Thousands of rangers and volunteers have climbed into treetop huts near reservoirs and watering holes in Sri Lanka to carry out the island nation's first full count of its dwindling wild elephant population.

The government says the three-day census through Saturday is aimed at devising a plan to protect the elephants. But several conservation groups have boycotted the count, accusing the government of using it as a "smoke screen" for capturing and domesticating the best young animals for use in temples, tourism and labor.

A famed Austrian museum has fired an employee for washing his hands and face with his urine.

Alfred Zoppelt says he was fired after 23 years of working as an attendant at the Belvedere, a castle in Vienna with a major art collection. He says his adherence to urine therapy was previously "never a problem."

First he pulled a knife — and when that didn't work a would-be robber persuaded his victim to hand over money with a sob story.

An Austrian police official said Thursday that a woman last month refused demands by a knife-wielding man to give him 400 euros ($570) from an ATM — but she then handed over 90 euros ($130) out of pity after he put away his weapon, took off his mask and told her that he was homeless and broke.

Mexican police arrested the suspected leader of a brutal drug gang called "The Hand with Eyes" and he has confessed to helping carry out or ordering more than 600 murders, authorities said Thursday.

Oscar Osvaldo Garcia Montoya, 36, was arrested in an overnight raid on a presumed safe house on the outskirts of Mexico City, State of Mexico Attorney General Alfredo Castillo said at a news conference.

With names like Sachin Tendulkar already being linked to a racing franchise concept, India's usually overshadowed motor racing fraternity is banking on the arrival of Formula One to spark a surge in domestic interest in their sport.

As workers put in overtime to get the Buddh International Circuit into shape, officials are growing in confidence that the Oct. 30 Indian F1 Grand Prix will change the face of motor racing in this country of 1.2 billion where all sports take a backseat to cricket.

Tottenham's opening match of the Premier League season against Everton on Saturday has been postponed following disorder in the London neighborhood that sparked trouble across England.

There are ongoing safety concerns in the area around the north London club's White Hart Lane stadium, which has seen police resources stretched.

Rafael Nadal is out at the Rogers Cup after a shocking 1-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) defeat in the second round against Croatia's Ivan Dodig on Wednesday night.

With the tiebreaker in the final set tied 5-5, Dodig — ranked 41st in the world — ripped a 135 miles-per-hour ace past Nadal, then finished the upset by hammering a backhand that the second-ranked Spanish star couldn't handle.

Top-ranked and defending champion Caroline Wozniacki was upset 6-4, 7-5 Wednesday by Roberta Vinci in a second-round match at the Rogers Cup.

Wozniacki, who has won a WTA-leading five titles this year, led 5-1 in the second set. However, the No. 22-ranked Italian stormed back with three break points to complete the upset.

Twenty inmates pound barrel-sized drums in a Taiwanese prison courtyard until they are so drenched with sweat that colorful tattoos show through their thin cotton T-shirts.

The convicts range in age from 18 to 25 and most of their records include violence or serious drug abuse. They beat out their energetic rhythms under a blazing summer sun during their midday session at the Changhua Prison.

Kate Moss felt inspired to get married by watching the British reality show "Big Fat Gypsy Weddings" which follows real-life gypsy women planning to get married.

The September issue of Vogue magazine goes inside the supermodel's July wedding to musician Jamie Hince. Moss says she was charmed by the extravagance of gypsy weddings with wedding gowns that are like "blinging butterflies times ten."