■ South Africa
Burundi groups strike deal
The largest rebel group in Burundi struck a deal with the government early Wednesday morning that brings the country's civil war one step closer to an end, officials said. South African President Thabo Mbeki presided over a signing ceremony in Pretoria. Mbeki said his Burundian counterpart and the rebel Forces for Defence of Democracy (FDD) had reached an "important" agreement on political and military issues that paved the way for implementation of a ceasefire. Burundian President Domitien Ndayizeye and FDD leader Jean-Pierre Nkurunziza said they would immediately end hostilities.
■ United States
Towel left in stomach
A man whose doctors left a surgical towel in his abdomen after he underwent surgery for an aortic aneurysm was awarded US$455,000 in damages. William Barlow, 62, developed a blood infection and fever after leaving the Veteran's Administration (VA) hospital in Miami in December 2000, according to a summary of the case released by the judge on Tuesday. The 41cm by 71cm towel was removed four months later. The VA conceded fault on the forgotten towel but tried to limit the damage award, citing Barlow's poor health and obesity. A message left with the government's attorney was not returned.
■ United Kingdom
Music boosts eating
Bach and Mozart rather than Britney Spears or Michael Jackson are music to diners' ears, according to a study published in Britain on Tuesday. Classical music in general inspires more spending in restaurants than the catchy tunes of pop music according to the study, carried out by researchers at Leicester university in central England. Researchers found that the soothing sounds of classical music encouraged people to spend 34 euros (US$40) per meal on average, as opposed to the 31 euros (US$36) paid by diners eating to the backbeat of pop music. The bill comes to 30 euros (US$35) a head when people eat in a restaurant where there is no music at all.
■ United Kingdom
Shoppers steal Beckhams
Celebrity worship reached new heights on Tuesday as British supermarket Tesco said it was boosting in-store security to protect cardboard cutouts of English football superstar David Beckham. Tesco will introduce a security alarm and a 24-hour camera surveillance system to prevent thieves from stealing the footballer's lifesize doubles, designed to promote his new autobiography My Side, a supermarket spokesman said. Five hundred cardboard cutouts were sent to Tesco supermarkets throughout Britain for the sale of Beckham's book, but several have already been stolen by thieves.
RSS