Rihanna sues over T-shirts

There were racks of T-shirts in court but no Rihanna as her lawyers fought a legal battle over her image being used by high street fashion chain Topshop.

The absence of the Barbadian singer, who has been in the UK this week, was remarked on at London’s High Court as she and two Los Angeles-based associated companies claimed she was entitled to damages for the unauthorised use of her image on a T-shirt. The claim is allegedly for $5 million and is against Arcadia Group Brands Ltd, which operates Topshop.

Bringing the action under her full name of Robyn Rihanna Fenty, the US-based celebrity alleges an unknown quantity of T-shirts was acquired by Topshop in 2011 and early 2012 and offered for sale under the name “Rihanna Tank”.

Dog's mess

An 18-year-old woman in England has been told to pay more than £650 after failing to clear up dog mess in a park, according to a local authority.

Katie Arnell, of Watts Road, Portsmouth, was seen by a city council officer to allow her dog to foul in Duke Crescent Green without cleaning up after it.

She failed to pay an on-the-spot fine of £75 and the authority took the case to court. The teenager failed to attend the hearing at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court and after she was found guilty in her absence she was fined £400 and ordered to pay £253.60 costs. (PA)

‘Mermaid’ banned from pool

A Florida woman has been banned from swimming in her community’s pool because she wants to wear a mermaid tail.

Jenna Conti had been in the Aquatic Club pool with her custom-made tail once before with the staff’s approval. But last week, employees told her it violated a policy against swim fins.

The full-time hair stylist has not been a mermaid for very long. She and her 10-year-old son saw the mermaids at the Tampa Bay Renaissance Fair earlier this year, and she said she was “enthralled”.

Rihanna sues over T-shirts

There were racks of T-shirts in court but no Rihanna as her lawyers fought a legal battle over her image being used by high street fashion chain Topshop.

The absence of the Barbadian singer, who has been in the UK this week, was remarked on at London’s High Court as she and two Los Angeles-based associated companies claimed she was entitled to damages for the unauthorised use of her image on a T-shirt. The claim is allegedly for $5 million and is against Arcadia Group Brands Ltd, which operates Topshop.

Bringing the action under her full name of Robyn Rihanna Fenty, the US-based celebrity alleges an unknown quantity of T-shirts was acquired by Topshop in 2011 and early 2012 and offered for sale under the name “Rihanna Tank”.

Wrong house demolished

A demolition company has mistakenly torn down a three-bedroom home in northern Texas rather than the condemned building next door.

David Underwood and his wife placed their Fort Worth house on the market with the intention of moving into the retreat they purchased near the shores of Lake Worth.

The lakeside land has been in the family for decades and Mr Underwood bought it from an aunt earlier this year.

But when they stopped by to mow the lawn, they found the home was gone, with only a slab of foundation remaining. Mr Underwood is seeking a settlement from the city, which said officials were investigating.

Voting for national anthem

The tiny eastern Caribbean island of Montserrat is searching for a national song to call its own.

The government is asking the public to vote for one of six finalists that would be sung at festivals, school assemblies, churches and elsewhere. The British territory currently uses the UK national anthem for all events.

Officials with state-owned Radio Montserrat said that people are voting online and filling out forms to choose a song. The winning song will be announced during a cultural event on July 27.

Calf gets stuck in the mud

A young cow trying to grab a cooling drink from a river in the hot weather had to be rescued by firefighters when it got stuck in the mud.

The nine-month-old Belgian blue got stuck trying to reach the River Hamble near Manor Farm Country Park in Lower Swanwick, Hampshire, on Thursday.

Animal rescue specialist Buster Brown and the firefighters faced a race against time to free the calf before high tide. The calf was released unharmed.

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