July 7th 2014

Le Shuttle est terminée –
A Channel tunnel “Le Shuttle” train carrying cars with 382 passengers on board stopped in the tunnel while travelling from the Ashford Terminal in Kent to Calais, France. The evacuated passengers had to enter central pedestrian tunnel before boarding a train that had come from Calais in the other main tunnel. A fault in the overhead power cables was to blame.
256px-Course_Channeltunnel_en.svg

Sony question FIFA Qatar decision –
One of FIFA’s main sponsors, Sony, have asked football’s governing body to carry out an “appropriate investigation” into the decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. The announcement that Qatar was to hold the tournament was made in 2007.
2014_FIFA_Announcement_(Joseph_Blatter)_Sepp Blatter at the 2014 FIFA Announcement in 2007
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March 15, 2015

Top News Stories –

US tycoon murder suspect Durst says he ‘killed them all’ –
US tycoon Robert Durst has been arrested on a murder charge just before the finale of a TV show investigating the alleged crime. He was detained in New Orleans after a warrant was issued by Los Angeles police investigating the murder of mobster’s daughter Susan Berman. Mr Durst has always maintained his innocence in the murder in 2000. But HBO’s The Jinx catches him on tape apparently confessing to three killings, saying “[I] killed them all”. The show suggested in a previous episode that Mr Durst had written a letter only Ms Berman’s killer could have sent. [BBC]

Sir Elton John boycotts Dolce & Gabbana after row over same-sex families –
Sir Elton John has called for a boycott of fashion label Dolce & Gabbana after the legendary designers criticised same-sex families. In a scathing post on picture sharing site Instagram, the furious singer branded Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana “judgmental” and “archaic”. It followed an interview with the designers in Italy’s Panorama magazine in which the pair said: “We oppose gay adoptions. The only family is the traditional one. No chemical offsprings and rented uterus: life has a natural flow, there are things that should not be changed.”
In response to their latest comments, Sir Elton, who married his long-term civil partner David Furnish in December 2014, wrote: “How dare you refer to my beautiful children as ‘synthetic’. “And shame on you for wagging your judgemental little fingers at IVF – a miracle that has allowed legions of loving people, both straight and gay, to fulfil their dream of having children. [Daily Telegraph]
Elton_JohnSir Elton John

British Airways flight to Dubai forced to return to Heathrow due to ‘smelly poo in toilet’ –
A British Airways flight to Dubai was forced to return to Heathrow Airport when a “smelly poo in the toilet” became unbearable for passengers.
The pilot announced that the long haul flight had to be aborted, after cabin crew were unable to prevent the pungent odour emanating from an overflowing toilet. Around 30 minutes in the seven-hour flight, the plane returned to London amid health and safety concerns.
Hertsmere councillor Abhishek Sachdev, who represents Potters Bar Parkfield was on the plane and said it was “insane” that passengers had to wait 15 hours for another flight due to a “smelly poo in the toilet”.

Video of the Day –

INSANE Toilet Paper PRANK!! by Roman Atwood

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September 8, 2015

Top News Stories –

Wayne Rooney breaks England goals record –
Wayne Rooney made history by breaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time England goalscoring record in the Euro 2016 qualifier against Switzerland at Wembley. England captain Rooney equalled Charlton’s tally of 49 with a penalty in the victory against San Marino on Saturday that ensured a place in France next summer. And he was on the spot again late on in Tuesday’s match against the Swiss for goal number 50 to erase a record that has stood for 45 years. [BBC] See List of the Day 2
Wayne_RooneyWayne Rooney

British Airways plane catches fire in Las Vegas –
A British Airways plane bound for London has caught fire at Las Vegas airport, forcing the evacuation of 172 people on board on emergency slides. Airport officials said at least 13 people were taken to hospital with minor injuries. US Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said the left engine of the Boeing 777-200 caught fire before take-off. The plane was seen engulfed in flames and smoke. The fire was later put out. Flight 2276 was bound for London’s Gatwick airport. There were 159 passengers and 13 crew members on board. [BBC]

Sam Smith blows his cover: Spectre theme song singer confirmed –
Sam Smith would make an excellent secret agent. After months of speculation, the singer has confirmed that he has recorded the theme song for the next James Bond film, Spectre. Smith has co-written the title song, Writing’s On The Wall, with Jimmy Napes. It is the first Bond theme to be recorded by a British male solo artist since 1965. Smith confirmed the news on Twitter, calling the opportunity “one of the highlights of my career”. The identity of the theme song’s singer had been an impressively well-kept secret. Smith, whose 2012 collaboration with Disclosure brought him to fame, gave particularly mixed messages: when pushed on the subject by Radio 2 last week, he flatly denied involvement with the film’s soundtrack. But yesterday he dropped a heavy hint to the contrary, tweeting a teaser picture of a ring imprinted with the Spectre logo.[Daily Telegraph] See List of the Day 1

Earlier this week Smith’s album In the Lonely Hour stayed in the UK top 10 for 67 weeks in a row – a new record.
Sam-Smith-2014Sam Smith

Video of the Day –

Justin Bieber – What do you mean? (acoustic)

List of the Day 1 –

James Bond Movie title themes [Wikipedia]

Film Year Score composer Title song Composed by Performed by U.K. peak
position
U.S. peak
position
Dr. No
(soundtrack)
1962 Monty Norman James Bond Theme Monty Norman John Barry & Orchestra; Monty Norman
“Kingston Calypso” Byron Lee and the Dragonaires
From Russia with Love
(soundtrack)
1963 John Barry “Opening Titles: James Bond Is Back/From Russia with Love/James Bond Theme” John Barry, Lionel Bart, Monty Norman Matt Monro
Goldfinger
(soundtrack)
1964 Goldfinger Leslie Bricusse
Anthony Newley
John Barry
Shirley Bassey 21 8
Thunderball
(soundtrack)
1965 “Thunderball” John Barry
Don Black
Tom Jones 35 25
You Only Live Twice
(soundtrack)
1967 You Only Live Twice Leslie Bricusse
John Barry
Nancy Sinatra 11 44
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
(soundtrack)
1969 “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” John Barry
Hal David
The John Barry Orchestra
We Have All the Time in the World” – Secondary Theme Louis Armstrong
Diamonds Are Forever
(soundtrack)
1971 “Diamonds Are Forever” John Barry
Don Black
Shirley Bassey 38 57
Live and Let Die
(soundtrack)
1973 George Martin Live and Let Die Paul McCartney
Linda McCartney
Paul McCartney & Wings 7 2
The Man with the Golden Gun
(soundtrack)
1974 John Barry “The Man with the Golden Gun” John Barry
Don Black
Lulu
The Spy Who Loved Me
(soundtrack)
1977 Marvin Hamlisch Nobody Does It Better Marvin Hamlisch
Carole Bayer Sager
Carly Simon 7 2
Moonraker
(soundtrack)
1979 John Barry “Moonraker” John Barry
Hal David
Shirley Bassey
For Your Eyes Only
(soundtrack)
1981 Bill Conti For Your Eyes Only Bill Conti
Michael Leeson
Sheena Easton 8 4
Octopussy
(soundtrack)
1983 John Barry All Time High John Barry
Tim Rice
Stephen Short
Rita Coolidge 75 36
A View to a Kill
(soundtrack)
1985 A View to a Kill John Barry
Duran Duran
Duran Duran 2 1
The Living Daylights
(soundtrack)
1987 The Living Daylights John Barry
Pål Waaktaar
A-ha 5
Licence to Kill
(soundtrack)
1989 Michael Kamen “Licence to Kill” Narada Michael Walden
Jeffrey Cohen
Walter Afanasieff
Gladys Knight 6
GoldenEye
(soundtrack)
1995 Éric Serra GoldenEye Bono
The Edge
Tina Turner 10 102
Tomorrow Never Dies
(soundtrack)
1997 David Arnold Tomorrow Never Dies Sheryl Crow
Mitchell Froom
Sheryl Crow 12
The World Is Not Enough
(soundtrack)
1999 The World Is Not Enough David Arnold
Don Black
Garbage 11
Die Another Day
(soundtrack)
2002 Die Another Day Madonna
Mirwais Ahmadzaï
Madonna 3 8
Casino Royale
(soundtrack)
2006 You Know My Name David Arnold
Chris Cornell
Chris Cornell 7 79
Quantum of Solace
(soundtrack)
2008 Another Way to Die Jack White Jack White
Alicia Keys
9 81
Skyfall
(soundtrack)
2012 Thomas Newman Skyfall Adele
Paul Epworth
Adele 2 8
Spectre
(soundtrack)
2015 “Writing’s On The Wall” Sam Smith
Jimmy Napes
Sam Smith

List of the Day 2 –

Wayne Rooney International appearances for England by year [from Wikipedia]

England national team
Year Apps Goals
2003 9 3
2004 11 6
2005 8 2
2006 8 1
2007 4 2
2008 8 5
2009 9 6
2010 11 1
2011 5 2
2012 5 4
2013 10 6
2014 13 8
2015 6 4
Total 107 50

 

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September 9, 2015

Top News Stories –

Queen Elizabeth II becomes longest-reigning UK monarch –
The Queen has thanked well-wishers at home and overseas for their “touching messages of kindness” as she becomes Britain’s longest-reigning monarch. Speaking in the Scottish Borders, the 89-year-old monarch said the title was “not one to which I have ever aspired”. At 17:30 BST she had reigned for 23,226 days, 16 hours and approximately 30 minutes – surpassing the reign of her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria. David Cameron said the service the Queen had given was “truly humbling”. The exact moment the Queen became the longest-reigning sovereign is unknown. Her father, George VI, passed away in the early hours of 6 February 1952, but his time of death is not known. [BBC] See Video of the Day and List of the Day
Queen_Elizabeth_II Queen ELizabeth II in March 2015

iPad Pro, new Apple TV and iPhone 6S handsets unveiled –
Apple has unveiled a larger iPad tablet, a TV box with its own app store and new iPhones that can detect how firmly their screens are being pressed. The firm suggested the iPad Pro was suited to work tasks, video games and both editing and watching movies. Sales of the company’s earlier iPads had been on the decline. Apple said the “3D touch” feature of its new phones “transformed” the experience of using them by making it easier to use and switch between apps. The iPad Pro has a 12.9in (32.8cm) display, making its shortest edge the length of its earlier iPad Air 2’s height. In addition, the firm announced a stylus called the Apple Pencil, which has sensors in its tip to help mimic the effect of using a real pencil on paper. The announcement is notable since the firm’s ex-chief executive Steve Jobs said in 2010: “If you see a stylus, they blew it.” [BBC]

Video of the Day –

Brief History of the Royal Family

List of the Day –

Monarchs of Great Britain and Ireland 1603 – present day [from Wikipedia]

House of Stuart

House of Hanover

House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

House of Windsor

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