UPI NewsTrack Quirks in the News

London whale rescuers' cars all ticketed

LONDON, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- As rescue volunteers worked to save a disoriented whale in the river Thames last weekend, London parking officers gave them more than $500 in parking tickets.

Alan Knight, chairman of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, said all the workers' cars have "Marine Ambulance," or "Marine Medic" on the sides, but all were ticketed on Saturday for expired parking meters by the Vauxhall Bridge.

The rescue effort failed, however, and the 19-foot female northern bottle-nosed whale died despite a rescue attempt at getting her onto a barge.

Disheartened volunteers returned to their cars to find the tickets, which totaled $535, the BBC reported.

A Westminster Council spokesman said that while the parking attendants were correct in issuing the tickets, these were extraordinary circumstances and the fines will be waived

Italian adventurer halfway across Sahara

CAIRO, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Italian adventurer Stevani Miglietti hopes to complete a 344-mile trek across the Sahara -- the first person to cross the region on foot.

Miglietti is due at the Siwa oasis in Egypt to complete his crossing of the Great Sand Sea, an area so harsh, it's avoided by Tuareg desert nomads, the Italian news agency ANSA reports.

Miglietti, 37, lugged a 200-pound cart stocked with food and water for the crossing. He had a 7-day supply.

"The mystery surrounding this journey has always fascinated me," said Miglietti before he set off Friday. "Everyone tells me it's practically impossible. But I don't have to prove anything to anyone but myself, so I'll have a go."

Miglietti, a former skier and mountaineer, planned to walk as much as 20 hours a day. He called his wife Monday by satellite phone to say he had completed half the journey.

"He's thinking about ditching his cart, putting his remaining supplies into a ruck sack and starting to run," she told ANSA.

In 2003, Miglietti became the first man to cross the Murzuq desert in Libya and set a record in 2005 for crossing the Yukon Arctic Ultra.

Queen Mary 2 passengers mull 'mutiny'

LONDON, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Passengers aboard the luxury cruise liner, the Queen Mary 2, are considering staging a sit-in after three of their Caribbean stops were canceled.

The world's largest cruise ship left Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Thursday, two days after hitting a sea wall and damaging part of its propulsion system. Once at sea, the crew notified passengers they were heading straight for Rio de Janeiro to remain on schedule with less propeller power. Passengers were told they would get a 50 percent rebate on their tickets, some of which cost $30,000, The Telegraph said.

Stops in St. Kitts, Barbados and Salvador de Bahia in Brazil were called off, and The Mirror reported many of the 2,500 passengers want a full refund.

Now, some passengers are vowing they will refuse to disembark in Rio de Janeiro next week, to halt its journey. The ship is slated to pick up 1,000 new passengers in Rio.

Chicago thieves hot on designer glasses

CHICAGO, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- The Chicago area reportedly has become a hotbed for thieves stealing designer eyeglass frames and sunglasses worth thousands of dollars each.

Michael Horstman, executive director of the Illinois Optometric Association, said the thefts began last summer and are increasing. At times, the perpetrators have been so focused, Horstman said he almost suspects the thieves have "orders" for certain brands of design frames.

"I would think there's more to it than a couple of slugs taking designer lenses," Deputy Police Chief Joseph Bellino told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Optometrist Dan Lieberman said his store was targeted last summer.

"They smashed down the back door. They knew the lines they wanted," Lieberman told the newspaper. "They took the Gucci, the Lanvin. All the Prada was taken."

Kenneth Cole, Dolce and Gabbana, and Chanel lines are also among the thieves' favorites.