Japan's Yoshitaka Sakurada apologises for being three minutes late Japan's Olympics Minister, Yoshitaka Sakurada, has publicly apologised after arriving three minutes late to a parliamentary meeting on Thursday.
Opposition MPs said his tardiness showed disrespect for his office and boycotted a meeting of the budget committee for five hours in protest.
They have been highly critical of Mr Sakurada after a series of gaffes.
Last week, he said he felt let down after Olympic swimming hopeful Rikako Ikee was diagnosed with leukaemia.
"She is a potential gold medallist [at the Tokyo 2020 Games], an athlete in whom we have great expectations. I'm really disappointed," he was quoted as saying. He was then forced to apologise after being criticised.
In 2016, he also came under fire for describing so-called comfort women forced to provide sexual services to Japanese war-time troops as "professional prostitutes".
And last year, Mr Sakurada, who is also the cyber-security minister, said he had never used a computer, adding he had always delegated the work to his subordinates.
Snakes'n'bladders! Panicked man runs from 'escaped pet' found in toilet
The reptile hissed at the man before slithering into the top of the toilet, where it turned slightly blue from cleaning products.
The article gets better , particularly liked the bit at the bottom " If anyone recognises this snake please get in touch with us " .....I'd have thought 1 rat snake looks pretty much any other , but there we go .
Snakes'n'bladders! Panicked man runs from 'escaped pet' found in toilet
The reptile hissed at the man before slithering into the top of the toilet, where it turned slightly blue from cleaning products.
The article gets better , particularly liked the bit at the bottom " If anyone recognises this snake please get in touch with us " .....I'd have thought 1 rat snake looks pretty much any other , but there we go.
Snakes'n'bladders! Panicked man runs from 'escaped pet' found in toilet
The reptile hissed at the man before slithering into the top of the toilet, where it turned slightly blue from cleaning products.
The article gets better , particularly liked the bit at the bottom " If anyone recognises this snake please get in touch with us " .....I'd have thought 1 rat snake looks pretty much any other , but there we go.
US police called to check on welfare of cardboard cutout 'hugging a pillow'
Officers in snowy Minnesota were told a man was seen "motionless outside" and "wearing no coat in the cold" US police received a surprise when they were called to check on the welfare of a cardboard cutout figure.
Officers in the snowy northern state of Minnesota were told an adult male had been seen standing "motionless outside" while "wearing no coat in the cold and hugging a pillow".
The figure turned out to be a life-size cardboard cutout of local millionaire and inventor Mike Lindell, the CEO of the popular MyPillow brand
Czech man mauled to death by lion he kept in back yard
A man has been mauled to death by a lion caged at his family home in the eastern Czech Republic.
Michal Prasek owned the nine-year-old big cat and another lioness for breeding, reportedly drawing concern from local residents.
Mr Prasek's father found his body in the lion's cage and told local media it had been locked from the inside.
The animals - living in separate pens - were shot dead by police called to the scene.
A police spokesperson told local media that the shootings were "absolutely necessary for them to get to the man".
Mr Prasek, 34, bought the lion in 2016 and the lioness last year, and kept them both in home-made enclosures in his back yard in the village of Zdechov.
He had previously been fined for illegal breeding as he lacked planning permission for the pens.
But the conflict with the authorities reached a stalemate after Mr Prasek denied anyone entry onto his property.
A lack of alternative facilities in the Czech Republic, and no evidence of animal cruelty, also prevented the authorities from forcibly removing the animals.
Mr Prasek made headlines last summer after a cyclist collided with a lioness he was taking out for a walk on a leash.
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Japan's Olympics Minister, Yoshitaka Sakurada, has publicly apologised after arriving three minutes late to a parliamentary meeting on Thursday.
Opposition MPs said his tardiness showed disrespect for his office and boycotted a meeting of the budget committee for five hours in protest.
They have been highly critical of Mr Sakurada after a series of gaffes.
Last week, he said he felt let down after Olympic swimming hopeful Rikako Ikee was diagnosed with leukaemia.
"She is a potential gold medallist [at the Tokyo 2020 Games], an athlete in whom we have great expectations. I'm really disappointed," he was quoted as saying. He was then forced to apologise after being criticised.
In 2016, he also came under fire for describing so-called comfort women forced to provide sexual services to Japanese war-time troops as "professional prostitutes".
And last year, Mr Sakurada, who is also the cyber-security minister, said he had never used a computer, adding he had always delegated the work to his subordinates.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-47328512
The reptile hissed at the man before slithering into the top of the toilet, where it turned slightly blue from cleaning products.
The article gets better , particularly liked the bit at the bottom " If anyone recognises this snake please get in touch with us " .....I'd have thought 1 rat snake looks pretty much any other , but there we go .
https://news.sky.com/story/snakesnbladders-panicked-man-runs-from-escaped-pet-found-in-toilet-11643542
In the German town of Bensheim, rescue workers got an unusual call - a chubby rat needed help after getting stuck halfway out of a sewer manhole.
"She had a lot of winter flab and was stuck fast at her hip - there was no going forward or back," animal rescuer Michael Sehr told local media.
A fairly large rescue operation ensued - leading some to question why all the effort was spent on saving a sewer rat.
"Even animals that are hated by many deserve respect," Mr Sehr responded.
Volunteer firefighters reacted to a call on Sunday afternoon, the local fire department said, and noted the "animal rescue, small animal" code.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47370291
His parents went against doctors advice and didn't terminate the pregnancy.
Anyone like to guess at his net worth? Must be proper minted.
Officers in snowy Minnesota were told a man was seen "motionless outside" and "wearing no coat in the cold"
US police received a surprise when they were called to check on the welfare of a cardboard cutout figure.
Officers in the snowy northern state of Minnesota were told an adult male had been seen standing "motionless outside" while "wearing no coat in the cold and hugging a pillow".
The figure turned out to be a life-size cardboard cutout of local millionaire and inventor Mike Lindell, the CEO of the popular MyPillow brand
https://news.sky.com/story/us-police-called-to-check-on-welfare-of-cardboard-cutout-hugging-a-pillow-11652475
A man has been mauled to death by a lion caged at his family home in the eastern Czech Republic.
Michal Prasek owned the nine-year-old big cat and another lioness for breeding, reportedly drawing concern from local residents.
Mr Prasek's father found his body in the lion's cage and told local media it had been locked from the inside.
The animals - living in separate pens - were shot dead by police called to the scene.
A police spokesperson told local media that the shootings were "absolutely necessary for them to get to the man".
Mr Prasek, 34, bought the lion in 2016 and the lioness last year, and kept them both in home-made enclosures in his back yard in the village of Zdechov.
He had previously been fined for illegal breeding as he lacked planning permission for the pens.
But the conflict with the authorities reached a stalemate after Mr Prasek denied anyone entry onto his property.
A lack of alternative facilities in the Czech Republic, and no evidence of animal cruelty, also prevented the authorities from forcibly removing the animals.
Mr Prasek made headlines last summer after a cyclist collided with a lioness he was taking out for a walk on a leash.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47454610