James Gandolfini, whose portrayal of a brutal, emotionally fragile mob boss in HBO's The Sopranos helped create one of TV's greatest drama series and turned the mobster stereotype on its head, has died in Italy. He was 51.

Ex-president Nelson Mandela's foundation has vowed to press ahead with upcoming 95th birthday celebrations, as he spends a 12th day in hospital.

Federal authorities have accused two New York men of assembling a portable X-ray weapon that they intended to use to secretly sicken opponents of Israel.