Son of Pink Floyd guitarist Gilmour charged for role in UK protest
LONDON (AP) — Police filed charges against the son of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour on Thursday for his role in last month’s violent protest against the British government’s decision to raise university tuition fees.
Charlie Gilmour, 21, shocked many in Britain when he was photographed swinging from the Union Jack attached to the Cenotaph, Britain’s most important war memorial, during the Dec. 9 demonstration.
The picture of Gilmour swinging from the flag was featured prominently in the country’s tabloid press. and ran over captions reading “vile” and “shame.”
Former S. Africa President Nelson Mandela hospitalized for tests
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Former South African President Nelson Mandela was hospitalized for a second straight day Thursday for what his office described as routine tests but which drew concern over the health of the 92-year-old anti-apartheid icon.
Mandela undergoes regular hospital checkups, but his latest visit starting Wednesday stretched into an unusually long stay. Journalists camped outside the hospital Thursday as Mandela’s relatives and friends entered for visits.
 
Tunisian PM names independents to key government posts
TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Tunisia’s prime minister appointed independents to three key posts in the country’s new interim Cabinet on Thursday, removing ministers from the former ruling party in a major concession to demonstrators.
But Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi, himself a holdover from the former regime of ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, is staying on in the new Cabinet, despite demonstrators’ calls for his ouster.
Pennsylvania ex-cops accused of cover-up receive split verdict
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) — One of three former Pennsylvania police officers accused of covering up the beating death of an illegal Mexican immigrant has been convicted of the most serious charge against him.
A federal jury found former Shenandoah police chief Matthew Nestor guilty of falsifying his police report, a charge that carries up to 20 years in prison.
Lt. William Moyer, who faced five counts, was found guilty Thursday of lying to the FBI. Hayes was acquitted of both charges against him.
Mystery solved: Teen put baby grand piano on Miami sandbar
MIAMI (AP) — The rumors can stop swirling: The baby grand piano that turned up on a Miami sandbar was burned to tatters by New Year’s revelers, then brought to its new home by a television designer’s teenage son who said Thursday he hoped the idea might help him get into a prestigious art school.
And now Florida wildlife officials want it gone within 24 hours — or else the teen and his parents could face felony dumping charges.
Coast Guard to go after ‘orphan’ boom anchors in state waters
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Efforts to find and remove anchors left behind when oil containment boom was removed from some coastal Louisiana waters are about to begin.
The boom was used to protect coastal areas from the BP oil spill. BP and the Unified Command of agencies dealing with the spill say the anchors used were designed to collapse and lay flat in sediment when not in use. However, fishermen and coastal Louisiana officials have complained for months that the so-called “orphan anchors” pose hazards to boats and nets.
Cold weather keeping Louisiana crawfish too small this winter
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The cold that’s kept Louisiana residents bundled up this winter has also kept crawfish too small to trap and kept farmers out of their ponds, driving up prices in a state that produces almost all of the nation’s crop.
“Right now I’m probably buying about 80 sacks a week. I should be buying 100 sacks a day plus,” Adam Johnson, owner of Bayou Land Seafood in Cecelia, said Thursday.