IN BRIEF (Page 12)

GERMANY

Poker bandits snatch jackpot

A heavily armed group stormed a poker tournament in a Berlin luxury hotel on Saturday afternoon and made off with a jackpot, police said.

Police said four robbers in disguises forced employees to hand over money, and then managed to escape. Police would not say how much money the men got away with. The jackpot for the tournament stood at 1 million euros ($1.36 million).

UNITED STATES

Bullock seeks best after worst

The day before she was favored to win an Oscar, Sandra Bullock was crowned on Saturday with the dubious title of worst actress of 2009. Bullock, whose drama The Blind Side has made her the odds-on favorite to claim the best-actress Oscar, was given a Razzie Award for worst female performance in All About Steve. No performer has ever won a Razzie and an Oscar the same year.

Reuters - AP

(China Daily 03/08/2010 page12)