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

Top Twitter Trends –

Worldwide USA UK
1 #WorldSuicidePreventionDay #WorldSuicidePreventionDay #WorldSuicidePreventionDay
2 #SameOldLove Pokemon Go #RenameAFilmLiterally
3 #FelizJueves #HumanExperienceIn4Words #charlotteproudman
4 #ChamuyeCuandoDije Grace Jones Pokemon Go
5 #CizreUnderAttack #pitmad #RejectedAppleProducts
6 #MeCambiaLaCara #RejectedAppleProducts Bonang
7 #ZaynWeAreAlwaysHere #BieberTODAY #HomoNaledi
8 #SemiIsBack Bobby Jindal Jonathan King
9 Palacio de Justicia Aladdin iPhone 6s
10 鬼怒川 #FallonTonight #HumanExperienceIn4Words

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks
Disasters and accidents
International relations
Law and crime
Politics and elections
Science and technology

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

February 22, 2016

Top News Stories –

Taylor Swift donates $250,000 to Kesha after her failed lawsuit against Dr Luke and Sony –
Taylor Swift has donated $250,000 (£176,099.74) to Kesha after her failed lawsuit. Kesha on Friday lost her bid to end her contract with Sony. A New York judge denied Kesha a court injunction that would have allowed her to record new music outside of her record label. The ‘Tik Tok’ singer has been unable to record any new music for two years, as she refuses to work with her producer, Dr Luke, who she claims sexually assaulted her. According to the New York Daily News, Kesha will have to record six more albums under Kemosabe Records, Dr. Luke’s Sony imprint. In October 2014, Kesha sued Dr. Luke, accusing him of drugging, raping and abusing her a decade ago; Dr. Luke has denied all charges. [Daily Telegraph]
KeshaKesha

Jeb Bush drops out of presidential race –
A crestfallen Jeb Bush bowed to the inevitable on Saturday night and pulled out of the fight to win the Republican nomination. With the latest projections showing that Mr Bush was locked in a battle to win a distant fourth place in the South Carolina primary, the announcement was hardly a surprise. Fighting back tears he said: “Tonight, I am suspending my campaign, “I’m proud of the campaign that we have run to unify our country.” [Daily Telegraph]

Video of the Day –

7 MYTHS You Still Believe About “Healthy Eating”

Top Twitter Trends –

Worldwide USA UK
1 #canseliçinsusma #NationalMargaritaDay #mondaymotivation
2 #2aDetremuraSdv #Q102Troye #NationalMargaritaDay
3 #FelizLunes #FelizLunes #F1Testing
4 #NationalMargaritaDay #TypicalMeIn5Words #TheNightManager
5 #ApniDukaan #MiracleOnIce Paigey Cakey
6 #TraigoGanasDe #3YearsOfHeartbreakGirl #WWEFastlane
7 #اوصف_بلدك_بكلمه Virginia McLaurin #StopYouthViolence
8 #نطالب_باعفاء_�… #MeatlessMonday Sam Pepper
9 #PidoYaAGritos #mondaymotivation #UFCPittsburgh
10 猫の日 #PHXStartupWeek #MWC16

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks
Business and economics
Disasters and accidents
International relations
Law and crime
Politics and elections
Science and technology

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

March 22, 2016

Top News Stories –

Suicide And Suitcase Bombs Rip Through Brussels –
Hundreds of soldiers are on Brussels’ streets and Belgium is on its highest terror alert level after 34 people were killed and dozens more wounded in a series of explosions claimed by Islamic State. Shots were fired as attackers at Zaventem Airport were reportedly heard shouting in Arabic before two blasts ripped through the departure area, leaving at least 14 people dead. Maalbeek metro station was then hit by an “enormous” explosion about an hour later during the morning rush hour, killing at least 20 people. Footage from Maalbeek station shows black smoke pouring from the entrance, with people being moved on stretchers and victims seen with facial injuries. Nearly 200 people have been injured in the attacks. [Sky News]

Video of the Day –

Dozens Killed in Brussels Terrorist Attacks (Wall Street Journal)

Top Twitter Trends –

Worldwide USA UK
1 #DiaMundialDelAgua #TravelTuesday #LHHReunion
2 #WorldWaterDay #Brussels #TwitterIn5Words
3 #TercaSantaDetremuraSdv #ManInTree #WorldWaterDay
4 #اشتهرت_الكويت #PrayForTheWorld #StopIslam
5 #Brussels #WorldWaterDay #CharityTuesday
6 #StopIslam #GetAMovieIntoShape #jbforjodie
7 #MeRapoPorMarioBau Bélgica #BoringBooks
8 #بلجيكا #TwitterIn5Words #PrayForTheWorld
9 #NoAlTerrorismo Louis and Freddie #WheresGeorge
10 #CuandoMeQuedoEnCasa Piers Morgan #TheWalkingDeadUK

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks
Business and economics
International relations
Law and crime
Politics and elections
Sport

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

April 15, 2016

Top News Stories –

New Zealand stages first Pastafarian wedding on pirate boat –
The light-hearted Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster has staged its first legally recognised wedding. Toby Ricketts and Marianna Fenn tied the “noodle knot” in the New Zealand South Island town of Akaroa. The happy couple say that guidelines of the Pastafarian religion stipulate that wedding celebrants must be pirates. Members of the church profess the belief that the world was created by an airborne spaghetti and meatballs-based being and humans evolved from pirates. New Zealand officials last month designated the religion as an officially-recognised faith, allowing Wellington-based Pastafarian Karen Martyn the legal right to conduct marriages. She carried out her inaugural wedding as an ordained “ministeroni” on Saturday. [BBC]

Video of the Day –

While You Were Away from Ben Mallaby on Vimeo.

Top Twitter Trends –

Worldwide USA
#SextaDetremuraSdv #FlashbackFriday
#DiaMundialDelArte #UnbreakableKimmySchmidt
#BuenViernes #JackieRobinsonDay
#جمعه_الارض #BernieAtTheVatican
#ComoTuiterosPodemos #newmusicfriday
#GeziyiUnutma #OneBostonDay
#6YearsSinceNiallsAudition #TtW16
#ALDUBMonthsaryPlans #6YearsSinceNiallsAudition
#BuyHairOniTunes #DayofSilence
#DemDebate #ISOJ

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

April 23, 2016

Top News Stories –

William Shakespeare 400: Prince Charles takes to stage to speak Bard’s most famous line –
Prince Charles bravely went up against Britain’s finest actors to make his acting debut with what is possibly Shakespeare’s most famous line. The Prince of Wales became the Prince of Denmark as he joined acting royalty on stage to mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, uttering: “To be or not to be. That is the question.” Charles made a shock appearance as Hamlet alongside Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, Benedict Cumberbatch and David Tennant in a star-studded televised gala performance in the Bard’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon. Charles, who had been watching Shakespeare Live! at the town’s riverside Royal Shakespeare Theatre show with the Duchess of Cornwall, was heard to speak from the wings, asking: “Might I have a word … ” Then followed the opening lines to what is one of Shakespeare’s best-known soliloquies: “To be or not to be, that is the question.” [Daily Mirror]

Manager at exotic pet shop paid a prostitute with a MONKEY worth $2,500 that he swiped from the store owned by his wife –
An Oregon man was arrested after he allegedly tipped a prostitute with an exotic monkey, valued at $2,500, that he took from his own pet store. Nathan Allen McClain, 36, is accused of tipping a prostitute with an exotic primate and paying her with money from the Zany Zoo Pet Store fund, which included a donation jar with money, in exchange for a sexual encounter, according to Eugene detectives. The unidentified woman, who police tracked down at a local hotel, had the Galago primate in her possession and told authorities she received it as a tip from a client, whom she identified as McClain. The woman was cooperative, and provided a statement to detectives, along with the animal. [Daily Mail]

Video of the Day –

BALANCE from Tim Sessler on Vimeo.

Top Twitter Trends –

Worldwide USA
1 #ProjectHome #Shakespeare400
2 #شي_ودكم_ينقرض_… #ProjectHome
3 #FelizSabado #ReasonsToAppreciateCamila
4 #SábadoTopClubeSDV #DiaDelLibro
5 #DiaDelLibro #StGeorgesDay
6 #フォロワーさんと�… #saturdaymorning
7 #TranscendAllOddsAteneo #WorldBookDay
8 #SoyFelizCuando #EnglishStereotypeAMovie
9 #23NisanUlusalEgemenlikBay… #ThunderOverLouisville
10 #GetItDoneDLSU Stone Mountain

Other News Stories –

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

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

June 10, 2016

Top News Stories –

Spanish town’s giant dog dropping goes walkies –
A town in Spain is facing an unexpected bill after thieves apparently made off with a giant dog dropping being used as part of a local campaign. Torrelodones, a municipality just outside the capital Madrid, is 2,400 euros ($2,726; £1,885) out of pocket after the three-metre high inflatable bought as part of a campaign to encourage pet-lovers to pick up after their dogs went missing, El Pais newspaper reports. The bizarre inflatable disappeared after it had been packed away in its carry-case and the police are now on the trail of the 30 kilogramme dog poop, town officials say. Speaking to the ABC newspaper, town councillor Angel Guirao said staff were shocked and perplexed by the theft, and a replacement excrement was already on order because “we know that the campaign has been a great success”. The inflatable is not the only symbol of the municipality’s “Lay an egg” campaign. Torrelodones has also left a number of concrete dog poops around the town bearing the message “This is a big blockage to living together. If you have a dog, help us”. People taking the time to engage with the campaign by posting photos on social media can win “Lay an egg” T-shirts, tastefully illustrated with a picture of a hen’s egg. [BBC]

Video of the Day –

A Brief History of Video Game Title Design from Art of the Title on Vimeo.

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks
Business and economy
Disasters and accidents
International relations
Law and crime
Politics and elections
Sport

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource