Don't Panic! Lighten Up!S


Cut

Richard Branson edited out of Bond movie

British Airways reportedly airbrushed arch-rival Richard Branson out of its in-flight version of Casino Royale.

The Virgin Atlantic chief is briefly featured in the 007 film at an airport security scanner, but - in the edited version - can only be seen from the back.

Shots of the tail fin of a Virgin plane have also been obscured, sources said.

A spokesman for BA said only that it "previews films before they are screened on our aircraft and regularly edits films" on the grounds of taste and suitability.

Magnify

Private investigators hired in half of all divorce cases in Britain

Private investigators were hired during half the divorce proceedings in Britain last year as wives or husbands tried to establish whether the spouse was having an affair, a survey of leading law firms revealed today.

It found 49% of divorces in Britain last year came after one partner asked an investigator to check whether the other was committing adultery. This compared with only 18% in 2005.

The survey by Grant Thornton, a financial and business advice group, gathered information from 100 leading matrimonial lawyers. They said more people were citing a partner's extramarital affairs as the primary reason for the breakdown of the marriage, and fewer were complaining of emotional or physical abuse.

Heart

Wild Africa romance awaits endangered China tiger

SHANGHAI - A South China tiger, one of fewer than 100 in existence, took off from a Shanghai airport on Monday for a romantic mission to Africa that might help save the species.

The four-year-old male, known only by his breeding registry number "327", is to be paired with a young female of the same species in a South African reserve.


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Cut

Fisherman Catches Half-Ton Mako Shark

DESTIN, Florida (AP) -- A crew hooked a 1,063-pound (482-kilogram) mako shark in the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday. The shark was half the size of their 23-foot (7-meter) boat. The fishermen harpooned the shark with flying gaffs, a large hook attached to rope used to pull in a fisherman's catch. The gaffs were tied the boat, which was tilting and close to taking on water.

Better Earth

Hawaii Aims to Deter Volcano Offerings

HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, Hawaii - Rangers at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park are launching a program to stop people from leaving religious offerings at the summit of Mount Kilauea _ including food they say attracts rats and cockroaches.

Magic Wand

Woman strips off to beat heatwave with splash in Rome fountain

The hottest day in Rome so far this year brought relief for one and entertainment for many on Sunday as a woman took a skinny-dip in the Trevi fountain.

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Wolf

World Shocked That Wolfowitz Has Girlfriend

Amid the controversy swirling about World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, millions of people today reacted with shock to what is universally considered the most improbable aspect of the story: that Paul Wolfowitz could have a girlfriend.

All over the world, from Wall Street to Main Street, reactions to the news about Mr. Wolfowitz ranged from "Who would date Wolfowitz?" to "Wolfowitz has a girlfriend? You have got to be kidding me."

Star

Danish Crown Princess Mary Has a daughter

COPENHAGEN - Crown Princess Mary had a daughter on Saturday, the first princess born into the Danish royal family since 1946, the palace said.

The new princess weighed in at 7 pounds, 4 ounces and was 20 inches long, the palace said. Mother and baby are doing well.

Gear

Dead alligator found clogging drain in Adams County

An investigation into a plugged drainage tile led to the discovery of a dead 7-foot alligator inside a catch basin in southern Adams County.

Coffee

Bar of soap gives caffeine kick in the shower

Inventors have created a soap infused with caffeine which helps users wake up in the morning.

The soap, called Shower Shock, supplies the caffeine equivalent of two cups of coffee per wash, with the stimulant absorbed naturally through the skin, manufacturers say.

"Tired of waking up and having to wait for your morning (coffee) to brew?" ask the makers, thinkgeek.com.