June 4, 2015

Top News Stories –

Millions of US government workers hit by data breach –
Chinese hackers are suspected of carrying out a “massive breach” affecting the data of millions of US government workers, officials said. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) confirmed on Thursday that almost four million current and past employees have been affected. The breach could potentially affect every federal agency, officials said. Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said it was thought to have originated in China. The Chinese embassy in Washington warned against “jumping to conclusions”. [BBC]

Sam Smith can speak again after vocal cord operation and reschedules gigs –
Sam Smith says he can now speak again and is ready to go back on tour after his vocal cord operation. The singer posted on Instagram: “I CAN SPEAK AGAIN!!!!!!!!” with a picture of Ariel from The Little Mermaid. He also shared a photo of the doctor who helped him to reclaim his voice and publicly thanked him. Four performances that he had to postpone in April after having problems with his voice have now been announced in Australia. [BBC]
Sam-Smith-with-Doctor-Zeitels  © Samsmithworld/InstagramSam Smith with Doctor Zeitels © Samsmithworld/Instagram
Sam Smith Instagram message

Tricky GCSE maths exam sees pupils take to Twitter –

A tricky GCSE maths question stumped thousands of students – but inspired them to take to Twitter to vent their anger and frustration. The equation in Thursday’s Edexcel exam was on the probability of taking two orange sweets from a bag. By the afternoon the topic was trending on Twitter and online petitions were set up calling on the board to lower the grade boundaries when marking. Edexcel’s owner Pearson said it aimed to “test the full range” of abilities. But it said it would ensure students were “treated fairly” when the papers are marked. [BBC]  See Top Twitter Trends (UK)

Video of the Day –

Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation Trailer 2

Top Twitter Trends –

Worldwide USA UK
1 #PSYAngBatasNgApi Rick Perry #EdexcelMaths
2 #MeSobranGanasDe #CheeseFilms #ProsOfDatingMe
3 #SiempreMePasaQue #PitMad #GeekPickUpLines
4 メンタルヘルス Hannah Montana #CheeseFilms
5 Rick Perry #ProsOfDatingMe #ComplimentYourselfIn4Words
6 #FelizJueves #GeekPickUpLines #OrangeFestBands
7 #KeferaNoEncontro #NBAFinals Charlotte Church
8 #SeriaRePiolaQue #HugYourCatDay Royal Mail
9 #GeekPickUpLines #DuggarInterview Skrtel
10 #شعورك_الان_بت�… Michael Ealy Chuck Blazer

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks
Arts and culture
Business and economy
  • Officials of the ruling Syriza party in Greece say that they cannot accept a last-minute deal proposed by the country’s creditors: default deadline looms. (AP)
Disasters and accidents
Health
International relations
Politics

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

June 19, 2015

Top News Stories –

National Kissing Day –
It’s got it’s own website (kissingday.co.uk) and has been going for 10 years. Every year it storms up the Twitter and Instagram feeds. David Beckham and Holly Willoughby are woted the most kissable men and women in the UK.
Holly_WilloughbyHolly Willoughby

Heinz ketchup customers directed to porn website –
Heinz has apologised after a QR code on a tomato ketchup bottle directed customers to a pornography website. The error was caused because the QR code had hosted a competition that ended and expired, allowing an adult entertainment firm to buy it. The fault was spotted by Daniel Korell, from Germany, who flagged up the error to Heinz. “I happened to scan it during lunch and I was a bit surprised where I got redirected to,” Mr Korell told the BBC. “I found it rather funny and thought it was worth [sharing] on Heinz’s Facebook page.” “We really regret the incident,” a Heinz representative said on Facebook. [Daily Telegraph]

Video of the Day –

Kung Fu Panda 3 | Official Trailer #1

Top Twitter Trends –

Worldwide USA UK
1 #NationalKissingDay #NationalKissingDay #fridayfeeling
2 Jon Stewart Jon Stewart #NationalKissingDay
3 #TodasLasMujeresTienen #Juneteenth #IfTheBeatlesHadBeenFat
4 Hayırlı Cumalar #WarriorsParade Jon Stewart
5 #MumbaiRains #MyDreamDadIs #britmumslive
6 #NadaMejorQue Rick Perry Tiger Woods
7 #AsVezesSóQueria #5HonKimmel UK Muslims
8 #TuPuedesMiVinotinto Caucasian Heritage Night #bbcqt
9 #HepimizPYDliyiz Ralph Roberts Kerry Dixon
10 #YoTeDejoEnVistoPorque Beyond Scared Straight #1GottaGo

Other News Stories –

Attacks and armed conflicts
Business and economy
Politics and elections

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

September 11, 2015

Top News Stories –

Mecca crane collapse: Saudi inquiry into Grand Mosque disaster –
Saudi Arabia has begun an investigation after a crane collapsed in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, killing at least 107 people. The huge red crane crashed into a part of the Grand Mosque [also known as Masjid al-Haram] – which was filled with worshippers at the time. The inquiry is taking place as criticism grows over safety standards at the holy site. It is unclear how many of the victims were killed by the collapse or the stampede that followed it. At least 230 people were injured in the incident.The collapse happened at 17:23 local time. [BBC]
Masjid al-Haram in 2014Masjid al-Haram in 2014

Video of the Day –

Taser Impacts on Bare Skin at 28,000fps – The Slow Mo Guys

Top Twitter Trends –

Worldwide USA UK
1 #VenezuelaConLeopoldo #NeverForget #fridayfeeling
2 #onedirectionimsorryfor #NeverForget911 #NeverForget911
3 ちんぽ10連ガチャ Aldon Smith #AssistedDying
4 #سقوط_رافعه_في_… World Trade Center Pete Doherty
5 #NeverForget Rick Perry #onedirectionimsorryfor
6 #NeverForget911 Pentagon Sadiq Khan
7 Hayırlı Cumalar #WhereWereYou #afterseptember11
8 Gronk #onedirectionimsorryfor Gronk
9 #CONGRATSLOUIS Joe Biden Yorkshire
10 高校生クイズ #NewNFLScandals David Cassidy

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks
Arts and culture
Disasters and accidents
International relations
Law and crime
Politics and elections

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

January 25, 2106

Top News Stories –

Irish potato picture sells for £750,000 –
Yearning for starchy carbohydrates after a few drinks is nothing new – but a businessman has taken it to a new level. After a few glasses of wine, he bought a picture of an Irish potato for £750,000. “It’s not the first time that someone has bought the art right off my wall,” photographer Kevin Abosch told The Sunday Times newspaper. “We had two glasses of wine and he said, ‘I really like that.’ “Two more glasses of wine and he said, ‘I really want that.’ We set the price two weeks later.” Abosch took the picture of the organic Irish potato back in 2010 as part of a series, but he’s already known for snapping celebrities like Johnny Depp and Steven Spielberg. A starting price for one of his portraits will reportedly set you back around £200,000 at least. The artist had the spud delivered to him in a batch of organic vegetables, and says he understands how some people could see the price tag as being a little “absurd”. [BBC]

Video of the Day –

Snowboarding with the NYPD

Top Twitter Trends –

Worldwide USA UK
1 #AMiMeMolestaMuchoQue #mondaymotivation #mondaymotivation
2 #SegundaDetremuraSdv #CMAD #BurnsNight
3 #زد_رصيدك73 #musicmonday Conchobar
4 #BurnsNight #NationalBreakfastWeek #EUWargames
5 #50sfumaturedigrigio #BurnsNight #VLWorld2016
6 #كيف_بتدفي_حبيبك #DemTownHall #CMAD
7 Fran Rivera Rick Perry #RoyalRumble
8 #AnittaNaoCantaAnittaGeme #5WordsForAFriend #NationalBreakfastWeek
9 #SeAcabaElMundo B.O.B #NDA2015
10 Conchobar Blac Chyna #MusicMonday

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks
Arts and culture
  • Officials from the New York State parks system have proposed to temporarily “shut off” the American portion of Niagara Falls (also known as American Falls) within three years. The shut off will allow the replacement of two 115-year-old pedestrian stone bridges that are unsafe for the public. (Sky News)
Disasters and accidents
Health
International relations
Law and Crime
Politics and elections

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource