Sconty empire

New post Ant and Dec dropped by Suzuki after drink-drive crash  UK,   Friday   23   March   2018 Image: Suzuki had been one of the sponsors of Saturday Night Takeaway Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have been dropped by car company Suzuki over McPartlin's drink-driving charge. The Japanese car-maker is withdrawing its advertising campaign with the presenting duo, with "no further material to be aired". "We agree with ITV and Ant & Dec that it was the correct decision not to broadcast Saturday Night Takeaway this weekend," a statement from Suzuki GB said. "As a car brand we recognise the seriousness of Ant's charge." The company said it "completely supports Ant's decision to seek treatment". "Suzuki will however continue to sponsor the last two episodes of this series of Saturday Night Takeaway with our current idents," it said. "Suzuki very much supports Dec and ITV's decision t...

New post Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin's parents settle legal case with Fiat over his death UK,   Friday   23   March   2018 Image: Yelchin was known for his role as Chekov in the most recent Star Trek movies The parents of late Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin have settled a wrongful death claim against the makers of the car which killed him. The confidential settlement agreement between Victor and Irina Yelchin and Fiat Chrysler was filed and agreed on Thursday, with the carmaker saying it was "pleased that we've reached an amicable resolution in this matter". Although the late actor's parents have not yet commented on the settlement, their lawyer Gary Dordick said the money would go to the Anton Yelchin Foundation and fund a documentary on his life. Anton Yelchin  died in June last year  when his Jeep Grand Cherokee crushed him between a letterbox and a fence at the doorstep of his LA home. Image: Anton Yelchin died of accidenta...

New post Police inspector Darren McKie found guilty of wife's murder UK,   Friday   23   March   2018 Image: Darren McKie murdered his wife Leanne A police inspector who strangled his wife before dumping her body in a lake has been found guilty of murder. Darren McKie had racked up debts of more than £100,000 fraudulently applying for loans in his wife Leanne's name without her knowledge. He made 15 loan applications in one day a week before his wife's death - eight in his name and seven in hers. Leanne McKie was a fellow police officer with Greater Manchester Police and was described by colleagues as "popular and professional". She and her husband had three children and were thought of by friends as "the perfect couple". In a statement after the trial at Chester Crown Court, Mrs McKie's parents Ray and Ellen Dodd said: "Justice has been served today. Our lives will never be the same again. Image: McKie's...

New post 'Large number' of EU countries plan more Russia action UK,   Friday   23   March   2018 Image: At least seven countries are considering further action A "large number" of EU countries are set to impose tougher sanctions on Russia after the Salisbury poisoning. Member states are said to be considering a range of measures - including expelling diplomats - to take effect on Monday. France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark and the Czech Republic have all warned of further action. It is understood nations including France, Estonia, Poland and Lithuania are  preparing to expel Russian diplomats or spies posing as diplomats from their countries . "Coordinated measures" will be announced "very shortly", French President Emmanuel Macron announced. It came after the EU  withdrew its ambassador to Russia , a move described by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker as "extraordinary". I...

New post Court grants warrant to search data scandal firm Cambridge Analytica's office UK,   Friday   23   March   2018 Image: Cambridge Analytica is being investigated by the ICO The High Court has granted an application by the Information Commissioner's Office for a warrant to search Cambridge Analytica's London office. The ICO says it is "pleased with the decision of the judge" and will execute the warrant "shortly". "This is just one part of a larger investigation into the use of personal data for political purposes and we will now need time to collect and consider the evidence," it said. Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham wants to access London-based Cambridge Analytica's records and data. The company, which uses data to change the behaviour of internet users, was hired by Donald Trump's campaign team during the 2016 presidential election. Image: The shared building houses the offices of Cambrid...

New post Footage shows woman stepped in front of Uber car  UK,   Thursday   22   March   2018 Image: Damage can be seen on the front of the self-driving car Elaine Herzberg, 49, had been wheeling a bicycle when she was  hit by the Uber car , which was in autonomous mode at the time. The footage, taken from inside the Volvo XC90, shows her walking out from a darkened area and stopping the moment before she was struck. The vehicle had been travelling in the right-hand lane of a four-lane highway. Video: Fatal autonomous Uber crash on camera Ms Herzberg was not seen in the SUV's lights until a few seconds before it hit her, raising doubts over whether the vehicle would have been able to stop in time. This is a factor investigators are likely to focus on as they examine the performance of the self-driving technology. But they will also ask why the car's sensors did not pick up Ms Herzberg's presence, considering she had crossed thr...

New post Facebook boss 'open' to testifying before Congress 02:18, UK,   Thursday   22   March   2018 Image: Mark Zuckerberg told CNN he would consider testifying before congress Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg has said he is "open" to testifying before the US Congress on the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Mr Zuckerberg was being interviewed for the first time since his company  shed tens of billions of dollars of its value  amid concerns over the alleged harvesting of user data by the UK political consultancy firm. Cambridge Analytica, which was hired by Donald Trump's campaign team, has been accused of illegally using the personal data of 50 million Facebook users. Mr Zuckerberg told CNN: "The short answer is I'm happy to (testify) if it's the right thing to do." He suggested executives might be better qualified to answer questions, however. He said that it was "clearly a mistake" to trust Cambridge Analytica ...