Showing posts with label International. Show all posts
Showing posts with label International. Show all posts

Wednesday, 25 September 2013

Michael Jackson family seeking $290m in damages from AEG



Michael Jackson's family are seeking $290 million (£181m) in personal damages from concert promoters AEG over his death in 2009, it has emerged.

The figure was revealed for the first time as the family's lawyer, Brian Panish, made closing arguments at the star's 21-week wrongful death trial.

Jurors were urged to award Jackson's mother Katherine $35m (£21.8m) and award a further $85m (£53.1m) to each of the singer's three children.

AEG denies any wrongdoing.

Michael Jackson died at the age of 50 from an overdose of the surgical anaesthetic propofol, ahead of a series of comeback concerts in London.

The Jackson family claim AEG Live failed to properly investigate Dr Conrad Murray - the former cardiologist who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011 - and missed warning signs about the singer's health.

Tuesday's closing arguments incorporated a video presentation documenting Jackson's career, from his humble beginnings in Gary, Indiana to his becoming the self-styled "King of Pop".

Jackson died in 2009 before a series of concerts at the O2 in London

The video ended with a clip of the mournful 1993 ballad Gone Too Soon and Jackson's voice saying "I love you".

"That is the best evidence that Michael Jackson would have sold tickets," Brian Panish said about the star.

The issue of Jackson's potential earnings is crucial to the trial, as the family is seeking economic as well as personal damages.

Panish did not suggest a figure for the former, but reminded jurors of expert testimony that said the singer would have earned more than $1 billion (£625m), had he lived, from new music, tours, endorsements and a Las Vegas show.

'Shared responsibility'

The lawyer also spoke of the anguish of Michael's children, Prince, Paris and Blanket Jackson, over the loss of their father.

He was warned by Superior Court Judge Yvette Palazuelos that jurors were not to be swayed by sympathy in reaching their verdict.

"We're not looking for sympathy," Mr Panish said. "We're looking for justice. Not partial, but complete justice."

He also addressed the question of Jackson's culpability in his death.

"It's about shared responsibility," he said. "Michael probably has some fault.

"I'm not going to deny that Michael used prescription drugs and that people told him it's risky to use propofol."

However, he argued, Jackson would have lived had AEG not hired Dr Murray,

Panish portrayed AEG executives and Dr Murray as mercenaries who sacrificed the pop star's life in a quest to boost their own fortunes.

He said AEG Live decided to take the "risk" of not investigating Murray's background because they were anxious to launch Jackson's lucrative 50-date This Is It concert series.

A court artist's sketch of Katherine Jackson giving testimony earlier in the trial

"AEG wanted the King of Pop in their arena in London," he said. "They would do whatever it took to get him on stage.

"They were so excited about how much money they were going to make. They chose to run the risk, to make a huge profit, and they lost and they're responsible."

Jurors were shown emails suggesting it was AEG, not Jackson, who had hired Dr Murray.

One, written by AEG executive Paul Gongaware, talked about an upcoming meeting with the physician. "We want to remind him that it is AEG, not MJ [Michael Jackson] who is paying his salary," it read.

"We want him to understand what is expected of him."

A video of AEG Live's CEO Randy Phillips was also re-played, in which he told Sky News that Murray was "willing to leave his practice for a very large sum of money... so we hired him."

Further video footage showed AEG executives at Dr Murray's trial repeatedly saying "I don't remember" or "I can't recall", with Panish suggesting they were not credible witnesses.

Final rebuttals

A final video showed home movies of Jackson and his children celebrating birthdays and playing at his Neverland estate. The scenes ended with Paris's tearful tribute to her father at his memorial in June 2009.

Some of the fans who had crowded the courtroom rushed out in tears at the video's conclusion.

Panish urged jurors to act as the conscience of the community and award damages to Jackson's family.

Jackson's mother, Katherine, her daughter Rebbie and her nephews Taj and TJ sat in a front row as Panish delivered his remarks.

AEG's lawyers will make their own closing arguments on Wednesday, after which Panish will make final rebuttals and the jurors will retire to consider the case.

A unanimous verdict is not required, though nine of the 12 jurors must agree.

If they find that damages should be awarded, the judge said, they should not consider the wealth of either party nor the grief endured by the Jackson family.

"The Grandmaster" beats "Unbeatable" to Oscars

25 Sep – After much deliberation, it was revealed that Wong Kar-wai's "The Grandmaster" has defeated Dante Lam's box office record-holder "Unbeatable" in the bid to be selected as Hong Kong's representative for the Oscars' Best Foreign Language Film category.
As reported on BBC News website, on 23 September, the Board of Directors representing the Federation of Motion Film Producers of Hong Kong Limited made the announcement, stating that "The Grandmaster" will be competing for a nomination in that category in the 86th Academy Awards, based on the panel of jury's votes.
Hung Cho Sing, the Chairman of the organisation stated, "Hong Kong films this year have been amazing, and "The Grandmaster", "Unbeatable" and "Ip Man: The Final Fight" were some of the biggest contenders. However, "The Grandmaster" finally got the most votes."
The movie, based on the life and philosophy of the Wing Chun grandmaster, Ip Man, recently accumulated USD 6.3 million at the North American box office and was also named one of Telegraph's 2013 To Ten Best Films – giving it better chances of being listed as the final five nominees.
Meanwhile, the movie's production company, Jet Tone expressed their happiness at the selection and said, "We are honoured to represent Hong Kong. This is the result of the director, the cast members and the crew's hard work."

Next-generation iPad to make October 15 debut: report

A new version of Apple's iPad tablet, as well as an updated Mac Pro desktop and a refreshed Apple TV, are expected to be revealed at a special event.
According to French Apple rumors and news site MacGeneration, which has a 50/50 batting average when scooping such things, Apple has chosen October 15 for its next product reveal, meaning that tech journalists will be getting their virtual invites in the digital mail in the coming days.
Whether or not it's the right date, it seems likely that Apple is about to launch refreshed tablets and will do so before the holiday season kicks into high gear. So what exactly should consumers expect, and should they be getting excited?
In terms of tablets, Apple will be launching a full-sized iPad with a slimmer, smaller, lighter design but, thanks to a reduced screen bezel, one that will not reduce the device's 9.7-inch Retina display size. It is also expected to get the A7 processor bump that the latest iPhone received so that it will be capable of running 64-bit programs and therefore able to address more RAM for heftier processing.
Joining it will be a new iPad Mini which will look remarkably similar to the one it will be replacing, except that it will now have a high-definition Retina display too. Like with its iPhone launches, every new iteration of an iPad features three things -- a catch-up feature: something missing from the product that competitors' products have as standard; a fix or improvement to an existing feature or service; and a ‘killer' new application to keep it ahead of the pack -- so don't be surprised to discover on launch day that the new iPads also feature fingerprint-scanning technology.
However, what is not likely to be revealed is a low-cost plastic iPad. Though the company is rumored to be developing such a device, it is not expected to launch until 2014 for fears of cannibalizing sales of its existing tablet range.
Alongside the tablets, Apple should be able to finally confirm launch date, performance specifications and pricing for the eagerly awaited Mac Pro power-user desktop. After all, it has already been running teaser ads at cinemas and on YouTube.
Finally, its Apple TV streaming box is also expected to get a refresh that will include greater functionality and maybe even one or two physical design tweaks now that it finally has some competition from Android in the form of Google's Chromecast. There's also a good chance that its Pro notebook range will get the Intel Haswell chip treatment, which will mean better graphics performance, faster processing speeds and better battery life. In MacGeneration's report it is also claimed that new iMacs and Mac Minis will be seen at the 

The dangers of running on an empty tank



Trying to get the best fuel consumption out of a single tank of fuel is a good habit, but allowing the fuel level in your tank to reach alarmingly low levels isn't a very good idea.

We've all done it, run our cars till the fuel tank was practically empty. Most of the time it's because our work schedules don't permit us to stop as frequently as we'd like at our usual petrol station. Sometimes it's because we are on a tight budget and want that full tank of fuel to last for ever.Whatever the case, allowing your car to run until the tank is practically empty will not only cause performance issues but will cost you dearly in the long run.

As sophisticated as modern day cars are, they aren't idiot proofModern day cars have their fuel pumps fitted in the middle of the petrol tank. A fuel pump's function is to pump fuel out of the tank and into the fuel line. The reason the pump is fitted right in the middle is so that it's kept cool by the petrol inside the tank.

Fuel tank of a standard MINIWhen the petrol level inside the tank reduces to a very low level, the pump doesn't receive sufficient cooling and as a result begins to heat up. What makes matters worse is at this point the pump is not only pumping petrol but air as well and as such is working overtime. Prolonged exposure to such situations will cause excessive wear and tear on the fuel pump and force it to give up the ghost prematurely. There aren't any warning signs for the impending demise of a worn out fuel pump. One day it will be working fine then the next, your car just won't start.

Besides issues with the fuel pump, continuously subjecting your engine to fuel starvation will cost you a hefty repair bill in the long run. Petrol, no matter how premium it might be, will have a certain amount of sediment in it. Wether it's improper mixing or just because of a lacklustre storage facility, when pumping fuel, this sediment will eventually make its way into your fuel tank. Though this maybe a very small volume at first, overtime there will be a continuous build up inside the tank.

Most fuels do carry a very small amount of sedimentAllowing your fuel tank to reach very low levels will cause this sediment and other residue to be pumped into the fuel system. It will eventually make its way through your entire fuel system and in to your engine. It can cause a lot of problems such as clogging up your fuel line, clogging the fuel injectors or worse. It is even said that it could make its way into your engine and cause a number of performance issues.

So each time you decide to allow the needle on your fuel gauge to dip to E, ask yourself if it's really going to be worth the risk in the long run. Most experts will tell you to always keep the tank half full. The moment the needle reaches the half way mark, its time to visit the petrol station. While this is a good tip to keep in mind, sometimes it isn't always easy to keep doing this. So, as long as you constantly have at least a 1/4 tank of petrol in your fuel tank, you shouldn't need to worry about clogged injectors.

Look after your car and your car will look after youThe best way to keep your car running like clockwork is to adhere to the manufacturer's recommended service intervals and always insist on using genuine parts. Look after your car and your car will end up looking after you for a considerable number of years.

Monday, 23 September 2013

After Salman Khan's moustache in DABANGG, Ranbir Kapoor's hairy chest to become a fad in BESHARAM

By Rachana Sheth, Glamsham Editorial
Anil Kapoor, who topped the list of hairy hunks in 80s, was always a butt of a joke for his fuzzy chested hair. But it seems, the hirsute look which was a laughing stock then is set to become a fad now if you believe director Abhinav Kashyap.
Abhinav, who brought back the trend of hero sporting a moustache through his super successful debut film DABANGG, is aiming to recommence the bushy chested look and bring it in vogue through his upcoming film BESHARAM.
While Salman Khan sported a pencil thin moustache with elegance in DABANGG series, Ranbir Kapoor will be mostly seen flaunting his unbuttoned shirt showing off his well unshaven chest, a masculine look which was in trend for almost three decades i.e. 70s, 80s and 90s.
Abhinav reasons why he chose to bring the trend of hairy trunk back, "I wanted Ranbir to slightly look out of the place in BESHARAM, something which is not in sync with today's time. When Salman wore a moustache nobody liked it then, but today it has become a trend, so I can say Salman was ahead of time. When I was making DABANGG many came to me advising that yeh kya purrane zaamne ka hero hai mooch laga raha hai....But I would always say everything is cyclical including fashion and trends. And today I take pride in saying that I started the cycle again. Everything should be tried out and one should be experimental. You never know what clicks."
He further blames Khans for cessation of shaggy torso look. Abhinav says, "From the time Khans started ruling the roost every other actor began to shave their chest. I have several of such female friends who come to me and ask why these heroes get their hairs removed? On the contrary the hairy chest looks quite masculine and sexy. They say although clean shaven looks good on-screen but that is extremely uncomfortable to watch. So I thought let's bring back the era of heroes having hairy chest."
Also starring newbie Pallavi Sharda along with Rishi and Neetu Kapoor, BESHARAM is set to hit the screens on October 2nd, 2013!

Profitable Arsenal prepared to spend again

By Keith Weir
LONDON (Reuters) - Premier League leaders Arsenal are prepared to spend more on their squad after the record signing of German playmaker Mesut Ozil, the club's chairman said on Monday.
The arrival of Ozil for 42.5 million pounds ($68 million) at the start of the month has lifted the mood among supporters angry at the departure of striker Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas over the past two years.
Arsenal have not won a trophy since 2005 and some fans of the north London club had questioned the club's ambition under Stan Kroenke, the American sports entrepreneur who is its majority shareholder.
Chips Keswick, when became Arsenal chairman in June, said manager Arsene Wenger would be given more money to spend as he reported another season of financial profit off the pitch.
"With the Ozil transfer I believe we have made a significant statement and when Arsene decides the time is right to invest again, Stan Kroenke, myself and the rest of the Board will be delighted to support him," Keswick said in a statement.
Keswick said Arsenal would stick to their principles of running a financially sustainable club and developing young players but said their ambition should not be questioned.
"We have a controlling owner in Stan Kroenke and a Board which is united in our resolve to keep Arsenal Football Club at the pinnacle of the game both here and in Europe."
The sale of striker Van Persie to Manchester United helped Arsenal remain in profit in 2012-13. On the pitch, United won a record 20th English league title, helped by 26 goals from Dutchman Van Persie.
Arsenal finished fourth to clinch a spot in the lucrative Champions League for a 16th successive season.
Profit before tax was 6.7 million pounds in the year to the end of May, down from 36.6 million a year earlier, Arsenal said.
The club made a 47 million pound profit on the sale of Van Persie and Alex Song, the midfielder who moved to Barcelona. However, the club said it had invested 58.7 million pounds on buying new players and extending contracts, before the additional spending on Ozil.
Arsenal currently lead the Premier League on goal difference from arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
(Writing by Keith Weir,; editing by Justin Palmer)

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood condemns 'politically motivated' ban

Cairo: The Muslim Brotherhood slammed as "corrupt and politically motivated" today an Egyptian court order banning all its activities.

The Islamist group of deposed president Mohamed Morsi said on its official Twitter account that it was an organisation that "will always be present on the ground even after it is dissolved".

"The Muslim Brotherhood is part and parcel of Egyptian society. Corrupt and politically motivated judicial decisions cannot change that," it said.

Earlier today, an Egyptian court banned the Brotherhood from operating and ordered its assets seized, in the latest blow to the movement of deposed president Mohamed Morsi.

The ruling is subject to appeal and could be overturned by a higher court.

Sunday, 15 September 2013

Miley Cyrus Unfollows Fiancé Liam Hemsworth on Twitter



Talk about a wrecking ball.

Miley Cyrus has stopped following her fiancé Liam Hemsworth on Twitter.

The move comes after Liam was linked toJanuary Jones. And although Liam's rep denied the rumors, it hasn't stopped tongues from wagging.

NEWS: Liam's rep slams January Jones rumors

And while Miley and Liam have remained quiet about their relationship, her Twitter move just adds to the speculation that the couple of four years may finally be headed for a breakup.

Not to mention the duo's been more distant than ever as evidenced by Hemsworth's Los Angeles premiere of Paranoia last month, where the two were last spotted together.

The couple have put even more distance between them lately with Miley promoting her upcoming album Bangerz in Europe while Liam's is apparently living it up in Las Vegas, as his latest tweet reveals.

NEWS: Miely's "Wrecking Ball" inspires hilarious memes

The Hunger Games actor tweeted earlier today, revealing: "Excited for @FloydMayweather vs. @CaneloOficial #TheOne @SHOSports @mgmgrand."

Looks like Miley won't be getting that update any time soon.