In Brief: BBC pulls graphic ballet scenes
Friday November 27 2009
THE BBC has pulled part of a forthcoming ballet after learning it contained graphic scenes of a hunchback Pope garrotting a pregnant woman with rosary beads.
'Eternal Damnation To Sancho And Sanchez' by Javier de Frutos was due to be shown over the Christmas period, but when BBC4 bosses became aware of the graphic sexual nature of the ballet, it was pulled from the schedule.
Parliament lashes out on booze
THE British government splashed out almost £122,000 (€134,000) of taxpayers' money on alcohol last year.
The figure, disclosed by Foreign Office Minister Chris Bryant, includes £27,136 (€30,000) on champagne.
Thailand tougher on sex changes
THAILAND has introduced new laws making sex change surgery more difficult amid fears that some patients are rushing into the operation.
Transsexuals and transgender men are a common sight in Thailand, but over the past two years a rash of castrations has alarmed the medical establishment.
Hoard finders to pocket €3.6m
THE Staffordshire Hoard's status as the most valuable discovery of its kind was confirmed yesterday as its finders were told they will share £3.28m (€3.6m).
Professor Norman Palmer, chairman of the committee which reached the valuation, admitted it had been a "difficult task" to reach its worth, saying "values are always speculative".
Johnny praises Jedward rotten
Former Sex Pistols star John Lydon praised Jedward yesterday -- for being so bad they made other acts "shine".
The punk idol said the pair -- dumped from The X Factor at the weekend -- were "just ridiculous".
Cromwell's boots sold at auction
A pair of boots thought to have been owned by Oliver Cromwell sold for £3,800 yesterday. The leather boots were expected to fetch a much more modest sum -- up to £500.
Will Richards, of Dreweatts Auctioneers, said: "They're in quite good condition and were very sturdily made."
Irish Independent
