The American singer, guitarist and songwriter LouReed has died at the age of 71. His agent said hedied at home in Long Island of complications from arecent liver transplant. In a career spanning nearlyfive decades, Lou Reed had a huge influence from the shape of rock music. Born in New York,he was a founder of the seminal 1960s band of Velvet Underground. Anthony Burch looks backon his life.
“It was once said that the Velvet Underground had very few fans at the time, but everyone whoever heard them went on to start a group of their own. Lou Reed's songs read the heart oftheir music, he saw himself as a musician working in a tradition of early Rock and Roll. LouReed's melodies were spare but lyrical. Working with world's musician John Cale as protégés ofAndy Warhol, he invented a new song for rock one which merits simple memorable tunes withthe most challenging of avant-garde music. His songs drew on the grieved street life of NewYork and delt with subjects such as drug abuse, extremes of sexual experience and despair.Lou Reed who died today.”
Syria has submitted a declaration of its chemical weapons and its plans to destroy themmeeting the first key deadline of a program for their total elimination. The Organization for theProhibition of Chemical Weapons which is overseeing the process said the documents werehanded over on Thursday. Here's Paul Wood.
“Syria has now told the international inspectors exactly how it intends to destroy the more than1,000 tons of sarin, VX, chlorine and other chemical agents said to have in its possession.Around 60 international inspectors have already visited some 19 of the 23 chemical sitesdeclared by the regime. Very little has been said publicly, but so far the inspectors do seemsatisfied. The regime is cooperating.”
A former US marine held by Farc rebels in Colombia has been released to the International RedCross. The American, Kevin Scott Sutay is said to be in good health. Sarah Rainsford reportsfrom the Cuban capital Havana.
“Kevin Scott Sutay arrived in Colombia in June. The 27-year-old headed to the jungle and wasprobably captured by militants from the Farc. According to local media reports, he was armedonly with the machete and GPS and claimed he was simply testing his survival techniques.Colombia's government called to his immediate release that the case threatened to damagehistoric peace talks with the Farc that help in progressing slowly here in Havana for the pastyear. The Farc has described his release as a humanitarian gesture.”
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A series of attacks including a wave of car bombings in Iraq has killed at least 65 people andwounded many others. Most of the victims died in a series of coordinated blasts inpredominantly Shia districts of the capital Baghdad. A busy market and a bus station wereamong the targets. The single deadliest attack took place in the northern city of Mosul when acar bomb exploded outside a bank where soldiers were queuing to collect their wages.
The Israeli government says it will release another 26 Palestinian prisoners as a part of a dealbrokered by the United States earlier this year for the resumption of peace talks. It will be thesecond batch of prisoners to be freed under the agreement. A statement from the office of theIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says those to be released had all been jailed forviolence committed before a 1993 interim accord.
The US National Security Agency has denied German press reports that President Obama wastold in 2010 that Chancellor Angela Merkel's phones were being tapped. Katy Watson reportsfrom Washington.
“The leaks in German newspapers have continued over the weekend and with them the outrageover the scope of US spy agencies has grown. But the National Security Agency has hit back, ina statement it said its boss Gen Keith Alexander did not have a discussion with the President in2010 over an alleged foreign intelligence operation involving the German leader, nor did hediscuss any other alleged operations involving Ms. Merkel.”
People across central and southern Britain have been warned to prepare for one of the mostviolent storms to hit the country for many years. Heavy rain and winds of more than 130km/hhave been forecasted overnight and into Monday morning. The National Weather Center iswarning that the storm could blow down trees, knock out power supplies, damage building andcause flooding. People have been advised not to travel and many train services have alreadybeen cancelled.
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