Friday, February 27, 2026
Newsletter
Home Blog Page 415

Jeremy Clarkson suspension report due next week

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Jeremy Clarkson suspension report due next week

An internal report into Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson is to be handed over to BBC’s director general next week.

The internal investigation into Jeremy Clarkson’s suspension, following a “fracas” with a producer, will be considered by Tony Hall next week.

Director of BBC Scotland, Ken MacQuarrie, who is leading the investigation, “is now considering the evidence”, a BBC spokesperson said.

“Once this has been considered, we will set out any further steps.”

“The BBC will not be offering further commentary until then,” the spokesperson concluded.Jeremy Clarkson suspension report

Jeremy Clarkson, 54, was suspended from Top Gear on March 10, following an alleged altercation with producer Oisin Tymon.

Oisin Tymon did not file a formal complaint and it is understood Jeremy Clarkson reported the incident himself.

A lawyer for Oisin Tymon said his client “intends to await the outcome of the BBC investigation and will make no comment until that investigation is complete”.

All remaining shows in the current series were pulled following the incident.

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

The show’s success is largely attributed to Jeremy Clarkson, who has appeared on the show since 1988.

An online petition calling for Jeremy Clarkson’s reinstatement – set up by political blogger Guido Fawkes – has accrued more than 975,000 signatures since the presenter’s suspension.

[youtube ryO3-_eryrc 650]

Tunisia Bardo Museum attack: Who were the victims?

Roy Siemens
-
0
Tunisia Bardo Museum attack: Who were the victims?

According to Tunisian authorities, 23 people were killed – though it is not clear if totals provided by the authorities include the gunmen. Some of the countries involved have given different totals and not all the dead have been identified. Tunis terror attack Bardo Museum

The dead include:

  • At least three Tunisians, including a police officer involved in the security operation
  • Five Japanese were killed, according to Tunisian PM Habib Essid – although Japan says it has only confirmed the deaths of three citizens
  • Four Italians
  • Two Colombians
  • Two Spaniards
  • One national each from the UK, Australia, France and Poland [youtube Gqs3LClwmjo 650]

Tunisia museum attack: Nine people arrested as ISIS claims responsibility

Roy Siemens
-
0
Tunisia museum attack: Nine people arrested as ISIS claims responsibility

Tunisian authorities have arrested 9 people in connection with Bardo Museum attack in Tunis on March 18, the Tunisian presidency says.

The attack left 23 people dead, including 20 foreign tourists.

It alleged that four were directly linked to the attack and five had “ties to the cell”.

The army will also be deployed to major cities, the presidency added.

In another development, Islamic State (ISIS) said in an audio message that it was behind the attack.

It said the attack was carried out by “two knights of the caliphate” and named them as Abu-Zakariya al-Tunisi and Abu-Anas al-Tunisi.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

A statement described the attack as a “blessed invasion of one of the dens of infidels and vice in Muslim Tunisia”.

The statement was published by Twitter accounts known to be reliable sources of ISIS propaganda.

One of two gunmen involved in the Bardo Museum attack, named by Tunisian officials as Yassine Laabidi, was reportedly known to the authorities.

Yassine Laabidi and his accomplice, named as Hatem Khachnaoui, were killed as security forces stormed the museum.

It was not immediately clear how the identities of the gunmen corresponded to the names given by ISIS. Jihadist groups, including ISIS, often give their fighters noms de guerre.

Tourists from Japan, Colombia, the UK and other European countries were killed in the attack and more than 40 people were injured.

The suspects arrested on March 19 were not identified and no further details of their alleged involvement were given.

In a statement, the presidency said Tunisia was facing “exceptional circumstances”, adding that “terrorist operations have now moved from the mountains to the cities”.

“After a meeting with the armed forces, the president has decided large cities will be secured by the army,” the statement added.

On March 19, two Spanish tourists and a Tunisian museum worker were found at the museum after having hidden there overnight believing the attack might not have been over, police said.

Two cruise companies – MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises – said they were suspending stopovers in Tunis.

MSC said in a statement that at least nine of those killed had been passengers on its MSC Splendida cruise ship which was docked in Tunis. It said another 12 of its passengers were injured and six were still unaccounted for.

Costa Cruises said that three passengers from the Costa Fascinosa had died. Eight others were injured and two were unaccounted for, company CEO Michael Thamm said in a statement.

[youtube 1ypZx0xFlJM 650]

Barack Obama endorses mandatory voting in US

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Barack Obama endorses mandatory voting in US

President Barack Obama talked about a mandatory voting in the US during his speech at the City Club of Cleveland on March 18.

The president attended talks on middle-class economics and manufacturing at Cleveland Convention Center.

Just ask Australia, where citizens have no choice but to vote, the president said.

“If everybody voted, then it would completely change the political map in this country,” Barack Obama said, calling it potentially transformative.

Not only that, Barack Obama said, but universal voting would “counteract money more than anything”.Barack Obama mandatory voting Cleveland City Club

Disproportionately, Americans who skip the polls on Election Day are younger, lower-income and more likely to be immigrants or minorities, the president said.

“There’s a reason why some folks try to keep them away from the polls,” Barack Obama said in a veiled reference to efforts in a number of Republican-led states to make it harder for people to vote.

Less than 37% of eligible voters cast ballots in the 2014 midterms, according to the United States Election Project. And a Pew Research Center study found that those avoiding the polls in 2014 tended to be younger, poorer, less educated and more racially diverse.

At least two dozen countries have some form of compulsory voting, including Belgium, Brazil and Argentina.

In many systems, absconders must provide a valid excuse or face a fine, although a few countries have laws on the books that allow for potential imprisonment.

[youtube _yzktk6gxJU 650]

Wayne Odesnik gets 15-year tennis ban after second doping violation

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Wayne Odesnik gets 15-year tennis ban after second doping violation

Tennis player Wayne Odesnik has been banned for 15 years after the second doping violation of his career.

Wayne Odesnik’s urine samples tested positive for metabolites of the anabolic steroid methenolone and androst and growth hormone, which are prohibited substances under WADA’s code, the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and the anti-doping program run by the international tennis federation announced on March 18.Wayne Odesnik gets 15 year ban

He has played in three tournaments this season and is ranked No. 267 in the world.

Wayne Odesnik, 29, was born in South Africa and moved to the US at age 3. He has never won an ATP Tour title and reached a career-best ranking of No. 77 in 2009.

He served a one-year ban in 2010, when he was found with eight vials of HGH in his luggage when he arrived in Australia for a tournament.

Wayne Odesnik provided an out-of-competition urine sample to USADA on December 14, 2014, and two more samples to the ITF on December 17 and January 12.

Liza Minnelli checks into Malibu rehab

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Liza Minnelli checks into Malibu rehab

Liza Minnelli has checked into a Malibu rehab seeking alcohol dependency treatment.

The actress-singer’s rep confirmed to ET: “Liza Minnelli has valiantly battled substance abuse over the years and whenever she has needed to seek treatment she has done so.”

Liza Minnelli, 69, has been open about her past trips to rehab, including a stint in 2004, and her battle with alcoholism.Liza Minnelli rehab 2015

“This is a disease, and the sooner we know that the better,” she told James Lipton on a 2006 episode of Inside the Actors Studio.

“It’s a disease you don’t have to succumb to.”

Liza Minnelli’s rep said that “she is currently making excellent progress at an undisclosed facility”.

[youtube kKd6QHib–k 650]

Tairod Nathan Webster Pugh: Air Force veteran denies trying to join ISIS charge

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Tairod Nathan Webster Pugh: Air Force veteran denies trying to join ISIS charge

US Air Force veteran Tairod Nathan Webster Pugh, who is accused of trying to join Islamic State (ISIS), has appeared in court in New York and denied all charges.

Tairod Nathan Webster Pugh, 47, spoke only to repeat his name to the judge.

His lawyer, Michael K. Schneider, entered the plea on his behalf.

The former New Jersey aircraft mechanic has been charged with trying to provide material support to a terrorist group and obstructing justice.

Tairod Nathan Webster Pugh was stopped at a Turkish airport in January with a laptop that had detailed information on border crossings into Syria and jihadist videos, according to court papers.

Photo LinkedIn
Photo LinkedIn

A letter he allegedly wrote to a woman thought to be his wife says: “I will use the talents and skills given to me by Allah to establish and defend the Islamic States.”

Tairod Nathan Webster Pugh is an American citizen who was born and raised in the US, prosecutors say.

According to a statement from the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Tairod Nathan Webster Pugh served as an avionics specialist and mechanic in the US Air Force.

After he left the military, Tairod Nathan Webster Pugh did similar work for several companies in the United States and the Middle East.

Judge Nicholas Garaufis arranged for another hearing in May to review the evidence and discuss the plea.

[youtube DON9D0-w_uc 650]

Bruce Jenner’s family divided over gender transition

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Bruce Jenner’s family divided over gender transition

Bruce Jenner’s family is divided over his gender transition, People magazine reported.

According to the publication’s sources, Bruce Jenner’s revelation that he is a transgender put the family “through a rough patch,” just weeks after his divorce from Kris Jenner caused drama of its own.

An insider said: “It’s naturally a difficult thing to process and work through.

“The divorce caused a divide, but Bruce’s decision to share his transition has caused an even greater divide.”

Photo Instagram
Photo Instagram

According to People magazine, Bruce Jenner’s ten children and stepchildren have responded to the news in different ways.

The former Olympian has reportedly been spending more time at his Malibu residence with his older children from previous marriages, including Cassandra, Burt, Brandon and Brody.

Bruce Jenner, meanwhile, is said to be committed to the transition and sharing it publicly, despite delaying the docu-series.

[youtube z8APib_71uQ 650]

Prince Charles and Camilla visit US monuments

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Prince Charles and Camilla visit US monuments

Prince Charles and Camilla have visited monuments to Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. as part of their three-day trip to the US.

They were joined by figures from the American civil rights movement, Jesse Jackson and Congressman John Lewis.

Later, speaking at an environmental conference, the Prince of Wales called on governments and businesses to end the dumping of plastics into the oceans.

Prince Charles and his wife will meet President Barack Obama at the White House on March 19.

The couple – who arrived in Washington DC for their three-day visit on March 17 – were given a guided tour of the Lincoln Memorial sculpture, pausing at the spot where Dr. Martin Luther King gave his famous “I have a dream” speech in 1963.

At Dr King’s nearby memorial, Prince Charles and Camilla met Rev Jesse Jackson and Congressman John Lewis, who helped organize the famous civil rights march in Selma, Alabama, in 1965 – dramatized in the recent movie Selma.Prince Charles and Camilla visit US monuments

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall were also given a tour of Mount Vernon – home of America’s first president, George Washington.

The duchess also paid a visit to Washington’s Shakespeare Theatre Company.

Prince Charles also visited the National Archives, where he viewed the United States’ Charters of Freedom and the 1297 version of the Magna Carta.

He later told leading delegates to an environmental conference on marine waste of his concerns about the “increasing quantity of plastic waste” in oceans.

The prince said he had been “haunted” by images of seabirds found dead after mistakenly eating plastic, and called for better recycling and disposal of plastics.

The solution to problems caused by a “throw-away society” was to move towards a circular economy, where “materials are recovered, recycled and reused instead of created, used and then thrown away”, he said.

The US visit will see also the royals join in commemorating several important milestones.

These include the 150th anniversaries of the end of the American Civil War and the death of President Lincoln, and the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta.

Prince Charles is also expected to receive an award for exceptional leadership in conservation from the International Conservation Caucus Foundation.

Prince Charles and Camilla will also visit the home city of boxer Muhammad Ali, who was born in Louisville, Kentucky.

[youtube xRl4mOKxxew 650]

Victoria Beckham joins stars backing Elton John’s #BoycottDolceGabbana campaign

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Victoria Beckham joins stars backing Elton John’s #BoycottDolceGabbana campaign

Victoria Beckham has joined Courtney Love, Ricky Martin and other stars in backing Elton John after fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana criticized same-gender couples having children and the use of IVF fertility treatment.

Elton John, who has two sons with David Furnish through a surrogate, posted on Instagram that everyone should boycott Dolce and Gabbana following the comments.

It wasn’t long until the #BoycottDolceGabbana hashtag was trending on Twitter.

Victoria Beckham tweeted: “Sending love to Elton David Zachary Elijah & all the beautiful IVF babies x vb.”Victoria Beckham backs Elton John anti Dolce and Gabbana campaign

In an interview with Italian magazine Panorama the fashion designers said they didn’t agree with the idea of gay families.

Domenico Dolce said: “You are born to a mother and a father – or at least that’s how it should be.

“I call children of chemistry, synthetic children. Rented uterus, semen chosen from a catalogue.”

Ricky Martin, who has 6-year-old twins Matteo and Valentino born via a surrogate, also backed Elton John campaign.

People with children born through IVF have also joined the campaign posting family pictures across social media.

Stefano Gabbana has now said “it was never our intention to judge other people’s choice”.

“We do believe in freedom and love,” Stefano Gabbana added.

Ringo Starr to be inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Ringo Starr to be inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Paul McCartney will induct his former bandmate Ringo Starr into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next month in Cleveland.

Ringo Starr is the last of The Beatles receive the musical honor.

Paul McCartney will usher in the 74-year-old at the 30th annual ceremony at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum next month.

The Beatles are already in the hall as a group, as are John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison as solo artists.

Other inductees will include Green Day, Lou Reed and Bill Withers.Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr Hall of Fame

Speaking to Rolling Stone magazine, Ringo Starr said it meant “recognition” of his work.

He added: “And it means, finally, the four of us are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame even though we were the biggest pop group in the land.”

Eagle Joe Walsh will perform some of Ringo Starr’s music, while Bill Withers’ music will be performed by John Legend.

It is not known if Bill Withers, who quit the music business more than 30 years ago, will sing himself.

Patti Smith will induct Lou Reed, who died in 2013, while Beck will perform the Velvet Underground singer’s music.

Joan Jett, the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and the “5” Royales will also be elevated to the elite musical club at the Cleveland ceremony.

Artists become eligible to enter the Hall of Fame 25 years after their first release.

[youtube tVmKmi50r0o 650]

Yingluck Shinawatra ordered to stand trial for negligence over rice subsidy scheme

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Yingluck Shinawatra ordered to stand trial for negligence over rice subsidy scheme

Thailand’s former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been ordered by the Supreme Court to stand trial for negligence over a controversial rice subsidy scheme.

Yingluck Shinawatra is facing a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.

It is the latest blow to the dominance of the Shinawatra family in Thai politics, after Yingluck Shinawatra was banned from politics for five years.

Her government was ousted before the military took control in a coup in May last year, after months of protests.

In January, Yingluck Shinawatra was retroactively impeached for her role in the rice subsidy scheme by a military-appointed legislature.

Thailand’s attorney general then filed criminal charges against Yingluck Shinawatra in February, accusing her of dereliction of duty.

“The panel (of judges) has decided that this case falls within our authority. We accept this case,” said Judge Veeraphol Tangsuwan at the Supreme Court in Bangkok. The first hearing will be held on May 19.

Photo CNN
Photo CNN

The scheme paid rice farmers in the rural areas – the Shinawatra support base – twice the market rate for their crops, in a program that cost the government billions of dollars.

Yingluck Shinawatra says she was not involved in the scheme’s day-to-day operations, and has defended it as an attempt to support the rural poor.

The rice scheme was a factor in the street protests that led to the ousting of Yingluck Shinawatra’s government and the subsequent military coup.

It was the latest turn in the political turbulence that began when Yingluck Shinawatra’s brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, was removed by a previous coup in 2006.

Thaksin Shinawatra now lives in self-imposed exile. But the influence of the family persists, with parties allied to the Shinawatras winning every election since 2001.

Shinawatras are loved in the rural north for their populist policies, but hated by Thailand’s elite who accuse them of corruption.

Red Nose Day comes to USA

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Red Nose Day comes to USA

TV fundraiser Red Nose Day will make its debut in the US later this year.

Red Nose Day on NBC will raise money for charities in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the US.

Comic Relief in the UK has raised more than £1billion ($1.5 billion) since the charity was co-founded by filmmaker Richard Curtis 30 years ago.

Richard Curtis, an executive producer for the NBC special, said he hoped it would make a “massive difference” to millions of children around the world.Red Nose Day comes to USA

Since the first TV fundraiser in 1988, the biennial Red Nose Day in the UK has seen celebrities and normal people do something funny for money on TV, at home, school, and work.

Emma Watson, Daniel Craig and Orlando Bloom were among the stars appearing in the 2015 special, which aired last week, helping to raise £78 million ($117 million) by the end of the live show.

NBC has yet to announce who will appear on the show, but Mad Men star Jon Hamm starred in an advert that aired during the Super Bowl.

The 12 charities that will benefit from donations to the US show include the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Children’s Health Fund and United Way.

[youtube ep4oaGe4p4g 650]

Dieudonne gets 2-month suspended sentence for condoning terrorism

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Dieudonne gets 2-month suspended sentence for condoning terrorism

Dieudonne M’bala M’bala has been found guilty of condoning terrorism after Paris attacks two months ago.

The controversial French comedian had posted on Facebook: “I feel like Charlie Coulibaly” just days after the Paris attacks in January.

The post combined the “Je Suis Charlie” slogan with the name of one of the three gunmen involved in the attacks, which included a mass shooting at the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine.

The comedian was given a two-month suspended sentence by the Paris court.

Dieudonne M’bala M’bala posted the comment on Facebook – in French “Je me sens Charlie Coulibaly” – following a huge march in Paris to condemn the attacks, in which 17 people were killed.Dieudonne M'bala M'bala found guilty of condoning terrorism

“Je Suis Charlie” banners featured heavily amongst marchers and quickly became a widely used slogan in solidarity with those killed.

Dieudonne M’bala M’bala told the court that he condemned the attacks “without any ambiguity”. He said the post was intended to illustrate how he often feels treated like a terrorist.

He had faced up to seven years in prison and a potential €100,000 ($106,000) fine.

Amedy Coulibaly killed a policewoman near a Jewish school on January 8 before going on to murder four Jewish hostages in HyperCacher supermarket.

Dieudonne M’bala M’bala insists he is not anti-Semitic but has a number of convictions for inciting racial hatred.

Several French cities have banned Dieudonne M’bala M’bala from performing.

[youtube jkuTLUBnXlw 650]

Robert Durst on suicide watch

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Robert Durst on suicide watch

Robert Durst, who is awaiting trial on a murder charge, has been moved to a mental health unit after being deemed a suicide risk.

The real estate tycoon was transferred on March 17 to a Louisiana state prison that handles severely mentally ill inmates.

Robert Durst appeared to confess to three killings while being filmed for documentary.

He was arrested in New Orleans on March 15 and has been charged with the murder of his friend, Susan Berman.

Also on March 17, investigators spent hours searching his home in Houston, Texas.

Officers were seen carrying away two boxes after spending several hours searching Robert Durst’s condominium.

Robert Durst’s lawyer, Dick DeGuerin, called the search “a publicity stunt” and said he would be surprised if investigators found any incriminating evidence.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

“I don’t know what they could be looking for 15 years after Susan Berman was killed 1,500 miles away,” Dick DeGuerin said.

“They can search now till kingdom come. They’re not going to find anything because there isn’t anything.”

Robert Durst is being held in Louisiana on gun charges while waiting to be transferred to Los Angeles to face a murder charge for the 2000 shooting death of Susan Berman.

In a recording that was made during a break in the filming of HBO documentary about his life – The Jinx – Robert Durst can be heard saying: “I don’t know what’s in the house,” just before saying he “killed them all”.

Robert Durst appears to be speaking to himself the recording, while wearing an active wireless microphone inside a bathroom. The recording was given to police months ago, the filmmakers say.

He has long been suspected in the disappearance of his first wife, Kathleen Durst, who went missing from their country home in New York state in 1982. He has never been charged.

In 2003, Robert Durst was acquitted of murder in the death of his elderly neighbor, Morris Black, whose body was found floating in a Texas bay.

On March 16, Robert Durst agreed to be transferred to California to stand trial for Susan Berman’s death, but the move was delayed by gun and drug charges that were later filed.

[youtube g0tLMKmja0k 650]

Solar eclipse 2015: Eye experts warn of selfie danger

Kathryn R. Bown
-
0
Solar eclipse 2015: Eye experts warn of selfie danger

Eye experts warn people not to take pictures of March 20 solar eclipse on a smartphone because of blindness risk.

The danger comes as people look directly at the Sun as they position themselves for selfies or other shots.

Inadvertently, glancing at the Sun – even briefly while setting up a shot – can lead to burns at the back of eye.

Experts advise indirect viewing, using pinholes and facing away from the Sun.

For many, this will be the first time they have witnessed the phenomenon in 15 years, but eye specialists say people should not use their camera phones to capture the event.Solar eclipse 2015

The safest ways to view the eclipse include using a pinhole camera to project an image of the eclipse on to a piece of card.

Other options involve using colanders to make multiple pinholes or using specifically designed eclipse viewing glasses.

Experts warn the glasses must be checked for damage first and should be put on before looking up at the sky.

It’s a Total Solar Eclipse in the Faroe Islands and Svalbard (Norway), and a Partial Solar Eclipse in Europe, northern and eastern Asia and northern and western Africa. The eclipse starts at 07:41 UTC and ends at 11:50 UTC.

The sky will darken but the Sun will still peek out from behind the Moon.

[youtube rDaqNvjYjUk 650]

Tunisia museum attack: 19 dead after gunmen storm Bardo Museum

Roy Siemens
-
0
Tunisia museum attack: 19 dead after gunmen storm Bardo Museum

Seventeen foreign tourists and two Tunisians have been killed after gunmen targeted Bardo Museum in Tunis, PM Habib Essid says.

Italian, Spanish, Polish and German citizens were among those killed, as well as a Tunisian and a police officer, the prime minister said.

Security forces killed two gunmen and were searching for accomplices, he added.

At the time of the attack deputies in the neighboring parliamentary building were discussing anti-terrorism legislation. Parliament was evacuated following the attack.

At least 22 tourists and two Tunisians were injured in the attack, Habib Essid said.

“It is a critical moment in our history, and a defining moment for our future,” he said.Tunisia Bardo Museum attack 2015

“We have not established the identity of the two terrorists,” the prime minister said.

He added: “Reports are not final, these two terrorists could have been assisted by two or three other operatives.”

Security operations were “still underway”, with forces “continuing to comb the area to find out the remaining operatives, if any”.

The remaining hostages held at the museum had been freed, Reuters news agency reported, citing an unnamed government official.

Local media reports said British, Italian, French and Spanish nationals were among those taken hostage during the attack.

Local television footage showed tourists fleeing to safety, escorted by security forces.

A museum employee told Reuters the two attackers “opened fire on the tourists as they were getting off the buses before fleeing into the museum”.

The attack is a huge blow for Tunisia’s tourism industry and its government, which only emerged at the end of a long political transition several months ago.

The Bardo museum, renowned for its collection of antiquities, is a major attraction in Tunis.

Tourism is a key sector of Tunisia’s economy, with large numbers of Europeans visiting the country’s resorts.

Concerns about security in Tunisia have increased in recent months as neighboring Libya has become increasingly unstable.

A large number of Tunisians have also left to fight in Syria and Iraq, triggering worries that returning militants could carry out attacks at home.

[youtube o7lzOTJ5uoA 650]

Andy Fraser dies after long battle with cancer and AIDS aged 62

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Andy Fraser dies after long battle with cancer and AIDS aged 62

Free bassist Andy Fraser has died in California aged 62.

The London-born musician died on March 16 after a long battle with cancer and AIDS, according to an official statement regarding his death.

The Riverside County coroner said the cause of death was not yet known and remains under investigation.

Andy Fraser became a founding member of the British group when he was just 15.

He wrote most of his material with Free lead singer Paul Rodgers, who went on to front bands Bad Company and The Firm.Andy Fraser dead at 62

“A survivor of both cancer and Aids, Andy was a strong social activist and defender of individual human rights,” the statement read.

“He leaves behind his daughters Hannah and Jasmine Fraser, and their mother Ri, his sister Gail, brothers Gavin and Alex, and many friends and associates in the industry.”

Andy Fraser’s All Right Now was Free’s biggest hit, peaking at No 2 in the UK singles chart and No 4 in the US.

All Right Now was recognized by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in 1990 for achieving over a million radio plays.

In 2006, Andy Fraser and Free singer Paul Rodgers were honored by the BMI in London to mark three million radio and television plays of All Right Now in the UK.

According to an interview with Free drummer Simon Kirke, All Right Now was written “after a bad gig in Durham”.

Study: Longer breastfeeding boosts child’s IQ in adulthood

Kathryn R. Bown
-
0
Study: Longer breastfeeding boosts child’s IQ in adulthood

According to a long-term Brazilian study, there is link between breastfeeding and intelligence.

Children who are breast-fed for longer go on to become more intelligent, educated and successful adults, the study has found.

Researchers analyzed breastfeeding data on almost 3,500 babies who were given IQ tests when they reached the age of 30 and provided information on educational attainment and income.

The research found those who had been breastfed for longer went on to score higher on IQ tests as adults.

Experts say the results, while not conclusive, appear to back current advice that babies should be exclusively breastfed for six months.

However, they say mothers should still have a choice about whether or not to do it.

Regarding the findings – published in The Lancet Global Health – specialists stress there are many different factors other than breastfeeding that could have an impact on intelligence, although the researchers did try to rule out the main confounders, such as mother’s education, family income and birth weight.

Dr. Bernardo Lessa Horta, from the Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil, said his study offers a unique insight because in the population he studied, breastfeeding was evenly distributed across social class – not something just practiced by the rich and educated.Breastfeeding linked to higher IQ

Most of the babies, irrespective of social class, were breastfed – some for less than a month and others for more than a year.

Those who were breastfed for longer scored higher on measures of intelligence as adults.

They were also more likely to earn a higher wage and to have completed more schooling.

Dr. Bernardo Lessa Horta believes breast milk may offer an advantage because it is a good source of long-chain saturated fatty acids which are essential for brain development.

However, experts say the study findings cannot confirm this and that much more research is needed to explore any possible link between breastfeeding and intelligence.

Frankfurt riot: Blockupy protesters target new ECB headquarter

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Frankfurt riot: Blockupy protesters target new ECB headquarter

Some 350 people arrested and dozens injured as anti-austerity demonstrators clashed with police in Frankfurt, Germany.

Police cars were set alight and stones were thrown in a protest against the opening of a new base for the European Central Bank (ECB).

Violence broke out close to Frankfurt’s Alte Oper concert hall hours before the ECB building’s official opening.

Thousands of “Blockupy” activists were due to take part in a rally.

Organizers were bringing a left-wing alliance of protesters from across Germany and the rest of Europe to voice their anger at the ECB’s role in austerity measures in EU member states, most recently Greece.

The ECB, in charge of managing the euro, is also responsible for framing eurozone policy and, along with the IMF and European Commission, has set conditions for bailouts in Ireland, Greece, Portugal and Cyprus.

Photo RT
Photo RT

Police set up a cordon of barbed wire outside the bank’s new 600ft double-tower skyscraper, next to the River Main.

But hopes of a peaceful rally were dashed as clashes began early on Wednesday, March 18.

Tires and trash bins were set alight and police responded with water cannon as firefighters complained they were unable to get to the fires to put them out. One fire engine appeared to have had its windscreen broken.

Activists said many protesters had been hurt by police batons, water cannon and by pepper spray.

Police said as many as 80 of their officers had been affected by pepper spray or an acidic liquid. Eight suffered injuries from stone-throwing protesters.

Police spokeswoman Claudia Rogalski spoke of an “aggressive atmosphere” and the Frankfurt force tweeted images of a police van being attacked. They were braced for further violence as increasing numbers of activists arrived for the rally.

Blockupy accused police of using kettling tactics to cordon off hundreds of protesters and appealed for supporters to press for their release.

As the number of protesters grew in the streets away from the new ECB building, the bank’s president, Mario Draghi, gave a speech marking its inauguration.

The new headquarters, which had been due to open years earlier, cost an estimated €1.3 billion ($1.4 billion) to build and is the new home for thousands of central bankers.

Blockupy activists said on their website that there was nothing to celebrate about the politics of austerity and increasing poverty.

[youtube 9f0AZtD5VvM 650]

St. Patrick’s Day 2015: White House fountain dyed green

Nancy Clayson
-
0
St. Patrick’s Day 2015: White House fountain dyed green

The White House gets in the fun by dyeing the water in the fountain on the south lawn green on St. Patrick’s Day.

The tradition started in 2009, when first lady Michelle Obama, a native of Chicago, decided to bring a version of her city’s tradition to Washington D.C.White House fountain dyed green St Patrick Day's 2015

For St. Patrick’s Day, some cites in the USA get festive by dyeing local bodies of water green.

Chicago officials dyed a portion of the Chicago River green on March 14. The tradition dates back to 1962 when Mayor Richard J. Daley and the chairman of the parade Stephen Bailey first did it. Stephen Bailey got the idea after realizing the dye used to detect leaks from plumbing into the river was a perfect shade of “Irish green”, according to the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee.

[youtube jcWwtUeOOiI 650]

Israel elections 2015 results: Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party wins surprise victory

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Israel elections 2015 results: Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party wins surprise victory

Benjamin Netanyahu has won a fourth term as Israel’s prime minister after his right-wing Likud Party has won a surprise victory in the country’s general elections.

Exit polls had forecast a dead heat but with almost all votes counted, results give Likud a clear lead over its main rival, the centre-left Zionist Union.

The outcome gives PM Benjamin Netanyahu a strong chance of forming a right-wing coalition government.

It puts the incumbent on course to clinch a fourth term and become Israel’s longest-serving prime minster.

The latest tally gives Likud 30 seats in the 120-seat parliament, the Knesset, with Zionist Union on 24 seats.

In a speech to jubilant supporters in Tel Aviv after Tuesday’s polls closed, Benjamin Netanyahu described the vote as a “great victory” for Likud, which had trailed the Zionist Union in opinion polls in the run-up to the election.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Benjamin Netanyahu “plans to immediately begin forming a government in order to complete the task within two to three weeks,” a statement from Likud said.

It said he had already spoken to parties he saw as possible coalition partners, including right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties and centrist Kulanu, which won 10 seats.

Zionist Union leader Yitzhak Herzog called Benjamin Netanyahu early on March 18 to congratulate him on the result and wished him “good luck”.

“Nothing has changed, we will keep fighting for a just society,” Yitzhak Herzog was quoted as saying by Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

“This is not an easy morning for us and for those who believe in our way,” Yitzhak Herzog and Zionist Union co-leader Tzipi Livni said in a statement.

Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed not to allow the creation of a Palestinian state, while Zionist Union expressed support for a two-state solution and promised to repair relations with Palestinians and the international community.

In the wake of the vote, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Palestinians would step up their bid for statehood.

“It is clear that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will form the next government, so we say clearly that we will go to the International Criminal Court in the Hague and we will speed up, pursue and intensify diplomatic efforts,” he told AFP news agency.

Almost 72% of those eligible voted in Tuesday’s election. Turnout was four points higher than the previous election in 2013.

Israel’s form of proportional representation always produces smaller parties and coalition government. None has ever won an outright majority under Israel’s proportional representation voting system.

The Joint Arab List, an alliance of Israeli Arab-dominated parties that united for the first time, came third with 14 seats.

[youtube SNnr-CVbzaI 650]

Solar Impulse 2 takes off from Ahmedabad heading to Varanasi

James J. Williams
-
0
Solar Impulse 2 takes off from Ahmedabad heading to Varanasi

Solar Impulse 2 is in the air again, crossing India and hoping to make it to Myanmar on March 19.

The solar-powered plane attempting to fly around the world, with Andre Borschberg at the controls, took off from Ahmedabad at 07:18 local time.

Solar Impulse 2 is heading to Varanasi in India’s Uttar Pradesh region, where it will make a short “pit stop” before pushing on over the Bay of Bengal.

The leg to Mandalay in Myanmar (Burma) will be flown by Bertrand Piccard.

The two pilots are taking it in turns to guide Solar Impulse 2 on its circumnavigation of the globe.

So far, they have covered about 2,000km in two segments since beginning the adventure in Abu Dhabi.

It will likely be another five months before they return to the United Arab Emirates, having crossed both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans in the process.

Today’s take-off was delayed by almost two hours because of customs issues.Solar Impulse 2 heads to India

The roughly 1,100km from Ahmedabad to Varanasi is the third leg of the mission and should take Borschberg about 15 hours to complete.

The team will then lay over for a few hours before taking off for Mandalay.

This fourth leg is longer – about 1,500km – and has some tricky conditions to negotiate.

“In Varanasi, we can expect to have foggy mornings, which could be a problem for an early take-off,” explained Christophe Beesau, who works on flight strategy.

“And for leg four, of course, we will cross the Bay of Bengal. This may be challenging because we have often at altitude an important wind, and, on the other hand, due to air traffic control restrictions, we have to keep the track.

“We know that we will have to adjust carefully the flight profile to avoid this problem.”

About two hours before landing in Mandalay, Solar Impulse 2 will have to fly over a big range of mountains up to 3,000m in height.

It will aim to get this done before sunset so that it can then gently descend towards the Myanmar city in the dark.

The Solar Impulse project has already set plenty of world records, including the greatest distance covered in a single solar-powered flight.

This was the 1,468km attained on leg two from Muscat in Oman to Ahmedabad.

The wingspan of the vehicle is 72m, which exceeds that of a 747 jumbo jet airliner. It does, however, only weigh 2.3 tonnes.

Its light weight will be critical to its success over the coming months.

The Pacific and Atlantic crossings will require Solar Impulse 2 to fly non-stop for several days at a time.

[youtube Unz958DhsFo 650]

Chicago Bulls’ Jack Haley dies of heart disease aged 51

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Chicago Bulls’ Jack Haley dies of heart disease aged 51

Former NBA player Jack Haley has died at the age of 51.

Jack Haley’s family confirmed his death, saying the cause was heart disease.

The sportsman died on March 16 at Los Alamitos Medical Center, according to the Orange County coroner’s office website. There were no indications of foul play and an autopsy will be performed, the coroner said.

Jack Haley played for Chicago Bulls, New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs during his career, when he averaged 3.5 points and 2.7 rebounds mostly as a reserve. He sat out the entire 1992-1993 season because of injury.

The Bulls drafted the 6-foot-10 forward-center as the 97th pick overall in 1987 out of UCLA, where he played three seasons and helped the Bruins with the NIT championship in 1985.

He graduated from Huntington Beach High and spent one season at Golden West College before transferring to UCLA. He played in Spain before joining the Bulls.Chicago Bulls Jack Haley dead at 51

Jack Haley had two different stints with the Bulls, starting his career with them and then returning to the team in 1995-1996. He appeared in only the final game of the regular season, scoring five points in seven minutes. He didn’t make the playoff roster, and the Michael Jordan-led Bulls set a record for victories in a season, going 72-10 on their way to winning the NBA title.

He was known on that team for his friendship with Bulls star Dennis Rodman, and he bristled at suggestions that he primarily served as a baby sitter for the eccentric rebounder.

Dennis Rodman posted a photo of Jack Haley kissing him on the cheek on Twitter, with the comment: “RIP to my brother Jack Haley. Sending love to his family.”

After his playing career ended, Jack Haley worked as an assistant for the Nets under current Kentucky coach John Calipari, who tweeted: “Jack was one of the most positive, upbeat guys I’ve ever been around. He was on that unbelievable 1996 championship team in Chicago. Sad day.”

Jack Haley later worked as a broadcaster on Lakers telecasts. He lived in the Orange County city of Seal Beach.

He appeared in the movies Eddie and Rebound, and was in Aerosmith’s music video Love in an Elevator.

Jack Haley is survived by his sons Jack Jr. and Jeff, his mother Jeanette, brother Tim, sister Sondra and ex-wife Stacey.

[youtube 2TCJn6TArWY 650]

Glastonbury 2015: Fans petition against Kanye West’s headlining slot

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Glastonbury 2015: Fans petition against Kanye West’s headlining slot

As Glastonbury festival organizers announced that Kanye West will headline this year festival’s Saturday lineup, outraged fans are already demanding that rapper be dumped from the lineup.

According to a Change.org petition signed by more than 21,000 people as of Tuesday afternoon, it’s because “Kanye West is an insult to music fans all over the world” and not “deserving.”Glastonbury fans petition against Kanye West's headlining slot

“Cancel Kanye West’s slot and get a rock band,” the petition demanded.

It then added: “We spend hundreds of pounds to attend glasto, and by doing so, expect a certain level of entertainment.”

For the record, Foo Fighters are headlining Friday night’s Glastonbury lineup.

In 2008, there was an outcry over Jay-Z being the first rapper to headline Glastonbury, apparently because he wasn’t “rock” enough to handle the top slot on the bill.

However, anyone on the Internet can sign this petition, regardless of whether they’re going to Glastonbury or even live in the UK. So these 21,000-and-counting signatures don’t exclusively come from Glastonbury fest-goers.

1...414415416...1,244Page 415 of 1,244