Hugh Grant Secretly Records ‘News Of The World’ Features Editor – After a chance meeting with a former News of the World executive who told him his phone had been hacked, Hugh Grant couldn’t resist going back to him – with a hidden tape recorder – to find out if there was more to the story.. [newstatesman]
Emails Prove Zuckerberg Stole 50% Of Facebook – Apparently – A businessman who claims Mark Zuckerberg scammed him out of a $2,000 controlling interest in Facebook has amended his federal lawsuit, in an attempt to cash in on a company now valued at $65 billion. Paul Ceglia says he owns half of Facebook after having paid Zuckerberg $2,000 to fund the site. And he has the emails to prove it. [wired]
Swazi Police Crush Pro-Democracy Protesters – Police in Africa’s last-remaining absolute monarchy have all but crushed pro-democracy protests in Swaziland – beating protestors, threatening journalists and “disappearing” union leaders amid rumours of torture. “We can’t meet, we can’t talk, we can’t express ourselves — this is the Swaziland we want to change,” said Ntombi Nkosi, a teacher and treasurer general of the Ngwane National Liberatory congress. [mail&guardian]
John Lennon Letters To Be Published – John Lennon’s previously unpublished letters will finally appear in print. Yoko Ono, Lennon’s widow, has agreed to help compile a collection of the singer’s correspondence, including postcards and doodles, to be published in October 2012. This is the first time that Ono has consented to publish his letters. [guardian]
Malema’s Dark Threat Of Mass Violence Comes Up In Hate Speech Case – In legalese, the term “mens rea” refers to intention, motive and means to commit a crime. It seems it will form a fulcrum in the landmark case of AfriForum vs Malema J before the Equality Court. On the first day the court heard chilling testimony about Malema’s intention to kill AfriForum members if they marched on Luthuli House – as happened when IFP members marched in 1994 and 19 were gunned down. [dailymav]
Donald Trump Tied In First Place In GOP Horserace – Donald Trump is now tied with Mike Huckabee for first place when Republicans are asked who they support for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012, according to a new national poll. But while a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey indicates that the real estate mogul and reality TV star has nearly doubled his support since mid-March, it doesn’t mean he has smooth sailing ahead. [cnn]
President And Michelle Obama Going On Oprah – President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are heading back to the Windy City later this month to appear on “The Oprah Show.” The first couple will be in Chicago to tape the show on April 27 (while in town to attend a couple of fundraisers), and the show is expected to air May 2. [politico]
SA Asks US To Help Find Photographer In Libya – South Africa has asked the United States to help it track down photographer Anton Hammerl, who went missing in Libya last week. Hammerl, a freelance photographer who used to work for The Star newspaper, was one of four journalists who went missing on April 4 in eastern Libya. [timeslive]
Blogger Sues Huffington Post And AOL – A freelance writer who successfully sued newspapers and magazines for copyright infringement filed a class-action lawsuit against the Huffington Post and AOL on Tuesday that seeks compensation for hundreds of unpaid contributors to the online publication. [washingtonpost]
Mubarak Has Heart Attack During Questioning – Ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak has been admitted into intensive care in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh, shortly after suffering a heart attack, the official Mena news agency reported. The 82-year-old suffered a heart attack during questioning by prosecutors investigating corruption and abuse allegations. [gulfdailynews]
Netanyahu Cancels Date With Bieber – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has canceled his date with pop sensation Justin Bieber over the singer’s refusal to meet with children living in communities affected by Gaza rocket fire, Channel Two reported on Tuesday. The prime minister was scheduled to host the young singer at his office in Jerusalem on Wednesday evening, before Bieber’s Thursday night concert. [haaretz]
Soviet Space Propaganda: Doctored Cosmonaut Photos – The Soviet Union’s string of space triumphs over the United States was tarnished by a series of falsifications that surfaced and cast doubt on all their accomplishments, even the genuine ones. Today on the 50th anniversary of the Yuri Gagarin’s first spaceflight, the greatest of the Soviet space triumphs, there are still plenty of unresolved doubts and suspicions. [cosmostv]
Kim Jong Il Catches Another Yank – The United States has called for the release of an American who has been detained in North Korea. US state department spokesman Mark Toner says Swedish officials have “been able to visit” the detained American. But he gave scant details of why the American citizen was being held. Ja, look, you’re gonna have to send in Clinton, guys. Kim wants another photo. [abc]
Kristen Stewart Gets Motorbike For 21st From Twilight Crew – Kristen Stewart received a motorbike from the cast and crew of the ‘Twilight Saga’ to celebrate her 21st birthday. The actress reached the milestone age on Saturday and was presented with the gift in Vancouver, where she is currently shooting the final two movies in the series, the two-part ‘Breaking Dawn’. [evestandard]
Shirley MacLaine Had Sex With Three People In One Day – Shirley MacLaine is so completely awesome that she can go on Oprah and talk about how she teed up three different guys for a day full of action. She totally doesn’t give a shit anymore, which is exactly what her new book, I’m Over All That, is about. She rules. [jezebel]
Google Is Building The World’s Largest Solar Tower Power Plant. Say That Quickly – Google is investing $168 million to help develop a solar energy power plant in California’s Mojave Desert. Google’s official blog states that the new plant will hopefully generate 392 gross megawatts of solar power, or “the equivalent of taking more than 90,000 cars off the road over the lifetime of the plant,” which is estimated to be 25 years. [techland]
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