An Abu Dhabi luxury hotel which unveiled a Christmas tree decorated with jewels valued at $11 million has decided to put the record straight against criticism of having gone over the top.
The Emirates Palace hotel said, “Putting the Christmas tree... is a tradition meant to share in celebrating occasions guests hold while they are away from their home countries and families,” said the hotel in the United Arab Emirates capital.
Emirates Palace stressed that the jewels were on loan from an Abu Dhabi gallery and they would be recovered to their owner at the end of the festive season.
The tree holds a total of 181 diamonds, pearls, emeralds, sapphires and other precious stones. (AFP)
Winter threatens Robin
The Robin redbreast, a traditional symbol of Christmas, is among several bird species in danger of “near extinction” if freezing weather continues to grip the country, a charity has warned.
SongBird Survival issued an urgent plea for people to help protect their favourite birds by putting food out for them.
Clive Sherwood, the chairman of SongBird Survival, said: “The smaller birds weigh only an ounce and they just cannot maintain their body heat. We would urge people to put out high calorie food for them.” (PA)
Kate or Catherine?
Bosses at a gift shop on the royal estate where the Queen is spending Christmas appear unsure whether Prince William’s future wife should be called Catherine or Kate Middleton. Royal wedding souvenirs on sale at the gift shop on the estate in Sandringham, Norfolk, give both versions.
A £4.99 paperweight and a 50p postcard “commemorate” the wedding of William and Catherine Middleton on April 29 but an £8.99 2011 calendar is captioned Prince William & Kate Middleton. (PA)
Wanted: a single day of work
A 60-year-old Serb has set out to find a one-day job in order to satisfy legal demands so he can retire after 40 years of work, Beta news agency reported yesterday.
Instead of receiving his first pension cheque in December, Svetislav Nedeljkovic, who worked for a local metal factory in southern Serbia, was informed that he was missing one day to get the full retirement pay, the agency said.
“I am ready to do anything, to work these eight extra hours, in order to satisfy administration demands,” Mr Nedeljkovic said.
According to Serbian law employees can retire after 40 years on the job, or at 65 years for men and 60 for women. (AFP)
Cuddly germs
A US company is making a series of cuddly stuffed toys with a difference – they are in the shape of bacteria, viruses and other offensive little organisms.
The company, Giant Microbes, has grown so much that founder Drew Oliver was able to quit his job as a lawyer and run what is now an international business.
The stuffed germs and other microbes are showing up as offbeat gifts, sometimes among parents who want to comfort their sick children or explain good hygiene. (PA)
Copper fire
Police in the US said someone trying to steal copper wire burned down a city’s 35-foot Christmas tree.
Officers in Birmingham, Alabama, said someone stripped electrical wires off the Norwegian Spruce at Linn Park in the early hours of Wednesday morning, then started a fire. Police believe thieves were attempting to separate the copper wire from the plastic insulation on Christmas decorations.
But the fire spread to the tree, engulfing it in flames. (PA)
Porn film shown on airport screen
Bangladeshi authorities have launched an investigation after a pornographic film was aired on a large display screen at the country’s main airport, a magistrate said yesterday.
Hundreds of travellers and waiting friends and relatives at the main terminal of the Shahjalal International Airport were shocked as the film was aired for five minutes on Friday morning.
The display screen usually shows recorded documentaries about the culture and geography of Bangladesh, a conservative Muslim country.
“The operator has been jailed instantly for two months. We have also summoned the owners of the cable firm to investigate the incident. We have to find out whether any criminal intent was involved,” the magistrate said. (AFP)