LA police chief William 'Wild Bill' Bratton, who recently appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine underneath the headline 'The Country's Smartest Cop', wins this week's prize for plain speaking. Asked about the 'Britney's Law' proposal to give him
extra powers to combat rogue paparazzi such as those arrested in Hollywood last week for harassing Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan, he archly advised media-obsessed celebs to "stay home instead of traipsing all over town" where they would inevitably be pursued by hordes of hungry snappers.
"We don't need additional laws," said Bratton. "What you have is several young women in this town and several young men basically making fools of themselves and tying up not only my resources but the resources of the media that would do better covering legitimate stories instead of a bunch of airheads running around out there. Some of these characters so favoured by the paparazzi are clearly in need of services. Not police services, but psychiatric services."
JAPANNot all of Barack Obama's biggest fans live in the Land of the Free. In fact, 32,000 of them live in the Land of the Rising Sun in a small and unremarkable coastal town with a remarkable name.
The town of Obama has been quick to show its support for its namesake. There are 'Go Obama!' posters on every wall, 'I love Obama' T-shirts on every other chest, the most regularly played ditty on local radio is a theme song called 'Obama Is A Wonderful World', and the town's bakery is doing a roaring trade in sweet bean cakes with the Democrat hopeful's face on them.
Mayor Toshio Murakami sent Obama a set of the city's famous lacquer chopsticks, a DVD of Obama and a letter wishing him the best. He even sent him a daruma doll with 'Victory' written across its chest, a traditional good-luck charm in Japanese elections.
"We formed our group on February 4," said Seiji Fujiwara, the leader of the Obama support group. "He put up a good fight on Super Tuesday and then won seven consecutive contests, so I think our support did him no harm and, in fact, carried him in the right direction."
CANADAPolice in the western Canadian town of Wetaskiwin, 45 miles south of Edmonton, Alberta, didn't have to do much work when they arrested a drunk driver at the weekend – he had parked his car next to their offices and wandered inside.
Police discovered the 28-year-old felon as they drove by early on Saturday morning. Although the police office was locked, the lobby was open. "There was a vehicle parked about 10 feet outside our front door. The gentleman had walked into the front lobby and he was displaying many indications of being intoxicated," said constable Mark Scheck. "So at that point we did take him into custody. It's pretty unusual."
CHINAHuman rights abuses in the new China aren't restricted to non-communists if a legal case in the central province of Henan is any guide. Alcohol producers have gone to court to fight a ban on Communist Party officials and civil servants drinking alcohol at lunch during work days.
The ban, introduced in January last year, has led to more than 100 local cadres being reprimanded for ignoring it, while restaurant owners have complained that they are selling fewer lunches and far less alcohol.
"Drinking is a private affair and holding public office shouldn't keep someone from consuming alcohol as long as it does not affect their work," said lawyer Kang Yinzhong, representing the Henan Alcohol Association.
MOVERS & SHAKERSBENJAMIN LOVELL
New Yorker Ben Lovell became instantly popular among friends and relatives when more than $5m mysteriously appeared in his bank account. He withdrew more than $2m, spending most of it on presents and treats.
The money was deposited in his account in error after a property development company lodged funds in an account at Lovell's bank in the name of its finance director, also called Benjamin Lovell.
Lovell made multiple withdrawals, even though he knew he should only have had £800. He used the money to buy jewellery for his girlfriend, dine out at expensive restaurants and invest in shares and property.
The party came to an end on Wednesday, however, when the 48-year-old was arrested on charges of grand larceny, accusations which Lovell denies.
DUSTIN THE TURKEY
Whether or not he goes on to win Eurovision glory, the participation of singing puppet Dustin the Turkey in last night's Ireland final has already ruffled more than a few feathers. Many Irish commentators have reacted badly to the prospect of being represented by a crooning turkey puppet, yet Sir Bob Geldof unexpectedly weighed into the row, accusing his countrymen of musical snobbery. "It would be rank poultryism if one of the greatest talents this country has ever produced (should fail to be selected to represent] our glorious musical heritage on the world stage," said the Live Aid co-founder.
With his song 'Irelande Douze Pointe', Dustin was one of six acts at last night's Eurosong 2008 final, singing for the right to represent Ireland at the Eurovision semi-final in Serbia in May.
"The mere fact of his being a turkey should give Ireland the edge," said Geldof. If the Eurovision Song Contest was known for anything at all, he added, "it is the vast number of turkeys it produces each year. Sure won't he gobble them up!" (It should be pointed out that Geldof's production company has previously released a duet with Dustin.)
JENNIFER LOPEZ
The American singer not only gave birth to twins within 15 minutes of each other on Friday, but increased her vast wealth at the same time. Lopez, left, and husband Marc Anthony became the parents of a boy and a girl after one of pop music's most closely watched pregnancies.
Such was the media interest that People magazine has spent $6m buying the rights to the first photographs of the children and the first interview with their doting parents.
COMING UPCypriots will vote for a new president today, choosing between a right-wing former foreign minister and the head of a reformed communist party, who share a vision for new talks to end the island's division.
Conservative Ioannis Kasoulides, 59, and communist-rooted Dimitris Christofias, 61, both staked their campaigns on pledges to resume negotiations with the breakaway Turkish Cypriots. They criticised outgoing President Tassos Papadopoulos for prolonging years of stalemate and edging the island closer to permanent partition.
The attacks resonated with voters, and Papadopoulos suffered a surprise elimination in the first-round vote on February 17.
Cyprus has been split along ethnic lines since 1974, when Turkey invaded in response to a failed coup to unite the island with Greece.
A breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the north is recognised only by Turkey.
While the whole island is technically a European Union member, the bloc's benefits are enjoyed only by those in the internationally-recognised Greek Cypriot south.
Kasoulides hails from right-wing DISY, the long-standing rival of Christofias' communist-rooted AKEL party.
But that plays little part in shaping either candidate's plans for reunification.
They both criticised Papadopoulos, who in 2004 successfully urged Greek Cypriot voters to reject a United Nations settlement plan in a referendum.
The full article contains 1228 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
