A teenager has sold an app he designed to Yahoo! in a deal believed to be worth tens of millions of pounds.
Nick D’Aloisio created the tool at his home in Wimbledon, south-west London, at the age of just 15, and now two years later it has been bought by the internet giant for an undisclosed sum.
The app, named Summly, reached number nine in the free iPhone app chart last November and offers users a quick and easy way of finding news stories on the internet.
The teenager, who is studying for his A-levels outside of school, is now due to join the capital’s Yahoo! team. (PA)
‘Leave your worries behind’
The Indian arm of car giant Ford has apologised over an advert depicting former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi with a trio of bound women in the boot of a car.
It showed three women bound and gagged in the boot of a Ford Figo with Mr Berlusconi smiling from the driver’s seat alongside the slogan: “Leave your worries behind”.
The company said that it regretted the incident, describing the images as “contrary to the standards of professionalism and decency within Ford”. (PA)
‘Dangerous’ flapjack banned
A school has banned triangular flapjacks after a pupil was injured by one.
Dinner staff at Castle View School in Canvey Island, Essex, were told to cut the treat into squares or rectangles following the incident.
It is understood that the triangular version was banned after one was thrown, hitting a boy in the face. Essex County Council said the ban was “not a county council decision” but confirmed the incident and the decision on behalf of the school.
A school spokesman said “the texture and shape” of the flapjacks had been reviewed. (PA)
Exotic spider found in fridge
An exotic spider that possibly travelled from India in a box of grapes has been found in a kitchen refrigerator.
David and Beverley Cooper, from Glenrothes, Fife, called the Scottish SPCA when they found the creature lurking on the wall of the fridge. It is being cared for at Edinburgh Butterfly and Insect World, where staff identified it as being from the wolf spider family.
Kevin Thom, from Edinburgh Butterfly and Insect World, said: “This spider isn’t deadly but if (someone was) bitten, it would leave a real sting.” (PA)
Royal barge moved to Portugal
The new owner of the royal barge the Queen sailed on to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee has said he plans to “keep the charm” of the vessel after moving it to Portugal.
The Spirit of Chartwell underwent a £1 million makeover for the Thames river pageant last June but has now been transformed into a luxury barge for tourists.
The vessel, which carried the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in the 1,000-strong flotilla, is being used for cruises along the Douro River in Porto. (AP)