Christian Bale "freaked out" his daughter by keeping his accent for "Public Enemies" off set. The British actor plays U.S. FBI officer Melvin Purvis in the 1930s gangster film and in preparing for his role kept a strong southern U.S. accent throughout filming.

The film's director, Michael Bay, said: "Melvin Purvis was really a southern gentleman. So Christian kept the accent for 24 hours a day. It freaked out his young daughter. She said: 'Daddy doesn't talk like that!' he replied: 'Well, ah'm sorry, mah dear, but daddy's studying for a part, and ah'll be speaking like this for the next four months.'"

Using only one cup of water per load, U.K.-based Xeros' new type of washing machine will instead rely on reusable nylon beads to trap dirt and stains.

Along with partners GreenEarth Cleaning, Xeros, which has been testing the machine for three years, will sell the machines in North America, at first mostly to commercial dry cleaners and Laundromats, LiveScience reported.

Using only one cup of water per load, U.K.-based Xeros' new type of washing machine will instead rely on reusable nylon beads to trap dirt and stains.

Along with partners GreenEarth Cleaning, Xeros, which has been testing the machine for three years, will sell the machines in North America, at first mostly to commercial dry cleaners and Laundromats, LiveScience reported.

European fire ants have invaded parts of Canada, particularly Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick. The spread of the fire ants has worsened in Nova Scotia and officials in that capital city will hold a briefing for residents on Monday night how to protect themselves from the insect.

The invasion has caused yards to become unusable, while homeowner have to don protective gear when moving the grass or hanging clothes dry.. The ant, which belongs to the specie Myrmica rubra, has a bite compared to a hornet's sting and an itch similar to poison ivy.

A Florida man suspected of robbing a bank was arrested after several witnesses reported seeing a drunken man covered in red dye.

Pinellas County sheriff's detectives think a homeless 53-year-old man, Michael Prance, robbed Seminole's RBC Bank Thursday, escaping with the bank's cash, the St. Petersburg Times reported.