Justin Bieber under police investigation over graffiti in Rio

Police in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday said they were investigating whether Canadian teen singer Justin Bieber had illegally spray painted graffiti on an exterior wall of a beachside hotel.

The 19-year-old singer, in Brazil as part of his ongoing South American tour, was photographed early Tuesday, along with members of his entourage, painting the wall outside an upscale hotel in Rio's Sao Conrado neighborhood.

After complaints by local paparazzi that Bieber's bodyguards had accosted them, Rio police said they would look into the incident and determine whether Bieber had broken Brazilian laws against the destruction of property.

In a statement, Brazil's civil police force said they had already interviewed a Bieber representative and would continue gathering details about the incident.

Brazil's federal police, the force charged with immigration matters, denied local media reports that investigators had sought to prevent Bieber, bound Wednesday for a show in Asuncion, Paraguay, from leaving the country.

The incident follows a whirlwind of tabloid headlines during Bieber's Brazilian stay, including reports that he had attended a Rio nightclub that in the past has been shuttered for prostitution.

Tabloids published photos they said were of the singer, wrapped in a bedsheet to conceal his identity, leaving the Centaurus club over the weekend.

Melissa Victor, a publicist for Bieber at Universal Music Group in New York, did not return a phone call for comment.

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WWE legend The Iron Sheik challenges Rob Ford

The city hall spectacle following Mayor Rob Ford's crack-smoking confession became an even more bizarre sideshow Wednesday, with the appearance of a 71-year-old WWE wrestler challenging the mayor to an arm wrestle, and Ford blowing kisses to media as he escorted children through the offices for Take Our Kids to Work Day.

Outside the municipal headquarters, protesters wrote chalk messages on a wall urging Ford to resign. Inside, an agitated Ford supporter wearing a red sweatshirt interrupted a councillor's media scrum to give a fiery defence of the mayor.

But the appearance of WWE hall-of-famer, The Iron Sheik, carted into the building by wheelchair, brought a truly circus-like atmosphere to city hall.

"I want to see Mr. Ford," The Sheik shouted during a media scrum, saying he had "no respect" for the mayor.

"I just want to know: Is he a real man, or no?"

Aided by an assistant, The Sheik said he would "absolutely" put Ford in his signature "Camel Clutch" chin-lock, given the opportunity.

'What kind of mayor is he?'

"The man eats the cheeseburger and smokes crack. What kind of mayor is he?" he went on.

The semi-retired wrestler, who is in town for a roast event, extended an invitation for the mayor to meet him for an arm wrestle in Ford's office.

"What kind of role model is he for the Toronto city?" he said.

The Iron Sheik was asked multiple times by city hall security to keep his voice down.

"That's my voice. You want me to change my voice. I can't change it," he replied, before being asked to leave because he was too loud.

The Iron Sheik isn't the first pro-wrestling legend to challenge the mayor to a physical feat of strength. In August, Hulk Hogan lost to Ford in an arm wrestling match.

Defence of Ford Nation

The strange day at city hall was compounded by the fact it was also Take Our Kids to Work Day. At one point, Ford walked by and blew a kiss to a throng of journalists as he took a group of youths on a tour of his offices.

Ford Nation supporter Tajinder Bains says voters will continue to back Toronto's embattled mayor, even in light of his crack cocaine scandal. (CBC)

Coun. Mary-Margaret McMahon said Ford was setting a poor example.

"As a role model, I have some serious concerns with that. Hundreds of emails from residents, especially parents who have to explain to kids as young as six years old what crack is," she said.

The mayor, who refused on Tuesday to resign or take a leave of absence — even after admitting he used crack cocaine "probably in one of my drunken stupors" — continues to retain impassioned public support.

Speaking to media gathered outside the mayor's office, Tajinder Bains refuted the idea that Ford Nation was dead in the face of the mayor's scandals.

"Ford Nation is every single mother out there who is having a hard time paying their bills, every senior citizen who can't afford groceries because inflation is too high. Every dad working two jobs to put his kids through a good school," he said.

"That's who Ford Nation is and you're saying you're going to get rid of them? I doubt that, pal. I doubt that."

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Justin Bieber, bad boy in Brazil, loses Twitter title to Katy Perry

Justin Bieber has just released a new track called Bad Day, a fitting title after a tumultuous weekend in Brazil capped by the Canadian pop star losing his Twitter crown to fellow pop star Katy Perry.

After several weeks of laying relatively low, the 19-year-old pop star from Stratford, Ont., was back in the news with an apparent return to bad-boy behaviour as he kicked off the Brazilian leg of his Believe world tour.

The singer made headlines when various local media outlets were tipped off to his purported Friday night visit to the Centauros private members club, widely considered a brothel, in Rio de Janeiro. Media carried images of Bieber's security guards leading an unidentified, bedsheet-wrapped young man from the notorious location.

Bieber then cut off a Saturday concert in Sao Paulo early, storming offstage without a word after a water bottle was tossed at him mid-performance. Though fans appealed for his return and waited for half an hour, they were greeted simply by staffers who began putting the equipment away.

According to local media, the singer also arrived hours late to a fan meet-and-greet event, started a concert late and showed disrespect to the Brazilian flag offered up by a fan when he kicked it offstage.

The crazy weekend continued on Sunday, when a male fan in Rio rushed onto the stage, managing to weave through Bieber's back-up dancers and grab onto the singer from behind before security guards eventually dragged him away.

Then, on Monday, came more disappointing news: that singer Perry has now overtaken him as the most followed person on Twitter, a social media crown he snatched from Lady Gaga in January. Perry, who is promoting her new album Prism, has 46.53 million followers to Bieber's 46.51 million.

"Brazil, you have been amazing. Thank you," the ever-optimistic Bieber posted on his Twitter account on Monday.

"Except this guy," he noted, posting a video of the Sunday onstage incident. "He was too much."

Bieber released Bad Day as part of his ongoing "Music Monday" series of unveiling new tracks.

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Napoleon's will to be auctioned off in Paris

The frail Napoleon knew he was near his end as he penned his will and asked that his ashes be scattered along the Seine among the French people he loved.

This rare flash of emotion from the once-mighty French emperor is revealed in the only known copy of the historic document being auctioned in Paris' Drouot Auction house Wednesday. It gives an unusual insight into the final days of Napoleon's life.

Napoleon wrote the letter on April 16, 1821, 19 days before his death. As the ailing 51-year-old was putting ink to paper, he said to a friend, "My son, it's time I go, I feel it," according to the auction notes.

The original letter, penned in Napoleon's own illegible hand, is in France's national archives and unavailable for purchase. The only copy, written by a close adviser, is expected to fetch 120,000 euros ($162,000 US).

"This document is very special in the great mass of documents produced in Napoleon's era," said Napoleon expert Pierre Gheno. "Napoleon always writes in a factual way. But here we see emotion, saying that he wants his ashes to be scattered on the banks of the [river] Seine among the beloved French. He knew he was dying."

As it turns out, the fallen emperor's ashes weren't exactly scattered along the river, but transferred to the Invalides monument in Paris around two decades later in 1840.

The document that will go up for auction at the Drouot Auction house in Paris is believed to be the only copy of Napoleon's original will, which is in France's national archives. The copy is expected to fetch $162,000. (Benjamin Girette/Associated Press)

​

Historians say that the new king ignored the will's wishes and delayed bringing Napoleon's remains back to Paris out of fear his legacy was too linked with the French Revolution.

In addition to Napoleon's wishes for his ashes, the will also calls for his remaining possessions to be distributed among his close friends in exile on the island of Saint Helena. The will reveals how little Napoleon had during his punitive six years of captivity at the hands of the British following his defeat at Waterloo in 1815.

The once-feared general, who conquered half of Europe, had nothing more than a few jewels, sculptures, porcelain crockery and the odd painting at the time of his death.

"He was very modestly housed. He hardly had anything," Gheno said.

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1,000 dolphins swim beside ferry off B.C. islands

Video

Rob Maguire filmed the pod while on the ferry from the Gulf Islands to Tsawwassan

CBC News Posted: Nov 01, 2013 5:29 PM PT Last Updated: Nov 01, 2013 5:31 PM PT

Passengers aboard a BC Ferries vessel were treated to a rare sight on Friday, as a pod of about 1,000 Pacific white-sided dolphins swam next to the boat for several minutes.

Though this species of dolphin is known for forming large pods, it's unusual that such a large pod was spotted in the Strait of Georgia, rather than in more open waters, such as on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Comments on this story are pre-moderated. Before they appear, comments are reviewed by moderators to ensure they meet our submission guidelines. Comments are open and welcome for three days after the story is published. We reserve the right to close comments before then.

Submission Policy

Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.

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Unlicensed, uninsured driver racks up $45K in fines

A 23-year-old man was held in the lockup in St. John's on Saturday night, on a number of traffic offences — including owing $45,000 in fines.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary pulled over the driver around 12:30 a.m. Sunday in the New Gower Street area, for a traffic violation.

It was discovered the man driving the vehicle had no valid driver's licence or insurance, and the registered owner was charged with allowing his vehicle to be operated by an unlicensed, uninsured driver. 

The driver was held for a provincial court appearance on Sunday, and the vehicle was impounded. 

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China's Canadian-designed, high-tech man cave

IMAX says it will begin installing luxury home theatres in China at a cost of $250,000 and up. (David Gray/Reuters)

China's newly minted rich can now get up close and personal to the movies after mega-screen maker IMAX Corp signed a deal to produce luxury home theatres in the company's second largest market.

The fifty-fifty joint venture with Shenzhen-based TCL Multimedia Technology Holdings Ltd will give Chinese the chance to watch IMAX-enhanced Hollywood blockbusters in the comfort of their homes, maybe even on the day of their world premieres.

The price? At least $250,000. The joint venture is targeting wealthy homeowners in Hong Kong, Russia, and the Middle East, but the main focus, IMAX Chief Executive Richard Gelfond said, is China.

"China now is our second largest market in the world, and our fastest growing market," Gelfond told Reuters on Friday. "We spend a lot of time concentrating on the Chinese market."

Mississauga, Ont.-based IMAX earns 16 percent of its revenue in China, and now has 131 screens installed there.

Like other global brands, IMAX is betting on the appetite of ultra-rich Chinese for luxury goods and unique experiences, which is also helping the sales of retailers like LVMH and Tiffany & Co.

The number of Chinese millionaires rose by more than 14 percent last year to 643,000, the most recent wealth survey by Capgemini and RBC Wealth Management shows. The country is now home to the fourth largest number of high net-worth individuals in the world.

Neither IMAX nor TCL Multimedia Chief Financial Officer Edmond Chen would forecast how many home systems the company expects to sell when it kicks of production in 2015. The deal was signed this week.

TCL estimates annual growth for home theatre sets is likely to exceed 20 percent in the next five years. It said the market for home theatres may be about 2,000 sets now.

In July, IMAX announced an agreement with local conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group Corp to build up to 120 new theaters in China. The deal would raise the number of IMAX theaters to about 400, with Wanda running around half.

Gelfond in September helped Dalian Wanda launch a $8 billion production, entertainment and real estate project in the coastal city of Qingdao, surrounded by stars including Nicole Kidman and Leonardo DiCaprio.

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1,000 dolphins swim beside ferry off B.C. islands

Video

Rob Maguire filmed the pod while on the ferry from the Gulf Islands to Tsawwassan

CBC News Posted: Nov 01, 2013 5:29 PM PT Last Updated: Nov 01, 2013 5:31 PM PT

Passengers aboard a BC Ferries vessel were treated to a rare sight on Friday, as a pod of about 1,000 Pacific white-sided dolphins swam next to the boat for several minutes.

Though this species of dolphin is known for forming large pods, it's unusual that such a large pod was spotted in the Strait of Georgia, rather than in more open waters, such as on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Comments on this story are pre-moderated. Before they appear, comments are reviewed by moderators to ensure they meet our submission guidelines. Comments are open and welcome for three days after the story is published. We reserve the right to close comments before then.

Submission Policy

Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.

22.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

China's Canadian-designed, high-tech man cave

IMAX says it will begin installing luxury home theatres in China at a cost of $250,000 and up. (David Gray/Reuters)

China's newly minted rich can now get up close and personal to the movies after mega-screen maker IMAX Corp signed a deal to produce luxury home theatres in the company's second largest market.

The fifty-fifty joint venture with Shenzhen-based TCL Multimedia Technology Holdings Ltd will give Chinese the chance to watch IMAX-enhanced Hollywood blockbusters in the comfort of their homes, maybe even on the day of their world premieres.

The price? At least $250,000. The joint venture is targeting wealthy homeowners in Hong Kong, Russia, and the Middle East, but the main focus, IMAX Chief Executive Richard Gelfond said, is China.

"China now is our second largest market in the world, and our fastest growing market," Gelfond told Reuters on Friday. "We spend a lot of time concentrating on the Chinese market."

Mississauga, Ont.-based IMAX earns 16 percent of its revenue in China, and now has 131 screens installed there.

Like other global brands, IMAX is betting on the appetite of ultra-rich Chinese for luxury goods and unique experiences, which is also helping the sales of retailers like LVMH and Tiffany & Co.

The number of Chinese millionaires rose by more than 14 percent last year to 643,000, the most recent wealth survey by Capgemini and RBC Wealth Management shows. The country is now home to the fourth largest number of high net-worth individuals in the world.

Neither IMAX nor TCL Multimedia Chief Financial Officer Edmond Chen would forecast how many home systems the company expects to sell when it kicks of production in 2015. The deal was signed this week.

TCL estimates annual growth for home theatre sets is likely to exceed 20 percent in the next five years. It said the market for home theatres may be about 2,000 sets now.

In July, IMAX announced an agreement with local conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group Corp to build up to 120 new theaters in China. The deal would raise the number of IMAX theaters to about 400, with Wanda running around half.

Gelfond in September helped Dalian Wanda launch a $8 billion production, entertainment and real estate project in the coastal city of Qingdao, surrounded by stars including Nicole Kidman and Leonardo DiCaprio.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

1,000 dolphins swim beside ferry off B.C. islands

Video

Rob Maguire filmed the pod while on the ferry from the Gulf Islands to Tsawwassan

CBC News Posted: Nov 01, 2013 5:29 PM PT Last Updated: Nov 01, 2013 5:31 PM PT

Passengers aboard a BC Ferries vessel were treated to a rare sight on Friday, as a pod of about 1,000 Pacific white-sided dolphins swam next to the boat for several minutes.

Though this species of dolphin is known for forming large pods, it's unusual that such a large pod was spotted in the Strait of Georgia, rather than in more open waters, such as on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Comments on this story are pre-moderated. Before they appear, comments are reviewed by moderators to ensure they meet our submission guidelines. Comments are open and welcome for three days after the story is published. We reserve the right to close comments before then.

Submission Policy

Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More