ROYAL FAMILY OFFERED FREE RADON TESTS FOR BALMORAL

THE ROYAL FAMILY HAVE BEEN OFFERED FREE TEST TO CHECK WHETHER THEY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO CANCER-CAUSING RADON GAS AT BALMORAL. THE QUEEN'S DEESIDE HOME IS IN AN AREA EXPOSED TO POTENTIALLY HARMFUL LEVELS OF THE GAS. SHE IS AMONG 3,000 RESIDENTS IN PARTS OF ABERDEENSHIRE TO BE OFFERED THE FREE TESTS. THE HIGHEST NUMBERS OF HOMES AFFECTED ARE IN ABERDEENSHIRE, FOLLOWED BY THE HIGHLANDS, ORKNEY AND THE BORDERS. AND A RISK MAP SHOWS THAT THE BALMORAL ESTATE IS IN AN AREA WHERE THE PERCENTAGE OF HOMES AT OR ABOVE THE ACTION LEVEL IS BETWEEN 10 AND 30, THE SECOND HIGHEST CATEGORY. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HEALTH PROTECTION AGENCY SAID BALMORAL WAS IN THE AREA OF PROPERTIES TO BE OFFERED THE FREE TESTS, BUT DECLINED TO SAY ON CONFIDENTIALITY GROUNDS IF IT HAD ACCEPTED THE OFFER. BUT SO FAR ONE IN THREE HOMES THAT RECEIVED THE OFFER HAVE ACCEPTED. RADON IS THE SECOND-BIGGEST CAUSE OF LUNG CANCER, RESPONSIBLE FOR 1,000-2,000 DEATHS IN THE UK ANNUALLY, COMPARED WITH ABOUT 30,000 DEATHS FROM SMOKING. THE TESTING KITS CONTAIN TWO SMALL CIRCULAR MONITORS WHICH ARE PLACED IN A LIVING ROOM AND BEDROOM FOR THREE MONTHS BEFORE BEING RETURNED TO HPA FOR ANALYSIS. THE RESULTS WILL BE ISSUED IN WRITING, WITH ADVISE TO REDUCE THE HEALTH RISK, IF NECESSARY.

YALE UNIVERSITY PAINTING REATTRIBUTED TO DIEGO VALAZQUEZ

BASED ON THE RESEARCH OF JOHN MARCIARI, CURRENTLY CURATOR OF EUROPEAN ART AND HEAD OF PROVENANCE RESEARCH AT THE SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF ART, THE 17th CENTURY SPANISH PAINTING PORTRAYING THE EDUCATION OF THE VIRGIN MARY IN THE COLLECTION OF THE YALE UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY HAS BEEN REATTRIBUTED TO DIEGO VELAZQUEZ. THE PAINTING WAS DONATED TO THE GALLERY IN 1925 BY HENRY HOTCHKISS TOWNSHEND AND RAYMOND TOWNSHEND. IT IS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN IN THE TOWNSEND FAMILY FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS AND WAS IN POOR CONDITION WHEN IT ARRIVED AT THE GALLERY. PRIOR TO THE CURRENT ATTRIBUTION, THE PAINTING WAS CONSIDERED TO BE BY AN UNKNOWN ARTIST FROM SEVILLE, SPAIN. THE WORK OS NOW BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN PAINTED BY VELAZQUEZ IN SEVILLE AROUND 1617, MAKING IT ONE OF THE ARTIST'S EARLIEST WORKS. THE PAINTING IS CURRENTLY BEING STUDIED IN ADVANCE OF CONVERSATION TREATMENT.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ON VIEW AT THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ONE OF THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY'S GREATEST TREASURES, A FULL TEXT VERSION OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE HANDWRITTEN BY THOMAS JEFFERSON WILL BE ON VIEW THROUGH 31.JULY AT THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY'S STEPHEN A SCHARZMAN BUILDING IN THE SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM II GALLERY. THE DISPLAY WILL BE OPEN FOR A SPECIAL VIEWING OVER THE INDEPENDENCE WEEKEND, 3-5.JULY. THE EXHIBITION ALSO INCLUDES EARLY PRINTINGS OF THE DECLARATION AS WELL AS A LETTER FROM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TO GEORGE WASHINGTON MENTIONING THAT THE DECLARATION WAS BEING DRAFTED. IN THE DAYS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING RATIFICATION ON 4.JULY.1776, JEFFERSON MADE SEVERAL COPIES OF THE TEXT THAT HAD BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, UNDERLINING THE PASSAGES TO WHICH CHANGES HAD BEN MADE. JEFFERSON WAS DISTRESSED BY THE ALTERATIONS MADE, MOST NOTABLY THE REMOVAL OF HIS LENGTHY CONDEMNATION OF SLAVERY. THE LIBRARY'S COPY IS ONE OF THE TWO KNOWN TO SURVIVE INTACT. IT IS SHOWN TOGETHER WITH THE FIRST PHILADELPHIA PRINTING AND THE FIRST NEW YORK PRINTING OF THE FINAL VERSION ISSUED BY CONGRESS. THESE VERSIONS ARE COMPLEMENTED BY THE EARLIEST NEWSPAPER PRINTINGS; THE SECOND OFFICIAL VERSION ORDERED BY CONGRESS, PUBLISHED BY A WOMAN PRINTER IN BALTIMORE.

LIZA MINNELLI SELLS FASHION COLLECTION ON HSN

ICONIC ENTERTAINER LIZA MINNELLI MADE HER FIRST TELEVISION APPEARANCE IN RECENT YEARS ON AMERICAN TELEVISION CHANNEL, HOME SHOPPING NETWORK. THE SINGING LEGEND SPENT TWO HOURS SELLING HER NEW CLOTHES AND JEWELRY COLLECTION, THE LIZA COLLECTION, ON THE US STATION ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. AT TIMES SHE APPEARED TO SLUR HER WORDS, AND FLAILED HER ARMS AROUND AS SHE DISCUSSED HER NEW LINE. AND SHE SPENT SEVERAL MINUTES TALKING TO VIEWERS WHO CALLED INTO THE SHOW, TELLING ONE: 'IT'S THRILLING TO TALK TO YOU, I'LL REMEMBER IT.' SHE TOLD ANOTHER: 'YOU'RE MY MENTOR TOO!' MINNELLI TOLD HOST PRESENTER BOBBI RAY CARTER THAT SHE BEGAN DESIGNING JEWELRY AFTER A RECENT STINT IN THE HOSPITAL. 'I BROKE MY KNEE, SO I HAD NOTHING TO DO IN THE HOSPITAL. I THOUGHT I WOULD JUST START FOOLING AROUND WITH STUFF I LOVE, AND I STARTED WORKING WITH CLAY', SHE EXPLAINED WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE INSPIRATION FOR ONE BRACELET. AMONG HER DESIGNS ARE THE LIZA FLUID FACETED BENGAL BRACELET AND THE LIZA COLLECTION VELVET PANTS AND THE RUFFLE OR VELVET CASCADE JACKET. AT ONE POINT SHE GIVES A MODEL, JESSIE, SOME ADVISE AS SHE SHOWED OFF THE CLOTHES. SHE ALSO OFFERED SOME OF HER OWN FASHION MAXIMS, INCLUDING: 'THE WOMAN SHOULD WEAR THE DRESS, NOT THE DRESS WEAR THE WOMAN.' AND SHE INSISTED THAT HER CLOTHES DIDN'T NEED SELLING BUT THAT: 'IT SELLS YOU.'

CHARLES SAACHI DONATES COLLECTION TO THE NATION

CELEBRATED ART COLLECTOR CHARLES SAATCHI IS GIFTING MORE THAN 200 WORKS, INCLUDING TRACEY EMIN'S UNMADE BED, AND HIS SAATCHI GALLERY TO THE NATION. THE WORKS, BY ARTISTS INCLUDING MISS EMIN, JAKE 7 DINOS CHAPAM AND GRAYSON PERRY, ARE WORTH MORE THAN £25 MILLION. THE SAATCHI GALLERY I CHELSEA WILL BECOME THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, LONDON (MOCA LONDON). THE WORKS WILL BE DONATED TO THE MOCA LONDON FOUNDATION AND THE SAATCHI IS IN DISCUSSIONS WITH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, WHICH WOULD OWN THE COLLECTION ON BEHALF OF THE NATION. THE PERMANENT COLLECTION THAT SAATCHI IS GIFTING INCLUDES THE RICHARD WILSON OIL ROOM INSTALLATION AND EMIN'S SIGNATURE WORK 'MY BED'. THE CHAPMAN BROTHERS' WORK TRAGIC ANATOMIES, WITH MUTATED MANNEQUINS FROLICKING IN A GARDEN SETTING, LAST SEEN IN THE SENSATION EXHIBITION, WILL BE ANOTHER MAJOR HOLDING. THESE AND OTHER WORKS GIFTED TO THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE LENT TO OTHER GALLERIES FOR EXHIBITION. A STATEMENT ISSUED ON THE COLLECTOR'S BEHALF SAID: 'SAATCHI'S VIEW IS THAT IT IS VITAL FOR THE MUSEUM ALWAYS TO BE ABLE TO DISPLAY A 'LIVING' AND EVOLVING COLLECTION OF WORK, RATHER THAN AN ARCHIVE OF ART HISTORY.' ALONGSIDE A PERMANENT COLLECTION, THE GIFT WILL INCLUDE SEVERAL WORKS THE MUSEUM CAN SELL, USING THE MONEY RAISED TO ACQUIRE NEW WORKS. NEW ACQUISITIONS WILL BE ADDED TO THE FOUNDATION'S HOLDINGS TO ENABLE THE MUSEUM TO REMAIN INVOLVED IN SPEARHEADING THE 'NEWEST DEVELOPMENTS IN CONTEMPORARY ART'. THIS WOULD CONTINUE IN THE TRADITIONS FOLLOWED BY THE SAATCHI GALLERY SINCE IT BEGAN PRESENTING PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS A QUARTER OF A CENTURY AGO. THE LONDON GALLERY SAT IN FIRST PLACE OUT OF THE UK ATTRACTIONS IN A RECENT LEAGUE TABLE OF GLOBAL EXHIBITION AND MUSEUM ATTENDANCE FIGURES CARRIED OUT BY THE ART NEWSPAPER. THE STATEMENT SAID THE SAATCHI GALLERY'S MANAGEMENT TEAM WILL ENSURE THAT THE MUSEUM WILL CONTINUE TO BE FREE TO THE PUBLIC, AND RUN AS IT IS TODAY BY SECURING SPONSORSHIP, AND BY USING REVENUES FROM ITS FACILITIES AND EVENTS. THE MUSEUM WILL AIM TO CONTINUE COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER GALLERIES IN THE UK AND AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING THE STATE HERMITAGE IN ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA, FOR WHICH IT HAS PRODUCED EXHIBITIONS OF RECENT US AND UK ART.

TEH QUEEN CELEBRATES CANADA DAY

DRESSED IN RED, AND WEARING A DIAMOND MAPLE LEAF BROOCH, THE QUEEN HELPED CANADA CELEBRATE ITS BIRTHDAY, AS THOUSANDS TURNED OUT FOR A TELEVISED PARTY TO MARK THE HISTORIC OCCASION. THE QUEEN TOLD CANADIANS OF THE 'ENORMOUS ADMIRATION' SHE FELT WATCHING THE COMMONWEALTH COUNTRY GROW AND MATURE 'WHILE REMAINING TRUE TO ITS HISTORY, ITS DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER AND ITS VALUES.' SHE AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH, ON A NINE DAY TOUR OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATION, WERE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CANADA DAY CELEBRATIONS, BOTH FORMAL POMP AND MILITARY PAGEANT AND A RELAXED POP CONCERT. THE IMMENSE CROWDS PACKING PARLIAMENT HILL IN THE CAPITAL, OTTAWA, WERE A SEA OF RED AND WHITE, THE NATIONAL COLOURS, WHICH MANY SUPPORTERS WAVING THE CANADIAN FLAG. MINDFUL OF THE COUNTRY'S COLOURS AND ICONS, THE QUEEN WORE A RED CHIFFON DRESS AND JACKET, SET OFF BY A WHITE STRAW HAT WITH A SCARLET FLOWER, AND A DIAMOND MAPLE LEAF BROOCH ON HER SHOULDER. WHEN SHE STOOD UP TO GIVE A SPEECH, SHE DREW A LARGE CHEER FROM THE CROWDS WHEN SHE TOLD THEM: 'THANK YOU FOR INVITING PRINCE PHILIP AND ME TO JOIN YOU ALL ON THIS SPECIAL DAY.' MUCH OF HER ADDRESS WAS DELIVERED IN FRENCH, AND SHE ADDED: 'DURING MY LIFETIME, I HAVE BEEN A WITNESS TO THIS COUNTRY FOR MORE THAN HALF ITS HISTORY SINCE CONFEDERATION. THIS NATION HAS DEDICATED ITSELF TO BEING A CARING HOME FOR ITS OWN, A SANCTUARY FOR OTHERS AND AN EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD." THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE ARRIVED IN A HORSE-DRAWN LANDAU ESCORTED BY A GROUP OF ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE, THE MOUNTIES. THE ROYAL COUPLE WERE CHEERED AND WAVED AT BY THE CROWDS, SOME OF WHOM HAD WAITED FOR SEVERAL HOURS, QUEUEING BEFORE OFFICIALS ARRIVED TO START ORGANIZING THE DAY. THE QUEEN INSPECTED TWO IMMACULATE ROWS OF THE CANADIAN FORCES' CEREMONIAL GUARD, COMPLETE WITH RED TUNICS AND BEARSKINS, LIKE THEIR BRITISH COUNTERPARTS, THE GUARDS DIVISION, AND THEN TOOK THE ROYAL SALUTE AS THEY MARCHED OFF. SHE AND THE DUKE THEN JOINED PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER AND HIS WIFE FOR THE SHORT WALK TO THE STAGE WHERE THEY TOOK THEIR SEATS FOR THE HOLIDAY CONCERT. THE ARTISTS WHO PLAYED REFLECTED THE COUNTRY'S DIVERSE MUSIC SCENE FROM ALTERNATIVE COUNTRY AND RAP TO SOUL, GOSPEL AND POP AND SANG IN BOTH FRENCH AND ENGLISH. ON 1.JULY.1867 THE DOMINION OF CANADA WAS BORN WHEN THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN ACT UNITED THE BRITISH COLONIES OF NOVA SCOTIA AND NEW BRUNSWICK WITH THE PROVINCE OF CANADA TO FORM A NEW NATION. THE DATE IS CELEBRATED ACROSS THE COUNTRY EVERY YEAR AND IS ALSO A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.

BOUCHERON REFLET XL CHATEAU MILLESIME 2005

THE BOUCHERON REFLET XL CHATEAU MILLESIME 2005 IS A STUNNING NEW CREATION MADE BY LUXURY JEWELER BOUCHERON IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHATEAU LATOUR. THE WATCH USES THE GP4000 AUTOMATIC SELF-WINDING MECHANICAL MOVEMENT AND FEATURES A FORTY HOUR POWER RESERVE. BOTH THE STRAP AND BRACELET ARE INTERCHANGEABLE AND ARE AVAILABLE IN STEEL AND LEATHER. THE CASE IS MADE OF STEEL WHILST THE DIAL IS MADE OF WOOD FROM BARRELS MADE FROM TWO HUNDRED YEAR OLD FRENCH OAK IN WHICH CHATEAU LATOUR'S GRAND MILLESIME 2005 VINTAGE WAS AGED. ONLY 100 EXAMPLES OF THIS UNIQUE TIMEPIECE WILL BE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH BOUCHERON