Melbourne A woman found a metre-long (3ft) tiger snake wrapped around the decorations in her Christmas tree. She called in Barry Goldsmith, a snake-catcher for three decades, who told ABC News in Australia that while he had retrieved reptiles from among presents, he had never found one in a tree. Tiger snakes are highly venomous and can grow as long as 1.6m.
Diver’s body found tied to stake off Thai resort
Bangkok A diver found tied to a post in the middle of the sea with his throat slashed may be Russian, police said. His body, in wetsuit and flippers, was found on Friday dozens of metres out to sea off Koh Larn, an island near the beach resort of Pattaya. Detectives say that they have been unable to ascertain how he died. “The initial autopsy found his throat was slashed . . . but the forensic doctor said it could have happened by suicide or by someone cutting him,” Apichai Krobpetch, a police colonel, said. Pattaya has long had a reputation as as a bolthole for expatriate criminals, including Russian underworld figures. (AFP)
Kenya deports Iranians accused of terrorist plot
Nairobi Two Iranians found with video footage of the Israeli embassy in Kenya have been deported after a deal was reached with Iranian diplomats to drop charges against them, Kenyan officials said. The men had been accused of collecting information to facilitate a terrorist attack. Their lawyer said that they had been deported because there was no evidence against them. (AP)
Top Nigerian officials face corruption inquiry
Lagos President Buhari of Nigeria has ordered an investigation of close allies accused of corruption, who allegedly include the head of the commission that has the job of fighting corruption. Mr Buhari won the election last year on a promise to tackle the problem. Garba Shehu, a presidential spokesman, confirmed the move but declined to name those who were to be investigated. (AP)