Bolivia cracks down on overweight soldiers

Bolivia's military and police have begun making a count of overweight members in their ranks. Source: AAP

BOLIVIA'S military and police have begun making a count of overweight members in the ranks after President Evo Morales complained that too many soldiers and cops are out of shape.

MILITARY sources quoted La Razon newspaper said the census will be compiled using data from promotion exams and that the plan aims to help overweight officers and soldiers get fit.

Defence Minister Ruben Saavedra said earlier this week that overweight members of the armed forces will not be allowed to don military uniforms until they shape up."They must be prepared both on the intellectual and the physical level," he said.Bolivia's national police announced similar steps.On December 2, Morales suggested that soldiers and officers who neglect their physical fitness should not be promoted, insisting that staying in good shape is a "responsibility" for members of the security forces.Among its goals, Morales said, the army should aim to nurture athletes capable of representing Bolivia in international competitions.

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Father says sorry for daughter's nut rage

The chairman of Korean Air, Cho Yang-ho has apologised for his adult daughter's mid-air nut rage. Source: AAP

THE chairman of Korean Air Lines has apologised for the behaviour of his adult daughter who delayed a flight in an incident dubbed "nut rage".

CHO Yang-ho made a deep bow before journalists in response to simmering public anger over his daughter's brattish behaviour.

Cho Hyun-ah, who was head of cabin service at Korean Air, was angered when a flight attendant in first class offered her macadamia nuts in a bag, not on a plate.She ordered a senior crew member off the plane, forcing it to return to the gate at John F Kennedy airport in New York City.Cho Yang-ho called his daughter's behaviour foolish and says he regrets he didn't raise her better."It's my fault," he said of the December 5 incident. "As chairman and father, I ask for the public's generous forgiveness."Her actions caused uproar in South Korea and abroad.South Korean media called the 40-year-old a princess and some Koreans said she was an international embarrassment to her country.Korean Air Lines had earlier excused her behaviour even as it apologised for inconveniencing passengers.

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Perth Zoo animals beat the heat

MOUSE, blood and chicken flavoured popsicles were on the menu at Perth Zoo to keep the dingoes cool with the city's first hot day of summer.

FEMALE Mirri and male Daku munched on the ice blocks dished out by their dedicated carers Stephen Catwell and Kristy Eriksen as the temperature reached 35C.

The frozen food helps keep them hydrated, but is also a novelty and gets the dingoes thinking about the best way to eat it."Curiosity is important for any creature," a spokeswoman said."As part of our environmental enrichment program, we constantly provide different opportunities for the animals such as food puzzles, introducing different scents or faeces and branches from other exhibits to arouse their interest."With a burst of warm weather, we just added a summer spin to it."She said creating food ice blocks for pets at home was a good idea during summer heat.Not to be outdone, Perth Zoo's bull Asian Elephant Putra Mas enjoyed a splash in his pool and a wallow in cool mud.He turns 25 on Monday and visitors are encouraged to join in his birthday celebrations at 10am when he will be gifted a frozen bran cake studded with fruity treats.

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120 arrests at Melbourne music festival

SNIFFER dogs have caught 120 people with drugs at the two-day Stereosonic music festival in Melbourne.

POLICE say among those arrested at the Melbourne Showgrounds, two were charged with drug trafficking.

A 22-year-old North Rosebud man was charged with trafficking and possessing ecstasy while a 21-year-old Highett man was charged with trafficking and possessing MDMA.Nine people were cautioned and 102 were given diversions.Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Pilkington says it's concerning that despite warnings people are still doing the wrong thing."At the end of the day, as a user, you really have no idea what you are putting in your body, and you have no idea what it will do to you," he said.

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