Some time fun can be horrific - fun gag

Gawker Twitter bot fed Donald Trump a Mussolini quote

Donald Trump has been coming under fire for retweeting a quote from Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini on Twitter--and it turns out the whole thing was an elaborate setup by Gawker.Ina Sunday post on Gawker's website, the news organization explains how one staffer created aTwitter bot account that periodically tweeted out quotes from Mussolini and attributed them to Trump. The account has tweeted multiple times a day, only at Trump, since December 2015. (Its photo is a picture of Mussolini photoshopped with Trump's hair.)"We came up with the idea for thatMussolini bot under the assumption that Trump would retweet just about anything, no matter how dubious or vile the source, as long as it sounded like praise for himself," the story said.Early on Sunday morning, Trump retweeted a quote from an account with the Twitter handle @ilduce2016, a reference the name Italians knew Mussolini by,"Il Duce" ("the leader"):
"@ilduce2016: "It is better to live one day as a lion than 100 years as a sheep."-@realDonaldTrump#MakeAmericaGreatAgain"— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)February 28, 2016Asked on NBC's "Meet the Press" about the tweet and whether Trump realized it was a Mussolini quote when he retweeted it, the GOP front-runner said he did realize and that it's an "interesting quote.""Look, Mussolini was Mussolini. It's okay to--it's a very good quote, it's a very interesting quote, and I know it," he said. "I saw it. I saw what--and I know who said it. But what difference does it make whether it's Mussolini or somebody else? It's certainly a very interesting quote."Asked if he wanted to be associated with a fascist dictator like Mussolini, Trump replied: "No, I want to be associated with interesting quotes."

Frank Kelly death: Tributes paid to 'Father Jack' actor

 Europe Tributes have been paid to Irish actor Frank Kelly, best known for playing FatherJack Hackett in the comedy sitcom Father Ted, who has died aged 77.Kelly was a veteran of stage and screen, his career lasting 60 years.He had more recent roles in Emmerdale and Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie.Kelly revealed last November that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease,although he said he would continue to work.He had received the all-clear from bowel cancer in 2011. He was treated for skin cancer last year and also had heart problems.The actor passed away exactly 18 years after thedeath of his Father Ted co-star Dermot Morgan.Morgan died on Sunday 28 February 1998. His son, Don Morgan, tweeted about the coincidence of the date.Graham Linehan, the writer of Father Ted,tweeted his condolences."Just hearing from various sources that Frank Kelly has passed away," he tweeted."Terribly sad news. Thanks for everything Frank."The sitcom's co-writer, Arthur Mathews, also responded on Twitter."Sad news," he said. "Comedy legend. So thrilled we had him in Father Ted."'Lovely man'Kelly's co-star Ardal O'Hanlon, who played Father Dougal McGuire, called hima "gentleman"."Very sad news. We had lunch together atChristmas when he was in his usual feistyform," he said."Frank was an all-round talent, an institution in Irish entertainment, a very determined professional and he'll be greatly missed by all who knew him."Brendan O'Carroll, star of Mrs Brown's Boys, spoke fondly of working with Frank Kelly in Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie,"News of Frank Kelly's passing just reached us in Australia. Such a lovely man and a joy to work with," he said.Irish president Michael D Higgins described Kelly as "a friend" and "a distinguished actor who made such a wide and valued contribution both on the stage and in film"."He will forever be remembered for his roles.""To his wife Bairbre and his family I send deepest sympathy; for theirs is the greatest loss of such a great and loving person."The actor is survived by his wife of 51 years Bairbre, seven children and 17 grandchildren.

Syrian war: Russia and opposition allege truce breaches

Anti-government rebels and Russia have both reported breaches of the fragile truce in Syria - now in its second day.Russian planes have attacked several sites in northern Syria, activists say.Russia has not confirmed any sorties on Sunday and says it has also identified nine breaches of the truce.A cessation of hostilities was agreed as part of a US-Russian plan. Russia says that in general it is holding. It is the first major cessation of hostilities in the five years of war.More than 250,000 have been killed in thefight against President Bashar al-Assad.Millions more have been forced from their homes. Humanitarian agencies are hoping use the truce to deliver aid to besieged areas of the country.