Germany’s Solution to Big Auto’s Woes: Scrap That Clunker!

Amid the gruesome headlines generated by the world’s auto industry these days, it almost read like a typo: new car registrations in Germany rose 21% year-on-year in February, the country’s Association of the Automotive Industry announced March 3. This, though, was no error. The 278,000 cars put on the road, crowed Matthias Wissmann, VDA’s president, amounted to “the highest level of sales in the month of February for ten years.” Why the splurge German drivers have latched onto a juicy new deal

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Woman arrested over custard attack on politician

A 29-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with a custard-throwing attack on British Business Secretary Peter Mandelson, a Metropolitan Police spokesman told CNN Sunday. A woman was seen on television images Friday throwing a green slime-like liquid in Mandelson’s face as he stepped out of his car to attend a meeting on carbon emissions. The act was a protest against the expansion of London’s Heathrow Airport

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Mystery at Michelin-starred eatery as hundreds go sick

As many as 400 people may have gotten sick after eating at a renowned Michelin-starred restaurant in England, health authorities said Friday. The Health Protection Agency is investigating an outbreak of diarrhea and vomiting among diners who ate at The Fat Duck restaurant in Berkshire, run by award-winning chef Heston Blumenthal.

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Robbers caught on camera by CNN crew

A motorcycle gang carried out a bold smash-and-grab raid on a jewelry store in the center of London — right in front of a CNN camera. CNN reporter Sasha Herriman and cameraman Peter Kavanagh were filming in Oxford Street, London’s busiest retail area, when the raiders took a sledgehammer to the store’s windows in broad daylight. Kavanagh kept the camera rolling as the thieves helped themselves to handfuls of luxury watches before roaring off on their motorcycles, leaving a crowd of stunned shoppers in their wake

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Amy Winehouse faces court over assault allegation

British singer Amy Winehouse has been charged with "common assault" in connection with an incident last September, and will appear in court later this month, Scotland Yard said Friday. In the incident, on September 26, the singer allegedly hit a fan at a charity ball, British media reported

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Michael Jackson’s London Concerts: The ‘Final Curtain Call’

For days rumors have circulated that Michael Jackson was startin’ somethin’. And Thursday afternoon, before a couple of thousand screaming fans at London’s 02 arena, the King of Pop revealed what has been referred to as “the worst kept secret in the world”

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‘Harry Potter’ actor’s killer jailed for life

The killer of "Harry Potter" actor Rob Knox has been given four life sentences and told he will be behind bars for at least 20 years. A judge at the Old Bailey court in central London sentenced 22-year-old Karl Bishop on Thursday, the day after he was convicted of the attack on Rob Knox and four of his friends in southeast London last May. Bishop stabbed them 10 times in less than two minutes, the court heard

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Director sues Jackson over ‘Thriller’ profits

Movie director John Landis is suing Michael Jackson, accusing the reclusive entertainer of fraud in his handling of profits from the iconic "Thriller" video the two made together more than 25 years ago. Landis claimed his 1983 contract with Jackson gave him 50 percent of net profits from the 14-minute video and the documentary about the making of it, both works that he directed and co-wrote with Jackson, court documents say.

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