1 week agoBlogsComments Off on Lalo Schifrin dead aged 93: Oscar-winning composer who wrote iconic Mission: Impossible theme song dies from pneumonia
LALO Schifrin, the composer who wrote the theme for Mission: Impossible has died aged 93.
Schifrin’s son Ryan confirmed that the legend died due to complications from pneumonia. He died peacefully in his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by family.
APLalo Schifrin appears at the Governors Awards in Los Angeles in 2018[/caption]
The Argentine won four Grammys and was nominated for six Oscars, including five for original score for Cool Hand Luke, The Fox, Voyage of the Damned, The Amityville Horror and The Sting II.
He also wrote the grand finale musical performance for the World Cup championship in Italy in 1990, in which the Three Tenors Plcido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Jos Carreras sang together for the first time.
The work became one of the biggest sellers in the history of classical music.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.
1 week agoBlogsComments Off on Irish Defence Forces set for cheaper drones, guns & air systems in huge new EU deal amid €1.5bn military spending bid
IRELAND is set to join a new EU scheme to buy drones, guns and air defence systems.
Defence Minister Simon Harris will today sign up to Security Action for Europe, which enables members to bulk buy military equipment.
The ability to team up with other EU countries will make the procurement process quicker and cheaper for the Irish Defence Forces.
The SAFE deal only covers specific military equipment and weapons including air defence systems, artillery, ammunition, drones and anti-drone weapons.
The procurement deal will also give Ireland quicker access to cyber security technology and weapons for our navy including underwater equipment.
This is part of a move from the EU to cut red tape around the purchase of military equipment and boost the Bloc’s defences.
The SAFE deal was agreed by the EU last month with each individual member state given the option of signing up.
The instrument also creates a €150 billion pot which EU countries can borrow from in order to purchase military equipment.
Tanaiste Simon Harris believes that the SAFE instrument could help speed up the Government’s plan to beef up our military over the coming years.
A Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces has recommended that Ireland increase spending on the military to €1.5 bn a year by 2028 and add 2,000 staff and soldiers to our army, navy and air corps.
Minister Harris said: “Availing of the possibilities available under the SAFE Regulation will allow Ireland to realise this ambition more quickly and more efficiently.
“I am determined to provide for the development of a full spectrum of Defence Force Capabilities that will bring Ireland in line with other similar-sized European countries.
“I have agreed, therefore, that the Department of Defence should leverage the common procurement opportunities offered under the SAFE Regulation as much as possible to progress delivery of Ireland’s defence capabilities needs as quickly as possible.”
TRUMP PUTS ON PRESSURE
It comes as US President Donald Trump pressured European countries to ramp up their spending as he threatened to row back American support for Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion.
President Trump has previously accused the EU of freeloading on the military capabilities of the US.
Earlier this week, NATO countries – which does not include Ireland – agreed to increase their military spending to five per cent of their economic output by 2035.
Ireland is one of the lowest spenders on defence in Europe with current spending equating to around 0.25 per cent of GDP.
The M2 Bradley is an American infantry fighting vehicleGetty Images - Getty
1 week agoBlogsComments Off on Popular painter dad-of-6 stabbed to death in Dublin home by thug demanding cash as ‘violent’ knife attack details emerge
GARDAI believe a popular painter and decorator was stabbed to death in his own house by a thug who demanded cash from him.
James ‘Jake’ Berney, 53, was knifed in the chest and back in a “violent and sustained attack” by someone he knew inside his home in Balgaddy, west Dublin, at around 11pm on Wednesday.
James Berney was stabbed to death in his houseBrian Lawless/PA WireThe victim was knifed in the chest and backThe incident occurred in Balgaddy in Dublin at around 11pm on WednesdayBrian Lawless/PA Wire
The father-of-six was rushed to Tallaght University Hospital where medics tried to save his life, but he sadly lost his battle despite their best efforts.
The Irish Sun can reveal the Gardai — who immediately launched an investigation — quickly identified a suspect who lives in the local area.
The Armed Support Unit raided the suspect’s home but he had already fled.
As the search for him continued yesterday, officers were following a number of lines of inquiry to establish the sequence of events.
One theory is that the suspect showed up at the victim’s home on Foxdene Drive and demanded cash he claimed he was owed.
After an exchange of words, he is thought to have left before then returning to Mr Berney’s home.
Cops believe the suspect forced his way into the property before he brutally killed Mr Berney.
A source told The Irish Sun: “The man who lost his life was the victim of a very violent and sustained attack.
“The victim or incident are not connected with organised crime. Gardai are following a number of lines of inquiry and they are making progress.”
Mr Berney had lived on Foxdene Drive for a number of decades, locals have confirmed, and he was said to be a “perfectionist” with a paintbrush.
FRIENDLY FACE IN THE AREA
He also did odd jobs for people, like cleaning windows, and was a friendly face to many in the area.
Mr Berney lived with his elderly father, in his 80s, who was moved to a hotel as detectives continue to investigate the brutal slaying.
Neighbours have paid tribute to the victim.
One told us: “Everyone around here would have known Jake.
‘HE WAS LOVELY’
“He was lovely, and very good with his hands for work like painting and he also did a bit of window cleaning.
“People are devastated. It’s just awful news.”
Another local said: “I’ve been here 20 years, and I haven’t seen anything like this. It’s shocking what’s happening to good people in good communities.”
“The man who lost his life was the victim of a very violent and sustained attack.”
Irish Sun source
On social media, a pal added: “What a lovely man. I was only talking to him the other day.
“He wouldn’t harm a fly — so, so sad. God love him.”
And another wrote: “Aw he was the nicest man! So sad.
“R.I.P Jake — thinking of your family at this hard time.”
SCENE EXAMINTAION
The Garda Technical Bureau examined the scene yesterday for a number of hours — before being seen removing evidence bags.
At the same time, a post-mortem was also taking place on Mr Berney’s remains, with a local coroner notified.
A Garda spokeswoman said: “This investigation is being led by a Senior Investigating Officer at Lucan Garda Station.
“Gardai are appealing to anyone who was in the vicinity of Foxdene Drive between 11pm and 12am, and observed any activity which drew their attention, to come forward.”
The spokeswoman continued: “Any road users or pedestrians who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were in the vicinity of Foxdene Drive between 11pm and 12am are asked to make this footage available to investigating gardai.
“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Lucan Garda Station on (01) 6667300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”
They added: “Investigations are currently ongoing.”
Cops believe the suspect forced his way into the propertyBrian Lawless/PA WireGardai are appealing for witnesses to the violent attackBrian Lawless/PA Wire
1 week agoBlogsComments Off on I endured 5 sobering days in Iran’s capital & saw what locals have put up with for 46 yrs – reign of tyranny must end
THERE are no boozers in Iran. In the capital, Tehran there are plenty of shops selling spare parts for trucks and heavy machinery though. There are also a plethora of stores flogging long-sleeved shirts, hijabs and chadors (full body cloaks).
In the Islamic Republic, advertising is virtually non-existent. Western brands are forbidden. They drive Iranian-made cars and drink their own brand of Fanta, Coke and Sprite.
The forbidding eyes of the Ayatollahs stare down at the public in TehranAlamy
The only advertisements you’ll see, apart from those praising local products, are massive murals celebrating the Islamic Republic and its death cult leaders. The forbidding eyes of the now-dead mullah-in-chief, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini stare down from almost every wall in the capital.
The “martyrs” of the eight-year Iran-Iraq war adorn the sides of apartment blocks. Hamas and Hezbollah fanatics, brandishing guns and “death to Israel” slogans, adorn bus shelters and the fronts of Mosques. They hang enemies of the state after Friday prayers by slowly lifting the poor sods on cranes.
The street outside the old British Embassy is still named after the IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands.
Four-lane motorways accommodate eight lanes of traffic, at least. Afghan refugees with no arms beg for scraps in the choking traffic.
A city of 10 million souls live in a theocratic prison. The Islamic Revolution of 1979 promised freedom, instead it delivered repression, isolation, inequality, death and despair.
Men in black never deliver.
Those are some of my memories of Tehran. I was there for the guts of a week in November 2001, sent by my editor to cover the World Cup play-off match between Ireland and Iran. The winner would go to Japan and Korea.
Ireland had won the first leg in Dublin, 2-0, so were favourites to complete the job in Tehran five days later.
I was part of a media pack of about 20. A further 100 or so die-hard fans joined us. We travelled on the same plane as the team, jetting out on a Sunday. We all stayed in the same hotel, the five-star Laleh International, guarded 24/7 by plain-clothes Iranian regime spies and car loads of Basij, the morality police.
Whenever we ventured out, we were followed at an indiscreet distance. We knew they were there and they wanted us to know they were there. After all, it had been just two months since terrorists had flown two planes into the Twin Towers in New York. Times were tense.
DICKY STOMACH
After two days without a drop of drink, many of us had mouths like the bottom of a parrot’s cage.
There’s only so much soft drink one can imbibe, without the body rebelling. Then, on Wednesday afternoon, the day before the big game, rumours swirled at the hotel that someone had sourced booze, but at a secret location in the city. All very hush, hush it had to be.
A go-between by the name of 20 Major had set up the pre-match party, but it’d be £50 a head (punts).
Money was no object at this stage. After four days on the dry in the capital of repression we’d have paid £1,000 a pop for a sup.
That evening, three or four mini-buses drove up to the back gate of the hotel to take 40 or so who’d stumped up the necessary. After an hour’s ride through back streets the buses parked up outside a block of apartments.
The fans were ushered inside and found themselves outside a flat in a dark hall. The door slowly opened and they were ushered in, the hosts holding their fingers up to their lips.
Hands were rubbed, lips licked, feet tapped together in anticipation of a feed of drink. In they traipsed to the kitchen. A generous spread of grub was piled on one table, but all eyes were on the table at the back wall.
MATCH DAY
For there lay the holy grail; 200 cans of Tuborg that were TWO YEARS out of date. Undeterred by the prospect of a dicky stomach the following day (and they all had), the cans were devoured.
At 3am, they were smuggled back to the hotel, mercifully without incident.
Match day. Thursday evening. The Azadi stadium. 99,900 Iranian men. A sea of beards. 100 Paddies. A cacophony of noise, colour and horns. The stadium was ringed with Islamic revolutionary slogans. Two giant portraits of old, dead Khomeini and the new man in black, Khamenei staring at us.
A dour, nervous game. The first time women had been allowed into a football stadium in Iran (after a diplomatic wrangle). Ten or so of our girls. Wearing green chadors in defiance, in a metal cage.
STADIUM SCENES
Iran winning 1-0. Ireland hanging on for the win. Scenes. Rocks and bottles come at us from all angles. The revolutionary posters are torn down and set on fire. Seats are on fire too. We’re kept in the stadium for three hours afterwards.
Outside, Iranian fans and police engage in running battles.
Our buses arrive. Reporters, photographers, Irish fans and team clamber on board. Glass and debris litter the road on the 45km drive from the stadium to the airport.
No one says a word. Fear makes you shut your trap. Airport staff can’t get shot of us fast enough. Scowls. Moustaches. Dark eyes. We board the Aer Lingus plane. A beer and a smile greets each of us. The taxi, the cheer when we take off.
The relief to be away from that suffocating place. What must it be like for ordinary, decent Iranians? We endured five sobering days there. They’ve put up with it for the last 46 years.
The soft and remarkable Iranian people long for regime change, the one thing both Israel and the US have balked at doing over the last two weeks.
For lasting peace in the Middle East, the Islamic Republic needs to be toppled and the reign of tyranny ended. Someone tell Donald.
STUDENT RITE ENDS
YOUNGSTERS heading to America on J1 student visas to work during the summer is an Irish institution.
We’ve been doing it for generations. I went to Germany to work when I was in uni, but most of my buddies headed west across the Atlantic.
President Donald Trump ordered US embassies world-wide to vet the social media of everyone seeking a work visaShutterstock Editorial
They worked in bars and restaurants, at amusement arcades, as hotel valets and porters to name but a few.
They had a ball. America gave them a taste of a culture that’s been in the Irish DNA for over 150 years. Both profited hugely from the exchange.
Students will now think long and hard about heading to the States on a J1 after Trump ordered US embassies world-wide to vet the social media of everyone seeking a work visa.
Kids will now have to make public every social media post they’ve made for the last five years, so US officials can scour them for anything they deem to be anti-American.
Who would want to go through that? The days of the J1 are over. Until Trump is ousted and sanity prevails in America, Irish students and anyone else in possession of a brain will go to work and live in Europe, Canada or Australia.
SOLVE THE MYSTERY
TO lose a child is unfathomable. To lose a child and for them never to be found is a heartbreak too far.
Annie McCarrick, who vanished without trace in 1993, has been back in the news after gardai began to search a house and arrested a suspect in his 60s for questioning.
The search of the house has ended. Gardai found nothing of evidential value. The suspect was released without charge.
Annie’s mother, Nancy, who lives in Long Island, New York, has endured a living hell. The latest developments would have given her renewed hope of a breakthrough as to what happened to Annie.
The cold case cops are close, but not there yet. For Nancy’s sake, hopefully they will crack the case soon.
ALL TALK, NO ACTION IN DUBLIN
THE hot air brigade were busy again this week huffing and puffing and bloviating about what they will do.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris took to a government dais to proclaim how they’re going to fix broken Dublin.
Waste on the side of a road in DublinAlamy
Like the Boy Who Cried Wolf, we’ve stopped believing anything that emanates from either of their mouths.
We’ve heard it all before. Now is not the time for more talk, it’s way past the time for action.
Dublin is suffering under both men’s watch, because all they can do is talk. When it comes to delivery, they’re bottom of the class.
Dublin is blighted by dereliction, crime-ridden due to too few cops, chronically littered and its public spaces filthy. A firm hand would end that quickly. Instead of tough love, we were again served up the weak hand this week.
Martin, Harris and government colleague Sean Canney gave wishy washy commitments.
Martin said policing numbers would be increased over the next TEN YEARS. Christ almighty.
They waxed lyrical about the revamp of the GPO, the Abbey and Ambassador theatres and the Fruit & Veg market. But these are already under way and not because of anything they did.
The Dublin City Task Force made a series of recommendations last year. Those recommendations remain largely unfulfilled.
'DUBLIN IS A JEWEL
SINCE that report, the government has failed to implement concrete plans and match any commitments with the necessary funding.
Dublin is a jewel. It is a city we should be proud of. It deserves better than the plamas being lobbed in its direction every few months from politicians who, if they did care about sorting Dublin’s problems, would just get on with it and do it.
It’s clear this government, with FF/FG in power, has failed Dublin and its citizens.
They have repeatedly reneged on a recommendation from the Citizens’ Assembly that Dublin have its own directly elected mayor with real power.
Hot air won’t transform Dublin, a mayor with teeth would. Until that happens, don’t believe a word the government says about our capital city.
1 week agoBlogsComments Off on Dictator Benito Mussolini’s great-grandson, 22, ‘completes Euro giants transfer’ after impressive season
THE great-grandson of dictator Benito Mussolini has completed a transfer to European giants Lazio.
Romano Floriani Mussolini, 22, had spent the season on loan at Serie B outfit Juve Stabia from Lazio.
GettyRomano Floriani Mussolini, great-grandson of Benito, has signed for Lazio after an impressive season on loan in the Serie B[/caption]
GettyBenito Mussolini was the fascist ruler of Italy during World War Two before he was overthrown[/caption]
GettyMussolini had seen a buy option exercised by loaning side Juve Stabia, but Lazio triggered a buy-back option[/caption]
The defender enjoyed an impressive season, making 37 appearances for Juve and helping them reach the play-offs before they were beaten in the semi-finals.
That impressive season saw the club activate the option to buy him permanently on his loan from Lazio.
However, the Serie A giants then exercised their counter-option in the deal to bring him back.
A club statement confirmed these details were agreed last season in the initial loan agreement.
It added: “The yellow-blue club thanks Romano for the professionalism, commitment and attachment to the jersey shown throughout the season.”
Born in 2003, Mussolini spent time in the Roma youth academy before eventually finding his way to bitter cross-town rivals Lazio.
He has repeatedly attempted to distance himself from his great-grandfather, who was the fascist ruler of Italy before he was overthrown in 1943 and later executed in 1945, by saying he is not interested in politics.
When Mussolini scored his first senior professional goal just before Christmas in 2024 against Cesena, echoes of his family name haunted him.
As the announcer read out his name following the goal, sections of the Juve fans appeared to perform fascist salutes and enthusiastic shouts of “Mussolini”.
The Italian football federation (FIGC) launched an investigation while the club issued a statement rejecting any connection between its fans and fascism.
It said: “For 117 years, the club has celebrated the goals of its team.
“When the name of the scoring player is announced, we raise our arms to the sky as a sign of the team that is in our heart and which represents the city. This was once again the case with this goal.”
President Langella added: “We do not accept exploitation for a golden boy like Romano Floriani Mussolini.
“The same thing goes for our fans, who have cheered as they have always done in the past with any other athlete.”
Parts of Lazio’s fanbase are known to have links to far-right groups.
In 2021, Lazio suspended Juan Bernabé, the falconer responsible for flying the club’s eagle mascot before kick-off, after he was seen cheering for Benito Mussolini.
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MANILA, Philippines — The verbal skirmish between Vice President Sara Duterte and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro intensified on Friday after Castro questioned Duterte’s patriotism, invoking a famous quote from national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. At a briefing, Castro was asked for the Palace’s reaction to Duterte’s statement that she is “not pro any country
1 week agoBlogsComments Off on 5 Dead as Truck Crashes on Way Home from Tree Planting Activity
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