People are being warned against posing for “storm selfies” which could put their lives in danger.
As Storm Barney hits the UK, with gusts of up to 80mph forecast for exposed coastal areas, the public are being urged not to try to take photographs of themselves along promenades and breakwaters as they are battered by waves.
Barney, the second storm powerful enough to be given a human name by the Met Office and Met Eireann, brought severe gale force westerly winds yesterday afternoon and evening, generating large waves around exposed coasts in southwest England and the English Channel.
Unlikely first gay wedding venue
The unlikely setting of a health centre waiting room was the backdrop for Ireland’s historic first gay marriage.
Under the new legislation, couples already in a civil partnership can apply to be married within five days.
Barrister Cormac Gollogly, 35, from Terenure in Dublin, and banker Richard Dowling, 35, from Athlone, travelled to south Tipperary to be the first to tie the knot, signing the register on a hospital trolley in the waiting area of Clonmel Community Care Centre.
Freemasons defeated over VAT
Freemasons have lost a VAT fight with the taxman.
A tribunal had ruled that the aims of the United Grand Lodge of England, which administers lodges of freemasons, were not of a “philosophical, philanthropic or civic” – or “religious” – nature for the purposes of VAT exemption.
Now a High Court judge has dismissed an appeal by the United Grand Lodge.
T-shirt apology for runners
Runners who took part in Bangkok’s extra-long half-marathon are to get an apology in the form of a commemorative T-shirt.
Organisers of the Standard Chartered Bangkok Half-Marathon said that each runner who took part in the event will get a free T-shirt that says “Finisher of 27.6 km”.
The peace offering came after runners vented their anger on social media following Sunday’s race, which was mistakenly extended by almost seven kilometres. An error by race officials along the route meant participants ran 27.6 kilometres, rather than the usual 21 kilometres.
Wallet returned two months later
A man has got back his wallet – which contained $1,200 in cash – two months after losing it, thanks to an Albuquerque pharmacy owner.
The owner of Sam’s Regent Pharmacy discovered the wallet at a local restaurant on Friday. The wallet contained cash, an ID card and six credit cards.
The pharmacy owner called police and gave them the wallet. The police were able to find the owner and return the wallet to him. According to police, the wallet’s owner had misplaced it about two months ago.
Star Wars explored by US ‘czar’
A former White House official is to write a book about Star Wars.
Cass Sunstein, the regulatory “czar” during Barack Obama’s first term as US President, has a deal with Dey Street Books for an “exploration” of the box office phenomenon. According to Dey Street, Mr Sunstein will touch upon everything from history to politics to fatherhood.
The book is scheduled for May, the publisher announced yesterday, although an exact day has not been chosen. May 4, with its aural proximity to “May the force...” is the unofficial holiday for Star Wars fans. The latest Star Wars film is to arrive in cinemas in December.