Daily Archives: July 6, 2013

Justin Timberlake Nudity-Heavy Video Remains on YouTube

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HT_Justin_Timberlake_music_video_Justin Timberlake’s music videos have always been a bit racy (see “Senorita,” “Love Sex Magic” and “Sexy Back”), but his newest video for “Tunnel Vision” sets a new bar. Though news sites reported that the video full of topless women was pulled from YouTube, it will remain up on the service, ABC News has confirmed.

Before the video plays on Justin Timberlake’s VEVO channel, YouTube users are presented with a explicit content warning that they must click on before playing the video.

While Google does not usually allow nudity in videos, a Google spokesperson told ABC News that the video is an exception.

“While our Guidelines generally prohibit nudity, we make exceptions when it is presented in an educational, documentary or artistic context, and take care to add appropriate warnings and age-restrictions,” a Google spokesperson told ABC News on Friday morning.

Google pulled Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” video in March because of female nudity. Google would not comment further on why the exception was made for the “Tunnel Vision” video.

Timberlake’s video premiered on July 2 on the artist’s MySpace page. The artist and actor is one of the co-owners of the recently revamped social network, which focuses on connecting musicians with fans. It was put up on YouTube and Timberlake’s official website on July 3. As of publishing this article, the racy video had over 1.1 million views on YouTube.

Canadian Town Evacuated After Freight Train Carrying Fuel Derails

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ABC_canada_derailmentThe entire town of Lac-Megantic in Quebec, Canada, was evacuated after a freight train carrying crude oil derailed and caught fire, officials told ABC News.

The 80-car-long freight train exploded at approximately 1 a.m. Saturday morning, filling the sky with thick, black smoke.

Dispatcher Stan Wheeler with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in Maine told ABC News Radio that more than 30 firefighters responded to the massive fire.

Radio-Canada reported the train was en route to Maine. It is unclear how the train derailed, or if there are any victims at this time.

Train in Central Pakistan Hits Rickshaw, Kills 12

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pakistan. trainA police officer says a train traveling through central Pakistan hit an overloaded rickshaw at an unmanned railway crossing, killing 12 people.

Senior police officer Himayun Tarar said the crash Saturday happened near Khanpur village in Shaikhupura district of Punjab province. Tarar said the rickshaw driver didn’t notice the train and tried to cross the tracks.

Tarar said two women and two children were among the dead, while two others who survived the collision were in critical condition at a local hospital. The officer said many of the victims died before rescue workers reached the crash.

Such crashes routinely occur in Pakistan, as the country has hundreds of unmanned rail crossings and motorists driving overloaded vehicles routinely speed through without looking for oncoming trains.

Iraqi farmer, 92, and father of 16 marries for a second time… to a woman 70 YEARS younger than him

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The 92-year-old farmer is pictured with his young bride (centre), one of his teenage grandsons (far left) his grandsons' new wives (second left, far right)A 92-year-old Iraqi farmer has married a woman 70 years his junior in a triple wedding ceremony with his two teenage grandsons.

Musali Mohammed al-Mujamaie married his 22-year-old bride Muna Mukhlif al-Juburi in a four-hour ceremony.

His grandsons, aged 16 and 17, also got married in the ceremony north of Baghdad on Thursday, according to AFP.

Mr Mujamaie said the special day had been long-awaited as his grandsons’ weddings had been postponed several times to coincide with his marriage ceremony.

Mr Mujamaie had raised 16 children in his home village of Gubban with his first wife, which lies just south of the central Iraqi city of Samarra.

His second marriage comes three years after his wife died.

The four-hour ceremony included musical and dance performances and celebratory gunfire.

 

Venezuela and Nicaragua offer NSA whistle blower Edward Snowden asylum

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Edward Snowden (1)Presidents Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua and Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela said Friday they were willing to grant asylum to National Security Agency intelligence leaker Edward Snowden.

Snowden has asked for asylum in several countries, including Nicaragua and Venezuela.

Whereas Ortega cautiously stated his offer, Maduro spoke out against the United States and championed Snowden for telling the truth about the government’s global spying programs.
He made the offer during a speech marking the anniversary of Venezuela’s independence. It was not immediately clear if there were any conditions to Venezuela’s offer.

‘In the name of America’s dignity … I have decided to offer humanitarian asylum to Edward Snowden,’ Maduro proclaimed during a military parade marking the country’s Independence Day, Reuters reported.

‘He is a young man who has told the truth, in the spirit of rebellion, about the United States spying on the whole world,’ Maduro said.

In Nicaragua, Ortega said he was willing to make the same offer ‘if circumstances allow it.’ Ortega didn’t say what the right circumstances would be when he spoke during a speech in Managua.

He said the Nicaraguan embassy in Moscow received Snowden’s application for asylum and that it is studying the request.

Snowden is currently believed to be holed up in the transit area of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport, according to the news agency.

Russian officials have neither confirmed nor denied his presence there, though they have announced that the transit area is neutral territory. Snowden will only have crossed over on to Russian soil if he passes through the airports customs.

Even if Snowden was to accept the Latin or South American government’s offers it remains unclear how he will get into the countries.

As Reuters noted, the are no direct commercial flights between Moscow and Venezuela. The most common route involves transferring in Havana and there is no word yet if the Cuban government will let Snowden pass.

Snowden’s journey could prove challenging as the United States has made it clear they are monitoring the skies for his presence.

 

It’s fizz, but not as you know it: French wine firm horrifies wine snobs by creating world’s first bottle of red flavoured with COLA

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Rouge Sucette, red wine with cola flavorA French drinks company is launching a red wine that will have the edge on its competitors – by adding a dash of cola.

In a break with tradition Rouge Sucette, French for red lollipop, is made from 75 per cent grapes with the remainder from water, sugar and cola flavouring.

Sure to horrify connoisseurs, it is designed to appeal to the younger ‘Coke generation’.

Winemakers fear that young people who drink endless spirits and mixers but are not so keen on wine will be difficult to attract if they do not adapt to their palette.

The 9 per cent ABV blend is part of a new range by Aquitaine-based firm Haussmann Famille.

The company recommends serving it ice-cold for the summer weather.

It went on sale this week for 2.95 euros a bottle and is hoped to become a feature of French barbeques and summer drinks parties.

Pauline Lacombe, Marketing Director of Haussmann Famille, said: ‘The result is surprising; the balance between the bitterness of the wine and the sweetness of the cola is perfect.’

‘This kind of product is more dedicated to young adults, and women.

‘We have worked closely with a lab in Bordeaux, specialised in aroma.’