Six Colombian soldiers are jailed for killing a man and passing him off as a guerrilla killed in combat, in order to gain extra holiday and promotion.

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Colombia troops jailed for murder

A faulty sauna is blamed for a fire at a holiday home in the centre of Llanberis, Gwynedd.

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Sauna sparks fire at holiday home

While you're frying up some eggs and bacon, we're cooking up something else: a way to celebrate today's food holiday. Grab some fresh fruit of the sea – May 10 is National Shrimp Day ! Whether you bake, boil, fry, grill, put 'em in a stew, serve 'em Southern-style with grits, stir into a scampi or stick on top of a cocktail, shrimp can be served so many ways, you'll run out daylight first. At the base of soups or used for flavoring, shrimp is at the heart of Asian cooking. In Spain, folks like to toss them in with paella while Italians include shrimp in their pasta dishes. Coconut shrimp is a favorite in Caribbean cuisine, and curried shrimp is alive and well in Southeast Asia. And of course, fried shrimp is king here in the U.S. But no matter where you are, you'll have to peel and devein those little beauties first. The shell is easy to detach – just hold the tail and peel away. To get rid of the digestive tract, just cut a slit in the back of the shrimp and remove it with a deveining tool, or even a knife, skewer or toothpick. Pop shrimp all day long with these fun, tasty and varied ways . Summer is well on its way, so there's no better time to test out your favorite shrimp dishes … or become a shrimp boat captain, if you're so inclined.

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National shrimp day

Portugal adds to its austerity measures with the decision to suspend four of its 14 public holidays for five years.

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Crisis-hit Portugal axes holidays

The use of a photograph of Madeleine McCann to advertise holidays on an independent website is described as “vile” by the travel firm.

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Madeleine photo use dubbed ‘vile’

A holidaymaker dies in a 50m fall from cliffs in Cornwall in front of his wife and children.

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Family witness cliff fall death

While you're frying up some eggs and bacon, we're cooking up something else: a way to celebrate today's food holiday. Raise your glass – May 4 is National Home Brew Day ! Sometimes, daring fans of beer, wine, cider and other alcoholic beverages surpass their passion and turn to small-scale fermenting at home – either for themselves, competitions or to share among friends. Although there have been various legalities and bans concerning home brewing, especially across other countries, the ban was lifted here in 1978. However, it's up to individual states to let you brew to your heart's content or shut down your basement business. Besides the fact that it's cheaper to brew your own beverage, you can also become a bit of an artisan about it and tailor the flavor to your tastes. Because the process is similar to commercial breweries, you can streamline it down to a smaller level. Ingredients for brewing beer, like malt, hops and yeast, are easy to obtain. If you don't know the first thing about brewing, there are kits available as well . Be sure and check the laws in your state regarding home brewing before beginning any project, and always brew responsibly. With this weekend being a great mix of  Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby (“Cinco de Derby” if you will), you'll be in fine spirits to start making your own drink of choice.

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National home brew day

While you're frying up some eggs and bacon, we're cooking up something else: a way to celebrate today's food holiday. Raise your glass – May 4 is National Home Brew Day ! Sometimes, daring fans of beer, wine, cider and other alcoholic beverages surpass their passion and turn to small-scale fermenting at home – either for themselves, competitions or to share among friends. Although there have been various legalities and bans concerning home brewing, especially across other countries, the ban was lifted here in 1978. However, it's up to individual states to let you brew to your heart's content or shut down your basement business. Besides the fact that it's cheaper to brew your own beverage, you can also become a bit of an artisan about it and tailor the flavor to your tastes. Because the process is similar to commercial breweries, you can streamline it down to a smaller level. Ingredients for brewing beer, like malt, hops and yeast, are easy to obtain. If you don't know the first thing about brewing, there are kits available as well . Be sure and check the laws in your state regarding home brewing before beginning any project, and always brew responsibly. With this weekend being a great mix of  Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby (“Cinco de Derby” if you will), you'll be in fine spirits to start making your own drink of choice.

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National home brew day

Cinco de Mayo, the anniversary of the Mexican army’s 1862 victory during the Franco-Mexican War, has become prime time for Americans to celebrate some of the more festive and tasty elements of Mexican cuisine. But even if you aren’t into the tequila-fueled parties (and there are plenty; see Going Out Guide’s complete list ), consider the May 5 holiday, coupled with warmer weather, as the perfect opportunity to explore traditional Mexican dishes. Read full article > >

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Cinco de Mayo: Recipes for a holiday-inspired feast

While you're frying up some eggs and bacon, we're cooking up something else: a way to celebrate today's food holiday. Do the truffle shuffle ! May 2 is National Truffle Day . A little more rare than your average pack of button mushrooms at the grocery store, these underground beauties that seem to magically surface at the foot of trees are definitely special enough to get their own day. There are plenty of species of truffles, but only a few are prized as edible. White and black truffles are the favorites, with white being a little more dense and pungent. While they are difficult to cultivate, it is possible – and folks still use their specially trained truffle hogs, or even dogs, to help sniff them out among the acorns. If you've got a passion for it, you could turn it into quite a business like this  Jack Czarnecki in Oregon . Truffles are best used sparingly because the aroma itself can be intense. You can serve them shaved over a warm pasta dish or fried eggs. You can also slip thin slices of truffle into the holiday stuffing. Just be warned if you decide to reach for some truffle oil to splash over your fancy fries , there is a chance it has no truffle derivative in it whatsoever. Now, for those of you who fancy chocolate over a rare mushroom, we hear you. Since there's no rule on which type of truffle today is devoted to, feel free to indulge in the round chocolate confection (pictured above) that bears the same name. Make your own pistachio truffles , and really impress your friends, or heck, yourself!

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National truffle day

All-inclusive holidays have soared in popularity in recent years, yet not everyone is happy with the growth of these deals.

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VIDEO: The pitfalls of all-inclusive holidays

If the Washington Capitals have to face a Game 7, then let it be in Boston. There’s no better place for a visiting team that is haunted by its own playoff ghosts than a trip to New England, where curses revive themselves and any excuse for pessimism is greeted like a regional holiday. Read full article > >

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Capitals, Bruins seek to be team with demon advantage

While you're frying up some eggs and bacon, we're cooking up something else: a way to celebrate today's food holiday. Get your mini hotdogs in a row because April 24 is National Pigs in a Blanket Day ! Pigs in a blanket, that favorite party appetizer and the answer to “What can I bring?” everywhere, have become a simple American staple. A product of convenience cooking, these little pigs are as tasty as they are easy to make. The “pigs” can be anything from hot dogs to Vienna sausages to link or cocktail sausages and the “blanket” is often biscuit or croissant dough. Kids love this treat that's easy on the palate because it's like a baked corn dog, and party-goers like it as an appetizer because it's a classic finger food. But if you're considering pigs in a blanket for breakfast, that usually means sausage links wrapped in pancakes. In the U.K., pigs in a blanket are made a little bit differently. Cocktail sausages, different from the ones we get here in the U.S., are wrapped in bacon and served as a typical accompaniment to Christmas lunch. And across the world, there are variations on pigs in a blanket, sometimes leaning more towards the sausage roll side of things, because wrapping meat within dough or pastry has long been a satisfying substitute for a hot meal. So celebrate with your own variation, party or no party! If you want to jazz up the flavor with cheese but skip out on the questionable ingredients found in some hotdogs, try these cheesy pigs (or turkey dogs) in blankets . A little bit healthier and huge on flavor, this snack will give you a reason to celebrate.

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National pigs in a blanket day

While you're frying up some eggs and bacon, we're cooking up something else: a way to celebrate today's food holiday. Oh, almond joy – April 19 is National Amaretto Day ! If you've got almond-flavored liqueur on the brain, today was made for you. But don't let the name amaro, meaning “bitter” in Italian, scare you off – almonds keep this sip a sweet one. Like other favorite liqueurs, amaretto has a legend, and a sentimental place in Saronno culture because of its Italian origin. In 1525, one of Leonardo da Vinci's pupils, artist Bernardino Luini, was commissioned to paint frescoes in a Saronno church. Because of the church's dedication to the Virgin Mary, Luini needed a model to base her on, and he found his muse in a young innkeeper. The woman wanted to express her gratitude (and adoration) with a payment, but didn't have the money, so she steeped apricot kernels in brandy and gave him the concoction. Thus, amaretto's love story was born. If you're cooking with amaretto, it's a great enhancer for desserts like tiramisu and even the whipped cream on your hot chocolate or coffee. Or, jazz up your favorite pastries by adding a shot or two to the batter. You can even go savory because amaretto is a great addition to almondine sauce and chicken dishes. Of course, amaretto is just as good by itself or on the rocks. Besides adding it to your coffee, the liqueur is also a great base for French Connections , Toasted Almonds and Bocce Balls . So here's to you, amaretto enthusiasts, and cheers!

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National amaretto day

In Egypt, Easter is celebrated today according to the Orthodox calendar. It is a rather strange holiday as it sets off a bit of schizophrenia in the country. Unlike Christmas, which is a national holiday, it seems to many that Easter is a regular day.

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Easter Wisdom and Egyptian Hope