The Daily: August 17

We scour the news so as you don't have to...

Prince William saves drowning schoolgirl

Last night, Prince William fronted a rescue mission to save a drowning schoolgirl in Silver Bay, near his Anglesey home. After the alarm was raised by nearby surfers, Prince William piloted an RAF Sea King helicopter to the site, where his colleagues pulled the 16-year-old girl to safety. She had reportedly found herself struggling to swim whilst trying to assist her 13-year-old sister, after the pair were dragged away from the shore while body boarding. The siblings were flown with their mother to a hospital in Bangor, with the older sister bearing scrapes from her ordeal, as well as being extremely cold and in a state of shock.

Royal Mail to extend its neighbourhood scheme

A new delivery scheme, which allows parcels and post to be left with a neighbour if the intended occupant is away, is set to be extended across the UK by Royal Mail. It comes after a positive response from the public following a three-month trial of the programme. 29 million leaflets will be delivered next week, outlining the details of the neighbourhood scheme to new customers.

Final bid to keep Picasso’s painting in the UK

Culture Minister, Ed Vaizey, has put an export bar on Picasso’s paining ‘Child With A Dove’. The export bar will last until December, and was installed with the hope that enough money will be raised to keep the painting from being taken overseas. The painting has been displayed in Britain since the 1970’s, and is estimated to be worth approximately £50m. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest recommended that Vaizey implemented the decision to defer the export, noting that the painting was of particular historical and national importance. It also carries an exceptional aesthetic value, as it marks Picasso’s transition into the Blue Period of his work.

Brothers reunited after 80 years apart

Two elderly brothers have recently been reunited, after being separated 80 years ago. The boys were split up when they were sent to different orphanages at infancy, after their father found himself unable to cope following the death of their mother. The family of Kenneth Corcoran, 82, were able to locate Ed Muir, 84, using the Internet. Interestingly they had pursued similar paths in life, with both brothers serving in the military, and the men even share the same favourite song. They are said to have bonded from the moment they were reunited.

Chip and pin at church collections?

A senior bishop fears that continuing to collect money from congregations using collection plates may now be too antiquated. He believes that in order to keep up with modern technology, churches might need to consider investing in bankcard swipe machines, making it easier for churchgoers to donate money. An alternative option would be to introduce a system allowing donations via text messaging, so that people wishing to donate would no longer be prohibited by not carrying cash.