'God's Banker' death still a mystery

By Chris Summers BBC News

Five people have been acquitted of involvement in the murder of "God's Banker", Roberto Calvi, who was found hanged under London's Blackfriars Bridge in 1982. The verdict will come as a huge blow to the Calvi family who have campaigned for years to get justice.

Key dates 1971: Calvi becomes chairman of Banco Ambrosiano 1981: Convicted of currency violations, but bailed pending appeal 11 Jun 1982:Leaves Italy, on a false passport, with a suitcase full of documents 18 Jun 1982: Body found beneath Blackfriars Bridge Jul 1982: Suicide verdict at first inquest Jul 1983: Open verdict at second inquest 1998: Calvi's body exhumed Oct 2002: Forensic report confirms Calvi was murdered Oct 2005: Five defendants go on trial in Rome Jun 2007:Five people are acquitted of murder Five acquitted

The Roberto Calvi story reads like the pages of a John Grisham thriller. It is a dark tale of Mafiosi, Masonic lodges, Cold War plots and a sinister Vatican archbishop.
The verdict is the latest bizarre twist in a case that has rumbled on for 25 years.
The body of Roberto Calvi was discovered hanging from Blackfriars Bridge on the morning of 18 June 1982.
An initial investigation into Calvi's death led to an inquest in London recording a verdict of suicide.
Calvi's wife Clara - who died last year - and his son Carlo refused to accept the suicide verdict and always insisted he had been murdered.
Calvi, who was 62, was chairman of the Banco Ambrosiano, Italy's largest private bank at the time. The bank collapsed shortly after his death with debts of £800m, most of which were blamed on a series of offshore companies.

Flavio Carboni (left) and Pippo Calo were both cleared

The bank had handled much of the Vatican's financial affairs and Calvi worked closely with Archbishop Paul Marcinkus, head of the Istituto per le Opere di Religione (Institute of Religious Works).
Archbishop Marcinkus was indicted in 1982 by an Italian court in connection with the collapse of the bank but he claimed diplomatic immunity and eventually retired to Arizona, where he died last year.
The true purpose of the offshore companies blamed for the bank's collapse remains shrouded in mystery.
Some have suggested they were used to launder Mafia money but they may also have been used to funnel money into anti-communist regimes in central America and the Solidarity movement in Poland, which the Vatican supported.
Crucial documents
Calvi had been convicted of currency violations shortly before his death and jailed for four years. But he jumped bail and fled to London.
He is believed to have been carrying a briefcase containing crucial documents about the bank's activities.
His exact movements in the week before his death are still vague but it is thought Calvi stayed in an apartment owned by a friend, Sardinian businessman Flavio Carboni, in Chelsea.

Archbishop Marcinkus, pictured with Pope John Paul II

On the night of his death he was strangled and then his body was taken by boat to Blackfriars Bridge, where it was hanged from a scaffold in a faked suicide.
It was only after Calvi was exhumed from the family cemetery in Milan in 1998 that it became clear he could not have killed himself.
A fresh investigation was launched, with the help of City of London Police, and charges were eventually brought against five people, including Mafia boss Pippo Calo, who is already serving two life sentences.
On Wednesday Calo was acquitted of any involvement in the Calvi case. Also cleared were Mr Carboni, his former mistress Manuela Kleinzig, Ernesto Diotallevi, form Rome, and Silvano Vittor, from Trieste.
Carlo Calvi, who now lives in Canada, was in court to hear the verdict.
He spoke before the trial about his hopes for justice.

I have no personal grudge against the killers. I have no personal need for anyone to be convicted or sent to jai Carlo Calvi

He told the BBC News website: "I have no personal grudge against the killers. I have no personal need for anyone to be convicted or sent to jail.
"It would be good if they confessed, but I am not someone who has that goal of having someone punished for the crime."
Calvi had been a member of the secretive Propaganda Due (P2) Masonic lodge, which had connections with both the Mafia and right-wing terrorist groups.
P2's founder, Licio Gelli, was jailed for fraud in connection with the Banco Ambrosiano collapse but has never been charged in connection with the Calvi murder. He is now 88.
There has been speculation that the posing of the body and the use of Blackfriars Bridge were Masonic symbols.
'Symbolic'
Calvi's son told the BBC in 2004: "I don't subscribe to that theory. But I do believe there was a Masonic element to his death and I do believe the way he was killed was symbolic.

Calvi's body was exhumed in 1998 from the family plot in Drezzo, near Milan

"I believe the killers were sending a message by killing him in public in the heart of the city. There was definitely something theatrical about it all, and the message was clearly worth the risk." The trial heard from several Mafia supergrasses (pentiti) about the Mafia's involvement in Calvi's murder but the defence claimed throughout that he had committed suicide after all.
The prosecutor, Luca Tescaroli, claimed Calvi was murdered because he had embezzled Mafia money, which was being laundered through Banco Ambrosiano, and was planning to blackmail several other people, including prominent politicians.
But the not guilty verdict means that the banker's death will go down in history as an enigmatic mystery.
A City of London Police spokeswoman said: "We have worked closely with the Italian authorities since 2003 to bring this case to a successful conclusion. It's disappointing for Roberto Calvi's family in particular that those responsible for tis murder have still not faced justice."

AC/DC: Malcolm Young will not return to the band

 

AC/DC brothers Malcolm Young (right) and brother Angus in 2000

Rock band AC/DC have confirmed that founding member Malcolm Young will not return to the band, after taking a break due to illness.

The band said "due to the nature of Malcolm's condition" their new album Rock or Bust would be the first in AC/DC's 41-year history not to feature Young on the recordings.
A message on their website revealed the album would be released on 2 December.
AC/DC also announced they will embark on a Rock or Bust world tour in 2015.
Stevie Young, the nephew of founding members Malcolm and Angus Young, will accompany the band on tour after playing rhythm guitar on the album.
"Earlier this year AC/DC released a statement explaining that due to illness, Malcolm would be taking a break from the band," said the Australian rockers on Wednesday.
"Unfortunately, due to the nature of Malcolm's condition, he will not be returning to the band."

 

 AC/DC's Brian Johnson and Angus Young on stage in Pennsylvania during 2008's Black Ice Tour

The album will feature 11 new tracks recorded at Warehouse Studio in Vancouver this spring, produced by Brendan O'Brien.
Split rumours AC/DC, who formed in 1973, are one of the highest-grossing rock acts of all time, selling more than 200 million albums.
In April this year, they were forced to deny rumours they were splitting up, putting out a statement saying: "The band will continue to make music."
At the time they also confirmed Glasgow-born Malcolm Young would be taking a break after "forty years of life dedicated to AC/DC".
They did not reveal details of his illness, but said: "Malcolm would like to thank the group's diehard legions of fans worldwide for their never-ending love and support."
AC/DC's biggest-selling record has been 1980's Back In Black - the first with singer Brian Johnson following the death of former lead singer Bon Scott from alcohol poisoning.

Liam Neeson and Morgan Freeman to star in Ted 2

 

The pair previously starred together in the 2005 film Batman Begins

Actors Liam Neeson and Morgan Freeman have joined the cast of comedy Ted 2.

"Yesterday Liam Neeson, today Morgan Freeman. Not a bad week for #Ted2," tweeted the film's director and writer Seth MacFarlane, on Wednesday.
The pair will star alongside Mark Wahlberg and Amanda Seyfried in the sequel, due out in June 2015.
The film sees MacFarlane reprise his role as the voice of the lewd, overgrown teddy bear. The original 2012 film made $549.4m (£281.5m) worldwide.
It reportedly became the highest-grossing original, R-rated comedy of all time.
Neeson co-starred with MacFarlane and Seyfried earlier this year, playing the villain in A Million Ways to Die in the West - a Western comedy also written and directed by MacFarlane.
The film failed to make an impression at the box office, grossing $17.1m (£10.4m) in its opening weekend in May, a fraction of the $54.5m (£33.4m) earned by Ted on the same weekend two years previously.
Neeson is currently playing a private investigator in A Walk Among the Tombstones. A third instalment of Taken will be released next year.
Freeman is currently starring in Dolphin Tale 2. His forthcoming film Ruth and Alex premiered at the Toronto Film Festival earlier this month.

Ford recalls 850,000 cars with airbag fault

US car giant Ford says it is recalling about 850,000 cars in North America over a "potential issue" with airbags.

The carmaker said a glitch could cause a short circuit that may mean airbags do not deploy properly in the event of a crash.
The vehicles affected include some 2013-14 C-MAX, Fusion, Escape and Lincoln MKZ models.
Ford said it was not aware of any injuries caused by the problem, adding that dealers would fix it for free.
About 745,000 of the recalled vehicles are in the US, 82,000 are in Canada and 20,000 in Mexico.
Last weekend, rival General Motors recalled more than 220,000 cars over a brake defect, bringing the number of cars it has recalled this year to more than 15 million.

Asterix creator Uderzo ends long dispute with daughter

 

Albert Uderzo launched the Asterix comic strips in 1959

The co-creator of the famous Asterix cartoons, Albert Uderzo, has ended a seven-year legal battle with his daughter amicably, French media report.

The rift began in 2007 when Sylvie Uderzo and her husband Bernard de Choisy were dismissed by Asterix publisher Editions Albert Rene as managers of the Uderzo estate.
Albert Uderzo created the Asterix books with Rene Goscinny, who died in 1977.
Uderzo, 87, and his daughter say they have agreed to drop their lawsuits.

 

Sylvie Uderzo is seen here at a restaurant in Paris in June

 

The latest title, Asterix And The Picts, was released in Paris last October

 

The characters (from left) Obelix, Idefix and Asterix are household names in France

She had opposed his decision to sell his 60% stake in the Asterix publisher in 2008.
Last year, Uderzo sued his daughter and son-in-law for "psychological violence". He accused Mr de Choisy of being behind various legal moves by his daughter against him.
Sylvie Uderzo in turn brought a lawsuit against persons unnamed for abusing her father's "frailty" but the case was thrown out on Friday.
'Rediscovered happiness' The illustrator and his daughter announced their reconciliation in a joint statement sent to AFP news agency.
"The Uderzo couple and their daughter are again reconciled and are determined to make a clean slate reciprocally, with regard to the reproaches made by both sides," the statement said.
"They wish henceforth to enjoy in full their newly rediscovered happiness."
Contacted by French daily Le Figaro, the Asterix co-creator said he had nothing to add.
More than 352 million copies of the Asterix albums have been sold worldwide and they have been translated into 111 languages.
The latest album, Asterix and the Picts, was published last October in 15 countries and 23 languages by new author Jean-Yves Ferri and illustrator Didier Conrad.

Poop on Lamborghini Prank Gone HORRIBLY WRONG!

Barbra Streisand makes US chart history

 

Barbra Streisand has also enjoyed success as a film actress and director

Singer Barbra Streisand has created US chart history by becoming the first artist to score number one albums in each of the last six decades.

The veteran star's latest release, Partners, topped the Billboard rundown after selling 196,000 copies.
The 72-year-old's first number one album, People, was achieved almost 50 years ago in October 1964.
Streisand's latest hit also makes her the only female singer to clock up 10 number one albums in the US.
The musician now stands at number four in the all-time list of album chart-topping acts in the US, behind The Beatles, who lead the hall of fame with 19 number ones.
Jay Z is second with 13, while Bruce Springsteen is in third place with 11 best-selling albums.
Streisand ties for fourth with Elvis Presley, who is featured on her latest work.
The album is a collection of classic songs with high profile singing partners, including Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban and Billy Joel, with whom she performs New York State of Mind.
She outsold Chris Brown and country star Tina McGraw to take the number one spot.

 

The singer's chart success began in the 1960s

Streisand's albums which have reached the pinnacle of the US chart in previous decades include The Way We Were in 1974 and two other '70s releases.
Two of her records made the grade in the 1980s including Guilty, spawning a hit title track performed by Barry Gibb and the US number one single Woman In Love.
She had two number ones in the 1990s, while her most recent chart-topper was Love Is The Answer in 2009.
In the UK, Streisand's latest album was beaten into second place by Irish band The Script's new release.
The singer has amassed a total of six chart-topping albums in the UK across three decades - the 1970s, '80s and the first decade of this century.