U News

Pitt Jolie Hacking Victims - The Hollywood actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been named as victims of phone hacking allegedly carried out by journalists at the News of the World. Prosecutors in London alleged that two members of staff at the now-defunct Murdoch newspaper conspired to intercept the voicemail messages of Eunice Huthart, an associate of Pitt and Jolie, and other unnamed people connected to the actors.

The Diamond Sterling - Britain’s economy shrank far more than expected in the second quarter of 2012, battered by everything from an extra day’s holiday to budget austerity and the neighbouring euro zone crisis. Chancellor George Osborne said the country had “deep-rooted economic problems”. The Office for National Statistics said Britain’s gross domestic product fell 0.7 percent in the second quarter, the sharpest fall since early 2009 and a bigger drop than any of the economists surveyed in a Reuters poll last week had expected.

'Goat man' in Utah mountains identified as hunter, A man spotted dressed in a goat suit among a herd of wild goats in the mountains of northern Utah has been identified as a hunter preparing for a Canadian archery season. After a hiker spotted the so-called goat man on July 15 in the mountains above Ogden, about 40 miles north of Salt Lake City, wildlife officials said they wanted to talk to the person to be certain he was aware of the dangers as hunting season approaches. They speculated he might have been an extreme wildlife enthusiast who just wanted to get as close as possible to the goats. A few days after the spotting, state wildlife authorities received an anonymous call from an "agitated man" who simply said, "Leave goat man alone. He's done nothing wrong."

Christian Bale in town visiting victims - Christian Bale, star of the last three Batman films, met at the Medical Center of Aurora on Tuesday afternoon with seven patients injured in the mass shooting that occurred during a midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises." Hospital interim president Bill Voloch said Bale spent about 2½ hours at the hospital, where he met with five people being treated for their injuries. Two others came from Swedish Medical Center to meet Bale, who stars as Batman/Bruce Wayne.

News: Naval Shipyard Arson Suspect Faces Life - A civilian laborer set a fire that caused $400 million in damage to a nuclear-powered submarine because he had anxiety and wanted to get out of work early, Navy investigators said yesterday. Casey James Fury, 24, of Portsmouth, N.H., faces up to life in prison if convicted of two counts of arson in the fire aboard the USS Miami attack submarine in dry dock May 23 and in a second blaze outside the sub on June 16. Fury was taking medications for anxiety and depression and told investigators he set the fires so he could get out of work, according to a seven-page affidavit filed yesterday in U.S. District Court in Portland.

$400 Million In Damage To Submarine - A civilian worker has been arrested and charged in connection with a fire that caused $400 million in damage to a U.S. Navy submarine last May, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office inMaine. Casey James Fury, 24, was arrested by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service on suspicion of setting the massive blaze and setting a second fire around the submarine last month, according to a criminal complaint from the U.S. District Court of Maine released to the public Monday. Fury was working inside the USS Miami on May 23 as a painter and sandblaster while the Los Angeles-class attack submarine was in dry dock at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine undergoing a massive overhaul.

Mariah Carey $18 Million - Mariah Carey to be paid $18 million as new 'American Idol' judge: reports, Mariah Carey is known for her splashy style, and her latest gig, as a judge on "American Idol," will apparently be no different. The iconic singer, whom Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly revealed as the newest addition to the hit Fox franchise Monday, will be raking in a record paycheck to dispense her musical wisdom and help find America's next big talent. "Mariah is getting paid $18 million with a one-year option to do 'Idol,' making her the highest paid judge on any music competition show," an "American Idol" source told Us Weekly. The singer, 42, is even reportedly beating out her predecessor, Jennifer Lopez, in the salary department – Lopez was reportedly paid a $12 million for her first season, and then $15 million for her second season.

American Idol Season 7- Mariah Carey Signs as American Idol Judge for Season 12 — Is She a Good Choice? It’s not just a sweet, sweet fantasy: They belong together. Yes indeed, after several days of intense speculation, Fox announced at the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour in Beverly Hills Monday that Mariah Carey has officially signed on as an American Idol judge for the show’s upcoming 12th season. “I am so excited to be joining Idol,” Carey shared via a phone call to Fox boss Kevin Reilly, just seconds after he shared the news with the TCA crowd. “I wanted to be there today and I wish I could have been there myself to tell you. I can’t wait to get started in a couple months.” Reilly — who confirmed that Steven Tyler as well as Jennifer Lopez are both “100 percent” done with their Idol runs — said that judge Randy Jackson, Carey’s co-manager, was “instrumental” in bringing the songstress to the show.

Mariah Carey Nightmare - It's been, uh, hours since the announcement that Mariah Carey is joining American Idol, and TMZ is already digging up dirt on her last Idol appearance. Back when Carey was a mentor in 2008, she was a "nightmare to work with" according to sources on the show. Apparently she was extremely late to the shoot and, a far greater offense, "not very nice at all." (Since when are divas supposed to be nice?) Perhaps as an attempt to stir up that rivalry with J.Lo, TMZ makes sure to include a mention of what a sweetheart Jennifer Lopez was. In her tenure as judge on American Idol, Lopez was focused and work-oriented — "night and day" compared to Mariah. But hey, maybe Mariah has matured over the past four years. That would just kill some of the fun. Oh, and the $17 million per season has apparently been bumped up to $18 million, which she can definitely live on.

USS Miami fire - A 24-year-old Casey James Fury set fire to the USS Miami nuclear submarine so he could "leave work early." Police say the civilian painter admitted to setting two fires that caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to the vessel. A man who set two fires to a nuclear-powered submarine, causing $400 million in damage, admitted he did it because he wanted to leave work early. Casey James Fury, 24, was working aboard the USS Miami in Kittery, Maine as a civilian painter and sandblaster when he purposefully set two fires this summer, according to a criminal complaint filed in the United States District Court in Maine.

OJ Simpson The Unpromotable - Footage is set to be released of OJ Simpson as he tried to restart his career with a promotional tour of nightclubs and concerts following his acquittal of his ex-wife Nicole Brown's murder. The film, called The Unpromotable, is cut from 70 hours of footage taken by his one-time promoter while they toured the U.S. in 2001. It was put together by Norman Pardo, 51, who took on the task of trying to change the public perception of the former football hero following the sensational trial in 1995. Simpson walked free after being found not guilty of murdering Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman in Los Angeles in 1994. Simpson is currently in jail after he was convicted in 2008 of charges including kidnapping and armed robbery following an incident in a Las Vegas casino hotel room with two memorabilia dealers.

Old Shirt Fetches $877,500 - A war shirt worn by Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe that can be seen in a painting hanging in the Smithsonian Institution sold Saturday for $877,500 at auction, organizers said. Mike Overby, an organizer of the annual Coeur d'Alene Art Auction, said the shirt that sold in Reno is considered to be one of the most important Native American artifacts to ever come to auction. It had been expected to bring from $800,000 to $1.2 million at auction, he said.

Emptiest Cities in America - It’s no secret that the U.S. housing market has seen better days. From falling home values and impaired labor mobility to backed-up inventories and a flood of foreclosures, the real-estate downturn has affected the economy at large in countless ways. One of the unfortunate results of a bad housing market are empty homes. Vacant properties have increased by 43.8 percent

'Thorn Birds' Reunion - "The Thorn Birds" stars Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward reunited for the first time since the 1983 ABC miniseries, save for a passing incident. Chamberlain played Ralph de Bricassart, a priest in a small town who fell in love with Meggie Cleary (Rachel Ward) in the TV drama. Even though they played two characters in love, the pair only saw each other once in an airport before Sunday night at the "Pioneers of Television" Season 3 presentation at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour.

Horrific Texas Crash Claims 14 Lives, The pickup truck was packed with 23 people when it veered off a highway and slammed into trees. 14 dead in horrific Texas pickup truck crash, A pickup truck carrying 23 people veered off a Texas highway and crashed late Sunday, killing 14 and injuring 9 others. The Ford F-250 Super Duty pickup was was traveling north on U.S. Highway 59 when it crashed into two large trees near Goliad, Texas, about 100 miles southeast of San Antonio, Texas Highway Patrol trooper Gerald Bryant told KTRK-TV.

Dr. Doom 2013 Prediction - The strangely named Dr. Doom has issued a 2013 prediction in which he says there will be an economic perfect storm. Of course the outcome is doom and gloom. The Inquisitr reports that economist Nouriel Roubini stands behind his claim of disaster for the world and its economies next year. Because the NYU economics professor correctly predicted 2008's financial crises, people tend to pay attention to him. However, there is only so much bad news that people are willing to hear, so many are not paying heed to Dr. Doom's 2013 prediction. A big part of the reason for the so-called "perfect storm" is U.S. tax increases combined with reduced spending. Add to that Europe's debt crises, China's tough economy fall, and Iran issues, and it has all the makings of trouble according to the good, bad doctor.

Three Separate Dark Knight Arrests - Police across the country have arrested at least three people accused of making threats during or after watching the new Batman movie days after a fatal theater shooting in Colorado. In Maine, state police pulled over a man who said he was on his way to shoot a former employer one day after watching "The Dark Knight Rises." Timothy Courtois was arrested Sunday after a police search found weapons and news clippings of the massacre in Aurora, Colo.

Mouseketeer Ginny Tyler - Former Disney head Mouseketeer and voice actress Ginny Tyler has died in Washington state at age 86. Tyler died of natural causes on July 13 at a nursing home in Issaquah, Wash., her son, Ty Fenton, tells the Los Angeles Times.

Study Suggests Propecia Side Effects Are Long-Lasting - A new study suggests Propecia side effects could be more permanent than patients and physicians previously thought. Although studies have shown a risk of Propecia side effects in men, including sexual dysfunction, the drug’s warning label stated that the side effects were temporary and would resolve once the Propecia and Proscar were discontinued. Now, however, research indicates that patients could be at risk of Propecia long-term side effects.

Baldness Drug Propecia Making Men Impotent, Says Study - A hair-loss medication reportedly tried by Wayne Rooney may cause prolonged and possibly irreversible impotence, scientists have claimed. The recent findings come after one patient bravely stepped forward to reveal the drug left him with no sex drive and even shrank his genitals.

Hitler Olympic Village Berlin - Conservations are in a race against time to save the abandoned Olympic Village built for the so-called 'Nazi Games' in 1936. The site on the western edge of Berlin is where athletes from all over the world headed 76 years ago to take part in the most infamous Olympic Games in history.

Conservationists Hitler Olympic Village - Conservationists are racing to save the crumbling remnants of a village on the western edge of Berlin, Germany, that was built for athletes of the 1936 Olympics – often called the "Nazi Games". Only 25 of the site's original 145 buildings remain after being abandoned by Soviet forces in 1992, and some see the complex – despite its infamy – as an important historical location that's worth protecting. But the athlete’s accommodation has been largely left to rot since it had been abandoned by Soviet forces in 1992 with only 25 of the 145 original buildings remaining, including the crumbling swimming pool, gym, theatre and dining hall.

£50,000 Cognac: $77K Cognac Bottle Smashed by clumsy Customer - A plan to break the Guinness World Record for most expensive cocktail is in pieces after an unidentified "wealthy customer" accidentally smashed a £50,000 ($77,579) bottle of Clos de Griffier Vieux cognac, dated in 1778. Renowned bartender Salvatore Calabrese had reportedly been due to produce the concoction in front of judges at London's posh Playboy Club, when the customer, who'd asked to view the bottle, stood up and sent it crashing to the floor. Here's something groan-worthy. A customer at London's Playboy Club recently managed to destroy a $77,615 (£50,000) bottle of historic Cognac, which dated back to 1788.

Clos de Griffier Vieux cognac - £50,000 HISTORIC COGNAC BOTTLE SHATTERED, The Coganc, a Clos de Griffier Vieux from 1788, was destroyed after a businessman, who had ordered two glasses of the brandy at £5,050 a measure, asked to look at the bottle.

Salvatore Calabrese - $77,615 Bottle Of 224-Year-Old Cognac Shattered By Clumsy Customer, Here's something groan-worthy. A customer at London's Playboy Club recently managed to destroy a $77,615 (£50,000) bottle of historic Cognac, which dated back to 1788.

$460,000 scotch - Guinness World Records has officially named the Cire Perdue “the oldest existing expression of the Macallan single malt at 64-years,” it was packaged in a unparalleled Lalique crystal decanter auctioned off for $460,000.

Guinness: Most Expensive Cocktail 27.321 - The most expensive cocktail commercially available is “27.321″, costing 27,321 United Arab Emirates Dirham (£3,766.52, US$7,439) and featuring on the menu of The Skyview Bar of Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

£50,000 cognac: $77,615 Bottle Of 224-Year-Old Cognac Shattered By Clumsy Customer - A plan to break the Guinness World Record for most expensive cocktail is in pieces after an unidentified "wealthy customer" accidentally smashed a £50,000 ($77,579) bottle of Clos de Griffier Vieux cognac, dated in 1778. Renowned bartender Salvatore Calabrese had reportedly been due to produce the concoction in front of judges at London's posh Playboy Club, when the customer, who'd asked to view the bottle, stood up and sent it crashing to the floor. Here's something groan-worthy. A customer at London's Playboy Club recently managed to destroy a $77,615 (£50,000) bottle of historic Cognac, which dated back to 1788.

'Footy Show' proposal rejection - A proposal rejection video that went viral over a year ago was definitely a prank, according to a closely affiliated source. The "Footy Show," which is a show about Australian rules football, ran a segment which critics dubbed the "proposal rejection" where a man took to a stage before a live audience to propose to his surprised girlfriend of three years. A spokesperson for Channel 9, the network which broadcasts the show, later confirmed that the proposal was a stunt, according to news.com.au. "It was a set up to have a go at Fatty (host Paul Vautin) because it was his 50th birthday on Tuesday. He wasn't in on it," the spokesperson said in a statement.

LA man tries to run down ex-girlfriend - A proposal turned violent In 2010, Francisco Hernandez used his car window as a proposal prop but was later arrested for going into a rage when his girlfriend turned him down. A California man has been accused of trying to run down his ex-girlfriend in a car after she refused his wedding proposal. The Los Angeles Times reported Friday that Francisco Hernandez was spotted carrying a bouquet of flowers while walking down the street after the incident.

Hasselhoff proposal rejections - The Hoff got the brush-off, Last September, David Hasselhoff was turned down not once but twice by his girlfriend. His first attempt was during a romantic getaway. The second try was in a backstage dressing room. The former Britain’s Got Talent judge and Baywatch star has made numerous attempts to get his Welsh girlfriend down the aisle, proposing in various locations including a tank surrounded by sharks and a romantic cliff-top. While his marriage proposals will be soon be hitting double figures, the Hoff has not been deterred and decided to try again during the couple’s holiday in Australia.

Marriage proposals gone wrong - What's worse than getting snubbed while proposing? Having your heart broken in front of countless strangers. Watch these memorable rejections where one lovebird pulled out all the stops, only to have their significant other slam on the brakes

Fred Willard tweets arrest - Comedian Fred Willard, 72, is starting to speak out about his recent arrest after allegedly committing a lewd act at a Hollywood adult movie theater. The actor took to Twitter to jokingly address the incident. He also took time to promote an improv show he's currently hosting and poke fun at a TV station that booted him. Fred Willard seems to have a sense of humor about his recent arrest for alleged lewd conduct. The actor took to Twitter to break his silence about the incident on Monday, telling followers that his version of events is “much more PG.”

Tony Robbins fire walk - Tony Robbins' fire walk experiences goes wrong, He's known as one of the top motivational speakers in the the world. But Tony Robbins' fire walk experience didn't go so well for some this week, resulting in almost two dozens injuries. They trusted Robbins to walk over hot coals, but got burned. Fire officials said 21 people at an event hosted by Robbins suffered burns while walking across hot coals, and three of the injured were treated at hospitals. The injuries took place during the first day Thursday of a four-day event at the San Jose Convention Center hosted by Robbins called "Unleash the Power Within." Most of those hurt had second and third degree burns, said San Jose Fire Department Capt. Reggie Williams.

Bounty mutineers myopia - Descendants of famous mutineers may hold key to curing myopia, The relatives of mutineers involved with the famous mutiny on the British ship H.M.S. Bounty in 1789 may hold the key to curing myopia, or nearsightedness, researchers now say. Fletcher Christian and his band of mutineers settled on tiny Norfolk Island, and their descendants now have a rate of myopia half that of surrounding regions. Descendants of the famous Bounty mutineers who now live on an isolated Pacific Island have among the lowest rate of myopia in the world and may hold the key to unlocking the genetic code for the disease, according to a new study.

Virgin Airlines etiquette classes - Virgin Australia flight attendants to tone down 'sex look', Flight attendants at Virgin Australia will reportedly take "etiquette classes" aimed at toning down the "sex look" commonly associated with the carrier and replacing it with a more professional appearance, all in a bid to win business-class passengers from faltering airline Qantas. The cabin crew of Virgin Australia--formerly Virgin Blue--has been asked to participate in a program called Elevate, an etiquette, wine-appreciation, grooming and body language class, in an effort to try to win business customers from flailing rival, Qantas.

Bar installs pregnancy test dispenser - The owner of a Mankato bar and restaurant has installed a pregnancy test dispenser in the women's restroom in an effort to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome. Pub 500 owner Tom Fredrik says it may sound strange, but it took him about 30 seconds to say yes when one of his regular customers suggested it. Jody Allen Crowe is an expert in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Profits from the tests benefit Crowe's nonprofit organization Healthy Brains for Children. With the swipe of a debit card, women can buy a $3 pregnancy test from the vending machine. Customer Theresa Carlberg told KARE-TV it's less embarrassing than going to the drug store. She hopes other bars will install the machines.

More than 200 Chihuahuas removed from Pa. home - Nearly 200 chihuahuas have been rescued out of a Pennsylvania home after a large number of tips led authorities to believe that the dogs were being hoarded.

Obama’s Old Harlem Apartment For Rent - Searching for an apartment and harboring dreams of becoming president one day? A two-bedroom pre-war apartment on Manhattans far Upper West Side may be the place for you.

'Goat Man' Spotted In Mountains Of Northern Utah - A man in Utah couldn't stop looking at these weird goats, so he did the obvious thing: he started dressing like one and frolicking with a goat herd through the Utah wilderness. But what seems like a strange obsession could soon have real and dangerous consequences – goat hunting season starts in September.

greg louganis and us diving - Greg Louganis back in US diving fold on own terms, Greg Louganis knows what it's like to be perfect. And he's concerned that kind of pressure will be the undoing of a lot of athletes at the London Olympics. He's trying to make sure the stress of winning medals isn't heaped on the shoulders of American divers, who have been chasing his standard of excellence since Louganis became the sport's icon in the 1980s. The U.S. has been blanked in diving in two consecutive Olympics, and hasn't won a gold since 2000.

bachelorette finale spoilers - Emily Maynard is just one week away from revealing her pick, which could possibly take her from "Bachelorette" status to "bride-to-be" during the upcoming Final Rose Ceremony. "I can't believe how fast this season has gone and there are only a few more days until the finale!" Maynard wrote on her People.com blog. "I can't say thank you enough to all of you that have been so kind to me the past couple of weeks and have supported me."

Wedding photos of the famous - Just like the rest of us, celebrities worry about the details of their wedding day. But unlike the average bride and groom, cost usually isn't an issue for A-listers. From intimate private ceremonies to lavish receptions marred by helicopter flyovers, here's a look at the memories made and marriages launched -- for better or worse -- when these 25 famous couples tied the knot.