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Two employees of the US Embassy in Paris underwent medical tests after handling a suspicious letter on Friday,the embassy said,and Paris police said it appeared they had been exposed to tear gas fumes....

Paris police: Tear gas in letter for US Embassy

PARIS: Two employees of the US Embassy in Paris underwent medical tests after handling a suspicious letter on Friday,the embassy said,and Paris police said it appeared they had been exposed to tear gas fumes. Both men were cleared and released after being examined at the Hotel Dieu Hospital,Embassy spokesman Paul Patin said. The central laboratory of the Paris police identified the irritant as tear gas,said the police official.

Swedish ex-police chief convicted of sex crimes

Stockholm: A former Swedish police chief known for his lectures on gender equality and sexual harassment was convicted on Friday of rape and sex crimes. In a case that shocked this Nordic nation,the court found Goran Lindberg,64,guilty of sadistic,sexual violence for tying one of his victims to a bed before raping her. The Sodertorn District Court convicted Lindberg of more than a dozen sex offenses,including aggravated rape and buying sexual favours. He was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison and ordered to pay 300,000 kronor in damages to the victims.

Ex-students fined in SA racist video case

JOHANNESBURG: A South African court on Friday ordered four White former students to pay fines of nearly 3,000 each for a video they made that humiliated black university employees and drew global attention to entrenched racism on the campus. The young men had pleaded guilty to charges of illegally and deliberately injuring another persons dignity. The video,made in 2007,showed the five employees being forced to consume food and drinks that appeared to be tainted with urine.

1st gay marriage under new Argentina law

Buenos Aires: Two men on Friday became the first gay couple to marry in Argentina under a law approved by Congress that set a historic precedent for Latin America. The civil ceremony between Jose Luis David Navarro,54,and Miguel Angel Calefato,65,was held in the province of Santiago del Estero. Argentina is the first Latin American nation to legalise same-sex marriage. President Cristina Fernandez signed the law on July 21.

Pink Floyd backs Iranian protest song

London: Pink Floyds Another Brick in the Wall-II has become a new anthem for Irans resistance movement. The 1979 song,which was released in the same year as the Islamic Revolution,has been reworked by two exiled Iranian brothers,The Telegraph reported. Roger Waters,a founding member of Pink Floyd,gave the rights to Blurred Vision,a duo living in Canada,to remake the classic under the title Another Brick in the Wall Hey Ayatollah,Leave Those Kids Alone.

Supermodel Lara Stone sues Playboy

London: Supermodel Lara Stone is taking French Playboy to court,alleging that the magazine published unauthorised topless photographs of hers. The Dutch model,who is married to British comedian David Walliams,said the magazine had no right to publish the risque images,reported Daily Mail online.

DeGeneres leaving American Idol

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Los Angeles: Walking away from a five-year contract worth tens of millions of dollars,Ellen DeGeneres said on Thursday that she was leaving American Idol on Fox after just one season because it was not a right fit for her. Deadline.com said on Thursday night that the singer Jennifer Lopez secretly reached a deal earlier this week to replace DeGeneres. Fox declined to comment but a person familiar with the deal confirmed the report.