Margaret Thatcher’s funeral will be taking place on Wednesday, April 17, and the procession route means there will be a range of road closures and travel issues in force all morning.
Which roads will be closed for the funeral procession?
Margaret Thatcher’s funeral procession route: from the Houses of Parliament to St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Note that Westminster Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge are not on the route, but will both be closed, while Waterloo Bridge will be subject to “restricted access”.
Road closures and travel issues on Margaret Thatcher’s funeral procession route
TfL also has announced that “it is anticipated that other routes will need to be curtailed or diverted”.
Will tube stations be closed during the funeral procession?
No, they’ll all be open as usual, including Westminster and St. Paul’s.
What time will the closures take place?
Restrictions come into effect around 6 a.m. The service at St Paul’s Cathedral will start at 11 a.m., so the procession should take place in the two hours before that. Travel restrictions should be lifted well before the evening rush hour.
South Korea is the latest Asian country to try and boost economic growth by spending hard, unveiling a 17.3 trillion won ($15.3 billion) stimulus plan.
The funds will be used to help small and medium-sized exporters, create jobs, boost a stagnant property market and cover a shortfall in tax revenue.
Recently, South Korea has been hurt by weak exports and subdued domestic demand.
The move is expected to help boost annual growth by 0.3 percentage point this year and create 40,000 jobs.
“This is a much-needed move,” said Kwon Young-sun, an economist with Nomura.
“It may not boost growth substantially but will help sustain the economy in the medium term amid the various pressures and challenges that it is facing.”
South Korea is the latest Asian country to try and boost economic growth by spending hard, unveiling a 17.3 trillion won stimulus plan
The move comes just weeks after the finance ministry cut the country’s growth forecast for the current year.
It said it expects the economy to grow by 2.3% in 2013, down from its earlier projection of 3%.
The biggest drag on growth has been a slowdown in exports, which account for almost half of South Korea’s total economic output. Shipments have been hit by weak demand in markets such as the US and the eurozone.
At the same time, recent fluctuations in currency markets have triggered concerns over a further slowdown in the sector.
The South Korean won has risen by nearly 10% against the US dollar since May, making its exports more expensive to foreign buyers.
A strong currency also hurts the profits of exporters when they repatriate their foreign earnings back home.
The main trigger for the gain in the won has been Japan’s decision to massively boost its stimulus and spending plans. At the centre of its new policy has been achieving a weaker yen in the hope of boosting exports.
Japan’s yen has dipped nearly 20% against the US dollar since November last year.
There are fears that because Japan and South Korea compete in similar markets, Korean goods may lose out as a result of the currency moves.
Martin Richard, an 8-year-old boy waiting at the Boston Marathon finish line to give his father a hug, was among three people killed and more than 144 injured in the two explosions.
Martin Richard was standing with his mother and sister, who both suffered horrific injuries when bombs hidden in rubbish bins exploded within seconds of each other during the Patriots’ Day bank holiday.
Boston police closed off the city as a “danger zone” as witnesses described the “unspeakable horror” of body parts flying through the air and shoes that “still had flesh in them”.
At least 17 of the injured people are in a critical condition and it is thought as many as 30 victims may have needed amputations or major corrective surgery on maimed limbs.
Today, the US remained on full alert after the worst terrorist outrage since the World Trade Centre towers were destroyed by hijacked jets on September 11, 2001.
President Barack Obama vowed to hunt down the culprits and “hold them accountable”.
Martin Richard, 8, was waiting at the Boston Marathon finish line to give his father a hug
In the UK, Scotland Yard confirmed security arrangements were being reviewed ahead of Margaret Thatcher’s funeral on April 17 and London Marathon on April 21.
Video footage showed an explosion going off in the heart of the crowd that had lined the streets of the Massachusetts city yesterday to watch the famous sporting event.
After the blasts, two more suspicious devices were found in the city’s Mandarin Oriental and Lenox hotels. Both were evacuated and the suspected bombs dismantled.
According to the Boston Globe,Martin Richard, from Dorchester, Massachusetts, may very nearly have cheated death after walking out to embrace his father Bill Richard as he went to cross the finishing line.
When his walked on, Martin Richard turned back to rejoin his mother and two of his siblings just as the first bomb exploded. Reports suggest his mother was seriously injured and his sister’s leg was blown off.
The body of former British PM Margaret Thatcher is to be moved to a chapel in the Palace of Westminster later, ahead of Wednesday’s funeral.
A service, led by the Dean of Westminster, will be held in the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft.
MPs are also expected to vote later on whether to cancel Prime Minister’s Questions in order to allow them to attend the funeral.
Two MPs are trying to block the plan to delay the start of Commons’ business.
Respect MP George Galloway and Labour’s Dennis Skinner have both objected to the cancellation of PMQs, meaning MPs will now have to debate and vote on the plan before the change can be made.
If agreed, parliamentary business would not begin until 14:30 BST on Wednesday.
Margaret Thatcher’s body will be moved to the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster, ahead of Wednesday’s funeral
George Galloway says there has been “unnecessary fawning” over Margaret Thatcher, who was Conservative prime minister from 1979 to 1990.
However, the motion is expected to be passed after Labour said its MPs would not oppose it.
Margaret Thatcher, who died at the age of 87 on April 8 at the Ritz Hotel in London, has been accorded a ceremonial funeral with military honors, one step down from a state funeral.
The ceremonial funeral will take place at St Paul’s Cathedral, London.
Before the funeral, Margaret Thatcher’s body will rest overnight in the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster.
A short service, for around 100 people, will be led by the Dean of Westminster and attended by members of the family, senior figures from both Houses of Parliament and staff from Parliament and Downing Street who knew or worked closely with Lady Thatcher.
After the service, the chapel will be open for several hours in order that members of both Houses and parliamentary staff may pay their respects.
The Speaker’s chaplain, the Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, will then keep vigil in the chapel through the night.
On Wednesday, Margaret Thatcher’s coffin will initially travel by hearse from the Palace of Westminster to the Church of St Clement Danes – the Central Church of the RAF – on the Strand.
It will then be transferred to a gun carriage and taken in procession to St Paul’s Cathedral.
Martin Richard, 8, from Dorchester, Massachusetts, is one of the victims who died in Monday’s Boston Marathon explosion.
Martin Richard was killed as he was standing in line waiting to give his marathon running father a hug.
Losing his life as two explosions tore through the crowd at the finishing post of the Boston Marathon, Martin Richard was at the race to support his dad Bill Martin, along with his mother Denise Richard and two siblings.
Eight-year –old Martin Richard from Dorchester, Massachusetts, is one of the victims who died in Monday’s Boston Marathon explosion
Friends held a vigil on Monday night at the neighborhood Tavolo Restaurant in Dorchester for Martin Richard and his mother and sister, who suffered “grievous” injuries in the bombing on Monday afternoon.
According to the Boston Globe, Martin Richard had walked out to hug his father as he went to cross the finishing line.
Afterwards, his father walked on but the little boy went back to rejoin his mom and siblings – at which point the first bomb went off.
Reports suggest that Martin Richard’s mother was terribly injured and his sister’s leg was blown off in the devastating explosion.
Baseball movie 42 has topped the US Box office earning $27.3 million in its opening weekend.
The biopic film, starring Chadwick Boseman and Harrison Ford, tells the life story of the first black major league baseball player, Jackie Robinson.
Scary Movie 5 came in at second place with $15.2 million and The Croods took third place for a second week.
Horror remake Evil Dead, which topped the US box office last week, dropped down to fifth place.
Tom Cruise’s new film Oblivion earned $61.1 million internationally following its launch in 52 countries.
The sci-fi movie, directed by Joseph Kosinski, will compete with 42 after its US release this Friday.
Baseball movie 42 has topped the US Box office earning $27.3 million in its opening weekend
In its opening weekend, 42 set a box office record for a baseball film topping the $19.5 million debut of Brad Pitt’s Moneyball in 2011.
The momentum for the film may continue as Major League players mark the 66th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s professional debut by wearing his number, 42, on Monday.
“Think of what a tribute that is for what he accomplished. Every player wearing 42 on his back,”‘ said Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner Bros.
“It’s a story that has so much emotion to it. Jackie Robinson’s life had such an influence on our country,” he added.
The FBI launches a “potential terrorism inquiry” after two explosions hit Boston Marathon finishing line leaving three people dead and at least 140 injured.
Boston police say officers are working around the clock and all leave has been cancelled.
At least 17 people are critically wounded, officials say, and the injuries include several amputations.
One of the dead was an eight-year-old boy, US media said.
In a televised address, President Barack Obama vowed to bring those behind the attack to justice.
“We will find out who did this. We’ll find out why they did this,” the president said.
“Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups, will feel the full weight of justice.”
Although President Barack Obama did not use the word “terrorism”, a White House official later said: “Any event with multiple explosive devices – as this appears to be – is clearly an act of terror, and will be approached as an act of terror.”
The FBI launches a “potential terrorism inquiry” after two explosions hit Boston Marathon finishing line leaving three people dead and at least 140 injured
The first explosion came at about 14:50 local time on the north side of Boylston Street, about two hours after the winners crossed the line.
There was initial confusion and panic. Some runners fell to the floor while police and bystanders ran to help those caught in the blast.
Then seconds later, another explosion ripped into the crowd further away from the finishing line, between 50 and 100 metres from the first blast.
TV footage showed bloodied runners and spectators being treated at the scene and the road strewn with debris. Rescuers tore down temporary fencing to reach the casualties.
Medical officials speak of at least 140 injured, with injuries including severed limbs, shrapnel wounds, cuts and bruises.
At an initial news conference, Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis said authorities had received “no specific intelligence that anything was going to happen”.
He urged people to stay indoors and not congregate in large groups.
At a second news conference he said the death toll now stood at three. He said that no suspects were in custody.
A search thought to be related to the inquiry was under way at a flat in a Boston suburb, Boston media reported.
Police said a search warrant was issued on Monday in the Revere district but provided no further details.
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick said Boston would be “open” on Tuesday but that there would be “a heightened law enforcement presence”.
“There will be random checks of backpacks and other parcels. We are also asking that everyone be on a state of heightened vigilance,” he said.
FBI Special Agent Richard DesLauriers also appeared, saying that the inquiry involved city, state and federal officials, but refusing to give any details of the investigation.
Details of the victims have also not been revealed, however an 8-year-old boy is said to be among the dead. Quoting a family friend, Associated Press said the boy’s mother and sister were also injured as they waited for his father to finish the race.
Officers have already begun poring over video and photographs from the marathon.
Two other unexploded devices were reported to have been found near the end of the race but were safely defused.
State police officer Roupen Bastajian had just finished the race when he heard the blasts.
“I started running toward the blast and there were people all over the floor,” he said.
“We started grabbing tourniquets and started tying legs. At least 25 to 30 people have at least one leg missing, or an ankle missing, or two legs missing.”
A doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital said “several amputations” had been performed there.
As a massive security operation swung into operation, the Federal Aviation Administration barred low-flying aircraft from within 3.5 miles of the site.
Key sites in Washington DC and New York have also seen security tightened.
Officials in Washington said no group or individual had so far said they carried out the attack.
Shortly after the blasts, a fire broke out at Boston’s JFK Library a few miles away from the explosions.
Police said the blaze might have been caused by an incendiary device but it is unclear whether it is related to the explosions.
The annual Boston Marathon this year had a field of about 23,000 runners and was watched by hundreds of thousands of spectators.
Boston Marathon is held on Patriots Day, a Massachusetts state holiday which commemorates the first battles of the American Revolution in 1775.
Meanwhile British police are reviewing security plans for Sunday’s London Marathon, the next major international marathon, following events in Boston.
Nicolas Maduro has been formally proclaimed by Venezuela’s election authority as the winner of Sunday’s closely-fought presidential election.
The National Electoral Council backed the slender victory of Nicolas Maduro, the acting president, despite protests from opposition candidate Henrique Capriles.
The official count indicates Nicolas Maduro won 50.7% of votes to Henrique Capriles’ 49.1%.
Following the announcement, clashes broke out between protesters and police in the capital Caracas.
Police fired tear gas at hundreds of students demonstrating in one part of the city, while elsewhere opposition supporters took to their balconies and the streets to bang pots and pans in protest.
Nicolas Maduro has been formally proclaimed by Venezuela’s election authority as the winner of Sunday’s closely-fought presidential election
Henrique Capriles had earlier urged national protests and a march on the electoral offices in the capital in the event that Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner.
He called on the National Electoral Council not to confirm the election result, citing voting irregularities, and demanded a recount.
Henrique Capriles said he regarded the election of Nicolas Maduro as “illegitimate”.
The poll was called after President Hugo Chavez died of cancer last month.
Nicolas Maduro is a former bus driver who rose to become Hugo Chavez’s vice-president and heir apparent.
Henrique Capriles said there were more than 3,200 “incidents” from Sunday’s poll that needed to be examined.
“All we’re asking is that our rights be respected, that the will of the people be respected, and that every single vote be counted, every little piece of paper,” he told a news conference broadcast on national television.
But while it has agreed to an audit of the electronic counting system, the government is rejecting calls that the ballot boxes be opened for a manual recount.
Monday saw opposition students briefly invade a hotel where international election observers are staying, demanding to know why the vote had been declared free and fair.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Cuban leader Raul Castro were among the first heads of state to congratulate Nicolas Maduro on his win.
But the US has called for an audit of the results.
Asian markets have dropped in early trading after two explosions hit the Boston Marathon finishing line killing three people and injuring dozens more.
Stock indexes fell by as much as 2% in Japan. South Korea and Australia also dropped, as did oil and gold prices.
Earlier on Monday, US markets closed lower after the blasts accelerated a sell-off started by weak economic data.
Analysts said that investors would be more risk averse in coming sessions and would focus on Asia’s problem areas.
“This is a kind of unknown-unknown event and a stark reminder that the world continues to remain unsafe,” said Vishnu Varathan of Japanese bank Mizhuo.
“While it has happened far away from Asia, it is likely to trigger concerns and fears over Asia’s known-unknowns.
“You have the Korean peninsula tensions, the territorial dispute between China and Japan, and other issues in the China Sea which all pose risks if they flare up,” he added.
Asian markets have dropped in early trading after two explosions hit the Boston Marathon finishing line killing three people and injuring dozens more
Faced with these problems, investors reacted to the news of the blasts by trying to cut risks, not least because in recent weeks stock markets in Asia have seen strong gains.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index was recently trading 1% lower, while South Korea’s Kospi was down 0.9% and Australia’s ASX 200 shed 0.8%.
In the US, all three of the country’s main stock indexes closed lower on Monday. The Dow Jones ended the day down 1.8%, while the S&P shut 2.3% lower and the Nasdaq shed 2.4%.
Oil prices dropped in Asia, with US light crude down by 1.9%, and Brent crude sliding 1.6%. Gold continued to fall, extending Monday’s 10% fall and continuing to hit its lowest levels in two years.
By contrast, the Japanese yen gained against the US dollar because many investors see it as a less risky asset.
“The developments in Boston are likely to trigger an initial reaction of caution,” said Michael McCarthy, chief market analyst at CMC Markets.
The Japanese currency rose as much as 2.5% to 96.61 yen against the US dollar in New York on Monday. It also gained nearly 3% against the euro, rising as high as 125.98 yen against the single European currency.
Analysts said that many large Japanese banks or pension funds tended to sell riskier assets during times of uncertainty, bringing the money back into the country, resulting in an appreciation in the yen’s value.
Knowing this, other global investors also buy the yen, or yen-denominated assets, to benefit from this gain. However, once the risks recede, then investors tended to sell their yen and use the proceeds to again invest in riskier assets.
Analysts said the blasts had further dented investor morale in both Asia and elsewhere, which had already been shaken by weaker-than-expected Chinese and US data.
They also pointed to a number of potential Asian flashpoints that caused investors to be cautious, such as the heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula.
North Korea has recently conducted a nuclear test, and in recent weeks it has also threatened to attack South Korea, Japan and US bases in the region.
Meanwhile, the spat between China and Japan over a set of disputed islands in the East China Sea has flared up. The issue is yet to be resolved and continues to remain a bone of contention between Asia’s two biggest economies.
Analysts have often have warned that an escalation of any of these issues was likely to hurt the region’s economic growth.
“Asia is increasingly relying on intra-regional trade to sustain its economic growth,” said Vishnu Varathan of Mizhuo.
“Any full-blown conflict between Asian nations will hurt trade and could adversely impact economic growth.”
Boston Marathon explosions killed at least two people and injured up to 60 after two large bombs went off near the finish line of the famous race, according to new reports.
Law enforcement sources told one newspaper that 12 people had been killed, but Boston police have only confirmed two dead. The sources added that the first explosion happened at the Fairmont Hotel.
Boston Marathon explosions killed at least two people and injured up to 60 after two large bombs went off near the finish line of the famous race
Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis said at an afternoon press conference that there was a third, uncontrolled explosion at the JFK Library, though there were no injuries reported.
It is being reported that a Saudi-Arabian suspect is being held in custody at a Boston hospital on suspicion of involvement, though reports were quickly quashed by the Boston police department. A shadowy figure was also spotted on CCTV around 20 minutes before the bombs went off.
Eyewitnesses at the scene said there were two loud explosions about five seconds apart, and emergency vehicles crowded the scene.
Police told the Boston Globe that are they still finding “secondary devices”, and pleading with anyone still in the area to leave at once. A controlled explosion was set for outside the city library.
Sources told the New York Postthat up to 12 people had been killed in the two blasts, and further reported that a suspect is in custody at a Boston-area hospital and is being closely guarded.
CBS News reports that police are now looking at surveillance video showing someone carrying multiple backpacks into the area about 20 minutes before explosions.
One witness said “there was blood everywhere”.
CNN revealed that families from last December’s Newtown tragedy were at the scene, though none of them were reported injured.
Boston’s Lenox Hotel that serves as the headquarters for the Boston Marathon was locked down on Monday after a security incident near the finish line. Two blasts were heard by reporters in the media center.
Authorities closed off the finish line and urged anyone in the area to stay away from trash bins.
In response to the attacks, both the White House and New York’s Times Square were given extra security measures. The White House released in a statement that President Barack Obama received a briefing from Homeland Security advisor Lisa Monaco and other members of his staff in the Oval Office.
“The president called Boston Mayor Tom Menino and expressed his concern for those who were injured and to make clear that his administration is ready to provide needed support as they respond to this incident.”
House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner is expected to lead a moment of silence in the House from the Speaker’s chair for the victims of the Boston bombing at around 6:30 p.m. EST, and the president is expected to speak at 6:10 p.m. EST.
Andrea Storer, who witnessed the blast, told the Boston Globe: “It was huge. There had to be people killed. There had to be.”
NECN reporter Jackie Bruno posted on Twitter: “I saw people’s legs blown off. Horrific. Two explosions. Runners were coming in and saw unspeakable horror.”
Ke$ha reinforced her position as the queen of the worst dressed lists at the MTV Movie Awards 2013 on Sunday night, as her 90’s inspired outfit hit all the worst trends from the decade.
Ke$ha’s sheer white lace trousers drew unwanted attention to her lavender underwear, while her black fringe vest and matching wide brimmed hat looked better suited for the Coachella Valley Music Festival raging on 100 miles away.
Ke$ha reinforced her position as the queen of the worst dressed lists at the MTV Movie Awards 2013, as her outfit hit all the worst trends from the decade
And her white crimped hair, black lipstick and heavy racoon-eye makeup wouldn’t have been approved of even by the biggest goth fans on the era.
Hoever, Ke$ha had some competition for worst-dressed of the evening from stars including Kylie Minogue, who had a rare fashion fail in a chainmail minidress.
The Paco Rabanne outfit featured sheer panels, including one through which Kylie Minogue’s tummy button could be seen, and did little to flatter the singer’s famously petite figure.
Chloe Moretz, 16, also got it wrong in a denim patchwork-style dress, which would have been better suited to an awards ceremony several decades ago.
Another wacky choice came from rapper Macklemore.
Macklemore could have made the dapper dressed list if he would have stuck to his bright royal blue suit and black leather tie.
But the singer then covered it all up in a feather print and gold trimmed cape that would remind and Disney fan of the Beast himself.
Hana Mae Lee had the right idea with her figure-hugging cut-out frock.
The Pitch Perfect star was anything but sexy – capping of her black ensemble with a hat designed like a cigarette butt.
Margaret Thatcher’s twins, Mark and Carol, met at the former prime minister’s home to make final arrangements today just hours after a stirring full military rehearsal for her funeral had taken place before dawn.
Major Andrew Chatburn, the man in charge of choreographing the parade, said the rehearsal “went very well” and claimed it was “vitally important” to stage a trial of Wednesday’s event.
More than 700 serving Armed Forces personnel gathered in central London before dawn as a Union flag-draped coffin was carried on a horse-drawn gun carriage from St Clement Danes, the church of the Royal Air Force, down the Strand to St Paul’s Cathedral.
Margaret Thatcher’s twins, Mark and Carol, met at her home to make final arrangements for the funeral
Mark and Carol Thatcher spent time at her grand house in Belgravia today, and were later joined by Mark’s wife Sarah and their children Michael and Amanda.
Major Andrew Chatburn, ceremonial staff officer for the Household Division, who was also behind the royal wedding procession two years ago and last year’s Diamond Jubilee parade, said: “Timings are most important. We will learn something quite significant this morning about the timings, and to familiarize the troops of their duties.
“Bearing in mind these are sailors, soldiers and airmen who have come in to do this specific task from their routine duties, so it’s new to them.
“They need to see the ground as well so they can get a feel for how it’s going to go and they can perform their duties with confidence on the day.
Gold price has fallen to its lowest level in two years, on weak Chinese economic data, and receding fears about the chance of higher inflation in the US.
The price of the precious metal was down 9.2% to $1,395 an ounce.
The weaker than expected growth in China’s economy also sparked a wider fall in commodity prices.
Oil prices fell to four-month lows, with Brent crude down $2.29 to $100.75 a barrel. The price of copper and aluminium were also sharply lower.
Copper price fell to its lowest level in a year and a half at $7,085 a tonne, and aluminium sank to a three-and-a-half year low.
Gold price has fallen to its lowest level in two years, on weak Chinese economic data, and receding fears about the chance of higher inflation in the US
The declines followed after China said overnight that its economy expanded by 7.7% in the first quarter of 2013, lower than forecasts and below the pace of growth of recent years.
Analysts said a key factor in gold’s fall was the expectation that the US central bank, the Federal Reserve, will tighten monetary policy by stopping its quantitative easing (QE) programme.
This means that the rate of US inflation is likely to fall, meaning investors have less reason to hold gold to avoid a corresponding decline in the value of cash investments.
Cyprus’s announcement last week that it was planning to sell most of its gold reserves has also had an impact on the fall in the price of gold.
Some analysts fear that other weak eurozone economies, such as Italy and Spain, will follow Cyprus’s lead and sell some of their gold stocks, adding further supply to weakening demand.
Dominic Schnider, an analyst at UBS Wealth Management, said it might not have been the eurozone that triggered the mass flight out of gold: “What we now see is panic selling, perhaps triggered by the Fed’s stimulus view. The Fed has given the signal that there’s a possibility to reduce QE and that took a lot of trust out of gold.
“And people recognize that an environment where you have no inflation is a powerful driver to get out of the metal.”
The price of gold has had a remarkable run in recent years, hitting a record high of $1,800.
Another drag on prices has come from India, the world’s biggest buyer of gold bullion, which introduced a 50% import tax that has triggered a 24% fall in the amount of gold brought into the country in the first quarter of this year.
Mohit Kamboj, president of the Bombay Bullion Association, suggested prices may have further to fall: “With more and more countries reducing stocks, the future of gold seems bleak.”
The fall means Cyprus is likely to raise less than the 400 million euros ($525 million) it hoped for when it announced it was selling the bulk of its gold reserve.
Gold mining company shares fell sharply as a result, with Fresnillo ending down 15%, and Randgold dropping 8.3%.
Henrique Capriles Radonski, the defeated Venezuelan presidential candidate, has demanded a recount of votes, rejecting the election of Hugo Chavez’s successor as “illegitimate”.
Henrique Capriles, 40, said there were more than 300,000 incidents from Sunday’s poll that needed to be examined.
However, the electoral authorities said Socialist Nicolas Maduro would be confirmed as the winner.
Nicolas Maduro has called for the results to be respected.
The National Electoral Council is due to formally proclaim Nicolas Maduro’s victory at a ceremony and rally in Caracas later on Monday.
Henrique Capriles Radonski, the defeated Venezuelan presidential candidate, has demanded a recount of votes, rejecting the election of Nicolas Maduro
The election was called after Hugo Chavez’s death from cancer last month.
Nicolas Maduro, a former bus driver whom Hugo Chavez had named as his preferred heir, won 50.7% of the vote against 49.1% for Henrique Capriles.
The National Electoral Council said the results, which it announced on Sunday night, were “irreversible”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Cuban leader Raul Castro were among the first heads of state to congratulate Nicolas Maduro on his win.
Meanwhile the US has called for an audit of the results.
“This appears an important, prudent and necessary step to ensure that all Venezuelans have confidence in these results,” a White House spokesman said.
As the news of Nicolas Maduro’s victory emerged, celebrations erupted in the capital, Caracas.
Thousands of jubilant supporters took to the streets, dancing, singing and blasting car horns, while fireworks lit up the night sky. Opposition voters banged pots and pans in protest.
Speaking outside the presidential palace, Nicolas Maduro told crowds that the result was “just, legal and constitutional”.
He said his election showed Hugo Chavez “continues to be invincible, that he continues to win battles”.
Nicolas Maduro, who was wearing a tracksuit top in the colors of the Venezuelan flag, said he had spoken to Henrique Capriles on the phone, and that he would allow an audit of the election result.
He called for those who had not voted for him to “work together” for the country.
Nicolas Maduro’s margin of victory was far narrower than that achieved by Chavez at elections last October, when he beat Henrique Capriles by more than 10 percentage points.
Almost immediately, one member of the National Electoral Council who does not have government sympathies called on the authorities to carry out a recount by hand, a call later echoed by Henrique Capriles himself.
At least two people have been killed and 22 injured after two explosions at the finish line of this year Boston Marathon, police say.
The blasts shattered the carnival atmosphere of one of the biggest sporting events in the US, causing panic and confusion.
Bloodied victims were initially rushed to a medical tent set up to care for fatigued runners.
Emergency services descended on the scene, which was quickly locked down.
The cause of the explosions has yet to be confirmed.
“There are a lot of people down,” one runner was quoted as saying by AP news agency.
At least two people have been killed and 22 injured after two explosions at the finish line of this year Boston Marathon
The incident reportedly came about three hours after the winners crossed the line.
The Associated Press news agency said there was a loud explosion on the north side of Boylston Street, just before the bridge that marks the finish line. Another loud explosion could be heard a few seconds later, and smoke could be seen rising from the scene of the blasts.
TV helicopter footage showed blood staining the pavement in the shopping and tourist area known as Back Bay.
Mike Mitchell of Vancouver, Canada, a runner who had finished the race, said he was looking back at the finish line when he saw a “massive explosion.”
Smoke rose 50 ft (15 m) in the air, he told Reuters news agency, and people began running away and screaming after hearing the noise.
“Everybody freaked out,” he said.
Stragglers heading for the finish line were rerouted away from the smoking site of the blasts as the scene was locked down.
The annual Boston Marathon attracting a large field of runners and tens of thousands of spectators.
Meanwhile, police in New York have told the Reuters news agency they have deployed anti-terrorism units at key sites.
Sanjay Dutt has asked more time from India’s Supreme Court before he returns to prison for his conviction over the 1993 Mumbai blasts.
Last month the judges ordered the Bollywood star to surrender by April 18 after reducing his sentence to five years from six.
Sanjay Dutt has asked the court for a month’s extension to hand himself in, citing work commitments.
The actor was convicted in 2006 of buying weapons from bombers who attacked Mumbai.
Sanjay Dutt spent 20 months in jail.
Sanjay Dutt has asked more time from India’s Supreme Court before he returns to prison for his conviction over the 1993 Mumbai blasts
The serial bombings killed 257 people and wounded 713 others.
Reports say the actor is trying to finish work on a number of films before returning to prison.
Sanjay Dutt, one of Bollywood’s most bankable stars, is hugely popular for his role of a loveable gangster in the Munnabhai movies. He has also dabbled in politics.
In 2006, a special anti-terror court convicted 100 people for the blasts. Twelve were given the death penalty and 20 others sentenced to life imprisonment.
Sanjay Dutt, the most high-profile among the convicts, was originally charged with five offences, including criminal conspiracy and possession of illegal weapons.
The trial court found the star guilty of illegally possessing a rifle and a pistol but cleared him of conspiracy.
The son of a Hindu father and a Muslim mother, Sanjay Dutt said the weapons were necessary in order to defend his family during the Hindu-Muslim rioting of 1993 which followed the destruction by Hindu zealots of the Babri mosque in the northern town of Ayodhya.
Big Ben will be silent for the duration of Margaret Thatcher’s funeral, House of Commons Speaker John Bercow has announced.
John Bercow told MPs this would be “an appropriate means of indicating our sentiments” during the occasion.
There was a “profound dignity through silence,” he added.
The silence will last throughout events on Wednesday, covering the procession from Westminster and the ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Big Ben will be silent for the duration of Margaret Thatcher’s funeral
The chiming of Big Ben, the name often used to describe the Great Bell, the Great Clock and the Elizabeth Tower – clock tower – in the Palace of Westminster, is one of London’s most famous sounds.
Big Ben has not been silent as a mark of respect since the funeral of former PM Sir Winston Churchill in 1965, although it was out of action for repairs for a period during the 1970s.
In a statement to the Commons, John Bercow said he had received “direct and indirect representations” over the best way for Parliament to mark the funeral of Margaret Thatcher, who died last week aged 87.
John Bercow added: “I’ve considered all of these, but I concluded that the most appropriate means of indicating our sentiments would be for the chimes of Big Ben and the chimes of the Great Clock to be silenced for the duration of the funeral proceedings.”
He also said: “I believe there can be a profound dignity and deep respect expressed through silence.”
Responding for the government, Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude said it was a “very dignified and respectful gesture on behalf of Parliament”.
“As you know, Lady Thatcher held Parliament in very great reverence in her time both in this House and in the Lords,” he said.
“I am confident that Lady Thatcher’s family will take it very much in that spirit and be very appreciative of what you have decided.”
Margaret Thatcher has been accorded a ceremonial funeral with military honors, one step down from a state funeral.
A military rehearsal of the procession took place in central London during the early hours of Monday morning.
On Wednesday, Margaret Thatcher’s coffin will initially travel by hearse from the Palace of Westminster to the Church of St Clement Danes – the Central Church of the RAF – on the Strand.
The coffin will then be transferred to the gun carriage and taken in procession to St Paul’s Cathedral.
Big Ben Facts:
The Great Bell, better known as Big Ben, is 2.2 m tall, has a diameter of 2.7 m and weighs 13.7 tonnes
The hammer which strikes the bell weighs 200 kg
When struck it chimes the musical note E
It was cast in the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, and installed on 10 April, 1858. It took 18 hours to lift it into the clock tower’s belfry
The chimes of Big Ben were first recorded and broadcast by BBC engineer AG Dryland on New Year’s Eve 1923
It was out of action from 09:45 GMT until midnight on the day of Sir Winston Churchill’s funeral
Sharon Osbourne has been spotted moving into a new mansion after reports emerged that she and husband Ozzy have been living separately for weeks.
Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne appear to be going their separate ways as Sharon was seen moving into her new Beverly Hills home earlier this month.
Sharon Osbourne, 60, watched on as removal men carried furniture into her new home just days before she was seen out without her wedding ring on.
She was seen standing barefoot and wearing black trousers with a white T-shirt emblazoned with a gold pattern.
Sharon Osbourne spotted moving into a new mansion after reports emerged that she and Ozzy have been living separately for weeks
The former X Factor judge walked down the driveway of her mansion and looked rather sullen as she cut a lonely figure.
A team of five removal men, who arrived in two trucks, were seen unloading chairs, tables and other pieces of furniture and carrying them into the property.
Keen to keep unwanted visitors at bay, Sharon Osbourne had other workers setting up the intercom system at the gate to her home.
Just a few days after her belongings were moved into the mansion Sharon Osbourne was seen without her wedding ring on while she met daughter Kelly at The Ivy in West Hollywood, California.
Ozzy Osbourne, 64, followed suit when he was seen on the CSI set in Los Angeles, also without his wedding band on.
He is due to jet out to Australia this week for a tour with his band Black Sabbath, and it looks like he will be flying there alone without his wife, who is also his manager.
A source close to the couple claimed that the fall out between them is down to financial problems and unpaid tax bill.
The source told the Daily Mirror: “The financial situation has been a real burden for them both and has put huge strain on them.
“These were big bills, and it has been very difficult for both of them.”
In 2012 Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne were hit with a $1.7 million bill after Sharon said she had lost track of the finances.
The source added: “What makes things even harder for them is that they’ve both got huge work commitments for the rest of the year which stand in the way of them spending much time together.”
With busy work schedules, neither of them have the time to sit down and discuss their issues as their hectic schedules are clashing.
Sharon met Ozzy Osbourne when she was just 18-years-old and became his manager soon after, tying the knot with him in 1982.
Beyoncé shows off her incredible figure in the new H&M Summer campaign, wearing a variety of tiny two-pieces.
Beyoncé, 31, displays her washboard abs and hourglass figure as she smoulders for the camera in the new shots.
From a yellow halterneck bikini to a black fringed number and a tie-dye two-piece, the singer looks picture perfect in every image, shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin.
Beyoncé shows off her incredible bikini body in the new H&M Summer campaign
Beyoncé said of the campaign: “I’ve always liked H&M’s focus on fun and affordable fashion. I really loved the concept we collaborated on to explore the different emotions of women represented by the four elements – fire, water, earth and wind.
“It was a beautiful shoot on a tropical island. It felt more like making a video than a commercial.”
Donald Schneider, Creative Director of H&M, said: “H&M’s summer campaign starring Beyoncé is an epic fantasy, with glamour, drama and also a sense of paradise.
“It was amazing to watch her on the shoot make it all look effortless – a quality that makes her such an icon for women around the world. The campaign is the essence of Beyoncé, and also the essence of H&M this summer.”
Ann-Sofie Johansson, Head of Design for H&M, added: “In the campaign Beyoncé is wearing the key pieces from H&M you need for life in the sun this summer.
“There’s the perfect bodycon dress, as well as a flowing sun dress that makes a real statement. And of course there are the bikinis, especially the fringed bikini.
“What makes these pieces even more special is that Beyoncé herself had input into the design, and they are full of her own personal style.”
The images of Beyoncé, which will be featured on billboards and editorial adverts worldwide, see her billed as Mrs. Carter in H&M – referring to the star’s upcoming Mrs. Carter world tour.
The new H&M campaign will hit stores and online from May, and features swimwear and beachwear pieces as well as a tie-dye bikini from the H&M for Water collection.
Jenna Bush, daughter of former US President George W. Bush, has shared the first pictures of her baby girl, Margaret Laura “Mila” Hager.
Jenna Bush Hager gave birth to a baby girl in New York City at 8.43p.m. on Saturday, making George and Laura Bush grandparents for the first time.
The family photos show the former president cradling the tiny bundle alongside his beaming wife, while another shows Jenna Bush Hager and her mother cooing over the little girl.
Jenna Bush, daughter of former President George W. Bush, has shared the first pictures of her baby girl, Margaret Laura “Mila” Hager
There’s also some early family bonding as George Bush and his son-in-law Henry Hager are seen holding Mila up to watch the Masters tournament on the hospital television.
One family portrait shows Jenna Bush Hager holding her tiny daughter surrounded by her parents and husband Henry, with a drawing of a heart containing the word “Mila” hanging behind them.
In a statement, President George W. Bush said: “Laura and I are thrilled to announce the birth of our grandchild. We met our beautiful granddaughter today. Jenna and Mila are healthy. And our family is elated.”
Mila was named after her grandmothers, like Jenna Bush herself and her twin sister Barbara.
The Bush family has frequently named babies after their predecessors. Other examples include George, Prescott, Walker, Ellis, Pierce and Dorothy.
Egypt’s ex-President Hosni Mubarak should no longer be held over the killings of protesters during the revolution that toppled him, a Cairo court has ruled today.
However, Hosni Mubarak will remain in custody as he faces separate corruption charges.
Hosni Mubarak, 84, is awaiting a retrial for conspiring to kill protesters in early 2011.
The former leader’s lawyer successfully argued that he had spent the maximum time in prison under temporary detention.
In June 2012, Hosni Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison for killings committed during the 2011 uprising that ended his decades-long rule, but in January a retrial was ordered because of procedural failings.
Cairo court ruled that Hosni Mubarak should no longer be held over the killings of protesters during the revolution that toppled him
There were chaotic scenes on Saturday as the judge presiding over the retrial, Mustafa Hassan Abdullah, withdrew from the case citing his “unease” in overseeing the proceedings.
The case has been referred to a different court, which is expected to appoint a new panel to hear the retrial.
About 850 people were killed in the 2011 crackdown during the 2011 uprising that ended Hosni Mubarak’s rule.
Hosni Mubarak and former interior minister Habib al-Adly were sentenced to life in prison for conspiring to kill protesters.
But both will be re-tried after they successfully appealed against their convictions, with Egypt’s Court of Cassation citing procedural failings.
Habib al-Adly will also be re-tried for corruption charges.
Hosni Mubarak and his two sons, Gamal and Alaa, will also be re-tried for corruption charges, of which they were found not guilty the first time round.
Egypt’s former president has been in poor health since his arrest and appeared on a stretcher during his first trial and at Saturday’s hearing.
Deaths during the uprising were largely blamed on the police at the time, but last week a report was leaked which implicated the army in serious human rights abuses, including the killing and torture of protesters.
The leaked chapter, reportedly presented to President Mohamed Morsi late last year, contains testimony relating to civilians detained at military checkpoints who were never seen again and reports that the army delivered unidentified bodies to coroners.
Egypt’s Defence Minister Abdel Fatah al-Sissi denied the accusations, calling them a betrayal.
Former British PM Margaret Thatcher will be given a funeral ceremony with full military honors before a private cremation on Wednesday, April 17.
Officials and politicians from around the world will be in London to pay their last respects to Britain’s first female prime minister.
Margaret Thatcher died at Ritz Hotel in London on Monday, April 8, after suffering a massive stroke at the age of 87.
The former prime minister will be honored with a ceremonial service with full military honors, with politicians, former world leaders and cultural figures in the congregation.
Although not officially a state funeral, in accordance with Margaret Thatcher’s wishes when making her funeral plans, the announcement of the lavish state-funded ceremony has brought a fierce backlash.
When:
The ceremony will take place on Wednesday April 17, with the service due to start at 11 a.m.
Where:
The service is being held at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral, at Margaret Thatcher’s request. Attendance is by invitation only. It will be followed by a private cremation in Mortlake, south west London.
A funeral procession will travel through the streets of London, first in a hearse and then on a gun carriage, from the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster to the cathedral just under two miles away, with members of the armed services lining the route.
Margaret Thatcher’s coffin will be taken by a hearse from the Palace of Westminster to the RAF Chapel, the church of St Clement Danes, in the Strand.
From there the coffin will be transferred to a gun carriage drawn by the King’s Troop Royal Artillery.
The impressive cortege will then proceed down the Strand, through Aldwych, then along the entire length of Fleet Street before rising up Ludgate Hill to the majestic St Paul’s Cathedral.
Margaret Thatcher will be given a funeral ceremony with full military honors before a private cremation on April 17
Will Margaret Thatcher’s funeral be broadcasted?
BBC1 will be showing live coverage from 9.15 a.m. to 12.15 p.m.
Who will be at St Paul’s Cathedral?
According to Downing Street, 2,000 invitations are being sent out, with guests including former prime ministers, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Lord Archer and Jeremy Clarkson.
Margaret Thatcher’s children, Carol and Mark, will lead the mourners.
Queen Elizabeth II will attend, accompanied by Prince Philip. It is the first time the Queen has attended the funeral of one of her former Prime Ministers since Sir Winston Churchill’s state funeral in 1965.
Hundreds of foreign dignitaries and top British politicians will be invited. Former PMs Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and their wives Cherie and Sarah have confirmed they will be attending, as has Margaret Thatcher’s successor in No. 10 Sir John Major.
Singers Dame Shirley Bassey and Katherine Jenkins, actor Michael Crawford, composer Lord Lloyd-Webber and lyricist Tim Rice are also due to attend the service.
Others on the guest list include Joan Collins, broadcasters Sir Terry Wogan, Sir Trevor McDonald and Sir David Frost, fashion designer Anya Hindmarch and sitcom queen June Whitfield.
Frederik Willem de Klerk, the last president of apartheid South Africa, will also be there as a guest of the family.
However, Neil Kinnock, the Labour leader defeated by Lady Thatcher at the 1987 election, has said he will not be attending.
Ten members of staff from the Ritz Hotel, where Margaret Thatcher died on Monday, have also been invited to her funeral as thanks for the care she received. She had been staying at the five-star hotel since Christmas.
Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has announced he will not attend the ceremony due to health problems. Former US First Lady Nancy Reagan, whose husband Ronald worked closely with Margaret Thatcher as the Cold War drew to an end, said she was “heartbroken” over Lady Thatcher’ death but could not attend due to her age.
How much is Margaret Thatcher’s funeral going to cost and who is going to pay?
The funeral is expected to cost up to £10 million (about $16 million) with the taxpayer bearing the brunt of the costs. It has been confirmed a “contribution” to the cost of the funeral will be made from Margaret Thatcher’s estate. The official cost to the public purse will be released after the service has taken place.
The security operation alone is set to cost £5 million ($8 million). Police across London have been ordered to cancel any leave they had planned for Operation True Blue on Wednesday.
There could be more than 4,000 officers and 2,000 troops lining the route. Hundreds of specialist police will be working on counter-terrorism measures, with others carefully monitoring CCTV cameras for trouble spots.
Every corner of the route will be checked by sniffer dogs, with sewers and drains closed.
Military personnel from the RAF, Navy and Army will line the route from Westminster to St Paul’s. Margaret Thatcher’s coffin will travel part of the way by hearse before being transferred to a gun carriage at the Church of St Clement Danes, the RAF Chapel, on the Strand. The gun carriage will be drawn by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery. Six horses will draw the carriage, three of them mounted, with a sergeant riding alongside, an officer riding in front and three dismounted troops on foot.
Margaret Thatcher’s funeral ceremony will have a Falklands theme.
A Bearer Party made up of all three services will walk alongside the coffin, and will include those from ships, units and stations notable for their service during the Falklands Campaign. Members will be taken from the Royal Navy/Royal Marines; the Scots Guards; the Welsh Guards; the Royal Artillery; the Royal Engineers; the Parachute Regiment; the Royal Gurkha Rifles; and the RAF.
Three military bands will play – their drums draped in black as a mark of respect.
A guard of Chelsea Pensioners, dressed in their traditional red tunics, will line the steps of St Paul’s as her coffin is carried in by bearers from units particularly associated with the Falklands War.
More than 700 Armed Forces personnel drawn from all three services will take part. Members of the Welsh Guards, the regiment that suffered some of the heaviest losses during the Falklands conflict, will be among the units involved, taking on roles including the coffin bearer party, lining the route the procession will take, and forming a Guard of Honour outside St Paul’s.
Guns will be fired from the Tower of London but there will be no fly-past – as Margaret Thatcher herself requested.
How will Margaret Thatcher’s funeral affect travel in London?
Motorists are being advised to avoid Westminster and the City of London on the day of Margaret Thatcher’s funeral on Wednesday, April 17.
On the same day a number of roads will be closed and some bus services will be diverted, Transport for London (TfL) said.
Blackfriars and Westminster bridges will be closed and some Barclays Cycle Hire docking stations will be suspended. But all Tube, London Overground and Docklands Light Railway services will run normally.
The bus diversions will begin from 6 a.m. and the road closures from around 7 a.m. Among roads that will be closed will be The Strand, Fleet Street, Ludgate Hill, Whitehall, Kingsway and The Mall.
What’s the dress code at Margaret Thatcher’s funeral?
Guests at the funeral will be asked to wear full day ceremonial dress without swords, morning dress with a black waistcoat and black tie or dark suit, day dress with hat. Medals and decorations may be worn.
What are the invitations like?
Invitations have been sent out on Friday, April 12. The white VIP invitations will see guests seated under the Cathedral’s famous dome. A red or green stripe will show whether they are to sit on the port or starboard side. Other invitations are color-coded relating to where guests are to be seated in the cathedral.
Margaret Thatcher’s funeral – more details
Flags will be flown at half mast on UK government buildings and British embassies from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the day of the funeral.
The working title for the funeral’s operation plan is True Blue – which has drawn criticism from Labour’s Andy Burnham for politicising the event.
Margaret Thatcher requested there should not be a fly-past as she considered it a waste of money.
Baroness Thatcher’s family has asked that if people wish to pay their respects, they consider making a donation to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, rather than laying flowers.
Margaret Thatcher’s love of Edward Elgar’s classical music – especially Pomp and Circumstance – is expected to be reflected in the service.
Downing Street website will have a condolence page on which people will be able to write private messages for the Thatcher family.
The public will be unable to attend Margaret Thatcher’s funeral service itself but can line the route of the funeral procession from the RAF Church in the Strand to St Paul’s Cathedral.
A military rehearsal of former British PM Margaret Thatcher’s funeral procession has taken place in central London.
More than 700 members of the armed forces drawn from all three services took part in the practice before dawn.
They will line the route of the funeral procession from Westminster to St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday.
Margaret Thatcher’s coffin is to be carried in a gun carriage drawn by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, which was involved in the rehearsal.
Major Andrew Chatburn, the man in charge of choreographing the parade, said the rehearsal “went very well” and it was “vitally important” to stage a trial of Wednesday’s event.
“Timings are most important,” he said.
Military rehearsal of former PM Margaret Thatcher’s funeral procession in central London
Maj. Andrew Chatburn, ceremonial staff officer for the Household Division, who was also behind the royal wedding procession two years ago and last year’s Diamond Jubilee parade, added: “Bearing in mind these are sailors, soldiers and airmen who have come in to do this specific task from their routine duties, so it’s new to them.
“They need to see the ground as well so they can get a feel for how it’s going to go and they can perform their duties with confidence on the day.”
The procession band played the funeral marches of Chopin, Beethoven and Mendelssohn as it made its way along the deserted streets for the rehearsal.
The Chelsea Pensioners from Royal Hospital Chelsea did not take part due to the early start, but they will line the west steps of St Paul’s for the real event.
It has emerged that the last portrait of Margaret Thatcher shows her relaxing on a deckchair in the garden of London’s Royal Hospital Chelsea, a retirement and nursing home for ex-British soldiers. Lady Thatcher was a strong supporter of the Chelsea Pensioners.
Scotland Yard’s preparations are ongoing and the force says the security operation on the day will be in line with the perceived threat level.
Margaret Thatcher, who died at the age of 87 on April 8, has been awarded a ceremonial funeral with military honors, one step down from a state funeral.
On Wednesday, Margaret Thatcher’s coffin will initially travel by hearse from the Palace of Westminster to the Church of St Clement Danes – the Central Church of the RAF – on the Strand.
The coffin will then be transferred to the gun carriage and taken in procession to St Paul’s Cathedral.
St Paul’s Cathedral has published a full funeral order of service.
Respect MP George Galloway has said he will try to block plans designed to allow MPs to attend Margaret Thatcher’s funeral.
Ministers want to cancel Prime Minister’s Questions and delay the start of parliamentary business – an approach backed by Labour.
US scientists say a kidney “grown” in the laboratory has been transplanted into animals where it started to produce urine.
Similar techniques to make simple body parts have already been used in patients, but the kidney is one of the most complicated organs made so far.
A study, in the journal Nature Medicine, showed the engineered kidneys were less effective than natural ones.
But regenerative medicine researchers said the field had huge promise.
Kidneys filter the blood to remove waste and excess water. They are also the most in-demand organ for transplant, with long waiting lists.
The researchers’ vision is to take an old kidney and strip it of all its old cells to leave a honeycomb-like scaffold. The kidney would then be rebuilt with cells taken from the patient.
This would have two major advantages over current organ transplants.
The tissue would match the patient, so they would not need a lifetime of drugs to suppress the immune system to prevent rejection.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have taken the first steps towards creating usable engineered kidneys
It would also vastly increase the number of organs available for transplant. Most organs which are offered are rejected, but they could be used as templates for new ones.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have taken the first steps towards creating usable engineered kidneys.
They took a rat kidney and used a detergent to wash away the old cells.
The remaining web of proteins, or scaffold, looks just like a kidney, including an intricate network of blood vessels and drainage pipes.
This protein plumbing was used to pump the right cells to the right part of the kidney, where they joined with the scaffold to rebuild the organ.
It was kept in a special oven to mimic the conditions in a rat’s body for the next 12 days.
When the kidneys were tested in the laboratory, urine production reached 23% of natural ones.
The team then tried transplanting an organ into a rat. Once inside the body, the kidney’s effectiveness fell to 5%.
Lead researcher Dr. Harald Ott said that restoring a small fraction of normal function could be enough: “If you’re on haemodialysis then kidney function of 10% to 15% would already make you independent of haemodialysis. It’s not that we have to go all the way.”
Dr. Harald Ott said the potential was huge: “If you think about the United States alone, there’s 100,000 patients currently waiting for kidney transplants and there’s only around 18,000 transplants done a year.
“I think the potential clinical impact of a successful treatment would be enormous.”
There is a huge amount of further research that would be needed before this is even considered in people.
The technique needs to be more efficient so a greater level of kidney function is restored. Researchers also need to prove that the kidney will continue to function for a long time.
There will also be challenges with the sheer size of a human kidney. It is harder to get the cells in the right place in a larger organ.
Rebel Wilson paid reverence to her Australian roots as she thrashed out a bizarre musical number to kick-off the 2013 MTV Movie Awards in Culver City, California, on Sunday.
In her first gig hosting the event, Rebel Wilson began her star performance dressed in an Aussie-themed electric pink tracksuit, with koalas imprinted over her breasts.
Rebel Wilson paid reverence to her Australian roots as she thrashed out a bizarre musical number to kick-off the 2013 MTV Movie Awards
The actress belted out some hit songs, including Eminem’s Lose Yourself and Alicia Keys’ Girl on Fire, before stripping down to a black leather cat suit and shaking her booty.
As Rebel Wilson closed out the performance with Macklemore’s hit-song Thrift Shop, an Australian flag fell down across the stage’s back video screen.
She then stopped to take a break and wiped herself down with a towel, while a topless man sporting a six-pack brought her a bottle of water.
Rebel Wilson thanked “hunky”, before a larger shirtless man appeared on stage to bring her chocolate.
After taking a bite, Rebel Wilson took time to thank “chunky”, before introducing herself to the star-studded audience – who looked visibly stunned by what they had just witnessed.
