Friday, February 27, 2026
Newsletter
Home Blog Page 413

Insurgent tops US box office on its opening weekend

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Insurgent tops US box office on its opening weekend

Insurgent has topped the US box office, earning $54 million in its opening weekend.

The fantasy sequel starring Shailene Woodley and Theo James, it took slightly less than the first installment, Divergent, which opened in 2014 to $54.6 million.

Lionsgate said it was “pleased” with the result, and noted there was little competition for the film’s teen audience over Easter.

Sean Penn’s action movie The Gunman fired a blank with US audiences.

Sean Penn could only muster $5 million for the tough tale of Congo mercenaries, which he co-wrote and co-produced.

It had been hoped the movie would capitalize on the audience for the “geriaction” genre – popularized by Liam Neeson’s Taken series, with which The Gunman shares a director, Pierre Morel.Insurgent tops US box office

The Gunman managed a number four chart position, beaten by Insurgent, Cinderella and Liam Neeson’s own action thriller Run All Night.

Cinderella, which had been last week’s chart topper, had a strong second week, taking a further $34.5 million, bringing its total earnings to $122 million.

Rounding out the top five was Kingsman: The Secret Service, starring Colin Firth, which dropped a couple of places but still made $4.6 million.

The seventh film in the street racing franchise, The Fast and the Furious, is due out on April 3. The movie has been dedicated to the memory of Paul Walker, who died in a car accident while the film was in production.

Paul Walker’s scenes were completed using a mixture of CGI and body doubles – some of whom included Walker’s own brothers.

North American Box Office Top 10:

  1. Insurgent – $54 million
  2. Cinderella – $34.5 million
  3. Run All Night – $5.12 million
  4. The Gunman – $5.01 million
  5. Kingsman: The Secret Service – $4.6 million
  6. Do You Believe? – $4 million
  7. The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel -$3.45 million
  8. Focus – $3.3 million
  9. Chappie – $2.65 million
  10. The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water – $2.35 million [youtube IR-l_TSjlEo 650]

White House 2016: Ted Cruz confirms presidency bid

Diane A. Wade
-
0
White House 2016: Ted Cruz confirms presidency bid

Texas Senator Ted Cruz has confirmed his bid for the US presidency, becoming the first Republican to declare his campaign for the White House 2016.

The Republican tweeted: “I’m running for President and I hope to earn your support.”

Ted Cruz, 44, is to set out his plans in detail in a speech at Liberty University in Virginia on March 23.

In a video posted on Twitter, Ted Cruz says: “It is going to take a new generation of courageous conservatives to make America great again.”

Commentators say Ted Cruz, a Tea Party favorite, splits Republican opinion.

Several White House hopefuls are expected to announce their bids for the presidency in the coming weeks.Ted Cruz declares White House 2016 campaign

Ted Cruz may go up against the likes of Jeb Bush, an early Republican frontrunner, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who are yet to formally declare their candidacy.

Republican Senators Rand Paul and Marco Rubio have also hinted at their own White House interests.

Meanwhile, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is widely expected to be among those standing for the Democratic Party nomination.

Ted Cruz is a leading conservative who was elected to the US Senate in 2012.

In September 2013, the firebrand politician gave a 21-hour speech against President Barack Obama’s health law – one of the longest speeches in Senate history.

Ted Cruz’s eligibility to run for the White House was thrown into doubt after it emerged he was born in Canada, and he was forced to formally give up his dual citizenship last year.

[youtube NTJG3WrthLc 650]

France local elections 2015: Nicolas Sarkozy’s UMP holds off Marine Le Pen’s FN on first round

Diane A. Wade
-
0
France local elections 2015: Nicolas Sarkozy’s UMP holds off Marine Le Pen’s FN on first round

Nicolas Sarkozy’s conservative Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party and its allies have taken first place in the first round of French local elections, partial results show.

Projections suggest that Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Front (FN) – despite strong gains – came second with about 25% of the vote, behind the conservatives on about 30%.

President Francois Hollande’s governing Socialists came third with 21%.

Voters are electing representatives in 101 departments, or counties, charged with issues like schools and welfare.

The results mean the second round on March 29 will see a run-off between the UMP and the FN in many constituencies.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Former President Nicolas Sarkozy said outcome of the elections demonstrated “the French people’s profound desire for change”.

“The conditions for a massive swing back to the right and the centre are in place,” he added.

Nicolas Sarkozy also ruled out any “local or national” deals with the FN in constituencies where one of the two parties was involved in run-offs with the Socialists.

In the past, voters for rival parties have rallied against the far right group in the second round of voting.

The poor results for the Socialists follows on from their defeats in municipal and EU elections last year.

Some polls ahead of the vote had indicated that Marine Le Pen’s FN could come top in the first round.

Marine Le Pen had been hoping the elections would build momentum ahead of her expected bid for the presidency in 2017.

Socialist PM Manuel Valls welcomed the news that the FN had scored less that some had predicted, saying the results showed it was not the strongest force in French politics.

However, Marine Le Pen called for Manuel Valls to resign, celebrating what she said was a “massive vote” for her party, exceeding its performance in the European Parliament elections.

For the first time, voters in these elections are not choosing single candidates – but pairs of candidates – one man and one woman – in order to enforce strict gender equality in local politics.

[youtube WdQEdVEPDYI 650]

Lara Spencer and David Haffenreffer split after 15 years of marriage

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Lara Spencer and David Haffenreffer split after 15 years of marriage

GMA co-host Lara Spencer and her husband David Haffenreffer split after fifteen years of marriage.

“After a lot of thought, care and consideration, we have decided to end our marriage,” Lara Spencer and David Haffenreffer announced in a joint statement to Page Six.

“It’s a sad decision that did not come easily, especially because we respect and love each other and our children.”

The couple added: “They remain our top priority. We will raise them and care for them together.” Lara Spencer and David Haffenreffer split

In 2000, Lara Spencer and David Haffenreffer wed in Southampton when she was a contributor to ABC’s Good Morning America.

David Haffenreffer was a CNN reporter at the time before becoming a real estate broker.

During the wedding festivities, Lara Spencer explained to Martha Stewart that she wanted to marry in the gorgeous neighborhood because “that’s where our courtship began and where it continues. We couldn’t think of a better spot”.

Lara Spencer and David Haffenreffer split is amicable and a scheduled family vacation will go on as planned next week.

[youtube Xlpo3-LqG00 650]

Top Gear Live: Norway shows postponed after Jeremy Clarkson’s suspension

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Top Gear Live: Norway shows postponed after Jeremy Clarkson’s suspension

BBC’s Top Gear Live shows due to have been held in Norway next week have been postponed, the broadcaster has announced.

All four performances will be rescheduled, with dates later this year to be confirmed within the next two weeks.

The announcement comes as an investigation continues into Jeremy Clarkson’s suspension following a “fracas” with Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon.

At present, all other Top Gear Live dates will run as scheduled.

The BBC said it apologized for the inconvenience and would “endeavor to contact all ticket holders directly to inform them of the change of dates”.Top Gear Live Norway shows postponed after Jeremy Clarkson's suspension

According to the show website: “Top Gear Live events offer an exciting variation on the more traditional motor show. Whilst the format varies for some events each is presented in the unique style of Top Gear. The team continues to push the boundaries of automotive events enabling visitors to immerse themselves in their passion for Top Gear and motoring in general.”

Jeremy Clarkson was suspended on March 10 following an alleged altercation with Oisin Tymon.

It is understood the postponement of the Norway shows has been announced because organizers wanted to give fans enough notice to cancel travel and accommodation plans and because work to prepare the venue would have needed to start well in advance of the shows.

An online petition for Jeremy Clarkson to be reinstated has to date received more than one million signatures.

Top Gear is one of the BBC’s most popular and profitable TV shows, with an estimated global audience of 350 million.

Jeremy Clarkson and his co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond had been due to renegotiate their contracts with the broadcaster next month.

Jeremy Clarkson says caustic comments against BBC bosses were meant as joke

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Jeremy Clarkson says caustic comments against BBC bosses were meant as joke

Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has said comments he made against the show’s broadcaster BBC were meant as a joke.

Jeremy Clarkson, 54, criticized the corporation’s bosses while at a charity event in London on March 19.

An investigation into Jeremy Clarkson’s current suspension following a “fracas” with a producer is still ongoing.

Writing in the Sunday Times, Jeremy Clarkson said his comments were “all meant in jest”.

The presenter said his “choice language” was to help boost the price of his auction item – a lap of the Top Gear test track.Jeremy Clarkson suspension comments

“By being brief, controversial and a bit sweary, I woke the room up and the auction prize I was offering… raised £100,000,” Jeremy Clarkson said.

His comments at the Roundhouse Gala were made more widely public on March 20 after a video of the event was posted online.

During his speech, Jeremy Clarkson also suggested he expected to be “sacked” by the BBC, auctioning what he described as his “last lap” on the race track.

In his newspaper column on March 22, Jeremy Clarkson appeared to further hint he was no longer working for the corporation writing: “I used to work on a television show called Top Gear.”

Jeremy Clarkson was suspended from Top Gear on March 10, following an alleged altercation with producer Oisin Tymon.

An online petition calling for Jeremy Clarkson’s reinstatement has been signed by more than one million people since his suspension.

Richard III’s remains arrive at Leicester Cathedral ahead of reburial

James J. Williams
-
0
Richard III’s remains arrive at Leicester Cathedral ahead of reburial

Richard III’s long-lost remains have arrived at Leicester Cathedral in the UK ahead of the former king’s reburial.

The funeral cortege entered Leicester at the historic Bow Bridge after touring landmarks in the county.

Cannons were fired in a salute to the king at Bosworth, where Richard III died in 1485.

The coffin will be on public view at Leicester Cathedral from 09:00 GMT on Monday, March 23. He will finally be reinterred during a ceremony on March 26.

Richard III’s skeleton was found in 2012, in an old friary beneath a car park.

The former king’s coffin, which is made of English oak from a Duchy of Cornwall plantation, emerged during a ceremony at the University of Leicester.Richard III reburial Leicester

Archaeologists, academics, researchers and descendants of Richard III’s family, including Michael Ibsen who built the coffin, placed white roses on it during the ceremony.

The reburial procession began at Fenn Lane Farm, believed to be the closest spot to where Richard III was killed.

Campaigners who petitioned for Richard III to be reburied in York have described the events in Leicester as a “pantomime”.

After a service at St Nicholas Church, the coffin was transferred to a horse-drawn hearse before arriving at the cathedral via High Street and Grey Friars.

The public will be able to view the coffin at the cathedral from March 23 to 25 before a reburial service on March 26.

A spokesman for Leicester Cathedral has confirmed that Queen Elizabeth II has written a greeting that will appear in the order of service at the reburial but details of the message’s content will not be released ahead of the event.

[youtube v9N2I1W8b3k 650]

Red Sea shark attack kills German tourist in Egypt

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Red Sea shark attack kills German tourist in Egypt

A rare Red Sea shark attack has killed a German tourist at an Egyptian resort, police say.

The shark reportedly bit off the 52-year-old man’s leg at the knee.

The attack took place on March 22 off the coastal city al-Qusair, the first such incident in five years.Red Sea shark attack oceanic whitetip

The species of shark has not been confirmed. A spate of attacks in 2010 that also led to one death was believed to have been carried out by an oceanic whitetip.

Those attacks forced the closure of part of the major resort of Sharm el-Sheikh for a week.

The area that saw Sunday’s attack witnessed another in 2009 that killed a Frenchwoman.

The German embassy in Cairo said it had been informed of the latest death but could not comment further.

Egypt is one of the world’s leading diving destinations.

Viktor Yanukovych’s son dies at Lake Baikal in Russia

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Viktor Yanukovych’s son dies at Lake Baikal in Russia

Viktor Yanukovych Jr., the younger son of ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has drowned in Lake Baikal in Russia, reports say.

Earlier Russian and Ukrainian media reports said Viktor Yanukovych Jr. died after his vehicle fell through ice on Lake Baikal in the south of the Russian region of Siberia.

Reports say Viktor Yanukovych’s son had been taking part in a sporting event when the VW van plunged into the water.

Five other people in the vehicle escaped, Ukrainian news website Levvy Bereg quoted sources from his inner circle as saying.Viktor Yanukovych dead at 33

Russian website RBK quoted local officials as saying the incident happened on March 21, after the group drove on to the ice to take photographs.

Viktor Yanukovych Jr., 33, was known for his passion for extreme driving.

His death is the latest of several involving people with ties to former President Viktor Yanukovych.

Oleksandr Peklushenko, a former regional governor, was found dead in Ukraine earlier this month in what authorities said appeared to be a suicide.

Five other officials also died in mysterious circumstances this year.

[youtube wOXhKl3Q-lk 650]

Lee Kuan Yew: Former Singapore prime minister dies aged 91

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Lee Kuan Yew: Former Singapore prime minister dies aged 91

Former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who transformed the island country from a small port city into a wealthy global hub, has died at the age of 91.

Lee Kuan Yew served as the city-state’s prime minister for 31 years, and continued to work in government until 2011.

Highly respected as the architect of Singapore’s prosperity, Lee Kuan Yew was also criticized for his iron grip on power.

Under Lee Kuan Yew freedom of speech was tightly restricted and political opponents were targeted by the courts.

The announcement was made “with deep sorrow” by the press secretary of PM Lee Hsien Loong, Lee Kuan Yew’s son.Lee Kuan Yew dead at 91

“The prime minister is deeply grieved to announce the passing of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, the founding prime minister of Singapore,” his office said in a statement.

It said Lee Kuan Yew died peacefully at the Singapore General Hospital at 03:18 local time on March 23.

Lee Kuan Yew had been in hospital for several weeks with severe pneumonia. Over the weekend, people left tributes and messages of goodwill at the hospital as his condition deteriorated.

A charismatic and unapologetic figure, Lee Kuan Yew co-founded the People’s Action Party, which has governed Singapore since 1959, and was its first prime minister.

The Cambridge-educated lawyer led Singapore through merger with, and then separation from, Malaysia – something that he described as a “moment of anguish”.

Speaking at a press conference after the split in 1965, Lee Kuan Yew pledged to build a meritocratic, multi-racial nation.

But tiny Singapore – with no natural resources – needed a new economic model.

“We knew that if we were just like our neighbors, we would die,” Lee Kuan Yew told the New York Times in 2007.

“Because we’ve got nothing to offer against what they have to offer. So we had to produce something which is different and better than what they have.”

Through investment in schooling, Lee Kuan Yew set about creating a highly-educated work force fluent in English.

He reached out to foreign investors to turn Singapore into a manufacturing hub, introducing incentives to attract foreign companies.

The city-state grew wealthy and later developed into a major financial centre. But building a nation came with tight controls – and one of Lee Kuan Yew’s legacies was a clampdown on the press.

These restrictions remain today. In 2014, Singapore stood at 150 in the Reports Without Borders World Press Freedom Index, below countries like Russia, Myanmar and Zimbabwe.

Dissent – and political opponents – were ruthlessly quashed.

Today Lee Kuan Yew’s PAP remains firmly in control. There are currently six opposition lawmakers in parliament.

Other measures, such as corporal punishment, a ban on chewing gum and the government’s foray into matchmaking for Singapore’s brightest – to create smarter babies – led to perceptions of excessive state interference. However, Lee Kuan Yew remained unmoved.

“Whoever governs Singapore must have that iron in him. Or give it up,” Lee Kuan Yew told a rally in 1980.

“I’ve spent a whole lifetime building this and as long as I’m in charge, nobody is going to knock it down.”

[youtube 8h2V5Y8fW0o 650]

Indian Wells 2015: Simona Halep wins BNP Paribas Open final after beating Jelena Jankovic

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Indian Wells 2015: Simona Halep wins BNP Paribas Open final after beating Jelena Jankovic

Romanian Simona Halep has won Indian Wells tournament after beating Serbian Jelena Jankovic 2-6 7-5 6-4.

2010 Indian Wells champion Jelena Jankovic, 30, looked in control after winning the first set with three breaks of serve and breaking early in set two.

World No 3 Simona Halep, 23, broke the Serb four times in a second set that saw six successive breaks.

The decider was also dominated by breaks of serve with four in a row but Simona Halep held at 3-3 and recorded the 18th break of the match to win it.

“Simona was unbelievable,” said Jelena Jankovic.

“We were running like two dogs and in the end I couldn’t keep up any more. She’s the younger one.”

Simona Halep, who received a bye to the final after Serena Williams pulled out of their semi-final with an injury, was expected to be fresher, having had three days off.

But it was Jelena Jankovic who began more aggressively, breaking in the opening game.Simona Halep wins Indian Wells 2015

Simona Halep broke back immediately but two more breaks by Jelena Jankovic saw her wrap up the first set.

The second set was a topsy-turvy affair with the players exchanging six breaks of serve before Simona Halep held and broke Jelena Jankovic to level the match.

The momentum seemed to be with the Romanian with a tiring Jelena Jankovic repeatedly looking to her coach for inspiration.

The former world No 1 broke fortuitously in game three when a backhand clipped the top of the net and landed in.

That sparked another flurry of service breaks that saw the score move on to 3-3.

Eventually Simona Halep held and then broke Jelena Jankovic’s serve to lead 5-3 but the Serb summoned up enough energy to hit back in the next.

However, fittingly, the match ended with another break.

A ninth double fault gifted Simona Halep three Championship points and she powered a forehand down the middle of the court to wrap up the biggest win of her career in two hours and 37 minutes.

[youtube Xq34qyBgedA 650]

Tunisia Bardo museum attack: Security video shows attackers inside museum

Roy Siemens
-
0
Tunisia Bardo museum attack: Security video shows attackers inside museum

A video released by the Tunisian government shows gunmen walking through the Bardo museum during the attack that killed 25 people on March 18.

At one point the security camera footage, released by the interior ministry, shows the two attackers bumping into another man who is allowed to flee after the brief encounter.

Authorities said they had arrested more suspects in connection with the attack in the capital, Tunis.

The gunmen are said to have been trained in Libya in an area controlled by Islamic State (ISIS) militants.

ISIS has said it was behind the attack on the Bardo museum, which is next to Tunisia’s parliament.Security video Tunisia Bardo museum attack

The men, named as Yassine Laabidi and Hatem Khachnaoui, were killed in a gunfight with security forces inside the building. At least one of them was wearing an explosives belt.

Twenty foreigners were among those killed, including British, Japanese, French, Italian and Colombian tourists.

The footage shows the men carrying assault rifles and bags as they walk through the museum.

It also captures the moment a startled visitor comes face to face with them. The gunmen briefly point their guns at the man but allow him to run away as they make their way up a staircase.

Earlier, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor said substantial progress had been made in the investigation – but she did not give any details.

Authorities have arrested more than 20 suspects since the attack, including 10 people believed to have been directly involved.

“There is a large-scale campaign against the extremists,” interior ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui told reporters.

Tunisia has seen an upsurge in Islamist extremism since the 2011 revolution that ousted dictator Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and sparked the Arab Spring.

The leader of Tunisia’s moderate Islamist party, Ennadha, says the country will continue to be under threat of attack as long as neighboring Libya remains unstable.

[youtube xOiPXxQIJCc 650]

Barack Obama cheers on niece at Princeton against Wisconsin-Green Bay women’s college basketball game

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Barack Obama cheers on niece at Princeton against Wisconsin-Green Bay women’s college basketball game

President Barack Obama cheered at the Princeton against Wisconsin-Green Bay women’s college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament in College Park, Maryland, March 21.Barack Obama Princeton game NCAA

Barack Obama’s niece Leslie Robinson plays for Princeton.

[youtube sJCtKa48pn8 650]

Verne Troyer hospitalized after suffering seizure at Heart of Texas Comic Con

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Verne Troyer hospitalized after suffering seizure at Heart of Texas Comic Con

Verne Troyer has been hospitalized on Saturday, March 21, after suffering a seizure at a Texas event.

He was at the Heart of Texas Comic Con in Waco, Texas when the incident occurred during a meet and greet with fans.Verne Troyer hospitalized after suffering seizure at Heart of Texas Comic Con

According to TMZ, Verne Troyer appeared to have trouble breathing before the seizure struck. The diminutive star was then rushed to the hospital.

A Verne Troyer’s rep said the actor underwent testing at the medical facility, and is doing okay now. It’s unclear if he remains in the hospital.

Pharrell Williams addresses New York students at UN event

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Pharrell Williams addresses New York students at UN event

Pharrell Williams addressed local New York students at an UN event on the International Day of Happiness on March 20.

The singer discussed the importance of addressing climate change.

Pharrell Williams took the stage of the General Assembly Hall and greeted teen attendees with: “I’m staring at the future right now. Hello to the future.”

“Music brought me happiness. And when you find out what makes you happy – and it can be something as detailed as a long-term goal or it can be something as simple as the way I feel when my son smiles – you should know that happiness is your birthright,” the singer said.Pharrell Williams at United Nations

“It’s a reaction to something.”

“We have to move from climate change to climate action,” Pharrell Williams said.

“We’re in trouble but we can change.”

In partnership with the UN Foundation, Pharrell Williams launched a global online “Happy Party”. The online campaign’s aim is to have supporters sign the Live Earth Petition, which will urge global leaders to tackle climate change and make it a priority at the December summit. He invited fans to upload personal photos on globalhappyparty.com that will be transformed into a gif to the Happy song.

[youtube RZ88lenD-W4 650]

Chris Brown’s probation in Rihanna assault case ended after 6 years

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Chris Brown’s probation in Rihanna assault case ended after 6 years

A judge has ended Chris Brown’s probation for assaulting Rihanna and officially closed the case after more than six years.

Chris Brown had completed all his requirements, the judge said.

After the hearing, Chris Brown tweeted: “IM OFF PROBATION!!!!!!!! Thank the Lord!!!!!!”

Chris Brown pleaded guilty to attacking Rihanna just hours before the Grammy Awards in 2009.

Since then he was won three Grammy awards.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Chris Brown and his lawyer hugged in the courtroom and again in a courthouse lift.

The singer has been under supervision by court and probation officials since mid-2009 and initially avoided problems with the case.

However, since 2013 Chris Brown has struggled to complete his community service and had his probation revoked after he performed a show in Northern California without permission.

Chris Brown’s lawyer, Mark Geragos, said: “I couldn’t be more delighted.”

Mark Geragos also said Chris Brown was making good progress: “He is in a spot right now and a place right now that I couldn’t be prouder of him.”

[youtube 9yAX0oM9VC0 650]

ISIS online threat to US military personnel

Roy Siemens
-
0
ISIS online threat to US military personnel

Pentagon is investigating an online threat allegedly made by Islamic State (ISIS) to about 100 of the US military personnel.

A list of names and addresses was posted on a website linked to ISIS alongside a call for them to be killed.

The group, which called itself the Islamic State Hacking Division, said it obtained the information by hacking servers and databases but US officials said most of the data was in the public domain.ISIS online threat to US military personnel

It said the personnel named had participated in US missions against ISIS.

The group urged its supporters in the US to “take the final step” and “deal with” those named.

A US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “I can’t confirm the validity of the information, but we are looking into it.”

The US and its allies have been conducting air strikes against ISIS militants in Syria and Iraq since last September.

France local elections 2015: Marine Le Pen’s National Front expected to score big gains

Diane A. Wade
-
0
France local elections 2015: Marine Le Pen’s National Front expected to score big gains

French people are voting in local elections in which Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Front party (FN) is expected to score big gains.

Voters are electing representatives in 101 departments, or counties, charged with issues like schools and welfare.

Sunday’s first round will be followed a second in a week’s time.National Front France local elections 2015

Polls suggest that the Socialists of President Francois Hollande will suffer another setback, after defeats in municipal and EU elections last year.

The Socialists and the centre-right UMP have been joined by the FN, not as a freakish upstart but a serious contender for power.

The FN has benefited from economic stagnation, high unemployment, and general hostility to mainstream parties.

The governing Socialists and their left-wing allies are expected to take the biggest hit, losing many of the 61 departments they hold.

The FN is also taking voters from the UMP, which has struggled to unify behind a single leader since the defeat of Nicolas Sarkozy in the 2012 presidential election.

[youtube q3b38NI5qkU 650]

Mick Thomson charged with disorderly conduct after fight with his brother

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Mick Thomson charged with disorderly conduct after fight with his brother

Mick Thomson has been charged after being stabbed in a fight with his brother last week.

The 41-year-old Slipknot guitarist and his brother, Andrew Thomson, 35, were both responsible for the assault that left the pair in hospital, police say.

Police were called to Thomson’s home in Des Moines, Iowa, early in the morning.

Mickael Thomson had been stabbed in the back of the head.Mick Thomson charged with disorderly conduct after fight with his brother

The brothers are charged with disorderly conduct by fighting and are due in court March 30.

Officers say the fight started inside and moved outside after becoming physical.

According to local reports, Slipknot’s manager says Mick Thomson’s injuries won’t stop the band performing.

Slipknot is due to start touring in April when they play the Fort Rock festival in south Florida.

The band will also headline the Friday night of this year’s Download festival.

Yemen: US troops evacuate al-Anad air base

Roy Siemens
-
0
Yemen: US troops evacuate al-Anad air base

The US is withdrawing its troops from al-Anad air base in Yemen because of increasing insecurity there, Yemeni sources say.

About 100 troops, including Special Forces commandos, are leaving the base near the southern city of al-Houta, the officials said.

Al-Houta was stormed by al-Qaeda fighters on March 20, although they were later driven out by the Yemeni army.

The US military has not confirmed the evacuation.

It comes a day after suicide bombers killed at least 137 people in the capital Sanaa. Militants allied to Islamic State (ISIS) said they carried out the attack.US troops evacuate al-Anad air base in Yemen

There are mounting tensions between various powerful, armed elements in Yemen, including Houthi rebels, al-Qaeda and ISIS.

US troops at al-Anad air base have been training Yemeni fighters to launch attacks against al-Qaeda operatives.

On March 20, al-Qaeda fighters took control of al-Houta, near to the airbase. But the militants were later driven back by the army.

The US closed its embassy in Sanaa in February after Houthi rebel forces took over the city.

Yemen is the base of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), a powerful offshoot of the jihadist militant group.

ISIS is also gaining ground in Yemen, after setting up a base in the country in November.

[youtube LASghOixzeU 650]

Gladys Portugues files for divorce from Jean-Claude Van Damme

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Gladys Portugues files for divorce from Jean-Claude Van Damme

Jean-Claude Van Damme’s estranged wife Gladys Portugues has filed for divorce for the second time, after the couple separated on March 15.

The professional bodybuilder filed official papers in Los Angeles on March 18, citing irreconcilable differences.

Photo AP
Photo AP

The union was the couple’s second attempt at making their marriage work. Jean-Claude Van Damme and Gladys Portugues were previously married for five years until 1992, but divorced after the Belgian martial arts star had an affair.

Jean-Claude Van Damme and Gladys Portugues rekindled their romance in 1999 and have two children together.

Milen Dobrev dies aged 35

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Milen Dobrev dies aged 35

Olympic weightlifting champion Milen Dobrev has died at the age of 35, the Bulgarian interior ministry announced on March 21.

The cause of death is still not clear.

Milen Dobrev won the Olympic title in the 94kg category at the 2004 Games in Athens. He also won gold at the 2003 world championship in Vancouver as well as two European titles.Milen Dobrev 2004 Games

That same year, he won the European Championship in Kiev.

A Bulgarian interior ministry spokesperson said: “Dobrev’s body was found at his home. There are no signs of violence and the cause of death is still not clear.”

Milen Dobrev retired before the 2008 Games in Beijing after failing to recover from a series of injuries.

[youtube HCIiN1zbHfc 650]

Birch cent expected to fetch at least $2 million at Baltimore auction on March 26

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Birch cent expected to fetch at least $2 million at Baltimore auction on March 26

A copper Birch cent, minted in 1792, is up for sale in Baltimore and it’s worth an estimated $2 million, according to Stack’s Bowers auctioneers.

The collector’s item is one of the first pieces of US currency ever forged and one of seven coins of its kind that still exist.

The colonial-era coin will hit the auction block on March 26, along with other rarities that include a 1792 silver center cent and four known, certified and original Confederate States half-dollars.1792 Birch cent

“We expect that once collectors see how special these coins are, the competition in the auction room will be intense,” Stack’s Bowers President Brian Kendrella said.

The Birch cent is expected to fetch at least $2 million at a time when the coin market is at its highest peak, according to Bloomberg Business.

Another Birch coin sold for $2.6 million in January.

[youtube xQyV6gTBp4k 650]

Lisa Colagrossi dies of brain aneurysm at 49

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Lisa Colagrossi dies of brain aneurysm at 49

WABC/Channel 7’s Eyewitness News reporter Lisa Colagrossi died on March 20 after suffering a brain hemorrhage following an aneurysm.

Lisa Colagrossi, 49, collapsed on March 19 while out on assignment, according to officials at the television station.

The mother-of-two was rushed to New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center’s neurological ICU and placed on life support. She never regained consciousness.

Lisa Colagrossi’s family was at her bedside when doctors gave them the heartbreaking news that it was unlikely that she’d recover, sources said.

The newsroom was left “reeling” after station general manager Dave Davis told co-workers about the tragedy.Lisa Colagrossi dead at 49

“Lisa Colagrossi embodied the Eyewitness News spirit—a straightforward reporter who told the truth, empathetic to the everyday citizens of the New York area, and demanding of those in power,” said Dave Davis, president and general manager of WABC-TV in a statement released on March 20.

Lisa Colagrossi collapsed on her way back from a live report at the scene of a four-alarm fire in Woodhaven, Queens, that tore through a series of homes late Wednesday night.

“She was in the news van after finishing her live shot when she said <<Oh my God, something is wrong>>, ” a friend said.

A co-worker said that Lisa Colagrossi’s producer flagged down an ambulance and she was taken to the hospital.

Lisa Colagrossi joined WABC in 2001 as a morning reporter. She also filled in occasionally at the anchor desk.

Before joining Channel 7, Lisa Colagrossi worked as an anchor at WKMG in Orlando, where she won two local Emmy awards.

Lisa Colagrossi was a resident of Stamford, Connecticut, and is survived by her husband, Todd Crawford, and two sons, ages 11 and 14.

[youtube hw3G32PyVI0 650]

Abdullah Ocalan calls for PKK fighters to end armed struggle in Turkey

Roy Siemens
-
0
Abdullah Ocalan calls for PKK fighters to end armed struggle in Turkey

Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of Kurdistan Workers’ Party in Turkey, has renewed a call for his fighters to end their armed struggle in the country.

In a message read out at a huge rally marking the Kurdish New Year, Abdullah Ocalan called for a congress to decide on abandoning the insurgency.

PKK has been waging a 30-year armed struggle for Kurdish independence.

Abdullah Ocalan called a ceasefire in 2013 and there are growing hopes of a long-term deal.

More than 40,000 people, mostly Kurds, have died in fighting for a Kurdish homeland in Turkey’s south-east.

Abdullah Ocalan has been in prison since 1999, serving a life sentence for treason.Abdullah Ocalan PKK

His message was delivered instead by Sirri Sureyya Onder, a pro-Kurdish politician who visited Abdullah Ocalan in jail on March 19.

Hundreds of thousands attended the celebration in Diyarbakir, the largest Kurdish-populated city in eastern Turkey, with many carrying images of the imprisoned leader.

A ceasefire announced by Abdullah Ocalan in 2013 still holds despite ongoing mistrust between the two sides.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan angered some Kurds by saying the country “never had a Kurdish problem”.

Turkey is facing parliamentary elections later this year, with analysts suggesting Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s comments were an attempt to shore-up nationalist support.

[youtube cuMSHvgczf8 650]

1...412413414...1,244Page 413 of 1,244