yesterday was a ...

Good Day for Dolf H. a 45-year-old Munich music publisher who was allowed to change his first name from Adolf. He was fed up with being pestered by neo-Nazis asking him to offer his services. The court recognised the problems faced by any Adolf whose surname began with H.

Bad Day for burglars as Attila Toerek, a Hungarian security operator, revealed his plans to offer poisonous snakes to guard valuables. "The minimum number would be five," he said, "and we can go up to 100, depending on what needs protecting." Anti-venom and a doctor will be on 24-hour call.