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Angela Lansbury relieved Murder, She Wrote remake is axed

Sonia Pantiss
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Angela Lansbury relieved Murder, She Wrote remake is axed

Angela Lansbury says she is “relieved” the planned remake of her detective show Murder, She Wrote has been scrapped.

Due to star Octavia Spencer, who won an Oscar for The Help, a pilot episode was ordered last October.

According to Deadline, NBC had now pulled the plug on the show.

Angela Lansbury, who played amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher in the original series, told the BBC she was “terribly pleased and relieved” by the news.

“I knew it was a terrible mistake,” she said.

“I didn’t want to sully the memory.”

Angela Lansbury added: “Octavia Spencer is a superb actress. She had no business being put into a situation that she couldn’t win.”

Angela Lansbury says she is "relieved" the planned remake of her detective show Murder, She Wrote has been scrapped
Angela Lansbury says she is “relieved” the planned remake of her detective show Murder, She Wrote has been scrapped

The original was one of the most successful series in TV history with Angela Lansbury playing mystery writer and amateur detective Jessica Fletcher in 264 episodes from 1984-1996.

At the height of its popularity, Murder, She Wrote attracted 23 million viewers in the US.

Angela Lansbury won four Golden Globes and 12 consecutive Emmy nominations for her performance.

In the remake, Octavia Spencer was to be a hospital administrator who dabbled in detective work.

When the plans were announced, Angela Lansbury said she was not happy they were using the same title.

She told the AP: “I think it’s a mistake to call it Murder, She Wrote because Murder, She Wrote will always be about Cabot Cove and this wonderful little group of people who told those lovely stories and enjoyed a piece of that place, and also enjoyed Jessica Fletcher, who is a rare and very individual kind of person.

“So I’m sorry that they have to use the title Murder, She Wrote, even though they have access to it and it’s their right.”

However, Deadline suggested NBC may revisit a Murder, She Wrote revival in the future, with a different concept.

Goodfellas: Vincent Asaro charged in Lufthansa cash robbery

Nancy Clayson
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Goodfellas: Vincent Asaro charged in Lufthansa cash robbery

Vincent Asaro, an alleged member of an infamous New York mob family, has been charged with stealing $5 million from the Lufthansa terminal at JFK airport in 1978.

The crime, among the largest cash heists in US history, was dramatized in the 1990 movie Goodfellas.

Vincent Asaro and four other alleged mobsters were charged with crimes dating as far back as 1968 – murder, arson, extortion, robbery and more.

The men are expected to appear in court on Thursday afternoon.

On December 11, 1978, hooded gunmen rushed into Lufthansa Airlines’ cargo terminal at New York’s JFK airport and stole $5 million being transported to a Manhattan Bank from West Germany, as well as $1 million in jewellery.

Investigators said the thieves were familiar with the cargo building’s layout, including the location of the high-value storage room, and addressed several Lufthansa employees by name.

The cash was never found.

Vincent Asaro and four other alleged mobsters were charged with crimes dating as far back as 1968
Vincent Asaro and four other alleged mobsters were charged with crimes dating as far back as 1968

Vincent Asaro, an allegedly high-ranking member of the Bonanno crime family, was arrested on Thursday and charged in federal court in New York with the robbery.

He is also charged with a 1969 murder, extortion and illegal gambling.

The indictment charges him and Jerome Asaro, accused of being a “captain” in the Bonanno family, with the theft of $1.25 million in gold salts from Federal Express, a US freight service.

Vincent Asaro and Jack Bonventre, another alleged Bonanno associate, are charged with illegal gambling.

In addition, the Asaros, Thomas DiFiore and John Ragano are charged with a litany of crimes between them including racketeering, extortion, arson and murder solicitation.

The authorities have had difficulty bringing charges in the case over the years, largely because so many people suspected of involvement in the heist were killed by nervous mobsters.

Just two years after the robbery, The New York Times reported at least six murder victims were believed to have been connected with the case.

A cargo agent for the airline with gambling debts was the only person ever convicted in connection to the crime.

In June, FBI investigators descended on a neighborhood in the New York borough of Queens where they believed the robbery was planned.

The agency believed James Burke, a now-deceased Lucchese crime family associate who inspired Robert De Niro’s character in Goodfellas, masterminded the heist.

Investigators used jackhammers and shovels to dig beneath James Burke’s house.

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George Zimmerman releases painting portraying Prosecutor Angela Corey

Nancy Clayson
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George Zimmerman releases painting portraying Prosecutor Angela Corey

George Zimmerman is releasing a painting portraying Angela Corey, the special prosecutor who charged him with second-degree murder.

The artwork titled Angie uses shades of red and orange to depict northeast Florida state attorney Angela Corey.

Robert Zimmerman Jr. posted his brother’s new painting Wednesday on Twitter. He said details about its sale would follow Thursday.

Text on the piece reads: “I have this much respect for the American judicial system.”

George Zimmerman’s artwork titled Angie uses shades of red and orange to depict northeast Florida state attorney Angela Corey
George Zimmerman’s artwork titled Angie uses shades of red and orange to depict northeast Florida state attorney Angela Corey

George Zimmerman sold another painting on eBay last month, with a winning bid of $100,099.99.

He was acquitted in July in the 2012 shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

George Zimmerman’s attorneys successfully argued that he shot Trayvon Martin in self-defense.

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Si Robertson duck-umentary

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Si Robertson duck-umentary

Duck Dynasty fans were treated to a Si Robertson takeover on last night’s episode.

Uncle Si Robertson strapped a camera on top of a war helmet to give viewers a point-of-view look into the life of Si.

“Gentlemen, I present Si-vision,” said Jase Robertson.

“From this moment on, okay hey, the truth will be known,” Si Robertson announced to the camera.

“No one will be able to look at Si Robertson again with a crooked eye and say, <<Hey! That guy’s head ain’t on right>>.”

Si Robertson wanted to make sure his viewers were able to get a complete look into the Si experience so he strapped a second camera to his chest.

“I’ve got one camera looking at me and then I’ve got another one on my chest where you can see what a shorter version of me sees,” he explained.

One person who definitely would not be tuning in was Jase Robertson.

“This is going to get real old fast,” he said.

“This is gonna be what they call a classic,” Si Robertson said very confidently.

“This is all nonfiction Jack. Hey look! You can’t make this stuff up.”

Uncle Si Robertson strapped a camera on top of a war helmet to give viewers a point-of-view look into the life of Si
Uncle Si Robertson strapped a camera on top of a war helmet to give viewers a point-of-view look into the life of Si

But what started off as a “duck-umentary” of one man, navigating life as a duck call maker, somehow turned into a war movie.

“I know I said it would be a documentary about my life,” he admitted.

“Now it’s turning into an epic war movie.”

Sick of Si Robertson’s crazy antics, Jase, Jep and their Duck Commander coworkers Justin Martin and John Godwin set off on a long-awaited hunting trip and reluctantly brought along their uncle.

“Whenever hunting season rolls around, let just say it’s pretty difficult to focus on work,” said Jase.

But before they could head out for the hunt, Si Robertson had to take a bathroom break, which he of course filmed.

“In goes the good tea, out goes the bad tea,” Uncle Si said on camera.

“Can we go hunting now or are we going to sit around and talk about what happened or what didn’t happen in the Vietnam War?” Jase Robertson asked Uncle Si.

Once finally in the great outdoors, Si Robertson managed to turn what should have been a hunting trip into an episode of Oprah Winfrey.

“Speak into my chest and let’s get it off of your chest,” Si Robertson said as he asked Jase to share his feelings with him on camera.

“Bring the real Jason Robertson forward.”

“I don’t share my feelings with mad men,” Jase Robertson responded.

“That’s your problem,” explained Uncle Si.

“Treat me like Oprah.”

Jase Robertson began to notice that his Uncle was starting to get out of hand with the whole filming everything thing.

“Once you start comparing yourself to Oprah, things get uncomfortable just like a nature calling amongst a cactus thicket,” said Jase Robertson.

Si Robertson’s documenting started to scare off all of the deer so he was kicked out of the duck blind. It was either that or his Oprah comment.

“This deer hunting movie [has] turned into a survival movie” he said as he exited the blind.

“That’s what happens when you’re comrade desert you.”

Phil Robertson wouldn’t stand for his sibling’s shenanigans.

“You need to turn that mess off Si, and get back to reality,” Phil Robertson told Uncle Si.

Justin Bieber charged after Miami road racing

Lisa.Felice
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Justin Bieber charged after Miami road racing

Justin Bieber has appeared in a Miami court accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs.

Police said Justin Bieber, 19, was arrested early on Thursday after racing his sports car on a Miami Beach street.

They said the singer did not co-operate when pulled over and also charged him with resisting arrest without violence and having an expired driving license.

Justin Bieber was granted bail set at $2,500.

The arrest comes a week after his home in Los Angeles was searched by police following allegations he had thrown eggs at his neighbor’s house.

Justin Bieber was accused of causing significant damage to the property. One member of his entourage was arrested for alleged drug possession following the search.

In the latest incident, police said Justin Bieber had been racing a yellow Lamborghini against another sports car in the early hours of Thursday.

The Miami Herald reported that members of the musician’s entourage had apparently used their cars to block traffic on Pine Tree Drive at 26th Street, effectively creating a drag strip.

Justin Bieber has appeared in a Miami court accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs
Justin Bieber has appeared in a Miami court accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs

Miami-Dade Police said Justin Bieber didn’t co-operate with officers at first, questioning why he had been stopped. He also had an invalid Georgia driver’s license, they alleged.

The driver of the second car – a red Ferrari – was also arrested and both cars impounded, they said.

The other driver was later named as an R&B singer known as Khalil. He was also set bail by the court.

“During the investigation Mr. Bieber made statements that he had consumed some alcohol, that he had been smoking marijuana and consumed some prescription medication,” said Miami Beach police chief Raymond Martinez.

“They were starting from a stop position and they were accelerating to a high rate of speed, going almost double the speed limit… in that area.”

The arrest report said the singer “had slow deliberate movements” and a look of “stupor” when the officer told him to step out of the Lamborghini.

The two men were first taken to Miami Beach police station and later transferred to a Miami-Dade County jail before their court appearance.

The street where police say Justin Bieber was racing is a residential area in mid-Miami Beach.

Small apartment buildings are along one side of the street and on the other side are a high school, a youth centre, a golf course and a fire station.

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South Sudan government and rebels sign ceasefire deal after Ethiopia talks

Roy Siemens
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South Sudan government and rebels sign ceasefire deal after Ethiopia talks

Government and rebels in South Sudan have signed a ceasefire agreement after talks in Ethiopia.

Under the deal, signed in a hotel in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, the fighting is due to come to an end within 24 hours.

In the past week, government forces have recaptured the two main cities under rebel control.

More than 500,000 people have been forced from their homes during the month-long conflict.

“These two agreements are the ingredients to create an environment for achieving a total peace in my country,” said Taban Deng, head of the rebel delegation, AFP reports.

However, the South Sudanese government has expressed skepticism over whether the opposition will be able to control all the militias involved in fighting.

The talks have now been adjourned and are due to continue on February 7.

What started out as a political dispute between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his former deputy Riek Machar on December 15 escalated into full-scale conflict, with reports of ethnic killings.

South Sudan's government and rebels have signed a ceasefire agreement after talks in Ethiopia
South Sudan’s government and rebels have signed a ceasefire agreement after talks in Ethiopia

A ceremony to mark the signing of the agreement on the “cessation of hostilities and the question of the detainees” took place at the hotel where the talks were hosted.

The agreement is thought to address the issue of 11 detainees whom the rebels wanted freed, and whose fate had previously left the talks deadlocked.

The detainees – allies of Riek Machar and prominent political figures from a faction of the governing SPLM party – were taken into custody when Salva Kiir first made the allegations of an attempted coup – which Machar denies.

The South Sudanese government had earlier said on its Twitter feed that it envisaged an amnesty for the detainees but only after their cases had been heard in court.

Another key rebel demand was for Ugandan troops fighting alongside the government forces to be withdrawn.

Last week, the UN human rights chief said both government soldiers and rebels had committed atrocities in South Sudan, one of the world’s poorest countries.

More than 70,000 civilians are seeking shelter at UN bases across South Sudan and the UN estimates that considerably more than 1,000 have been killed.

Following the outbreak of hostilities, it was agreed to boost the UN force and an extra 5,500 peacekeepers are being deployed to South Sudan, to bring its strength up to 12,500.

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Platon Lebedev to be released from jail

Diane A. Wade
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Platon Lebedev to be released from jail

Platon Lebedev, the former business partner of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, with whom he was jailed in 2005, will be released, Russia’s Supreme Court has ordered.

Platon Lebedev and Mikhail Khodorkovsky were convicted of tax evasion and theft after funding opposition parties and falling out with President Vladimir Putin.

Vladimir Putin pardoned Mikhail Khodorkovsky last month, but Platon Lebedev, who was due for release in May, did not seek a pardon and stayed in jail.

The Russian Supreme Court ruled that his sentence should be reduced and that he would be able to walk free on Friday.

“Release Lebedev,” Supreme Court Judge Pyotr Serkov declared in the ruling, after reducing his sentence so that it amounted to time served.

Platon Lebedev and his former business partner Mikhail Khodorkovsky were jailed in 2005
Platon Lebedev and his former business partner Mikhail Khodorkovsky were jailed in 2005

Both men’s convictions remain in place, despite repeated appeals.

It did not change a court order under which Platon Lebedev and Mikhail Khodorkovsky must pay 17 billion roubles ($500 million) in tax arrears.

That debt is an obstacle to Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s return to Russia after leaving for Germany in December.

The releases are believed by many to be part of a drive to improve Russia’s international image ahead of the Sochi Winter Olympics next month.

Other prominent inmates freed in the past few weeks included two women from the Pussy Riot protest group, jailed over the performance of a “punk prayer” critical of Vladimir Putin in a Russian Orthodox church.

Platon Lebedev used to head NFO Menatep, while Mikhail Khodorkovsky ran oil giant Yukos and was once Russia’s richest man.

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What Will the UK Property Market Do in 2014?

Roy Siemens
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What Will the UK Property Market Do in 2014?

In 2014, there is a very strong likelihood that the value of the UK real estate market will increase nearly 8%. There were surprise gains in 2013 that took place in all parts of the country, causing the estate agents and banks to estimate that this boom in the UK property market will continue throughout 2014. This seems to be the consensus view among economists and property professionals. There has been a round up of a survey that was conducted by more than seven banks, estate agents, and surveyors that shows that there will be a further growth in the UK property market and this is through the widespread forecast on the property markets.

Sunset at Hearst Castle
Stuck in Customs / CC BY-NC-SA

Gains will be particularly strong in the South East and in London, partially due to the initiatives of the government in encouraging banks to lend more money for remortgage deals and mortgages, and for consumers to buy more property, in a program known as Help To Buy. This has greatly restored some degree of confidence to the property markets in the UK which has been lacking for the past few years, hence leading to increase in demand. Even though the government of the UK has tried to remove some economic stimulus and has brought about some minor changes in how the mortgage markets are regulated, the property market is nevertheless expected to rise in 2014 as demand for real estate booms.

The expected results of this increase in the property markets in 2014



Due to the public belief that the growth in consumer confidence in the economy in late 2013 is likely to gain momentum in the 2014, people are becoming more willing to buy real estate, driving the price up. Property professionals are expecting a high likelihood that there will be a large increase in the buying and selling of houses, and more than one million homes will be bought and sold. Due to the increase in the transaction levels there is a high expectation that the growth in the real estate market will be around 8 per cent, but may be in the double digits. All this is caused by factors such as:

  • Better economic conditions
  • Improved confidence
  • Increased availability of mortgages

In the UK, the biggest winners in the property market boom will most likely be the sellers of high tech homes, the wrecks, and eco-homes. The UK property market has also split into two regions of particularly strong growth: London and South East. London is the biggest hotspot in the increase in the property market, growing at over 10 per cent last year. This is expected to continue throughout 2014. Due to the continuing boom in the UK property market in 2014, now is the best time for investors to invest more in real estate, and diversify their holdings.

Hottest job offers in Illinois to apply for right now!

Nancy Clayson
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2
Hottest job offers in Illinois to apply for right now!

Job has been an essential part of life of a human being. Today having a prestigious job is not only a part of prosperity. It has become a matter of a social position, of self-esteem and self-improvement. Hunting for a new job may be prompted by various factors as loss of income, moving to another city or state or a desire for change in life simply. It does not matter indeed what has promoted you for a new search of job. It does not matter what a new position you are opting for, whether you are searching for state of Illinois jobs or wish to expand your horizons to other states. Starting your job quest now, you should be ready for new search conditions based on a recent paradigm shift in the way employees and companies search for each other.

Iced tea at Georgia's, version 2
Ed Yourdon / Foter.com / CC BY-SA

The major changes lie in a domain of new job hunting mechanisms as the process of employment search has gone online. E-cruitment or online recruitment is a brand new way of search for new professional talents powered up with new tried, tested, trusted and, what is more, indispensable medium as job search sites. Many people enjoy advantages of job search sites being a prime source of the hottest job offers you can apply for with a click of a mouth. Due to value, efficiency and simple usability of the job portals as well as to the internet penetration levels, searching for employment in your area has become an easy and enjoyable process. What are the major advantages of career sites you can benefit from?

  • Real-time interaction. Job search sites promote 24/7 recruiting/job hunting activity enabling direct contacts of interested employers and prospective applicants for a position. Tracking hot job offers online you can apply for a desired job in a matter of minutes;
    Fast results. Typically online hiring process is 70% faster than any other way of job search (e.g. newspaper ads browsing). The process of applying for a job and negotiating the details of a position is speeded up at every stage of recruiting;
    A chance to make a good choice. Browsing job search sites you are enabled to compare current offers by various companies in your area, to weigh up the options and to get well prepared for an interview in a company you are opting to get a position in by studying its profile and finding out its main candidate specifications.

One of the job search sites to hunt the hottest jobs in state of Illinois is jobtonic.com powered with comfortable search tool enabling you to filter relevant job offers by state, by city or by category. Many sites miss the option of keeping you informed on recently posted new job offers relevant to your search like jobtonic.com offers you. You can subscribe for email notifications about new jobs on the site. Nice interface of the site will let you enjoy the job search for hours!

Justin Bieber mugshots released by Miami Beach Police after his arrest

Lisa.Felice
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0
Justin Bieber mugshots released by Miami Beach Police after his arrest

Miami Beach Police released mugshots of Justin Bieber after the singer has been arrested and accused of road racing and driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs.

Miami Beach Police said Justin Bieber was detained after racing on a street early on Thursday.

Police said Justin Bieber, 19, did not co-operate when pulled over and was also charged with resisting arrest without violence and having an invalid driver’s license.

Justin Bieber has had several run-ins with police in recent years.

The arrest comes a week after his home in Los Angeles was searched by police following allegations he had thrown eggs at his neighbor’s house.

In the latest incident, police said Justin Bieber had been driving a yellow Lamborghini when he was arrested in the early hours of Thursday.

The Miami Herald reported that members of the musician’s entourage had apparently used their cars to block traffic on Pine Tree Drive at 26th Street, effectively creating a drag strip.

Police say Justin Bieber didn’t co-operate at first, questioning why he had been stopped. He also had an invalid Georgia driver’s license, officers said.

Miami Beach Police released mugshots of Justin Bieber after the star has been arrested and accused of road racing and DUI
Miami Beach Police released mugshots of Justin Bieber after the star has been arrested and accused of road racing and DUI

The driver of a red Ferrari was also arrested and both cars impounded, said Miami-Dade Police spokesman Sgt Bobby Hernandez.

Police later named the other driver as an R&B singer known as Khalil.

“During the investigation Mr. Bieber made statements that he had consumed some alcohol, that he had been smoking marijuana and consumed some prescription medication,” said Miami Beach police chief Raymond Martinez.

“They were starting from a stop position and they were accelerating to a high rate of speed, going almost double the speed limit… in that area.”

The arrest report said Justin Bieber “had slow deliberate movements” and a look of “stupor” when the officer told him to step out of the Lamborghini.

Justin Bieber and Khalil were first taken to Miami Beach police station and later transferred to a Miami-Dade County jail pending an initial court appearance expected later on Thursday.

The street where police say Justin Bieber was racing is a residential area in mid-Miami Beach.

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Honey Boo Bo and her family go to the beach on Tybee Island

Lisa.Felice
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0
Honey Boo Bo and her family go to the beach on Tybee Island

Honey Boo Boo and her family visited Savannah and Tybee Island in the latest episode of reality show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.

The episode, filmed in June and titled Hubba Bubba follows the Georgia family on an RV roadtrip to Tybee Island where 8-year-old Alana Thompson, sister Lauryn “Pumpkin” and niece Katilyn see the beach for the first time.

June Shannon takes her first dip in the ocean, and the girls take their first surf lesson before ending the day with some Southern cooking at Sisters of the New South on Skidaway Road.

Kenneth Brown, operations manager at Sisters of the New South, said they knew of the family’s visit about a month in advance but had to keep quiet so it would be a surprise for the customers.

“It was a normal day for us, and all of the customers were really surprised to see them,” Kenneth Brown said.

Honey Boo Boo and her family see the beach for the first time on Tybee Island
Honey Boo Boo and her family see the beach for the first time on Tybee Island

“They were all very friendly. I think TV portrays them a certain way … as <<backwoodsy>>, but they were very down to earth, just like anyone else you would meet.”

Dorothy Bing, front line supervisor at the restaurant, waited on the family and agreed with Brown, saying what you see on television is what you get with the family.

“They’re just regular, ordinary people. They acted the same way they do on TV, acting a fool and all,” said Dorothy Bing.

She said the family enjoyed red and white velvet cake and that Mama June tried ox tails for the first time.

“I was surprised at how quiet the little girl was. She did talk, but she was a lot quieter than I thought she would be,” Dorothy Bing said.

After the family’s day of fun in the sun June Shannon gave Honey Boo Boo’s one million Facebook followers a peek into their day: “Omg had a blast on tybee today a first time ever at a beach for pumpkin katilyn and alana and my first time going in the ocean we have a awesome time just as a family and meet some fans down there now going to dinner and then maybe walking river st.”

Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, featuring the family’s trip to Tybee Island and Savannah, airs at 9 p.m. today on the TLC network.

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Justin Bieber arrested for DUI and drag racing in Miami Beach

Lisa.Felice
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0
Justin Bieber arrested for DUI and drag racing in Miami Beach

Justin Bieber has been arrested in Miami Beach after being accused of DUI and drag racing.

The Miami Beach Police Department said Justin Bieber, 19, was detained after racing on a street early on Thursday and had failed an alcohol test.

The singer has had several run-ins with police in recent years.

The arrest comes a week after Justin Bieber’s home in Los Angeles was searched by police following allegations he had thrown eggs at his neighbor’s house.

Justin Bieber was accused of causing significant damage to the property. One member of his entourage was arrested for alleged drug possession following the search.

In the latest incident, the Associated Press quoted police as saying Justin Bieber had been driving a yellow Lamborghini when he was arrested in the early hours of Thursday.

The Miami Herald reported that members of  Justin Bieber’s entourage had apparently used their cars to block traffic on Pine Tree Drive at 26th Street, effectively creating a drag strip.

Justin Bieber has been arrested in Miami Beach after being accused of DUI and drag racing
Justin Bieber has been arrested in Miami Beach after being accused of DUI and drag racing

The driver of a second car, a red Ferrari, was also arrested and both cars impounded, said Miami Dade-Police spokesman Sgt. Bobby Hernandez.

Police later named the other driver as an R&B singer known as Khalil.

The street where police say the singer was racing is a residential area in mid-Miami Beach.

Small apartment buildings are along one side of the street and on the other side are a high school, a youth centre, a golf course and a fire station.

Justin Bieber lives in a gated community in Calabasas, about 30 miles north-west of central Los Angeles.

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Ukraine opposition leaders issue ultimatum to Viktor Yanukovych after talks

Diane A. Wade
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Ukraine opposition leaders issue ultimatum to Viktor Yanukovych after talks

Opposition leaders in Ukraine have issued an ultimatum to President Viktor Yanukovych, after talks failed to resolve the political stalemate.

Vitali Klitschko said he would lead pro-EU protesters “on the attack” in the capital, Kiev, if the government refused to call snap elections.

PM Mykola Azarov said compromises “might be possible”, but the opposition should avoid ultimatums.

Two activists were killed in clashes with police in Kiev on Wednesday.

Prosecutors confirmed they had died from gunshot wounds.

They were the first fatalities since the anti-government protests flared up in late November over Viktor Yanukovych’s decision to pull out of a landmark treaty with the EU.

Late on Wednesday, Ukraine’s Radio Liberty reported the death of a third activist.

The body of Yuri Verbitsky was found in a forest outside Kiev, bearing signs of torture, according to the broadcaster.

He had reportedly been abducted earlier this week with activist Igor Lutsenko, who was later released. Igor Lutsenko is said to be in hospital.

Hundreds of people have been injured in the clashes, though some of the violence has been blamed on a little-known far-right group, Right Sector.

Opposition leaders in Ukraine have issued an ultimatum to President Viktor Yanukovych, after talks failed to resolve the political stalemate
Opposition leaders in Ukraine have issued an ultimatum to President Viktor Yanukovych, after talks failed to resolve the political stalemate

Wednesday’s unrest came on the day that new anti-protest laws entered into force. Parliament approved the laws last week, triggering renewed protests which spilled into violence on Sunday night.

As dawn broke on Thursday, the barricades were still burning, billowing black smoke from the piles of tyres that now mark the front line between the riot police and the protestors.

Speaking at a mass rally on Wednesday evening, Vitali Klitschko said the president could end the stand-off “without bloodshed” by calling early elections, but that “tomorrow, if the president does not respond… then we will go on the attack”, to roars of approval from the crowd.

Vitali Klitschko said police were preparing to clear demonstrators out of the main protest encampment at Maidan (Independence Square).

“We must do all we can to stop them clearing us out,” he told demonstrators.

Another opposition leader, Arseniy Yatseniuk, said the government had 24 hours to respond to the demands, which also include the lifting of the new anti-protest laws.

“If this does not happen, we will march forward together. If it’s a bullet to the head, then it’s a bullet to the head,” he declared.

But the prime minister said opposition leaders should be “more humble”.

“The opposition leaders should move away from the language of ultimatums,” Mykola Azarov said.

“We are ready to compromise, to agree. The opposition leaders should understand that they also bear responsibility in avoiding a civil war, and bloodshed, and so does the government.”

Wednesday’s violence began in a small area around Hrushevskyy Street, a road leading to government buildings close to the protest camp at Maidan.

Security forces later fell back to their positions after fierce clashes with protesters, but by the afternoon had pushed on through the barricades.

Protesters again hurled petrol bombs and stones while riot police responded with stun grenades and rubber bullets.

Thousands of protesters also gathered in Independence Square.

There was a crush at one of the narrow entrances into the square when protesters trying to get in met protesters who were trying to get out to fight the police.

At least two ambulances were seen carrying away the wounded.

Officials confirmed two bodies were found with bullet wounds close to the scene of the clashes.

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Pentagon eases uniform rules to allow religious wear

Diane A. Wade
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0
Pentagon eases uniform rules to allow religious wear

Pentagon has decided to ease its uniform rules to allow religious wear including turbans, skullcaps, beards and tattoos, officials have said.

Muslim, Sikh, Jewish and Wiccan soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen can now request exemptions to strict military uniform and grooming policies.

Requests will be evaluated individually and can be denied if they hinder military readiness.

Previously, at least three Sikhs had won specific accommodation.

Pentagon has decided to ease its uniform rules to allow religious wear including turbans, skullcaps, beards and tattoos
Pentagon has decided to ease its uniform rules to allow religious wear including turbans, skullcaps, beards and tattoos

Service members’ requests for a religious accommodation will be weighed on a case-by-case basis to ensure they do not impact “mission accomplishment, unit cohesion, and good order and discipline”.

And appeals to be allowed to wear beards or special apparel, for example, may be denied if they hinder the safe operation of weapons or military equipment, such as helmets or protective masks.

An accommodation will only apply to the service member’s current assignment, requiring him or her to obtain new exemptions with every transfer.

The new policy, in effect on Wednesday, will extend to all religions recognized by the US military across all branches.

The US military counts nearly 3,700 Muslims and 1,500 Wiccans among its ranks, according to statistics reported by NBC News, but it remains unclear how many will apply for dispensations.

Venezuela tightens foreign currency controls

Clyde K. Valle
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Venezuela tightens foreign currency controls

Venezuela’s government has announced measures to address the country’s foreign currency crisis and boost the economy.

Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez says Venezuelans travelling abroad will no longer be allowed to obtain foreign exchange at the official rate of 6.3 bolivars per US dollar.

They will have to pay a higher rate, determined by weekly currency auctions.

The official rate will be used only for essential goods, such as medicine, industrial supplies and food.

“The big discussion here is whether we give dollars to travelers or we import food,” said Rafael Ramirez.

Venezuela’s government has announced measures to address the country’s foreign currency crisis and boost the economy
Venezuela’s government has announced measures to address the country’s foreign currency crisis and boost the economy

The weekly dollar auctions will be increased to $220 million a week to benefit private companies that have been struggling to import raw materials and other supplies.

Rafael Ramirez, who is also the president of state-owned oil company PDVSA, promised to unveil further details of the new multi-tier currency system.

Despite its oil wealth, Venezuela has faced a shortage of staple goods, such as sugar, cooking oil and toilet paper.

Many businessmen say the shortages are due to the mismanagement of the economy, including the tough currency controls introduced in 2003 by the late president, Hugo Chavez.

But his successor President Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly accused “unscrupulous businessmen” of manufacturing the crisis to undermine his left-wing policies.

In his state of the nation address before the National Assembly last week Nicolas Maduro vowed to introduce tougher penalties for “sabotage and speculation”.

On the black market, dollars can be bought and sold at 10 times the official 6.3 exchange rate.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner dismisses speculation about her health in first public speech

Diane A. Wade
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Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner dismisses speculation about her health in first public speech

Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has made her first public appearance in six weeks, ending a long silence that led to questions about her health following brain surgery.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was welcomed by hundreds of supporters at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires.

In a televised address, she announced a plan to help unemployed young people.

The president dismissed speculation about her health and criticized Argentina’s media.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was welcomed by hundreds of supporters at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was welcomed by hundreds of supporters at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner had an operation on October 8 to remove a blood clot from her brain and returned to work on November 18.

But she had not spoken in public since a high-profile ceremony in Buenos Aires on December 10.

“They wanted to create the impression among the Argentine people that I couldn’t do it anymore,” she said, referring to the media, which is largely hostile to her government.

“The truth is I had some problems, but I would like to see who, facing the same problems, would have continued to govern for 40 million Argentines,” the president said.

“I hope nobody criticizes this nationally televised address after demanding my presence so much,” she added ironically.

The opposition said Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner had “disappeared” as the country’s economic crisis worsened.

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Daniel Radcliffe to play Washington Roebling in new production Brooklyn Bridge

Sonia Pantiss
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Daniel Radcliffe to play Washington Roebling in new production Brooklyn Bridge

Daniel Radcliffe will play civil engineer Washington Roebling, who was instrumental in building the Brooklyn Bridge, in his next film role.

The new movie, Brooklyn Bridge, will be directed by Douglas McGrath, best known for the Jane Austen adaptation, Emma, starring Gwyneth Paltrow.

The Brooklyn Bridge took 14 years to build, at a cost of $15 million and 20 lives.

Washington Roebling himself endured decompression sickness after supervising construction of the structure’s underwater supports.

Although the bridge, with its gleaming steel cables, is now considered a jewel of the New York skyline, it was much derided during the building phase.

Daniel Radcliffe will play civil engineer Washington Roebling, who was instrumental in building the Brooklyn Bridge, in his next film role
Daniel Radcliffe will play civil engineer Washington Roebling, who was instrumental in building the Brooklyn Bridge, in his next film role

The Brooklyn Bridge was twice as long as the Menai Suspension Bridge between Anglesey and mainland Wales, which was then the world’s largest suspension bridge. Many skeptics believed the structure would simply collapse into the East River and float away.

Washington Roebling’s father had designed the bridge’s two enormous towers and was placed in charge of construction, but he injured his foot in a freak accident while surveying the site, contracting tetanus and later dying of lockjaw.

He took over and watched as the project spiraled to almost twice its original budget.

Despite his travails, the bridge was hailed as a “marvel of science” when it eventually opened in 1883.

A key player in Douglas McGrath’s script is Washington Roebling’s wife Emily, who supported him during his darkest hours.

Filming is due to begin in August, with the rest of the cast yet to be announced.

First river dolphin since 1918 discovered in Brazil

James J. Williams
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First river dolphin since 1918 discovered in Brazil

Brazilian scientists have discovered the first new river dolphin species since the end of World War One.

Named after the Araguaia River where it was found, the species is only the fifth known of its kind in the world.

Writing in the journal Plos One, the researchers say it separated from other South American river species more than two million years ago.

There are believed to be about 1,000 of the creatures living in the Araguaia river basin.

River dolphins are among the world’s rarest creatures.

According to the IUCN, there are only four known species, and three of them are on the Red List, meaning they are critically endangered.

These dolphins are only distantly related to their seafaring cousins, tending to have long beaks which let them hunt for fish in the mud at the bottom of rivers.

One of the best known species, the Yangtze River dolphin or baiji is believed to have gone extinct in about 2006.

South America though is home to the Amazon River dolphin, also known as the pink dolphin or boto, said to be the most intelligent of all the river species.

The new discovery is said to be related to the Amazonian, although scientists believe the species separated more than two million years ago.

River dolphins are among the world's rarest creatures
River dolphins are among the world’s rarest creatures

The scientists say there are some differences in the number of teeth and they suspect the Araguaia River species is smaller, but most of the clues to their separate nature were found in their genes.

By analyzing DNA samples from dozens of dolphins in both rivers, the team concluded the Araguaia River creature was indeed a new species.

The researchers acknowledge though that some experts may question whether or not the discovery is in fact, wholly distinct.

Dr. Tomas Hrbek, from the Federal University of Amazonas said: “We looked at the mitochondrial DNA which is essentially looking at the lineages, and there is no sharing of lineages.

“The groups that we see, the haplotypes, are much more closely related to each other than they are to groups elsewhere. For this to happen, the groups must have been isolated from each other for a long time.

The researchers propose that the new species be called the Araguaian Boto, or Boto-do-Araguaia.

They estimate that there are about 1,000 of these creatures living in the river that flows northward for more than 2,600km to join the Amazon.

The researchers are concerned about the future for the new dolphin, saying that it appears to have very low levels of genetic diversity.

They are also worried because of human development.

“Since the 1960s the Araguaia river basin has been experiencing significant anthropogenic pressure via agricultural and ranching activities, and the construction of hydroelectric dams,” the authors write in their study.

Funny and fake London Underground signs

Ricky Robinson
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Funny and fake London Underground signs

Somebody has made some fake London Underground signs. Check them out below:

Kim Kardashian pregnant again?

Lisa.Felice
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Kim Kardashian pregnant again?

New reports claim sources close to Kim Kardashian have said the reality star is pregnant for second time.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are expecting their second child after “trying” for months, Media TakeOut first reported. The report cited two sources close to the couple who confirmed that Kim Krdashian is pregnant.

Sources close to Kim Kardashian have said the reality star is pregnant for second time
Sources close to Kim Kardashian have said the reality star is pregnant for second time

Another evidence of Kim Kardashian’s pregnancy was a picture snapped of Kim leaving her OBGYN’s office.

Reports that Kim Kardashian are pregnant have started to trickle out from other outlets as well, but there is some conflict whether the rumors are true. A source contacted by HollywoodLife said: “No way, she’s not pregnant.”

Ironically, the reports that Kim Kardashian is pregnant come just days after another rumor that said she and Kanye West were headed for a split.

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Geneva peace talks: Syrian government and opposition trade bitter accusations

Roy Siemens
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Geneva peace talks: Syrian government and opposition trade bitter accusations

Syrian government and opposition have traded bitter accusations on the first day of a major peace conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

The opposition and US said President Bashar al-Assad had no legitimacy and must step down from power.

Syria’s foreign minister had a terse exchange with the UN’s Ban Ki-moon over the length of his speech and said only Syrians could decide Bashar al-Assad’s fate.

The conflict has left more than 100,000 dead and millions displaced.

The summit is discussing the Geneva communiqué which lays out a political transition plan for Syria.

Wednesday’s initial meeting, involving speeches from 40 or so foreign ministers – has now ended. The direct talks are scheduled to begin in Geneva on Friday.

At a fractious evening news conference, during which there were repeated calls for calm, Ban Ki-moon spoke of the suffering in Syria, saying: “Enough is enough. The time has come to negotiate.”

He said that “the really hard work begins on Friday”, adding: “We have a difficult road ahead, but it can be done and it must be done.”

Ban Ki-moon dwelt on the Geneva communiqué, which calls for a transitional government in Syria, saying he was disappointed with the attitudes of both the Syrian government and its ally, Iran.

Syrian government and opposition have traded bitter accusations on the first day of a major peace conference in Geneva
Syrian government and opposition have traded bitter accusations on the first day of a major peace conference in Geneva

UN mediator Lakhdar Brahimi said he would speak to the Syrian government and opposition delegations separately on Thursday and that he hoped both teams would meet in the same room on Friday.

This would be the first face-to-face meeting between the Syrian government and the main opposition – the National Coalition – since the conflict began in 2011.

At his press conference, Secretary of State John Kerry stressed that the Geneva communiqué and its call for political transition was the paramount focus of the summit.

“Every delegation, with one exception, embraced the Geneva communiqué,” John Kerry said, referring to the Syrian government.

“No-one has done more to make Syria a magnet for terrorists than Bashar al-Assad,” he said.

“You cannot save Syria with Bashar al-Assad in power.”

A member of the Syrian team, UN ambassador Bashar Jaafari, criticized the exclusion of Iran from the meeting, and condemned many of Wednesday’s speeches as “provocative and repetitive statements based on hatred towards the Syrian government”.

He also accused Gulf states of “inciting terrorism” in Syria.

Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said some states attending the talks had “Syrian blood on their hands” and called the opposition “traitors”.

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Sinead O’Connor hospitalized with mystery illness

Lisa.Felice
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Sinead O’Connor hospitalized with mystery illness

Sinead O’Connor feared for her life last week after she was hospitalized with a mystery illness.

The singer fell ill last Tuesday and was taken to a hospital near her home in Ireland by her sister.

Sinead O’Connor, 47, was transferred to another medical facility amid fears she had suffered an abdominal aneurysm, but she was later diagnosed with kidney stones.

She was discharged from hospital, but called out a doctor to her home on Friday and was given potent drug Demerol to combat her ongoing pain.

Sinead O’Connor admits she was so worried during her health scare, she started to make plans for her own funeral.

Sinead O'Connor admits she was so worried during her health scare, she started to make plans for her own funeral
Sinead O’Connor admits she was so worried during her health scare, she started to make plans for her own funeral

In a post on her blog, the singer wrote: “I get seized by pain that feels like all my back ribs and all front are broken. Literally as if someone stamped all over me and smashed them … or I got run over by a car. So we’re thinking ok … I could croak (die) any minute… and we start making plans … as to how the kids will be ok …”

Sinead O’Connor eventually returned to hospital again over the weekend and underwent a battery of tests, and has now blamed her ill health on “a physical reaction to an emotional trauma”.

The singer said: “[The doctor] says <<You do have a kidney stone but it isn’t where it would be causing you a problem. People have kidney stones all the time and don’t know … the kidney stone isn’t whats causing your pain>>.

“He asks me have I been upset about anything … I sob quietly and say <<Yes … something extremely traumatic happened about a week ago>> … He says <<There’s your problem>> … So [I am] now in recovery mode.”

Danica Patrick shows off pumped up body in Go Daddy Super Bowl commercial

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Danica Patrick shows off pumped up body in Go Daddy Super Bowl commercial

Go Daddy’s outrageous Super Bowl commercials have become a tradition.

This year’s Go Daddy commercial you will see on February 2 features NASCAR driver Danica Patrick and it looks to be the complete opposite of what anyone would expect.

The Associated Press notes that Go Daddy teased last year that it might be dropping Danica Patrick from its campaign, only to use her in both Super Bowl spots.

Previously on For The Win, Danica Patrick was transformed from NASCAR driver to bodybuilder.

Danica Patrick’s dramatic weight gain was for a new Go Daddy commercial in which she races gigantic men to a tanning salon
Danica Patrick’s dramatic weight gain was for a new Go Daddy commercial in which she races gigantic men to a tanning salon

Danica Patrick’s dramatic weight gain was for a new Go Daddy commercial in which she races gigantic men to a tanning salon.

All these body builders have finally found their favorite tanning business, thanks to Go Daddy.

No word on how Danica Patrick’s new muscle gain will impact her on the track, but there is no question she immediately becomes the driver most likely to win at arm wrestling.

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Bernard Madoff hospitalized after suffering heart attack in prison

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Bernard Madoff hospitalized after suffering heart attack in prison

Bernard Madoff has been returned to jail after being hospitalized for a heart attack last month.

According to CNBC, Bernard Madoff, 75, also has stage four kidney disease, but is not receiving dialysis.

Bernard Madoff has been returned to jail after being hospitalized for a heart attack last month
Bernard Madoff has been returned to jail after being hospitalized for a heart attack last month

He has served less than five years of his 150-year prison sentence for running the largest investment fraud in US history.

Bernard Madoff was hospitalized last month at Duke University Medical Center, and has since been returned to the medium security federal prison in nearby Butner, North Carolina, CNBC reported.

Heart FM – Spotify to Measure a Different Kind of Beat

Ricky Robinson
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Heart FM – Spotify to Measure a Different Kind of Beat

Like the epic intro to some Tolkien-esque fantasy film, it seems that the music industry looks set to be thrown into chaos – with broken hearts at the centre of a monumental music streaming battle. The announcement of the Dr. Dre endorsed rival to Spotify’s streaming monopoly has rallied the troops and set the PR war machine to work – with a number of interesting, and sometimes speculative announcements from the service’s marketing department designed to keep consumers on-side.

Spotify HQ
Erik Stattin / CC BY-SA

The latest of these announcements hopes to take those broken hearts and recommend a suitably sentimental love-song to remedy the pain. That is, Spotify have announced that, in the near future they hope to be able to monitor users heart-beats to provide a recommendation system based on mood and/or likelihood of cardiac arrest. It seems that Dr Dre’s Beats has got Spotify’s pulse racing.

Smartphone for Smart Recommendations

This latest idea from Spotify will use device to device communication from companies such as Deutsche Telekom to monitor things like pulse, temperature, sleep patterns and body motion. The aim is to build a picture of individual users that enables the service to recommend music, linked not only to listening habits, but also to mood and disposition from sensors within your smartphone.

The data will be collected from your smartphone and then sent wirelessly to your Spotify account – although details on exactly how this will work are still very much unclear. It is a safe bet though that, with the meteoric rise and “one box to rule them all” philosophy of the smartphone, these features will appear sooner rather than later. In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for the latest announcements from an increasingly worried Spotify.

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