The battle of Black Friday: Mayhem as millions of shoppers punch, kick and even pull guns on each other in race to the best bargains

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Millions are battling for bargains across America today as the biggest shopping day of the year commenced despite bad weather, giant crowds and fights in the supermarket aisles. Bust ups were reported at stores across the country, including between impatient shoppers at Target in Bowling Green, Kentucky (center) and at a San Antonio mall, where one shopper pulled out a gun on a man who cut the line. Paramedics also rushed to help a Dick's store cashier in Alaska after she passed out amid the chaos (left).

Man arrested after leaving his girlfriend's two-year-old son in car at 1.30am to buy a new TV in Black Friday sales

A 34-year-old man faces child endangerment charges after he lost his girlfriend¿s son while shopping at K-Mart at Springfield Plaza

Anthony Perry, 34, of Springfield, Massachusetts faces charges of reckless child endangerment after he left his girlfriend’s son to go shopping for a 51 inch television in the early hours of Black Friday.

The Walmart cut-price cell phone deal that has sparked the worst in-store scuffles . . . and here's the videos to prove it

Pushing and shoving on Black Friday 2012. Just after Thanksgiving.

At a WalMart store in Moultrie, Georgie, video footage shows crowds pushing, grabbing and shoving each other out of the way to get their hands on the bargain items.

Lying to rival shoppers, hiding must-haves the day before, and even using sign language: Meet the extreme Black Friday bargain hunters

Planned and prepared: Black Friday¿s extreme shoppers are coming up with such conniving ways to thwart the competition that some people decided to forgo their Thanksgiving feast altogether

With retailers now opening earlier than ever, day-long lines, and watchful policemen, shoppers are coming up with conniving ways to thwart the competition.

Florida's 'Sleeping Snow White' dies after 42 YEARS in a coma - the longest ever recorded . . . and her mother never left her side

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Edwarda O'Bara was a high school student in 1970 when she fell ill, threw up her medicine and slipped into a diabetic coma. She died on Wednesday after spending four decades in a coma. Her family stayed by her side, caring for the ailing woman and keeping her company for the past 42 years before she passed away on Wednesday at the age of 59.

Horror as clown dies in front of spectators and wife while blowing up balloons for children at Macy's Parade

Tragedy: Robert Blasetti, 67, was blowing up balloons as a clown on the Macy's Parade route when he abruptly collapsed beside his wife, seen in similar costume

Keeling over in full costume, 67-year-old Robert Blasetti was rushed by his wife, Irene, as she desperately administered CPR while dressed in a similar clown costume.

Is flossing your teeth a waste of time?: Dentists nag us about it. Scientists insist it prevents heart disease. But now an expert says they've all got it wrong...

Good habit: But a leading dental expert says flossing is next to useless if done incorrectly

According to a provocative new book, Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye, it seems that dedicated followers of flossing could actually be wasting their time.

EXCLUSIVE: 'My son is NOT a monster': Mother of 'cannibal cop' defends her son as he is accused of plotting to kidnap, rape and cook at least 100 women... and craved 'girl meat' for Thanksgiving

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The mother of ‘Cannibal Cop’ Gilberto Valle has broken her silence to defend her son. Speaking from her home in New York Mrs Elizabeth Valle, 57, was adamant that her son is innocent and that he will be exonerated.

Police question sex offenders over murder of six-year-old girl found yards from her home - a year after father was jailed for chaining her to a dresser

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Arkansas police are questioning registered sex offenders in their investigation into the death of a six-year-old Jersey Bridgeman whose body was found in an abandoned house just 200 feet from her home.

Blind, mute and three-legged dog rewards family who cared for him by saving mother and baby from house fire

Hero: True the dachshund saved Katie and Jace Crosley from a blaze which devastated their Oklahoma cabin

The seven-month-old disabled dachshund rewarded the Crosley family for their care when he detected a fire at their home in Grady County, Oklahoma, and barked and scratched at the door.

The salacious 'other' life of TV's most beloved witch: Tell-all book reveals how Bewitched star Elizabeth Montgomery cast a spell over America's most famous 'bad boys'

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Wriggling her witch's nose, Elizabeth Montgomery was TV's sweetheart. But a new book reveals her far more salacious 'other' life. One of the sexiest and most desirable women in Hollywood, she cast a spell on such stars as Elvis Presley, Dean Martin and Gary Cooper and became close friends with John F Kennedy.

Just dropping in: Couple's surprise as toddler appears in their home on Thanksgiving... after sliding 20ft down laundry chute from apartment above

Bumps and bruises: Two-year-old Cayden Leger fell 20ft down a laundry chute at his New Hampshire home

Cayden Leger climbed into the chute on the second floor of his home in Manchester, New Hampshire at 7.15 am on Thursday.

The Key Largo Two: Turkeys escape the Thanksgiving table with bolt for freedom two days before the big day

The great escape: The two turkeys were spotted by motorists hightailing it up a road in Key Largo, Florida

The birds were spotted running for their lives up the highway in Key Largo, Florida several days before the holiday.

Obama campaign admits Jon Huntsman was the Republican candidate they feared the most in 2012 election

Formidable foe: Obama campaign officials were concerned that Huntsman's center-right politics, along with his experience in the private sector and in foreign diplomacy would make him an attractive alternative to Obama for disaffected Democrats

President Obama's campaign feared no potential Republican challenger more than Jon Huntsman, the former Utah governor who dropped out of the race in late January, according to a top campaign official.

Children born in summer are '13 months behind classmates' in maths

The report showed that found that many summer born children were around 13 months behind the average for their year group in maths

The report, produced by the Every Child a Chance Trust, studied 47,237 six and seven-year-olds who were among the weakest in their class in terms of numeracy.

Best friends discover they are brothers separated when they were younger because of their mother's ill health

Lucas de Lima Alves (left) and Thiago Lima dos Santos (right) met at school and became fast friends, unaware that they shared the same mother

Thiago Lima dos Santos (right) and Lucas de Lim Alves (left) became friends at the Joao Pinto Bandeira college, Sao Mateus, Brazil unaware that their bond was more than just friendship.

The children risking their lives on the way to school: Pupils use aqueduct just inches wide to avoid three-mile walk

 A school child crosses the aqueduct that separates Suro Village and Plempungan Village in Java, Indonesia

They use an aqueduct, suspended hundreds of metres above the ground as a shortcut, even though it was not built for people to walk on. It is meant to transport water, but the wooden structure links Suro Village and Plempungan Village in Java. Children cycle along a wooden planks in the middle in their school uniform while local adults use it to transport food and material between the two villages.

I pooped, I am disgusting! Badly behaved dogs named, shamed and made to wear a sign saying just what they did wrong

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Chewing a chair leg, digging up a flowerbed and pooping on the carpet are just a few of the crimes which can incense dog owners. But now their owners are getting their own back on their naughty pets by posting their pictures in a 'dogshaming' gallery on the internet. The website has been flooded with pictures of cheeky dogs all accompanied by signs detailing their bad behaviour.

Don't bother going shopping on Black Friday! Many products are NOT cheaper despite heavily advertised deals

Holiday rush: But Black Friday deals may not represent the best available value on some products

Researchers found that around a third of products advertised as being on sale for the holiday have been available at lower prices earlier this year.

Thanksgiving shoppers shun Black Friday for Cyber Monday (but do they know they'll be paying sales tax?)

Shake up: For the first time, customers in some states will have to pay sales tax on Amazon purchases

For the first time, residents in California, Texas and Pennsylvania will be automatically charged state sales tax at the checkout on Amazon and other online stores.

Are you a Trend-Hunter, a Lone Raider or a Family Pack? Three main types of shoppers hitting the Black Friday sales

Bargain brigade: The most prominent type of Black Friday shopper is the teen or young woman, who will hit trend-led fashion chains as a social experience with a gang of her friends

Groups of teens, 'hardcore' solo women and families on a tight budget are the main Black Friday shoppers, according to a new study conducted by Marvin Traub Associates for WWD.

What should kids REALLY be taught about Thanksgiving? Shocking answers from young Americans who say they must learn about GENOCIDE of Native Americans

Unpatriotic: This interviewee said he doesn't care about the holiday that has been celebrated in the U.S. since 1621

A series of man-on-the-street interviews conducted by the conservative group Revealing Politics havefound that left-leaning 20-somethings believe that schools are not teaching students the ugly truth.

Boy soldiers: The bravery of young Civil War soldiers before they were sent to face the horror of battle captured in poignant photos

Staggered by the youth of the brutal armies which fought for the future of the United States of America, two brothers set about collecting one of the most comprehensive collections of Civil War photography in existence.

Staggered by the youth of the brutal armies which fought for the future of the United States of America, two brothers set about collecting one of the most comprehensive collections of Civil War photography in existence.

Thanksgiving tragedy as five people die, including seven-year-old child, in fire at apartment block

Horror: Five people died including a seven-year-old as this apartment block in Missouri in the early hours of Thanksgiving

The blaze was reported at 3.20am on Thursday in Wheaton, Missouri. Two adults and the child were found in one apartment and the two other adults were found in a nearby home in the building.

Family distraught after thieves kill their pet turkey for Thanksgiving meal

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Christa and Brian Caponi are in mourning after their beloved 30lbs turkey Tom was shot with a bow and arrow at their six acre estate in Santa Rosa, Florida.

Pictured: The family torn apart in Thanksgiving Day horror after grandparents are killed in massive 140 car Texas pile-up as they drove to meal

A couple was killed and at least 80 people were injured Thursday in a massive car pileup involving more than 140 vehicles

A couple was killed and at least 80 people were injured Thursday in a massive car pileup involving more than 140 vehicles, which left trucks and family SUVs twisted atop one another and authorities rushing to pull survivors from two miles of wreckage along a busy Texas highway. Police said the fog was so thick that deputies didn't immediately realize they were dealing with multiple accidents.

High school student suspended for refusing to wear chipped ID tag fitted with a GPS tracker because it is the 'Mark of the Beast'

Andrea Hernandez has been fighting with officials at Northside Independent School District in San Antonio since they began issuing the RFID-chip-laden student-body cards

Andrea Hernandez, from Texas, has been fighting with officials at Northside Independent School District in San Antonio since they began issuing the RFID-chip-laden student-body cards when the Fall semester began.

Veteran police officer resigns after telling co-workers he 'wouldn't mind being the guy who assassinates Obama'

Incendiary: Jacksonville detective Sam Koivista chose to retire five months early rather than face an internal investigation over comments he made indicating that he would volunteer to kill the president

Jacksonville detective Sam Koivisto said that his remarks borne out of frustration with President Obama's re-election have been blown out of proportions, and that he had planned to retire in five months anyway.

Under the dome: The world's largest indoor beach ... right in the middle of the German countryside

It's sunny indoors: The tropical island paradise in in Brandenburg, Germany is inside a building so big it could easily fit eight football pitches

The Tropical Island Resort in Krausnick, south of Berlin also boasts the largest indoor pool, 50,000-plant forest and enough space to fly a hot air balloon inside. The former aircraft hangar has been transformed into a paradise offering tourists a tropical escape in the middle of the German countryside.

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A Day in the Life: Tragic true story behind one of the Beatles' most famous hits revealed in new book

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At the height of the Swinging Sixties, Tara Browne, 21 year old heir to the Guinness fortune, left, was killed instantly when he slammed his Lotus sports car into the side of a parked van at 120mph on a Chelsea street, right. Swinging London was stunned. With his angelic blond looks, Tara was a leading figure on the hedonistic scene, close to many of the most iconic personalities of the age.

The Pinocchio effect: How lying makes the temperature of our noses soar

Researchers at the University of Granada have found that the temperature of the nose rises as a person becomes anxious

Scientists from the University of Granada used thermal imaging to show that a rise in anxiety levels sees the tip of the nose heat up.

Obama's much-mocked celebrity fashion collection raked in $40 million for his campaign

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The Obama campaign's upmarket fashion collection was mocked by Republicans and the Mitt Romney campaign but enabled his campaign to bring in $40 million.

Shocking video of student attacking substitute teacher - who then tries to punch him back

The brawl starts out with the student and teacher standing nose-to-nose in the classroom as others look on

The 17-second cellphone footage shows the unidentified Palm Beach Lakes High School student standing nose-to-nose with the teacher before shoving him and punching him.

Minority Report becomes reality: New software that predicts when laws are about to be broken

Ever vigilant: CCTV that predicts what you are about to do

The technology has echoes of the Hollywood film Minority Report, where people are punished for crimes they are predicted to commit, rather than after committing a crime.

A White House Christmas: Michelle Obama welcomes tree with help from Sasha and Malia (and Bo too!)

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NEW First Lady Michelle Obama has kicked off the holiday season by welcoming the White House Christmas Tree to her home - a 19-foot Fraser fir from Peak Farms in Jefferson, North Carolina. Her daughters, Malia and Sasha, and the first dog Bo were also in attendance for the presentation of the giant tree, which arrived on a horse-drawn carriage on Friday morning.

Walmart worker charged with raping and murdering missing 18-year-old homecoming queen

Killed: A 21-year-old Walmart attendant has been charged with raping and murdering homecoming queen Brenna Morgart, pictured

Dustin Leftwich, of Topeka, Kansas, could face the death penalty if convicted of capital murder in the slaying of 18-year-old Brenna Morgart.

It was so scary, she came up limp: Diver killed as freak wave capsizes tourist boat on holiday cruise

Thanksgiving tragedy: Waves break behind a dive boat that capsized off Hillsboro Inlet near Pompano, Beach, Florida, killing a 54-year-old female passenger

Nina Poppelsdorf, 54, a diving expert from New Mexico, was pronounced dead after being pulled from the water along with 22 other people off the coast of Florida.

It's true: Chocolate DOES taste better when you're on a diet

Researchers have found there could be a scientific reason why we all have a 'guilty pleasure'

American experts have found there could be a scientific reason why a sneaky treat always tastes just that bit better.

Perfect woman? She doesn't exist: Survey of 2,000 men find not a single one thinks his partner is flawless

Researchers found there wasn¿t a single man who rated his partner as perfect. And of the 2,000 chaps quizzed, four out of five said they liked it that way.

Researchers found there wasn’t a single man who rated his partner as perfect. And of the 2,000 chaps quizzed, four out of five said they liked it that way.

Hating your job is as bad for your health as being unemployed, study warns

Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada

Factors such as a demanding job, nasty boss and poor job security are as bad for your mental health as being out of work, say scientists from Australian National University.

How to teenage-proof the car: New key system will allow parents restrict the speed their youngsters drive

The end of the boy racer? Ford's MyKey fob

Ford's MyKey system interfaces with the computer systems on board its latest cars to place restrictions on drivers using the special keys.

Stop tickling me, mum! The endearing images which show the maternal side of lions at play

Whose ticklish then? The fluffy three-month-old lion cub plays with his mother, gently patting her mother's cheeks with a human-like gesture

It looks such a human gesture - a mother leaning over her child to tickle its belly. But this is not a domestic scene played out in lounges across the world, but lion cubs with their mother in the national reserves of Kenya. In this instance, the lioness was attempting to go off hunting - but the cubs wanted her attention, and pestered her until she relented and agreed to play with them instead.

Children of war: How boys as young as six brandished guns in ceasefire celebrations as fragile truce is shaken by shooting of Palestinian

A child brandishes a gun as Gaza residents celebrate the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas

A Gaza health official reported the first violence since the truce between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers took hold a day before.

Saudi Arabia accused of tracking women electronically as a new system sends men a text if their wife tries to leave country

Campaigners have a criticised a news system that sends their male 'guardian' a text message when they leave or enter the country

The new system now sends a text message to the men informing them that the woman is leaving or entering the country, even if the pair are together.

'Let your wife be the boss': Secrets to a lasting marriage revealed as couple celebrate their 80th wedding anniversary

Married bliss: To the later generations of children and grandchildren, the Betars serve as role models for how to live and love in life

Ann and John Betar, from Fairfield, Connecticut, aged 97 and 101 respectively, tied the knot on November 15, 1932, bringing five children, 14 grandchildren and 16 great children into the world.

Now crisis-hit Greece suffers malaria outbreak: Fears budget cuts will harm treatment

Danger: Malaria is contracted through mosquito bites and is common in Africa and Asia although scientists warn that it may return to Greece unless authorities take action

Several cases of malaria have been discovered in the southern regions of Lakonia and East Attica, putting pressure on the already fragile Greek healthcare system.

Gimme a W for wipeout: Hilarious video of cheerleader's wobble at Macy's Parade in front of millions of shocked viewers

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Apparently never thinking to even pan out from the wobbling girl as her teammates visibly struggled to hoist her in the air, NBC captured every second of her plunge until she was swiped clean out of the picture. The 13-second clip was uploaded to YouTube almost immediately after by one entertained viewer to the mutual delight of those who hoped to play it back for friends and family who missed it.

Regrets, we have a few: And we spend two hours a week dwelling on them

Seeing the world: The most frequent regret cited by British people is not having traveled more

A new study has revealed Britain's top 20 biggest regrets and the things we would most like to do in our lifetime.

Inmates treated for carbon monoxide poisoning after prison fills with deadly gas

9 prisoners at York County Prison, Pennsylvania, were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning after a suspected leak from the heating and air-conditioning system

Nearly 50 female inmates at a York County Prison, left, have been treated for carbon monoxide poisoning after the deadly gas is thought to have leaked from the prison's heating system.

Hundreds dig in to deep-fried turkey testicles at bizarre Thanksgiving festival that imports 1,200 POUNDS annually

Poppers: A bowl of deep-fried turkey testicles, cooked to a golden brown, are seen at the 30th annual Turkey Testicle Festival in Huntley, Illinois

Firing up roughly 1,200 pounds of the turkey parts, crowds dined on the so-called 'hot nuts' outside the Parkside Pub in Huntley, Illinois on Wednesday for their 30th annual Turkey Testicle Festival.

Pictured: Gangs of aggressive wild turkeys terrorize a Boston suburb by chasing people and attacking their cars

Imposing: The turkeys can grow to 20 pounds and 4 feet tall

Groups of aggressive wild turkeys are attacking the residents of Brookline, Massachusetts, and people have had enough.

Destroyed Jersey Shore roller coaster could stay as ruin in the sea to create a 'tourist attraction', says Mayor

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The remains of a roller coaster that was knocked off a New Jersey amusement pier by Superstorm Sandy and partially submerged in the Atlantic Ocean might be
left there as a tourist attraction.

I saw 'John Doe Duffle Bags': Flower shop seller came face-to-face with serial killer charged with three murders

Is this 'John Doe Duffel Bags'? Salvatore Perrone, a businessman from Staten Island, has been named in connection with the Brooklyn murders

Luis Reyes, 42, was working the register at New Events Flower Shop in Brooklyn, New York, when Salvatore Perrone, 63, of Staten Island, walked in.

Amateur actor 'shot dead and beheaded war vet before getting actress fiancee to help scatter limbs in park - then he gunned down victim's female friend'

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A pair of California lovers and community theater costars, Rachel Buffett (back) and her fiancee, Daniel Wozniak (front), have been named the prime suspects in the 2010 gruesome killings of 23-year-old college student, Juri 'Julie' Kibuishi (inset right) and an Afghanistan war veteran, 26-year-old Samuel Eliezer Herr (inset left). Police arrested Wozniak on May 26, 2010 at his bachelor party, two days before he was set to wed Buffett, and more than two years after the fact, Buffett has been arrested and charged as an accessory to the murders.

Hector 'Macho' Camacho's family divided over ending life support for champion boxer as they gather for bedside vigil

Dr Ernesto Torres said doctors have finished performing all medical tests on Camacho, who was shot in the face on Tuesday night in his native Bayamon, Puerto Rico

Doctors in San Juan have said Camacho is clinically brain dead from a shooting earlier this week in his hometown of Bayamon. But relatives and friends are still wrestling with whether to remove him from life support.

Outrage over killing of three-legged bear which became frequent visitor to streets of expensive housing community

Killed: This three-legged bear was killed by management at the Mountain Air development in North Carolina

After the bear started breaking into homes in Mountain Air, North Carolina looking for food, once stealing two pies from a kitchen counter, some people had enough.

New York judge to Argentina: Pay up $1.3BILLION in long-overdue foreign debt or risk bankruptcy

Wiggle room: Argentine President Cristina Fernandez has tried to find a loophole to avoid paying to what she calls 'vulture funds,' which she has blamed for much of her country's troubles

U.S. District Judge Thomas Griesa ordered Argentina to pay immediately $1.3billion to investment funds left unpaid since the country's world-record default in 2001, thus backing President Cristina Fernandez into a corner.

'Apple's iPad mini infringes eight patents': Samsung launches latest volley in the clash of the technology titans

Samsung has filed papers at a US court claiming that Apple's latest iPad mini, released this month, infringes eight technology patents

The Korean company has asked a judge to add the 7.9-inch Apple tablet to a list of product which 'violate patents on radio signalling technologies.'

'I sneak boys in at 3am and disrespect my parents': Girl, 15, forced to stand by side of the road with humiliating sign

Punishment: 15-year-old Jasmine, centre, has been forced to pose with a humiliating sign by her parents

15-year-old Jasmine has had a number of behavioural issues, and the last straw for her parents came when she let a boy into her house in the middle of the night. So they made her stand out near their home in Palm Coast, Florida, advertising her misdeeds for passers-by to see. The sign held by Jasmine, whose surname has not been released, read: 'I sneak boys in at 3am and disrespect my parents and grandparents.'

'Cockroaches, mold, and bacteria-covered cookware:' Chef sues famous Hollywood dining spot claiming he was fired for complaining about lack of cleanliness

Suing: Humphrey Lansiquot, the former executive chef at The Palm restaurant in West Hollywood, is suing the legendary celebrity hot-spot for firing him over what he claims were his repeated complaints against the eatery's cleanliness

The former executive chef at The Palm restaurant in West Hollywood is suing the legendary celebrity hot-spot for firing him over what he claims were his repeated complaints against the eatery's cleanliness.

Convicted rapist Mike Tyson launches charity to give children from broken homes 'a fighting chance'

Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tysson who was reviled as the 'baddest man on the planet' has launched a children's charity.

The 46-year-old former world heavyweight champion announced the creation of the Mike Tyson Cares Foundation yesterday.

Assistant U.S. Attorney exposed as online troll behind abusive comments about local officials and businessman

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Jan Mann (pictured), who was First Assistant U.S. Attorney in New Orleans, doled out personal abuse and even offered opinions on cases she was working on, all under a 'sock puppet' pseudonym.

Eccentric Texas millionaire behind iconic Cadillac in ground installation is accused of abusing teenage boys

Lawsuit: The eccentric Texas millionaire, Stanley Marsh 3, pictured left, has been accused of sexually abusing eight teenage boys and wife Wendy, right, allegedly knew about it

Stanley Marsh 3, who is famous for burying 10 vintage Cadillacs nose-down in an Amarillo field in the name of art, is facing a raft of lawsuits alleging he supplied the boys with cash, cars and alcohol in return for sexual favours.

All aboard the Vegas party X-Train! $99-a-trip 'nightclub on wheels' preparing to roll out from LA with full bars and luxury lounges

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Las Vegas Railway Express is one step closer to bringing to life the X Train, a luxurious 'party train' complete with big screen TVs, recliners and two ultra lounges after striking an agreement with Union Pacific Railroad. Tickets for the adults-only train would cost $99 each way and include a meal and beverage, with plenty more alcohol available for purchase.

Peace in our time? Scientist makes bold prediction that war is on the wane and will halve over next 40 years

World at war: Soldiers who support Guinea-Bissau's breakaway military leaders known as The Junta fire at a position held by Senegalese soldiers

Futurologists from the University of Oslo in Norway have predicted current conflicts in Libya, Tajikistan, Syria, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Mauritania and Iraq will probably be over.

Mini marathons: Tireless toddlers cover more than two and a half miles a day (but that includes 102 falls)

Tireless toddlers: The average toddler walks more than 2.5miles a day

The distance - which would put many adults to shame - is made of 14,208 steps. Perhaps less surprisingly, it also includes 102 falls.

Giving criminals with ADHD medication could stop them from re-offending, say experts

Treating ADHD in convicted criminals could have a major impact on reoffending

Criminal behaviour in people diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) falls by about a third when they are on medication, the Swedish research shows.

Better late than never? Postcard mailed in WWII finally arrives at upstate New York address... but intended recipients died more than 50 YEARS ago

Postcard: The postcard, like that pictured, was addressed to Theresa and Pauline Leisenring from the Medical Center Barracks at Camp Grant in Rockford, Illinois

The fascinating card was sent to sisters Pauline and Theresa Leisenring on July 4, 1943, from their parents who were visiting their brother George at an Army post in Rockford, Illinois.

Oh, the shame: Chinese Communist party official sacked after video of him having sex with his mistress is leaked online

Revealed: Screenshots from the video showed Mr Zhengfu, the party boss of Chongqing's Beibei District, having sex with his mistress

Lei Zhengfu (pictured) a district party chief in the southwestern city of Chongqing, was fired after an investigation by the Communist Party. The case highlights the influence of China's fast-growing blogging community, and the ruling Communist Party's increasing sensitivity and responsiveness to public anger against perceived abuse of power, official impunity and corruption.

Thousands of high school students stage massive musical and dance show to support cancer-stricken classmate

In May I traveled to Texas to

Thousands of Texas students banded together to film a Lip Dub that is exploding on YouTube, in an effort to raise money for their classmate with cancer, 14-year-old Taylor Helland (center). The teen from Arlington, Texas is undergoing chemotherapy for a severe form of colon cancer but she is still participating in the band at Martin High School and involved with school activities and her church youth group.

Chinese 'Hobbit Boy' with giant feet undergoes pioneering four-hour surgery

Doctors prepare Xiao for surgery by marking points on his feet where they will cut away the growths

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT Teenager Xiao Meng, left, was born with congenital neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition which causes the feet to swell abnormally, meaning he cannot wear shoes.

Not so Lonesome (George) after all: Scientists believe they can resurrect extinct species of famous tortoise by cross-breeding

Lonesome George, who became symbolic of the Galapagos Islands died earlier this year

After dying at the earlier this year, researchers believe they may be able to resurrect the Pinta Island subspecies of Lonesome George, left.

Too good to be true: Men admit lying about their earning power, hobbies and divorce in order to impress on first date

What I lie to you? The answer is yes according to recent research on how honest men are on a first date

New research has revealed that 74 per cent of men bend the truth on a first date in order to make a good first impression.

Vintage vending machine that dishes out... BOOKS

The popular 'Biblio-Mat' book vending machine dispenses a random book, that is at least 25-years-old, in exchange for a $2 coin

The 'Biblio-Mat' at quirky bookstore Monkey's Paw in Toronto, Canada, gives out random books that are at least 25-years-old in exchange for a $2 coin.

Man freed from jail after serving FOUR YEARS when woman falsely claimed he molested her when she was 10

Wrongly convicted: Johnathan Montgomery was convicted in 2008 (pictured left) of molesting Elizabeth Coast (right) but was released in Virginia this week after she recanted

Johnathan Montgomery was convicted in 2008 (pictured left and at the time of his arrest inset) of molesting Elizabeth Coast (right) but was released in Virginia this week after she recanted. Coast has now been charged with perjury. There were emotional scenes as he walked free from state prison to be met by his loyal parents who have never doubted that their son did not commit the crime.

The island that vanished off the face of the earth? Riddle of Pacific outcrop that's on Google Earth and other maps but doesn't seem to actually exist

Phantom island: Sandy Island as it appears on Google's satellite maps

Scientists who went in search of Sandy Island - which on maps appears midway between Australia and the French-governed New Caledonia - found nothing but sea when they arrived.

Now it's fine to eat with your fingers: Etiquette experts say it's acceptable in restaurants (but don't lick them clean)

Handy guide: Etiquette expert Debrett's have released guidelines for eating with your hands to reflect modern dining habits and cuisine

A new 10 point guide to modern dining manners has been released by etiquette experts Debrett's. The guidelines take into account modern eating habits.

Is this the iceberg that sank Titanic? Picture of ice 'that doomed 1,500 to die' set to make $10,000 at auction

Mugshot: The photograph of the 'guilty' iceberg was taken two days before the sinking of the Titanic on April 12, 1912

The black and white picture of the iceberg was taken two days before the sinking of the Titanic by the captain of a ship sailing the Atlantic sea in 1912.

'Vegetarians have a better sex life': Eating tofu can boost you in the bedroom, new study claims

A new study has found that people who eat a lot of tofu and other plant-based foods might enjoy a better sex life than meat-eaters

They are often considered a more spindly counterpart to their meat-eating friends. But it seems vegetarians might have the last laugh when it comes to the bedroom, an American study says.

Rare white tiger escapes enclosure and mauls three employees at Czech zoo

white tiger mauls three employees

The incident happened at the zoo in the northern city of Liberec in the Czech Republic. One man suffered head injuries while two women sustained minor injuries. A spokesman for the zoo confirmed the seven-year-old tiger, named Paris, had been sedated and posed no further danger.

Mexicans president makes to push to remove 'United States' from his country's official name

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Mexico's president is making one last attempt to get the 'United States' out of Mexico - at least as far as the country's name is concerned.

Don't knock daydreamers, they could be onto something: Great ideas come after some 'time out', study shows

A new study has found it is not the geniuses among us who find inspiration in imagination - we could all benefit from a spot of daydreaming

In news that will cheer bored office workers and pupils, it is not just geniuses who find inspiration in our imagination. Scientists have found we could all benefit from a spot of daydreaming.

World first as blind man reads braille with his EYES, using revolutionary implant

The grid of electrons directly implanted on the retina - Six were stimulated to create various braille letters

The man was able to 'see' and understand words in seconds thanks to the implant (pictured), according to scientists based in California.

Entertainment group Rank unveils its strongman for the 21st century... but what's happened to the original gong (and isn't this one a bit small)?

A new era: Chris Rowley beat 1,000 other contestants to become the new Gongman

The firm, which now runs bingo clubs and casinos, has brought back the Gongman after a nationwide contest to celebrate its 75th anniversary. Pictured is winner Chris Rowley, from Stoke.

America's winter paradise for billionaires: Inside the ultra-exclusive private ski resort that costs $250,000-a-year to join

ski resort

The uber-exclusive 15,500-acre Yellowstone Club located outside Big Sky, Montana, comes with all that is needed for a first-class ski vacation, including eight lavish bedrooms, stunning views and ex-Secret Service agents guarding the members' privacy.

   

DON'T MISS

The world's most-expensive kitchen: $1.6million room features a crystal worktop, solid copper walls (and a Swarovski Crystal chandelier)

Height of luxury: The £1m 'Fiore di Cristallo' kitchen

The opulent 'Fiore di Cristallo' kitchen, complete with crystal chandeliers and worktops, costs $1.6m and was unveiled by chef Aldo Zilli in London on Thursday. There is an eight-month waiting list for designer Claudio Celiberti's bespoke design services, with the kitchen costing around $1.6m.

America's favorite pastime: Charming black and white photos celebrate the nation's obsession with television as millions settle to watch the set on Thanksgiving

The images appeared on LIFE.com to commemorate World Television Day, a United Nations-sanctioned celebration of what is arguably America's true national hobby.

The images appeared on LIFE.com to commemorate World Television Day, a United Nations-sanctioned celebration of what is arguably America's true national hobby.

The five faddy diets you SHOULDN'T follow if you want to lose weight in the New Year

The Dukan Diet, said to be followed by Carole Middleton, has been voted the worst diet of the year again by nutrition experts

British experts have named the notorious Dukan diet, which Carole Middleton is said to be a fan of, as this year’s worst offender – for the third year in a row.

Dinner fights back! The tiny garden lizard that took on a hungry cat (and guess who won?)

This Oriental garden lizard bravely took on this stray cat as it tried to take a swipe at it in Malaysia

The small Oriental garden lizard decided to fight back when a moggy cat decided to take a swipe at it on a grassy patch in Malaysia.

Somebody's not in the holiday spirit! NFL's 'dirtiest player' kicks quarterback in the groin during Thanksgiving game

kick

It looks like Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is starting his own Thanksgiving Day tradition of hurting who ever is unlucky enough to be across from him. In the first quarter of the game against the Texas Lions, Suh was pulled down while rushing quarterback Matt Schaub.

   

Showbiz extra

I want muffins! Hilarious video of toddler's hysterical reaction to the news Hostess has stopped making his beloved snack

The little boy called Lucas was filmed by his mother at their home in Hernando, Mississippi having a tantrum over the fact he won't be able to have chocolate chip muffins anymore

The little boy called Lucas was filmed by his mother at their home in Hernando, Mississippi having a tantrum over the fact the 'cookers' will no longer be making his favorite chocolate-chip muffin.

Bright star: Breathtaking panoramic image captures the path of the stars

Panoramic image of the stars over a South American valley

Astrophotographer Hernan Stockebrand took 89 photos every 30 seconds to create this amazing image which shows the path of the stars above the Valley of Cochiguaz, Chile.

Welcome to the fold! Amazingly intricate origami works by California artist inspired by childhood trip to Bronx Zoo

Bernard Peyton's origami models

These are the amazing models of animals that are so intricate they can sell for up to £2,200 - despite being made of just paper. Bernard Peyton, 62, from California, has been making origami ever since his mum took him on an inspirational trip to Bronx Zoo when he was just nine years old.