Two Cuban diplomats have been asked to leave the US. The Americans in Cuba “reported incidents which have caused a variety of physical symptoms,” a state department spokesman said.

The first incident occurred late last year and continued, prompting the Americans to depart the island, and the department to act against the Cuban diplomats in the US.

The state department did not have definitive explanations for the incidents, which were first reported by CBS Radio News, but stressed it takes them “very seriously” and is working to determine their “cause and impact.”

They said the department has reminded Cuba of its international obligation to protect foreign diplomats, and said the Cuban government had assured the US that it is investigating and will take appropriate measures.

 Singaporean probed for toothpicks in bus seat

A 60-year-old Singaporean could be jailed for up to two years if found guilty of sticking toothpicks into a bus seat in a suspected case of “mischief”.  Police launched an investigation after a bus company reported last week that one of their vehicles’ passenger seats was perforated with toothpicks. If found guilty of the offence of mischief, the suspect -whose identity was not revealed -could be jailed for up to two years or fined, or both.

Accused burglar doesn’t flush toilet, leaves DNA

A man accused of bulgaring into a Southern California home took a bathroom break and left DNA evidence in the toilet that led to his arrest.  The suspect “did his business and didn’t flush it” during the October break-in in the city of Thousand Oaks, police said. That allowed investigators to collect evidence to conduct a DNA profile. It matched another profile in a national database and the suspect was tracked down at his home in the city of Ventura.

Thai man gets 20 years jail for `anti-monarchy podcasts

A Thai man was sentenced to 20 years in prison  for uploading audio clips that insulted royal family members, his lawyer said, the latest harsh verdict under a defamation law that shields the monarchy from scrutiny.Tara, whose last name was withheld, was detained in January 2015 for posting audio clips produced by `DJ Banpodj’.