Yoko Ono has taken up arms against gun violence with a raft of Twitter postings, including a photograph of blood-stained glasses apparently worn by John Lennon when he was shot and killed more than 30 years ago.
“Over 1,057,000 people have been killed by guns in the US since John Lennon was shot and killed on December 8, 1980,” Ono, the former Beatle’s widow, tweeted.
Rapper calls police dogs
A Tunisian court has sentenced a rap singer to two years in jail in absentia for insulting the police in a case likely to fuel debate over free speech under the Islamist-led government.
The singer, known as Weld el 15, is on the run. Two of his associates, singers Mohamed Hedi Belgueyed and Sabrine Klibi, were in court when they received suspended sentences of six months each.
100,000 sign petition
Portuguese state television channel RTP’s plan to give former premier Jose Socrates a weekly commentary spot has sparked outrage, with 100,000 people signing a petition citing his “bad management” that led the country to take a bailout in 2011.
“We, citizens and taxpayers, declare that we reject the presence of former Prime Minister Jose Socrates on any programme at RTP, television paid for by public funds of taxpayers suffering from the bad management of this gentleman,” the internet petition said.
Life for nine murders
A Russian serial killer who butchered his nine victims with a knife and hammer, and said he ate the hearts of two of them, was sentenced to life in prison.
Prosecutors said Alexander Bychkov targeted alcoholics and the homeless out of disdain for their way of life, lured them into deserted areas, killed them, dismembered them and hid the body parts.
Oddest Book Title
A book offering advice on how to protect chicken coops from goblins has won the Oddest Book Title of the Year award, organisers of the contest said.
Goblinproofing One’s Chicken Coop by Reginald Bakeley and Clint Marsh attracted 38 per cent of 1,225 online votes to beat craft manual How Tea Cosies Changed the World with 31 per cent to win the 35th annual Diagram Prize.
Hollywood-style heist
Toronto-area police say they have foiled a Hollywood-style heist, arresting five men they say camped out in vacant office space above a bank branch and, under cover of night, cut through a thick concrete ceiling to gain access to the vault below.
Halton Regional Police arrested the men with $293,000 (€226,482) jammed into two hockey bags after discovering them hiding in a field not far from a Toronto-Dominion Bank branch in Burlington, Ontario.
‘Healer’ infects 16 with HIV
A self-styled healer was sentenced to 12 years and nine months in jail after a Swiss court found the acupuncturist guilty of infecting 16 people with HIV.
A Berne court found the man guilty of causing bodily harm and spreading the virus which can cause Aids, court secretary Rene Graf told Reuters. (Reuters)