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Indonesian chefs have been granted permission to use marijuana to season their cooking.
Vice President Yusuf Kalla has said that while possession of the drug will remain a crime and the country has no plans to legalise it or decriminalise it, cooks will not be arrested for using it to season their curries.
In the Aceh province and other regions in the north of Sumatra island tiny amounts of crushed marijuana leaves or seeds are used as a spice in certain traditional recipes.
Kalla said: "It is all right to use it as a food seasoning, but it should not be fully legalised." However, the government official went on to give his support for the death penalty for drug traffickers, noting that neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore also execute offenders.

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A US library is accepting food and toothpaste as payment for overdue fines.
During its Food for Fines campaign Connecticut’s Wethersfield Library is collecting food and toiletries needed for its charity food bank in exchange for clearing fines.
The library director Laurel Goodgion said: "It’s a win, win for everybody.
People make a tangible donation that helps somebody and at the same time erase their fines." Fines for overdue books stand at five cents a day or $1 a day for DVDs and videos.
The library will accept donations for fines dating back as far as a year ago, but people will still have to pay cash for a lost or damaged book.
Goodgion said: "We need the materials back or the money to replace those lost items and we can’t do that with a can of tuna."

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A US man’s attempt to sue his ex-fiancée for money he spent on her before she dumped him, has failed.
The Utah Court of Appeals rejected Layne D. Hess’ request to recover thousands of dollars spent during on a vasectomy, a cruise to Alaska, a trip to France and other purchases, while he was engaged to Jody Johnston.
Hess accused her of unjust enrichment and breach of contract claiming he only spent the money because they were engaged.
His expenses included $2,400 to help Johnston’s son buy a car.
The court rejected the case ruling an engagement was a test period for couples to see if they want to marry, and they did not want to in discourage or penalise anyone who decided they could not go through with it.
Johnston did, however, give Hess back the engagement ring.

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A British book urges church youth workers to use the cartoon ‘The Simpsons’ to make religion relevant to children.
‘Mixing It Up With The Simpsons’ - a Church of England-backed book - suggests the popular TV show could offer helpful insights into theological issues such as the battle between good and evil.
The cartoon - starring beer-guzzling Homer who tries to strangle naughty son Bart - has previously been hailed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, as "generally on the side of the angels and on the side of sense".
Children could be challenged to resist temptation by being confronted with a plate of doughnuts - Homer’s favourite food - bearing a "do not touch" sign.
It also compares Bart’s impatience to meet his hero, Krusty the Clown, with the Christians’ wait for the second coming of Christ.

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A Dutch woman has lost her compensation claim for mental distress she suffered when she missed out on her neighbour’s lottery win.
Winners are chosen by postal code and Helene de Gier did not purchase a $13.50 ticket.
This meant she did not share in the $22.2 million prize her seven neighbours in the town of Heusden won.
Ms de Grier accused the lottery organisers of "emotional blackmail" and demanded compensation.
But the court ruled the organisers of the prize draw could not be held responsible for those who did not take part and went on to regret it.

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An Italian mayor is shaming men into staying away from prostitutes by publishing their car details in local newspapers.
Cesare De Martin, mayor of San Fior near Venice, plans to give police officers digital cameras to take pictures of cars stopping to interact with prostitutes.
Local newspapers will then publish the number plates.
De Martin said: "I think it’s more important to protect the rights of citizens who have to be at work early but are kept up at night by the sound of cars." The number of prostitutes on Italian streets has dramatically increased in recent years and the Catholic Church has demanded new laws to punish their clients.

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German police were forced to separate a bride and her mother after they clashed over wedding dresses and rings.
Susanne Reiter, 21, and her mother Petra, 43, were screaming so loudly at each other that worried neighbours alerted the Leipzig police.
When the police arrived, they found the pair smashing furniture and throwing vases around the house.
Petra told police the fight began when she told her daughter she didn’t like her choice of wedding dress or rings.
Both women were given a warning for breaching the peace.

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A UK landlord tried to escape the smoking ban by turning his bar into an embassy for a remote Caribbean island.
Bob Beech hoped the Wellington Arms in Southampton would be the only pub to allow smoking after this weekend - because it is the UK base for uninhabited Redonda.
The embassy would be classed as "foreign soil" - meaning the smoking ban would not apply - and he could also sell VAT-free cheap drinks.
Bob said: "I have a legal team looking into the legalities at the moment but I am confident." The Department of Health admitted: "The smoke-free law will not be enforceable against premises that have diplomatic status." Unfortunately Beech’s application failed as Redonda was deemed too small to merit an embassy.

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UK council chiefs are planning to use sheep to keep their lawns tidy.
Norfolk County Council is set to ditch lawnmowers in favour of the farm yard animals, which would be looked after by a shepherd.
A council spokesperson said: "We are at a very early stage of investigating the possibility of having sheep grazing on the County Hall grounds. Nothing has been decided at this stage.
"If deemed viable, it would be an environmentally-friendly option, which would allow us to reduce our carbon footprint by cutting down on the amount of mowing required." The National Farmers’ Union have backed the decision, saying: "These sorts of techniques are used in wildlife and nature reserves - so why not other areas? It’s certainly good for the environment."

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A new Australian campaign is attempting to reduce road deaths by questioning the manhood of speeding drivers.
The TV adverts feature women shaking their little finger - a gesture to symbolise a small penis - as male motorists race past.
The ‘Speeding - no-one thinks big of you’ campaign will run on TV, in cinemas, at bus shelters and online in an attempt to make speeding socially unacceptable among young drivers.
The Roads and Traffic Authority spokesman John Whelan insisted: "We will do what we feel we have to, to get the message through."

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German politicians are furious school children are being taught how to pick up a gay partner.
Berlin’s Regional Institute for School and Media LISUM has sparked outrage by introducing the role playing games for students from 14 upwards in an attempt to reduce prejudice against homosexuals.
Education spokesman for the liberal FDP party Mieke Senftleben fumed: "Education about homosexuality, discrimination and intolerance is necessary.
"But I think having such topics on how to pick up gay men in role playing games for youths is completely wrong. We are talking about 14-year-old pupils."

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Scottish kilt wearers could face prosecution if they don’t have a licence for their sporran.
Sporran - the Gaelic word for purse - is a pouch worn on a chain or belt which lies in front of a kilt.
The pouch is usually made from otter or badger fur and those animals are now considered endangered.
Kilt wearers will be required to prove the animals were killed lawfully before they are given a licence for their sporran.
Anyone found without a licence could face up to six months in prison and a £5,000 fine.
Hamish Husband, spokesman for the Association of Tartan Army Clubs, said the legislation could affect fans following their national football team.
He said: "Are the police going to take DNA samples from the sporran of every kilted supporter who walks into a match?"

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The girl group, who announced yesterday (28.06.07) they are reforming for a world tour, cannot join the line-up for the tribute show marking the 10th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death because Emma Bunton is heavily pregnant.
When asked if they would be performing, Geri Halliwell said: “We’ve got a heavily pregnant lady here”.
Mel C added: “We would have loved to be there this weekend. It’s just unfortunate timing.” Emma is due to give birth to her first child in just under a month.
It was reported last week that Prince William, 25, and his brother Prince Harry, 22, had asked the band to perform at the event, on what would have been their mother’s 46th birthday.
The line-up features a host of top music stars, including Take That, Lily Allen, Joss Stone, Kanye West, Sir Elton John, Rod Stewart and Status Quo.
Earlier this week, Joss revealed William had helped her choose which songs she will perform on the day.

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The London palace, which has been the home of the British monarchy since 1837, is falling apart after decades of neglect.
There is serious damage to walls in the palace quadrangle, with around twenty chunks of stone having fallen off since February, some of which have only narrowly missed visitors.
The annual report on royal public finances warns the damage to the walls has become “a major health and safety risk” and needs £3 million spent on it over the next five years.
It is just one repair project which has been put on hold because of the government’s refusal to increase the £15 million-a-year grant it has given the palace for property maintenance since 1991.
Other work which needs to be carried out include repairs to the roofs of both Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.
Sir Alan Reid, Keeper of the Privy Purse, said: “Since the grant was fixed by the government in 1991 it has effectively been reduced by 69 per cent in real terms. Now there is a critical backlog in maintenance projects and if our historic buildings are to remain safe it is essential the grant is increased by £1 million per year.” However, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport has indicated that there is little chance of the extra cash being made available, especially because of the increased budget required to host the 2012 London Olympics.

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The singer is due to meet the prince when she performs at the Concert for Diana on Sunday (01.07.07) and confessed she has a huge crush on him.
Natasha – who recently had a hit with single ‘I Want To Have Your Babies’ - told Britain’s The Sun newspaper: “I think William is gorgeous – I’ve fancied him for ages.
“I’m quite nervous. The only problem is he is single now and I’ve started seeing someone. I should have made my move ages ago.” The 25-year-old star, the sister of singer Daniel Bedingfield, also insisted she will not be making any diva-like demands backstage at the charity concert.
She said: “I’m not like those divas who ask for only blue Smarties.
“But I do think my tour manager is having it too easy. I’m going to get a pet to keep him busy. A monkey would keep him occupied.” William and brother Prince Harry will host Sunday’s concert, which is being held to commemorate the 10th anniversary of their mother Princess Diana’s death on what would have been her 46th birthday.
Other performers include Take That, Tom Jones, Brian Ferry and Sir Elton John.
She was killed in a Paris car crash on August 31 1997.

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The ‘Candle in the Wind’ singer gave his annual charity ball a Las Vegas theme this year with dozen’s of Elvis look-alikes entertaining the celebrity guests at his Windsor mansion.
Sarah Ferguson wore a lavish Chopard choker to match her sparkling white evening gown, while the 18-year-old princess wore a black boho-style evening dress.
Arriving guests walked down a hot pink carpet to the garden which was decorated with original stage inflatables from Elton’s Red Piano Las Vegas show and ice sculptures in the design of hotels from the Las Vegas strip.
These were draped in Chopard High Jewellery, which sponsors the event.
Stars – including supermodel Elle Macpherson, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and actors Sir Michael Caine and Dame Judi Dench – dined on Surf’n’Turf and Knickerbocker Glory ice-creams in a go-go girl filled Chapel of Love.
Elton serenaded the crowd with a selection of his greatest hits, while Welsh singers Dame Shirley Bassey and Sir Tom Jones also performed.
It was the ninth annual White Tie and Tiara ball which raises money for the Elton John AIDS foundation.
Tickets cost £3,000 each and a charity auction was held on the night.
Last year, tickets cost £1,000 and the event raised £4.6 million for the charity.

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The ‘Shrek the Third’ star, who exchanged vows with Melanie in 1996, has laughed off rumours his marriage is in trouble.
Antonio told Closer magazine: ‘When we met each other we just fell in love and went for it. We both came from failing relationships and I think we both learnt from that.
‘I know that people didn’t give a penny for our relationship at the start and newspapers bet that we wouldn’t last three months. I should have taken those bets. ‘We’ve kept going and I have absolutely no intention of breaking off our relationship. I feel absolutely comfortable with my wife.
‘These days I am happy to stay at home. We love each other. It’s as simple as that.’

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The band announced they were reuniting yesterday (28.06.07), six years after they finally split, for a world tour in December. They are also releasing a greatest hits album.
Geri Halliwell, 34, insists the reunion is going to be like a ‘one night stand’, and says the girl group want to ‘celebrate the past’ and are not getting back together for good.
Geri, who left the band in 1998, told BANG Showbiz: ‘It’s a bit like a one night stand - it’s not forever. ‘We want to celebrate the past, enjoy being together and say thank you to our fans.’ She added: ‘It feels like ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ and I’ve got the golden ticket! It’s so exciting. It was like I got divorced and now I have fallen in love with my ex-husband again.’ Victoria, who has three sons with soccer ace David Beckham, insisted: ‘There is a big difference between celebrating the past and getting back together. We are here to do a tour and that’s all.
‘Our priority is our families. We are doing this for our kids so they can see what we do. We are going to have a huge crèche for all the children. I am so excited about this tour - I might get to be the cool one in the family for once!’ The girl band also said they can’t wait to don their famous old outfits again.
Mel B revealed: ‘I will be wearing leopard skin and Geri will have her Union Jack dress on.’ Mel C added: ‘I want to wear my tracksuit again. I will be going down the market looking for a shell suit. Hats off to our characters.’ Victoria insists the band have still retained their old images and their style hasn’t changed since they split in 2001.
She said: ‘We didn’t know what we would all be wearing, but we look the same as we used to. We still have the same images and they haven’t really changed.’ Emma Bunton added: ‘It’s just a grown-up version.’ The Spice Girls are set to kick off their 11-date world tour in Los Angeles, followed by shows in Las Vegas, New York City, Buenos Aires, London, Cologne, Madrid, Beijing and Sydney.

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