The Week - 26 August-1 September

Published on Saturday 2 September 2006 00:18

PRIZES galore were handed-out on Sunday: Scottish star Kelly Macdonald won a best supporting actress Emmy for her role in Richard Curtis's The Girl in the Café; Phil Nichol, a Scots-born Canadian, won an If.commeddies award for his Fringe stand-up routine; and Zara Philips, the Queen's granddaughter, won an individual gold medal at the World Equestrian Games.

An aircraft crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49 people, after taking off from the wrong runway.

Three explosions tore through Marmaris, a Turkish holiday resort, in the early hours of Monday morning, injuring 21 people, including ten Britons. Later, another blast killed three tourists in Antalya. Inspectors criticised cleanliness at three hospitals: Raigmore in Inverness, the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and the Royal Alexandra in Paisley. The charges against John Mark Karr, the man who said he killed the child beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey ten years ago, were dropped after DNA evidence showed that he was not at the scene. Louise Campbell - the mother of Molly Campbell, also known as Misbah Iram Ahmed Rana - made an emotional appeal on Tuesday for her daughter's safe return, after the 12-year-old went missing from Stornoway. Gordon Macdonald, from Nairn, Britain's longest surviving heart transplant patient, died 26 years after undergoing surgery.

On Wednesday the British Fertility Society recommended that very obese women should not have access to fertility treatment. Lord Hector Monro of Langholm, the former Tory MP and minister, died aged 83. John Hogan, who is accused of murdering his son Liam by jumping with him from a balcony, appeared in a Crete court.

Mohammed Sarwar, the Labour MP for Glasgow Central, flew out to Pakistan on Thursday after being guaranteed a meeting with Molly Campbell: Mr Sarwar has known Sajed Rana, Molly's father, for more than 15 years. One Strathclyde firefighter was demoted and eight others were disciplined after failing to provide safety advice to people attending a gay pride march. Norwegian police recovered Edvard Munch's The Scream and Madonna, two years after the paintings were stolen.

Molly Campbell yesterday claimed she left Scotland voluntarily. Labour MPs continued to call for Tony Blair to name then day when he will resign.

THE WEEK IN BRIEF

Taking the hump

CAMEL'S milk has been flying off the shelves in the Indian state of Rajasthan after Virmaram Jat, a local farmer, praised the drink for helping him father a child at the age of 88. But scientists think otherwise. Dr Sahani, the director of the National Research Centre on Camels (I kid you not, such a facility does exist), said there was no basis for the idea camel's milk boosts virility. According to the centre's website, there are around 632,000 camels in India, the seventh largest camel population in the world.

In the army now

BEING overweight shouldn't be a barrier to joining the army, according to Australia's most senior soldier. In order to meet recruitment targets set by John Howard, the Australian prime minister, the Oz army is now going to accept applicants who may have trouble fitting in to the regulation number ones.

"Some people might be overweight, but we're good at getting people fit and taking the weight off," said Lieutenant-General Peter Leahy, leader of Australia's army, in the week's biggest understatement.

Devil in disguise

WHILE sitting in an Iraqi prison cell between his court appearances, Saddam Hussein is supposedly being forced to "repeatedly" watch the big-screen version of South Park, in which he was lampooned as the devil's lover. South Park creator Matt Stone revealed the odd news at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. "I have it on pretty good information from the marines on detail in Iraq that they showed him the movie," Stone said. "That's really adding insult to injury. I bet that made him really happy." But did the marines play the Arabic version for Saddam?

Sticky situation

SAD news for all model aircraft fans this week after the company that makes Airfix went into administration. The hobby kit - famed for its models of Second World War aircraft and tanks - has suffered since the advent of computer games. But the administrators are confident of finding a buyer for the brand, which has been in financial trouble before, entering receivership in 1981. Maybe now's the time to go looking in your loft: if Airfix doesn't make it through this battle, then your half-finished Harrier jump-jet may rise in value.

Secret stash

HONEY, how much do you have hidden in the bank? According to a survey from Scottish Widows, almost one in ten women keep some savings secret from their partners. Scottish women are the second most likely to stash loot away, following their sisters in the Midlands. But why are women hiding their money? Is it a secret shoe shopping fund?

Shhhhhhhhhh!

BRITAIN'S noisiest churches are being named and shamed on a new website, which has already attracted more than 1,500 visitors. The site - www.noisyparishawards.com - is open to all denominations and allows people to vent spleen about fellow parishioners who sit and chat in the pews. The site's founder said he would not allow individuals to be targeted on the site, but naming noisy congregations may help to reduce chatting among worshippers. And Scots beware: St Andrew's Cathedral, in Glasgow, has already featured on the website.

Avon calling

BRITAIN has a new top Avon lady: and he's a man. The title goes to the Avon agent who sells the most products and Dave Carter, 37, of Sunderland, has claimed the top spot. Carter reportedly earns 60,000 a year for only two hours' work per day. He leads a team of 870 who reportedly sold 136,000-worth of moisturiser and make-up last month. "It's great to have done so well in a woman's world," Mr Carter said. "People smile when I say, 'I'm the Avon lady'." I bet they do.

Dedicated follower

IN ONE of the week's more bizarre tales, a source close to the Pope was quoted as saying: "He seems preoccupied with Prada's winter shoe collection."

Pope Benedict XVI is widely rumoured to have an interest in fashion but at least one source at the Vatican seems to be getting a little worried about the amount of time he has spent pondering the topic.

Jackson's bought it!

PETER Jackson - the bearded New Zealander who made the legendary Lord of the Rings trilogy - is going to remake The Dam Busters. Stand by for computer-generated bouncing bombs and, no doubt, a role for Andy "Gollum" Serkis. The 1954 film told the story of Barnes Wallis, who created bouncing bombs to destroy dams held by the Nazis and Wing Commander Guy Gibson, who led the RAF's bombing runs over Germany. Jackson said he wants to make his film "as authentic as possible and as close to the spirit of the original as possible".

Lost in space

JACK Osbourne - son of Ozzy and Sharon - wants to be sent into space as part of the next series of Adrenaline Junkie, his popular TV sports show. But he may have to put his trip on hold until he can convince his mum that the mission would be safe. "Someone had an idea to send me into space and when I heard I was like, 'Yes!'" Osbourne explained. "Mum said, 'You can't do that!' and I was like, 'What are you on about?' Recent events involving shuttles exploding may have scared her slightly, but I'd love it."

What happens next?

HE MAY have starred in more than 40 films and produced another 20, but Michael Douglas doesn't watch movies. The 62-year-old actor this week revealed he and Catherine Zeta-Jones don't watch films because the modern stories are too predictable. "I prefer watching sport because you don't know how it's going to end," Douglas explained. "With movies you can guess the ending. I always say, 'He's the bad guy.' So I've wasted another hour and I knew what was going to happen all along." I think even he might make an exception for Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile.

SLK on eBay

WHAT'S the strangest thing you've bought on eBay? A much-loved CD?

A dog-eared book? How about Caprice's car? The model is selling the Mercedes SLK in which she was caught drink-driving last December, and hopes to get about 30,000 for it.

Caprice's wheels aren't the oddest thing reported to be on eBay this week: a sandwich - half-eaten by Britney Spears - has been vacuum-packed and posted for sale on the internet auction site.

The waiter who put the egg sarnie up for sale claims to have served the delicacy to Britney at a recent function. The winning bid was $520 (274).

AND THE WEEK AHEAD

Tomorrow: The Edinburgh International Festival comes to its traditional dramatic close with fireworks at the castle and music from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Thurso is due to host the Scottish surfing open.

Monday: MSPs are due to return from their summer recess. Angus Sinclair is due to appear at the High Court in Edinburgh charged with the "World's End" murders. Pete Doherty is due to be sentenced after admitting to possessing drugs.

Tuesday: GQ hands out its Men of the Year Awards and the Mercury Music Prize is presented. England meet Pakistan in the third one-day international, at the Rose Bowl.

Wednesday: The European Commission is due to hold an aviation security meeting. The State Of Britain's Mammals report is released by the People's Trust for Endangered Species and the Mammals Trust. British Blind Golf Open Championship takes place at Ratho Park in Edinburgh.

Thursday: Chequebooks ready as the bovine stars of Edinburgh's Cow Parade go to auction. The Scottish Wounds Care Conference opens in Glasgow.

Friday: New York's fashion week begins. Trent Bridge hosts the fourth one-day international between England and Pakistan.

Saturday: Get the flags ready for the Last Night Of The Proms.