January 24, 2015

Top News Stories –

Islamic State terrorists execute Japanese hostage –
Japanese prime minister Shinzō Abe has called the footage of Islamic State hostage Kenji Goto apparently holding a photograph showing the body of fellow captive Haruna Yukawa “outrageous and unacceptable”. On January 20th 2015 Islamic State said it would kill the two men unless Japan paid a ransom of $200m (£130m) within 72 hours.
Shinzō Abe April 2014Japanese prime minister Shinzō Abe

Where are the richest 1% in the world? –
According to Credit Suisse anyone who has assets worth over $798,000 (£530,000) is one of 1% of the richest people in the world. 18 million of the top 47 million richest people are in the US, 3.5m in France, 2.9m in the UK and 2.8m in Germany. Ten percent of Swiss residents, a total of 800,000, are in the top 1%.

50 years since the death of Winston Churchill –
Sir Winston Churchill, prime minister of England through World War II died 50 years ago today. He was Conservative prime minister from 10 May 1940 – 26 July 1945 and again in 26 October 1951 – 6 April 1955.
Churchill V sign HU 55521Winston Churchill

FA Cup upsets return –
In England and Wales the fourth round of the FA Cup sees some of the most surprising results for many years. Premier League leaders Chelsea are beaten on their own ground 4-2 by Bradford City after leading the League One team 2-0. Manchester City who are second in the Premier League also lose at home to Championship side Middlesborough. This followed Cambridge United holding on for a 0-0 draw against Manchester United yesterday.
José Mourinho'14 Jose Mourinho

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March 2, 2015

Top News Stories –

Bill Gates still the richest man in the world –

Bill Gates has been declared the richest man in the world for the 16th time by Forbes magazine’s annual ranking of global billionaires. The Microsoft founder once again beat Mexican businessman Carlos Slim to the top spot. Mr Gates’ net worth rose by just over $3bn (£1.94bn) in the year to 13 February, to $79bn. There are a record 1,826 billionaires in the world, Forbes said, an increase of 181 in the past 12 months. See list below. [BBC]

Bill-Gates
New image for Queen on coins of the realm –
A new portrait of the Queen to appear on coins has been unveiled, but it might be some time before the new money starts appearing in people’s wallets. The effigy, designed by Jody Clark, is only the fifth definitive coin portrait to have been created during the Queen’s reign and the first since 1998.

The new coin

The new portrait is revealed at a ceremony in London’s National Portrait Gallery. Coins carrying the design will now begin being struck, the Royal Mint said.  [Daily Telegraph]
New Zealanders confiscating bad drivers keys –
Police are urging motorists not to take matters into their own hands, following the latest removal of car keys from drivers allegedly driving dangerously. While police are encouraging the use of *555 calls, the growing trend of motorists confronting bad drivers and removing keys is on the rise nationally – almost one a day during the past week. [New Zealand Herald]

Video of the Day –

Science explains the colour of “that dress”

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May 26, 2015

Top News Stories –

Best photobomb ever? Seagull steals the show from Red Arrows display team –
An image that shows the latest addition to the world famous Red Arrows is a seagull has become an Internet hit. The amazing moment was captured by first year photography student Jade Coxon,18, as she took pictures at the Llandudno Air Show on 23 May. And, since posting the stunning snap online on Sunday, Jade is over the moon to have got more than 1 million views. The crisp pic clearly shows eight of the Red Arrows in tight formation trailing their famous vapour. But then where the ninth plane should be there is an intrepid seagull holding the formation in place and, amazingly, with his own vapour trail. [Daily Telegraph]
Red-Arrows-and-seagull Photo: SWNS GroupRed-Arrows-and-seagull (Photo – SWNS Group)

Taylor Swift enters Forbes 100 most powerful women list –
The 25 year old singer and songwriter has become the youngest woman ever to be included on the Forbes list of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women.
She’s included at number 64 in the list released on Tuesday because, Forbes says, she ‘has not only broken record sales and captivated the world with her fantastically honest lyrics, but she has proven herself as an impressive businesswoman.’ [Daily Mail] See List of the Day
Taylor-Swift Taylor Swift

The Charlie Charlie Challenge – what is the spooky craze? –
A strange new game is taking over Twitter, fuelled by speculation that its players can connect with a dead Mexican spirit known as Charlie. The Charlie Charlie Challenge has been played by thousands of young people after a number of videos purported to show supernatural goings-on. The game entails placing two pencils on a piece of paper in the shape of the cross with the words ‘yes’ and ‘no’. Participants then repeat the phrase “Charlie, Charlie can we play?” in order to connect with the demon. If Charlie is there the pencils will move to indicate his answer. [Daily Telegraph] See Top Twitter Trends 25 May 2015

Video of the Day –

Are You Consuming Your Coffee Correctly?

List of the day –

Forbes Magazine 100 Most Powerful Women in the World 2015 [Forbes]

Rank Name Age Country Category
#1 Angela Merkel 60 Germany Politics
#2 Hillary Clinton 67 United States Politics
#3 Melinda Gates 50 United States Philanthropy/NGO
#4 Janet Yellen 68 United States Finance
#5 Mary Barra 53 United States Automotive
#6 Christine Lagarde 59 France Philanthropy/NGO
#7 Dilma Rousseff 67 Brazil Politics
#8 Sheryl Sandberg 45 United States Technology
#9 Susan Wojcicki 46 United States Technology
#10 Michelle Obama 51 United States Politics
#11 Park Geun-hye 63 South Korea Politics
#12 Oprah Winfrey 61 United States Media
#13 Ginni Rometty 57 United States Technology
#14 Meg Whitman 58 United States Technology
#15 Indra Nooyi 59 United States Business
#16 Cristina Fernández de Kirchner 62 Argentina Politics
#17 Irene Rosenfeld 62 United States Business
#18 Ana Patricia Botín 54 Spain Finance
#19 Abigail Johnson 53 United States Investments
#20 Marillyn Hewson 61 United States Manufacturing
#21 Beyoncé Knowles 33 United States Celebrity
#22 Marissa Mayer 39 United States Technology
#23 Helen Clark 65 New Zealand Philanthropy/NGO
#24 Safra Catz 53 United States Technology
#25 Angela Ahrendts 54 United States Technology
#26 Ellen Kullman 59 United States Business
#27 Michelle Bachelet 63 Chile Politics
#28 Anna Wintour 65 United States Media
#29 Ursula Burns 56 United States Technology
#30 Arundhati Bhattacharya 59 India Finance
#31 Sri Mulyani Indrawati 52 Indonesia Philanthropy/NGO
#32 Ruth Porat 57 United States Technology
#33 Lucy Peng 42 China Technology
#34 Loretta Lynch 56 United States Politics
#35 Chanda Kochhar 53 India Business
#36 Federica Mogherini 41 Italy Politics
#37 Gina Rinehart 61 Australia Metals & Mining
#38 Nancy Pelosi 75 United States Politics
#39 Adena Friedman 45 United States Finance
#40 Ewa Kopacz 58 Poland Politics
#41 Queen Elizabeth II 89 United Kingdom Politics
#42 Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi 53 United Arab Emirates Politics
#43 Ho Ching 62 Singapore Business
#44 Laurene Powell Jobs 51 United States Technology
#45 Renée James 50 United States Technology
#46 Drew Gilpin Faust 67 United States Philanthropy/NGO
#47 Ertharin Cousin 58 United States Philanthropy/NGO
#48 Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala 60 Nigeria Politics
#49 Samantha Power 44 United States Politics
#50 Ellen DeGeneres 57 United States Celebrity
#51 Amy Hood 43 United States Technology
#52 Bonnie Hammer 64 United States Media
#53 Mary Callahan Erdoes 47 United States Finance
#54 Angelina Jolie 39 United States Celebrity
#55 Beth Comstock 54 United States Business
#56 Phebe Novakovic 56 United States Business
#57 Sofía Vergara 42 Colombia Celebrity
#58 Donna Langley 47 United Kingdom Media
#59 Sheikh Hasina Wajed 67 Bangladesh Politics
#60 Katie Jacobs Stanton 45 United States Media
#61 Arianna Huffington 64 United States Media
#62 Margaret Chan 67 China Philanthropy/NGO
#63 Mary Jo White 67 United States Politics
#64 Taylor Swift 25 United States Celebrity
#65 Rosalind Brewer 52 United States Business
#66 Nemat (Minouche) Shafik 53 United Kingdom Politics
#67 Lubna S. Olayan 59 Saudi Arabia Business
#68 Peng Liyuan 52 China Politics
#69 Zhang Xin 49 China Business
#70 Güler Sabanci 60 Turkey Business
#71 Elvira Nabiullina 51 Russia Politics
#72 Elizabeth Holmes 31 United States Healthcare
#73 Tory Burch 48 United States Fashion and Retail
#74 Dana Walden United States Media
#75 Diane von Furstenberg 68 United States Fashion and Retail
#76 Carol Meyrowitz 61 United States Business
#77 Mary Meeker 55 United States Technology
#78 Solina Chau 53 Hong Kong Technology
#79 Miuccia Prada 66 Italy Fashion and Retail
#80 Katharine Viner 44 United Kingdom Media
#81 Shakira Mebarak 38 Colombia Celebrity
#82 Yao Chen 35 China Celebrity
#83 Fabiola Gianotti 54 Italy Philanthropy/NGO
#84 Padmasree Warrior 54 United States Technology
#85 Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw 62 India Medicine
#86 Kaci Kullmann Five 64 Norway Philanthropy/NGO
#87 Folorunsho Alakija 64 Nigeria Oil
#88 Judy Faulkner 71 United States Healthcare
#89 Patricia Harris 58 United States Philanthropy/NGO
#90 Gwynne Shotwell 51 United States Construction & Engineering
#91 Sara Blakely 44 United States Fashion and Retail
#92 Risa Lavizzo-Mourey 60 United States Philanthropy/NGO
#93 Shobhana Bhartia 58 India Media
#94 Beth Brooke-Marciniak 55 United States Business
#95 Weili Dai 53 United States Technology
#96 Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf 76 Liberia Politics
#97 Raja Easa Al Gurg United Arab Emirates Business
#98 Jenny Lee 43 Singapore Technology
#99 Greta Van Susteren 60 United States Media
#100 Lee Boo-Jin 44 South Korea Service

Top Twitter Trends –

Worldwide USA UK
1 EU TE AMO HARRY Sally Ride #AlwaysInMyHeartLarry
2 #AlwaysInMyHeartLarry #houstonflood #MakeAMovieLazy
3 Brad Pitt #MakeAMovieLazy #BrandAFilm
4 #FelizMartes #MySummerin5words #ChooseDay
5 #ConEsteFrioReDa #ThickGirlAppreciationDay #BGTlive
6 #ConGanasDe Mary Ellen Mark #WelshProblemsDay
7 Leticia Sabater OTAs #GetStupid
8 #PSYAngUnangPagtingin #BadMottosToLiveBy Malcolm Bruce
9 #من_اهم_اعمالي_… Toyota Center Jony Ive
10 #MakeAMovieLazy Point Break #CharityTuesday

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June 29, 2015

Top News Stories –

Floyd Mayweather tops the 2015 Forbes Celebrity Rich List –
Since 1999 Forbes have been ranking the wealth and influence of the world’s biggest stars. Factors taken into account include income, Google hits, fan base, press clips and magazine covers. But for the the first time, this year’s list has ranked the world’s top earning entertainers by annual income only. Mayweather’s $300 million year shatters the record for athlete earnings, which was previously held by Tiger Woods who banked $115 million in 2008. Mayweather earned an estimated $180m from his fight with Manny Pacquiao on May 2, 2015. Katy Perry has been crowned the highest earning female celebrity. [Daily Telegraph] See List of the Day below
Floyd_Mayweather_JrFloyd Mayweather

Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris top highest paid couple list –
Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris have become the highest paid celebrity couple, overtaking Beyonce and Jay Z. The relatively new romance of Swift with her superstar DJ boyfriend see them top this year’s Forbes list; with a combined income of $146m (£92m). It means Queen Bey and her rapper husband slip down to second place with earnings of $100m (£70m). The power couple have been number one on the list since 2013. [BBC]
Taylor-Swift Taylor Swift

Video of the Day –

Avril Lavigne says having Lyme disease has been the ‘worst time’ of her life –
Avril Lavigne has opened up about her struggle with Lyme disease, calling it the “worst time” of her life. The 30-year-old singer contracted the disease, spread by infected ticks, whilst touring last year. The Canadian says she became “bedridden” in October but is now expected to make a full recovery. She told Good Morning America: “I was seeing every specialist and every doctor. They’d say ‘chronic fatigue syndrome?’ or ‘are you depressed?’ “I woke up and had night sweats and felt like I had the flu. She says it took took months for someone to finally figure out that she had Lyme Disease. [BBC Newsbeat]
Avril_Lavigne Avril Lavigne

Video of the Day –

Do We Have to Get Old and Die? – Minute Earth

List of the Day –

The World’s Highest-Paid Celebrities 2015 according to Forbes Magazine

Rank Name Age Earnings Category
#1 Floyd Mayweather 38 $300 M Athletes
#2 Manny Pacquiao 36 $160 M Athletes
#3 Katy Perry 30 $135 M Musicians
#4 One Direction $130 M Musicians
#5 Howard Stern 61 $95 M Personalities
#6 Garth Brooks 53 $90 M Musicians
#7 James Patterson 68 $89 M Authors
#8 Robert Downey Jr. 50 $80 M Actors
#8 Taylor Swift 25 $80 M Musicians
#10 Cristiano Ronaldo 30 $79.5 M Athletes

Top Twitter Trends –

Worldwide USA UK
1 Zeca Camargo #MondayMotivation #Wimbledon2015
2 #WhereAreUNowMusicVideoTODAY #NashsNewVideo #MondayMotivation
3 #StopTerorismInChina #SignsYoureInTheUSA #BETAwards2015
4 #FelizLunes #AskELJames #AskELJames
5 #BestFandom Bo Ryan Rihanna
6 #BETAwards2015 You’re Fired #Slammiversary
7 #FormasFrikisDeDecirTeQuiero #DirtyWorkJuly10 Diddy
8 Big Sean #Wimbledon2015 Paulinho
9 K Michelle #WhoIsBurningBlackChurches The Who
10 #OdioEternoA #ROWYSOPerth Olympics

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  • Chinese state-run media reports the Great Wall losing around 30% of its structure due to natural conditions and human activities. (AFP via Discovery)
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October 23, 2015

Top News Stories –

Cats are terrified of cucumbers and no one knows exactly why –
People on the internet have been playing a charming joke on/causing uncalled-for distress to their cats by placing cucumbers behind them while they eat. It has to be specifically a cucumber. Pet owners have been trying it out for themselves and filming the responses. In order for the trick to work, you apparently have to place a cucumber quietly behind a cat while it is eating. When the cat turns around and notices the cucumber, you get quite an interesting response. They don’t see it first, but when they do, look out. The trend has reached reddit, and there is a dedicated thread called ‘cucumbers scaring cats’. [Daily Telegraph] See Video of the Day

Video of the Day –

Cat gets scared by a sneaky cucumber

Top Twitter Trends –

Worldwide USA UK
1 Adele #Patricia #TalkTalk
2 #CanYouRespectNiall Adele #FridayFeeling
3 #12hNerds Anthony Hamilton #SoundsGoodFeelsGood
4 Amancio Ortega #CamilaAppreciationDay #wearitpink
5 #HuracanPatricia Tennessee State University #CanYouRespectNiall
6 Hayırlı Cumalar Baby Hitler Adele
7 Jessica Jones #CanYouRespectNiall Jessica Jones
8 #النصر_الشباب #SpookyBands #bbcqt
9 #SoundsGoodFeelsGood Jessica Jones #BringBackLukeIsAPenguin
10 BeliebersVoteEMA #hurricanepatricia Duppy Riddim

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November 4, 2015

Top News Stories –

Brazilian prison inmates using a mouse to courier drugs –
As prison guards in one of Brazil’s notoriously overcrowded and chaotic jails, the officers in Barra da Grota prison probably thought they had seen it all. But last week they saw something that shocked even their hardened heads: a mouse, they noticed, was being used by inmates to courier drugs. The animal was seen scurrying along the corridor with tiny bags of drugs tied to its tail, running between the cells. Gean Carlos Gomes, director of the central Brazil prison, 1,100 miles inland from Recife, said the mouse was being used as a “bridge” between cells. “They attached a hook to the mouse’s tail and then used it to carry the drugs and other goods from one cell to another,” he said. “When the animal arrived at its destination, the prisoner took the mouse and removed the hook from its tail.” [Daily Telegraph]

Vladimir Putin is Forbes magazine’s most powerful person in the world –
Vladimir Putin has been named the world’s most powerful person for the second year running by Forbes magazine. Of the 73 listed, 28 are billionaires. Thirty of the individuals are Americans. And only nine are women – the same number as last year. The 63-year-old Russian president has, unsurprisingly, retained his position at the top of the Forbes ranking of the world’s most powerful people. Forbes says the decision is made on the amount of money they control; the number of people they impact; their total spheres of influence; and how actively they wield their power. And in all areas Mr Putin has triumphed; he dominates one of the world’s largest countries, and his actions in Ukraine and Syria are changing the course of history. [Daily Telegraph] See List of the Day
Vladimir_PutinVladimir Putin

WARNING: Do Not Post Your Winning Ticket On Social Media –
Chantelle from Perth won $900 [Australian] by betting on 100-to-1 shot Prince Of Penzance in the Melbourne Cup yesterday… Like many punters around the country Chantelle celebrated the win by posting a selfie with her victorious ticket on Facebook. Little did Chantelle know, the photo of the barcode could be used at an automated machine to claim the cash – which is exactly what someone did. “To the low life who is obviously my friend on Facebook and used my photo to claim our winnings. You’re a massive dick. You ruined my day,” Chantelle wrote on Facebook. Chantelle told Triple M that police were able to track where the money was claimed and are confident of finding the person responsible. [Triple M]
Chantelle winning ticket Facebook postChantelle winning ticket Facebook post

Video of the Day –

Emirates: #HelloJetman
Armed with unguarded ambition and the vision to push boundaries beyond the unthinkable, Jetman Dubai and Emirates A380 take to the skies of Dubai for an exceptional formation flight.

List of the Day –

Forbes Most Powerful People Top Ten 2015 [Forbes]

Rank Name Organization Age
#1 Vladimir Putin Russia 63
#2 Angela Merkel Germany 61
#3 Barack Obama United States 54
#4 Pope Francis Roman Catholic Church 78
#5 Xi Jinping China 62
#6 Bill Gates Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 60
#7 Janet Yellen Washington, United States 69
#8 David Cameron United Kingdom 49
#9 Narendra Modi India 65
#10 Larry Page Google 42

Top Twitter Trends –

Worldwide USA UK
1 告白の日 #YouHadMeAt #NationalStressAwarenessDay
2 #9DaysUntilMITAM #NationalStressAwarenessDay #GrantsNotDebt
3 #QueVuelvaElFav #9DaysUntilMITAM #cipd15
4 #احتجاج_الهلال… #NerdyCountryMusic Gerrard
5 Briana #CMAawards #PMQs
6 #NationalStressAwarenessDay UC Merced Dapper Laughs
7 Benzema Hump Day #IPBill
8 #MasterChefBR McDavid Ashley Young
9 #felizmiercoles #MyStonerConfession #TwitterHeart
10 Valbuena Bayern Chris Powell

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November 14, 2015

Top News Stories –

South Africa’s ‘Blade Runner’ Pistorius starts community service –
South Africa’s “Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius on Saturday started performing community service as part of his parole conditions after being released from prison last month, local media reported. The Paralympic gold medalist was freed on parole less than a year into a five-year sentence for the “culpable homicide” of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who he killed on Valentine’s Day in 2013. Pistorius, dubbed “Blade Runner” because of the carbon fiber prosthetic blades he uses to compete, was freed from prison in line with sentencing guidelines that say non-dangerous prisoners should spend only a sixth of a custodial sentence behind bars. [Reuters] Pistorius was originally refused early release in August 2015
Oscar_PistoriusOscar Pistorius competing

Video of the Day –

Kaleidoscope: See Things Differently

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1 #espalheamor #MTVStars #TerrorismHasNoReligion
2 #TodosSomosParis #MakePeaceIn5Words #ViveLaFrance
3 #MTVStars #DemDebate #MTVStars
4 #PrayForWorld #JackAndJackUSTixOnSale #PrayForPeace
5 우리나라 #MuslimsAreNotTerrorist #ParisAttacks
6 David Luiz #EveningWithJB Muslims
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8 Muslims #strandedinUS #PorteOuverte
9 #PorteOuverte Monmouth #PrayForJapan
10 광화문 #PurposeTheMovement Paris

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  • Scott N. Johansen, a Utah Juvenile Court judge, reverses his original order to remove a foster child from same sex-parents. The state Division of Child and Family Services and foster parents all filed motions asking for the reconsideration and promising an appeal. The new decision eliminates the phrase, “It is not in the best interest of children to be raised by same-sex couples” and strikes an order for the child to be placed with a non-same-sex couple. (New York Times)
  • Police in South Korea fire tear gas and water cannons at anti-government protesters in Seoul. Around 70,000 people took part in the protests, the largest in Seoul since the 2008 US beef protest in South Korea. (Christian Science Monitor).

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February 9, 2016

Top News Stories –

‘Airbnb for sex’ – Entrepreneurs set up KinkBNB for lovers to book guiltless sexcapades –
People who own a Fifty Shades-esque red dungeon of pain, and want to find a use for it when they are on holiday, or who own a honeymoon-worthy castle could now find themselves a lucrative new source of income. KinkBNB is marketing itself as the sex-positive Airbnb – and tenants and renters alike know what they are getting into when they sign up for the site. The Airbnb-style homesharing website now lets lovers book sex-focused getaways without stressing about waking up the next door neighbours or being landed with a hefty damages charge. Its layout is similar to the traditional homesharing site – listing amenities such as washing machines, gardens and swimming pools.
Kink BnB logo

Google boss becomes highest-paid in US –
The chief executive of Google, Sundar Pichai, has been awarded $199m (£138m) in shares, a regulatory filing has revealed. It makes him the highest-paid chief executive in the US.
Mr Pichai became chief executive of the search engine giant following the creation of its parent, Alphabet. The founders of Google, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, have amassed fortunes of $34.6bn and $33.9bn, according to Forbes. Mr Pichai, 43, was awarded 273,328 Alphabet shares on 3 February, worth a total of $199m, according to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The new award of shares takes Mr Pichai’s total stock value to approximately $650m. [BBC]
Sundar_PichaiSundar Pichai

Video of the Day –

Tongue in a Mouse Trap – The Slow Mo Guys –

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1 #TercaSemTedioClubeSDV #NationalPizzaDay #PancakeDay
2 #FelizMartes #TLOP #NationalPizzaDay
3 #الدوري_يا_اهلي #BroncosParade #wpfut16
4 Pangako Ng Hustisya #SaferInternetDay #BestFanArmy
5 #وجهه_كلمه_للي_… #StateOfNASA #BrexitRisks
6 #BestFanArmy #FatTuesday #ThankYouDanielBryan
7 #FatTuesday I Miss Barack Obama #NestaHealthLab
8 #NationalPizzaDay #TWUG #DebateTech
9 肉の日 #SaaStrAnnual #SID2016
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February 18, 2016

Top News Stories –

Hairy panic sets in as homes are swallowed in masses of tumbleweeds –
Bizarre images have emerged of houses inundated with tumbleweeds in rural Victoria after extreme dry conditions cover homes in clouds of ‘hairy panic’. Residents have been left frustrated and exhausted trying to rid their properties of the ghost-like weed, which has engulfed front and back yards, gardens and garages. Named hairy panic, the weeds of Wangaratta are world-class, holding their own against Texas tumblers. Locals say the tumbleweed has been around for a couple of years but, with dry conditions, this summer is by far the worst. They suspect it’s coming from a nearby paddock that a farmer has failed to maintain. The council can’t help because the situation is not considered a fire risk, which has left homeowners to clean up indefinitely. [Yahoo News Australia]
Hairy panic tweet

‘Unauthorised trousers’ kill Canadian zoo’s otter –
A Canadian zoo is under scrutiny following the death of an otter which had been given a pair of trousers to play with in its enclosure. Logan, a 12-year-old American river otter, drowned at Calgary Zoo after being given the article of clothing as an “unauthorised enrichment item”, the Calgary Sun newspaper reports. The zoo’s general curator, Colleen Baird, says Logan got trapped in one of the trouser legs, and two employees have subsequently been disciplined following an investigation into the incident. “It was human error and we take animal deaths very seriously,” she tells the paper, but refuses to be drawn on who was responsible. “It’s irrelevant how exactly the pants got in there, it’s more that the pants got in there in the first place.” [BBC]

Video of the Day –

Skylight

Skylight from Chris Pritchard on Vimeo.

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1 #OhNoBriana #NationalDrinkWineDay Oli Sykes
2 #QuintaDetremuraSdv #OhNoBriana Big Ang
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4 #FelizJueves #IfTechnologyNeverAdvanced #ZAYNOnFallon
5 #DigaUmaFraseLegal #4CCTaipeiCity #OhNoBriana
6 #ZAYNOnFallon #DayWithoutLatinos #jointenterprise
7 #Freedom251 #FamousAF #DebbieDownerAMovie
8 #ALDUB31stWeeksary #RIPBigAng #10000BC
9 #あなたの緑川光は�… #CanAmDuel #NolanLive
10 #SiTeAmaEntonces #SFin6words Tim Montgomerie

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  • At least 71 people are killed in a head-on collision between a bus and a truck in Ghana. (Sky News) (BBC)
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  • A man sues an Oklahoma gun range after he is told to leave after identifying himself as a Muslim. The gun range owners though claim that the man was acting belligerent. (Associated Press via MSN)
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February 24, 2016

Top News Stories –

Jeremy Clarkson apologises to Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon –
Jeremy Clarkson has apologised to the Top Gear producer he punched after settling a £100,000 racial discrimination and injury claim. Oisin Tymon launched the action against the presenter and the BBC after a “fracas” last March that left Mr Tymon with a bloody lip. “I would like to say sorry, once again, to Oisin Tymon for the incident and its regrettable aftermath,” Clarkson said. The presenter was dropped by the BBC following the assault. Clarkson, 55, added: “I want to reiterate that none of this was in any way his fault. Mr Tymon’s lawyers said the case had been settled but did not give details of the settlement. It is understood to be in excess of £100,000 ($140,000), an amount to which both Clarkson and the BBC contributed. [BBC]
In October 2015 Clarkson was threatened with three years in jail as Argentina reopened Falklands row probe.
Jeremy-ClarksonJeremy Clarkson

Brit Awards 2016: Adele dominates with four awards –
Adele has been crowned Queen of the Brits, winning four prizes including best British female and best album. “To come back after so long away and be so warmly received means so much,” she said. One Direction’s victory in the fan-voted best video category robbed Adele of the opportunity to become the most-garlanded artist in a single Brits ceremony. As it stands, her total of four awards is equalled only by Blur, who won the same number in 1995 for their album Parklife. Adele became more emotional as the ceremony continued, bursting into tears after accepting the global success prize – which recognises success overseas. “I got really lost for a while and I didn’t know if I’d ever come back,” she said, referencing the writer’s block that delayed her much-anticipated third album. [BBC] See List of the Day

Sepp Blatter & Michel Platini lose Fifa appeals but bans reduced –
Outgoing Fifa president Sepp Blatter and suspended Uefa boss Michel Platini have had bans from all football-related activities upheld. But the suspensions have been reduced from eight to six years by Fifa’s appeals committee. Both were found guilty of breaches surrounding a £1.3m ($2m) “disloyal payment” to Platini. They both deny any wrongdoing and have said they will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Blatter and Platini said the payment honoured a verbal or gentleman’s agreement made in 1998 for work carried out by the Frenchman when he was a technical advisor for Blatter. Blatter, 79, added in a statement that he was “very disappointed by the appeal committee of Fifa”. Platini, 60, said it was “insulting and shameful” and a “political decision”. The committee said “activities and services rendered to Fifa, Uefa and football” was a mitigating factor. [BBC]
In September 2015, the Swiss Police launched an investigation into Blatter over criminal mismanagement or misappropriation over a TV rights deal.
Michel_PlatiniMichel Platini

Video of the Day –


70MM of Hateful from Andrew Walker on Vimeo.

List of the Day –

The Brits Awards Winners

British male solo artist
James Bay
Aphex Twin
Calvin Harris
Jamie xx
Mark Ronson

British female solo artist
Adele
Amy Winehouse
Florence + the Machine
Jess Glynne
Laura Marling

British group
Coldplay
Blur
Foals
One Direction
Years & Years

British breakthrough act
Catfish and the Bottlemen
James Bay
Jess Glynne
Wolf Alice
Years & Years
Critics’ choice
Jack Garratt
Izzy Bizu
Frances

Brits global success award
Adele

British single
Adele – Hello
Calvin Harris & Disciples – How Deep Is Your Love
Ed Sheeran & Rudimental- Bloodstream
Ellie Goulding – Love Me Like You Do
James Bay – Hold Back The River
Jess Glynne – Hold My Hand
Little Mix – Black Magic
Olly Murs ft Demi Lovato – Up
Philip George – Wish You Were Mine
Years & Years – King

British album of the year
Adele – 25
Coldplay – A Head Full of Dreams
Florence + the Machine – How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
James Bay – Chaos and the Calm
Jamie xx – In Colour
British producer of the year
Charlie Andrew – winner
Mark Ronson
Mike Crossey
Tom Dalgety

British artist video of the year
One Direction – Drag Me Down
Calvin Harris & Disciples – How Deep Is Your Love
Ed Sheeran – Photograph
Ellie Goulding – Love Me Like You Do
Jessie J – Flashlight
Little Mix – Black Magic
Naughty Boy ft Beyonce & Arrow Benjamin – Runnin’ (Lose It All)
Adele – Hello
Sam Smith – Writing’s On The Wall
Years & Years – King

International male solo artist

Justin Bieber
Father John Misty
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
The Weeknd

International female solo artist
Bjork
Ariana Grande
Courtney Barnett
Lana Del Rey
Meghan Trainor

International group
Tame Impala
Eagles of Death Metal
Major Lazer
Alabama Shakes
U2

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May 19, 2016

Top News Stories –

Google Patents Sticky Car Hood to Trap Pedestrians in a Collision –
Google has a solution to help mitigate injuries in the event a pedestrian and a self-driving car collide: human flypaper. In a patent issued this week, the search giant describes a “system for protecting a colliding object from a secondary impact, after an initial impact with a vehicle.” The patent calls for a giant sticker to be placed on the front end of a vehicle, with a special coating over the layer that is only broken when something collides with the vehicle, exposing the adhesive and helping the colliding object to remain on the vehicle. [ABC]
Google car fly paper patent diagramGoogle car fly paper patent diagram

German churches to get wi-fi ‘Godspots’ –
Worshippers at Protestant churches in central Germany will soon be able to access the internet via free wi-fi hotspots – billed as “Godspots” by the church. Wi-fi is being installed at 220 churches across the Berlin and Brandenberg region, with plans to expand coverage to all 3,000 churches in the region, the RBB broadcaster reports. Among the first to get connected will be Berlin’s French Cathedral on the central Gendarmenmarkt square, and the city’s iconic Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. People will be able to access the “Godspots” both inside and outside, and the church is promising a secure network with no advertising. Users will first be greeted by a home page with information about the building, community and faith-related material, but then they’ll be free to browse the wider web. [BBC]

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These Lizards Have Been Playing Rock-Paper-Scissors for 15 Million Years

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June 12, 2016

Top News Stories –

Orlando shooting: At least 50 killed in Pulse nightclub mass shooting –
A heavily armed gunman has killed at least 50 people, with another 53 injured, at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. The mass shooting is the worst in US history and US President Barack Obama has branded it “an act of terror and an act of hate”.

  • At least 50 people killed, 53 injured in mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida
  • Gunman Omar Mateen took hostages, killed when police stormed building
  • Mateen was armed with an assault rifle and handgun, police say
  • US President Barack Obama brands shooting an act of terror and hate
  • Armed man arrested in LA had assault rifles in car, said he was going to the LA Pride festival, police said

[ABC Australia]

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July 6, 2016

Top News Stories –

Chilcot report: Tony Blair’s Iraq War case not justified –
Tony Blair overstated the threat posed by Saddam Hussein, sent ill-prepared troops into battle and had “wholly inadequate” plans for the aftermath, the UK’s Iraq War inquiry has said. Chairman Sir John Chilcot said the 2003 invasion was not the “last resort” action presented to MPs and the public. There was no “imminent threat” from Saddam – and the intelligence case was “not justified”, he said. Mr Blair apologised for any mistakes made but not the decision to go to war. Sir John, the ex-civil servant who chaired the inquiry, describes the Iraq War as an intervention that went “badly wrong” with consequences still being felt to this day – and he set out lessons to be learned for future conflicts. His report, which is 2.6 million words, does not make a judgement on whether Mr Blair or his ministers were in breach of international law. [BBC]
Tony_BlairTony Blair in 2014

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Explore Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park in Two Minutes

List of the Day –

Chilcott Report – errors in political and military decision-making in going to war in Iraq:

  • UK military commanders made “over-optimistic assessments” of their capabilities which had led to “bad decisions”
  • There was “little time” to properly prepare three military brigades for deployment in Iraq. The risks were neither “properly identified nor fully exposed” to ministers, resulting in “equipment shortfalls”
  • Policy on the Iraq invasion was made on the basis of flawed intelligence assessments. It was not challenged, and should have been
  • Mr Blair overestimated his ability to influence US decisions on Iraq; and the UK’s relationship with the US does not require unconditional support

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