London, Nov 14 : A painting of a boxer by Jean-Michel Basquiat, which was owned by Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, has fetched 13.5 million dollars at an auction.

On the other hand, a Francis Bacon painting failed to sell, fuelling fears over the state of the art market.

The painting by Basquiat was a highlight of Christie''s contemporary art auction in New York.

Though, Bacon''s Study for Self Portrait was billed as a highlight of the auction, and was expected to fetch 40 million dollars, the bidding stalled at 27.4million dollars and the auction was halted.

A total of 75 contemporary works went under the hammer at the sale on Wednesday evening, but almost a third failed to attract a buyer.

London, Nov. 14 : Inflation levels in Zimbabwe are running at 13.2 billion per cent a month and could reach an all-time world record within weeks, reports The Telegraph.

The latest figures put the country''s annual rate at 516 quintillion per cent – 516 followed by 18 zeros – overtaking Yugoslavia in 1994 and putting it behind only Hungary in 1946.

With goods unavailable and official statistics widely distrusted, the Cato Institute in Washington calculated the figures based on exchange rate movements and market data.

London  - Britain could send a further 2,000 troops to Afghanistan next year in response to an expected request by the US under its next president, Barack Obama, the BBC said Friday.

The broadcaster said ministers were considering sending reinforcements to Afghanistan, following requests from Afghan leaders.

The British government insisted after talks in London Thursday between Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Afghan President Hamid Karzai that troop levels had not been discussed.

London, November 14: Famous for filming James Bond flicks, Pinewood Studios recently sent out an SOS after two small scorpions were spotted on the loose there.

Pest control experts captured the creatures alive in answer to the studio bosses’ request, say reports.

The scorpions are being examined to discover whether the species is lethal.

Media reports suggest that the scorpions were not used as props in the latest 007 film Quantum Of Solace, which was also shot at the 100-acre site in Buckinghamshire.

They are thought to be among properties used in a new fantasy film ‘Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time’ that were flown in from Morocco, where scorpions are plentiful.

London, Nov 14 : British royal Prince William turned into a real-life hero after he helped save a family badly injured in a road smash.

The Royal heir was heading home after a night out in London, when he stopped after a car and van collided head-on.

Though his bodyguards barred him from getting out of his car to help because of strict anti-kidnap rules, Williams didn’t hesitate to offer the accident victims first aid.