Munich’s mayor has tapped the first keg, opening this year’s annual Oktoberfest in southern Germany, where millions of guests from around the globe are expected to clink mugs of frothy beer in celebration of 200 years of the world-renowned festival.
Mayor Christian Ude used two swift taps of his hammer to open the first keg today and declared “O’zapft is”, or ‘It’s tapped’, signalling the opening of the beer festival that runs for the next 17 days.
This year’s Oktoberfest marks 200 years since it was first held to celebrate the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria.(PA)
Couple charged over nuclear weapon
A scientist and his wife who both once worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory were arrested yesterday after an FBI sting operation and charged with offering to help develop a nuclear weapon for Venezuela.
They were accused of dealing with an FBI undercover agent posing as a Venezuelan agent.
The government did not allege that Venezuela or anyone working for it sought US secrets.
Pedro Leonardo Mascheroni, 75, and Marjorie Roxby Mascheroni, 67, a US citizen appeared in federal court in Albuquerque, where Mascheroni, a naturalised US citizen from Argentina, was ordered held pending another hearing tomorrow.
His wife was released under strict conditions.
Kenneth Gonzales, US attorney for New Mexico, said the indictment does not allege the government of Venezuela or anyone acting on its behalf sought or was passed any classified information. (PA)
Brand held after clash with photographer
Actor-comedian Russell Brand has been arrested following a clash with a photographer in Los Angeles.
The 35-year-old Briton was taken into custody at Los Angeles International Airport for a misdemeanour charge of simple battery with bail set at $20,000, according to police.
The victim, a paparazzo who was not identified, placed Brand under citizen’s arrest, said airport police spokeswoman Belinda Nettles.
The alleged attack involving the two-time MTV Video Music Awards host and Get Him to the Greek star was first reported by TMZ the celebrity gossip website. It posted a video of the row that happened as Brand and his fiancée, California Gurls singer Katy Perry, were surrounded by paparazzi as they entered the terminal that houses Delta.
Brand’s publicists did not immediately reply to messages seeking comment.
Brand was later released from custody, said Nettles. (PA)
Teenager faces jail for ‘fight club’ blast
A teenager pleaded guilty to attempted arson at a New York City Starbucks coffee shop in a pre-dawn blast that was inspired by the film Fight Club.
Nineteen-year-old Kyle Shaw also pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon, and will be sentenced to three and a half years in prison on November 16.
He faced a minimum 15 years had he been convicted on more serious arson charges.
The 2009 explosion near the Guggenheim museum on Manhattan’s Upper East Side shattered the store’s windows but caused no injuries.
Authorities say Shaw was trying to emulate the character named Tyler Durden from the 1999 film about a secret club where men beat each other up in an attempt to feel more alive.
The character played by Brad Pitt orchestrates escalating attacks on symbols of corporate America. (PA)
Car crashes into Warner Bros lot
Police in California have arrested a man they say had a fake gun and flammable liquids when he crashed his car through a barrier at Warner Bros studios near Los Angeles.
Burbank police said 43-year-old Michael Rodriguez-Cintron, of New York, drove his Camaro up to a wooden gate yesterday and ploughed through it without stopping. (PA)