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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Competitors paddle a country boat during a traditional boat race in the River Brahmaputra in Gauhati, India. The 2,906 kilometers (1800 miles) long Brahmaputra is one of Asia’s largest rivers which passes through China’s Tibet region, India and Bangladesh before converging into the Bay of Bengal.
Threats halt event and shut hotel
LONDON » The Legoland theme park west of London has temporarily closed its hotel after threats from far-right groups forced it to cancel a "Muslim fun day."
The resort had been booked by the Muslim Research and Development Foundation for about 1,000 families.
The decision to cancel Sunday’s event and close the hotel was made after the popular attraction received threats via phone calls, emails and social media postings.
"We are appalled at what has occurred, and at the fact that the real losers in this are the many families and children who were looking forward to an enjoyable day out at Legoland," the company statement said.
It said a small group had distributed misinformation about the event.
Legoland reopens for the season next week, but the hotel is open year-round.
4 cubs born to zoo’s African lion
WASHINGTON » A 9-year-old African lion has given birth to four cubs in the Great Cats exhibit at the National Zoo.
Officials say the lion mother, named Shera,
delivered the cubs over seven hours March 2. This is Shera’s second litter of cubs and the fifth for 8-year-old father Luke. He is also the father of 10-year-old Nababiep’s two female cubs born Jan. 24.
Animal keepers say Shera’s cubs appear to be nursing, moving and vocalizing well. The keepers are monitoring the mother and cubs through a video feed. The zoo says Shera successfully raised her previous litter of four cubs in 2010.
African lions are considered a vulnerable species. Their population in the wild has dwindled by 30 percent over the past 20 years because of poaching, disease and habitat loss.
Lagerfeld to design Macau hotel
BEIJING » Karl Lagerfeld and a Macau casino operator announced plans Friday for the Chanel designer to create his first hotel.
The 270-room Karl Lagerfeld Hotel will open in 2017 in a 20-story tower in the gambling enclave in southern China, according to Lagerfeld and the Sociedade de Jogos de Macau.
"An entire hotel designed by me. It’s the first time for me! I think the idea is great!" said Lagerfeld in a statement.
The Lisboa Palace complex also is to include a Versace-themed hotel designed by the Italian fashion label and announced in September. Friday’s announcement gave no financial details.
Macau, the only place in China where gambling is legal, received about $38 billion in gambling revenue in 2012, about six times the revenues of the Las Vegas Strip.
Competition has intensified as rivals including Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts International opened casinos.
The complex in Macau’s Cotai neighborhood will have casinos, restaurants and shopping and more than 2,000 hotel rooms, according to SJM.
