David Beckham crowned five and a half years at LA Galaxy by retaining the MLS Cup with a 3-1 win over Houston Dynamo in his final game.
Houston Dynamo had led at half-time through Calen Carr’s fierce strike, but an Omar Gonzalez header and Landon Donovan’s cool penalty turned the match around.
A second spot-kick, dispatched by Robbie Keane in injury-time, completed the victory in Los Angeles.
David Beckham, 37, was then substituted to cheers and a standing ovation.
“I am sad that this is the end,” said David Beckham.
“This is a very special place for me and it will continue to be. I am happy to have been part of this club for six years and I am grateful to have been successful for the last four years.
“I may not play here anymore but I remain just as committed to growing this club, this league and this sport.”
David Beckham crowned five and a half years at LA Galaxy by retaining the MLS Cup with a 3-1 win over Houston Dynamo in his final game
David Beckham has been linked with moves to Paris St. Germain and Monaco, but insisted that he had “no idea” where he would be playing next.
It is the second time he has lifted the MLS Cup – LA Galaxy beat the same opponents 1-0 in last year’s showpiece.
The former England captain also appeared in the 2009 final when Galaxy were beaten in a penalty shoot-out by Real Salt Lake.
David Beckham came close to a fairytale ending, but lacked the yard of pace required to get on the end of an inviting cross in the final 10 minutes.
Instead the former England captain was removed by coach Bruce Arena in the dying moments, embracing both team-mates and opponents as he headed to the sidelines.
David Beckham, who made a record 115 outfield appearances for England, was part of the Manchester United side that famously beat Bayern Munich to win the 1999 Champions League.
He left Old Trafford for Real Madrid in 2003, before agreeing his move to LA Galaxy in January 2007 and making his debut for the franchise in August in that year.
David Beckham attracted criticism from some Galaxy fans after agreeing loan moves to AC Milan in 2009 and 2010 which meant missing some of the MLS season.
But, before lifting the trophy draped in a union flag, his final post-match interview was met by universal acclaim from the home fans.
Slovenians are voting today in a presidential run-off following days of protests over budget cuts and alleged government corruption.
The vote pits incumbent Danilo Turk against former PM Borut Pahor, who is favored to win by opinion polls.
On Friday, a number of people were injured as protesters clashed with police in the capital Ljubljana.
Slovenia is facing one of the deepest recessions among the 17 countries in the eurozone.
The country’s economy has shrunk more than 8% since 2009.
Thirty-three people were charged with public order offences after the trouble in Ljubljana, police said.
Slovenian vote pits incumbent Danilo Turk against former PM Borut Pahor, who is favored to win by opinion polls
A protest that attracted thousands of people earlier in the week in the second city, Maribor, also turned violent.
Polls across Slovenia are due to open at 07:00 local time and close at 19:00 with first results expected within hours.
Borut Pahor won the first round of the election, and recent opinion polls suggest the ex-PM will be triumphant again on Sunday.
Commenting on the recent protests in the country, Borut Pahor told the Associated Press that the demonstrations “signal a lack of confidence” in government institutions.
Many protesters are angry at what they describe as harsh austerity measures being implemented by the current centre-right government.
They also accuse the government of corruption – a claim denied by the authorities.
Dr. Dre has topped a Forbes list of the 25 highest-paid musicians in 2012.
Dr. Dre, 47, became one of the leading names in rap in the early 1990s with N.W.A. and has worked with artists including Eminem and Snoop Dogg.
The producer’s headphones business, Beats by Dre, helped him make $100 million in pre-tax earnings, according to Forbes.
The top 10 also included Take That at number five.
The group, who reformed in 2005, made $69 million earned from an eight-date tour at London’s Wembley Stadium in June and July 2011.
That also became the highest-grossing single stadium tour to date.
Last year’s highest-paid musicians, U2, finished in fourth place this year with combined earnings of $78 million from their three-year 360 tour.
Forbes puts its annual highest-paid musicians list together by estimating artists’ earnings from music sales, live shows, endorsements and merchandising.
Dr Dre has topped Forbes list of the 25 highest-paid musicians in 2012
A number of Manhattan’s top hair salons have reported a surge in demand for “Kate Middleton bangs”, with many clients bringing pictures of the British Royal to show their stylists.
Yarok Hair founder Mordechai Alvow, whose clients include Melania and Ivanka Trump, says his phone has been ringing off the hook since the Duchess of Cambridge stepped out with her new do on Tuesday evening.
“There has absolutely been a surge in demand for long bangs,” he said, adding that they are in keeping with current fashion trends.
“Designers have been showing a lot of retro Seventies looks and they are a great match.”
Singer-songwriter Leah Blishi, 37, a client of Mordechai Alvow, admits she had been in two minds about going for the chop, but when Kate Middleton’s new look made the headlines, she was convinced.
“I was thinking about having long bangs for a while and I’m so pleased I went for it,” Leah Blishi said.
Stylists agree that long, centrally-parted bangs are a look that works on almost every face shape.
A number of Manhattan’s top hair salons have reported a surge in demand for Kate Middleton bangs
Gardner Edmunds at the Marie Robinson Salonadds that they are low-maintenance too.
“Aside from [Kate’s] obvious allure, clients have been asking for her new long bangs because it’s a low risk option for a big impact change because as the bang grows out it eventually blends in with the rest of your long layers,” he explained.
They should be executed with care though – get it wrong and the client must wait weeks until the unfortunate mistake grows out.
According to celebrity stylist Oscar Blandi, owner of New York’s Oscar Blandi Salon, proportion is the key.
“Anyone can wear this look, but it’s important that the cut is well-proportioned and tailored to the woman’s bone structure and hair line,” he says.
“The length of the bang depends heavily on these things.”
Luckily for Richard Ward, the top London stylist behind Kate Middleton’s cut, his New York counterparts give it their seal of approval.
“Kate’s bangs are angled towards the end of the eyebrows framing her face beautifully which is a more Seventies look,” Mordechai Alvow observes.
The cut is versatile too, according to Gardner Edmunds: “The length of her bang accentuates her cheek bones and draws attention to her eyes.”
“It’s versatile because you can part it on the side creating a dramatic sweep across the forehead or stick with a classic center part.”
But it seems this surge in interest is just the start for the “Kate look”.
Oscar Blandi believes long bangs are on the verge of a major comeback.
“Kate is constantly in the public eye and a style icon for women all over the world, so I can see this look coming back as a result,” he said.
1965 Slumber Party Barbie came with a set of pink bathroom scales, permanently set to a rather scrawny 110 lbs (50 kg), and a diet book instructing her on how to lose weight.
The controversial doll also included a pink satin pyjama top and bottoms, a pink robe with a sash, pink open-toe heels with blue pompoms, pink curlers, bobby pins and a blue brush and comb.
The scale was removed just one year later, and the 1966/7 version renamed Barbie Sleepytime Gal, but she still came equipped with her diet book and its one simple rule.
These days, a healthier body image is being impressed upon young girls who wish to play with a bedtime Barbie.
Barbie Pyjama Doll comes with accessories including a lamp for reading, an eye mask for getting an undisturbed night’s sleep, face cleanser, a mirror, a cuddly bunny, a hairbrush and a mug of hot cocoa.
1965 Slumber Party Barbie came with a set of pink bathroom scales and a diet book
Jovan Belcher had argued with his girlfriend Kasandra Perkins after she came home late from an R&B concert the night before he shot her dead then drove to his team’s stadium and committed suicide in front of his coach and general manager, it has emerged.
The 25-year-old Kansas City Chiefs linebacker fatally shot 22-year-old Kasandra Perkins early on Saturday morning, then killed himself in the presence of Chiefs staff after first thanking them for everything they had done for him, police said.
Jovan Belcher and Kasandra Perkins lived together and three months ago had a baby together on September 11 – but a friend said they quarreled frequently, and added that they fought when Perkins arrived home at 1 a.m. after attending a performance by Trey Songz.
Authorities did not confirm a possible motive for the murder-suicide, which stunned the team and came one day before a home game against the Carolina Panthers. The NFL said the game would go on as scheduled.
Judging from pictures posted on Kasandra Perkins’ Facebook page, the young couple had appeared to be happy and in love following the birth of their first child.
“Jovan and Kasandra always seemed to be in love. In fact, when Kasandra got pregnant, she and Jovan were ecstatic. Ever since the baby was born in September, the two couldn’t have seemed happier together,” a member of the Perkins family told TMZ.
However, a friend told the Kansas City Star she had frequently seen them argue over the course of their relationship – though she had no reason to believe their fights had ever become violent.
On Friday night, she added, Belcher had confronted Perkins when she came home after watching R&B star Trey Songz perform in Kansas City.
Jovan Belcher fought with Kasandra Perkins when she came back late from Trey Songz concert before murder-suicide
Jovan Belcher’s agent Joe Linta told ESPN’s Adam Schefter: “I’m in shock. So out of character. He was the last person in the world you would expect to do this.”
“Jovan was a happy, proud father, with pictures of his baby on his Facebook page,” Joe Linta told SI.com’s Peter King in a phone call on Saturday afternoon.
“This is shocking. Something went crazy wrong, and we’ll probably never know what it is.”
“Never until four hours ago did I think Jovan was anything but a model citizen,” Joe Linta told Peter King.
“He came to my youth clinics in the offseason and worked with kids. He was a gracious, unselfish, hard-working, dedicated kid – very, very caring of some of the underprivileged kids who came to the clinics. I saw him in a real positive way.
“I never take on anyone as a client I wouldn’t be proud to take home and spend time with my wife and kids. Jovan was one of those type of people.
“There’s no word for this other than shocking. That’s all I can think of.”
Jovan Belcher was a native of West Babylon, New York, on Long Island, played college ball at Maine. He had played all four of his NFL seasons for the Chiefs and played in every game each year, including the 11 so far this season. His 2012 salary was $1,927,000, four times what he had earned for the previous year.
Before turning the gun on himself, Jovan Belcher thanked Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli and Romeo Crennel for all they had done for him, police spokesman Darin Snapp said.
Jovan Belcher’s mother had recently moved in with the couple, possibly to help with the baby, at their residence in Independence, Missouri about five miles away from the Arrowhead complex.
She called police just before 8 a.m. to report Perkins had been shot multiple times. Kasandra Perkins was transported to The University of Kansas hospital, where she died a short time later.
Derya Sert, a woman who had the world’s first successful womb transplant, is set to undergo IVF in a bid to fulfill her dream of motherhood.
Speaking in London last week, her surgeon Professor Omer Ozkan revealed that the married housewife has responded so well to treatment that his medical team is confident the first “donor womb” pregnancy is now possible.
But some British experts, including Lord Winston, claim that a pregnancy could cause potentially fatal complications. And the baby would have to be born by caesarean, which carries the risks of surgery.
Prof. Omer Ozkan, who performed the pioneering transplant on 22-year-old Derya Sert in August last year, announced her IVF treatment at a conference attended by the world’s top transplant specialists. The event was organized by Richard Smith, a consultant at Imperial College London who could be ready to perform similar operations on British women in just two years.
Prof. Omer Ozkan, from Akdeniz University in Antalya, Turkey, also revealed three more women are to undergo transplants at his clinic, providing Derya Sert has a healthy baby.
He said: “This is the longest time any woman has gone without rejecting an implanted womb and we wanted to reach the year-and-a-half mark before going ahead. That will hopefully happen in three months’ time as things are looking good so far.”
Prof. Omer Ozkan described Derya Sert’s health as “absolutely normal”, adding: “It’s not only important for us to have this contact for the patient, it’s also important for future cases.”
Derya Sert, who is married to 35-year-old Mustafa, has said: “If I had a magic wand, I would want to be pregnant now. I just want to hold my baby in my arms, to be a mother.”
Derya Sert, who had the world’s first successful womb transplant, is set to undergo IVF in a bid to fulfill her dream of motherhood
Prof. Omer Ozkan and his team will take two out of eight embryos frozen before Derya Sert’s treatment, thaw them and transfer them into her uterus. The hope is this will lead to at least one baby – or even twins.
Women who have lost their wombs to cancer need to have been free of the disease for at least five years before they can be considered for a transplant.
But womb transplants have been criticized by experts because they are not carried out to “save a life”.
Risks include rejection of the new womb and potential side effects during pregnancy from the powerful anti-rejection drugs.
After the first womb transplant, carried out in Saudi Arabia in 2000, the donated organ “failed” after three months because the blood vessels used to connect it were too narrow and became blocked by clots.
However, Prof. Omer Ozkan does not doubt womb transplants are worth the risks for thousands of women otherwise unable to have a “normal” pregnancy.
He said: “Many people think that womb transplants aren’t necessary because they’re not lifesaving operations and that women have the option of adoption or surrogacy.
“But we’ve had applications from women all over the world wanting womb transplants. This is absolutely necessary for these women: you just have to ask them to realize this.”
A total of 100 women have now been screened by Prof. Omer Ozkan in addition to Derya Sert, who received her healthy organ from a car-crash victim. Ten of these have been selected as possible recipients. Of these, three have been approved for a transplant and have undergone fertility treatment. This has resulted in viable embryos, which have been put on ice.
Prof. Omer Ozkan could now have a race on his hands to become the first doctor to achieve a successful pregnancy from a womb transplant.
Swedish experts carried out two procedures in September, both involving the world’s first mother-to-daughter uterus transplants.
This week, they announced another two operations – a mother-to-daughter and an aunt-to-niece – with more transplants scheduled for early 2013. All involve live transplants, whereas Prof. Omer Ozkan’s Turkish team used wombs from dead donors.
The scientists and doctors at the University of Gothenburg have received approval to complete ten procedures in total. The remaining six procedures, scheduled for next year, include a woman donating to her son’s wife and another giving her womb to her younger sister.
The next step is to begin embryo implantation at the end of 2013.
Doctors are divided over whether to use living or dead donors. Some experts are uncomfortable with taking the womb from a living woman when it is not for life-saving reasons. With live transplants, there are risks to two living patients. However, an organ from a living donor can be a better match.
Sasago, a major road tunnel, has collapsed in Japan, trapping a number of vehicles and leaving seven people missing, local media reports say.
Survivors described how large sections of concrete fell on top of cars in the Sasago tunnel.
Rescuers managed to reach the scene, but were unsure how many cars were buried there.
The incident happened at about 08:00 local time, about 80 km (50 miles) west of Tokyo.
Sasago tunnel – one of Japan’s longest – links the capital to the city of Nagoya.
Public broadcaster NHK quoted its reporter as saying that black smoke was coming out of the tunnel and there appeared to be a fire inside.
Pictures from closed circuit TV cameras inside the tunnel showed a section of the tunnel of up to 100 m (328 ft) that had caved in on the Tokyo-bound lanes on the Chuo Expressway in Yamanashi prefecture.
Sasago tunnel has collapsed in Japan, trapping a number of vehicles and leaving seven people missing
“We don’t know exactly how many vehicles are on fire,” a traffic police official told the AFP news agency.
The official added that a woman was taken to hospital after she had made her way out of the tunnel.
The woman said she was with five other people in a van, but added: “I have no idea about what happened to the five others. I don’t know how many vehicles were ahead and behind ours.”
A reporter for NHK described driving through the tunnel as it began to collapse, seeing other cars trapped and on fire. His car was badly damaged, he said.
Another survivor told the broadcaster that he saw “a concrete part of the ceiling fall off all of a sudden when I was driving inside. I saw a fire coming from a crushed car”.
He added that he was “frightened” and walked for an hour to get out of the tunnel.
The Sasago tunnel is an estimated 4.3 km-long (2.7 miles). The twin-bore tunnel is on one of the major highways out of Tokyo.
The road has had to be closed because of the seriousness of the accident.
Firefighters are still trying to extinguish the blaze.
It is not clear what may have caused the roof to collapse.
Japan is prone to large earthquakes, but none were reported in the area this morning.
The tunnel’s closure is expected to bring traffic chaos as thousands of weekend travelers head back to Tokyo on Sunday afternoon.
Taxi Driver, The Amazing Spiderman and The Karate Kid are among the content coming pre-loaded on a video player bundled with Sony’s first ultra-high-definition television, a massive 84-inch set that retails for $25,000 and features nearly four times the resolution of typical high-definition TVs.
“People ask the question, <<Do I need to get a bigger house to fit an 84-inch TV?>>” said Chris Cookson, president of Sony Pictures Technologies.
“The answer is that 25 inches was right for standard definition; 50 inches was right for high-definition; and 84 inches is right now that we’re going ultra-high-def.”
Ultra HD is widely regarded as the next evolution in TV technology, but there’s currently a lack of content that takes advantage of the vast resolution, though Ultra HD sets are equipped to upscale lower resolution video.
Sony Corp. is hoping to overcome that pitfall that with this new player.
The Japanese electronics giant debuted the hard-disc server – hidden in a cabinet underneath the behemoth television – at a posh invite-only party Thursday at a private mansion in Santa Monica that featured a performance by John Legend.
The video player will include 4K content such as short films, concerts and 10 feature-length movies, including The Other Guys, Salt and The Bridge on the River Kwai.
Sony is releasing its first ultra-high-definition TV, a massive 84-inch set that retails for $25,000
Sony’s TV will also come with an Xperia Tablet S, which can be used as a touchscreen remote control.
“We know there are limitations with broadband and the typical size of a movie that’s in 4K,” said Phil Molyneux, chief operating officer of Sony Electronics.
“I think this is an extremely good first step to ensure that consumers can have and enjoy the 4K experience in their home.”
The electronics industry has dubbed the new flat-panel displays “Ultra HD”, while Sony specifically refers to it as “4K” because it features nearly 4,000 pixels, compared to the 1,080 pixels found in “1080p” sets.
Phil Molyneux said Sony has been pushing for 4K since 2005, when the company put 4K projectors in movie theatres.
Last year, Sony introduced a 4K home projector, and offered a 4K upscaling Blu-ray player earlier this year.
Phil Molyneux teased that additional 4K content for the new player would be sent to owners on Blu-ray discs.
“It’s a first step,” he added.
“If we’ve had a vision since 2005, and we’ve been arming and equipping for 4K content creation, I think it’s fair to speculate that we’re also thinking about other ways to get 4K content to consumers in their home.”
LG Electronics offers a similar 84-inch Ultra HD TV, which retails for $20,000.
Thousands of people have signed a petition against Brussels’ abstract light installation replacing the traditional Christmas tree in the city centre.
More than 11,000 signatures have been gathered in the online petition and a Facebook page attacking the new feature has been launched.
Critics accuse officials of opting for the installation for fear of offending non-Christians, especially Muslims.
But the mayor’s office said it was part of a theme this year of “light”.
Traditionally, a 20 m (65 ft) pine tree taken from the forests of the Ardennes has adorned the city’s central square, the Grand Place.
This year, it has been replaced with a 25 m (82 ft) construction, though smaller real Christmas trees still decorate the square, a spokesman at the mayor’s office said.
The city’s website said the new “tree” was one of five “light” installations around the Grand Place this year, offering visitors the chance to climb to the top and enjoy “beautiful views” of the city.
Tourism councilor Philippe Close at the mayor’s office said the aim was to show off the “avant-garde character” of Brussels by blending the modern and the traditional, to produce something new and different.
Brussels hosts one of the most popular winter markets in Europe and many are worried that the contemporary construction is incongruous with the 17th-Century buildings that surround it.
The light installation has even been nicknamed The Pharmacy by some who say the glowing cubes resemble the green cross symbol you find outside many chemists around the world.
Bianca Debaets, a Brussels councilor from the Christian Democratic and Flemish party, said she believed a “misplaced argument” over religious sensitivities had moved Brussels to put up the light sculpture.
Thousands of people have signed a petition against Brussels’ abstract light installation replacing the traditional Christmas tree in the city centre
“For a lot of people who are not Christians, the tree there is offensive to them,” she told reporters.
Erik Maxwell, from Brussels, said: “We think the tree has been put up for cultural reasons.
“A tree is for Christmas and Christians but now there are a lot of Muslims here in Brussels. So to avoid discussions they have just replaced a tree with a couple of cubes! I am more traditional, I prefer the usual tree. That’s better for the Belgian people.”
A recent estimate in the Belgian newspaper Le Soir suggested Muslims made up 22% of the population of Brussels and its region as of 2010.
Parts of the Belgian press have been keen to suggest that the tree is an example of “political correctness”, designed to be more appealing to non-Christian religious groups than a traditional fir tree.
However, it seems likely that the media storm is influencing public opinion rather than reflecting it.
There was applause and plenty of “oohs” and “aahs” in the square at a preview of the nightly sound-and-light show that will take place there until the New Year.
“What we want is just to modernise the pleasure of winter, of this Christmas market and all the image of Brussels,” said Councillor Philippe Close.
“The Christmas tree is not a religious symbol and actually lots of Muslims have a Christmas tree at home.
“For people who want a traditional religious symbol, we have the nativity scene here in the square. For people who want modernity, we have this new tree.”
Semsettin Ugurlu, chairman of the Belgian Muslim Executive, representing the Muslim community in Belgium, said his organization did not mind any kind of Christmas tree.
“We know we are living in a country with a Christian culture, we take no offence over a traditional Christmas tree,” he said.
Miryam Oostling, a visitor from Leeuwarden in the Netherlands, said: “I quite like the tree. It’s a piece of modern art. It’s cosy!”
Lady Gaga got up close and personal to some Lions as she went on safari in South Africa.
Lady Gaga, 26, real name Stefani Germanotta, looked in her element as she became one with nature… and then tweeted about it.
She was at least dressed for the part as she pulled her best pose for the photograph.
Lady Gaga wore a typical green hat which she customized to fit her own style and pulled her long hair through the top of it.
She teamed that accessory with a leopard print silk scarf and large green earrings.
With the lions asleep on the grass behind her, Lady Gaga quietly took the snaps herself before getting back on the safari truck.
Lady Gaga got up close and personal to some Lions as she went on safari in South Africa
She tweeted: “SAFARI PICTURE: in this photo I’m about 10 feet from 13 lions, 2 cubs. I spent about 30 minutes w them and took a nap!”
The singer continued: “the lion pride even woke up at one point and let us come closer :)”
After proclaiming how “beautiful” the wildlife was, Lady Gaga commented on her unique choice of outfit.
She said: “& yes I cut a hole in my bush hat so my pony could stick out #SafariBarbie #Glambi my scarf was a gift from the Princess of Monaco, thanku!”
The eccentric singer touched down in Johannesburg earlier this week as she continues her world tour.
After performing at the FNB Stadium Lady Gaga said: “Johannesburg was so wonderful, i can’t really put it into words. Im so happy, I haven’t slept yet. Laying in bed dreaming of the next tour.”
Lindsay Lohan has apparently been downing up to two litres of vodka a day for the past two months, culminating in her early morning arrest on Thursday after a drink-addled nightclub brawl in New York.
According to insiders, Lindsay Lohan, 26, has been in turmoil over her worrying financial situation and impending probation violation, stemming from her June car crash.
On Thursday things came to a dramatic head when Lindsay Lohan allegedly assaulted psychic Tiffany Eve Mitchell at Manhattan’s Avenue nightclub.
According to TMZ, Lindsay Lohan had been drinking all day on Wednesday prior to the incident but denies punching the psychic.
The website also claim that Lindsay Lohan admitted that she did call Tiffany Mitchell a gypsy but she was unaware the term was a slur.
According to sources, Tiffany Mitchell had approached Lindsay Lohan to give her a reading but Lohan declined the offer. Then the Mean Girls actress was told that Tiffany Mitchell’s friends had stolen her purse and that is when she confronted her and called her gypsy.
Lindsay Lohan had earlier arrived to Justin Bieber’s New York concert that night already inebriated, to watch support act The Wanted, the website claims.
Apparently 24-year-old Max George, one of the members of the British boyband who Lindsay Lohan has a crush on, was also implicated in the cat fight. Lindsay Lohan is said to have lashed out at 28-year-old Tiffany Mitchell for flirting with Max George.
Lindsay Lohan drank up to two litres of vodka a day before nightclub catfight with Tiffany Mitchell
Lindsay Lohan is also said to be depressed after her TV movie Liz & Dick bombed – and was met with scathing reviews from critics – only adding to her woes, Radar reports.
An insider told TMZ how Lindsay Lohan – who has struggled with addiction and been banned from drinking by a court order in the past – will sometimes kick off her day with a drink and carry on into the evening.
Her excessive drinking is said to be affecting her relationship with her friends “because of the violent tantrums alcohol triggers”.
Meanwhile, Lindsay Lohan’s alleged victim Tiffany Mitchell was spotted out in New York on Friday, and went for a meeting with powerhouse attorney and feminist lawyer Gloria Allred, who has played a part in many of America’s most high profile cases over nearly four decades.
Gloria Allred was involved in the OJ Simpson trial, represented Spice Girl Mel B in her paternity battle with Eddie Murphy and Tiger Woods’ mistress Rachel Uchitel among many others.
Egypt’s President Mohammed Morsi has said country’s new draft constitution will be put to a referendum on December 15th.
Mohammed Morsi made the announcement before the Islamist-dominated constituent assembly, which rushed to approve the document earlier in the week.
Both the draft constitution and a recent decree giving Mohammed Morsi sweeping new powers have prompted widespread protests by opponents of the president.
However, his Islamist supporters held their own demonstrations on Saturday.
After receiving a copy of the document, Mohammed Morsi called “all Egyptians to a referendum on the draft constitution on Saturday 15 December”.
If approved, the new text will overwrite all constitutional declarations – including Mohammed Morsi’s decree issued on the 22 November – and a new parliament should be elected within 60 days.
The constituent assembly voted on and passed all 234 articles during a marathon session that began on Thursday and continued through the night.
Egypt’s President Mohammed Morsi has said country’s new draft constitution will be put to a referendum on December 15th
Liberals, secularists and Christians walked out of the assembly saying the changes were being forced through.
“Morsi put to referendum a draft constitution that undermines basic freedoms and violates universal values. The struggle will continue,” key opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei tweeted on Saturday.
Among the historic changes to Egypt’s system of government, the draft limits a president to two four-year terms. It also introduces some civilian oversight of the military.
The draft keeps in place an article defining “principles of Sharia”, or Islamic law, as the main source of legislation.
Earlier, tens of thousands of Islamist supporters of the president gathered outside Cairo University.
“The people support the president’s decision!” they chanted, while a banner read: “The people want the implementation of God’s law.”
Kansas City Chiefs American football player Jovan Belcher fatally shot his girlfriend Kasandra Perkins early Saturday, then drove to Arrowhead Stadium and committed suicide in front of his coach and general manager after first thanking them for everything they had done for him, police said.
Authorities did not immediately release a possible motive for the murder-suicide, which stunned the team and came one day before a home game against the Carolina Panthers. The NFL said the game would go on as scheduled.
It has yet to be officially confirmed, but his dead girlfriend is believed to be Kasandra Perkins. On Facebook, a profile for Kasandra Perkins includes pictures of her with Jovan Belcher, whom she refers to as her boyfriend.
Jovan Belcher, 25, and his girlfriend had a baby less than three months ago on September 11.
The club confirmed that “an incident” had occurred at Arrowhead on Saturday.
“We are co-operating with authorities in their investigation,” it added.
Kansas City police spokesman Darin Snapp told AP news agency that authorities were told early on Saturday that a woman had been shot five miles away from the Arrowhead complex.
The victim was later identified as Belcher’s girlfriend.
Police were then called to the training facility, where they saw the player in a car holding a handgun to his head, talking to two Chiefs officials.
They then heard a gunshot.
Jovan Belcher pictured with his girlfriend Kasandra Perkins
Jovan Belcher was a native of West Babylon, N.Y., on Long Island, played college ball at Maine. He had played all four of his NFL seasons for the Chiefs and played in every game each year, including the 11 so far this season.
Before turning the gun on himself, Jovan Belcher thanked Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli and Romeo Crennel for all they had done for him, police spokesman Darin Snapp said.
Authorities received a call Saturday morning from a woman who said her daughter had been shot multiple times at a residence about five miles away from the Arrowhead complex.
“When we arrived, a lady informed us that her daughter had been shot multiple times by her boyfriend, by the daughter’s boyfriend,” Darin Snapp said.
“She identified him as a Chiefs player.”
Darin Snapp told KCTV5 that a call was then received from the Chiefs’ practice facility.
“The description matched the suspect description from that other address. We kind of knew what we were dealing with,” he said.
The player was “holding a gun to his head” as he stood in front of the front doors of the practice facility.
“And there were Pioli and Crennel and another coach or employee was standing outside and appeared to be talking to him. It appeared they were talking to the suspect,” Darin Snapp said.
“The suspect began to walk in the opposite direction of the coaches and the officers and that’s when they heard the gunshot. It appears he took his own life.”
The coaches told police they never felt in any danger, Darin Snapp said.
“They said the player was actually thanking them for everything they’d done for him,” he said.
“They were just talking to him and he was thanking them and everything. That’s when he walked away and shot himself.”
Darin Snapp described the girlfriend as in her early 20s and that she and the player had a child together. He said the woman’s mother told police they had recently been arguing.
Jovan Belcher is the second Kansas City Chiefs employee to be involved in a murder-suicide in the last four months.
On Labor Day, Luis Angel Roberson Rodriquez, who worked in the Chiefs stadium operations department, killed himself after shooting his girlfriend Jamie Kristine Kimble near the Tampa International Airport.
Enrique Pena Nieto, Mexico’s new president, has been inaugurated amid tight security in the capital Mexico City.
He wants to boost economic growth and cut drug-related violence, but analysts say it is not clear how he will do so.
Some 60,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence during the rule of his predecessor, Felipe Calderon.
As Enrique Pena Nieto’s motorcade approached Congress, petrol bomb-wielding protesters clashed with riot police who fired tear gas outside the building.
One protester was gravely injured after being hit with a tear gas canister.
The demonstrators are angry at what they say was vote-buying by the president’s campaign.
They were also protesting more generally against the return to power of Enrique Pena Nieto’s Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) after a 12-year absence.
Amid a cacophonic trumpet fanfare, outgoing President Felipe Calderon handed a sash with the colors of the Mexican flag to Enrique Pena Nieto, who was expected to address the nation from the presidential palace later on Saturday.
Enrique Pena Nieto has been inaugurated as Mexico’s new president
All week in Mexico City, a ring of steel had been in place around the Congress building ahead of the ceremonial presidential inauguration.
It had created massive traffic jams in the already congested city as authorities tried to prevent protesters from gaining access to parliament.
Earlier, the new president, who is 46, named a 20-member cabinet.
His foreign minister will be Jose Antonio Meade, who was treasury minister in Felipe Calderon’s outgoing government.
Enrique Pena Nieto spent his final days as president-elect in talks with leaders in the US and Canada, Mexico’s partners in the regional trade organisation, Nafta.
The PRI governed without interruption for 71 years until 2000, and its opponents often accused it of being authoritarian and corrupt, and of having links to the drug cartels.
But during his election campaign Enrique Pena Nieto was adamant the party had evolved.
“I can say categorically that in my government, there won’t be any form of pact or agreement with organized crime,” he said.
“It’s not the path nor the route to greater security for the Mexican people.”
Earlier this month, he denied the PRI’s return to power would be a return to the past.
“It is not, because this is a different country,” he said.
Enrique Pena Nieto has indicated he will focus on tackling extortion, kidnapping and murder, and he has drafted in support from Colombia’s former top policeman.
The outgoing president is due to take up a position at Harvard University and maintains he has made Mexico safer.
But for many Mexicans, Felipe Calderon’s legacy as president is of an estimated 10,000 drug-related killings a year for the past six years.
Yahoo group has been ordered to pay $2.7 billion by a Mexican court following a lawsuit stemming from allegations of breach of contract and lost profits related to a yellow pages listing service.
Yahoo said it “believes the plaintiffs’ claims are without merit and will vigorously pursue all appeals”.
The lawsuit had been brought by Worldwide Directories SA de CV and Ideas Interactivas SA de CV.
Yahoo has been ordered to pay $2.7 billion by a Mexican court following a lawsuit stemming from allegations of breach of contract and lost profits related to a yellow pages listing service
In a statement on its website Yahoo said the 49th Civil Court of the Federal District of Mexico City had “entered a non-final judgment of US $2.7 billion against Yahoo! Inc. and Yahoo de Mexico” in the case.
Shares in Yahoo, which is based in Sunnyvale, California, fell by 1.4% in after-the-bell trading following the news.
US Congress is kicking around the idea of replacing the dollar bill with dollar coins, as federal auditors have determined that the move could save taxpayers roughly $4.4 billion over the next 30 years.
Experts say that while it would be expensive to replace machines, the fact that coins can stay in circulation for up to 30 years, while paper bills only have 4 to 5 year lifespans, outweigh the initial costs.
“We’ve never bitten the bullet to remove the $1 bill as every other Western economy has done,” said former director of the U.S. Mint Philip Diehl said.
“If you did, it would have the same success the Canadians have had.”
Supporters of the idea frequently point our northern neighbor as an example of switchover than went well. Canada introduced its now popular $1 piece, affectionately nicknamed the “Loonie”, and found it so popular that the country also went to a $2 coin called the “Toonie”.
“I don’t know anyone who would go back to the $1 and $2 bills,” Rep. Bill Huizenga of Michigan said at a House subcommittee exploring ways to change how money is produced in this country.
Meanwhile, vending machine operators have long championed the use of $1 coins because they don’t jam the machines, cutting down on repair costs and lost sales.
Still, at a time when cost-cutting measures seem to be something of a necessity, few Americans seem to be behind the idea of replacing lightweight paper bills with heavier coins.
US Congress is kicking around the idea of replacing the dollar bill with dollar coins
In the past five years, the U.S. Mint has produced 2.4 billion Presidential $1 coins, but most are stored by the Federal Reserve, and production was suspended about a year ago.
Strong opposition to the change has been seen in Congress as well. Rep. Lacy Clay of Missouri, another member of the subcommittee, said men don’t like carrying a bunch of coins around in their pocket or in their suits. And Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York said that $1 coins have proved too hard to distinguish from quarters.
“If the people don’t want it and they don’t want to use it,why in the world are we even talking about changing it?,” she said.
But the Government Accountability Office’s Lorelai St. James say the benefits of the switchover are hard to argue against and that they would only come through if the dollar bill is completely eliminated and the public educated about the benefits of the switch.
“We continue to believe that replacing the note with a coin is likely to provide a financial benefit to the government,” she said.
It seems, however, that the more likely option is that production methods of existing coins will be changed. As it stands, it take more than 2 cents to make a penny and more than 11 cents to make a nickel, thanks to rising prices of copper and nickel.
The subcommittee also heard suggestions to replace these more expensive metals with a combination of steel, aluminum and zinc, which would cost considerably less. Rep. Steve Stivers of Ohio put that number at nearly $200 million a year.
Congress approved a similar measure nearly 50 years when they took precious silver out of dimes and quarters as well as cut down production of 50-cent coins by half.
The U.S. Mint is expected to present a report in mid-December that will detail the results of nearly 18 months of work exploring a variety of new metal compositions and evaluating test coins for attributes as hardness, resistance to wear, availability of raw materials and costs.
Richard Peterson, the Mint’s acting director, noted that “several promising alternatives” were found.
Hundreds of fans of Hector “Macho” Camacho turned out on Friday for the public wake in the neighborhood where the former boxing world champion grew up in New York.
A carriage drawn by white horses carried Hector Camacho’s body around the streets of Spanish Harlem, taking the casket cover with a Puerto Rican flag to St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church.
On a cold afternoon, people waited patiently on the crowded sidewalks around the church. They chanted “Macho time!” – the phrase Hector Camacho regularly used before his fights.
“Thank you, Nueva York,” said Hector Camacho’s mother, Maria Matias.
The boxer’s son, Hector Camacho Jr., had similar feelings.
“I was feeling down, feeling down, but these people definitely woke me up and lifted my spirits up,” he said.
A carriage drawn by white horses carried Hector Camacho’s body around the streets of Spanish Harlem, taking the casket cover with a Puerto Rican flag to St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church
Hector Camacho, a native of Puerto Rico, was shot in the face on November 20th while sitting in a parked car with a friend outside a bar in Bayamon, his hometown in the U.S. territory. The friend, Adrian Mojica Moreno, died at the scene and the boxer was declared dead three days later after doctors removed him from life support.
Police have said they have suspects but have not yet arrested anyone for the shooting.
Hector Camacho, who was 50 when he died, moved to New York as a child.
Known for his flamboyant displays in the ring, he won super lightweight, lightweight and junior welterweight world titles in the 1980s and fought high-profile bouts against Felix Trinidad, Julio Cesar Chavez and Sugar Ray Leonard. He had a career record of 79-6-3.
Leaving the church, people showed off pictures of Hector Camacho’s body that they took with smartphones and tablets. T-shirts with Hector Camacho’s images were being sold for $10.
“The scene inside was peaceful. Everybody is here supporting. He come out of Spanish Harlem and make something out of himself,” said Christian Camacho, one of Hector Camacho’s four sons.
“All his people are here supporting him, showing that they love him.”
“He didn’t deserve to die in such manner,” said Minerva Martinez, a 60-year-old from East Harlem who showed a photo of Hector Camacho with a Puerto Rican flag.
“He was a great fighter and a wonderful person, always happy.”
After a Mass at the church on Saturday, Hector Camacho is to be buried at the St. Raymond’s Cemetery in the Bronx.
North Korea plans to launch a long-range rocket between 10 and 22 December, KCNA news agency says.
The KCNA agency said the aim was to launch a satellite.
Previous – unsuccessful – launches have been criticized as breaches of a UN ban on North Korean ballistic missile tests.
The announcement is likely to increase tensions with North Korea’s neighbors, with South Korea expressing concern over Pyongyang’s announcement.
South Korean officials called the move a “grave provocation” and a “challenge to the international community”.
The atmosphere in South Korea is especially tense as the country prepares for a presidential election scheduled for 19 December.
North Korea’s most recent rocket launch, in April, was a failure.
The US, Japan and South Korea said the rocket flew only for a short time before breaking up and crashing into waters off the Korean peninsula.
North Korea plans a second long-range rocket launch between 10 and 22 December
Earlier this week South Korea halted a satellite launch minutes before take-off after problems were found during the final checks.
North Korean scientists and technicians had now “analyzed the mistakes” of the April launch, the Korean Committee for Space Technology said, via KCNA.
The rocket will be of the same Unha-3 variety as was used in the April test. It will be launched “southward” from the Sohae base near the Chinese border, KCNA said, implying it would be directed over the East China Sea.
The flight path had been chosen to avoid debris falling on neighboring countries, the agency said.
“Unha” is Korean for “galaxy”, and is the name given by North Korea to the space launcher version of its Taepodong-2 missile, which has an estimated range of 2,200km. The missile has not yet been successfully tested.
There had been recent speculation that North Korea would attempt another launch soon, with a UN Security Council committee on Thursday warning the country against such a move.
Saturday’s statement insisted the forthcoming launch would be for “peaceful purposes”.
The test will be the second to take place under the leadership of Kim Jong-un, who took over leadership of the country after the death of his father Kim Jong-il almost a year ago.
North Korean historians claim they have unearthed a unicorn lair.
A report released by the History Institute of the DPRK Academy of Social Sciences claims that archaeologists discovered the lair of the mythical animal just outside a temple in the capital Pyongyang.
And, unsurprisingly, the lair – according to the report – means that Pyongyang was the focal point of an ancient, united Korea.
In what appears to be a suggestion of superiority over nearby enemies South Korea, the report says: “The discovery of the unicorn lair, associated with legend about King Tongmyong, proves that Pyongyang was a capital city of Ancient Korea as well as Koguryo Kingdom.”
The dubious report, released by the state news agency, says the lair clearly belonged to King Tongmyong, founder of the ancient Korean kingdom Koguryo.
It goes on to say: “A rectangular rock carved with words <<Unicorn Lair>> stands in front of the lair.
“The carved words are believed to date back to the period of Koryo Kingdom (918-1392).
“The temple served as a relief palace for King Tongmyong, in which there is the lair of his unicorn.”
Jo Hui Sung, director of the Institute, told KCNA, the state news agency, that the findings is in keeping with the country’s history.
He said: “Korea’s history books deal with the unicorn, considered to be ridden by King Tongmyong, and its lair.
“The Sogyong [Pyongyang] chapter of the old book <<Koryo History>>,” said Ulmil Pavilion is on the top of Mt. Kumsu, with Yongmyong Temple, one of Pyongyang’s eight scenic spots, beneath it.
“The temple served as a relief palace for King Tongmyong, in which there is the lair of his unicorn.”
A report released by the History Institute of the DPRK Academy of Social Sciences claims that archaeologists discovered a unicorn lair outside a temple in the capital Pyongyang
The legend of unicorns is thought to have stemmed from European folklore, in which the animal resembles a white horse with a single horn.
Until the 19th century the beast, considered a symbol of purity and grace, was still thought to exist – even by academics and theologians.
But since then there has been little to suggest that there are lairs elsewhere in the world.
The unbelievable news does however follow a number of bizarre claims to come out of the country.
It has been suggested, however, that the release of the story could be in retaliation against a spoof North Korea related story which tricked a newspaper in China.
Written by satirical website The Onion, China’s Communist party newspaper, The People’s Daily, fell for claims that Kim Jong-un was named as the sexiest man alive.
OTHER UNUSUAL CLAIMS TO COME OUT OF NORTH KOREA
At the women’s World Cup of football in 2011 the North Koreans put their poor performance down to being struck by lightning. Five of their players later tested positive for steroids.
Most of the more unusual claims stem from former leader Kim Jong-il and his biographer.
According to the book he reportedly warned the public in North Korea that he could control the weather with his mood.
He also claimed his birth had been prophesied and was heralded with a double rainbow and a new star in the heavens.
Years late Kim Jong-il was apparently very busy during university writing no fewer than 1,500 books in three years and composing six operas.
But it wasn’t just the arts he took a keen interest in. Apparently, in his first and only ever round of golf he shot 38-under with 11 holes in one.
Satisfied with his performance, he reportedly immediately declared his retirement from the sport.
Marks and Spencer claims to have come up with the perfect solution to bingo wings – Flatter Me Armwear – a crop top dubbed as “Spanx for the arms”.
Available as a body or a crop top – and following on from the Flatter Me bra and knicker – Flatter Me Armwear is a long- or three-quarter-sleeved solution to strappy party dresses.
Worn beneath the outfit but over the bra, the light-control fabric promises to gently sculpt arms and “give a smooth and firm silhouette while the intricate lace adds a touch of glamour”.
Soozie Jenkinson, Head of Design for Lingerie at M&S says: “Sleeveless dresses can be tricky to wear for many women who are conscious of bearing their upper arms.
Marks and Spencer claims to have come up with the perfect solution to bingo wings, Flatter Me Armwear, a crop top dubbed as Spanx for the arms
“Now you don’t have to restrict your dress choice as our Flatter Me Armwear, the newest item in our shaping solutions wardrobe, allows women to wear sleeveless dresses with style and confidence.”
Paschal Little, Head of Lingerie Innovation at M&S says: “Our Flatter Me Armwear is designed with a beautifully delicate lace which has light shaping properties that will gently smooth and shape your arms for a sleek look with a bra fastening under the bust for a secure and snug fit.”
The Flatter Me Armwear is £22.50 ($34.50) while the body, which comes with a flattening tummy panel, is priced at £27.99 ($43), and both are available online.
Surveillance footage taken at a gas station in Prince George’s County, Maryland, reportedly shows the moment a Powerball player discovered he had one of the two winning tickets in the $588 million jackpot.
The video shows a construction or highway worker walking into an Exxon in Prince George’s County and checking his ticket, before punching his fists in celebration.
Two tickets bore the winning numbers in Wednesday night’s draw and while Mark and Cindy Hill, from Dearborn, Missouri, have been identified as the winners of one, the other winner has not yet stepped forward.
Lottery officials announced the ticket was bought at a 4 Sons Food Store in Fountain Hills, Arizona.
The man in the Maryland store footage told fellow customers that he had bought the ticket 2,500 away in Arizona, ABC 7 reported.
Surveillance footage taken at a gas station in Prince George’s County, Maryland, reportedly shows the moment a Powerball player discovered he had one of the two winning tickets in the $588 million jackpot
After walking nonchalantly into the store, he is seen digging into his pockets and pulling out his tickets, which he then checks by the register.
The man, who is dressed in a neon yellow jacket, shakes the paper in disbelief as he matches up the numbers before handing the ticket to the clerk, who tells him the numbers are correct.
He rushes over to other customers to ask them to check and they, too, say he has won.
“And then he said, <<I got to get out of here>>,” employee Freddie Lopez told WJLA.
Witnesses told the channels that the man lives in Maryland, and one customer told WJLA that he heard the man may be in the military.
If he is the lucky ticket holder, he has 180 days to return to Arizona to collect the prize.
Karen Bach, the director of budget, product and communication for the Arizona Lottery, said she is not surprised that the winner has not come forward yet.
“I think that it is important for the winner to be thoughtful and make some plans and then come in and celebrate,” she said.
“So I think it usually takes a little time but you never know.”
So you just won $500 million in the Powerball lottery. What would you spend it on?
4,166 Hermes Matte Crocodile Birkin Bags with price tag of $120,000
2,150 2012 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speeds at $232,290 each
2,080 2012 Aston Martin Virage cars at $240,357 each
377 Diamond Crypto Smartphone covered with 50 diamonds at $1.3 million
333 world’s most expensive 124-day luxury cruise packages onboard Silversea Cruises’ Silver Whisper at $1.5 million per couple
166 Harry Winston Ruby Slippers encrusted with 1,350 carats of rubies and 50 carats of diamonds at $3 million a pair
28 Gulfstream jets at $17.5 million each
Fleur de Lys Mansion in Los Angeles at listing price of $125 million, with enough money to spare for CitySpire Penthouse in New York City at $100 million
You can buy 4,166 Hermes Matte Crocodile Birkin Bags with price tag of $120,000 if you won $500 million in the Powerball lottery
Cindy and Mark Hill, the grandparents from Missouri who won a staggering $293,750,000 of the Powerball jackpot, have revealed they plan to keep the same pickup truck and visit their local cafe for breakfast – all after taking a nap.
Speaking at a press conference at the school where they met as teenagers, Cindy Hill, 51, and her mechanic husband Mark, 52, added they have no plans to leave their home in Dearborn, where they plan to bring up their adopted 6-year-old daughter Jaiden.
The couple, who also have three grown sons, added that they may now consider adopting again in light of their win – one of two winning tickets and a record amount for the state of Missouri.
They added that while their daughter has asked for a pony, it would be “a while” before they made any big purchases.
“I just want to go home and be back to normal,” Cindy Hill said.
She added: “Maybe take a nap.”
“I think we’re going to have a pretty good Christmas,” she said.
Mark and Cindy Hill, who are taking the money in one lump sum, said they hoped to return to Jaiden’s home country of China, but first of all wanted to take her to the beach, as she has never been.
Cindy Hill added: “My husband’s keeping his same old pickup. He did ask for a red Camaro though.”
She added they will set up college funds for their grandchildren, nieces and nephews. They also hope to launch a scholarship fund, and will donate to charity, particularly those supporting adoption.
Cindy and Mark Hill, who won a staggering $293,750,000 of the Powerball jackpot, have revealed they plan to keep the same pickup truck and visit their local cafe for breakfast
“How much does a person need?” asked Cindy Hill, who was laid off in June 2010.
“We are pretty grounded and we’ve worked really hard all our lives. And we know the value of a dollar.
“We’ll still be going down to the corner cafe for breakfast. It’s just us. We’re as common as anybody – we just have a little bit more money.”
Mark Hill said that he was already struggling to adjust to their new life and, when the Lottery put them up in a hotel on Thursday night, he ran to get toothpaste – and caught himself checking prices.
“Old habits are hard to break,” he said, laughing.
Mark Hill, a mechanic at a hot dog and deli packaging factory, had given his wife $10 to buy tickets. She bought five after picking her daughter up from school, chose numbers at random and left the tickets in the car overnight.
The next morning, she checked the numbers and on discovering they had a winning ticket, she called her husband and said: “I think I’m having a heart attack!”
Cindy Hill drove to her mother’s home to verify the numbers and was later met by her husband, who had refused to believe her. They later called their sons at their workplaces, but told them to keep it quiet.
But their anonymity didn’t last long – especially after Mark Hill posted about their luck on Facebook.
“We are truly blessed … we were lucky winners of the powerball!” he wrote, explaining on Friday that he had just wanted to put an end to the chatter circulating their small town.
Their son Jason Hill, 26, added at the press conference: “I hope we stay grounded and I hope we stay the good people we were yesterday.”
Jared Hill, 31, agreed: “It was pretty surreal. I was excited for them and then I got nervous for them.”
Cindy Hill said she shares their concerns.
“Obviously when it’s that big of a Powerball you’re going to get people coming out of the woodwork and some of them might not be too sane and we have to protect our family,” she said.
“This isn’t what I thought it’d be like. I am grateful but I think there’s going to be a lot of not good stuff that comes along with it too.”
Cindy Hill had worked as an office manager but was laid off in June 2010. She took off a year to spend time with their daughter, who has just started first grade, and had hoped to return to work.
The Hills will share the total $588 jackpot with another winner who bought a ticket in Arizona.
While the Arizona winner’s identity has not yet been revealed, surveillance footage from a gas station in Maryland reportedly shows a construction worker discovering he has the winning ticket.
The video shows the man walking into an Exxon in Prince George’s County and checking his ticket, which he said he brought 2,500 miles away in Arizona, ABC 7 reported.
The man, dressed in a neon yellow jacket, then fist pumps as he checks again before handing the ticket to the clerk, who told the news channel it bore the winning numbers.
The father of a 9-year-old girl accused of illegally downloading music in Finland has paid a 300 euros ($390) fine to a Finnish anti-piracy group.
He had refused to pay the original settlement of 600 euros and sign a non-disclosure agreement.
A police warrant was then issued to confiscate the laptop of the girl, who was aged nine at the time.
The anti-piracy group said it was acting “within the boundaries of Finnish legislation”.
The girl had searched blocked torrent site The Pirate Bay for an album by Finnish popstar Chisu.
Her father claims they were unable to download the album and purchased it legitimately the following day.
The action was taken by the country’s Copyright Information and Anti-Piracy Centre (CIAPC), known locally as TTVK, which contacted the father after it discovered his ISP account had connected with The Pirate Bay.
“We have now reached a settlement in the matter. The police investigation has stopped and the rights holders have been compensated. All parties involved are satisfied with the settlement,” said a spokesperson.
“We agree that individual lawsuits against file-sharers are a slow and ineffective process. We can only act within the boundaries of current Finnish legislation which does not permit rights holders to tackle piracy in softer and more efficient ways.”
The father of a 9-year-old girl accused of illegally downloading music in Finland has paid a 300 euros fine to a Finnish anti-piracy group
The girl’s father described the situation as “the pinnacle of absurdity” when speaking to website Torrentfreak.
“I can see artists are in a position, but this requires education and information, not resource-consuming lawsuits,” he said.
Chisu herself suggested in a statement that her fans should listen to her music for free on Spotify.
“I hope that the matter will be resolved soon and sorry to my nine-year-old girls,” she said.
According to its website, several national film and music groups are members of the CIAPC, including the Finnish Musicians’ Union and the Finnish Film Distributors Association.
“A joint anti-piracy association benefits all parties involved by reducing costs, co-ordinating more efficient anti-piracy strategies and giving authorities an effective point of contact,” CIAPC says online.
