Queen Elizabeth II has been forced to cancel a Wales visit on Saturday to celebrate St David’s Day, after developing symptoms of a stomach bug.
Buckingham Palace said the 86-year-old monarch is suffering from gastroenteritis.
The Queen had been due to present members of 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh in Swansea with leeks to mark St David’s Day.
The monarch will now spend the weekend at Windsor and will be “assessed in the coming days”.
It was due to be the first time that the Queen was to present leeks to 3 Royal Welsh, which is the reserve force of the regiment.
However, Saturday’s ceremonies, including a parade to Swansea’s Guildhall, will still take place – despite the Queen’s absence.
The Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan, Byron Lewis, will take over the ceremonial role.
Queen Elizabeth II has been forced to cancel a Wales visit on Saturday to celebrate St David’s Day, after developing symptoms of a stomach bug
Saturday’s celebrations were due to follow other royal events on St David’s Day itself on Friday in Cardiff.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall attended a service at St John The Baptist City Parish Church, before visiting the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
On Thursday, Queen Elizabeth spent the day at Buckingham Palace where she presented honors to a number of Britain’s 2012 Olympic winners.
Olympians honored included heptathlon winner Jessica Ennis, who received the CBE and Team GB cycling boss Dave Brailsford who was knighted.
Rapper Diddy has admitted to wetting the bed as a child and blamed the issue on not drinking enough water, instead guzzling fizzy drinks and excessively consuming sugar.
Diddy revealed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show: “One thing I want to say is, I grew up as a Kool-Aid kid. I used to pour a half a pound of sugar into the Kool-Aid. Besides it having me bouncing off the walls, I used to be a bed wetter.
“OK, I guess I’m confessing that I used to be a bed wetter. So I went on this quest to stop wetting the bed, and the first day that I had a sleepover and I didn’t wet the bed, it was, like, one of the greatest days of my life.
“It gave me the swagger that I have today because I stopped wetting the bed.”
Diddy, 43, – who has launched his own water brand, AQUAhydrate, with actor Mark Wahlberg – also encouraged children to drink as much H2O as possible to avoid the same red-faced moments he had as a child.
The musician said: “There is something about sugar that makes you wet the bed. So to all you boys and girls out there, as Muhammad Ali used to tell you [to] brush your teeth, I’m telling you to drink water, OK?
“It will stop you from wetting the bed, and you won’t be embarrassed in front of the girls at sleepovers.”
Diddy has admitted to wetting the bed as a child and blamed the issue on not drinking enough water, instead guzzling fizzy drinks and excessively consuming sugar
David Beckham has been forced to deny recent reports that he used a bottom double in for his recent starring role in the H&M underwear campaign.
Answering critics who suggested he had used a lookalike for some of the scenes, David Beckham, 37, hit back at the speculation surrounding his nether regions and confirmed everything used in the advertisement is what nature gave him.
Asked directly about the “bum double” rumors on live French television show Grande Journal on Thursday night, he said: “No I can say the crotch is mine and the backside is mine as well.
“I heard this the other day. Someone said that I had a stand-in for my bum, but no, I can confirm that’s my bum.”
Last month, eagle-eyed fans took to Twitter to debate whether or not David Beckham had relied on a lookalike for some of the scenes in the H&M underwear commercial, after spotting a shirtless man who looked very similar to Beckham in the background of a handout shot.
David Beckham has been forced to deny recent reports that he used a bottom double in for his recent starring role in the H&M underwear campaign
The rumors were also fuelled by a back shot of “Beckham” running along in his pants.
While real David Beckham has sleeve tattoos on both his arms, and several inkings on his back, the etchings were noticeably absent from one shot of the man dashing along the street.
In fact, the man running along appeared to be virtually tattoo-free on his right arm, with only a few designs on his left.
David Beckham’s tattoo of son Brooklyn’s name on his lower back could also not be seen on the “double”, while the inking mid-way down his back also appeared to be significantly larger than the footballer’s.
However, in a recent interview, David Beckham said he completed his own stunts on the Guy Ritchie-directed advert, which sees him dash through Los Angeles in just his boxer shorts when his wife traps his dressing gown in the car door and drives off.
David Beckham is quoted as saying: “It was good fun playing an action hero for the day, getting to do all the stunts and ending up in unexpected situations.”
Kate Middleton dazzles on the red carpet in an array of glamorous designer dresses but she is also known to like a high street bargain or two.
The Duchess of Cambridge, 31, has long championed the likes of Zara and Reiss and her outfit choices have sparked multiple sales booms.
And now, Kate Middleton, who is expecting her first child with husband Prince William in July, has hit the high street once more – this time to dress the Royal bump.
Kate Middleton was spotted browsing the maternity racks at high street store Topshop during a shopping spree in London.
A fellow shopper tweeted: “Oh Just an average day, Kate Middleton smiled at me! 🙂 oh best bit… This was in Topshop! Truly Beautiful :).”
Layla Maan, a Business Development Manager, said: “She really is stunning up close.
“I am still in shock! I had to sit down after.
“She was just browsing next to me and then was shortly in personal shopping area which I usually am in but they had security there.”
Kate Middleton dazzles on the red carpet in an array of glamorous designer dresses but she is also known to like a high street bargain or two
Kate Middleton wore her hair in a bouncy ponytail, with her trademark pearl earrings and casual black leggings.
She swapped her court shoes for flat boots and wrapped up warm with a short fur trimmed brown jacket.
In January, Kate Middleton was spotted in another high street store, Gap, on the hunt for some maternity jeans.
Happy as Kate Middleton may be to shop on the high street, Alexander McQueen’s Sarah Burton – the designer behind the duchess’s wedding gown for her 2011 nuptials – recently revealed wants to design maternity wear for Kate.
When asked if she would be making any maternity clothes for Kate Middleton, the acclaimed designer said: “I hope I will be.”
According to a fashion and beauty website, adding coarse sea salt to shampoo is an easy way to get thicker and fuller hair.
In a new ModaMobvideo, host Marianna Hewitt explains that hair needs exfoliation just as much as skin.
Mixing three parts coarse sea salt with two parts shampoo apparently does the trick.
By using this “detoxifying blend”, hair will be stripped of dead skin cells, old product build-up and dirt.
And it won’t lose any of its natural, healthy oils.
Former Miss California Marianna Hewitt creates the blend using a $1 shampoo and a $2 tub of salt.
She gives a step-by-step explanation of how to create the hair treatment.
“Using lots of hair products every day can actually make your hair feel flatter and more weighed down,” Marianna Hewitt explains.
In a new ModaMob video, host Marianna Hewitt explains that hair needs exfoliation just as much as skin
To give your hair a “fresh start”, Marianna Hewitt says you could either buy a pre-made shampoo from beauty brand Lush for $27, or you could follow her simple steps to create your own DIY detoxifying blend that will only set you back $3.
Make sure the salt you use is coarse, so you can get its exfoliating benefits.
The sea salt will get all of the “gunk” out of your hair, she says.
“This is going to remove all the old product build-up in your hair from years of products which, in result, gives your hair a lift.”
The video shows Marianna Hewitt pouring two parts clarifying shampoo into a container of three parts sea salt. She then blends the mixture thoroughly.
Wash your hair with the mixture in the shower, then rinse with cold water to eliminate all residue.
And the host warns not to do the usual “lather, rinse repeat” with this treatment
“Do not wash your hair with this more than once a month because you’ll end up cleaning it TOO good,” Marianne Hewitt says.
US political leaders are meeting for last-ditch talks at the White House, amid the prospect of steep budget cuts.
Cuts worth $85 billion, originally passed in an effort to push Congress to strike a budget deal, are due to become law by the end of Friday.
President Barack Obama is hosting Democratic and Republican leaders, as a blame game rages in Washington. Congress has adjourned for the weekend.
The IMF has said the cuts could have an impact on global growth.
Analysis in the US suggests the nation’s GDP (economic output) could grow by just 1.4% in 2013 if the cuts are not delayed or replaced. US GDP grew by 2.2% in 2012.
The White House meeting comes as prospects for a deal to avert the cuts, known as the sequester, appear extremely slim.
Budget bills from both parties were defeated in the Senate on Thursday.
Although Republicans and Democrats both say they want to reduce the budget deficit, estimated at $845 billion this year, the president accused Senate Republicans of allowing the cuts to proceed.
Barack Obama favors what he calls a “balanced” approach to deficit reduction, mixing cuts with tax rises for some Americans.
“They voted to let the entire burden of deficit reduction fall squarely on the middle class,” he said of his rivals, in a statement on Thursday.
Barack Obama criticized Republicans for refusing to close “a single tax loophole that benefits the well-off and well-connected.”
The president said that by not doing a budget deal to avoid the cuts, Congress would impose a “self-inflicted wound” on America.
But Republicans contend that the president and his advisers created and proposed the idea of the cuts during budget negotiations in 2011.
House Speaker John Boehner has referred repeatedly to “the president’s sequester”, according to Politico.
John Boehner and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, as well as the Senate’s Democratic majority leader Harry Reid and Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell, arrived at the White House for talks that began at 10:18 EST, officials said.
Reports say Barack Obama is still hoping to push for a wider fiscal deal to reduce the deficit by $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years.
But attention will also turn to the next congressional challenge – a possible shutdown of the US government if no funding bill is passed in the next month.
US political leaders are meeting for last-ditch talks at the White House, amid the prospect of steep budget cuts
The cuts are split roughly evenly between military and domestic programmes, but effects will be felt over time rather than immediately.
While hundreds of thousands of jobs are expected to be lost, no US government programmes will be closed down entirely. Cuts to healthcare provision for the elderly will be limited.
The scale of cuts will increase gradually over 10 years, totalling $1.1 trillion by 2023, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.
If there is no agreement, they are scheduled to be signed into the federal budget by President Barack Obama by 23:59 local time on Friday.
When Barack Obama signs an order later on Friday, a process to cut the defence budget by 10% and other programmes by 8.5% will be set into motion.
Millions of federal workers could face up to 22 forced days off without pay this year.
The cuts will not happen overnight – they will be spread over the next seven months and many think Congress will agree to a deal sooner rather than later.
In the Senate on Thursday, a Democratic plan blocked by Republicans proposed nearly $30 billion in future cuts in defence spending and a minimum tax rate on incomes exceeding $1 million.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said there were “no preconditions” on what could be discussed in Friday’s meeting.
With Republicans refusing to allow tax rises and Democrats vowing to protect cherished social programmes, Congress is just weeks away from its next budget battle.
On March 27 a temporary federal budget that has kept the federal government running since 2012 is due to expire.
Failure by Congress to enact a new stop-gap budget could see parts of the federal government shut down.
House Republicans said they would vote on a bill next week to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year, on September 30, but keep in place some automatic cuts taking effect on Friday.
Meanwhile the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the global economic recovery could be harmed by the automatic spending cuts.
Andrew Mason, founder and chief executive of Groupon, has been ousted after the online voucher firm posted another quarterly loss, prompting a 24% slide in its share price on Thursday.
Groupon’s shares have lost 77% of their value since the firm was floated on the Nasdaq in November 2011, as investors fear its business model offering bulk discount deals may be unsustainable.
Andrew Mason, who set the firm up in 2008, told staff: “I will miss you terribly.”
In a note to employees, Andrew Mason said: “After four and a half intense and wonderful years as CEO of Groupon, I’ve decided that I’d like to spend more time with my family. Just kidding – I was fired today. If you’re wondering why… you haven’t been paying attention.”
Groupon’s board said that executive chairman Eric Lefkofsky and vice chairman Ted Leonsis would step in as temporary joint chief executives until a replacement for Andrew Mason could be found.
Speculation has been rife since last year that Andrew Mason’s days were numbered, prompting him to state in November that: “If I ever thought I wasn’t the right guy for the job, I’d be the first person to fire myself.”
However, the timing of the move did catch some investors by surprise, who thought the boss would be given until the summer to try to turn things around.
“Groupon is a very large, very complex, multi-faceted global business,” said Tom White, of Macquarie Research.
“They are either going to have to find somebody who is a proven executer in handling complex businesses, or maybe this is a signal they are going to simplify.”
Andrew Mason, founder and chief executive of Groupon, has been ousted after the online voucher firm posted another quarterly loss
Sameet Sinha, of B Riley & Co, said: “Andrew Mason was a young guy. He had never run a company before, and all of a sudden he was running a company which was in almost 50 countries worldwide. It was definitely something that he couldn’t manage. So they had to make that change.”
Late on Thursday, the company revealed that it had made a bigger-than-expected loss for the last three months, and said that revenues during the current quarter would also undershoot expectations.
Many investors have been concerned for some time that Groupon’s customers are tiring of the deals it offers, and that it is facing more competition from other start-ups and from big firms such as Amazon and Google, who have been copying its strategy.
Cen Yingyuan from China hasn’t cut her hair for the past 11 years and her locks now hang at 6 ft 7 in long.
In comparison to her long hair, 44-year-old Cen Yingyuan only stands 5 ft feet in height, meaning that unless she ties up her tresses her hair trails on the floor as she walks.
Cen Yingyuan, who lives in Guigang, in the Guangxi Province, says: “I have saved the hair for 11 years, and I am quite addicted to it.”
Unsurprising every time Cen Yingyuan goes out she and her hair attract a lot of attention from passers by, but she is proud of her unusual “do”.
Cen Yingyuan treasures her hair so much she even collects any strands that drop out.
“Starting from 2005 I started to collect the dropped ones when combing. Usually I can collect around 50 g a year.”
Cen Yingyuan said many people have offered to buy her hair, and the highest amount she has ever been offered was 20,000 Yuan ($32,000).
She takes good care of her hair and is proud that there is no grey.
“If the hair started to turn grey, I’ll dye it all white, making myself have another look.”
Cen Yingyuan from China hasn’t cut her hair for the past 11 years and her locks now hang at 6 ft 7 in long
However, Cen Yingyuan’s long hair does come with disadvantages as it takes her over an hour to wash and then half a day to dry.
She is unable to wash it in a shower or bath due to its extreme length and is forced to bend over a bucket.
Cen Yingyuan washes her hair every four days and her secret to keeping it shiny is to use a bottle of beer.
And Cen Yingyuan is not alone in being obsessed with growing her hair.
The Red Yao women, a minority ethnic group from Huangluo Yao Village in China, have an average hair length of 5.5 feet with the longest locks measure more than 6.8 feet.
Incredibly, the women cut their hair only once in their lives, at 16 years old, before they start their search for a husband, as they believe a woman long hair brings longevity, wealth and good fortune
Eurozone unemployment rate rose to a new record high in January, official figures show.
The jobless rate in the 17 countries that use the euro rose to 11.9% in January from 11.8% in December, the statistics agency Eurostat said.
The highest rate was 27% in Greece, although the most recent figure there was from November, while the lowest rate was 4.9% in Austria.
Eurostat also said eurozone inflation had fallen to 1.8% in February.
The inflation figure was the lowest for two years, putting it in line with the European Central Bank’s (ECB) inflation target of below, but close to 2%.
The jobless rate in the 17 countries that use the euro rose to 11.9 percent in January 2013 from 11.8 percent in December 2012
Analysts said that the high unemployment and low figure for inflation would make it more likely that the ECB would cut its interest rates later in the year from the current rate of 0.75%.
“All the data is supporting a rate cut, which we see in the second quarter,” said Sarah Hewin from Standard Chartered.
“They could move as early as next week, but there’s an element of the ECB wanting to keep its powder dry as we enter an uncertain political situation with Italy and the Cypriot debt question has to be resolved.”
The highest unemployment rates among countries that have reported their January figures were 26.2% in Spain and 17.6% in Portugal.
Unemployment in the 27 countries that make up the European Union rose to 10.8% in January from 10.7% the previous month.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been heavily criticized by the US, Israel and the UN for branding Zionism a “crime against humanity”.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a UN forum this week: “As with Zionism, anti-Semitism and fascism, it is inevitable that Islamophobia be considered a crime against humanity.”
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu called the comments “dark and mendacious”.
New US Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to raise the issue when he meets Turkey’s leaders on Friday.
John Kerry is in Ankara for talks on the crisis in Syria.
But his visit has been overshadowed by Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s comments, comparing Zionism with fascism, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, at a meeting of the UN Alliance of Civilizations Forum in Vienna earlier this week.
His words drew strong condemnation from Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, which called them “a dark and mendacious statement the likes of which we thought had passed from the world”.
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been heavily criticized by the US, Israel and the UN for branding Zionism a crime against humanity
In the US, National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said “the characterization of Zionism as a crime against humanity… is offensive and wrong”.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s office said he heard Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s speech through an interpreter, and called it “unfortunate that such hurtful and divisive comments were uttered at a meeting being held under the theme of responsible leadership”.
Relations between Israel and Turkey have deteriorated since May 2010 when nine Turkish activists aboard a flotilla of aid ships trying to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza were killed in clashes with Israeli troops.
China has executed four foreign men for the murder of 13 Chinese fishermen on the Mekong river in 2011, after being paraded on state TV.
The men were put to death by lethal injection in Kunming, Yunnan province.
CCTV News broadcast live footage of the men being taken from their cells to the execution site, though it did not show the moment of death.
Many social media users in China have reacted angrily, condemning the broadcast as insensitive.
It is believed to be the first time in China’s recent history that live footage of condemned criminals being taken to their execution has been broadcast.
Chinese internet users spoke out against the special programme, in what some are saying was a throw-back to the execution rallies of China’s past.
Among the prisoners was Naw Kham, a Burmese man thought to have been one of the most powerful warlords in the Golden Triangle of Thailand, Laos and Burma.
China’s state television channel CCTV aired an interview with Naw Kham on Thursday.
“I couldn’t sleep properly over last two days. I miss my mother. It is really painful that I can’t be with my children,” Naw Kham told the channel.
“My mum didn’t know when I was arrested, and I am worrying that she won’t be able to take it when she finds out,” he went on.
Announcing the execution on Twitter, state news agency Xinhua tweeted a photograph of Naw Kham with his hands clasped in front of his forehead. It is unclear when this picture was taken.
Xinhua has said the men had had their “legal rights fully respected” while on death row.
China’s foreign ministry said the case highlighted its determination to tackle cross-border crime.
“I think an important message that this case sends is that it shows the determination of China and the governments of relevant countries to work hard together to combat cross-border crime,” Hua Chunying spokesman for China’s foreign ministry said.
Among the prisoners was Naw Kham, a Burmese man thought to have been one of the most powerful warlords in the Golden Triangle of Thailand, Laos and Burma
The 13 fishermen were found dead inside two Chinese cargo ships in October 2011 on the Thai side of the river.
State media said Naw Kham and his subordinates had collaborated with Thai soldiers in launching an attack on the ships, the Hua Ping and Yu Xing.
The other men were Hsang Kham from Thailand, Yi Lai, who is stateless, and Zha Xika from Laos, said the Xinhua news agency.
The group were arrested in Laos and brought to China in May last year, after Beijing said the attack had happened on board Chinese-flagged ships.
Beijing argued that the men should be extradited for trial – a move which some observers saw as an indication of the considerable political and economic clout China now exercises over its smaller neighbors.
In November, the men were found guilty of intentional homicide, drug trafficking, kidnapping and hijacking.
Two other members of the gang were also convicted – one received a death sentence with reprieve and the other eight years in prison.
Thailand launched an investigation into the allegations against nine of its soldiers in connection with the incident.
The attack came amid a wave of hijacking of vessels sailing on the Mekong which were blamed on gangs operating in the notorious drug-trafficking region.
China, Burma, Laos and Thailand launched joint security patrols on the Mekong in response.
Li Zhuqun, a senior international co-operation official at China’s Ministry of Public Security said the gang had now been broken up, but that “efforts to ensure the safety of the Mekong River will continue”.
“We will continue patrols and law enforcement co-operation with the other three countries to safeguard shipping on the river,” he told China Daily.
Justin Bieber ended his birthday like most other 19-year-olds – with a trip to the kebab shop.
It was an eventful night for Justin Bieber, with him only kicking off the celebrations at 3 a.m. when he arrived back at his London hotel after performing his gig in Birmingham on Thursday night – before partying up a storm with rumored girlfriend Ella-Paige Roberts-Clarke and a bevy of beauties.
In spite of the freezing winter weather gripping London, Justin Bieber somewhat bizarrely chose to go shirtless as he arrived at his hotel, with a pair of low-slung trousers barely even covering his bottom as he prepared to get ready for his night on the town.
Bracing himself against the London chill, Justin Bieber was clearly keen to show ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez exactly what she’s missing as he was ushered into the hotel with his entire torso on show.
Although Justin Bieber no doubt assumed he looked cool as a cucumber in his hip-hop style trousers, the youngster looked mildly ridiculous with his bright white boxer shorts on display for all to see.
But it was a quick turnaround for Justin Bieber, who seemed keen to get out and celebrate his birthday in style with his newly-acquired posse of female friends.
Writing on his Twitter page before his Birmingham gig, Justin Beber said: “gonna chill and get ready for this show. last show as an 18 year old.”
Before later adding: “Great show!!! Now gonna go celebrate 19!! Thanks.”
The teen hunk managed to locate some clothes for his night of partying in the form of a cream knitted cardigan, a simple black vest and yet again, his favorite low-slung trousers as he headed out supported by an army of minders.
Despite it being the middle of the night, Justin Bieber shielded his eyes with a pair of dark shades and wore a baseball cap as he was ushered into members-only after-hours club, BLC, by his minders.
Justin Bieber’s new leading lady, Ella-Paige Roberts-Clarke, was of course on hand to help him toast his 19th birthday, and was spotted arriving at the nightclub in a pair of form-fitting skinny jeans, a leather biker jacket and a simple white vest, while a coy smile spread across her face.
But the aspiring British singer was by no means the only girl helping Justin Bieber celebrate his special day, with a harem of other ladies also seen joining the group for their night of fun.
In spite of the freezing winter weather gripping London, Justin Bieber somewhat bizarrely chose to go shirtless as he arrived at his hotel, with a pair of low-slung trousers barely even covering his bottom
After a couple of hours of partying, hunger pangs evidently called, and the gang departed BLC at 5 a.m. before heading to London’s Edgware Road, where they munched on kebabs in a Lebanese restaurant until 6 a.m.
Justin Bieber seemed to come across a little camera shy after his big night out, covering up his face with his top as he left the late-night eatery alongside Ella-Paige Roberts-Clarke and his chums.
Keen to make the most of his special day, Justin Bieber arrived back at his central London hotel at 6.30am for a couple of hours of shut-eye.
On Friday night, the teen idol plans to continue the celebrations with a circus-themed party.
Justin Bieber has arranged a big bash in London, which will feature clowns and a ringmaster.
The star and 20 friends have a £10,000 ($15,000) budget for the night and had been scoping out the perfect venue over the past few weeks.
A source told Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper: “Justin wants to celebrate in style and he loves clubbing in London. It’s no accident that there’s a break in his UK tour which coincides with his birthday.
“He’s been looking for the perfect venue and finally settled on Cirque Du Soir as he loves the kitsch theme. The venue is all ready for him, with clowns, goblins, aerial acts and some fire-eaters.”
Last year, Justin Bieber celebrated his 18th birthday by being given a $100,000 Fisker Karma car by his manager Scooter Braun.
This year, Justin Bieber kicked off the celebrations a day early when he was seen arriving at his hotel in the early hours of Wednesday morning accompanied by Ella-Paige Roberts-Clarke and two other girls.
Justin Bieber certainly seems to be making the most of his current stint in the UK, and has been partying up a storm at a number of London hotspots since he arrived in the city last week.
Kim Kardashian dug through the archives of her photo collection to find pictures taken during her time on Dancing With The Stars in 2008.
Kim Kardashian, now 32, participated in the seventh season of the hit TV competition with professional dancer Mark Ballas.
She was the third contestant to be voted off.
Kim Kardashian posted an old snap of herself in a sparkly costume which showcased her toned and trim waistline, along the caption: “In my dressing room at Dancing With The Stars.”
She added another shot of her heading to rehearsals in a black, adding: “Another dancing throwback! Me leaving dance rehearsals #IwasSoooooSkinny”
Kim Kardashian dug through the archives of her photo collection to find pictures taken during her time on Dancing With The Stars in 2008
Kim Kardashian’s weight is clearly top of mind for the star, who is expecting her first child with Kanye West, and she this week predicted she’d pile on the pounds during her pregnancy.
“I’ll definitely be up there,” Kim Kardashian told the April issue of Cosmopolitan magazine.
Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are said to have turned down a $10.5 million offer on their Bel Air Masion.
The couple purchased the property for $9 million just last month.
TMZ report that they’ve received three offers on the home – all of which have been turned down despite the prospect of a healthy profit.
The pair are currently renovating the 14,000 square foot home and are expected to move in later this year.
New reports surfaced alleging Kim Kardashian “exaggerated her fertility for the sake of her career”.
The news could cause “problems” for Kim Kardashian in her forthcoming divorce trial from Kris Humphries, claims Radar Online.
Kim Kardashian, 32, claimed on a recent episode of Kourtney & Kim Take Miami that medical tests showed her hormone levels were “really suppressed” due to having been on birth control for several years.
“My egg levels came back as a woman that’s in her 50s,” she declared to the cameras.
“I’m concerned just hearing all this information of how every woman is born with a certain amount of eggs, and that number can never be increased.
“Maybe this just isn’t in the cards for me, and I’m freaking out a little bit.”
However, Radar Online is now reporting Kim Kardashian was “grossly exaggerating her fertility worries”, according to a source.
Kim Kardashian and her rapper boyfriend Kanye West announced back in December that they were expecting their first baby together.
“Kim’s supposed fertility problems were nowhere near as dire as she made them out to be,” a source told Radar.
“Yes, her estrogen levels were low, but she had been on the pill for a very, very long time.
“She was in a healthy normal range though, given she had been on birth control.”
The insider added that Kim Kardashian “absolutely does not have fertility issues like Khloe”.
Kim Kardashian’s younger sister has had trouble conceiving with husband Lamar Odom since they wed in 2009.
“Kim’s doctor assured her that once she had been off the pill for a few months she shouldn’t have any issues conceiving,” the source said.
The website reports that the news may have implications for Kim Kardashian’s upcoming deposition in the couple’s ongoing divorce dispute.
“Kim is going to be grilled over the claims she made by Kris’ attorney at her upcoming deposition, because they believe this goes to the core of their case against her – that’s she’s willing to lie and manipulate the truth for the sake of her career,” the insider added.
“This could seriously damage Kim’s credibility and bolster Kris’s case that he was duped into marrying her.”
The divorce trial between Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian is set to start on May 6.
Pictures of Kim Jong-un meeting retired basketball player Dennis Rodman have been released in North Korea.
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un, who is known to be a basketball fan, was seen attending a game with Dennis Rodman, who is in the country filming a documentary with a US media company.
The game involved the three members of the Harlem Globetrotters, who had joined Dennis Rodman on the tour, and members of North Korea’s “Dream Team”.
Dennis Rodman told Kim Jong-un he had “a friend for life”, the Associated Press reports.
Dennis Rodman and the Globetrotters arrived in North Korea earlier this week, accompanied by the Vice television company which said they hoped to engage in some “basketball diplomacy”.
Vice correspondent Ryan Duffy told AP the crowd at the Pyongyang game was “really engaged, laughed at all of the Globetrotters antics, and actually got super loud toward the end as the score got close”.
“Most fun I’ve had in a while,” said Ryan Duffy, who was one of the players.
The game ended in a 110-110 tie.
Kim Jong-un was seen wearing his trademark blue Mao suit, while Dennis Rodman – known for his flamboyant appearance and occasional cross-dressing – wore a dark suit and glasses, but with many of his facial piercings in place.
“They bonded during the game,” Vice’s founder, Shane Smith, told AP.
“They were both enjoying the crazy shots, and the Harlem Globetrotters were putting on quite a show.”
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un, who is known to be a basketball fan, was seen attending a game with Dennis Rodman, who is in the country filming a documentary with a US media company
In a speech at the gymnasium, Dennis Rodman told Kim Jong-un he had “a friend for life”.
The meeting was also reported in North Korea’s KCNA state media, which said Kim Jong-un had “warmly welcomed” Dennis Rodman and “let him sit next to him,”.
KCNA said the US and North Koreans had exchanged match tactics and techniques.
The players later joined Kim Jong-un and his wife at a banquet which Ryan Duffy described as an “epic feast”.
The meeting makes Dennis Rodman the most high-profile American to meet Kim Jong-un since he took over from his father last year. The US said it had no comment to make on the meeting.
Dennis Rodman’s visit comes at a time of heightened tensions between the US and North Korea over the test and Pyongyang’s launch of a three-stage rocket, a move condemned by the UN as a banned test of missile technology.
Both were seen as a breach of UN resolutions and condemned as a threat to stability in the region.
The Pentagon has decided to resume flights on its F-35 fighter jets, after the whole fleet was grounded last week.
A cracked turbine blade found on a plane prompted the suspension. But tests showed that this was a “unique” problem and not a design flaw, engine maker Pratt and Whitney said.
Thousands of F-35s are due to be made for the US and its foreign partners.
The F-35 is the Pentagon’s most expensive weapons programme, with a cost of nearly $400 billion.
The fault was detected during a routine inspection of an air force version of the jet (F-35A) at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
But on Thursday a spokesman for Pratt and Whitney, Matthew Bates, told Reuters news agency: “The team has determined that root cause is sufficiently understood for the F-35 to safely resume flights.”
Extensive tests on the plane’s engine revealed the crack was a result of the “unique operating environment” of the test flight, and was not a widespread issue, he added.
The engine had been running at high temperatures for four times longer than a normal F-35 flight, causing a separation of the “grain boundary” on one blade, Matthew Bates explained.
The Pentagon later confirmed that all its 51 planes had been cleared to resume flights.
The Pentagon has decided to resume flights on its F-35 fighter jets, after the whole fleet was grounded last week
Last week’s order to ground the planes – in the US air force, army and Marine Corps – marked the second time in two months planes from the F-35 range have been grounded.
The Marine Corps variant (F-35B), a short take-off and vertical landing variant (STOVL), was grounded for nearly a month after a manufacturing defect caused a fuel line to detach just before a training flight in January.
The F-35 programme includes partners from nine countries.
The construction of the plane has been plagued by problems – it is seven years behind schedule and has required numerous re-designs because of delays in software delivery and bulkhead cracks.
Japanese technology giant Fujitsu has developed Next Generation Cane, a walking stick with built-in sat-nav.
Fujitsu Next Generation Cane is designed to help elderly people find their way, as well as monitor things such as heart rate and temperature.
Its location can also be followed online – and can be set up to send email alerts if it thinks the user may have fallen over.
Technology for the elderly is a key concern for Japan’s ageing population.
Fujitsu, like several companies in the region, is looking at ways to help us remain mobile and connected later into our lives – potentially extending our ability to keep on working.
Next Generatin Cane prototype device, shown off at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, is equipped with various connection technologies such as GPS, 3G and Wi-Fi – and has an LED display on top of the handle.
If a change of direction is needed, the walking stick vibrates, and an arrow appears.
Fujitsu Next Generation Cane is designed to help elderly people find their way, as well as monitor things such as heart rate and temperature
Although designed for the elderly, Fujitsu envisions it being used by any vulnerable person.
The stick sends data back to a host computer, so a carer or relative can see the location of the user, with additional data, such as heart rate, being streamed.
If the stick detects an irregular heartbeat, it can automatically contact emergency services.
Also on show at MWC was Fujitsu’s smartphone designed for the elderly – or the “mature customer”, in their words.
The Stylistic runs Google’s Android operating system, but is modified to aid people who have perhaps not used a smartphone before.
The interface includes question marks at various locations to explain what each function is.
The phone is also able to change the frequency of audio to make it easier for older ears to hear.
There is as yet no planned release date for the Next Generation Cane, but the phone will launch in Europe in June, beginning with France.
Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez is “battling for his life”, Vice-President Nicolas Maduro has announced today.
“Our commander is sick because he gave his life for those who don’t have anything,” Nicolas Maduro told Venezuelan TV.
Hugo Chavez first announced he was being treated for cancer in June 2011. The type of cancer and precise location have not been revealed.
He has not been seen in public since travelling to Cuba in December for his latest surgery.
Hugo Chavez – who has been in power 14 years – is believed to be suffering from cancer in his pelvic area.
He was reported to be suffering a severe respiratory infection following the latest surgery.
Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez is “battling for his life”, Vice-President Nicolas Maduro has announced today
Hugo Chavez was re-elected as Venezuela’s president for another six-year term in October 2012, but his swearing-in was delayed because of his illness.
Speaking in Caracas, Vice-President Maduro – who widely regarded as his chosen successor – said President Chavez “didn’t take care of his health because he gave his body and soul” to the people.
“He’s battling for his life, for his health, and we are there with him,” he said.
Hugo Chavez returned from Cuba in mid-February, sending a series of celebratory tweets thanking his Cuban hosts for their help and his fellow Venezuelans for their support.
The week before, images were released of Hugo Chavez smiling in his hospital bed during a visit from his daughters.
Mariah Carey was the ultimate star to join the wardrobe malfunction club as her breasts were bulging in a strapless dress.
Mariah Carey was presenting the So So Def 20th Anniversary Concert in Atlanta over the weekend in a strapless dress, helping celebrate with pal Jermaine Dupree.
To finish the evening, Mariah Carey presented a (pretty lame by celebrity standards) cake to the label’s founder, Jermaine Dupree.
Mariah Carey tweeted some backstage photos, along with her best wishes to “JD.”
Onstage, at the Saturday night event, Mariah Carey raised her hands up a little bit, and her strapless dress slipped down just enough. And now the photo is making the rounds.
Mariah Carey was presenting the So So Def 20th Anniversary Concert in Atlanta over the weekend in a strapless dress, helping celebrate with pal Jermaine Dupree
Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation today is forcing the Vatican to consider some unusual questions.
Here are 10 answers:
1. Name and title. He will be known as Pope emeritus, or Roman pontiff emeritus, the Vatican announced on Tuesday. He will also continue to be known by his papal title of Benedict XVI, rather than reverting to Joseph Ratzinger, and he will continue to be addressed as “Your Holiness” Benedict XVI – in the same way, for example, as US presidents continue to be referred to as “president” after leaving office. “Emeritus” is a Latin word meaning “retired”, from the verb “emereri” – to earn one’s discharge by service.
2. New home. Benedict XVI will leave the Vatican by helicopter before he resigns at 20:00 on Thursday, but he will return in about three months to a new residence – a former convent known as Mater Ecclesiae – in the south-west corner of Vatican City. Reports suggest Vatican gardeners will continue to cultivate a 500 sq m organic fruit and vegetable garden there – the Pope is said to enjoy marmalade made from its oranges. Meanwhile – as Mater Ecclesiae is refurbished – he will stay in the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome.
3. His clothing. The Pope emeritus will continue to wear papal white – rather than the black of an ordinary priest, or the red of a cardinal. However it will be a simple cassock, with none of the flamboyant hats and vestments he revived during his papacy (prompting the Wall Street Journal to ask “Does the Pope Wear Prada?”) He will be giving up his trademark red shoes, wearing instead brown shoes handmade for him by Mexican craftsmen during a visit to the country last year.
4. His ring The papal gold ring, known as the fisherman’s ring, will be smashed with a specially designed silver hammer when the Pope leaves office. No change here from normal practice. “Objects strictly tied to the ministry of St Peter must be destroyed,” the Vatican says. His personal seal will also be defaced.
Pope Benedict XVI’s resigned starting with February 28
5. His duties. Benedict XVI will have no further administrative or official duties. He will not participate in the conclave to elect his successor (nor will any cardinal over the age of 80), though, since he appointed 67 of the 115 men who will take part in the conclave, his influence will be felt. Senior Catholics have also been re-reading speeches made by Benedict XVI before of his retirement for any hints about the qualities he believes his successor will require.
6. Life in retirement. Announcing his resignation, the Pope said he would spend his time praying for the Church. His elder brother, Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, has also said Benedict would be happy to advise his successor, if required. Writing and studying also seems likely to be on the agenda – Benedict had a library of 20,000 books installed in the papal apartments when he was elected in 2005. He also enjoys playing the piano and watching old black-and-white comedies – and he loves cats. At least one, Contessina, is known to live at Mater Ecclesiae.
7. Social media. The Pope’s Twitter accounts (@Pontifex and its eight different language versions) will go into hibernation when Benedict XVI steps down. He is expected to utter his final tweets along with his final general audience on Wednesday and before he departs the Vatican on Thursday – saying goodbye to the 2.5 million followers he has gained since opening his account late last year. Whether he will take the papal iPad on the helicopter is an open question. During the “interregnum” – the period between two popes – Vatican updates will be distributed from the Secretariat of State’s account @TerzaLoggia.
8. Golden parachute. Modest as Benedict XVI’s retirement plans may be, as a bishop he will retain the Vatican’s generous private healthcare policy and is likely to have recourse to the doctors who currently manage his medical treatment. It’s possible he will continue to be cared for by the small group of German nuns who have looked after him during his papacy. As a pope has not retired for 600 years, there’s no precedent for a papal pension plan, but Canon law requires each diocese to look after the welfare of retiring clerics. Rome will doubtless take good care of its Pope emeritus.
9. Georg Ganswein. Benedict XVI’s personal secretary, Archbishop Georg Ganswein – the photogenic face seen in the background of a million photographs – will stay in this post. However, he will also keep up his role as head of the papal household for Benedict’s successor. He will be the servant of two masters.
10. Infallibility. It’s a widely held misconception the Pope is infallible in everything he says and does. In fact, the First Vatican Council of 1870 ruled a Pope’s rulings are infallible only when they are made “ex-cathedra” – as part of a doctrinal statement about the Church. Benedict XVI never invoked this privilege (and in fact only one infallible statement has been made since 1870). When he resigns as Pope he will no longer be able to make ex-cathedra statements.
Pope Benedict XVI has officially resigned today, saying that he now “will simply be a pilgrim” starting his last journey on earth.
The pontiff, aged 86, was earlier flown by helicopter from the Vatican to his retreat at Castel Gandolfo, near Rome.
His deputy, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, is now in charge of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics until a new pope is elected next month.
Benedict vowed “unconditional obedience and reverence” to his successor.
He stepped down after nearly eight years in office – the first pontiff to do so in 600 years.
Benedict officially ceased to be the Pope at 20:00 local time.
The resignation was marked by the papal Swiss Guards stepping down from their posts at Castel Gandolfo to return to the Vatican. The protection of Benedict was taken over by Italian police.
In his retirement, Benedict will wear a simple white cassock rather than his papal clothes, and swap his famous red shoes – the color is symbolic of the blood of the early Christian martyrs – for brown.
His “Fisherman’s Ring”, the special signet ring which contains the Pope’s name and is impressed to validate certain official documents, is expected to be destroyed along with the lead seal of the pontificate.
The German pontiff, who was born Joseph Ratzinger, will continue to be known as Benedict XVI, with the new title of “pope emeritus”.
The long-time theologian is expected eventually to retire to a monastery on a hill inside Vatican City, with officials saying he will not be able intervene publicly in the papacy of his
successor, though he may offer advice.
Pope Benedict XVI has officially resigned today, saying that he now “will simply be a pilgrim” starting his last journey on earth
The conclave of 115 cardinals is expected to meet at the Vatican on Monday morning to start planning the election of the next pope.
Earlier on Thursday, bells of St Peter’s rang across the Vatican as Benedict boarded the helicopter for a short flight to Castel Gandolfo.
Before that, the pontiff was greeted for the last time by top officials in the Curia – the administrative body that runs the Holy See.
Benedict then appeared at a window overlooking the public square in Castel Gandolfo to bless a cheering crowd.
“Thank you very much for your friendship,” Benedict said.
“I will simply be a pilgrim who is starting the last phase of his pilgrimage on this earth.
“Let’s go forward with God for the good of the Church and the world.”
Some in the crowd were in tears listening to what could be Benedict’s final public words as pope.
In his final tweet, Benedict wrote: “Thank you for your love and support. May you always experience the joy that comes from putting Christ at the centre of your lives.”
The Vatican now enters the Sede Vacante – or period of transition between two pontificates.
Benedict’s successor must focus on reforming the Vatican bureaucracy which has often been overly hesitant to react to the various crises which have arisen during Benedict’s papacy.
On Thursday morning, the Pope received the cardinals at the Vatican’s Clementine Hall, warmly embracing Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who passed on best wishes on behalf of those gathered.
“Among you there is also the future pope to whom I promise my unconditional obedience and reverence,” the pontiff said.
“The Church is a living being,” he added, but it “also remains always the same”.
In his public farewell speech on Wednesday, Benedict hinted at Vatican infighting.
His decision to resign has been openly criticized by Australia’s top Catholic, Cardinal George Pell, who questioned his leadership skills.
The Church has been beset by scandals over sexual abuse by priests and leaked confidential documents revealing internal corruption and feuding.
An estimated 150,000 people packed into St Peter’s Square on Wednesday to hear Benedict speak in his last address there.
Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier, Haiti’s former ruler, has appeared in court for a hearing to determine if he can be charged with crimes against humanity.
It was the first time Baby Doc Duvalier, who failed to appear at previous hearings, had faced some of his alleged victims.
Jean-Claude Duvalier returned to Haiti in 2011 after spending 25 years in exile in France.
Human rights groups say hundreds of political prisoners were tortured or killed under Baby Doc Duvalier’s rule from 1971 to 1986.
Opponents and supporters of Baby Doc Duvalier turned out for the hearing, with some of his alleged victims just metres away from him in the packed courtroom.
Supporters dressed in the black and red colors symbolic of Baby Doc Duvalier’s rule chanted “Long live Duvalier” as he entered the courthouse.
Jean-Claude Duvalier’s lawyers had asked for the session to be held in private, arguing he was unwell.
The hearing was requested by his alleged victims, who want to see him stand trial for crimes against humanity.
Last year, a judge ruled that Baby Doc Duvalier should be tried for embezzling public funds but that the statute of limitations had run out on charges of murder, arbitrary arrest, torture and disappearances.
That ruling is contested by human rights organizations, which argue that under international law there is no time limit on prosecuting crimes against humanity.
Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier, Haiti’s former ruler, has appeared in court for a hearing to determine if he can be charged with crimes against humanity
Baby Doc Duvalier is himself appealing against the decision to try him on any charges.
Now a three-judge panel must decide whether the former leader should face trial.
Three previous attempts to hold the hearing had to be postponed when Baby Doc Duvalier failed to turn up.
Baby Doc Duvalier was just 19 when he inherited the title of president-for-life from his father, Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier, who had ruled Haiti since 1957.
Like his father, he relied on a brutal militia known as the Tontons Macoutes to control the country.
In 1986 Baby Doc Duvalier was forced from power by a popular uprising and US diplomatic pressure, and went into exile in France.
The mummified heart of King Richard I, nicknamed Richard the Lionheart, has been analyzed by forensic experts.
When the Richard the Lionheart died in 1199 his heart was embalmed and buried separately from the rest of his body.
Its condition was too poor to reveal the cause of death, but the team was able to rule out a theory that he had been killed by a poisoned arrow.
The researchers were also able to find out more about the methods used to preserve his organ.
The study is published in the journal Scientific Reports.
The medieval king became known as Richard the Lionheart because of his reputation as a courageous military leader.
Richard the Lionheart was central to the Third Crusade, fighting against the Muslim leader Saladin.
Although he ruled England, Richard the Lionheart spent much of his time in France, and was killed there after being hit by a crossbow during a siege on a castle.
After his death, his body was divided up – a common practice for aristocracy during the Middle Ages.
Richard’s entrails were buried in Chalus, which is close to Limoges in central France. The rest of his body was entombed further north, in Fontevraud Abbey, but his heart was embalmed and buried in the cathedral of Notre Dame in Rouen.
The remains of his heart – now a grey-brown powder – were locked away in a small lead box, and discovered in the 19th Century during an excavation.
But until now, they had not been studied in detail.
To find out more, a team of forensic specialists and historians performed a biological analysis.
Dr. Philippe Charlier, a forensic scientist from Raymond Poincare University Hospital, in France, said: “We carried out exactly the same kind of analysis that we would perform on an exhumed body for forensic purposes.
“We did a microscopic examination, toxicological analysis and also a pollen analysis.”
The mummified heart of King Richard I, nicknamed Richard the Lionheart, has been analyzed by forensic experts
The heart was too badly decomposed to confirm exactly how the king died – most historians believe gangrene or septicaemia from his wound would have been the cause.
However, another, less widespread theory put forward in a medieval chronicle is that Richard I may have been killed by an arrow coated in poison.
But Dr. Philippe Charlier said his tests revealed that this probably was not the case.
“Our toxicological analysis showed no presence of any arsenic or any other metals, so we haven’t found any proof of any contamination during the end of Richard the Lionheart’s life,” he explained.
“We have no confirmation that he would have been poisoned: there is no argument for this.”
The team found pollen in the sample, including grains from poplar and bellflower. This suggests that Richard I died at the end of April, May or the beginning of June, as these plants are in flower then. In the history books, his date of death is given as 6 April 1199.
The analysis also revealed much more about the techniques that were used to preserve his heart – providing an insight into medieval religious rituals.
Dr. Philippe Charlier said: “The spices and vegetables used for the embalming process were directly inspired by the ones used for the embalming of Christ.
“For example, we found frankincense. This is the only case known of using frankincense – we have never found any use of this before. This product is really devoted to very, very important persons in history.”
The heart, which was wrapped in linen, also had traces of myrtle, daisy, mint and possibly lime.
The scientists think these would have been used for their smell, to give the King an “odour of sanctity”, which would be “similar to Christ”.
They also found mercury, which would have been used stop the heart from decomposing.
Dr. Philippe Charlier said that during the post-mortem, they used up as little material as possible.
He explained: “We wanted to conserve it for the future generations.
“These are not only samples, they are also human remains and we have to respect them.”
Mark Ormrod, professor in history from the University of York, said the research was extremely interesting.
“That consciousness of using very high-quality herbs and spices and other materials that are much sought after and rare does add to that sense of it being Christ-like in its quality,” he said.
“Medieval kings were thought to represent the divine on Earth – they were set apart form other lay people and regarded as special and different. So that treatment of the heart strikes me as being absolutely credible.”
He added that it was rare to get a forensic insight into the remains of medieval kings – and that this study and the work done on the remains of Richard III, who was recently found buried under a car park in Leicester, were unusual.
He said: “Generally speaking, when human remains are found on consecrated ground, the church, the state and the law all prevent one from undertaking any scientific analysis of them, so the opportunities to do these kinds of things are very rare.”
Anastacia has been forced to cancel her European tour as she was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time.
Anastacia, 44, who previously beat the disease back in 2003, has been forced to cancel her European tour after receiving the tragic news.
Explaining her disappointment over the cancellation in a statement, Anastacia said: “I feel so awful to be letting down all my amazing fans who were looking forward to It’s A Man’s World Tour.
“It just breaks my heart to disappoint them.”
Anastacia’s tour had been scheduled to kick off in London on April 6th, but the singer has been instructed by her doctors to cancel all performances and not travel from now until further notice.
The singer will, however, continue with the recording and writing of her new album, and is hoping to at some point in the near future schedule in another tour.
The statement continued: “Now more then ever, she is determined to live by her motto “Don’t ever let cancer get the <<Best of You!>>.
“A born survivor, Anastacia has one goal and that is to make a full recovery with the support of her family, friends and everyone around her.”
Speaking previously about her successful battle against breast cancer, Anastacia blamed the stress of being a world-famous singer for her contracting the disease, as there was no history of breast cancer in her family.
Anastacia has been forced to cancel her European tour as she was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time
In an interview in 2008, Anastacia said: “More and more women today are getting cancer which is not gene related. I’m sure it was stress which caused mine.
“The not-so-great relationship I was in and my career – it all became too much for me. I’m not really made for this business. I don’t really know how to be the star my record company always wanted me to be.
“None of it feels natural to me. I can relate to girls in this industry who have gone off the rails like Amy Winehouse and Britney Spears – I think I could only cope with it at all because I was a lot older than them.
“After the surprising success of the first album, I went straight into the second and it became a blur as I was working so hard. I had a herniated vocal chord and I got what I thought were panic attacks. The cancer came soon after.”
In addition to battling cancer, Anastacia also suffers from a heart condition called supraventricular tachycardia – in which the heart can have episodes of beating more than three times as fast as average – and has to take a daily pill to regulate it.
Anastacia also has Crohn’s Disease – an inflammatory bowel condition that causes a range of distressing symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, fevers and severe cramps.
But speaking recently about her health struggles, Anastacia said that her illnesses have helped shape her into the woman she is today.
She said: “My illness has changed me in so many ways. It affects everything from my health to my job to my relationships. What is seen as a curse for some is a gift for me because it has helped me to discover who I really am.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning doctors to be on the lookout for an untreatable multidrug-resistant “superbug” emerging in the U.S.
The “superbug” springs from a bacteria called Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriacea (CRE), 15 types of which have been seen in the U.S. in the last year. The unique bacteria can cause pneumonia, intestinal and urinary tract infections, and bloodstream infections.
In one outbreak at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, seven deaths were attributed to the “superbug” after a New York Woman who came to the hospital for a lung transplant while infected.
The victims included one 16-year-old boy.
The infections are associated with mortality rates of 40 to 50%.
The rise means health care providers must “act aggressively to prevent the emergence and spread of these unusual CRE organisms”, the CDC said.
“From the perspective of drug-resistant organisms, (CRE) is the most serious threat, the most serious challenge we face to patient safety,” Arjun Srinivasan, associate director for prevention of health care-associated infections at the CDC, told USA Today.
It can take over a year to be rid of CRE bacteria, with one study determining the average patient requiring 387 days for it to be out of their system.
“We’re working with state health departments to try to figure out how big a problem this is,” Arjun Srinivasan said, noting that his agency can pool whatever incidence data states collect.
“We’re still at a point where we can stop this thing. You can never eradicate CRE, but we can prevent the spread. … It’s a matter of summoning the will.”
Enterobacteriaceae flourish in the soil, water, and the human gut.
A “superbug”, CRE has a high level of resistance to antibiotics.
CDC is warning doctors to be on the lookout for untreatable multidrug-resistant CRE superbug emerging in the US
Disturbingly, the patients are not symptomatic, as the bug waits in the body until the immune system is compromised and an infection sets in.
The first known U.S. case was detected at a North Carolina hospital in 2001, and since then CRE’s have been detected in at least 41 other states.
Many cases still go unrecognized until is too late for the patient.
Since the first known case, at a North Carolina hospital, was reported in 2001, CREs have spread to at least 41 other states, according to the CDC. And many cases still go unrecognized, because it can be tough to do the proper laboratory analysis, particularly at smaller hospitals or nursing homes.
People diagnosed with a CRE infection usually get it after taking antibiotics and undergoing significant medical treatment for other conditions.
Also in the news last summer was an outbreak of CRE in eight patients – the largest outbreak in the U.S. so far.
None of the patients in the initial outbreak died.
The hospital was able to detect the outbreak early largely due to stringent surveillance protocols.
The CDC said most CRE cases were “isolated from patients who received overnight medical treatment outside of the United States”.
There are CDC guidelines to deal with the infection in the center’s 2012 CRE toolkit.
If you share a room with a person with a CRE infection you should be screened immediately.
Health care providers who treat infected patients should also be examined. They should not treat non-infected patients after treating infected ones.
Health care facilities must also be made aware of any CRE infected patients being transferred to their care. Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or CRE, are bacteria that are unique in that they are resistant to most antibiotics. They typically live in the soil or water. Patients infected with the bacteria are typically not symptomatic, but can develop pneumonia, kidney and bladder infections, and bloodstream infectioins. They began appearing in the U.S. roughly ten years ago, and have since spread to at least 41 states. There is no effective treatment yet available for the bacteria, which can linger in the body more than a year, and mortality rates hover at 40 to 50%.
