People wanting to buy wedding presents asked to give instead to a charitable fund Prince William and his fiancee, Kate Middleton, have asked people wishing to give them wedding presents to donate instead to a fund for 26 charities, many supporting disadvantaged inner-city children. A statement issued by Clarence House said: “Having been touched by the goodwill shown them since the announcement of their engagement, Prince William and Miss Middleton have asked that anyone who might wish to give them a wedding gift consider giving instead to a charitable fund. “Many of the charities are little known, without existing royal patronage, and undertake excellent work within specific communities. They are charities that have a particular resonance with Prince William and Miss Middleton and reflect issues in which the couple have been particularly interested in their lives to date.” The announcement may stop some of the lavish gifts bestowed on Prince Charles and Princess Diana at their wedding in 1981, such as a jewel-encrusted dhow from the Emir of Bahrain which ended up being sold by a royal servant to a West End jeweller, and the charities concerned expressed delight at the couple’s gesture. Michael de Giorgio, chief executive of Greenhouse Schools, which provides holiday sporting activities for London children, said the decision to include the charity on the list represented a royal endorsement: “The royal couple have shown the level of social entrepreneurism that will be required to tackle the most pressing social problems.” Among the charities are Peace Players, which promotes cross-community cohesion by teaching children basketball in Northern Ireland; Oily Cart, a children’s theatre group working specially with disabled groups; Into University, which encourages teenagers to apply for higher education; Beat Bullying; Combat Stress and Cruse Bereavement Care for the children of military casualties. Charities working in Australia, New Zealand and Canada will also benefit. The prince is on his way to New Zealand to meet those involved in the Christchurch earthquake and the Pike River mine disaster last November, before heading to Queensland to visit the site of the January floods there. The charities are grouped depending on their work and donations can be earmarked for particular groups: Changing lives through arts and sport; Children fulfilling their potential; Help and care at home; Support for service personnel and their families; and Conservation for future generations. Donations can be made through the www.royalweddingcharityfund.org website. They will be held in a dedicated account by the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry and grants will be distributed in partnership with the charities to ensure maximum impact. The list of charities Peace Players Ocean Youth Trust Greenhouse Schools Oily Cart Dance United Into University Venture Trust Beat Bullying Keyfund A National Voice Association for Children’s Palliative Care (ACT) Youth Access Community Foundation in Wales Community Foundation in Scotland Community Foundation in Berkshire Combat Stress Cruse Bereavement Care for Children of Forces’ Families Household Cavalry Benevolent Fund Irish Guards Appeal Army Widows Association Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund ZSL EarthWatch The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary New Zealand government’s Christchurch earthquake appeal Royal Flying Doctor Service – Australia Royal wedding Monarchy Stephen Bates guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Delroy Grant claims Janet Watson planted his bodily fluids at crime scenes so police would find his DNA The ex-wife of the accused in the “night stalker” case, Delroy Grant, has said she was left speechless by his “ridiculous” claims she framed him. Janet Watson, 53, said Grant’s allegation that she stored his semen for more than a decade after their split was “unbelievable”, while giving evidence in court. Responding to his defence that she used a white male accomplice to plant Grant’s body fluids on burglary victims across south London, Watson told Woolwich crown court: “I was speechless, I was amazed that he could do that. I was speechless.” Midway through her testimony, Grant shouted from the dock: “You are a liar.” Jonathan Laidlaw QC, prosecuting, went on to ask her about her understanding of DNA evidence. “I have no idea about it to this day,” she added. Watson, wearing a black and white dress and glasses, said Grant had initially been a “prince charming” to her but their relationship turned “well sour” soon after they were married in the late 1970s. Watson described how Grant had initially been “really nice, fantastic – a real charmer” on their first encounter outside a pub when they were both 18. They met after Grant had started talking to her baby daughter. “He was very softly spoken and really nice,” she said. The relationship moved on very quickly, with Grant moving in with her and proposing. “I was very happy, I was okay. To me I had found my prince charming so that made it even better.” They were married the same year and she fell pregnant with the first of two sons she had with Grant. But within weeks of the wedding the relationship turned “well sour”, she said. “He made it very clear that it was not going to be a nice time staying with him,” she added. The trial continues. Crime guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Delroy Grant claims Janet Watson planted his bodily fluids at crime scenes so police would find his DNA The ex-wife of the accused in the “night stalker” case, Delroy Grant, has said she was left speechless by his “ridiculous” claims she framed him. Janet Watson, 53, said Grant’s allegation that she stored his semen for more than a decade after their split was “unbelievable”, while giving evidence in court. Responding to his defence that she used a white male accomplice to plant Grant’s body fluids on burglary victims across south London, Watson told Woolwich crown court: “I was speechless, I was amazed that he could do that. I was speechless.” Midway through her testimony, Grant shouted from the dock: “You are a liar.” Jonathan Laidlaw QC, prosecuting, went on to ask her about her understanding of DNA evidence. “I have no idea about it to this day,” she added. Watson, wearing a black and white dress and glasses, said Grant had initially been a “prince charming” to her but their relationship turned “well sour” soon after they were married in the late 1970s. Watson described how Grant had initially been “really nice, fantastic – a real charmer” on their first encounter outside a pub when they were both 18. They met after Grant had started talking to her baby daughter. “He was very softly spoken and really nice,” she said. The relationship moved on very quickly, with Grant moving in with her and proposing. “I was very happy, I was okay. To me I had found my prince charming so that made it even better.” They were married the same year and she fell pregnant with the first of two sons she had with Grant. But within weeks of the wedding the relationship turned “well sour”, she said. “He made it very clear that it was not going to be a nice time staying with him,” she added. The trial continues. Crime guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Delroy Grant claims Janet Watson planted his bodily fluids at crime scenes so police would find his DNA The ex-wife of the accused in the “night stalker” case, Delroy Grant, has said she was left speechless by his “ridiculous” claims she framed him. Janet Watson, 53, said Grant’s allegation that she stored his semen for more than a decade after their split was “unbelievable”, while giving evidence in court. Responding to his defence that she used a white male accomplice to plant Grant’s body fluids on burglary victims across south London, Watson told Woolwich crown court: “I was speechless, I was amazed that he could do that. I was speechless.” Midway through her testimony, Grant shouted from the dock: “You are a liar.” Jonathan Laidlaw QC, prosecuting, went on to ask her about her understanding of DNA evidence. “I have no idea about it to this day,” she added. Watson, wearing a black and white dress and glasses, said Grant had initially been a “prince charming” to her but their relationship turned “well sour” soon after they were married in the late 1970s. Watson described how Grant had initially been “really nice, fantastic – a real charmer” on their first encounter outside a pub when they were both 18. They met after Grant had started talking to her baby daughter. “He was very softly spoken and really nice,” she said. The relationship moved on very quickly, with Grant moving in with her and proposing. “I was very happy, I was okay. To me I had found my prince charming so that made it even better.” They were married the same year and she fell pregnant with the first of two sons she had with Grant. But within weeks of the wedding the relationship turned “well sour”, she said. “He made it very clear that it was not going to be a nice time staying with him,” she added. The trial continues. Crime guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Delroy Grant claims Janet Watson planted his bodily fluids at crime scenes so police would find his DNA The ex-wife of the accused in the “night stalker” case, Delroy Grant, has said she was left speechless by his “ridiculous” claims she framed him. Janet Watson, 53, said Grant’s allegation that she stored his semen for more than a decade after their split was “unbelievable”, while giving evidence in court. Responding to his defence that she used a white male accomplice to plant Grant’s body fluids on burglary victims across south London, Watson told Woolwich crown court: “I was speechless, I was amazed that he could do that. I was speechless.” Midway through her testimony, Grant shouted from the dock: “You are a liar.” Jonathan Laidlaw QC, prosecuting, went on to ask her about her understanding of DNA evidence. “I have no idea about it to this day,” she added. Watson, wearing a black and white dress and glasses, said Grant had initially been a “prince charming” to her but their relationship turned “well sour” soon after they were married in the late 1970s. Watson described how Grant had initially been “really nice, fantastic – a real charmer” on their first encounter outside a pub when they were both 18. They met after Grant had started talking to her baby daughter. “He was very softly spoken and really nice,” she said. The relationship moved on very quickly, with Grant moving in with her and proposing. “I was very happy, I was okay. To me I had found my prince charming so that made it even better.” They were married the same year and she fell pregnant with the first of two sons she had with Grant. But within weeks of the wedding the relationship turned “well sour”, she said. “He made it very clear that it was not going to be a nice time staying with him,” she added. The trial continues. Crime guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Delroy Grant claims Janet Watson planted his bodily fluids at crime scenes so police would find his DNA The ex-wife of the accused in the “night stalker” case, Delroy Grant, has said she was left speechless by his “ridiculous” claims she framed him. Janet Watson, 53, said Grant’s allegation that she stored his semen for more than a decade after their split was “unbelievable”, while giving evidence in court. Responding to his defence that she used a white male accomplice to plant Grant’s body fluids on burglary victims across south London, Watson told Woolwich crown court: “I was speechless, I was amazed that he could do that. I was speechless.” Midway through her testimony, Grant shouted from the dock: “You are a liar.” Jonathan Laidlaw QC, prosecuting, went on to ask her about her understanding of DNA evidence. “I have no idea about it to this day,” she added. Watson, wearing a black and white dress and glasses, said Grant had initially been a “prince charming” to her but their relationship turned “well sour” soon after they were married in the late 1970s. Watson described how Grant had initially been “really nice, fantastic – a real charmer” on their first encounter outside a pub when they were both 18. They met after Grant had started talking to her baby daughter. “He was very softly spoken and really nice,” she said. The relationship moved on very quickly, with Grant moving in with her and proposing. “I was very happy, I was okay. To me I had found my prince charming so that made it even better.” They were married the same year and she fell pregnant with the first of two sons she had with Grant. But within weeks of the wedding the relationship turned “well sour”, she said. “He made it very clear that it was not going to be a nice time staying with him,” she added. The trial continues. Crime guardian.co.uk
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iPad newspaper to be available via iTunes once Apple subscription model is agreed, as Daily begins to charge in US Rupert Murdoch’s iPad newspaper the Daily will be available in the UK within months, depending on when Apple’s new online subscription model becomes available in this country. The chief digital officer of Murdoch’s News Corporation, Jon Miller, told the Abu Dhabi Media Summit that the Daily would be available in western Europe “not too long from now”. When asked if that would be in the first half of this year, he answered yes. The Daily will be available via iTunes, although the exact timing of the launch is uncertain as several British publishers have expressed unhappiness with Apple’s plan to charge them 30% of their subscription fees for all iPad apps it sells via its digital store. There were also suggestions from one company source that News Corp will also create a UK-specific version of the Daily at an unspecified future date – but others at the media giant emphasised there were no immediate plans for a British edition of the title. Miller told the audience that the Daily faces a “moment of truth next week” when it begins to charge. Until now the iPad newspaper has been available on a free trial in the US, but readers will have to pay to continue reading the product. Charges have been set at 99 cents a week or $39.99 for a year. Although the Daily has been free so far, it is understood that a few thousand people have already signed up to the year-long subscription. News Corp has not released any numbers, but it is estimated that the figure is in the region of 5,000. •
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iPad newspaper to be available via iTunes once Apple subscription model is agreed, as Daily begins to charge in US Rupert Murdoch’s iPad newspaper the Daily will be available in the UK within months, depending on when Apple’s new online subscription model becomes available in this country. The chief digital officer of Murdoch’s News Corporation, Jon Miller, told the Abu Dhabi Media Summit that the Daily would be available in western Europe “not too long from now”. When asked if that would be in the first half of this year, he answered yes. The Daily will be available via iTunes, although the exact timing of the launch is uncertain as several British publishers have expressed unhappiness with Apple’s plan to charge them 30% of their subscription fees for all iPad apps it sells via its digital store. There were also suggestions from one company source that News Corp will also create a UK-specific version of the Daily at an unspecified future date – but others at the media giant emphasised there were no immediate plans for a British edition of the title. Miller told the audience that the Daily faces a “moment of truth next week” when it begins to charge. Until now the iPad newspaper has been available on a free trial in the US, but readers will have to pay to continue reading the product. Charges have been set at 99 cents a week or $39.99 for a year. Although the Daily has been free so far, it is understood that a few thousand people have already signed up to the year-long subscription. News Corp has not released any numbers, but it is estimated that the figure is in the region of 5,000. •
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Friend of Snoop Dogg who featured on hit record Regulate was recovering from two strokes he had suffered in recent years Hip-hop star Nathaniel Dwayne Hale, known by his stage name Nate Dogg, has died aged 41. The cause of his death is unclear but the Californian rapper had been recovering from two strokes he suffered in recent years. Hale began singing as a child in baptist churches under the care of his father, who was a pastor. At the age of 16 he dropped out of high school in Long Beach, California, and joined the US marine corps, where he served for three years. In 1991, he formed a rap trio with Snoop Dogg and Warren G, and first found fame as a guest on Dr Dre’s classic album The Chronic. With Warren G, he had a huge hit with Regulate, which reached No 5 in the UK charts in 1994. In total, he featured on four UK hits and also collaborated with Eminem, Ludacris, Tupac Shakur and Mark Ronson. “We lost a true legend n hip hop n rnb” Snoop Dogg tweeted. “One of my best friends n a brother to me since 1986 when I was a sophomore at poly high where we met. I love u buddy luv. U will always b wit me 4ever n a day u put the g n g funk u put the 1 n 213 n u put yo stamp on evrybdy u ever didit wit.” “I miss u cuzz I am so sad but so happy I got to grow up wit u and I will c u again n heaven cuz u know d slogan.” Snoop continued. “all doggs go to heaven yo homie n baby brotha bigg snoopdogg!!” Singer Erykah Badu also tweeted: “Nate Dogg … freshness period. rest in beats”. Comedian Dave Chappelle similarly wrote: “Moment of silence for a hip-hop legend; RIP Nate Dogg. You will be missed, G Funk Era forever. #natedogg.” Hale was left paralysed on one side of his body following a massive stroke in December 2007 and was struck by a second stroke in September 2008. Nate released three solo albums, 1998′s G-Funk Classics, Vol 1 & 2, 2001′s Music And Me, and a self-titled LP in 2004. He was Grammy-nominated four times, most recently in 2007 for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for his contributions to the Eminem track, Shake That. Rap Urban music Snoop Dogg United States Caspar Llewellyn Smith guardian.co.uk
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Friend of Snoop Dogg who featured on hit record Regulate was recovering from two strokes he had suffered in recent years Hip-hop star Nathaniel Dwayne Hale, known by his stage name Nate Dogg, has died aged 41. The cause of his death is unclear but the Californian rapper had been recovering from two strokes he suffered in recent years. Hale began singing as a child in baptist churches under the care of his father, who was a pastor. At the age of 16 he dropped out of high school in Long Beach, California, and joined the US marine corps, where he served for three years. In 1991, he formed a rap trio with Snoop Dogg and Warren G, and first found fame as a guest on Dr Dre’s classic album The Chronic. With Warren G, he had a huge hit with Regulate, which reached No 5 in the UK charts in 1994. In total, he featured on four UK hits and also collaborated with Eminem, Ludacris, Tupac Shakur and Mark Ronson. “We lost a true legend n hip hop n rnb” Snoop Dogg tweeted. “One of my best friends n a brother to me since 1986 when I was a sophomore at poly high where we met. I love u buddy luv. U will always b wit me 4ever n a day u put the g n g funk u put the 1 n 213 n u put yo stamp on evrybdy u ever didit wit.” “I miss u cuzz I am so sad but so happy I got to grow up wit u and I will c u again n heaven cuz u know d slogan.” Snoop continued. “all doggs go to heaven yo homie n baby brotha bigg snoopdogg!!” Singer Erykah Badu also tweeted: “Nate Dogg … freshness period. rest in beats”. Comedian Dave Chappelle similarly wrote: “Moment of silence for a hip-hop legend; RIP Nate Dogg. You will be missed, G Funk Era forever. #natedogg.” Hale was left paralysed on one side of his body following a massive stroke in December 2007 and was struck by a second stroke in September 2008. Nate released three solo albums, 1998′s G-Funk Classics, Vol 1 & 2, 2001′s Music And Me, and a self-titled LP in 2004. He was Grammy-nominated four times, most recently in 2007 for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for his contributions to the Eminem track, Shake That. Rap Urban music Snoop Dogg United States Caspar Llewellyn Smith guardian.co.uk
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