Louisville Cardinals coach tattoo pledge, Disney icon dies and US Navy’s warship laser – The news in world records
Record-breakers in the news today
Disney icon Annette Funicello, one of the best-known members of the original 1950s Mickey Mouse Club TV show, has passed away at the age of 70.
Funicello was just 13 when she was personally selected by Walt Disney himself to be one of the original ‘Mouseketeer’ presenters of the hugely popular children’s variety show.
The actress, who went on to star in numerous 1960s "beach party" films, died Monday at a California hospital from complications due to multiple sclerosis.
Funicello paved the way for later Mouseketeers who appeared on the show, such as actor Ryan Gosling and singers Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake.
As a member of the boyband *NSync, Timberland helped set a world record for fastest selling pop album in the US, with the group’s No Strings Attached long player shifting a staggering 2.42 million copies in its first week.
The U.S. Navy has confirmed plans to deploy a laser weapon aboard a warship for the first time.
The solid-state laser, which is capable of shooting down small aircraft, will be deployed on the USS Ponce in early 2014, following successful tests against drones and fast-moving small boats.
The world’s most powerful handheld laser is the Hercules 500. Made by Laserglow Technologies of Ontario, Canada, the Class IV hand-held battery-powered device features five independent safety devices to make it legal to use around the world. Its long-range applications include construction and antenna alignment, but at close range it is capable of starting fires.
Next to the world of basketball, where fans of the Louisville Cardinals are celebrating following their incredible 82-76 victory over the Michigan Wolverines to win the NCAA Division I men's basketball championship.
Monday night’s match in Atlanta proved to be something of a classic showdown, with the Cardinals fighting their way back from a double-digit deficit in the first half to lead during much of the second half and finally clinch victory.
Cardinals coach Rick Pitino, (pictured above), will now be expected to fulfil a promise he made to his players before the match, after agreeing to get a tattoo if they won.
The world’s most tattooed person is the chainsaw-juggling, unicycling, sword-swallowing Lucky Diamond Rich (Australia, b. New Zealand), who has spent more than 1,000 hours having his body modified.
Lucky has a 100% covering of black ink, including his eyelids, the delicate skin between the toes, down into the ears, and even his gums. He is now being tattooed with white designs on top of the black, and coloured designs on top of the white.
Finally, Uhuru Kenyatta has today been sworn in as Kenya’s youngest-ever president during an inauguration ceremony at a stadium in the capital of Nairobi.
The 51-year-old son of Kenya's founding leader Jomo Kenyatta became the country's fourth president after winning the election with 50.07% of the vote.
The youngest current head of state is Kim Jong-un of North Korea who ascended to the leadership position on 17 December 2011, following the death of his father, Kim Jong-il.
Although Kim Jong-un’s exact age has never been confirmed, speculation is that he was 27 upon succeeding his father – although his date of birth has been listed as 8 January 1982 or the same date in 1983 or 1984.