Queen Elizabeth II has declared the London 2012 Paralympics officially open, during a spectacular opening ceremony watched by some 80,000 spectators. Britain’s first Paralympic Games gold medallist, Margaret Maughan, 84, had the honor of lighting the cauldron. Paralympics chief Lord Sebastian Coe told the crowd: “Prepare to be inspired, prepare to be dazzled, prepare to be moved.̶…
…night. They are designed to block out all background noise. A number of Olympic swimmers at London Games are walking out to the pool wearing headphones US swimming star Michael Phelps – who has 14 Olympic gold medals – keeps his headphones firmly in place until the last minute as he stays focused. But fans expressed dismay on Twitter, with Ella McSweeney writing: “If I was a fan who t…
…urned onto Central Park South. The parade then snaked down Sixth Avenue and headed from 59th Street down to 34th Street, making its final stop at Macy’s Herald Square. The helium balloons joined 28 floats, 1,600 cheerleaders and dancers, 900 clowns, 11 marching bands and, of course, Santa Claus. There was also an appearance by Miss USA winner, Olivia Culpo, who grinned as she waved at the sc…
2012 Olympics stadium has been officially opened by nine-year-old Niamh Clarke-Willis at a ceremony in east London. Niamh Clarke-Willis joined LOCOG head Lord Sebastian Coe to hit a button which launched balloons into the sky above the venue for this summer’s Games. Around 40,000 members of the public were at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford to witness the opening, which included a laser li…
Enterprise, NASA’s original prototype for the space shuttle program, took to the skies today for the first time in nearly 27 years for a historic sky show above the Manhattan skyline. Secured to the top of a modified 747 Boeing jetliner, Enterprise took off on Friday morning from Dulles International Airport in Virginia for New York, where it landed just under two hours later at John F. Ken…
Revelers in Times Square welcomed in 2013 with a spectacular display of fireworks and confetti as they watched the famous Waterford crystal ball make its annual descent to mark the New Year. They were in good company, as world famous artists like Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, and Psy performed at the Crossroads of the World. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was joined by the Radio City Rocket…
hree minutes for the first time since King George VI’s funeral. Lord’s cricket ground has turned away spectators trying to get in to watch archery amid confusion over ticketing. The London 2012 website advertised the event’s preliminary rounds as “unticketed”, which some members of the public interpreted as open to the public. But Olympic organizer LOCOG said it had n…
ce when he heard the blasts. “I started running toward the blast and there were people all over the floor,” he said. “We started grabbing tourniquets and started tying legs. At least 25 to 30 people have at least one leg missing, or an ankle missing, or two legs missing.” A doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital said “several amputations” had been performed th…
…Center also received five patients who were in a fair condition and were discharged on Saturday morning. Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center and its affiliated medical facilities received a total of 28 patients, of whom 12 were treated and released within hours of the accident. Two people remained in a critical condition on Saturday while seven are in serious condition and five are in fair condi…
The 85th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade took the streets of Manhattan in its spectacular style in front of 3 million spectators who watched the fourteen giant helium balloons, including Buzz Lightyear and SpongeBob SquarePants. The US biggest singing stars also came to Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2011 to entertain the crowds, including award-winning singers Cee Lo Green, Mar…
…gh, Jill Biden made a badly-timed pause after the word “comes”, which only added to the hilarity. Jill Biden’s slip-up came as her husband made his own campaign trail faux pas, addressing around 100 high school athletes at Newport High School. Getting into character with a football cradled beneath his arm the Vice President discussed students’ favorite sports as they stood before him i…
…acy theorist, claiming that Barack Obama was born outside of the United States making him unable to run for President. He believes that his Hawaiian birth certificate is fake or non-existent. In April 2011, Donald Trump announced that he paid to have a team of investigators to Hawaii to truly delve into the issue. In response, Barack Obama released the long form edition of his birth certificate af…
When Queen Elizabeth appeared to parachute into the Olympic Stadium this summer it was hailed as one of the greatest moments in British television history. As part of the lavish London 2012 opening ceremony the Queen was shown jumping from a helicopter with James Bond actor Daniel Craig, but ever since there has been mystery surrounding how, exactly, she was persuaded to do it – until now….
rades! The one in NYC is by far the largest, grandest and most popular, welcoming over 1 million spectators annually. This year, the annual Columbus Day Parade in NYC takes place on Monday, October 8, 2012 beginning at 11:45 AM – as huge lunchtime crowds come out to cheer along the parade route up Fifth Avenue from 44th Street north to 79th Street. The vibrant glory of Italian American cultu…
Lady Gaga has never been one to hide away her body, but after piling on 30 lbs it seems she is reassessing her wardrobe. Lady Gaga, 26, covered up her new curves in a long sleeved white coat as she left her hotel in Amsterdam on Wednesday night. The star teamed it with sky-high heels and dark sunglasses with her head wrapped in a white scarf. She signed autographs and handed out perfume samples t…
A team of scientists have said they believe an old gourd contains the blood of France’s King Louis XVI. Louis XVI was killed by guillotine by French revolutionaries more than 200 years ago, on 21 January 1793. The scientists said the DNA is very similar to genetic material from what is believed to be the mummified head of an earlier French king, AFP reports. After Louis XVI’s beheading many…
Arirang Mass Games will be held in North Korean capital Pyongyang from August 1st until September 9th, 2012. Mass Games takes place in the one of the biggest world’s stadium – Pyongyang’s May Day Stadium (for 150,000 visitors). The most magnificent show on Earth involves over 100,000 performers. Amazing choreography, unbelievable synchronism and intricacy of acrobatic numbers &#…
Chinese Olympic delegation has begun an investigation into allegations two badminton players “deliberately lost” their match, state media says. Doubles players Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli are among eight players charged by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) with “not using one’s best efforts to win”. Four players from South Korea and two from Indonesia have also been c…
mber 5 1882, and there’s still one in NYC today, with trade union members, high school bands, politicians, police and fire departments, and more. Location is usually in Manhattan, on 5th Ave. In 2012, NY Labor Day Parade will be held on Saturday, September 8th. • West Indian American Day Carnival Parade (Brooklyn Carnival) This extravaganza has Caribbean costumes, music, and food, spectators…
lympics. The Boston Marathon ranks as one of the world’s best-known road racing events and is one of six World Marathon Majors. The Boston Marathon: World’s oldest annual marathon – 2013 was the 117th event Second biggest single-day sporting event in the US behind the Super Bowl, in terms of media coverage Organized by the Boston Athletic Association, the course is 26.2 miles Th…
n,” he said. “It will take time… but we will find whoever harmed our citizens and we will bring them to justice.” The first explosion went off close to the finish line at about 2:50 p.m. local time on Monday. Some 23,000 runners were taking part in this year’s Boston marathon, which was being watched by hundreds of thousands of spectators. The marathon is held on Patr…
…e consulate said. Boston is filled with colleges and there a handful of students among the 183 injured. Three Tufts University students, 7 Emerson College students, 3 Northeastern University students, 2 Boston College students, and one Berklee College of Music student, according to the schools. Boston College identified its two injured students as M.B.A. candidate Liza Cherney and joint J.D./M.B.A…
Three young women – Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michele Knight – who vanished in separate incidents about a decade ago in Ohio have been found alive in a house in Cleveland. Amanda Berry disappeared aged 16 in 2003, Gina DeJesus went missing aged 14 in 2004, and Michele Knight disappeared in 2002 aged around 19. Their discovery followed a dramatic bid for freedom by Amanda Berry on Monda…
The Saudi student, who was detained for “acting suspiciously” at the Boston Marathon finish line, has been described by his neighbors as a “quiet, devout Muslim who is a huge soccer fan”. Detectives and bomb disposal officers raided the 20-year-old’s apartment last night in the Revere area of Boston and could be seen removing several bags of evidence, though he has not been charged with anything….
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has charged eight female Olympic badminton players with “not using one’s best efforts to win a match”. Four pairs of players – two from South Korea, one from China and one from Indonesia – could be disciplined. Spectators booed the two badminton matches played at Wembley Arena on Tuesday, in which the four accused pairs of players…
John Lennon guitar sells for $408,000 at Julien's AuctionsA guitar played by John Lennon and George Harrison of the Beatles has sold for $408,000 at auction. The custom-made instrument, built in 1966 by the VOX company, was bought…
Arne Svenson: TriBeCa residents threaten to sue artist for secretly photographed them in their own apartmentsResidents at a luxury TriBeCa apartment block in Lower Manhattan are very furious after discovering that artist Arne Svenson, who is their neighbor at a nearby building, has…
Monika Pon-su-san: The Chinese Girl in Vladimir Tretchikoff's paintingEarlier this year Vladimir Tretchikoff's portrait Chinese Girl, often referred to as The Green Lady, was sold for almost £1 million ($1.5 million) at auction in…
Bob Brozman suicide: Guitarist and ethnomusicologist found dead aged 59 at his Santa Cruz homeGuitarist and ethnomusicologist Bob Brozman was found dead aged 59 at his home in Ben Lomond, Santa Cruz County, CA, on April 23. Bob Brozman’s death was ruled a suicide,…
Harper Lee sues literary agent Samuel Pinkus over To Kill A Mockingbird copyrightHarper Lee, author of To Kill A Mockingbird, has sued literary agent Samuel Pinkus, who she says tricked her into assigning him the copyright on the Pulitzer Prize-winning…
1913 Liberty Head nickel sells for $3.17 million at Heritage auction in ChicagoA century-old US five-cent coin, once branded a fake, has been sold for $3.17 million at a Heritage auction in Chicago. The 1913 Liberty Head nickel, one of only five such…
North Korea releases Chinese fishing crew
Efrain Rios Montt genocide and crimes against humanity conviction overturned
Hilaria Baldwin joins husband Alec at Cannes Film Festival 2013 to promote his documentary Seduced and Abandoned
Jennifer Lawrence wears blue body paint to portray X-Men’s Mystique
Oklahoma tornado kills at least 51 people as two entire schools flattened in Moore
Ray Manzarek dead: The Doors co-founder dies aged 74 after long battle with cancer
Christine White dies in a nursing home in Washington at the age of 86
Brazilian husband caught cheating wife as lover escapes from window
Travis Alexander case: Jodi Arias’ attorneys file motion for mistrial
Laura Fernee claims she is too pretty to work
Full spring cleaning burns more calories than running a marathon
Face Trainer: Training balaclava claims to tone up saggy faces
Macaulay Culkin at risk of lung cancer
Eurovision 2013: Azerbaijan inquiry into “nul points” for Russia
Oscar Pistorius will not compete in 2013
Kate Middleton has a Marilyn Monroe dress blow up moment at William van Cutsem wedding
Iraq: At least 54 people killed in series of car bomb attacks in Baghdad, Basra and Samarra
Richard DeCoatsworth: Philadelphia police recommended bringing charges of witness intimidation against former officer
How Duck Dynasty couples met: Jep and Jessica Robertson
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How Duck Dynasty couples met: Phil Robertson and Miss Kay
2013 Billboard Music Awards: Taylor Swift picks up 8 statues including Top Female Artist and Top Billboard 200 Artist
Selena Gomez gives Justin Bieber a tender kiss on cheek backstage at 2013 Billboard Music Awards
2013 Billboard Music Awards winners. Full list.
Alberto Fujimori: Peru jailed ex-president’s health worsening
China urges North Korea to release Yu Xuejun’s fishing boat captured for $100,000 ransom
Oklahoma tornado kills one person and injures dozens
Kim Kardashian cuts a striking figure in clingy long-sleeved black dress as she dines with Jonathan Cheban and her mother