A homeless Czech man smashed a police car window, an entrance door and a cash machine in a failed bid to sort out his accommodation problem by getting into police custody and eventually prison.
"He said during interrogation that he had no job, nowhere to live and thus wants to go to prison," a police officer from the northern city of Usti nad Labem told daily Mlada fronta Dnes.
Police took the 30-year-old identified as Karel G. to a psychiatric clinic after the first offence, but he was discharged after three days.
He immediately trashed the door of a trolley-bus company depot, and waited patiently on the site for police to arrest him again.
When that did not qualify him for custody, he smashed a bank machine, causing 110,000 crowns (€3,939) in damage.
Vatican Radio snubs drug maker over contraception
Vatican Radio has withdrawn an invitation to the head of Novartis to act as an external commentator after it discovered the Swiss drug maker made contraceptives, the broadcaster said.
"The approach of the Vatican to artificial contraception cannot be subject to the smallest doubt," Vatican Radio said on its website.
The broadcaster had asked Novartis chief executive officer Daniel Vasella to be its "Commentator of the Week" in February, but said it had now decided to fill the slot internally. "We ask Mr Vasella and our listeners to understand this decision. We have only just learned from the media that Novartis also produces contraceptives," Vatican Radio said.
NY's maple syrup mystery smell solved
A mysterious, maple syrup-like odour that has periodically wafted over New York City since October 2005 has been linked to New Jersey fragrance processing plants, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg said yesterday.
Fragrance and food additive factories in nearby New Jersey where fenugreek seeds are processed are the "probable source" of the odour, Mr Bloomberg told a news conference at City Hall.
"Given the evidence, I think it's safe to say that the Great Maple Syrup Mystery has finally been solved," said.
The odour has attracted media attention and hundreds of complaints from city residents. The city had assured residents that the odour was not harmful, but it was not able to explain its source until now. The mystery was solved after city agencies matched complaints by their geographic location against information about winds and atmospheric conditions.
"The health department confirmed that the odour does not pose a health risk, but I am pleased to know that our smelling sleuths got to the bottom of this mystery," Mr Bloomberg said.
Armenia hopes lottery will stamp out tax evasion
Armenia is offering thousands of dollars in lottery prizes to consumers who take receipts for their purchases to try to tackle rampant tax evasion in the former Soviet republic.
The initiative began on January 1 and the first prizes will be awarded this month, after authorities said the threat of prosecution had failed to encourage shop owners and market sellers to install cash registers and provide receipts.
"It's no secret that not many people give receipts in Armenia," said Armen Alaverdyan, deputy head of the state revenue committee.
Under the new scheme, if customers buy from a trader with a cash register, they stand to win between 5,000 drams (€12) and 500,000 drams. One lucky winner, if the eight-digit number on their receipt matches that drawn in the monthly lottery, will win five million drams (€12,435).
Putin 'jiggles to Abba hits' at gig
Russia's hard man Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has revealed a weakness for 1970s super-group Abba at a concert performed by lookalikes and cloaked in secrecy last month, an organiser said yesterday.
The Abba tribute band Bjorn Again was paid £20,000 (€23,000) for the January 22 gig performed before a tuxedo-wearing Mr Putin, Bjorn Again manager Rod Stephen said.
"He was definitely seen dancing and getting into the show because Bjorn Again is a very interactive show. He was dancing along.
"In Super Trouper there's time to move your hands in the air and Mama Mia! starts with finger pointing. He was yelling out 'Bravo! Bravo!' after quite a few songs," commented Mr Stephen, referring to some of the band's best known hit numbers.
While not previously known to like Abba, Mr Putin is well known as an admirer of the Beatles and has hosted former Beatle Paul McCartney in the Kremlin.
Blaming Madoff, man sues over divorce settlement
A New York lawyer who invested millions of dollars with accused swindler Bernard Madoff has sued his ex-wife for the return of part of their divorce settlement, saying he was misled about his actual worth.
Steven Simkin and Laura Blank held $5.4 million in a Madoff account, according to a statement provided by Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities at the time of the couple's separation in 2004, the lawsuit filed in New York State Supreme Court said.
Mr Simkin paid Ms Blank, his wife of 30 years, half as part of their uncontested divorce settlement, the lawsuit said. That meant she avoided losses caused by Mr Madoff's alleged fraud.
"Unknown to Steven and Laura, the 'account', whose valuation was critical to the parties' agreement, was a sham and fiction," the lawsuit said. "Laura obtained a windfall and Steven did not receive an equitable share of the couple's joint assets. It is only fair and equitable for Laura to shoulder some of that harm."