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Queen of Sheba legend origins written in Ethiopians DNA

James J. Williams
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Queen of Sheba legend origins written in Ethiopians DNA

Scientists claim they found that clues to the origins of the Queen of Sheba legend are written in the DNA of some Africans.

Genetic research suggests Ethiopians mixed with Egyptian, Israeli or Syrian populations about 3,000 years ago.

This is the time the queen, mentioned in great religious works, is said to have ruled the kingdom of Sheba.

The research, published in The American Journal of Human Genetics, also sheds light on human migration out of Africa 60,000 years ago.

According to fossil evidence, human history goes back longer in Ethiopia than anywhere else in the world. But little has been known until now about the human genetics of Ethiopians.

Professor Chris Tyler-Smith of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridge, UK, a researcher on the study, said: “Genetics can tell us about historical events.

“By analyzing the genetics of Ethiopia and several other regions we can see that there was gene flow into Ethiopia, probably from the Levant, around 3,000 years ago, and this fits perfectly with the story of the Queen of Sheba.”

Scientists claim they found that clues to the origins of the Queen of Sheba legend are written in the DNA of some Africans
Scientists claim they found that clues to the origins of the Queen of Sheba legend are written in the DNA of some Africans

Lead researcher Luca Pagani of the University of Cambridge and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute added: “The genetic evidence is in support of the legend of the Queen of Sheba.”

More than 200 individuals from 10 Ethiopian and two neighboring African populations were analyzed in the largest genetic investigation of its kind on Ethiopian populations.

About a million genetic letters in each genome were studied. Previous Ethiopian genetic studies have focused on smaller sections of the human genome and mitochondrial DNA, which passes along the maternal line.

Dr. Sarah Tishcoff of the Department of Genetics and Biology at the University of Pennsylvania, said Ethiopia would be an important region to study in the future.

Commenting on the study, she said: “Ethiopia is a very diverse region culturally and linguistically but, until now, we’ve known little about genetic diversity in the region.

“This paper sheds light on the very interesting recent and ancient population history of a region that played an important role in both recent and ancient human migration events.

“In particular, the inference of timing and location of admixture with populations from the Levant is very interesting and is a unique example of how genetic data can be integrated with historical data.”

The scientists acknowledge that there are uncertainties about dating, with a probable margin of error of a few hundred years either side of 3,000 years.

They plan to look at all three billion genetic letters of DNA in the genome of individual Ethiopians to learn more about human genetic diversity and evolution.

 

Lone star tick causes meat allergy in adults

Kathryn R. Bown
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Lone star tick causes meat allergy in adults

Hundreds of people in the U.S. have mysteriously developed meat allergy over the last few months.

And this rash of meat allergies, currently sweeping the East Coast of America, appears to have been caused by one single, little species of tick.

The lone star tick (Amblyomma Americanum), which is named for the tiny white spot on its back, may look harmless, and only causes a tiny little prick on your skin – but what follows next is a complete and potentially life-long, aversion to meat.

Dr. Scott Commins, the assistant professor of medicine at the University of Virginia, said the animals’ saliva trickles into the wound and causes the violent reaction – which can cause potentially deadly allergic reactions.

He said: “People will eat beef and then anywhere from three to six hours later start having a reaction; anything from hives to full-blown anaphylactic shock.

“And most people want to avoid having the reaction, so they try to stay away from the food that triggers it.”

The lone star tick (Amblyomma Americanum) only causes a tiny little prick on your skin, but what follows next is a complete and potentially life-long, aversion to meat
The lone star tick (Amblyomma Americanum) only causes a tiny little prick on your skin, but what follows next is a complete and potentially life-long, aversion to meat

He said he had seen about 400 cases, of which 90% of the patients had a history of tick bites.

Studies are now being carried out to confirm that the theory and Dr. Scott Commins added: “It’s hard to prove – We’re still searching for the mechanism.”

Dr. Scott Commins plans to research into the effects of the tick saliva on the human body’s natural antibodies for alpha-gel, which is contained in red meat, lamb and pork.

He said the antibodies in the blood rise after lone star tick bites – and hopefully experiments will prove this is the mechanisms causing the allergies.

Allergies usually first appear in children and rarely start in adults. The most common allergies include peanuts and pet hair.

But for adults who have been meat-eaters all their lives, suddenly developing this allergy could be difficult.

Dr. Scott Commins added: “Some people are totally destroyed. Others say: <<maybe I’m better off without it>>.”

 

Ann Curry back at work on Today show hours after reports she will be fired as co-host

Diane A. Wade
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Ann Curry back at work on Today show hours after reports she will be fired as co-host

Ann Curry has showed up at work hours after news surfaced that she would be fired next month as co-host of NBC’s Today show.

Reports surfaced Wednesday afternoon that Ann Curry, who took over the anchor chair June 9, 2011, would be removed from her spot as Matt Lauer’s co-host.

But on Thursday morning, Ann Curry was back next to Matt Lauer, acting like nothing had happened.

Ann Curry has taken the blame from many at NBC for the Today show’s ratings decline. The program lost the top spot among network morning shows this spring, a position it had held, unbroken, since 1995.

The New York Times reported that NBC executives were preparing for Ann Curry not to show up on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Today show producers contacted Hoda Kotb, who co-hosts the fourth hour of the program, and told her to be ready to go on the air at 7:00 a.m.

But Ann Curry, who reportedly makes $2 million a year, was there, acting like normal.

“Good morning Twitterverse,” she tweeted to her 1.2 million followers on Thursday.

“Good morning. From hot to hotter. You thought yesterday was a scorcher? In many places in the East today, it’s going to get even hotter,” she said at the opening of the show.

On Thursday morning, Ann Curry was back next to Matt Lauer, acting like nothing had happened
On Thursday morning, Ann Curry was back next to Matt Lauer, acting like nothing had happened

Later in the program she appeared alongside Matt Lauer, Al Roker and Natalie Morales – one of the women who has been mentioned as her possible replacement.

Her tweet, sent out about 8:00 a.m., received dozens of responses from her fans, who offered her their support.

The Times reported on Wednesday that Ann Curry will be kicked off the show before the Summer Olympics begin July 27.

Ann Curry has been criticized for not being as flexible or quite as quick-witted as Matt Lauer or Katie Couric, who had the hosting job for 15 years before leaving in 2006.

Katie Couric was replaced by Vieira.

Matt Lauer, who recently received a reported $30 million annual contract to stay at NBC is reportedly one of the people working to push Ann Curry out.

NBC producers are beginning to panic as ABC’s Good Morning America has begun trading off with the Today show for the top network morning show.

Ann Curry’s more prominent role in the morning show has received the blame for this slump.

Negotiations are currently underway with network executives to move Ann Curry into a new job, likely as a foreign correspondent.

But, she’s apparently not leaving without a fight.

“She got her dream job, and she doesn’t want to let it go,” a source told the Times.

Savannah Guthrie, who co-hosts the show’s third hour, is at the top of the list of Ann Curry’s possible replacements.

Natalie Morales, Today‘s news anchor, and Meredith Vieira, who left the co-host role last year, have been mentioned in talks for the position, news outlets reported.

A decision about Ann Curry’s departure from the show could be made before the Summer Olympics begins in later this summer.

Several staff members who work on the show have blamed Ann Curry as the reason for the decline in ratings after she took over the co-host job, according to the New York Times.

Today lost in the ratings this spring for the first time since 1995 after a string of 852 consecutive weeks.

Since then, Today and Good Morning America have been trading wins.

Some reports suggest the longtime member of the Today show may become a foreign correspondent at the network.

For Ann Curry, however, the reality of ending her time on the program has been difficult.

Attorney Robert B. Barnett is representing Ann Curry in the discussions.

The lawyer is known for having represented Christiane Amanpour in her talks with ABC as she left the news program This Week.

Ann Curry began working as news anchor for the Today show in 1997, a position she held onto until she was promoted to share the hosting role with Matt Lauer.

She has an extensive background in global reporting.

Ann Curry began a career at NBC in 1990 as part of the NBC News team.

 

Higher-fat salad dressings help your body to absorb more carotenoids from vegetables

Kathryn R. Bown
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Higher-fat salad dressings help your body to absorb more carotenoids from vegetables

A new study shows that choosing a low-fat dressing for your salad might help you keep your weight down because it has fewer calories, but you could lose some other health benefits.

The study found higher-fat dressings help the body absorb more carotenoids, compounds in vegetables linked with a reduced risk of illnesses including cancer and heart disease.

Researchers from Iowa State University fed 29 people salads dressed with butter, high in saturated fat, canola oil for monounsaturated fat, and corn oil for polyunsaturated fat.

Each salad was dished up with 3 grams, 8 grams or 20 grams of fat from dressings to see if fat dosage made a difference to the overall results.

The participants had their blood tested for absorption of fat-soluble carotenoids, which are compounds associated with a reduced risk of several chronic and degenerative diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

The study found higher-fat dressings help the body absorb more carotenoids, compounds in vegetables linked with a reduced risk of illnesses including cancer and heart disease
The study found higher-fat dressings help the body absorb more carotenoids, compounds in vegetables linked with a reduced risk of illnesses including cancer and heart disease

With all but the canola oil, made from genetically modified rapeseed, the more fat that was used the more carotenoids were absorbed, says the study in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research.

Canola oil promoted the same carotenoid absorption with three grams of fat as with 20 g, suggesting it may be a healthy choice for weight watchers. Olive oil is also rich in monounsaturated fat.

Professor Mario Ferruzzi of Purdue University said: “If you want to utilise more from your fruits and vegetables, you have to pair them correctly with fat-based dressings.

“If you have a salad with a fat-free dressing, there is a reduction in calories, but you lose some of the benefits of the vegetables.”

Results showed corn oil was the most dependent on dose, with the more fat on the salad, the more carotenoids the participants absorbed.

The butter rich in saturated fat was also dependent on dose when drizzled on the salads, but not to a lesser extent.

Canola oil and olive-oil based dressings promoted the same carotenoid absorption at three grams of fat, as they did at 20 grams – suggesting this would be a good choice of dressing for people watching their weight but wanting to remain healthy.

The researchers are taking the study further by trying to understand how meal patterns affect nutrient absorption – determining whether people absorb more nutrients if they eat vegetables at one time or spread throughout the day.

Prof. Mario Ferruzzi added: “Even at the lower fat level, you can absorb a significant amount of carotenoids with monounsaturated fat-rich canola oil.

“Overall, pairing with fat matters.

“You can absorb significant amounts of carotenoids with saturated or polyunsaturated fats at low levels, but you would see more carotenoid absorption as you increase the amounts of those fats on a salad.”

 

LeRoy Neiman, official painter of the Olympics, dies at 91

Sonia Pantiss
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LeRoy Neiman, official painter of the Olympics, dies at 91

Artist LeRoy Neiman, an official painter of five Olympiads famed for his instant renditions of sporting action, has died in New York aged 91.

One of the world’s most commercially successful contemporary artists, LeRoy Neiman’s colorful paintings were as distinctive as his handlebar moustache.

LeRoy Neiman captured events as diverse as the Super Bowl, the Grand National and the Cannes Film Festival.

Some of his most famous paintings were of the boxer Muhammad Ali.

His publicist Gail Parenteau confirmed his death at a Manhattan hospital but did not disclose the cause.

Artist LeRoy Neiman, an official painter of five Olympiads famed for his instant renditions of sporting action, has died in New York aged 91
Artist LeRoy Neiman, an official painter of five Olympiads famed for his instant renditions of sporting action, has died in New York aged 91

LeRoy Neiman – who is survived by his wife Janet Byrne – had continued to paint despite having his right leg amputated in April 2010 following a vascular problem.

“I’ve had a lucky life,” he told the Associated Press in 2008.

“I’ve zeroed in on what you would call action and excellence.

“Everybody who does anything to try to succeed has to give the best of themselves, and art has made me pull the best out of myself.”

In 1972 LeRoy Neiman sketched the world chess championship between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer in Reykjavik, Iceland, live on television.

He also produced live drawings of the Olympics for television and was the official computer artist of the Super Bowl for US network CBS.

LeRoy Neiman also had a decades-long association with Playboy magazine, which started in 1953 following a chance meeting with Hugh Hefner.

He regularly contributed to the magazine’s Man at His Leisure feature.

In a tweet on Wednesday, Hugh Hefner wrote: “Long time friend & resident Playboy artist LeRoy Neiman has passed away at the age of 91. R.I.P.”

 

Vanessa Paradis to receive $150M pay-off from Johnny Depp

Lisa.Felice
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Vanessa Paradis to receive $150M pay-off from Johnny Depp

According to new reports, Vanessa Paradis is set to receive from her 14-year long partner Johnny Depp one of the biggest pay-off between a non-married couple.

Johnny Depp, 49, is said to be paying Vanessa Paradis $150million in a bid to keep the split as amicable as possible for the sake of their children.

Johnny Depp is reported to be worth at least $320million and has an extensive property portfolio.

The couple has a mansion and apartment in Los Angeles and owns the island of Little Hall’s Pond Cay in the Bahamas.

In Europe, the couple’s main home is in Plan-de-la-Tour in southern France, as well as a house in Paris, a canalside palazzo in Venice and Johnny Depp is said to have been the mystery buyer of a house in the Norfolk village of Burnham Market.

Although the pair and their children Lily-Rose, 13, and Jack, nine, were based in their Hollywood home in recent years, Vanessa Paradis, 39, was spotted house-hunting in Beverly Hills a few weeks ago.

Vanessa Paradis is set to receive from her 14-year long partner Johnny Depp one of the biggest pay-off between a non-married couple
Vanessa Paradis is set to receive from her 14-year long partner Johnny Depp one of the biggest pay-off between a non-married couple

Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis only confirmed their split on Tuesday following months of speculation, but it is believed they had been living separate lives for months.

Last month, Vanessa Paradis visited a number of properties with price tags of between $7 million and $11 million.

She appeared glum as she looked around the properties on May 23 and there was no mistaking the strain of the relationship breakdown has taken its toll.

The French star was seen looking at a number of properties in Malibu and Beverly Hills including a seven bedroom home which is listed at $7,995,000.

The home boasts 7,580 square feet, eight separate bathrooms, media and game rooms, a wet and a dry saunas, a pool and spa.

Vanessa Paradis was also seen looking at a six bedroom home which cost a cool $10,995,000.

The master bedroom offers two separate baths, two terraces and a study and the property also has a separate guest house.

Two weeks ago, Johnny Depp was seen cutting a lonely figure as he hopped onto a jet on his way to New Mexico.

As late as last month Johnny Depp had denied there was any rift between himself and Vanessa Paradis, despite reports stating that they were living separate lives dating back to January.

 

Kim Kardashian denies wearing shapewear garment beneath Stella McCartney dress

Lisa.Felice
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Kim Kardashian denies wearing shapewear garment beneath Stella McCartney dress

Kim Kardashian denied that she wore a shapewear garment beneath the black Stella McCartney dress she was spotted in two nights ago in Paris.

Kim Kardashian, 31, wrote on her blog yesterday: “That’s exactly how I bought it with those nude panels inside. So no Spanx here!”

Despite her denial, the reality star has long proved a fan of shapewear.

Kim Kardashian has been photographed on several occasions flashing versions of Spanx-like garments underneath her clothing.

The nude material, or something very similar to a Spanx product, was spotted wrapped around her upper thigh as she stepped out in a black and white dress for a business meeting in Los Angeles in March.

It had happened just one month prior when the star had been photographed attending a church service.

Kim Kardashian denied that she wore a shapewear garment beneath the black Stella McCartney dress she was spotted in two nights ago in Paris
Kim Kardashian denied that she wore a shapewear garment beneath the black Stella McCartney dress she was spotted in two nights ago in Paris

Although Kim Kardashian may have not intentionally set out to criticize the multi-million dollar brand, Spanx defended its products as a response to her denial.

A spokesman for the company wrote in a letter to Racked.com that its customers should proudly let their “Spanx shape show!”

The statement continued: “Whether it’s a Slimmer & Shine slip or a Stella McCartney dress with a Spanx-inspired liner, we say let your Spanx show.”

Many had assumed that Kim Kardashian had again worn the shapewear, only this time underneath the Stella McCartney dress as a familiar beige garment peeked out from beneath it.

Furthermore, the dress has been spotted without the beige underlay on multiple celebrities in recent times, such as Gisele Bundchen, Kate Winslet and Vogue Japan editor Anna Dello Russo, which further grew suspicion.

According to Kim Kardashian, she received the dress with the beige panel already attached to it.

She said: “I wore this gorgeous polka dot Stella McCartney dress out yesterday and I’ve seen some publications saying I’m flashing my Spanx or control underwear underneath the dress.

“Stella made a full collection with these sheer panels on the side, and this is how my dress came. Xo”

Coco Perez, the gossip website, had first made note of the beige garment beneath the black dress.

The post was titled: That’s Not How You Wear Spanx, Kim.

It read: “Kim Kardashian flashed more than just her underpants in Paris on Monday, she flashed her whole damn Spanx!”

 

Bobby Brown and Alicia Etheridge enjoy honeymoon on Oahu Island’s beach in Hawaii

Lisa.Felice
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Bobby Brown and Alicia Etheridge enjoy honeymoon on Oahu Island’s beach in Hawaii

Newlyweds Bobby Brown and Alicia Etheridge were spotted hanging out on the beaches of Hawaii’s Oahu island for their honeymoon yesterday.

Alicia Etheridge flaunted her curves with a bandeau two-piece while Bobby Brown, 43, wore swim trunks, as they enjoyed quality time together taking romantic walks along the shore.

Bobby Brown and Alicia Etheridge swapped vows on Monday in Honolulu surrounded by friends and family, except Bobbi Kristina, his daughter with Whitney Houston.

Newlyweds Bobby Brown and Alicia Etheridge were spotted hanging out on the beaches of Hawaii's Oahu island for their honeymoon yesterday
Newlyweds Bobby Brown and Alicia Etheridge were spotted hanging out on the beaches of Hawaii's Oahu island for their honeymoon yesterday

Bobbi Kristina Brown, 19, was said to be shooting scenes for her Lifetime reality show, The Houston Chronicles.

However, Bobby Brown and Alicia Etheridge’ solo time together will be cut short because the musician will have to return to the stage with his New Edition peeps for their 30th anniversary tour.

 

Cissy Houston to perform tribute to Whitney at BET Awards

Lisa.Felice
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Cissy Houston to perform tribute to Whitney at BET Awards

Cissy Houston will perform a tribute to her late daughter Whitney Houston alongside other female singers at the upcoming BET Awards.

A source familiar with BET’s plans said Tuesday that Cissy Houston will take the stage at the July 1 awards show to honor her daughter.

Cissy Houston, 78, will be joined by “a few top divas,” the source said, though the source could not give their names.

The source spoke on condition of anonymity because the tribute has not been officially announced.

Cissy Houston will perform a tribute to her late daughter Whitney Houston alongside other female singers at the upcoming BET Awards
Cissy Houston will perform a tribute to her late daughter Whitney Houston alongside other female singers at the upcoming BET Awards

Whitney Houston died at age 48 in February in her hotel room in Beverly Hills. Authorities called her death an accidental drowning, complicated by heart disease and cocaine use.

The BET Awards airs live from The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Kanye West, Beyonce and Jay-Z are the top nominees.

 

Bobby Brown marries Alicia Etheridge in Hawaii

Lisa.Felice
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Bobby Brown marries Alicia Etheridge in Hawaii

Bobby Brown has married his manager Alicia Etheridge on Monday in a small ceremony in Hawaii.

Bobby Brown’s wedding may seem abrupt considering the fact that ex-wife Whitney Houston died only months ago in February, but since he and Houston had been separated for several years prior to her death it isn’t all that shocking that on Monday Brown wed manager Alicia Etheridge in Hawaii.

According to People magazine, Bobby Brown and Alicia Etheridge took advantage of a New Edition performance in Honolulu to tie the knot on the Pacific island. The couple have got engaged (on stage) in 2010 and have one young son together.

Bobby Brown has married his manager Alicia Etheridge on Monday in a small ceremony in Hawaii
Bobby Brown has married his manager Alicia Etheridge on Monday in a small ceremony in Hawaii

Bobby Brown, 43, also has a daughter, 19-year-old Bobbi Kristina, with Whitney Houston and three more from previous relationships.

Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown were married for 15 years, during which time Whitney became addicted to drugs and alcohol.

Bobby Brown has repeatedly denied that he introduced Whitney Houston to drugs.

 

Egypt’s presidential election results delayed

Diane A. Wade
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Egypt’s presidential election results delayed

Egypt’s presidential poll results have been delayed by the election authorities, raising further tension across the country.

The results had been due to be announced on Thursday, but the election commission said it needed more time to look into complaints presented by the candidates.

The Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohammed Mursi and former PM Ahmed Shafiq both claim they won last weekend’s vote.

Thousands of opposition supporters are protesting in Cairo’s Tahrir Square.

They have gathered to demonstrate against the delay in announcing the poll result and also against the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) – the military council that has led the country since President Hosni Mubarak was ousted last year.

The Muslim Brotherhood called people into the square to voice their outrage over recent constitutional amendments which gave the SCAF sweeping political and legislative powers.

If the Muslim Brotherhood has won the election, there are doubts over whether the authorities would allow them to take power after fighting them for so many decades.

There is increasingly fevered speculation about whether the election will be cancelled or rigged, he adds.

Egypt's presidential poll results have been delayed by the election authorities, raising further tension across the country
Egypt's presidential poll results have been delayed by the election authorities, raising further tension across the country

Meanwhile, 84-year-old Hosni Mubarak remains in critical condition at an army hospital in Cairo.

He is said to have had a series of strokes and to be on a life-support machine, but there has been no official word on his condition.

Earlier this month, Hosni Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the death of protesters during last year’s revolution.

Correspondents say there are fears that Hosni Mubarak’s failing health could be used as a distraction as Egypt awaits the result of the hotly disputed election.

On Wednesday, the Higher Presidential Elections Commission (HPEC) said that some 400 election complaints had been filed by the two candidates.

The commission said it needed more time to investigate the complaints, without giving any new date for the announcement of the results.

However, media reports suggest that the poll winner could be declared over the weekend.

Nader Omran, a spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood, said the announcement should not have been delayed.

“It will bring more tension to the people – they should end the story tomorrow (Thursday),” he said.

Protests continued in Tahrir Square late into the night, with the Brotherhood saying they will mount a sit-in until the results are announced, and until the army gives up the sweeping powers it granted itself in a constitutional amendment last week.

Correspondents say Egypt appears to be in political and constitutional limbo.

In preliminary comments on the second round of the presidential election, a group of international election monitors headed by former US President Jimmy Carter voiced concerns about the “political and constitutional context” of the vote.

“I am deeply troubled by the undemocratic turn that Egypt’s transition has taken,” Jimmy Carter said.

On Saturday the SCAF had dissolved Egypt’s elected parliament – dominated by the Brotherhood – after a court ruling that last year’s legislative polls were unconstitutional.

Late on Sunday, hours after the polls closed in the presidential vote, the SCAF issued a constitutional declaration giving itself wide-ranging powers and limiting those of the incoming president.

The declaration effectively gave the SCAF legislative powers, control over the budget and over who writes the permanent constitution.

The SCAF’s moves were widely condemned by activists as amounting to a military coup.

 

Low or moderate level of alcohol in early pregnancy is not linked to developmental problems

Kathryn R. Bown
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Low or moderate level of alcohol in early pregnancy is not linked to developmental problems

According to new research, drinking a low or moderate level of alcohol in early pregnancy is not linked to developmental problems in five-year-olds.

The Danish research, published in the BJOG journal, suggested one to eight drinks a week was not linked to harm.

Heavy drinking during pregnancy is known to be linked to miscarriage, foetal alcohol syndrome and low birth weight.

The Danish researchers produced five papers on drinking in pregnancy.

More than 1,600 pregnant women took part, recruited at their first antenatal visit. Half were first-time mothers, and just under a third smoked during pregnancy.

They were asked about their alcohol intake.

Low average consumption was defined as one to four per week, moderate as five to eight drinks and high levels as nine or more per week.

According to new research, drinking a low or moderate level of alcohol in early pregnancy is not linked to developmental problems in five-year-olds
According to new research, drinking a low or moderate level of alcohol in early pregnancy is not linked to developmental problems in five-year-olds

Binge drinking, which women were also questioned about, was defined as having five or more drinks on one occasion. Pregnant women who did not drink during pregnancy were included in the research.

The scientists looked at the effects of alcohol on IQ, attention span, executive functions such as planning, organization, and self-control in the five-year-olds.

They found low to moderate weekly drinking in early pregnancy had no significant effect on neurodevelopment of children at the age of five – and neither did binge drinking.

There were no differences in IQ test results in children whose mothers drank one to four units per week or five to eight units per week in pregnancy compared with children of abstaining mothers.

But drinking more than nine drinks per week was associated with lower attention span among the children.

The lead authors of the work, Ulrik Schiøler Kesmodel of Aarhus University and Prof. Erik Lykke Mortensen of the University of Copenhagen, said: “High prenatal exposure to alcohol has consistently been associated with adverse effects on neurodevelopment.

“Areas such as intelligence, attention and executive functions have been found to be particularly vulnerable.

“Our findings show that low to moderate drinking is not associated with adverse effects on the children aged five.”

Patrick O’Brien, a spokesman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and a consultant obstetrician in UK said the research was very well designed.

This was because it asked women about their alcohol intake at the time – rather than asking them to look back as past studies have done – and because it followed children for such a ling time and assessed such a range of developmental markers, he said.

The RCOG advises that women abstain from alcohol while pregnant, but if they do decide to drink evidence suggests “one or two units, once or twice a week, is acceptable after 12 weeks of pregnancy”.

Dr. Patrick O’Brien said: “These findings suggest low to moderate drinking has no significant effect on children aged five. However, this does not mean that women can use this as an excuse to indulge in more than the recommended amount in the UK.

“This evidence suggests that the UK guidance is erring on the side of caution – but that’s sensible in pregnancy.”

Women are advised to talk to their midwife or doctor if they have any concerns about the amount of alcohol they are drinking in pregnancy.

 

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are so close that he’s even bought her a horse

Lisa.Felice
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Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are so close that he’s even bought her a horse

Rumors about the nature of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard relationship have been swirling for some time, but it’s being reported that things “seem to be heating up” between them.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are said to be so close that bisexual Heard, 26, has been a “regular visitor” to the New Mexico set of The Lone Ranger where 49-year-old Depp is currently filming.

And Johnny Depp, who made an official announcement that he had split from partner of 14 years Vanessa Paradis on Tuesday, is even said to have bought Amber Heard a horse so they can ride together, according to a report in Globe magazine.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are said to be so close that she has been a “regular visitor” to the New Mexico set of The Lone Ranger where he is currently filming
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are said to be so close that she has been a “regular visitor” to the New Mexico set of The Lone Ranger where he is currently filming

Vanessa Paradis and Johnny Depp had not been pictured together in public for months, but the Dark Shadows star insisted last month that there was no truth to rumors of a split.

“The rumors are not true,” he told The Sun newspaper.

“They are absolutely not true.”

“No matter what I say about this, people believe the opposite. I can’t say enough about it not being over,” he said.

Despite Johnny Depp’s denials, a number of publications carried pictures and reports that he and Amber Heard enjoyed a trip together to Las Vegas on a private plane.

Johnny Depp was in town promoting Dark Shadows, and Vanessa Paradis was nowhere to be seen.

It’s unclear why Amber Heard was in the gambling town.

Amber Heard was alleged to have joined Johnny Depp in Vegas, and was pictured boarding his private plane the next day,

Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis have declined to appear at their respective premieres and public events together recently, with the French actress attending her premiere, of Café de Flore in Paris alone, and not accompanying the actor on promotional duties for Dark Shadows.

Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis are parents to Lily Rose,12, and ten-year-old Jack.

 

Apple ordered to pay damages to Samsung Electronics by a court in the Netherlands

Nancy Clayson
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Apple ordered to pay damages to Samsung Electronics by a court in the Netherlands

Giant tech company Apple has been ordered to pay damages to rival Samsung Electronics by a court in the Netherlands.

The court said that Apple had infringed a patent held by Samsung relating to the way phones and tablet PCs connect to the internet.

Apple, which recently became the world’s most valuable firm, has been facing various legal issues.

In a separate case, it was fined $2.3 million in Australia for its claims on 4G capabilities of the iPad.

And it is still not clear how much it may have to pay to Samsung in damages.

The Dutch court did not specify any amount, but the damages will be calculated based on sales of Apple’s iPhone and iPad in the Netherlands.

“Samsung welcomes the court’s ruling, which reaffirmed Apple’s free-riding of our technological innovation,” the South Korean manufacturer said.

“In accordance with the ruling, we will seek adequate compensation for the damages Apple and its products have caused.”

Apple has been ordered to pay damages to rival Samsung Electronics by a court in the Netherlands
Apple has been ordered to pay damages to rival Samsung Electronics by a court in the Netherlands

Samsung had claimed that Apple had infringed four of its patents. However, the Dutch court said that only one of those had been breached.

Apple and Samsung are two of the biggest manufacturers of smartphones and tablet PCs in the world.

However, the two firms have been involved in dozens of patent cases and disputes relating to designs of their respective products.

Analysts said that with so many cases being fought by the two firms in different countries, neither of the parties may emerge as the overall winner.

Last month, a judge in the US ordered the chief executives of both the firms to meet to try to settle their legal differences.

But the talks did not lead to any agreement and Apple has since sought a ban on sales of one of Samsung’s tablet computers and the latest range of its Galaxy smartphones.

Apple had enjoyed an early lead in the smartphone and tablet PC market with the launch of its iPhone and iPad devices.

However, Samsung has been steadily increasing its market share in the sector with the introduction of new gadgets.

Analysts said that given the increased competition, the two firms had been using the legal battles as a way to stop each other from increasing their market shares.

“Given that they are number one and two in the market right now, they are going to use any possible tool to slow down each other and patents could be one of those tools,” said Melissa Chau of IDC Asia Pacific.

However, she said that given the amount of time, money and energy that the two firms have spent on fighting these cases, they were likely to find a solution in the long run.

“In the past, when we look at how these things have evolved, they get settled in due course of time and businesses move on.”

There was more bad news for Apple.

A court in Australia has ruled that the firm had misled consumers with its claims over the capability of the latest version of the iPad to connect to Australia’s fourth generation (4G) cellular networks.

The court said that Apple had broken the country’s consumer laws by implying that the newest version of the iPad could connect with the networks, when it could not.

“The conduct concerned was deliberate and very serious,” Justice Mordy Bromberg was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.

“It exposed a significant proportion of Australian consumers of tablet devices to a misleading representation.”

In addition to the $2.3 million fine, Apple was also asked to pay 300,000 Australia dollars ($305,000) in court costs.

 

Ruby Carter-Pikes, 64-year-old great grandmother, fitness champion at FitSciences

Clyde K. Valle
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Ruby Carter-Pikes, 64-year-old great grandmother, fitness champion at FitSciences

Ruby Carter-Pikes, also known as “Miss Ruby”, is a great grandmother with a six pack that even a college athlete would be jealous of and a cabinet of bikini competition trophies to prove it.

64-year-old fitness fanatic from Los Angeles, California, who calls herself a health expert and fitness guru, is a familiar face on the body-building and fitness competition circuit and most recently picked up two winning shields at the FitSciences Championships in Atlanta, Georgia.

Strutting the stage in a skimpy, string two-piece, Ruby Carter-Pikes scored a second place win for the category titled Women’s Figure, as well as claiming a prize as Women’s Super Masters Winner.

In Women’s Figure judges rated the contestant on her shoulders, latissimus dorsi and quadriceps.

“Abdominal development is very important as well,” spelled out the rules on the website.

“Definition with a limited amount of striated muscles.”

Ruby Carter-Pikes, also known as “Miss Ruby”, is a great grandmother with a six pack that even a college athlete would be jealous of and a cabinet of bikini competition trophies to prove it
Ruby Carter-Pikes, also known as “Miss Ruby”, is a great grandmother with a six pack that even a college athlete would be jealous of and a cabinet of bikini competition trophies to prove it

Other categories in the contest hosted by the healthy lifestyle management company, were Fit Mom, Female Fitness Model, Bikini Spokesmodel and Junior Fitness Spokesmodel.

Fresh from her victory at the Atlanta’s 14th Street Playhouse venue, the muscular great-grandmother told FitSciences competition organizers: “It was fantastic. Overall I’m having a blast.”

Her enjoyment of the event is hardly surprising for someone whose challengers are less than half her age.

Ruby Carter-Pikes has been eating well and exercising for years, inspired by the tragic health issues suffered by several family members, problems that she attributes on her blog to poor nutritional education during childhood.

“I am the oldest of twelve siblings and the first granddaughter of 45 grandchildren. We lived in a rural and remote area in Mississippi,” she explains on BodyProud.org.

Growing up on a farm, she continues, though the family was active and regularly held dances and horse riding games, the food produced from the land consisted primarily of white flour, sugar and meals were often fried.

She had also been born with a heart condition that affected her ease of breathing and so attention to health had always been a priority.

After having four children and seeing how precious life could be when she lost family to cholesterol complications and diabetes, she upped the ante and fitness became not just a priority but her life.

Though a post dated 2008 claims she ran a gym in Canoga Park, Los Angeles, Ruby’s Fitness Gym proved an elusive establishment, untraceable on the web.

What is certain however, is that this great-grandmother’s “dedication to the fitness industry”, as one impressed You Tube commentator put it, is nothing short of remarkable.

 [youtube KDr6u7DZMk8]

Adrian Nastase, Romania’s ex-PM, in suicide attempt

Diane A. Wade
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Adrian Nastase, Romania’s ex-PM, in suicide attempt

Former Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase has attempted to commit suicide by shooting himself in the head but he eventually shot his neck.

The incident occurred when police arrived at Adrian Nastase’s house to take him to prison, local media reports say.

Hours earlier Romania’s highest court had upheld a two-year prison sentence against Adrian Nastase on corruption charges.

Adrian Nastase, 62, who held office between 2000 and 2004, was convicted for illegally amassing about 1.5 million Euros ($1.9 million) for his 2004 election campaign.

Former Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase has attempted to commit suicide by shooting himself in the head but he eventually shot his neck
Former Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase has attempted to commit suicide by shooting himself in the head but he eventually shot his neck

He insisted that the charges were politically motivated.

Current Prime Minister Victor Ponta, a party colleague of Adrian Nastase, visited him in hospital after the incident.

Adrian Nastase’s condition was “under control”, Victor Ponta told the Associated Press news agency.

Having exhausted legal challenges available to him in Romania, Adrian Nastase’s lawyers indicated he may appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Adrian Nastase is the most senior political figure to be convicted by a court in Romania since the fall of communism in 1989.

The European Union has in recent years put pressure on Romania to crack down on corruption among public officials.

 

Windows Phone 8, updated version of Microsoft smartphone OS, unveiled

Nancy Clayson
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Windows Phone 8, updated version of Microsoft smartphone OS, unveiled

Microsoft has unveiled Windows Phone 8, the next version of its smartphone operating system.

Windows Phone 8 shares much of its code with the firm’s PC system, making it easier for developers to write programs for different types of devices.

The company said it should mean there would be some “amazing games” for handsets running its new release.

A tie-up with Nokia has already bought several Windows Phone devices to market, but sales lag some way behind models running Android or Apple’s iOS.

Microsoft said Nokia, Samsung, HTC and Huawei would all be making devices powered by the system upgrade.

Microsoft has unveiled Windows Phone 8, the next version of its smartphone operating system
Microsoft has unveiled Windows Phone 8, the next version of its smartphone operating system

Other new features announced at the Windows Phone Summit event in San Francisco included:

• Support for multi-core chips, allowing devices to turn on cores to access extra processing power when needed, and to switch off cores when not to preserve battery life

• The ability to work with different screen resolutions including the high definition 720p format

• Support for removable Micro SD cards allowing users to store more media files or install apps saved on the format

• A new “wallet” app allowing the phone to act as both credit and membership cards. It also supports NFC (near field communication) payments

• Built-in maps from Nokia’s Navteq division with turn-by-turn navigation

• A more customizable start screen allowing users the choice of three tile sizes to represent installed software and more color options

• A warning alert if the software believes a website contains malware or is otherwise unsafe

The update also allows internet call software based on VoIP (voice over internet protocol) and video chat technologies to run in the background.

This addresses a complaint that the firm’s own Skype program could not be used to receive calls while its owner was using another application – a function offered on rival platforms.

The firm said VoIP calls should now “feel like any other call” made or received by Windows Phone handsets.

Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 strongly resemble each other – at least when the PC system is run under its Metro interface – and Microsoft was keen to stress that their relationship goes deeper than appearance alone.

The two will share a range of components including graphic drivers, the DirectX collection of application programming interfaces (APIs) and the NT kernel that ties application software to the hardware it is installed on. They can also both support native code in the C and C++ programming languages.

Microsoft said this should not only make it easier to port software between the two environments, but should speed up the time it takes developers to recode programs originally built for iOS and Android.

Microsoft noted more than 100,000 apps had been released for Windows Phone 7.

By contrast there are more than 466,500 programs in the Android marketplace according to search site Appbrain, and “over 500,000” in Apple’s app store according to the iPhone maker.

Securing “marquee titles” is more important to some than raw numbers, and Microsoft addressed this too with news that Gameloft’s Nova 3 and Zynga’s Draw Something were coming to Windows Phone.

 

 

Giuliana Rancic baby shower: Giuliana and Bill Rancic announce they are having a boy

Lisa.Felice
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Giuliana Rancic baby shower: Giuliana and Bill Rancic announce they are having a boy

Giuliana and Bill Rancic used a creative way to let their friends know they were expecting a son at their guessing-themed Beverly Hills bash over the weekend.

The couple released blue balloons out of a giant box during the fun-filled event.

Looking like a ray of sunshine in a bright yellow dress, Giuliana Rancic jumped for joy as they made the big reveal.

“It was great to finally share it with everyone,” she told Life & Style whilst trying to hold back tears.

“I’ve always wanted a little Bill – my husband is the most gorgeous guy in the world and I want our baby to look exactly like him.”

During the party – which was organized by celebrity-planner-to-the-stars Mindy Weiss – guests feasted on ribs and sliders and sipped on Nicolas Feuillatte champagne and OneHope wine.

Colorful balloons, flowers and cabanas were dotted around the grounds of the mansion, reflecting the couple’s always bright and optimistic outlook on life.

Giuliana and Bill Rancic used a creative way to let their friends know they were expecting a son at their guessing-themed Beverly Hills bash over the weekend
Giuliana and Bill Rancic used a creative way to let their friends know they were expecting a son at their guessing-themed Beverly Hills bash over the weekend

Continuing on with the guessing theme of the party, the pair even cut into a pink and blue cake, revealing a turquoise sponge inside.

“The shower is exactly what I envisioned,” said Giuliana Rancic.

The TV host said she was relieved to be finally focusing on her baby, and that she was already feeling a strong connection to her unborn son.

“Now that the medical stuff is done, we can focus on the baby,” she said.

“Even though I’m not pregnant I’ve been dreaming about the baby. I had heard that I’d feel a connection, but I didn’t really believe it. I dream of the baby in a blue blanket and it’s the cutest little boy.”

After the party this past weekend, the excited duo also shared the news with fans, revealing they are soon to welcome a little boy – thanks to the help of their surrogate mother.

Giuliana Rancic tweeted: “Beyond excited to announce @BillRancic and I are having a……….BOY!!!!!”

The couple, who are expecting their new arrival later this summer, plan on being in the delivery room with their surrogate.

It has been a happy time for the couple, who have had their fair share of heartache.

Giuliana Rancic underwent a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer last year.

The stunning TV star recently spoke about the prospect of having either sex of baby.

Giuliana Rancic recently told People: “The reason being that when you have a mother-[son] bond, he’s like your prince – you don’t want to discipline him.

“And then there’s daddy’s little girl, he’ll never want to discipline her. But to be honest, chances are I will discipline, because I’m a crazy Italian chick.”

E! News recently published one of the couples’ adorable baby shower invitations featuring a guessing theme by headlining the invitation with a question: “Blue or Pink: What Do You Think?”

Underneath the playful question was a pink “g” for Giuliana Rancic in pink script and a “b” in blue for Bill. The front cover of the invitation gave the date of the party as June 17th, but the location wasn’t divulged.

The Rancic duo already knew the gender prior to their party.

“Here’s the thing,” Giuliana Rancic told E! News earlier this month.

“I don’t know how long we’re going to be able to keep it a secret, but it’s like the only thing in our lives right now that’s a secret… It’s fun having something between the two of us.”

Giuliana and Bill Rancic plan on trying for a second child once she’s clear of the cancer treatments in five years.

“Five years puts me at 42, and a lot of people have kids at 42. So I’m definitely going to try again,” she said.

 

How Oprah Winfrey lost 25 lbs in just six weeks

Diane A. Wade
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How Oprah Winfrey lost 25 lbs in just six weeks

Oprah Winfrey has lost 25 lbs in just six weeks, it was revealed today, shedding much of the weight she had gained over the past 18 months due to the pressures of running her OWN network.

The secret to Oprah Winfrey’ success, sources say, is a lean, low-calorie diet implemented by her new chef.

The fast results were also thanks to the fact that she has resumed her regular treadmill workouts with trainer Bob Greene, they added.

“Oprah has absolutely flipped for the new chef,” a source told the National Enquirer.

“The personalized diet Oprah’s been following uses a combination of fruits and vegetables, fish, chicken and lean meat.

“It’s low in fat and calories, but still leaves her feeling full.”

It is a positive turn for the star, who has spoken publicly about her struggle to maintain a healthy weight.

Once rakishly thin in 1988, Oprah Winfrey's weight has been a yo-yo ever since, not helped by a thyroid problem, diagnosed in 2008, that caused the scales to soar to 200 lbs
Once rakishly thin in 1988, Oprah Winfrey's weight has been a yo-yo ever since, not helped by a thyroid problem, diagnosed in 2008, that caused the scales to soar to 200 lbs

Once rakishly thin in 1988, Oprah Winfrey’s weight has been a yo-yo ever since, not helped by a thyroid problem, diagnosed in 2008, that caused the scales to soar to 200 lbs.

Oprah Winfrey, now 58, wrote at the time in O Magazine: “The thyroid diagnosis felt like some kind of prison sentence. I was so frustrated that I started eating whatever I wanted – and that’s never good. My drug of choice is food. I use food for the same reasons an addict uses drugs: to comfort, to soothe, to ease stress.”

Now, though, it appears that she has struck the right balance of a healthy, lean diet that does not feel restrictive, and a workout programme that is equally sustainable.

“Deep down, Oprah knew she had the willpower to lose it again if she took the right approach, and she’s finally found a plan she really likes,” the National Enquirer’s source explained.

“This program is a lifestyle change and it stresses eating the right kind of foods to sustain energy and good health.”

 

McDonald’s advertising photo shoot behind the scenes. Why McDonald’s burgers never look like on the menu.

Clyde K. Valle
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0
McDonald’s advertising photo shoot behind the scenes. Why McDonald’s burgers never look like on the menu.

Have you ever wondered why your Big Mac never looks like the one advertised on the menu?

McDonald’s has created a short video to show customers how they prepare their tasty meals for an advertising photo shoot.

The fascinating footage starts by introducing Canadian director of marketing Hope Bagozzi who holds up a tablet with a question from one customer Isabel M.

Isabel asks: “Why does your food look different in the advertising than it does in the store?”

Hope Bagozzi says that it is a question she gets asked a lot and promises to reveal all.

She starts by buying a Quarter Pounder with Cheese at a nearby branch of McDonald’s before hopping into a car which takes her to advertising agency Watt International.

McDonald’s has created a short video to show customers how they prepare their tasty meals for an advertising photo shoot
McDonald’s has created a short video to show customers how they prepare their tasty meals for an advertising photo shoot

A photographer and food stylist then set about making the burger look like it would in one of their adverts.

The process is painstaking as they deconstruct and rebuild the sandwich so that all the ingredients are visible. At one point they even syringe on the ketchup so it will be picked up by the camera.

The finished burger looks more like the advertised meals but it’s still not perfect.

In reality Watt International makes all their burgers from scratch in their own kitchen – using McDonald’s ingredients.

Hope Bagozzi meets Noah – a food stylist – who shows her how to expertly prep the different components to make them look as delicious as possible.

Despite all efforts to get it looking as close to perfection as possible the burger is then photographed and Photoshopped to get rid of any discrepancies.

 [youtube cNN2TLEvfWs]

Lesley Brown, world’s first test tube baby mother, dies at 64

Kathryn R. Bown
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Lesley Brown, world’s first test tube baby mother, dies at 64

Lesley Brown, the woman who gave birth to the world’s first test tube baby, has died aged 64.

Lesley Brown, who lived in Whitchurch, Bristol, UK, made history in July 1978 when her daughter Louise was born at Oldham General Hospital.

She had been trying for a baby with her husband John for nine years before she became the first woman to give birth following IVF treatment.

Lesley Brown died at the Bristol Royal Infirmary on 6 June with her family by her side, it has been announced.

She successfully conceived following pioneering treatment by Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards.

Lesley Brown leaves behind daughters Louise and Natalie, who were both born following IVF treatment, her stepdaughter Sharon and five grandchildren.

Her husband died five years ago.

Lesley Brown, the woman who gave birth to the world's first test tube baby, has died aged 64
Lesley Brown, the woman who gave birth to the world's first test tube baby, has died aged 64

A private funeral service was held in Bristol on Wednesday morning.

Louise Brown said: “Mum was a very quiet and private person who ended up in the world spotlight because she wanted a family so much.

“We are all missing her terribly.”

Dr. Patrick Steptoe and Prof. Robert Edwards set up the Bourn Hall Clinic in Cambridge two years after Louise Brown’s birth. It has now become a leading centre for IVF treatment.

Speaking on behalf of Prof. Robert Edwards and the team at the clinic, chief executive Mike Macamee said: “Lesley was a devoted mum and grandmother and through her bravery and determination many millions of women have been given the chance to become mothers.

“She was a lovely, gentle lady and we will all remember her with deep affection.”

Speaking in 2008, Lesley Brown said she had been so desperate to have a baby that she was willing to put up with anything to give birth.

At the time, she said: “I’m just so grateful that I’m a mum at all because without IVF I never would have been and I wouldn’t have my grandchildren.”

Her blocked fallopian tubes meant getting pregnant naturally was impossible.

In 1976, she heard about new research and was referred to Dr. Patrick Steptoe, after which she agreed to the experimental procedure.

Although other women had been implanted with fertilized eggs, Lesley Brown was the first to achieve a pregnancy which went beyond a few weeks.

 

Toulouse CIC bank hostage-taker arrested after 7 hours

Diane A. Wade
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Toulouse CIC bank hostage-taker arrested after 7 hours

Police have detained a gunman who held four people hostage at CIC bank in the southern city of Toulouse, France, for almost seven hours.

The man initially demanded money but when he was refused, a shot was fired and the hostages taken.

Claiming to be linked to al-Qaeda, he demanded to speak to the elite Raid police unit that killed Islamist gunman Mohamed Merah nearby in March.

He freed two hostages before police stormed the bank and detained him.

The gunman was said to have been wounded in the thigh, but not seriously. His two remaining hostages are not thought to have been harmed.

The man went into the branch of the CIC bank at 10:10 local time (08:10 GMT), taking the manager and three other people hostage.

The area around the bank was cordoned off and two nearby schools were closed.

Special police units from the GIPN (Groupe d’intervention de la police nationale) arrived from Marseille and Bordeaux.

Police have detained a gunman who held four people hostage at CIC bank in the southern city of Toulouse
Police have detained a gunman who held four people hostage at CIC bank in the southern city of Toulouse

No officers from Raid – which has its headquarters north of Paris, about 600 km (400 miles) from Toulouse – were deployed to the scene.

A police union source told the regional newspaper Ouest-France it was not clear whether the man’s claim about al-Qaeda was “serious or a fantasy”.

More than four hours into the siege, police said a woman hostage had been freed in exchange for food and water. A second woman was released some time afterwards.

Public prosecutor Michel Valet told reporters that the man “wishes to let it be known that he is not acting for money, but for religious reasons”.

The hostage-taker was believed to be around 30 years old and known to the authorities, Toulouse newspaper La Depeche reported. He was from Castres, to the east of Toulouse, and one source told the paper he was a schizophrenic who had broken off his treatment.

His sister, who was brought to the scene during the afternoon to help in negotiations, revealed that her brother was not religious and had been in and out of social care since childhood.

After almost seven hours, the siege came to an end. Three explosions had been heard, possibly stun grenades, shortly before news emerged of the gunman’s arrest.

The gunman had come out of the building with one of the two hostages, reportedly threatening him with a gun, prompting the special police unit to launch its assault.

He was shot in the thigh, La Depeche reported, before being arrested. He was then taken to hospital.

The bank in which the drama unfolded is a few hundred metres from Mohamed Merah’s flat, in an area adjacent to the barracks where Raid police were based during the March siege that ended in his death.

Mohamed Merah, a 23-year-old Frenchman of Algerian descent, killed seven people in three separate attacks before he was shot dead by police. His victims included three children and a teacher at a Jewish school, and three soldiers.

Mohamed Merah filmed his attacks and sent the footage to police.

He was shot dead by a police sniper on 22 March after commandos stormed his flat.

Mohamed Merah was suspected to have had an accomplice within the Muslim community.

In the wake of the shootings, the French authorities set up an investigation into whether Mohamed Merah had accomplices and into possible Islamist indoctrination practices in prisons.

They have shown zero tolerance to anyone known to have used Islamist internet sites or to have had links to a fringe al-Qaeda group to which Mohamed Merah is said to have belonged.

On 7 June, a man armed with a shotgun took hostage a security guard at the French weather service, Meteo France. The hostage-taker fired several shots and was seriously injured when police returned fire.

His hostage was uninjured.

 [youtube jNPRzwNJIs8]

[youtube u0T5jr3vzwM]

Angelina Jolie looks Maleficent as she starts shooting new Disney movie

Sonia Pantiss
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Angelina Jolie looks Maleficent as she starts shooting new Disney movie

Angelina Jolie is certainly in need of regular touch-ups for her latest role and was spotted being pampered on the set of Maleficent in Buckinghamshire today.

Angelina Jolie, 37, has taken on the role of evil sorcess Maleficient in an adaptation of Sleeping Beauty and to do so, she has undergone something of a transformation.

The actress was seen in the middle of a field today in full costume as she continued to film scenes for the upcoming Disney movie.

Wearing a long brown cape and black horns, Angelina Jolie was spied having her make-up retouched by a female artist while a male member of the crew dealt with her long brunette hair.

It was only yesterday that fans got a sneak peek of Angelina Jolie’s character and what they can expect from the fairytale film.

Wearing a leather horned headdress, and yellowed contacts, Angelina Jolie was also given a bit of help in the cheek department with the addition of some Lady Gaga-style cheek prosthetics.

Angelina Jolie is certainly in need of regular touch-ups for her latest role and was spotted being pampered on the set of Maleficent in Buckinghamshire
Angelina Jolie is certainly in need of regular touch-ups for her latest role and was spotted being pampered on the set of Maleficent in Buckinghamshire

Angelina Jolie plays the title role in the updated version of Disney’s 1959 animated feature Sleeping Beauty and of her costuming she said: “We’re experimenting with different things. But the horns are the horns – you can’t deny them. You have to have horns.”

In this updated version, the focus of the film centres on the events that hardened Maleficent’s heart, leading her to curse the baby Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), played by Elle Fanning.

Angelina Jolie told EW: “It’s not anti-princess, but it’s the first time they’re looking at this epic woman.

“I hope in the end you see a woman who is capable of being many things, and just because she protects herself and is aggressive, it doesn’t mean she can’t have other [warmer] qualities.”

As a woman who is used to dividing opinion, Angelina Jolie was clearly attracted to taking on such an “imperfect” character.

Angelina Jolie said: “It sounds really crazy to say that there will be something that’s good for young girls in this, because it sounds like you’re saying they should be a villain. [Maleficent] is actually a great person. But she’s not perfect. She’s far from perfect.”

Angelina Jolie was seen taking her family to see musical Wicked based on the novel by Gregory Maguire while in London, which similarly tells the story of the Wicked Witch Of The West before she turns bad.

“In general, it’s a very good message to say, <<Let’s look at something from the other side>>. But then also, what our challenge will be – and the script writer [The Lion King and Alice in Wonderland’s Linda Woolverton] has already cracked it – is not to simplify it, not to just reverse the story but tell a bigger story that doesn’t point the finger [at Princess Aurora] either.”

According to the popular fairytale, Maleficent was angry that she wasn’t invited to the beautiful Princess’s christening, and as a result cursed the infant to prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die before the end of her 16th birthday.

Other stars signed up to the film include Miranda Richardson, who will play Queen Ulla, and Juno Temple, as Thistletwit, one of the three fairies tasked with taking care of Aurora in a cottage in the woods – which, going on the set, may now be a tent in a small settlement.

She is joined by Imelda Staunton will play fairy Knotgrass and Lesley Manville who will star as fairy Flittle.

But it is still unclear who will play Prince Philip, Aurora’s love and the man who defeats Maleficent, although as other characters’ names have been changed, it could well be Control star Sam Riley, who is billed to play Diaval.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have made the U.K. their temporary home and have been seen on family outings to the theatre and stores.

Crew member have been busy erecting tepee style tents, stoves over open fires, crumbly brick walls and horse-drawn carts.

And while they work to make the set look perfect for their star, security guards with huge Rottweilers patrol the perimeter.

The film will be directed by Robert Stromberg and is set for release on March 14, 2014.

 [youtube lmKTJel8Fbs]

Olympics 2012: Zara Phillips represents GB eventing team and she will stay in the athletes village

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Olympics 2012: Zara Phillips represents GB eventing team and she will stay in the athletes village

Zara Phillips, Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter, will not only look the part at the upcoming London Olympic Games, she will be living like her fellow competitors, too.

Zara Phillips, Princess Anne’s daughter, is to be given no special treatment, it has emerged, staying in the Olympic village and sharing the same security and transport as other athletes.

On Monday, Zara Phillips, 31, told of her excitement at the prospect of rubbing shoulders with the likes of Usain Bolt during her stay.

Zara Phillips, who missed out on two previous Olympics due to injuries to her horse, promised to give her “best performance” in front of a home crowd in London.

Zara Phillips, Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter, will not only look the part at the upcoming London Olympic Games, she will be living like her fellow competitors, too
Zara Phillips, Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter, will not only look the part at the upcoming London Olympic Games, she will be living like her fellow competitors, too

She said: “Obviously it will be great to be part of the Olympics and get the atmosphere and the buzz of being a part of it.

“A lot of the time, the equestrian is quite far out so they’ve made a really big effort this time to try and have us part of the Olympics and benefit from that.”

Zara Phillips, who will ride as part of the five-strong eventing team at Greenwich Park, around six miles from the main Olympic park, said Her Majesty had been delighted when she told her that she had made the Olympic team.

The former sports personality of the year missed out on Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 after her then horse, Toytown, suffered late injuries.

“I’m keeping my fingers crossed because we’ve still got a few weeks to go and we all know what horses are like,” she said.

Equestrian performance director Will Connell said the eventing team would stay in the Olympic village – and was adamant their royal member would be well protected by the security put in place by Olympics organizers.

“It’s not an issue,” he said.

 [youtube nMrOk4HRFlU]

Spencer West, who lost his legs as a child, scales Kilimanjaro by crawling up on his hands

Diane A. Wade
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Spencer West, who lost his legs as a child, scales Kilimanjaro by crawling up on his hands

Spencer West from Toronto, Canada – who lost his legs when he was just five years old – reached the summit of the 19,341ft high Mt. Kilimanjaro on Monday after a slow, gruelling and awe-inspiring trek.

Spencer West, 31, was born with sacral agenesis, a genetic disorder that left his lower spine poorly developed and his legs permanently crossed.

He had his legs removed below the knees at the age of three and, two-years-later, had them amputated to below his pelvis.

Medical experts told the courageous Canadian he would never be a functioning member of society but he has continued to defy doctors his entire life.

Spencer West trained for a year to scale the tallest peak in Africa without legs and set off on June 12 with best friends David Johnson and Alex Meers.

Spencer West reached the summit of the 19,341ft high Mt. Kilimanjaro on Monday after a slow, gruelling and awe-inspiring trek
Spencer West reached the summit of the 19,341ft high Mt. Kilimanjaro on Monday after a slow, gruelling and awe-inspiring trek

The trek to the top took seven days, hiking through Tanzania’s jungles, snowfields and deserts – and Spencer West was forced to make 80% of the journey on his hands, only hopping in a custom-made wheelchair when the terrain allowed.

The trio made it to the final approach on Sunday and rose the following morning for the ascent to Uhuru Peak.

They reached the top at 11.15 a.m. after an exhausting seven hour hike.

Only 50% of people who attempt to scale the mountain make it to the top – and Spencer West described the moment he reached the summit as “incredible”.

He said: “The summit sign seemed almost like a mirage.

“We looked around and realised that, after seven grueling days of relentless climbing, after 20,000 feet of our blood, sweat, tears and vomit we had actually made it.

“The bleeding fingers and blisters were all worth it.”

Spencer West added: “I set out to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro not only to redefine what’s possible for me, but to inspire others to overcome obstacles and challenges of their own, and to give back to communities, that need our help.

“Reaching the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro was the most mentally and physically challenging thing I have ever done, but in doing so, it reinforced the powerful message behind believing in yourself, and believing in others.

“So many people made this journey possible for me and I am so humbled by everyone’s support.”

Spencer West’s incredible feat has raised almost $500,000 for Free The Children, a charity which brings sustainable to thousands of Kenyans experiencing drought.

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