According to researchers, it appears the days of women setting their sights on marrying “above themselves” are over, as they become better educated and better paid.
Indeed modern women could hardly be further from the likes of Pride and Prejudice’s Elizabeth Bennet and her scheming to net Mr. Darcy – not just the man she loved but, crucially, a wealthy aristocrat.
Analyzing how female aspirations have changed over the past 50 years the researchers found women in their late twenties and early thirties are increasingly marrying “beneath themselves” by opting for men of lower social classes.
The study by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) in UK adds weight to the idea that today’s economically independent women are freer to marry for love rather than to further themselves.
The think-tank says the proportion of those “marrying down” – such as the Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter Zara Phillips who is now wed to former England rugby player Mike Tindall – has exceeded those “marrying up” for the first time.
The study found 28% of women born between 1976 and 1981 married men who were less educated and worse paid than them. In 1958, the figure was 23%.
British Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Phillips married England rugby star Mike Tindall
Of the women born between 1976 and 1981, only 16% married up and more than half (56%) married someone of the same class, defined by the IPPR as someone in a similar occupation.
In 1958, 39% married someone of the same class and 38% married up.
The research also showed that while attitudes towards marrying across social class have changed, those towards age have become more entrenched.
Most women marry men who are older than them and are more likely to do so than those of previous generations.
Richard Darlington of the IPPR said: “In the 60s, women working in highly segregated offices in junior clerical roles fell in love with men in senior positions and <<married the boss>>.
“By the 70s and 80s, women had moved into more senior positions themselves and were marrying men in similar professional categories. By the 90s, the toy boy phenomenon was at its height and by the noughties age was no longer a social taboo.
“Women are still marrying older men from the same social class as themselves, but for the first time, the proportion marrying down is higher than the proportion marrying up, and one in five women are now marrying men who are seven or more years older than them.”
Official figures last week showed 52% of women aged 17-30 went into higher education compared with 42% of men.
Princess Basma Bint Saud Bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia spoke out during an interview with BBC about the many changes she would like to see in her country.
Princess Basma, 47, is the youngest daughter of former Saudi Arabia’s ruler, King Saud, and niece to its current king. The princess currently lives in Acton, West London, and is a businesswoman setting up a series of restaurant chains in Saudi Arabia which she now intends to expand into Britain.
Princess Basma was schooled in Beirut by French Christian Missionary School, taught by Christian Nuns among Christians and Jews who did not adhere to the Islam practiced in Saudi Arabia. In Britain she attended a Hertfordshire girls’ school and a College in London before spending two years studying in Switzerland.
“I speak as the daughter of King Saud, the former ruler of Saudi Arabia. My father established the first women’s university in the kingdom, abolished slavery and tried to establish a constitutional monarchy that separates the position of king from that of prime minister. But I am saddened to say that my beloved country today has not fulfilled that early promise.
Our ancient culture, of which I am very proud, is renowned for its nobility and generosity, but we lack, and urgently need, fundamental civil laws with which to govern our society.
As a daughter, sister, [former] wife, mother, businesswoman and a working journalist, these are the things that I would like to see changed in Saudi Arabia.”
1. Constitution
“I would like to see a proper constitution that treats all men and women on an equal footing before the law but that also serves as a guide to our civil laws and political culture.
For example, today in Saudi courts, all decisions are made according to the individual judge’s interpretation of the holy Koran. This is entirely dependent on his own personal beliefs and upbringing rather than universally agreed principles or a written constitution as a guide.
I am not calling for a western system but an adaptation of that system to suit our needs and culture. Thus our constitution should be inspired by the philosophy of the Koran with principles that are set in stone and not open to the whims of individual judges as is the case now.
In particular, the constitution should protect every citizen’s basic human rights regardless of their sex, status or sect. Everyone should be equal before the law.”
2. Divorce laws
“I strongly believe that current divorce laws are abusive.
Today in Saudi, a woman can ask for a divorce only if she files for what is called <<Khali and Dhali>>. This means either she pays a big sum of money running into tens of thousands of dollars or she has to get someone to witness the reason why she is filing for a divorce – an impossible condition to fulfil given that such reasons usually are the kind that remain within the four walls of a marriage.
Another way to keep a woman in the marital home against her will is the automatic granting of custody of any children over the age of six to the father in any divorce settlements.
This state of affairs is in complete contradiction to the Koran, upon which our laws are supposed to be based. In it a woman is given full rights to divorce simply in the case of <<irreconcilable differences>>.”
Princess Basma Bint Saud Bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia spoke out about the many changes she would like to see in her country
3. Overhaul of the education system
“The way women today are treated in Saudi Arabia is a direct result of the education our children, boys and girls, receive at school.
The content of the syllabus is extremely dangerous. For one, our young are taught that a woman’s position in society is inferior. Her role is strictly limited to serving her family and raising children. They are actually taught that if a woman has to worship anyone other than God it should be her husband; <<that the angels will curse her if she is not submissive to her husband’s needs>>. Girls are also strictly forbidden from taking part in any physical education. This is a result of a complete misinterpretation of the Koran. I consider these ideologies to be inherently abusive.
Aside from that, the focus in most of our educational system is on religious subjects such as hadith (sayings attributed to the prophet), Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), tafssir (interpretation of the Koran) and of course the Koran. The attitude is that <<learning itself, anything other than religion won’t get you into heaven so don’t waste your time>>. I would like to see religious teaching limited to the Koran and the Sunna (the way the prophet lived), where the true ethics of Islam lie. The rest is blind rote learning of the most dangerous kind. It has left our youth vulnerable to fundamentalist ideologies that have led to terrorism and abuse of the true meaning of the Koran.
Instead of wasting our youths’ intellect on memorizing quotations whose origins is uncertain (such as those found in hadith, Fiqh and tafssir) we need to encourage them to think freely, innovate and use their initiative for the betterment of our society. Early Islam was a time of great creativity. Scholars excelled in sciences and literature. Our religion should not be a shield behind which we hide from the world but a driving force that inspires us to innovate and contribute to our surroundings. This is the true spirit of Islam.”
4. A complete reform of social services
“The ministry of social affairs is tolerating cruelty towards women rather than protecting them. The only refuge homes that abused women can turn to are state ones. In these, women are continuously told that by seeking refuge they have brought shame on their families.
If they come from powerful families then they will be sent straight back to their homes in fear of the wrath of a powerful patriarch. As a result we have seen many cases of suicide by educated women, doctors and scientists who were sent back to their abusers.
We need independent women’s refuges where the rights of women are upheld and backed up by powerful laws that can override family traditions and protect women.
The ministry of social affairs not only abuses women’s rights but is also one of the reasons poverty is rife in the kingdom. A corrupt system that lacks transparency has meant that more than 50% of our population is poor and needy even though we are one of the wealthiest countries on earth.”
5. The role of the Mahram (chaperone)
“Women in Saudi cannot get around or travel without a mahram (a kind of chaperone – usually a male relative).
At the time of the prophet, women used to have a man to accompany them but in those days Arabia was a desert literally full of pirates.
Today the only purpose of such a law is to curtail women’s freedom of movement. This not only infantilizes women but turns them unnecessarily into a burden on their men and on society.
Today women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to drive.
This one seems to concern western observers the most but there are more essential rights we need to obtain first.
I am definitely for women driving but I don’t think this is the right time for a reversal of this law. In the current climate if a woman drives, she could be stopped, harassed beaten or worse to teach her a lesson.
This is why I am against women driving until we are educated enough and until we have the necessary laws to protect us from such madness. Otherwise we might as well hand out a license to the extremists to abuse us further. If as drivers we get harassed, they will say to the Islamic world <<see what happens when women drive, they get harassed they get beaten>> and they will call for even more stringent laws to control women. This is something we can’t afford. Fundamental changes in the law and its attitude to women are needed before we take this step.
On the whole it is the rights and freedoms of all citizens that are crucial in Saudi Arabia and from those the rights of women will emanate.”
Transition, a prototype car made by US company Terrafugia that is licensed to fly as well as drive, has been put on display at the New York International Auto Show.
The car is the first vehicle in the world to have met both the standards of the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), according to Cliff Allen, Vice President of Sales at Terrafugia.
This makes it the first “street legal aeroplane”, he said.
Known as the Transition, the versatile vehicle has two seats, four wheels and retractable wings.
It is expected to be available next year, with a price tag in the region of $279,000.
The vehicle currently has an experimental certificate from the FAA, meaning the company has permission to fly it in US airspace for test purposes. The company hopes in time it will gain a light sport aircraft license.
The hybrid vehicle completed its first successful test flight at Plattsburgh International Airport near Montreal in Canada last month.
A retired US Air Force test pilot took the maiden voyage – after volunteering his services.
The Terrafugia Transition has an experimental certificate from the FAA, meaning the company has permission to fly it in US airspace for test purposes
“We are very fortunate to have found him,” said Dr. Samuel Schwegart, an engineer at Terrafugia working on the project.
The vehicle flew at 1,400 feet for eight minutes.
However, important details still need to be worked out from test data, including the stall speed of the aircraft.
There are significant design challenges marrying a roadworthy vehicle with a skyworthy one, according to Dr. Samuel Schwegart.
“We were curious to see how it would take off,” says Dr. Samuel Schwegart.
“Unlike a normal plane, it cannot rock back on its rear wheels at the moment of take-off, because it is designed to be stable as a car on the road.”
The engineers also found that Transition needed more speed than anticipated on take-off, to generate the necessary lift for ascent.
A hard landing was also reported, but nothing of concern, according to Dr. Samuel Schwegart.
“You can pull up at a regular gas station to fill it up,” says Dr. Samuel Schwegart. A full tank holds 23 gallons (87 litres) of fuel.
It requires Premium 91-octane fuel, and does 35 miles to the gallon (6.7l/100km) on the road, and 28 mile (8.4l/100km) in the air.
“The discrepancy is because of drag,” says Dr. Samuel Schwegart.
Although Transition can be stored in a normal garage, it needs a 1,700-foot (520-metre) runway to take off.
According to Terrafugia, this is no problem, as there are 5,000 state airports in the United States. And there are a further 5,000 private ones, which might just mean a simple runway belonging to a farmer in a field.
Terrafugia calculates that you are rarely further than half an hour from a take-off point – and there are apps like Foreflight which will tell you where the nearest one is, whether you are on the ground, or up in the air hoping to come down.
“You just do your pre-flight checks, unfold your wings and away you go,” says Dr. Samuel Schwegart.
The initial target market was existing pilots, but the company is now reaching out to people with no aviation background.
The vehicle offers an “advanced level of freedom in life, more efficiency in personal travel”, according to a company representative.
Terrafugia currently has 100 pre-orders, which in their current small production facility in Woburn, Massachusetts, already means a two-to-three-year backlog.
With a range of 644 miles (1,035 km) on a full tank, the vehicle could in theory make a non-domestic journey. For the time being, however, the vehicle is restricted by its license to flying in the US.
Oxytocin, the so-called “cuddle hormone”, a chemical that helps mothers bond with their babies, can dramatically improve male sexual performance, producing results on a par with Viagra, researchers have found.
One of the scientists behind the discovery and development of Viagra was so impressed that he described an oxytocin-based treatment as having “blockbuster potential”.
Oxytocin is a hormone naturally made in the body in both men and women, and is involved in sex, sexual attraction, trust and confidence.
Extra doses of the “cuddle chemical” are released into a mother’s blood during labor – triggering the production of breast milk – and flood the brain during breastfeeding, helping mother and baby bond.
Oxytocin has recently been shown to make men more sensitive and in tune with others’ feelings, but its effects on the male physique were unknown until now.
Researchers in California published a paper on the hormone’s effects after giving it to a married father of three who suffered from attention deficit disorder and had difficulty in maintaining social relationships.
His relationship with his wife was also in difficulties, and conventional drugs either were not suitable or had unwanted side-effects.
Spraying the hormone up his nose twice a day did little to help his social phobia but did wonders for his love life, the Journal of Sexual Medicine reports.
His libido went from “very weak” to “somewhat strong”, his sexual arousal from “somewhat difficult” to “somewhat easy” and the act itself was easier to perform and more satisfying.
The spray also produced emotional benefits. The man said he found it easier to be affectionate towards his wife, while she said he wanted to be closer to her and was more tactile.
But not all oxytocin effects may be quite so welcome.
The man, who is identified only as Mr. B, also hugged a work colleague in a “very out of character” way. At the time the paper was written, the man had not experienced any other side-effects, despite using the oxytocin spray twice a day for several months.
Oxytocin, the so-called “cuddle hormone” can dramatically improve male sexual performance, producing results on a par with Viagra
However, the positive effects vanished if he stopped using the spray.
The University of California researchers said the improvements were “in keeping” with those of Viagra.
They concluded: “These findings support trials directly examining the use of oxytocin to treat problems in this vital aspect of human function, especially in the context of stable, loving relationships.”
Others said that as Viagra does not work in all cases, there is a great medical need for a new drug.
Dr. Mike Wyllie, one of the team of scientists that discovered and developed Viagra for pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, said that for some men who have had surgery, the little blue pills can work in as few as 10% of cases.
With sales of Viagra and similar pills reaching almost $4 billion year worldwide, there are billions to be made.
Dr. Mike Wyllie said that a drug based on oxytocin could have “blockbuster potential”.
However, he warned that drug watchdogs may be cautious about approving a medicine that has emotional as well as physical effects.
A new report in Science journal gives details on how carbon-based material graphene can help scientists study liquids more clearly with high-power microscopes.
Graphene can form a clear “window” to see liquids at higher resolution than was previously possible using transmission electron microscopes.
Liquids had been difficult to view at the same resolution as solids because these microscopes require the liquids to be encapsulated by some material.
Traditionally, silicon nitride or silicon oxide capsules, or liquid cells, have been used. But these are generally too thick to see through clearly.
Now, Jong Min Yuk at the University of California, Berkeley, and colleagues have shown that pockets created by sheets of graphene can be used to study liquids at clear, atomic, resolution using transmission electron microscopes (TEMs).
Graphene can form a clear window to see liquids at higher resolution than was previously possible using transmission electron microscopes
The researchers used their new graphene-based liquid cell to study the formation of platinum nanocrystals in solution.
With this technique, the team of scientists was able to observe new and unexpected stages of nanocrystal growth as it happened.
They noted how the crystals selectively coalesced and modified their shape.
Graphene consists of a flat layer of carbon atoms tightly packed into a two-dimensional honeycomb arrangement.
Because it is so thin, it is also practically transparent. The unusual electronic, mechanical and chemical properties of graphene at the molecular scale promise numerous applications.
Its discoverers, Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov from Manchester University, were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2010.
The technique described by Jong Min Yuk and colleagues might enable scientists to study other physical, chemical, and biological phenomena that take place in liquids on the nanometre scale.
“Their approach opens new domains of research in the physics and chemistry in the fluid phase in general,” said Christian Colliex, from the Universite Paris Sud in France, who was not involved with the research.
In another paper published in this week’s Science magazine, researchers from the US and Spain report that the stress of pressing the tip of an atomic force microscope into a thin film of material can switch the direction of the film’s electric charge.
This phenomenon, called “flexoelectricity”, could be harnessed to improve memory in electronic devices.
It could achieve this by allowing digital bits of information to be written mechanically but read electrically – which would use less power.
The process has been likened to a nanoscale typewriter – mechanically “writing” changes in the direction of electric charge.
A preliminary study has found that taking Vitamin B-6 may not only give people more vivid dreams but also help in remembering them the next morning.
While we supposedly all have 4-6 dreams a night it is often hard to recall them, especially in their entirety.
Vitamin B-6, which is found in meats, whole grains, vegetables, nuts and bananas, has long been thought to help recall dreams and enhance their lucidity but this was based on theory rather than a concrete study.
However, a small study done back in 2002 has come to light which seemingly goes some way to proving the familiar theory.
In the study twelve university students were given varying amounts of the vitamin over a period of five days.
Four participants were given 100 mg, four were given 250 mg, while the remaining students were given a placebo.
The participants who were given the biggest dose of Vitamin B-6 had a higher rate of dream salience as determined by vividness, bizareness, emotionality, and color.
Taking Vitamin B-6 may not only give people more vivid dreams but also help in remembering them the next morning
It is believed that Vitamin B-6 has this effect because it converts amino acids into serotonin, which wakes the brain up during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, a stage of sleeping where our dreams are most vivid.
But hold back on those bananas as too much of the vitamin can mean you won’t get to sleep at all as it can cause insomnia, as well as heart palpitations, cramps, high blood pressure, and panic attacks.
While this study into dreams was just preliminary, supplements of Vitamin B-6 have been given to treat nausea and vomiting in the early stages of pregnancy for decades.
Prince Harry of Wales is spending the Easter weekend in a picturesque Transylvanian village in the heart of Romania, local media reported on Sunday.
Prince Harry, who is visiting Romania for the first time, is being hosted in Miclosoara by Count Tibor Kalnoky in his elegant manor which dates back to the 16th century, the media reports said.
There was no confirmation from the British Royal Palace.
Prince Harry of Wales is spending the Easter weekend in a picturesque Transylvanian village in the heart of Romania
A descendant of an old noble family of Hungarian extraction, Tibor Kalnoky and his wife were among the guests at the wedding of Harry’s elder brother Prince William to Kate Middleton in April 2011.
The heir to the British throne, Prince Charles, has visited Romania about a dozen times over the past few years and is involved in organic agriculture projects in Transylvania, where he owns several properties.
A staunch protector of the Saxon villages in central Romania, Prince Charles has also supported vast restoration works in the medieval city of Sibiu.
Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez has returned to Cuba for more radiotherapy to treat a recurrence of his cancer.
Hugo Chavez announced his departure from Caracas in a Twitter message sent from the airport.
“Heading for Havana with faith in Resurrected Christ. We’ll keep living and keep winning!”
Hugo Chavez had surgery in February to remove a second tumor from his pelvic area.
The President told Venezuelans he was returning to Cuba for more treatment after an emotional plea for his life at an Easter mass.
Speaking through tears in his hometown of Barinas, Hugo Chavez asked Jesus to give him more time because he had “things left to do”.
“Give me your crown, Christ, give it to me, I will bleed, give me your cross, a hundred crosses, but give me life, because I still have things left to do for the [Venezuelan] people and for the homeland,” Hugo Chavez said during Thursday night’s mass.
He later said it had been “a spontaneous, sentimental thing” brought about by the presence of his family next to him at the mass.
“My mum gave me her hand with such tenderness, and Dad gave me his… and because of this, tears rolled down my face”, Hugo Chavez said.
Hugo Chavez told Venezuelans he was returning to Cuba for more treatment after an emotional plea for his life at an Easter mass
The exact nature of Hugo Chavez’s cancer has not been disclosed, fuelling rumors that his health may be worse than officially stated.
Hugo Chavez, who has been in power since 1999, has said that despite his health problems he is determined to win October’s presidential election.
Last year, he had surgery and four rounds of chemotherapy in Cuba, after a baseball-sized growth was detected in his pelvic region.
After the treatment he had said he was free from cancer, only to suffer a recurrence that required surgery in February.
Just hours before leaving for Havana, the Venezuelan leader unveiled a 32.25% increase in the minimum wage, to be introduced in two stages later this year.
“In the 1980s and 90s, the minimum wage was basically frozen, then inflation went through the roof… we’ve been working on this for several weeks,” Hugo Chavez said in a televised cabinet meeting.
Venezuela inflation is currently about 25% a year.
Details were also published of telephone calls Hugo Chavez had made to the leaders of Ecuador and Bolivia, as well as to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Hugo Chavez discussed the unrest in Syria, “especially the successful way the Syrian government had contained armed terrorist gangs… which were seeking in vain to impede the advance of political reforms pushed forward by the Assad government,” according to AP news agency.
At least 9,000 people have been killed, mostly by security forces, since an uprising broke out last year against Bashar al-Assad’s rule.
Relatives of some who died on the Titanic have set sail aboard of MS Balmoral to retrace the journey of the doomed liner to mark 100 years since the disaster.
MS Balmoral has left Southampton docks, retracing the route of the ill-fated cruise liner’s maiden voyage.
The ship, carrying 1,309 passengers – the same number as were on the Titanic – is due to reach the wreck site next weekend for a memorial ceremony.
The Titanic hit an iceberg on 15 April 1912 and sank, killing about 1,500.
The Balmoral left England’s south coast shortly after 14:45 GMT and will follow the Titanic’s exact route – via Cherbourg in north-west France and Cobh on the south coast of County Cork, Ireland – to the spot where the liner sank.
Passengers will gather for a service to be held at 02:20 GMT next Sunday – 15 April – to mark the moment of the sinking.
Some relatives were bringing wreaths of flowers and family artefacts in memory of those who died.
Passengers making the journey, who come from more than 20 countries, include relatives of survivors, authors, historians and people who are fascinated by the Titanic story.
They will eat meals from the Titanic’s original menu and attend lectures given by historians and experts.
Relatives of some who died on the Titanic have set sail aboard of MS Balmoral to retrace the journey of the doomed liner to mark 100 years since the disaster
Philip Littlejohn, grandson of survivor Alexander James Littlejohn and the only Titanic relative to have made the dive to the wreck site, said: “I’m sure my grandfather, a 1st Class Steward on RMS Titanic, would be proud to know his story will be shared with the passengers on this historic cruise.
“It will be an emotional moment when we are over the wreck site, where I dived in 2001, and where my grandfather left Titanic rowing Lifeboat 13.”
Jane Allen, whose great uncle Tom Pears died in the disaster, is among passengers who have paid up to £6,000 ($9,000) to join the commemorative voyage.
“I don’t think it’s ghoulish or macabre at all,” said Jane Allen, from Devon.
“I’ve been to the World War II and I cemeteries in various places across the world. I think it’s always important to remember.”
Peter Hill, 61, from the Isle of Man, echoed those sentiments, saying: “I think the cruise has been tastefully done. It’s not a cheap cruise by any means.”
The retired policeman who is making the journey with his wife, Lynda, also 61, said he had a personal link to the ship.
“My grandfather was a Lloyd’s underwriter of the ship and lost a lot of money when she sank. He was a very wealthy man and had to sell one of two farms to pay for the losses,” he said.
“I’m a big fan of the story and I have 38 books about it and it’s always been part of my family history.”
Carmel Bradburn, 55, a Briton now based in Adelaide, Australia, bought her partner Andreas Storic, 51, on the memorial cruise.
She said: “I’m fanatical about the Titanic. It’s an amazing story and I have been reading about it but I’m not so keen on the film. Just think we are doing this 100 years later.”
And her partner disagreed with the notion that the journey was “morbid”.
“Remembering those who died is not morbid,” he said.
From the wreck site, the Balmoral will go on to Nova Scotia, where some of the bodies of those who died are buried, and then onto New York City, the destination the Titanic never reached.
The Balmoral was chartered for the 12-night journey by Miles Morgan Travel.
Miles Morgan, managing director, said the company had sought to make the voyage “a sympathetic memorial to the passengers and crew who lost their lives”.
The Titanic hit an iceberg at 23:40 (ship’s time) on 14 April 1912, some 460 miles (740 km) from Newfoundland and took two-and-a-half hours to sink.
About 1,300 passengers and 900 crew members were on board the liner when it sank. They ranged from millionaires to poor emigrants.
About 713 people were rescued by RMS Carpathia.
In 1985, Dr. Robert Ballard discovered the wreck 2.5 miles (4 km) below the surface of the north Atlantic.
Anne Hathaway has admitted to cutting her daily food intake down to only 500 calories for her role in the forthcoming movie Les Miserables but she has also agreed to cut her hair.
Anne Hathaway, 29, who usually flaunts a thick mane of long brunette locks has trimmed her hair to barely one inch in length, in order to achieve the look of her character in Les Miserables.
The actress was pictured leaving London’s The Box nightclub in the early hours of Sunday morning with the newly cropped do.
Anne Hathaway looked especially gaunt as she left the venue with fiancé Adam Shulman and their friends.
As they hopped into a taxi she tried to conceal her fresh crop from onlookers who took a while to catch on to her identity.
Grabbing her head as she made her way home, Anne Hathaway is evidently still getting used to her short style.
Anne Hathaway has trimmed her hair to barely one inch in length, in order to achieve the look of her character in Les Miserables
Wearing a dark coat and blue jeans, as expected she appeared noticeably slimmer than usual as she has embarked on a hardcore diet for her part in the film.
Anne Hathaway plays Fantine, a struggling factory worker who is forced into prostitution to provide for her illegitimate child and ends up selling her hair for financial gain.
A film source told the Daily Mirror: “Anne is playing a destitute factory worker-come-lady of the night.
“Unfortunately, she only has 15 to 20 days to lose as much weight as possible – up to a stone-and-a-half – because she’s been filming the scenes showing her fit and healthy, almost slightly chubby.
“It’s not ideal but, as with any high-budget movie, there are strict time constraints.”
Anne Hathaway looked a far cry from the glamorous situations fans are used to seeing her in but the dramatic decision was all for the greater good.
While many stars opt to don a hairpiece to save their precious tresses, Anne Hathaway was clearly determined to be as authentic as possible for the musical motion picture.
Bobby Brown was recently charged with DUI and now the singer is making a special effort to be a good role model as he embarked on a family day out.
Bobby Brown, 43, showed off his gentler side as he walked hand in hand with his son Cassius and fiancée Alicia Etheridge at The Grove shopping centre in Los Angeles.
The singer stepped out to the celebrity-favored retail haven dressed casually in navy blue cargo trousers and a crisp white T-shirt.
Carrying a blue and pink shirt as well as some take out food in one hand on the sunny day in California, Bobby Brown took his little boy’s grasp in the other.
Bobby Brown showed off his gentler side as he walked hand in hand with his son Cassius and fiancée Alicia Etheridge at The Grove shopping centre in Los Angeles
The two-year-old clearly looks up to his father, who also has three other children, all with different mothers.
His siblings include, Landon, 25, LaPrincia, 21 and his daughter with the late singer Whitney Houston, Bobbi Kristina, 19.
Both charges are misdemeanors and could carry a fine of $1000 each as well as up to six months in jail as a maximum penalty.
Bobby Brown’s lawyers said: “Everyone is innocent until proven guilty and Mr. Brown was not driving erratically.
“He was speaking on his cell phone. Mr. Brown has not been convicted of anything associated with this incident.”
Whitney Houston’s autopsy report has revealed that large parts of her skin were burnt off from the scalding hot bath in which she was found.
The shocking report states that Whitney Houston had patches of “skin slippage” from the hot water burns on several parts of her body.
It is thought that Whitney Houston could have been so out of it that she did not realize, or feel, how hot the water was. The bath water was 33°C (93.5°F) six hours after she died, showing how incredibly hot it would have been when she first got into it.
Whitney Houston was found face down and unresponsive in about 13 inches of water on February 11 and passed away at the age of 48.
The startling revelations of how badly damaged her body is an indication as to how much her lifestyle took a toll on her, leading to her untimely death. Some scars were recent – others from years of neglect.
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s report shows that Whitney Houston had a perforated septum, likely to be from the large amounts of cocaine she consumed in her lifetime.
The singer also had scars and abrasions on her arms and legs and bruises on her shoulders and head.
Whitney Houston's autopsy report has revealed that large parts of her skin were burnt off from the scalding hot bath in which she was found
There were two scars under Whitney Houston’s breasts, believed to be from a breast augmentation procedure. It is also thought she had other cosmetic surgeries going by the marks on her stomach and upper thigh.
Whitney Houston was seen with blood dripping from her legs just a few days before she died after stumbling out of a nightclub in Los Angeles.
The autopsy report also showed that Whitney Houston was wearing a “maxillary dental prosthesis” and had 11 false teeth.
Her body was discovered face down in the bath tub, “her eyes were congested and there was a bloody purge coming from her nose”.
There was “superficial abrasions to the left side of her forehead and the bridge of her nose”. She also had cuts on her left arm, hand and shoulder.
It was a sordid end for the award-winning star, and officials insist there were absolutely no signs of foul play.
The report also confirms details of the drug paraphernalia found among Whitney Houston’s belongings.
There was a “spoon with a white crystal-like substance on it” and a “white powdery substance”, which was later tested and determined to be cocaine in the late singer’s hotel room.
The report, which gives a detailed description of the state of the Beverly Hilton hotel room when officials arrived, reads: “Located on the south portion of the counter was a small spoon with a white crystal-like substance in it and a rolled up piece of white paper, along with other miscellaneous items.”
“Located in the top drawer, in the north side of the counter were remnants of a white powdery substance, and a portable mirror on a base.”
Officials found more white powder on the base of the mirror.
The report also reveals the probable cause of death: “[Whitney Houston] possibly overdosed on a narcotic substance, prescription medications, over the counter medications and alcohol.”
It also notes that when officials discovered the body, Whitney Houston was wearing a brown wig “tightly attached to the hair”.
The wig was removed revealing a full head of wavy black hair with “no balding”.
Whitney Houston also had traces of marijuana in her system as well as Xanax (anxiety medication), Flexeril (muscle relaxer) and Benadryl (allergy medication).
The report also describes a plastic bag ripped open with pills spilling out, medication bottles and an ashtray with cigarette butts all over the place.
When Whitney Houston’s official cause of death was released in March her heart disease was mentioned, but the new detailed report also cites that she had a hole in her septum and that she was suffering from mild emphysema.
Kristy McCracken of the Beverly Hills Police Department also noticed an old needle puncture wound on Whitney Houston’s inner left elbow.
On the day she died, Whitney Houston complained of a sore throat, so she decided to take a bath in at her hotel room at the Beverly Hilton before getting ready for Clive Davis’ Pre-Grammy party.
60 Minutes veteran journalist Mike Wallace has died aged 93.
A spokesperson for CBS said Mike Wallace died on Saturday and had been in declining health in recent years.
Mike Wallace was one of the original hosts of 60 Minutes when it began in 1968.
He went on to interview the likes of Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X and Yasser Arafat before announcing his retirement in 2006.
However, Mike Wallace still continued to do the occasional report for the show, including interviewing Jack Kevorkian – the US doctor who claimed to have assisted more than 100 suicides – in 2007.
“He was one of the great pioneers in journalism,” anchor Bob Schieffer said during CBS’s morning news programme.
“We are all going to miss him.”
60 Minutes veteran journalist Mike Wallace has died aged 93
In almost 40 years on 60 Minutes, Mike Wallace worked on some 800 investigative reports.
Known for spending hours preparing for interviews, he was famed for his skeptical follow-up questioning.
He interviewed every US president since John F. Kennedy – except George W. Bush – and dozens of other world leaders such as Vladimir Putin, Ayatollah Khomeini and Deng Xiaoping.
A host of celebrities were also subjects including Janis Joplin, Hugh Hefner, Tina Turner, Salvador Dali and Barbra Streisand.
CBS’s Morley Safer paid tribute to the newsman, saying: “Wallace took to heart the old reporter’s pledge to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”
Mike Wallace is survived by his wife, Mary, son Chris and stepdaughter and stepson, Pauline and Eames.
North Korea has made the arrangements to put into position a long-range rocket for a controversial launch next week – amid reports it is also planning a nuclear test.
Pyongyang says the Unha-3 rocket, which it plans to launch between 12 and 16 April, will put a satellite into orbit.
But opponents of the move fear it is a disguised long-range missile test.
Meanwhile, South Korean officials say new satellite images suggest the North is preparing to carry out a third nuclear test.
North Korea has made the arrangements to put into position a long-range rocket for a controversial launch next week
The images show piles of earth and sand at the entrance of a tunnel at the Punggye-Ri site, where tests of a nuclear bomb were previously carried out in 2006 and 2009, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reports.
“Recent satellite images led us to conclude the North has been secretly digging a new underground tunnel in the nuclear test site… besides two others where the previous tests were conducted,” one unnamed official told the AFP news agency.
North Korea has been under close scrutiny by its neighbors and the international community since Kim Jong-Un became leader of the secretive state following the death of his father, Kim Jong-Il, in December 2011.
Pyongyang had agreed in February to a partial freeze in nuclear activities and a missile test moratorium in return for US food aid. But the deal was put on hold last month after the North announced its rocket launch plans.
Foreign journalists were taken by train to the Sohae satellite station at Tongchang-Ri, on the country’s north-west coast, to see for themselves the final preparations for the rocket launch.
All three stages of the rocket were visibly in position at the launch pad, an Associated Press reporter said from the scene.
Station manager Jang Myong-Jim told reporters that preparations were on track and fueling would begin soon, without giving exact timings.
Jang Myong-Jim said the 100 kg (220 pound) satellite is designed to send back images and information that will be used for weather forecasts as well as surveys of North Korea’s natural resources, the AP reports.
Pyongyang has previously said the launch, for “peaceful purposes”, is to mark the centennial of the birth of founding leader Kim Il-Sung.
But the United States and North Korea’s neighbors say it contravenes UN resolutions that were imposed after a similar launch in April 2009.
Japan and South Korea have warned they will shoot the rocket down if it strays into their territory.
Pope Benedict XVI has delivered his traditional Urbi et Orbi (To the City and the World) Easter message of peace in front of tens of thousands of pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
Pope Benedict urged Syria’s government to end the bloody year-long conflict, and spoke of the trouble in Nigeria and Mali.
At a Mass on Saturday, the Pope warned that mankind is “groping in the darkness, unable to distinguish good from evil”.
Earlier, the Vatican confirmed Pope Benedict would be travelling to Lebanon for a three-day visit in September.
“May the risen Christ grant hope to the Middle East and enable all the ethnic, cultural and religious groups in that region to work together to advance the common good and respect for human rights,” said Pope Benedict during his traditional Easter message.
“Particularly in Syria, may there be an end to bloodshed and an immediate commitment to the path of respect, dialogue and reconciliation, as called for by the international community.”
Pope Benedict voiced hope that the “many refugees” currently in need of humanitarian assistance “find the acceptance and solidarity capable of relieving their dreadful sufferings”.
Pope Benedict XVI has delivered his traditional Urbi et Orbi Easter message of peace in front of pilgrims in St. Peter's Square in Rome
For the West African nation of Mali, which was plunged into political crisis after army officers seized power in a coup two weeks ago, he said “may the glorious Christ grant peace and stability”.
And for Nigeria, which has been hit by inter-religious and ethnic violence, “may the joy of Easter grant the strength needed to take up anew the building of a society which is peaceful and respectful of the religious freedom of its citizens”.
However, as he spoke, reports were coming in of a deadly car bombing close to a church in the Nigerian city of Kaduna.
The theme of the Saturday evening vigil was the contrast between darkness and light.
The service was brought forward from its traditional midnight start in order not to tax the 84-year-old’s strength – and he was wheeled on a raised mobile platform along the central nave of a darkened St Peter’s Basilica carrying a single lighted candle, symbolizing the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Gradually, as other believers lit their individual candles from a single flame, St. Peter’s was flooded with light.
During the Mass, the Pope also baptized eight new converts by pouring water over their bowed heads.
The pontiff’s official schedule – which recently saw him return from visits to Cuba and Mexico – is taking a toll, our correspondent says.
Pope Benedict’s elder brother in Germany has said that the pontiff- who turns 85 later this month – intends to cut back on foreign travel, as it wears him out.
However, the Vatican has confirmed the Pope has accepted an invitation by religious leaders in Lebanon to visit the country for three-days in September.
Easter is one of the most joyous celebrations in the Christian calendar, marking the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
A sequel to Waiting to Exhale, Whitney Houston’s 1995 hit, may be in the works, despite the star’s death.
Based on a Terry McMillan novel, the movie starred Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon and Loretta Devine as four girlfriends dealing with bad relationships.
Before her death, Whitney Houston had completed her first film since the 1996 holiday comedy The Preacher’s Wife. Her last movie, called Sparkle, is a remake of a 1976 film about a girl group, and also stars Jordin Sparks.
There was talk of Whitney Houston continuing her transition back to film with a Waiting to Exhale sequel, but in the event of her drug-related death, all possible plans were halted.
A sequel to Waiting to Exhale, Whitney Houston's 1995 hit, may be in the works, despite the star's death
However, in a recent interview with Good Day LA, co-star Loretta Devine said that development may continue without Whitney Houston, adding: “Now the focus would be a tribute to her, which would be wonderful. We don’t know if they’re going to try to introduce a new character or pull her character out all together.
“So it’s a lot of rewrites that they’ll have to go through, so I don’t know if it’s going to happen as soon as we thought it would happen.”
There has been talk of a remake of another Whitney Houston movie, the highly successful thriller The Bodyguard. Singer Rihanna has ruled out a role in the film, though she has expressed interest in playing Whitney Houston in a possible biopic.
People’s willpower is obviously tested at Easter, when temptation comes in abundance and is often coated in chocolate, but a new book suggests that those who exercise greater self-control are those who have greater success in life.
British psychologist Roy Baumeister seems to cut a good example of self-regulation.
He is sharply dressed, immaculately groomed and his calm, well-punctuated speech betrays a quiet confidence.
“You might think that people with really strong self-control struggle through this grim existence, forcing themselves constantly to do the right thing,” Roy Baumeister says.
“But that’s not correct. What it seems is that people with good self-control stay out of trouble and minimize problems.”
In his book Willpower: Rediscovering our greatest strength, co-written by journalist John Tierney, Roy Baumeister claims that willpower – the ability to control impulses and thoughts, and persevere with tasks – is a limited resource which is depleted every time we successfully resist temptation.
Like a muscle it gets tired but like a muscle it can be exercised to make it stronger.
Roy Baumeister’s work builds on the famous marshmallow tests conducted at Stanford University 40 years ago, involving 300 four and five-year-olds.
They could have one marshmallow immediately or two marshmallows in 15 minutes time. They were left alone with the treat and observed.
A small number of the children took the treat immediately, most held back for about three minutes but about one third of the children managed to wait the full 15 minutes. Those who waited longer for the marshmallow seemed to do better in school, scored higher in exams and were more likely to go on to university. They also tended to be healthier and more popular.
In his book Willpower. Rediscovering our greatest strength Roy Baumeister claims that willpower is a limited resource which is depleted every time we successfully resist temptation
Roy Baumeister subscribes heavily to this theory and goes further to try to define what exactly willpower is.
He believes willpower is a physiological resource. Like energy it is a limited reserve that is depleted as the day goes on. But it can be exercised to make it stronger, much like a muscle.
Roy Baumeister coined the phrase “ego depletion” to describe his theory and ran a series of experiments to prove it.
The tests suggested that after a task that required the resistance of temptation, such as saying no to chocolate, people were less likely to perform a different task that required willpower, such as solving a puzzle.
But just like any other muscle, Roy Baumeister says willpower can be improved through training.
“We have taken adults who are already socialized and with a couple of weeks of exercises, we have improved their will power and self-control.”
Roy Baumeister asked people who were right-handed to use their left hand for every day exercises like brushing their teeth, controlling a computer mouse eating or opening a door.
He tested their level of ego depletion by asking them solve a series of anagrams. Before and after the two-week exercise, those who did the exercises seemed to show a marked improvement in anagram-solving.
“Habitual behaviour runs on automatic pilot,” says Roy Baumeister.
“To increase willpower, you need to override the automatic pilot and take charge with deliberate control.”
Getting people to sit up straight for two weeks, to speak only in full sentences or to avoid swearing seemed to have a similar effect. Roy Baumeister also found in other tests that willpower can be boosted by glucose. He called this “glucose resource theory”.
This has gained legitimacy among psychologists – glucose resource theory has been cited over 1,000 times in scientific papers. But it has also attracted some notable criticism.
“It’s almost like there is a self-fulfilling process here,” says Greg Walton, part of a team at Stanford University which has found evidence to debunk Roy Baumeister’s theory.
“The more that people believe that willpower is a limited physiological resource the easier it is to find ostensible evidence that that is the case.”
If Roy Baumeister’s resource theory is flawed, then what exactly is willpower? Michael Inzlicht, a psychologist at Toronto University argues for a more nuanced understanding of the processes behind self-control.
“It’s clear that consuming glucose can improve self-control,” he says.
“But we also know that being in a happy mood improves willpower. Being given a choice improves willpower and paying attention can improve willpower.”
“Glucose does seem to improve things, but this does not mean that glucose is the resource that underlies self-control.”
Michael Inzlicht believes glucose may have a psychological rather than a physical effect. But he doesn’t entirely disagree with Roy Baumeister’s muscle metaphor.
“I think willpower can be improved and exercising it seems like a promising way to do this,” he says.
Though he fully supports the theory of exercising to increase willpower, Michael Inzlicht believes Roy Baumeister’s assertions could be premature.
President Asif Ali Zardari has arrived in India for the first visit there by a Pakistani head of state for seven years.
Asif Ali Zardari was met at Delhi’s Palam air force base by India’s parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal.
Pakistani president is having lunch with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, before travelling to an important Muslim shrine in Rajasthan.
It is hoped the meeting could boost economic ties between the two nations.
Asif Ali Zardari is officially coming for private religious reasons, to visit the shrine of Sufi saint Moinudin Chishti in Ajmer, 350 kilometres (220 miles) southwest of Delhi.
However, his Interior Minister Rehman Malik and son and political heir Bilawal Bhutto Zardari are reportedly among an entourage of at least 25 people who have travelled with him.
President Asif Ali Zardari has arrived in India for the first visit there by a Pakistani head of state for seven years
Asif Ali Zardari was driven from the air base to the Indian prime minister’s residence amid tight security.
The two men were to meet privately before sitting down for lunch.
The focus of their talks is likely to be on issues that they can reach agreement on, such as trade.
One Indian government source told Reuters news agency the “prime minister will talk only about issues related to trade, education and culture this time”.
Relations between Pakistan and India have been gradually improving since peace talks were derailed after the Mumbai attacks in 2008.
Asif Ali Zardari recently backed the lifting of trade restrictions on India, and Pakistan is also talking of dropping a restrictive list of what products it will buy from India.
But tensions remain over more sensitive issues, such as the disputed region of Kashmir, and Pakistani militant activity against India.
Only this week, India again called for Pakistan to hand over Hafiz Saeed, the man it alleges planned the Mumbai attacks, after Washington announced a $10 million bounty for his arrest.
Pakistan has again refused, asking to see proof for the allegations.
The last time a Pakistani leader met Manmohan Singh was in 2005 when then Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf happened to be at the same cricket match as the Indian prime minister in Delhi.
The shrine of Sufi saint Moinudin Chishti is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the region, receiving a constant flow of devotees.
The death toll of Kashmir avalanche has risen to 135, the Pakistan army has said.
Spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said 124 Pakistani soldiers and 11 civilians were missing after 21 m (70 ft) of snow engulfed a military camp near the Siachen Glacier on Saturday.
He had earlier said that 100 soldiers and 11 civilians were missing.
Rescuers have yet to find any survivors.
Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said the avalanche had covered an area of 1 sq km (0.39 sq m).
The search was called off late on Saturday due to darkness and poor weather, but is set to resume early on Sunday.
Hundreds of troops, plus sniffer dogs and helicopters are involved in the rescue operation.
The death toll of Kashmir avalanche has risen to 135
In a statement, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed shock at the disaster, but said it “in no way would undermine the high morale of soldiers and officers.”
The camp, located 15,000 ft (4,572 m) above sea level in Kashmir’s Gayari district, near the border with India, was engulfed by snow at around 06:00 a.m. local time.
Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas earlier described the avalanche as “very massive”.
He also warned it could take several days to complete the rescue operation, which was unprecedented in scale for such a location, where temperatures can plunge to minus 70 Celsius.
As of yet, there has been no communication with any of the missing soldiers, who were from the Northern Light Infantry regiment, which is trained in mountain operations.
The region is prone to avalanches, the major general said, although they typically occur in “forward bases” at higher altitude, where only 10 or 20 troops are located.
One officer who had been stationed at the base in 2003 said he could not “comprehend how an avalanche can reach that place”.
“It was supposed to be safe,” he told the Associated Press.
A previous avalanche in the area killed 24 Pakistani troops in 2010 – believed to be the heaviest loss of life in such an incident until now.
Kashmir has been partitioned between India and Pakistan since 1947.
Failure to agree on the status of the territory by diplomatic means has twice brought India and Pakistan to war.
The Siachen glacier is known as the world’s highest battlefield, and soldiers have been deployed at elevations of up to 6,700 m (22,000 feet).
However, more soldiers have died from the harsh weather conditions there than in combat.
Anonymous hacking group is alleged to have disrupted access to the UK Home Office website after an apparent cyber attack in protest against government surveillance plans.
A message on the Home Office website said the page was currently unavailable “due to a high volume of traffic”, suggesting a denial of service attack had been perpetrated.
A message on Twitter claiming to be from Anonymous, a loosely organized group of hackers who promote access to free speech, information and transparency, said the action was “for [the Home Office’s] draconian surveillance proposals”.
However, another message claimed it was over extradition rules from the UK to the U.S.
One tweet claiming to be from Anonymous said: “You should not give UK citizens to foreign countries without evidence. If an offence happened in the UK, so should the trial.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “We are aware of some reports that the Home Office website may be the subject of an online protest. We have put all potential measures in place and will be monitoring the situation very closely.”
Anonymous hacking group is alleged to have disrupted access to the UK Home Office website
The Home Office added that if a successful denial of service attempt did occur, it would “liaise with the technical team and update as necessary”.
A denial of service attack prevents a website from functioning properly, sometimes by swamping it with more traffic than it can handle. Such an action was believed to have been responsible for crashing the Home Office site.
The apparent attack came after it emerged last week that the British government was planning a massive expansion of its powers to monitor the email exchanges and website visits of every person in the UK.
Under legislation expected in next month’s Queen’s Speech, internet companies will be instructed to install hardware enabling GCHQ – the government’s electronic “listening” agency – to examine “on demand” any phone call made, text message and email sent, and website accessed, in “real time” without a warrant.
Ministers have faced a backlash over the plans, with senior MPs from both coalition parties, as well as civil liberties groups, lining up to denounce it.
Just days ago China felt the effects of Anonymous after the hacking group claimed it had brought down several government websites in a protest against the country’s internet restrictions.
The sites included government bureaus in several Chinese cities, including Chengdu, a provincial capital in southwest China.
In a message left on one of the sites the hackers said they did not agree with blocking information from the public.
Part of it read in English: “Dear Chinese government, you are in infallible, today websites are hacked, tomorrow it will be your vile regime that will fall.”
Included in the message were instructions for Chinese people on how to get around the restrictions imposed by their government.
Chinese officials block citizens from seeing social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and information on politically sensitive topics.
Authorities in Tulsa, Oklahoma, have launched a manhunt after a series of shootings which police say may have been hate crimes.
Five attacks took place within hours of each other on Friday, killing three and critically wounding two others, within a three-mile (5 km) radius.
All the victims were black and police say there are searching for a white male in connection to the attacks.
Community leaders have tried to calm fears of further attacks.
The police said they were searching for a white man driving a white pick-up truck, who was seen in the area of three of the shootings.
The crimes have shocked people living in a relatively quiet part of north Tulsa, and that there is a fear that the killer may strike again.
Authorities in Tulsa, Oklahoma, have launched a manhunt after a series of shootings which police say may have been hate crimes
Detectives are hoping for people to help them, but that many in the community do not trust the police.
Tulsa police chief Chuck Jordan said they were investigating whether the attacks were hate crimes, after investigators earlier said the incidents were linked.
The FBI has joined a task force set up to investigate the killings, he said.
Jack Henderson, a city councilor for the district where the attacks occurred, urged people to come forward with information.
“This is Tulsa, Oklahoma. We should have the ability to stand out on your porch anytime, day or night, that you want to, to walk down the street, day or night.
“And the only way that this person is going to be brought to justice is we need some leads.”
A 49-year-old was the first killed at about 01:00 a.m. local time on Friday.
Minutes later the gunman approached two other men and asked for directions before shooting them. They survived but later two more were shot dead nearby.
“We’re all nervous,” said one resident, 52-year-old Renaldo Works.
“I’ve got a 15-year-old, and I’m not going to let him out late. People are scared. We need facts.”
“You don’t want to be a prisoner in your own home,” he said.
The best-selling shampoo in the world is Head & Shoulders with about 110 bottles of the anti-dandruff formula sold every minute and 29 million a year. Yet the medicated shampoo market’s size is hardly surprising: at some point, half of us will suffer the unsightly, sometimes uncomfortable condition.
But what causes dandruff? Which of the many products available should you use? And what about theories that these shampoos are bad for the hair, and actually promote flakes? Here experts answer some key questions about problem scalps .
What is dandruff?
Many of us will have looked down in horror at a fine sprinkling of white flakes on the shoulder of a dark top. But many forms of dandruff do not shed.
Dandruff is characterized by the formation of fine, white or greyish loose skin scales. The epidermis (outer layer of skin) constantly changes and skin cells renew themselves all the time. The cells begin to grow from the base layer deeper in the skin and are gradually pushed to the surface, before coming away from the scalp.
Dandruff occurs when skin cells form too fast, meaning more skin cells are shed and become clumps that can be seen by the naked eye.
“This increased epidermal turnover may be caused or exacerbated by abnormally high levels of a fungus called malassezia globosa, which is a type of yeast and is always found on the scalp, even in those without dandruff,” says British trichologist Tony Maleedy.
Des Tobin, Professor of Cell Biology at the University of Bradford, UK, agrees: “This yeast is strongly implicated in dandruff, though the nature of this relationship between the two isn’t completely clear.
“It may introduce an inflammatory immune response in some people because the yeast produces enzymes capable of causing the scalp’s surface cells to increase their shedding rate.”
Consultant dermatologist Dr. Russell Emerson, at The Hove Skin Clinic, says: “The medical name for dandruff is seborrhoeic dermatitis and in some it can also affect the face.
“We often see dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis as a genetic condition in families, particularly if it is severe.
“Those with greasy skin types are most at risk because the yeast likes to grow in sebum.”
What type of dandruff do I have?
There are variations in the severity and form of the condition.
“With some types of dandruff the flakes leave the scalp easily. In other cases, they adhere to the scalp and build up to form a thick covering. With simpler forms of dandruff the scalp is usually a normal color,” says Tony Maleedy. “However, with the more severe forms of the condition there’s an underlying inflammation that renders scalp tissues more tender and sensitive than with simple dandruff.”
Other factors such as stress or diet may also trigger the condition.
“This is because stress increases sebum production,” says Dr. Russell Emerson. “The sebum feeds the yeast.”
Does dandruff shampoo work?
“If the underlying cause isn’t treated properly, the scales will quickly return,” says Tony Maleedy.
“Treatments including ingredients such as coal tar, salicylic acid [Neutrogena T-Gel has both] and selenium sulphide [Selsun Blue] can be considered a little dated compared to the more sophisticated antimicrobials of recent years.”
These work by softening the scales so they can be washed away. However, they have been superseded in effectiveness by shampoos that contain drugs which control the level of micro-organisms on the scalp. These newer options are also less harsh, meaning they can be used often.
The best-selling shampoo in the world is Head & Shoulders with about 110 bottles of the anti-dandruff formula sold every minute
Marilyn Sherlock, of The Institute of Trichologists, echoes this advice.
“There are medications that will control this condition,” she says.
“Zinc pyrithione [found in Head & Shoulders, Pantene and chemist own brands] is one of the most common treatments for this condition.”
“Use Head & Shoulders daily for a fortnight,” says Dr. Russel Emerson.
“Then use it two to three times a week as a maintenance treatment.”
If once you start using it less regularly, the dandruff returns, he recommends trying shampoos with ketoconazole.
“Such products [Nizoral, and an own brand at Boots] should be used no more than twice a week between regular shampoos.”
More regular use of ketoconazole may cause skin irritation. If you have tried these two methods and your dandruff persists, visit your GP, who can refer you to a dermatologist. Steroid lotions or creams and antifungal tablets are usually successful in persistent cases.
For facial seborrhoeic dermatitis, a GP may prescribe a topical anti-fungal cream or a combination of a low-strength topical steroid with Daktacort, an anti-fungal.
“Should you suffer from severe dandruff for more than six weeks that doesn’t respond to anti-dandruff shampoos, see your GP,” says Dr. Russell Emerson.
“It may be a more serious problem, such as psoriasis.”
Does washing make it worse?
Some say using anti-dandruff shampoos exacerbates the condition, or that once you start using them you can’t stop as the scalp becomes reliant on the medication.
“This is a myth,” says Dr. Russell Emerson.
“The shampoo has a direct chemical effect on the yeast, but it grows back so you need to maintain use.”
So it’s about controlling the condition, rather than curing it.
Many women are turned off by some formulas as they have a reputation for stripping color from the hair. Again, this is a myth.
Tony Maleedy says: “It may have been true in the past but this had more to do with the basic cleaning agents used. Most leading brands have improved formulations.”
Are there natural options?
“Dandruff is caused by fungi, so treating topically with a hair rinse containing loose-leaf rosemary and tea-tree oil may help,” says medical herbalist Lucy Stephens, from London’s Reva Clinic.
“Rosemary contains anti-fungal essential oils and tea-tree oil has been shown to have anti-fungal activity against a wide range of fungi. Topical aloe-vera gel has also shown improvement in seborrhoeic dermatitis due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Apply it topically at night and rinse in the morning.”
Anti-itch creams such as La Roche Posay Lipikar Baume AP, which contains shea butter and canola oil, can also help.
“Coal-tar shampoo is capable of slowing down the epidermal turnover, which is why it has been used in the treatment of psoriasis and other skin disorders,” says Tony Maleedy.
“Juniper tar [a tree tar] is more effective than coal tar and tends to be used in more modern treatments.”
Antioxidants enhance the immune system’s defense against the diseases caused by free radicals. They include Vitamins A, C and E and selenium, and we have been told they may help prevent cancer, heart disease and even such neurological conditions as Alzheimer’s.
Naturally occurring chemicals, antioxidants are found in fruits and juices, made into supplements, and even added to make-up.
But adding extra antioxidants to our diet gives no benefit. You can eat as many blueberries – or whatever the antioxidant-containing food du jour is – as you like and it won’t stop you getting these illnesses. And loading up with supplements may be bad for your health.
Some antioxidants are produced by the body and some by plants, and so they can be derived from the diet. Their job is to combat free radicals – highly reactive molecules formed as a natural by-product of cellular activity. Free radicals are also created by exposure to cigarette smoke, strong sunlight, and breathing in pollution.
These aggressive chemicals present a constant threat to cells and DNA. We know they can lead to cell damage, cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular problems. Free radicals have also been implicated in everything from strokes to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Antioxidants stop the chain reactions triggered by free radicals that can damage and destroy cells. So it may seem entirely reasonable that it would be a good thing to eat and drink more antioxidants to boost the supply – or even rub them into your skin. But this is by no means the case.
You might have seen some antioxidant- containing products labeled with a number, usually in the thousands. This is the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) number.
It compares the antioxidant with a standard substance called trolox – itself an antioxidant. Cranberries, for example, have an ORAC level of 8,983, which is related to the number of molecules of trolox that would have the same antioxidant strength. Taken in isolation, the number is pretty meaningless, but it makes it possible to compare different foods. So theoretically, the higher the ORAC number, the better the food.
Although there is evidence that antioxidants may have an effect on cancers, much of it is based on experiments on free radicals in cells cultured outside the body, in labs
In reality, beyond a certain point, there is no benefit. In 2008, a study of nearly 15,000 men showed no benefits from Vitamin C and E supplements. There is no recommended daily amount of antioxidant consumption. And although there is evidence that antioxidants may have an effect on cancers, much of it is based on experiments on free radicals in cells cultured outside the body, in labs.
So if antioxidants are good for us, why doesn’t eating more of them have an even more beneficial effect? We know that people with poor diets are more prone to a host of diseases, and that those who eat a balanced diet with at least five fruits and vegetables a day, take exercise, and other very mundane things such as that, have the best chance of not becoming ill. But trials where people have consumed higher than usual levels of antioxidants by taking supplements have found that, if anything, they have a negative impact on health.
A Cochrane Review published last month, which looked at the results of hundreds of individual studies, found that current evidence does not support the use of antioxidant supplements in the general population or in patients with various diseases.
And when the review looked at the mortality rate over 78 randomized clinical trialsfor a range of conditions and using various antioxidants, those consuming antioxidants were 1.03 times more likely to die early.
Another clinical trial last month showed that antioxidant supplements don’t slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s. Two 1994 clinical studies showed a possible increase in lung cancer when taking antioxidants.
Almost all things are poisonous in large enough quantities – even water, though you would have to drink an awful lot to kill you. Similarly, the amounts of antioxidants found in foods are relatively small, so it would be difficult to overdose. Fruit has plenty of other benefits – vitamins that are crucial for healthy functioning and fibre for good digestion, but, like everything, you can consume too much. Excessive consumption may cause damage to the enamel of the teeth or stomach problems.
It is only the excessive consumption of antioxidants through unnecessary diet supplements that could cause any concern.
Using antioxidants on the skin, rather than eating them, may have benefits. Clinical trials have shown that they provide considerable protection against the formation of free radicals in the outer layers of skin when added to sunscreens.
How can we avoid cancer, heart disease, diabetes and the like? Don’t smoke, don’t drink to excess, eat a sensible, balanced diet, including a good mix of fruit and vegetables, and don’t get fat. It’s boring, but true. We know for a fact that the big killer diseases are caused by unhealthy lifestyles.
It would be lovely if eating blueberries or popcorn would somehow counteract a lifetime of abuse, but it’s just not going to happen. And no matter what you do, you can get ill anyway.
Janet Jackson looks confident and happy after Nutrisystem weight loss programme helped her shed the pounds.
Janet Jackson, 45, who has battled the bulge over the years, is in incredible shape in the promo snap from her Nutrisystem ad.
The sister of the late megastar Michael Jackson shows off her figure in a tight orange dress and sky high Louboutin heels.
Janet Jackson is yet to reveal how much weight she has lost – but a sneak peek of the ad has been released.
Newly-slim Janet Jackson proclaims in the commercial: “This is what success looks like,” before going on to describe the Nutrisystem plan, based on eating low glycemic foods which leave you feeling full for longer.
Janet Jackson looks confident and happy after Nutrisystem weight loss programme helped her shed the pounds
While she was once revered for her incredibly toned abs, Janet Jackson’s weight has yo-yoed over the years.
Back in 2006 the singer tipped the scales at 180 lbs before slimming down.
However, following the death of her brother Michael in 2009, Janet Jackson started to pile on the pounds.
Janet Jackson is the latest celeb to use Nutrisystem to fight the flab, with Marie Osmond having previously shed 50 lbs on the programme.
The singer documented her weight struggle in her 2011 tell-all book True You: A Journey to Finding and Loving Yourself in which she described herself as an “emotional eater” with serious body image issues.
Janet Jackson’s ad will premiere in full next Monday.
Wall Street analysts have predicted that Apple will become the world’s first trillion-dollar company when its shares top $1,000 each.
Apple’s shares were worth $633.38 last week as its stock price rose above Google’s for the first time.
Brian White, of Topeka Capital Markets, then claimed Apple’s sky-high share price will hit four figures within 12 months – making the company worth $1trillion.
He said in his report: “Apple fever is spreading like a wildfire around the world.”
Gene Munster, of Piper Jaffray, followed that up by claiming Apple stock will hit $1,000 – but by 2014.
Apple, based in Cupertino, California, is already the most valuable company in the world currently valued at $590.82 billion.
Wall Street analysts have predicted that Apple will become the world's first trillion-dollar company when its shares top $1,000 each
Just a year ago the shares were changing hands at $341. In January Apple revealed it had more than doubled its profits to $13.06billion, compared with $6billion for the same quarter in 2010.
That was driven by record sales of 37.04 million iPhones in the final quarter of 2011, 128% up on the previous year.
Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO who took over from the late co-founder Steve Jobs, said: “We could have sold more if we’d had more supply. We could not be happier.”
Apple also sold a record 15.43 million iPads over the quarter, more than double the number of a year ago.
Research group Gartner also said the company overtook Samsung as the world’s top smartphone maker last quarter.
Apple’s growth is expected to be driven by sales in China, where January’s launch of the iPhone 4S triggered a near riot in Beijing.
Earlier this year Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty predicted Apple could sell 40 million iPhones in China this year.
Apple is also expected to move into the TV market after the launch of its set-top box Apple TV.
In his report, Gene Muster said: “The key risk to the Apple story is pace of innovation.
“While we have not seen anything to make us believe innovation will slow, it is the fundamental barrier that stands between shares at $600 and at $1,000.
“Apple has won the ecosystem and interface war, and must continue to innovate around its leadership position to grow the business.
“Going forward, consumer interest in owning future Apple products is a key metric to measuring Apple’s pace of innovation.”
