World Briefs

Pop star Annie Lennox will receive a lifetime achievement gong at the Inspiration Awards for Women today.

The Sweet Dreams singer will be recognised for her stellar music career with the Eurythmics and as a solo artiste, and for her years of campaigning for humanitarian causes.

Ms Lennox, who was appointed an OBE last year for fighting Aids and poverty in Africa, will follow in the footsteps of past winners Barbara Windsor and Vivienne Westwood.

Singer Adele meanwhile will be handed a next generation inspiration award at the event at Cadogan Hall in Chelsea, London, for the UK’s “most inspirational, aspirational and stylish women”.

Other female stars and public figures nominated for awards include Samantha Cameron, Victoria Beckham, Tracey Emin, Jennifer Saunders, Kate Winslet and Stella McCartney.

The awards, which raise money for the Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity, will be presented by former tennis star Andrew Castle and Sky News presenter Sarah-Jane Mee. (PA)

Cruets scrapped

Aeroplane-shaped salt and pepper sets which became a “must steal” item among Virgin Atlantic Upper Class passengers are being phased out after thousands were “pinched”.

The coveted cruets, introduced more than 12 years ago, regularly crop up on eBay, with individual pieces selling for up to £20 each.

Virgin spokeswoman Janine Doy said: “Having so many people pinching our salt and pepper pots is, I suppose, a back-handed tribute to how well these items have been designed. We’re expecting a last-minute rush when fans realise that their supply is coming to an end.” (PA)

Celebration jump

A former member of the Bulgarian National Sky Diving Team celebrated a one million pound EuroMillions win by taking his ticket for a jump. George Traykov, 43, scooped the prize in the EuroMillions Millionaire Raffle on September 6.

“The jump has been recorded in the log book as a ‘great jump with million pound EuroMillions ticket in my pocket’,” he said. “I’m guessing this is a first for the sky-diving community!” (PA)

Behind you...

A would-be robber picked the wrong time to steal a jar containing $35 (€20) from the counter of a Florida convenience store.

Michael Wayne Aurilio, 27, took the children’s charity cash – but he did not realise an off-duty Marion County Sheriff’s deputy was standing behind him. As police sergeant William Dietrich tried to take Mr Aurilio into custody, the two fell through a plate glass door. Both were treated for minor injuries.

Mr Aurilio was charged with robbery and felony battery. (PA)

Praying raider

A man stopped to pray while he robbed a woman in a wheelchair after breaking into her home.

Thirty-two-year-old Christopher Perretti II, of New Castle, Pennsylvania, is in the Lawrence County Jail accused of burglary and robbery.

Perretti had demanded money and when the woman gave him five dollars (€3.7), he wanted more. She began praying as Perretti pushed past her to take $20 (€14.8) from her purse. He apologised and knelt down as she prayed before running away. (PA)

Hug an alligator

A man is planning to open the world’s first alligator hugging show, where visitors can pay five dollars (€3.7) to wrap their arms around a baby gator.

“This guy loves hugs,” said “Gator man” Mike Sturgill, 57, as he held 4ft, four-year-old Baby Bobby in his arms in Naples, Florida. He raised the alligator from a hatchling.

His city council-approved attraction has animal lovers in an uproar around the globe. Bobby wears a padded velcro muzzle to ensure tourists’ safety while they hold him and listen to lectures about alligators and their habitat. (PA)

Arnie’s museum

The Terminator is back in his native Austria to inaugurate a museum devoted to him. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s private jet landed at Graz airport today.

The museum is in the renovated house where he was born in the village of Thal. It chronicles his rise from humble beginnings as a muscular young immigrant to the US to Hollywood action hero to, most recently, California’s governor.

The museum has been open since July, but today’s ceremonies will mark the formal inauguration. Mr Schwarzenegger is expected to unveil a bronze statue of himself. (PA)

Russia’s book heroes

A Russian publisher has released a children’s book in which boys called Vova and Dima, closely resembling Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev, work and play together.

The book’s publishers, Maxim Perlin and Vladimir Tabak, presented the book yesterday ahead of Putin’s 59th birthday today and said they would send the premier a copy.

The 14-page book with black and white illustrations for colouring in has a print run of 25,000 copies and will sell for around 150 rubles (€3.4), the authors said. (AFP)