NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

US/ US GOV RELEASES BIN LADEN VIDEOS: The US government released 5 videos today showing the Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden as he did not intend to be seen: his unkempt beard gray, instead of dyed black as it normally was in images he released to the world. The videos were seized from the Pakistani compound where US Navy Seals killed Bin Laden early last Monday morning. One video shows Bin Laden, looking like the middle-age man he was, watching his younger self on television firing weapons. Officials did not play the audio, saying they didn't want to release Al Qaeda propaganda. One video was a never-released message to the American people, officials said. Reports say the materials seized at the compound where Bin Laden was killed show that he was actively involved in encouraging terrorism plots and communicating by courier with his colleagues. The materials, including hard drives, key drives and reams of documents, amount to "the single largest collection of senior terrorist material ever seized," officials said. The evidence seized during the raid also includes phone numbers and documents that officials hope will help lead to other Al Qaeda figures and shed light on whether anyone in the Pakistani government was protecting Bin Laden.

SPORTS/ SEVE BALLESTEROS DIES AT 54: Seve Ballesteros, one of golf's most gifted and charismatic players, has died at the age of 54 after a long battle with cancer. Ballesteros died surrounded by his family early this morning at his home in Pedrena, Spain. Ballesteros was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2008 after losing consciousness at the Madrid Airport. The 5 time major winner had 4 operations to remove the tumour as well as undergoing chemotherapy. In a statement, the Ballesteros family expressed gratitude for the "support and gestures of love" they had received and asked for "respect and privacy at such a painful time". Ballesteros, who claimed 87 titles over his career, won the British Open in 1979, 1984, pictured, and 1988 and became the 1st European to win the Augusta Masters in 1980, repeating the feat in 1983. He also enjoyed a successful Ryder Cup career as both player and captain, playing in 8 Ryder Cups and winning 20 points from 37 matches before guiding Europe to victory over the United States at Valderrama in 1997. But it was his daring and flamboyant style that made Ballesteros special, transforming the image of golf and bringing a whole new audience to the sport. "No golfer did more to popularise the game in Europe than Seve Ballesteros," said a BBC golf reporter today.