Somali pirates are demanding at least $1 million for the immediate release of kidnapped German couple, their young son and a French boat captain, a Somali government official privy to the negotiations said Thursday. Somalia's minister of state for security Jama HIrsi Farah said the gunmen was asking for a $1 million ransom for the release of their hostages.

McDonalds has been a favorite whipping boy of health buffs and nutrition experts, with its French fries and Quarterpounders being blamed for obesity among Americans. A Virginia man, however, credits the fastfood outlet for his losing about 80 pounds. But Chris Coleson, who was 278 pounds in December, did not gorge on McDonald's fattening offers. Rather, he feasted on the hamburger chain's healthy menu such as salads, wraps and apple dippers, less the caramel sauce.

Two men scaled the 52-story New York Times building in Manhattan Thursday in separate stunts that drew amused and tensed onlookers on the streets plus police and rescuers. Alain Robert, a 45-year-old skyscraper climber nicknamed the French Spiderman, first scaled the tower by holding and stepping on slats that cover the building's façade. When he reached the top, he made a personal statement to mark the World Environment Day by unfurling a banner with the words "Global warming kills more people than a 9/11 every week. "

A skyscraper climber dubbed the "French Spiderman" scaled the 52-story New York Times building in Manhattan Thursday in a stunt to promote public awareness on global warming. Alain Robert, reputed to have climbed 70 tall buildings around the world, unfurled a banner with the words ""Global warming kills more people than a 9/11 every week" upon reaching the top of the building. Police waiting for him at the rooftop arrested him for still unknown charges.

French skydiver Michel Fournier failed on his second attempt to set a new free-fall record after his $500,000 balloon left without him on Tuesday. Fournier's initial plan was to be inside a small capsule attached to the balloon and then jump 24. 85 miles (40 kilometers) to earth. To prepare for his ascent, Fournier was breathing compressed oxygen and wore a space suit. The ascent would have taken 120 minutes and the descent only a quarter of an hour.