Britain's GDP grows 0.5 percent in October: statistics office

LONDON - Britain's economy grew 0.5 percent in October, official data showed Monday, after a sharp fall the previous month in part because of the national holiday for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral.

Gross domestic product fell 0.6 percent in September after businesses closed for the royal funeral, and Britain's economy shrank by 0.2 percent in the third quarter.

Agence France-Presse

Europe burns as heatwave breaks temperature records

LONDON — A fierce heatwave in western Europe has left much of the continent wilting under a scorching sun, feeding ferocious wildfires and threatening to smash more temperature records on Tuesday.

In Britain, forecasters said the current national record of 38.7 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) could be broken and 40C breached for the first time, with experts blaming climate change and predicting more frequent extreme weather to come.

On Monday the 38.1C recorded in Suffolk, in eastern England, made it the hottest day of the year and the third-hottest day on record.

Across the Channel in France, the national weather office said a host of towns and cities recorded their highest-ever temperatures on Monday.

The mercury hit 39.3C in Brest on the Atlantic coast of Brittany, in the far northwest of the country, smashing a previous record of 35.1C from 2002.

Saint-Brieuc, on the Channel coast, hit 39.5C beating a previous record of 38.1C, and the western city of Nantes recorded 42C, beating a decades-old high of 40.3C, set in 1949.

Firefighters in France's southwest were still struggling in the crushing heat to contain two massive fires that have caused widespread destruction.

For nearly a week now, armies of firefighters and a fleet of waterbombing aircraft have battled blazes that have mobilized much of France's firefighting capacity.

HOLIDAYMAKERS EVACUATED

Ireland saw temperatures of 33C in Dublin -- the highest since 1887 -- while in the Netherlands, temperatures reached 35.4C in the southern city of Westdorpe. Although that was not a record, higher temperatures are expected there on Tuesday.

Neighbouring Belgium also expected temperatures of 40C and over.

The European heatwave is the second to engulf parts of the southwest of the continent in recent weeks.

European Commission researchers, meanwhile, said nearly half (46 percent) of EU territory was exposed to warning-level drought. Eleven percent was at an alert level, and crops were already suffering from a lack of water.

Blazes in France, Greece, Portugal, and Spain have destroyed thousands of hectares of land.

An area nine kilometers (5.5 miles) long and eight kilometers wide was still ablaze near France's Dune de Pilat, Europe's highest sand dune, turning picturesque landscapes, popular campsites, and pristine beaches into a scorching mess.

The blaze was literally "blowing things up", such was its ferocity, said Marc Vermeulen, head of the local fire service. "Pine trunks of 40 years are bursting."

A total of 8,000 people were being evacuated from near the dune Monday as a precaution, as changing winds blew thick smoke into residential areas, officials said.

Hurriedly packing her car, Patricia Monteil said she would go to her daughter's home in another part of the district. "But if that goes up in flames too, I don't know what to do."

Around 32,000 tourists or residents have been forced to decamp in France, many to emergency shelters.

On Monday evening, prosecutors in the southwest city of Bordeaux said a man suspected of having started one of the fires in the region had been taken into custody.

The two fires in the region have destroyed nearly 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres) of land.

At Avigon, in the southeast, a fire that first started last Thursday surged back to life on Monday, local firefighters reported, while a separate fire broke out up in the northwest, in Brittany.

In Spain, a fire burning in the northwestern province of Zamora claimed the life of a 69-year-old shepherd, regional authorities said. On Sunday, a fireman died in the same area.

Later on Monday it was reported an office worker in his fifties had died from heatstroke in Madrid.

Authorities have reported around 20 wildfires still raging from the south to Galicia in the far northwest, where blazes have destroyed around 4,500 hectares of land. 

'ENJOY THE SUNSHINE'

The fires in Portugal claimed two more lives in the northern Vila Real region, after a car carrying two local villagers crashed off the road as they appeared to be trying to flee a fire zone, local officials said.

"We found the car and these two people, aged around 70 years, completely burnt," the mayor of Murca, Mario Artur Lopez, told SIC Noticias television. The victims were from the nearby village of Penabeice, he added.

Almost the entire country has been on high alert for wildfires despite a slight drop in temperatures, which last Thursday hit 47C -- a record for July.

The fires have already killed two other people, injured around 60 and destroyed between 12,000 and 15,000 hectares of land there.

In Britain, the government, already on the ropes after a series of scandals that forced Prime Minister Boris Johnson to quit, has been accused of taking the situation too lightly.

Johnson was criticized for failing to attend an emergency meeting on the crisis on Sunday, instead hosting a farewell party at his state-funded country retreat.

And medics condemned comments by Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, who appeared to minimize the threat from the extreme heat when he told Britons to "enjoy the sunshine".

The Sun tabloid headlined its coverage of the heat "British Bake Off", observing that the "scorcher" was making the UK hotter than Ibiza, where temperatures were a comparatively low 30C.

The extreme temperatures saw flights suspended at Luton Airport near London and at Royal Air Force base Brize Norton due to "defects" on the runway, with no let-up expected for Tuesday.

Trains were canceled and schools closed in affected areas.

In Brighton, on England's south coast, bank worker Abu Bakr put the heatwave in perspective.

"I come from Sudan," he said. "Forty, forty-five degrees is just the norm. This is as good as it can be."

Agence France-Presse

UK scientists immunize hundreds with coronavirus vaccine

LONDON (AP) — Scientists at Imperial College London say they are immunizing hundreds of people with an experimental coronavirus vaccine in an early trial after seeing no worrying safety problems in a small number vaccinated so far.

Dr. Robin Shattock, a professor at the college, told The Associated Press that he and colleagues had just finished a very slow and arduous process of testing the vaccine at a low dose in the initial participants and would now expand the trial to about 300 people, including some over age 75.

“It’s well tolerated. There aren’t any side effects,” he said, adding it was still very early in the study. Shattock, who is leading the vaccine research at Imperial, said he hopes to have enough safety data to start inoculating several thousand people in October.
Since COVID-19 infections have dropped dramatically in Britain, making it difficult to determine whether or not the vaccine works, Shattock said he and his colleagues are also looking to test their vaccine elsewhere.

“We’re looking very carefully at the pandemic, at the numbers where the hot spots are and talking to collaborators that have the facilities to do these kinds of studies,” he said.

The Imperial vaccine uses synthetic strands of genetic code based on the virus. Once injected into a muscle, the body’s own cells are instructed to make copies of a spiky protein on the coronavirus. That should in turn trigger an immune response so the body can fight off any future COVID-19 infection.

Earlier this week, the world’s biggest coronavirus vaccine study started in the United States, with the first of 30,000 planned volunteers getting immunized with shots created by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc.

Several other vaccines made by China and by Britain’s Oxford University, based on different vaccine technologies, began smaller final-stage tests in Brazil and other hard-hit countries earlier this month.

The World Health Organization has said multiple vaccine approaches are necessary for COVID-19, noting that the usual success rate for vaccine development is about 10%.

Shattock said there were numerous coronavirus vaccines now in clinical trials, and he predicted that at least some of them would prove to be effective.

“We have 20 vaccines in clinical trials, (so) we can be pretty confident that at least two of those will work,” he said. “It really depends on how strong the immune response needs to be to provide protection.”

Shattock said he was optimistic the Imperial vaccine would work, but must await the scientific data from the trial.

“I’m just going to hold my breath and wait to see,” he said.

-Associated Press

Man parades down London’s Oxford Street wearing nothing but mask

LONDON – A man strolled down central London’s most popular shopping street on Friday with only a mask to cover his nudity, leaving passerbys astounded, amused and shocked.

As the man walked nonchalantly along Oxford Street, naked except for the light blue face mask over his groin, some took pictures on their phones while others simply stared.

It was unclear what prompted the stunt but masks became compulsory on Friday in English shops.


A Reuters photographer caught a picture of the man from an office above the street.

reuters

Traditional soup broths appear to have antimalarial properties

New United Kingdom research has found that traditional clear soup broths, which are often touted as being good for our health, appear to have antimalarial properties.

Carried out by researchers at Imperial College London, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust and Eden Primary School London, the new study analyzed soups brought in by children at the school to see whether vegetable or meat soup broths could have antimalarial properties.


The recipes for the soups had been passed down through the generations for the treatment of fever, and the children came from diverse ethnic backgrounds, from across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

In total, the researchers tested 56 clear broths by incubating filtered extracts of each for 72 hours with different cultures of Plasmodium falciparum (P falciparum).

P falciparum is the deadliest of the malarial parasites, and is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. The researchers wanted to see if any of the broths could stop the growth of sexually immature parasites which cause malaria, as well as block sexual maturation, which is the stage at which the parasite can infect the mosquito.

The idea to look at broths as a natural remedy came from the development of artemisinin-based combination therapies for malaria. Antimalarial artemisinin comes from qinghao, prescribed in traditional Chinese medical practice for over 2000 years to treat fever, in particular fever associated with malaria, leading the researchers to wonder if other “natural” remedies might also have antimalarial properties.

The findings, published today in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, showed that five of the broths were able to slow the growth of the sexually immature parasite by more than 50%, and in two of these broths, the effect was comparable to a leading antimalarial drug dihydroartemisinin.

In addition, four other broths were more than 50% effective at blocking sexual maturation, which could also potentially stop the transmission of the disease.

The researchers also found that although the recipes for each of the broths varied, there was no particular ingredient which was common to the soups with the strongest antimalarial activity.

However, they also warned that none of the active ingredients in the broths studied have yet been identified and tested in clinical trials.

The study is thought to be the first of its kind, and suggests that natural resources such as broth could help fight malaria, a disease which poses a risk to half the world’s population. In addition, the disease is also becoming resistant to the drugs used to treat it.

“The utility of any broth found to have antimalarial activity will, of course, depend significantly on standardization of soup preparation and ultimately identification of the active source ingredient, its fractionation and, towards its progression, detailed toxicology with first human cells and later preclinical trial,” said the researchers. However, they added that, “This journey, mirroring that of artemisinin from the Qinghao herb, may as yet reveal another source of potent anti-infective treatment.” RGA

source: technology.inquirer.net

‘Anti-manspreading’ chair wins award in design expo

A design student in the United Kingdom won an award for her unique chairs that address “manspreading,” a term referring to the practice of men sitting with their legs wide apart to take more space, usually in public transportation.

Laila Laurel, a graduating 3D Design and Craft student from the University of Brighton, was among thousands of students who showcased their work at the exhibition New Designers in London. This year, the exhibition held in July put a spotlight on designs for social issues.

Laurel won the Belmond Award from the hotel and leisure company for her chairs entitled “A Solution for Manspreading,” the University of Brighton announced on July 5. The prize entails a commission to create a product for Belmond.

Her award-winning creation is a set of chairs: one for men and another for women. One chair is designed with wide sides and goes narrow in the front such that the person seated will have to close his legs. The chair for women encourages them to open their legs wide through a piece of wood in the middle.

She said in the school statement: “It came both from my own experiences of men infringing on my space in public, and also from The Everyday Sexism Project, a website founded by Laura Bates in which women self-testify about sexism they experience.”

“With my chair set I hoped to draw awareness to the act of sitting for men and women and inspire discussion around this.”

Belmond praised her work in a statement on Wednesday, July 17. “Laila’s bold, purpose-driven design stood out to our judging panel as it explores the important role of design in informing space, a person’s behavior and societal issues of today.”  /ra

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Jessie J on the ‘pain and sadness’ of being infertile

In her recent concert in London, singer Jessie J opened up about her fertility issues and the “pain and sadness” she has been feeling the past few years.

She then performed “Four Letter Word”—a track from her new album “R.O.S.E.” that hopes to inspire people when things “get really hard.”


“I was told four years ago that I can’t ever have children,” she told the crowd at the Royal Albert Hall.

But Jessie’s not asking for sympathy; she just hopes to remind other people going through similar situations that they’re not alone. “I’m one of millions of women and men that have gone through this and will go through this,” said the “Domino” singer.

“If you have ever experienced anything with this or have seen somebody else go through it, or have lost a child, then please know you’re not alone in your pain, and I’m thinking of you when I sing this song,” she said of the “Four Letter Word”—a part of which goes: “I will never give up, even if it breaks me/ Fills in my heart, we’ll meet one another/ You will be my baby, I will be your mother.”

Actor Channing Tatum, who’s rumored to be dating Jessie at the moment, attended the show and wrote on his Instagram page: “This woman just poured her heart out on stage at the Royal Albert Hall. Whoever was there got to witness something special. Wow.”—ALLAN POLICARPIO

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

London commuters get boost with inspirational quotes

LONDON, United Kingdom — The daily grind of London commuting is being brightened by a collection of black marker pens and white boards — giving city dwellers a welcome boost as they travel through the metropolis.

The hall of Oval underground station looks more like a living room than a Tube stop — complete with plants and a small library, while Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 5″ plays.

It is at this stop on the Underground’s Northern Line that Glen Sutherland, an employee of tube operator Transport for London (TfL), whips out a black marker and writes up the “Thought for the Day”.

Today the quote appearing on the large whiteboard — strategically positioned in front of the escalators used by thousands of people daily — is from Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho.

“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure,” it reads, written in fine writing which harks back to the books of centuries past.

The Oval station tradition began in 2004, as a way to brighten up the station and distract passengers — particularly during peak times when the crowded trains are akin to sardine cans.

“As you come up from the escalator you hear the music, you got the thought of the day, the books, the bench, you can sit down, have a read, take it easy.

“We should start serving coffee in there!” Sutherland tells AFP.

From Steve Jobs to Socrates

The TfL employee hunts down quotes on the internet, he says, wary of what should be avoided: “It’s a case of choosing them carefully, you can’t put anything political, sexist, religion.”

Sutherland often chooses positive messages for the “Thought for the Day”, encouraging those who may have got out of bed on the wrong side.

“When you arise in the morning, think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love”, is one example from Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius.

Oval’s whiteboard also provides advice and comments on society, such as this line from Oscar Wilde: “Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.”

The quotes can also come from more unusual quarters, such as Yoda from the “Star Wars” films: “Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.”

Other famous names which have appeared include Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, Bob Marley, Bruce Lee, Steve Jobs, Confucius, Shakespeare, Socrates and Picasso.

Occasionally “Thought for the Day” takes inspiration from news and current affairs, paying tribute to celebrities who have recently passed away such as David Bowie, Prince and Mohammed Ali.

There has also been encouragement for Team GB at the Olympics and a birthday message for Queen Elizabeth II.

Driven by social media

The initiative at Oval has now spread to several other stations, with photos of the “Thought for the Day” being shared on social networks, and numerous bars and shops have also started sharing quotes and witticisms.

“Shoes: less money than a shrink,” quips a sign at one shop about the therapeutic benefits of shopping, while a pub warns “all hipsters must be accompanied by an adult”.

“Beer is the answer, but I can’t remember the question,” reads another pub sign, traditionally written in white on a blackboard.

The messages sometimes use humour rather than straightforward positive PR, such as one board outside a cafe in Stockport: “Come in and try the worst porridge that one woman on TripAdvisor had in her life”.

Mandy Miller, a specialist in calligraphy for blackboards, says the fashion for puns and funny comments has come with the growth of social media companies such as Twitter and Instagram.

“They rarely say anything about the pub they stand outside or what is on offer, but that’s almost irrelevant.

It’s the photo opportunity that they provide, people like to ‘collect’ and share them, therefore, the pub gets a mention in the post. The more clever and outlandish the better,” says Miller, who goes by the alias “Chalkboard Lady”.

Roberta Mussato, an Italian passing through Clapham North station which also boasts a whiteboard, is just one enthusiast of the “Thought for the Day.”

“Either they make you smile or they make you think. In any case it’s nice when you’re all in the rush and you just take five seconds to read,” she says, before getting lost in the fast pace of London life./rga

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Brexit, a sign of anti-elite revolt—analysts

PARIS—It was Britain’s poorer and less-educated citizens — angry at not having shared in the economic benefits of a new world order — who pushed it out of the European Union, in a vote that threatens elites, analysts say.

They are those who suffered the worst hangover from the economic crisis, and whose precarious economic position makes them most fearful of rising immigration — to the benefit of far right groups in the EU and Donald Trump in the United States.

“I see the same pattern everywhere I look,” said William Galston, a senior fellow at the US-based Brookings Institution.

“The demographic splits within the UK are exactly the same category for category as the demographic splits within the American electorate in this presidential election.”

Rural areas with high numbers of migrant workers, former industrial hubs and poor areas around cities, those without a university education and older voters were all among the 53.4 percent who voted Brexit.

Galston said this was the same demographic backing controversial Republican candidate Trump in the US, as well as eurosceptic and far-right parties enjoying a rise in support across Europe.

“They mistrust political elites because up until now they haven’t seen any political parties who appear to recognise their discontent and respond to it.”

Galston said while he did not expect these forces to prevail in the United States as they did in the Brexit vote, they were a “major warning signal to established parties throughout Europe”.

‘It’s about what people feel’

Fears are high of a domino effect, with eurosceptic, leftist and far right parties from France to the Netherlands crying victory after the shock Brexit result was announced and calling for similar votes in their own countries.

Political scientist Melanie Sully of the Vienna-based Go-Governance Institute warned Europe was facing a “crisis of democracy” that could be exploited by xenophobic, far right parties.

“If you don’t have any trust in politics, it’s exactly the sort of black hole populists can march into and capture the mood and build on it, to perpetuate their own falsehoods,” she told Agence France-Presse.

At the root of this surge in anti-establishment sentiment is a feeling of fear, loss of control, and traditions and identity lost among those who are struggling economically, analysts say.

“Before we talk about populism, the anti-establishment, we have to talk about the social position of these people. What do they earn? How do they see their everyday lives?” said Tetiana Havlin, a sociologist at the University of Siegen in Germany.

“In everyday life nobody thinks about anti-globalization, anti-establishment. They just see their challenges”, she said.

“This of course gives fertile ground for populism… but in the end this is about what people feel.”

‘The dark side’

Observers point to two main drivers of the surge in scorn for the elite: the hangover from the 2008/2009 economic crisis and the refugee crisis.

“You have a lot of people who took a big hit. These are people who feel economically vulnerable, and when you put demographic fears on top of economic vulnerability this is what you get,” said Halston.

“I don’t think it’s mysterious anymore, we may have been scratching our head a year ago but we should be in no doubt now.”

Many young people who voted Remain are furious at the number of older British voters who backed Leave — lumbering them, as they see it, with the consequences of their decision for decades to come.

Havlin said that many of these voters saw the EU as a source of security and stability when Britain joined in 1973, a time she refers to as “the prosperity years”.

Now older, these voters reeling from austerity and a sense of growing threats at Europe’s borders, feel “threatened and insecure”.

Dominique Moisi, of the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) said the Brexit earthquake was a dark moment in Europe’s history, comparing it unfavorably to the fall of communism.

“Remember Star Wars: there is the light side and the dark side of the force. The light side was the fall of the Berlin Wall. The dark side is Brexit.”

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Beatles contract sold for £365,000 at London auction

LONDON, United Kingdom—The contract that launched the career of the Beatles was sold Tuesday in London for £365,000 (492,000 euros, $553,000), auction house Sotheby’s said.

The document was signed by John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, along with their manager Brian Epstein on October 1, 1962—four days before the release of their first single “Love Me Do.”

It was the only deal signed by the four final Beatles members with Epstein, who died from an accidental overdose in 1967 and was dubbed the “fifth Beatle” by McCartney.

The band had first signed a contract with Epstein when Pete Best was still the drummer. After his replacement by Starr less than nine months later, the two parties had to put pen to paper again.

“Without this contract, and the relationship it represents, it seems inconceivable that the Beatles could have achieved all that they did: it took more than inspired musicianship and song-writing to remake popular music,” said Gabriel Heaton, Sotheby’s specialist in books and manuscripts.

“The presentation, direction, and internal harmony of the Beatles all owed a huge amount to Brian Epstein.”

The new contract features the signatures of the musicians, with the fathers of McCartney and Harrison acting as co-signatories because their sons were younger than 21 at the time.

Under the contract, band members were required to give one month’s notice before leaving the group, while another clause stated that any member could be expelled “should two or more of them desire.”

The document also outlined the different commission rates that Epstein would receive for earnings of up to £400, up to £800 and more than £800 a week.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Megan Young tells what it takes to win Miss World title

MANILA, Philippines—The next Miss World should be “genuine.”

Reigning Miss World Megan Young made known her preference for her successor in an interview posted on the Miss World website.

“I hope that the next Miss World, whoever she is, is genuine. It is a competition but her authenticity is what will win the judges over and carry her throughout her reign,” Young said.

She said being a Miss World title holder is not all about beauty and glamor.

“A lot of it is really behind the scenes and about getting your feet dirty without your heels and without the make-up,” she said.

The 24-year old beauty queen also emphasized patience.

“My advice is to be patient. In this job, patience is a virtue. Also, it is important to always be understanding and nice to everyone you meet. Kindness and compassion will take you a long way,” she said.

On her part, she admitted that she was “at first afraid” when she was crowned the title.

“I thought that I was not going to be able to see my family, as the job of a Miss World is non-stop humanitarian work, and that was something I didn’t know how to come to terms with,” she said.

 

But she said she was thankful that between travelling around the world and seeing new things, she was able to return home and visit her family.

“That was really helpful as it kept me levelheaded and sane throughout my year,” she said.

She thanked the Filipinos for their support throughout her reign and even before she was crowned as the first ever Miss World from the Philippines.

“The reaction from my country and the support I received was completely out of this world and beyond my wildest imaginations.”

But as she makes her final walk as a Miss world on Monday, December 15, (Philippine Time), she said her reign was full of worthwhile memories.

She said helping in the relief operations after Super Typhoon “Yolanda” devastated the Philippines was one of the highlights of her reign as Miss World.

“I was able to help out my countrymen in ways I never thought possible, because of my Miss World title,” she said.

“I could connect to so many people and inspire and encourage help on such a wide scale and that was a true highlight of my year,” she added.

She said she is excited to host the coronation night in London since she is the first reigning title holder to do the job.

She said it is not her first time to be a presenter of a major event, but she remembered that before being given the opportunity to host Miss World, she wanted to host Miss Philippines or a local show.

“Hosting Miss World, which is watched by billions of people worldwide, is something that I never expected and totally blows my mind away when I think about it,” she said.

“I am the first reigning title holder to be hosting the show so whenever history is being made there certainly is pressure,” she added.

According to her, she hopes that in five years she would be able to do “something big internationally.”

“I love to win an acting award. You have to dream big and have that goal so you can work hard for it,” she said.

The Miss World 2014 will be held at the ICC Auditorium in London on December 15 (Philippine time).

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Football fan fined after ‘bending it like Beckham’

LONDON — A football fan was fined £305 ($506) on Monday after “bending it like Beckham” when he ran onto the pitch and cheekily took a free kick during Tottenham’s 1-0 win at West Ham last month.

Jordan Dunn, a 22-year-old from Kent, earned internet notoriety when he invaded the Upton Park turf just before Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen was about to take a set-piece in the second half of the Premier League clash.

With Eriksen unaware of what was coming, Dunn ran up to the ball and curled in a shot which was easily saved by West Ham’s Spanish goalkeeper Adrian.

The supporter was then chased by a steward amid cheers from the crowd before being apprehended.

Appearing at Thames Magistrates’ Court in East London on Monday, Dunn apologized for a “moment of madness” and pleaded guilty to the charge.

He was spared a ban from attending future matches, with District Judge Gareth Branston showing a sense of humor with a reference to the hit film “Bend it like Beckham” which takes its title from the ability of former Manchester United and England midfielder David Beckham to score brilliant curling free-kicks.

“Some time into that game a young man ran onto the pitch. That was you. You weren’t paid to do that,” the judge said.

“You took it (the free-kick) for them. To be frank you were probably a little tired by the time you got to the ball.

“It was a longer run than was strictly necessary.

“You had consumed alcohol and your stride pattern was a bit out of kilter but to borrow a phrase you did bend it like Beckham.

“Regrettably it was about 30mph slower than Beckham.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Britain to trial driverless cars from 2015

LONDON–Driverless cars will be allowed on British roads from January 2015 as part of a pilot initiative in three cities, the government announced Wednesday.

Cities nationwide are being invited to bid to host one of a series of trials that will last between 18 and 36 months, and to receive a share of the £10 million ($17 million, 12.5 million euros) of government funding for the scheme.

Driverless vehicles, guided by a system of sensors and cameras, have already been tested in several countries, including the United States and Japan, with Sweden set to follow.

Business Secretary Vince Cable, outlining the plans, said British scientists and engineers were “pioneers” in the development of driverless vehicles.

“Today’s announcement will see driverless cars take to our streets in less than six months, putting us at the forefront of this transformational technology and opening up new opportunities for our economy and society,” he said at the headquarters of motor industry research organisation MIRA in Nuneaton, central England.

However, motoring organizations warned that road users were skeptical of the technology.

The Automobile Association said a recent survey of more than 23,000 of its members showed that 43 percent did not agree that the law should be changed to allow trials of the technology.

AA president Edmund King said drivers were “still resistant to change” and that many people “enjoy driving too much to ever want the vehicle to take over from them.”

Another motoring association, the RAC, said it would be difficult for drivers to give up control of their vehicles.

RAC technical director David Bizley said: “Many vehicles already have features such as automatic braking and it is claimed that driverless technology is able to identify hazards more effectively than a person can.

“But many motorists will be concerned about not being able to control the speed of their vehicle for the conditions or layout of the road in front of them,” he added.

source: technology.inquirer.net

48-hour strike begins on London Underground

LONDON—Workers on London’s Underground train system began a 48-hour strike at 9 p.m. (2000 GMT) on Monday, threatening chaos for commuters and hitting football supporters attending Arsenal’s match with Newcastle.

The action was called by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) in protest at plans to close all ticket offices on the “Tube” system, which they say will jeopardize hundreds of jobs and safety standards.

The strike, called after talks between union bosses and London Underground broke down earlier in the day, will cost the British capital millions of pounds.

Boards were erected outside stations offering advice to fans trying to get home from the Emirates Stadium after Arsenal hosted Newcastle in the Premier League.

But the most severe disruption is expected during Tuesday and Wednesday’s rush hours.

London mayor Boris Johnson called the action, the first since the death of firebrand RMT chief Bob Crow in March, “pointless and mad.”

RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash explained: “London Underground have dug themselves into an entrenched position and have refused to move one inch from their stance of closing every ticket office.

“Despite the spin from LU nothing that they are proposing is about ‘modernization.’ The current plans, closing every ticket office and axing nearly a thousand safety-critical jobs, is solely about massive austerity cuts driven centrally by David Cameron and his government and implemented by Mayor Boris Johnson.”

There will be a limited service on most underground lines during the strike but no trains running on the central London sections of the busy Central and Piccadilly lines and no service at all on the Waterloo and City line.

A further three-day strike is planned from 9 p.m. next Monday.

London’s Underground system, the oldest in the world, carries around three million passengers daily.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Nominees for British Academy Film Awards

LONDON  — Nominations in the main categories for the British Academy Film Awards, announced Wednesday:

Best Film: “12 Years a Slave”; “American Hustle”; “Captain Phillips”; “Gravity”; “Philomena”

Outstanding British Film: “Gravity”; “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”; “Philomena”; “Rush”; “Saving Mr. Banks”: “The Selfish Giant”

Director: Steve McQueen, “12 Years a Slave”; David O. Russell, “American Hustle”; Paul Greengrass, “Captain Phillips”; Alfonso Cuaron, “Gravity”; Martin Scorsese, “The Wolf of Wall Street”

Original Screenplay: “American Hustle”; “Blue Jasmine”; “Gravity”; “Inside Llewyn Davis”; “Nebraska”

Adapted Screenplay: “12 Years a Slave”; “Behind the Candelabra”; “Captain Phillips”; “Philomena”; “The Wolf of Wall Street”

Leading Actor: Bruce Dern, “Nebraska”; Chiwetel Ejiofor, “12 Years a Slave”; Christian Bale, “American Hustle”: Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Wolf of Wall Street”; Tom Hanks, “Captain Phillips”

Leading Actress: Amy Adams, “American Hustle”; Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine”; Emma Thompson, “Saving Mr. Banks”; Judi Dench, “Philomena”; Sandra Bullock, “Gravity”

Supporting Actor: Barkhad Abdi, “Captain Phillips”; Bradley Cooper, “American Hustle”; Daniel Bruhl, “Rush”; Matt Damon, “Behind the Candelabra”; Michael Fassbender, “12 Years a Slave”

Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, “American Hustle”; Julia Roberts, “August: Osage County”; Lupiuta Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave”; Oprah Winfrey, “The Butler”; Sally Hawkins, “Blue Jasmine”

Cinematography: Sean Bobbitt, “12 Years a Slave’: Barry Ackroyd, “Captain Phillips”; Emmanuel Lubezki, “Gravity”; Bruno Delbonnel, “Inside Llewyn Davis”; Phedon Papamichael, “Nebraska”

Film Not in the English Language: “The Act of Killing”; Blue is the Warmest Color”; “The Great Beauty”; “Metro Manila”; “Wadjda”

Documentary: “The Act of Killing”; “The Armstrong Lie”; “Blackfish”: “Tim’s Vermeer”; We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks”

Animated Film: “Despicable Me 2″; “Frozen”; “Monsters University”

Rising Star: Dane DeHaan; George MacKay; Lupita Nyong’o; Will Poulter; Lea Seydoux

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Worst storm in decade lashes Britain, France

LONDON — Britain faced travel chaos on Monday and some 75,000 homes were without electricity in northern France as one of the worst storms in years battered the region, sweeping at least one person out to sea.

Britain’s national weather center the Met Office warned of falling trees, damage to buildings and disruption to power supplies and transport as the storm hit England’s southwest coast late Sunday.

Between 20 and 40 millimeters of rain were predicted to fall within six to nine hours as the storm tracked eastwards across Britain, with a chance of localized flooding.

Wind gusts of up to 99 miles per hour whipped across southern England and south Wales on Monday, forecasters said.

The Met Office issued an “amber” wind warning for the region, the third highest in a four-level scale, and urged people to delay their Monday morning journeys to work to avoid the worst of the bad weather.

In northern France the storm left some 75,000 homes without power early Monday, according to the ERDF distribution network, after wind gusts reached 139 kilometers in some areas knocking down power lines.

The rough conditions led to rescuers suspending the search for a 14-year-old boy who was washed out to sea from a beach in East Sussex on England’s south coast.

London looked set for a chaotic rush-hour after train companies First Capital Connect, C2C, Greater Anglia, Southern and Gatwick Express services all said they would not run services on Monday until it was safe to do so. That is unlikely to be before 9:00 am (0900 GMT), according to forecasts.

Robin Gisby from line operator Network Rail warned commuters to expect severe disruption.

“If we get through this in the morning, restore the service during the afternoon and are able to start up a good service on Tuesday morning, in the circumstances I’ll be pretty pleased,” he added.

Major airports also warned of disruption to flights with London hub Heathrow expecting approximately 30 cancellations.

Cross-channel train service Eurostar said it would not be running trains on Monday until 7:00 am, meaning delays to early services.

Several ferry operators said they had cancelled some cross-Channel services and Irish Sea crossings.

Forecaster Helen Chivers told AFP the expected damage was likely to be comparable with a storm seen in October 2002.

Prime Minister David Cameron received an update from officials on contingency planning in a conference call on Sunday, amid fears of similar damage wrought by the “Great Storm” of October 1987.

That left 18 people dead in Britain and four in France, felled 15 million trees and caused damages worth more than £1 billion ($1.6 billion or 1.2 billion euros at current exchange rates) as winds blew up to 115 miles an hour.

Martin Young, chief forecaster at the Met Office, said: “While this is a major storm for the UK, we don’t currently expect winds to be as strong as those seen in the ‘Great Storm’ of 1987 or the ‘Burns Day storm’ of 1990.

“We could see some uprooted trees or other damage from the winds and there’s a chance of some surface water flooding from the rainfall — all of which could lead to some disruption.”

Veteran weather forecaster Michael Fish also said Sunday’s storm was unlikely to be as severe as 26 years ago, although his comments will be taken with a pinch of salt in Britain.

Fish was the BBC’s main television weatherman in 1987 but famously denied that a major storm was on its way just hours before it hit.

This year’s storm has been named St. Jude after the patron saint of lost causes, whose feast day is on Monday.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

PAL London flights showcase of PH pride at WTM

The return of Philippine Airlines (PAL) to London starting November 4 will be the centerpiece of the country’s participation at the World Travel Market (WTM), the biggest global event for the travel industry which opens on the same day PAL arrives at the British capital.

The resumption of non-stop flights to the United Kingdom will serve as the main focus of tourism promotions by the Philippines under the Department of Tourism’s (DoT) “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign at this year’s WTM to be held from Nov. 4 to 7.

PAL will share the 300-square-meter Philippine pavilion with 40 other Philippine exhibitors, including the DoT, at WTM 2013 where almost 5,000 exhibitors from 184 countries are expected to generate more than GBP1,859 million in travel industry deals.

According to Susan del Mundo of DoT’s Tourism Promotions Board, “This is the biggest Philippine participation since joining WTM back in 1980 or any travel fair worldwide. A total of 90 DoT officials led by Sec. Ramon Jimenez will be at WTM.”

Buyers and sellers from every sector of the travel industry around the world converge at WTM, London’s biggest annual travel event attracting more than 47,000 global travel professionals.

PAL President Ramon S. Ang said: “In the first six months of 2013 alone, we had more than 60,000 arrivals from Britain.  This elevated the UK to the Philippines’ top ten visitor markets for the first time – the only European nation on the list. With PAL’s new non-stop flights, we are sure those numbers will increase further.”

The DoT had predicted a 65% increase in European visitors to about 575,000 this year alone and the doubling of current arrivals to around 700,000 in the coming year.

“It is not just tourists who stand to benefit but more importantly our 664,000 Filipino *kababayans* in Europe, particularly the 250,000 living in the U.K., who will now be able to return home more often via the airline that knows them best,” Mr. Ang said.

He will lead a delegation of top PAL and government officials on the inaugural flight including the British Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad. Upon arrival at London’s Heathrow airport in the afternoon of Nov. 4, Philippine Ambassador to the UK Enrique Manalo will be welcoming the inaugural flight passengers.

From the airport, some PAL executives will proceed to the PAL booth at WTM.

The five-times-a-week service to London will use PAL’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft which features one of the most spacious cabin equipped with modern inflight amenities.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Official photo shows rare British royal gathering

LONDON—Britain’s monarchy has released a rare photo celebrating the christening of Prince George that shows four generations of royals gathered together.

The image released Thursday shows Queen Elizabeth II and three future kings: her son Prince Charles, her grandson Prince William, and her great-grandson, three-month-old Prince George.

The infant is pictured perched on the knee of his mother Catherine — William’s wife, the Duchess of Cambridge — and surrounded by family who’d gathered at St. James’s Palace on Wednesday for George’s christening.

The queen’s husband, Prince Philip, is pictured, along with a grinning Prince Harry and Charles’ wife, Camilla.

The Duchess of Cambridge’s parents, sister and brother also are in the photograph.

George was christened by Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, with water brought from the River Jordan.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Johnny Depp salutes horror icon Christopher Lee at London festival

LONDON — Johnny Depp has made a surprise appearance at the London Film Festival to give a career honor to horror icon Christopher Lee.

Depp called Lee “a national treasure” and “a genuine artist” as he presented the 91-year-old actor with a British Film Institute Fellowship.

Lee’s 250 movie roles include Dracula in a series of Hammer Films thrillers, Bond villain Scaramanga in “The Man With The Golden Gun,” the founder of Pakistan in “Jinnah” and Saruman in “The Lord of the Rings.”



During a ceremony Saturday, the London festival gave its best-picture prize to U.K.-based Polish director Pawel Pawlikowski for “Ida.”

The 12-day festival ends Sunday with a gala screening of “Saving Mr. Banks,” starring Tom Hanks as Walt Disney and Emma Thompson as “Mary Poppins” author P.L. Travers.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

One Direction’s Malik engaged to Perrie Edwards

LONDON — One Direction has one less eligible bachelor.

Band member Zayn Malik is engaged to Perrie Edwards of the group Little Mix. They’re both 20.

Edwards was spotted wearing a diamond ring Tuesday at One Direction film premiere “This Is Us” in London.

Edwards’ mother, Debbie, confirmed Wednesday that her daughter and Malik were engaged. She told Real Radio: “It’s true. They got engaged on Sunday and it’s absolutely lovely.” 



Columbia Records confirmed in a statement that “Zayn and Perrie are engaged, but any further detail regarding their relationship is private.”

Like boy band One Direction, female trio Little Mix formed on British TV talent show “The X Factor,” winning the competition in 2011. One Direction placed third in 2010, but went on to top charts around the world.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net