Pictures have emerged showing the inside of the 105-storey pyramid-shaped Ryugyong hotel that has been under construction in Pyongyang for 25 years.
North Korea began building the Ryugyong hotel in 1987, but construction was halted for 16 years when funds ran out.
Although work restarted in 2008, the hotel has become, for many, a symbol of North Korea’s thwarted ambitions.
The 105-storey pyramid-shaped Ryugyong hotel has been under construction in Pyongyang for 25 years
The tour company that took the pictures say the hotel is now due to open in two or three years time.
Few people have been allowed inside the notorious hotel, which has been variously dubbed the “The Hotel of Doom” or “The Phantom Hotel”.
When conceived, the Ryugyong was intended to communicate to the world an impression of North Korea’s burgeoning wealth.
Few people have been allowed inside the notorious hotel, which has been variously dubbed the “The Hotel of Doom”
But other economic priorities meant that the hotel had to be put to one side, and it remained untouched until a city-wide “beautification scheme” was introduced five years ago.
At that time, external construction was forecast to take until the end of 2010, with work on the inside being completed in 2012 at the earliest.
But the photo of the interior taken by Koryo Tours, a Beijing-based company that specializes in travel to North Korea, shows a vast concrete lobby with barriers around the edge of each floor.
Spain will set out today its austerity budget for 2013, against a backdrop of a deteriorating economy and 25% unemployment rate.
Madrid is expected to outline 39 billion euros ($50 billion) worth of savings, tax rises, and structural reforms.
It comes amid further protests this week, and growing expectations that Spain will seek a bailout from its eurozone partners.
On Friday, results of a stress test on Spain’s banks are due to be released.
The Spanish stock exchange’s Ibex index held steady in morning trading on Thursday, having lost 3.9% the previous day.
Other European stock markets experienced modest rebounds of about 0.5%.
Spain will set out today its austerity budget for 2013
Stocks fell sharply on Wednesday, as markets were rattled by violent protests in Madrid and Athens, as well as a statement from the Spanish central bank that the country’s economy had continued to shrink in the third quarter of the year.
However, the more optimistic sentiment was boosted on Thursday when the Greek finance minister, Yannis Stournaras, said that a “basic agreement” had been reached with lenders on the austerity measures required for the release of Greece’s next tranche of bailout money.
On the bond markets, the Spanish government’s long-term cost of borrowing stabilized in early trading, at an implied interest rate of just over 6% for 10-year debt.
The 10-year rate had risen by a quarter percentage point on Wednesday, as lenders’ fears over the government’s ability to repay its debts, or stay within the euro, resurfaced.
However, it seems investors are losing patience.
Spain will hope that Thursday’s austerity measures will mean fewer economic conditions if it asks for a second bailout.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy fuelled expectations that Spain would ask for a bailout when he told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday that if borrowing costs were “too high for too long”, then “I can assure you 100% that I would ask for this bailout”.
The economic situation remains grim, with comments from the central bank on Wednesday indicating that the country’s recession deepened in the last three months.
“Available data for the third quarter of the year suggest output continued to fall at a significant pace, in an environment in which financial tension remained at very high levels,” the Bank of Spain said in a monthly report.
Last week, Spain’s second biggest bank, BBVA, estimated that up to another 60 billion euros ($78 billion) will be needed to bail out the banking sector.
About 20 billion euros has already been allocated to troubled banks.
Spain, the eurozone’s fourth largest economy, fell back into recession in the last quarter of 2011, the second recession since the bursting of the country’s property bubble.
But with a shrinking economy and unrest in the country, reducing the deficit via further austerity measures may prove a difficult task for the government.
The government has predicted a budget deficit this year of about 6.3%, but many analysts estimate it will be nearer 7% or higher.
The basic outline for the budget has been known since July, but not exactly where the cuts and savings will come from.
There has been speculation that the budget could include such measures as taxes on shares transactions, “green taxes” on emissions or eliminating tax breaks, and even possibly ending inflation-linked pensions.
Madrid has already said that it wants to claw back a total of more than 150 billion euros between 2012 and 2014: 62 billion euros this year, 39 billion euros in 2013, and 50 billion euros in 2014.
But many analysts remain skeptical that this will be enough to resolve Spain’s economic woes.
Despite the public anger, PM Mariano Rajoy said sacrifices were necessary.
“We know what we have to do, and since we know it, we’re doing it,” he said in a speech in New York.
“We also know this entails a lot of sacrifices distributed… evenly throughout the Spanish society,” he said.
But Boris Schlossberg, managing director at New York-based BK Asset, said: “Spain is in a vicious cycle, because austerity is hurting economic activity and revenues, which causes greater fiscal gaps.”
“People are starting to realize this, and the political will to absorb these sacrifices is diminishing by the hour,” he said.
UNHCR, the UN’s refugee agency, has warned that as many as 700,000 people could have fled Syria by the end of the year, a huge increase on its previous estimate.
Some 294,000 refugees have already left Syria, and the UNHCR is appealing for money to help deal with the crisis.
Most of the refugees are housed in camps in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.
Rami Abdel Rahman, from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), said the figure included only those whose names had been documented.
UNHCR has warned that as many as 700,000 people could have fled Syria by the end of the year
“If we count the unidentified bodies, the figure will be much higher,” he said.
The observatory (SOHR) said 199 of Wednesday’s dead were civilians.
The SOHR is one of the most prominent organizations documenting and reporting incidents and casualties in the Syrian conflict. The group says its reports are impartial, though its information cannot be independently verified.
Other groups estimated Wednesday’s death toll to be considerably higher.
The UNHCR said between 2,000 and 3,000 refugees were fleeing the violence into neighboring countries every day.
“Many refugees are arriving with only the clothes on their backs,” said Panos Moumtzis, the agency’s regional co-ordinator for Syrian refugees.
“Some have been displaced many times before leaving Syria. They need humanitarian assistance from day one.”
The agency said in March it estimated that about 100,000 people would have fled by the end of the year.
But that number was surpassed in July.
The agency said it was urgently trying to prepare for winter, warning that many of the refugees were still living in tents.
For much of the past 18 months rebel groups have been fighting against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Activists estimate more than 27,000 people have died in the violence.
Repeated efforts by the international community to find a diplomatic solution have foundered because of a deep divide at the UN Security Council.
Late on Wednesday US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the Security Council was “paralyzed” and urged the members to overcome their differences.
Honey Boo Boo’s mother, June Shannon, is apparently at war with her ex, Michael Ford, after he has demanded she allow him to see his estranged daughter, Jessica.
Honey Boo Boo’s half sister, Jessica Shannon, also known as Chubbs, is the daughter of Michael Ford, a registered sex offender once charged with sexual exploitation of a minor over the Internet.
According to The National Enquirer, Michael Ford is remorseful of his 2005 crime, and has defied June Shannon, writing an open letter to the 15-year-old, who stars on the hit TLC show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, urging her to get in touch with him.
Michael Ford was arrested in 2005 after he contacted an undercover policeman posing as a 13-year-old girl in an online chat room.
He believed he was talking to a minor, and subsequently sent a naked picture of himself along with instructions on how to perform oral sex.
June Shannon is at war with her ex Michael Ford after he has demanded she allow him to see his estranged daughter Jessica
After he arranged a place to meet the supposed minor, he was immediately arrested. After pleading guilty, he spent more than two years in prison.
Now, Michael Ford says he is desperate for his daughter’s grandparents to meet her, according to the Enquirer.
But June Shannon, fiercely protective of her daughter, says Michael Ford only wants to see his daughter because she is now “famous”.
“He hasn’t wanted to deal with Jessica for 15 years, and all of a sudden, the show comes out and he’s father of the year,” she purportedly told the Enquirer.
Michael Ford, who maintains he has been paying child support since 2004, says he has tried to be a responsible parent “all along”, blaming June Shannon for his seven year absence in Jessica’s life.
“Last November, June told me if I tried to come to the house to see Jessica, she’d have me arrested for harassment!” he explained.
“I was shocked to see Jessica on television the night the show premiered, but when I tried to see her the next day, I was told: <<If you want to see your daughter, turn the television on Wednesday nights>>.”
Michael Ford says he is making a last ditch effort with an open letter to his daughter.
“Honey, your dad messed up, but I’ve done my time. Despite what you have been told, I’ve always tried to be with you.
“I’d like you to meet your grandparents before they pass on. If I had the money I’d fight to get visitation with you, but I don’t.
“Your mom thinks I want to see you to get the money from you, but I don’t want the money – I just want to spend time with my baby girl, so you can get to know me and my family. Nothing could make me happier. I love you.”
The Kardashians brand will hit the world of cosmetics this Christmas, but to keep fans on their toes, the sisters have released a handful of teaser promo shots three months before products hit stores.
Kim, 31, Kourtney, 33, and Khloe Kardashian, 27, announced their forthcoming range, Khroma Beauty, in June – an “affordable” line featuring false eyelashes, a “suite” of mascaras and “Kardazzle Compacts”.
An excited Kim took to her blog KimKardashian.celebuzz.com to announce the news: “These are the brand new promo shots for our makeup line, Khroma Beauty!
“I can’t wait to share all of our amazing new products with you guys.”
She continued: “We’ve always wanted to release our own cosmetics line, so this is a dream come true.
“Our Lash Dash luxury lash collection will debut this holiday season, with more products coming in the new year.”
The Kardashian sisters have released a handful of teaser promo shots three months before Khroma Beauty line products hit stores
The December release, which will be exclusive to Ulta stores across the U.S., is being touted as a “special holiday assortment”.
A further launch, including even more products, will follow in January-February 2013.
The second round of products will include a “Kurve Compact” finishing powder, a pre-foundation treatment mask titled the Million Dollar Mask and an illuminator.
Kim Kardashian has become known for her flawless, glowing, and dewy looking skin; often using heavy layers of products to achieve an enviable “no-make-up” look.
She expressed her delight over the new venture in June, writing: “I’ve been waiting forever to be able to tell you guys and finally I can… my sisters and I are launching our own make-up line!!”
The sisters said in a press release: “We’re so excited. There’s a glam girl in all of us and it’s a dream come true to have our own makeup line and to share it with women around the world.”
Robin Coe-Hutshing, creative director of Khrome Beauty, said the line should prove affordable to fans.
“Kourtney, Kim and Khloe wanted to share their access to luxury formulas with their fans and our goal was to provide a prestige product range at very accessible prices,” she said.
Kim Kardashian added that she and her sisters have loved make-up from very early ages, and even Kylie Jenner, their half sister, tweeted this morning about being a huge Cover FX fan.
“Growing up we would play with my mom’s make-up and from a young age I always wanted to be a make-up artist!” Kim Kardashian wrote.
“Of course now make-up plays such a huge role in all of our lives, whether we’re on camera, at a shoot glammed up or just keeping it natural day to day and it’s a dream come true to be able to create our own line of products to share with you guys,” she continued.
The Duchess of Cambridge wore what she had assumed was a traditional national dress to an event celebrating Solomon Islands’ culture…only to later discover that the dress was actually from the Cook Islands, some 3,000 miles away.
Kate and William were meant to have dressed as Solomon Islanders to the party in the capital of Honiara on 16 September, part of their Diamond Jubilee tour of the Far East and South Pacific.
The sartorial agreement between the government of the Solomons and Clarence House was that the Duke and Duchess would attend the event wearing, respectively, a traditional handmade shirt and traditional dress.
But the gaffe occurred thanks to a woman named Kethie Sunders, an over-enthusiastic member of the Solomon Islands’ welcoming committee, who laid out the wrong clothes in the young royals’ suite.
Kate wore a Cook Islands traditional dress to an event celebrating Solomon Islands’ culture
Kethie Sunders nipped in to the bedroom before the Duke and Duchess arrived, excitedly adding some more gifts of clothing to the ones already laid out inside.
But when the royals arrived, their entourage noticed that the clothes in the suite – a bright blue patterened shirt for William and an elaborate strapless fuchsia dress for Kate – did not match the descriptions of the ones that had been agreed on.
A spokesman for Clarence House said: “We saw they weren’t the same design of the traditional clothes we were told would be gifted.
“So we checked with the Solomon Islands government to ensure the right ones were worn.
“We were reassured the clothes were correct, and so the Duke and Duchess wore them to the event.
“It was not learned until later in the evening that the clothes weren’t from the islands.
“But it was understood that the Duke and Duchess intended to wear traditional Solomon Island clothes and this was appreciated. No offence was caused.”
An official from Government House of the Solomon Islands said: “We are incredibly frustrated that this situation has come about and see Kethie as entirely to blame.
“It was completely inappropriate for her to go to Their Royal Highnesses’ room, which she filled with various things, causing confusion.”
Kate did not manage to wear the actual Solomon Islands dress during the tour, since her outfits had already been planned out for the whole trip, but she did return to England with both dresses.
Her spokesman said: “She still has both dresses, they were a gift, and she also has lovely memories of her wonderful time in the Solomon Islands.”
Russian media mogul Alexander Lebedev has been charged with hooliganism in Russia after he punched fellow guest Sergei Polonsky during a TV debate last year.
Alexander Lebedev, who owns Britain’s Independent and Evening Standard newspapers, faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.
In September 2011, he knocked former real estate businessman Sergei Polonsky off his chair during the heated debate.
Alexander Lebedev, 52, says the case is a vendetta for his criticism of the Kremlin.
Alexander Lebedev has been charged with hooliganism in Russia after he punched fellow guest Sergei Polonsky during a TV debate last year
He was charged with hooliganism and assault “motivated by political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred, or hatred of a particular social group” – the same offence that three members of Russia’s Pussy Riot punk group were jailed for earlier this year.
Alexander Lebedev – whose net worth was recently reported by Forbes magazine to be $1.1 billion – has already signed an undertaking not to leave Russia, prosecutors say.
The former KGB agent also holds a major stake in Russia’s opposition newspaper Novaya Gazeta.
The punch-up happened during the show NTVshniki, which was broadcast on 16 September 2011.
Alexander Lebedev said after the incident that Sergei Polonsky was about to hit him so he had acted in self-defence.
He told Russia’s Interfax news agency: “At one point, expounding on an idea of his and looking straight at me, he said: <<This deserves a punch in the face>>.
“I asked <<Do you mean me?>>, and he shouted <<Yes!>> After that, I very neatly neutralized this absolutely unfounded threat.”
Sergei Polonsky claimed after the show that he had a cut on his arm and his trousers were torn.
The number of unemployed people in France has topped 3 million for the first time since 1999, according to latest labor ministry figures.
August’s jobless total rose by 23,900 to 3.011 million, a 9% increase on a year earlier, marking the 16th consecutive monthly rise.
Speaking before the data was officially announced, Labour Minister Michel Sapin said: “It’s bad. It’s clearly bad.”
However, the government blamed the previous regime of Nicolas Sarkozy.
The number of unemployed people in France has topped 3 million for the first time since 1999
“These three million unemployed embody the failure of economic and social policies undertaken during the last few years,” the labor ministry said in a statement.
“In the face of this difficult report, the government is determined to implement as soon as possible reforms,” it said.
The news will, however, add pressure on President Francois Hollande, who came to power on a promise to revive the economy.
He won power in May, pledging to revive the eurozone’s second largest economy, tackle rising unemployment, and reverse industrial decline. However his approval rating is now at it lowest since he assumed power, pollsters say.
Since May, major companies have announced thousands of layoffs, including carmaker Peugeot, drugmaker Sanofi, airline Air France-KLM, and retailer Carrefour.
Analysts warned that the unemployment situation could worsen.
Mathieu Plane, economist at the French Economic Observatory, told the Reuters news agency: “There are almost one million more unemployed people compared with early 2008 and we can’t yet say that we have reached the peak.”
The French economy has posted three consecutive quarters of zero growth, and forward-looking data suggests it may continue to flatline.
“Confidence is weak both with companies and, even more so, with households. It’s not really surprising given the economy has fallen in recession and the private sector is facing the biggest tax hike in decades,” Bruno Cavalier, analyst at Oddo Securities, wrote in a research note.
The 2013 budget, due to go before the cabinet on Friday, is expected to contain more than 30bn euros in budget savings, and fresh tax rises.
The government has forecast 0.3% growth for the year, and has so far kept its 2013 target at 1.2%, which many economists now consider unrealistic.
France’s central bank this month predicted that the economy would contract by 0.1% in the third quarter after flatlining for the first half of the year.
Amid the gloom, French consumer confidence slipped two points in September from the previous month, the national statistics office said on Wednesday.
Bobbi Kristina Brown and her boyfriend Nick Gordon were involved in a car accident on Sunday.
Bobbi Kristina Brown, 19, was a passenger in Nick Gordon’s black 2012 Camaro when it was severely damaged in Georgia at the weekend.
It is currently unclear how the accident happened.
According to gossip website TMZ.com, the couple had been arguing at the time of the crash – which destroyed the entire front end of the vehicle – and Nick Gordon’s Camaro was the only car involved. No one was injured.
Nick Gordon’s car was left without a front bumper and the airbags were deployed
After the accident, the car was left without a front bumper and right front tyre, and the airbags were deployed, but it somehow got back to the couple’s apartment.
Police visited the house soon after the accident following a noise complaint, but no one answered the door.
An incident report shows officers saw the vehicle parked outside the property with its hazard lights on, and it appeared to have been driven in a “damaged state”.
The accident is currently under investigation.
Bobbi Kristina Brown and Nick Gordon lived together as brother and sister for more than a decade before Whitney Houston’s death.
Coronation Street actor Simon Gregson – who plays Steve McDonald on the ITV1 show in UK – was caught on film when he decided to crash the stage at Manchester’s Hilton Hotel… in just a thong.
The cameraman who recorded the action was none other than Simon Gregson’s co-star Alan Halsall – who plays mechanic Tyrone Dobbs – which was swiftly posted online for all to see.
The event which raised funds to support cancer prevention was hosted by actress Sally Dynevor (Sally Webster), who has battled the illness in real life.
Simon Gregson’s antics began as Sean Tulley – Anthony Cotton in the prime time soap – performed on the microphone while the nearly nude actor swept (literally) on to the stage with a broom in tow.
Simon Gregson crashed the stage at Manchester’s Hilton Hotel in just a thong
From one side of the stage to the other, Simon Gregson, 37, pushed the cleaning instrument back and forth before moving to the front and kicking some debris off the stage.
He then approached his co-star, wrapping a friendly arm around his shoulder before kissing Sean three times on his face.
The former I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here contestant was clearly unimpressed by the naked actor’s affectionate gesture and soon enough Simon was sweeping the floor again.
But not letting the earlier rejection sour his mood, Simon Gregson wiggled his bum at the audience, who loved the display so much he treated them to another shake.
With a cheer from the audience, Simon Gregson left the stage and maybe leaving some of his dignity there too.
A soap source told the Daily Mirror: “Simon brought the place down. He’s a real joker. He probably had a bit of Dutch courage to give him the confidence to strip down to a thong.”
He later continued the joke on his Twitter page, writing: “All the Corrie guys did a great job. Some loony got his bum out but apart from that it was a great night.”
And the wild times didn’t stop there with Kym Marsh, Catherine Tyldesley, Marc Baylis and Simon tweeting a snap of them all in bed together.
Honey Boo Boo and her family posed for a photoshoot in the hilarious season finale of reality show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo to air on Wednesday night.
Things don’t quite go to plan as the gang take part in a family portrait, with the 101°F heat causing tempers to flair as Honey Boo Boo smudges her make-up off and ends up resembling “a football player”.
The action kicks off with the Thompson crew dressing up for what is meant to be some fun in the sun, including the pageant hopeful sporting a pink floral frock and gold clips in her blonde hair.
Mother June Shannon even turns a little philosophical as she is seen telling the camera: “Beauty comes from within. If you’ve got a great personality and everything, then it shines through to the outside.
“It doesn’t matter. Big, small, little… beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Skinny, fat, it don’t matter.”
Honey Boo Boo smudges make-up as family portrait turns sour in season finale
Father Mike “Sugar Bear” Thompson then muses over his choice of outfit, oblivious to the comedic deadpan delivery, saying: “I just went casual, I’m not the dress-up type – unless it’s a funeral.”
However, things soon take a turn for the worse as the soaring heat fails to impress anyone.
Precocious Honey Boo Boo, real name Alana Thompson, is seen pinching a water bottle from her mother while June Shannon is still drinking, with the cheeky child claiming she thought the family matriarch had finished sipping.
The seven-year-old then grows irritable and very tetchy, bemoaning “the heat drains me”, before rubbing her eyes and being told she resembles “a football player” after her eye make-up smudges.
June Shannon also rather unattractively says: “Man, I’m taking a bath in my own sweat.”
Another drama to unfold in the episode sees Honey Boo Boo gearing up for a big pageant, before plans change as sister Anna Chickadee goes into labor, and the arrival of baby Kaitlyn is captured on camera.
The season finale of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo airs on Wednesday at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on TLC.
Chris Brown enjoyed a night out with former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger on Tuesday.
Chris Brown and Nicole Scherzinger were a part of a star-studded line up that arrived to help host the Black Pyramid Party at Supperclub in Los Angeles.
With Chris Brown, 23, fresh from a court appearance, he joined The X Factor UK judge as well as The Voice UK judge Will.i.am and singer Sean Kingston at the bash.
Chris Brown- who arrived wearing loose jeans, a plain white T-shirt, plus a hooded leather jacket – addressed the crowd with warmth and often reached out to touch fans.
Chris Brown and Nicole Scherzinger enjoy a night out at Black Pyramid Party in LA
As he put on an animated display inside the venue, taking to the microphone and flailing his arms in the air, his star friends smiled on as they awaited their turn to entertain.
However, while the clubbers danced and the spotlight was not on the celebrity guests, Chris Brown cosied up to Nicole Scherzinger.
The performer is currently paired up with girlfriend Karrueche Tran but she was not pictured at the venue.
Nicole Scherzinger, 34, is dating Formula One racer Lewis Hamilton, but while her beau is away in Asia for training, she got to know her industry pal a little better.
Chris Brown was seen leaning in close to the star – perhaps in an effort to be heard over the loud music – and at one point appeared to put his arm around her.
Nicole Scherzinger donned a flirty off-the shoulder with a large beanie hat on her head for the night out.
Meanwhile Chris Brown was again showing off his new darker set of locks after recently dying his hair.
He ditched his platinum blonde locks before his court hearing on Monday where it was revealed he failed a drug test.
The singer – who is currently on probation after attacking his then girlfriend Rihanna in 2009 – tested positive for marijuana in June in Virginia, where the drug is illegal, but since he claims to have smoked it in California, where he has a medicinal marijuana card. Judge Patricia Schnegg has let him off with a warning.
However, Judge Patricia Schnegg ordered a review of his progress on November 1 amid concerns about how many community service hours he has completed and allegations he has violated the terms of his travel restrictions.
She also urged him to consider how the public and his young fans perceive his actions, telling him: “You are not an average person sitting in a living room. You are not only in the public eye, but you are on probation.”
Before the hearing Rihanna, who is currently in London, tweeted Chris Brown a message of support saying: “@chrisbrown I’m praying for you and wishing u the best today (sic)” to which he responded: “thank u so much (sic).”
For many years it seemed that watches were outdated and would never gain popularity again, especially due to the fast development of mobile devices with integrated clocks. They are, however, experiencing a renaissance at the moment According to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, 2011 was one of the most successful years in terms of growth for the business and has seen watch exports from Switzerland gain up to 19.2%.
More than just a time-teller
Watches have always been far more than just items to tell their wearer what time it is. They serve aesthetic purposes, too, and are as often used as decor elements which can largely differ in prices. In fact, global brands like Jaeger-LeCoultre have decades of experience in manufacturing elegant wristwatches and some of their models go for five-digit sums. Watches come in such a huge variety of designs and colors that they match every taste. It is interesting to note that people often use watches to spice up their outfits and rather buy a watch than spend much money on an entire outfit. The aspect of fashion does therefore play an important role in the design of a watch. However, another aspect is as important: the various functions a watch can offer.
High-tech watches rival smartphones
Some of them even dispose of special features like waterproof watch cases or a compass, and the industry is working hard to compete with the latest electronic devices: Watches with Bluetooth-connectivity or the ability to be synced to smartphones are among the latest developments and are to attract a younger audience which wants to have some fun with the watches. Therefore it doesn’t come as a surprise that people between 15 and 30 who have grown up with electronic devices have become one of the most important target audiences for manufacturers of watches.
Standing out
It is quite ironic that the overwhelming success of mobile phones and smartphones has led to the recent comeback of watches. While over the last couple of years people have always competed over who has the best and latest technology, everyone does by now own a smartphone. To stand out, express themselves and underline their individuality, people are starting to look for something new. Especially for men, watches are classic accessories which give them the opportunity to create their individual outfit since they are quite restricted in their choice of jewelry. The fact that watches aren’t only elegant but also electronic gadgets makes them ideal for men.
Police have fired tear gas in Greece to disperse anarchists throwing petrol bombs near parliament in Athens.
Dozens were arrested during the one-day strike against planned spending cuts of 11.5 billion euros ($15 billion).
It was the first union-led action since a conservative-led coalition came to power in June.
The savings are a pre-condition to Greece receiving its next tranche of bailout funds, without which the country could face bankruptcy in weeks.
Greece needs the next 31 billion-euro installment of its international bailout, but with record unemployment and a third of Greeks pushed below the poverty line, there is strong resistance to further cuts.
Police have fired tear gas in Greece to disperse anarchists throwing petrol bombs near parliament in Athens
The government of conservative Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is proposing to save money by slashing pensions and raising the retirement age to 67.
But it has also urged the troika representing Greece’s lenders – the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) – to give it an extra two years to push through the austerity programme.
On Tuesday Greek Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras put a price on that delay for the first time – saying it would in effect cost as much as 15 billion euros.
The Greek protest follows a series of demonstrations in Spain and Portugal, which are also facing stringent austerity measures.
An estimated 50,000 people joined Wednesday’s protests, including doctors, teachers, tax workers, ferry operators and air traffic controllers.
Banks and historic sites in Athens remained shut, with many shopkeepers expected to close up early so they could attend demonstrations.
Schools and government services also closed down, though buses were still running, reportedly to help ferry people to the protests.
“We can’t take it anymore – we are bleeding. We can’t raise our children like this,” Dina Kokou, a teacher, told Reuters news agency.
“We won’t submit to the troika!” and “EU, IMF out!”, “People, fight, they’re drinking your blood,” protesters chanted.
A march past parliament turned violent as anarchists wearing black balaclavas and carrying sticks threw petrol bombs and broken bits of concrete at riot police on Syntagma Square.
Images showed a policeman on fire as the bombs exploded.
The strike was called by the country’s two biggest unions, which between them represent half the workforce.
A survey conducted by the MRB polling agency last week found that more than 90% of Greeks believed the planned cuts were unfair and a burden on the poor.
Greece was given a 110 billion-euro bailout package in May 2010 and a further 130 billion euros in October 2011, backed by the IMF and the other 16 euro nations.
That money is paid in installments, but correspondents say the lenders are reluctant to stump up the latest slice, as they feel Greece has not made enough effort to meet its deficit-reduction targets.
Greece needs the new money to make repayments on its debt burden. A default could result in the country leaving the euro.
Four Syrian military guards were killed after suicide attackers drove vehicle bombs into the military HQ in the heart of Damascus, officials say.
State TV quoted army sources saying that 14 others were hurt in the attacks, contradicting earlier official accounts that said no one had died.
The rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) said it had carried out the attack, but did not mention suicide bombings.
State TV broadcast footage of a minibus slowing before exploding at the HQ.
Suicide attackers drove vehicle bombs into the military HQ in the heart of Damascus
Gunfire reverberated around the city for hours after the bombings, as rebels fought with soldiers at the compound.
Official media said “terrorist attackers” had opened fire inside the perimeter of the compound and in nearby streets, and security forces had confronted them.
State TV said those killed were guards at the compound, and both civilian and military personnel had been wounded.
Witnesses said the blasts ignited a fire that engulfed much of the main building that houses the army’s General Staff.
State media insisted earlier that no senior officers were hurt.
The blasts happened just before 07:00 local time close to one of the city’s busiest areas, Umayyad Square, which is dominated by government buildings.
Roads leading to the area were blocked off as the authorities dealt with the aftermath.
Diplomats living close to the area said the blasts were the biggest they had heard for months.
Buildings more than 1 km (half a mile) away shook violently under the force of the explosions.
The staff command compound represents the heart of the Syrian army.
And the attack comes days after FSA announced it had moved its command from Turkey to Syria in an apparent attempt to bolster its fight against regime forces.
Damascus resident Jean-Pierre Duthion said his entire building shook and windows were shattered.
“We all ran into the corridor, in the place without windows or anything, and we were just waiting until it stopped,” he said.
Andy Williams has died at his home in Branson, Missouri, after a year-long battle with bladder cancer, aged 84.
The singer was best known for the song Moon River, the Oscar-winning song featured in the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
In 1962, he started The Andy Williams Show, which was broadcast around the world and went on to win three Emmys.
Since the 1990s, he had run the Andy Williams Moon River Theater in his home town.
Andy Williams was one of the most enduring stars of the 1960s and ’70s whose easy style and mellow voice led President Ronald Reagan to call him “a national treasure”.
Andy Williams has died at his home in Branson after a year-long battle with bladder cancer
A new generation discovered Andy Williams’ music when Music to Watch Girls Go By made the Top 10 in 1999 after being used in an advert.
He described Moon River as his “signature song” which had a “wonderful” melody and “timeless” lyrics.
“I never tried to sing like anybody else, fortunately I didn’t sound like anybody else. It just happened,” said Andy Williams.
“I was very lucky that I had a voice that sounded different to almost anybody else’s and it’s recognizable.”
Andy Williams died on Tuesday night and is survived by his wife, Debbie, and his three children, Robert, Noelle and Christian.
Howard Andrew Williams was born in Iowa and started singing professionally with his three brothers as the Williams Brothers Quartet.
They worked in night clubs and on radio and backed Bing Crosby on his number one record Swinging on a Star in 1944.
Andy Williams’ TV show made him an international star and launched a recording career that spawned such hits as Butterfly, Love Story, Can’t Get Used to Losing You and Almost There.
The show lasted nine years and will be remembered by many for introducing the Osmond family to the world.
Andy Williams became a major star in 1956, the same year that Elvis Presley shot to fame, and was well loved in the 1960s.
“The old cliché says that if you can remember the 1960s, you weren’t there,” said the singer.
“Well, I was there all right, but my memory of them is blurred – not by any drugs I took but by the relentless pace of the schedule I set myself.”
In 1962 he married Claudine Longet, a French actress and singer, with whom he had three children before their divorce in 1975.
Andy Williams revealed in November 2011 he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer but said he planned to continue performing at his own theatre.
He said at the time that bladder cancer was “no longer a death sentence” and that “people with cancer are getting through this thing”.
“They’re kicking it, and they’re winning more and more every year. And I’m going to be one of them,” he went on.
Andy Williams left hospital in July to spend his final days at home with his family.
In lieu of flowers, his family has asked that donations be made to the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network.
Cheeky Honey Boo Boo appears to have the troublemaker gene, as she was seen running around a police car while sticking her tongue out.
Fortunately there was no officer behind the wheel that she was caught goading, as the reality star spread her arms in an airplane stance while swooping around the parked law enforcer vehicle.
The little blondie, real name Alana Thompson, was seen wearing a red Piggly Wiggly T-shirt, complete with “See You At The Pig!” slogan across the back, while getting up to mischief.
Honey Boo Boo, also wearing a pair of floral cycling shorts, was free to roam across her front yard barefoot while larking around in her hometown of McIntyre, Georgia.
Despite playing during the school hours on a Tuesday afternoon instead of sitting at a desk in a classroom, Honey Boo Boo’s mother June Shannon insists that she is not exploiting her daughter.
Speaking to Radar Online, she said: “I don’t exploit Alana. I would never exploit my kids. Critics are critics and everybody has their opinions but I am not doing anything wrong.
“It’s always been about fun and it’s an experience in life that they can look back at.”
June Shannon added: “We watch the show and wish they put in more stuff!”
Honey Boo Boo originally found fame on Toddlers & Tiaras, before landing her own spin-off.
It is no wonder the lure of the small screen has enticed June Shannon to sign on the dotted line, with the family reported to earn an estimated $2-4,000 per episode, expected to soar for a new series.
And while the seven-year-old playfully ran rings around the police car, June Shannon has had a real run-in with the law, with the coupon queen arrested in January 2008 for theft and contempt of court.
Spain’s economy continued to shrink at a “significant rate” in the third quarter, the Bank of Spain has said.
Spain is currently in a deepening recession, with the unemployment rate at its highest level since the 1970s.
Economy Minister Luis de Guindos said on Saturday he expected the economy to contract by about 0.4% in the July-to-September quarter.
Bank of Spain has announced that the country’s economy continued to shrink at a significant rate in the third quarter
European markets were trading lower, with concerns about Spain adding to fears over global growth.
Spain’s Ibex index was down 2.3%, while markets in London, Paris and Frankfurt were down more than 1%.
Spain’s borrowing costs also rose, with the yield on 10-year Spanish bonds traded on international markets rising to 5.94% from 5.67%.
The Bank of Spain said in a monthly report: “Available data for the third quarter of the year suggests that GDP kept falling at a significant rate, in a context of high financial tensions.”
The government has introduced highly unpopular spending cuts and tax rises as it attempts to reduce the country’s deficit.
It will present details of an emergency budget and further austerity measures on Thursday.
Separately, French bank Societe Generale said that it had further cut its exposure to Spanish sovereign debt, to 400 million euros ($515 million) by the end of August, from 700 million euros at the end of June.
South African politician Julius Malema has appeared in court to face money laundering charges.
A large crowd of his supporters has gathered outside the court in Polokwane, capital of his home state of Limpopo.
There is a heavy police presence and long stretches of barbed wire fencing have been put in place.
Julius Malema says the charges against him are politically motivated.
South African politician Julius Malema has appeared in court to face money laundering charges
He is accused of abusing his former position as head of the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League.
Chanting and dancing outside the court, many members of the ANC Youth League are holding up placards saying “Hands off our leader”.
Julius Malema is well-known in South Africa for his fiery populist rhetoric and lavish lifestyle, describing himself as an economic freedom fighter.
The 31-year-old politician was thrown out of the ANC in April, accused of sowing divisions in the party.
Julius Malema is a fierce critic of his former ally, Jacob Zuma, recently attacking the president over his handling of the Marikana miners’ strikes.
Some in South Africa believe he is being rushed to trial – less than a week after a warrant for his arrest was issued – in order to strengthen Jacob Zuma’s political position.
It is likely to be a long court battle that may offer insights into the corruption that many people believe blights South Africa.
Julius Malema is also the subject of a separate tax investigation.
Women are ironing out wrinkles and rejuvenating their skin with injections of their own blood.
The procedure – dubbed the “vampire facelift” – involves taking a blood sample from the patient’s arm and putting it through a machine which separates out the platelets.
These are tiny fragments of cells which circulate in the blood and are filled with hormones and proteins.
They are responsible for making the blood clot when we get a cut or bruise. But also at high concentrations they are thought to stimulate the skin to repair itself. These platelets are then injected into the face.
Women are ironing out wrinkles and rejuvenating their skin with injections of their own blood
The procedure has had impressive results in America and is now being offered by clinics in the UK.
Taimur Shoaib, a consultant plastic surgeon who offers the treatment in three £400 ($625) sessions at his clinic La Belle Forme in Edinburgh, has performed the procedure on several hundred men and women since launching it earlier this year.
He said: “It can rejuvenate and repair skin that has environmental damage. It’s good for skin that has been damaged by the sun or smoking and that is dry and damaged and wrinkled. This appeals to people because it’s a natural product.”
At Bassim Matti’s clinic in Harley Street, 28 patients have had the treatment paying £1,500 ($2,350) for a series of injections covering the face.
Reza Nassab, a registrar in plastic surgery at the clinic, said after six months 60% of the patients were still very satisfied with the results.
He said 40% did not see much of an effect, but staff were hoping to improve the results by changing the concentration of the platelets.
Reza Nassab said: “This treatment is called PRP or platelet rich plasma, but people call it the Vampire facelift. The platelets have growth factors within them. When they are injected into the face, the growth factors are thought to stimulate collagen and other things which help to rejuvenate and regenerate the skin.”
Platelet transfusions have long been used in reconstructive surgery, but this is their first use as a cosmetic treatment.
In experiments on rats injected with platelets, scientists found high concentrations increased the number of collagen fibres in their skin and improved skin quality.
Reza Nassab, who presented the results at the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons scientific meeting in London, said he believed it worked the same way in humans.
He said: “It’s using your own blood, a technique which has been used in medicine for a long time, to give your skin a boost.”
Popular LA bakery Sprinkles, which launched a cupcake ATM Stateside, is bringing the device to the UK so that shoppers can get a sugary fix at all hours of the day.
Sprinkles, which is said to be considering a number of different locations in London to install the machine, churned out up to 1,000 cupcakes a day when it opened the same facility in Los Angeles – and even reported that the machine crashed because of high demand.
The ATM would be continuously restocked throughout the day and night with a choice of eight cupcake flavors at any one time, priced at around £3.50 ($5.50) each.
Sprinkles, which launched a cupcake ATM Stateside, is bringing the device to the UK
Nicole Schwartz, head of marketing at Sprinkles, explained that the machines can hold up to 600 cupcakes, and any cake dispensed will have only been baked a couple of hours earlier.
She told The Atlantic at the time of the LA launch: “The machine is attached to our bakery, which is essentially a 24-hour operation. By the time our closers leave at night, it’s 11:00 p.m. and our bakers arrive in the wee hours of the morning (2 or 3 a.m.!).
“We’ll constantly be restocking the automat with freshly baked cupcakes so the cupcake you receive will only have been baked a couple hours earlier.”
Whether the London machine will stock cakes for dogs too, like its LA counterpart is as yet unconfirmed.
Sprinkles in LA decided to stock the pet treats because health department regulations do not permit dogs in the bakery she explained, “so you don’t have to tie up Fido while you head inside”.
Sprinkles is as famous in its American birthplace for its A-list fans as it is its buttercream-frosted treats.
Heidi Klum, Blake Lively and the Kardashian sisters have all been spotted in its stores (though quite how they eat cupcakes and maintain those bodies is anyone’s guess).
And since The Great British Bakeoff hit screens, cupcakes are certainly in fashion on this side of the pond too.
Cakes, in flavors such as cinnamon sugar and chocolate coconut, sell for $3.50 each (£2.15) or $39 per dozen (£24) in the States, and prices are likely to be similar when the cakes launch in the UK.
Larry Young and Brian Alexander, who recently released The Chemistry Between Us: Love, Sex, and the Science of Attraction, have dissected the emotional, biological and cultural reasons behind the real reason men love breasts.
The two authors believe heterosexual men are so fascinated by women’s breasts thanks to a simple hormone released during nursing which helps to forge the powerful bond between mother and baby, which also creates an evolutionary drive for a strong nurturing bond between lovers.
Larry Young, a leading expert in the neuroscience of social bonding, wrote a column for the Huffington Post, explaining that “biologically speaking”, the human male breast obsession is “pretty weird”.
“Men are the only male mammals fascinated by breasts in a sexual context,” said Larry Young.
“And women are the only female mammals whose breasts become enlarged at puberty, independent of pregnancy. We are also the only species in which males caress, massage and even orally stimulate the female breasts during foreplay and sex.”
Heterosexual men are so fascinated by women’s breasts thanks to a simple hormone released during nursing
He continued to say that women do enjoy attention on their breasts, after Roy Levin, of the University of Sheffield, and Cindy Meston, of the University of Texas, surveyed 301 people, which included 153 women, on breast stimulation.
The results showed that stimulating the breasts or nipples enhanced sexual arousal in about 82% of the women, and nearly 60% ask to have their nipples touched, according to Larry Young.
The authors cite the success of Hooters, “men’s” magazines like Playboy, and about “100,000 years of art” as obvious proof that men are “extremely” drawn to breasts.
However, the attraction is nature, not nurture, they say.
“Boys don’t learn on the playground that breasts are something that they should be interested in. It’s biological and deeply engrained in our brain,” they wrote.
“In fact, research indicates that when we’re confronted with breasts, or even breast-related stimuli, like bras, we’ll start making bad decisions (and not just to eat at Hooters).”
Evolutionary biologists have suggested that because full breasts are mostly made up of fat, this signaled to a man that a woman is in good health, “therefore a top-notch prospect to bear and raise children”.
However, another hypothesis is based on the idea that many primates have sex with the male entering from behind, which has been used to explain why some female monkeys “display elaborate rear-end advertising”.
Therefore in humans, it has been argued that women’s breasts evolved to mimic the contours of her rear.
The authors dismiss both of these ideas, instead referencing a neurological explanation that links the same brain mechanisms used to promote a powerful bond between a mother and her infant.
“When a woman gives birth, her newborn will engage in some pretty elaborate manipulations of its mother’s breasts,” they wrote.
“This stimulation sends signals along nerves and into the brain. There, the signals trigger the release of a neurochemical called oxytocin from the brain’s hypothalamus.
“This oxytocin release eventually stimulates smooth muscles in a woman’s breasts to eject milk, making it available to her nursing baby.”
They continued: “But oxytocin release has other effects, too. When released at the baby’s instigation, the attention of the mother focuses on her baby. The infant becomes the most important thing in the world.
“Oxytocin, acting in concert with dopamine, also helps imprint the newborn’s face, smell and sounds in the mother’s reward circuitry, making nursing and nurturing a feel-good experience, motivating her to keep doing it and forging the mother-infant bond. This bond is not only the most beautiful of all social bonds, it can also be the most enduring, lasting a lifetime.”
Essentially, “when a partner touches, massages or nibbles a woman’s breasts, it sparks the same series of brain events as nursing”, they explained.
Humans are also among the very few animals that have sex face-to-face, “looking into each other’s eyes”.
The authors conclude that this “quirk” of human sexuality has evolved to “exploit the ancient mother-infant bonding brain circuitry as a way to help form bonds between lovers”.
Because an oxytocin release focuses the brain’s attention to a partner’s face, smell, and voice, the authors believe that the combination of oxytocin release from breast stimulation, and the increase of dopamine from the excitement of foreplay and face-to-face sex, helps to create an “association of the lover’s face and eyes with the pleasurable feelings, building a bond in the women’s brain”.
Far from being creepy, the authors say, a man’s fascination with breasts is “an unconscious evolutionary drive prompting us to activate powerful bonding circuits that help create a loving, nurturing bond”.
Greek trade unions have begun the first general strike since the country’s conservative-led coalition government came to power in June.
Wednesday’s 24-hour walkout is to protest at new planned spending cuts of more than 11.5 billion euros ($15 billion).
The savings are a pre-condition to Greece receiving its next tranche of bailout funds, without which the country could face bankruptcy in weeks.
Large anti-austerity demonstrations are also planned.
Greek trade unions have begun the first general strike since the country’s conservative-led coalition government came to power in June
Greece needs the next 31 billion-euro installment of its international bailout, but with record unemployment and a third of Greeks pushed below the poverty line, there is strong resistance to further cuts.
The government of conservative Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is also proposing to slash pensions and raise the retirement age to 67.
Workers from a diverse range of sectors are taking part in the strike, from doctors to air traffic controllers.
It was called by the country’s two biggest unions, which between them represent half the workforce.
A survey conducted by the MRB polling agency last week found that more than 90% of Greeks believed the planned cuts were unfair and a burden on the poor.
With demonstrations planned, many people fear a repeat of the violence that has hit the streets in previous protests.
Thousands of police have been deployed in the centre of Athens to prevent a flare-up.
Greece is currently trying to qualify for the next installment of its 130 billion-euro bailout, which is backed by the IMF and the other 16 euro nations.
The country was given a 110 billion-euro package in May 2010 and a further 130 billion euros in October 2011. That money is paid in installments, but correspondents say the donors are reluctant to stump up the latest slice, as they feel Greece has not made enough effort to meet its deficit-reduction targets.
Greece needs the next tranche of its bailout to make repayments on its debt burden. A default could result in the country leaving the euro.
Kim Kardashian looked fantastic in her green velvet wrap dress from the front, but from behind it was unfastened and quite literally busting at the seams.
Kim Kardashian, 31, was at Fred Segal in Santa Monica on Tuesday evening for her Midori Makeover Parlour event when she experienced her frock’s fury.
Luckily, Kim Kardashian had her momager Kris Jenner on hand to do a quick inspection of the gown before allowing her famous daughter to walk the red carpet – face front, of course.
Kim Kardashian looked fantastic in her green velvet wrap dress from the front
With her shiny dark locks swept to one side, Kim Kardashian finished off her evening look with neutral make-up and a pair of gold stiletto heels.
The most famous Kardashian had tweeted a picture of her substantial cleavage in the dress while en route to the sweet melon liquor event, calling herself a “Ghostface Killa”.
Kim Kardashian’s dress was unfastened and quite literally busting at the seams from behind
“So excited for my @DrinkMidori Makeover Parlour event tonight! #Midorimakeover,” Kim Kardashian tweeted to her 16.2 million followers.
The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star then shared a picture of three styles of green acrylic nail art, asking her fans to pick Kim Kardashian’s manicure makeover.
It was an ironic post since the brunette bombshell, who turns 32 next month, had already visited her favorite Beverly Hills nail salon earlier Tuesday for a manicure and pedicure.
“Back in LA for a few hours! Feels good to be home, even for this short time!” she wrote after landing at LAX.
Only yesterday, Kim Kardashian was strutting around Miami Beach with her sister Kourtney in her usual thick make-up.
While her older sibling – who recently gave birth to her second child Penelope – rocked a white T-shirt and shorts, Kim Kardashian opted for something more attention grabbing, sporting a plunging white swimsuit and a gold belt.
The sisters have been busy filming a new season of Kourtney & Kim Take Miami in the Florida sunshine.
The pair will be working on their Dash clothing and accessories shop which they have branches of in both New York and California.
Honey Boo Boo’s mother, June Shannon, has stated that her granddaughter Kaitlyn will not be having surgery to remove the extra thumb on her right hand anytime soon.
Kaitlyn, whose mother is June Shannon’s 18-year-old daughter Anna “Chickadee”, was born on July 26 and shortly after the bone abnormality was detected.
But it has been revealed that doctors do not want to operate on the two-month-old infant, as they would rather wait until her digits are fully developed.
Kaitlyn, whose mother is June Shannon’s 18-year-old daughter Anna “Chickadee”, was born on July 26
Talking about the possibility of her grandchild having her extra thumb amputated, 33-year-old June Shannon, from McIntyre Georgia, told RadarOnline.com that corrective surgery has been delayed until a later date.
“The doctor doesn’t want to do anything right now because they don’t know the full function of the other thumb or if they’re both connected,” she said.
“They just have to wait and see. They don’t want to do it too early, if they cut one off the other could have paralysis or it could make the other fingers not work, so they don’t want to make any rash decisions.”
Reports surfaced shortly after Kaitlyn’s birth that June Shannon had made inappropriate comments about the physical abnormality, which she denied.
Talking about her first grandchild, the mother-of-four exclaimed: “She’s just special; I would never make fun of her.
“That is not right. It makes her more unique and special to us. We don’t even pay attention to it. We don’t make a big deal about it.”
June Shannon and her family shot to fame on TLC’S Toddlers & Tiaras.
They currently star in the spin-off series Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, with the season finale set to air this Wednesday.
Caleb Clark, 19, from Griffin, Georgia, previously came forward as Kaitlyn’s father. He claimed he fathered the child after dating Anna Shannon for two years during high school.
June Shannon added that her grandchild “may or may not ever” get surgery to remove the double thumbs and they will wait for a while before returning to hospital.
