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MH17 passenger found wearing oxygen mask

Diane A. Wade
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MH17 passenger found wearing oxygen mask

One of the 298 people killed in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine was found wearing an oxygen mask, Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans has said.

Frans Timmermans indicated that not everybody on board had died instantly when the plane was hit by a missile.

According to an initial report, flight MH17 broke up in mid-air after being pierced by objects at high velocity.

Frans Timmermans has now said he regrets the remark and upsetting families.

“The last thing I want is to add to their suffering in any way,” he said in a government statement released hours after he made the comment on the Pauw talk show on Dutch TV.

“I shouldn’t have said it.”

The Dutch public prosecutor has confirmed that an oxygen mask was found, although a spokesman said it was around the passenger’s neck rather than their mouth. It has been secured with elastic and tested for DNA and fingerprints.

One of the 298 people killed in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine was found wearing an oxygen mask
One of the 298 people killed in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine was found wearing an oxygen mask (photo Getty Images)

The plane had been flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on July 17 when it went down over rebel-held territory. Pro-Russian separatist leaders deny shooting it down with a missile.

Although 196 of the passengers were Dutch, the passenger with the oxygen mask was not, the prosecutor said on October 9. Dutch media said the victim in question was an Australian and the family had been informed about the development.

None of the other victims was wearing an oxygen mask, the public prosecutor added. The mask was from a Boeing 777 plane, but it was unknown how and when it had been put on.

Frans Timmermans is seen as one of the big hitters in the Dutch government.

He is due to leave his post shortly as foreign minister to take up a post as European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s right-hand man.

He mentioned the oxygen mask during an interview with Jeroen Pauw, in which he was taken to task for an emotive speech he gave to the UN four days after flight MH17 was downed on July 17.

In his address to the Security Council, Frans Timmermans imagined the horror felt by the passengers “when they knew the plane was going down” and wondered whether they had looked each other in the eyes “one final time, in an unarticulated goodbye”.

He acknowledged that those on board would not have seen the missile hit the plane.

“But do you know that someone was found with an oxygen mask on their mouth – and so they had the time to put it on?” Frans Timmermans said.

He went on to say that nothing could be ruled out about the 298 victims’ final moments.

The official inquiry into the MH17 disaster had not made any mention of an oxygen mask being found on one of the victims.

However, several experts concluded that the plane would have disintegrated too quickly for the passengers to have known anything about it.

Victims’ families, angry that they had not been told about the oxygen mask before, were told by prosecutors that an inquiry was still being carried out and no conclusions had been drawn.

Although investigators were unable to visit the crash site because of fighting in the area, their initial report pieced together photographic evidence of the wreckage as well as cockpit and air traffic control data.

They said it pointed to “an in-flight break up” and added there was “no evidence of technical or human error”.

Malaysia Airlines plane was hit while flying at 33,000ft (10,000m) and debris was found over a wide area of eastern Ukrainian territory held by pro-Russian rebels.

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Shaw shooting: Off-duty cop shots dead unarmed black teenager

Nancy Clayson
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Shaw shooting: Off-duty cop shots dead unarmed black teenager

Another black teenager has been shot dead by an off-duty police officer in St Louis, Missouri, leading to angry demonstrations on the streets.

The white officer was on patrol for a private security company when he exchanged fire with an 18-year-old after a chase, say police.

The officer fired 17 shots at the teenager, police added.

Two months ago a fatal shooting in the nearby suburb of Ferguson sparked weeks of unrest and international headlines.

Michael Brown, 18, was unarmed when he was killed by a white officer, who could face criminal charges.

Angry crowds on Shaw streets after an off-duty police officer fatally shot a black teenager
Angry crowds on Shaw streets after an off-duty police officer fatally shot a black teenager (photo AP)

The latest incident began when the officer, dressed in his city police uniform, spotted three men running away from him in Shaw neighborhood, says St Louis Police Chief Colonel Sam Dotson.

The 32-year-old officer thought one of the men was carrying a weapon so chased him and a confrontation followed.

During the altercation, the man fired at the officer, who returned fire and killed him, said Sam Dotson.

Ballistic evidence suggests the man fired three rounds at the officer before his weapon jammed, and a gun was recovered from the scene, he added.

The officer, who was not injured, fired 17 shots, said Sam Dotson.

“An investigation will decide if the officer’s behavior was appropriate,” he said at a news conference in the early hours of Thursday, October 9.

Neither man has been named.

Hours after the shooting, a crowd gathered at the scene, with some shouting “hands up, don’t shoot”, in reference to the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a white policeman on August 9.

Some police cars were damaged but there were no arrests.

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Patrick Modiano wins Nobel Prize in Literature 2014

Sonia Pantiss
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Patrick Modiano wins Nobel Prize in Literature 2014

French writer Patrick Modiano has won the Nobel Prize in literature for 2014.

The Nobel Academy described the historical author, whose work has often focused on the Nazi occupation of France, as “a Marcel Proust of our time”.

The award – presented to a living writer – is worth 8 million kronor ($1.1 million).

Previous winners include literary giants such as Rudyard Kipling, Toni Morrison and Ernest Hemingway.

Patrick Modiano, 69, beat bookies’ favorites Japanese writer Haruki Murakami and Kenyan novelist, poet and playwright Ngugi wa Thiong’o. The last French writer to win the prize was Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio in 2008.

The academy said the award was “for the art of memory with which he has evoked the most ungraspable human destinies and uncovered the life-world of the occupation”.

“This is someone who has written many books that echo off each other… that are about memory, identity and aspiration,” Peter Englund, the academy’s permanent secretary said.

French PM Manuel Valls, quoted by Reuters news agency, said Patrick Modiano was “undoubtedly one of the greatest writers” of recent years.

“This is well-deserved for a writer who is moreover discreet, as is much of his excellent work.”

Patrick Modiano was born in Boulogne-Billancourt, a suburb of Paris, to a businessman father and an actress mother.

French writer Patrick Modiano has won the Nobel Prize in literature for 2014
French writer Patrick Modiano has won the Nobel Prize in literature for 2014

He studied at Lycee Henri-IV in Paris, where his geometry teacher was Raymond Queneau, a writer who was to prove a major influence.

Much of Patrick Modiano’s work looked at the Vichy regime in occupied France during World War 2, particularly the part it played in the deportation of Jews to concentration camps.

Patrick Modiano’s debut novel, La Place de l’Etoile, was published in 1968 but, more than 40 years later, has yet to be translated into English.

His most recent novel is Pour que tu ne te perdes pas dans le quartier (2014).

Patrick Modiano also worked with film director Louis Malle on the screenplay of Lacombe Lucien (1974), a feature film about a teenage boy during the German occupation of France.

His sixth novel, Missing Person (French title: Rue des boutiques obscures), won the French literary accolade the Prix Goncourt in 1978.

Other prizes include Grand prix du roman de l’Academie francaise in 1972 and the 2010 prix mondial Cino Del Duca by the Institut de France for lifetime achievement.

In 2012, Patrick Modiano won the Austrian State Prize for European Literature.

Patrick Modiano, who lives in Paris, rarely give interviews. The Nobel Academy said it had been unable to tell the author the news before the announcement.

A total 111 individuals have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature between 1901 and 2014.

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Finding Economical and Safe Homes for Your Family

Clyde K. Valle
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Finding Economical and Safe Homes for Your Family

The Indian construction industry is one of the biggest industries in the country. According to the latest statistics, the industry contributed more than Rs 6708 billion to the Indian economy in 2011 to 2012. The industry also provides employment to more than 35 million people directly and indirectly all over the country. With a steadily improving economy and a richer middle-class, the industry is expected to double or triple as first time buyers start looking for their own dream homes, states StandardsBis.

The Issue: Building Safety Standards?

Although the industry is profitable, it is fragmented with large nationalized companies, mid-range builders, and small companies and contractors, all vying for a share of the market, according to AsiaConst. According to a recent census, there are about 200 large commercial construction companies, about 120,000 smaller Class A Companies, and several thousand more companies working independently in the construction and associated industries. Although this is good, it also gives rise to a haphazard industry that has no regulation regarding construction standards, pricing, sales procedures, legal disclosures, and the like. Ideally, The National Building Code of India, 1983 (NBC) is applicable all over India and has to be followed by all states. India does have the national building code to provide specifications for every part of a building. Before the building opened for occupation, a building inspector usually checks every part of the building and ensures that safety codes are followed. However, a problem arises here again states Asiaconst.

Apart from the building code, all construction projects are also subject to Central and State laws simultaneously. As a result, building bylaws tend to change with every city and each city has its own nodal agencies like the LDA, the GDA, the KDA, etc. to deal with building permits and verification of building codes. As a result, there is no uniform code applicable on all buildings in India to ensure safe homes built with high-quality materials. These variable construction standards frequently result in shoddy buildings that collapse under the least stress. In fact, according to the TOI, about seven people die in building collapses every year in India.

Builders also have to get individual permissions or building approvals from over 40 different state and Central agencies. These agencies will sanction the use of land, provide land conversion permission, environmental clearance, clearance from the Aviation Authorities, Archaeological Survey Of India, Plan Approval Authority, Pollution Control Board, local police authorities, legal clearance, Central Ground Water Authorities, etc. This may seem complicated but each agency will assess the land and the surrounding area for its feasibility for construction. Most builders spend more than 40 percent of their construction income on acquiring permits but these permits do ensure that the property is built on legally clear land that is safe and environmentally secure. Builders are legally required to follow the NBC, acquire the permits, gain NOCs from the relevant authorities, and then start construction on the project to ensure basic safety measures are meant.

All these permits, building safety requirements, land cost, quality construction materials, professional staff like civil construction staff, architects and engineers, equipment, labor, etc. raise the cost of the building and are transferred to the buyer. As the Indian economy improves, these factors turn more and more expensive resulting in properties that range anywhere from Rs 12, 00,000 to about Rs 5 crore in value, states EngineeringCivil.

For Buyers: Finding Economical and Safe Homes Is an Issue?

As a buyer, you have to be proactive enough to check the licenses and permits acquired by your builder. Ideally, the builder will provide a complete dossier of information on the permits and licenses they have acquired for their project. If you are not sure on how to check the permits, it is a good idea to refer to the IFC Doing Business website for a quick checklist of permits. Another quick way to verify safety standards is by inquiring about loans. Builders who tie up with banks are much more likely to acquire all the safety paperwork well in advance. This is because banks tie up with construction companies to provide mortgages on the property. Before they collaborate with the firm, the bank’s in-house verification team will carry out an intensive check of projects paperwork, licensing, legal and financial status and this is a simpler way to assure yourself of construction quality. Projects like economical homes by Unitech Group tied up with local banks are also likely to be much more affordable due to the automatic local approval process for buyers. If you find the property expensive, it would be a good idea to research other buildings and projects in the area in realtime and online to assure yourself of rates. You can also check with local real estate agents and brokers to ensure you are getting the most economical and safe houses in your favored project.

Forced Prostitution In Asia During WWII

James J. Williams
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Forced Prostitution In Asia During WWII

Forced prostitution in Asia during WWII was so commonplace that this author asked his grandfather about it and he said that he served with people who were stationed overseas talked about it in everyday life. This will delve into the facts and the statistics about these comfort women. Many of these women have since past without much impact on history or a voice to be heard. With this atrocity just being hushed throughout time and the numbers skewed, this will try to give the perspective that the governments that committed these crimes try to omit.

The Japanese first instituted comfort women as they are called now during WWII. These women were prostitutes that were used to keep the spirits of the soldiers up. The women were also there to keep the men more amicable to taking orders from their superiors. These was prevalent through much of Asia during the wars and Japanese occupancy in many of these countries. Korea implemented these US comfort women to keep the troops of the United States happy. The reasoning is highly contested about the comfort women in Korea. Some say it was to appease the troops that were stationed there although 2 lawmakers made it apparently clear that there were ulterior motives. They said at a Korean assembly that they should train a new wave of comfort women to keep the United States soldiers from going to Japan and spending their money there. So the reasoning was to keep allies and economic, appalling but very true.

Most of these women were from the occupied Japanese territories. The Japanese military procured the women through various tactics that were not only immoral but also deceptive. Many of the girls were very young and naïve not knowing what they were in for. Some of the girls were kidnapped from their native villages and taken to these comfort stations. Others were promised jobs and instead were forced to work in the comfort stations.

The treatment of these women was not only inhumane but appalling. The women endured physical and psychological torture on a daily basis. STD were rampant as well as the health of the women declined as the women were known to see between 20 and 40 male callers per day. If the women refused to work in the comfort station, they were executed without hesitation. These executions kept the other women who thought about refusing to keep doing the unimaginable just to stay alive. Many of these women had illegitimate children who faced discrimination throughout their lives. The offspring of the US soldiers who had since returned to the United States faced the largest amount of discrimination because of the way they looked and the fact their mothers served as prostitutes. The fact that their mothers did not willingly participate in these acts had no bearing on the public’s opinion.

These women faced years of physical and emotional torture. Mental illness runs rampant through the former comfort women community, post-traumatic stress disorder is the most common condition and it still impacts the women some 60 years later. We should not let these indiscretions of governments go silenced as we should make all aware of those who did not have a voice at the time.

Living Luxury: 4 Ways to Treat Yourself

Lisa.Felice
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Living Luxury: 4 Ways to Treat Yourself

Who hasn’t stepped back before and thought, I deserve a day off today? Of course we all have. Working hard, day in and day out, can take its toll, so it’s important to treat yourself every once in a while as a reminder that you deserve to enjoy the journey.

Here’s your guide to sitting back, relaxing, and taking a moment to enjoy life a little more.

Give it a Rest with the Diet

One of the most common ways we strain ourselves in our day to day routine is by restricting what we eat. By adhering to a strict diet, you’re maintaining a healthy emphasis on balanced nutrition, and that’s laudable. However, every once in a while, there’s nothing wrong with taking a day off and just ordering a pepperoni pizza after work. In the long run, taking one day off isn’t going to make much of a difference and you’ll be much happier if you aren’t going on three years without a slice of pizza. There’s no need to go overboard and eat the whole pizza yourself, but treating yourself in moderation is just as important to your mental health as balanced nutrition is to your physical health.

At the end of the day, you’ll probably be more motivated to stay on track with your diet plan knowing that you’re not going to feel deprived for an indefinite period. The author of 101 Foods That Can Save Your Life, David Grotto identifies the break as “structured cheating” saying, “There’s a difference between enjoying your favorite foods occasionally and eating everything you adore. The key to maintaining control is deciding what you want and how much you’ll have, and then to eat it with full consciousness … lick your lips, and then move on with your life.”

Pick up Some Designer Underwear

For a lot of men, the emphasis on buying luxury clothing just isn’t there. While you might not consider yourself highly interested in fashion, there’s still something to be said for the higher level of craftsmanship, material, and construction of luxury clothing. If you aren’t necessarily comfortable wearing designer clothes to the office, you might consider investing in designer underwear for men. Before you laugh, you’d be amazed how much of a difference wearing luxury underwear can make in your daily routine. With a brand like VK Nagrani, your level of comfort throughout the day is going to be like another world compared to whatever you were wearing before. And after your moment of “structured cheating” on your diet, it might be good to have that extra layer of comfort.

As far a designer apparel is concerned, investing in designer underwear is going to be significantly less pricey than upgrading an entire suit. However, if you do feel like splurging on luxury, the suits at VK Nagrani are worth it. In the words of Bryan Kreps from Dryden Kreps: “It is a suit that is not solely about tailoring and the sartorial expression. It is simply a suit that makes you feel like sexy.”

Schedule a Massage

For a classic relaxation activity, try booking a massage session. If you’re not in the practice of getting massages, they can actually make a huge difference in your muscle comfort and energy levels for the rest of the week. Is that knot in your back bothering you throughout the day at work? It might be time to go ahead and schedule an appointment to get it worked out. While they’re definitely a luxury experience, massages aren’t necessarily that expensive. Look for local listings on Yelp to find one that has good customer reviews and ratings. If you aren’t a fan of the experience, hey, at least you gave it a try. If it turns out to be helpful and relaxing, why not set up a regular appointment? Either way, you’re going to walk away feeling calm, rested, and more rejuvenated than when you walked in.

Take the Day Off and Do Nothing

Perhaps the easiest way to take a break and enjoy yourself if to simply do nothing. While movies like Office Space take the idea a little farther than practical limits allow for the average person, taking a day off to do nothing other than stretch out, soak up some rays, or watch TV can feel remarkably therapeutic. Treating yourself doesn’t always have to require extra effort, and sometimes it’s just nice to let yourself recharge for a bit with a day to do nothing but that.

Stocking up on Kid’s Art Supplies on a Budget

Sonia Pantiss
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Stocking up on Kid’s Art Supplies on a Budget

Wanting to encourage creativity and imagination in our kids is something all parents aim for, yet if you’re on a slightly more modest budget, it can be difficult to know how to supply them with art materials for them to have fun and get creating.

With a little bit of know-how, however, it doesn’t have to cost you the earth. We’ve put a few tips together for stocking up on kid’s art supplies for your little artists on a budget.

Think about what you need (and what you don’t)

It’s a good idea to have a look at different art materials and supplies so you can think about what you’d like to buy for your child and so that you can plan exactly what you’ll need so you don’t end up wasting any money.

Here are the basics for what you’ll need:

  • Something to draw with; whether it’s paints, pens, pencils, crayons etc.
  • Something to draw on; from notebooks and pads to paper and scrap cardboard
  • Something to paint with; if you’re opting for paint you’ll need things like a couple of paintbrushes and mixing palettes.

When it comes to shopping for each of those things, there are a few things to think about. Firstly, remember that you won’t need to go out there and buy absolutely everything on the list – start off with one or two things for your child to experiment with, and then you can soon build up their art collection as they go along. (It will be perfect too for when friends and family members ask what they want for their birthdays/Christmas etc).

Also, remember that you don’t have to go out there and hunt for top artist supplies and the best options available; your kids won’t need the best art pens in the world or the highest quality artist notepads. Go for fairly cheap options as they won’t care either way!

Don’t forget the extras

You’ll need things to protect their clothing and your surfaces as well which shouldn’t be forgotten about. Sheets and tablecloths will usually suffice, but when it comes to using things like paints, you will tend to need waterproof materials. Luckily, you can pick up things like children’s waterproof art aprons for a few pounds online, and you could just use party tablecloths to protect your surfaces.

 

 

Look in alternative places to find them

Instead of heading to the main high street stores for your craft supplies, think outside the box and look in alternative places instead. Discount stores like pound shops and even second hand stores can help you save your pennies as you can usually find great bargains in them, which will make no difference to your little ones, either.

You can get surprisingly cheap art supplies online these days that will be of just as high quality as those in craft stores. Options like art supplies at Artifolk are great as they are great value for money and there is pretty much everything you’ll ever need in one place.

Winter Health Problems to Watch Out for in the Elderly

Kathryn R. Bown
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Winter Health Problems to Watch Out for in the Elderly

It’s no secret that those in their elderly years are more prone to illness than younger people, and it’s also no secret that winter is a particularly dangerous time of the year for various illnesses and conditions.

Here are some health problems to watch out for if you have elderly loved ones…

Colds

You’ll quite often see people sniffling and sneezing during the winter months, but an annoying cold to most can be potentially lethal for older people. A good way to prevent colds is to wash your hands regularly as this will wash away most of the germs that can cause colds. Also keep surfaces clean as well as items such as towels, cups and glasses as these can easily pass the infection.

Flu

A lot of people claim to have the flu when, in fact, they only have a cold. If you have the flu then it will put them out of action for quite a while and they will likely be bed-ridden. Again, like colds, the flu is potentially fatal for the elderly and many die from it each year, particularly if they have underlying health issues. Free flu jabs are available from your GP for the most vulnerable groups of people which include the elderly.

Heart Attacks

Heart attacks can strike at any time of the year but are most common in winter, likely because the cold weather increases blood pressure and makes the heart work harder to maintain body temperature. The best advice to avoid heart attacks during the winter is to keep warm, both at home and when outdoors so that your heart doesn’t have to work as hard. Of course, a healthy lifestyle is also always important when it comes to heart issues.

Painful Joints and Arthritis

If you’ve had an injury or operation then you may well have noticed that it gets more painful during the cold weather. The cold can make joints stiff, so regular light exercise can help ease the pain. However, whilst joints may be more painful over the winter, there’s no evidence to suggest that the cold weather actually causes damage or makes the problem worse.

Poor Circulation

Poor circulation, also called Raynaud’s phenomenon, is something that affects a lot of people and is more prominent in winter. It is a problem caused by blood vessels going into spasm and can cause the fingers and toes to go white and become very painful. Wearing warm clothing can help keep those areas warm, but not smoking or drinking caffeine can also help.

Depression

Depression is a condition that is often overlooked but can be immensely debilitating. Poor health and loneliness can have a severe effect on mental health and it’s not something that is so easily diagnosed or treated. If you have elderly friends or family then the best advice is to simply ensure you visit regularly, check on their health and help sort health issues as soon as they arise. If this is something that is becoming a problem, then there are various care homes for the elderly at Extra Care and other such retirement villages where there are always people and trained staff at hand to help.

Peter Kassig converts to Islam and becomes a dedicated Muslim

Roy Siemens
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Peter Kassig converts to Islam and becomes a dedicated Muslim

According to a former cellmate, American hostage Abdul-Rahman Kassig, known as Peter Kassig before he converted to Islam, is now a “dedicated Muslim”.

Peter Kassig, an aid worker, was kidnapped in Syria by the so-called Islamic State.

Abdul-Rahman Kassig, 26, always cut a slightly unworldly figure on the Turkish-Syrian border: open, honest, slightly intense, beguiled by Syria’s uprising and motivated by the simple desire to help people. It didn’t surprise me when his parents later spoke about him “searching for his place in the world”.

Peter Kassig found that place giving medical training to Syrians, teaching skills that probably saved a number of lives. It was a job with many risks: bullets and bombs; air strikes and kidnapping.

“The last time I saw him,” said a Syrian colleague, Dr. Anas Mulla, “I asked: Aren’t you scared for your life? He said: My life isn’t worth more than all of yours.”

Going to Deir Azour in northern Syria a year ago, Abdul-Rahman was seized by the group calling itself Islamic State. They have said he will be the next Western hostage to die.

The French journalist Nicholas Henin was held with Abdul-Rahman Kassig for four months – before being freed along with the other French hostages.

“The beginning of his detention had been a bit hard,” Nicolas Henin said of his former cellmate.

“He was quite affected by his captivity.”

Abdul-Rahman Kassig was known as Peter Kassig before he converted to Islam
Abdul-Rahman Kassig was known as Peter Kassig before he converted to Islam

Nicolas Hennin spoke to me in Paris. Taxis trundled by on a cobbled street outside as he described the mixture of hunger, boredom and terror experienced by the Western hostages.

“The routine was mostly waiting for food, because we never received enough. And Abdul-Rahman was basically sharing all of his food but looking for sweets. He was always looking for some extra marmalade.”

Shortly after being kidnapped, Peter Kassig converted and now uses the Muslim name Abdul-Rahman.

“When I first met him, he was introducing himself already to all the guards as Abdul-Rahman,” said Nicolas Henin.

“Peter told me about how important Islam was to him, how much it helped to overcome his situation in captivity. And he was a very dedicated Muslim. He gave me the impression that he was a bit fragile, but that Islam was strengthening him.”

Abdul-Rahman Kassig wasn’t the only Western hostage to become a Muslim.

“In our group of hostages there were a few who converted. They were practicing … the five daily prayers and they would even sometimes perform two extra prayers…They would fast on Mondays and Thursdays, which is extra [to what is mandated] … like … dedicated Muslims.”

That was an elliptical reference to the stories about the hostages being beaten and even tortured.

He continued: “For some guards, there would be more respect to those of us who had converted. But for other captors, I had the feeling that it made no difference.”

Abdul-Rahman Kassig managed to get a letter out to his family. In it, he wrote: “In terms of my faith, I pray every day and I am not angry about my situation in that sense. I am in a dogmatically complicated situation here, but I am at peace with my belief.”

His parents interpret that as a statement he is now Muslim. They hope desperately that his faith will save him.

His family must hope that “Peter Kassig” becoming “Abdul-Rahman Kassig” may help. They will also be painfully aware that Islamic State has not hesitated to kill many Muslims – Iraqis and Syrians – in the course of their bloody campaign.

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Shannon Leah Fraser: Australian woman survives 17 days in Queensland bush

Nancy Clayson
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Shannon Leah Fraser: Australian woman survives 17 days in Queensland bush

Shannon Leah Fraser has been found 17 days after she got lost in the bush in northern Queensland, Australia, with no food.

Shannon Leah Fraser, 30, stumbled out of the bush on Wednesday morning, reported local media.

The woman had gone to the Golden Hole swimming spot with two men, including her partner, when she disappeared on September 21.

She is now recovering in a hospital and is being treated for infected cuts and severe sunburn.

Shannon Leah Fraser’s companions first raised the alarm after she got separated from them and failed to return to their vehicle, said Queensland Police.

The mother-of-three’s disappearance sparked a search operation involving 25 officers from the police and state emergency services.

Divers combed the pond while officers searched the area on foot and quad bikes. Helicopter searches were conducted as well, with search teams dropping colored markers.

Family members said Shannon Leah Fraser followed these markers out of the bush.

Shannon Leah Fraser has been found 17 days after she got lost in the bush in northern Queensland
Shannon Leah Fraser has been found 17 days after she got lost in the bush in northern Queensland

Police said the woman was eventually found just 30m from where she disappeared. Asked by reporters why teams did not find her, country patrol group Inspector Rhys Newton said her movements had “gone out of what we could reasonably expect a person who is lost in those circumstances”.

A banana farmer who was having his breakfast spotted her when she came out of the bush at 08:00 on October 8, and immediately sent her to a nearby hospital, said the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Family members told media that Shannon Leah Fraser had survived on creek water, small fish and insects. At one point, she sat in a creek for three days to soothe her cuts and burns.

They also said she had to fend off wild animals such as a cassowary and a freshwater crocodile.

Shannon Leah Fraser, who weighed 90kg previously, reportedly lost about 16kg during her ordeal.

Her partner, Heath Cassady, told the Courier Mail that they had been on a “bender” prior to her disappearance and had gone to Golden Hole to “chill out”.

“Her whole body is scarred and peeling, she’s been through a lot,” Heath Cassady said.

“It is amazing she’s still alive.”

Police are still investigating how she disappeared, but a spokesman told reporters on October 9 that they do not believe that there were any suspicious circumstances.

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Mexico protests against students’ disappearance in Iguala

Diane A. Wade
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Mexico protests against students’ disappearance in Iguala

Multiple protests are being held in cities across Mexico against the disappearance of students in the southern town of Iguala on September 26.

The students had clashed with police during a demonstration and were last seen being bundled into police cars.

Hundreds of local vigilantes have joined the search, saying they would conduct a house-by-house search.

Meanwhile forensic tests are under way on dozens of bodies found in shallow graves near the town last week.

It is feared the bodies could be those of the students.

In Mexico City, family members led a procession, carrying photographs of the disappeared.

Demonstrations also took place in many cities, including Oaxaca, Veracruz, Morelia, and Guerrero.

Forty three missing students who vanished last month after clashing with police in the town of Iguala
Forty three missing students who vanished last month after clashing with police in the town of Iguala

A silent march was staged by the EZLN – better known as the Zapatistas indigenous rebel group – in the southern city of San Cristobal de las Casas.

The disappearance and the circumstances surrounding it have caused shock in Mexico.

The students, from a teacher college in Ayotzinapa in Guerrero State, had travelled to nearby Iguala to protest against what they perceived as discriminatory hiring practices for teachers.

After a day of protests, they wanted to make their way back to their college. Accounts of what happened next differ.

Members of the student union say they boarded three local buses, but the police says the students seized the buses.

In the hours that followed, six people were killed when armed men opened fire on the three buses and that of a local football team which they presumably mistook for one carrying students.

Three students, a footballer, the driver of one of the buses and a woman in a taxi were shot dead. Many more were injured.

Municipal police gave chase to the students, and are believed to have fired at them.

Twenty-two officers have been detained in connection with the shooting.

A student who survived the attack said he had seen police taking away his fellow students.

“We blame the state for the forced disappearance of our fellow students,” Omar Garcia told reporters in Mexico City.

Following the incident on the night of September 26, 57 students were reported missing. On September 30 it was announced that 13 of them had returned home.

One name was found to have appeared in the list of the missing twice, leaving 43 students unaccounted for.

On October 4, prosecutors announced they had found six shallow graves containing the remains of at least 28 people.

The bodies are so badly burnt they have not yet not been identified. Forensic experts said it could take days or even weeks to carry out DNA tests.

The reasons why police should have opened fire on the students and what may lie behind their disappearance remain unclear.

A number of different theories have been put forward.

The students all went to a local teacher training college with a history of left-wing activism, but it is not clear whether they were targeted for their political beliefs.

Some think that they may have angered a local drug gang called Guerreros Unidos by refusing to pay extortion money.

Others believe there may be a link between the students’ disappearance and a speech given by the wife of Iguala’s mayor on the day of the clashes.

Maria de los Angeles Pineda Villa was speaking to local dignitaries when the students were protesting in Iguala and some believe they may have been targeted because it was feared they could disrupt the event.

Police are searching for her husband, mayor Jose Luis Abarca Velazquez.

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Bionic hand: Sense of touch restored for two patients

Kathryn R. Bown
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Bionic hand: Sense of touch restored for two patients

US scientists have restored a sense of touch to two bionic hand patients.

The men can now delicately pluck the stalks out of cherries.

Sensors on the artificial hand are used to send signals directly to the nerves, the study, published in Science Translational Medicine, said.

Meanwhile, a Swedish team has made a separate breakthrough in artificial limbs – anchoring bionic arms directly on to the bone to improve control.

One of the beneficiaries of the American work was Igor Spetic, who lost his right hand in an accident four years ago.

Igor Spetic was fitted with a bionic replacement, but it was incapable of feeling the world around him.

He had to carefully watch what he was doing and judge by eye whether he was squeezing too hard.

A team at Case Western Reserve University attached sensors to the bionic hand and in surgery fitted “cuffs” around the remaining nerves, which were capable of delivering electronic stimulation.

Sensors on the artificial hand are used to send signals directly to the nerves
Sensors on the artificial hand are used to send signals directly to the nerves

The team could send different patterns of electronic stimulation to the nerves using a computer. These were interpreted in the brain as different sensations.

The team “mapped” these sensations to 19 different locations on the hand, from the palm to the tip of the thumb, and matched the sensors to the different electronic patterns of stimulation.

They then moved on to pressure and textures. Igor Spetic can tell, while blindfolded, whether he is handling different materials such as Velcro or sandpaper.

He has been using the sensing hand for two-and-a-half years. Another patient has been using the system for one and a half years.

In both patients the modified hand had the added bonus of eliminating “phantom limb pain”, in which patients still feel pain from the hand that is no longer there.

Meanwhile, scientists at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden say they have implanted the first bone-anchored bionic arm.

The technique known as “osseointegration” involved connecting the arm directly to the bone, nerves and muscles in the residual stump of the patient’s arm.

It gave the patient better control.

FBI seeks American public’s help in identifying masked man in ISIS video

Roy Siemens
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0
FBI seeks American public’s help in identifying masked man in ISIS video

The FBI is seeking the American public’s help in identifying a masked man who appears in an Islamic State (ISIS) video.

Dressed in desert camouflage and wearing a shoulder holster, officials believe the jihadist betrays a North American accent as he speaks English and Arabic.

FBI director James Comey says about a dozen Americans are fighting with ISIS.

“In releasing a segment from the video, the FBI hopes someone might recognize the man through his voice and appearance,” the agency said.

It has put a clip of the video on its website, with details of how the public can help.

FBI officials believe the masked man in ISIS video betrays a North American accent as he speaks English and Arabic
FBI officials believe the masked man in ISIS video betrays a North American accent as he speaks English and Arabic

In parts of the video not shown in that segment, the militant stands over men he says are Syrian soldiers who have been taken prisoner at a base in Raqqa province, and are being made to dig their own graves.

He threatens them with execution before the men are shown being killed.

ISIS militants have seized huge swathes of Iraq and Syria and are now being bombarded by US-led air strikes.

Intelligence officials in many Western countries have expressed fears that foreign recruits to the cause of IS could return from the fighting to launch attacks at home.

“We need the public’s assistance in identifying US persons going to fight overseas with terrorist groups or who are returning home from fighting overseas,” said Michael Steinbach, assistant director of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division.

On October 4, a 19-year-old man in Chicago was arrested for allegedly attempting to travel overseas to join ISIS.

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Dad’s Army remake: Full cast announced

Sonia Pantiss
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Dad’s Army remake: Full cast announced

Tom Courtenay, Bill Nighy, Michael Gambon and Toby Jones are among the stars who will appear in a big-screen remake of classic sitcom Dad’s Army.

Toby Jones will star as Captain Mainwaring, Bill Nighy will appear as Sergeant Wilson and Tom Courtenay will play Corporal Jones.

Michael Gambon will fill the role of Private Godfrey and there will also be roles for Catherine Zeta-Jones, Sarah Lancashire and Mark Gatiss.

The original sitcom followed a hapless World War II Home Guard platoon.

Tom Courtenay, Bill Nighy, Michael Gambon and Toby Jones are among the stars who will appear in a big-screen remake of classic sitcom Dad's Army
Tom Courtenay, Bill Nighy, Michael Gambon and Toby Jones are among the stars who will appear in a big-screen remake of classic sitcom Dad’s Army

It ran for nine series from 1968 to 1977 and is regarded as one of Britain’s greatest TV comedies.

The story will see Catherine Zeta-Jones play a glamorous journalist sent to report on the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard before MI5 discovers that there is a German spy in the fictional British town.

The film will be directed by Oliver Parker, who made Johnny English Reborn, St Trinian’s and Othello starring Kenneth Branagh.

The script will be written by Hamish McColl, who wrote Johnny English Reborn and Mr. Bean’s Holiday.

Teresa Romero: Spanish nurse may have touched her face after treating Ebola patient

Kathryn R. Bown
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Teresa Romero: Spanish nurse may have touched her face after treating Ebola patient

Teresa Romero, the Spanish nurse infected with Ebola, remembers touching her face with her gloves after treating a dying priest, a doctor in Madrid has said.

Maria Teresa Romero Ramos, 40, is the first person known to have contracted the deadly virus outside West Africa.

She had treated two Spanish missionaries who later died from Ebola.

A World Health Organization (WHO) adviser has warned that more Ebola cases can be expected among medical staff, even in developed countries.

Teresa Romero remains in quarantine in the Spanish capital along with her husband and three other people.

A fifth person, said to be a friend and colleague of Teresa Romero, was admitted on Wednesday morning with a slight fever. In all, more than 50 people in Spain are under observation.

Teresa Romero was part of a team of about 30 staff at the Carlos III hospital in Madrid looking after the missionaries when they were repatriated from West Africa.

Maria Teresa Romero Ramos is the first person known to have contracted the deadly virus outside West Africa
Maria Teresa Romero Ramos is the first person known to have contracted the deadly virus outside West Africa

Miguel Pajares, 75, died on August 12 after contracting the virus in Liberia, while Manuel Garcia Viejo, 69, died on September 25 after catching the disease in Sierra Leone.

New figures released by the WHO show that more than 8,000 people have now been infected with the disease and 3,879 have died. The vast majority of deaths have been in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Teresa Romero told El Pais that she might have become infected when removing her protective suit after cleaning Manuel Garcia Viejo’s room.

“I think the error was the removal of the suit,” Teresa Romero told El Pais by phone.

“I can see the moment it may have happened, but I’m not sure about it.”

Teresa Romero added that she did not have a fever on October 8 and was “doing better”.

In another development, the woman’s husband, Javier Limon, is reported to be fighting a court order to have their pet dog put down over fears it could be carrying the disease. Animal rights groups have also criticized the move, saying there is no evidence Ebola has been spread by dogs.

Meanwhile, the head of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in Sierra Leone says the rest of the world is not doing enough to combat the outbreak of the Ebola virus.

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China’s wasteful government spending drops by $9 billion

Diane A. Wade
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China’s wasteful government spending drops by $9 billion

The Chinese government’s expenditures on overseas trips, lavish receptions and official cars have dropped by almost $9 billion over the past year.

The announcement comes as President Xi Jinping’s campaign to tackle decadent working practices in the ruling Communist Party draws to a close.

More than 150,000 “ghost jobs”, where people are paid even if they do not turn up, were found in the clean-up.

Xi Jinping has repeatedly said corruption threatens the party’s existence.

President Xi Jinping conducted a campaign to tackle decadent working practices in the ruling Communist Party
President Xi Jinping conducted a campaign to tackle decadent working practices in the ruling Communist Party

The stated aim of the mass-line campaign, as it is known, is to strengthen the party’s ties with the Chinese population.

Official spending on government cars, receptions and trips was down almost a third compared with the year before.

Past leaders have warned that if you fight corruption too much then you will destroy the party – but if you fight it too little then you will destroy the country.

Anni Dewani murder: Shrien Dewani agreed to pay hitman for killing his wife

Nancy Clayson
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Anni Dewani murder: Shrien Dewani agreed to pay hitman for killing his wife

Shrien Dewani agreed to pay about £1,300 ($2,000) to a hitman for the murder of his wife Anni in South Africa, a court has been told.

On the second day of the trial in Cape Town, Mziwamadoda Qwabe said he was asked to make it look like a hijacking.

British businessman Shrien Dewani, 34, denies murdering his wife Anni, 28, on their honeymoon in 2010.

The couple was held at gunpoint while being driven in a taxi through Gugulethu township near Cape Town.

Mziwamadoda Qwabe told the Western Cape High Court that taxi driver Zola Tonga had told him “there was a husband who wanted his wife to be killed”.

Shrien Dewani faces five charges, including murder and lying about the circumstances of Swedish national Anni’s death.

Mziwamadoda Qwabe, from Cape Town, was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2012 for the murder of Anni Dewani.

Prosecutors claim Shrien Dewani conspired with him, and other Cape Town residents Zola Tongo and Xolile Mngeni.

Mziwamadoda Qwabe, 29, told the court Tongo phoned him and said he had a job that needed to be done – that someone needed to be killed.

He said Zola Tongo agreed to meet him the next day to discuss the murder, and a price of 15,000 rand was agreed.

The pair then arranged to meet up with Zola Tongo’s taxi for the attack, during which Shrien Dewani’s phone would also be taken.

Shrien Dewani agreed to pay a hitman for the murder of his wife Anni in South Africa
Shrien Dewani agreed to pay a hitman for the murder of his wife Anni in South Africa

He told the court the money was due to be left in a “cubby hole” in the vehicle which would later be split before the pair spent an evening “socializing”.

Mziwamadoda Qwabe was asked if there was any discussion about a weapon. He said: “I knew there would be a firearm involved.”

He told the court Zola Tongo called him later and told him the route the taxi would take on the evening of November 13, 2010.

Describing the carjacking, Mziwamadoda Qwabe said: “[Xolile Mngeni] had the gun. As it [Zola Tongo’s car] approached I got into the driver’s side.

“[Xolile Mngeni] got into the passenger side and Zola got into the back. I saw in the (rear view) window a guy and behind me was a lady,” he said.

“I ordered Zola to get out of the car. He told me the money was in a pouch behind the front passenger door.

“I stopped the vehicle, I asked the husband to get out of the car.

“The husband was now out of the vehicle and I drove on.”

Mziwamadoda Qwabe told the court he was behind the wheel when Anni Dewani was fatally wounded.

He said he was concentrating on the road at the moment Xolile Mngeni killed her.

“I heard a gun shot. [Xolile Mngeni] said <<I shot the lady>>.

“I pulled over on to the pavement and stopped the car. I saw she [Anni Dewani] was on the back seat of the car.”

Mziwamadoda Qwabe said he found the bullet casing then threw his gloves away.

He told the court 10,000 rand was in the pouch and 4,000 rand was seized from “the husband”.

Mziwamadoda Qwabe admitted he had lied in court at a bail hearing before he admitted his guilt over the murder.

Francois van Zyl, representing Shrien Dewani, said: “At that bail hearing you testified under oath, you pleaded not guilty because you said you had an alibi. Is that a lie?”

Mziwamadoda Qwabe replied: “My lawyer at the time told me to plead not guilty.”

Francois van Zyl said: “I repeat the question. Was that a lie under oath?”

Mziwamadoda Qwabe answered: “Yes.”

The court was told there had been no conversations with Zola Tongo about how Anni Dewani would be killed, only that it had to look like a hijacking.

Francois van Zyl asked: “You never had a discussion about how this woman was going to be killed?”

Mziwamadoda Qwabe answered: “No, sir.”

He told the court it was not decided who would strike the fatal blow, what weapon would be used, or where the killing would take place.

On October 6, Shrien Dewani told the court in a written statement that his “whole world came crashing down” when his wife was found killed.

The trial was adjourned until October 9.

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Earliest cave paintings produced by humans discovered in Indonesia

James J. Williams
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Earliest cave paintings produced by humans discovered in Indonesia

Some of the earliest cave paintings produced by humans have been identified in a rural area on the Indonesian Island of Sulawesi.

Until now, paintings this old had been confirmed in caves only in Western Europe.

Researchers tell the journal Nature that the Indonesian discovery transforms ideas about how humans first developed the ability to produce art.

Australian and Indonesian scientists have dated layers of stalactite-like growths that have formed over colored outlines of human hands.

Early artists made them by carefully blowing paint around hands that were pressed tightly against the cave walls and ceilings. The oldest is at least 40,000 years old.

Some of the earliest cave paintings produced by humans have been identified in a rural area on the Indonesian Island of Sulawesi
Some of the earliest cave paintings produced by humans have been identified in a rural area on the Indonesian Island of Sulawesi

There are also human figures, and pictures of wild hoofed animals that are found only on the island. Dr. Maxime Aubert, of Griffith University in Queensland, Australia, who dated the paintings found in Maros in Southern Sulawesi, explained that one of them was probably the earliest of its type.

“The minimum age for is 39,900 years old, which makes it the oldest hand stencil in the world,” said Dr. Maxime Aubert.

There are also paintings in the caves that are around 27,000 years old, which means that the inhabitants were painting for at least 13,000 years.

In addition, there are paintings in a cave in the regency of Bone, 100 km north of Maros. These cannot be dated because the stalactite-like growths used to determine the age of the art do not occur. However, the researchers believe that they are probably the same age as the paintings in Maros because they are stylistically identical.

The discovery of the Indonesian cave art is important because it shows the beginnings of human intelligence as we understand it today.

Thomas Eric Duncan: Texas Ebola patient dies in Dallas hospital

Kathryn R. Bown
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0
Thomas Eric Duncan: Texas Ebola patient dies in Dallas hospital

Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola on the US soil, has died in Dallas, Texas hospital officials have said.

Thomas Eric Duncan, who caught the virus in his native Liberia, was being kept in isolation in a Dallas hospital and receiving experimental drugs.

Earlier the US announced new screening measures at entry points to check travelers for symptoms of the virus.

More than 3,000 people have died and 7,500 infected, mostly in West Africa, in the worst Ebola outbreak yet.

“It is with profound sadness and heartfelt disappointment that we must inform you of the death of Thomas Eric Duncan this morning at 7:51 am,” a spokesman said in a statement.

Thomas Eric Duncan was the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola on the US soil
Thomas Eric Duncan was the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola on the US soil (photo Facebook)

The news came shortly after Secretary of State John Kerry urged all nations to boost their response to combat the virus.

“More countries can and must step up,” he said in a joint press conference with his British counterpart Philip Hammond.

The US has pledged as many as 4,000 troops to the region, while the UK is sending 750 military personnel to Sierra Leone.

Thomas Eric Duncan, who worked as a driver for a courier company, tested positive in Dallas, Texas, on September 30, 10 days after arriving on a flight from Monrovia via Brussels.

He become ill a few days after arriving in the US but after going to hospital and telling them he had been to Liberia he was sent home with antibiotics.

Four days later, Thomas Eric Duncan was placed in isolation but his condition continued to worsen and this week he was given an experimental drug.

Ten people he came into contact with are being monitored for symptoms.

Following Thomas Eric Duncan’s diagnosis, the first case of contagion outside that continent was confirmed in Spain, where nurse Teresa Romero, who treated an Ebola victim in Madrid, contracted the virus herself.

Spanish nurse Teresa Romero, is the first person known to have contracted the deadly virus outside West Africa.

Teresa Romero had treated two Spanish missionaries who later died from Ebola.

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Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2014: Eric Betzig, Stefan Hell and William Moerner share award for improving resolution of microscopes

James J. Williams
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Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2014: Eric Betzig, Stefan Hell and William Moerner share award for improving resolution of microscopes

A trio of researchers has been awarded the 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for improving the resolution of microscopes.

Eric Betzig, Stefan Hell and William Moerner used fluorescence to extend the limits of the light microscope.

The winners will share prize money of 8 million kronor ($1.12 million).

They were named at a press conference in Sweden, and join a prestigious list of 105 other Chemistry laureates recognized since 1901.

A trio of researchers has been awarded the 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for improving the resolution of microscopes
A trio of researchers has been awarded the 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for improving the resolution of microscopes

The Nobel Committee said the researchers had won the award for “the development of super-resolved fluorescence microscopy”.

Committee chair Prof. Sven Lidin, a materials chemist from Lunds University, said “the work of the laureates has made it possible to study molecular processes in real time”.

Optical microscopes had previously been held back by a presumed limitation: that it would never obtain a better resolution than half the wavelength of light.

The researchers used fluorescent molecules to circumvent this limitation, allowing scientists to see things at much higher levels of resolution.

This has even allowed scientists to visualise the pathways of individual molecules inside living cells.

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WHO: More Ebola cases can be expected among medical staff

Kathryn R. Bown
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0
WHO: More Ebola cases can be expected among medical staff

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that more Ebola cases can be expected among medical staff – even in developed countries with modern health care systems.

The WHO adviser, Prof. Peter Piot, said he was not surprised that a Spanish nurse had contracted the disease.

The nurse, Teresa Romero, is the first person known to have contracted the deadly virus outside West Africa.

She treated two Spanish missionaries who died of Ebola in Madrid.

Teresa Romero, a 40-year-old auxiliary nurse, had been part of a team of about 30 staff at the Carlos III hospital in Madrid looking after Manuel Garcia Viejo and Miguel Pajares when they were repatriated from Sierra Leone and Liberia respectively.

She remains in quarantine in the Spanish capital along with her husband and three other people.

A fifth person was admitted on Wednesday morning with a slight fever. She is said to be a friend of Teresa Romero and, like her, an auxiliary nurse in the Carlos III Ebola care unit.

In all, more than 50 people in Spain are under observation.

Teresa Romero told El Mundo on October 8 that she had followed the correct protocol and had “no idea” how she had become infected. She said she was feeling “a little better” but was very tired.

Officials say earlier she had twice gone into Manuel Garcia Viejo’s hospital room, first to treat him and later to disinfect the room after his death.

Spanish media say neighbors of the infected nurse have been calling emergency services, asking how to protect their children after sharing lifts and public spaces.

Prof. Peter Piot is a world specialist in Ebola brought in by the WHO as a scientific adviser
Prof. Peter Piot is a world specialist in Ebola brought in by the WHO as a scientific adviser

Promising “total transparency”, Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy appealed for calm while at the same time urging vigilance.

“Let the professionals do their work. Spain’s health system is one of the best in the world,” he told parliament on October 8.

In another development, Teresa Romero’s husband, Javier Limon, is reported to be fighting a court order to have their pet dog put down over fears that it could be carrying the disease. Animal rights groups have also criticized the move, saying there is no evidence that Ebola has been spread by dogs.

Some 3,400 people have died in the current Ebola outbreak with most of the deaths in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

There have been nearly 7,500 confirmed Ebola infections worldwide, with officials saying the figure is likely to be much higher in reality.

WHO experts have insisted that modern hospitals with rigorous disease control measures would prevent infection – but the case of the Madrid nurse proves that is far more difficult than many thought.

Prof. Peter Piot, a world specialist in Ebola brought in by the WHO as a scientific adviser, warned that even the simplest movement, like rubbing your eyes, is a risk.

“The smallest mistake can be fatal,” he said.

“For example, a very dangerous moment is when you come out of the isolation unit you take off your protective gear, you are full of sweat and so on.”

Many of those who have died of Ebola in West Africa have been health care workers.

Meanwhile the US military is stepping up its efforts to respond to the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

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Sinead O’Connor’s autobiography to reveal all about her former partners

Lisa.Felice
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Sinead O’Connor’s autobiography to reveal all about her former partners

Sinead O’Connor has announced she is writing an autobiography in which she promises to reveal all about her former partners.

Penguin Random House imprint Blue Rider Press said the four-times-married Irish singer-songwriter’s book, currently untitled, would be published in March 2016.

Sinead O’Connor promised that her autobiography will reveal all about her former partner
Sinead O’Connor promised that her autobiography will reveal all about her former partner

In a statement issued through her publisher Sinead O’Connor, 47, pledged to reveal all about her liaisons.

Sinead O’Connor, who had hits including Nothing Compares 2 U, is renowned for her blunt, confrontational style.

Stephen Collins accused of child molestation

Lisa.Felice
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Stephen Collins accused of child molestation

Cable networks UP TV and TV Guide announced they would not broadcast scheduled re-runs of Stephen Collins’ beloved family series 7th Heaven after details of molestation allegations against the actor were reported by TMZ.

New York police confirmed on October 7 they have an open investigation into allegations Stephen Collins molested a teenage girl in the early 1970s.

NYPD spokesman Stephen David said the complaint was filed in 2012 accusing Stephen Collins of molesting a then-14-year-old girl in the actor’s Manhattan apartment in 1972.

Stephen David says the case remains open and is being handled by Special Victims Division detectives, but no charges have been filed.

Prosecutors will make a determination about whether any charges should be pursued.

Hollywood trade publications reported on October 7 that Stephen Collins lost a role in the film Ted 2 and resigned his position from the acting guild SAG-AFTRA.

Stephen Collins is accused of molesting a teenage girl in the early 1970s
Stephen Collins is accused of molesting a teenage girl in the early 1970s (photo Getty Images)

Pamela Greenwalt, a spokeswoman for SAG-AFTRA, declined comment on Stephen Collins’ departure from its national board. The actor’s name had been removed from lists of current board membership by Tuesday afternoon.

The actor’s estranged wife, Faye Grant, wrote in a sworn court declaration in Los Angeles last year that her husband had disclosed he molested at least three young girls.

Faye Grant wrote in the November 2012 declaration in the couple’s divorce case that she reported abuse to Los Angeles police, who said they are not actively investigating the actor, but could not offer details on any previous investigations. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said it did not have records of a case being presented to prosecutors.

The report to New York police was made six months after Stephen Collins filed to divorce Faye Grant, who he married in 1985.

Faye Grant and Stephen Collins separated in February 2012, roughly two weeks after the actress said she learned of her husband’s abuse in therapy sessions, according to her declaration. Stephen Collins filed for divorce three months after the separation.

Faye Grant states her husband has said two of the girls he molested were abused when they were between the ages of 10 and 14 years old. She said she had no indications that he was abusing girls until he disclosed it in therapy, and that she reported his disclosures to police in New York and Los Angeles.

Stephen Collins has worked steadily in television and movie roles since the early 1970s, with appearances in movies such as All the President’s Men, Star Trek: The Motion Picture and recurring roles on series such as No Ordinary Family, Revolution and Devious Maids after 7th Heaven concluded its 11-season run in 2007.

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JK Rowling explains meaning behind cryptic tweet

Sonia Pantiss
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JK Rowling explains meaning behind cryptic tweet

British author JK Rowling has explained the meaning behind a cryptic tweet sent earlier this week, scotching hopes that it referred to a new Harry Potter story.

On October 6, JK Rowling posted an anagram: “Cry, foe! Run amok! Fa awry! My wand won’t tolerate this nonsense.”

Some fans translated it as: “Harry Returns! Won’t say any details now! A week off! No comment.”

However, JK Rowling later confirmed that it was really the first line from the synopsis for a film screenplay she is writing.

After one follower suggested: “Newt Scamander only meant to stay in New York for a few hours”, she replied: “YES!!!!!!!!!!!! People, we have a winner!”

Newt Scamander was the fictional author of a textbook on magical animals that featured in the Harry Potter novels.

JK Rowling herself released the book, titled Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, in 2001 to raise money for Comic Relief.

JK Rowling confirmed that her cryptic tweet was really the first line from the synopsis for a film screenplay she is writing
JK Rowling confirmed that her cryptic tweet was really the first line from the synopsis for a film screenplay she is writing

Now, Newt Scamander is going to be the main character in a film trilogy inspired by that textbook.

JK Rowling is currently working on the screenplay for the first film, which is expected to be set in 1920s New York after Newt Scamander was commissioned to travel the world and compile a guide to magical beasts.

She later tweeted that the anagram was “the first sentence of a synopsis of Newt’s story”, adding: “It isn’t part of the script, but sets the scene.”

JK Rowling then wrote: “Newt only meant to stay in New York for a few hours. Circumstances ensured that he remained… for the length of a movie, anyway. X”

The first film is due to be released in 2016.

JK Rowling has previously said: “Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for 17 years, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world.

“The laws and customs of the hidden magical society will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, but Newt’s story will start in New York, 70 years before Harry’s gets underway.”

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Blood Moon 2014: Total lunar eclipse to be visible across Americas and Asia

James J. Williams
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Blood Moon 2014: Total lunar eclipse to be visible across Americas and Asia

Skywatchers stay tuned for the second total lunar eclipse of 2014 that will be visible across much of the Americas and Asia in the coming hours.

The event began at 04:00 EDT and will reach totality before sunrise at 06:25 EDT.

During the eclipse – which is the second to occur this year – our only natural satellite will be fully covered by the Earth’s shadow.

The Moon appears orange or red, the result of sunlight scattering off our atmosphere, hence the name Blood Moon.

The Moon appears orange or red, the result of sunlight scattering off our atmosphere, hence the name Blood Moon
The Moon appears orange or red, the result of sunlight scattering off our atmosphere, hence the name Blood Moon

Weather permitting, skywatchers in North America, Australia, western South America and parts of East Asia will be able to see the spectacle.

However, Europe, Africa and the eastern part of Brazil are missing out on the show.

The last total lunar eclipse occurred on April 15, and the next is expected to take place on April 4, 2015.

There will be two full lunar eclipses again in 2015.

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