UPI NewsTrack Quirks in the News

Italian leader says he's paler than Obama

ROME, March 27 (UPI) -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who once described U.S. President Barack Obama as "sun-tanned," revived the issue by saying he is paler.

"I'm paler," Berlusconi, 72, noted for his tan, told The Guardian, a British newspaper, "because it's been so long since I've been in the sun."

But, ever the politician, Berlusconi quickly added, "He (Obama) is more handsome, younger and taller."

Group sends condoms to pope

VATICAN CITY, March 27 (UPI) -- Vatican City will soon receive scores of condoms in the mail as part of a protest against Pope Benedict XVI, demonstration organizers say.

Organizers of a group on the Facebook Web site said they have orchestrated a mass mailing of condoms to the Vatican Friday in protest of Benedict's recent condemnation of condom use to stem the spread of AIDS in Africa, the Italian news agency ANSA said.

Other Facebook groups similar to the Italian group have agreed to take part in the condom deliveries.

Benedict said the use of condoms in Africa is increasing, not hindering, the spread of AIDS.

The Italian group behind the protest has more than 26,000 members but up to 60,000 individuals could be mailing a condom to the Vatican, Der Spiegel said. The German publication said some involved parties have estimated the final condom tally could reach 5 million.

Lawyer denies charging client for sex

LONDON, March 27 (UPI) -- A 46-year-old married lawyer says he did not charge a female client for having sex with her, despite her claims in a filing in Britain's High Court.

Marc Beaumont said Anal Sheikh, 48, offers incorrect claims in her High Court writ that accuses him of charging her $357 an hour for time they spent together before and during sexual intercourse, The Daily Mail said Friday.

"Before people jump to conclusions they should wait and see what the court has to say," Beaumont told the Mail.

"There were gross inaccuracies in the story. Her claim has no merit whatsoever."

Sheikh alleges she agreed to the hourly wage for any additional work Beaumont may have to endure outside of their $171,000 fixed fee agreement.

Beaumont, who Sheikh is suing for more than $1.14 million, told the Mail the sexual claims are simply not indicative of his "boring" lifestyle.

"I'm not a celebrity, I'm a boring person. I spend 95 percent of my life at my desk dealing with legal matters," he said.

Illinois man makes deliveries in style

EVANSTON, Ill., March 27 (UPI) -- A 21-year-old man in Evanston, Ill., says he gets his fair share of "weird looks" when he makes his sandwich deliveries in his mother's Jaguar.

Justin Harris, who works as a Jimmy John's sandwich shop delivery man, said arriving at his delivery destinations in the $60,000 luxury automobile has earned him everything from laughs to stares, the Chicago Tribune said Friday.

"Most people just laugh about it, but I do get a lot of weird looks," Harris said.

Adding to the amusing sight is the "Jimmy John's Freaky Fast Delivery" signs that Harris must attach to the vehicle's roof during his working hours.

Harris said he occasionally wishes he still was driving the 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier he abandoned when he left college rather than his mother's expensive luxury ride.

"I can't drive it as willy-nilly as I drive my own car," he told the Tribune, adding most customers offer larger tips to delivery drivers in lower quality cars.