The deadly microscopic amoeba made its way up 12-year-old Kali Hardig's nose to her brain during a visit to the Willow Springs lake in Arkansas

School holidays can be an expensive time for parents, but Chiara Cavaglieri has some ideas to keep costs down

Zookeeper says chimpanzee, who impersonated James Bond, was 'a favourite with everyone'

TV undercover team claims distraction and ball-switching tricks were used

A Saudi prince has reportedly spent £12.8m during a private stay at the Disneyland resort near Paris to celebrate his graduation.

My big brother invited me to the zoo this week so I'd have something to put in my column for The Independent. That, and also to help him look after his children. I've got two nieces and a nephew or two nephews and a niece, and I've read enough newspaper articles and Roald Dahl books over the years to know that these people need to be protected when they are near things like hippos and toucans. The last thing I want to do is make up some excuse about having to wallpaper my toilet and then later learn that my niece was pecked by a flamingo because I wasn't there.

Panda experts say Tian Tian was showing signs that were not 'conducive to mating'

Developers behind the £2bn plans will have to ensure a good home for the creatures

Applicants should speak fluent English and Finnish, with Russian considered an additional bonus

'Luna' will be formally named in Facebook contest

Gervais's latest addition to his comedy menagerie grates more than it amuses

It is the dream job, particularly for the marketing department. A holiday company is advertising a £20,000-a-year job as a water slide tester. The company said that its previous incumbent Tommy Lynch, decided to “hang up his trunks” after four years in the post, leaving the way open for a newcomer – and a PR stunt.

“I am making an appeal to the world – do not come to Bugarach.” Not the kind of pro-tourism message you’d expect from a mayor. But pity poor Jean-Pierre Delord of Bugarach in France, who is putting off visitors who believe his town’s Pic de Bugarach mountain is due to open up and spit out human-saving aliens during today’s Mayan-predicted apocalypse.

If you haven't seen it yet and want to feel all Christmassy, here's a video of a dog adopting orphaned tiger cubs.