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Francesco Schettino abandoned Costa Concordia half an hour before passengers, the coastguard transcript revealed

Diane A. Wade
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Francesco Schettino abandoned Costa Concordia half an hour before passengers, the coastguard transcript revealed

Francesco Schettino, the Costa Concordia’s captain did abandon ship “half an hour” before hundreds of his passengers, it emerged this morning via a transcript of a conversation between him and the local coastguard.

Captain Francesco Schettino, 52, who will be questioned today by investigating magistrate Valeria Montesarchio, lied to the Captain of the Port of Livorno’s Coastguard when asked how many people were on board the sinking liner, Italian media reported today.

Francesco Schettino initially replied “40”, when there were actually hundreds still at risk, and when further questioned admitted he was not even there.

The Costa Concordia captain then ignored an order to go back onto the sinking ship – with some reports suggesting he volunteered to return, but only to pick up the black box.

Il Fatto Quotidiano published the transcripts of the conversation which purportedly took place on Friday night.

The first call to the boat took place at 9:49 p.m., where the coastguard asked what the situation was. The boat had run aground some 30 minutes before.

They did not speak again until 0:42 a.m., just 40 minutes after the evacuation started, when Francesco Schettino was asked how many people were on board.

He replied “40”. The coastguard, surprised, asked how there were so few people left on board, and francesco Schettino replied: “I’m not on board because we have abandoned the ship.”

The coastguard asked him to return to the ship to co-ordinate the evacuation.

At 1:46 a.m., Francesco Schettino received another call. The speaker said: “You will return to the boat immediately. You have to tell me how many passengers are left.”

Confusingly, Francesco Schettino replied: “I’m on board, but I’m here.” The coastguard, who Italian media says understood he had no intention of returning, issued an ultimatum:

“Captain, this is an order. I am in charge now. There are dead bodies.”

The publication of the transcript comes as Francesco Schettino was labeled the “most hated man in Italy”.

And it precedes the revelation, from a survivor, that men pushed past children who were screaming “I don’t want to die” as the young and elderly were “abandoned by the crew”.

A state of emergency has been declared around the stricken Costa Concordia after an unidentified liquid began to leak from the ship
A state of emergency has been declared around the stricken Costa Concordia after an unidentified liquid began to leak from the ship

Captain Francesco Schettino, who lives with wife Fabiola and their 15-year-old daughter at a $275,000 apartment in the small seaside town of Meta di Sorrento near Naples, is at the centre of a Facebook hate campaign after being squarely blamed for the cruise liner running aground.

Thousands have taken to the web to vent their fury at the so-called “Captain Coward”, who it is now claimed “skimmed” past the Tuscan isle of Giglio not just to salute a retired officer but also to impress his head waiter’s family on shore.

Many scorned his decision not to remain with his stricken ship. The official death toll rose to seven this morning after another body was pulled from the tilting wreckage. Last night the number of those still unaccounted for rose to 29 – 25 passengers and four crew.

Francesco Schettino, who faces up to 12 years in jail for manslaughter, will appear in court today after his company chiefs accused him of an “unauthorised and unapproved” decision to sail so close to the eastern side of the island of Giglio.

Costa Concordia, the $600million liner, with 4,200 passengers and crew, was sailing just 300 yards from the island’s rocky coast when it should have been at least four miles out to sea. It came to grief on Friday night after sustaining a 160ft gash in the port-side hull.

After swiftly escaping from the listing liner, Francesco Schettino was arrested along with first officer Ciro Ambrosio.

Captain Francesco Schettino was spotted wrapped in a blanket on his way to the shore at around 11:30 p.m. – more than four hours before the evacuation of the vessel was completed – and breaking the maritime tradition of remaining with his ship.

One Italian report said Francesco Schettino hailed a taxi and said to the driver: “Get me as far away from here as possible.”

Tuscan prosecutor Franco Verusio, who is leading the investigation, said: “Captain Schettino was in command. He was the one who ordered that course to be taken, at least according to what we have discovered. There was someone in particular that wanted to be signaled from the ship.”

Francesco Schettino gave the order for the doomed sail-by of the island as a “salute of respect” for former Costa commander Mario Palombo, whose parents are from Giglio, it is alleged.

The stunt – as passengers were enjoying dinner at 9:30 p.m. on Friday – was apparently also a favour for the ship’s maître d’ Antonello Tievoli, who lives on the island.

Italian news reports said that that minutes before Costa Concordia crashed into an underwater reef just two hours into a seven-day Mediterranean cruise, Francesco Schettino told the head waiter: “Come and look, we are passing over your Giglio.”

After his rescue, Antonello Tievoli is understood to have joked: “I never thought I would get dropped off at home.”

His 82-year-old father Giuseppe said his son had phoned him before the accident to say the crew would salute him by blowing the ship’s whistle as they passed by.

Giuseppe Tievoli said: “Antonello called and said that we should look out of the window at around 9:30 p.m. because he would be on the ship and it would pass right by Giglio. All the ships do it but they never come that close – I was at the window with my wife and, as he said, the ship went past.”

Antonello Tievoli’s sister Patrizia, a teacher on the island, made a Facebook post 30 minutes before the disaster saying: “Shortly, the Costa Concordia will pass really, really close, a big hello to my brother who will disembark at Savona and finally get to enjoy some holiday.”

Antonello Tievoli, 46, has already been questioned by investigators while Mario Palombo, who retired in 2006 because of ill health, is also expected to be interviewed.

Mario Palombo last night insisted the “nautical bow” was not meant for him as he was not on the island at the time.

“I have gone to the prosecutor’s office after I was dragged into all this. I’ve been made to feel responsible.”

The stunt of sailing past the island is said to have become something of a tradition for Costa Concordia. In August, it skirted Giglio sounding its whistle – prompting the mayor to send a congratulatory email to the captain for providing such a “spectacle to tourists”.

A state of emergency has been declared around the stricken vessel after an unidentified liquid began to leak from the ship. Protective barriers have been put in place around the Costa Concordia.

Speaking to Sky News, Giglio mayor Sergio Ortelli said: “This is an ecological timebomb.

“I hope that the fuel can be taken off the ship soon and maybe the ship can be removed too because it is hampering navigation.”

Francesco Schettino has also been accused of dining with beautiful women as the liner crashed into rocks and of raiding the safe before jumping ship.

Monique Maurek, 41, from the Netherlands, said: “What scandalized me most was when I saw the captain spending much of the evening before we hit the rocks drinking in the bar with a beautiful woman on his arm.

“Most people didn’t even have any idea of what the evacuation warning sound would be. It was only because some of us had already been on a cruise that we recognized that seven blasts of the horn was a signal to abandon ship.”

Francesco Schettino told maritime investigators that charts showed he was in water deep enough to navigate and that he had struck an unidentified rocky outcrop of the island.

Once Francesco Schettino realized the extent of the damage he immediately tried to change route and head for the safety of Giglio harbour.

His lawyer, Bruno Leporatti, said Francesco Schettino was “overcome and wants to express his greatest condolences to the victims”.

But he said Francesco Schettino’s actions in anchoring the ship at one end to swing it closer to the shore after the collision, “saved the lives of thousands of people”.

“It could have been an enormous tragedy,” Bruno Leporatti added.

Costa Crociere chairman and CEO Pier Luigi Foschi told reporters the liner had passed all safety and technical tests in its 2011 evaluation.

Explaining that the ship was “ultra safe”, Luigi Foschi said the captain had made an unauthorized and unapproved deviation from the ship’s programmed course.

Luigi Foschi said: “This route was put in correctly. The fact that it left from this course is due solely to a manoeuvre by the commander that was unapproved, unauthorized and unknown to Costa.”

Costa Crociere CEO added that the company’s main concern was the safety and well-being of the passengers and crew, as well as to ensure fuel doesn’t leak out from the upended hull into the pristine waters off the island of Giglio.

Costa Crociere is a subsidiary of Carnival Cruise lines.

Carnival PLC, the owner of the capsized boat, saw its share price plummet by around a fifth.

Golden Globes 2012 Red Carpet: Shades of Pale and Fishtail Hems

Lisa.Felice
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Golden Globes 2012 Red Carpet: Shades of Pale and Fishtail Hems

Shades of pale were the popular trend on the red carpet of Golden Globes 2012, as well as fishtail hems.

There was a certain boring sameness to many of the looks, including Bérénice Bejo’s blue strapless Gucci gown, Freida Pinto’s blue strapless Prada gown and Mila Kunis’ black strapless Dior gown.

But for those who dared to make more unconventional choices, it paid off.

Charlize Theron embodied the stuff of which Hollywood fairy tales are made. Her blush-colored chiffon Dior couture gown, with an oversized bow at the waist and thigh-high slit, was so striking it made one wonder if the French fashion house needs to bother finding a new creative director to replace the fired John Galliano after all, or just keep going with its in-house design team, which did a stellar job in this case. Charlize Theron made another inspired choice in her 1920s Cartier hair band, which, along with Michelle Williams’ Fred Leighton hair band, is sure to spark a major new trend.

Charlize Theron is one of the unconventional gown choices winners
Charlize Theron is one of the unconventional gown choices winners

Claire Danes and Kate Winslet picked up on the black-and-white trend that is in fashion at this moment. Claire Danes’ graphic J. Mendel gown was a more modern iteration, while Kate Winslet’s Jenny Packham gown with a black hammered silk top, white column skirt and jeweled grosgrain belt, was old Hollywood at its best.

Sarah Michelle Gellar’s blue-and-white ink splotch Monique Lhuillier ball gown, which she said her 2-year-old had a hand in picking out, was another unconventional choice that paid off. Rooney Mara’s racy black Peter Copping for Nina Ricci gown, with lattice-like straps at the bodice, didn’t disappoint either. If Lisbeth Salander had to go to the Golden Globes, this is what she would wear.

Like black, red is also a perennial red carpet fashion choice. Reese Witherspoon’s fishtail hem Zac Posen gown was a snore, and Dianna Agron’s gown covered in swan cutouts — as cool as it was — overwhelmed her. But Emma Stone showed red done right, with her maroon and fuchsia pleated Lanvin gown with jeweled eagle belt buckle. She looked like a fashion superhero. Lanvin had a big night on the red carpet, dressing Natalie Portman too.

Of course, placement of clothing and jewelry on the red carpet is big business for brands. When Uma Thurman wore that glorious lilac chiffon Prada gown to the Oscars in 1995, it put the Italian design house on the international fashion map and ushered in the modern era of celebrity dressing. It was nice to see Prada back on the red carpet at the Globes, dressing Zooey Deschanel in a green silk gown with an open back and pearl embroidered top. It was a quirky dress, but she’s a quirky girl.

Speaking of product placement, it was the first time when someone plug hair care on the red carpet. Nicole Richie name-dropped Suave Professionals products, along with designer Julien MacDonald, who made her silvery gown, and her own line, House of Harlow, which made her bag. Suave immediately started trending on Twitter. And the untidy ponytail — it was the hairstyle of the night — looked great on her.

BA crew mistakenly announced emergency water landing on a flight from Miami to London

Diane A. Wade
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The British Airways cabin crew of a flight from Miami to London mistakenly announced the plane was going down and they should brace themselves for an emergency water landing.

The panic began to spread among the passengers – with many fearing they were about to die – and flight attendant came on over the intercom to apologize, saying the message was played in error.

Duncan and Tracey Farquharson, from London, were on Saturday’s flight and have accused the airline of trivializing passengers’ concerns.

The couple told the Daily Telegraph that staff issued a “blasé” apology and did not explain exactly what the error was until hours later, when they were landing at Heathrow

Duncan Farquharson, 58, an engineer, said: “We were about three hours into the flight when an automated message came over the tannoy saying: <<This is an emergency, we will shortly be making an emergency landing on water>>.

“We looked at each other and figured we were both about to die. Families with children were distraught and people were in tears. It was very distressing.

“About 30 seconds later one of the cabin crew told us to ignore the announcement and accept their apologies but the tone of suggested they had not grasped how seriously we had taken it.

“Imagining yourself plunging towards a cold, watery grave in the middle of the Atlantic is a pretty horrific thought but they seemed very blasé about it.”

Tracey Farquharson, 51, an administrator, added: “The captain didn’t even say anything about it until when we were coming in to land and even that did not explain what had happened.

“It still makes me very emotional thinking about it now – it was very traumatic.”

A British Airways spokesman said that the cabin crew immediately apologized and spoke to passengers individually to reassure them.

They confirmed that the pre-recorded emergency announcement was activated in error.

British Airways spokesman said: “The cabin crew cancelled the announcement immediately and sought to reassure customers that the flight was operating normally.

“We would like to apologize to passengers on the flight for causing them undue concern.”

Costa Concordia: fears grow for the 29 missing people

Diane A. Wade
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Costa Concordia: fears grow for the 29 missing people

Fears are growing for the 29 people now listed as missing after the Costa Concordia crashed into rocks off Italy’s west coast on Friday night.

Emergency crews have worked through the night at the wreck of a stricken cruise ship.

Six people are known to have died in the disaster up to now.

Local coast guard chief Marco Brusco said there was just a “glimmer of hope” that survivors could be found.

The ship’s owners have blamed Captain Francesco Schettino for Friday’s crash, saying he changed course towards an island.

Captain Francesco Schettino, 52, has been detained on suspicion of manslaughter and a judge is due to decide shortly whether he should remain in custody.

Italy says it will declare a state of emergency over the incident, and provide funding to help avert any environmental disaster.

The Italian environment minister said liquid was leaking from the ship, but it was unclear if it was fuel.

Fears are growing for the 29 people now listed as missing after the Costa Concordia crashed into rocks off Italy's west coast on Friday night
Fears are growing for the 29 people now listed as missing after the Costa Concordia crashed into rocks off Italy's west coast on Friday night

Meanwhile, Italian officials have denied a newspaper report that a seventh body had been found overnight on the vessel.

Italian Coast Guard officials said the number of people believed to be missing had jumped to 29 from the previous estimate of 16, but gave no reason for the change.

The missing are thought to include four crew members, as well as passengers from the US, Germany, France and Italy.

On Monday, the Costa Concordia’s owners, Costa Cruises, said Captain Francesco Schettino hit the rocks because he deliberately steered the ship towards to Giglio Island.

Prosecutors also claim that Francesco Schettino was responsible for the disaster.

“The captain is in a very difficult position because we are sure enough that he abandoned the ship when many passengers were still waiting to be evacuated,” said prosecutor Francesco Verusio.

A transcript purportedly of conversations between the captain and the coastguard has emerged in the Italian media – apparently drawn from one of the ship’s black box recorders – which appears to corroborate the claims that the captain left the ship before all the passengers escaped.

Capt Francesco Schettino has denied wrongdoing and says the rocks were not on his charts. He has insisted that he and his crew were the last people to leave the vessel.

His lawyer, Bruno Leporatti, said his client was “overcome and wants to express his greatest condolences to the victims”, adding that the captain had carried out a dangerous manoeuvre that had actually saved lives.

Costa Concordia, carrying 4,200 passengers and crew, had its hull ripped through when it hit rocks late on Friday.

Some people were forced to swim for land as the angle of the ship made boarding lifeboats impossible.

German media have reported that 12 German passengers are still missing, and US officials have appealed for information about two Americans – Jerry Heil, 69, and his wife Barbara, 70, from White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

Six Italians, two French couples and a Peruvian are also reported to be unaccounted for.

Teams of specialist divers have been helping with the rescue mission, but they have been hampered by bad weather, which has been moving the ship in the water.

Saturnino Soria, father of Peruvian Erika Soria, who was working as a waitress on the ship, insisted that the search operation should continue.

“I haven’t received any precise information about her – nothing from yesterday or today – it seems the situation has become worse for my daughter,” he said.

Rodolfo Raiteri, head of the coastguard’s diving team, was quoted by news agency AFP as saying that conditions inside the vessel were “disastrous”.

“It’s very difficult. The corridors are cluttered and it’s hard for the divers to swim through,” he said.

But the local mayor voiced hope of finding more people alive.

“You never know in the labyrinth of that ship. An air pocket could have allowed people to survive a few days,” Sergio Ortelli was quoted by AFP as saying.

Meanwhile, the shipping newspaper Lloyd’s List said it had been able to trace the course of the Costa Concordia though information from satellites.

The paper issued a graphic comparing Friday’s sailing with an earlier sailing by the liner, suggesting that Friday’s route had deviated far from its usual course.

Worries are growing that the ship could cause an environmental disaster if it breaks up and sheds its fuel.

Costa Concordia had just left the port of Civitavecchia, north of Rome, carrying roughly 2,300 tons of fuel for a week-long Mediterranean cruise when it crashed.

The area where the ship capsized is a maritime park famous for its pristine waters, varied marine life and coral.

Italian Environment Minister Corrado Clini said there was evidence that liquid was leaking from the ship, but he could not confirm whether the fluid was fuel.

Corrado Clini said the government would declare a state of emergency to release extra funding to help avoid a fuel spill causing an environmental disaster.

Kris Humphries says Kim Kardashian planned his marriage proposal to her

Lisa.Felice
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Kris Humphries says Kim Kardashian planned his marriage proposal to her

Kris Humphries proposed to Kim Kardashian in a blaze of romantic glory, spelling out the words “will you marry me” in red rose petals, before producing a $2 million dollar diamond ring.

Now it has emerged that Kris Humphries’ televised proposal to Kim Kardashian was not all it seemed.

Kris Humphries has told his inner circle of trusted friends that Kim Kardashian “planned” exactly how he would pop the question, Radar Online reported.

“Kim told Kris how, where and when to propose, it was absolutely no surprise to her whatsoever,” a source close to the situation told RadarOnline.

Kris Humphries apparently had wanted to propose to Kim Kardashian in his home state of Minnesota, but ended up popping the question in the bedroom of her Los Angeles mansion.

The proposal, which took place last May, was captured on reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians, shown last September.

The source added: “First of all, Kris proposed in the middle of the day, and he had to do that because it would create better lighting to capture the moment.

“Kim looked so surprised but she knew it was happening. She was in full hair and make-up, as she always is on the show.

“Kris wanted it to be very intimate and romantic, but all of his ideas were shot down by production officials and Kim.”

The insider said: “Kim told him the paparazzi would ruin the special moment if it were to take place in a public setting, like the beach, which he had also considered. How romantic could it be with three camera crews?”

The proposal showed Kris Humphries painstakingly spelling out “Will You Marry Me” in Kim Kardashian’s room.

Kris Humphries has told his inner circle of trusted friends that Kim Kardashian “planned” exactly how he would pop the question
Kris Humphries has told his inner circle of trusted friends that Kim Kardashian “planned” exactly how he would pop the question

And when Kim Kardashian walked into her bedroom to find Kris Humphries down on one knee with his proposal spelled out in front of him in rose petals she told him: “You’re crazy”, to which he replied: “You’re perfect”.

Kim Kardashian was initially speechless, but when Kris Humphries opened the ring box to reveal an enormous $2 million diamond she immediately blurted out: “Oh my God, yes”.

Her mother Kris Jenner even helped plan the proposal, dubbing it “operation pumpkin”.

Kim Kardashian famously filed for divorce from Kris Humphries after just 72 days after their “fairytale” California wedding which took place in August.

The latest allegation comes after reports surfaced that other elements in the hit reality show are staged.

Kim Kardashian and her mother Kris Jenner were seen having a chart about the breakdown of Kim’s marriage in a recent episode of Kourtney & Kim Take New York which was set when the women were in Dubai.

Recent reports have alleged that the scene was actually shot in December and edited into the episode.

Photographs of the pair, taken on December 6, showed the pair leaving a TV studio, with Kim Kardashian dressed in the exact same outfit, with the same hair style and earrings, as she is seen wearing in the scene supposedly shot in mid-October in Dubai.

Kris Jenner was followed out of the studio by an assistant carrying the purple kaftan-style dress she is seen wearing in the back of the limo.

Radar has previously reported that Kim Kardashian has full editorial control over what is aired on her reality shows.

“Kim was stunned by the amount of bad press and the public relations nightmare she has endured since deciding to file for divorce,” a source told Radar.

“Kim will be using the show to attempt to rehab her image.

“Kim has been telling her inner circle that she has worked very hard to get where she has, and she isn’t going to let her marriage and subsequent decision to divorce Kris Humphries ruin that.”

Meanwhile, before last week’s episode aired, Kris Humphries sent out a cryptic tweet: “I can’t wait for the truth to come out! People will be surprised or maybe they won’t. #FCC.”

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Beyoncé looking much paler than her usual colour in a promotional picture

Lisa.Felice
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Beyoncé looking much paler than her usual colour in a promotional picture

A promotional picture of Beyoncé looking much paler than her usual colour has emerged.

The controversial photo, taken before Beyoncé fell pregnant with her newborn daughter, is being used to re-advertise her fourth album, 4, which was released last year.

In the seductive pose, Beyoncé dons a blonde wig and lies on a leopard-print couch, wearing a skimpy black crochet monokini.

The singer also wears suspenders and a lashing of dark red lipstick.

Experts told The Sun the appearance may have been down to lighting used in the studio.

The controversial photo, taken before Beyoncé fell pregnant with her newborn daughter, is being used to re-advertise her fourth album, 4, which was released last year
The controversial photo, taken before Beyoncé fell pregnant with her newborn daughter, is being used to re-advertise her fourth album, 4, which was released last year

Beyoncé has already been accused of making some young black girls ashamed of how they looked.

It has been alleged that her dad had persuaded her to use skin treatments to remain the lightest-coloured member of Destiny’s Child.

In August 2008, L’Oreal was accused of “whitewashing” Beyoncé in an advert by digitally lightening her skin.

At the time, L’Oreal denied that the pictures had been altered in such a way but The New York Post newspaper called the advert “shocking” and accused it of making the singer look like a “weird, nearly white version of herself”.

Beyoncé has not commented on the photos.

Beyoncé was born and raised in Texas by her African father and mixed-race mother.

Tripp Roth, the toddler who suffered from epidermolysis bullosa, has died

Kathryn R. Bown
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Tripp Roth, the toddler who suffered from epidermolysis bullosa, has died

Tripp Roth, from Ponchatoula, Louisiana, the toddler whose brave fight against an excruciating skin disorder prompted a worldwide crusade to battle the illness has died.

Two-year-old Tripp Roth outlived all medical predictions during his battle with junctional epidermolysis bullosa, which caused his skin to blister at the slightest touch.

The toddler died in his mother’s arms on Saturday.

His mother, Courtney Roth, 26, in a blog entitled “EBing a Mommy”, wrote of her son’s passing: “My precious angel received his wings today. I have had many nightmares about having to write this post.

“He was exactly 2 years and 8 months old. It happened within minutes of me picking him up out of bed and rocking him. He took his last peaceful breaths in my arms, in his most favorite spot,” she continued.

On Sunday, a motorcade drove through Tripp Roth’s home town in tribute to the youngster, WWL TV reported.

Dozens of friends and family members organized “Ride for Tripp”, which grew in numbers as they drove down Ponchatoula’s Highway 22, escorted by police, red balloons reaching to the sky.

“Baby Tripp is an inspiration to all of us. He has touched everybody’s lives in this small town,” said Lerai Lucas, a family friend who helped organize the tribute.

Elsewhere, messages of condolence flooded a Facebook page paying tribute to the toddler, entitled “Prayers for Tripp”, where more than 39,000 have followed updates on the young boy’s condition.

Courtney Roth, who took time off from her nursing career to care for her son around the clock, began her blog three months after baby Tripp was born.

There, the mother gave insight to those unfamiliar with the life-long genetic disorder Epidermolysis bullosa, which affects 1 in 50,000 people.

Two-year-old Tripp Roth outlived all medical predictions during his battle with junctional epidermolysis bullosa, which caused his skin to blister at the slightest touch
Two-year-old Tripp Roth outlived all medical predictions during his battle with junctional epidermolysis bullosa, which caused his skin to blister at the slightest touch

Tripp Roth suffered from junctional EB, which affects around 1% of those with the disease.

When Tripp Roth was born he had just one small blister on his head and a few on his back, and doctors immediately diagnosed him with the condition. The toddler was missing a protein that binds one layer to another, which meant could not even bathe without taking powerful sedatives.

Tripp Roth struggled with breastfeeding because of the sores in his mouth so doctors used a feeding tube instead.

The condition meant any friction could cause sores and scars across his skin, his eyelids, the upper esophagus and inside his mouth.

Eventually, it claimed his sight.

With no cure, doctors suggested toddler’s mother to keep him wrapped in bandages to protect his delicate skin.

Tripp Roth had not been outside for a year, and was not expected to live longer than that.

Medical experts say many babies with the condition die after developing infections or from breathing problems after blisters develop in the respiratory tract.

In an earlier interview with ABC News, Courtney Roth proudly said how her son had “astounded” his doctors.

“He is just amazing. I have always said that from the beginning,” Courtney Roth continued.

The mother, too, had her own brave fight: “I have never been sad around him and I try not to cry around him. We’ve made it to where he is in the happiest environment possible. His spirit and personality are what keep me going,” Courtney Roth told the network.

Tripp Roth’s funeral will be held Wednesday at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Ponchatoula.

What is Epidermolysis bullosa?

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a severe genetic skin disorder that affects one in 50,000 live births.

Skin is made up of two layers; the outer layer is the epidermis and the inner layer is the dermis. In healthy skin, proteins hold the two layers together so they do not move separately.

In those born with EB, the layers do not have the protein that holds them together. It means that any movement that creates friction between the two layers creates blisters.

Tripp Roth suffered from junctional EB, which affects around one per cent of those with the disease.

He was not expected to live past a year; many babies with the condition die after developing infections or from breathing problems after blisters develop in the respiratory tract.

Blisters can develop anywhere on the skin, and the mouth and eyes are particularly susceptible to the sores. Heat exacerbates the condition.

Some sufferers are born with blisters but others will develop them in the first few weeks of their life.

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Captain Francesco Schettino “had been drinking with a beautiful woman at the ship’s bar before the disaster”

Diane A. Wade
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Captain Francesco Schettino “had been drinking with a beautiful woman at the ship’s bar before the disaster”

Francesco Schettino, the captain of the doomed Costa Concordia cruise ship is quickly becoming Italy’s “most hated man”, with hundreds turning to Facebook to vent their anger against him.

Now, almost 1,000 people have “liked” the Facebook group “Francesco Schettino”comandante” Costa Crociere” to berate him – with many saying he “played with people’s lives”.

Also on Facebook, it emerged that the head of the ship’s restaurant’s sister had posted a comment, before the disaster, saying: “In a short period of time the Concordia ship will pass very close. A big greeting to my brother who finally get to have a holiday on landing in Savona.”

Patrizia Tivoli, sister of restaurant boss Antonello, posted the message at 9:08 p.m. on Friday. A few minutes later, the boat ran aground.

The revelations follow claims that Francesco Schettino had been drinking “with a beautiful woman” at the ship’s bar before he sailed into disaster.

Francesco Schettino, 52, was arrested on suspicion of multiple manslaughter and abandoning ship when the cruise liner ran aground after sustaining a 160 ft gash in the port-side hull.

Six people are now confirmed dead and 16 are still missing. The sixth person – a male passenger – was found dead wearing a life vest on the second deck of the ship. That area of the boat was not submerged.

One passenger has accused Captain Francesco Schettino of drinking in one of the ship’s bars on the night the vessel ran aground, before taking control after the crash.

Monique Maurek, 41, from the Netherlands, said: “What scandalized me most was when I saw the captain spending much of the evening before we hit the rocks drinking in the bar with a beautiful woman on his arm.

“Most people didn’t even have any idea of what the evacuation warning sound would be. It was only because some of us had already been on a cruise that we recognized that seven blasts of the horn was a signal to abandon ship.”

Francesco Schettino had been drinking “with a beautiful woman” at the ship's bar before he sailed into disaster
Francesco Schettino had been drinking “with a beautiful woman” at the ship's bar before he sailed into disaster

Phil Metcalf, whose daughter Rose was one of the last people off the ship, said she had revealed the captain allegedly abandoned ship in the early stages of the evacuation, leaving his staff onboard.

He said: “Since the captain had left there was nobody, so everybody was left to their own devices hence some of the chaos, so obviously the crew took it upon themselves and decided in the absence of the captain to organize and try and help people.”

Italian investigators are working on the theory that the $600 million vessel sailed close to the island of Giglio to greet an officer from the Italian merchant navy who was friendly with those on the Concordia.

Reports in Italy said that investigators had identified the man on shore and he would be questioned as part of the inquiry into the incident.

Last August Costa Concordia passed close to the island sounding its whistle – prompting the mayor to send a congratulatory email to the captain for providing such a “spectacle to tourists” and “fantastic entertainment”.

Prosecutors described Francesco Schettino’s handling of the giant craft as “inept” and he was forced to deny additional damaging claims that he left the ship to save himself, had been spotted in the bar and even raided the safe before leaving.

Francesco Schettino told maritime investigators that charts showed he was in water deep enough to navigate and that he had struck an unidentified rocky outcrop of the island.

Once the captain realized the extent of the damage he immediately tried to change route and head for the safety of Giglio harbour.

Yesterday, the chief executive of Italian owner blamed “human error” on the part of Captain Francesco Schettino for the grounding of the vessel.

Costa Crociere chairman and CEO Pier Luigi Foschi told reporters the liner had passed all safety and technical tests in its 2011 evaluation.

Asked about the suggestion that the captain had abandoned ship, senior prosecutor Francesco Verusio said: “Unfortunately, I must confirm that circumstance.”

As an injured crewman and a Korean honeymoon couple were rescued yesterday, 48 hours after the vessel came to grief, it also emerged that:

■ Survivors were left to swim for their lives and shin down rope ladders during a terrifying “Titanic-like” escape. They told how women and children were barged out of the way by crewmen heading for the lifeboats.

■ Fears grew of an environmental disaster amid claims from the scene that fuel has started leaking from the liner.

■ Rescue divers continue to search submerged parts of the ship before bad weather sinks it fully. The death toll rose to six when a man wearing a life vest was found on the ship’s second deck

The crash has shocked all those who enjoy the multi-billion-pound cruise industry and believe they are holidaying in absolute safety.

Costa Concordia cruise ship was sailing little more than 300 yards from the rocky coast of Giglio when it should have been at least ten times that distance.

Captain Francesco Schettino insisted his charts and navigation system show he was in “safe water” and that the rocks he had hit were unmarked – a claim which amazed locals on Giglio who say the dangers were well known.

First Officer Ciro Ambrosio was also arrested and detained with Francesco Schettino at Porto Santo Stefano on the Italian mainland before being transferred to prison.

The Tuscan prosecutor said the ship had struck a reef on its port side causing it to take in an “enormous amount of water in a matter of minutes”. A huge piece of rock remained embedded in the hull.

Italian police are conducting two investigations – one into the route the captain took and one into the evacuation of the ship. The 117,000-ton Costa Concordia smashed into rocks two hours into a seven-day Mediterranean cruise as passengers were enjoying dinner at 9:30 p.m. on Friday.

francesco Schettino, who has worked with Costa Concordia for 11 years, called his mother Rosa in Naples at 5:00 a.m. and said: “There has been a tragedy but keep calm. I tried to save the passengers. I won’t be able to call you for a while but don’t worry.”

Francesco Schettino’ sister Giulia said: “We are keeping calm. Franco is a good captain and he has told the truth.”

There were also reports that Francesco Schettino had been dining with passengers when the accident happened – but the ship’s operating company, Costa Crociere, said he was on the bridge. Last night it was still unclear as to what had caused the stricken ship to capsize. It hit a rocky outlet known as Le Scole, which opened up the port-side hull.

Fifteen minutes after impact, Francesco Schettino gave the order to drop anchor in an attempt to turn the ship around and return as close as possible to Giglio harbour which by now Costa Concordia had passed.

As it carried out the emergency manoeuvre, it sped up the intake of water and led to the ship turning on to its side, finally coming to rest on a rocky shelf. There is also a theory that an electrical fault wiped out the ship’s navigational power and steering control.

Survivors vented their anger at the captain yesterday on a message board at their Rome hotel. It had been set up for therapeutic reasons to allow them to display their feelings and give thanks for their rescue.

Francesco Schettino will be held until next week when a judge will decide whether he should be released or formally arrested. If convicted, he faces a maximum 12 years in jail.

Seven-month-old baby decapitated by Syrian officer in front of his mother

Diane A. Wade
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A seven-month-old boy was decapitated by a Syrian army officer who cracked down on people suspected of sheltering rebels after a group of soldiers stormed into a house, reports say.

According to a soldier from the Syrian army’s 11th Armoured Division, his commanding officer snatched the child from the living room when they found the man they were looking for was out.

The officer then apparently laid the child on the floor, pulled out his army knife and decapitated the little boy in front of his horrified mother.

According to The Sunday Times, the officer then hung the child’s head above the front door and screamed that he would do the same to another child unless the man gave up.

The incident allegedly took place last week in the north-west town of Jisr al-Shughur during a heavy security operation.

Mohammed, a 22-year-old soldier, told The Sunday Times: “That was when I decided to defect. I’ll have to live with that memory for ever.

“We did things I never want to remember.”

There is mounting evidence that President Bashar al-Assad’s forces have been deliberately targeting children in a bid to crush unrest.

The UN, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have also said there are concerns of war crimes and torture being carried out on children.

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Sunday that the “old order” of one-man rule and family dynasties was over in the Middle East.

Ban Ki-moon urged President Bashar al-Assad to halt the bloodshed and said revolutions during the Arab Spring showed that people would no longer accept tyranny.

An estimated 5,000 people have been killed during the brutal crackdown on 10 months of unrest, with an estimated 400 dead in the last three weeks alone.

Funny video: stuntman grabbing a tomato attached near a ceiling fan

Diane A. Wade
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Funny video: stuntman grabbing a tomato attached near a ceiling fan

A funny video on YouTube shows a man attempt to grab a tomato attached by a string through the blades of a ceiling fan with predictably painful consequences.

In the video, uploaded by “Stuntman 89”, the man first explains his trick and then climbs on a chair underneath the whirring blades. As he reaches up, the electric fan catches him on the forehead and sends him sprawling.

The 21-year-old “stuntman” who also goes by the name of Jason explains on his YouTube channel: “I started making videos back in 2002 with an old video camera.

“Although I only used to make stunt videos, I have also gained a lot of experience with filming, editing, acting, and my comedy side throughout the last 9 years.”

A funny video on YouTube shows a man attempt to grab a tomato attached by a string through the blades of a ceiling fan with predictably painful consequences
A funny video on YouTube shows a man attempt to grab a tomato attached by a string through the blades of a ceiling fan with predictably painful consequences

Jason’s hilarious and often excruciatingly painful videos have been shown on MTV and Comedy Central after attracting almost a million YouTube viewers.

It’s not the first time stunts have gone horribly wrong – and unlike “Stuntman 89” they were not intentional mishaps.

Last August on the set of reality TV show Fear Factor, a contestant who was strapped to the front of truck as part of a stunt was ploughed into a car after something got in the truck driver’s eyes. The unlucky guest was taken to hospital after the collision and released several hours later with no serious injuries.

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Lebanon: at least 13 people died and 12 injured after a five-block collapsed in Beirut

Diane A. Wade
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Lebanon: at least 13 people died and 12 injured after a five-block collapsed in Beirut

At least 13 people died and 12 have been injured after a five-floor block collapsed in the Ashrafiyeh district of the Lebanese capital Beirut on Sunday evening.

Rescue workers in Beirut continue to search for survivors in the rubble of a collapsed building.

“We are hoping to find people alive. There are still some missing,” Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil told Lebanese television.

It is not known yet what caused the sudden collapse.

At least 13 people died and 12 have been injured after a five-floor block collapsed in the Ashrafiyeh district of the Lebanese capital Beirut on Sunday evening
At least 13 people died and 12 have been injured after a five-floor block collapsed in the Ashrafiyeh district of the Lebanese capital Beirut on Sunday evening

Local reports are speculating that cracks in the building made worse by heavy rain may have been the cause or that the building could have been damaged by the impact of construction at several nearby sites.

Local television said seven of the dead were foreign laborers, including two from Jordan.

“It was like an earthquake” when the block collapsed, one witness told a local television channel.

One resident who escaped with her mother said the building was extremely run-down and the owner had recently warned tenants to move out, the AFP news agency reported.

Lebanese President Michel Sleiman visited the site on Sunday evening as did Interior Minister Marwan Charbel.

Minister Marwan Charbel told reporters the building’s owner was being questioned by the authorities. He added it was essential to carry out a survey of similar buildings across the country, many of which were built illegally or had several floors added without proper permits.

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Shocking video: mouse running right over McDonald’s burger buns

Diane A. Wade
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Shocking video: mouse running right over McDonald’s burger buns

A disturbing video footage of a mouse running wild inside a bag of McDonald’s burger buns, has emerged.

Karruim Demaio, a former staff member at a Philadelphia branch of Mcdonald’s claims he saw the rodent while on the job and quickly pulled out his mobile phone to record the event.

The shocking video, allegedly shot in a back storage room on November 14, appears to show a mouse scurrying around a bag of hamburger buns making contact with dozens of buns.

Karruim Demaio says he wants to warn customers. He told Fox News: “That wasn’t the first time. That was about the sixth or seventh time. That’s what made me like, I got to get video of this.”

“I was going back there to get something else and I heard some rustling, so I turned around, and I look, I seen a mouse inside the bread. Not on top of the package, but inside of the package,” Karruim Demaio said.

The rodent is clearly visible, with its tail and small feet coming into focus as the mouse wriggles around the buns.

The shocking video, allegedly shot in a back storage room on November 14, appears to show a mouse scurrying around a bag of hamburger buns making contact with dozens of buns
The shocking video, allegedly shot in a back storage room on November 14, appears to show a mouse scurrying around a bag of hamburger buns making contact with dozens of buns

Karruim Demaio, who claims to have worked in the fast food restaurant for more than a year, said the bread was contaminated with droppings on numerous occasions.

The former McDonald’s employee told Fox news: “I was working there from October of 2010 to January of this year. There hasn’t been a time when we couldn’t go in the back and see mouse droppings on the bread.”

Karruim Demaio’s boss allegedly ordered employees to brush off the droppings, and serve the bread to customers.

Another employee confirmed the account, Fox reported. And the second worker says he even saw the general manager brush off the droppings herself.

The manager has denied the accusations, Fox news reported.

Karruim Demaio said he’s worked at two other McDonald’s, and never saw this kind of hygiene issues.

Ken Youngblood, the owner/operator of the McDonalds franchise said: “After viewing the video, we are going to continue to investigate this claim to make certain we have all the facts. I want my customers to know that I am taking this matter seriously and will immediately address any issues that may exist. Therefore, if necessary, we will work with the appropriate authorities to get the facts.”

This particular McDonalds restaurant has a string of health violations dating back at least a year and a half.

According the Philadelphia Health Department, live flies were found in the food prep area; perishable food was not kept cool enough; and refrigeration units were not working correctly.

The report said: “The establishment is not in satisfactory compliance… And current management practices have allowed unacceptable public health or food safety conditions.”

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Nigeria: President Goodluck Jonathan announced 30% drop in the price of fuel

Diane A. Wade
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Nigeria: President Goodluck Jonathan announced 30% drop in the price of fuel

President Goodluck Jonathan has announced an immediate drop in the price of fuel, following a week of strikes and protests in Nigeria.

Goodluck Jonathan said the price would drop by around 30% in recognition of the “hardships being suffered” by people.

Nigeria has been paralyzed by strikes and protests over the government’s decision to scrap fuel subsidies.

The removal of subsidies from 1 January caused petrol prices to rise from 65 naira ($0.40) to 140 naira.

The unions have yet to respond to Goodluck Jonathan’s announcement.

Earlier, they called off street protests due to security concerns, but warned that a week-long general strike would continue.

Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan said the price would drop by around 30 per cent in recognition of the "hardships being suffered" by people
Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan said the price would drop by around 30 per cent in recognition of the "hardships being suffered" by people

President Jonathan has admitted there has been a near breakdown in law and order in parts of the country as a result of the strike.

Army checkpoints have been seen in parts of the commercial capital Lagos for the first time since the protests began.

The strike has already cost the economy billions of dollars in lost revenue.

“Government will continue to pursue full deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector,” Goodluck Jonathan said in a televised national address.

“However, given the hardships being suffered by Nigerians, and after due consideration and consultations with state governors and the leadership of the National Assembly, government has approved the reduction of the pump price of petrol to 97 naira [about $0.60] per litre.”

Goodluck Jonathan’s speech comes after a weekend of talks with the unions failed to prevent the strike from continuing into a second week.

Abdulwaheed Omar, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress union, said he would urge his members to “stay off the streets… because of the security situation” but stressed the nationwide strike would continue.

Protests over five days last week led to the deaths of several people. Some 600 people were wounded, according to the International Red Cross.

The removal of fuel subsidies on 1 January was a devastating blow to the large number of Nigerians who live in absolute poverty.

The authorities say the subsidy was costing the equivalent of more than $8 billion a year, arguing that the money would be better spent on infrastructure and social services.

Oil accounts for some 80% of Nigeria’s state revenues but after years of corruption and mismanagement, it has hardly any capacity to refine crude oil into fuel, which has to be imported.

Golden Globes 2012 Winners

Sonia Pantiss
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Golden Globes 2012 Winners

Sunday night’s ceremony of Golden Globes 2012 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel built momentum for some actors on the Oscar trail.

Hollywood celebrated a foreign invasion at 69th Annual Golden Globes Awards, as films and television shows with a distinctly international pedigree collected many of the evening’s prizes.

The Artist, the black and white silent film, took home three prizes from the Golden Globe awards in Los Angeles, hosted by British comedian Ricky Gervais.

The Oscar-tipped movie was named best comedy and won additional prizes for lead actor Jean Dujardin and its score.

The Descendants was named best film drama and won a best actor prize for its star George Clooney.

Other lead actor awards went to Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady and Michelle Williams for My Week with Marilyn.

Meryl Streep, who plays Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, thanked “everyone in England who let me come over there and trample over their history”.

Michelle Williams, recognized for her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe, thanked the Globes for “putting in my hand the same award you put in Marilyn’s hand more than 50 years ago”.

The Artist, the black and white silent film, took home three prizes from the Golden Globe awards in Los Angeles
The Artist, the black and white silent film, took home three prizes from the Golden Globe awards in Los Angeles

Martin Scorsese was named best director for Hugo, a family film that marked his first 3D feature, while Steven Spielberg received the animated feature prize for The Adventures of Tintin.

Veteran actor Christopher Plummer won the evening’s first award for his supporting role in Beginners.

The female equivalent went to Octavia Spencer for her role as a domestic servant in The Help.

Pop star Madonna was recognized for Masterpiece, a song she wrote for her historical drama W.E.

Iran’s A Separation received the award for best foreign language film, while Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris won best screenplay.

It was a good night for British talent in the television categories, which saw ITV1 period drama Downton Abbey named best mini-series.

“How fabulous this is,” said series creator Julian Fellowes.

“The whole Downton Abbey adventure has been an extraordinary one, like spotting a promising child and waking up to find they won the Olympics.”

Britain’s Idris Elba collected a best actor prize for BBC One crime drama Luther, while Kate Winslet was recognised for HBO mini-series Mildred Pierce.

Amidst the celebration and back-slapping, though, a poignant note was struck by Peter Dinklage as he picked up a supporting actor prize for Game of Thrones.

The US actor, who has dwarfism, ended his speech by paying tribute to Martin Henderson, a man with restricted growth from Somerset.

The 37-year-old was left with serious back injuries after being picked up and dropped on the ground outside a pub last October.

Ricky Gervais, criticized last year with his sharp-tongued presenting style, opened the ceremony with a waspish monologue.

Yet while he was briefly silenced for swearing, his barbs were not as cutting as they were 12 months ago.

The 50-year-old began the night by telling the star-studded audience the Globes were “just like the Oscars… without all that esteem”.

The event, he continued, was to the Oscars “what [reality TV star] Kim Kardashian is to [Duchess of Cambridge] Kate Middleton – a bit louder, a bit trashier [and] a bit drunker.”

The Office co-creator said he had been given strict instructions by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), organisers of the ceremony.

“The Hollywood Foreign Press has warned me that if I insult anybody… they’ll definitely have me back next year,” he joked.

Johnny Depp, Dame Helen Mirren and Colin Firth were a few of the stars who received a gentle ribbing over the course of the evening.

Yet the comedian got as good as he gave later when he introduced Madonna with a reference to her song Like a Virgin.

“If I’m like a virgin, Ricky, why don’t you come over here and do something about it,” joked the pop star turned director.

The Golden Globes is one of the first major awards ceremonies in the run-up to the Oscars, to be held this year on 26 February.

Both films and TV shows are recognized, with separate categories for dramas, comedies and mini-series or motion pictures made for television.

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Francesco Schettino committed errors, says the company operating Costa Concordia cruise ship

Diane A. Wade
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Francesco Schettino committed errors, says the company operating Costa Concordia cruise ship

Costa Crociere, the company operating Costa Concordia cruise ship that capsized after hitting rocks off western Italy on Friday says Captain Francesco Schettino may have “committed errors”.

Captain Francesco Schettino appears to have ignored the firm’s emergency procedures “which are in line with international standards”, Costa Crociere said in a statement.

Francesco Schettino is suspected of manslaughter, but denies wrongdoing.

At least five people have died but about 15 remain unaccounted for. Divers are trying to find more survivors.

“It seems that the commander made errors of judgement that had serious consequences,” the statement by Costa Crociere said.

The Costa Concordia is lying on its side just off the Tuscan island of Giglio, where it ran aground.

Captain Francesco Schettino appears to have ignored Costa Crociere's emergency procedures
Captain Francesco Schettino appears to have ignored Costa Crociere's emergency procedures

 

Francesco Schettino has been detained on suspicion of manslaughter. The chief prosecutor said the vessel had “very ineptly got close to Giglio”.

But Captain Francesco Schettino has said that the rock it hit was not marked on his nautical chart.

“We should have had deep water beneath us… We were about 300 metres (1,000ft) from the rocks more or less. We shouldn’t have hit anything.”

He also denied claims by prosecutors that he left the Costa Concordia before evacuation was complete.

“We were the last to leave the ship,” Francesco Schettino told Italian TV.

Captain Francesco Schettino, 52, has worked for Costa Cruises for 11 years. First officer Ciro Ambrosio has also been detained.

Bucharest: street riot escalates after football supporters joined the protests

Diane A. Wade
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Bucharest: street riot escalates after football supporters joined the protests

Protests continued today in capital Bucharest and other cities in Romania, the third consecutive day of street riots in the country.

Demonstrations spread in Bucharest from downtown University Square to other areas in the center of the city. Riot police increased in number after a group of football supporters joined the over 1,000 people who were already in the University Square. The supporters, nicknamed “ultras”, threw flamed bottles, crackers, stones and even trash bins towards the gendarmes. Most of protesters covered their faces to avoid being recognized and fined by the authorities.

Protests continued today in capital Bucharest and other cities in Romania, the third consecutive day of street riots in the country
Protests continued today in capital Bucharest and other cities in Romania, the third consecutive day of street riots in the country

 

Protesters in Bucharest and across Romania ask for the dismissal of Romanian president Traian Basescu, of the Government led by Emil Boc, as well as for salary and pensions raise.

Some were even protesting against the Rosia Montana gold mine project.

Thousands of Romanians took their anger to the streets over the week-end, with protests ending in clashes with the Police downtown Bucharest. Riot police and protesters alike were injured. Over 40 people were taken into the Police custody on Saturday evening, after a heated evening in the University Square downtown Bucharest. Riot police managed to disperse protesters by firing tear gas and increasing troops on the street on Saturday evening in Bucharest.

These were the most heated protests in Romania so far, after the country applied some harsh measures, such as a 25% public salary cut and an increase in VAT. The recent events show the decreasing popularity of president Traian Basescu and the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) Government led by Emil Boc.

The spark for the recent protests in the Romanian capital was the proposed health law, which, if enforced, would have brought changes to the country’s emergency health system.

Sub-secretary of state Raed Arafat’s resignation from the Health Ministry over the planned changes to the system was the pretext that send Romanians protesting.

Initially started mid-last week as support demonstrations for Dr. Raed Arafat, the protests soon turned against the Romanian president Traian Basescu, asking for his and the Government’s dismissal, and for early elections. Hundreds of people in other Romanian cities, as Iasi, Cluj, Timisoara joined the protests.

President Traian Basescu was publicly for the changes in the health law and quarreled on TV with Dr. Raed Arafat. On Friday evening however, he publicly asked the Government to withdraw the proposal, saying it saw the public protest against it.

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Hacker Yama Tough threatened to release the full code of Norton AntiVirus

Nancy Clayson
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Computer hacker Yama Tough yesterday threatened to release the full source code for Symantec Corp’s flagship Norton AntiVirus software.

Yama Tough posted via Twitter: “This coming Tuesday behold the full Norton AntiVirus 1,7Gb src, the rest will follow.”

In the past week Yama Tough has released fragments of source code from Symantec products along with a cache of emails.

The hacker says all the data was taken from Indian government servers.

Symantec Corp described the stolen source code as several years old, Fox News reported.

A spokesman for the company, Cris Paden, told Fox News that Symantec didn’t have any other information, “particularly with regards to any new claims Anonymous is making”.

The company also had a lawsuit filed against it in the U.S. earlier in the week, accusing Symantec of encouraging customers to buy their product with scare tactics.

The suit claims the company issues misleading information about the health of their computers in order to persuade them into buying the software.

Symantec deny the allegations.

Tongue has a sixth sense for fat, scientists say

Kathryn R. Bown
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US scientists believe they have identified a sixth taste for lipids – a previously unknown sense for fat.

For many years it was assumed that the human tongue could only detect four tastes – sweet, sour, salt and bitter.

In 1985 a fifth was discovered known as umani or savoury.

The researchers’ findings indicate that certain people consume more fatty foods because they are less sensitive to the fat taste.

And they believe their study could eventually be used to help combat diabetes and the growing problem of obesity.

There had been speculation in the past over the role of the CD36 receptor protein following studies involving mice.

The research team from Washington University in St. Louis has discovered that the sensitivity of the receptor differs wildly from person to person.

Their research found that people with just half as much CD36 were eight times less sensitive to the presence of fat in foods.

The findings could go some way towards explaining why some people are more disposed to eating large amounts of fatty food than others.

The researchers also believe that raising a person’s sensitivity to fat could lead them to want to consume less of it.

Tests on animals showed that a high-fat diet causes the body to produce less CD36, effectively dulling the senses to its presence.

Professor Nada Abumrad, who led the study, believes mutations in CD36 could be associated with an increased risk of insulin resistance and diabetes.

She told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper: “The ultimate goal is to understand how our perception of fat in food might influence what foods we eat and the qualities of fat that we consume.”

Exercising could increase your salary, not only trims the waistline

Kathryn R. Bown
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Exercising could increase your salary, not only trims the waistline

Scientists say that exercising not only trims the waistline but will substantially increase your salary.

Jogging, swimming or lifting weights in the gym three times a week could boost your income by up to 9%, a Cleveland State University in Ohio study say.

Even taking moderate exercise such as a regular walk has a positive effect on earnings, a study has found.

Employers may view those participating in regular activity as more determined and dedicated.

Fit staff members were also more likely to work harder because of the psychological – as well as physical – benefits of keeping fit.

Scientists say that exercising not only trims the waistline but will substantially increase your salary
Scientists say that exercising not only trims the waistline but will substantially increase your salary

The study examined two questionnaires in the US involving more than 12,000 people.

Details about salaries and the extent to which people exercised were analyzed.

The researchers found that people exercising three times a week could expect a salary between 6 and 9% greater than those who do not.

For those exercising between one and three times a month, the benefit was still an additional 5%.

The report, by Dr. Vasilios Kosteas from Cleveland State University, said: “In addition to the positive impacts on heart health, weight and other medical issues, studies show that exercise leads to improved mental function, psychological condition and higher energy levels.

“All three of these traits can translate into higher earnings.”

Phobos-Grunt Mars probe crashed down in the Pacific Ocean

James J. Williams
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Phobos-Grunt Mars probe crashed down in the Pacific Ocean

Russian Phobos-Grunt Mars probe that’s been stuck in Earth orbit for two months has crashed down in the Pacific Ocean on late Sunday.

“Phobos-Grunt fragments have crashed down in the Pacific Ocean,” Russia’s Defense Ministry official Alexei Zolotukhin told RIA Novosti, adding that the fragments fell in 1,250 kilometers to the west of the island of Wellington.

The spacecraft fell at about 21:45 on Sunday Moscow time (17:45 GMT).

As of 20.15 Sunday, the spacecraft was moving in the near-Earth orbit with an altitude that varied between 113.8 km at perigee and 133.2 km at apogee, the Russian space agency Roscosmos said.

Russian Phobos-Grunt Mars probe that's been stuck in Earth orbit for two months has crashed down in the Pacific Ocean on late Sunday
Russian Phobos-Grunt Mars probe that's been stuck in Earth orbit for two months has crashed down in the Pacific Ocean on late Sunday

Phobos-Grunt, launched on November 9, was designed to bring back rock and soil samples from the Martian moon Phobos. However, it has been stuck in a so-called support orbit since its engines failed to put it on course for the Red Planet.

The head of Roscosmos, Vladimir Popovkin, previously said the probe would break up during reentry into the atmosphere and none of the fragments are likely to reach the Earth.

That includes the 13.5-tonne spacecraft’s 7.5 tons of fuel, which are stored in aluminum tanks that are bound to explode upon reentry.

According to NASA, Russia has failed in all 17 of its attempts to study the Red Planet close-up since 1960. The most recent failure before last month occurred in 1996, when Russia lost its Mars-96 orbiter during launch.

Demi Moore looking gaunter than ever before as she posed with her daughter Rumer Willis

Lisa.Felice
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Demi Moore looking gaunter than ever before as she posed with her daughter Rumer Willis

Demi Moore still shows the strain of her split from Ashton Kutcher, as she stepped out last night looking gaunter than ever before.

Demi Moore, 49, was at the Cinema For Peace event at the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, with and her legs and arms on show looking painfully thin.

The actress was keeping up appearances by attending the glitzy showbiz event but it was clear that she is still struggling to come to terms with the end of her third marriage.

Demi Moore, who looked a shadow of her former self, wore a slim fitting black dress which showed just how much weight she had lost from her usually toned physique.

She had suffered severe weight loss on her legs with her thighs and calf appearing to be the same thin waif width from top to bottom.

Demi Moore showed that she was still keeping the faith by wearing a red string Kabbalah on her left wrist.

The talisman is a Jewish custom, popularly thought to ward off misfortune brought about by an evil eye.

Demi Moore, who is currently filming Lovelace with Amanda Seyfried and James Franco, was joined by her eldest daughter from her second marriage Rumer Willis.

Rumer Willis, 23, was in much healthier shape than her mother and wore a black dress with a sheer top that showed off her fuller figured body.

Demi Moore still shows the strain of her split from Ashton Kutcher, as she stepped out last night looking gaunter than ever before
Demi Moore still shows the strain of her split from Ashton Kutcher, as she stepped out last night looking gaunter than ever before

She has followed her parents into the family business but is yet to scale the dizzy heights that her father, Bruce Willis, reached in his heyday.

Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher’s relationship broke down after claims emerged that the actor had cheated on his wife with 22-year-old Sara Leal, on the weekend of his wedding anniversary.

On November 17 2011, Demi Moore announced that she was filing for divorce from her toyboy husband after six years of marriage.

Pakistan: 17 Shias killed in a bomb attack during a religious procession in Khanpur

Roy Siemens
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Pakistan: 17 Shias killed in a bomb attack during a religious procession in Khanpur

17 people have been killed and other 20 wounded in a bomb attack on a Shia religious procession in the central Pakistani city of Khanpur.

Police initially thought the blast had been caused by an electrical fault, but later confirmed it was a bomb.

The attack targeted Shias marking the festival of Arbain, one of the main holy days of the Shia calendar.

There have been a number of attacks targeting the minority Shia community, carried out by Sunni militants.

17 people have been killed and other 20 wounded in a bomb attack on a Shia religious procession in the central Pakistani city of Khanpur
17 people have been killed and other 20 wounded in a bomb attack on a Shia religious procession in the central Pakistani city of Khanpur

The remote-controlled bomb was planted near an electric pole, Sohail Chattha, the area’s police chief, told Reuters news agency.

He said it was set off as the procession approached.

“There was a loud explosion a few yards from the procession and we all scrambled to get away,” Imran Iqbal, who was in the procession, told Reuters.

“Debris was everywhere, and a cloud of dust engulfed us. Many people died on the spot.”

Cameras captured the sound of the blast – which silenced the mourning chants of the marchers – followed by the sight of a cloud of dust rising into the sky.

As the dust cleared, the wounded dragged themselves from the scene of the blast, their cries filling the air, he said.

Ambulances arrived quickly and rushed the injured to local hospitals.

Angry members of the procession later clashed with the police amid accusations that the security provided had been inadequate.

No organization has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, our correspondent says.

But South Punjab is home turf to Pakistan’s deadliest Sunni militant group, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, which is notoriously anti-Shia, he adds.

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Costa Concordia: death toll raised to five, as two more bodies were found on the ship

Diane A. Wade
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Italian rescue teams have found two more bodies in the partially submerged Costa Concordia cruise liner that sank off Italy.

The moment brings to five those known to have died after Costa Concordis cruise ship, carrying more than 4,000 people, hit rocks on Friday.

The coastguard said divers searching the vessel found the bodies of two men trapped at an assembly point.

Earlier three survivors were found, more than 24 hours after the ship ran aground off a Tuscan island.

Okvath family’s Extreme Makeover $1M mansion was sold at huge lost as they were ruined by crippling bills

Diane A. Wade
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Okvath family’s Extreme Makeover $1M mansion was sold at huge lost as they were ruined by crippling bills

Reality TV show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” became a nationwide success when it transformed the home of a cancer stricken girl and her struggling family into a $1 million mansion.

As the ABC show aired its final episode this week, it emerged that the 2005 extreme makeover of the rented ranch in Arizona which came with a full-size carousal, had proved to be too extreme for the Okvath family.

Crippled by debts and rocketing utility bills which came with their “dream home” Bryan and Nichol Okvath, who have seven children, were forced to sell their one-time $1million mansion at a loss at $540,000.

Crippled by debts and rocketing utility bills which came with their “dream home” Bryan and Nichol Okvath, who have seven children, were forced to sell their one-time $1million mansion at a loss at $540,000
Crippled by debts and rocketing utility bills which came with their “dream home” Bryan and Nichol Okvath, who have seven children, were forced to sell their one-time $1million mansion at a loss at $540,000

The episode began in 2004, when the couple’s daughter Kassandra Okvath, then aged eight, was undergoing treatment for cancer and wrote to the show, asking for her hospital cancer ward to be brightened up.

So touched by the girl’s plea, in addition to renovating the cancer ward, the producers decided to tear down the 1,800-square-foot house the family were renting in Gilbert and replace it with a six-bedroom mansion with a movie theater and a backyard carousel.

The property’s owner agreed to sign over full ownership of the house to the Okvaths, reports the Arizona Republic.

The episode aired in March 2005, with the overwhelmed Okvath family breaking down in tears of joy, as nearly 4,000 people gathered outside the home to watch the grand unveiling.

At the time, it seemed like the perfect fairytale ending.

But the extreme home came with extreme bills; utility costs reached $1,200 for electricity and $400 for water; property taxes increased from $1,625 pre-makeover to $5,600, reports the Arizona Republic.

Bryan Okvath, who was unemployed, occasionally worked as a truck driver and fire fighter, and Nichol was a stay at home mum, according to the report.

Struggling to cope, the Arizona Republic reports that the cash-strapped couple used the house as collateral for a $405,000 loan in 2006, but were not able to keep up with payments and the home was almost foreclosed.

The extreme home came with extreme bills, utility costs reached $1,200 for electricity and $400 for water and property taxes increased from $1,625 pre-makeover to $5,600
The extreme home came with extreme bills, utility costs reached $1,200 for electricity and $400 for water and property taxes increased from $1,625 pre-makeover to $5,600

The family tried to sell the house several times – for $1.9 million in 2007, then for $1.4 million – but got no takers.

The Okvaths narrowly avoided losing the home at a public auction in 2008, then put the house up for sale again.

By 2009, the asking price had dropped to $800,000. Eventually in spring 2010, they sold it for $540,000.

“It’s been frustrating,” Nichol Okvath had told the Arizona Republic in 2009.

“When the cameras go off, it’s just a different. Everybody thinks everything’s happily ever after.”

“A lot of people think we’re rich, but we have nothing,” she added.

“We live paycheck to paycheck. We have no cushion anymore.”

It has since been reported that Kassandra Okvath had made a good recovery, however her parents have separated.

Efforts to reach the family have been unsuccessful.

Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler was crowned Miss America 2012

Lisa.Felice
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Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler was crowned Miss America 2012

Laura Kaeppeler, the beauty queen from Kenosha, Wisconsin, won the Miss America pageant on Saturday in Las Vegas after singing opera and strutting in a white bikini and black beaded evening gown.

Laura Kaeppeler, 23, had to answer a question about whether beauty queens should declare their politics.

“Miss America represents everyone, so I think the message to political candidates is that they represent everyone as well,” Laura Kaeppeler said.

“And so in these economic times, we need to be looking forward to what America needs, and I think Miss America needs to represent all.”

Miss Oklahoma Betty Thompson came in second, while Miss New York Kaitlyn Monte placed third, the Associated Press reports.

Laura Kaeppeler wins a $50,000 scholarship and gets the title for one year.

Her platform during the competition was supporting and mentoring children of incarcerated parents.

Laura Kaeppeler, the beauty queen from Kenosha, Wisconsin, won the Miss America pageant on Saturday in Las Vegas
Laura Kaeppeler, the beauty queen from Kenosha, Wisconsin, won the Miss America pageant on Saturday in Las Vegas

Laura Kaeppeler was crowned the winner by a panel of seven judges during a live telecast on ABC.

The event was the culmination of a week of preliminary competitions and months of preparations for the titleholders from all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

As the new Miss America, Laura Kaeppeler will spend the next year touring the country to speak to different groups and raising money for the Children’s Miracle Network, the Miss America Organization’s official charity.

Teresa Scanlan of Nebraska won Miss America last year at age 17 to become the pageant’s youngest winner ever.

She said contestants’ nerves likely were at their highest point just before the pageant.

“You can always breathe a sigh of relief once the live pageant begins,” Teresa Scanlan said.

Pageant officials earlier announced the winners of preliminary competitions, including Laura Kaeppeler, Betty Thompson and Miss Hawaii Lauren Cheape for talent; and Miss New York Kaitlin Monte, Miss Texas Kendall Morris and Miss Utah Danica Olsen for swimsuit.

Laura Kaeppeler took home a $2,000 scholarship for her opera performance of “Il Bacio” in the talent competition.

Officials also said Miss Idaho Genevieve Nutting won the $2,000 Fourpoints Award, while Miss Kentucky Ann-Blair Thornton won the $6,000 Quality of Life scholarship.

The Miss America Organization touts itself as the world’s largest giver of scholarships to women, with about $350,000 to be given this year at the national level.

Teresa Scanlan said she planned to use her scholarship to help pay for law school en route to a life in politics.

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