Newlyweds Harry and Meghan make first appearance

Newlyweds Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended their first engagement as a couple today after their spectacular, tradition-defying wedding at Windsor Castle on Saturday.

The two, now officially the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after receiving the title from Queen Elizabeth II, attended a party at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the 70th birthday of Harry’s father, Prince Charles.

Tuesday’s event is intended as a celebration of Prince Charles’s charity work and also includes emergency services personnel who were first responders after the attack in Manchester last year.

At the event, Harry gave a short speech about his father in which he said that the prince’s “enthusiasm and energy are truly infectious.”

Kensington Palace has said the couple are not intending to go on honeymoon straight away and will instead press ahead with their royal engagements.

Meghan has hinted that she may now champion feminist causes, stating in her official royal family website biography: “I am proud to be a woman and a feminist.”

Saturday’s wedding blended royal custom with elements of Meghan’s African-American cultural heritage and she walked part of the way through the chapel on her own in what was interpreted as a feminist statement.

Harry and Meghan on Monday thanked everyone who took part in their wedding celebrations, as official photographs of the nuptials were released.

“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex would like to thank everyone who took part in the celebrations of their wedding on Saturday,” Kensington Palace said in a statement.

“They feel so lucky to have been able to share their day with all those gathered in Windsor and also all those who watched the wedding on television across the UK, Commonwealth, and around the world,” it said.

Meghan’s biography on the royal family website published on Sunday, focuses on her support for social justice and women’s empowerment causes.

The biography mentioned that she campaigned to change the wording on a TV advert that used sexist language when she was just 11 years old and volunteered at a soup kitchen in Los Angeles as a teenager.

There is little mention, however, of her acting career, including her role as savvy para-legal Rachel Zane in the US drama series “Suits”.

The description of Meghan as a proud feminist prompted press speculation that she may challenge the royal family’s tradition of not getting involved in politically sensitive subjects.

The Daily Mail on Monday sounded a note of caution.

“She must be careful that her enthusiasm for these causes doesn’t allow her to be pulled into the political fray. To survive, the monarchy must remain scrupulously neutral,” it said.

Sony buys EMI Music Publishing in $1.9bn deal

Japanese entertainment giant Sony on Tuesday unveiled a $1.9-billion deal to buy industry titan EMI Music Publishing, which has the rights to songs by the likes of Queen and Pharrell Williams

The deal adds a catalogue of more than two million songs — including some of the greatest hits from the 20th century — to Sony’s already huge repertoire.

The agreement is Sony’s first major deal under new CEO Kenichiro Yoshida, who noted the music business has enjoyed a “resurgence” in recent years due to streaming services provided by companies such as Spotify and Apple.

With this purchase, Sony “is becoming one of the biggest music publishing companies, both in name and reality”, Yoshida told reporters.

“We are thrilled to bring EMI Music Publishing into the Sony family and maintain our number one position in the music publishing industry,” Yoshida said in an earlier statement.

“I believe this acquisition will be a particularly significant milestone for our long-term growth,” added Yoshira, who took the Sony helm last month.

Sony said it had signed a deal with Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala to buy its 60 percent holding, giving the Japanese firm a stake of about 90 percent.

The agreement values EMI Music Publishing at $4.75 billion, the Sony statement said, adding that “the closing of the transaction is subject to certain closing conditions, including regulatory approvals”.

Yoshida also Tuesday unveiled Sony’s latest strategic plan, which aims to bolster its content business — pursuing the direction his predecessor Kazuo Hirai had taken to revitalise one of Japan’s best-known firms.

“We are a technology firm, but the technology means not only electronics but also entertainment and content-creation” in today’s world, Yoshida said.

Sony will continue to build up its content services — as shown by Tuesday’s deal — and also invest heavily in cutting-edge technologies including image sensors, he said.
– ‘Over the Rainbow’ –

“This is part of Sony’s strategy under Yoshida to beef up its entertainment businesses,” noted Hideki Yasuda, an analyst at Ace Research Institute in Tokyo.

“In the music business, copyrights are crucial. So the deal is meaningful and its price appears practical and reasonable,” the analyst told AFP, adding that success would depend on the quality of the content Sony creates in the future.

The electronics and entertainment behemoth last month reported record annual profits of $4.5 billion, a roaring recovery supported by better sales across the board and helped by box office blockbusters like its Jumanji reboot.

Those figures were seen as a fitting send-off for Hirai, who recently stepped down as the firm’s chief executive after spending the past six years pulling the firm out of deep financial trouble.

Hirai led an aggressive restructuring drive at Sony, cutting thousands of jobs while selling business units and assets.

EMI is the second-largest music publishing company by revenue and either owns or administers some two million songs, including classics by the likes of Queen, Sam Smith and Pharrell Williams.

As for Sony, it already owns 2.3 million copyrights including the Beatles catalogue, as well as being a massive player in IT, communications, film and gaming.

EMI holds a “comprehensive and diverse collection of copyrights for music and lyrics” from a “wide variety of iconic and popular songwriters”, the statement said.

Judy Garland’s “Over the Rainbow” continues to be a top-10 money-spinner even today, more than 75 years after its initial release, it added.

Current songwriters under its banner include Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Drake, Pink, Fetty Wap and Hozier.

Investors, however, appeared dubious about the acquisition and the new strategic plan, with Sony stock closing down nearly two percent, underperforming the wider market which was down 0.42 percent.

FG reveals alleged stolen prohibited arms, posh cars recovered from Dasuki

The Federal Government today has revealed to the Federal High Court in Abuja, 11 posh cars and some prohibited arms allegedly recovered from the Abuja residence of the detained former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

The items were revealed through the Federal Government’s first prosecution witness, William Obiora, an operative with the DSS who was said to be part of the search operation that took place between July 16 and 17, 2015.

The prosecution said some of the firearms were owned by the Federal Government and belonged to the prohibited class of arms but were allegedly stolen by Dasuki while holding sway as the NSA.

‎Dasuki has been in the detention of the DSS for undisclosed offences since December 2015.

Obiora, who testified behind a shield with his face masked, was led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Dipo Okpeseyi.

The prosecution through the witness on Tuesday, tendered the search warrant executed on Dasuki’s residence at 13, John Khadiya Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

Listed on the search warrant were 29 items allegedly recovered from the house in an operation which the witness said Dasuki personally witnessed.

Many of the items particularly the firearms were during the Tuesday’s proceedings identified by the witness but yet to be tendered as exhibits.

Part of the arms allegedly recovered from Dasuki were f‎ive Tavor X95 Assault Rifles, Macro Uzi rifle with serial number 60244; and Luger gun with number 033373.

The items also included small magazine containing16 rounds of 9mm ammunition and bigger magazine containing 23 life rounds of 9mm ammunition and 36 rounds of live ammunition.

He said one macro uzi with serial number 60244 and  magazine with 16 rounds of live 9mm ammunition were recovered from a Range Rover car with registration number ABUJA – RBC 517 JN parked on the premises.

Grandfather planned Australia family murder – Father

The grieving father of four children who were killed in a family mass murder and suicide case that rocked Australia said Sunday their grandfather was to blame for what he called a planned shooting.

Aaron Cockman’s children — three boys and a girl aged eight to 13 — were among the seven people found dead by police on a rural property in the small town of Osmington near the Margaret River wine region of Western Australia.
The bodies of their mother Katrina Miles, 35, and grandparents Peter and Cynda Miles were also found at the property.
Cockman, who told reporters in Margaret River he was estranged from Katrina, said “Peter didn’t snap”.
“I think he’s thought this through. I think he’s been thinking this through for a long time,” Cockman added in his first public comments since the shootings.
Police have yet to confirm which family member was the shooter but said they were not searching for any suspects.
Three firearms licensed to Peter Miles were found by investigators.
Cockman said that after feeling “so much anger” during legal struggles over custody of his children, such feelings had vanished.
“I don’t feel angry. I feel tremendous sadness for my kids. Angry will destroy you. I’m tremendously sad but I’ll get through this.”
Investigators have not revealed the motive behind the shootings, with Cockman only saying he previously enjoyed a close relationship with Katrina’s parents.
“He (Peter) was like my best friend and I still love who he was, but his mental attitude… there are some people you just don’t get on the wrong side of… and that’s Peter and Cynda,” Cockman added.
Mass shootings are rare in Australia, which has strict gun laws introduced after 35 people were killed in 1996 at Port Arthur in Tasmania.

The Osmington deaths are the worst mass shooting since then.
Western Australia state Premier Mark McGowan, who travelled to Margaret River on Sunday, said he did not think gun laws could be further tightened but he would await recommendations from a coronial inquiry into the shootings.

“Without Italy, it just doesn’t feel like a World Cup”: Dino Zoff

Dino Zoff

When Italy clinched World Cup victory in 1982 their superstar goalkeeper Dino Zoff became the oldest player ever to lift the trophy at the age of 40.
In an interview, Zoff tells AFP how he is planning on watching this year’s World Cup, which he says without Italy just doesn’t feel like the real deal.
Q: How did you feel when Italy lost to Sweden in the World Cup qualifiers?

A: “I was at home with my family. And it was hard, of course, Italy hadn’t missed out on a World Cup for 60 years. When you look at the teams that qualified, some do not have our trophies, our history. Having been in the national team for so long, it hurts. It’s not normal for Italy to have to watch a World Cup from the sidelines. It just doesn’t feel like a World Cup. People in Italy are very attached to football and they will still follow it. But it might be tough to watch a little-known side play while our team, which has carved its name into footballing history with four World Cup titles, stays at home.”
Q: What does the World Cup mean to you?
A: “For me there is nothing greater, it’s everything, pure joy. To reach the highest heights of your profession, at the age of 40 and as team captain, was just a rush of happiness. It was the highlight of my career because the World Cup is the highlight of football.”
Q: Italy is down at number 20 in the FIFA rankings, how do you feel about that?
A: “Out of the World Cup, down at 20 in the rankings… I don’t like talking about my era, but we were always among the best. It’s a bad sign for Italian football”
Q: But at club level your teams play well…
A: “Yes but with a lot of foreign players. We must rebuild our national team and we do have some young talent, even if there are not that many of them. A generation of players is winding down and we must start believing in our future potential. In 2006, Italy won the World Cup by the skin of its teeth. But it was a great generation of footballers. When I was coach, I also oversaw a great generation in 2000: we almost won the Euros. Now we must wait and work on our young players, as they are our future.”
Q: We often hear how Italy is obsessed with tactics, and that the young players don’t work enough on technique…

A: “I don’t like fundamentalism. Technique, tactics, physical fitness, you have to develop all that in young players. But above all, up to a certain age, they must be allowed to be free. Sometimes you get the impression that these young footballers are being raised like chickens in a battery farm. A child needs space to develop, not to be tied down with strict rules. We should make them play more, including at school. But, nowadays, how many times a week can a child go to football training? Once, twice? There are classes, English lessons, all that. It’s a lot harder than it was before.”
Q: So do you think that the situation has changed since your era?
A: “We weren’t better and we didn’t work differently but the conditions were more favourable. You can’t just let a child go and play alone in the garden or in the street for hours anymore. And you can’t compare three hours of football training a week to seven, 14 or even 21… in my day we played eight hours a day, from 1pm until dinner.”
Q: Is it a structural problem?
A: “We have the structures but we have fewer players. In my region (Friuli-Venezia Giulia in north-eastern Italy), each village had a team. Now they have to group the villages together to make a team. There are fewer children being born, fewer players and more opportunities to play other sports.”
Q: But is the status of football under threat?
A: “Italy is a footballing nation, because we have a strong tradition. It is deeply-rooted, we have won World Cups, Euros. It’s a simple, people’s game, all the characteristics that keep it the sport that counts.”