News In Brief

SCRAM, YOU LITTLE PEST

When last we visited New Delhi, major government buildings in the Indian capital were overrun with thousands of monkeys that were harassing civil servants, stealing food, and otherwise making a nuisance of themselves. At the time, officials believed there was little they could do because the critters are sacred to Hindus. But now, in the spirit of fighting fire with fire, they're trying to scare away the monkeys with ... bigger monkeys. Specifically, fearsome-looking langurs that attack on sight. According to London's Telegraph newspaper, each is rewarded at the rate of $14.39 a month in, yes, bananas.

BUT THEY DON'T RUN TOO WELL

And, on the subject of employing members of the animal kingdom, Peter Montague has put together a soccer team of sea lions. The players pick up the ball on their noses and try to score against a human goalie by slapping it toward the net with their flippers. Monta-gue, their keeper at England's West Midlands Safari Park, pays them in fish.

Start spreading the news: British sing praises of Sinatra

The late Frank "Ol' Blue Eyes" Sinatra and his songs about love, New York, and doing it "my way" made his the No. 1 singing voice of the 20th century, according to a poll of Britons by the BBC. Elvis Presley finished as first runner-up. Perhaps surprisingly, eight of the top 10 finishers were American, and only one Briton, the late Beetle John Lennon, finished as high as sixth. The BBC picked its list based on listeners' votes and the assessments of other singers and music experts. The 10 greatest voices of the 20th century, according to the BBC:

1. Frank Sinatra

2. Elvis Presley

3. Nat "King" Cole

4. Ella Fitzgerald

5. Bing Crosby

6. John Lennon

7. Aretha Franklin

8. Billie Holiday

9. Barbra Streisand

10. Freddie Mercury

- Associated Press

(c) Copyright 2001. The Christian Science Monitor