Colombia’s second-largest city inaugurated a giant, outdoor escalator for residents of one of its poorest neighbourhoods.
For generations, the 12,000 residents of Medellin’s Comuna 13, which clings to the side of a steep hillside, have had to climb hundreds of steps authorities say is the same as going up a 28-storey building. Now they can ride the first massive, outdoor public escalator for use by residents of a poor area.
Comuna 13 residents came out to celebrate and study the $6.7 million escalator which will shorten the 35-minute hike on foot up the hillside to six minutes.
The electric stairway is divided into six sections and has a length of 384 metres. An escalator goes up and a second goes down. Authorities plan to build a covering for inclement weather.
Centenary renews Titanic tale
Almost 100 years on, the Titanic disaster still tugs at the heartstrings. The events of that dramatic night in April 1912 are well known but constant re-telling of the tale seems to add more lustre to the legend and the hosting of 100th anniversary events next year will introduce a new generation to the Titanic story.
Around 1,500 people lost their lives when the Titanic struck an iceberg on its maiden passenger voyage and sank in the Atlantic. What made the news so shocking was that the vessel was considered unsinkable. Still, some good came from the tragedy. Safety at sea regulations was tightened and thankfully, there has not been a disaster at sea of the magnitude of the Titanic tragedy since.
Picture shows Millvina Dean, one of the survivors from the RMS Titanic, in 2003.
New carol singing record
More than 17,000 people set a new carol singing world record, a Christian radio station has claimed.
Premier Christian Radio said around 17,117 people across the UK and beyond united to sing a programme of festive favourites. The attempt is believed to have smashed the existing Guinness World Record record of 15,000 singers, set in 2009 by Disney. The event was organised by the radio station and sponsored by charity BibleLands, and included venues in Scotland, Cornwall, Wales and even Geneva, with carol classics including Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Hark The Herald Angels Sing and Away in a Manger.
Burglary caught on... Facebook
An 18-year-old Pittsburgh man accused of burgling a market with three teens then posted pictures on his Facebook page showing the suspects with some of the loot.
Isaiah Cutler is in jail over the December 12 burglary. Police say Mr Cutler, a 17-year-old, and two 14-year-olds stole cash, cigarettes, sweets and cheques from the business. About an hour later, police say, Mr Cutler posted pictures of the teens posing with the loot on his page on the social networking site.
The younger suspects have been charged in juvenile court and been released to their parents. Mr Cutler faces charges of theft, burglary and conspiracy.