Friday Morning Spice

13 May 2011

Al Qaeda Threaten Barack Obama’s Grandmother - Security has been increased around the home of President Barack Obama’s step-grandmother in Kenya after an African al Qaeda branch issued a personal threat against her. Kenyan police told ABC News they are patrolling round the clock after Al Shabaab, the Somalia-based branch of al Qaeda, threatened the life of Sarah Obama. [abcnews]

Woman’s Clothes Torn Off In Mid-Air Brawl – A drunken passenger’s unwanted sexual advances allegedly led to a wild brawl with a female passenger resulting in almost $40,000 worth of damage to a Virgin Atlantic plane. The incident occured on a flight from Britain to Jamaica. Jason Dixon, 32, allegedly drank heavily and became attracted to a female passenger sitting next to him. [theoz]

SA’s Most Wanted Criminal Arrested - One of South Africa’s most wanted criminals, Bongani Moyo, was arrested on Thursday night near the Beitbridge border post in Limpopo, police and Crime Line said. “Moyo, 29, the alleged leader of a notorious bank robbery gang was nabbed near Beitbridge border post in Limpopo shortly before 11pm,” Crime Line spokesman Yusuf Abramjee said. [timeslive]

Coldplay Ticket Sales Go Mental - In scenes that mirrored those seen when U2 tickets went on sale in October last year, Coldplay fans were left cursing ticket retailer Computicket as their systems failed to accommodate the huge demand for tickets of the UK band’s tour of South Africa. [channel24]

Google Nears Deal In Drug Ad Crackdown – Google Inc. is close to settling a U.S. criminal investigation into allegations it made hundreds of millions of dollars by accepting ads from online pharmacies that break U.S. laws. The Internet company disclosed in a cryptic regulatory filing earlier this week that it was setting aside $500 million to potentially resolve a case with the Justice Department. [wallstreetjournal]

Johnny Depp Takes Schoolgirl To Premier – Johnny Depp made one nine-year-old schoolgirl’s dreams come true, after giving her the VIP treatment at the premiere of the latest Pirates of Caribbean film. Depp invited Beatrice Delap, from Greenwich, to be his plus one at the glitzy bash, even hugging her in front of waiting paparazzi. Lucky little cow. [skynews]

Air France Crash Victims To Undergo DNA Tests – French air accident investigators probing a mysterious crash that killed 228 people will not bring more bodies up from the Atlantic Ocean if they cannot identify the two they already have, they said Thursday. [cnn]

Ashton Kutcher Replaces Charlie Sheen On Two And A Half Men – After months of much speculation, it appears Charlie Sheen’s ‘Two and a Half Men’ replacement has finally been selected. Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter Ashton Kutcher has landed the plum role of new lead star in CBS’s No. 1 comedy. [popeater]

Family’s Fury As Pete Doherty Faces No Charges Over Balcony Death - The family of death plunge partygoer Mark Blanco have reacted with fury as the Crown Prosecution Service ruled there was ‘insufficient evidence’ to charge Babyshambles rock star Pete Doherty, the star’s minder Johnny Jeannevol and Paul Roundhill. [metro]

Cannes Film Festival 2011 – Best Dressed Celebrities - The Cannes Film Festival is one of the oldest and most prestigious film festivals in the world and apart from the Oscars, it is the only place you will top Hollywood actors, actresses and celebrities dressed in their absolutely best gowns and suits. This years festival has been no exception, with hundreds of famous faces making their way down the red carpet in style. [styleclone]

The Taliban Are On Twitter. Tweeting In English – The Taliban has extended its propaganda efforts into the social media realm, sending its first tweet in English from the handle @alemarahweb. The account started tweeting in December and its roughly 750 tweets detail what the Guardian calls “highly exaggerated reports” of strikes against the Taliban’s enemies. As of Thursday, some of these tweets have been written in English. Most of them are death tolls. [mashable]

Two Diana Dresses Sell For $276,000 - Two dresses worn by the late princess Diana were sold at an auction house in Beverly Hills Sunday for a total of $276,000, Julien’s auction house announced. The first dress — a black crepe evening gown with diamante paste embroidery on the short-sleeved top inspired by Indian motifs — went for $144,000. It was purchased for Diana’s 1992 visit to India, when she accompanied her then-husband, Prince Charles on the trip. [luxuo]

Michael Moore Gives His Thoughts On Bin Laden Vibe - “When I heard the news a week ago Sunday, I immediately felt great. I felt relief. I thought of those who lost a loved one on 9/11. And I was glad we finally had a President who got something done. This is what I had to say on Twitter and elsewhere on the internet in that first hour or two” More.. [huffpo]

The Hunt For Bin Laden’s Son – Pakistan officials say Hamza bin Laden, perhaps Osama’s most militant son, escaped the raid that killed his father. The Daily Beast reports on why having this bin Laden on the loose could be dangerous. I get it. It’s like in the Godfather when Michael Corleone avenges his father’s death. [dailybeast] [worrying fact: Rob van Vuuren has not seen The Godfather. Just putting it out there]

George Michael Apologises To Gay Kids – George Michael has apologised for being a bad role model for young gay people as he prepares to tour again for the first time in three years.
Talking at a press conference at London’s Royal Opera House to announce his plans, the 47-year-old star said he felt he’d let down fellow homosexuals over the years for putting himself in the public eye often for the wrong reasons. [dailymail]