EU to push on with US trade deal despite Brexit vote
The EU will push forward with efforts to seal a huge trade pact with the US despite the "unprecedented situation" after Britain's vote to leave the bloc, its trade commissioner said Monday (June 27).
Cecilia Malmstroem said she would fly to Washington on Tuesday for fresh talks on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), which both sides want to seal by end-2016.
But the process has been thrown into turmoil by the referendum result in which Britain - one of the countries pushing most strongly for the deal - as a majority voted to leave the 28-nation union.
You can now sing 'Happy Birthday' free of charge
A US federal judge on Monday (June 27) signed off on a settlement that puts the song "Happy Birthday" - considered one of the most recognisable tunes in the English language - in the public domain.
The settlement approved by Los Angeles judge George King ended a long-running legal dispute challenging music publisher Warner/Chappell Music's claim that it owned the song's copyright.
"This is a huge victory for the public and for the artists who want to use 'Happy Birthday to you' in their videos and music,'" attorney Daniel Schacht said.
Tennis: Banned Maria Sharapova to sharpen business skills at Harvard
Maria Sharapova plans to make good use of the time on her hands thanks to a two-year doping ban from tennis.
The Russian star, a savvy businesswoman whose commercial interests include her Sugarpova brand of candy, indicated on social media on Monday (June 27) that she would be attending a Harvard Business School course.
Sharapova posted a photo of herself in front of a sign for the prestigious school on her Facebook page. "Not sure how this happened but Hey Harvard! Can't wait to start the program!" she wrote, adding a graduation cap symbol.
Football: Qatar using 3D printers to find perfect pitch
Following concerns over poor quality pitches at Euro 2016, Qatar has employed a high-tech solution to avoid similar criticisms of its World Cup in 2022 - 3D printers and wind tunnels.
Scientists at Qatar University, the country's largest higher education establishment, have created 3D-printed models of some of the potential eight stadiums that will be used in 2022, to try and ensure there are no such similar surface problems in six years' time.
"We are aware of what is happening in Europe," lead scientist of the research, Saud Ghani said. "There will be good pitches according to the highest quality of Fifa requirements (in 2022)."
Euro 2016: Italy dump Spain 2-0
Giorgio Chiellini and Graziano Pelle scored the goals as Italy exacted revenge for their Euro 2012 final hammering by dumping Spain out of Euro 2016 with a deserved 2-0 last 16 win in Paris on Monday (June 27).
Chiellini forced home the winner from close range after goalkeeper David de Gea could only parry Eder's fiercely struck free-kick. Pelle volleyed in a deflected cross in injury time to complete Spain's heartbreak.
After crashing out of the World Cup in the first round, Vicente del Bosque's team have now failed to get to the Euro quarter finals.
