A ship modelled after the famous slave-trading vessel La Amistad - on which 53 African slaves revolted in 1839 - entered the harbour of Havana on Thursday. The replica of the schooner arrived in the Cuban capital as part of a tour of ports linked to the history of slaving, organised to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its construction. The mutineers aboard the original Amistad - the subject of a Hollywood film - were eventually recaptured in the United States, where they became a cause celebre for abolitionists. They won their freedom following a landmark Supreme Court case ruling.
'Piranha frenzy'
People fell onto a bag of cash like a pack of hungry piranhas after more than $100,000 tumbled out of the back of an armoured truck onto an Ohio street, local media reported.
The bag split open after it fell off the back of the vehicle and the driver drove away without noticing on Thursday. But a whole bunch of people spotted the cash blowing down the street in Whitehall, a Columbus suburb, and a mad dash for cash ensued.
"People were jumping out of their vehicles," one witness told NBC4 news. "Like when you throw some fish in and you've got a school of piranhas and they haven't eaten for a long time. It was funny." Another witness described a surreal atmosphere with people laughing, smiling and taking as much as they could carry.
Workers at a nearby flower shop helped police gather up the money in boxes. Several people ended up bringing some of the cash into the police station.
But only about $10,500 were recovered by the end of the day, the Columbus Dispatch reported. (AFP)
Spice wars
The Indian military has a new weapon against terrorism - the world's hottest chilli.
After conducting tests, the military has decided to use the thumb-sized bhut jolokia, or "ghost chilli", to make tear gas-like hand grenades.
The bhut jolokia was accepted by Guinness World Records as the world's spiciest chilli, around 200 times hotter than Tabasco sauce. (PA)
Wish fulfilment
A Florida man has been jailed for 15 years for violating his probation by trying to break into a prison.
Sylvester Jiles, released after serving a manslaughter sentence, was convicted of trespassing on jail property and resisting an officer.
Mr Jiles had begged the jail to take him back into custody, saying he feared retaliation from his victim's family. (PA)
'Bionic' dog
A dog has been "rebuilt" by a team of 40 vets, nurses and students after it was hit by a car.
Ruby, a three-year-old lurcher, spent five weeks recovering from the accident which left her with two broken legs, a broken sternum, a broken toe, a dislocated knee, ruptured ligaments and internal bleeding into her lungs.
Medics at the Queen's Veterinary School Hospital in Cambridge have looked after her since the incident on January 26. They repaired her fractures with four metal plates and screws and also used a skin graft to cover a wound. (PA)
Holiday plans
As many as 10 per cent of holidaymakers plan their trips away while sitting on the loo, it has been revealed. And a quarter research holiday destinations at the pub, a survey by travel search company Kayak found.
The poll also found that 43 per cent plan their holidays while in the office and 32 per cent get inspiration for jetting away while in bed. (PA)
Off the menu
Food inspectors in Dubai are checking restaurant dishes for illegal alcohol in a new crackdown.
Alcoholic drinks are widely available in Muslim Dubai and a 2003 law banning them from cooking has been mostly disregarded.
Several Dubai chefs have argued that strict enforcement of the ban would compromise their dishes. They are in talks for less severe regulations. (PA)
Odd title prize
Defying grim predictions that the economic downturn would clobber specialist books, the annual contest for oddest title has had a bumper year, with the 2009 winner being named yesterday as Crocheting Adventures with Hyperbolic Planes.
The book won 42 per cent of the vote run by TheBookseller.com to emerge a comfortable winner. (Reuters)