A museum exhibit featuring several American flags that had been deep-fried has been removed. The museum's executive director took down the exhibit less than 18 hours after it went up. The art was titled "The Fat Is in the Fire," and according to art student William Gentry was a commentary on obesity in America. It was on display at Customs House Museum.

A British high street store has ordered 100,000 souvenirs to mark a royal engagement. The merchandise company is preparing to mark the engagement of Prince William and his girlfriend Kate Middleton, in case they decide to wed sometime soon. Executives at the supermarket chain Woolworths are so convinced the young couple - who have been dating for three years - will soon announce their engagement that they are producing 20 commemorative products including mugs, spoons, car flags, computer mouse pads and even a mobile phone. A Will and Kate pick 'n' mix selection of sweets is also in the pipeline.

Animal rights group, The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), called for theme park operator Six Flags Inc, based in New York, to cancel a competition in which people will try to break the world cockroach-eating record. Six Flags first came under fire by animal rights activists for staging a contest as part of a promotion leading up to Halloween offering customers free entry or line-jumping advantages if they eat a live Madagascar hissing cockroach, which grow between 1. 5 to 3 inches.

The annual Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom's Fright Fest in Louisville, Kentucky has been drawing flak from parents and animal cruelty groups alike after it offered free admission to anyone who was willing to eat a live Madagascar hissing cockroach. Some parents said the stunt is discriminating against poor children and is a form of child abuse, while an animal rights group is accusing festival organizers of cruelty to cockroaches.

eople for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) wants Six Flags Great America to scrap its Halloween-themed cockroach-eating promotion, with a spokesman for the animal rights organization calling the amusement park's FrightFest contest "gratuitously cruel. "The park in Gurnee, Ill. , is joining other Six Flags parks in offering unlimited line-jumping privileges to anyone who eats a live Madagascar hissing cockroach, which can grow up to three inches long.