Sean 'Diddy' Combs convicted on prostitution counts, but found not guilty of more serious sex trafficking charges
©Associated Press
Sean 'Diddy' Combs was found guilty on Wednesday of prostitution-related offenses, but cleared of more serious charges after a criminal trial in which two of the music mogul's former girlfriends testified that he physically and sexually abused them.
Combs was convicted of transportation to engage in prostitution but acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking, a partial win for the former billionaire known for elevating hip-hop in American culture.
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Sunday World
5 hours ago
- Sunday World
What are the top motoring movies of all time?
As Brad Pitt's new F1 film hits cinemas, Daragh Keany picks his favourite motoring movies from over the years As Brad Pitt speeds onto our cinema screens for the highly-anticipated new F1 movie it got us wondering where it will sit in the rankings for the best motor movies of all time. Some of the early reviews would suggest it is worthy of a podium finish and is certainly better than some others that are out there. Let us never speak about Speed Racer again, deal? Here are the best big screen car movies in no particular order. The only criteria I applied is that they had to be set on a race trach and they had to be good. Matt Damon in Le Mans 66 Le Mans '66, also known as Ford v Ferrari (2019) This is a classic car movie dressed as a modern-day blockbuster and tells the story of Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and Ken Miles's (Christian Bale) early '60s attempts to build an American race car that could beat Ferrari at the 24-hour race at Le Mans. Bale gives one of his best performances as a mouthy, brilliant, no-bullshit engineer and driver, and Tracy Letts's turn as Henry Ford II alternates breathtakingly between macho bluster and weak-kneed awe, but the real stars of the show are the cars, often shot from the inside to create an incredibly immersive work. Cruise in Days of Thunder Days of Thunder (1990) Tom Cruise is no stranger to high-speed thrill seeking, having driven the Infiniti Red Bull Racing show car back in 2011, but his first major experience behind the wheel of a race car was in his 1990 film Days of Thunder. The American star played Cole Trickle, a young racing driver looking for success in NASCAR. Movie critics now describe it regularly as 'Top Gun on wheels'. Hemsworth and Bruhl in Rush Rush (2013) Ron Howard's biopic about the '70s rivalry between Formula One racers Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl) and James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) is over the top in every way. And I am here for it. As their rivalry and friendship develops the high-octane film takes viewers on a crazy journey that perfectly captures the danger (and allure) of racing. Ferrell and Reilly in Talladega Nights Talladega Nights (2006) Don't come at me because it's a comedy. One of Will Ferrell's biggest and best movies was this hilarious racing spoof, which followed the rise and fall and rise of a smug NASCAR champion racer, his complicated friendship with best pal and fellow racer John C. Reilly, and his rivalry with a pompous Frenchman played by Sacha Baron Cohen. Senna documentary Senna (2010) Successful, charismatic and with a career that ended in tragedy, Ayrton Senna's story was always going to be perfect for the silver screen. The beautifully-shot documentary depicts the career of the three-time Formula One World Champion from his early days at the karting track to his untimely death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. The film won multiple awards including two BAFTAs and currently has an impressive 92percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. Grand Prix Grand Prix (1966) One of the first, and still one of the best motor racing films around today, Grand Prix tells the story of American driver Pete Aron, who becomes romantically involved with an ex-team-mate's wife. However, it's the racing scenes that really make this movie great. Cars were fitted with some of the earliest onboard cameras to capture some incredible racing footage from Monaco, Spa-Francorchamps and Monza. It also features cameos from F1 legends such as Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Jochen Rindt, Jack Brabham and Graham Hill. Last American Hero The Last American Hero (1973) In Lamont Johnson's screen adaptation, Junior Johnson becomes Junior Jackson, a moonshine-running NASCAR pro played by a very young Jeff Bridges, hot off his career-making turn in The Last Picture Show (1971). An underappreciated Hollywood gem, The Last American Hero says more about the culture of the Deep South as it does about NASCAR racing. Gary Busey, Ned Beatty and Ed Lauter headline a top-notch supporting cast of character players too. Adam Driver as Enzo Ferrari in Ferrari Ferrari (2023) Michael Mann's biopic about Enzo Ferrari (Adam Driver) is less about cars and more about racing and one's self-destructive drive to be the best. Enzo juggles life with his long-suffering wife (Penelope Cruz) and the woman with whom he's started another family (Shailene Woodley) and totally unhinged, deafening, and breathtaking racing sequences on the other end.
The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Hopes for Madeleine McCann breakthrough as Brueckner could be kept in prison LONGER – giving cops vital time to nail him
MADELEINE McCann suspect Christian Brueckner could face three extra months behind bars after the woman who paid his fine asked for her money back. The mystery donor - an ex-cop who 6 Madeleine vanished on May 3, 2007, while on holiday with her family in Praia da Luz in Portugal Credit: PA 6 Christian Brueckner is believed to be the lead suspect in the girl's disappearance Credit: Dan Charity 6 Officials recently went on a renewed search for DNA evidence in Portugal Credit: Dan Charity But the former German FBI agent has now emailed prosecutors pleading she has made a 'mistake' - and begged for the funds to be returned to her. Officials are taking the request seriously and were last night looking at how the funds could be sent back. If they succeed it would secure crucial extra time for read more news Reports in Germany said: 'In an email to the Braunschweig Public Prosecutor's Office, the former BKA employee is now demanding repayment of the money . 'She stated that she was unaware that Christian B. had been convicted in previous cases, including forgery.' The ex-cop is said to have told officials: "I therefore wish to contest my declaration of intent to repay the payment and invalidate the legal transaction accordingly." The payment cleared a 2016 Helmstedt District Court fine for drunkenness in traffic and forgery of documents and a 2017 Braunschweig court levy for assault. Most read in The Sun Before the ex-cop paid the fine, The fine-payer insists she had "never had personal contact with Christian B." Mystery female donor who paid £1,300 fine to free Madeleine McCann suspect Brueckner is former COP who investigated him Maddie prosecutors said it was investigating "the extent to which the payment received in the criminal case against Christian B. can actually be credited toward the fine imposed there." It stated that it had found evidence "that the payment was made by mistake." Brueckner will now walk free when his sentence for raping an American woman, 72, in Praia da Luz, in 2005, ends. He has been named publicly as the prime suspect over the May 3 2007 disappearance of Maddie, of Rothley, Leics., since 2020 but never been charged. He has used letters to deny the claims but has refused to answer police questions or provide an alibi. His phone was in Praia da Luz on the night Madeleine vanished and made a 30-minute call from the area. His Jaguar was re-registered into a name the day after the disappearance. A Sun investigation this year revealed bombshell new evidence - including Brueckner's obsession with snatching and abusing small, young, blonde girls. 6 Brueckner appeared in court earlier this year over verbal assaults on prison guards Credit: Rob Pattinson 6 Maddie has now been missing for 18 years Credit: AFP 6 The search last week was focused on a handful of derelict building Credit: Dan Charity We also placed him at key police locations of interest, including a lake where cops dug for evidence. And we showed evidence he was at the scene of an al-but-confession when he allegedly said Maddie 'did not scream,' in 2008. Our probe - aired on Channel 4 - revealed the existence of a hard-drive and laptop containing crucial picture evidence on the case. Police maintain they have physical evidence Maddie is dead - but no forensic links. German police have recently stressed the value UK authorities could provide by getting involved in the case again before Brueckner's release. He has refused to rule out leaving Germany and insisted he will go to ground on his release. If he travelled to a non-extradition country all hopes for McCann justice could disappear with him. Timeline of Maddie's disappearance May 3, 2007 Madeleine McCann disappears from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, sparking a January 15, 2016 Neighbour reports a possible 'grave' at Brueckner's abandoned factory in East Germany. Cops find disturbing February 16, 2016 Christian Brueckner is convicted for abusing a girl of five in a park after images found on his laptop. He was sentenced to 15-months behind bars but was already on the run by then. May 3, 2017 Around this time, He reports an alleged confession by Christian Brueckner. September 27, 2018 On-the-run Christian Brueckner is arrested over outstanding drugs claims in Italy. He is extradited to Germany the following year. December 16, 2019 Christian Brueckner was convicted, in Germany, for the 2005 rape of an American woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal, after his DNA was matched to a hair found on her bed. He was sentenced to seven years behind bars. June 4, 2020 German prosecutors reveal to the world they have a suspect in custody under investigation for the abduction of Madeleine McCann. For the first time they claim German media later name him as June 23, 2023 In his first interview, witness Helge B alleges to German newspaper Bild that Christian Brueckner all-but-confessed the Madeleine abduction to him, by allegedly saying 'she didn't scream' as they talked about the case, at a music festival, in Spain. February 16, 2024 Brueckner goes on trial accused of none-McCann allegations of rape and sex assault, in Braunschweig, Germany. Prosecutors hope for a conviction to keep him behind bars permanently and lead to McCann charges. October 8, 2024 Prosecutors launch an appeal, however. Decision pending. September 17, 2025 Date on which Prosecutors require an arrest warrant for a retrial over claims from last year - or over the McCann case. June 1, 2025 Police order a renewed search for clues in Praia Da Luz on the Algarve in Portugal. It lasts for just three days.
Extra.ie
13 hours ago
- Extra.ie
OJ Simpson defence lawyer says Ireland is 'most anti-Semitic country in Europe'
An American lawyer has hit out at Ireland, saying the country made a 'horrible, bigoted, anti-Semitic choice' during the second World War when they chose to stay neutral. Alan Dershowitz is a former Professor of Law at Harvard having obtained his education at Yale. The 86-year-old said that Ireland had 'become the most anti-Zionist, anti-Israel [and] anti-Semitic country in all of Europe.' An American lawyer has hit out at Ireland, saying the country made a 'horrible, bigoted, anti-Semitic choice' during the second World War when they chose to stay neutral. Pic: GENYA SAVILOV/AFP via Getty Images The defence lawyer for OJ Simpson was on Newstalk Breakfast on Thursday morning discussing the verdict in the racketeering trial of music mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs. Somehow, Dershowitz turned the conversation to anti-Semitism in Ireland, as he hit out at the exportation of singers 'yelling and screaming 'Death, death to the IDF.'' Presenter Ciara Kelly was quick to point out that the music act who had made that chant during Glastonbury was actually a British artist, and clarified Kneecap 'often use the chant, 'Free, free Palestine.'' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Newstalk (@newstalkfm) Ciara said: 'I don't believe for a moment that Irish people believe themselves to be anti-Semitic, but I do believe that they are strongly against Israel's action in general in Gaza. 'Largely because, I think, as a post-colonial state ourselves, I think they identify with the Palestinians greatly.' Dershowitz reiterated his belief that Ireland is 'the most anti-Israel country in all of Europe.' Presenter Ciara Kelly was quick to point out that the music act who had that chant during Glastonbury was actually a British artist, and clarified Kneecap 'often use the chant, 'Free, free Palestine.'' Pic: Newstalk/ Instagram 'There's a long history of anti-Semitism,' the lawyer claimed, 'Ireland is the only country in Europe, Western country, that refused to support the British and American war against Nazism.' Ciara again interjected to explain: 'Ireland was neutral during the Second World War, as were other countries in Europe.' Dershowitz branded the choice as 'outrageous,' adding that Ireland made a 'horrible, bigoted, anti-Semitic choice.' A clip of the interview was shared to Newstalk's social media page with many responding to the conversation and hitting out at the lawyer. One said: 'I'm not sure that a man who was closely associated with Jeffrey Epstein should be lecturing anyone else on morality.' Another praised Ciara, while a third wrote: 'This person is garbage. Irish should not even discuss what comes out of him. 'Proud to be Irish and of Ireland's neutrality.'
