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World’s first womb-transplant baby born in Sweden

Kathryn R. Bown
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World’s first womb-transplant baby born in Sweden

A Swedish woman with a transplanted womb has given birth to a baby boy, in a medical first, doctors reported.

The 36 year-old mother, who was born without a uterus, received a donated womb from a friend in her 60s.

According to the medical journal The Lancet, the baby was born prematurely in September weighing 1.8kg (3.9lb). The father said his son was “amazing”.

Cancer treatment and birth defects are the main reasons women can be left without a functioning womb.

If they want a child of their own, their only option is surrogacy.

The identity of the couple in Sweden has not been released, but it is known the mother still had functioning ovaries.

The couple went through IVF to produce 11 embryos, which were frozen. Doctors at the University of Gothenburg then performed the womb transplant.

A Swedish woman with a transplanted womb has given birth to a baby boy, in a medical first
A Swedish woman with a transplanted womb has given birth to a baby boy, in a medical first

The donor was a 61-year-old family friend who had gone through the menopause seven years earlier.

Drugs to suppress the immune system were needed to prevent the womb being rejected.

A year after the transplant, doctors decided they were ready to implant one of the frozen embryos and a pregnancy ensued.

The baby was born prematurely, almost 32 weeks into the pregnancy, after the mother developed pre-eclampsia and the baby’s heart rate became abnormal.

Both baby and mum are now said to be doing well.

In an anonymous interview with the AP news agency, the father said: “It was a pretty tough journey over the years, but we now have the most amazing baby.

“He’s no different from any other child, but he will have a good story to tell.”

Two other medical teams have attempted womb transplants before.

In one case, the organ became diseased and had to be removed after three months. Another case resulted in miscarriages.

Prof. Mats Brannstrom, who led the transplant team, described the birth in Sweden as a joyous moment.

“That was a fantastic happiness for me and the whole team, but it was an unreal sensation also because we really could not believe we had reached this moment.

“Our success is based on more than 10 years of intensive animal research and surgical training by our team and opens up the possibility of treating many young females worldwide that suffer from uterine infertility.”

Liza Johannesson, a gynaecological surgeon in the team, said: “It gives hope to those women and men that thought they would never have a child, that thought they were out of hope.”

However, there are still doubts about the safety and effectiveness of the invasive procedure.

Dr. Mats Brannstrom and his team are working with another eight couples with a similar need. The results of those pregnancy attempts will give a better picture of whether this technique can be used more widely.

The couple, fresh from celebrating the birth of their child, will soon have to decide if they want a second.

The drugs used to prevent the womb being rejected would be damaging in the long term – so the couple will either try again or have the womb removed.

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Alan Henning killed by ISIS militants

Roy Siemens
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Alan Henning killed by ISIS militants

Islamic State (ISIS) militants have released a video purporting to show the killing of British hostage Alan Henning.

Taxi driver Alan Henning, 47, was delivering aid to Syria in December when he was kidnapped then held hostage by ISIS.

ISIS had threatened to kill Alan Henning in a video showing the killing of Briton David Haines last month.

The UK Foreign Office said it was trying to verify the video, and if true it was a “further disgusting murder”.

On September 30, Alan Henning’s wife Barbara appealed for his release, saying: “He is innocent.”

ISIS has previously released videos showing the apparent killings of two US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and Briton David Haines.

The video released on October 3 is yet to be verified, but it appears to show Alan Henning kneeling beside a militant, dressed in black, in a desert setting.

The footage ends with an ISIS fighter threatening a man they identify as an American.

The UK Foreign Office said in a statement: “We are aware of the video and are working urgently to verify the contents.

Alan Henning was delivering aid to Syria in December 2013 when he was kidnapped then held hostage by ISIS
Alan Henning was delivering aid to Syria in December 2013 when he was kidnapped then held hostage by ISIS

“If true, this is a further disgusting murder.

“We are offering the family every support possible; they ask to be left alone at this time.”

Earlier this week Barbara Henning had asked for “mercy” for her husband, saying his family was continuing their attempts to communicate with the group.

She also she had received an audio message of her husband pleading for his life.

“Muslims across the globe continue to question Islamic State over Alan’s fate,” she said.

Barbara Henning had said some people thought her husband was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but she said: “He was in the right place doing the right thing.”

She said her family was “at a loss” as to why ISIS leaders could not “open their hearts and minds to the truth about Alan’s humanitarian motives for going to Syria”.

Last month, two high-profile imams in the UK made a direct appeal to ISIS to release Alan Henning.

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Origins of AIDS pandemic traced to 1920’s in Kinshasa

Kathryn R. Bown
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Origins of AIDS pandemic traced to 1920’s in Kinshasa

According to an international team of scientists said, the origin of the AIDS pandemic has been traced to the 1920s in the city of Kinshasa, in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.

They say a “perfect storm” of population growth, s** and railways allowed HIV to spread.

A feat of viral archaeology was used to find the pandemic’s origin, the team report in the journal Science.

They used archived samples of HIV’s genetic code to trace its source, with evidence pointing to 1920s Kinshasa.

Their report says a roaring s** trade, rapid population growth and unsterilized needles used in health clinics probably spread the virus.

Meanwhile Belgium-backed railways had one million people flowing through the city each year, taking the virus to neighboring regions.

Experts said it was a fascinating insight into the start of the pandemic.

The origin of the AIDS pandemic has been traced to the 1920s in the city of Kinshasa
The origin of the AIDS pandemic has been traced to the 1920s in the city of Kinshasa

HIV came to global attention in the 1980s and has infected nearly 75 million people.

It has a much longer history in Africa, but where the pandemic started has remained the source of considerable debate.

A team at the University of Oxford and the University of Leuven, in Belgium, tried to reconstruct HIV’s “family tree” and find out where its oldest ancestors came from.

The research group analyzed mutations in HIV’s genetic code.

By reading those mutational marks, the research team rebuilt the family tree and traced its roots.

HIV is a mutated version of a chimpanzee virus, known as simian immunodeficiency virus, which probably made the species-jump through contact with infected blood while handling bush meat.

The virus made the jump on multiple occasions. One event led to HIV-1 subgroup O which affects tens of thousands in Cameroon.

Yet only one cross-species jump, HIV-1 subgroup M, went on to infect millions of people across every country in the world.

The answer to why this happened lies in the era of black and white film and the tail-end of the European empires.

In the 1920s, Kinshasa (called Leopoldville until 1966) was part of the Belgian Congo.

Large numbers of male laborers were drawn to the city, distorting the gender balance until men outnumbered women two to one, eventually leading to a roaring s** trade.

Around one million people were using Kinshasa’s railways by the end of the 1940s.

The virus spread, with neighboring Brazzaville and the mining province, Katanga, rapidly hit.

Those “perfect storm” conditions lasted just a few decades in Kinshasa, but by the time they ended the virus was already starting to spread around the world.

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Sweden to become first long-term EU member to recognize state of Palestine

Diane A. Wade
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Sweden to become first long-term EU member to recognize state of Palestine

Sweden’s PM Stefan Lofven has announced that his country will become the first long-term EU member country to recognize the state of Palestine.

Stefan Lofven said: “The conflict between Israel and Palestine can only be solved with a two-state solution.”

It should be “negotiated in accordance with international law”, he said.

Sweden last month voted out the centre-right Alliance coalition of Fredrik Reinfeldt after eight years.

That allowed the Social Democrats led by Stefan Lofven to form a government with other parties on the left including the Greens.

“A two-state solution requires mutual recognition and a will to peaceful co-existence. Sweden will therefore recognize the state of Palestine,” Stefan Lofven said on Ocotber 3, without giving a timeline for the recognition.

Sweden will join more than 130 other countries that recognize a Palestinian state.

PM Stefan Lofven has said Sweden will become the first long-term EU member country to recognize the state of Palestine
PM Stefan Lofven has said Sweden will become the first long-term EU member country to recognize the state of Palestine

Most of the EU’s 28 member states have refrained from recognizing Palestinian statehood and those that do – such as Hungary, Poland and Slovakia – did so before joining the bloc.

The Palestinians have long sought to establish an independent, sovereign state in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem as its capital, and the Gaza Strip – occupied by Israel during the 1967 Six Day War.

Correspondents say Sweden’s move is likely to be strongly criticized by Israel and the US, who argue that an independent Palestinian state should only emerge through negotiations.

In 1988, the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat unilaterally declared a Palestinian state within the pre-June 1967 lines.

This won recognition from about 100 countries, mainly Arab, Communist and non-aligned states – several of them in Latin America.

The 1993, Oslo Accord between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel led to mutual recognition. However, two decades of on-off peace talks have since failed to produce a permanent settlement.

In 2012, the UN General Assembly voted to upgrade the status of the Palestinians to that of a “non-member observer state”.

It followed a failed bid to join the international body as a full member state in 2011 because of a lack of support in the UN Security Council.

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John Cantlie’s father appeals for British hostage release

Diane A. Wade
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John Cantlie’s father appeals for British hostage release

In a recent video, John Cantlie’s father, Paul Cantlie, has appealed for the British hostage release.

Journalist John Cantlie, who was kidnapped in Syria in 2012 and is being held by Islamic State (ISIS) militants, has so far appeared in three videos.

From hospital, Paul Cantlie said he felt “great relief” seeing his son for the first time in two years, but also experienced “despair and helplessness”.

His family has been trying to deliver an “important message” to ISIS, Paul Cantlie added.

The videos have all followed the same format, with John Cantlie, who is originally from Hampshire, appearing sitting at a desk against a black backdrop to address the camera.

In the most recent, released earlier this week, John Cantlie delivered a scripted message mocking the US strategy of using air strikes combined with local ground forces.

At the end of the five-and-a-half minute film, John Cantlie indicated there will be further messages.

There are no signs of violence in the videos but, in the first, John Cantlie made clear he was speaking as a prisoner whose life was in danger.

Paul Cantlie said: “For the first time in almost two years, we saw John when he made a televised broadcast during which he told viewers that he was still a prisoner of the Islamic State and that maybe he will live and maybe he will die.

“As a family we experienced great relief seeing and hearing John and knowing that he is alive. This was followed by the feeling of despair and helplessness.”

John Cantlie’s father, Paul Cantlie, has appealed for the British hostage release from his hospital bed
John Cantlie’s father, Paul Cantlie, has appealed for the British hostage release from his hospital bed

Paul Cantlie said when his son was captured in northern Syria while working as a photojournalist, he was “seeking out the true story of the suffering of the Syrian people”.

“John felt a strong need to help in the best way that he could,” he said.

“As an impartial and respected journalist he knew that he could make a difference by acting as a platform for the world to listen to and take notice, using his journalistic skills for the good of the people, as a friend and as a civilian.”

The Cantlie family is trying to communicate with ISIS “to deliver an important message regarding John” but has yet to receive a response, said his father.

In a direct message to the militants, Paul Cantlie said: “To those holding John: please know that he is a good man, he sought only to help the Syrian people and I ask you from all that is sacred, to help us and allow him to return home safely to those he loves and who love him.”

He said his family had received “many messages” of support.

“Speaking entirely for myself, this is not how I had imagined I would be passing my 81st year,” he added.

“I want John to know how very proud I am of him. I can think of no greater joy than seeing my dear son released and allowed to return home to us.”

John Cantlie – an experienced journalist and photographer – has twice been held captive in neighboring Syria.

He was kidnapped in July 2012, and handcuffed and blindfolded for a week, but escaped with the help from the Free Syrian Army.

A second kidnap happened when he returned to Syria towards the end of 2012.

ISIS has taken control of large areas of Syria and Iraq and declared a caliphate.

Since August, the Islamist group has killed three Western hostages – US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and British aid worker David Haines. They have also threatened to kill British hostage Alan Henning.

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Lionel Messi faces trial for tax evasion in Spain

Clyde K. Valle
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Lionel Messi faces trial for tax evasion in Spain

Soccer star Lionel Messi is to face trial for alleged tax evasion, a Spanish judge has ruled.

The judge rejected a prosecution recommendation to drop the charges on the grounds the player’s father was responsible for his finances.

Lionel Messi and his father Jorge are accused of defrauding the authorities of more than 4 million euros ($5 million).

Lionel and Jorge Messi, who deny wrongdoing, have five days to appeal against the ruling.

It is alleged that they withheld the money between 2007 and 2009.

Lionel Messi is to face trial for alleged tax evasion
Lionel Messi is to face trial for alleged tax evasion

The income related to Lionel Messi’s image rights, including contracts with Banco Sabadell, Danone, Adidas, Pepsi-Cola, Procter and Gamble, and the Kuwait Food Company.

Lionel Messi and his father are suspected of avoiding paying Spanish tax by using companies in Belize and Uruguay to sell the rights to use Messi’s image.

The judge ruled: “In this type of crime, it is not necessary for someone to have complete knowledge of all the accounting and business operations nor the exact quantity, rather it is sufficient to be aware of the designs to commit fraud and consent to them.”

In August 2013, Lionel Messi and his father made a 5 million euro “corrective payment”, equal to the alleged unpaid tax plus interest.

Lionel Messi has been four times FIFA World Player of the Year and is captain of Argentina.

The court decision comes as Barcelona grapples with a separate prominent legal case.

A Madrid court is hearing a lawsuit that accuses Barcelona of misappropriating funds from the transfer fee to buy Brazil striker Neymar from Santos in 2013.

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell quit in January, but insisted he had “acted correctly” over the transfer.

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Early HIV treatment is not a cure

Kathryn R. Bown
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Early HIV treatment is not a cure

Doctors treating a HIV-infected baby in Milan, Italy, say that giving drugs within hours of infection is not a cure.

The newborn infant cleared the virus from their bloodstream, but HIV re-emerged soon after antiretroviral treatment stopped.

Doctors had hoped rapid treatment would might prevent HIV becoming established in the body.

Experts said there was “still some way to go” before a cure was found.

Drug treatments have come a long way since HIV came to global attention in the 1980s and infection is no longer a death sentence.

However, antiretrovirals merely clear the virus from the bloodstream leaving reservoirs of HIV in other organs untouched.

The hope was that acting before the reservoirs formed would be an effective cure.

Drug treatments have come a long way since HIV came to global attention in the 1980s and infection is no longer a death sentence
Drug treatments have come a long way since HIV came to global attention in the 1980s and infection is no longer a death sentence

Doctors at the University of Milan and the Don Gnocchi Foundation in the city have reported a case, in the Lancet medical journal, of a baby born to a mother with HIV in 2009.

Drug treatment started shortly after birth and the virus rapidly disappeared from the bloodstream. HIV was undetectable at the age of three.

The doctors said: “In view of these results, and recent reports of apparent cure of HIV infection, and in agreement with the mother, we stopped antiretroviral therapy.”

For one week everything seemed fine, but in the second week, after treatment stopped, the virus had returned.

In July 2014, a baby girl in the US born with HIV and believed cured after very early treatment was found to still harbor the virus.

Doctors said tests on the four-year-old child from Mississippi indicated she was no longer in remission.

The Mississippi girl had appeared free of HIV as recently as March, without receiving treatment for nearly two years.

Only one person has been “cured” of HIV.

In 2007, Timothy Ray Brown received a bone marrow transplant from a donor with a rare genetic mutation that resists HIV.

Timothy Ray Brown has shown no signs of infection for more than five years.

Hong Kong protesters agree to talks with government

Diane A. Wade
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Hong Kong protesters agree to talks with government

Hong Kong protesters have accepted an offer of talks with the government after a week of unrest.

Chief Executive CY Leung Leung offered the talks with his deputy late on Thursday, October 2, but rejected calls to resign.

The protesters, angry at China’s plan to vet election candidates, have been occupying parts of the city since the weekend, though numbers have fallen.

Beijing has thrown its full support behind CY Leung, calling the protests illegal and “doomed to fail”.

On Friday, October 3, Hong Kong temporarily closed government offices in the main protest-hit area, saying staff should work from home because roads were blocked.

Though the protests were significantly smaller on Friday, some groups remained on the streets. In a sign of tensions, there were some scuffles as police tried to keep protesters back from the buildings.

Scuffles also broke out in the Mong Kok district between protesters and residents who oppose the demonstrations. Similar disturbances were reported from the Causeway Bay area.

Police were sent to Mong Kok where pro-Beijing groups had reportedly tried to remove barriers and tents.

At a news conference, the police have heavily criticized the protesters for obstructing traffic and blocking supplies reaching the government offices.

“It is unreasonable, unnecessary and severely affecting emergency services and the life of the public,” police spokesman Hui Chun-tak said.

Hong Kong protesters have accepted an offer of talks with the government after a week of unrest
Hong Kong protesters have accepted an offer of talks with the government after a week of unrest

Hui Chun-tak urged protesters to leave the area outside the government buildings in an orderly fashion, but stressed the police would remain impartial and “exercise the greatest tolerance”.

On the issue of talks, the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS) said it would have a public meeting with Chief Administration Secretary Carrie Lam, but insisted that CY Leung should step down, saying he had “lost his integrity”.

The Occupy Central movement issued a statement saying it hoped “the talks can provide a turning point in the current political stalemate”. It also called for CY Leung’s resignation.

Benny Tai, co-founder of Occupy Central movement, also visited students outside government offices – who have reportedly attempted to block supplies from reaching the police – and urged them to show understanding.

“Everyone loves Hong Kong and we all hope to have a peaceful and just society, and on this journey we must show inclusivity,” he said, according to Apple Daily.

The students had threatened to escalate their protests and occupy government buildings if CY Leung did not resign by Thursday night.

Hours before the deadline, he said in a news briefing: “I will not resign because I have to continue with the work for elections.”

He warned that any attempts to occupy buildings would lead to “serious consequences”.

At the heart of the row is how Hong Kong elects its next leader. In August, Beijing ruled that while Hong Kong residents would have a vote, their choice of candidates would be restricted by a committee.

The protesters say this falls short of the free elections they are seeking.

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Wyatt Isabelle Kutcher: Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis reveal baby name

Lisa.Felice
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Wyatt Isabelle Kutcher: Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis reveal baby name

Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher have welcomed a baby girl, Wyatt Isabelle, their first child together.

Ashton Kutcher revealed the baby’s name via Facebook.

Wyatt Isabelle Kutcher was born on Tuesday, September 30, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have welcomed a baby girl, Wyatt Isabelle, on September 30
Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have welcomed a baby girl, Wyatt Isabelle, on September 30 (photo Facebook)

Ashton Kutcher, 36, wrote: “Mila and I would like to welcome Wyatt Isabelle Kutcher to the world. May your life be filled with wonder, love, laughter, health, happiness, curiosity, and privacy.”

Although the baby’s name is known, he wasn’t so forthcoming about her appearance, posting numerous baby pictures (even including dogs and goats) and inviting readers to guess which is Wyatt Isabelle.

“Here’s your baby photo. Well, one of them is. Now can the helicopter please stop hovering over our house, there is a baby sleeping inside! And she’s super cute,” Ashton Kutcher’s message read.

Ebola outbreak: NBC cameraman tests positive for virus in Liberia

Kathryn R. Bown
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Ebola outbreak: NBC cameraman tests positive for virus in Liberia

An American cameraman working in Liberia has tested positive for Ebola.

The 33-year-old freelancer is to be flown home to the US for treatment.

The unnamed cameraman has been working in Liberia for three years for a number of media outlets, most recently NBC News.

More than 3,330 people have died in four West African countries in what has become the world’s worst outbreak.

President Barack Obama has pledged federal support to contain the spread in the US, after the first case there.

A Liberian man diagnosed in Texas on September 30 remains in a serious condition.

The cameraman is the fourth American known to test positive for Ebola, all diagnosed in Liberia.

Three American aid workers were separately flown back to the US for treatment and they are all recovering.

There have been 7,178 confirmed Ebola cases in total, with Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea suffering the most
There have been 7,178 confirmed Ebola cases in total, with Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea suffering the most (photo AP)

The cameraman was only hired by NBC News on September 30, the broadcaster said, and he came down with symptoms – including fever and aches – the following day.

After seeking medical advice, he tested positive for the virus.

NBC News President Deborah Turness informed staff of the news in a statement.

“We are doing everything we can to get him the best care possible. He will be flown back to the United States for treatment at a medical center that is equipped to handle Ebola patients.”

The rest of the NBC crew including the network’s chief medical editor, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, are being flown back to the US on a private charter flight and will be placed under quarantine for 21 days, Deborah Turness added.

Meanwhile, as many as 100 people in Texas are being checked for exposure to Ebola, after Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian national, was diagnosed with the virus in Dallas.

Thomas Eric Duncan flew to the US two weeks ago to visit relatives.

A number of them have been ordered to stay home while they are watched for signs of the disease.

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings was called by President Barack Obama on October 2 who promised to help with whatever was needed from federal resources to stop it spreading.

Thomas Eric Duncan was the first person diagnosed on US soil and on October 2, Liberian officials said they would prosecute him for lying on an Ebola questionnaire form prior to leaving the country.

The Ebola outbreak has prompted dire warnings of economic collapse in West Africa if infection rates continue.

There have been 7,178 confirmed Ebola cases in total, with Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea suffering the most.

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Lindsay Lohan forgets lines during stage debut in Speed The Plow

Sonia Pantiss
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Lindsay Lohan forgets lines during stage debut in Speed The Plow

Troubled star Lindsay Lohan has made her stage debut in West End play Speed-the-Plow, although her performance did not go entirely smoothly.

Lindsay Lohan, 28, forgot her lines once during the second act of the play but she was helped by a prompt.

The actress plays the role of secretary Karen in David Mamet’s Hollywood satire, a role that was originated by Madonna on Broadway in 1988.

But one prominent critic described the Lohan as being “out of her league”.

During the curtain call, Lindsay Lohan let off a giant party popper that showered the front of the stalls with gold confetti.

Lindsay Lohan appears alongside West Wing star Richard Schiff and stage actor Nigel Lindsay who play Hollywood hotshots – Bobby Gould and Charlie Fox – who want to pitch a movie idea to the head of the film studio.

Lindsay Lohan has made her stage debut in West End play Speed-the-Plow
Lindsay Lohan has made her stage debut in West End play Speed-the-Plow

Their plan goes awry when Karen suggests a different idea for a film based on a book she was asked to read.

Thursday’s opening night at the Playhouse Theatre in London followed a week of previews and newspaper speculation about Lindsay Lohan’s performance.

The actress developed a reputation for being unreliable after her early career as a child star descended into alcohol abuse and a series of arrests.

After Thursday’s opening night, The Stage‘s critic Mark Shenton said the West End was not there to “nurture the egos of minor Hollywood actors”.

“There are really qualified actors to play this part and she’s not qualified. She was so out of her league. We are talking about the wrong Lindsay here. It’s Nigel Lindsay we should be talking about. He is a serious actor.”

Ahead of opening night, Speed-the-Plow‘s director Lindsay Posner told Whatsonstage.com that Lindsay Lohan’s involvement in the play was not an example of “stunt casting”.

“If I’d wanted to do stunt casting I would have cast a supermodel or Paris Hilton. I’ve always believed that Lindsay Lohan is a proper actress. In the movies I’ve seen her in, despite her troubles in life, I’ve always thought she was supremely talented.

“And when she came into the rehearsed readings it was manifestly clear that she hasn’t lost that talent. Although for obvious reasons I was taking a risk, I felt I was casting a really good actress for the part.”

Speed-the-Plow runs at the Playhouse Theatre until November 29.

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So Se Pyong: North Korea ready to resume six-party talks on its nuclear program

Diane A. Wade
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So Se Pyong: North Korea ready to resume six-party talks on its nuclear program

North Korea’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, So Se Pyong, says his country is not planning any missile or nuclear tests.

In a recent interview with Reuters news agency, So Se Pyong was also saying that North Korea was ready to resume six-party talks on its nuclear program.

North Korea has been conducting missile and nuclear tests since the negotiations broke down in 2008.

So Se Pyong also dismissed as “fabricated rumors” recent reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is unwell.

Kim Jong-Un has not been seen in public for four weeks, and missed an important political meeting in late September.

A state TV report said Kim Jong-Un was suffering from an “uncomfortable physical condition”.

In the interview with Reuters, So Se Pyong rejected the suggestion that North Korea was planning further missile tests.

So Se Pyong is North Korea’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva
So Se Pyong is North Korea’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva

However, he appeared to suggest that North Korea’s policy was a response to US and South Korean exercises earlier this year.

“We have to be alert also, we have to be prepared to make counter measures against that military exercise which are against us,” So Se Pyong was quoted as saying.

“In case, in case, if they do that kind of joint military exercise, the joint nuclear military exercise against my country continuously, we have to, also.”

North Korea pledged to abandon its nuclear program in 2005, but appeared to backtrack by testing devices in 2006 and 2009.

The program was the subject of six-nation talks, involving Russia, China, Japan, the US and North and South Korea, until 2009.

Attempts to restart the negotiations have floundered.

“For the six-party talks we are ready,” So Se Pyong said, adding that Russia and China were also prepared.

“But America, they don’t like that kind of talks right now,” he was quoted as saying.

“Because America does not like that, so that’s why the countries like South Korea, Japan also are not ready for those talks.”

So Se Pyong also told Reuters North Kroea’s nuclear program had acted as a deterrent against the US.

“In case if we give [the weapons] up like other countries, then of course I think they would have attacked us already,” he was quoted as saying.

So Se Pyong said he was unaware of US efforts to secure the release of three American citizens held in North Korea on charges of crimes against the state.

“I don’t know whether America is ready or not to release them or have some understandings or the recognition of those crimes they made,” he said.

A US official has accused North Korea of missing an opportunity to build relations with the US by refusing to discuss the detentions.

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Thomas Eric Duncan: Dallas Ebola patient to be prosecuted in Liberia

Kathryn R. Bown
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Thomas Eric Duncan: Dallas Ebola patient to be prosecuted in Liberia

Liberia will prosecute Thomas Eric Duncan, the first man diagnosed with Ebola in the US, accusing him of lying over his contact with an infected relative.

When he left the country last month, Liberian national Thomas Eric Duncan filled in a questionnaire saying that none of his relatives were sick.

However, Liberia’s assistant health minister said Thomas Eric Duncan had taken a sick relative to a clinic in a wheelbarrow.

Thomas Eric Duncan is in a serious condition in a Dallas hospital.

His is the first case of Ebola to be diagnosed on US soil, where as many as 100 people are being checked for exposure to the deadly virus.

More than 3,330 people have died in the Ebola outbreak in four West African countries.

Liberia’s prosecution announcement was made at the weekly Ebola update news conference, which is attended by numerous government officials and was dominated by the case of Thomas Eric Duncan.

Thomas Eric Duncan is the first man diagnosed with Ebola in the US
Thomas Eric Duncan is the first man diagnosed with Ebola in the US (photo Facebook)

“We wish him a speedy recovery; we await his arrival in Liberia to face prosecution,” Binyah Kesselly, the chairman of the board of directors of the Liberia Airport Authority, said.

Deputy Information Minister Isaac Jackson confirmed that Thomas Eric Duncan would be prosecuted as he “lied under oath about his Ebola status”.

Assistant Health Minister Tolbert Nyenswah explained at the briefing that he was investigating Thomas Eric Duncan’s movements before he left Liberia on September 19.

He said Thomas Eric Duncan works as a driver in Liberia for Save-Way Cargo, a subsidiary of the international courier service FedEx, and lives in the Paynesville 72nd Community suburb of Monrovia.

Eric Vaye, a neighbor of Thomas Eric Duncan’s, was also at the briefing to help with contact tracing, and said that nine people had died of Ebola in the district in recent weeks.

Thomas Eric Duncan is alleged to have pushed the wheelbarrow when taking a sick relative to a clinic.

This is banned and people are obliged to phone a hotline number to ensure that patients are collected by health workers so further contact with sick people is avoided.

Tolbert Nyenswah said it was “less likely” that Thomas Eric Duncan had passed on the disease when in Liberia because he was not showing signs before he left.

According to the latest UN figures, there have been 7,178 confirmed Ebola cases, with Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea suffering the most.

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CJ Spillman under investigation for assault

Clyde K. Valle
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CJ Spillman under investigation for assault

Dallas Cowboys defensive back CJ Spillman is being investigated over an alleged assault, police say.

CJ Spillman, 28, has not been arrested or charged.

The attack allegedly took place at a Texas hotel in the early hours of September 20, according to Grapevine police spokesman, Sgt. Robert Eberling.

The case adds to a recent spate of high-profile incidents involving NFL players.

Earlier this month Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was suspended indefinitely after a video emerged of him punching his then-fiancée.

After Ray Rice was suspended, Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson was indicted on child-abuse charges.

CJ Spillman is being investigated over an alleged assault
CJ Spillman is being investigated over an alleged assault (photo AP)

And Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer has been charged over accusations he broke his wife’s nose during a domestic dispute in July.

The latest incident allegedly took place at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, where the Dallas Cowboys stay.

CJ Spillman, a defensive back, played against the St Louis Rams the next day.

Sgt. Robert Eberling said no other details were being released because the investigation was ongoing.

There has been no immediate response from the Cowboys. CJ Spillman’s agent and lawyer declined to comment, the Associated Press said.

On September 30, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett told staff that the club would not allow players accused of domestic violence to play.

Critics have been calling on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to step down after Ray Rice initially received just a two-game ban for his assault.

In a public statement earlier this month, Roger Goodell said he “got it wrong” in his handling of the Rice case and pledged to implement new personal conduct policies.

The NFL has announced it is hiring four women as advisers on domestic violence.

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Liv Tyler pregnant with second baby

Lisa.Felice
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Liv Tyler pregnant with second baby

Liv Tyler is expecting baby No 2.

Liv Tyler, who already has son Milo, 9, with ex-husband Royston Langdon, will welcome her first child with British boyfriend Dave Gardner next year.

Dave Gardner already has son Grey, 7, with ex-wife Davinia Taylor.

A spokesperson for Liv Tyler, 37, confirmed the news to UsMagazine.com.

Liv Tyler is expecting baby No 2
Liv Tyler is expecting baby No 2

Liv Tyler recently admitted she was “100 per cent planning” on having more children.

The actress said: “I hope I will have more children. I’m 100 per cent planning on it. If the stork could just drop it off on my roof, I’d be so happy – I’d have, like, 20.”

Liv Tyler confessed she is less certain about marrying for the second time. She said: “That’s something interesting that happens in your thirties. You’re not in the stage anymore of princes and happily ever after. It’s a different stage of acceptance and realisation about the realities of love and relationships. Forever is a long time.” 

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Amal Alamuddin quit smoking after she started dating George Clooney

Lisa.Felice
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Amal Alamuddin quit smoking after she started dating George Clooney

Amal Alamuddin reportedly quit smoking after she started dating George Clooney.

Amal Alamuddin’s decision to adopt a healthier lifestyle comes as no surprise, as George previously admitted he is “a big non-smoker”.

Amal Alamuddin reportedly quit smoking after she started dating George Clooney
Amal Alamuddin reportedly quit smoking after she started dating George Clooney (photo AFP)

While promoting Good Night, and Good Luck in 2005, George Clooney told Interview magazine: “My grandparents back in Kentucky owned a tobacco farm. So to make money in the summer we could cut and chop and top and house and strip the tobacco. It sure made you not want to smoke.”

The actor added: “You know I had 10 great aunts and uncles on my father’s side, and six of them died of lung cancer. Rosemary [George Clooney’s aunt] died of lung cancer, too, and she had emphysema. Both of my grandparents died of lung cancer. So I got quite a lesson in the payback later in life of smoking, and if you keep it up how bad it can be. “

Hong Kong protests: CY Leung refuses to resign

Diane A. Wade
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Hong Kong protests: CY Leung refuses to resign

Hong Kong’s leader CY Leung says he will not step down, amid calls from pro-democracy protesters for him to resign.

CY Leung said his government was willing to hold talks with the protesters.

The protesters are angry at China’s plan to vet candidates for elections in 2017, and say they want full democracy.

They have surrounded two key government buildings in the territory, but CY Leung warned them that they were breaking the law.

At a news conference shortly before the protesters’ midnight deadline for his resignation, CY Leung warned that attempts to move on or occupy government buildings would have “very serious consequences”.

Hong Kong’s leader CY Leung says he will not step down, amid calls from pro-democracy protesters for him to resign
Hong Kong’s leader CY Leung says he will not step down, amid calls from pro-democracy protesters for him to resign

He said the territory’s top civil servant, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam, would open a dialogue with student leaders as soon as possible.

“Tonight, the Hong Kong Federation of Students issued an open letter asking for a meeting with the chief secretary, representing the Hong Kong government, to discuss one item – and this is the constitutional development of Hong Kong,” CY Leung told reporters.

“We have studied the letter in detail, and I’m now appointing the chief secretary to represent the Hong Kong government to meet with the representatives of the Hong Kong Federation of Students to discuss constitutional development matters.”

Hong Kong’s chief executive added: “I will not resign because I have to continue with the work for elections.”

The protesters have massed outside the Office of the Chief Executive and the Central Government Complex.

Police had earlier warned protesters not to try to breach the police cordon protecting the buildings.

Police spokesman Steve Hui told reporters: “The police will not stand by and watch. We will decisively uphold the law.”

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Lynsey de Paul dies following suspected brain hemorrhage aged 64

Sonia Pantiss
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Lynsey de Paul dies following suspected brain hemorrhage aged 64

British singer Lynsey de Paul has died at the age of 64, following a suspected brain hemorrhage.

Lynsey de Paul represented the UK in the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Rock Bottom.

She became the first woman to win an Ivor Novello award for songwriting.

Lynsey de Paul, who broke into the music scene in 1971, followed up her Sugar Me hit with Getting a Drag, reaching number 18 in the UK charts.

Her 1973 hit Won’t Somebody Dance With Me won her first Ivor Novello award.

A second Ivor Novello Award followed a year later for No Honestly, which was also the theme tune to the ITV comedy of the same name, starring Pauline Collins and John Alderton.

Lynsey de Paul became the first woman to win an Ivor Novello award for songwriting
Lynsey de Paul became the first woman to win an Ivor Novello award for songwriting (photo Wikipedia)

Lynsey de Paul never married but was romantically linked to a string of well-known men including Sean Connery, Dudley Moore and Ringo Starr.

An interview with the Mail in 2007 revealed she had five offers of marriage, including one from James Coburn and another from Chas Chandler, bassist with The Animals.

She reached the height of her popularity in the mid-1970s, with number one hits in Switzerland, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands – although never the UK.

However, Lynsey de Paul popularity waned in the late 1970s although she continued to compose and perform, famously singing her own song at the Conservative Party conference in 1983.

She also starred in celebrity quiz shows such as Blankety Blank and more recently, reality shows including Cash in the Attic and Come Dine With Me.

In 1992, Lynsey de Paul presented a documentary about women’s self-defense, called Eve Fights Back, which won a Royal Television Society award.

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Photographer asked to cease harassing Prince George and nanny

Lisa.Felice
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Photographer asked to cease harassing Prince George and nanny

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s lawyers have asked a photographer to “cease harassing” Prince George and his nanny.

A Kensington Palace statement said they were prompted to take action after the man was spotted near 14-month-old Prince George in a central London park.

The statement said: “No parent would tolerate the suspicion of someone pursuing and harassing their child and carer.”

Prince William and Kate Middleton are not taking legal action at this stage.

The man had been warned off last week by royal protection officers and that he had also been spoken to “over a number of years” about his behavior.

Since his birth in July 2013, Prince William and Kate Middleton have posed for a number of official photographs with Prince George
Since his birth in July 2013, Prince William and Kate Middleton have posed for a number of official photographs with Prince George (photo Jason Bell)

The Kensington Palace statement added: “There is reason to suspect that the individual may have been placing Prince George under surveillance and monitoring his daily routines for a period of time.

“The duke and duchess understand the particular public role that Prince George will one day inherit but while he is young, he must be permitted to lead as ordinary a life as possible.”

Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo was named as the prince’s nanny in March when the palace appealed for her privacy to be respected.

Since his birth in July 2013, Prince William and Kate Middleton have posed for a number of official photographs with Prince George.

Prince George has also been pictured accompanying his parents on state visits and with the palace’s consent at other events.

The Independent Press Standards Organization (IPSO) editors’ code of practice states that young children “must not be interviewed or photographed on issues involving their own or another child’s welfare unless a custodial parent or similarly responsible adult consents”.

IPSO replaced the defunct Press Complaints Commission last month.

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George Clooney’s wedding celebrations cost $13 million

Lisa.Felice
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George Clooney’s wedding celebrations cost $13 million

George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin’s four-day wedding celebrations in Venice cost an estimated 10 million euros ($13 million).

The wedding celebrations involved pool-side cocktail parties, dinners in five-star hotels and a lavish wedding reception on the Grand Canal.

More than 100 guests, including Matt Damon, Sandra Bullock and Cindy Crawford, converged on Venice for the extravaganza, which began on September 26 and culminated on September 29 with a civil ceremony in which George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin were formally married.

The final bill for the extravaganza included the cost of Amal Alamuddin’s wedding dress, the first pictures of which emerged on September 29 on the covers of People and Hello magazines.

George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin’s four-day wedding celebrations in Venice cost an estimated 10 million euros
George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin’s four-day wedding celebrations in Venice cost an estimated 10 million euros (photo Hello! magazine)

Amal Alamuddin’s white lace gown, designed by Oscar de la Renta, was hand-stitched with hundreds of pearls and crystals. The off-the-shoulder, ivory-colored dress featured a floor-length veil.

The cost of the wedding also included the hire of water taxis to take guests to and from the various venues, the rooms in which they stayed at the five-star Hotel Cipriani, and the reception at the Aman Hotel on Saturday night, in which George Clooney and his British fiancée informally exchanged vows.

George Clooney flew in cases of his own brand of tequila and the couple gave iPods loaded with a special collection of their favourite songs to their guests as presents.

It was not clear who picked up the tab for the four-day marriage marathon.

The Italian media reported that the whole event was paid for by Amal Alamuddin’s father Ramzi, a retired professor at the American University of Beirut.

However, it seemed likely that George Clooney, one of the highest-paid actors in the world, would have chipped in too.

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Kim Jong-un weight gain: North Korean leader broke both ankles and is hospitalized

Nancy Clayson
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Kim Jong-un weight gain: North Korean leader broke both ankles and is hospitalized

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has become so fat while in office that his ankles have fractured under his own weight, it was reported.

Kim Jong-un, 31, who has looked increasingly portly since taking power, had to undergo a hospital operation after putting too much strain on his ankles during a gruelling round of official engagements.

The treatment has also been linked to Kim Jong-un’s unexpected failure to attend a recent session of the Supreme People’s Assembly, according to a Pyongyang source who spoke to the Chosun Ilbo newspaper in neighbouring South Korea.

Unlike other members of North Korea’s political elite, for whom a sudden absence from public life often means they have been killed or imprisoned, in Kim Jong-un’s case it is said to be down to weight gain as a result of his unhealthy diet.

Kim Jong-un has become so fat while in office that his ankles have fractured under his own weight
Kim Jong-un has become so fat while in office that his ankles have fractured under his own weight

Kim Jong-un is now believed to weigh at least 20 stone as a result of his fondness for heavy drinking and imported Swiss cheese, which he gained a taste for while at school in Switzerland.

His ankle injuries are said to have resulted from a long tour of military bases and factories while wearing shoes decked out with Cuban heels, which boosted his 5ft 9ins height but proved difficult to walk in. He is said to have suffered sprains on both feet first and then compounded the injuries by walking more, leading to the fractures.

Bodyguards have been posted around the ward of a Pyongyang hospital where he is now being treated.

There was also speculation that a team of private European doctors had flown in to treat him.

Kim Jong-un’s absence from the assembly was followed by a rare admission by state television which not only showed footage of him limping but also stated that he was ill.

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Mila Kunis gives birth to baby girl at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles

Lisa.Felice
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Mila Kunis gives birth to baby girl at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles

Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher welcomed a baby girl on Tuesday, September 30, TMZ reported.

Mila Kunis delivered at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

A source close to the couple claims the couple arrived Tuesday morning at about 6 a.m.

Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher welcomed a baby girl
Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher welcomed a baby girl (photo Instagram)

The source also told TMZ Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher went directly into the delivery room. That seems in line with Mila Kunis’ birthing plan, which she shared in the July issue of Marie Claire.

“Two people are allowed in my delivery room. My doctor and my significant other,” Mila Kunis told the magazine.

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Bulgaria gunpowder plant explosion: At least 15 people feared dead in Gorni Lom blast

Diane A. Wade
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Bulgaria gunpowder plant explosion: At least 15 people feared dead in Gorni Lom blast

At least 15 people are feared dead after an explosion devastated Gorni Lom gunpowder plant north of the Bulgarian capital, Sofia.

Civil defense force head Nikolay Nikolov said: “There are no signs of life at the site of the explosion.”

“After the examination we made, the hopes to find survivors have completely vanished,” said Nikolay Nikolov, Director of the General Directorate for Fire Safety and Civil Protection, Nova TV reported.

“We will still continue surveying and examining the perimeter with the hope to find survivors but I think that 13 men and 2 women have died in the blast. We have informed their relatives,” he said.

Three women employees who had been near the factory at Gorni Lom at the time were hurt and treated in hospital.

At least 15 people are feared dead after an explosion devastated Gorni Lom gunpowder plant north of the Bulgarian capital, Sofia
At least 15 people are feared dead after an explosion devastated Gorni Lom gunpowder plant north of the Bulgarian capital, Sofia

Rescue workers say they are unable to enter the site until Thursday evening because of the risk of further blasts.

However, interior ministry officials visited the factory overnight, defying orders, and said they found no survivors.

The explosion took place at around 17:00 on Wednesday, October 1, and a big secondary blast was reported at 21:45.

The factory, some 75 miles north of Sofia, destroys stockpiles of obsolete munitions for the Bulgarian army and Dnes daily newspaper quoted an expert saying it had been handling explosives from Greece.

The cause of the blast is unclear but reports say 10 tonnes of highly explosive chemicals were being stored at the plant.

Drones are due to fly over the area and the government has decided to send a team equipped with armored cars on to the site, local media report, although there is no indication when that will take place.

“The factory has been reduced to ashes,” an interior ministry spokesman said.

There were explosions at the factory in 2007 and 2010, in which several people were hurt. Two units of the plant were flattened in the 2010 blast.

Five reasons you’re tired all the time

Kathryn R. Bown
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Five reasons you’re tired all the time

If you find yourself counting down the minutes to bedtime as soon as you wake, yawning your way through the working day and struggling to stay awake on the journey home, you are not alone. As many as one in five of us feel unusually tired at any one time.

If you feel constantly fatigued, you will know that carrying out even the simplest of tasks can be difficult. Your quality of life is diminished as you struggle to enjoy your usual activities, such as playing sports, reading a good book or spending time with loved ones. To resolve your problem, you first need to determine its cause. To help you, here are five energy-sappers that may be to blame:

1. Lack of sleep

It may seem obvious but lack of sleep can have a disastrous effect on your energy levels. The amount of sleep you require varies depending on age, lifestyle and health. Just because six hours of sleep has sufficed for you in the past doesn’t mean it will be all you need forever. If you suspect you are not getting enough sleep, try to change your routine by winding down and going to bed earlier or setting your morning alarm later. It may be useful to stop watching television, using  computers, phones and tablet devices and finish any work you’ve taken home well in advance of bedtime to improve the quality of your sleep.

Five reasons you’re tired all the time
Five reasons you’re tired all the time

2. Poor diet

Not eating a balanced diet can lead to many problems, including tiredness. It is important to get the right quantities of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals if you are to feel at your best. Try to get at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day and eat starches, such as potatoes, pasta and bread, for slow-release energy. Avoid quick fixes like caffeine and sugar as once the temporary energy boost has subsided, you will end up feeling even more tired. If you think you are not getting enough of a particular vitamin or mineral, you may want to visit your GP to arrange a blood test to find out if you are suffering from any deficiencies.

3. Exercising too much or too little

Excessive exercise can cause you to feel drained but so too can getting too little exercise. Assessing your activity levels relative to your diet can help you to determine if you are overdoing it or need to move about more. If you are just starting to exercise after a long period of time, build up your activity levels gradually to avoid exhaustion. It is recommended that healthy adults get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week.

4. Drinking too much

Too much alcohol can leave you feeling sluggish and struggling to focus the following day. If you regularly binge drink and often exceed 2-3 units per day if you’re a woman or 3-4 units a day if you’re a man, consider reducing your alcohol intake. Not only will this help you to boost your energy levels, but it will also improve your overall health. If you are concerned about how much you are drinking or are finding it difficult to cut down, you should seek the advice of your GP.

5. Health conditions

There are a number of health conditions that can leave you feeling worn out. If you find yourself tired, gaining weight, being sensitive to the cold, and depressed for no apparent reason, you may have an underactive thyroid. If you are lethargic, short of breath, pale and experiencing heart palpitations, you may be suffering from iron-deficiency anemia. The symptoms of type 2 diabetes also includes extreme tiredness, as well as needing to pass urine more frequently and losing weight unexpectedly. These conditions need to be diagnosed and treated by a GP, so if you are experiencing any of these symptoms you should book an appointment.

If you are experiencing pain from an illness or long-term condition, such as sciatica, joint pain or arthritis, you may find that your sleep is interrupted more regularly. To make life easier, you might want to consider investing in a orthopedic bed. Adjustable Beds provide a range of adjustable beds which utilize cutting-edge cyclo-therapy systems which can help to relieve a range of health conditions that can spoil your sleep and interfere with your energy levels.

Security solutions: the importance of hosted backup

Ricky Robinson
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Security solutions: the importance of hosted backup

Having effective IT backup systems in place is a must for businesses these days. Without such security measures, companies stand to lose potentially valuable data, and this could have disastrous consequences.

Highlighting just how much data is being generated around the world, a 2013 report produced by a team at Stanford University in the US suggested that humanity now creates a staggering 1,200 exabytes per year. To put this in context, one exabyte equates to 1,000 petabytes, which, in turn, is equivalent to 1,000 terabytes. One terabyte, meanwhile, is equal to 1,000 gigabytes, which is 1,000 megabytes. Typically, around one minute of MP3 audio takes up a single megabyte.

Hardware failures, viruses, the accidental or intentional deletion of information, theft, power cuts and natural disasters all pose a risk to data. Rather than opting for traditional onsite data storage solutions, such as computer hard drives, external hard drives, CDs, memory sticks and NAS drives, a rising number of organisations are turning to hosted backup solutions. Here are just some of the reasons why.

Save cold, hard cash

 

Firms do have to spend a little money in order to take advantage of hosted backup solutions, but this can be far less than the sums they would have to shell out if they relied on onsite systems. After all, online backup does not require the upgrading of in-house hardware and software. Also, cloud solutions are efficient because they enable companies to scale their plans to fit their precise needs. They can add or reduce storage space as and when they need to.

 

Benefit from greater ease of use

 

Online backup occurs automatically, meaning once they have set up these solutions, companies rarely have to think about them. This can free up valuable time for IT teams to get on with other important tasks. In sharp contrast, manual backup processes must be consciously adhered to on an ongoing basis.

Avoid disaster

In the event of disasters such as fires and floods, backup devices kept within offices can turn out to be useless. The very same things that destroy original data can wipe out these backup systems simultaneously, meaning businesses’ efforts to protect their data fail. This is why it is considered unwise for organisations to rely solely on onsite backups to safeguard their information.

Hosted solutions, on the other hand, avoid this problem entirely. By storing data on secure offsite servers, companies can ensure it is not tied to the fate of their premises.

Boost security

Online backup systems can also help to enhance security. Many enterprises now keep sensitive information like tax documents and financial records. If they back this data up onsite, they leave themselves vulnerable to the risk of theft. Criminals can easily make off with CDs, external hard drives and other devices. The same danger does not apply to online backup solutions.

 

Prevent reputation damage

By bolstering their security in this way, firms can minimize risks to their reputations. In the business world, it can take many long years of hard work and skill to build up a positive image as a trustworthy and reliable provider of goods or services. In contrast, it takes hardly any time at all to destroy such a reputation. If firms prove themselves to be unable to protect sensitive data, their public profiles can quickly plummet. Individuals and organisations do not want to deal with companies that display inadequate data protection procedures.

Enjoy peace of mind

By taking advantage of hosted backup systems, bosses can enjoy much greater peace of mind. As long as they choose a quality platform, such as London Cloud, they can rest assured that they have got this potentially complex issue under full control.

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