Wellington: Distance proved no obstacle for an intrepid New Zealand tomtit which apparently dodged predators and braved open seas to fly more than 37 miles back to his mate.
The tiny black and white bird, tagged with the initials "RG", stunned conservation staff when he reappeared in the North Island's Hunua Ranges two months after he was transferred 63km away to an island wildlife sanctuary, north of Auckland.
"They weren't able to catch his mate and so they took the male tomtit and left his mate behind and he decided 'Bugger that, I'm going home', so he did," said Department of Conservation staff member Warwick Murray.
Berlin: A German truck-driver beat up a motorist he believed was driving too slowly in a case of road rage in a country famous for having no speed limit on stretches of its motorways.
The trucker got in a fight with a car-driver who had been slowing him down by observing a 30 k.p.h. (18 m.p.h.) speed limit in a built-up area. Police in Bochum said the truck-driver said he felt provoked by the motorist "because he was actually driving 30 k.p.h. in a 30 k.p.h. area". He may now lose his licence.
London: A poster campaign urging people not to eat smelly foods on London's overcrowded and overheated underground system has caused a diplomatic incident with Italy.
The poster showing an overweight and Mediterranean
looking man lounging in an underground train carriage surrounded by hams, salamis and strings of garlic triggered a torrent of letters from angry Italians and even the Italian ambassador.
"We considered this poster to be very offensive to the Italian image, Italian products and the Italian company that is clearly identified," the Italian embassy's economic counsellor, Guido Cerboni, said. "It is a caricature of Italians."
Zurich: Switzerland striker Alexander Frei has apologised for spitting during Euro 2004 by sponsoring a llama.
Frei was found guilty of spitting at England midfielder Steven Gerrard in the 3-0 defeat in Portugal in June after he initially denied the offence. Swiss media branded Frei a llama as the South American animal is known for spitting.