Rihanna attacker Brown sentenced

US singer Chris Brown has been sentenced to 180 days’ community labour and five years’ probation for assaulting pop star Rihanna.

The 20-year-old R&B star pleaded guilty in June to beating Rihanna, his former girlfriend, before the Grammy awards in Los Angeles in February.

The judge said Brown must do physical labour, not community service, and attend domestic violence counselling.

Brown must also stay at least 100 yards from Rihanna for the next five years.

The judge said violation of the terms would be taken “very, very seriously”.

Brown said nothing at the sentencing other than to acknowledge he understood the terms.
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Mass violence mars London derby

A man has been stabbed in the chest during “large-scale trouble” involving hundreds of fans at West Ham’s Carling Cup match against Millwall.

Fights broke out at 1800 BST and were still raging five hours later. A 44-year-old man is stable after being stabbed in Priory Road at 2025 BST.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said missiles had been thrown at officers but none were injured.

Inside Upton Park stadium West Ham fans invaded the pitch three times.
By 2300 BST several hundred West Ham fans had congregated outside the stadium chanting and bombarding police with crates and bottles.
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Argentina rules on marijuana use

The supreme court in Argentina has ruled that it is unconstitutional to punish people for using marijuana for personal consumption.

The decision follows a case of five young men who were arrested with a few marijuana cigarettes in their pockets.

But the court said use must not harm others and made it clear it did not advocate a complete decriminalisation.

Correspondents say there is a growing momentum in Latin America towards decriminalising drugs for personal use.

The Argentine court ruled that: “Each adult is free to make lifestyle decisions without the intervention of the state.”
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US deficit to soar towards $1.6tn

The US budget deficit will soar to almost $1.6 trillion (£978bn) this year, the highest on record, both the White House and Congress have warned.

Fuelled by President Obama’s $787bn stimulus package and reduced tax revenues due to the recession, it compares with a $455bn deficit in 2008.

The White House says the deficit will grow further, predicting it will hit a cumulative $9tn from 2010-2019.

However, it continues to expect the US economy to start to recover this year.

The White House expects US unemployment to pass 10% this year, before slowly declining in 2010. The most recent official figures showed the rate at 9.4% in July.
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Outed model blogger plans to sue Google

NEW YORK (CNN) — Her identity revealed, a blogger who posted rants about model Liskula Cohen said she was the real victim in the case and plans to sue Google for violating her privacy.

Rosemary Port and her lawyer said Monday that they will file a $15 million lawsuit against the search engine giant for not doing enough to protect her identity.

“I not only feel my client was wronged, but I feel now it sets precedent that anyone with money and power can get the identity of anyone that decides to be an anonymous blogger,” said Salvator Strazzullo, Port’s lawyer.

A New York Supreme Court judge ordered Google to reveal Port’s identity after Cohen sued the company to acquire information about the anonymous blogger.
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Aston Villa stun Liverpool with Anfield win

(CNN) — Aston Villa produced a stunning dispay to win 3-1 at Anfield on Monday night as Liverpool slumped to their second English Premier League defeat in nine days, the same number that they lost in the whole of last season.

Villa’s first win of the season, and their first at Anfield since 2001, also ensured Liverpool lost their 31-match unbeaten home league record — which stretched back to December 2007 when Manchester United were the last winners.

A Lucas own goal and a Curtis Davies header saw Villa 2-0 up at the break. Fernando Torres pulled one back but an Ashley Young penalty settled the points.

Villa took a 33rd-minute lead when Young floated a free-kick towards the nearpost and Brazilian midfielder Lucas rose to head the ball past his own goalkeeper Pepe Reina.
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South Korean rocket fails to reach full orbit

SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) — South Korea’s space program suffered a blow Tuesday after a satellite launched from its first space rocket failed to reach proper orbit, a science official said.

“All aspects of the launch were normal, but the satellite exceeded its planned orbit and reached an altitude of 360 kilometers,” said Ahn Byung-man, the minister of science and technology. The satellite should have separated at about 302 kilometers, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.

The cause of the failure was not immediately known. Korean experts were working with Russian scientists, who provided the technology for launch, to determine the reason, Ahn said.

The Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 lifted off from the Naro Space Center on the southern coast about 5 p.m. (4 a.m. ET) Tuesday.
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US smoker’s daughter gets $13.8m

A US jury has ordered tobacco giant Philip Morris to pay $13.8m (£8.4m) to the daughter of a lifelong smoker who died of lung disease.

The jury in Los Angeles decided in favour of Jodie Bullock, whose mother Betty died of lung cancer in 2003 aged 64. She had smoked for 47 years.

Philip Morris said she could have given up smoking at any time as the harmful effects of cigarettes were known.

Philip Morris is a part of Virginia-based tobacco-products group Altria.
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Microsoft to smarten cheap phones

Microsoft has unveiled new technology that will allow standard, non-”smart” phones to run applications such as Facebook or Twitter.

Designed for emerging markets, the OneApp software can be downloaded just like a new ringtone.

Rather than an application store like those offered by many manufacturers and networks, OneApp will offer a standard set of apps decided by operators.

Storage for the apps will be maintained by the operators, rather than users.
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Bodies found in Pakistan valley

The bodies of 22 suspected militants have been found in Pakistan’s Swat valley in the past day, officials say.

Corpses allegedly began appearing several weeks ago. Officials said 18 were found in the region last week.

Local residents say the Pakistani security forces have been carrying out extra-judicial killings as part of their offensive against the Taliban.

The army and police have denied the accusations, saying locals could be behind the killings for “revenge”.

A Pakistani human rights watchdog says reports of extra-judicial killings are credible.
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