Articles
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE O2 ARENA
Once known as the Millennium Dome, the O2 Arena (or simply “The O2”), the building instantly became a distinguishable part of the London Skyline. The original idea for the dome was conceived under the Conservative government of John Major in 1994 by the Millennium Commission, with its purpose being to celebrate the beginning of the third millennia with a World’s Fair-like exhibition building. However, the idea met with resistance and the dome project was scrapped for two years until the Commission revived it under Tony Blair’s New Labour government. The government opted to use funds from the National Lottery to help fund the dome and the Millennium Central Ltd. Was established to administer the project.
The Millennium Dome’s designer was Richard Rogers, who was known for his functional, semi-modernist architectural style, having also designed the Lloyd’s Building and the Court of Human Rights. Construction began in 1997 and the dome was built with a steel skeleton and tensioned Teflon fabric stretched over it. It has twelve supports that poke out from the dome, giving it a crown-like appearance. These supports are meant to represent both the hours on a clock as well as the months of the year, which is fitting given the dome’s location so close to the Prime Meridian. While the Conservatives had wanted a business pavilion, Labour decided to make the dome about entertainment with twelve pavilions forming a circle.
By the time the Millennium Dome opened in 1999, it had garnered quite a reputation amongst the press, politicians, and activists for its cost of £789 million, a reported 7% of which was actually spent on the dome itself. Nearly everything about the project was criticized from projected attendance to the quality of the exhibits in the Millennium Exhibition. The attractions were organised into fourteen zones, each with different corporate sponsors: Body, Mind, Faith, Self-Portrait, Work, Learning, Money, Play, Talk, Rest, Journey, Shared Ground, Living Island, and Home Planet. Many felt the zones were lacking in content. The dome was also surrounded by a number of other performance areas and exhibits such as showings of the specially commissioned Blackadder: Back and Forth, the Millennium Dome Show (with music by Peter Gabriel), and the display of the Millennium Star Jewels, which were the subject of a notoriously failed attempted theft on 7 November 2000.
While the exhibition was enjoyed by many, it was ultimately deemed a flop by the press, especially as the government was unsure of how to dispose of the dome following the exhibition. In 2001, government agency English Partnerships took control of the building and ultimately sold it to Meridian Delta for development into a 26,000 capacity arena and 10,000 homes on the surrounding property. The Millennium Dome was officially rebranded as the O2 Arena in 2005, with telecommunications company O2 paying £6 million per year for the naming rights. The interior was developed by Anschultz Entertainment Group at a cost of £600 million. The venue opened to the public on 24 June 2007 with a concert by American band Bon Jovi, the last group to play in Wembley Stadium.
The O2 Arena, with a seating capacity of 20,000, is at the centre of the complex and was the first American-style arena to open in the UK and only the second largest in Europe behind the Manchester Arena. Additionally, the O2 features a small venue known as “indigo at O2”, an exhibition space called the O2 Bubble, Brooklyn Bowl (a bowling alley and concert hall), a Cineworld Cinema, and Up at O2, a fun opportunity for visitors to climb to the top of the dome, as well as other activities. Where the Millennium Dome was largely seen as a failure, the O2 has been much more successful and continues to be a major part of London.
Gibraltar Facts To Know Before You Go
Find out the unique aspects, curiosities, and Gibraltar facts that perhaps you did not know about this British overseas territory.
If you have never visited this famous rock, perhaps some things will sound a little confusing or strange. For example, what does a small territory on the Iberian Peninsula that is not Spanish do? It is a subject that is really controversial and, in addition, has a Mediterranean climate that is the envy of some in the United Kingdom.
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory, which means that it is under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom, but technically it is not part of the nation. There are 14 British Overseas Territories in the world, including Bermuda and the Falkland Islands. You should consider a Quark Expedition cruise through the Falkland Islands.
Gibraltar was also part of the European Union due to its connection with the United Kingdom, although today it is outside of several economic associations such as the customs union, the VAT area, the Schengen area, and the Euro. Gibraltar has its own political system making many decisions within the territory, although the UK government in London determines those such as defence and foreign affairs.
English is the official language of Gibraltar, but many people also speak Spanish and the local language, which is called Llanito with a mix of Mediterranean or Andalusian words.
The official currency of Gibraltar is the pound (its official symbol is GIP) and you can spend UK banknotes and coins in the Gibraltar territory, but you cannot use Gibraltarian pound banknotes or coins in the UK.
Gibraltar is only 6.8 km2 in size and has a population of approximately 32,000 inhabitants. Due to this, it has the fifth highest density of any country or territory in the world.
Gibraltar uses the same time zone as Spain GMT +1 (not the UK) and people drive on the right as in continental Europe.
IT HAS THE ONLY WILD MONKEY POPULATION IN ALL OF EUROPE
You might already know that Gibraltar is home to the Barbary Tailless Macaque,
but did you know that it is the only population of wild monkeys in the whole
continent?
About 300 of these monkeys, descendants of the North African populations and
introduced into the area by the Moors, roam the Gibraltar Nature Reserve, and
occasionally “rip” the food out of the tourists’ backpacks. Be careful not to freak
out!
AN EXCELLENT TERRITORY TO GET MARRIED IN
Anyone can get married in Gibraltar with just one day notice, and civil marriage
is recognized worldwide. It’s that simple, if you suddenly decide you want to get
away, Gibraltar could be that place for you. If you fly in on one day and file your
documents, you can get married the next day. This is so popular with tourists,
that even I wanted to get married there – crazy! Local authorities for this special
occasion, allow you to marry outside of the registration office. For example: in
the botanical gardens, at the top of the rock or at other places of interest.
JOHN LENNON AND YOKO ONO, AMONG OTHERS, WERE MARRIED IN
GIBRALTAR
Along with the above curiosity. Gibraltar has been popular with celebrities over
the years. Sean Connery was also married in Gibraltar (twice) and this is where
John Lennon and Yoko Ono also got married. The couple got married in
Gibraltar. Why? According to Lennon, “The territory is calm, British and
friendly” and “We tried first somewhere else. I decided to get married on the
ferry and we would have arrived in France married, but we could not. We were no more successful with the cruises. We tried at the embassies, but it took three weeks of residence in Germany or two weeks in France ”.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana, meanwhile, began their honeymoon in Gibraltar.
CRADLE OF FAMOUS PEOPLE IN THE WORLD
Gibraltar has not only been and is visited by famous foreigners. In case you didn’t know this small territory with a big heart has seen the birth of the fashion designer John Galliano, the beautiful Kaiane Aldorino López, the former Miss World crowned in 2009 in South Africa and the first Miss Gibraltar to reach the semi-finals of this prestigious beauty pageant. In Galliano’s case, he worked as head of design for major luxury brands such as Givenchy and Christian Dior. Although now he has his own successful John Galliano label.
Also: the artist Christian Hook and the pop-rock band Melon Diesel, a well-known group in Spain. Other famous Gibraltarians are Amanda Carreras (professional tennis player); Alison Nicholas, a well-known golfer, in addition to others.
IT HAS THE SOUTHERNMOST MOSQUE IN EUROPE
The Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque was a GBP 5 million gift from the King of Saudi Arabia and is one of the largest in a non-Muslim country. Many Gibraltarians were outraged when it was built in 1997 as a large percentage of the population is Catholic, although it is now a very important place.
GIBRALTAR AIRPORT HAS ONE OF THE STRANGEST AND MOST DANGEROUS RUNWAYS IN THE WORLD
The lack of territory meant that the only runway at Gibraltar airport is crossed by its busiest road: Winston Churchill Avenue. The street closes every time a plane lands or departs, with a couple of less than sophisticated barriers. It is quite a show that I have seen several times. With a runway that also extends into the sea, it is certainly not suitable for nervous travelers and is one of the “most dangerous airports in the world”.
IT HAS ITS OWN LANGUAGE
“Llanito” is spoken in Gibraltar. It consists of a strange mixture of Andalusian Spanish and English, along with some Portuguese and Maltese words, others of Genoese medieval dialect, and even some of Hebrew origin. Speakers seem to switch languages in the middle of a sentence, making it almost impossible to understand for those who only speak English or Spanish.
IT IS AN OVERPOPULATED TERRITORY
If you thought that Cairo or Mexico City are overcrowded locations, you would be making a mistake, as Gibraltar is only 6.8 km2 in size, with a population of approximately 33,000 inhabitants. These numbers make it the fifth-highest density of any country or territory in the world (behind only Macao, Monaco, Singapore, and Hong Kong).
DESPITE ITS SIZE, IT IS A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
Gorham Cave, part of a complex of four sea caves, is one of the new additions to UNESCO’s ever-expanding list, which was included in 2016. The cave is one of the least known corners of Neanderthal life in Europe and contains 39,000 years of ancient engravings, described as one of the earliest examples of abstract art.
THERE ARE RED PHONE BOXES
Gibraltar is truly a slice of Britain with sunshine and a Mediterranean climate on the Iberian Peninsula and boasts the famous red telephone boxes. I do not know if they really work today but there are various in several places on the rock.
THERE ARE VERY LOW TAXES
There are very low taxes on goods and/or products in Gibraltar. Although it depends a lot on the product you want to buy. For this reason, you go to see tourists who buy cigarettes and alcoholic beverages in stores when leaving the country. To compare prices, a pack of 20 cigarettes in the UK costs around £10, but in Gibraltar, it is around £3. A large bottle of good gin can cost £25 in the UK, in Gibraltar about £10.
These prices are subject to exchange rates with Gibraltar. For comparison to your currency check the website Xe.com.
THE ROCK IS CONNECTED TO AFRICA BY A TUNNEL
Although it has not been scientifically or expertly tested. There is a legend of a secret natural tunnel from Gibraltar to Morocco and that is accessible from the depths of the cave of San Miguel. We don’t know if it’s true, but there are all kinds of stories of missing people in the caves who were never seen again. There is even a mythological legend from thousands of years ago (Columns of Hercules) both continents were together and for one reason or another, Gibraltar is one of the arms of Hercules and the other is Rif mountain in Morocco.
Another theory is that the macaques came from Africa and went through a tunnel. While it is true that they came from Africa, it is much more likely that they arrived in boats with some of the early explorers.
IT HAS ARTIFICIAL BEACHES
There are six beaches along with the Gibraltar coast ideal for visiting and enjoying in the summer. Although, the strange thing is that Gibraltar did not always have these beaches. For example, Sandy Bay Beach was “built” in 2014 by importing some 50,000 tons of sand to create a new recreation area for residents and visitors to Gibraltar.
QUITE A FEW ONLINE ROADHOUSES ARE BASED THERE
In Gibraltar, there are approximately 20 Gibraltar-based gaming companies that employ around 3,000 people, almost a tenth of the population.
A HOTEL WITH NOSTALGIA
The Rock Hotel is an iconic place to stay for several reasons. Famous people from around the world have been hosted there and it is a delight and quite traditional to try the “afternoon tea” on the Wisteria Terrace. It is a very pleasant experience. If you stay here you would also have some great views.
THERE’S A GIANT FLOATING HOTEL
Regarded as a “super-luxury five-star super yacht hotel,” Sun born Gibraltar occupies a seven-deck static cruise. It is far from the old-fashioned image of Gibraltar and is one of the most modern curiosities of Gibraltar. It is located in an area with bars and restaurants ideal for walking and spending the night or the day, especially in the summertime.
The 15 Most Notorious Thieves in the World
Our world is full of notorious criminals who have stolen everything from famous artworks from prominent museums to hefty sums of money – they come from all over the world, including the US, India, France, etc. Despite their criminal and fraudulent activities, it is undeniable that these thieves are extremely skilled; nevertheless, no one would want to meet them in person!
Derek ‘Bertie’ Smalls
Derek Smalls was a prolific armed robber in Great Britain during the 1960s and 70s. His most famous robbery was of the Ilford Barclay’s Bank branch in 1970, where he made off with a staggering £237,000 – it was a record amount at the time. Smalls fled to Paris after the robbery and later ended up on the Costa Del Sol. He kept tabs on the police investigation into his robbery by reading newspapers.
Bertie Smalls surrendered to the police and became an informant in order to get immunity. He provided law enforcement with evidence against members of the underworld, which made him very famous. He was known as Britain’s first snitch or supergrass. Despite the many revenge bounties placed on his head by people like the Kray twins, he passed away from natural causes in the year 2008.
Doris Payne
Doris Payne is a world-renowned jewel thief who has been active for over seven decades. She is most famous for her heist of a 10-carat diamond ring worth $500,000 in Monte Carlo in the 70s. Doris is skilled at posing as a wealthy client in order to gain access to valuable items and then quickly steal them.
She has stolen from a variety of businesses, both large and small, whenever she has the
opportunity. Thanks to her boldness and criminal prowess, Doris has achieved cult status in
recent years; a 2013 documentary about her life only added to her infamy.
Payne has been convicted numerous times; however, she has only gotten minimal punishment.
Even now, at the age of 96 years old, she does not seem to regret her life of crime and is even
suspected of other thefts, like the stealing of a diamond ring worth $33,000 in North Carolina.
It’s clear that Payne has never been remorseful for her actions and continues to break the law even
at an advanced age.
Frank Abagnale Jr
Frank Abagnale is one of the world’s most well-known con men, made famous by Steven Spielberg’s 2002 film Catch Me If You Can. He was a master of deception, able to assume many different identities, including lawyer, doctor, prison consultant, and airline pilot.
At just 21 years old, he committed many crimes but was eventually caught and confessed to his crimes; he later helped the government improve its ability to detect and prevent fraud. Frank Abagnale’s story is a cautionary tale of the dangers of deceit and deception. Nowadays, he works closely with the FBI through his security firm, Abagnale & Associates, to help prevent these types of crimes.
Carl Gugasian
Carl Gugasian never planned to be a career criminal; he was an army officer with an Ivy League education and a Ph.D. in probability and statistics. He started robbing banks as a mock exercise but quickly began to gain a reputation as the “Friday Night Bank Robber.” Even now, he is one of the most notorious bank robbers in US history, having robbed several banks, shot many people, and stolen $2 million. His name is still associated with crime and violence! Gugasian was clearly very dedicated to his criminal activity, going to great lengths to improve his skills. However, once he was caught and arrested, he showed remorse and cooperated with the investigation; this led to his sentence being reduced from 115 years to just 17. Gugasian is now teaching calculus to other inmates while in prison!
Albert Spaggiari
Albert Spaggiari was a photographer by day and a robber by night. His first robbery was of a jewelry store, where he stole a diamond ring to give to his girlfriend. However, Spaggiari became famous for his next robbery, which was of the Société Générale bank located in Nice, France. To carry out his robbery, Spaggiari handpicked a group of experienced thieves to help him, including Gaby Anglade. The group made their way into the bank by crawling through the sewers and digging a tunnel under the vault. Then in 1976, on Bastille Day (July 16th), they broke into the bank’s vault, stealing 60 million francs. While they were robbing the bank, the thieves even had a picnic on the floor! After Spaggiari was caught, he came up with a plan to escape during his trial. He distracted the judge by showing him a coded document, then jumped out of a window and escaped on a motorcycle. Spaggiari lived the rest of his life running from the law, most likely in Argentina after he had plastic surgery.
Veerappan
Munisamy Veerappan Mallar was a controversial figure who evaded capture by the police for nearly three decades. He was eventually killed by a Special Task Force in the year 2004.
Veerappan was a notorious criminal who carried out his activities in the forests of Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. It is believed that he killed around 10 dozen people, countless poached elephants, and smuggled loads of sandalwood and ivory. He also killed many anti-poachers and police officers, as well as civilians whom he was suspicious of being snitches throughout the late 90s and early 2000s. Further, Veerappan was kidnapped and asked for ransom by many high-profile cultural and political figures. Even though a lot of people went to his funeral, he is still a very controversial figure in India.
Bill Mason
Bill Mason stole from some of the most high-profile individuals in the United States, including Truman Capote. He got away with millions of dollars worth of jewelry and other valuables. His memoir, Confessions of a Master Jewel Thief, documents his crimes and how he eventually returned one of his stolen items – an Olympic gold medal – out of guilt. Mason’s story is a fascinating look into the mind of a skilled and successful thief.
Mason became a professional thief at a young age and quickly learned how to use his charm and social skills to gain access to the homes and belongings of wealthy people. He would then rob them blind, making off with whatever he could get his hands on. In total, Mason stole an estimated $35 million worth of goods from his victims. Further, he was quite skilled in orchestrating robberies and remained at large for almost five years. Even though he stole a large number and value of items, he was only imprisoned for a few years.
Natwarlal
A skilled forger and fraudster, Natwarlal was responsible for duping hundreds of banks, small shops, and businesses out of millions of rupees. He often posed as a government official and sold famous landmarks such as the Taj Mahal, the Parliament House of India, the Rashtrapati Bhawan, and the Red Fort to unsuspecting foreigners. Using 50 different aliases, forging documentation, and impersonating others, Natwarlal was able to pull off these daring crimes. He quickly became famous for escaping prison and for his high-profile crimes.
Natwarlal escaped from prison many times throughout his career, even in 1996. He was 84 years old and in a wheelchair at the time, but he still managed to evade capture at a railway station in New Delhi. This was the last time anyone saw him in public. His escape skills and ingenuity made him a legend in his own time.
Vincenzo Peruggia
When art thieves are mentioned, Vincenzo Peruggia is often cited as one of the best of the 20th century. His most famous theft was also his simplest. Peruggia, who worked at the time at the Louvre in Paris, stole the Mona Lisa by hiding in the museum one night and removing the painting from the wall. With no complicated scheme or plan, Peruggia’s theft is considered
remarkable for its simplicity. It was relatively easy for Vincenzo Peruggia to steal the
Mona Lisa; he simply hid the painting in his clothes, walking past an unguarded area.
However, he was apprehended trying to sell it two years later. He only spent one year in jail
before being drafted into the Italian Army during World War I. Peruggia, who died of a heart
attack at 44, was known as a hero in Italy. Unfortunately, his theft became somewhat of an
inspiration; other robbers have attempted to steal the Mona Lisa four times.
Simon Leviev
A con artist from Israel, Leviev, has been convicted for multiple frauds, forgeries, and thefts. In total, he stole about 10 million dollars in a Ponzi scheme that targeted several Europeans between 2017 and 2019. Even though he stole millions, he was only sentenced to serve two years in jail throughout his criminal career. A documentary came out called The Tinder Swindler, which was produced by Netflix. This film caused the app Tinder to ban Leviev from using their service. Even though he was exposed and his crimes were made public, he still managed to sign with a talent manager. He also started earning money by making personalized videos on Cameo, where he charges 200 dollars per video.
Anna Sorokin
Anna Sorokin is a well-known con artist and fraudster. She arrived in the US in 2013, pretending to be a wealthy German heiress called Anna Delvey. Over the course of several years, she managed to defraud hotels, banks, and even close friends, amassing a total of $275,000. In the year 2017, she was finally caught and convicted of her crimes. She was sentenced to over four years in jail, after which she was deported back to her home country of Germany. Interestingly, Anna Sorokin has now taken up selling artwork online – including pieces she created while serving prison time. Netflix launched a series based on her story called “Inventing Anna” in February 2022. The show became hugely popular, with millions of viewers tuning in. It’s safe to say that Sorokin’s story – though criminal – is a fascinating one.
Stephane Breitwieser
This thief from France stole over 200 artworks from more than 170 museums in France and throughout Europe. The total value of the art he stole was approximately $1.4 billion – he did this between 1995 to 2001 while doing other jobs such as being a waiter. Unlike most art thieves, Breitwieser’s reason for stealing wasn’t profit-driven. He claimed to do it out of love for art. In the year 2001, he was caught and apprehended in Switzerland. After spending two years in jail, he was extradited to France and sentenced to three more years in prison in the years 2005 and 2013.
Bonnie and Clyde
Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were two American criminals who gained notoriety for their crimes during the Great Depression. The pair was responsible for robbing numerous banks, small stores, and funeral homes, as well as killing an estimated four civilians and nine police officers. In 1934, they were finally caught by a posse and killed in a hail of gunfire – although their story ended tragically, Bonnie and Clyde’s crime spree captured the imagination of the American public and made them household names.
Anthony Strangis
Strangis is a con artist and convicted felon who stole nearly $1 million from employees and investors of his wife, Sarma Melngalis’ vegan restaurant, Pure Food and Wine. He lied to her about his past, claiming to have a military background, and was eventually found guilty of tax fraud and grand larceny in 2017. The couple divorced in the year 2018. In 2022, his story was featured in the Netflix documentary called “Bad Vegan,” – which described his deceitful actions and how he went on the run from the law, resulting in a nationwide manhunt.
There are many famous thieves who have been immortalized in history for their daring and illegal activities. From stealing paintings to robbing banks and skimming millions of dollars, these criminals have captured the public’s imagination. However, as you will see, most of them did not get away with their crimes scot-free. In fact, crime rarely pays off in the long run. Even so, their stories continue to be popular among filmmakers, authors, and journalists.
Jesse James
Through the years, several documentaries, movies, and novels have been made in an attempt to tell the life story of Jesse James – the well-known Western gangster. But who was this man that caused so much havoc? Jesse James, along with his brother Frank, was born to a preacher; however, during the Civil War, they decided to join the Confederate militia instead. It was then that they started their lives of crime – robbing banks, trains, and stores throughout the southern states. The two soon formed the James Younger gang and began to cause mayhem in all the towns they visited. Jesse James had a large reward placed on his head but ultimately ended up getting killed by
Robert Ford – a criminal acquaintance of his. All of this took place in 1882 when Jesse James was only 34 years old! Despite being cold-hearted and remorseless, he was often portrayed as a rebel and folk hero – especially in the American south. Sometimes, the most simple explanation is usually the correct one! In 1995, Jesse James’ remains were exhumed, and scientists verified that it was actually him in the grave. This disproved the popular belief that he had faked his own death.
We Remember what happened on February 4th 1974
Patty Hearst kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army
On February 4, 1974, Patty Hearst, the 19-year-old granddaughter of newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst, is kidnapped from her apartment in Berkeley, California, by three armed strangers. Her fiancee, Stephen Weed, was beaten and tied up along with a neighbour who tried to help. Witnesses reported seeing a struggling Hearst being carried away blindfolded, and she was put in the trunk of a car. Neighbours who came out into the street were forced to take cover after the kidnappers fired their guns to cover their escape.
Three days later, the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), a small U.S. leftist group, announced in a letter to a Berkeley radio station that it was holding Hearst as a “prisoner of war.” Four days later, the SLA demanded that the Hearst family give $70 in foodstuffs to every needy person from Santa Rosa to Los Angeles. This done, said the SLA, negotiation would begin for the return of Patricia Hearst. Randolph Hearst hesitantly gave away some $2 million worth of food. The SLA then called this inadequate and asked for $6 million more. The Hearst Corporation said it would donate the additional sum if Patty was released unharmed.
In April, however, the situation changed dramatically when a surveillance camera took a photo of Hearst participating in an armed robbery of a San Francisco bank, and she was also spotted during a robbery of a Los Angeles store. She later declared, in a tape sent to the authorities, that she had joined the SLA of her own free will.
On May 17, Los Angeles police raided the SLA’s secret headquarters, killing six of the group’s nine known members. Among the dead was the SLA’s leader, Donald DeFreeze, an African American ex-convict who called himself General Field Marshal Cinque. Patty Hearst and two other SLA members wanted for the April bank robbery were not on the premises.
Finally, on September 18, 1975, after crisscrossing the country with her captors—or conspirators—for more than a year, Hearst, or “Tania” as she called herself, was captured in a San Francisco apartment and arrested for armed robbery. Despite her claim that she had been brainwashed by the SLA, she was convicted on March 20, 1976, and sentenced to seven years in prison. She served 21 months before her sentence was commuted by President Carter. After leaving prison, she returned to a more routine existence and later married her bodyguard. She was pardoned by President Clinton in January 2001.
