The Daily: July 27

Opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics begins

Tonight at 9pm, billions of viewers around the world will unite to watch the magnificent opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. The Queen will open the three-and-a-half hour ceremony, where the famous Olympic torch will be used to light the Olympic Cauldron that will burn until the end of the games, on August 12th. The opening ceremony’s director Danny Boyle has not revealed who will have the honour of lighting the cauldron, but promises that it will be an unforgettable moment. The torch has now completed its 8000-mile relay around Britain, with torchbearers Sir Bruce Forsyth and Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley carrying the torch passed Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square. The Queen will entertain all the 10,500 athletes from 204 countries along with around 100 heads of state at Buckingham Palace, before they make their way to the Olympic stadium to view Boyle’s spectacular £27 million production, named ‘the Isle of Wonder’. 
 
David Barby, antiques expert from Bargain Hunt dies, age 63

Popular antiques expert David Barby has died at the age of 63 after suffering a stroke. Barby appeared on shows such as Bargain Hunt, Flog it! and Antiques Road Trip, becoming famous for his warm personality and expert knowledge in the field of antiques. Tributes have been pouring in, from friends and family to other famous television personalities such as Myleene Klass and fellow antiques expert David Harper.

Giant hole of fire in Karakum Desert has been burning for 40 years

A 70-metre wide crater made by geologists more than 40 years ago has been burning ever since it was filled with fire in 1971. The Derweze, or what locals have called ‘ the Door to Hell’, looks like something out of a science-fiction film, but is actually a man-made cavern filled with gas. Soviet geologists were drilling holes in the Karakum Desert, when the hole collapsed, causing fears of poisonous gases escaping. They then decided to burn the hole off, thinking that the fire would use all the fuel within days, but it continues to burn to this day. The spectacular flames generate a glow that can be seen for miles, making the spot a popular local tourist attraction.

Airport tweet man, Paul Chambers found not guilty

A man convicted of sending a menacing tweet on social networking site Twitter has been freed of all charges. Paul Chambers, 28, was found guilty of ‘sending a message of menacing character’ about the closure of Robin Hood Airport in South Yorkshire after heavy snowfall in 2010. Chambers was then fined £385 and ordered to pay £600 in costs at Doncaster Magistrates, after violating the 2003 Communications Act. He won his challenge against conviction this week, arguing that he sent the Tweet in a moment of frustration. Celebrities such as broadcaster Stephen Fry and comedian Al Murray backed Chambers, who later said he was ‘relieved’ and that ‘it is ridiculous it ever got this far’.