January 6, 2010

Top Stories –
Talk to your TV –
Web-based phone company Skype agrees a deal with LG and Panasonic for them to embed the Skype technology in television models with Internet connections, and will sell separate Web cameras that have built-in microphones for TV viewers who want to use Skype.

Time to join the gym (again) –
About 5,000 members of website BeautifulPeople.com – the networking site for attractive individuals – have been placed back in the “rating” section for putting on weight over Christmas. The United States has the most members who got kicked out (1,520), followed by the U.K. (832) and Canada (533).
Top Video –

Los Angeles: in motion from Michael Marantz on Vimeo.

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January 7, 2010

Top Stories –
Not like clockwork –
A Swiss millionaire is given a record speeding fine of $290,000 (£180,000) after he caught driving a red Ferrari at 137km/h (85mph) through a village. The penalty based on the unnamed motorist’s wealth – assessed by the court as $22.7m (£14.1m) – and because he was a repeat offender.

New Brand for Perry –
It’s revealed that Russell Brand and Katy Perry got engaged when on holiday in India.
Katy_Perry_and_Russell_BrandKaty Perry and Russell Brand

Top Video –
Making a designer font using a car

iQ font – When driving becomes writing / Full making of from Tom Galle on Vimeo.

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January 9, 2010

Top Stories –
I’ll be back… with the bill –
The governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, reveals deep spending cuts to contain the state’s $20bn (£12.5bn) budget deficit. Spending on health, welfare, transport and the environment is to be reduced.
Governor_Arnold_SchwarzeneggerArnold Schwarzenegger

Forget eating an apple, wear eye-shadow –
A French study, published in the journal Analytical Chemistry, suggests the heavy eye make-up worn by ancient Egyptians such as Cleopatra may have had medical as well as aesthetic benefits.

Top Video

Rush Hour London from Chris Searson on Vimeo.

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January 10, 2010

Top Stories –
Rod the Mod becomes a pensioner –
Rocker Rod Stewart celebrates his 65th birthday after being in the music industry for over 40 years and selling over 100 million records worldwide.
Rod_StewartRodStewart

Get your skates on –
Parts of Amsterdam’s historic canal system freeze over for the first time in over a decade, with skaters taking to the ice.

Top Video –
Fixed

“Fixed” 2010 from Jeffrey M. Thompson on Vimeo.

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January 11, 2010

Top Stories –
Tragedy in Haiti –
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake hits Haiti in the north Atlantic sea. Early estimates are that the death doll is between 45,000 – 50,000 [Note: final Haiti government estimates were a death toll of 316,000]

Fallen idol –
Simon Cowell dramatically announces he is quitting American Idol the day before the series starts to air. The big question seems to be who will replace him? [Answer Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler]
Simon_Cowell

Palin to significance –
Former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin signs up to be a contributor on the Fox News Channel, 2 years after she gained fame as the presidential running mate of Republican John McCain.
SarahPalinByDavidShankboneSarah Palin

Top Video –

Timefreeze Worx | 2009 from Real Creations on Vimeo.

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January 29, 2010

Top Stories –

John Terry affair gagging order released –
The British High Court has lifted a press silencing order preventing the public from learning details about England Captain John Terry’s alleged affair with a team-mate’s girlfriend. The ‘super-injunction’ was originally granted by a High Court judge under human rights laws but was lifted today. Chelsea captain Terry claimed that exposing his alleged infidelity would be a breach of his right to a ‘private and family life’.
John_TerryJohn Terry

The car in front… still won’t slow down –
Toyota is now recalling up to 1.8 million cars across Europe following an accelerator problem. The car maker will recall eight models including the Yaris, the Corolla (the biggest selling car ever – see list below) and the RAV4 sports utility vehicle. Last week it recalled 2.3 million cars in the US with faulty pedals.

Mais oui – the G-spot does exist –
French researchers have disagreed with English researchers at King’s College London who announced on New Years Day that the G-spot is a fallacy and does not exist. But French doctors the “G-Day” conference in Paris insist the G spot – supposedly a cluster of internal nerve endings – is far from a myth. “The English study is barking up the wrong tree,” said Sylvain Mimoun, France’s best-known gynaecologist.

Dog survives 24km trip on ice –
A dog stranded on an ice floe that had drifted 24km out to sea was rescued by the crew of a research boat off the coast of Gdynia in Poland. He is being called Baltic after the ship while a search is launched for his owners.

Top Video –
Tome Lowe – Mountain Light

Timescapes Timelapse: Mountain Light from Tom Lowe on Vimeo.

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December 13, 2014

Ben Haenow wins X Factor 2014 –
Ben Haenow has been named this year’s UK X Factor winner after going head-to-head with Fleur East in the 2014 final at Wembley Arena. The singer from Croydon, south London, was chosen by a public vote with over 10 million votes cast. Mel B the former Spice Girl and one of the four judges, missed the final due to illness. Tulisa Contostavlos stood in as her replacement.
Melanie_BMel B

FIFA dismiss complaints over report –
A complaint by US lawyer Michael Garcia who spent two years investigating World Cup corruption claims for Fifa has been dismissed by football’s governing body. Garcia’s findings were released as a 42-page summary by FIFA-appointed independent judge Hans-Joachim Eckert. Garcia said his summary was “incomplete and erroneous”. There have been calls to release the full report in the wake of Garcia’s complaint, but FIFA president Sepp Blater has said it cannot do so for legal reasons.
2014_FIFA_Announcement_(Joseph_Blatter)_Sepp Blatter at the 2014 FIFA Tournament Announcement in 2007

Indecent proposal –
A Dutchman’s attempt at a romantic wedding proposal using a mobile crane has resulted in the crane falling over and smashing into a neighbour’s roof. The man had rented a crane in the central town of Ijsselstein to descend in front of his girlfriend’s bedroom window, play her a song and ask her to marry him. Despite the disaster, in which no-one was hurt, his girlfriend accepted his offer.

Video of the Day –

Our Streets –

OUR STREETS from Jared Rosenthal on Vimeo.

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December 27, 2014

Top News Stories –

It’s snow fun –
After the worse start to the Europe ski season for over ten years due to very little snow, a large drop in temperature and a snowfall of over 12 inches (30 cm) in 12 hours causes chaos in the French Alps.

Fallen Fernando –
Once the world’s top striker Chelsea’s Fernando Torres is expected to be bought by Italy’s AC Milan in January but then loaned out to Atletico Madrid so ending up back in his native Spain.
Fernando-Torres Fernando Torres

Taxing issue –
The UK overtakes France as the fifth largest economy in the world after the money made from prostitution and drugs was counted in the GDP figure for the first time.
Britain’s economy is expected to be worth a total £1.86 trillion in 2014 – up from £1.63 trillion the previous year.

First manager sacked in EPL –
Neil Warnock is the first English Premier League manager to be sacked this season after Crystal Palace dispensed with his services for a second time. It is the latest a manager has been fired in the season since 1996 (January 2nd)

Video of the Day –

Color War “Shapeshifting” from crystal moselle on Vimeo.

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March 17, 2015

Top News Stories –

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 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.

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March 20, 2015

Top News Stories –

America’s longest-serving innocent prisoner receives $1m for 39 years in jail –
An Ohio man freed last year after spending 39 years in jail for a murder he did not commit will receive more than $1 million from the state for his wrongful imprisonment. Ricky Jackson, the longest-held US prisoner to be cleared of a crime, will receive just over $1 million (£680,000) following an order from an Ohio Court of Claims judge on Thursday. The 39 years Mr Jackson spent in jail was the longest time a prisoner had been held before being exonerated. [Daily Telegraph]

‘Breathtaking’ solar eclipse witnessed by millions –
Millions of people in the UK and northern Europe have glimpsed the best solar eclipse in years. A great swathe of the Earth’s surface was plunged into darkness as the Moon came between us and the Sun. From an aeroplane above the Faroe Islands, a BBC camera crew captured startling footage of the event reaching totality at 09:41 GMT. The deep shadow formed first in the North Atlantic and then swept up into the Arctic, ending at the North Pole. See video of the day [BBC]

Martin Guptill hits highest World Cup score in New Zealand victory –
New Zealand’s Martin Guptill smashed the highest score in World Cup history with 237 not out against West Indies to send his team into the semi-finals. The 28-year-old’s 163-ball innings featured 11 sixes and 24 fours and beat the 215 made by West Indies’ Chris Gayle earlier in the tournament. Guptill hit 137 from his last 52 balls to help his side post 393-6. Trent Boult then took four early wickets as New Zealand bowled out the Windies for 250 to seal a 143-run win. [BBC]
Martin-GuptillMartin Guptill

Video of the Day –

UK Solar Eclipse [Daily Telegraph]

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May 10, 2015

Top News Stories –

Ant and Dec repeat Bafta success –
Ant and Dec have picked up two prizes at the Bafta Television Awards for the second year in a row. The duo won best entertainment show and best entertainment performance for their ITV show Saturday Night Takeaway. ITV’s Coronation Street also won best soap in the year it celebrated its 60th anniversary. [BBC] For full winners list see List of the Day below.

Scotland tops gay equality league –
Scotland has been rated the best country in Europe in terms of legal equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people. Scotland came top of the Rainbow Index after meeting 92% of ILGA-Europe’s criteria for equality and human rights, ahead of the UK as a whole. Equality campaigners said the ranking recognised the country’s progressive measures. But they said more needed to be done to achieve full equality. [BBC]

Video of the Day –

We Are The Faction Collective: #S02E03 from Faction Skis on Vimeo.

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June 7, 2015

Top News Stories –

Kate Moss escorted off flight ‘for being disruptive’ –
Supermodel Kate Moss has been escorted off a plane at Luton airport after reportedly being disruptive. The Easyjet flight had arrived from Bodrum in Turkey on Sunday afternoon. In a statement, Bedfordshire Police said they “were called to assist staff in escorting a passenger from a flight arriving into Luton airport this afternoon”. No formal complaints were made against her and she was not arrested. [BBC] In February 2010 Calvin Klein said of Moss – while “a great model,” she was a “difficult” person to work with.
Kate-Moss-with-Mario-TestinoKate Moss with photographer Mario Testino

Bradley Wiggins breaks UCI Hour Record at Lee Valley Velopark –
Sir Bradley Wiggins has broken the iconic hour record by completing a distance of 54.526km (33.88 miles). The 35-year-old smashed the record previously held by fellow Briton Alex Dowsett of 52.937km (32.89 miles), which was set in May. Roared on by a capacity crowd at Lee Valley VeloPark in London, Wiggins became the sixth rider to claim a Tour de France title and the hour record. “I’m just glad it’s done. It was torturous,” he said.
“That’s the closest I have ever come to what it’s like to a have a baby,” Wiggins, who becomes the fifth person in the past nine months to break the record, joked. The multiple Olympic and world champion on track and road surpassed Dowsett’s 212 laps, set in Manchester, with 1min 42secs to spare and eventually completed 219 laps.[BBC] In January 2015, Wiggins launched his own cycling team, Team Wiggins, to compete in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
Roubaix - Paris-Roubaix, le 13 avril 2014 (B16)Bradley Wiggins

Dame Helen Mirren reigns at Tony theatre awards –
Dame Helen Mirren has been named best actress in a play at the Tony theatre awards in New York. She took home the prize for her portrayal of the Queen in The Audience. Dame Helen, a previous Oscar-winner for The Queen, accepted the award saying: “Your Majesty, you did it again.” Other wins included Alex Sharp for best actor and Marianne Elliott for best directing of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which was also named best play. [BBC] See List of the Day
Helen-Mirren

Actor, Sir Christopher Lee dies, aged 93 –
See full story on June 11, 2015 when his death was announced.
Sir-Christopher-Lee-in-2013Sir Christopher Lee (1922-2015)

Video of the Day –

My Homemade 40W LASER SHOTGUN!!!!!

List of the Day –

Tony Awards 2015 Winners –

Best musical

An American in Paris
Something Rotten!
The Visit

Best play

WINNER: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Disgraced
Hand to God
Wolf Hall Parts One & Two

Best play revival

WINNER: Skylight
The Elephant Man
This Is Our Youth
You Can’t Take It With You

Best musical revival

WINNER: The King and I
On the Twentieth Century
On the Town

Best leading actor in a musical

WINNER: Michael Cerveris, Fun Home
Robert Fairchild, An American in Paris
Brian d’Arcy James, Something Rotten!
Ken Watanabe, The King and I
Tony Yazbeck, On the Town

Best leading actress in a musical

WINNER: Kelli O’Hara, The King and I
Kristin Chenoweth, On the Twentieth Century
Leanne Cope, An American in Paris
Beth Malone, Fun Home
Chita Rivera, The Visit

Best leading actor in a play

WINNER: Alex Sharp, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Steven Boyer, Hand to God
Bradley Cooper, The Elephant Man
Ben Miles, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two
Bill Nighy, Skylight

Best leading actress in a play

WINNER: Helen Mirren, The Audience
Geneva Carr, Hand to God
Elisabeth Moss, The Heidi Chronicles
Carey Mulligan, Skylight
Ruth Wilson, Constellations

Best featured actor in a musical

WINNER: Christian Borle, Something Rotten!
Andy Karl, On the Twentieth Century
Brad Oscar, Something Rotten!
Brandon Uranowitz, An American in Paris
Max von Essen, An American in Paris

Best featured actress in a musical

WINNER: Ruthie Ann Miles, The King and I
Victoria Clark, Gigi
Judy Kuhn, Fun Home
Sydney Lucas, Fun Home
Emily Skeggs, Fun Home

Best featured actor in a play

WINNER: Richard McCabe, The Audience
Matthew Beard, Skylight
K. Todd Freeman, Airline Highway
Alessandro Nivola, The Elephant Man
Nathaniel Parker, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two
Micah Stock, It’s Only a Play

Best featured actress in a play

WINNER: Annaleigh Ashford, You Can’t Take It With You
Patricia Clarkson, The Elephant Man
Lydia Leonard, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two
Sarah Stiles, Hand to God
Julie White, Airline Highway

Best book of a musical

WINNER: Fun Home, Lisa Kron
An American in Paris, Craig Lucas
Something Rotten!, Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell
The Visit, Terrence McNally

Best original score (music and/or lyrics) for the theatre

WINNER: Fun Home, Music: Jeanine Tesori, Lyrics: Lisa Kron
The Last Ship, Music & Lyrics: Sting
Something Rotten!, Music & Lyrics: Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick
The Visit, Music: John Kander, Lyrics: Fred Ebb

Best director of a play

WINNER: Marianne Elliott, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Stephen Daldry, Skylight
Scott Ellis, You Can’t Take It With You
Jeremy Herrin, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two
Moritz von Stuelpnagel, Hand to God

Best director of a musical

WINNER: Sam Gold, Fun Home
Casey Nicholaw, Something Rotten!
John Rando, On the Town
Bartlett Sher, The King and I
Christopher Wheeldon, An American in Paris

Best scenic design of a play

WINNER: Bunny Christie and Finn Ross, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Bob Crowley, Skylight
Christopher Oram, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two
David Rockwell, You Can’t Take It With You

Best scenic design of a musical

WINNER: Bob Crowley and 59 Productions, An American in Paris
David Rockwell, On the Twentieth Century
Michael Yeargan, The King and I
David Zinn, Fun Home

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July 10, 2015

Top News Stories –

Omar Sharif, actor – dies aged 83 –
Omar Sharif was the most famous Egyptian actor of his generation. He brought a smouldering intensity to films such as Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago. A man of striking good looks he escorted some of the world’s most beautiful women. But he quit acting to become a ubiquitous presence at the world’s most exclusive gaming tables. [BBC]
Omar-SharifOmar Sharif

Greece’s Parliament Approves Prime Minister’s Bailout Plan –
Setting the stage for a pivotal deal with Europe, the Greek Parliament early Saturday approved Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s proposal for a three-year, $59 billion rescue package with harsh austerity terms that was remarkably similar to the one Greek voters rejected in a referendum less than a week ago. With a Sunday deadline looming for a decision on the bailout, a crunch point that all sides see as Greece’s last chance to avoid bankruptcy and stay in the euro currency zone, the plan passed by an overwhelming margin. [NY Times] Alexis Tsipras was elected on January 25, 2015 and vowed to reverse many of the austerity measures adopted by Greece since a series of bailouts began in 2010.
Alexis_TsiprasAlexis Tsipras

Video of the Day –

Game of Thrones: Audition Reel (HBO)

List of the Day –

Omar Sharif filmography [from Wikipedia]

 
Year Title Role Notes
1954 Shaytan al-Sahra[56] Known as Devil of the Sahara
1954 Sira` Fi al-Wadi Ahmed Also known as The Blazing Sun or Struggle in the Valley or Fight in the Valley
1955 Ayyamna al-Holwa Ahmed Also known as Our Best Days
1956 Sira` Fi al-Mina Ragab
1957 Ard al-Salam Ahmed Known as Land of Peace
1957 The Lebanese Mission Mokrir Original title was La Châtelaine du Liban; credited as Omar Cherif
1958 La Anam Aziz Also known as Sleepless and No Tomorrow
Goha Goha Credited as Omar Cherif
1959 Sayyidat al-Qasr Adel Lady of the Palace
Siraa fil Nil[57] Muhassab Struggle on the Nile
1960 Bidaya wa Nihaya Hassanien
Hobi al-Wahid My Only Love
Esha’a hob Hussein A Rumor of Love
Nahr al-Hob Khalid The River of Love
1961 A Man in our House[57] Ibrahim في بيتنا رجل
1962 Lawrence of Arabia Sherif Ali Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor
Nominated – Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
1964 The Fall of the Roman Empire Sohamus
Behold a Pale Horse Francisco
The Yellow Rolls-Royce Davich
1965 Genghis Khan Genghis Khan
Marco the Magnificent Sheik Alla Hou, ‘The Desert Wind’
Doctor Zhivago Dr. Zhivago (Yuri) Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
1966 The Poppy Is Also a Flower Dr. Rad
1967 The Night of the Generals Major Grau
More Than a Miracle Prince Rodrigo Fernandez
1968 Funny Girl Nick Arnstein
Mayerling Archduke Rudolf
1969 Mackenna’s Gold Colorado
The Appointment Frenderico Fendi
Che! Che Guevara
1970 The Last Valley Vogel
1971 The Horsemen Uraz
The Burglars Abel Zacharia simultaneously shot in French as Le Casse with the same cast
1974 The Tamarind Seed Feodor Sverdlov
Juggernaut Captain Axel Brunel
1975 Funny Lady Nicky Arnstein
1976 Ace Up My Sleeve Andre Ferren also known as Crime and Passion
The Pink Panther Strikes Again Egyptian assassin uncredited cameo
1979 Ashanti: Land of No Mercy Prince Hassan
Bloodline Ivo Palazzi
1980 S*H*E[58] Baron Cesare Magnasco S*H*E: Security Hazards Expert
The Baltimore Bullet The Deacon
Oh! Heavenly Dog Bart
1981 Green Ice Meno Argenti
Inchon Indian officer uncredited cameo
1984 Top Secret! Agent Cedric
1987 Grand Larceny Rashid Saud
1988 The Possessed Stepan Les Possédés
Les Pyramides bleues (fr)[59] Alex The Novice
1989 Al-aragoz [60] Mohamed Gad El Kareem The Puppeteer
1990 The Rainbow Thief Dima
1991 Mowaten masri An Egyptian Citizen
1992 Beyond Justice Emir Beni-Zair
Mayrig Hagop
588 rue paradis Hagop Mother
1993 Dehk we le’b we gad we hob[57] Laughter, Games, Seriousness and Love
1997 Heaven Before I Die Khalil Gibran
1998 Mysteries of Egypt Grandfather Documentary
1999 The 13th Warrior Melchisideck
2001 The Parole Officer Victor
2003 Monsieur Ibrahim Monsieur Ibrahim César Award for Best Actor
2004 Hidalgo Sheikh Riyadh
2006 One Night with the King Prince Memucan
The 10 commandments Jethro (شعيب)
2008 Hassan & Marcus Hassan/Morcus Hassan wa Morcus
10,000 BC Narrator Voice only
2009 The Traveller Older Hassan Commonly known as Al Mosafer
J’ai oublié de te dire[61] Jaume I forgot to Tell You
2013 Rock the Casbah Moulay Hassan
2015 1001 Inventions and the World of Ibn Al-Haytham Grandfather/Narrator Voice; final film role[4]

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4 #WeForgiveYouAriana #WhiteGirlsDoItBetter #BattleOfBritain
5 Omar Sharif #VoteMoose Omar Sharif
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7 #MatiasElegidos #WeForgiveYouAriana Prince Philip
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Armed conflicts and attacks
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  • Greek government-debt crisis
    • A bailout plan is submitted two hours before the midnight deadline. The plan would raise a retirement age to 67 and cut pensions by 15% for those retiring at 62. (LA Times)(Money Control)
  • Ellen Pao resigns as the interim CEO of Internet site reddit following a user backlash over the deletion of some subreddits for harassment and sacking of a popular admin. Site co-founder Steve Huffman will take her place. (WSJ)
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September 6, 2015

Top News Stories –

Finland: City hands out ‘survival box’ to new students –
A Finnish city is handing out “survival packs” to new students, taking inspiration from the country’s famous baby starter boxes. The city of Lahti has packaged up a selection of essentials for new arrivals to its universities and colleges, helped by contributions from local businesses, national broadcaster Yle reports. More than 1,000 students have received one of the kits so far. And just like the parcels given to expectant mothers across the country, Lahti’s offering comes in a modest cardboard box. Among the items new students will find inside is a bus pass for trips around the city, some locally produced sheets and socks, and a pack of porridge, Yle says. Students can also tuck into the popular Nordic snack salmiakki – a sour, salty liquorice. The survival pack is meant to introduce students to the delights of Lahti while also serving as a marketing opportunity for businesses in the city. [BBC]

BBC plans North Korea broadcasts –
The BBC is to propose an expansion of the World Service – including its first radio broadcasts to North Korea [on short wave radio] – as it sets out plans for its own future. A children’s iPlayer and a pool of 100 local reporters who would share work with newspapers are also planned. Director general Tony Hall will say the aim is to turn the BBC into “an open platform for British creativity”. The BBC is laying out its plans as part of negotiations with the government ahead of charter renewal in 2016. [BBC]

Video of the Day –

MOVEment

MOVEment: Chalayan x AyaBambi and Ryan Heffington from Jacob Sutton on Vimeo.

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September 10, 2015

Top News Stories –

New human-like species discovered in S Africa –

Scientists have discovered a new human-like species in a burial chamber deep in a cave system in South Africa. The discovery of 15 partial skeletons is the largest single discovery of its type in Africa. The researchers claim that the discovery will change ideas about our human ancestors. The studies which have been published in the journal Elife also indicate that these individuals were capable of ritual behaviour. The species, which has been named naledi, has been classified in the grouping, or genus,Homo, to which modern humans belong. [BBC] See List of the Day

Pope Francis emojis launched for US visit –
Pope Francis draws huge crowds wherever he goes and now his fans can share their admiration with papal emojis. A new keyboard app is being released to mark the Pope’s upcoming visit to America. You can have the Pope balancing a basketball or riding a taxi (although we suspect he’d prefer his Popemobile). They’re among 52 emojis and 14 GIFs in the app from Swyft Media, the company which created the first ginger emojis.
Pope emojis Pope emojis by Swyft Media

Giant Lenin ‘head’ unearthed 24 years after burial in Berlin –
The giant head of a statue of Russian revolutionary Lenin has been unearthed, 24 years after it was buried in a German forest. Workers dug up the granite structure from woodland outside Berlin, following a campaign by historians. The head was once part of a 19m (62ft) monument to the communist leader, which towered over the east of the city. It was dismantled in 1991 after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the pieces were buried in a secluded forest. [BBC]

Video of the Day –

iPhone 6s – The Only Thing That’s Changed Is…

List of the Day –

Comparative table of Homo species
Species Temporal range Mya Habitat Adult height Adult mass Cranial capacity (cm³) Fossil record Discovery / publication of name
H. habilis 2.1 – 1.5[136] Africa 150 cm (4 ft 11 in) 33–55 kg (73–121 lb) 510–660 Many 1960/1964
H. erectus 1.9 – 0.07[137] Africa, Eurasia (Java, China, India, Caucasus) 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) 60 kg (130 lb) 850 (early) – 1,100 (late) Many[138] 1891/1892
H. rudolfensis
membership in Homo uncertain
1.9 Kenya 700 2 sites 1972/1986
H. gautengensis
also classified as H. habilis
1.9 – 0.6 South Africa 100 cm (3 ft 3 in) 3 individuals[139] 2010/2010
H. ergaster
also classified as H. erectus
1.8 – 1.3[140] Eastern and Southern Africa 700–850 Many 1975
H. antecessor
also classified as H. heidelbergensis
1.2 – 0.8 Spain 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) 90 kg (200 lb) 1,000 2 sites 1997
H. cepranensis
a single fossil, possibly H. erectus
0.9 – 0.35 Italy 1,000 1 skull cap 1994/2003
H. heidelbergensis 0.6 – 0.35[141] Europe, Africa, China 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) 90 kg (200 lb) 1,100–1,400 Many 1908
H. neanderthalensis
possibly a subspecies of H. sapiens
0.35 – 0.04[142] Europe, Western Asia 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) 55–70 kg (121–154 lb) (heavily built) 1,200–1,900 Many (1829)/1864
H. rhodesiensis
also classified as H. heidelbergensis
0.3 – 0.12 Zambia 1,300 Very few 1921
H. tsaichangensis
possibly H. erectus
0.25 – 0.2 Taiwan 1 individual pre-2008/2015
H. sapiens
(modern humans)
0.2[143] – present Worldwide 150 – 190 cm (4 ft 7 in – 6 ft 3 in) 50–100 kg (110–220 lb) 950–1,800 (extant) —/1758
H. floresiensis
classification uncertain
0.10 – 0.012 Indonesia 100 cm (3 ft 3 in) 25 kg (55 lb) 400 7 individuals 2003/2004
Denisova hominin
possible H. sapiens subspecies or hybrid
0.04 Russia 1 site 2010
Red Deer Cave people
possible H. sapiens subspecies or hybrid
0.0145–0.0115 China Very few 2012

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October 7, 2015

Top News Stories –

Blatter faces 90-day suspension from FIFA, confidant says –
FIFA president Sepp Blatter faces an imminent 90 day suspension from soccer if the governing body’s ethics judge backs a prosecutor’s recommendation, a close friend and former advisor to Blatter told Reuters on Wednesday. Blatter’s long-term confidant Klaus Stoehlker said the decision by judge Hans-Joachim Eckert on the provisional suspension was expected by Friday. “There is no final decision, this is a recommendation from the lower part of the Ethics Committee to the upper part,” said Stoehlker, who added that Blatter had been informed of the development. [Reuters] In July FIFA turned down a request for Blatter to attend a U.S. Senate Panel Hearing
Sepp_Blatter_Apr_2015Sepp Blatter

Twitter launches Moments feature for ‘the day’s biggest and best stories’ –
Twitter’s launched a new feature called Moments to make it easier to see the day’s biggest and best stories. It works by grouping together interesting and important tweets on single subjects – which you can then read, even if you don’t follow the people tweeting them. Moments will appear in a special tab rather than on your timeline. It’s hoped this will appeal to people who find Twitter too confusing to start with. The Moments tab will be divided into sections including news, sports and entertainment. For now, it’s only being rolled out in America but will be heading to Europe soon. [BBC Newsbeat]

The Great British Bake Off 2015: the final – Nadiya crowned winner –
So the smallest baker had the biggest smile. In the final of The Great British Bake-Off (BBC One), 4ft 11in Nadiya Hussain’s face lit up with victory. It would have taken a hard-hearted viewer not to grin at her win too. After 10 weeks of fiendish challenges – popping dough into proving drawers, peering anxiously into ovens and wincing as tough-to-please judges poked at their pastry – just three of the original 12 contenders remained, their eyes on the title of Britain’s best amateur baker. Nadiya became the third consecutive female winner of that glass cake-stand trophy. It was a victory for women, for multicultural Britain and for brilliant baking. [Daily Telegraph] See Top Twitter Trends and List of the Day

Retired wrestler Hiroshi Hase appointed to Japanese cabinet by PM Shinzo Abe –
Shinzo Abe, the Japanese prime minister, has appointed a former television announcer and a retired wrestler who went by the ring name Viet Cong Express #1 to his new cabinet. Mr Abe retained around half his ministers in the first reshuffle of portfolios since he won the general election in December, but also has one eye on elections for the upper house of the Japanese parliament next summer. Hiroshi Hase, 54, was appointed minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology and the challenge of “education rebuilding”.

Video of the Day –

Honest Trailers – Aladdin

List of the Day –

Great British Bake Off Innuendos 2015

“The wobble should be like me backside” – Sandy on her crème brûlée (2015, episode 4)

“Stand away from your hot baps!” – Mel and Sue

“One crack bad, two cracks better” – Mel Giedroyc to Ugne about her Madeira cake (2015, episode 1)

“You have got two hours to pop Mary’s cherry” – Sue (the second half of the quote was “in the oven”)

“The terror of a soggy bottom has been keeping me up all night” – Season four finalist Kimberley

“Go on Mary, give it a good slapping” – Paul Hollywood

“Time to stop fiddling with Charlotte now” – Sue Perkins

“Oh no, you have some irregular-shaped balls” – Mary Berry

“He loves his buns”- Mary Berry, on Paul Hollywood

“It’s all in the wrist action” – Mary Berry

“Get those lady’s fingers soggy!” – Sue Perkins

 “Messy top, tidy bottom” – Sue on Tamal

“Right bakers, time to reveal your cracks” – Sue

“I’m pinching my bottom seam” – Flora

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1 #QueMeFalteTodoMenos #WCW #GBBOFinal
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4 #MTVFANWARSDirectioners Matt Barnes #artsdigital
5 Edgar Allan Poe #NerdUpATVShow #Leaders15
6 Vin Diesel Moana Caspian Sea
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November 25, 2015

Top News Stories –

Adele’s album 25 breaks US record previously held by *NSYNC –
It’s not that much of a surprise, it was widely predicted, but Adele’s new album is doing quite well (understatement.) It’s broken the record for first week album sales in the US, selling 2.4 million copies since Friday.
The record was previously held by boy band *NSYNC and their second album, No Strings Attached, from 2000. Adele won’t be making the album available on music streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music for now.
It takes a powerful artist to still do well despite not being on the big streaming services. Taylor Swift did it last year, withdrawing her material from Spotify. [BBC Newsbeat]
AdeleAdele

The condom challenge is the latest bizarre trend sweeping the internet –
It’s been at least a few weeks since the last ridiculous internet trend, so let us introduce the condom challenge. In apparent homage to the long-forgotten Ice Bucket Challenge, the new trend involves people filling up condoms with water and dropping it on the head of a friend, significant other or loved one. Videos of people dropping condoms full of water have been flooding social media feeds in recent weeks. [Daily Telegraph]
Condom ChallengeCondom Challenge

Queen asks judges to decide if DNA evidence can ‘uncover affair’ in Scottish hereditary title dispute –
Accountant Murray Pringle, 74, of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, and Simon Pringle, 56, a businessman who lives near Hastings, East Sussex, both lay claim to the baronetcy of Pringle of Stichill. The Queen has asked senior judges to make a decision on the dispute under a piece of legislation dating back more than 150 years. The men are both members of a Scottish family fighting over the rights to the baronetcy. Seven judges are now analysing evidence at a hearing of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. The hearing was expected to finish on Wednesday but judges, who are all Supreme Court justices, are not expected to publish a ruling until next year. [Daily Telegraph]

Video of the Day –

Happy Place from sharp & jenkins on Vimeo.

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1 #NoalaViolenciadeGenero Stedman Bailey Civil War
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4 Delcídio Kobe #WhiteRibbonDay
5 당신의 결과 #ICarvedTheTurkeyAndOutPopped ONE MONTH UNTIL CHRISTMAS
6 Selamat Hari Guru #2015WasTheYearThatIFinally #IDEVAW
7 Kobe Frank Gifford George Best
8 #كذبه_كنت_مصدق�… #jacobsaletonight #GeordieShore
9 #WelcomeToMexico1D Happy Thanksgiving Eve Roma
10 Civil War #8MonthsWithoutZayn #ThanksgivingClapBack

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December 9, 2015

Top News Stories –

Angela Merkel named as Time magazine’s person of the year –
Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, has been named by Time magazine as its person of the year – the first woman to receive the accolade in almost 30 years. Mrs Merkel, 61, was chosen for her leadership at a time of immense difficulty in Europe, and becomes the first woman to be named as person of the year since 1986. Last year’s winners were the Ebola fighters. “Not once or twice but three times there has been reason to wonder this year whether Europe could continue to exist – not culturally or geographically but as a historic experiment in ambitious statecraft,” said Nancy Gibbs, editor of the magazine. [Daily Telegraph] See List of the Day
Angela_Merkel_Times_Magazine_CoverAngela Merkel Time Magazine Cover

Knightsbridge to fine boy-racers up to £1,000 if they rev their supercar engines –
For years they have infuriated residents in London’s Knightsbridge with their incessant racing around the neighbourhood in noisy supercars. But boy-racers found guilty of wrecking the peace will now be fined £1000 after locals won a battle to make the uncouth behaviour a criminal offence. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which plays host to Harrods department store, has introduced a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) which hopes to restore peace to the neighbourhood. [Daily Telegraph]

Denmark: Nature agency offers free ponds to landowners –
Denmark’s nature agency is offering to pay for people to have ponds installed on their land in an effort to protect endangered wildlife. The government’s AgriFish Agency is offering to foot the bill for creating water features up to 1,000 sq m (10,764 sq ft) in size, the Danish Broadcasting Corporation reports. But such is the level of interest in the new scheme, officials say they probably won’t be able to meet demand. So far there have been more than 100 inquiries by interested landowners, the report says. [BBC]

Video of the Day –

YouTube Rewind: Now Watch Me 2015 | #YouTubeRewind [Over 13 million views in 24 hours]

List of the Day –

The Shortlist for Times Person of the Year 2015
Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi
Donald Trump
Black Lives Matter
Hassan Rouhani
Travis Kalanick
Caitlyn Jenner

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4 #زد_رصيدك26 Grammy #VSFashionShow 10:35
5 #ParaEl2016Yo Stan Grant #newsnight 10:00
6 #PurposeWorldTour Saint West De Gea 09:00
7 #felizmiercoles #Run1stWin #ScreamQueensFinale 08:55
8 #رقص_سالم_الدو�… #HourOfCode Block Donald J Trump 08:55
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December 26, 2015

Top News Stories –

Nudists rescue sinking yacht at start of Sydney-Hobart race –
A group of struggling sailors in Sydney were given a surprising rescue when they found themselves being hauled to shore by a nudists. A small wooden boat had sailed out to watch the start of the annual Sydney to Hobart race, which sees 100 vessels set out on Boxing Day every year. But as spectators were walking back along the coast, they saw a boat get in to trouble near Lady Bay Beach – a popular site for nudists. “The boat came angling into the shore, which was a bit weird,” said Chris Pearce, a photographer with Getty agency. Mr Pearce said that a crowd of people swimming in the sea came to their rescue, in waters around three feet deep. After the woman and child were rescued from the boat, those left on board started to see the funny side of the situation. Photographs of the rescue show at least one man on board grinning as nude men surrounded the boat, ready to lend a hand. [Daily Telegraph]

Twitter is winning war on trolls and extremists, says its Europe chief –
The social media giant, which is 10 years old in March, has amassed 320 million users and a valuation of more than $33bn (£22bn). But it desperately needs to turn back waves of negative headlines and to find ways to engage more deeply with the margins of its audience. But Twitter is fighting back. Boosted in October by the return of its founder Jack Dorsey, now permanent chief executive, it believes it is winning its war on trolls and clearing its decks of violent extremists. Speaking to The Independent ahead of the company’s tenth anniversary, Bruce Daisley, head of Twitter in Europe, said: “We have spent longer and put more effort into user safety than any other issue. The measures we’ve taken correlate directly with a reduction in the amount of bad behaviour on the platform.” [The Independant]

Video of the Day –

BEST WISHES from Jeroen Houben on Vimeo.

List of the Day –

Google Trends 2015 –
Top Searches – Global

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1 #SabadoDetremuraSdv #SabadoDetremuraSdv #HappyBirthdayJade
2 #WeAreProudOfYou5SOS #WeAreProudOfYou5SOS Rolling Stones
3 #زد_رصيدك43 #زد_رصيدك43 #WeAreProudOfYou5SOS
4 #BeautyAndTheBestieDay2 #BeautyAndTheBestieDay2 #flooding
5 #SintoFaltaDaEpocaQue #SintoFaltaDaEpocaQue #DowntonAbbey
6 #WeAllAreJustinBieber #WeAllAreJustinBieber #gogglesprogs
7 #RewindBr #RewindBr #20thingsiwantfor2016
8 #بلغ_عن_من_تكشف… #بلغ_عن_من_تكشف… #Barfest2016
9 #AUSvWI #AUSvWI #wankpuffin
10 #20thingsiwantfor2016 #20thingsiwantfor2016 #EastEnders

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January 11, 2016

Top News Stories –

Lionel Messi wins Ballon d’Or over Ronaldo & Neymar –
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d’Or award for the world’s best player for the fifth time. The 28-year-old Argentine had 41.33% of the vote, with Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo (27.76%) second and Barca’s Neymar (7.86%) third. Either Messi or Ronaldo, who became a three-time winner last year, have won the past eight awards. United States midfielder Carli Lloyd, who scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final, won the women’s award. England coach Mark Sampson was beaten to the women’s football coach of the year award by USA boss Jill Ellis. [BBC] See List of the Day
Lionel MessiLionel Messi

Video of the Day –

EHANG184, world’s first Autonomous Aerial Vehicle

List of the Day –

Past Ballon d’Or winners

2014: Cristiano Ronaldo 2008: Cristiano Ronaldo
2013: Cristiano Ronaldo 2007: Kaka
2012: Lionel Messi 2006: Fabio Cannavaro
2011: Lionel Messi 2005: Ronaldinho
2010: Lionel Messi 2004: Ronaldinho
2009: Lionel Messi 2003: Zinedine Zidane

Messi’s 2015 in numbers

  • 61 games, 52 goals and 26 assists.
  • A goal every 101 minutes and an assist every 202 minutes.
  • Best minutes-per-goal rate – 80 – of anyone scoring a minimum of 10 goals across Europe’s top five leagues during 2015.
  • Directly involved in 49 goals in La Liga – 34 scored and 15 assists – which was the joint-most with Ronaldo in 2015 across the top five European leagues.
  • Scored in all six club tournaments in 2015, as Barcelona won five of them.

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4 #BallondOr Alice Paul #TUBill
5 #LunesDeGanarSegidores Hunky Dory Young Americans
6 David Bowie #NAIAS #BringSnacksToAMovie
7 #من_علامات_الج�… #alayma David Bowie
8 #FracasasteSi $1.4 BILLION Rebel Rebel
9 DAIGO #IWriteAboutItBecause #FACupDraw
10 #VHMCensurado #WorkTogether Davey Cameron

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  • New Year’s Eve sexual assaults in Germany
    • Thousands of protesters in Leipzig demonstrate against a record refugee influx they blame for mass sexual violence at New Year’s Eve events in Cologne and other German cities. Many chanted ‘We are the people’, ‘Resistance!’ and ‘Deport them!’. The rally was organized by a local chapter of PEGIDA (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident). Six Pakistani men and one Syrian man were also attacked by so-called vigilantes in Cologne, following calls on social media for “revenge” in the wake of the New Year’s Eve assaults. (Daily Mail)
Sport

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February 4, 2016

Top News Stories –

Earth, Wind & Fire soul band founder Maurice White dies –
The founder of soul group Earth, Wind & Fire, Maurice White, has died in the US, his brother has said. White, 74, died in his sleep in Los Angeles on Thursday morning. He suffered from Parkinson’s Disease. His band had a series of hits including September, Boogie Wonderland, Shining Star and After the Love has Gone. The singer-songwriter was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1992 but his condition was reported to have got worse in recent months. [BBC]
Maruice_White_1982Maruice White 1982

Black tarantula named after Johnny Cash –
A new species of black tarantula that lives near Folsom Prison, California, has been named after Johnny Cash. The famously black-clad country singer wrote a song about the prison, and also played a historic series of concerts for inmates there in the 1960s. Aphonopelma johnnycashi is among 14 new tarantula species from the southern US which have been described by biologists in the journal ZooKeys. As part of his PhD research at Auburn University in Alabama, Chris Hamilton carefully whittled that down to 29. He eliminated a lot of double-counting, but also defined 14 species that were entirely new to science. “It’s a perfect name. It fits the spider – it’s found around Folsom and the males are predominantly all black, so it fits his image. “I have a Johnny Cash tattoo so I was very happy that it worked out that way.” [BBC]
Johnny_Cash_At_Folsom_PrisonThe cover art for the album At Folsom Prison by the artist Johnny Cash. Copyright Columbia Pictures

Video of the Day –

Our Changing Climate from Jack Harries on Vimeo.

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5 #FelizJueves #scalepeacetech #SupportSyrians
6 #あなたをダメダメ�… Julian Assange #friendsday
7 #DiaMundialContraElCancer #NationalPrayerBreakfast Julian Assange
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March 13, 2016

Top News Stories –

Paris St-Germain score 9 as they win French title –
Paris St-Germain were crowned French champions with two months to spare as Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored four in a 9-0 demolition of bottom side Troyes. Edinson Cavani, Javier Pastore and Adrien Rabiot put them 3-0 up inside 19 minutes before Ibrahimovic struck three within 10 minutes in the second half. Matthieu Saunier scored an own goal and Cavani made it 8-0 before Ibrahimovic added his fourth. [BBC]

  • Paris St-Germain won the league with 62 days and eight games to spare, a record for any of Europe’s ‘big five’ domestic leagues.
  • In 115 appearances in Ligue 1, Zlatan Ibrahimovic now has 102 goals and 35 assists.
  • This win was the sixth time this season that PSG have scored four goals or more in a Ligue 1 game.
  • This title is PSG’s sixth overall and their fourth in a row

Zlatan_IbrahimovicZlatan_Ibrahimovic

Video of the Day –

Jailbreak from HouseSpecial on Vimeo.

List of the Day –

French Ligue 1 title winners

Year Winner[2][21][22] Runner-up Third place
2015–16 Paris Saint-Germain
2014–15 Paris Saint-Germain Lyon AS Monaco
2013–14 Paris Saint-Germain AS Monaco Lille
2012–13 Paris Saint-Germain Marseille Lyon
2011–12 Montpellier Paris Saint-Germain Lille
2010–11 Lille Marseille Lyon
2009–10 Marseille Lyon Auxerre
2008–09 Bordeaux Marseille Lyon
2007–08 Lyon Bordeaux Marseille
2006–07 Lyon Marseille Toulouse
2005–06 Lyon Bordeaux Lille
2004–05 Lyon Lille AS Monaco
2003–04 Lyon Paris Saint-Germain AS Monaco
2002–03 Lyon AS Monaco Marseille
2001–02 Lyon Lens Auxerre
2000–01 Nantes Lyon Lille
1999–2000 AS Monaco Paris Saint-Germain Lyon
1998–99 Bordeaux Marseille Lyon
1997–98 Lens Metz AS Monaco
1996–97 AS Monaco Paris Saint-Germain Nantes
1995–96 Auxerre Paris Saint-Germain AS Monaco
1994–95 Nantes Lyon Paris Saint-Germain
1993–94 Paris Saint-Germain Marseille Auxerre
1992–93 [nb 3] Paris Saint-Germain AS Monaco
1991–92 Marseille AS Monaco Paris Saint-Germain
1990–91 Marseille AS Monaco Auxerre
1989–90 Marseille Bordeaux AS Monaco
1988–89 Marseille Paris Saint-Germain AS Monaco
1987–88 AS Monaco Bordeaux Montpellier
1986–87 Bordeaux Marseille Toulouse
1985–86 Paris Saint-Germain Nantes Bordeaux
1984–85 Bordeaux Nantes AS Monaco
1983–84 Bordeaux AS Monaco Auxerre
1982–83 Nantes Bordeaux Paris Saint-Germain
1981–82 AS Monaco Saint-Étienne Sochaux
1980–81 Saint-Étienne Nantes Bordeaux
1979–80 Nantes Sochaux Saint-Étienne
1978–79 Strasbourg Nantes Saint-Étienne
1977–78 AS Monaco Nantes Strasbourg
1976–77 Nantes Lens Bastia
1975–76 Saint-Étienne Nice Sochaux
1974–75 Saint-Étienne Marseille Lyon
1973–74 Saint-Étienne Nantes Lyon
1972–73 Nantes Nice Marseille
1971–72 Marseille Nîmes Sochaux
1970–71 Marseille Saint-Étienne Nantes
1969–70 Saint-Étienne Marseille Sedan
1968–69 Saint-Étienne Bordeaux Metz
1967–68 Saint-Étienne Nice Sochaux
1966–67 Saint-Étienne Nantes Angers
1965–66 Nantes Bordeaux Valenciennes
1964–65 Nantes Bordeaux Valenciennes
1963–64 Saint-Étienne AS Monaco Lens
1962–63 AS Monaco Stade Reims Sedan
1961–62 Stade Reims RCF Paris Nîmes
1960–61 AS Monaco RCF Paris Stade Reims
1959–60 Stade Reims Nîmes RCF Paris
1958–59 Nice Nîmes RCF Paris
1957–58 Stade Reims Nîmes AS Monaco
1956–57 Saint-Étienne Lens Stade Reims
1955–56 Nice Lens AS Monaco
1954–55 Stade Reims Toulouse Lens
1953–54 Lille Stade Reims Bordeaux
1952–53 Stade Reims Sochaux Bordeaux
1951–52 Nice Bordeaux Lille
1950–51 Nice Lille Le Havre
1949–50 Bordeaux Lille Stade Reims
1948–49 Stade Reims Lille Marseille
1947–48 Marseille Lille Stade Reims
1946–47 Roubaix–Tourcoing Stade Reims Strasbourg
1945–46 Lille Saint-Étienne RC Roubaix
1939–45
Suspended due to World War II
1938–39 Sète Marseille RCF Paris
1937–38 Sochaux Marseille Sète
1936–37 Marseille Sochaux RCF Paris
1935–36 RCF Paris Lille Strasbourg
1934–35 Sochaux Strasbourg RCF Paris
1933–34 Sète Fives Marseille
1932–33 Olympique Lillois Cannes

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1 #FelizDomingo #WeNeedMusicBecause Bonkaz
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3 #GetWeirdTourCardiff Proud of Obama’s Presidency #GetWeirdTourCardiff
4 #احب_اشوف_سناب�… #GetWeirdTourCardiff #ldconf
5 #VemPraRuaBrasil #SelectionSunday #WhyIDidntGetIntoHeaven
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7 #DaylightSavingTime #GoodSam500 #WWERoadblock
8 #هل_تتزوجين_ولد #NASPA16 #TheVoiceUK
9 #DomingoDetremuraSdv #WhyIDidntGetIntoHeaven #bathhalf
10 #لا_تتزوج_معلمه #ArianaOnSNL Lukaku

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April 2, 2016

Top News Stories –

Scientists ‘find cancer’s Achilles heel’ –
Scientists believe they have discovered a way to “steer” the immune system to kill cancers. Researchers at University College, London have developed a way of finding unique markings within a tumour – its “Achilles heel” – allowing the body to target the disease. But the personalised method, reported in Science journal, would be expensive and has not yet been tried in patients. Experts said the idea made sense but could be more complicated in reality. However, the researchers, whose work was funded by Cancer Research UK, believe their discovery could form the backbone of new treatments and hope to test it in patients within two years. [BBC]

Video of the Day –

Operator from Yann Heckmann on Vimeo.

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1 #HappyBirthdayPattieMallette #DullDownAMovie #RenameAFilmBadly
2 #الانثي_مخلوق_�… #HappyBirthdayPattieMallette 5SOSFAM NEVER QUIT
3 #SabadoTopNoClubeSDV #ElClásico #ElClasico
4 5SOSFAM NEVER QUIT #WorldAutismAwarenessDay #DullDownAMovie
5 #مقاضاه_MBC_ضروري #ApologizeForWhat #ZoomMW
6 #ElClasico 5SOSFAM NEVER QUIT #PowerpuffYourself
7 #ALDUB3rdEBAwards GO DIRECTIONERS GO #WorldAutismAwarenessDay
8 #DiaMundialAutismo Hurricane Chris #NXTTakeOver
9 #WorldAutismAwarenessDay #LDSconf #gogglebox
10 #TodoBienHastaQue #ASCD16 #BahrainGP

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May 13, 2016

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Fifa appoints Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura as its first woman secretary general –
Fifa appointed its first female and non-European secretary general on Friday night after ­announcing that United ­Nations humanitarian co-ordinator Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura would replace the disgraced Jérôme Valcke. New president Gianni Infantino confirmed that the Senegalese, a 21-year veteran of UN programmes, would become the most powerful official in world football during Fifa’s annual congress in Mexico City. Infantino had previously promised to consider both a woman and an African for the role – and he delivered on both counts. [Daily Telegraph]
Fatma_Samoura_in_2008Fatma Samoura (R) in 2008 with George Clooney (L) and Marie-Sophie Reck (C)

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EYES WIDE OPEN from Vitùc on Vimeo.

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  • A massive fire breaks out at a tire dump in Seseña, near Madrid in Spain. The illegal dump contains 100,000 tons of used vehicle tires. The smoke from the fire is visible for at least 30km. (ABC News)
  • At least one person is dead as a shopping mall being built in the Nigerian city of Abeokuta collapses. Unconfirmed reports indicate that ten people may have died. (BBC)
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June 2, 2016

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Dagger in Tutankhamun’s tomb was made with iron from a meteorite –
A dagger entombed with King Tutankhamun was made with iron from a meteorite, a new analysis on the metal composition shows. In 1925, archaeologist Howard Carter found two daggers, one iron and one with a blade of gold, within the wrapping of the teenage king, who was mummified more than 3,300 years ago. The iron blade, which had a gold handle, rock crystal pommel and lily and jackal-decorated sheath, has puzzled researchers in the decades since Carter’s discovery: ironwork was rare in ancient Egypt, and the dagger’s metal had not rusted. Italian and Egyptian researchers analysed the metal with an x-ray fluorescence spectrometer to determine its chemical composition, and found its high nickel content, along with its levels of cobalt, “strongly suggests an extraterrestrial origin”. They compared the composition with known meteorites within 2,000km around the Red Sea coast of Egypt, and found similar levels in one meteorite. That meteorite, named Kharga, was found 150 miles (240km) west of Alexandria, at the seaport city of Mersa Matruh, which in the age of Alexander the Great – the fourth century BC – was known as Amunia. [Evening Standard]

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June 21, 2016

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Albania football win brings team diplomatic passports –
Albania says it will reward its national footballers with diplomatic passports for having beaten Romania 1-0 at the Euro 2016 tournament. The country has never played before in a major football competition. But it is not yet clear whether Albania will qualify for the next round in France. The team will get €1m (£770,000; $1.1m) in extra funding as well as the new passports, the government said. Albania lost their other two matches, coming third in their Euro 2016 group. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama captured the nation’s excitement on Sunday by tweeting “Goooooooooool….” when Armando Sadiku headed the winning goal against Romania in the first half. The award of diplomatic passports is mainly symbolic, as many of the Albanian players are already with clubs elsewhere in Europe and Albanians enjoy visa-free travel to the EU. They will not enjoy diplomatic immunity, as that is reserved for official diplomats, but they will benefit from easier international travel. [BBC]

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