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Childhood pneumonia can be cured at home

Saturday, January 5, 2008

A new study by researchers of Boston University’s School of Public Health and colleagues sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows children with severe pneumonia can be effectively treated at home and do not need to be hospitalized. This finding is hugely significant for developing countries where children cannot be brought to a hospital easily or where no hospitals exist.

Per the study the change of treatment could save many children’s lives and take pressure off health systems. Every year pneumonia kills 2 million children under the age of 5. The researchers found that antibiotics given at home could significantly reduce deaths.

The group examined 2,037 children between 3 to 59 months in seven areas in Pakistan. About half of them were given antibiotics and sent home while the other ones got intravenous antibiotics in the hospital. Both groups were found to show equal progress in healing off the illness.

Current WHO guidelines recommend that pneumonia should be treated in a hospital with injectable antibiotics. With the new study there are indicators that pneumonia can be treated just as effectively at home with oral antibiotics.

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Canadian trio claim South Pole record for trans-Antarctic trip

Saturday, January 10, 2009

A trio of Canadian trekkers said Friday they completed the fastest unaided on-foot trek using the traditional route from Hercules Inlet on the Ronne Ice Shelf to the South Pole in a record time of 33 days, 23 hours and 30 minutes. Ottawa ultra-runner Ray Zahab, age 39, adventure journalist and architect Kevin Vallely, age 44, of Lynn Valley, North Vancouver and North Pole expeditionist Richard Weber, age 49, said they completed the 700-mile (1,130-kilometer) journey, at 10,000 feet altitude, finally arriving early Wednesday morning.

They endured a white-out but survived on a 7,000-calorie-a-day diet of pemmican, Gatorade drink powder, outdated salami, deep-fried bacon, cheese and butter. “If you took a cloud, wrapped it around your head and then duct-taped it, that’s what a white-out is like,” Mr Zahab, explained. The trio also suffered altitude sickness, vertigo, massive, painful blisters, and temperatures as low as minus 40. Zahab had to pull 170-lb (77-kg) sleds of equipment, traveling on foot and on snowshoes while the other two men skied.

According to ExplorersWeb.com’s founder, Tom Sjogren, the trio erased the previous record of 39 days, 7 hours and 49 minutes, which was set by American Todd Carmichael, the first American to cross Antarctica to the South Pole alone, on foot and with no assistance. He arrived at The Pole on December 21, 2008. “They have definitely broken the record,” said Sjogren. Guinness World Records spokesman, Damian Field, in London, however, said that “Guinness monitors a category for fastest unsupported trek to the South Pole, but it has no record currently listed.”

Prior to Carmichael, the record was held by Briton Hannah McKeand. In the fastest journey to the South Pole (600 nautical mile journey), she completed solo and in just 39 days, 9 hours and 33 minutes. In March 2008 she attempted to reach the North Pole alone and unsupported but had to abandon the trip after falling through the ice and badly damaging her shoulder.

Ray Zahab is a Canadian ultramarathon runner, personal trainer, and motivational speaker. He lives in Chelsea, Quebec, and is famous for his 4,300-mile (6,920-kilometer) epic run across the Sahara Desert in 2007, which was the subject of a documentary narrated by actor Matt Damon‘s “Running the Sahara.” He heads Impossible2Possible, a nonprofit organization which advocates planet protection. “I started looking at impossible places on the planet in the past year, and I said Antarctica is one of those impossible places, and if we can create an expedition, perhaps we can inspire a bunch of young people to realize they can achieve,’ Zahab said.

Richard Weber, M.S.M. (born June 9, 1959 in Edmonton, Alberta) is a world-renowned Canadian Arctic and polar adventurer, from Alcove (near Wakefield). From 1978 to 2006, he participated in, lead and organized more than 45 Arctic expeditions. Richard is the only person to have completed six full North Pole expeditions. He has therefore trekked to the North Pole more than anyone in history.

The trio were waiting out a storm before boarding a flight to Chile for Ottawa. “I’m pretty tired, actually,” said Kevin Vallely, calling from Patriot Hills, Antarctica. During the saga, Vallely was solely burdened with carrying the high-tech gear in his sled consisting of video cameras, satellite phones, hand-held computers, different kinds of solar panels, batteries and wires chargers. “Had we not brought all that stuff we probably would have got it done faster because we wouldn’t have had to carry all that weight, but then it doesn’t matter as much,” he explained. Vallely said he also intends to produce a documentary of the expedition.

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Cpr And First Aid Certification Courses For Everyone !

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Knowing the art of Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation and the basics of first aid care can be life saving in crucial situations. More people should enroll themselves with CPR certification and first aid certification to learn to handle emergency situations where immediate medical attention is not available. With a countless number of people injured daily in-depth knowledge to perform the very fundamental steps of treatment can in fact, be a life saving for the victim.If, you are stuck in a situation where the patient needs immediate medical help and every second matters, you can take charge and perform within your level of training drastically increasing the victim’s chance of survival and recovery. For instance, a patient suffering from cardiac arrest will require an immediate CPR preformed before any medical help arrives which only a CPR certification course can properly prepare you for this situation. Making his heart beat is the primal step to keep the patient surviving to receive further treatments. Similarly, a patient suffering from a severe wound causing a lot of blood loss will need the open wound to be washed, disinfected and dressed to begin with. The first aid certification teaches a common man to play the role of a substitute medical professional expertly by teaching all the necessary acts, which will stabilize the casualty’s health.However, if you feel hesitant to take up a first aid training course because you are in need of time and energy to attend elaborate classes to master the art, you can easily take up the online CPR certification to learn the methods of treatment from the comforts of home in your spare time. The course materials offer a wide range of instructions accompanied by videos, audios and images to make learning easy and simple. Online first aid certification training programs demonstrate the entire process with the proper training materials to master the techniques for CPR and First Aid. Aside, if you aspire to become a medical professional, you can take one of these first aid certification programs to lay the foundation for a brighter career prospects. These small training sessions will make you an asset in any emergency situation as you will be prepared to step in. By registering into a CPR certification program, you can be prepared to save a life in the event of an emergency. Scan through the Internet looking for websites offering such online CPR certification courses. Make sure to choose a website with nationally recognized courses that are designed with updated 2010 CPR Guidelines. You will be rewarded with a certification at the end of the course that is valid for 2 years.

Market maker Bernard L. Madoff arrested in $50B ‘giant Ponzi scheme’

Correction — January 10, 2009 This article incorrectly states that Mr Madoff attended Hofstra University Law School. His education was actually with Hofstra College, which he graduated from in 1960.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Top broker and Wall Street adviser Bernard L. Madoff, aged 70, was arrested and charged by the FBI on Thursday with a single count of securities fraud, also known as stock fraud and investment fraud. He allegedly told senior employees of his firm on Wednesday that his $50 billion business “is all just one big lie” and that it was “basically, a giant Ponzi scheme (since at least 2005).” Mr. Madoff faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $5 million. FBI agent Theodore Cacioppi said Mr. Madoff’s investment advisory business had “deceived investors by operating a securities business in which he traded and lost investor money, and then paid certain investors purported returns on investment with the principal received from other, different investors, which resulted in investors’ losses of approximately $50 billion dollars.”

The former chairman of the Nasdaq Stock Market is also the founder and primary owner of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, the closely-held market-making firm he launched in 1960. The firm is one of the top market maker firms on Wall Street. He founded his family firm with an initial investment of $5,000, after attending Hofstra University Law School. He saved the money earned from a job lifeguarding at Rockaway Beach in Queens and a part time job installing underground sprinkler systems.

A force in Wall Street trading for nearly 50 years, he has been active in the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), a self-regulatory organization for the U.S. securities industry. His firm was one of the five most active firms in the development of the NASDAQ, having been known for “paying for order flow,” in other word paying a broker to execute a customer’s order through Madoff. He argued that the payment to the broker did not alter the price that the customer received. He ran the investment advisory as a secretive business, however.

Dan Horwitz, counsel of Mr. Madoff, in an interview, said that “he is a longstanding leader in the financial-services industry with an unblemished record; he is a person of integrity; he intends to fight to get through this unfortunate event.” Mr. Madoff was released on his own recognizance on the same day of his arrest, after his 2 sons turned him in, and posting $10 million bail secured by his Manhattan apartment. Without entering any plea, the Court set the preliminary hearing for January 12.

Madoff’s hedge fund scheme may rank among the biggest fraud in history. When former energy trading giant Enron filed for bankruptcy in 2001, one of the largest at the time, it had $63.4 billion in assets. The scheme would dwarf past Ponzis, and it would further be nearly five times the telecommunication company WorldCom fraud and bankruptcy proceedings in 2002.

The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a separate civil suit on Thursday against Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities and its eponymous founder Mr. Madoff. It was docketed as “U.S. v. Madoff,” 08-MAG-02735, by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (Manhattan). SEC, New York associate director of enforcement, Andrew M. Calamari, asked the judge to issue seizure orders on the firm and its assets, and appoint a receiver. The SEC pleads, among others, that “it was an ongoing $50 billion swindle; our complaint alleges a stunning fraud that appears to be of epic proportions.” It further accused the defendant of “paying returns to certain investors out of the principal received from other, different investors” for years. Madoff’s hedge fund business had previously claimed to have served between 11 and 25 clients and had $17.1 billion in assets under management. But virtually all of the assets were missing.

United States District Court for the Southern District of New York Louis L. Stanton on Thursday appointed Lee Richards, a Manhattan lawyer, as the firm’s receiver. A hearing is set for Friday, for a ruling on the SEC’s petition to grant plenary powers to the receiver over the entire firm, and an absolute asset sequestration.

Doug Kass, president of hedge fund Seabreeze Partners Management said that “this is a major blow to confidence that is already shattered — anyone on the fence will probably try to take their money out.”

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Smoke from massive warehouse fire in Buffalo, New York USA can be seen 40 miles away

Monday, May 14, 2007

Buffalo, New York —A massive warehouse complex of at least 5 buildings caught on fire in Buffalo, New York on 111 Tonawanda Street, sending a plume of thick, jet black colored smoke into the air that could be seen as far away as 40 miles.

As of 6:40 a.m., the fire was under control, and firefighters were attempting to stop it from spreading, but could not get to the center of the fire because of severe amounts of debris. Later in the morning, the fire was extinguished.

“The fire is mostly under debris at this point. It’s under control, but it’s under some debris. We really can’t get to it. We’re just going to have to keep on pouring water on it so it doesn’t spread,” said Thomas Ashe, the fire chief for the North Buffalo based fire division who also added that at one point, at least 125 firefighters were on the scene battling the blaze. One suffered minor injures and was able to take himself to the hospital to seek medical attention.

Shortly after 8:00 p.m. as many as 3 explosions rocked the warehouse sending large mushroom clouds of thick black smoke into the air. After the third explosion, heat could be felt more than 100 feet away. The fire started in the front, one story building then quickly spread to three others, but fire fighters managed to stop the flames from spreading onto the 3 story building all the way at the back.

According to a Buffalo Police officer, who wished not to be named, the fire began at about 7:00 p.m. [Eastern time], starting as a one alarm fire. By 8:00 p.m., three fire companies were on the scene battling the blaze. Police also say that a smaller fire was reported in the same building on Saturday night, which caused little damage.

At the start of the fire, traffic was backed up nearly 4 miles on the 198 expressway going west toward the 190 Interstate and police had to shut down the Tonawanda street exit because the road is too close to the fire.

At one point, traffic on the 198 was moving so slow, at least a dozen people were seen getting out of their cars and walking down the expressway to watch the fire. That prompted as many as 10 police cars to be dispatched to the scene to force individuals back into their cars and close off one of the 2 lanes on the westbound side.

One woman, who wished not to be named as she is close to the owner of the warehouse, said the building is filled with “classic cars, forklifts, and money” and that owner “does not have insurance” coverage on the property. The building is not considered abandoned, but firefighters said that it is vacant.

Officials in Fort Erie, Ontario were also swamped with calls to fire departments when the wind blew the smoke over the Niagra River and into Canada.

It is not known what caused the fire, but a car is suspected to have caught on fire and there are reports from police and hazmat crews, that there were also large barrels of diesel fuel being stored in one building. Firefighters say the cause of the blaze is being treated as “suspicious.” The ATF is investigating the fire and will bring dogs in to search the debris.

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Get Immediate Loans Online For Autos: Bad Credit Auto Loan Tips

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By Larry Donaldson

Anybody who has spent time looking for the right auto loan knows that the going is not always easy. This is especially true if you have a bad credit score. Looking for an auto loan under these conditions can feel like looking for a job during the height of the Great Depression: you invest a lot of time but get very little in return.

However, given that owning a car is such a central part of what it means to be a consumer in today’s world, it does not make sense to just give up.

The good news is that there is a car out there for everybody. Everyone deserves a car of their own: everyone needs to be able to get to work, visit with friends, go shopping, and go on vacations – regardless of credit.

The Need for a Car Loan Quickly

When you need a car loan fast, what is the best approach? As we all learned when we were kids: anything worth doing is worth doing right. And, haste makes waste. (etc.). Well, both of these sayings are actually true. And, all the more so when you are up against the challenge of a bad credit score.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJqlqZ13qeE[/youtube]

Still, if you know how to take the proper steps, you can find an immediate car loan online even if you have bad credit.

Why Your Credit Score Matters for Getting Funded

It is important to get a grasp of how just important your credit score is for getting your auto loan funded. You see, the vast majority of lenders look at precisely that when deciding whether to extend you a loan. In fact, it is as if you have a big sign over your head that says, “My credit score is XYZ.”

If that number is above 700, you are in good shape. If it is above 600, you will get funded, but it may not be at the interest rate you want. If your FICO score is below 600, you may not get a loan at all when approaching these lenders.

Get Immediate Loans Online for Autos: Bad Credit Auto Loans

Here are 5 tips for how to get funded immediately for an auto loan, even if you have poor credit:

1. Research your FICO score first: Even though you have a bad credit score, it is still a smart idea to find out exactly what your score is at the moment. Be sure to research your score with all three of the Big 3 bureaus.

2. Choose a reasonably-priced car: Next, make sure you choose a car to purchase that is as low-priced as possible. The lower the price, the easier it will be to get approved for a loan.

3. Save up as much down-payment as possible: The more money you can put down for your purchase, the less you need to borrow.

4. Get a list of bad credit auto loan lenders: Next, it is important to research and find those lenders who advertise that they work well with bad credit individuals. These lenders are out there and they want your business.

5. Reject the first offer you get from each lender: Once you start applying to these bad credit lenders, you are going to want to reject the first offer from each. Why? They can almost always do better than what they first offer you.

Follow these 5 tips to get an immediate loan online for bad credit auto loans.

About the Author: Get a list of bad credit auto lenders in your area at: Bad Credit Auto Loans.

Source: isnare.com

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CFPB records fewer complaints in early days of US government shutdown

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Unlike some parts of the US Federal Government, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has been open during the federal government shutdown and recording a record-low number of complaints submitted by consumers against mortgage companies, credit card companies, student loan providers, banks, money transfer providers, companies who provide credit reports, and other companies providing consumer loans.

With data not available for yesterday, the first four days of the shutdown had daily totals of 37, 16, 13, and 3 complaints. With the exceptions of September 29 with 15 complaints and September 28 with 23, it is the lowest daily total since March 16 of this year when 36 total complaints were recorded and February 23 of this year with 14. The total complaints are also down from the same dates last year, when the total complaints per day for the first four days of October 2012 were 272, 298, 288, and 225.

Of the 69 filed complaints recorded so far this month, 27 were complaints about mortgage companies, 21 were about bank accounts and 10 were about credit card companies. 40% of credit card companies complaints, 42.9% of bank account complaints and 48.1% of mortgage complaints are currently listed as still in progress. Most of the rest have been closed with an explanation.

Bank of America leads all companies in terms of total complaints filed this month with 9. Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC andJPMorgan Chase have 7 complaints each. Ally Bank, Sovereign Bank, and Wells Fargo have 4 each. Flagstar Bankand Equifax have 3 each. Citibank, Nationstar Mortgage, TD Bank, Amex, and FirstMerit Bank have 2 complaints each. 18 financial services companies have 1 complaint each filed against them.

During the government shutdown, some CFPB staff have voiced their opinions on Twitter. Dan Munz, deputy assistant director for consumer engagement at the CFPB, tweeted, “Boy, shutdown week has really created a sudden bumper crop of amateur federal management experts.”; “Also, seems like Boehner is singlehandedly undoing whatever progress he’d made in portraying this as a Dem [Democratic Party] shutdown.”; and “Basically, there’s now a strong incentive to fill legislation with minor symbolic things you can bargain away later to protect the core.”

The agency has been able to stay open during the government shutdown because it is funded by the Federal Reserve. According to Amanda Terkel at the Huffington Post, Republican members of the United States House of Representatives have put closing the CFPB on their wish list of items in negotiating for a new debt ceiling limit. Party members have previously stalled the appointment of Richard Cordray as the CFPB boss as a way of hindering it from engaging in oversight of financial organizations in the the US.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=CFPB_records_fewer_complaints_in_early_days_of_US_government_shutdown&oldid=2155518”

Many nations offer material aid to hurricane victims; Bush refuses to accept

Saturday, September 3, 2005

Over twenty five nations have offered aid in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. In particular, France has offered the use of its resources in the Caribbean sea, including 2 navy ships, 1 navy hospital, 8 planes, 600 tents, 1000 beds, and rescuers. President George W. Bush has refused such material aid to the hurricane’s victims, although cash donations will be accepted. He explained his reasons to ABC News:

I’m not expecting much from foreign nations because we hadn’t asked for it. I do expect a lot of sympathy and perhaps some will send cash dollars. But this country’s going to rise up and take care of it. You know, we would love help, but we’re going to take care of our own business as well, and there’s no doubt in my mind we’ll succeed. And there’s no doubt in my mind, as I sit here talking to you, that New Orleans is going to rise up again as a great city.

A few of these nations, such as Venezuela and Cuba, are disliked by the administration, but the majority are considered allies of the United States. Venezuela’s Citgo Petroleum Corp. pledged a $1 million donation for hurricane aid. Cuba refused U.S. aid following Hurricane Dennis. In order to reduce the side effects of hurricane Katrina, Japan, Venezuela, and most EU countries offer to provide oil reserves to the U.S.

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A Wholesale Auto Glass Chula Vista Supplier Can Fix Your Windshield

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There you are, minding your own business as you defensively drive down the highway when somebody’s car flips a rock directly at your windshield. You hear the classic pop or click and search your windshield to see where the rock hit. If it is not directly in front of you, it can be very easy to simply tell yourself that you will have it repaired soon. Soon turns into later or never, and you get so used to having that little chip in the windshield that you really don’t even remember it is there. A crack may gradually appear and spread just a little over time and if you notice it, you tell yourself that as soon as it is three inches long, you will have it fixed. The next thing you know, the crack has spread the entire width of your windshield and you suddenly need to replace it rather than to simply repair it. Whether you need to repair or replace your windshield, the place to go is your local wholesale auto glass Chula Vista supplier.

In fact, your wholesale auto glass Chula Vista supplier can determine whether the small crack can be repaired or whether the windshield needs to be replaced. By visiting the repair shop as soon as possible after noticing the chip, you can usually avoid the expense of replacement and get an expert repair done. Sometimes, you will find that a rock chip spreads immediately, and there is nothing you can do but to have the windshield completely replaced. Working with a professional that knows whether or not you only need a repair can help you feel confident that your windshield is at full strength.

Even if the crack doesn’t spread quickly, it is weakening the integrity of the windshield. Your windshield is one of the major lines of defense in keeping your car from being crushed when it is involved in an accident. It is also a major factor in keeping passengers in the car. Having a windshield properly installed by your wholesale auto glass Chula Vista supplier can ensure that the airbags on the passenger’s side are able to properly deploy in case of an impact. As you can see, your windshield plays a very important part in the overall safety of your vehicle. Keeping it in good repair should be very high on your auto maintenance list of things to do.

Prince William marries Kate Middleton—live updates

Friday, April 29, 2011

Prince William of Wales, the second in line to the British throne, and Kate Middleton will today be married at Westminster Abbey in London. Thousands of people are expected to line the streets of the city as the couple travel through the capital to the Abbey, and then back to Buckingham Palace, and millions are thought to be planning to watch the event on television around the world. Wikinews will be following the royal wedding as it happens on this live blog; you will be able to contact us with your thoughts throughout the day on the comments page, on our Twitter page, or on Facebook.File:William and Kate thumbnail.jpg

Update: 6:25 A.M. (UTC)

Good morning and welcome to live updates of the royal wedding of Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton. Wikinews will be following the events throughout the day and you can contact us with your opinions as the wedding progresses either on our website, or on Twitter or Facebook. The wedding service will begin later this morning, and William and Kate's family will be in attendance at the Abbey. After the service the royal couple will travel to Buckingham Palace for the wedding reception, and the bride, groom, and both their families including Elizabeth II, will appear on the balcony.

600,000 people are expected to be in London today to celebrate the marriage, and it is thought many millions will watch it around the world on television. Several hundred people have been camping along the route the couple will take in a hope of seeing the newlyweds. 1,900 people have been invited to attend the ceremony inside the Abbey, including 50 foreign state heads. Kate yesterday took part in a final rehearsal with the best man, Prince Harry, and the pageboys and bridesmaids, yesterday, which William did not attend. William and Kate last night said in a message in the wedding programme that they had been “incredibly moved” by the support for their marriage. The message said,

“We are both so delighted that you are able to join us in celebrating what we hope will be one of the happiest days of our lives. The affection shown to us by so many people during our engagement has been incredibly moving, and has touched us both deeply. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone most sincerely for their kindness.”

Rail companies have said they expect 400,000 people to travel to the capital by train this morning, but insist they will be able to handle the significantly increased passenger numbers. Thousands of international journalists have also come to London, and will be reporting from specially constructed news studios around the capital. Police officials at Scotland Yard raided numerous properties—occupied, it was reported, by squatters—yesterday because of the wedding, but MPs seized on the raids as “disproportionate”. The weather in London is expected to begin as cloudy and dry, and brighten throughout the morning. Forecasters have warned of a 30 percent risk of rain at the time when William and Kate leave the Abbey after the ceremony, and an even greater risk of heavy showers towards the end of the day.

Update: 6:40 A.M. (UTC)

One of the biggest questions around the Abbey right now is what dress Kate will be wearing. It'll only be revealed when she leaves her hotel near Buckingham Palace later this morning—9:51 UTC to be precise—but there have already been some interesting developments. British newspaper The Telegraph has reports that a woman, disguised by a large headpiece, jumped out of her car and into the hotel yesterday evening—their are suspicions she might be the designer. She was apparently wearing several clothes favoured by Sarah Burton, the late Alexander McQueen's creative director. During the ceremony, Kate will pledge to "love, comfort, honour and keep" her husband, but not to "obey" him.

Counterterrorism police are reportedly now carrying out their final checks before the festivities get underway. Three people were arrested in Brockley, London, last night over allegations they were planning to behead effigies on the streets of London today. A guillotine was allegedly seized in a raid; the suspects remain in custody this morning. The Metropolitan Police said they had been detained on “suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance and breach of the peace”. A spokesperson for the force said they were believed to be “planning to attend the royal wedding.”

Update: 7:10 A.M. (UTC)

We're just getting some breaking news from Buckingham Palace. After the wedding, William will be given the titles Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus; Kate will become the Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn and Baroness Carrickfergus.

Update: 7:50 A.M. (UTC)

Crowds are continuing to gather in London as the guests begin to arrive at the Abbey, and television images are now coming from inside the building in Westminister for the first time since it was transformed for the wedding. A red carpet now runs from the entrance to the alter and it is lined with field maple trees—it is understood Kate wanted to link the service with nature.

For a bit of background, here’s the story so far. William was educated at Eton, and Kate at Marlborough College, during which time Princess Diana—William’s mother—was killed in a car crash in Paris, while William was aged 15. The couple met at University of St Andrews, and moved in with each other in a flat on a quiet street. In 2004, the pair were pictured skiing in Switzerland, before their first kiss in public two years later. But in 2007, the couple split—William began training as an Army officer and it was thought the pressures of royal life began to strain the pair. “It’s a surprise, because it had seemed very stable and very steady,” BBC journalist Nicholas Witchell reported at the time. But several months later, they were back together again.

Last year, William was posted as a search and rescue helicopter pilot in Anglesey, Wales, and Kate joined him on the island, before their engagement was announced in November. “We are both very, very happy,” William said, and Middleton said marriage into the Royal Family was a “daunting prospect,” but, she added, “hopefully I’ll take it in my stride.” And today, they are to be married. The preparations have been continuing for weeks, and the armed forces have been practicing maneuvers they will be performing on London’s streets this morning, as is shown in the images below.

The armed forces prepare for the royal wedding in London. Image: John Pannell.

Update: 9:00 A.M. (UTC)

1,900 guests will be in the Abbey for the ceremony today, including Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha Cameron, along with other senior British politicians including William Hague, Nick Clegg, and George Osborne. The opposition leader Ed Miliband has also been invited. Senior defence officials, representatives from 50 countries—including Denmark, Greece, Malaysia, Spain, Abu Dhabi, Australia and New Zealand—have also been invited. Celebrities including David Beckham and Victoria Beckham, Rowan Atkinson, Ian Thorpe and Gareth Thomas, will also be in attendance.

But not all those who were invited are going to be attending the wedding. The Syrian ambassador’s invitation was withdrawn this week as the government in the country continues to crack down on a popular uprising, and many protesters are reported to have been killed by official forces. Sami Khiyami said he was “embarrassed” by the decision but understood it. He said the withdrawal of the invite would not damage relations between Britain and Syria. “I find it a bit embarrassing but I don’t consider it a matter that would jeopardise any ongoing relations and discussions with the British government,” he said. “If it wasn’t for the importance of the event I wouldn’t have thought of it.”

The Bahraini crown prince voluntarily declined his invitation to the wedding earlier this week amid criticism over the government’s crackdown on protesters in the country. Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa said he had reached his “considered decision” with “deep regret”. Human rights groups had demanded he not attend the event after government forces killed scores of demonstrators. “The invitations are a massive misjudgement by the monarch,” one human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell, said. “They show the Queen is out of touch with the humanitarian values of modern, liberal Britain. She’s putting royalty before human rights. The guest list displays a shocking insensitivity to the suffering of people who have been persecuted.”

Update: 9:30 A.M. (UTC)

William, accompanied by Prince Harry, has arrived at Westminster Abbey flanked by police guards. They were driven from Clarence House to the Abbey in Westminster to cheers from the crowds lining the route, many of whom were waving the Union Flag. William, dressed in the red uniform of Colonel in the Irish Guards arrived at the venue for the ceremony to the tolling of the bells in celebration. The Middleton family—not including the bride—are now on their way to the Abbey in a car escorted by a police motorcycle guard. Carole Middleton, the bride's mother, is reported to be wearing a sky blue dress designed by Catherine Walker. Members of the royal family are now travelling from Buckingham Palace in minivans, which are now heading up the Pall Mall towards the Abbey.

Update: 9:50 A.M. (UTC)

Elizabeth II, dressed in yellow, is now being driven to the Abbey to cheers from the crowds lining the streets. Kate Middleton is expected to leave her hotel in London in a few minutes. In some news just coming through the wires, Wikinews understands a suspicious vehicle has been found near the hotel where Kate is preparing for the wedding. Hundreds of members of the public were evacuated from the area and the road was closed. One police officer said: "We think the car might contain a bomb". We'll have more on this as we get it.

Update: 10:07 A.M. (UTC)

Kate Middleton has arrived at Westminster Abbey in a dress which we are now able to confirm was designed by Sarah Burton. She is now walking down the aisle, hand-in-hand with her father, followed closely by the bridesmaids and pageboys. William and Harry are stood at the front.

Update: 10:20 A.M. (UTC)

William and Kate are now saying their wedding vows. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, asked if anyone knew of any lawful reason why they should not be married, and there was silence. Kate lifted her wedding veil as she reached the altar; according to one report William told her: "You look beautiful."

Update: 10:23 A.M. (UTC)

The Archbishop pronounces them man and wife.

Update: 10:33 A.M. (UTC)

The choir is now singing a piece composed especially for this wedding by John Rutter. Kate's brother, James Middleton, has just given a reading in a clear, strong voice. "Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly," he read. During the reading William and Kate continued to smile at one and other.

Update: 10:53 A.M. (UTC)

The ceremony is continuing, and the congregation are now singing "Jerusalem". After an address from the Bishop of London, the choir sung a piece by Paul Mealor, who has said the piece was inspired by "the sixth century Christian hymn that was normally sung at the service for the washing of the feet on Maundy Thursday." They then read the Lord's prayer.

Update: 11:10 A.M. (UTC)

Having signed the legal documents which confirm their marriage, the couple walk up the aisle, hand-in-hand, and outside to the open-topped carriage which will take them to Buckingham Palace.

Update: 11:17 A.M. (UTC)

Escorted by members of the household cavalry, the newlyweds travel through the streets of London on the 1902 State Landau. The crowds cheer a and wave the Union Flag as the couple pass down Whitehall. Despite fears, the rain appears to have held off and the day remains sunny.

Update: 11:29 A.M. (UTC)

William and Kate have arrived at Buckingham Palace where they will have official photographs taken before they emerge onto the balcony in approximately one hour.

Update: 11:44 A.M. (UTC)

A journalist who was inside the Abbey as the wedding took place has described the service as "very joyous". He said,

“It went extremely well, lots of colour and scarlet uniforms and a spirited service from the Bishop of London. The thing that struck me was the change in the life of Kate Middleton and her parents. Some of her expressions during the services seem to show she knew this, the nervousness. There was a great sense of relief afterwards.”

Update: 12:23 P.M. (UTC)

Thousands of people are now heading down the Pall Mall for Buckingham Palace, where Kate and William will emerge onto the balcony in about five minutes.

Update: 12:28 P.M. (UTC)

William and Kate step onto the famous balcony for the first time as a married couple to a crowd of thousands—and make the famous kiss. They are followed by Elizabeth II, and other members of the royal family and the Middleton family, onto the balcony. Down below, the onlookers wave Union Flags and cheer the newlyweds.

Update: 12:49 P.M. (UTC)

A Lancaster bomber, flanked by a Hawker Hurricane and a Supermarine Spitfire, have flown over Buckingham Palace in a tribute to the Battle of Britain. They were quickly followed by two Eurofighter Typhoon fighters and two Panavia Tornado.

Update: 01:02 P.M. (UTC)

Kate's dress was one of the most anticipated parts of the wedding, and everyone watching was kept in the dark until the last minute. As she stepped from the car and into the Abbey, it was announced that the designer was Sarah Burton, who worked as the creative director for the late Alexander McQueen. In a statement this afternoon, she said,

“It has been the experience of a lifetime to work with Catherine Middleton to create her wedding dress, and I have enjoyed every moment of it. It was such an incredible honour to be asked, and I am so proud of what we and the Alexander McQueen team have created. I am delighted that the dress represents the best of British craftsmanship.”

Burton had continuously denied that she was the dress designer—until today. It was made at Hampton Court, and as Kate travelled from her hotel to the Abbey, the dress attracted much criticism, and it has already been praised by fashion designers. Burton added:

“Catherine looked absolutely stunning today, and the team at Alexander McQueen are very proud of what we have created. The dress was just one component of a spectacular day, and I do not think it is appropriate to comment any further beyond saying that I personally am very grateful and honoured to have been given the opportunity to work on this project.”

Update: 01:30 P.M. (UTC)

Elizabeth II is now hosting a lunch reception at Buckingham Palace, where 10,000 canapes will be served alongside the wedding cake—which has been kept just as secret as the dress. It has now emerged it is made up of 17 individual fruit cakes, which form eight tiers. Decorated with white icing and cream, it boasts more than 900 individually iced flowers. Guests have also begun to describe the wedding. "Like everybody in England I wish them all the very best," said George Tupou V, the king of Tonga, who was in the Abbey during the ceremony. "I think this wedding marks a page in England's ancient and distinguished history. It's a glorious day for England, I think."

Update: 02:07 P.M. (UTC)

We now have a bit more on that bomb threat near the hotel where Kate was staying. Police initially cordoned off an area near the hotel after finding a suspicious vehicle, and a hundreds of people—from members of the public to journalists and photographers—were evacuated. "Clear the area immediately for your own safety," police officers shouted at the crowd. Two minutes after the area was cordoned off the dog squad arrived. One police source confirmed there were fears the vehicle, a blue Volkswagen estate, was a car bomb. Ten minutes later, officers removed the blockades, and allowed people back into the area. There's been no word yet from the Metropolitan Police as to what happened, and whether the car posed any threat to the public. We'll bring you any official statement as soon as we get it.

Paddy Harverson, the official spokesperson for the royal couple, has said that although the two will appear in public over the next few months, Kate will need to adjust to life in the family. “Prince William is taking the lead on this and he has said that he wants Catherine to be given the time and space to grow into the role,” he said. Meanwhile, the mood seems to be dampening on the Pall Mall—which, it turns out—might not have been the best place to see the kiss on the balcony. Much of the crowd appears to blame it on police crowd control tactics, who put up barriers in poorly chosen locations. “We might as well see it in a pub,” said one woman. “We’ll just have to imbibe the atmosphere.”

Update: 03:00 P.M. (UTC)

William and Kate have left Buckingham Palace in an old Aston Martin, with the numberplate JU5T WED. William—is unexpectedly driving himself and his new wife—with no security staff in the vehicle. As the car left the gates for Clarence House, just down the road, a Royal Air Force Sea King helicopter—similar to the aircraft William flies as his job as a search and rescue pilot—flew overhead. The Metropolitan Police are now estimating as many as one million people were in London today to see the wedding procession.

Update: 03:29 P.M. (UTC)

There's been some intense debate on the comments page over why the wedding should be such a major event. One reader said they would "never understand the world's obsession with these affairs" when armed forces servicemen and servicewomen were "dying around the globe, and we are all swooning over some tart's dress." One commenter said British taxpayers should not be forced to pay for the "lavish" event:

“Hundreds of thousands of people flocking to London today? That should help prop up the British economy… maybe that would offset the costs of such an unnecessarily lavish event?”

Another reader said the coverage had gone too far. “Don’t get me wrong,” they said, “I understand that the wedding of any head-of-state (or equivalent) will make the news, but this week long non-stop coverage is simply insane.” If you have something to say about the wedding, please do get in touch and join the debate on the comments page, or on our Twitter page or Facebook.

Update: 04:04 P.M. (UTC)

David Cameron, the Prime Minister, has given his thoughts on the ceremony, which he attended with his wife Samantha. Singing the hymn "Jerusalem", he said, it felt like "the roof was going to lift off—there's no greater country and better place to be than right here, right now". He added, "Although it was a grand occasion, that was a family wedding moment. It was incredibly intimate and moving."

Update: 04:26 P.M. (UTC)

A man was detained earlier under the terrorism act today and then later released without charge after being spotted by police taking what one report described as "suspicious photographs" on Whitehall. It is understood he was taking photographs of police officers and transport locations, and was subsequently arrested. Two horses of the cavalry also went awry today after their riders fell off. Although one of the horses returned to its trailer at the cavalry base, the other ran wild before being stopped by a police officer. Meanwhile, we've managed to get a photograph of William and Kate standing on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, flanked by the royal family on the right and Kate's family on the left.

Update: 05:45 P.M. (UTC)

Approximately 300 close family and friends of the newlywed royal couple will be arriving at Buckingham Palace later this evening for a private party. For the members of the public partying and celebrating across the country, they can keep on going for three days because Monday is the May day bank holiday. Meanwhile, a verger has been caught cartwheeling down the aisle at Westminster Abbey after the guests had left; a spokesperson for the Abbey told reporters he would not be getting into any trouble, and said he "was very pleased the service had gone according to plan, and was expressing his exuberance".

That’s it for our coverage of the celebrations today. Thanks to all those who joined the debate on our comments page; it looks like the debate over monarchic societies may continue for a while yet. To all those who followed our coverage today, we also thank you. Goodnight.

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