InfoAnda - Britain set to free great train robber Biggs

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

New Indonesia stoning law is 'torture': rights group | 13 October 2009
Israel inquiry clears government and navy in Gaza ship raid | | 23 January 2011
Greece wants to renegotiate policies, not targets: PM | | 7 July 2012

LG Display to supply flat panels to Apple | 12 January 2009

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Britain set to free great train robber Biggs

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Search Search: Britain set to free great train robber Biggs AFP - Friday, August 7 LONDON (AFP) - - Ronnie Biggs, notorious for his role in Britain's 1963 Great Train Robbery and then 35 years as a celebrity fugitive, is to be released from custody on Friday, as his son said he was close to death. ADVERTISEMENT Justice Secretary Jack Straw announced Thursday that 79-year-old Biggs, jailed in 2001 after giving himself up, was being released on compassionate grounds because his condition had deteriorated and was unlikely to improve. Biggs is in a hospital under guard by prison officers in Norwich, eastern England, with severe pneumonia. A series of strokes has also left him bedridden and unable to speak, eat or walk. His son Michael, who had campaigned for his father's release, said Biggs was nevertheless pleased by the government's decision. "I've just been able to spend some time with my father... He is over the moon," he told reporters outside the hospital late Thursday, adding that his father had used a spelling board to give his reaction. "I am delighted that common sense has finally prevailed and that the government saw that it was absolutely unnecessary to keep my father in prison," he said. "Practically he'll still be staying in hospital but it's the feeling that not only my father but the family will have that it's finished, and he will be able to die with some dignity. He will able to die as a free man," he added. Straw last month rejected Biggs's application for parole on the grounds that the robber was "wholly unrepentant" about his crimes, but he said the decision on compassionate release was based on "different considerations". "The medical evidence clearly shows that Mr Biggs is very ill and that his condition has deteriorated recently, culminating in his re-admission to hospital. His condition is not expected to improve," Straw said. The three prison service staff watching Biggs in hospital will be withdrawn later on Friday, once the licence for his release is finalised. Michael Biggs said that he hoped his father would live long enough to see his 80th birthday on Saturday -- 46 years to the day since the heist. The infamous crime dubbed the Great Train Robbery saw a 15-strong gang hold up a Glasgow to London mail train and make off with 2.6 million pounds, a huge sum at the time, at a railway bridge north of London. Most of the cash was never found. The train driver, Jack Mills, was hit on the head during the robbery and died seven years later without ever making a full recovery. Biggs played a minor role in the hold-up but was jailed for 30 years in 1964. He subsequently escaped by scaling a prison wall and jumping onto the roof of a furniture van. On the run for decades, he fled to France, where he had plastic surgery, and Spain before heading to Australia. But he eventually settled in Brazil, where he was often pictured partying in British newspapers. Biggs beat British extradition requests because he had a Brazilian dependant, his young son Michael, by his Brazilian girlfriend. He nevertheless handed himself over to British authorities in 2001 amid a blaze of publicity. Biggs said his last wish was to enjoy a pint of beer in an English pub by the seaside before he died, but he was sent back to jail. Michael Biggs denied that his father had never expressed regret for his role in the robbery, saying he had apologised "several times". "(But) my father is not sorry for the life he led, because had he not led this life he wouldn't have me as a son or my daughter as a grandchild." His lawyer Giovanni Di Stefano said Biggs was unlikely to leave hospital. "He is being released effectively to die and that cannot be considered a victory. But it's a victory for common sense and Mr Straw has made the right decision," he told Sky News. If his condition was to improve, Biggs would be transferred to a nursing home in Barnet, north London, near his son's home. Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Sign in to recommend this article » 2 users recommend Enlarge Photo Authorities will release seriously ill Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs, seen here in 1994, from prison on compassionate grounds. Biggs is in a prison hospital in Norwich with pneumonia. A series of strokes has also left him bedridden and barely able to communicate. Most Popular – Top Stories Viewed Scientists decode HIV genome structure: study BNP Paribas bonuses spark anger in France Cupcakes for reporter on Obama's birthday New York chapel offers gay marriage service Swine flu toll up sharply in Latin America View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Friday, 7 August 2009
Thousands turn out for funeral of last WWI trench soldier
Hack attack silences Twitter, Facebook sees delays
Afghan police reduce wedding blast death toll to five
New Tamil Tiger head arrested: Sri Lanka military | International |
Scientists decode HIV genome structure: study
Canadian charged in US in Internet gambling case
Car bomb kills 5 in disputed city in northern Iraq
Drug killings soar as Obama heads to Mexico summit | International |
"The Sims" creator eyes the world beyond games
China probes Internet bootcamp after teen dies
Pro-Mousavi Iranians chant death to the dictator | International |
Iraq denies blocking food to Iranian exile camp
Squabbling Palestinian movement gets Saudi scolding | International |
French government cracks whip at banks over bonuses | International |
Sprint plans to sell AM-OLED phones from Samsung
Gambian journalists jailed for sedition: source | International |
Feds begin immigration detention makeover
Rapid tests often wrong about swine flu
Hack attack silences Twitter, Facebook sees delays | Technology |
Grand jury clears Philly officers in taped beating
Be careful what you post online, career counselors warn | Technology |
GOP Sen. Voinovich to support Sotomayor for court
Correction: Mexico-US Arms Trafficking story
Sprint plans to sell AM-OLED phones from Samsung | Technology |
Former Fla. judge linked to stripper pleads guilty
Alaska mom sentenced for letting son, 7, drive
FTC issues braced to fight oil price manipulation
Tsingtao Brewery first half profit up 68%
Toyota Prius top-selling car in Japan for 3 months
Violent Ssangyong Motor strike comes to an end
Pakistan's forex reserves fall to $11.72 bln
S.Korea firms to buy A$125 mln stake in Australia coal mine
Pakistani rupee firms on IMF hopes; stocks edge down
New Bollywood film hopes to emulate 'Slumdog' success
Ssangyong Motor union agrees to end strike
India investment to grow despite slowdown
Posh Spice, Katy Perry to fill in on 'Idol' | Entertainment |
Japanese electronics maker Pioneer cuts losses
Julie & Julia blends the old with the new | Entertainment |
Aerosmith singer Tyler hurt in fall from stage | Entertainment |
Just A Minute With: Paul Giamatti portraying himself | Entertainment |
Sizemore arrested for domestic violence | Entertainment |
Aerosmith's Tyler hurt head, shoulder neck in fall
Victoria Beckham will be guest judge on `Idol'
Iraq cabinet approves smoking curbs plan
By the time we got to Woodstock: 40 years later | Entertainment |
Rivaled by the Web, US mail service faces tough times
Filmmaker Burns pays visit to Acadia National Park
Star of 'McHale's Navy' honored at RI festival
Ohio attack victim surprised with Kid Rock check
Model Kurkova's newest accessory: a baby bump
New Michael Jackson songs on missing hard drives
Pakistani Taliban chief Mehsud may be dead: US
Tensions high a year after Georgia war | International |
Britain set to free great train robber Biggs
US-TECH Summary
Russia-Georgia war still felt one year on: Amnesty
ECB, Bank of England hold interest rates steady
Security on agenda at North America summit | International |
Pro-Mousavi Iranians chant "death to the dictator"
Thousands turn out for funeral of last WWI trench soldier
'Large-scale Russian invasion' started war: Georgia
Pakistan says Taliban chief is likely dead | International |
GM to launch plug-in hybrid SUV in 2011
Pacific hurricane strengthens to Category Four storm
Car bomb kills five, wounds 30 in northern Iraq
'The weak get beat': Putin marks 10 years in power
New Tamil Tiger head held in Sri Lanka | International |
Suspected ETA killer 'arrested in Spain'
Four U.S. troops killed in southern Afghanistan | International |
Iraqi Cabinet approves anti-smoking law
Troubled broadcaster ITV offloads Friends Reunited
Twitter, Facebook hit by cyber attacks
Be careful what you post online, career counselors warn
Japan to use deep-sea probes to search for minerals
U.S. wants Israel to freeze settlement for year: report | International |
Number of missing rises to 62 in Tonga ferry sinking | International |
Pakistan: Anti-Christian riots prompt law review
Ponting has no fears about jeers
Hacker attacks silence Twitter, slow Facebook | Technology |
AP NewsAlert
ETimor opposition says accused ministers must go
Ferry sinks off Tonga; dozens missing, feared dead
China fails to win minorities' trust: Dalai Lama
Bill Clinton briefed W.House on N.Korea -spokesman
Small boats threaten maritime security: US Coast Guard
U.S. Senate confirms Sotomayor for Supreme Court
Pakistan says Indian evidence on militant leader weak
Pregnant Briton jailed in Laos set to go home
U.S. overhaul seeks civil migrant detention system
Indian court sentences 3 to death for 2003 bombing
Illinois panel: University trustees should resign
Sculpture marks race riots in Lincoln's hometown
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 693
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,331
US attorney in Alexandria, Va., nominated
Pa. shooter had company in feelings of isolation
Feds: Man posed as Oscar-winner in investment scam
Hollywood director in real-life rescue on Hudson
Spirit Awards for indie film switch to nighttime
Japan's Sanyo to boost solar panel output
Bank of China to buy high-speed rail stake
Japan Airlines announces billion-dollar loss in Q1
AirAsia defers delivery of eight Airbus A320s
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Nissan's 'Leaf' to challenge Toyota's Prius
MTV dancing with Robert Hoffman
India's dhow sailors fear pirates who rule high seas
S.Korea bond traders see no rate change on Tue
S.Korean bonds flat ahead of auction, rate vote
Barbra Streisand playing club show in New York
Rihanna, Kanye and Jay-Z to open new Jay Leno show | Entertainment |
Hark! Bob Dylan Christmas album coming
Seoul shares open lower;caution on job data
Brat Pack director John Hughes dies of heart attack | Entertainment |
Final season of "Monk"may solve some mysteries
Toyota's Prius still Japan's top selling car
Posh Spice, Katy Perry to fill in on Idol | Entertainment |
Malaysia Airlines returns to profit in second quarter
Warhol's portrait of Michael Jackson goes on show pre-sale
Fox aborts controversial Family Guy episode | Entertainment |
Aerosmith singer breaks shoulder in stage mishap
Spirit Awards ditching afternoon ceremony on beach
Hark! Bob Dylan Christmas album coming | Entertainment |
Highlights from John Hughes' film career
MTV dancing with Robert Hoffman | Entertainment |
Barbra Streisand playing club show in New York | Entertainment |
TV dealmaking season wraps up; prices, volume down | Entertainment |
Final season of Monkmay solve some mysteries | Entertainment |
Warhol's portrait of Michael Jackson goes on show pre-sale | Entertainment |
Police: 37 die in Iraq as bombs target Shiites
Fresh tension marks anniversary of Georgia-Russia war
Pakistan says Taliban chief is probably dead | International |
State-rescued RBS reports surge in bad debts
NATO seeks more troops for Afghanistan; 8 die | International |
'Information' Pakistan Taliban chief dead: minister
German trade surplus soars in June
US deficit climbs to 1.3 trillion dollars
Bombs targeting Shi'ite Muslims kill 36 in Iraq | International |
Portugal to take in two Syrians from Guantanamo | International |
US Senate votes to save 'Cash for Clunkers'
Obama launches economic counter-attack
Fatah rows cast cruel light on Palestinian split | International |
Indonesia police in shootout with suspected militants | International |
Myanmar arrests 15 dissidents on bomb charges | International |
Record number of organic farmers expected in Mass.
NC man reels in 1,062-pound marlin
Malaysia denies Internet filter will curb dissent | Technology |
Husband denies alcoholism in NY wrong-way crash
Actors remember filmmaker Hughes as influential
It's no joke: Recession turns folks into comedians
Sotomayor's swearing in to court set for Saturday
OCD national meeting draws past, present sufferers
Clinton seeks new US-S.Africa start in relations
'Cash-for-clunkers' program gets $2B refill
Clinton wants SAfrica to press Zimbabwe reform
Japan's Nikkei hits new 10-month high
China's July auto sales up 64 percent
China shares fall on credit contraction fears
Toyota not chasing 15 percent global market share
Bridgestone tumbles into red in first half of year
'80s teen flick director John Hughes dies in NYC
Seoul shares end 0.7 pct higher; banks up =2
China airport head executed for graft: report
Seoul shares end 0.7 pct higher; banks up
SKorea gets lead on rivals in India with trade pact
Pakistani c.bank buys 28.7 bln rupees of T-bills
Madonna cancels Slovenia gig, media cite sales | Entertainment |
Tribe files lawsuit against Freeport in Indonesia
Madonna cancels Slovenia gig, media cite sales
Dubai turns down starring role in 'Sex and the City'
Actors remember filmmaker Hughes as influential
Fabled Timbuktu bent on wooing tourists
English Anglicans breathe life into French chapels
Jay-Z, Rihanna, West to kick off Leno's new show
Abdul says she's receiving `many wonderful' offers
Fox aborts controversial "Family Guy" episode
Prince Charles Didn't Believe In Monarchy When Younger
Prince Harry Guzzles On $670 Cocktail During Rowdy Night Out
Duchess Of Cornwall Camilla Given A Necklace As Protection Against Vampire Bites
Four Honor Guards Stand 9 Hours During 12-Mile Funeral Procession Of Philippine Ex-President
Ohio Road Gets Bubble Bath
California Woman Wins Almost $2 Million On Way To Work
Late Actor Heath Ledger's Anti-Whaling Music Video Finally Released
Brad Pitt Says Smoking Pot Turned Him Into A "Doughnut"
Miley Cyrus' Stalker Busted Yet Again
Boston Window Washers Narrowly Escape Death After Dangling From 37th Floor
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01