■ United States
Arnold in doll spat
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is trying to stop two brothers from selling bobblehead dolls in his likeness. A thousand of the Schwarzenegger dolls were produced in part for charity about a month ago by Ohio Discount Merchandise, run by Todd and Toby Bosley. They feature the governor in a suit with an ammo belt and machine gun. The governor's law firm, Lavely & Singer, sent a letter demanding the Bosleys immediately stop making and selling the dolls, deliver any remaining dolls and make a substantial payment. While Schwarzenegger's lawyers insist the former film star owns his name, likeness and all publicity rights, the bobblehead brothers contend he is a public political figure and therefore can no longer control his image.
■ Poland
Prime minister resigning
Prime Minister Leszek Miller was to step down yesterday after helping lead Poland into the EU, his government weakened by unresolved economic problems, corruption allegations and a split in the governing party. The day after Poland's historic entry into the EU, Miller's planned handover to a caretaker underscores the domestic uncertainty afflicting a key US military ally in Iraq. After receiving Miller's resignation, President Aleksander Kwasniewski is to immediately swear in former finance minister Marek Belka as new prime minister.
■ United States
Homeless policy upheld
A California appeals court has restored a controversial assistance program championed by Mayor Gavin Newsom for San Francisco's large and visible homeless population. The state Court of Appeal in San Francisco on Friday reversed a lower court ruling striking down Newsom's "Care not Cash" plan to slash monthly welfare checks for the homeless and use the money to pay for beds in city shelters, counseling and other services. At up to US$410 a month, the city's welfare checks are the most generous in California.
■ Burundi
Civilian deaths tallied
Nearly 1,500 civilians were killed by government soldiers and rebels fighting a decade-long civil war in Burundi last year despite efforts to end the conflict, a local human rights group said Saturday. Rebels of the Forces for the Defense of Democracy, killed 667 people while the army killed 203, Ligue Iteka said in a report. Another 212 civilians perished in crossfire and 345 were killed by unknown assailants. "The human rights record in Burundi has been somber," Jean Marie Kavumbagu, president of the rights group said.
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