A man flung himself from the balcony of the Romanian Parliament chamber yesterday, apparently in protest over government austerity measures. He was not seriously injured.
The session was suspended and a no-confidence vote postponed.
A loud thud reverberated in the chamber after the man, Adrian Sobaru – a public television station engineer – hit the benches shortly after Prime Minister Emil Boc greeted the MPs.
Mr Sobaru was wearing a white T-shirt, with the words “You’ve pierced us. You’ve killed our children’s future. Freedom,” in a reference to government policy. Romania’s government is mired in recession and it recently slashed public sector wages by one-fourth. (AP)
A plane in the back yard
A student pilot practising manoeuvres crashed a light plane into an Australian back garden yesterday, startling a resident who was hanging out the washing.
The twin-engined plane came down in the rural community of Kirkham, near Sydney and ploughed into the neighbouring garden before coming to rest.
Two men aged 62 and 34 were treated for minor injuries. The student pilot had been pract-ising stall manoeuvres when he lost control of the plane. (AFP)
Haiku greetings
EU President Herman Van Rompuy sent holiday greetings to Europeans in the form of a Japanese-style haiku, the mini-poems that the former Belgian Prime Minister is famed for writing.
“We must all work together to give people hope,” Mr Van Rompuy said in a video message wishing Europeans a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. “May I say it with a haiku: Silence and joy/ From Christmas to New Year/ Hoping also for hope.” (AFP)
Teeth-grinding in Ireland
An increasing number of cases of teeth-grinding in debt-ridden Ireland were being blamed by dentists on patients’ financial worries.
Dentists believe that the increased levels of bruxism – the medical name for teeth-grinding – are due to stress brought on by Ireland’s economic crisis.
The symptoms of bruxism include headaches, tooth damage, earaches, and mouth and jaw pain. (AFP)
Mystery lottery winner claims prize
A mystery Llottery winner has claimed a £5.6 million early Christmas present.
The claimant from the Port Talbot area, south Wales, came forward nearly a month after matching six balls on the December 1 Lotto Double Rollover draw.
Unless they agree to publicity, the National Lottery will keep their identity a secret. The winner will have to go through a series of security checks before taking home the full £5,629,964 jackpot. (PA)
Drives onto lawn of George W. Bush
The Secret Service has questioned a man after his car roared onto the lawn of former US President George W. Bush without causing any injuries or damage, a local news station reported yesterday.
The NBC station KXAS said both Mr Bush and his wife Laura were at home at the time but neither was harmed and the two were never in danger.
The man had gone to the gated Dallas neighbourhood where the former President lives to show off his Plymouth Barracuda, a vintage muscle car, to a friend.
He told investigators he ran up onto the lawn after the gas pedal on the car got stuck, according to the television station. (AFP)
Fat ‘causes flooding’
The traditional Christmas roast with all the trimmings may be one of the highlights of the festive season but councils are warning it could also be a hidden cause of flooding. Pouring leftover fat, oil and grease down the drain is a major cause of sewer blockages.
Fat, oil and grease in liquid form may not appear to be a problem but as it cools and hardens, it can lead to raw sewage flooding people’s homes. (PA)