Top Story –
Avatar becomes the fastest movie ever to achieve $1bn (£625.6m) in ticket sales around the world according to 20th Century Fox and it’s done it in just 17 days. Apparently it is the most expensive film ever made. The film Lord of the Rings – The Return of The King was the highest grossing film in the last decade only making $1.12bn in total.
Avatar Poster (copyright 20th Century Fox)
Top Video –
Monogrenade: Ce soir from Monogrenade on Vimeo.
Cruise ship runs aground and capsizes –
A 290m (950ft) long cruise ship, the Costa Concordia with about 4,000 passengers and crew on board runs aground and capsizes near the island of Giglio off the coast of Italy. Passengers were enjoying their first dinner on board after leaving Civitavecchia port near Rome for a Mediterranean cruise. Early reports are of 8 people being lost but helicopters are still evacuating people.
The Costa Concordia
Warner hits 5th fastest test century –
Australian left-hander batsman David Warner hits the 5th fastest test century in the first day of the test against India. He reached his second test century in just 69 balls. Faster test centuries are:
Viv Richards, West Indies v England, St John’s 1986 – 56 balls
Adam Gilchrist, Australia v England, Perth 2006 – 57 balls
Jack Gregory, Australia v South Africa, Johannesburg 1921 -67 balls
Shivnarine Chanderpaul, West Indies v Australia, Georgetown 2003 – 69 balls
David Warner, Australia v India, Perth 2012 – 69 balls
David Warner
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Rolling stone gathers no moon dust –
NASA release an image of a rock that rolled down a slope in the Schiller crater on the moon between 50 and 100 million years ago leaving behind a clear track. It is likely the boulder was dislodged by a meteorite strike or a nearby impact.
Don’t hit the return key too hard –
Dutch computer experts Erik de Nijs and Tim Smit create a prototype pair of jeans with a built-in keyboard, mouse and speakers, allowing the wearer to remain connected to their computer through a wireless USB dongle. The designers call the trousers “beauty and the geek” and will cost around £250 if they go into production.
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Higgs boson: scientists 99.999% sure ‘God Particle’ has been found –
The historic announcement came in a progress report from the Large Hadron Collider particle accelerator. Professor John Womersley, chief executive of the Science and technology Facilities Council, told reporters at a briefing in London: “They have discovered a particle consistent with the Higgs boson. “Discovery is the important word. That is confirmed. It’s a momentous day for science.” Scientists say it is a 5 sigma result which means they are 99.999% sure they have found a new particle. Finding the Higgs plugs a gaping hole in the Standard Model, the theory that describes all the particles, forces and interactions that make up the universe. [Daily Telegraph]
Prof Stephen Hawking said Prof Higgs deserved a Nobel Prize for his work, but admitted the discovery of the new particle had come at a cost. He said: “I had a bet with Gordon Kane of Michigan University that the Higgs particle wouldn’t be found. It seems I have just lost $100.” [Daily Telegraph]
The CMS detector at the Large Hadron Collider
Tom Cruise to file rival divorce case against Katie Holmes –
Tom Cruise will file a rival divorce case against Katie Holmes, his lawyer has said, adding that they were letting the “other side play the media until they wear everyone out”. Bret Fields told BBC Radio 1 that for the moment Cruise’s camp is content to let Holmes have the spotlight. “We are letting ‘the other side’ (Katie and her team), play the media until they wear everyone out and then we’ll have something to say,” he said.
“Tactically we can’t say where Tom will file a divorce case and if he’ll be seeking joint custody of [daughter] Suri.”
Tom Cruise with Katie Holmes in 2009
Video of the Day –
Higgs Boson: The Inside Scoop
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12 people shot dead at Batman premiere in Denver, Colorado –
A masked gunman, 24, has shot dead 12 people and wounded more than 50 others at a Batman film premiere of The Dark Knight Rises in the US, police said. Eyewitnesses reported that a baby was shot at point blank range and some of the victims were children as a single masked gunman went on a rampage. It was not clear whether the baby, who local reports said was three-months-old, was killed in the attack. Police said the gunman is from Aurora but gave further no details. They were searching his home after he suggested there my be incendiary devices there. The gunman, who was quickly arrested, was reportedly wearing body armour and a gas mask and used tear gas in the assault inside the cinema. [Daily Telegraph]
Sacha Baron Cohen settles slander suit over grocer portrayed as terrorist in film –
A Palestinian grocer portrayed as a terrorist in the movie Bruno has settled his slander suit against film star Sacha Baron Cohen and David Letterman, his lawyer said. In the 2009 comedy, Baron Cohen plays an Austrian fashion journalist aiming to make peace in the Middle East. He interviews Abu Aita, who’s labelled in a caption as a member of the militant Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade. Baron Cohen discussed Bruno’s encounter with a “terrorist” on Letterman’s show on CBS. [Daily Telegraph]
Sacha Baron Cohen
Video of the Day –
The Dark Knight Rises – Official Trailer #3
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Armed conflicts and attacks
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Royal pregnancy: Hoax call fools Duchess of Cambridge hospital –
The hospital treating the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge says it “deeply regrets” giving information about her to hoax callers from a radio station. Australian DJs posing as the Queen and Prince Charles got details from a nurse at King Edward VII hospital in central London. The hospital said confidentiality was taken seriously and telephone protocols are under review. 2Day FM said it was surprised to be put through but “sincerely apologises”. [BBC]
Duchess of Cambridge
Frankie Dettori banned for six months after failing drugs test –
Jockey Frankie Dettori has been given a six-month ban from racing after failing a drugs test in France. The 41-year-old, who has more than 3,000 career wins, tested positive for a banned substance on 16 September 2012. The suspension imposed by French racing authority France Galop will run until 19 May 2013, and will apply worldwide for the three-time champion jockey. [BBC]
Frankie Dettori
Video of the Day –
Guangzhou’2012/CHINA from zweizwei |timelapse&hyperlapse| on Vimeo.
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The Obama’s light up –
President Barack Obama, wife Michelle and their daughters, Malia and Sasha switch on the lights of the Christmas Tree at the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington DC.
2014 National Christmas Tree
Psy’ched out –
Psy’s Gangnam Style video has been watched so many times that the YouTube’s counter is being upgraded from 32-bit to 64-bit. The old 32-bit system only counted up to 2,147,483,647 views with Gangnam Style hitting 8,000 more than that. The mew 64-bit system will count up to 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 views (around 9 quadrillion). (See Video of the Day and List of the Day below)
Apple accused of wiping competitors tunes –
A US district court has heard lawyers accuse Apple of “deleting” songs from rival services from some iPods in 2007-09. Users with non-iTunes music received a message telling them to restore devices to their factory settings when they tried to sync them. Apple said that the move was a legitimate security measure. The case has been going on for more than a decade and could result in Apple paying out $1bn in damages.
Nobel Prize medal sells for $4.75m –
The Nobel Prize medal of American geneticist James Watson sold for $4.75 million at auction in New York today. It is the first time a Nobel Prize of a living laureate has been sold and almost doubled the estimate price. The Nobel Prize was awarded to Dr Watson in 1962 for his discovery of DNA’s double helix structure in 1953.
Dr James D Watson
Video of the Day –
Gangnam Style – Psy
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Five Diana dresses sell for half a million dollars –
Five dresses designed for and worn by Britain’s late Princess Diana have been auctioned off by Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles for a total of nearly half a million dollars. British dressmaker Catherine Walker had made three of the gowns and all fetched within or just above their estimated price of between $60,000 and $80,000. The other two dresses were made by Caroline Charles and Zandra Rhodes.
Diana, Princess of Wales
Two-headed cat lives to be 15 years-old –
A cat that was born with two faces has died at the age of 15 in North Grafton, Massachusetts. Called Frank and Louie – ‘Frankenlouie’ the birth defect is known as a Janus cat, named for a Roman god with two faces and expected to die very young due to congenital defects. While blind in his center eye, both his outer eyes worked fine, and while he had two noses and mouths, Frankenlouie had only one brain.
Orion capsule successful first mission –
The US space agency’s new Orion crew capsule has completed its maiden, unmanned voyage with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off Mexico. Orion is designed to take humans to destinations such as the Moon and Mars. The flight was intended to test its critical technologies and took four and a half hours.
Orion capsule
Video of the Day –
AFTERGLOW – Lightsuit Segment from Sweetgrass Productions on Vimeo.
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Foggy wins down under –
Former motorbike rider Carl Fogarty, four time winner of the World Superbike Championship, has won the British “I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here” in Australia. The 49-year-old known as Foggy beat former X Factor contestant Jake Quickenden and TV presenter Melanie Sykes in the final of the ITV show.
Carl Fogarty
LA Galaxy win MLS again –
Californian soccer team LA Galaxy have won a fifth Major League Soccer (MLS) title with a 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution in the championship-deciding MLS Cup. LA have won three of the last four league titles and Irish striker Robbie Keane grabbed an extra-time winner to give the Galaxy the victory after New England’s Chris Tierney had cancelled out Gyasi Zardes’ opener for LA. (See List of The Day)
Robbie Keane
Royal US visit starts –
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have arrived in New York for a tour of the east coast of the United States during which Prince William will meet President Barack Obama. The Royal couple previously met the Obama’s after their wedding in 2011.
The Royals meeting the President and Mrs Obama in London in 2011
Not out of the woods yet –
Tiger Woods return to competition golf ends badly as he finishes last in the 18 player Hero World Challenge tournament in Florida and is physically sick on the fairway. He has not played competitively for four months due to back pain.
Tiger Woods
Video of the Day –
SYNC from Hasraf HaZ Dulull on Vimeo.
Top News Stories –
US and Cuba talking again –
After 53 years of diplomatic estrangement, diplomatic relationships between the US and Cuba have been re-established. The deal was aided by a personal appeal from Pope Francis, who persuaded Cuba’s president, Raúl Castro, to agree to the freeing of the American aid worker Alan P. Gross. The pope, officials said, acted as a “guarantor” that both sides would live up to the terms of a deal reached in secret.
Alan P. Gross
Smelling the money –
Fragrances from stars such as Britney Spears, Beyoncé and Jay Z are outselling established fragrance brands such as Hugo Boss and Gucci in some UK stores. Britney’s perfumes outsell DKNY by three to one at UK store Superdrug, and Hugo Boss by two to one. Jay Z’s Gold is the best selling celebrity fragrance.
Britney Spears
Interview cancelled –
“The Interview” the film that is possibly the catalyst in the Sony Pictures hacking scandal has had its Christmas Day release cancelled after major cinema chains decided not to screen it in the US.
Michael Garcia resigns from FIFA –
Fifa’s independent ethics investigator Michael Garcia has quit in protest over the handling of his report into bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Garcia said he lost confidence in the independence of judge Hans-Joachim Eckert, an ethics committee colleague after his report was summarised.
Video of the Day –
Seat 22 — Trans-Siberian Odyssey from Stanislas Giroux on Vimeo.
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New York police shot –
A gunman has shot dead two police officers sitting inside a patrol car in New York before killing himself. Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu were shot by a Ismaaiyl Brinsley who apparently made online statements suggesting that he planned to kill police officers.
Sony hack: Is Idris Elba the next James Bond? –
The latest leaked memo from Sony Entertainment has revealed that Idris Elba, the British-born star of cult TV series The Wire and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, is a Sony executive’s favourite to replace Daniel Craig as 007. According to the Daily Beast, Amy Pascal, the co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, said in an email that Elba, 42, “should be the next Bond”. [Daily Telegraph]
Ticking the boxes –
Real Madrid have beaten San Lorenzo 2-0 to win the Club World Cup which means that Cristiano Ronaldo has now won the same eight trophies with two different teams Real and Manchester United. He became the first player to achieve the feat and his manager Carlo Ancelotti equalled the record for the most European and international club competitions won by a manager.
Christiano Ronaldo
Top News Stories –
Smithy OBE –
It’s announced that James Corden known for his role as Smithy in Gavin and Stacey, presenting Sky TV’s In A League of Their Own and now taking on hosting The Late Late Show in the US is to receive an OBE (Order of the British Empire) gong for his charitable work.
Ruth Jones & James Corden
Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton separate –
Helena Bonham Carter has announces that she has split from the film director Tim Burton after 13 years together and having 2 children.
Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter
Gloves off –
In the US Amazon and Walmart sell out of DVDs of Team America which parodied the former North Korea leader Kim Jong-il. The reason? Another film – The Interview – is about to get its cinema release after a major hacking situation at Sony. President Obama apparently approves of the delayed Christmas Day premiere. Kim Song, a North Korean diplomat to the United Nations, called the movie an ‘unpardonable mockery of our sovereignty and dignity of our supreme leader.’
Cash grab –
In Hong Kong a van carrying HK$35m – about $4.5m or £3m – in used notes crashed on a motorway – cue dozens leaving their cars and grabbing a bundle. About HK$15 disappeared.
You’d let him win wouldn’t you? –
Prince Harry led his Sandringham workers team to a 7-2 victory in a football (soccer) match against local villagers in Scotland sponsored by the Black Horse Inn. Top royal endorsement.
Prince Harry
Shaken and stirred –
In Russia vodka prices have been rising so much that President Vladimir Putin calls on his government to curb price rises on the spirit. Half a litre costs 220 roubles (about $4.10)
Feel good moment –
A homeless man is given $100 and hidden cameras follow him into a liquor store where he buys food which he shares with other homeless people. 12 million hits on YouTube (see Video of the Day)
Pub crawl goes viral –
And a fancy dress pub crawl in Old Conwyn, North Wales featuring made up props from the classic BBC comedy show Only Fools and Horses went viral(ish) on YouTube
Video of the Day –
How Does A Homeless Man Spend $100?
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Boxing Day –
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10 years since the tsunami –
Memorial services are being held to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami.
Bieber Bell battle continues –
The Justin Bieber v Drake Bell fans battle continued today with a Belieber hacking into Drake’s Instagram account. Retaliation for Bell baiting one of Justin’s fans
Justin Bieber and Drake Bell
Video of the Day –
Top News Stories –
51,000-tonne ship deliberately grounded –
A car transporter ship, the Hoegh Osaka, was deliberately grounded by its captain and the pilot in the Solent after it began to list, its owners have said. The ship developed problems after it left Southampton dock and to avoid it capsizing in the shipping lane and risk the lives of the crew, it was steered onto the Bramble sand bank. The ship is now listing at more than 50 degrees and a salvage operation is expected to take several days.
Phil Taylor
Phil Taylor loses power in darts final –
Gary Anderson beats 16 time world champion Phil “The Power” Taylor in the final of the PDC World Darts Championship 7 sets to 6 at Alexandra Palace in London. Nicknamed The Flying Scotsman it is Anderson’s first World Championship.
Breaking Bad not so fictional –
Seizures of methamphetamine has risen at the US-Mexico border with a 300 percent increase in meth seizures at California ports of entry from 2009 to 2014. Meth seized by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s San Diego field office accounted for nearly 63 percent of all the meth seized at all ports of entry nationwide in the year ending September 30 2014.
Video of the Day –
Shootings at Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris –
Gunmen have attacked the Paris offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo killing 12 and wounding 4. Witnesses report the gunmen shouted “we have avenged the Prophet. Editor-in-chief Stephane Charbonnier is among the dead.
Stephane Charbonnier
Second shooting in Paris –
Possibly connected with the Charlie Hebdo attack, a gunmen has killed a policewoman and seriously injured a civilian in the south of Paris.
LA Galaxy get their man –
Los Angeles Galaxy have confirmed that Liverpool FC captain Steven Gerrard will the club in July 2015. The former England midfielder, 34, will play for the Major League Soccer club after his contract at Anfield expires. Gerrard, is the second England captain to join LA Galaxy, after David Beckham played for them between 2007 and 2012.
Fast charger –
A new kind of battery charger has been revealed by Israeli start-up Storedot CEO Doron Myersdorf at the CES exhibition in Las Vegas that can recharge a modern smartphone in less time than it takes to boil a kettle. However the phone needs to have a completely new type of battery, which contains specially synthesised organic molecules so existing phones cannot be used.
Video of the Day –
Charlie Hebdo Shootings
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Costa Concordia captain convicted of manslaughter –
The captain of the Costa Cordordia cruise ship that ran aground and capsized on January 13th 2012 off the island of Giglio has been convicted of manslaughter and given a 16-year jail sentance. Francesco Schettino was accused of taking the ship too close to the shore to impress his lover, Domnica Cemortan, who was with him at the helm. He then abandoned the ship with passengers and crew still on board. 32 people died in the accident but Costa Crociere, the company that owned the ship, avoided possible criminal charges by agreeing to pay a $1.3m (€1.1m; £860,000) fine in 2013.
The Costa Concordia after the accident
Korean Air nut rage ends with jail sentence –
A South Korean court finds Cho Hyun-ah (aka Heather Cho) a former executive of Korean Air guilty of breaking aviation law. She forced her Seoul-bound plane to turn back to the gate at JFK airport in New York and offload a steward because she did not like the way she had been served nuts. Cho, the daughter of Korean Air president, was found guilty of obstructing aviation safety and jailed for one year, much less than the possible maximum sentence of 10-years.
Smoking in private cars with child passengers banned in England –
The British government votes 342 to 74 to ban smoking in cars when there are children in the vehicle in England and Wales, but doesn’t apply to convertibles with the roof down. Anyone stopped for breaking the law can be fined £50 on the spot when it becomes law in October 2015 but Scotland is not included. Bans on smoking in cars when children are present already exist in some US states as well as in parts of Canada and Australia.
Video of the Day –
Raising the Costa Concordia: A Time Lapse
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Crufts dog dies after suspected poisoning –
A dog has died after competing at Crufts, amid claims he was poisoned. Three-year-old Thendara Satisfaction, known as Jagger, is understood to have collapsed and died after returning home to Belgium on Friday. Police in Belgium are investigating and a full toxicology report is expected next week. The husband of Jagger’s co-owner said: “I can only hope it wasn’t an act of jealousy by another competitor, but just a lunatic.” Jagger, who came second in his class at Birmingham’s NEC on Thursday, is owned by Belgian Aleksandra Lauwers and Leicester-based breeder Dee Milligan-Bott. [BBC] See List of the Day.
Solar plane takes of to fly round the world –
A record-breaking attempt to fly around the world in a solar-powered plane has got under way from Abu Dhabi. The aircraft – called Solar Impulse-2 – took off from the Emirate, heading east to Muscat in Oman. Over the next five months, it will skip from continent to continent, crossing both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans in the process. Andre Borschberg was at the controls of the single-seater vehicle as it took off at 07:12 local time (03:12 GMT). He will share the pilot duties in due course with fellow Swiss, Bertrand Piccard. See Video of the Day.
Wheels come off epic plan –
Producers working on the remake of the Oscar-winning Ben Hur have been barred from shooting the epic chariot scene at the Circus Maximus. Filmmakers already on location in Rome and the southern city of Matera reportedly made a request to use the ancient stadium immortalised by the film in December. But it was feared the decision to bring hundreds of extras and heavy vehicles into a fragile archaeological site would lead to public outcry. [Daily Mail]
Video of the Day –
Launch of Solar Impulse
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Judges sacked for watching porn in office –
Three judges have been sacked for viewing pornographic material via their official IT accounts, the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office has said.
The pornography was not illegal in content, a spokesman added. However the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice concluded it was an “inexcusable misuse” of their official accounts and “wholly unacceptable conduct for a judicial office holder”. District Judge Timothy Bowles, Immigration Judge Warren Grant and Deputy District Judge and Recorder Peter Bullock have been removed from office. [BBC]
Swiss plan for Europe’s tallest skyscraper… in ski-resort –
Plans are being drawn up to build the tallest skyscraper in Europe at a remote spa resort high in the Swiss Alps. The proposed 1,250-feet high building would tower over London’s Shard, which measures a mere 1,015 feet. Developers want to build it on the outskirts of Vals, a tiny spa town of just 1,000 people, nestled 4,000 feet up in the Swiss Alps. It is a proposed luxury hotel, aimed at guests from the Middle East and Asia. The proposed tower will reportedly contain around 100 suites, with the cheapest priced at around 1,000 Swiss francs (£675) a night, and the most expensive at an eye-watering 25,000 Swiss francs (£16,000). [Daily Telegraph] See List of the Day.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud Party has won a surprise victory in Israel’s election. Exit polls had forecast a dead heat but with almost all votes counted, results give Likud a clear lead over its main rival, the centre-left Zionist Union. The outcome gives Mr Netanyahu a strong chance of forming a right-wing coalition government. It puts the incumbent on course to clinch a fourth term and become Israel’s longest-serving prime minster. [BBC]
Benjamin Netanyahu
Never slip on ice again with glass shard shoes –
Slipping on ice need never happen again after scientists invented a new type of rubber sole for shoes which allows the wearer to walk easily, even up treacherous slopes. Canadian researchers have developed a new material which contains microscopic glass fibres which act as tiny spikes, gripping the ground in even the most nerve-jangling icy weather. [Daily Telegraph]
Video of the Day –
Leonard in Slow Motion from Peter Livolsi on Vimeo.
Top News Stories –
Jay Z promotes ‘artist-owned’ music streaming brand –
Some of the biggest names in entertainment have re-launched the music subscription service Tidal, which they are billing as the first artist-owned platform for music and video. At an event in New York on Monday, Madonna, Beyonce, Kanye West, and 13 other performers announced they had become co-owners of Tidal. The service launched last October, but was recently bought by rapper Jay Z. It is hoping to compete with the likes of Spotify, Deezer and Google Play. Jay Z recently bought Aspiro a Scandinavian music streaming company. #TIDALforALL topped the USA and UK Twitter trends charts (see Video of the day and Top Twitter Trends below) [BBC]
Jay Z
Girl, 4, refuses to eat anything other than Petits Filous –
A four-year-old girl who has refused to eat anything other than Petits Filous fromage frais for her entire life has baffled doctors.
Emilie-Lea Hayward eats 30 pots every day and will only eat the raspberry and strawberry flavour. She refuses to eat any solid food and becomes hysterical every time mother Naomi, 32, offers her anything other than Petits Filous. The youngster won’t touch chocolate, sweets or ice cream and even bursts into tears if she is offered an alternative brand. Each 47g pot of Petits Filous contains around a teaspoon of sugar, meaning Emilie-Lea is consuming 30 teaspoons a day – more than twice the recommended adult intake. [Daily Telegraph]
Are these the most beautiful faces in the world? –
Scientists have used e-fits to create portraits of the most beautiful man and woman in the world – and say David Gandy and Natalie Portman are the closest real life examples. A computer programme usually used to draw up e-fits of wanted criminals has been used to create the faces of the most beautiful man and woman in the world. The pictures are the result of a two-month-long study led by Dr Chris Solomon, a world expert in facial mapping, that asked people to put together a composite of the perfect face using the EFIT-V PhotoFit software used by UK police. [Daily Telegraph]
The idealised faces (according to those living in the UK)
Video of the Day –
Launch of TIDAL
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Al-Shabab Islamist militants attack on Kenya university –
The death toll in the attack by al-Shabab Islamist militants on a university in north-eastern Kenya has risen to 147, Kenyan government officials say. They added that the operation to secure the the Garissa University College campus was now over, with all four attackers killed.
The evacuation of surviving students is now under way. An overnight curfew is being implemented in parts of the country. [BBC]
Oxford v Cambridge: RNLI rescue Oxford women’s boat crew –
Oxford University’s women’s boat crew have been rescued by an RNLI lifeboat in choppy waters in the Thames during training for the Boat Race.
The eight rowers and cox were discovered by the Chiswick RNLI crew while it was out on exercise. RNLI helmsman Ian Owen said: “We’ve rescued quite a number of rowers, but it is the first time I’ve been involved in helping such a prestigious team.” [BBC]
US sailor rescued after 66 days lost at sea –
The U.S. Coast Guard says a man missing in the Atlantic Ocean for the past two months survived by drinking rain water and eating raw fish. He was found off Cape Hatteras this afternoon. The Coast Guard says a German tanker ship spotted Louis Jordan and his 35-foot sailboat approximately 200 miles east of Cape Hatteras around 1:30 p.m. The 37-year-old Jordan was reported missing by his father on January 29th. Chief Petty Officer Ryan Doss from the Coast Guard in Miami tells WITN that Jordan had been surviving off of raw fish and rain water. [WITN]
Video of the Day –
The stunts on Fast and Furious 7 –
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Andy Murray and Kim Sears wedding: Hundreds of wellwishers flood Dunblane –
Hundreds of people turned out to see Andy Murray wed Kim Sears in Dunblane Cathedral this afternoon. The couple, who turned down all offers from celebrity magazines to cover their wedding, made sure that their wedding remained a private affair – with Sears’ careful arrival granting onlookers the barest of glimpses of her dress. Murray and Sears, an artist, married in Dunblane’s 12th century cathedral at 4pm before attending a small reception with family and friends. The pair met in 2005 when they were introduced by Sear’s father Nigel, a tennis coach. [The Independent]
Kim Sears and Andy Murray (Photo by Stirling Council)
Grand National 2015: Many Clouds wins as McCoy finishes fifth –
Many Clouds won the 2015 Grand National to give jockey Leighton Aspell his second consecutive victory in the race. Champion jockey AP McCoy was denied a fairytale Aintree farewell, finishing fifth on favourite Shutthefrontdoor. The Northern Irishman had said he would retire immediately if he had won, but the 40-year-old could now race on until the Sandown meeting at the end of April. [BBC]
A P McCoy
Boat Races 2015: Oxford women and men beat Cambridge –
Heavy favourites Oxford beat Cambridge to win the historic first staging of the Women’s Boat Race on the same course and same day as the men. They finished six-and-a-half lengths ahead over the four-mile, 374-yard stretch from Putney Bridge to Chiswick Bridge in London on Saturday. The Dark Blues were half a length up after the first minute and pulled away ruthlessly to finish 19 seconds clear. Oxford also won the men’s race for the sixth time in eight years. In doing so, president Constantine Louloudis became just the 15th man to triumph for a fourth time. [BBC]
Capitol Building on lockdown after shots fired –
Shots were fired near the front of the US Capitol Building in Washington, according to police. The seat of Congress was immediately put on lockdown.
It later emerged that a man had committed suicide by shooting himself, sparking the alert. “The suspected shooter has been neutralised but the US Capitol Building has been locked down as a precautionary measure,” said Lt Kimberly Schneider of the Capitol Police, adding that no-one was being allowed to enter or exit. Police said they were also investigating a suspicious package on the lower West Terrace of the building, believed to be the man’s suitcase. [Daily Telegraph]
Video of the Day –
One Bright Dot from Clément Morin on Vimeo.
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Xavi departs from Barcelona by winning the Champions League again –
After playing his last game at the Nu Camp last month Xavi Hernandez played his 397th and final game for Barcelona in the Champions League Final. Barcelona beat Juventus 3-0 to secure a treble of victories following the La Liga and Copa del Rey successes. It is the fourth time Xavi has one the Champions League Title and was celebrated by his club in a tweet. See List of the Day
Xavi Hernández
Frankie Dettori wins Epsom Derby on favourite Golden Horn –
Frankie Dettori capped his renaissance with a thrilling victory on favourite Golden Horn to win the 236th running of the Derby at Epsom. Dettori produced an ice-cool ride on the 13-8 favourite to beat his John Gosden-trained stablemate Jack Hobbs by three-and-a-half lengths, with Storm The Stars third. The 44-year-old jockey punched the air as he passed the line and did a trademark flying dismount in the winner’s enclosure. “It was unbelievable. The horse was brilliant,” said Dettori, riding for the first time in the race since returning from a six-month drugs ban two years ago. [BBC]
Frakie Dettori
Video of the Day –
IKE INTERVIEWS GOD from Eli Shapiro on Vimeo.
List of the Day –
Xavi Hernandez honours
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Sir Christopher Lee death announced –
In one of his final interviews, Sir Christopher Lee declared his intention never to retire. “When I die, I want to die with my boots on,” he said.
The actor remained true to his word. He was preparing for his latest film role – a drama called The 11th, co-starring Uma Thurman – when he died on Sunday morning [June 7, 2015] at London’s Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Sir Christopher was one of the greats of the 20th century, but his career hit new heights in the last 15 years of his life. He will be best remembered by those of a certain age for playing Count Dracula in his Hammer Horror days, but to younger film fans he was a star of two of the biggest franchises ever made: Saruman in Lord of the Rings and Count Dooku in Star Wars. [Daily Telegraph] He appeared in over 200 films (See List of the Day)
Sir Christopher Lee (1922-2015)
Female scientists post ‘distractingly sexy’ photos –
Female scientists have been sharing “distractingly sexy” photos of themselves after a feminist website encouraged them to respond to comments by a Nobel laureate. Nobel Prize winner Tim Hunt was roundly criticised when he detailed his thoughts about the “trouble with girls” at a conference of science journalists. “Three things happen when they are in the lab,” he said, “you fall in love with them, they fall in love with you, and when you criticise them they cry.” He said his comments were meant to be “light-hearted, ironic comment”, but whatever the intention, it went over like a heavy metallic dirigible in a field with some widely acknowledged gender issues. Hunt has now resigned from his position at University College London. On Thursday the hashtag #DistractinglySexy began taking off, with more than 10,000 tweets in a matter of hours. [BBC Trending] See Top Twitter Trends (UK)
Video of the Day –
Saruman the White – from Lord of the Rings [from Youtube]
List of the Day –
Sir Christopher Lee film appearances (including voiceovers) [List from Wikipedia]
| # | Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1948 | Corridor of Mirrors | Charles | |
| 2 | 1948 | One Night with You | Pirelli’s Assistant | |
| 3 | 1948 | Hamlet | Spear Carrier | Uncredited |
| 4 | 1948 | Penny and the Pownall Case | Jonathan Blair | |
| 5 | 1948 | A Song for Tomorrow | Auguste | |
| 6 | 1948 | My Brother’s Keeper | Second Constable | Deleted scenes |
| 7 | 1948 | Saraband for Dead Lovers | Bit Part | Uncredited |
| 8 | 1948 | Scott of the Antarctic | Bernard Day | |
| 9 | 1949 | Trottie True | Bongo | |
| 10 | 1950 | They Were Not Divided | Chris Lewis | |
| 11 | 1950 | Prelude to Fame | Newsman | |
| 12 | 1951 | Valley of Eagles | Det. Holt | |
| 13 | 1951 | Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. | Spanish Captain | |
| 14 | 1951 | Quo Vadis | Chariot Driver | Uncredited[1] |
| 15 | 1952 | The Crimson Pirate | Joseph (attache) | |
| 16 | 1952 | Top Secret | Russian Agent | Uncredited |
| 17 | 1952 | Paul Temple Returns | Sir Felix Raybourne | |
| 18 | 1952 | Babes in Bagdad | Slave Dealer | |
| 19 | 1952 | Moulin Rouge | Georges Seurat | |
| 20 | 1953 | Les vacances de Monsieur Hulot | Voice | Uncredited |
| 21 | 1953 | Innocents in Paris | Lieutenant Whitlock | Uncredited |
| 22 | 1954 | Destination Milan | Svenson | |
| 23 | 1955 | Man in Demand | ||
| 24 | 1955 | Crossroads | Harry Cooper | |
| 25 | 1955 | Final Column | ||
| 26 | 1955 | That Lady | Captain | |
| 27 | 1955 | Police Dog | Johnny, a constable | |
| 28 | 1955 | The Dark Avenger | French Patrol Captain at Tavern | Uncredited |
| 29 | 1955 | The Cockleshell Heroes | Submarine Commander | |
| 30 | 1955 | Storm Over the Nile | Karaga Pasha | |
| 31 | 1956 | Alias John Preston | John Preston | |
| 32 | 1956 | Private’s Progress | Gen. von Linbeck’s aide | Uncredited |
| 33 | 1956 | Port Afrique | Franz Vermes | |
| 34 | 1956 | Beyond Mombasa | Gil Rossi | |
| 35 | 1956 | The Battle of the River Plate | Manolo | |
| 36 | 1957 | Ill Met by Moonlight | German Officer at Dentists | |
| 37 | 1957 | Fortune Is a Woman | Charles Highbury | |
| 38 | 1957 | The Traitor | Dr. Neumann | |
| 39 | 1957 | The Curse of Frankenstein | The Creature | |
| 40 | 1957 | Manuela | Voice | Uncredited |
| 41 | 1957 | Bitter Victory | Sgt. Barney | |
| 42 | 1957 | The Truth About Women | François | |
| 43 | 1958 | A Tale of Two Cities | Marquis St. Evremonde | |
| 44 | 1958 | Dracula | Count Dracula | Alternative title: Horror of Dracula |
| 45 | 1958 | Battle of the V-1 | Labor Camp Captain, Men’s Section | |
| 46 | 1958 | Corridors of Blood | Resurrection Joe | |
| 47 | 1959 | The Hound of the Baskervilles | Sir Henry Baskerville | |
| 48 | 1959 | The Man Who Could Cheat Death | Dr. Pierre Gerard | |
| 49 | 1959 | The Treasure of San Teresa | Jaeger | |
| 50 | 1959 | The Mummy | Kharis, the Mummy | |
| 51 | 1959 | Uncle Was a Vampire | Baron Roderico da Frankurten | |
| 52 | 1960 | Too Hot to Handle | Novak | |
| 53 | 1960 | Beat Girl | Kenny | |
| 54 | 1960 | The City of the Dead | Prof. Alan Driscoll | Alternative title: Horror Hotel |
| 55 | 1960 | The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll | Paul Allen | |
| 56 | 1960 | The Hands of Orlac | Nero the magician | |
| 57 | 1961 | The Terror of the Tongs | Chung King | |
| 58 | 1961 | Taste of Fear | Doctor Pierre Gerrard | |
| 59 | 1961 | The Devil’s Daffodil | Ling Chu | |
| 60 | 1961 | Ercole al centro della terra | King Lico (Licos) | Alternative title: Hercules in the Haunted World |
| 61 | 1962 | Stranglehold | ||
| 62 | 1962 | The Puzzle of the Red Orchid | Captain Allerman | |
| 63 | 1962 | The Pirates of Blood River | Captain LaRoche | |
| 64 | 1962 | The Devil’s Agent | Baron von Staub | |
| 65 | 1962 | Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace | Sherlock Holmes | |
| 66 | 1963 | Katarsis | Mephistoles | |
| 67 | 1963 | La vergine di Norimberga | Erich | Aka Castle of Terror and Virgin of Nuremberg |
| 68 | 1963 | La frusta e il corpo | Kurt Menliff | Aka The Whip and the Body and Night Is the Phantom |
| 69 | 1964 | Il castello dei morti vivi | Count Drago | Alternative title: Castle of the Living Dead |
| 70 | 1964 | La cripta e l’incubo | Count Ludwig Karnstein | Aka Crypt of the Vampire and Crypt of Horror |
| 71 | 1964 | The Devil-Ship Pirates | Captain Robeles | |
| 72 | 1964 | The Gorgon | Prof. Karl Meister | |
| 73 | 1965 | Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors | Franklyn Marsh | |
| 74 | 1965 | She | Billali | |
| 75 | 1965 | The Skull | Sir Matthew Phillips | |
| 76 | 1965 | Ten Little Indians | Voice of “Mr. Owen” | Uncredited |
| 77 | 1965 | The Face of Fu Manchu | Dr. Fu Manchu / Lee Tao | |
| 78 | 1966 | Theatre of Death | Philippe Darvas | |
| 79 | 1966 | Dracula: Prince of Darkness | Count Dracula | |
| 80 | 1966 | Rasputin, the Mad Monk | Grigori Rasputin | |
| 81 | 1966 | Circus of Fear | Gregor | Alternative title: Psycho Circus |
| 82 | 1966 | The Brides of Fu Manchu | Fu Manchu | |
| 83 | 1967 | The Vengeance of Fu Manchu | Dr. Fu Manchu | |
| 84 | 1967 | Night of the Big Heat | Godfrey Hanson | |
| 85 | 1967 | Five Golden Dragons | Dragon #4 | |
| 86 | 1967 | The Blood Demon | Count Frederic Regula, Graf von Andomai | Aka The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism and Castle of the Walking Dead |
| 87 | 1968 | Curse of the Crimson Altar | Morley | |
| 88 | 1968 | The Devil Rides Out | Duc de Richleau | |
| 89 | 1968 | Eve | Colonel Stuart | Alternative title: The Face of Eve |
| 90 | 1968 | The Blood of Fu Manchu | Fu Manchu | |
| 91 | 1968 | Dracula Has Risen from the Grave | Count Dracula | |
| 92 | 1969 | The Castle of Fu Manchu | Fu Manchu | |
| 93 | 1969 | The Oblong Box | Dr. J. Neuhart | |
| 94 | 1969 | The Magic Christian | Ship’s vampire | |
| 95 | 1970 | Scream and Scream Again | Fremont | |
| 96 | 1970 | Umbracle | The Man | |
| 97 | 1970 | The Bloody Judge | Lord George Jeffreys | Alternative title: Night of the Blood Monster |
| 98 | 1970 | Count Dracula | Count Dracula | |
| 99 | 1970 | Taste the Blood of Dracula | Count Dracula | |
| 100 | 1970 | One More Time | Count Dracula | |
| 101 | 1970 | Julius Caesar | Artemidorus | |
| 102 | 1970 | Eugenie | Dolmance | Aka Eugenie – The Story of Her Journey into Perversion |
| 103 | 1970 | The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes | Mycroft Holmes | |
| 104 | 1970 | Scars of Dracula | Count Dracula | |
| 105 | 1971 | The House That Dripped Blood | John Reid | Segment: “Sweets to the Sweet” |
| 105 | 1971 | Cuadecuc, vampir | Count Dracula/Himself | |
| 106 | 1971 | I, Monster | Dr. Charles Marlowe/Edward Blake | |
| 107 | 1971 | Hannie Caulder | Bailey | |
| 108 | 1972 | Death Line | Stratton-Villiers, MI5 | Alternative title: Raw Meat |
| 109 | 1972 | Nothing But the Night | Col. Charles Bingham | |
| 110 | 1972 | Dracula A.D. 1972 | Count Dracula | |
| 111 | 1973 | Dark Places | Dr. Mandeville | |
| 112 | 1973 | The Creeping Flesh | James Hildern | |
| 113 | 1973 | The Satanic Rites of Dracula | Count Dracula | |
| 114 | 1973 | Horror Express | Sir Alexander Saxton | |
| 115 | 1973 | The Three Musketeers | Rochefort | |
| 116 | 1973 | The Wicker Man | Lord Summerisle | |
| 117 | 1974 | The Four Musketeers | Rochefort | |
| 118 | 1974 | The Man with the Golden Gun | Francisco Scaramanga | |
| 119 | 1975 | Diagnosis: Murder | Dr. Stephen Hayward | |
| 120 | 1975 | Le boucher, la star et l’orpheline | Van Krig/Himself | |
| 121 | 1976 | The Keeper | The Keeper | |
| 122 | 1976 | Killer Force | Major Chilton | Alternative title: The Diamond Mercenaries |
| 123 | 1976 | To the Devil, A Daughter | Father Michael Rayner | |
| 124 | 1976 | Dracula père et fils | Prince of Darkness | Alternative title: Dracula and Son |
| 125 | 1976 | Albino | Bill | Aka Whispering Death and Death in the Sun |
| 126 | 1977 | Airport ’77 | Martin Wallace | |
| 127 | 1977 | Meatcleaver Massacre | On-screen narrator | Aka Evil Force and Revenge of the Dead |
| 128 | 1977 | End of the World | Father Pergado / Zindar | |
| 129 | 1977 | Starship Invasions | Captain Rameses | |
| 130 | 1978 | Return from Witch Mountain | Dr. Victor Gannon | |
| 131 | 1978 | Caravans | Sardar Khan | |
| 132 | 1978 | Circle of Iron | Zetan | Alternative title: The Silent Flute |
| 133 | 1979 | The Passage | Gypsy | |
| 134 | 1979 | Arabian Adventure | Alquazar | |
| 135 | 1979 | Nutcracker Fantasy | Uncle Drosselmeyer / Street Singer / Watchmaker | Voice |
| 136 | 1979 | Jaguar Lives! | Adam Caine | |
| 137 | 1979 | Bear Island | Lechinski | |
| 138 | 1979 | 1941 | Capt. Wolfgang von Kleinschmidt | |
| 139 | 1979 | Captain America II: Death Too Soon | Miguel | |
| 140 | 1980 | Serial | Luckman Skull | |
| 141 | 1981 | The Salamander | Prince Baldasar, the Director of Counterintelligence | |
| 142 | 1981 | Desperate Moves | Dr. Carl Boxer | |
| 143 | 1981 | An Eye for an Eye | Morgan Canfield | |
| 144 | 1982 | Safari 3000 | Count Borgia | |
| 145 | 1982 | The Last Unicorn | King Haggard | Voice; also in German language version |
| 146 | 1983 | New Magic | Mr. Kellar | |
| 147 | 1983 | The Return of Captain Invincible | Mr. Midnight | |
| 148 | 1983 | House of the Long Shadows | Corrigan | |
| 149 | 1984 | The Rosebud Beach Hotel | Mr. Clifford King | |
| 150 | 1985 | Mask of Murder | Chief Supt. Jonathan Rich | |
| 151 | 1985 | Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf | Stefan Crosscoe | |
| 152 | 1986 | The Girl | Peter Storm | |
| 153 | 1987 | Jocks | President White | |
| 154 | 1987 | Mio min Mio | Kato | |
| 155 | 1988 | Dark Mission | Luis Morel | |
| 156 | 1989 | Murder Story | Willard Hope | |
| 157 | 1989 | La chute des aigles | Walter Strauss | |
| 158 | 1989 | The Return of the Musketeers | Rochefort | |
| 159 | 1990 | The Rainbow Thief | Uncle Rudolf | |
| 160 | 1990 | L’avaro | Cardinale Spinosi | |
| 161 | 1990 | Honeymoon Academy | Lazos | |
| 162 | 1990 | Panga | – | |
| 163 | 1990 | Gremlins 2: The New Batch | Doctor Catheter | |
| 164 | 1991 | Curse III: Blood Sacrifice | Doctor Pearson | |
| 165 | 1992 | Jackpot | Cedric | |
| 166 | 1992 | Kabuto | King Philip | |
| 167 | 1994 | Police Academy: Mission to Moscow | Cmndt. Alexandrei Nikolaivich Rakov | |
| 168 | 1994 | Funny Man | Callum Chance | |
| 169 | 1994 | Flesh and Blood | Narrator/Self | Last collaboration with Peter Cushing |
| 170 | 1995 | A Feast at Midnight | V. E. Longfellow, a.k.a. Raptor | |
| 171 | 1996 | Welcome to the Discworld | Death | |
| 172 | 1996 | The Stupids | Evil Sender | |
| 173 | 1998 | Tale of the Mummy | Sir Richard Turkel | |
| 174 | 1998 | Jinnah | Mohammed Ali Jinnah | Lee considers this to be his favourite role/most significant[2] |
| 175 | 1999 | Sleepy Hollow | Burgomaster | |
| 176 | 2001 | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring | Saruman | |
| 177 | 2002 | Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones | Count Dooku / Darth Tyranus | |
| 178 | 2002 | The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers | Saruman | |
| 179 | 2003 | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | Saruman | Extended Edition only |
| 180 | 2004 | Crimson Rivers II: Angels of the Apocalypse | Heinrich von Garten | |
| 181 | 2005 | The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby | The Lord Provost | |
| 182 | 2005 | Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith | Count Dooku / Darth Tyranus | |
| 183 | 2005 | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Dr. Wilbur Wonka | |
| 184 | 2005 | Corpse Bride | Pastor Galswells | Voice |
| 185 | 2007 | The Golden Compass | First High Councillor | |
| 186 | 2008 | Star Wars: The Clone Wars | Count Dooku / Darth Tyranus | Voice |
| 187 | 2009 | Boogie Woogie | Alfred Rhinegold | |
| 188 | 2009 | Triage | Joaquín Morales | |
| 189 | 2009 | Glorious 39 | Walter | |
| 190 | 2010 | Alice in Wonderland | Jabberwocky | Voice |
| 191 | 2010 | Burke & Hare | Joseph | |
| 192 | 2010 | The Heavy | Mr. Mason | |
| 193 | 2011 | Season of the Witch | Cardinal D’Ambroise | |
| 194 | 2011 | The Resident | August | |
| 195 | 2011 | The Wicker Tree | Old Gentleman | |
| 196 | 2011 | Grave Tales | Himself | Original version only |
| 197 | 2011 | Hugo | Monsieur Labisse | |
| 198 | 2012 | The Hunting of the Snark | Narrator | Voice |
| 199 | 2012 | Dark Shadows | Silas Clarney | |
| 200 | 2012 | The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey | Saruman | |
| 201 | 2013 | Night Train to Lisbon | Father Bartolomeu | |
| 202 | 2013 | Necessary Evil | Narrator | Voice |
| 203 | 2013 | The Girl from Nagasaki | Old Officer Pinkerton | |
| 204 | 2014 | The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies | Saruman | |
| 205 | 2014 | Extraordinary Tales | Voice | |
| 206 | 2015 | Angels in Notting Hill | The Boss, Mr. President |
Top Twitter Trends –
| Worldwide | USA | UK | |
| 1 | #LiamDay | NOT AVAILABLE | #MakeAMovieLessRomantic |
| 2 | #QueSeriaMiVidaSin | NOT AVAILABLE | #LiamDay |
| 3 | Marge y Homero | NOT AVAILABLE | Christopher Lee |
| 4 | Christopher Lee | NOT AVAILABLE | Ornette Coleman |
| 5 | #ConfiesoQue | NOT AVAILABLE | #SAScon |
| 6 | Perrie Malik | NOT AVAILABLE | #MyDadWouldAlwaysSay |
| 7 | #WorstChildhoodRumors | NOT AVAILABLE | #TimeToDeactivate |
| 8 | #RetoTelehit | NOT AVAILABLE | #distractinglysexy |
| 9 | Dusty Rhodes | NOT AVAILABLE | #VFintelligence |
| 10 | #BuenJueves | NOT AVAILABLE | #ROWYSOLiverpool |
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Philae comet lander wakes up, says European Space Agency –
The European Space Agency (Esa) says its comet lander, Philae, has woken up and contacted Earth. Philae, the first spacecraft to land on a comet, was dropped on to the surface of Comet 67P by its mothership, Rosetta, last November. It worked for 60 hours before its solar-powered battery ran flat. The comet has since moved nearer to the Sun and Philae has enough power to work again, says the BBC’s science correspondent Jonathan Amos. An account linked to the probe tweeted the message, “Hello Earth! Can you hear me?” On its blog, Esa said Philae had contacted Earth, via Rosetta, for 85 seconds on Saturday in the first contact since going into hibernation in November.
Artist’s impression of the Philae lander
Jurassic World takes $511m in record opening weekend –
The fourth instalment in the Jurassic Park series has become the first film to take more than $500m at the box office on its opening weekend. Jurassic World was the most popular screening in all 66 countries where it was released. The film made $204.6m (£131.4m) in the US, according to the firm Exhibitor Relations. It took $100m in China and $29.6m (£19m) in the UK and Ireland as part of the record global total of $511.8m. The Universal Pictures release had the second-highest grossing opening weekend in the US. The record is held by Marvel’s The Avengers, which took $207.4m in 2012. [BBC] See Video of the Day
Video of the Day –
Jurassic World – Official Global Trailer
List of the Day –
Biggest Worldwide film openings since 2002 [from Wikipedia]
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1 second lie-in tonight –
At 11:59:59pm today, the clock struck 11:59:60pm a ‘leap second’ to compensate for the slowing of the Earth’s rotation around the Sun. The last time the world added a leap second, in 2012, major websites including Reddit, Foursquare, Yelp and LinkedIn were not being programmed to deal with an unexpected extra second and crashed. To avoid this Google have added fractions of a second to programmes over the last year, a technique known as a “leap smear”. Scientists at the the International Earth Rotation Service and Paris Observatory say this allows “Earth time” to catch up to “atomic time” and will be the 26th leap second since 1972. [BBC] See Top Twitter Trends
Hollywood couple Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner to divorce –
Hollywood couple Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner say they have made “the difficult decision to divorce”. The couple have been married since 2005 and have three children between the ages of three and nine. In a statement they said: “We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children”. [BBC]
Ben Affleck
Apple Music Makes Debut With D.J. Carrying the Flag –
“Into the unknown we go,” the D. J. Zane Lowe said just after noon on Tuesday, as he began his first show on Beats 1, the Internet radio station that is a big feature of Apple’s new music service. As Apple Music opened on Tuesday — most listeners found it as part of an update of Apple’s mobile operating system — much of the attention turned to Beats 1, a live radio feed that in some ways functions as marketing for the entire service. Led by Mr. Lowe, who was born in New Zealand and became a top announcer on the BBC station Radio 1, Beats 1 is in some ways an old-fashioned radio station, with D. J.s, promotional recordings — “carts,” as they are in industry parlance, after the tape cartridges they used to fit on — and teases about new songs.
Zane Lowe tweet [@zanelowe]
Donna Karan Steps Down as Head of Iconic Brand –
In a major shift for American fashion, Donna Karan, the 66-year-old founder and chief designer of Donna Karan International, a brand that defined the way American working women dressed for decades, announced on Tuesday that she was leaving the helm of the house that bears her name. Ms. Karan will remain as an adviser to Donna Karan International, but devote more time to her Urban Zen line, which centers on wellness and artisanal goods, and its foundation. [NY Times]
Video of the Day –
Asking Siri 0 divided by 0 [See Top Twitter Trends – “Siri”]
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South Korea spy kills himself amid hacking scandal –
An employee of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) spying agency has been found dead in his car after apparently taking his own life on a mountain road, police say. His death comes as a scandal over phone-hacking gathers pace. The man left a suicide note admitting that he had deleted important information about the hacking. It has emerged that mobile phones were tracked and monitored just before the presidential election in 2012. [BBC]
North Korean elections – not too close to call –
Worker’s Party expected to fare well in polls this Sunday with only one name on ballot paper and punishment for anyone who fails to endorse Kim Jong-un’s policies. To indicate support for the approved candidate, the voter goes into a booth and carries out his democratic duty. Anyone who does not agree with the name on the ballot paper must go to a different booth and cross out the candidate’s name. With the every move closely scrutinised, it would be an act of extreme bravery in a nation that is not known for tolerating dissenting voices for that to happen. [Daily Telegraph]
Kim Jong-un (sketch)
Bratz are back after Barbie owner fails to kill franchise –
After almost a decade of a back-and-forth legal battle between Mattel and Bratz-owner MGA, the spunky dolls are back and ready to take on an already weak Barbie. Years before toys of Frozen characters knocked Barbie off her perennial perch, a gaggle of ethnically-diverse fashionistas known as Bratz temporarily toppled the word-famous doll – and now they’re back after winning a protracted legal battle with Barbie-owner Mattel.
Bratz, which first came to market in 2001, is relaunching this weekend with a revamped look, an extra character and new range of accessories in an attempt to regain its place at the top of toytown. [Daily Telegraph]
Video of the Day –
Chuck Jones – The Evolution of an Artist from Tony Zhou on Vimeo.
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Grooveshark co-founder Josh Greenberg, 28, found dead –
The co-founder of a recently-shut down music streaming website has been found dead in his Florida home, local police have said. Josh Greenberg, who was aged 28, created Grooveshark in 2006. There was “no evidence of foul play or suicide,” police in Gainesville said via Twitter. Grooveshark closed in April this year following years of legal action from several record labels. A US court had determined that the site could be liable for $736m (£472m) in damages after it was judged to have wilfully breached copyright when building the service’s music library. [BBC]
Open 2015: Zach Johnson triumphs in Open play-off –
American Zach Johnson claimed his second major title with victory in a three-man play-off on a thrilling final day in the 144th Open Championship. The 2007 Masters winner finished a shot ahead of South African Louis Oosthuizen and three ahead of Australian Marc Leishman over four extra holes. Earlier, the three ended on 15 under to lead a competitive field at St Andrews. Jordan Spieth’s hopes of a Grand Slam were ended as he finished on 14 under along with Australia’s Jason Day. [BBC] See List of the Day
Zach Johnson
Lee Nelson showers Fifa president Sepp Blatter with dollar bills –
Fifa president Sepp Blatter was showered with fake banknotes by a notorious prankster at a press conference in his Zurich headquarters. The comedian Lee Nelson – real name Simon Brodkin – managed to infiltrate the press conference, which was being held to announce reforms planned to world football’s governing body, and a date for the presidential election. The press conference was delayed by around 10 minutes as organisers cleaned up the notes. [Daily Telegraph] See Video of the Day
Canadian-Owned Infidelity Dating Site Suffers Cyber Attack –
A Canadian-owned dating website for married people seeking affairs says it has suffered a cyberattack after hackers claimed to have stolen confidential customer information, threatening to publish it unless the company is shut down. Avid Life Media, which owns Toronto-based site AshleyMadison.com, said Monday that it had taken steps to secure its sites. Ashley Madison, whose slogan is “Life is short. Have an affair,” claims it has more than 37 million anonymous worldwide members. Online security blog KrebsOnSecurity.com posted what appeared to be a screenshot of the site’s home page on Sunday bearing a message from the hackers, who said they acted to expose alleged lies Ashley Madison told customers about a service that allows members to erase profile information. [NY Times]
Video of the Day –
Comedian throws money at Blatter during press conference
List of the Day –
Zach Johnson PGA Tour wins (from Wikipedia)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apr 4, 2004 | BellSouth Classic | 69-66-68-72=275 | −13 | 1 stroke |  Mark Hensby |
| 2 | Apr 8, 2007 | Masters Tournament | 71-73-76-69=289 | +1 | 2 strokes |  Retief Goosen, Rory Sabbatini, Tiger Woods |
| 3 | May 20, 2007 | AT&T Classic (2) | 71-66-69-67=273 | −15 | Playoff |  Ryuji Imada |
| 4 | Oct 12, 2008 | Valero Texas Open | 69-66-62-64=261 | −19 | 2 strokes |  Charlie Wi,  Tim Wilkinson, Mark Wilson |
| 5 | Jan 18, 2009 | Sony Open in Hawaii | 69-65-66-65=265 | −15 | 2 strokes | Adam Scott, David Toms |
| 6 | May 17, 2009 | Valero Texas Open (2) | 68-67-60-70=265 | −15 | Playoff | James Driscoll |
| 7 | May 30, 2010 | Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial | 65-66-64-64=259 | −21 | 3 strokes |  Brian Davis |
| 8 | May 27, 2012 | Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial (2) | 64-67-65-72=268 | −12 | 1 stroke | Jason Dufner |
| 9 | Jul 15, 2012 | John Deere Classic | 68-65-66-65=264 | −20 | Playoff | Troy Matteson |
| 10 | Sep 16, 2013 | BMW Championship | 64-69-70-65=268 | −16 | 2 strokes | Nick Watney |
| 11 | Jan 6, 2014 | Hyundai Tournament of Champions | 67-66-74-66=273 | −19 | 1 stroke | Jordan Spieth |
| 12 | Jul 20, 2015 | The Open Championship | 66-71-70-66=273 | −15 | Playoff | Marc Leishman, Louis Oosthuizen |
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Lord Sewel faces call to quit Parliament over drugs claim –
Senior peer Lord Sewel has been urged to resign from the House of Lords after he was filmed allegedly taking drugs with prostitutes. He could also face a police inquiry over the Sun on Sunday’s footage.The original footage released appeared to show Lord Sewel snorting powder from a woman’s breasts with a £5 note. Lords Speaker Baroness D’Souza condemned his behaviour, saying it was “shocking and unacceptable” and the allegations would be referred to the House of Lords commissioner for standards and the Metropolitan Police. [BBC]
Tour de France: Chris Froome completes historic British win –
Chris Froome became the first Briton to win the Tour de France twice when he safely reached the finish line in Paris at the end of the three-week race. The 2013 champion finished alongside his team-mates on the final stage, behind a sprint won by Andre Greipel. Mark Cavendish, seeking a fifth win on the Champs-Elysees, finished sixth after the 109.5km race from Sevres. The win for Froome means a Briton, and Team Sky, have now won three of the last four of cycling’s showpiece races. Froome, 30, beat Colombia’s Nairo Quintana to the yellow jersey by 72 seconds with Spain’s Alejandro Valverde third. [BBC] See List of the Day
Chris Froome
Bobbi Kristina Brown dies after coma –
Bobbi Kristina Brown, daughter of late singer Whitney Houston, has died aged 22, a family representative has said. Kristen Foster said she passed away on Sunday surrounded by her family and was “finally at peace in the arms of God”. [BBC] She fell into a coma after she was found in a bathtub on January 31, 2015.
Bobbi Kristina Brown and Whitney Houston in 2009
Video of the Day –
6ft Man in 6ft Giant Water Balloon – 4K – The Slow Mo Guys
List of the Day –
Tour de France Winners
| Year | Country | Cyclist | Sponsor/Team | Distance | Time/Points | Margin | Stage wins | Yellow jerseys |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1903 |  France |
Maurice Garin | La Française | 2,428 km (1,509 mi) | 94h 33′ 14″ | + 2h 59′ 21″ | 3 | 6 |
| 1904 | France |
Henri Cornet | Conte | 2,428 km (1,509 mi) | 96h 05′ 55″ | + 2h 16′ 14″ | 1 | 3 |
| 1905 | France |
Louis Trousselier | Peugeot–Wolber | 2,994 km (1,860 mi) | 35 | 26 | 5 | 10 |
| 1906 | France |
René Pottier | Peugeot | 4,637 km (2,881 mi) | 31 | 8 | 5 | 12 |
| 1907 | France |
Lucien Petit-Breton | Peugeot | 4,488 km (2,789 mi) | 47 | 19 | 2 | 5 |
| 1908 | France |
Lucien Petit-Breton | Peugeot | 4,497 km (2,794 mi) | 36 | 32 | 5 | 13 |
| 1909 |  Luxembourg |
François Faber | Alcyon | 4,498 km (2,795 mi) | 37 | 20 | 6 | 13 |
| 1910 | France |
Octave Lapize | Alcyon | 4,734 km (2,942 mi) | 63 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| 1911 | France |
Gustave Garrigou | Alcyon | 5,343 km (3,320 mi) | 43 | 18 | 2 | 13 |
| 1912 |  Belgium |
Odile Defraye | Alcyon | 5,289 km (3,286 mi) | 49 | 59 | 3 | 13 |
| 1913 | Belgium |
Philippe Thys | Peugeot | 5,287 km (3,285 mi) | 197h 54′ 00″ | + 8′ 37″ | 1 | 8 |
| 1914 | Belgium |
Philippe Thys | Peugeot | 5,380 km (3,340 mi) | 200h 28′ 48″ | + 1′ 50″ | 1 | 15 |
| 1915 |
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| 1919 | Belgium |
Firmin Lambot | La Sportive | 5,560 km (3,450 mi) | 231h 07′ 15″ | + 1h 42′ 54″ | 1 | 2 |
| 1920 | Belgium |
Philippe Thys | La Sportive | 5,503 km (3,419 mi) | 228h 36′ 13″ | + 57′ 21″ | 4 | 14 |
| 1921 | Belgium |
Léon Scieur | La Sportive | 5,485 km (3,408 mi) | 221h 50′ 26″ | + 18′ 36″ | 2 | 14 |
| 1922 | Belgium |
Firmin Lambot | Peugeot | 5,375 km (3,340 mi) | 222h 08′ 06″ | + 41′ 15″ | 0 | 3 |
| 1923 | France |
Henri Pélissier | Automoto | 5,386 km (3,347 mi) | 222h 15′ 30″ | + 30 ’41” | 3 | 6 |
| 1924 |  Italy |
Ottavio Bottecchia | Automoto | 5,425 km (3,371 mi) | 226h 18′ 21″ | + 35′ 36″ | 4 | 15 |
| 1925 | Italy |
Ottavio Bottecchia | Automoto | 5,440 km (3,380 mi) | 219h 10′ 18″ | + 54′ 20″ | 4 | 13 |
| 1926 | Belgium |
Lucien Buysse | Automoto | 5,745 km (3,570 mi) | 238h 44′ 25″ | + 1h 22′ 25″ | 2 | 8 |
| 1927 | Luxembourg |
Nicolas Frantz | Alcyon | 5,398 km (3,354 mi) | 198h 16′ 42″ | + 1h 48′ 41″ | 3 | 14 |
| 1928 | Luxembourg |
Nicolas Frantz | Alcyon | 5,476 km (3,403 mi) | 192h 48′ 58″ | + 50′ 07″ | 5 | 22 |
| 1929 | Belgium |
Maurice De Waele | Alcyon | 5,286 km (3,285 mi) | 186h 39′ 15″ | +44′ 23″ | 1 | 16 |
| 1930 | France |
André Leducq | Alcyon | 4,822 km (2,996 mi) | 172h 12′ 16″ | + 14′ 13″ | 2 | 13 |
| 1931 | France |
Antonin Magne | France | 5,091 km (3,163 mi) | 177h 10′ 03″ | + 12′ 56″ | 1 | 16 |
| 1932 | France |
André Leducq | France | 4,479 km (2,783 mi) | 154h 11′ 49″ | + 24′ 03″ | 6 | 19 |
| 1933 | France |
Georges Speicher | France | 4,395 km (2,731 mi) | 147h 51′ 37″ | + 4′ 01″ | 3 | 12 |
| 1934 | France |
Antonin Magne | France | 4,470 km (2,780 mi) | 147h 13′ 58″ | + 27′ 31″ | 3 | 22 |
| 1935 | Belgium |
Romain Maes | Belgium | 4,338 km (2,696 mi) | 141h 23′ 00″ | + 17′ 52″ | 3 | 21 |
| 1936 | Belgium |
Sylvère Maes | Belgium | 4,442 km (2,760 mi) | 142h 47′ 32″ | + 26′ 55″ | 4 | 14 |
| 1937 | France |
Roger Lapébie | France | 4,415 km (2,743 mi) | 138h 58′ 31″ | + 7′ 17″ | 3 | 4 |
| 1938 | Italy |
Gino Bartali* | Italy | 4,694 km (2,917 mi) | 148h 29′ 12″ | + 18′ 27″ | 2 | 8 |
| 1939 | Belgium |
Sylvère Maes* | Belgium | 4,224 km (2,625 mi) | 132h 03′ 17″ | + 30′ 38″ | 2 | 4 |
| 1940 |
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| 1947 | France |
Jean Robic | France | 4,642 km (2,884 mi) | 148h 11′ 25″ | + 3′ 58″ | 3 | 1 |
| 1948 |  Italy |
Gino Bartali* | Italy | 4,922 km (3,058 mi) | 147h 10′ 36″ | + 26′ 16″ | 7 | 9 |
| 1949 | Italy |
Fausto Coppi* | Italy | 4,808 km (2,988 mi) | 149h 40′ 49″ | + 10′ 55″ | 3 | 5 |
| 1950 |  Switzerland |
Ferdinand Kübler | Switzerland | 4,773 km (2,966 mi) | 145h 36′ 56″ | + 9′ 30″ | 3 | 11 |
| 1951 | Switzerland |
Hugo Koblet | Switzerland | 4,690 km (2,910 mi) | 142h 20′ 14″ | + 22′ 00″ | 5 | 11 |
| 1952 | Italy |
Fausto Coppi* | Italy | 4,898 km (3,043 mi) | 151h 57′ 20″ | + 28′ 17″ | 5 | 14 |
| 1953 | France |
Louison Bobet | France | 4,476 km (2,781 mi) | 129h 23′ 25″ | + 14′ 18″ | 2 | 5 |
| 1954 | France |
Louison Bobet | France | 4,656 km (2,893 mi) | 140h 06′ 05″ | + 15′ 49″ | 3 | 14 |
| 1955 | France |
Louison Bobet | France | 4,495 km (2,793 mi) | 130h 29′ 26″ | + 4′ 53″ | 2 | 6 |
| 1956 | France |
Roger Walkowiak | France | 4,498 km (2,795 mi) | 124h 01′ 16″ | + 1′ 25″ | 0 | 8 |
| 1957 | France |
Jacques Anquetil | France | 4,669 km (2,901 mi) | 135h 44′ 42″ | + 14′ 56″ | 4 | 15 |
| 1958 | Luxembourg |
Charly Gaul | Luxembourg | 4,319 km (2,684 mi) | 116h 59′ 05″ | + 3′ 10″ | 4 | 2 |
| 1959 |  Spain |
Federico Bahamontes* | Spain | 4,358 km (2,708 mi) | 123h 46′ 45″ | + 4′ 01″ | 1 | 6 |
| 1960 | Italy |
Gastone Nencini | Italy | 4,173 km (2,593 mi) | 112h 08′ 42″ | + 5′ 02″ | 0 | 14 |
| 1961 | France |
Jacques Anquetil | France | 4,397 km (2,732 mi) | 122h 01′ 33″ | + 12′ 14″ | 2 | 21 |
| 1962 | France |
Jacques Anquetil | Saint–Raphaël | 4,274 km (2,656 mi) | 114h 31′ 54″ | + 4′ 59″ | 2 | 3 |
| 1963 | France |
Jacques Anquetil | Saint–Raphaël | 4,138 km (2,571 mi) | 113h 30′ 05″ | + 3′ 35″ | 4 | 5 |
| 1964 | France |
Jacques Anquetil | Saint–Raphaël | 4,504 km (2,799 mi) | 127h 09′ 44″ | + 55″ | 4 | 6 |
| 1965 | Italy |
Felice Gimondi | Salvarani | 4,188 km (2,602 mi) | 116h 42′ 06″ | + 2′ 40″ | 3 | 18 |
| 1966 | France |
Lucien Aimar | Ford–Gitane | 4,329 km (2,690 mi) | 117h 34′ 21″ | + 1′ 07″ | 0 | 6 |
| 1967 | France |
Roger Pingeon | Peugeot–BP–Michelin | 4,779 km (2,970 mi) | 136h 53′ 50″ | + 3′ 40″ | 1 | 17 |
| 1968 |  Netherlands |
Jan Janssen | Pelforth-Sauvage–Lejeune | 4,492 km (2,791 mi) | 133h 49′ 42″ | + 38″ | 2 | 1 |
| 1969 | Belgium |
Eddy Merckx |
Faema | 4,117 km (2,558 mi) | 116h 16′ 02″ | + 17′ 54″ | 6 | 18 |
| 1970 | Belgium |
Eddy Merckx* | Faemino | 4,254 km (2,643 mi) | 119h 31′ 49″ | + 12′ 41″ | 8 | 20 |
| 1971 | Belgium |
Eddy Merckx |
Molteni | 3,608 km (2,242 mi) | 96h 45′ 14″ | + 9′ 51″ | 4 | 17 |
| 1972 | Belgium |
Eddy Merckx |
Molteni | 3,846 km (2,390 mi) | 108h 17′ 18″ | + 10′ 41″ | 6 | 15 |
| 1973 | Spain |
Luis Ocaña | Bic | 4,090 km (2,540 mi) | 122h 25′ 34″ | + 15′ 51″ | 6 | 14 |
| 1974 | Belgium |
Eddy Merckx | Molteni | 4,098 km (2,546 mi) | 116h 16′ 58″ | + 8′ 04″ | 8 | 18 |
| 1975 | France |
Bernard Thévenet | Peugeot | 4,000 km (2,500 mi) | 114h 35′ 31″ | + 2′ 47″ | 2 | 8 |
| 1976 | Belgium |
Lucien Van Impe | Gitane–Campagnolo | 4,017 km (2,496 mi) | 116h 22′ 23″ | + 4′ 14″ | 1 | 12 |
| 1977 | France |
Bernard Thévenet | Peugeot | 4,096 km (2,545 mi) | 115h 38′ 30″ | + 48″ | 1 | 8 |
| 1978 | France |
Bernard Hinault | Renault–Elf–Gitane | 3,908 km (2,428 mi) | 108h 18′ 00″ | + 3′ 56″ | 3 | 3 |
| 1979 | France |
Bernard Hinault |
Renault–Elf–Gitane | 3,765 km (2,339 mi) | 103h 06′ 50″ | + 13′ 07″ | 7 | 17 |
| 1980 | Netherlands |
Joop Zoetemelk | TI–Raleigh | 3,842 km (2,387 mi) | 109h 19′ 14″ | + 6′ 55″ | 2 | 10 |
| 1981 | France |
Bernard Hinault | Renault–Elf–Gitane | 3,753 km (2,332 mi) | 96h 19′ 38″ | + 14′ 34″ | 5 | 18 |
| 1982 | France |
Bernard Hinault | Renault–Elf–Gitane | 3,507 km (2,179 mi) | 92h 08′ 46″ | + 6′ 21″ | 4 | 12 |
| 1983 | France |
Laurent Fignon# | Renault–Elf–Gitane | 3,809 km (2,367 mi) | 105h 07′ 52″ | + 4′ 04″ | 1 | 6 |
| 1984 | France |
Laurent Fignon | Renault–Elf–Gitane | 4,021 km (2,499 mi) | 112h 03′ 40″ | + 10′ 32″ | 5 | 7 |
| 1985 | France |
Bernard Hinault | La Vie Claire | 4,109 km (2,553 mi) | 113h 24′ 23″ | + 1′ 42″ | 2 | 16 |
| 1986 | United States |
Greg LeMond | La Vie Claire | 4,094 km (2,544 mi) | 110h 35′ 19″ | + 3′ 10″ | 1 | 7 |
| 1987 |  Ireland |
Stephen Roche | Carrera Jeans-Vagabond | 4,231 km (2,629 mi) | 115h 27′ 42″ | + 40″ | 1 | 3 |
| 1988 |  Spain |
Pedro Delgado | Reynolds | 3,286 km (2,042 mi) | 84h 27′ 53″ | + 7′ 13″ | 1 | 11 |
| 1989 | United States |
Greg LeMond | ADR Agrigel | 3,285 km (2,041 mi) | 87h 38′ 35″ | + 8″ | 3 | 8 |
| 1990 | United States |
Greg LeMond | Z Vêtements | 3,504 km (2,177 mi) | 90h 43′ 20″ | + 2′ 16″ | 0 | 2 |
| 1991 | Spain |
Miguel Indurain | Banesto | 3,914 km (2,432 mi) | 101h 01′ 20″ | + 3′ 36″ | 2 | 10 |
| 1992 | Spain |
Miguel Indurain | Banesto | 3,983 km (2,475 mi) | 100h 49′ 30″ | + 4′ 35″ | 3 | 10 |
| 1993 | Spain |
Miguel Indurain | Banesto | 3,714 km (2,308 mi) | 95h 57′ 09″ | + 4′ 59″ | 2 | 14 |
| 1994 | Spain |
Miguel Indurain | Banesto | 3,978 km (2,472 mi) | 103h 38′ 38″ | + 5′ 39″ | 1 | 13 |
| 1995 | Spain |
Miguel Indurain | Banesto | 3,635 km (2,259 mi) | 92h 44′ 59″ | + 4′ 35″ | 2 | 13 |
| 1996 |  Denmark |
Bjarne Riis[A] | Team Telekom | 3,765 km (2,339 mi) | 95h 57′ 16″ | + 1′ 41″ | 2 | 13 |
| 1997 |  Germany |
Jan Ullrich# | Team Telekom | 3,950 km (2,450 mi) | 100h 30′ 35″ | + 9′ 09″ | 2 | 12 |
| 1998 | Italy |
Marco Pantani | Mercatone Uno-Bianchi | 3,875 km (2,408 mi) | 92h 49′ 46″ | + 3′ 21″ | 2 | 7 |
| 1999[B] | United States |
3,687 km (2,291 mi) | ||||||
| 2000[B] | United States |
3,662 km (2,275 mi) | ||||||
| 2001[B] | United States |
3,458 km (2,149 mi) | ||||||
| 2002[B] | United States |
3,272 km (2,033 mi) | ||||||
| 2003[B] | United States |
3,427 km (2,129 mi) | ||||||
| 2004[B] | United States |
3,391 km (2,107 mi) | ||||||
| 2005[B] | United States |
3,593 km (2,233 mi) | ||||||
| 2006 | Spain |
Óscar Pereiro[C] | Caisse d’Epargne-Illes Balears | 3,657 km (2,272 mi) | 89h 40′ 27″ | + 32″ | 0 | 8 |
| 2007 | Spain |
Alberto Contador# | Discovery Channel | 3,570 km (2,220 mi) | 91h 00′ 26″ | + 23″ | 1 | 4 |
| 2008 | Spain |
Carlos Sastre | Team CSC | 3,559 km (2,211 mi) | 87h 52′ 52″ | + 58″ | 1 | 5 |
| 2009 | Spain |
Alberto Contador | Astana | 3,459 km (2,149 mi) | 85h 48′ 35″ | + 4′ 11″ | 2 | 7 |
| 2010 | Luxembourg |
Andy Schleck#[D] | Team Saxo Bank | 3,642 km (2,263 mi) | 91h 59′ 27″ | + 1′ 22″ | 2 | 12 |
| 2011 | Australia |
Cadel Evans | BMC Racing Team | 3,430 km (2,130 mi) | 86h 12′ 22″ | + 1′ 34″ | 1 | 2 |
| 2012 |  United Kingdom |
Bradley Wiggins | Team Sky | 3,496 km (2,172 mi) | 87h 34′ 47″ | + 3′ 21″ | 2 | 14 |
| 2013 | United Kingdom |
Chris Froome | Team Sky | 3,404 km (2,115 mi) | 83h 56′ 20″ | + 4′ 20″ | 3 | 14 |
| 2014 | Italy |
Vincenzo Nibali | Astana | 3,660.5 km (2,274.5 mi) | 89h 59′ 06″ | + 7′ 37″ | 4 | 19 |
| 2015 | United Kingdom |
Chris Froome* | Team Sky | 3,660.3 km (2,274.4 mi) | 84h 46′ 14″ | + 1′ 12″ | 1 | 16 |
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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 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
Video of the Day –
Justin Bieber – What do you mean? (acoustic)
List of the Day 1 –
James Bond Movie title themes [Wikipedia]
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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‘Stolen’ diamond surgically removed in Bangkok –
A Chinese woman suspected of stealing a $300,000 (£195,000) diamond in the Thai capital, Bangkok, has had the jewel surgically removed from her intestines. She is thought to have swallowed it in order to smuggle it out of the country. The woman is believed to have stolen the six-carat diamond from a jewellery fair on Thursday by swapping it for a fake gemstone. However, she was caught on security cameras at the fair and later arrested at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. A man travelling with her was also arrested. Police said the woman initially denied involvement, but an X-ray revealed the diamond lodged inside her.
She was initially given laxatives, but when nature failed to take its course, a colonoscope was used to extract the gem. [BBC]
Elton John offers to meet Vladimir Putin to discuss gay rights –
Sir Elton John has said he wants to hold talks with Vladimir Putin over what he called the Russian president’s “ridiculous” stance on gay rights. The Rocket Man singer extended the offer of talks after speaking at a conference in neighbouring Ukraine, where he met with the country’s president Petro Poroshenko to lobby him about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights. Sir Elton accused Mr Putin of saying “stupid things” in reference to his warning to gay people travelling to the Winter Olympics to “leave the children in peace”. [Daily Telegraph] In March 2015 Sir Elton called for a boycott of fashion label Dolce & Gabbana after the legendary designers criticised same-sex families
Sir Elton John
Mens Tennis: Novak Djokovic clinches second US Open crown –
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic won his second US Open championship and his 10th career Grand Slam title with an electric four-set victory over 17-time major winner Roger Federer on Sunday evening. In a contest of the game’s premier heavyweights, it was the Serb who played the biggest points the best as he captured his first crown in the Big Apple since 2011 with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 triumph inside Arthur Ashe Stadium in a match that was delayed by approximately three hours because of rain. [US Open] Djokovic also beat Federer in four sets to win the Wimbledon title in July 2015. See List of the Day
Novak_Đoković
Womens Golf: Lydia Ko becomes youngest major winner –
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko has become the youngest winner of a major with a six-stroke victory at the Evian Championship in France on Sunday. The world number two is 18 years, four months and 20 days old. The previous record was held by American Morgan Pressel, who was 18 years, 10 months and nine days old when she won the Kraft Nabisco in 2007. In February, aged 17, Ko became the youngest player to reach the top of the rankings and she also holds the record as the youngest winner on the LPGA Tour after her Canadian Open victory as a 15-year-old amateur in 2012. [BBC]
Lydia Ko
Video of the Day –
Kelvin Jones: Call You Home
Kelvin Jones : Call You Home from Joe Connor on Vimeo.
Yup, that really is a TV in space, for real. I created this video by sending a vintage Sony TV into orbit on a weather balloon provided by Sent Into Space, surrounded by cameras so as to capture this spectacular footage hovering above the Big Blue Marble itself.More precisely, it took two launches – both from Snowdonia in Wales, with two identical TVs, with each launch providing the opportunity to rig the GoPros in different positions. I’m pleased to say that all TVs in this music video were harmed as they crash-landed back to earth. We sent the TV off from Snowdonia and it landed in Bury, Manchester – taking in my hometown of Warrington on the way which can be seen in the promo. I’m proud to say that the TV got 99.997% above the atmosphere, just 0.003% below the Armstrong line – surely the highest TV in history.
List of the Day –
Novak Djokovic Grand Slam Record [from Wikipedia]
| Tournament | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | SR | W–L | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam tournaments | ||||||||||||||
| Australian Open | 1R | 1R | 4R | W | QF | QF | W | W | W | QF | W | 5 / 11 | 50–6 | 89.29 |
| French Open | 2R | QF | SF | SF | 3R | QF | SF | F | SF | F | F | 0 / 11 | 48–11 | 81.36 |
| Wimbledon | 3R | 4R | SF | 2R | QF | SF | W | SF | F | W | W | 3 / 11 | 52–8 | 86.67 |
| US Open | 3R | 3R | F | SF | SF | F | W | F | F | SF | W | 2 / 11 | 57–9 | 86.3 |
| Win–Loss | 5–4 | 9–4 | 19–4 | 18–3 | 15–4 | 19–4 | 25–1 | 24–3 | 24–3 | 22–3 | 27–1 | 10 / 44 | 207–34 | 85.89 |
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Sam Smith’s James Bond theme makes UK chart history –
Sam Smith’s Writing’s On The Wall has made history by becoming the first Bond theme to reach number one in the UK. The track achieved combined chart sales and streams of 70,000 copies – 13,000 ahead of its closest competitor, Justin Bieber’s What Do You Mean? The previous highest-charting Bond themes were Adele’s Skyfall and Duran Duran’s View To A Kill, which both reached number two. Smith said he was “so proud” of the song and being number one was “crazy”. He told BBC Radio 1: “Out of all the songs I’ve brought out in my life, I was not expecting this to even chart in the top 10, let alone number one. It’s unbelievable.” [BBC] See List of the Day
Sam Smith
Janet Jackson puts the breaks on her Unbreakable world tour –
Janet Jackson has postponed her upcoming concert in Las Vegas and this isn’t the first time the pop icon has hit a road block along the way on her Unbreakable World Tour. The 49-year-old singer and performer announced her comeback this past June but it has been a series of highs and lows for the pop icon since. She has planned to reschedule this stop for next May 2016 when the venue will move to a new arena that can accommodate 20,000 fans. [Daily Mail] Today also saw the release of her new album “Unbreakable”, the first studio album from Jackson in seven years. See Video of the Day
Janet Jackson
Switzerland ‘could house 50,000 refugees in Cold War bunkers’ –
Switzerland can accommodate up to 50,000 refugees in nuclear bunkers, the country’s defence minister has said. During the Cold War, Switzerland began a policy of building enough fallout shelters that the entire country could safely retreat underground if there was a nuclear war between the Soviet Union and the West. Today, while theoretically still available in a doomsday scenario, many of the bunkers are put to other uses. One in the small town of Sevelen was run as a “zero-star hotel” for some years, while the city of Geneva has used its bunkers as homeless shelters. Mr Maurer said around one-third of Switzerland’s public bunkers were currently in a position to take in refugees, with space for 50,000. [Daily Telegraph]
American wingsuit flier Johnny Strange dies in Switzerland accident –
Johnny Strange, an American adventurer who was the youngest person to climb the world’s seven tallest summits, has died in a wing suit accident in the Alps, Swiss police confirmed on Friday. The 23-year-old, who crashed shortly after jumping from Mount Gitschen in central Switzerland, is the latest casualty in what is regarded as one of the world’s most deadly extreme sports. He died on impact with the ground, likely after losing control mid-jump, according to authorities in the Swiss canton of Uri. Mr Strange, from Malibu, California, became the youngest person to scale the tallest peaks on each of the world’s seven continents in 2009, when he was 17. [Daily Telegraph]
Video of the Day –
Janet Jackson – BURNITUP! Feat. Missy Elliott (Lyric Video)
List of the Day –
James Bond Movie title themes [Wikipedia]
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