)
Berlusconi cites Mussolini
Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi yesterday defended what he insisted was his democratic leadership style by citing an unlikely example of the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
"I am at everybody's service and everyone can criticise me or even insult me," the right-wing premier told a news conference with leaders of the OECD economic grouping in Paris.
"I would venture to quote a phrase of someone who was considered a dictator, a great and powerful dictator: Benito Mussolini: 'They say I have power. It's not true ... I only know that I can order my horse to turn right or left.'"
Mr Berlusconi's cryptic comment came in response to a question on whether his economic austerity measures threatened his popularity and could damage his chances in future elections. (AFP)