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North Korea Arirang Mass Games 2012

Diane A. Wade
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North Korea Arirang Mass Games 2012

Arirang Mass Games will be held in North Korean capital Pyongyang from August 1st until September 9th, 2012.

Mass Games takes place in the one of the biggest world’s stadium – Pyongyang’s May Day Stadium (for 150,000 visitors). The most magnificent show on Earth involves over 100,000 performers.

Amazing choreography, unbelievable synchronism and intricacy of acrobatic numbers – result of many months’ hard trainings of thousands of people. Ninety minute-long spectacular performance really astonishes imagination.

Arirang Mass Games will be held in North Korean capital Pyongyang from August 1st until September 9th, 2012
Arirang Mass Games will be held in North Korean capital Pyongyang from August 1st until September 9th, 2012

After success of the Arirang Festival in 2005, the organizers decided to extend Mass Games into next years. In 2007, August 16, Mass Games entered to Guinness Book of World Records. The record of “largest gymnastic and artistic performance in the world was created in Pyongyang, the capital of the DPRK” the Guinness Certificate says.

The Mass Games at Arirang Festival possess an important ideological character praising the Workers Party of North Korea, its armed forces, Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il. These messages may not be clear to foreign spectators who are not aware of North Korean iconography: a rising sun symbolizes Kim Il-Sung. When a gun is shown, it signifies the gun which Kim Il-Sung gave to his son Kim Jong-Il. The color red, particularly in flowers, stands for the working class. And the color purple and red flowers represent Kim Il-Sung (as the flower “Kimilsungia” is a purple orchid and the flower “Kimjongilia” is a red begonia). A snowy mountain with a lake represents Mount Paektu where Kim Jong-Il is said to have been born in a log cabin.

From as young as 5 years old, citizens are selected based on skill level to serve for the Arirang Festival for many years. In most cases this will be the way of life for them until retirement.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to visit DPRK and to see the most spectacular show in the world!

 [youtube RDczUX2bBtA]

Javier Bardem as James Bond villain “Silva” in Skyfall

Sonia Pantiss
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Javier Bardem as James Bond villain “Silva” in Skyfall

Trailer of the latest James Bond film, Skyfall, has given fans their first glimpse of Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem’s blond villain in action.

Javier Bardem’s character, named Silva, is seen confronting a manacled James Bond, played by Daniel Craig, and is later shown disguised as a British policeman.

The trailer features actor Ben Whishaw as “The New Q” and explosive action in various London locales.

It also shows James Bond being “killed” in action and M typing up his obituary.

Played by Dame Judi Dench, 007’s boss is then seen being chastised by Ralph Fiennes’ character Gareth Mallory for losing a disc drive containing details of undercover British agents.

Subsequent scenes depict an explosion at MI6’s Thameside HQ and a Tube train plummeting into an underground vault.

The trailer reveals previously unknown plot points, one of which appears to have been drawn from Ian Fleming’s novel You Only Live Twice.

Trailer of the latest James Bond film, Skyfall, has given fans their first glimpse of Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem's blond villain in action
Trailer of the latest James Bond film, Skyfall, has given fans their first glimpse of Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem's blond villain in action

The 1964 book concludes with an obituary for James Bond written by M after the secret agent is believed to have been killed during a mission in Japan.

The latest trailer comes shortly after Daniel Craig’s cameo appearance during the Olympic Opening Ceremony in a short film that showed Bond escorting the Queen to the Olympic Stadium.

Audiences in the US were treated to a teaser of the new footage during NBC’s telecast of the London 2012 launch.

Other scenes unveiled on Tuesday include one showing British actress Naomie Harris, in her role as field agent Eve, “shooting” James Bond off the roof of a moving train in Turkey.

Skyfall marks Daniel Craig’s third big-screen appearance as Ian Fleming’s legendary spy.

Daniel Craig, 44, was previously seen in the role in 2006’s Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace in 2008.

Spanish actor Javier Bardem, 43, won the best supporting actor Oscar in 2008 for his villainous role in No Country for Old Men.

Javier Bardem, who is married to fellow Spaniard Penelope Cruz, was also Oscar-nominated in 2001 and 2011.

 [youtube tzaXuKs9vhc]

 

Polish catholic groups protest over Madonna’s MDNA show in Warsaw

Sonia Pantiss
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Polish catholic groups protest over Madonna’s MDNA show in Warsaw

Catholic and veterans groups in Poland are protesting against Madonna’s concert in the Polish capital because it falls on the anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising.

Some are urging ticket-holders to boycott Wednesday’s show, which comes 68 years after the city’s failed revolt against Nazi occupation began.

Organizers of the concert have agreed to show a short clip about the events of 1944 before the performance.

Every year, Poles commemorate the 200,000 lives lost during the uprising.

One Catholic group called Krucjata Mlodych (Youth Crusade) has started an online campaign urging people not to attend the concert.

They say more than 50,000 people have signed up to their Don’t Go To See Madonna campaign.

Catholic and veterans groups in Poland are protesting against Madonna’s concert in the Polish capital because it falls on the anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising
Catholic and veterans groups in Poland are protesting against Madonna’s concert in the Polish capital because it falls on the anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising

The group also says anti-Madonna Mass services and street prayer sessions have been held.

They accuse the singer of offending their faith through her use of burning cross and crown of thorns imagery, and say she promotes pornography and sexual deviation.

Billboards around the capital promoting the concert have been defaced with the sign of the Polish Home Army, the largest underground army in Nazi-occupied Europe.

Every year, at 1700 on 1 August, sirens wail across Warsaw and people stand still to pay their respects to the victims of the 63-day uprising.

Conservative opposition MP Stanislaw Pieta has appealed to the government not to allow the concert to go ahead in Warsaw’s National Stadium, Polish Radio reports.

Concert organizers have agreed to a proposal by city officials to show a short film about the uprising in the stadium before the show, in an attempt to appease the protesters.

Ania Pietrzak, a spokeswoman for concert organizer Live Nation, told the Press Association: “It is an important moment in Polish history, so we have decided to remind people of that moment.”

It is the latest controversy to hit the 53-year-old singer’s MDNA tour.

In Paris, some fans booed her when she ended the show after only 45 minutes.

Madonna also angered supporters of France’s right-wing National Front party, by showing a swastika imposed on the face of the party’s leader, Marine Le Pen.

 

India’s power supply fully restored

Diane A. Wade
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India’s power supply fully restored

Power supply in India has been fully restored after a two-day blackout hit much of the country, officials say.

More than 600 million people were affected by the power cut after three electricity grids collapsed, one for a second consecutive day.

The power failure caused havoc, with whole cities grinding to a halt and transport and other services badly hit.

The breakdowns in the northern, eastern and north-eastern grids affected 20 of India’s 28 states.

Power System Operation Corporation chief SK Soonee said electricity had been restored in all three grids overnight on Tuesday by engineers from the state-owned company.

The blackout caused chaos on transport networks with hundreds of trains stranded and water supplies interrupted.

Power supply in India has been fully restored after a two-day blackout hit much of the country
Power supply in India has been fully restored after a two-day blackout hit much of the country

In Delhi, Metro services were halted and staff evacuated trains. Many traffic lights in the city failed, leading to massive traffic jams.

Other areas affected included Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan in the north, and West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Jharkhand in the east.

In the eastern state of West Bengal, around 200 miners were trapped underground as lifts failed, but officials later said they had all been rescued.

One shopworker in Delhi, Anu Chopra, 21, said: “I can understand this happening once in a while but how can one allow such a thing to happen two days in a row?

“It just shows our infrastructure is in a complete mess. There is no transparency and no accountability whatsoever.”

In a statement on national TV on Tuesday evening, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde blamed the crisis on states taking more than their quota of power from the national grid.

He said he had appealed to states to stop this and instructed his officials to penalize those states which did.

But officials in Uttar Pradesh, one of the states blamed in the Indian media, said there was “no reason to believe” they were at fault.

Anil K. Gupta, the chairman of the state’s power company, called for “further investigation to ascertain the real cause”.

The power minister of Haryana state, Captain Ajay Singh, was quoted by NDTV as saying his was not the only state with overdraw from the grid.

“We are not to be blamed for the technical snag that tripped the grid,” he said.

“We are simply being blamed for what everyone does.”

Also on Tuesday it was announced that Sushil Kumar Shinde had been promoted to the post of home minister, in a widely anticipated cabinet reshuffle.

He has been replaced by the current corporate affairs minister, Veerappa Moily.

Power cuts are common in Indian cities because of a fundamental shortage of power and an ageing grid – the chaos caused by such cuts has led to protests and unrest on the streets in the past.

But the collapse of an entire grid is rare – the last time the northern grid failed was in 2001.

India’s demand for electricity has soared in recent years as its economy has grown but its power infrastructure has been unable to meet the growing needs.

Correspondents say unless there is a huge investment in the power sector, the country will see many more power failures.

 

Olympics 2012: eight Olympic badminton players face charges over deliberate losing

Clyde K. Valle
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Olympics 2012: eight Olympic badminton players face charges over deliberate losing

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has charged eight female Olympic badminton players with “not using one’s best efforts to win a match”.

Four pairs of players – two from South Korea, one from China and one from Indonesia – could be disciplined.

Spectators booed the two badminton matches played at Wembley Arena on Tuesday, in which the four accused pairs of players were appearing.

China’s Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli and South Koreans Jung Kyung-Eun and Kim Ha-Na are among those facing charges.

The longest rally in their game lasted four shots, with match referee Thorsten Berg coming on to court at one point to warn the players. The players also appeared to deliberately serve into the net and hit the shuttlecock out of the court.

Both pairs were already through to the quarter-finals. Reports have suggested they both wanted to lose to secure an easier draw.

The Badminton World Federation has charged eight female Olympic badminton players with not using one's best efforts to win a match
The Badminton World Federation has charged eight female Olympic badminton players with not using one's best efforts to win a match

The unseeded South Koreans eventually won their match, meaning they would next play China’s Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei.

The South Korean pair did not comment, but Yu Yang said she and Wang Xiaoli were saving energy for the knockout stages.

Meanwhile, China’s Olympic sports delegation launched an investigation into the alleged “deliberate losing” by its badminton players, saying it opposed any behavior violating “sporting spirit and morality”, as reported by state media.

A later match between South Korean third seeds Ha Jung-Eun and Kim Min-Jung and Indonesian pair Meiliana Juahari and Greysia Polii is also under scrutiny by the Badminton World Federation.

Both pairs of those teams had also already qualified for the knockout stages, with the winner of Group C to play Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli and the Korean pairs to face each other if Kim Ha-Na and Kim Min-Jung lost.

At one point the referee, Thorsten Berg, again intervened and brandished a black card to disqualify the players. However, he then rescinded his decision following protests from the two teams.

Both teams appeared keen to lose and therefore not play the Chinese in the next round, but the Koreans eventually won by two sets to one.

A statement from the BWF confirmed that all four pairs would face charges of “not using one’s best efforts to win a match” and “conducting oneself in a manner that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the sport”.

 

Gore Vidal dies from pneumonia complications at 86

Sonia Pantiss
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Gore Vidal dies from pneumonia complications at 86

Celebrated author and political commentator Gore Vidal has died aged 86, his family has confirmed.

Gore Vidal, born Eugene Luther Gore Vidal, died at his home in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening, with the cause of death believed to be complications from pneumonia.

Gore Vidal produced 25 novels, including the best-selling Burr and Myra Breckenridge, more than 200 essays and several plays.

The author also ran for political office twice and was a well-known commentator.

His nephew Burr Steers told US media that his uncle had been ill “for quite a while”.

Celebrated author and political commentator Gore Vidal has died aged 86
Celebrated author and political commentator Gore Vidal has died aged 86

Gore Vidal was among a generation of literary writers who were also genuine celebrities – fixtures on chat shows and in gossip columns.

His social circle included Tennessee Williams, Orson Welles, Truman Capote and Frank Sinatra.

Gore Vidal wrote his first book aged 19 and later went on to become one of America’s most distinguished authors.

But he was not always comfortable with the literary and political establishment.

His second book, the City and the Pillar, tackled homosexuality, making it highly controversial at the time.

Bookshops refused to stock it, and he was ostracized for most of the 1950s and forced to work under pseudonyms.

In the late 1950s he began to write under his own name again, working on the screenplay to Ben Hur, among other films.

Born in 1925, Eugene Luther Gore Vidal was the scion of one of America’s grandest political dynasties.

His grandfather, TP Gore, was a senator and his father a one-time Secretary of Aviation under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

 

Microsoft Surface tablet set to go on sale on October 26th

Nancy Clayson
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Microsoft Surface tablet set to go on sale on October 26th

Microsoft has confirmed that it will release its Surface tablet to coincide with the launch of its Windows 8 software on October 26.

Microsoft revealed the date in a US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing.

“The next version of our operating system, Windows 8, will be generally available on October 26, 2012,” Microsoft said.

“At that time, we will begin selling the Surface, a series of Microsoft-designed and manufactured hardware devices.”

Microsoft has confirmed that it will release its Surface tablet to coincide with the launch of its Windows 8 software on October 26
Microsoft has confirmed that it will release its Surface tablet to coincide with the launch of its Windows 8 software on October 26

The Surface tablet was announced in June, but no release date or specs were given at the time.

Microsoft has not confirmed if the 26 October release date covers the US only, or if it will extend to other markets.

While the Surface tablet release was largely expected to coincide with Windows 8 availability, this is thought to be the first time the date has been publicly confirmed by Microsoft.

The announcement that Microsoft is to make its own hardware for the first time angered many of its partners, something Microsoft alludes to in its filing.

However, the firm has refused to release details of the price of the unit.

Some internet users have speculated that a top of the range model could cost in excess of $1,600.

 

Cuba Gooding Jr. wanted by police after altercation with New Orleans female bartender

Lisa.Felice
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Cuba Gooding Jr. wanted by police after altercation with New Orleans female bartender

According to new reports, police have issued an arrest warrant for Cuba Gooding Jr. after an altercation at a New Orleans bar in the early hours of this morning.

Cuba Gooding Jr., 44, is allegedly accused of shoving a female bartender at the Old Absinthe House on Bourbon Street around 2:00 a.m., according to TMZ.

The star became agitated and started swearing when bar patrons who recognized began taking photos, a witness tells TMZ.

When the female bartender approached the actor and asked him to leave, Cuba Gooding Jr. allegedly pushed her up against the wall.

Cuba Gooding Jr. is allegedly accused of shoving a female bartender at the Old Absinthe House on Bourbon Street in New Orleans
Cuba Gooding Jr. is allegedly accused of shoving a female bartender at the Old Absinthe House on Bourbon Street in New Orleans

Police are now under orders to arrest the actor on sight.

Cuba Gooding Jr. is currently in New Orleans to film The Butler, about a White House employee who serves eight Presidents over the course of three decades, with Oprah Winfrey and Lenny Kravitz.

Cuba Gooding Jr. was last spotted on set on Friday where he appeared to be in good spirits.

 

Vanity Fair International Best Dressed List 2012

Lisa.Felice
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Vanity Fair International Best Dressed List 2012

The Vanity Fair International Best Dressed List in full:

1. Duchess of Cambridge, wife of Prince William, British style icon

2. Jessica Chastain, U.S. actress, star of The Help and Coriolanus

3. Bill Cunningham, 83, New York Times street style photographer

4. Léa Seydoux, French actress and model, appeared in Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris

5. Jay-Z, aka Shawn Corey Carter, rapper, songwriter, record producer and husband of Beyoncé

6. Colin and Livia Firth, British actor and his Italian producer wife

7. Tom Brady, New England Patriots quarterback, husband of Gisele Bundchen

8. Alicia Keys, U.S. singer-songwriter and actress

9. Fan Bingbing, Chinese actress,singer and producer

10. Morley Safer, Canadian reporter and correspondent for CBS News

Colin and Livia Firth appeared as a single entry at number six on the Vanity Fair International Best Dressed List
Colin and Livia Firth appeared as a single entry at number six on the Vanity Fair International Best Dressed List

11. Michelle Harper, Colombian-born, New York-based brand consultant

12. Richard E Grant, actor, screenwriter, and director

13. HRH Princess Alexandra of Greece, child-life specialist

14. Carlos Souza, worldwide brand ambassador for Valentino

15. Farida Khelfa, French actress and director, new muse of house of Schiaparelli

16. Eddie Redmayne, British actor, star of My Week With Marilyn

17. Stacey Bendet, founder and designer of fashion label Alice & Olivia

18. Iké Udé, Nigerian-born artist

19. Diane Kruger, German actress and former model

20. Matteo Marzotto, president of fashion label Vionnet

21. Lauren and Andres Santo Domingo, Vogue contributing editor and her beer heir husband

22. Robert Rabensteiner, fashion editor at L’Uomo Vogue

23. Erika Bearman, senior vice president of global communications at Oscar de la Renta

24. Victor Cruz, wide receiver for the New York Giants

25. Ulyana Sergeenko, fashion designer

26. Matt Lauer, Today show co-anchor

27. Stella McCartney, fashion designer, daughter of Sir Paul McCartney

28. Prince Harry, British royal, Apache helicopter pilot

29. Lizzie Tisch, consultant, wife of Jonathan Tisch

30. Ozwald Boateng, British menswear designer

31. Poppy Delevigne, British model and socialite

32. Jean Pigozzi, entrepreneur, photographer, and art collector

33. Princess Mary of Denmark, wife of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, mother of four

34. Elettra Wiedemann, model, daughter of Isabella Rossellini

35. Vito Schnabel, son of Julian Schnabel, art dealer

36. Charlotte Casiraghi, Monaco royal, face of Gucci

37. Arki Busson, financier, partner of actress Uma Thurman

38. HH Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser of Qatar, wife of the Emir of Qatar

39. Ginevra Elkann and Giovanni Gaetani dell’Aquila d’Aragona, Italian power couple; she is a producer, he is an entrepreneur

40. HSH Prince Heinrich von und zu Furstenberg, entrepreneur

 

The full list appears in the Vanity Fair September issue, on sale from Friday, and online at Vanityfair.com

 

Kate Middleton wins Vanity Fair’s Best Dressed list 2012 for third year running

Lisa.Felice
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Kate Middleton wins Vanity Fair’s Best Dressed list 2012 for third year running

Kate Middleton has topped Vanity Fair’s annual International Best Dressed list for the third year running.

The prestigious ranking, which appears in the September issue of the glossy title, saw the Duchess of Cambridge trump some of the fashion world’s most influential figures including actresses Jessica Chastain, Diane Kruger and Léa Seydoux, as well as the much-loved New York Times street style photographer Bill Cunningham.

Kate Middleton won praise for patriotically championing home-grown designers such as Alexander McQueen, Alice Temperley, and Matthew Williamson, as well as High Street brands.

Of course, the Duchess was not the only royal to make the list. Her brother-in-law, Prince Harry, also featured at number 27, while Monaco’s Charlotte Casiraghi and HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark placed at numbers 35 and 32 respectively.

Kate Middleton has topped Vanity Fair's annual International Best Dressed list for the third year running
Kate Middleton has topped Vanity Fair's annual International Best Dressed list for the third year running

They appeared alongside fashion industry power players such as Stella McCartney, Alice & Olivia designer Stacey Bendet and Odcar de la Renta PR Erika Bearman, better known by her Twitter handle, OscarPRGirl.

Among the men to make the list was Gisele Bundchen’s quarterback husband Tom Brady, who ranked high at number seven. Interestingly the supermodel herself didn’t even make the list at all. The same was true of Jay-Z, who came fifth, while wife Beyonce didn’t feature either.

Several couples featured as a single entry, however. Colin Firth appeared alongside his wife Livia, who regularly steps out on the red carpet in eco-friendly designer creations.

Moda Operandi founder and Vogue contributor Lauren Santo Domingo came 20th in the list with her music executive husband Andrés

Italian socialites and power couple Ginevra Elkann and Giovanni Gaetani dell’Aquila d’Aragona also appeared together at number 38.

Other major names to make the list were singer Alicia Keys, actress Fan Bingbing and British actor Eddie Redmayne.

Today show anchor Matt Lauer came in at 25, New York Giants Wide Receiver Victor Cruz at 23 and Isabella Rossellini’s daughter Elettra Wiedemann came in at 33.

Vanity Fair is not the first title to have put the Duchess of Cambridge top of its best-dressed list.

People magazine named her one of their ten most stylish women in the world last September. And Harper’s Bazaar followed suit by putting her top of their list in November.

 

Iraq: two car bomb explosions kill 19 people in Baghdad

Diane A. Wade
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Iraq: two car bomb explosions kill 19 people in Baghdad

At least 19 people have been killed in two car bomb explosions in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, officials say.

The blasts happened within minutes of each other in the central Shia district of Karrada in the middle of the afternoon rush hour.

The first bomb exploded outside a restaurant and a bakery in al-Andalus Square, and the second outside a court opposite a major police headquarters.

More than 240 people have been killed this month in militant attacks in Iraq.

At least 19 people have been killed in two car bomb explosions in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad
At least 19 people have been killed in two car bomb explosions in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad

Sunni insurgents linked to al-Qaeda appear to have been behind most of the violence, including a wave of bombings and shootings in Baghdad and towns to the north on 23 July which left at least 107 dead.

Clouds of black smoke rose above the centre of the capital on Tuesday after the latest bombings, which also injured more than 50 people.

“We were in a patrol when we heard the first explosion. The second explosion hit another square, and we went to help,” Ahmed Hassan, a policeman, told the Reuters news agency.

“There was a minibus with six dead passengers inside it.”

At least five policemen were also among those killed, officials said.

An interior ministry official told the AFP news agency that the first attack had been carried out by a suicide bomber, while the local TV news channel al-Sharqiya said they had both been suicide bombings.

 [youtube 8E_E3rAKsqQ]

Twitter faces user backlash after suspending journalist Guy Adams account

Nancy Clayson
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Twitter faces user backlash after suspending journalist Guy Adams account

Twitter is facing a user backlash after suspending the account of journalist Guy Adams, who had criticized NBC Universal’s coverage of the Olympic Games.

NBC Universal had complained that Independent newspaper correspondent Guy Adams had posted the email address of one of its executives.

But Guy Adams has alleged the complaint was only made after Twitter had alerted NBC to his message.

Twitter said it “does not actively monitor users’ accounts”.

However, the social network refused to discuss Guy Adams’s case, saying “it was company policy not to comment on individual users” for privacy reasons.

Twitter formed a partnership with NBC ahead of the Games to create a page highlighting messages from NBC personalities, athletes and fans during the event.

The broadcaster paid $1.18 billion for the US broadcast rights to the Olympics.

Twitter is facing a user backlash after suspending the account of journalist Guy Adams, who had criticized NBC Universal's coverage of the Olympic Games
Twitter is facing a user backlash after suspending the account of journalist Guy Adams, who had criticized NBC Universal's coverage of the Olympic Games

Several users have retweeted the executive’s email address in protest at the suspension.

Guy Adams – who is based Los Angeles – posted a message last Friday criticizing NBC’s decision to broadcast the Games’ opening ceremony with a time-delay in order to target a prime-time audience.

On the US’s east coast it was shown with a three-and-a-half hours delay, on the west coast the gap was up to six-and-a-half hours.

This caused problems for users who enjoy swapping comments about major events on social network sites.

“The man responsible for NBC pretending the Olympics haven’t started yet is Gary Zenkel. Tell him what u think,” Guy Adams tweeted, referring to NBC’s Olympics president.

He also included Gary Zenkel’s business email address in the message.

Guy Adams said when he checked his account on Sunday he had received a message saying it had been suspended.

NBC Sports subsequently released a statement confirming it had called for the action.

“We filed a complaint with Twitter because a user tweeted the personal information of one of our executives,” it said.

“According to Twitter, this is a violation of their privacy policy. Twitter alone levies discipline.”

Guy Adams then published an article saying a Daily Telegraph journalist had forwarded him an email from NBC.

He quoted an NBC spokesman as saying: “Our social media department was actually alerted to it by Twitter and then we filled out the form and submitted it.”

Twitter’s terms and conditions say posting another person’s private and confidential information, including “non-public, personal email addresses” is a violation of its rules.

But Guy Adams said he had done nothing wrong, as the address he had used was a corporate one based on the same system used by NBC’s other employees and could easily be worked out by “anyone in possession of 30 seconds of free time and access to Google”.

Many Twitter users have come out in support of Guy Adams.

“Scandal that someone should be banned for voicing an opinion,” tweeted London-based Nicholas Pritchard.

“I think Twitter’s suspension of Guy Adams’ account hurts its own brand. A lot,” posted George Maschke from the Netherlands.

Among the critics were others involved in the media industry.

“Twitter’s suspension of @guyadams jars with company’s claim to be the free speech wing of the free speech party,” wrote the Guardian‘s special projects editor Paul Lewis.

“I wouldn’t have posted the email address. But Twitter’s removing his account was outrageous,” added Dan Gillmor, from the Arizona State University’s school of journalism.

Several users posted internet links to websites that had previously published Gary Zenkel’s contact details. Some also reposted the executive’s email address to Twitter.

NBC has highlighted that a record 40.7 million people watched its coverage of the opening ceremony, saying it was “a great early sign that our strategy of driving people to watch NBC in prime-time is working”.

 

UBS lost $356 million by investing in Facebook shares

Diane A. Wade
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UBS lost $356 million by investing in Facebook shares

Swiss bank UBS lost 349 million Swiss francs ($356 million) by investing in Facebook shares, more than halving its profits.

UBS’s second quarter profits were $425 million Swiss francs ($434 million), compared with 1bn francs a year earlier.

Facebook was valued at $104 billion at its flotation in May, but the shares are now 39% below the initial sale price.

As a result, UBS’s investment bank reported a loss in the quarter, compared with a profit of 730 million Swiss francs a year earlier.

 

Swiss bank UBS lost 349 million Swiss francs ($356 million) by investing in Facebook shares, more than halving its profits
Swiss bank UBS lost 349 million Swiss francs ($356 million) by investing in Facebook shares, more than halving its profits

 

UBS warned that failure to resolve problems within Europe’s banking system “accentuated by the reduction in market activity levels typically seen in the third quarter” meant its next set of earnings were likely to be flat.

As a result, UBS said it would look at making further cost savings. The Swiss group is already in the process of cutting 3,500 jobs.

The company also said it was on target to meet new Basel III bank rules and would not have to issue new shares to generate additional money.

Its ratio of high quality – tier 1 – capital to lending was 8.8%, just shy of the 9% that will be required from next year.

Deutsche Bank has reported a 63% fall in second quarter earnings to 375 million Euros ($460 million) from 969 million Euros last year.

Like UBS, Deutsche blamed the economic downturn in Europe and the US for lower fees and commissions as firms cut back on big deals and share sales.

In a joint statement, Deutsche’s co-chairmen Jürgen Fitschen and Anshu Jain said: “The European sovereign debt crisis continues to weigh on investor confidence and client activity across the bank.”

 

Activist Alexei Navalny charged with embezzlement

Diane A. Wade
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Activist Alexei Navalny charged with embezzlement

Russian anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny has been charged with embezzlement in a case he describes as “strange and absurd”.

Federal investigators in Moscow brought charges over a timber deal in the Kirov region in which he was involved as an unofficial adviser three years ago.

The case was previously investigated and dropped by regional prosecutors.

Alexei Navalny, who was also ordered not to leave the country, suggested the new charges were aimed at discrediting him.

Supporters of the anti-corruption lawyer, who led mass protests in Moscow against Russian leader Vladimir Putin this winter, demonstrated outside the offices of the Investigative Committee (SK) in Moscow, where he was charged on Tuesday.

Under Article 160 of the Russian criminal code on “misappropriation or embezzlement”, Alexei Navalny faces between five and 10 years in prison if convicted.

Russian anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny has been charged with embezzlement in a case he describes as "strange and absurd"
Russian anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny has been charged with embezzlement in a case he describes as "strange and absurd"

Reacting to news of the case, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said on Twitter: “We should be concerned with attempts in Russia to silence fierce opposition activist Alexei @navalny.”

The case relates to a loss-making contract concluded by a state-owned timber company in Kirov, a region just west of the Ural Mountains, with another company.

The Kirov regional budget for 2009-10 suffered a loss of 1.3 million roubles ($40,000) and Alexei Navalny was investigated as he was acting at the time as an adviser to Kirov’s governor, Nikita Belykh.

The charges were announced on Tuesday by Vladimir Markin, official spokesman for the SK, a federal body set up to act as the equivalent of the FBI in Russia.

Alexei Navalny was charged under articles 160 and 33 (acting as an accomplice to a crime), Vladimir Markin told Russian news agencies.

Investigators, Vladimir Markin said, had originally sought to charge Alexei Navalny with causing “damage to property by means of deceit or abuse of trust” but they proceeded to more serious charges after reviewing the evidence.

Alexei Navalny pointed out that he had gone to the SK expecting to be charged with the lesser offence, only to find the case had been altered against him into something much more serious.

“This charge is strange and absurd,” he said after emerging from the building.

“They have completely changed the essence of the charge.”

This winter saw the biggest anti-government demonstrations in Moscow since the fall of the USSR. Protesters rallied around Alexei Navalny, who accused Vladimir Putin’s allies of rigging elections.

Since Vladimir Putin was re-elected president in March, legal action against opposition figures has increased markedly. A tough new law was passed on public order offences and tight curbs were placed on non-governmental organizations.

In recent weeks, Alexei Navalny, a lawyer by training, turned his fire on the SK’s chief, Alexander Bastrykin.

Alexander Bastrykin denied Alexei Navalny’s allegations that he had undeclared business interests in the Czech Republic.

He admitted once owning a flat there but said he had given it to his first wife. As for commercial activity, he said: “I was never in business. Business in the sense of aiming to make a profit. If they can find a single euro in profit, I’ll resign.”

Alexei Navalny vowed on Tuesday to continue his political activities despite the case against him.

“I will continue doing what I did before – nothing has changed for me,” he was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.

 

India in a second day of massive power breakdown

Diane A. Wade
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India in a second day of massive power breakdown

More than half of India has been left without power after a massive power breakdown has hit the country for a second day running.

Indian officials said the northern and eastern grids had both collapsed. All Delhi metro services have been halted and staff is trying to evacuate trains.

Monday’s power failure caused severe disruption and travel chaos across northern India.

It was unclear why the grid collapsed but the power minister said some states may have been taking too much power.

Sushil Kumar Shinde said power would be restored in “another 90 minutes”.

After Monday’s cut, engineers managed to restore electricity to the northern grid by the evening, but at 01:05 p.m. on Tuesday, it collapsed again.

More than half of India has been left without power after a massive power breakdown has hit the country for a second day running
More than half of India has been left without power after a massive power breakdown has hit the country for a second day running

The eastern grid failed around the same time, officials said.

“Both the northern and eastern grids have collapsed. Please allow us to address the problem,” AFP news agency quoted VK Agrawal, the general manager of the northern grid, as saying.

The two grids together serve more than half of India’s 1.2 billion people.

The breakdown has hit a large swathe of the country including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan states in the north, and West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Jharkhand in the east.

An official in Orissa said the blackout in the eastern grid had been triggered by a fault and could take several hours to resolve.

Railway officials said more than 350 trains were stranded, and hospitals and essential services were running on backup generators.

Across West Bengal, power went at 13:00 and all suburban railway trains on the eastern railways ground to a halt from Howrah and Seladah stations.

However, the city is not badly affected as it is served by a private electricity board, our correspondent adds.

Power cuts are common in Indian cities because of a fundamental shortage of power and an ageing grid – the chaos caused by such cuts has led to protests and unrest on the streets in the past.

But the collapse of an entire grid is rare – the last time the northern grid failed was in 2001.

India’s demand for electricity has soared in recent years as its economy has grown but its power infrastructure has been unable to meet the growing needs.

Correspondents say unless there is a huge investment in the power sector, the country will see many more power failures.

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Madonna says boos at Olympia MDNA show were from “a few thugs”

Sonia Pantiss
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Madonna says boos at Olympia MDNA show were from “a few thugs”

Madonna has said the angry reaction from a crowd at her recent 45-minute Olympia show in Paris was from “thugs who were not my fans”.

“Playing the Olympia was a magical moment for me,” Madonna said in a statement on her website.

“Unfortunately at the end of the show, after I left the stage, a few thugs who were not my fans rushed the stage… pretending to be angry fans,” the singer added.

Some fans on Twitter agreed with Madonna but others said they had booed her.

One said: “I have been a fan for 20 years and I booed Madonna at the Olympia! 45 minutes for 275 euros. Shame on you.”

Madonna has said the angry reaction from a crowd at her recent 45-minute Olympia show in Paris was from "thugs who were not my fans
Madonna has said the angry reaction from a crowd at her recent 45-minute Olympia show in Paris was from "thugs who were not my fans

Another tweeted: “Madonna has blamed <<rogues>> attending her concert at the Olympia without understanding that her fans feel cheated.”

Media website The Examiner said “many fans did feel short-changed due to lack of communication on how the show would be shorter”.

But it suggested that “the actual riots and the screaming were started by supporters of Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far right National Front in Paris. Apparently, they are still upset that Madonna compared Le Pen to a Nazi in her tour.”

The 2,000 tickets sold out in minutes, with fans paying between $125-$315 and some reportedly changing hands for up to $1,600.

Paris resident Allain Zambrana, 26, from Nicaragua, said he wanted to ask for his money back.

“I felt very frustrated because I camped out on the streets and then the show just ends like that.”

Several people cried “refund” as they realized Madonna had left the stage for good.

Dutch fan Ellis Van Zoen, 22, agreed the show was “very short”, but added: “I’m torn – I thought it was a fantastic show and it was special. I don’t want to see fans yelling at her but I can understand why.”

Other fans vented their frustration on a Facebook page owned by the star’s publicist, Liz Rosenburg.

“Some people slept in the streets for 48 hours. So what happened with the concert?” asked Rudy Vanhover.

“She was incredible but we were all shocked by the departure and the duration of the concert.”

Others were more supportive.

“It was an amazing experience to be part of this wonderful show,” commented Christopher Houthaeve.

“I purchased the category 1 ticket and have absolutely no regrets.”

Madonna said the “thugs” threw plastic bottles at the stage and that “the press reports have focused on this and not the joyous aspect of the evening”.

“But nothing can take away or ruin this very special evening for me and my fans. When I looked out in the audience, everyone I saw had a smile on their face. I look forward to having this wonderful experience again.”

At her concert in Vienna on Sunday, Madonna told the crowd: “Those people were not my fans, they were not there to support me.

“But that’s ok because wherever there is darkness, I’m going to bring you some light… we’re not going to let them spoil our fun, are we?”

 

Tony Martin dies at his Los Angeles home aged 98

Sonia Pantiss
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Tony Martin dies at his Los Angeles home aged 98

Veteran singer and actor Tony Martin has died at the age of 98.

Tony Martin was best known for such romantic 1950s ballads as There’s No Tomorrow and To Each His Own, and his 60-year marriage to dancer Cyd Charisse.

A peer of Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, Tony Martin also starred in movie musicals from the 1930s to the ’50s, alongside stars such as Judy Garland.

Business manager Stan Schneider said he had died “peacefully” of natural causes at his Los Angeles home on Friday.

Musician and longtime friend Gabriel Guerrero describedTony  Martin as “the ultimate crooner who outlasted all his contemporaries”.

He said he had “truly remained the butterscotch baritone until he was 98”.

Veteran singer and actor Tony Martin has died at the age of 98
Veteran singer and actor Tony Martin has died at the age of 98

Tony Martin was featured in 25 films, most of them made during the heyday of Hollywood musicals. His good looks saw him often cast as the romantic lead.

His first singing role came in the 1936 film Sing Baby Sing, which starred Alice Faye – one of the Fox studio’s biggest stars and Tony Martin’s future first wife .

He joined MGM in 1940 where he acted alongside the likes of Lana Turner, Esther Williams and the Marx Brothers.

Tony Martin divorced Alice Faye after two years before meeting rising dance star Cyd Charisse, whom he married in 1948.

Tony Martin and Cyd Charisse, who partnered Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly during her career, were together until her death in 2008.

He also produced and starred in Casbah in 1948, a musical version of the 1938 film Algiers.

Growing up in San Francisco and Oakland amid a poor, close-knit Russian Jewish family, Tony Martin said he used music as an escape route.

“I always sang,” he said.

“I always played some instrument or other, real or imagined.

“At first, of course, my music was just for my own fun. I didn’t recognize it right away as my passport away from poverty.”

Tony Martin, whose other big hits included Stranger in Paradise and Walk Hand in Hand, often made singing tours of Europe and had a yearly contract at the London Palladium.

According to friends, Tony Martin continued performing into his nineties.

 

WWII US plane crew remains found in St Lawrence River

James J. Williams
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WWII US plane crew remains found in St Lawrence River

US divers have found what appear to be remains of a crew of an Army amphibious plane that went down in the Eastern St Lawrence River during World War II.

The PBY-5A Catalina capsized in rough water on its way back to base in Maine on 2 November 1942.

Parks Canada first found in the plane in 2009 during a survey, and contacted US officials when they saw the plane’s fuselage was largely intact.

Divers also found sunglasses, film negatives and an operations log.

“The paper is still readable, you can see the typewritten print, it’s a list of procedures for the radio,” Marc-Andre Bernier, chief underwater archaeologist for Parks Canada said.

“It’s quite phenomenal.”

US divers have found what appear to be remains of a crew of an Army amphibious plane that went down in the Eastern St Lawrence River during World War II
US divers have found what appear to be remains of a crew of an Army amphibious plane that went down in the Eastern St Lawrence River during World War II

The amphibious plane was serving an airfield in Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan during the war as part of a corridor linking the US to Europe.

According to reports at the time, the plane failed to take off during a storm due to high waves.

On the second attempt, the plane hit a large wave and began taking on water.

Four of the nine people on board were pulled to safety before the plane sank.

Parks Canada divers originally found the plane upside down under 40m of water.

Marc-Andre Bernier confirmed that divers had found what appeared to be remains, and that they were being sent to a laboratory in Hawaii. Search teams were withholding further details out of respect for the families.

US officials say there are more than 83,000 Americans missing from past conflicts.

“This recovery effort is a solemn and significant undertaking,” US Consul General Peter O’Donohue said in a statement on the recovery operation.

“For the United States, this is a sacred mission to honour those who served their country to the last.”

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H3N8 flu virus associated with harbor seals death in US

Kathryn R. Bown
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H3N8 flu virus associated with harbor seals death in US

US scientists have identified a new strain of influenza in harbor seals that could potentially impact human and animal health.

The H3N8 flu has been associated with the deaths of harbor seals in New England last year.

Researchers say the virus may have evolved from a type that had been circulating in birds.

They say the discovery highlights the potential for pandemic flu to emerge from unexpected sources.

US scientists have identified a new strain of influenza in harbor seals that could potentially impact human and animal health
US scientists have identified a new strain of influenza in harbor seals that could potentially impact human and animal health

Researchers were puzzled by the mysterious deaths from pneumonia of 162 harbor seals around the coast of New England last year.

Autopsies on five of the marine mammals indicate that they died from a type of H3N8 influenza A virus that is closely related to a strain circulating in North American birds since 2002.

The scientists say this flu has evolved to live in mammals and has mutated to make it more transmissable and more likely to cause severe symptoms. The virus also has the ability to target a protein found in the human respiratory tract.

Dr. Anne Moscona of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City edited the report and says that the new virus is a worry.

“There is a concern that we have a new mammalian-transmissable virus to which humans haven’t yet been exposed. It’s a combination we haven’t seen in disease before.”

While flu viruses have turned up in seals before, the researchers say this new virus may represent the first sighting of a new group with the potential to persist and move between species. The scientists had not considered that a bird flu infection could jump species to seals.

They argue that this highlights the fact that a pandemic influenza could emerge from a number of different routes.

“Flu could emerge from anywhere and our readiness has to be much better than we previously realized. We need to be very nimble in our ability to identify and understand the potential risks posed by new viruses from unexpected sources,” Dr. Anne Moscona said.

The report is published in the journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

 

Australia in $500 million drugs seizure after breaking Hong Kong-based ring

Diane A. Wade
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Australia in $500 million drugs seizure after breaking Hong Kong-based ring

Australian police have seized drugs worth over $500 million dollars and broken up a Hong Kong-based drugs ring.

Four Hong Kong nationals and three Australian residents were also arrested in raids in Sydney on Monday.

Over half a ton of drugs, including 306 kg (674.61 lb) of crystal methamphetamine – also known as ”ice” – and 252 kg of heroin, were seized.

The haul is the largest seizure of ”ice” and the third largest seizure of heroin, police said.

Australian police have seized drugs worth over $500 million dollars and broken up a Hong Kong-based drugs ring
Australian police have seized drugs worth over $500 million dollars and broken up a Hong Kong-based drugs ring

The drugs are estimated to be worth A$500 million (US$526 million), the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said in a statement.

The raids and arrests followed a year-long investigation.

“Countless lives would have been affected had this seizure made its way to Australian streets,” Deputy Commissioner Andrew Colvin told Australian media.

He said investigations would continue and more arrests could take place.

The investigations into the syndicate began in August 2011 after a tip-off from the US Drug Enforcement Administration, police said. The drugs were found in a shipment of terracotta pots on 19 July.

The suspects will face charges for importing and possessing drugs in a Sydney court.

 

Maeve Binchy, best-selling Irish author, dies at 72

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Maeve Binchy, best-selling Irish author, dies at 72

Irish author Maeve Binchy has died aged 72 after a short illness.

Best-selling Maeve Binchy, born in Dalkey, Co Dublin, has sold more than 40 million books. Her works were often set in Ireland and have been translated into 37 languages.

They include The Lilac Bus as well as Tara Road and Circle of Friends, which were both adapted for screen.

Maeve Binchy trained as a teacher before moving into journalism and writing, publishing her first novel – Light a Penny Candle – in 1982.

She had written the novel in her spare time from her day job as a journalist at The Irish Times.

Irish author Maeve Binchy has died aged 72 after a short illness
Irish author Maeve Binchy has died aged 72 after a short illness

The author was renowned for her generosity and support of others, writing in a guide for aspiring writers: “The most important thing to realize is that everyone is capable of telling a story.

“It doesn’t matter where we were born or how we grew up”.

Maeve Binchy said that her secret was to write the way she spoke.

“I don’t say I was proceeding down a thoroughfare, I say I walked down the road.

“I don’t say I passed a hallowed institute of learning I say I passed a school.”

“You don’t wear all your jewellery at once – you’re much more believable if you talk in your own voice,” she said.

In 2000, Maeve Binchy was ranked third in the World Book Day poll of favorite authors – ahead of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens.

Maeve Binchy received a lifetime achievement award from the Irish Book Awards in 2010, the same year her last novel, Minding Frankie, was published.

She published a personal message on her website thanking fans who had praised the work:

“My health isn’t so good these days and I can’t travel around to meet people the way I used to. But I’m always delighted to hear from readers, even if it takes me a while to reply,” she said.

Maeve Binchy is survived by her husband, writer Gordon Snell.

 

Olympics 2012: swimmer Ye Shiwen denies doping after smashing world record

Clyde K. Valle
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Olympics 2012: swimmer Ye Shiwen denies doping after smashing world record

Chinese Olympic swimmer Ye Shiwen has denied taking performance-enhancing drugs, after smashing a world record at the London Olympics.

Ye Shiwen, 16, won gold in the 400 m individual medley after breaking her personal best by at least five seconds.

She swam the last 50 m quicker than the men’s champion, prompting leading US coach John Leonard to describe her performance as “disturbing”.

There is no evidence against her and all medal winners are drug-tested.

She is due to race in the final of the 200m individual medley later on Tuesday.

Coach John Leonard, executive director of the World Swimming Coaches Association, said her performance reminded him of the East German women swimmers in the 1980s who were doping on a systematic basis.

“History in our sport will tell you that every time we see something, and I will put quotation marks around this, unbelievable, history shows us that it turns out later on there was doping involved,” John Leonard told the UK’s Guardian newspaper.

Chinese Olympic swimmer Ye Shiwen has denied taking performance-enhancing drugs, after smashing a world record at the London Olympics
Chinese Olympic swimmer Ye Shiwen has denied taking performance-enhancing drugs, after smashing a world record at the London Olympics

China’s swimming team was repeatedly hit by doping scandals in the 1990s.

Seven swimmers tested positive for drugs in the 1994 Asian Games, and four years later four Chinese swimmers failed pre-tournament drug tests before swimming world championships in Australia.

But Ye Shiwen denied the allegations, telling reporters: “My results come from hard work and training and I would never use any banned drugs. The Chinese people have clean hands.”

The accusations have sparked an angry reaction from Chinese internet users, who have accused other nations of jealousy.

Chinese swimming team leader Xu Qi told China’s state-run Xinhua news agency that Ye Shiwen’s result had been expected.

“To compare Ye’s result with Lochte’s is meaningless,” he said.

“Ye was behind after 300m and she needed to try her best to win the race, but Lochte had already established the lead before the freestyle and didn’t need to do his upmost.”

Arne Ljungqvist, medical commission chairman for the International Olympic Committee, called the speculation sad.

“To raise suspicion immediately when you see an extraordinary performance – to me it is against the fascination of sport,” he said.

All medal winners at the Olympics are drug tested. In addition, any athlete whose performance is far better than anything they have achieved before can be targeted for extra tests.

China’s anti-doping chief has said that Chinese athletes have undergone nearly 100 drugs tests since arriving in London, and that not a single Chinese athlete had tested positive.

Who is Ye Shiwen?

• Born in 1996 in eastern city of Hangzhou

• Started swimming in 2003, reportedly after her teacher noticed she had large hands

• Joined the national team in 2008

• Won the 200m and 400m individual medley at the 2010 Asian Games

 

Five steps for a long lasting home pedicure

Lisa.Felice
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Five steps for a long lasting home pedicure

Getting your toes sandal-ready is easy once you know how, and a good pedicure can last up to three weeks if done right.

“Spending just 30 minutes on a proper DIY pedicure is one of the most transformative beauty treatments you can do,” says foot health expert, Margaret Dabbs.

“Not only does a good pedi make your feet look groomed, it’s an instant confidence booster.”

 

1. File toe nails

First, invest in a good nail file.

“Emery boards can tear and split your nails, resulting in an uneven look. Whereas, a glass file will give you a perfectly straight line as it allows you to file back and forth without damaging your nails,” says Margaret Dabbs.

File nails straight across. While it’s trendy to go for fancy shapes on your fingers, Margaret Dabbs says feet should never be filed in a round shape like fingernails.

“Straight across is the most flattering and healthiest option, as rounded nails can grow into the foot,” she explains.

If you suffer from bunions like Victoria Beckham, try Margaret Dabbs’ foot-perfecting trick: “If you’ve got a big toe that leans slightly inwards, subtly file the big toe nail in a diagonal line so that the inside of the nail is a fraction higher.

“This gives the illusion of straight, evenly-shaped toes.”

Spending just 30 minutes on a proper DIY pedicure is one of the most transformative beauty treatments you can do
Spending just 30 minutes on a proper DIY pedicure is one of the most transformative beauty treatments you can do

2. Buff and gloss

Next, use a square block buffer over the nail bed.

“Buffing nails gets rid of discoloration caused by leftover nail polish or fake tan,” says Margaret Dabbs.

Once ridges are smoothed and the toenails are stain-free, use a separate glossing buffer to create a glass-like effect.

The action is a bit like shining shoes; buff back and forth quickly over the nails until they’re gleaming.

“I always carry a glossing file in my handbag for those occasions when I don’t have time to wait for polish to dry – it’s the natural equivalent of top coat,” she adds.

3. File hard skin

“The most common mistake made during at-home pedicures is to file hard skin while your feet are in water,” says Margaret Dabbs.

“When feet are wet, it’s harder to see what areas need filing. Plus, cracked feet can split in water, which can be painful and lead to infection. So, always file on dry skin.”

The best callous tool?

“Leave cutting or grating devices to the pros, as it’s easy to go overboard which can leave you with sore, aching heels,” she says.

Instead, opt for a foot file (ideally crystal) that will evenly reduce hard skin.

“Always file hard areas, such as big toes and heels, in soft strokes towards the underneath of your foot. If you file upwards, you will be left with a ridge.”

4. Exfoliate

Once nails and hard skin are taken care of, soak feet in warm water ready to exfoliate away dead skin.

“When you don’t have an exfoliating product to hand, mix together body wash with a handful of coarse sea salt and massage into damp feet,” says Margaret Dabbs.

“This instantly revives tired looking feet, leaving cuticles clean and skin bright and gleaming.”

5. Oil and polish

Forget foot balms, for a “luxe” look use a foot oil which will penetrate deeper into the skin without the sticky finish of a heavy cream.

“Dry oils like emu oil contain moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties,” says Margaret Dabbs.

Great for holidays when the sand and sun leave feet looking parched, top up your pedicure with a quick spray each night to keep feet looking silky.

 

Prends-moi by Velds, the world’s first slimming fragrance

Lisa.Felice
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0
Prends-moi by Velds, the world’s first slimming fragrance

The latest slimming aid comes in the form of a perfume bottle as Prends-moi is the world’s first slimming fragrance from Velds that has been developed at the French perfume house Robertet.

Makers claim the fragrance is designed to “slim with pleasure” and is based on “aromatherapeutic” and “neurocosmetic” research.

Prends-moi contains ingredients which release B-endorphins present in the skin and a “pleasure message” is transmitted through the brain triggering a sensation of well being and an increase in contentment reducing the need to overeat.

A “Slimming Complex” formulated with caffeine, carnitine and spirulina extract activates the two key enzymes directly involved in lipolysis (fat degradation).

Prends-moi is the world’s first slimming fragrance from Velds that has been developed at the French perfume house Robertet
Prends-moi is the world’s first slimming fragrance from Velds that has been developed at the French perfume house Robertet

A trial study by BIO-EC of women aged between 18 and 70 years of age, who were not on a diet, found that 75% felt the perfume limited the need to snack and 73% felt a feeling of pleasure.

Generously spritz in the morning, as you would do with any perfume, and throughout the day when the need for snacking arises.

Further results can be achieved by very lightly massaging into targeted areas, morning and night to help sculpt and slim the contours of the body.

As for the smell, there are top notes, with lively accents of bergamot, mandarin and grapefruit.

With a low alcohol content, Prends-moi is perfect for those who love summer all year long.

But unfortunately you will have to join a fast-forming queue of over 6,000 eager customers who are desperate to get their hands on the bottles.

Trial results:

A trial study by BIO-EC (Centre of Biological Research and Cutaneous Experimentation) of women aged between 18 and 70 years who were not either on a diet or medical or dermatological treatment during the whole duration of the study revealed the following results after 28 days of regular use:

• 82% felt a feeling of comfort after application

• 75% thought it had a pleasant fragrance and they would wear it every day

• 73% felt a feeling of pleasure

• 75% felt it limited the need to snack

• 70% felt a feeling of well being

• 70% felt it acting on their eating behavior

 

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