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2012 Met Costume Institute Gala: all about who can sparkle hardest

Lisa.Felice
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2012 Met Costume Institute Gala: all about who can sparkle hardest

This year Met Costume Institute Gala, held in New York last night, was all about who can sparkle hardest, as the celebrities slip into futuristic fabrics.

Gwyneth Paltrow had no problems, paying tribute to last night’s hostess Muccia in a stunning short and backless lilac-silver dress that was probably the most elegant outfit on the red carpet tonight.

Sparkle seems to work best when given a slant, like Gwyneth Paltrow’s Barbarella minimalism or Sofia Vergara’s sensational Marchesa silver lace column dress.

The color is so subtle it allows the drama of the lace and the sexy shape of the gown to really do the talking, and Sofia Vergara finished off her look with a bright, bright slick of fuchsia pink lipstick which sealed the deal.

In the gold corner, Cameron Diaz was a column of light in a retina-searing Stella McCartney gold dress which she paired, rather cheekily, with the hairstyle made famous in her 1998 smash hit movie, There’s Something About Mary.

And Jessica Alba offers a masterclass in how to really shine, without looking like a gaudy street hoarding.

She added a frisson of Hollywood glamour to her burnished gold Michael Kors dress, with gothic touches such as black nails and a vintage style Roger Vivier‘s Pilgrim Coeur clutch.

It transforms the timeless beauty into a pewter dipped antique goddess, while Mad Men’s Jessica Paré, breathtaking beauty though she is, false foul of an all over large sequin fabric that seemed to drown her gloriously dainty figure.

Camilla Belle in Ralph Lauren worked the trend with a gothic slant, just like Alba, and triumphantly her dark lips stood out on a carpet filled with fashionable peach pouts.

Sofia Vergara's sensational Marchesa silver lace column dress
Sofia Vergara's sensational Marchesa silver lace column dress

Lana Del Rey, unsurprisingly, also jumped at the chance to mine this fusion of old school glamour and film noir stylings, and debuted darker colored hair with her Joseph Altuzarra outfit which featured a stunning cape.

Carey Mulligan went furthest on this space oddity, in giant sequins by Prada; this dress ran the gamut of metallic hues and perhaps worked best on the newly married beauty’s slender shoulders as the skirt flared out in a Judy Jetson style hoop that looked awkward on the willowy Brit.

Leighton Meester also opted for metallic Marchesa, this time in gold, it was a bold move from the Gossip Girl star but one that aged her as her youth became lost within the archaic gold filigree patterned lace and giant diaphanous ruffles.

Scarlett Johansson filled out her Dolce and Gabbana fishtale dress admirably, but it’s pale color blended into the actress’s skin too softly and she always shines more brightly in rich colors.

Renee Zellweger was a vision in Pucci, an surprise choice for the star who was expected to wear Caroline Herrera, but a masterstroke, as she looked incredible in the dramatic backless black gown which, yes you guessed it, had accents of gold.

Rihanna played it reasonably safe in Tom Ford’s applique crocodile, but her stunning figure proved to be her winning accessory.

Her hair was slicked back to showcase her incredible cheekbones, but that was the same look chosen by Rooney Mara and Gisele Bundchen to heighten their air of Victorian melodrama in detailed Givenchy lace and embellished satin respectively.

Other stars wore their black in a gothic style, which was easily the second most popular trend of the evening.

Cate Blanchett, peerless beauty as always, nailed the look in a ravishing dress by Alexander McQueen that was at both extravagant and strangely minimalist, giving her the air of an elegant raven.

Another black look was sleek, as best personified by Rihanna, but also showcased to great effect by Rosario Dawson in super-sexy Calvin Klein and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley flying the British flag in Burberry.

Emma Roberts, Katharine McPhee and Eva Mendes were good enough to eat in various shades of orange, while the in the minority (for once) ladies in red, Chelsea Clinton, Emma Stone and Milla Jovovich made the most of the scarlet hue.

Mad Men star January Jones put pop into pastel in her fresh yellow dress, while Victoria’s Secret model Candice Swanepoel was a hip shade of blue to Brooke Burke’s slightly soppy take on the color.

Christina Ricci and Lily Collins boldly refused to follow the crowd and wore daring individual gowns.

Christina Ricci donned an incredible number by cult designer Thakoon, that certainly marked her out from the crowd with it’s large bow any celebrity other than Ricci would’ve looked plain ridiculous, but she managed to pull it off, just.

Not so Lily Collins, who just didn’t look glamorous enough in her pretty Victorian-style Valentino gown.

Rolling Stones Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood wore their rock ‘n’ roll credentials on their suited sleeves, and Jagger had his designer girlfriend L’Wren Scott cheering up his arm, while Wood had theatre producer Sally Humphreys by his side.

 

Cat gets a neck rub from a portable massager

Diane A. Wade
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Cat gets a neck rub from a portable massager

A cat closes its eyes in happiness as it enjoys a neck rub from a portable massager.

Tucked up in a blanket on a striped lounge chair, the cat looks completely comfortable while getting the neck rub.

The brindle striped cat has its ears raised, and its tail twitches involuntarily as the massager digs deep into its shoulders and neck.

The cat closes its eyes in happiness as it enjoys a neck rub from a portable massager
The cat closes its eyes in happiness as it enjoys a neck rub from a portable massager

It doesn’t show any signs of moving off the couch in a hurry.

Some may wonder whether eating and lying around all day creates the kind of tension that requires a massage.

The video became viral on YouTube and got more than 500,000 views in two weeks.

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Why Amish children from Indiana farms are nearly immune to asthma and allergies

Kathryn R. Bown
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Why Amish children from Indiana farms are nearly immune to asthma and allergies

According to a new study, Amish children raised on rural farms in northern Indiana suffer from asthma and allergies less often even than Swiss farm kids, a group known to be relatively free from allergies.

“The rates are very, very low,” said Dr. Mark Holbreich, the study’s lead author.

“So there’s something that we feel is even more protective in the Amish than in European farming communities.”

What it is about growing up on farms – and Amish farms in particular – that seems to prevent allergies remains unclear.

Researchers have long observed the so-called “farm effect” – the low allergy and asthma rates found among kids raised on farms – in central Europe, but less is known about the influence of growing up on North American farms.

Dr. Mark Holbreich, an allergist in Indianapolis, has been treating Amish communities in Indiana for two decades, but he noticed that very few Amish actually had any allergies.

Amish children raised on rural farms in northern Indiana suffer from asthma and allergies less often even than Swiss farm kids, a group known to be relatively free from allergies
Amish children raised on rural farms in northern Indiana suffer from asthma and allergies less often even than Swiss farm kids, a group known to be relatively free from allergies

As studies on the farm effect in Europe began to emerge several years ago, Dr. Mark Holbreich wondered if the same phenomenon might be found in the United States.

He teamed up with European colleagues to compare Swiss farming children and non-farming children to Amish kids in Indiana.

Amish families, who can trace their roots back to Switzerland, typically farm using methods from the 1800s and they don’t own cars or televisions.

The researchers surveyed 157 Amish families, about 3,000 Swiss farming families, and close to 11,000 Swiss families who did not live on a farm – all with children between the ages of six and 12.

They found that just 5% of Amish kids had been diagnosed with asthma, compared to 6.8% of Swiss farm kids and 11.2% of the other Swiss children.

Similarly, among 138 Amish kids given a skin-prick test to determine whether they were predisposed to having allergies, only 10 kids – or 7% – had a positive response.

In comparison, 25% of the farm-raised Swiss kids and 44% of the other Swiss children had a positive test, the researchers report in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

The study did not determine why the kids who grew up on farms were less likely to develop asthma and allergies, but other research has pointed to exposure to microbes and contact with cows, in particular, to partially explain the farm effect.

Drinking raw cow’s milk also seems to be involved, Dr. Mark Holbreich said.

The going theory is this early exposure to the diverse potential allergens and pathogens on a farm trains the immune system to recognize them, but not overreact to the harmless ones.

As for why the Amish kids have even lower allergy and asthma rates than the other farming kids, “that piece of the puzzle we really haven’t explained”, Dr. Mark Holbreich told Reuters Health.

He speculated that it could be at least partly a result of the Amish having larger families or spending even more time outside or in barns than people on more modern working farms.

Dr. Corinna Bowser, an allergist in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, said there’s also a possibility that inherited factors could play a role.

“The Amish are still of a limited genetic pool, I would assume, because they’re much more segregated than the Swiss kids are,” Dr. Corinna Bowser told Reuters Health.

Dr. Mark Holbreich said upcoming studies will further investigate the differences between the farming groups, with an eye toward designing possible interventions.

For instance, pregnant mothers or young children could be exposed to the mysterious factors that seem to protect farm kids as a preventive treatment, he explained.

“The goal is to try to find a way to prevent this allergy and asthma epidemic that western populations are facing,” Dr. Mark Holbreich said.

 

Orange bikini Kim Kardashian holidays with sister Kourtney and nephew Mason in Mexico

Lisa.Felice
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Orange bikini Kim Kardashian holidays with sister Kourtney and nephew Mason in Mexico

Kim Kardashian has been spotted sporting an eye-catching halterneck orange bikini as she hit the beach with older sister Kourtney and her two-year-old nephew Mason on a recent holiday to Mexico.

Kim Kardashian, 31, was not content to just spend the day sunbathing – instead trying her hand at bodyboarding in the warm sea.

And she certainly seemed to be taking to the sport like a duck to water, laughing as she cruised in to shore on her bright yellow board.

Kim Kardashian later let her hair down for a stroll down the beach, and looked pensive as she shielded her eyes from the sun.

The reality star later joined sister Kourtney and nephew Mason, carrying the little boy as she splashed around in the water.

At one point, Kim and Kourtney swung delighted little Mason along on the sands.

Mason was dressed in black swimming trunks and a black hat with orange detail which matched his auntie Kim Kardashian’s swimming costume.

Kim Kardashian sporting a halterneck orange bikini as she hit Mexico beach with sister Kourtney and nephew Mason
Kim Kardashian sporting a halterneck orange bikini as she hit Mexico beach with sister Kourtney and nephew Mason

Kourtney Kardashian meanwhile, dressed her growing baby bump in a black swimsuit and sheer patterned wrap.

She kept herself protected from the sun in a straw colored hat with black ribbon.

The sisters were in Mexico to celebrate Kourtney Kardashian’s 33rd birthday last month, but were without Mason’s father Scott Disick.

However, the sisters were also joined by her friend Robin Antin who also tried her hand at bodyboarding.

Robin Antin, an entrepreneur, actress and choreographer, who founded girl group The Pussycat Dolls, wore a patterned blue and purple bikini to splash around in the surf.

Kim Kardashianis regularly seen at the gym near her home on Los Angeles, and the results were clear to see as she displayed her washboard stomach and toned legs.

She admitted last month that she is working out up to six times a week to keep her famous figure in shape and has been changing her diet for the better.

Kim Kardashian wrote via Twitter: “I’ve been trying to change my bad eating habits – slow process but its working. I feel so much better! Sugar, dairy & gluten free. HARD!”

She added: “I will have sweets every once in a while & dairy but this is a huge step for me! Its a lifestyle change but I’m loving it so far!”

Kim Kardashian clearly appreciated the break, while divorce proceedings from estranged husband Kris Humphries are still ongoing.

She yesterday spent three hours at her lawyer’s Los Angeles home.

 

Euro fell against USD and GBP following French and Greek election results

Clyde K. Valle
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Euro fell against USD and GBP following French and Greek election results

Euro fell against the dollar and the pound on Monday following French and Greek election results, which cast doubt on European austerity plans.

Pro-bailout parties in Greece performed poorly, while Francois Hollande won the French presidency, promising to focus more on growth.

The euro fell as low as $1.295, its lowest since January, and dropped to three-year lows against the pound.

The main European stock markets fell early on before recovering.

In Germany, the DAX fell by more than 2%, but by mid-afternoon was only down by 0.1%.

In Paris, the CAC 40 recovered to trade up by 0.7%.

Athens shares fell by as much as 8.3%. In London, markets were closed for a bank holiday.

Euro fell against the dollar and the pound on Monday following French and Greek election results, which cast doubt on European austerity plans
Euro fell against the dollar and the pound on Monday following French and Greek election results, which cast doubt on European austerity plans

In New York, the Dow Jones opened down by 0.3%.

The interest rates on some government debt has also gone up, indicating a fall in investor confidence. The yield in the secondary markets for Greek 10-year bonds has gone up from 20% to 22.2%.

Asian markets also fell, with the Nikkei in Tokyo dropping 2.8%. South Korea’s KOSPI shed 1.8% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 2.4%.

In Greece, the socialist Pasok party saw an unexpectedly poor result, while Syriza, which has opposed austerity measures, had a strong performance.

The result has cast doubt on whether the country’s policies that currently include large spending cuts, tax increases and state job losses, can continue.

“The knee-jerk reaction was a little strong, but there’s chaos in Greece, and [politicians] being against the deal that was already agreed upon is almost like progress being set back a year and a half,” said Scott Freeze, president of StreetOne Financial.

While the French result was expected, there is still concern about whether Francois Hollande will be able to work as closely with German Chancellor Angela Merkel as his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy did.

The two were the driving force behind the eurozone’s fiscal compact.

Francois Hollande stood on a platform of promoting growth rather than concentrating on austerity.

“The global financial markets aren’t thrilled by the idea that France and Greece have voted for governments less willing to work with the Germans on a consistent approach to addressing their fiscal deficits,” said Dick Green at Briefing.com.

During the campaign, Francois Hollande pledged to renegotiate the fiscal pact in which European countries agreed to strict controls on their budgets.

But following his victory, and the defeat of the governing coalition parties in Greece, Angel Merkel said that the deal was “not up for grabs”.

“It is a matter of principle in Europe that following elections, be they in small or large countries, we do not renegotiate what’s already been agreed,” she said.

“Otherwise we could not work together in Europe.”

The ratings agency Standard and Poor’s, which downgraded France from its triple-A rating in January said the election result would have no immediate impact on its credit status.

“We will analyze the policy choices of France’s president elect and the new government, taking into account the outcome of the parliamentary elections in June,” the agency said.

“The chances are that the next move is going to be down. The chances are it’s going to be slightly earlier than it would have been otherwise, but the agencies themselves will have a measured response,” said Georg Grodski, head of credit research at Legal and General.

“There is still hope that Mr. Hollande will tone down some of his rhetoric and accept that you can’t fix an economic problem by living on other people’s money.”

 

South Korea discovers thousands of pills filled with powdered human flesh coming from China

Diane A. Wade
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South Korea discovers thousands of pills filled with powdered human flesh coming from China

Customs officials in South Korea have discovered thousands of pills filled with powdered human flesh coming from China, it was revealed today.

South Korea says it will increase customs inspections targeting capsules containing powdered human flesh.

The Korea Customs Service said it had found almost 17,500 of the capsules being smuggled into the country from China since August 2011.

The powdered flesh, which officials said came from dead babies and foetuses, is reportedly thought by some to cure disease and boost stamina.

But officials said the capsules were full of bacteria and a health risk.

“It was confirmed those capsules contain materials harmful to the human body, such as super bacteria. We need to take tougher measures to protect public health,” a customs official was quoted as saying by the Korea Times.

The powdered flesh, which officials said came from dead babies and foetuses, is reportedly thought by some to cure disease and boost stamina
The powdered flesh, which officials said came from dead babies and foetuses, is reportedly thought by some to cure disease and boost stamina

The San Francisco Times reported that tests carried out on the pills confirmed they were made up of 99.7% human remains.

Inspections are to be stepped up on shipments of drugs arriving from north-east China, Yonhap news agency reported.

The Dong-a Ilbo newspaper said that capsules were being dyed or switched into boxes of other drugs in a bid to disguise them.

Some of the capsules were found in travelers’ luggage and some in the post, customs officials said.

Allegations that human flesh capsules were being trafficked from north-east China into South Korea emerged last year in a South Korean television documentary.

At the time China’s Health Ministry said it was investigating the claims raised by the programme.

Ministry spokesman Deng Haihua, quoted at the time in China Daily, said China had “strict management of disposal of infant and foetal remains as well as placentas”.

“Any practice that handles the remains as medical waste is strictly prohibited,” the newspaper quoted him as saying.

 

Why passion vanishes in your 30’s

Kathryn R. Bown
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Experts have found that men and women in their 30’s are more dissatisfied with their sex life than any other age group.

Financial worries and the stress of caring for children leave them too listless for bedroom fireworks, a survey claims.

But they should not despair. The best sex apparently happens in the 50’s, while sexual confidence peaks between the ages of 60 and 69.

The Sex Census 2012, which involved almost 25,000 respondents, suggests that 25% of those aged 30 to 39 are unhappy with their sex lives owing to money worries and the demands of modern life.

In the same age group 35% said caring for babies and young children was having a negative impact on their sexual relationships as they were just too tired.

Low body confidence and depression also played a part in their lack of desire.

But as the respondents got older their satisfaction levels increased. Of those between 50 and 59, 52% said they had a good sex life, with only a fifth saying they were unhappy.

Experts have found that men and women in their 30’s are more dissatisfied with their sex life than any other age group
Experts have found that men and women in their 30’s are more dissatisfied with their sex life than any other age group

Moreover, at age 18 women rated their sexual confidence at only four out of ten, while those aged 60 to 69 rated theirs at six out of ten.

The survey was funded by British charity Relate and the Ann Summers shop chain.

Paula Hall, sex therapist for Relate, said: “We know from previous research that the thirties can be a difficult period for some.

“Pressures such as mortgages, children and work can really hit hard in this decade, but combined with the impact of a double dip recession, it creates a pressure cooker for our relationships and sex lives and naturally something has to give.

“This age group is always a tricky one. The pressures to have it all are well documented but it’s important that people don’t give up on their sex lives.

“The results tell us that this age group actually want more sex, so people need to take time to work out what’s stopping them.

“It could be a communication barrier, or it might be the fact that you aren’t putting time aside for each other – whatever it is, having an open discussion can help get your sex life back on track.”

One of the more surprising findings of the survey was that 19% of the 70-plus age group had used a social networking site to meet a stranger for sex, as opposed to 13% in the 50 to 59 age group.

Perhaps unsurprisingly the highest percentage (26%) to use a site such as Facebook or Friends Reunited were the 30 to 39-year-olds.

Jacqueline Gold, chief executive of Ann Summers, said: “We are all aware of the impact stress has on our lives, but it is interesting to see the negative effect it has on our sex lives.

“Sex is a hugely important aspect of relationships and communication is a major part of this.”

 

2012 US Peace Index reveals the most peaceful and most violent states in America

Clyde K. Valle
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2012 US Peace Index reveals the most peaceful and most violent states in America

The non-profit Institute for Economics and Peace has released its U.S. peace index for the second-straight year.

According to 24/7 Wall St., the rankings were compiled based on five categories, including violent crime, amount of law enforcement and the ability to obtain small arms.

Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) founder Steve Killelea told 24/7 Wall St.: “In perfect states, there’d be no crime, therefore you’d have no need for police, nor would you lock anyone up.”

Steve Killelea said that because peace is not an exact science, the organization’s findings are based on several factors.

He told 247WallSt.com: “I don’t think there’s a single silver bullet which creates peace. I think it’s multi-dimensional and really complex. So, on that basis, we’ve pulled out the correlations.”

Louisiana was marred by its murder rate, which – at 11.2 per 100,000 people – is the highest among each of the 50 states.

Maine, which has been crowned the most peaceful state in the nation, had the lowest levels of violent crime, incarceration and police officers.

A state’s education system also comes into play in the IEP data, with education appearing to have the most impact on where a particular state wound up on the list.

High school graduation rates in particular had a striking effect on that state’s rank in the peace index.

Steve Killellea told the 24/7 Wall St.: “It is not so much the quality of education that matters for peace, but that states keep children in school and off the streets.”

The IEP, which is based in Australia, first released the U.S. peace rankings last year.

According to IEP, Maine has been crowned the most peaceful state in America, having the lowest levels of violent crime, incarceration and police officers
According to IEP, Maine has been crowned the most peaceful state in America, having the lowest levels of violent crime, incarceration and police officers

 

THE MOST PEACEFUL STATES IN AMERICA

1. Maine

2. Vermont

3. New Hampshire

4. Minnesota

5. Utah

6. North Dakota

7. Washington

8. Hawaii

9. Rhode Island

10. Iowa

 

THE MOST VIOLENT STATES IN AMERICA

1. Louisiana

2. Tennessee

3. Nevada

4. Florida

5. Arizona

6. Missouri

7. Texas

8. Arkansas

9. South Carolina

10. Mississippi

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George “Goober Pyle” Lindsey dies at 83

Sonia Pantiss
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George “Goober Pyle” Lindsey dies at 83

US sitcom actor George Lindsey, who found fame as petrol station attendant Goober Pyle on the Andy Griffith Show, has died at the age of 83.

The Marshall-Donnelly-Combs Funeral Home in Nashville said George Lindsey had died on Sunday following a brief illness.

George Lindsey played Goober on the Andy Griffith Show from 1964 to 1968.

He went on to play the same character in Hee Haw from 1971 until it ended in 1993. His other TV credits included M.A.S.H. and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.

US sitcom actor George Lindsey, who found fame as petrol station attendant Goober Pyle on the Andy Griffith Show, has died at the age of 83
US sitcom actor George Lindsey, who found fame as petrol station attendant Goober Pyle on the Andy Griffith Show, has died at the age of 83

“America has grown up with me,” George Lindsey said in an interview with the Associated Press in 1985.

“Goober is every man, everyone finds something to like about ol’ Goober,” he added.

In a statement released by the funeral home, Andy Griffith said: “George Lindsey was my friend. I had great respect for his talent and his human spirit.”

George Lindsey also appeared in several movies, including Cannonball Run II.

And he lent his voice to animation films such as Robin Hood, The Rescuers and The Aristocats.

George Lindsey began his professional acting career on Broadway in the musicals Wonderful Town and All American.

Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.

 

Rosehip oil, the secret ingredient for a supermodel complexion

Kathryn R. Bown
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Rosehip oil, the secret ingredient for a supermodel complexion

Supermodel Miranda Kerr can afford the costliest products on the planet, but last week she revealed that her luminous skin is all down to a slick of rosehip oil.

“I put it on at night and I wake up glowing,” Miranda Kerr said.

Derived from the wild rose bushes that grow high in the Chilean Andes, where the altitude and pollutant-free environment produce the highest quality rosehips, the oil’s benefits have been known by the indigenous population for hundreds of years.

Extracted from the seed of the fruit, it makes an anti-ageing oil that’s more potent – and far cheaper – than the more well-known face oils, such as rose otto.

So just why is it such a wonder oil? Not only is it rich in vitamin C and high in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, known to heal scar tissue, it’s also a great source of retinoic acid, which studies show reduces the appearance of wrinkles and brightens skin.

This combination means that it’s particularly good for fine lines and pigmentation problems – two of our most common skin complaints.

Extracted from the seed of the fruit, the rosehip oil is an anti-ageing ingredient that’s more potent, and far cheaper, than the more well-known face oils
Extracted from the seed of the fruit, the rosehip oil is an anti-ageing ingredient that’s more potent, and far cheaper, than the more well-known face oils

Another key benefit is its ability to sink into skin without leaving a greasy finish, a common gripe with many facial oils that you can apply only at night for fear of shiny cheeks.

“Rosehip is a dry oil, so it penetrates to the deepest layers of the skin where it regenerates skin cells, producing more collagen and elastin,” explains aromatherapist Denise Leicester, founder of organic skincare brand Ila.

“It’s so light, you can even apply a small amount over make-up to perk up tired office skin, yet it is so moisturizing that studies prove it reduces the appearance of scars and burns, too.

“My inbox is buzzing with women who’ve recently had surgery who say their scars have dramatically reduced after using rosehip.”

It is results like these that prompted Kate Middleton’s facialist, Deborah Mitchell, to add rosehip oil to her signature LIA therapy treatment, which is also a favorite of Gywneth Paltrow and Victoria Beckham.

“Rosehip is perfect for all ages and skin types, including those with sensitive skin conditions like rosacea and acne. I add a drop to moisturizer to boost the results – Kate loves it because it gives skin a luminous glow,” says Deborah Mitchell.

You can even do your own treatment at home.

“Mix 15ml of extra virgin olive oil with one drop of rosehip oil and apply to damp skin for an intensive night treatment,” advises Deborah Mitchell.

And if you’ve had a bad day, then drop a splash in your bath.

“Rosehip lifts your spirits. It releases endorphins that make you smile,” she adds.

 

Dannielynn Birkhead, Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter, blooms into a Texan rose at Kentucky Derby

Lisa.Felice
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Dannielynn Birkhead, Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter, blooms into a Texan rose at Kentucky Derby

Anna Nicole Smith left behind one lasting legacy to her angelic appearance in the form of her daughter Dannielynn Birkhead, who is now five years old, and a beauty just like her mother.

The little girl is growing up fast, and is the spitting image of her mother, who was aged just 39 when she was found dead in a Florida hotel room.

Dannielynn Birkhead was named after her half-brother Daniel, who died from a lethal combination of drugs after collapsing in his mother’s hospital room in the Bahamas while visiting his newborn sister.

But her father Larry Birkhead, who was forced to establish paternity in a suit against Anna Nicole Smith’s then partner and lawyer Howard K. Stern, seems to have done a good job of making sure that this little girl who endured such tragedy around her during her first days on this planet, has a normal life.

Dannielynn isn’t seen in the public eye aside from the annual father-daughter pilgrimage to the Kentucky race, and then it’s impossible not to be taken aback by the likeness.

The full lips, wide eyes and even the arch of the eyebrows are almost exactly the same.

Dannielynn Birkhead isn't seen in the public eye aside from the annual father-daughter pilgrimage to the Kentucky race
Dannielynn Birkhead isn't seen in the public eye aside from the annual father-daughter pilgrimage to the Kentucky race

This year, Dannielynn looked even more darling, if it could be possible, in an outfit paying homage to her mother’s home state of Texas.

Her headband featured the yellow rose, which is the emblem of the state.

“I see her mom in everything she does,” Larry Birkhead commented.

“We were at the Kentucky Derby and she started smiling and posing like her mom would. People ask me to put her in modelling, but I don’t want to push,” he told Us Weekly after last year’s event.

Larry Birkhead also explained how he told his daughter about his mother’s death: “At first I said, <<Your mommy’s up in the clouds>>. Then we were on a plane from Kentucky and she asked, <<Which cloud is my mom on, maybe she can come play?>>.”

Larry Birkhead is admirably protective of his daughter, and her late mother’s reputation.

He was livid about the Anna Nicole Smith opera which ran in London in late February and early March.

Larry Birkhead was furious with the Royal Opera House production’s exaggerated depiction of Anna Nicole Smith, and branded it “trash”.

He said he was particularly concerned about the effect of such material on Dannielynn.

“One day my daughter is going to see this trash,” Larry Birkhead said.

“These aren’t the images you want to relate to your child.”

Anna Nicole Smith was played by Dutch soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek.

Photos of the production show Eva-Maria Westbroek flaunting massive breasts and a blonde wig. One scene is said to depict Anna Nicole Smith performing a sex act on a character in a wheelchair.

“That lady is no Anna Nicole,” Larry Birkhead said of the soprano.

 

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett head out on a family trip amid divorce rumours

Lisa.Felice
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Will Smith and Jada Pinkett head out on a family trip amid divorce rumours

Will Smith was so used to people suggesting his marriage is on the rocks that he says he is now desensitized by said rumors.

Still, mere days after laughing off reports that he and wife Jada Pinkett Smith are splitting up, they made a show of family support by turning up at LAX together yesterday with daughter Willow in tow.

The only missing member of the family was their 13-year-old son Jaden.

All three present Smith members looked fashionable, cool and collected as they arrived for their departing flight.

They were a cohesive unit, given that both Willow, 11, and her mother wore plaid tops that matched Will’s cap.

Mere days after laughing off reports that Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett are splitting up, they made a show of family support by turning up at LAX together yesterday with daughter Willow in tow
Mere days after laughing off reports that Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett are splitting up, they made a show of family support by turning up at LAX together yesterday with daughter Willow in tow

Will Smith, 43, also coordinated with his wife by wearing vests over their tops.

They all also wore shades of grey and black somewhere in their ensembles.

This show of sartorial unity accompanies recent interviews that both Will Smith and Jada Pinkett, 40, gave regarding the state of their marriage.

Will Smith, whose upcoming film Men in Black III hits movie theatres on May 25, is well aware that split rumors are par for the course in Hollywood.

He told Access Hollywood: “It’s just part of the game. I’m not going to play that part, but I can understand where somebody would have something in their heart where they have to stab somebody, they have to poke at somebody, but I’m indestructible.

“Your gonna hurt yourself stabbing at me.”

Jada Pinkett Smith, too has spoken out about the subject.

She told Gala magazine: “I almost want to say that we should have been expecting it [but] Will and I know the truth.

“We’re waiting peacefully for the storm to blow over.

“These rumors are completely untrue. I travel a lot because of my work, just like Will does… But our lifestyle hasn’t changed.”

 

Kim Kardashian spent hours with lawyer Laura Wasser after Kris Humphries pressed for a divorce trial

Lisa.Felice
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Kim Kardashian spent hours with lawyer Laura Wasser after Kris Humphries pressed for a divorce trial

Kim Kardashian was seen at lawyer-to-the-stars Laura Wasser’s residence in Beverly Hills, where she spent few hours.

Make-up free, Kim Kardashian, 31, appeared as though she had come from or was going to the gym in her work-out leggings.

The reality star slipped on a denim jacket and wore a scarf around her neck to keep warm.

Furiously checking her phone, Kim Kardashian appeared somewhat anxious.

The fact that she also went to Laura Wasser’s residential home means things are quite serious, and by reports a war is ready to kick off between Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries.

Reportedly Kris Humphries wants his former wife to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Kim Kardashian spent hours with lawyer Laura Wasser after Kris Humphries pressed for a divorce trial
Kim Kardashian spent hours with lawyer Laura Wasser after Kris Humphries pressed for a divorce trial

Laura Wasser accused Kris Humphries of attempting to prolong the proceedings to dissolve their marriage for publicity’s sake during a brief hearing on Friday morning.

But the NBA player is not intimidated, according to Radar Online, and he is pressing for a divorce trial rather than an out-of-court settlement in order to get the truth out.

“The only way that this case won’t go to trial is if Kim publicly apologizes to Kris and admits that she only married him for television ratings,” revealed a source close to Kris Humphries.

“Kris just wants the truth to come out and Kim is just absolutely livid that she isn’t getting her own way. Kris wants Kim to answer questions about their relationship, under oath.”

The source continued: “Kris is ready for a fight and he has said that Kim should <<bring it on>>. Kris won’t be silenced and he isn’t after her money, he doesn’t want one dime from her.

“It’s just about the truth coming out, something that Kim’s camp seems to be petrified about.”

Kris Humphries wants to know what happened to one of their wedding presents – a $325,000 white Ferrari – given to the couple by a wealthy Malaysian businessman, among other things.

“Kris is ready to be deposed and answer questions under oath. He looks forward to Kim being deposed and he will be there when it happens,” the source said.

 

Curcumin drug to be tested for cancer treatment

Kathryn R. Bown
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Curcumin drug to be tested for cancer treatment

Curcumin, a chemical found in curry, is to be tested for its ability to kill bowel cancer tumors in patients.

Curcumin, which is found in the spice turmeric, has been linked to a range of health benefits.

Studies have already shown that curcumin can beat cancer cells grown in a laboratory and benefits have been suggested in stroke and dementia patients as well.

Now a trial at hospitals in Leicester will investigating giving curcumin alongside chemotherapy drugs.

If the disease spreads around the body, patients are normally given a combination of three chemotherapy drugs, but about half will not respond.

Curcumin, a chemical found in curry, is to be tested for its ability to kill bowel cancer tumors in patients
Curcumin, a chemical found in curry, is to be tested for its ability to kill bowel cancer tumors in patients

Forty patients at Leicester Royal Infirmary and Leicester General Hospital will take part in the trial, which will compare the effects of giving curcumin pills seven days before starting standard chemotherapy treatment.

Prof. William Steward, who is leading the study, said animal tests combining the two were “100 times better” than either on their own and that had been the “major justification for cracking on” with the trial.

He said: “Once bowel cancer has spread it is very difficult to treat, partly because the side effects of chemotherapy can limit how long patients can have treatment.

“The prospect that curcumin might increase the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapy is exciting because it could mean giving lower doses, so patients have fewer side effects and can keep having treatment for longer.

“This research is at a very early stage, but investigating the potential of plant chemicals to treat cancer is an intriguing area that we hope could provide clues to developing new drugs in the future.”

 

Vladimir Putin is back to Kremlin as Russia’s new president

Diane A. Wade
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Vladimir Putin is back to Kremlin as Russia’s new president

Vladimir Putin is back to Kremlin where he is inaugurated as president of Russia in a ceremony in the capital, Moscow.

Vladimir Putin is returning to the presidency after an absence of four years in which he served as prime minister. The outgoing President, Dmitry Medvedev, was widely seen as an ally of Vladimir Putin.

He won a third term as president in controversial elections in March.

On Sunday, thousands of protesters opposed to the inauguration clashed with police in Moscow.

Vladimir Putin took the presidential oath at the Grand Kremlin Palace, in a hall that was once the throne room of the Russian tsars.

Vladimir Putin is back to Kremlin where he is inaugurated as president of Russia in a ceremony in Moscow
Vladimir Putin is back to Kremlin where he is inaugurated as president of Russia in a ceremony in Moscow

In a short speech he said Russia was “entering a new phase of national development”.

“We will have to decide tasks of a new level, a new quality and scale. The coming years will be decisive for Russia’s fate for decades to come.”

Vladimir Putin said Dmitry Medvedev had given a new impulse to modernization, and the “transformation” of Russia must continue.

He also spoke of the need to strengthen Russian democracy and constitutional rights.

If he completes his six-year term, Vladimir Putin will be the longest serving Russian leader since Soviet supreme ruler Joseph Stalin.

However, Vladimir Putin faces many problems; the political system he created has been showing cracks, economic growth is forecast to slow, and violence in the volatile North Caucasus continues.

How Vladimir Putin deals with the wave of opposition protests which broke out last December will also be a key test of his administration.

Sunday’s protest against the inauguration was peaceful until a small group of demonstrators tried to break through the lines of riot police.

Some of the protesters launched a sit-in by the police lines, refusing to leave unless the inauguration was cancelled.

They were also demanding an hour of TV airtime and new elections.

Prominent opposition activists Alexei Navalny, Sergei Udaltsov and Boris Nemtsov were among dozens detained.

A rival demonstration in support of Vladimir Putin also took place in the city.

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Alzheimer’s and a range of brain diseases could be treated all with a single drug

Kathryn R. Bown
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Alzheimer’s and a range of brain diseases could be treated all with a single drug

British researchers have raised the tantalizing prospect of treating a range of brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, all with the same drug.

In a study, published in Nature, researchers prevented brain cells dying in mice with prion disease.

It is hoped the same method for preventing brain cell death could apply in other diseases.

The findings are at an early stage, but have been heralded as “fascinating”.

Many neuro-degenerative diseases result in the build-up of proteins which are not put together correctly – known as misfolded proteins. This happens in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s as well as in prion diseases, such as the human form of mad cow disease.

Researchers at the University of Leicester uncovered how the build-up of proteins in mice with prion disease resulted in brain cells dying.

They showed that as misfolded protein levels rise in the brain, cells respond by trying to shut down the production of all new proteins.

Researchers at the University of Leicester uncovered how the build-up of proteins in mice with prion disease resulted in brain cells dying
Researchers at the University of Leicester uncovered how the build-up of proteins in mice with prion disease resulted in brain cells dying

It is the same trick cells use when infected with a virus. Stopping production of proteins stops the virus spreading. However, shutting down the factory for a long period of time ends up killing the brain cells as they do not produce the proteins they actually need to function.

The team at the Medical Research Council laboratory in Leicester then tried to manipulate the switch which turned the protein factory off. When they prevented cells from shutting down, they prevented the brain dying. The mice then lived significantly longer.

Each neuro-degenerative disease results in a unique set of misfolded proteins being produced, which are then thought to lead to brain cells dying.

Prof. Giovanna Mallucci said: “The novelty here is we’re just targeting the protein shut-down, we’re ignoring the prion protein and that’s what makes it potentially relevant across the board.”

The idea, which has not yet been tested, is that if preventing the shut down protects the brain in prion disease – it might work in all diseases that have misfolded proteins.

Prof. Givanna Mallucci added: “What it gives you is an appealing concept that one pathway and therefore one treatment could have benefits across a range of disorders.

“But the idea is in its early stages. We would really need to confirm this concept in other diseases.”

The study has been broadly welcomed by other scientists although many point out that the research is in its infancy.

 

The Avengers breaks box office record with $200M

Sonia Pantiss
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The Avengers breaks box office record with $200M

Superhero movie The Avengers has broken the record for the biggest US opening weekend, taking $200 million, early figures show.

The previous best opening weekend was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, which opened in July 2011 with $169 million.

Included in the top five of biggest openers are The Dark Knight and Spider-Man 3.

The Dark Knight, starring Christian Bale as the Caped Crusader, took $158 million in its opening weekend in 2008, while Spider-Man 3 took $151 million.

Both superheroes will once again be seen on screen during the summer.

Superhero movie The Avengers has broken the record for the biggest US opening weekend, taking $200 million
Superhero movie The Avengers has broken the record for the biggest US opening weekend, taking $200 million

The Avengers, directed by Joss Whedon, failed to beat the final Harry Potter’s first day takings record of $91 million but surpassed it over the following two days.

No other big films dared go up against it, with only the British film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel being released on the same day.

The Avengers has so far taken $641 million worldwide.

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Francois Hollande celebrates victory in France’s presidential election

Diane A. Wade
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Francois Hollande celebrates victory in France’s presidential election

Francois Hollande has been celebrating his victory in France’s presidential election.

Socialist Francois Hollande – who polled just under 52% of votes in Sunday’s run-off election – said he was “proud to have been capable of giving people hope again”.

Centre-right incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy is the first French president not to win a second term since 1981.

Francois Hollande has vowed to rework a deal on government debt in eurozone member countries to try and promote growth.

Admitting defeat soon after polls closed on Sunday evening, centre-right incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy wished “good luck” to Francois Hollande.

Jubilant Hollande supporters gathered at the place de la Bastille in Paris – a traditional rallying point of the Left – to celebrate.

President-elect Francois Hollande and the new First Lady Valerie Trierweiler celebrating in Paris
President-elect Francois Hollande and the new First Lady Valerie Trierweiler celebrating in Paris

Francois Hollande – the first Socialist to win the French presidency since Francois Mitterrand in the 1980s – earlier gave his victory speech in his stronghold of Tulle in central France.

He said he would push ahead with his pledge to refocus EU fiscal efforts from austerity to “growth”.

“Europe is watching us, austerity can no longer be the only option,” he said.

After his speech in Tulle, Francois Hollande headed to Brive airport to fly to Paris to address supporters at the place de la Bastille.

“I am the president of the youth of France,” he told the assembled crowd of tens of thousands of supporters.

“You are a movement that is rising up throughout Europe,” he said.

Francois Hollande will begin work on forming a new government on Monday and must act quickly to reassure other eurozone countries he is up to the considerable challenge he faces.

He feeds a renewed sense of hope in the country – particularly among the young – that amid the austerity, there can be jobs and salaries, our correspondent adds. Francois Hollande offers a fresh start – but the debt problems for France are still the same

Francois Hollande has called for a renegotiation of a hard-won European treaty on budget discipline championed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy.

Angela Merkel had congratulated the president-elect by phone and invited him to Berlin to hold talks soon.

Francois Hollande’s campaign director, Pierre Moscovici, told AFP news agency that the two had agreed to work together on “a strong Franco-German relationship in the interest of Europe”.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron also called Francois Hollande to congratulate him.

Francois Hollande capitalized on France’s economic woes and President Nicolas Sarkozy’s unpopularity.

The Socialist candidate has promised to raise taxes on big corporations and people earning more than 1 million Euros a year.

He wants to raise the minimum wage, hire 60,000 more teachers and lower the retirement age from 62 to 60 for some workers.

In his concession speech, Nicolas Sarkozy told supporters: “Francois Hollande is the president of France and he must be respected.”

The outgoing president said he was “taking responsibility for defeat”.

Hinting about his future, Nicolas sarkozy said: “My place will no longer be the same. My involvement in the life of my country will now be different.”

During the campaign, he had said he would leave politics if he lost the election.

Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been in office since 2007, had promised to reduce France’s large budget deficit through spending cuts.

He becomes the latest European leader to be voted out of office amid widespread voter anger at austerity measures triggered by the eurozone debt crisis.

Francois Hollande is expected to be inaugurated later this month. A parliamentary election is due in June.

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How the most sinful foods may actually help you lose weight

Kathryn R. Bown
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0
How the most sinful foods may actually help you lose weight

Advances in nutritional research are beginning to shine a light on the potentially slimming effects of some of the most sinful foods, such as chocolate, cheese or a big glass of wine.

 

Red wine

Scientists in the U.S. have identified a compound in red wine that could help you slim. Called piceatannol, it appears to slow the growth of fat cells, which means that rather than topping up your calorie total, red wine could be a dieter’s friend. Piceatannol appears to alter the way new fat cells grow.

Normally, it takes ten days for a fat cell to reach maturity, and once it has, it is difficult to shrink with diet and exercise. However, when there’s piceatannol in the blood, fat cells are stopped from maturing. Scientists believe that if they isolate the compound, they may be able to use it in anti-obesity drugs.

You may be able to reap the fat busting benefits by having one glass of red wine a day. Any more, however, and you could be adding too much to your daily calorie load – half a bottle of wine is around 250 calories, but at 510 calories, a bottle a day is not only highly calorific, but also damaging to health.

Curry

Living off spicy takeaways – including curries – has always been thought of as a surefire route to weight gain, but researchers at Canada’s Laval University have found that a chemical contained in chillies could boost your body’s ability to burn fat and curb your appetite. This is because capsaicin, the chemical that gives chillies, cayenne and paprika their characteristic pungency, stimulates the natural process where some of the food we eat is converted immediately to heat. Called diet-induced thermogenesis, this process is good news for dieters because it means we burn up calories rather than storing them.

Scientists found that chilli can also reduce your appetite. Studies show that when men and women eat chilli-spiked food, they feel less hungry and eat significantly less at subsequent meals. Incorporating chillies into your breakfast has been shown to be effective at encouraging you to opt for a smaller lunch. But if you can’t face the thought of a spiced-up egg-white omelette (51 calories for three eggs), you can get your chilli fix at the end of the day with a hot curry, ideally tandoori, tikka or bhuna as they tend to be made without creamy sauces.

Advances in nutritional research are beginning to shine a light on the potentially slimming effects of some of the most sinful foods
Advances in nutritional research are beginning to shine a light on the potentially slimming effects of some of the most sinful foods

Nuts

There’s no doubt that nuts are fattening. Or are they? As a snack, nuts pack a heavier calorie punch than crisps (a handful of crisps is around 40 calories, whereas you can easily notch up 300 calories with a fist-full of peanuts). But nutritional experts believe they could be a better choice for dieters. Research shows that people who snack on nuts tend to be slimmer than those who don’t.

A study from Purdue University, Indiana, found that when a group of 15 normal-weight people added about 500 calories’ worth of peanuts to their diet, they consumed less at subsequent meals. The participants also revved up their resting metabolism by 11%, which means they burned more calories – even when relaxing. Researchers from the University of Barcelona say this is because nuts stimulate the hormone serotonin, which boosts happiness, decreases appetite and improves heart health. It takes only 1oz of raw, unpeeled walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts a day to start reducing fat around your abdomen.

Coconut oil

Coconut oil has acquired a bad reputation for being high in saturated fat. But research is emerging that indicates this fat might behave differently from other saturated fats. Coconut oil is predominantly made up of short and medium-chain fatty acids. These compounds don’t boost cholesterol levels – in fact, they lower the risk of heart disease and can help weight loss because your body is able to burn them more quickly than other fats.

Use small quantities in cooking or baking instead of butter or unhealthy oils. It remains stable at high temperatures so is great for frying, too.

Cheese

For long-term dieters one of the most sorely missed foods is often cheese. With its high fat and calorie content (42 cals and 3.5g of fat per 10g slice) it’s all-too often sacrificed in favour of more slimming sandwich fillings and meal toppings. But studies now show cheese can help you lose weight – particularly around your abdomen. Cheese contains protein, which helps us feel fuller more quickly, but scientists also believe the calcium in cheese encourages the body to burn more fat because it helps your body increase the amount of fat it eliminates. The best cheeses are feta or Edam as they are lower in fat per serving, but keep away from rich creamy ones such as Camembert.

Chocolate

Even though chocolate is loaded with calories, dark chocolate contains antioxidants and ingredients such as bioflavonoids that scientists believe may promote weight loss. A study at the University of California found that chocolate-eaters tended to be slimmer than those who didn’t touch the stuff. They were also less likely to get heart disease or suffer strokes. But milk chocolate adds calories and depletes the proportion of essential slimming nutrients. So choose dark chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa (70% or more) as the crucial nutrients are contained in the cocoa. As an added bonus, its bitter taste may also suppress appetite.

 

Israel: PM Benjamin Netanyahu calls for early general election

Diane A. Wade
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Israel: PM Benjamin Netanyahu calls for early general election

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for an early general election in Israel in four months’ time.

The vote is expected to take place in September, a year before he is required by law to seek a new mandate.

Benjamin Netanyahu leads a centre-right coalition which includes his own Likud, and the Labour party of Ehud Barak.

He has been prime minister since 2009. Opinion polls suggest that he is by some distance the most popular politician in Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for an early general election in Israel in four months' time
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for an early general election in Israel in four months' time

Benjamin Netanyahu told a meeting of party workers in Tel Aviv that he didn’t want “a year and a half of political instability accompanied by blackmail and populism”.

After listing the accomplishments of his government, Benjamin Netanyahu said he would like to lead a broadly based coalition after the election.

 

Francois Hollande wins French presidential election, say early estimates

Diane A. Wade
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Francois Hollande wins French presidential election, say early estimates

French Socialist Francois Hollande has been elected as new president, according to early estimates.

Francois Hollande got about 52% of votes in today’s run-off, according to projections based on partial results, against 48% for centre-right incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy.

He would be the first French socialist president since 1995.

Analysts say the vote has wide implications for the whole eurozone.

French Socialist Francois Hollande has been elected as new president, according to early estimates
French Socialist Francois Hollande has been elected as new president, according to early estimates

Francois Hollande has vowed to rework a deal on government debt in member countries.

The estimates were carried by French media after all polling stations closed at 20:00.

Exuberant Hollande supporters have already converged on Place de la Bastille in Paris – a traditional rallying point of the Left – to celebrate.

Francois Hollande capitalized on France’s economic woes and President Nicolas Sarkozy’s unpopularity.

The socialist candidate has promised to raise taxes on big corporations and people earning more than 1 million Euros a year.

He also wants to raise the minimum wage, hire 60,000 more teachers and lower the retirement age from 62 to 60 for some workers.

Nicolas Sarkozy, a centre-right leader who has been in office since 2007, had promised to reduce France’s large budget deficit through budget cuts.

It is only the second time an incumbent president fails to win re-election since the start of France Fifth Republic in 1958.

The last was Valery Giscard d’Estaing – he 1981 was beaten by socialist Francois Mitterrand, who had two terms in office until 1995.

The new president is expected to be inaugurated later this month.

A parliamentary election is due in June.

 

Russia: violent clashes at anti-Putin protests in Moscow

Diane A. Wade
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Russia: violent clashes at anti-Putin protests in Moscow

Protesters against Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin have clashed with police in the capital Moscow, ahead of his inauguration on Monday for a third term.

The protest was peaceful until a small group of demonstrators tried to break through the lines of riot police.

Opposition activists Alexei Navalny, Sergei Udaltsov and Boris Nemtsov have all been detained.

A rival demonstration in support of Vladimir Putin has also been taking place.

Organizers said about 20,000 people took part in the opposition march – to an island close to the Kremlin – although police put the figure at about 8,000.

Alexei Navalny urged protesters not to disperse until those arrested had been released.

Protesters against Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin have clashed with police in the capital Moscow, ahead of his inauguration on Monday for a third term
Protesters against Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin have clashed with police in the capital Moscow, ahead of his inauguration on Monday for a third term

Speaking to a radio station by phone from a police van, Alexei Navalny also told the protesters to insist that the authorities carry out the reforms they have promised.

Police have been blocking the protesters from crossing a bridge over the Moscow River.

Clashes broke out when more people crowded towards the bridge and riot police wielding batons pushed demonstrators back towards the rally site, witnesses said.

Protesters launched a sit-in by the police lines.

They were refusing to leave unless Vladimir Putin’s inauguration was cancelled. They were also demanding an hour of TV airtime and new elections, our correspondent says.

Dozens of protesters are said to have been arrested.

TV images then showed police storming the stage of the rally where left-wing activist Sergei Udaltsov had been addressing protesters, and taking him to a waiting vehicle.

Before he was seized, Sergei Udaltsov had called for the inauguration to be cancelled and said through a loud-hailer: “We will not leave.”

The crowd chanted back: “We are the power.”

Russia’s Interfax news agency later reported that Alexei Navalny – an anti-corruption blogger and nationalist – had been arrested and Dozhd TV tweeted that liberal politician Boris Nemtsov had also been detained at the rally.

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President Barack Obama kicks off his re-election campaign in Columbus, Ohio

Diane A. Wade
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President Barack Obama kicks off his re-election campaign in Columbus, Ohio

It was an embarrassing start for President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign yesterday as he held his first political rally of the 2012 race in a half-empty arena.

With First Lady dressed head to toe in campaign colors at his side, Barack Obama targeted swing states Ohio and Virginia that are critical for his bid to remain in the White House.

Barack Obama formally launched his Chicago-based re-election effort last year but his official political events have been confined to fundraisers since then.

That changed this weekend, however, with results which may have surprised Barack Obama.

The President, who was propelled to power in the 2008 election thanks in part to huge rallies across the nation, hoped to regain that momentum with events in large arenas in Columbus, Ohio and Richmond, Virginia.

Come game time, however, with his first event – which was free and open to the public – held at Ohio State University, his numbers appeared to fall flat, according to several reports.

One photo taken and posted to Twitter by Republican rival Mitt Romney’s campaign spokesman Ryan Williams showed the floor and seats with more space than people.

The venue holds 20,000 and according to figures from Barack Obama’s campaign, 14,000 attended the event – 70% of the stadium’s seating capacity.

According to the paper, event organizers busied themselves moving people from the stage’s surrounding seats to the arena’s floor to depict a better crowd to television cameras.

Barack Obama targeted swing states Ohio and Virginia that are critical for his bid to remain in the White House
Barack Obama targeted swing states Ohio and Virginia that are critical for his bid to remain in the White House

Aiming to encourage his supporters, Barack Obama released an email prior to his rally reminding them to watch his first rally and donate money.

“The crowd’s starting to form in Columbus, and they’re ready to go,” he said in the email.

“In a little while, I’ll go on stage for the first rally of 2012.”

Barack Obama’s campaign is eager to get the president on the road and at the center of the political battle.

“We’re ready to go,” campaign manager Jim Messina told reporters in a recent conference call.

“While Mitt Romney has been busy endearing himself to the Tea Party and making promises he can’t keep, we’ve been busy building the largest grassroots campaign in modern American history.”

The Republican National Committee released their own email earlier Saturday morning, however, in the mocking form of fake prepared remarks for the president’s rally in Columbus.

“Ohio, thanks for the tepid welcome. I know I’m not as popular here as I once was, so I’ll take what I can get,” the RNC said in the imagined speech it dubbed “as prepared for reality”.

“It turns out the hope and change I promised didn’t work out. So, we’ve launched a new strategy: hype and blame,” the RNC’s email said.

Since Mitt Romney became his party’s presumptive nominee, Barack Obama has criticized his opponent in formal and informal situations – a sign that he is more than ready to launch the attacks that are expected to characterize a potentially ugly and negative campaign.

Republicans accuse Barack Obama of infusing politics into his official White House events and scoff at the notion that his campaigning is just starting.

The president has done official trips in recent months to highlight his energy record and to tout proposals to reduce costs for students. Young people are an important constituency for his campaign.

The Obama campaign has mapped out several scenarios to win the 270 electoral votes needed to capture the presidency, and the choice of states for his inaugural rallies was not coincidental.

Ohio, with its large cache of 18 electoral votes, is a particularly coveted prize.

No Republican has made it to the White House in the last century without winning the state. Barack Obama bested Republican rival John McCain there in 2008.

Ohio has struggled with a loss of manufacturing jobs, but its unemployment rate, at 7.5% in March, is below the national average, which was 8.2% in March and dipped to 8.1% in April.

That could help blunt Mitt Romney’s attacks on Barack Obama’s economic record. The president’s campaign also hopes to capitalize on union anger over an attempt by the state’s Republican governor, John Kasich, to limit collective bargaining rights for firefighters, police officers, and other state workers. The law was later repealed.

Polls show Barack Obama is leading Mitt Romney in Ohio and Virginia. An average of polls by RealClearPolitics showed the president ahead in Ohio by 4.2 percentage points and ahead in Virginia by 3.2 percentage points.

Virginia had an even lower unemployment rate in March, coming in at 5.6%.

The Obama campaign will also try to capitalize on an advantage with women voters in the state, where the governor – Republican Bob McDonnell – promoted legislation that would have required women to undergo an invasive trans-vaginal sonogram before getting an abortion.

Michelle Obama will also help attract the female vote. The popular first lady, who has done fundraisers across the country for her husband’s campaign, will be at his side for both rallies.

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How dinosaur flatulence caused climate change

James J. Williams
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How dinosaur flatulence caused climate change

Scientists have found that dinosaurs may be partly to blame for a change in climate because they created so much flatulence.

Professor Graeme Ruxton of St Andrews University, Scotland, said the giant animals spent 150 years emitting the potent global warming gas, methane.

Large plant-eating sauropods would have been the main culprits because of the huge amounts of greenery they consumed.

The team calculated the animals would have collectively produced more than 520 million tons of methane a year – more than all today’s modern sources put together.

It is thought these huge amounts could easily have been enough to warm the planet.

Scientists have found that dinosaurs may be partly to blame for a change in climate because they created so much flatulence
Scientists have found that dinosaurs may be partly to blame for a change in climate because they created so much flatulence

One of the animals, a 90-ton argentinosaurus, which measured 140 ft in length, would have consumed at least half a ton of food in one day.

After breaking down in the animal’s stomach it would have produced thousands of litres of the greenhouse gas compared with a modern cow which only produces 200 litres of methane daily.

Methane is up to 20 times more effective in trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide (CO2).

It is created from a variety of natural and human-influenced sources which include landfills, natural gas, petroleum sources and agricultural activities.

Scientists claim humans have pushed levels of the gas up 2.5 times higher than they should be and estimate this is responsible for 20% of modern global warming.

Cows and other livestock currently only emit about 100 million tons of methane a year.

According to Prof. Graeme Ruxton and his co-researcher David Wilkinson, of Liverpool John Moores University, this is only a fifth of what was produced when Dinosaurs walked the Earth.

“In fact, our calculations suggest these dinosaurs may have produced more methane than all the modern sources, natural and human, put together,” said David Wilkinson to the Sunday Times.

The research is due to be published in an academic journal this week.

 

Greece: Pasok and New Democracy coalition suffers dramatic losses in parliamentary election

Diane A. Wade
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0
Greece: Pasok and New Democracy coalition suffers dramatic losses in parliamentary election

Greek main parties have suffered dramatic losses in the parliamentary election, according to exit polls.

The latest polls put centre-right New Democracy in the lead with 19-20.5% of the vote, down from 33.5% in 2009.

Centre-left Pasok is put in third place with 13-14%, down from 43.9%. Syriza, a left-wing coalition, is put ahead of it in second place with 15.5-17%.

Pasok and New Democracy, in coalition since last November, were expected to lose support to anti-austerity parties.

There is widespread anger across Greece to harsh measures imposed by the government in return for international bailouts.

Syriza opposes the government’s austerity measures.

The neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party could enter parliament for the first time if the exit poll prediction of it winning 6.5 -7.5% of the vote comes to fruition.

Greek main parties have suffered dramatic losses in the parliamentary election, according to exit polls
Greek main parties have suffered dramatic losses in the parliamentary election, according to exit polls

The first official results are expected later on Sunday night.

“The truth is here – the reality of this result is that at the moment this produces no government,” said Theodoros Pangalos, outgoing deputy prime minister and senior Pasok official.

“It is not a question at the moment of who gets a little more or a little less.”

If no party wins enough votes to form a government, the winner will have to seek a coalition with rivals.

Coalition negotiations can take place over three days. If they fail, the party in second place can try to form a coalition, and if still unsuccessful, the third party will receive the mandate.

If still no coalition emerges, Greece will go to another election – a prospect which would alarm Greece’s international creditors.

The ability of any new government to carry on with the austerity programme will be crucial for Greece’s continued access to bailout funds from the EU, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund – the so-called Troika.

Any political instability may prompt fresh questions over the country’s place in the eurozone.

Under the current plan, a further 11 billion Euros of savings in spending are due to be found in June.

Othan Anastasakis, director of south-east European studies at Oxford University, said it would be “incredible” if no party won more than 20% of the vote.

“This is really unprecedented,” he said.

“The whole landscape becomes even more unpredictable after the election. We don’t know if there will be a coalition or how long it will survive. I don’t see it surviving very long.

“Greeks are sending a very strong message abroad, which is <<enough with austerity>>.”

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