yesterday was a ...

Good Day for monkeys, as researchers at the University of California discovered that they may be cleverer than we thought. The science journal Nature reports experiments showing that when devising a route to search for hidden grapes, they can plan three moves ahead in order to minimise the total distance travelled.

Bad Day for Jewish smokers, as Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, founder of the Israeli ultra-Orthodox Shas party, ruled that smoking is a sin and smokers "should have to stand before a religious court and receive 40 lashes".

Disastrous Day for Luigi de Chirico, an Italian prisoner who escaped when allowed to leave prison during the day to work in the town of Terni. But he left behind his wallet, containing identity papers and the number of his mobile phone. A police officer rang him up and offered to return the wallet. The escapee turned up on a stolen moped and was arrested again.

Forgetful Day for a young cellist who left her artificial arm in a New York taxi. The taxi company is optimistic that the 12-year-old's limb will be found and returned.