Stephen Hawking displayed a biting sense of humor ‘as vast as the universe’

In this file photo taken on August 12, 2009, Stephen Hawking receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from US President Barack Obama during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House on August 12, 2009. Renowned British physicist Stephen Hawking has died at age 76, a family spokesman said Wednesday, March 14, 2018.

Five East River helicopter crash victims drowned

Revealed: Five victims in East River helicopter crash DROWNED to death after they became trapped upside down underwater by their safety harnesses New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death for all five victims was accidental drowning The victims have been identified as Trevor Cadigan and Brian McDaniel, 26, Carla Vallejos Blanco, Daniel Thompson, 34, and Tristan Hill, 29 The five passengers on board the helicopter that plunged into the East River on Sunday drowned to death after finding themselves trapped upside down by their harnesses. The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on Tuesday ruled that the cause of death for all five victims was accidental drowning.

The Latest: UK lawmaker suspects Russian attack in spy case

Skripal, a former Russian spy is in critical co... . Washington Gov. Jay Inslee speaks after signing a bill Monday, March 5, 2018, in Olympia, Wash., that makes Washington the first state to set up its own net-neutrality requirements in response to the Federal Communications Com... Setting up a likely legal fight with the Trump administration, Washington has become the first state to enact its own net-neutrality requirements.

Unmanned Surface Vehicles, Anti-Submarine Warfare and Mine…

SMi reports: Europe's leading conference on maritime robotic systems will discuss Unmanned Surface Vehicles, Anti-Submarine Warfare and Mine Countermeasures London, United Kingdom, March 04, 2018 -- -- Europe's leading conference on maritime robotic systems will take place on 16th and 17th May in London. Unmanned Maritime Systems 2018 promises to provide a valuable forum for anyone looking to enhance their unmanned capability.

Rain, history, Mellons: A visit to northern Ireland’s lake lands rich in texture

This Feb. 10, 1929, file photo, shows Andrew W. Mellon, secretary of the United States Treasury in Washington, D.C. The Mellons' family homestead in Northern Ireland is a centerpiece of the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh. The park tells the stories of migrants who left the area for a better life in the New World.

Man denies attempted murder of Taunton war veteran Jim Booth

TRIAL: Jim Booth, 96, of Gipsy Lane, was viciously attacked with a claw hammer at his home on November 25. A 39-YEAR-OLD man has pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder a D-Day veteran in his home. Joseph Isaacs appeared at Taunton Crown Court by video link to deny the charge, relating to an attack on Jim Booth, 96, in Gipsy Lane, Taunton, on November 22. Royal Navy veteran Mr Booth was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital in a potentially life-threatening condition following an incident, which is alleged to have involved a hammer.

Ukrainian pair jailed for bid to smuggle six immigrants into UK

The yacht the Tazik after it was intercepted by a Border Force coastal patrol vessel near Hayling Island, Hampshire A former ballet dancer and a chef have been jailed for attempting to smuggle six Ukrainians into the UK on board a yacht. Vladyslav Kurtoglu, 50, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment at Portsmouth Crown Court after being convicted of assisting unlawful immigration.

Corbyn Vows to Stop Hostile Bids and Humble the City of London

Jeremy Corbyn pledged that a Labour government would make it harder for asset strippers to take over U.K. companies while vowing to make finance the "servants of industry not the masters of us all." While his full-throttle attacks on bankers have been become familiar to the City of London, his prescription for blocking hostile takeovers is specific and likely to rattle the world of business.

Thomas Heatherwick, Architecture’s Showman

The Vessel, in Hudson Yards, has a hundred and fifty-four staircases and eighty landings. Heatherwick has said that, at a site where there is nothing else to commemorate, the Vessel can be a "monument to us."

Schumer favorability drops to all-time low

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., has the lowest approval ratings in his three terms as senator, according to a new Siena College poll. The poll reports that the senator's approval rating is at 52 percent - his lowest known rating for over a decade.

Twitter bans ‘pro-white’ politician for racist tweet

Paul Nehlen, a fringe challenger of House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and whose anti-Semitic tweets caused a stir in recent months, drew criticism again this week after tweeting an image of actress Meghan Markle photoshopped with the face of Cheddar Man, the dark-skinned man believed to be the first modern Briton. Twitter suspended Nehlen's account after he shared an image of Prince Harry standing next to Markle, a biracial American he is set to marry in May. Along with the image was this tweet: "Honey does this tie make my face look pale?" Start your day with the news you need from the Bay Area and beyond.

Paul Nehlen slammed over ‘racist’ Meghan Markle tweet

Republican businessman is branded a 'sick creep' after posting a picture of Cheddar Man superimposed onto Meghan Markle's face Republican businessman Paul Nehlen was branded 'sick' and a 'creep' after superimposing a picture of Cheddar Man onto Meghan Markle 's face. The Donald Trump supporter tweeted the image, which also featured Prince Harry , with the caption: 'Honey, does this tie make my face look pale?' His comment follows the news that the oldest skeleton to be found in the UK - which was nicknamed Cheddar Man - was revealed to have dark skin.

Two members of notorious ISIS death squad known as ‘the Beatles’ captured in Syria

An ISIS death squad became known as "the Beatles" among the people they held hostage because all four members had grown up in London before becoming radicalized and joining ISIS. The group was known for torture and execution, including the beheading of western hostages.

Countdown to royal wedding

On Friday, there are just 100 days to go, including the day itself, until the Queen's grandson and American star Ms Markle marry in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on Saturday May 19. US president Donald Trump is not expecting a coveted invite to arrive in the post, but some of those who might be include former American leader Barack Obama, tennis star Serena Williams and Ms Markle's Suits co-stars Sarah Rafferty, Patrick J Adams and Wendell Pierce. In 2011, Prince William and Kate Middleton's invites - traditional white cards, gilded along their edge with gold, with the royal cypher - were sent out around 10 weeks before their wedding.

The Morecambe Bay Cockling Disaster

The Morecambe Bay cockling disaster occurred on the evening of 5 February 2004 at Morecambe Bay in North West England , when at least 21 cockle pickers were drowned by an incoming tide off the Lancashire / Cumbrian coast. A group of Chinese workers, who were collecting cockles at low tide on sand flats at Warton Sands, near Hest Bank , and who were to have been paid 5 per 25 kg of cockles, Although the emergency services were alerted by a mobile phone call made by one of the workers, only one worker was rescued from the waters.

Businesswoman Chele Farley to challenge Gillibrand

Republican Chele Farley, who most recently served as New York City finance chair of the state party, on Thursday launched a run against U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who is up for re-election to a second full term this fall. Farley, a partner at the equity firm Mistral Capital, launched her effort with a video that borrowed an argument recently deployed by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo : New York State pays roughly more in federal taxes than it gets back in federal aid - money, Farley said, that could be used to rebuild state infrastructure and boost education, among other things.

New UK Sub Completes its First Dive

The U.K. Royal Navy's fourth Astute class submarine, Audacious, has completed its first ever dive, marking a milestone on the path toward full sea trials later in 2018. The trim and basin dive took place over two days in early January in Devonshire Dock, at builder BAE Systems's site in Barrow-in-Furness.