Ed Balls has been photobombed by a spider during a live interview on the BBC News channel.
The creature, which appeared large due to its position in the shot, dropped into the frame as the shadow chancellor was talking about economic growth. It seemed to be on the camera lens and dangled above Balls’ shoulder, quivering, with its legs moving.
It then moved so it looked from the viewer’s perspective as though it was touching the MP’s face, before quickly scuttling up and out of the shot. It is not the first time a spider has hogged the limelight during a live news bulletin, as the BBC News (UK) Twitter account pointed out. In August, a spider invaded the early morning edition of Reporting Scotland when it crept across the lens of the roof camera to catch an insect.
Gorilla gets gateaux for birthday
Zaire the gorilla celebrated her 40th birthday in style as she tucked into a cake made by Great British Bake Off star Richard Burr.
The five-time star baker did not have to worry about being told off if his creation was under baked or had a soggy bottom, because his client was Zaire, London Zoo’s oldest gorilla,
She looked impressed with her birthday treat as she was seen gorging on the pink-themed masterpiece straight away. The sweet-toothed primate was treated to all her favourite sweet delights – carrots, apples, walnuts and sugar-free jelly – incorporated into one massive cake.
High Court judge is stumped
A planning battle over an old village forge next to a cricket pitch led to a High Court judge asking: ‘What are sixes and fours?’
East Meon Forge and Cricket Ground Protection Association is challenging East Hampshire District Council’s decision to grant planning permission for an extension with a residential first floor over the single-storey former blacksmith’s workshop.
Robert Fookes, appearing for the association, said that one of the grounds of objection to the development was that the forge was very close to the square on which cricket is played. He told Mrs Justice Beverley Lang ‘sixes and fours are frequently hit by batsmen on to forge land, including the roof of the building itself’.
Mother sends son’s ashes to space
A mother who is using social media to have her son’s ashes scattered all over the world has sent him on his greatest journey yet – to space.
Using her Facebook page, which has more than 17,000 likes, Hallie Twomey has mailed hundreds of packets of her son CJ’s ashes to strangers worldwide so they can be scattered at the many places he was not able to see before he died more than four years ago.
Now a rocket containing a vial of his ashes has been launched into space from the desert in New Mexico. The rocket spent a few minutes in space before landing in the nearby White Sands Missile Range.
Scientists discover smelly comet
Rotten eggs, horse urine, formaldehyde, bitter almonds, alcohol, vinegar and a hint of sweet ether. That heady bouquet, according to Swiss researchers, is the “perfume” of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
Scientists at the University of Bern said they have determined what the comet would smell like by analysing the chemicals in its coma, the fuzzy head surrounding the nucleus. For this, they used one of the instruments aboard the European spacecraft Rosetta that is preparing to drop a lander onto the comet’s icy surface on November 12.
Project leader Kathrin Altwegg, of the University of Bern, said the aroma will get stronger as 67P gets closer to the sun, causing it to release more gas and form the coma characteristic of comets.
Heads or tails decides mayor race
The toss of a coin has decided the mayoral race in a small town high in the Peruvian Andes after two candidates tied at the ballot box.
Wilber Medina was chosen to be mayor of Pillpinto near the tourist centre of Cusco after he and his rival each garnered 236 votes in municipal elections this month. Peru’s electoral law allows for tied races to be decided by a coin toss.
The 40-year-old teacher said he will work to earn voters’ trust. His rival, Jose Cornejo, accepted the result.