Baghdad’s city hall has demanded $1 billion and an apology from the US military, accusing the force that led an invasion to oust Saddam Hussein of turning a “beautiful city into a military camp”.

In a statement published on its website, the city council cited damage done to the city by the erection of concrete blast walls, seen throughout the Iraqi capital, as well as the use of Humvee military vehicles.

“Baghdad city council demands the United States pay compensation estimated at $1 billion as a result of damage to infrastructure and issue an apology to the people of Baghdad,” the statement said.

“Anyone can recognise what American forces have done to Baghdad by turning this beautiful city into a military camp and destroying streets and communities.” (AFP)

Broccoli shortage

Severe winter weather conditions have led to a collapse in supplies of one of health-conscious foodies’ favourite vegetables – purple-sprouting broccoli.

Up to 50 per cent of the crop has been lost because of the long periods of sub-zero temperatures when Britain was snowbound. And other more traditional winter veg such as cauliflowers have also been affected.

Sales of purple-sprouting broccoli have increased in recent years since it won a reputation as a “superfood” because of its high levels of iron, folic acid, calcium, fibre and vitamins A and C. (PA)

Keep shouting

German children may soon be allowed to make as much noise as they like under a proposed law aimed at encouraging people to boost the birth rate.

The government Bill would let those aged under six laugh, shout and play at any volume. The move follows a series of lawsuits about children and noise, with one pensioner group seeking to ban kindergartens from residential areas because they are too loud.

The law would exempt children from strict rules on noise limits, which force construction sites to stand idle for hours at midday and ban mowing lawns on Sunday. (PA)

Sharp practice

Police in new Mexico are investigating a thorny theft case after someone stole a giant fibreglass cactus from behind a public library.

Secondary school students spent an entire summer building the $50,000 artwork shaped like a prickly pear cactus. They were part of a non-profit group that provides art education for at-risk children.

Albuquerque officials say thieves probably unbolted the bright green cactus from the ground and used a pickup truck or van to cart it off. (PA)

Hunger strike

A 19-year-old Mexican woman is on a hunger strike in front of the British embassy, demanding an invitation to the wedding of Britain’s Prince William and Kate Middleton, she said.

“I have been a fan of Lady Di since I was a little girl,” said Estibalis Chavez, who set up a tent outside the British embassy in Mexico City.

“My mother was also a fan... I promised myself I would go to the next royal wedding.”

The young woman said she has been asking for an invitation to the April 29 ceremony at Westminster Abbey but that the embassy has told her it was impossible.

“I intend to fight until the very end... there is no turning back,” she said on Thursday. (AFP)

Mt Putin

Kyrgzystan’s Parliament has voted to put Russia’s strongman Prime Minister on the map by giving his name to one of its mountain peaks.

A mountain measuring 4,446 metres in the country’s northern Tian Shan range will henceforth be known as the Peak of Vladimir Putin, after Parliament endorsed the idea proposed by the government of the Central Asian state.

Mr Putin heard of the idea from his Kyrgyz counterpart Almazbek Atambayev and joked that he ought to be the first to climb the newly named mountain.

The initiative was backed by almost all the deputies in the recently elected coalition Parliament. Analysts said the current leadership wanted to emphasise its closeness to Russia. (AFP)

Love bugs

Care for a bug? Long renowned for pioneering extreme sports such as bungee-jumping and heli-skiing, New Zealanders are now pushing culinary boundaries by serving iron-stomached food lovers gastronomic delights such as raw scorpions, chocolate-covered beetles and deep-fried grubs.

In fact, the unusual menu will be found at the annual Wildfoods Festival in the South Island town of Hokitika next month

The festival began 22 years ago as a way of allowing city slickers to “get out of their comfort zone” and sample bush tucker.

While much of the fare such as venison and wild boar is relatively unchallenging for mainstream tastes, some organisers liked to spice up the menu with more unusual offerings. (AFP)