More than 100 years after it was created by a flood – and following decades of environmental degradation – California's once-famous Salton Sea is six weeks from falling off the tourist map, thanks to the state's fiscal crisis.

His pen-name was created from two characters in Grimm's fairy tales, but his novels had little in common with the moralistic fantasies of mittel-Europe. Rudolf Ditzen was a magistrate's son, raised in Berlin and immersed in Dickens, Flaubert and Dostoevsky. He became one of the greatest German authors of the 20th century, but was not translated into English until 2009.

After years of searching, Val Kilmer tells Kaleem Aftab how he finally found his ideal role – as himself

The suicide of Bobby's daughter-in-law re-opens the old debate. By Rupert Cornwall

The death of Mary Richardson Kennedy has once again thrown the spotlight on the goldfish bowl that is life in America's most famous family

Billionaire Buffett asked to revive the poorly performing, and remote, Pitcairn economy

Richard Schaefer, Amir Khan's promoter, branded Lamont Peterson "a disgrace" yesterday for failing a drugs test and not disclosing the fact, thereby costing Khan's fans hundreds of pounds in wasted airfares and hotel rooms following the cancellation of their world-title fight, scheduled for Las Vegas on 19 May.

Two decades after he pleaded "can't we all just get along?" Rodney King has re-visited the scene of the Los Angeles riots, speaking publicly about his many brushes with the justice system and discussing the latest racially sensitive court case to divide America.

A documentary on autism has wowed the TV critics, says Simon Usborne

The French brothers who sold denim to the Americans – and the world – are celebrating a big birthday in style, says Rebecca Gonsalves

Thomas Cook Tours has a 15-day escorted visit to "California and the Glorious West" for £1,845 per person this summer.

LAPD veteran may have jeopardised case with role in Sofia Coppola movie

Starring: Lana Turner, Kirk Douglas, Walter Pidgeon

There ain't no cure for love but an 18-month prison sentence might go some way towards persuading Leonard Cohen's former mistress and business manager to consign their tattered relationship to the dustbin.