London, Dec 19 : A 43-year-old Brit was left fuming after a hypnotist helped him kick the butt - but left him hooked on Scampi Fries.

Darren Corbett, from Keighley, West Yorks is now eating 20 packets of the fishy snacks every day.

Corbett insists that his new habit costs twice the money he used to spend on cigarettes.

"I don''t know which is the lesser of two evils," the Daily Star quoted Corbett as saying.

"I used to chain-smoke and knew I had to quit. Since undergoing the hypnosis I haven''t even thought about having a fag. But I''m eating my way through a factory full of Scampi Fries," he added.

Corbett is now heading back to the hypnotist David Knight to rid him off the addiction.

London, Dec 19 : With Christmas and New Year just round the corner, millions of workers will be struggling through office party hangovers today on what is known as "Fuzzy Friday", according to a survey.

The survey of 5,000 people revealed that six out of 10 UK employees would still be under the effects of last night's festivities.

While one in 10 will phone in sick, one in 20 office-goers will be at their desks mulling any embarrassing antics at the party.

And just one in 15 will spend the day sleeping at home after booking the day off in advance, revealed the poll by Internet market research firm OnePoll. com.

Aiming to make media coverage more sincere and ethical, News Broadcasters Association (NBA), the body representing over a dozen news broadcasters, has issued a new set of telecast norms to be followed during emergency situations like armed conflict, hostage situations, internal disturbance, communal violence and public disorder.

NBA’s new telecast norms prohibit ‘live’ reporting that publicizes any terrorist or militant outfit or glamorizes them in any way whatsoever. The guidelines also articulate that news channels should treat the dead with dignity and their visuals should not be shown.

Melbourne, Dec 19 : Australian pace legend Dennis Lillee has hailed the "coming of age" of his young speed protege Mitchell Johnson who took eight South African wickets in the first innings to provide Australia a vital lead at the WACA.

Bowling from the Lillee-Marsh stand end, which his illustrious mentor made famous, Johnson produced one of the most spectacular fast-bowling spells of modern times.

Even Lillee could barely believe his eyes as Johnson turned from a boy to a man with a barely believable spell of 5-2 off 21 balls, the Courier Mail reported.

Melbourne, Dec 19 : Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman has cancelled her plans of celebrating Christmas in Sydney after her role in `Australia' was panned by critics.

Berlin - Germany's parliament gave its approval Friday to the deployment of the German navy in a European Union anti-piracy operation off Somalia.

Bundestag deputies voted 491-55 in favour of participation in the EU's Operation Atalanta.

Under Operation Atlanta, which was formally launched on December 8, the EU expects to operate a flotilla of six warships and three reconnaissance planes off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.

Germany has offered a naval frigate, the Karlsruhe, and up to 1,400 sailors, airmen and other military personnel.