Behold the Beauty: A Sublime Sunrise and a Tragedy
More than 30 years later, in 1898, Brett married that Anglesey sunrise of reds, pinks, and purples with a dark stormy sea, which he had painted in the summer of 1867, and created the painting 'Christmas Morning 1866.' The tremendous beauty and power of the dazzling sunrise that Brett set against the violent sea almost overshadows the tragic subject of the painting: the sinking of SS London.
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Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
NHS paramedic recalls ‘heartbreaking' moment he put children into body bags in Gaza
A British paramedic has recounted the "heartbreaking" moment he was forced to place two deceased children into body bags shortly after his arrival in Gaza. Sam Sears, 44, from Kettering, Northamptonshire, described his three-week deployment with frontline charity UK-Med as a "conveyor belt of carnage", dealing with a "steady stream" of patients suffering from blast, shrapnel, and gunshot wounds. Mr Sears explained that he was immediately thrust into a mass casualty incident upon landing, where two children, aged nine and 11, succumbed to blast injuries. He stated: "I was tasked with moving the two deceased children out the way to make space for other casualties coming in. I put the children in body bags and zipped them up." 'In the UK, I've had to deal with a number of deceased children, but the difference was I'm never involved with putting them in a body bag. It's normally a very calm, slow situation, allowing parents time to grieve. 'So it was particularly heartbreaking putting a child in a body bag, seeing their face for the last time, then moving them out of the way so we could treat more people. 'Part of me felt guilty that there was no dignity for them because the emergency situation meant it was a case of 'they are dead, let's get them out of the way to free the beds'. 'But there was simply no alternative because with such a high volume of casualties, we had to focus on people we might be able to save.' Mr Sears, a paramedic with East Midlands Ambulance Service, who has also carried out humanitarian work in other countries, said that Gaza is like the Ukraine conflict or the earthquake in Turkey 'times one thousand'. He told of seeing a boy, aged about eight, who was 'lifeless behind the eyes – just numb' after losing his whole family in an explosion. The paramedic said a 16-year-old boy was left paralysed and needing amputation after suffering blast and shrapnel wounds and that his 18-year-old brother wept when told he would now have to care for him alone. He also told of seeing more pregnant women and newborn babies suffering severe malnutrition because the mothers lacked the nutrients to breastfeed. Mr Sears, who returned to the UK on July 31, added: 'It might sound weird, but I am keen to return to Gaza. What keeps you going is that you really are making a difference and saving lives. 'That first night, another child came in with shrapnel embedded in their stomach and bleeding internally. I was personally convinced they would die, but we got him to surgery within 20 minutes. 'Next day when I saw them they were recovering well and the prognosis was really good. Gaza's the hardest thing I've ever done but moments like that keep you going. We have saved that child's life.' Some £19 million of funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has enabled UK-Med to treat more than 500,000 patients at the two UK Government emergency field hospitals in Gaza. The conflict in Gaza began when Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7 2023, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, which does not distinguish between militants and civilians and operates under the Hamas government. Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to recognise a Palestinian state by September unless Israel meets a series of conditions towards ending the conflict in Gaza. The Prime Minister also urged Hamas to disarm, release its remaining Israeli hostages, and accept it will have no part in the future governance of Gaza. On Saturday, the UK announced another £8.5 million for UN aid to Gaza. The money, to be delivered through the UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), is part of a £101 million UK commitment to the Occupied Palestinian Territories this year.
Cosmopolitan
2 days ago
- Cosmopolitan
These 35 surnames have been identified as having royal connections: See if yours is on the list
Hear ye, hear ye! If you've ever felt that there's just a certain... regal energy to you, or that you'd have made a really good king or queen, or at least a decent noblewoman, it turns out there could be a reason behind that. The DNA-testing and family tree site MyHeritage has identified a list of 35 surnames that have strong royal connections to them, and some are actually pretty common. While it doesn't mean you're next in line for the throne if you have one of the below surnames, it could give an indicator that somewhere in your family tree there's a person (or persons!) of note with connections to the crown. Which is pretty exciting, wouldn't you say? And certainly worth digging into. Here's the list of surnames that could mean you're distantly relate to Prince William, Henry VII or someone else who has rocked a crown in their daily life/has a bunch of land/fancy title. A fairly obvious one, this has been the British royal family's surname since 1917 (prior to that it was the more German-sounding Saxe-Coburg-Gotha). The dynasty that brought us Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, two of the most famous British monarchs. A Scottish family who ruled England and Scotland during the 16th and 17th century. Not a super common surname, but one linked to the royal house that spawned Richard III. A French dynasty who were in charge between 987 and 1,328. The surname of Princess Diana, whose brother, Charles, is the ninth Earl Spencer. More than a biscuit and a type of booze, this European line saw rulers of France, Spain and beyond descend from it. A big-shot family during the Holy Roman Empire, just FYI. British royals like George I and Queen Victoria descended from this line. A branch of the Capet ruling house in France. Remember studying the Wars of the Roses in school? The Lancaster branch, descended from the Plantagenets, went up agains the House of York, also Plantagenet descendants, to bid for the crown during 1455 and 1487. Ultimately, the Tudor victory united the two factions. See above for more details. A great Scottish surname, linked to Robert the Bruce, a king viewed as a Scottish hero for restore the kingdom to an independent state and for winning on the battlefield. Rick will be buzzing! This noble surname has links to English peerage. This surname has connections to medieval nobility and landowners in both Ireland and England. Remember that French royal house we mentioned earlier, Valois? This is a spin-off branch. This powerful Italian family bore not only royalty but popes too. Double win! Not just the name of a posh London hotel, but also a family that once dominated swathes of France and Italy. Erm, can somebody get Gary on the phone? Not only is this surname connected to footballing royalty, but the Nevilles were a powerful English noble family during the medieval period. Another boujee English family who made major waves in British history. Another aristocratic family in England, this lot were Lords of the Manor of Eardisley for 500 years. Another wealthy and well-regarded English family, owning the title of Duke of Norfolk, and who produced one of Henry the VIII's wives, Catherine (number five of six). Jane Seymour was the third wife of Henry VIII, who produced his only male heir, Edward. The names is linked to the Dukedom of Somerset. History buffs will know the twisted tale of Lady Jane Grey, who was Queen for a mere nine days in July 1553, before being booted out by Mary I. This well-regarded English family has produced many an aristocrat, including Earls and Countesses of Essex. Orange-Nassau This is the Dutch royal family's surname – and is why orange-coloured carrots grew in popularity during the 17th century, as farmers tried to grow the brightest ones possible as a tribute to their monarch. Oldenburg This royal house encompasses members of the current Danish royal family. Glucksburg An offshoot of the Oldenburg clan, Glucksburg is also connected with both Danish and Norwegian royalty. Romanov The surname of the last imperial dynasty to rule over Russia. A name that can be traced all the way back to the medieval era, this family has a string of Earls of Arundel in its bloodline. The Russell family bore the Dukes of Bedford. With both English and French royal links, if this is your surname you're in with a double shot of being regal. Congrats! The Dukes of Rutland descend from the Manners family tree. The Cavendish family still holds the title of Duke of Devonshire. The current Duke is Peregrine Cavendish, who is the twelfth to bare the title having inherited it in 2004. This noble family name still holds the the Earldom of Shrewsbury. The current Earl of Shrewsbury is the casually named Charles Henry John Benedict Crofton Chetwynd Chetwynd-Talbot. Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC's Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women's Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Boston Globe
Today in History: Devastating Maui wildfires
In 1775, 250 years ago, a skirmish between a British warship and Gloucester citizens unfolded after the HMS Falcon chased two rebel schooners toward Cape Ann. After one of the schooners became grounded in the harbor, British sailors attempted to seize it. Armed mostly with only muskets, residents raced to the shore and attacked the British, who eventually surrendered on the grounded schooner. Several British sailors were taken prisoner and other Americans who had been forcibly conscripted were freed. In 1814, during the War of 1812, peace talks between the US and Britain began in Ghent, Belgium. Advertisement In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte set sail for St. Helena to spend the remainder of his days in exile. In 1876, Thomas Edison received a patent for his electric pen — the forerunner of the mimeograph machine. In 1908, Wilbur Wright made the Wright Brothers' first public flying demonstration at Le Mans racecourse in France. In 1911, President William Howard Taft signed a measure raising the number of US representatives from 391 to 433, effective with the next Congress, with a proviso to add two more when New Mexico and Arizona became states. In 1954, The Boston Globe announced the opening of the first elevated expressway in the United States. Hailed as an engineering marvel and a model of urban planning, the Central Artery incorporated the latest technology, including on and off ramps that could melt snow. Reporters predicted that a 25-minute commute would be reduced to a mere two minutes. It would eventually become one of the most gridlocked expanses of pavement in the United States. In 1963, Britain's 'Great Train Robbery' occurred as thieves made off with £2.6 million in banknotes. In 1969, photographer Iain Macmillan took the iconic photo of The Beatles that would appear on the cover of their album 'Abbey Road.' In 1974, President Richard Nixon, facing damaging new revelations in the Watergate scandal, announced he would resign the following day. In 1988, Chicago's Wrigley Field hosted its first-ever night baseball game; the contest between the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies would be rained out in the fourth inning. Advertisement In 1992, the Queen Elizabeth II ran aground off the Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts, ripping a 74-foot gash in its double hull. Ferry boats the next day evacuated 1,815 passengers and most of 1,000 crew members before the 963-foot boat -- one of the world's last luxury liners -- steamed to Boston for repairs. In 2000, the wreckage of the Confederate submarine, H.L. Hunley, which sank in 1864 after attacking the Union ship Housatonic, was recovered off the South Carolina coast and returned to port. In 2009, Sonia Sotomayor was sworn in as the US Supreme Court's first Hispanic and third female justice. In 2022, FBI agents executed a search warrant at the residence of former president Trump, located at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla.; over 13,000 government documents, including 103 classified documents, were seized. In 2023, a series of wind-driven wildfires broke out on the Hawaiian island of Maui, destroying the town of Lahaina and killing more than 100 people.
