Jailed Pussy Riot member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova regrets nothing about the band’s anti-government performance in a cathedral that got them convicted of hooliganism and sentenced to two years behind bars.
Ms Tolokonnikova told Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine in an interview released yesterday that her conviction with her two band mates was Russian President Vladimir “Putin’s personal revenge” which served to put a global spotlight on his government. She said: “I think the bottom line is that the trial against us was important because it showed the true face of Putin’s system.”
Der Spiegel said the performer’s answers to the magazine’s questions were provided through her lawyer, who is allowed to visit her in prison.
New restaurant in Welsh jail
A new restaurant inside a Welsh jail with food made by inmates is to open later this month.
The Clink Cymru, at Cardiff Prison, is the brainchild of top chef Alberto Crisci, who has worked at Marco Pierre White’s plush Mirabelle Restaurant in Mayfair, London.
Around 30 inmates from HMP Cardiff and HMP Prescoed, in Usk, Monmouthshire, will be paid about €18 for a 40-hour working week in the 96-cover restaurant.
Loud music ‘a real turn-off’
Drivers find over-loud music in their cars a real turn-off, according to a survey.
More than half of motorists (54 per cent) want volume controls enforced on in-car music to stop it being a distraction, the poll by Allianz Your Cover Insurance found.
Based on responses from 1,000 drivers, the study also found that 63 per cent get annoyed by other drivers getting music loudly. The survey showed that, on average, drivers played music for 72 per cent of the time they were in the car, with 27 per cent listening to music on every journey.
Most said they found listening to music made the journey go quicker while others said music relaxed them and others enjoyed simply singing along.
Runaway train unnoticed
A train carriage disconnected from a freight train, rolled across a bridge spanning the US-Canadian border and sat near a Canadian train station for nearly half a day before security personnel checked it out.
The carriage rolled about two miles to a railroad bridge over the Niagara River, crossed into Canada and went another few hundred feet before stopping near the Via Rail station in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Agents with the Canada Border Services Agency did not investigate the unexpected arrival until about 11 hours later.
Girls get their own Lego fun
Danish toy maker Lego has said that a new series it created specifically for girls has proved popular despite being criticised for fuelling gender stereotypes – and has made first-half profits jump 35 per cent.
Net profit rose to two billion kroner (€268 million), from 1.48 billion kroner (€198.4 million) in the same period last year.
The family-owned company said sales rose 24 per cent to 9.1 billion kroner (€1,231 million). The company, based in Denmark, sold twice as many Lego Friends sets as expected during the first six months of the year.