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| Vauxhall car plant 'saved by GM' Thu, 17 May 2012 07:46:38 GMT Workers at Vauxhall vote in favour of a new pay deal, clearing the way for owner General Motors to invest in the company's Ellesmere Port plant, securing 2,100 jobs. |
| Mladic trial focus on Srebrenica Thu, 17 May 2012 08:27:27 GMT Bosnian Serb ex-army chief Ratko Mladic's war crimes trial enters its second day, with prosecutors focusing on the 1995 Srebrenica massacre. |
| Schools 'fail to teach swimming' Thu, 17 May 2012 04:38:16 GMT A third of children in England cannot swim by the time they leave primary school, according to research from the Amateur Swimming Association. |
| Statins 'benefit healthy people' Wed, 16 May 2012 23:34:17 GMT Thousands of heart attacks and strokes could be prevented if the cholesterol-lowering drugs, statins, were more widely prescribed, research suggests. |
| PM: UK my priority in euro crisis Thu, 17 May 2012 08:18:58 GMT David Cameron is expected to say it is his job to keep the UK safe whatever the fate of the eurozone. |
| Olympic flame to be handed over Thu, 17 May 2012 07:43:45 GMT The Olympic flame is to be officially handed over to organisers of the London Games at a ceremony in Athens. |
| Fees rise 'didn't boost teaching' Wed, 16 May 2012 23:49:58 GMT Higher university tuition fees have not boosted teaching time at England's universities, research suggests. |
| Social work cuts 'risking lives' Thu, 17 May 2012 01:57:34 GMT Some 88% of social workers think cuts are putting vulnerable children's lives at risk, a survey five years after the death of baby Peter Connolly suggests. |
| UK housing market 'needs fixing' Thu, 17 May 2012 07:15:14 GMT Housing groups warn that problems in Britain's housing market are not being fixed, on the day that figures on new house building are due. |
| Spanish queen cancels UK visit Wed, 16 May 2012 21:17:23 GMT Spain's Queen Sofia cancels a visit to the UK for the Diamond Jubilee following disputes with London over the territory of Gibraltar. |
| Robert F Kennedy Jr's wife dead Thu, 17 May 2012 01:32:36 GMT Mary Kennedy - the estranged wife of Robert F Kennedy Jr, nephew of John F Kennedy - is found dead at her home. |
| Ken Bruce gets best ever audience Thu, 17 May 2012 07:09:48 GMT Radio 2 DJ Ken Bruce has pulled in the biggest audience of his career, according to new figures from Rajar. |
| Oldest living kidney donor at 83 Wed, 16 May 2012 23:34:32 GMT An 83-year-old man becomes the oldest person in the UK to donate a kidney while still alive, the NHS Blood and Transplant service says. |
| Cowell is 'puzzled' by The Voice Thu, 17 May 2012 02:34:42 GMT The X Factor's Simon Cowell says he is "puzzled" about why BBC One's The Voice is not on the radio instead of TV. |
| No front-runners for Reds hotseat Wed, 16 May 2012 22:45:26 GMT Liverpool's owners want the club's new boss to be in place for four to five years, but as of yet there are no front-runners. |
| Strauss not thinking of quitting Wed, 16 May 2012 18:59:19 GMT Andrew Strauss says he has not thought of giving up the England captaincy, ahead of the first Test against West Indies at Lord's. |
| Parker could miss Euros - Hodgson Wed, 16 May 2012 22:13:33 GMT England boss Roy Hodgson admits Scott Parker could still miss Euro 2012 despite being named in his 23-man squad. |
| VIDEO: West Indies legends - Sir Viv Richards Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:07:31 GMT Tests 121, Runs 8540, Avg 50.23 |
| Some work schemes 'of no benefit' Wed, 16 May 2012 23:02:49 GMT A parliamentary committee questions the length and quality of some apprenticeships, saying six month programmes are of no real benefit. |
| French Connection in profit alert Thu, 17 May 2012 08:07:55 GMT Shares in French Connection fall as the fashion retailer issues a profits warning following a continued fall in sales. |
| Councils 'must lower emissions' Thu, 17 May 2012 02:52:37 GMT Local authorities across the UK should have a statutory duty to combat climate change, government advisors recommend. |
| Senior civil servant to resign Wed, 16 May 2012 22:37:35 GMT One of the UK's most senior civil servants, Ian Watmore, is to leave his post, it has been announced. |
| Robotic arm controlled by thought Wed, 16 May 2012 17:05:51 GMT Two patients who are paralysed from the neck down are able to control a robotic arm using their thoughts. |
| Cannabis laws 'need changing' Thu, 17 May 2012 05:01:21 GMT Growing small amounts of cannabis should be treated like a speeding ticket with a fine and no criminal record, according to a drugs charity. |
| Poor literacy standards tackled Thu, 17 May 2012 07:53:59 GMT A five-year plan to tackle poor reading and writing standards in schools is published by the Welsh government. |
| Gove pushes for performance pay Wed, 16 May 2012 16:54:14 GMT Teachers' pay in England and Wales could be linked to performance and set at different local levels, under proposals set out by the government. |
| Government to miss cookie cut-off Wed, 16 May 2012 23:07:04 GMT Most government websites will miss the UK's deadline for complying with EU regulations over cookies, the Cabinet Office tells the BBC. |
| Google makes search 'more human' Wed, 16 May 2012 20:05:52 GMT Google revamps its search engine in an attempt to offer instant answers to search questions with a new function, the Knowledge Graph. |
| Whales can adjust their hearing Thu, 17 May 2012 06:19:51 GMT Whales that use sound to navigate are able to adjust the sensitivity of their hearing to protect their ears from loud noises, say scientists. |
| Tidal turbine 'performing well' Thu, 17 May 2012 01:05:46 GMT A subsea turbine which uses tidal power to generate electricity has successfully completed initial tests off Orkney. |
| Children's shows to leave BBC One Wed, 16 May 2012 14:15:47 GMT The BBC Trust confirms children's shows will no longer be shown on BBC One and BBC Two after digital switchover. |
| Thompson confirms Annie script Thu, 17 May 2012 06:01:09 GMT Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson confirms she is writing a modern version of the musical Annie starring Willow Smith. |
| Viewpoint: Is it time to get rid of traffic lights? Wed, 16 May 2012 09:36:38 GMT We rely on traffic lights to tell us when to go. And when to stop. We should replace that with common sense, argues traffic campaigner Martin Cassini. |
| 7 questions on sandwiches Wed, 16 May 2012 00:10:16 GMT The Kent seaside town of Sandwich is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the sandwich. Test yourself on the humble snack. |
| Winstone slams murder case police Wed, 16 May 2012 21:28:09 GMT Actor Ray Winstone criticises the police after a man who served seven years for a murder he always denied walked free from court. |
| Old films to aid memory recovery Thu, 17 May 2012 01:35:59 GMT Old home movies are being used to help trigger the forgotten past of people with dementia and other memory loss. |
| Tribunal rejects Rangers appeal Wed, 16 May 2012 21:56:34 GMT Rangers have their appeal against a year-long transfer embargo and a £160,000 fine rejected by a Scottish FA tribunal. |
| Experts study Harry Potter novels Thu, 17 May 2012 01:09:35 GMT More than 60 academics from across the world gather in Scotland to examine the literary merits of the Harry Potter novels. |
| Black armbands to mark tragedy Thu, 17 May 2012 07:47:26 GMT The Football Assocation of Ireland (FAI) has said its players will wear black armbands during the Italy match at Euro 2012 to mark the 18th anniversary of the Loughinisland tragedy. |
| Troubles survivors lobby Stormont Thu, 17 May 2012 05:15:26 GMT As research highlights a staggering shortfall in services for thousands injured as a result of the Troubles, survivors lobby Stormont. |
| 'Refocus' call at Cardiff airport Thu, 17 May 2012 07:42:01 GMT There must be clear focus on how under-fire Cardiff airport operates an expert warns after a turbulent week which saw its chief executive leave. |
| Railway crime falls by a quarter Thu, 17 May 2012 06:35:12 GMT Crime on Wales' railways has fallen by a quarter over the past year, figures from British Transport Police show. |
| Congo warlord's 'days numbered' Thu, 17 May 2012 03:11:09 GMT The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor tells the BBC he believes the net is closing around Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda. |
| Seven die in south Libya clash Wed, 16 May 2012 16:34:29 GMT Seven people are killed and more than 20 injured in clashes in Libya's western desert town of Ghadames, the government says. |
| Passport boost for activist Chen Thu, 17 May 2012 07:54:35 GMT Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng says he and his family have completed passport applications and officials say they should be ready in 15 days. |
| North Koreans 'hold Chinese crew' Thu, 17 May 2012 08:13:31 GMT Unidentified North Koreans holding 29 Chinese fishermen and three boats seized in the Yellow Sea demand payment for their release, Chinese media reports. |
| Spain set to pay more on bonds Thu, 17 May 2012 04:39:52 GMT Spain's borrowing costs look set to spike in a bond auction on Thursday, as the Greek crisis saps confidence in other indebted economies. |
| Cannes jury denies 'sexism' claim Thu, 17 May 2012 07:27:17 GMT The Cannes jury responds to claims of sexism prompted by the lack of female filmmakers in the running for this year's Palme d'Or. |
| Brazil truth commission installed Wed, 16 May 2012 21:27:47 GMT Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff inaugurates a truth commission to investigate rights abuses, including those committed during military rule from 1964-1985. |
| Mexico generals face drugs probe Wed, 16 May 2012 17:45:01 GMT Two Mexican generals are detained and questioned on suspicion of having links to a Mexican drug cartel. |
| Syria is 'losing information war' Wed, 16 May 2012 18:38:04 GMT Syria is losing the information war against the West, President Bashar al-Assad has said, amid continuing violence across the country. |
| New Palestinian cabinet sworn in Wed, 16 May 2012 18:04:09 GMT Palestinian Authority President and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas swears in a new cabinet in the West Bank, a move Hamas describes as a "big error". |
| Activists storm Montreal classes Wed, 16 May 2012 18:49:08 GMT Student protesters in Montreal storm the University of Quebec, disrupting classes as they were due to resume after a boycott protesting rising tuition fees. |
| 'Innocent man' executed in Texas Wed, 16 May 2012 17:27:08 GMT The US state of Texas is likely to have executed an innocent man due to careless handling of the case, a report by US law students claims. |
| Gold buttons for Queen's banner Thu, 17 May 2012 05:08:25 GMT Half a million gold buttons decorate Royal Barge |
| In Pictures: Carlos Fuentes' wake Thu, 17 May 2012 00:51:29 GMT Mexicans pay their last respects to Carlos Fuentes |
| In pictures: Royal visit to Lancashire Wed, 16 May 2012 16:26:52 GMT The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visit Lancashire |
| Day in pictures: 16 May 2012 Wed, 16 May 2012 11:41:23 GMT 24 hours of news photos: 16 May 2012 |
| Day in pictures: 15 May 2012 Tue, 15 May 2012 12:27:54 GMT 24 hours of news photos: 15 May 2012 |
| Dinosaurs launch city festival Sat, 12 May 2012 01:35:54 GMT Norwich Festival of music and art |
| In Pictures: Jubilee pageant Mon, 14 May 2012 02:25:41 GMT The Diamond Jubilee Pageant at Windsor Castle |
| In pictures: Celebrating Ivory Coast's large ladies Mon, 14 May 2012 07:31:13 GMT Paintings celebrate the fuller figure of some African women |
| VIDEO: House of Commons Wed, 16 May 2012 12:34:39 GMT Prime Minister David Cameron has dismissed a suggestion by Labour leader Ed Miliband that the police are "absolutely furious" with cuts to their budgets, retorting that cuts under Labour would be "deeper". |
| VIDEO: A look at 'wind turbines' of the deep Thu, 17 May 2012 05:13:38 GMT The latest device to harness the power of the tides is being tested in the stormy waters off Orkney in the far north of Scotland. |
| VIDEO: Adrenaline sports on dangerous volcano Thu, 17 May 2012 01:54:00 GMT A team of speed flyers have become the world's first to successfully descend Italy's Mount Etna. |
| VIDEO: Greeks withdraw millions from banks Thu, 17 May 2012 05:47:01 GMT Savers in Greece have been withdrawing hundreds of millions of euros from Greek banks, amid fears the country may have to withdraw from the single currency. |
| VIDEO: UK's oldest living kidney donor Thu, 17 May 2012 08:30:16 GMT Nicholas Crace, the 83-year-old who has become the oldest person in the UK to donate a kidney while still being alive, told BBC Breakfast why he decided to donate so late in life. |
| VIDEO: Spain's Queen cancels Jubilee visit Thu, 17 May 2012 07:13:43 GMT Queen Sofia of Spain has cancelled a visit to the UK to mark Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee because of disputes over Gibraltar. |
| VIDEO: ECB's 1-trillion-euro bank rescue Thu, 17 May 2012 00:36:08 GMT Benoit Coueure, from the European Central Bank, has been speaking about their decision to provide a loan of more than a trillion euros to hundreds of banks. |
| VIDEO: Thoughts used to control robotic arm Wed, 16 May 2012 17:59:10 GMT Two patients in the United States who are paralysed from the neck down have been able to control a robotic arm using their thoughts. |
| VIDEO: Moonrise Kingdom opens Cannes Thu, 17 May 2012 06:56:43 GMT Bruce Willis and Bill Murray were amongst the stars on the red carpet for the opening of the Cannes Film Festival. |
| The baby time-lapse trend Thu, 17 May 2012 01:11:02 GMT The people who record every single day of a child's life |
| Waving off Blue Peter to distant shores Thu, 17 May 2012 00:20:05 GMT Why is departure of children's TV from BBC One mourned by many? |
| How village life can help the elderly Thu, 17 May 2012 00:31:48 GMT How retirement complexes could help tackle social care crisis |
| Swiss Army knife adapts to remain a cutting-edge tool Wed, 16 May 2012 23:26:03 GMT How the Swiss Army knife had to adapt after 9/11 |
| The euro's survival 'requires political union' Thu, 17 May 2012 00:36:26 GMT The day the ECB saved the eurozone's banks |
| Martial arts the Welsh way Thu, 17 May 2012 00:38:18 GMT The Welsh director behind martial arts movie The Raid |
| Papers discuss eurozone warnings Thu, 17 May 2012 04:29:46 GMT Papers discuss eurozone warnings |
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| Word of the day |
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 17, 2012 is:
maffick • \MAF-ik\ • verb
: to celebrate with boisterous rejoicing and hilarious behavior
Examples:
Fans mafficked for hours outside the stadium, celebrating the team's dramatic victory in the division championship.
"In half an hour, after the mildest of mafficking, the last visitors of the exhibition's last day had gone out of the gates and the staff began their final acts of closing up shop." — From an article in The Guardian (London), October 1, 2011
Did you know?
"Maffick" is an alteration of Mafeking Night, the British celebration of the lifting of the siege of a British military outpost during the South African War at the town of Mafikeng (also spelled Mafeking) on May 17, 1900. The South African War was fought between the British and the Afrikaners, who were Dutch and Huguenot settlers originally called Boers, over the right to govern frontier territories. Though the war did not end until 1902, the lifting of the siege of Mafikeng was a significant victory for the British because they held out against a larger Afrikaner force for 217 days until reinforcements could arrive. The rejoicing in British cities on news of the rescue produced "maffick," a word that was popular for a while, especially in journalistic writing, but is now relatively uncommon.