News of the weird

Verdict of love: In the first case of its kind in North America, a woman is on trial in Vancouver on a charge of perverting the course of justice because she fell in love with the defendant in an earlier trial in which she was on the jury. The prosecution allege that Gillian Guess manipulated the jury deliberations to ensure that accused murderer Peter Gill was acquitted. She admits falling in love with him, but denies any wrongdoing.

Bums out of context: The Brazilian President, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, is facing criticism for referring to people who seek early retirement as "lazy bums". According to a presidential spokesman, the phrase has been taken out of context.

Oriental alteration: The Saitama Medical College near Tokyo has ruled in favour of permitting a 30-year-old woman to undergo a sex change operation. The is the first time official sanction has been granted to such an operation in Japan.