Category: World News

Are you planning to be in Paris in late May? Consider sticking around for Le Grand Pique Nique, or as it’s known in German, Spanish, or Italian, “The Grand Picnic.”

From the Arc de Triomphe to the intersection of Avenue George V, nine temporary kitchens will line the famous Champs-Élysées for a gastronomic picnic on what’s claimed to be the world’s largest picnic blanket.

On Sunday, May 26th, LG Electronics is sponsoring this massive event, where 4,000 lucky tourists and locals will gather around a giant, traditional red and white checkered picnic rug to taste Parisian cuisine.

Though attendance is determined by a ballot system, the Champs-Élysées sees heavy foot traffic, especially now as Paris remains a top tourist destination.

Each chosen attendee receives a picnic basket to sample from the nine kitchens, with each square on the rug accommodating up to 6 people.

There will also be musical performances, games, and other outdoor entertainment.

In addition to offering food enthusiasts an unforgettable experience, the city aims to set the Guinness World Record for the largest picnic blanket.

Attendees may also catch a glimpse of the planned renovations by architect Philippe Chiambaretta for the €300 million post-Olympics makeover of the Champs-Élysées, addressing its perceived “worn out” appearance from 2021. The plan includes reducing parking spots, creating pedestrian areas, and transforming the space into “an extraordinary garden.”

John Starbrook, affectionately known as “the Legend” among his friends, exemplifies the remarkable benefits of staying active well into one’s later years. At the age of 93, he is possibly the oldest water polo player at Hampton Pool in southwest London, and likely across the UK.

His sporting journey extends back nearly eight decades, beginning just after he left school at the end of World War II. Over the years, Starbrook has maintained a vigorous routine that includes swimming three times a week and participating in various sports, which he credits for his robust health in his 90s.

Starbrook’s athletic prowess was evident early on when he competed in national swimming championships as a young man. Although he didn’t win, the experience fueled a lifelong passion for water sports. This passion was highlighted when, at 80, he celebrated by swimming across the Gulf of Corryvreckan, a challenging stretch of water between the Scottish islands of Jura and Scarba.

Apart from his aquatic exploits, Starbrook has an impressive marathon history, having completed 52 marathons, including international races in places like Denmark and Barbados. Even more amazingly, all those marathons are from after he took up running at the age of 53.

His fastest marathon, a very respectable 4 hours and 14 minutes, was achieved in Snowdonia, a feat he humorously credits to being chased by sheep. His marathon journey continued well into his eighties, with his most recent 26-miler occurring in 2019 when he was 88.

Despite some skepticism from doctors and even his own family about the sustainability of his intense physical activity, Starbrook has continued to thrive, demonstrating the profound impact of a lifetime of fitness.

Last Week, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captured a rare spectacle involving four nearly simultaneous solar flares from three separate sunspots and a magnetic filament connecting them. This event, impressive in its scope, may pose risks to satellites, spacecraft, and terrestrial electronic systems.

The sun, though it appears a turbulent inferno, follows a somewhat predictable 11-year cycle of magnetic activity, akin to Earth’s seasonal variations. This cycle, still not fully understood by scientists, is on the verge of reaching its peak phase, known as the “solar maximum,” later this year.

Solar Chaos Coming Soon

According to Spaceweather.com, the event is classified as a “super-sympathetic flare.” This phenomenon occurs when magnetic loops hidden in the sun’s corona trigger simultaneous flares across vast distances. In this instance, despite the hundreds of thousands of miles between them, the flares erupted within minutes of each other, affecting roughly a third of the sun’s surface facing Earth.

Earth-facing events like this means electromagnetic debris from the event could impact our planet, potentially manifesting as brilliant auroras near the poles or disrupting satellite operations and ground-based communication systems like radio and GPS. The effects are usually brief.

Such multi-flare events are rare—the last comparable occurrence, dubbed the Great Eruption, happened in 2010. However, they do point out our modern world’s vulnerability to the sun’s whims. For instance, a solar storm in 2022 dislodged about 40 Starlink satellites from their orbit.

Pretty awesome I would say, but in a slightly scary way. With the solar maximum coming up, I am sure we will get so many breathtaking images out of it. Particularly with the new advanced solar telescope that was able to take detailed pictures of the sun like never before last year.

During a break from school, Olivia was having a playdate with a friend while her mother, Laura-Lee Patterson, looked after her younger siblings at home. Hearing Olivia’s urgent cries, Laura-Lee woke up from a doze and realized the seriousness of the situation.

Following Olivia’s lead, the family evacuated the house, with neighbors gathering outside to offer support. Laura-Lee recalls the surreal feeling of confusion and shock as they fled the burning home, with the gravity of the situation sinking in only after they were safe.

The aftermath was a mix of relief and sadness. Olivia was upset about losing her belongings, and the family faced challenges in coping with the trauma. Adjusting to temporary accommodations and comforting their children became the new focus, with Laura-Lee noting the lasting impact on Olivia’s typically cheerful demeanor.

As they navigate the aftermath of the fire, the Patterson family is grateful for the support from friends, firefighters, and the community, acknowledging that the kindness they’ve received means more than any material possession.