■ United States
`Doonesbury' in trouble
The distributor of the "Doonesbury" comic called it an "unfortunate coincidence" that a strip depicting a man's head on a platter is set to run in newspapers days after the release of a videotape showing an American's beheading by Iraqi militants. Kansas City-based Universal Press Syndicate said Friday the strip, scheduled to run May 23, was drawn before Nicholas Berg's death in Iraq; it will offer a substitute comic strip. In the strip, the character Joanie, angry about her friend's firing from her university coaching job, begins daydreaming. In the last frame, she's pictured carrying a platter with the head of the university president on it. He says, "What's this." She responds, "A good start." "I regret the poor timing, and apologize to anyone who is offended by an image that is now clearly inappropriate," Doonesbury creator Gary Trudeau said.
■ Italy
Cops in the fast lane
If you are thinking about speeding on Italian highways this year, think twice. You might find yourself being chased by a Lamborghini. Italian police took possession Friday of a sleek, 500 horsepower, two-seater Lamborghini Gallardo, which can hit a top speed of 300kph. The sports car, painted in the police's distinctive blue and white colors, comes complete with a flashing blue light on the roof and will initially patrol the Salerno-Reggio Calabria motorway -- a road notorious in Italy for wild driving. The Lamborghini will also be used to transport human organs for emergency operations.
■ Germany
Frogman arrested for arson
A German frogman who lives on a swampy island and wears a combat-style diving suit and black face paint has been arrested for suspected arson attacks on two yachts, Berlin police said on Friday. Authorities found the man's camp, equipment and a boat with a silencer on its engine after a tip-off from a forester. "He wore combat-style aquanaut camouflage and launched his attacks from a swampy island," wrote Bild newspaper on Friday. Police believe the man, 36, abandoned his flat in eastern Berlin in March to live in a tent on the boggy island in a lake south of the city. A judge issued an arrest warrant after the two yachts were destroyed by fire, causing an estimated US$118,000 in damage.
■ United States
A slippery haul
A thief has slipped away with nearly 2 tonnes of used cooking grease bound for recycling. Authorities say the grease from three restaurants has a resale value of about US$380. The theft occurred sometime between Monday night and Tuesday morning, police said. Police think the thief is someone familiar with the restaurant industry and will look to turn in the grease for the recycling value.
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