Mid Day International News

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• Putin strips for judo injury
• Fish and chips set to batter record
• Japanese PM Kan bows out
• Gaddafi smitten by 'darling' Rice
• Gangster nabbed after cops see photos on Facebook
• British deputy PM hit with paint

Putin strips for judo injury Posted: He revels in his self-styled reputation as the hard man of international politics -- but even tough guys need a little help now and again. Ouch, that hurts! Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin explains to traumatologist Viktor Petrachenkov about his shoulder injury, which he received during practising judo. pic/AFP And when there's the opportunity to combine a presidential campaign photo call with taking his top off for a quick medical exam, there was no stopping Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin. Putin was visiting a hospital in Smolensk, 250 miles west on Moscow, when an unsuspecting doctor inquired after the former president's health. Putin promptly whipped his shirt and tie off to reveal a nagging shoulder injury, the result of a morning spent on the exercise mat, and instructed traumatologist Viktor Petrachenkov to take a closer look. The photo shoot is all part of Putin's latest publicity drive to get him back in the Kremlin -- he is believed to be planning to stand for a third presidential term in March next year. Meanwhile, Putin has been presented with a certificate entitling him to free taxi journeys for life by one of Russia's foremost motorist associations. The head of the motoring group, Vycheslav Lysakov, wasn't able to physically hand the certificate over but Putin indicated that he had received it.

Fish and chips set to batter record Posted: People in Bournemouth were treated to what could be the world's biggest portion of fish and chips on Wednesday, as local chefs put their restaurant jobs on hold to cook up the enormous dish. Ouch, that hurts! Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin explains to traumatologist Viktor Petrachenkov about his shoulder injury, which he received during practising judo. pic/AFP Catering students from Bournemouth and Pool College were pitted against kitchen staff from Boscombe restaurant Urban Reef, in a challenge to make a super-sized version of the seaside favourite. Urban Reef restaurant used a 61-kg halibut caught off Iceland before filleting it and coating it in batter and cooking it in a purpose-built fryer. But Bournemouth and Poole College chose a more inventive way to achieve their extraordinary feat. They stuck together dozens of smaller fish using edible glue before cooking the mammoth lump. Mark Cribb, manager of Urban Reef, said, "We did a bit of research to see what the current world record was and I think we've matched it. "We did get very little sleep but we've had lots of laughs taking part." Now both teams are waiting to find out who has won. It is currently held by Yorkshire pub The Wensleydale Heifer, who fried a 18-kg fillet of prime halibut and 27 kg of hand cut chips. 61 kg The size of the fish used by Urban Reef restaurant for the record

Japanese PM Kan bows out Posted: Prime Minister Naoto Kan announced his resignation yesterday after 15 turbulent months in office during which the nation experienced its greatest postwar disaster and, because of it, he signaled Japan should shift away from nuclear power. His resignation leaves Japan looking for its sixth leader in five years as it tries to rebuild from the massive earthquake and tsunami that caused widespread destruction earlier this year. Kan said, "It was a difficult situation with many challenges, but taking that into consideration, I believe that I was able to do everything that I should have done." The premier had made three conditions on offering his resignation, a bill to promote renewable energy, a bond insurance bill and a supplemental budget. The Democrats will vote on Monday for a new leader, who will almost certainly become Japan's next prime minister.

Gaddafi smitten by 'darling' Rice Posted: After rebels ransack Moammer Gaddafi's lair they find photographs of former American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the tyrant's 'darling black African woman' A bizarre photograph album filled page to page with pictures of former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been found at the compound of Colonel Gaddafi. As citizens ransacked the sprawling lair, for the first time discovering the extent of riches enjoyed by their bloodthirsty tyrant, a number of unusual items have been looted. Perhaps the most surprising, however, was the album, filled with glossy pictures of Rice. I love you leezza: During US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice's visit in 2008 to Libya, he referred to her as Lezza and showered her with a diamond locket. Colonel Gaddafi had previously hinted at a serious admiration for Rice. In an interview with Al-Jazeera television in 2007, where he hinted that then-President George W Bush's top diplomat wielded considerable influence in the Arab world. The book with photographs of his 'lady love'. "I support my darling black African woman," he said at the time. "I admire and am very proud of the way she leans back and gives orders to the Arab leaders. ... Leezza, Leezza, Leezza. ... I love her very much. I admire her, and I'm proud of her, because she's a black woman of African origin." The following year, Gaddafi and Rice had an opportunity to meet when the secretary of state paid a historic visit to Libya. Lavish gifts During the visit, he presented Rice with a diamond ring, a lute, a locket with an engraved likeness of himself inside and an inscribed edition of The Green Book, a personal political manifesto that explains his 'Third Universal Theory for a new democratic society'. Together, the haul was worth $2,12,000 (Rs 97 lakh). Three years later, at Gaddafi's compound, Libyan rebels found the photo book. Rebels leafed through the album yesterday after finding it as they rummaged through Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziya compound. Rice did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the discovery of the photos. Looters were shocked to find expensive murals and artwork hanging from the walls of his homes and rooms were filled with replica 14th century furniture. Vast bathrooms with bidets and sunken baths adjoined most sleeping quarters. Not far from a cluster of buildings used by Gaddafi's family as sleeping quarters was a cinema where he would join his family to watch the latest western movies. The most outlandish sight in this whole bizarre fantasyland was the fairground in the gardens.

Gangster nabbed after cops see photos on Facebook Posted: One of Italy's 100 most-wanted crooks was tracked down and arrested after his girlfriend posted their holiday photos on Facebook, a media report said. Salvatore D'Avino, 39 - a member of the Naples mafia - was on the run for 10 years. He and his 31-year-old pregnant Moroccan girlfriend were holidaying in Marbella, Spain, and posted pictures on Facebook, The Sun reported. Italian police spotted the photos on the social networking website, and their Spanish counterparts swooped to arrest D'Avino. D'Avino is wanted for drug trafficking. Angelo Mazzagatti, of Naples police, said: "He thought after a decade on the run he was home free. He wasn't happy with his girlfriend. It was very easy to find them from photos of her standing in front of a restaurant sign."

British deputy PM hit with paint Posted: British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg was attacked with paint outside a Liberal Democrat party event in Scotland's Glasgow city, party officials said. Clegg got paint on his face and his jacket outside a question and answer session, Sky News reported. A man in his 20s has been arrested in connection with the incident. Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie and police officers were also hit with the paint, which was thrown as the politicians left their car to walk up the steps to the venue. "A chap threw the paint. These things happen, it's no big deal," Clegg said. A spokesman for Clegg said he was uninjured and carried on with his day. "Nick's got three children under 10, he's not worried about a bit of paint," he said. A witness said: "He (Clegg) laughed it off. He said these things tend to happen sometimes in the job and it's no big deal. He took it in good humour. People rushed to his aid to wipe it off, there were still traces of the blue paint on his clothing."

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