US Dismantles Last of Huge Cold War-Era Nuclear Bombs
It was the end of an era Tuesday when experts near Amarillo, Texas dismantled the United States' oldest and biggest nuclear bomb, the B53.
Officials say dismantling the bomb involved separating 136 kilograms of high explosives from a uranium “pit” at the heart of the weapon.
The Cold War relic, which was put into service in 1962, weighed 4,500 kilograms and was the size of a minivan. Military experts say its large size was meant to make up for its lack of accuracy. They say it was hundreds of times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945.
The weapon was the last in the arsenal of the B53 nuclear bombs. They were built at the height of tensions between the United States and Soviet Union, but are now obsolete because of the end of the Cold War, better technology, and arms control treaties.
U.S. experts refuse to say how many B53s were built before they were retired in 1997.
Tuesday's dismantling ceremony was part of President Barack Obama's goal to reduce the number and role of nuclear weapons in America's arsenal.
Gadhafi Buried at Secret Site in Libyan Desert
Libya’s ousted leader, Moammar Gadhafi, was buried before dawn Tuesday in a secret desert location five days after he was captured, killed and his slowly decomposing body put on public display in a meat locker in the city of Misrata.
Officials from the Misrata military council said Gadhafi, his slain son Mutassim and former defense minister Abu Bakr Younis were buried together after a brief ceremony attended by a handful of people, including three relatives of the dead.
Muslim clerics loyal to the ousted leader were ordered to pray over the bodies, which had been wrapped in white shrouds.
Libya’s National Transitional Council is under intense international pressure to investigate the circumstances of Gadhafi’s death. The Associated Press quotes an NTC statement issued late Tuesday as saying its leaders “disapprove” of any prisoners being hurt or killed.
The NTC added that “regardless of the hatred Libyans held for Gadhafi…we did not want to end this tyrant’s life before he was brought to court.” It was the first time the new leadership has spoken out against Gadhafi’s killing.
On Sunday, Libyan doctors performed an autopsy on Gadhafi’s body and said he died of gunshot wounds to the head and abdomen during last week’s takeover of Sirte. Cellphone video shows provisional government fighters taunting and abusing a wounded Gadhafi shortly before he died.
Libyan officials said the former leader was shot in a crossfire between his loyalists and provisional government forces. Fighters on the scene have acknowledged beating the ousted leader after his capture.
Peter Bouchaert of the New York-based Human Rights Watch said there are strong indications Gadhafi and Mutassim were “killed while in detention.”
Meanwhile, the last top figures of Libya’s former government – Gadhafi’s son Seif al-Islam and former intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi – are reported poised to flee to neighboring Niger. Officials in Niger said Tuesday the two are receiving help from ethnic Tuaregs, a tribe that was among the former leader’s strongest supporters.
Separately, Human Rights Watch has asked Libya’s new authorities to investigate a possible mass execution of suspected Gadhafi supporters during the battle for Sirte.
The group says it found the bodies of 53 people who appear to have been executed in an area that was controlled by NTC fighters at the apparent time of the deaths about a week earlier.
Lindsay Lohan reports for morgue cleanup duty
Lindsay Lohan made sure she made it to the Los Angeles morgue early Friday for her first day of court-ordered community service.
"We can confirm she came in well before her appointed time, between 6 and 6:30 this morning," Los Angeles County Coroner Assistant Chief Ed Winter said Friday.
Thursday was suppose to be Lohan's first day of work as a morgue janitor, but she was sent away after showing up late for the morning's orientation.
Publicist Steven Honig blamed her tardiness on "a combination of not knowing what entrance to go through and confusion caused by the media waiting for her arrival."
As part of her sentence for a necklace theft conviction, Lohan was ordered to work 120 hours at the county morgue after she completed 360 hours of community service at the Los Angeles Downtown Women's Center, but she was booted from that program for missing too many appointments.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sautner ruled Wednesday that Lohan had violated her probation. Lohan posted $100,000 bail for her probation revocation, but Sautner ordered her to perform two working shifts -- or eight hours a day -- twice a week at the morgue until her probation revocation hearing November 2.
"Her duties will include general janitorial work like vaccuuming, taking trash out and cleaning bathrooms," Winter said.
Lohan, 25, was on probation after pleading guilty in May to stealing a necklace from a Venice, California, jewelry store. She served five weeks of home confinement ending in June for that misdemeanor theft and violation of another probation.
Lohan's legal woes began in 2007 with two drunken driving arrests, and they've been compounded by her failure to attend counseling classes and her failures of alcohol and drug tests.
Snoop Dogg Held Up in Norway For Carrying Too Much Cash
Who knew you could get stopped by authorities for carrying too much cash.
California rapper Snoop Dogg was stopped by immigration officials in Norway for carrying too much money. He was due to make an appearance at a an Adidas store before performing at Oslo’s Spektrum Arena.
“They talkn bout takn my $$!!” the Doggfather tweeted. “That aint rite!! Norway standup 4 the biggdogg!! they makn me late 4 this adidas instore autograph signin!”
He was eventually released and went about his business.
“Shout out 2 all 600 fans n Oslo who waited all day at the Adidas instore signin,” he tweeted. “Good lookn out.”
Cameron Douglas pleads guilty to possessing drugs in prison
Cameron Douglas, who is serving a five- year federal prison sentence for drug dealing, pleaded guilty Thursday to possessing drugs in his jail cell.
For the latest charges, the son of actor Michael Douglas faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, plus a $250,000 fine.
Douglas, 32, is charged with possessing items that tested positive for cocaine and heroin, which were found in his cell by an investigator. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Anderson told the court one of the substances tested positive for methadone, which he described as "something that people take when they're coming off a heroin addiction in order to facilitate the withdrawal," according to a court transcript.
The charges state that Douglas obtained the narcotics both at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, as well as after he was transferred to a minimum-security jail in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania In court Thursday, he admitted struggling with addictions to heroin, cocaine and alcohol.
"God knows I am sorry," records show he told the judge.
Michael Douglas said in a statement: "Cameron accepts full responsibility for his conduct, which involved a small user-quantity of drugs. While he has made much progress, he is still not cured. Most people and their families are able to address this illness privately and outside of the spotlight. Unfortunately this has not been possible here, for reasons completely outside of his control. He thanks those that have rooted for his recovery and looks forward to the day when he will not disappoint."
Douglas is scheduled to be sentenced December 21.
Ex B2K member Lil Fizz Denies Owning LA Pot Shop
Well, it turns out that the B2K singer who could be hit for nearly $2 million in fines and lawyers fees – because of his involvement in a marijuana dispensary – might be the victim of a bum rap. TMZ says it’s because they’re told he has nothing to do with the pot shop anymore:
Earlier we reported that Dreux Pierre Frederic, aka Lil’ Fizz, is being sued by the State of California, which claims he’s a part owner in an illegal marijuana store in West Hollywood. According to the suit, the shop — Little Amsterdam — was operating in an area not zoned for pot dispensaries. The state is asking for $2,500 a day in fines from July, 2010 till now. Total — more than a million bucks, and another possible $750,000 in law enforcement costs and lawyers fees.
But sources close to Fizz tell TMZ … he got out of the pot business in 2008. So, they say, the state is barking up the wrong tree.
We’re told people close to Fizz have contacted the state, and authorities are now on the hunt for the real owners. But so far, Fizz is still a named defendant.
Young Buck Can’t Avoid Bankruptcy
Young Buck is stuck, under a pile of massive debt that won’t go away without filing for bankruptcy.
The rapper, whose real name is David Darnell Brown, has been trying to find a way to reorganize his finances and stay afloat. But according to Chapter 11 trustee Jeanne Burton, 50 Cent isn’t making it easy for him.
In June, Burton and Buck’s debt manager filed a plan that would prevent bankruptcy that included modifying a recording agreement with G-Unit Records and a distribution agreement with Universal Music Group. But 50 opposed the plan.
“At this time, because no agreement has been reached with G-Unit and Curtis Jackson regarding either assumption or rejection for the recording agreement and/or the publishing agreement, the first amended plan cannot be confirmed,” Burton said in court papers filed last week. “The trustee believes and therefore asserts that there is no reasonable likelihood of reorganization at this point.”
To make matters worse, Young Buck had some performance or appearance fees wired to an unauthorized account from a former acquaintance, but now the funds and the acquaintance are no where to be found.
Italian rider Simoncelli killed in Malaysian MotoGP crash
Italy's MotoGP star Marco Simoncelli was killed in a crash on the second lap of the Malaysian MotoGP Sunday.
The tragic accident happened when Simoncelli came off at Turn 11 of the Sepang circuit while in fourth place.
His Honda bike swerved across the track and he was hit by fellow competitors Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi.
Simoncelli, 24, had his helmet knocked off in the crash and he lay motionless on the track.
American Edwards also fell but escaped serious injury, while former multi-world champion Rossi returned unhurt to the pits on his Ducati.
The race was abandoned and Simoncelli was given emergency treatment at the track's medical center, but it was to no avail.
"Marco Simoncelli succumbed to injuries sustained in the Malaysian MotoGP," read a short statement on the official MotoGP website to confirm the fatality.
It came just a week after the tragic death of two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Dan Wheldon at a race in Las Vegas.
On the same day, 2010 MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo crashed as he warmed up for last week's round in Australia and sustained a serious hand injury.
Lorenzo's misfortune meant Australian Casey Stoner wrapped up the world title with two races still to go, Sunday's race in Malaysia, and the final round in Spain.
Rossi, a seven-time world champion in motorcycling's elite category, left the track devastated by the accident involving his fellow Italian and "good friend" Simoncelli.
Rossi's team manager at Ducati, Vittoriano Gureschi, gave his reaction.
"Valentino is shocked by this incident. Valentino is a strong man but this incident is a big tragedy. He has lost a good friend," he said.
The Italian sports community was left stunned by Simoncelli's death and a minute's silence was held at all major events, including Serie A football games.
All Blacks edge France to claim Rugby World Cup
Hosts New Zealand edged out France 8-7 in a nailbiting finish to the Rugby World Cup final in Auckland Sunday to win the William Webb Ellis trophy for the second time.
It was a repeat of their success in the inaugural competition on their home soil in 1987, but it was far from the easy victory that many had predicted.
Watched by a capacity 61,000 in the Eden Park Stadium, and with the hopes of a rugby-mad nation on their shoulders, the All Blacks led 5-0 at halftime thanks to a try from prop Tony Woodcock.
Scrum-half Piri Weepu, missed the conversion and two other penalty kicks that would have given them a more comfortable advantage.
Stephen Donald, who replaced the injured Aaron Cruden at fly-half, put the home side 8-0 ahead when he slotted home an early second half penalty.
But back came France as a sustained attack led to a try for captain Thierry Dusautoir, converted by Francois Trinh-Duc, who was on as a replacement for the injured Morgan Parra.
Trinh-Duc had an excellent chance with 15 minutes left to kick a penalty which would have put Les Bleus ahead but his effort went wide.
France, given little chance after losing by 20 points to the All Blacks in the pool phase, were pressing at the end but desperate home defense kept New Zealand ahead.
At the final whistle the All Blacks players celebrated with a mixture of triumph and sheer relief they had finally laid to rest a 24-year litany of failure in Rugby's showpiece international competition.
There were also wild scenes of celebration among the estimated 150,000 people who had gathered to watch the final on giant screens in Auckland.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry admitted the closing minutes had been tense before his side closed out a long-awaited victory.
"I'm just delighted for the boys. We've been the top team in the world for a long time, so it's been a long time coming," he told the official Rugby World Cup website.
Captain Richie McCaw echoed Henry's sentiments after his side hung on for their slender win.
"We had to dig deeper than ever before and it's hard to get it to sink in, but I am so proud of every single one of them," said McCaw, who was one of four All Blacks who had played in the quarterfinal defeat to France in the 2007 World Cup.
Dusautoir, whose team had been subjected to such criticism as they scraped into the final, believed their display had been the perfect riposte.
"We showed that France deserved their spot in the final," he said.
Gayle slams 147 against CCC
Jamaica defeated Combined Campuses and Colleges by 134 runs in their Regional Super50, Group B game at Everest yesterday. Leading the way was dangerous opening batsman Chris Gayle, who hammered 147 to lead Jamaica to 259 for three off their allotted 37 overs. also among the runs were Xavier Marshall with 52 not out and Danza Hyatt with 35.
In reply the CCC reached 125 for five off their 37 overs. Ryan Wiggins scored an unbeaten 52 and Jamal Smith got 26 not out to rescue the students who lost five early wickets. Nekoli Parris was also among the runs with 23. Left arm medium pacer Krishmar Santokie took 2/16 to be the leading bowler.
With the win, Jamaica is now into the semi-finals with one match to play against Trinidad and Tobago. The CCC also has a chance of making it into the semis, if they can overcome the Leewards. T&T will need to beat Jamaica in their final game, as they lost to the CCC earlier in the tournament. Yesterday, they rebounded nicely with a five-wicket win over the Leewards.
Scores
• JAMAICA 259 for three off 37 overs (Chris Gayle 147, Xavier Marshall 52 not out, Danza Hyatt 35).
• COMBINED CAMPUSES AND COLLEGES 125 for five off 37 overs (Ryan Wiggins 52 not out, Jamal Smith 26 not out, Nekoli Parris 23; Krishmar Santokie 2-16)