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Ebola outbreak: Kenya closes borders to travelers from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea

Kathryn R. Bown
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Ebola outbreak: Kenya closes borders to travelers from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea

Kenya is closing its borders to travelers from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in response to the deadly Ebola outbreak.

The health secretary said Kenyans and medical workers flying in from those states would still be allowed in.

Kenyan Airways says it will stop flights to Liberia and Sierra Leone when the ban comes in on Wednesday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says Kenya is at “high risk” from Ebola because it is a major transport hub.

The epidemic began in Guinea in February and has since spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

On Friday, the death toll rose to 1,145 after the WHO said 76 new deaths had been reported in the two days to August 13. There have been 2,127 cases reported in total.

Earlier, Kenya’s health ministry said four suspected cases of Ebola in the country had tested negative for the virus.

The cases had involved a Liberian national and two Nigerians who had recently travelled to Kenya as well as a Zimbabwean.

Kenya is closing its borders to travelers from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in response to the deadly Ebola outbreak
Kenya is closing its borders to travelers from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in response to the deadly Ebola outbreak

Kenya Airways said it had decided to cancel flights to Liberia and Sierra Leone’s capitals after advice from Kenya’s government.

It said all passengers booked on the suspended flights would get a full refund.

Kenya Airways said its flights to Nigeria were not affected by the suspension.

Announcing the government’s decision, Kenyan Health Minister James Macharia said it was “in the interest of public health”.

James Macharia warned that Kenyans and health workers who had returned from the three west African states would face “strict checks” and would be quarantined if necessary.

On Friday, medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said the Ebola outbreak would take at least six months to bring under control.

MSF President Joanne Liu said the situation was “deteriorating faster, and moving faster, than we can respond to”.

The WHO also admitted that the scale of the outbreak appeared to be “vastly underestimated” and said “extraordinary measures” were needed to contain it.

The Ebola disease is transmitted by direct contact with the body fluids of a person who is infected.

Initial flu-like symptoms can lead to external hemorrhaging from areas such as eyes and gums, and internal bleeding which can lead to organ failure.

The WHO says the risk of transmission of Ebola during air travel remains low.

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Cliff Richard assault: Information provided after UK property search

Lisa.Felice
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Cliff Richard assault: Information provided after UK property search

A number of people have provided information after Cliff Richard’s UK property was searched in relation to an alleged historical s** offence, police say.

South Yorkshire Police, which carried out the search in Sunningdale on August 14, did not say what this information related to.

Police said the allegation involved a boy under 16.

Cliff Richard, 73, has said the allegation is “completely false”.

In a statement issued on August 14, the singer said: “For many months I have been aware of allegations against me of historic impropriety which have been circulating online.

Cliff Richard allegedly assaulted a boy under 16 in 1985
Cliff Richard allegedly assaulted a boy under 16 in 1985 (photo Getty Images)

“The allegations are completely false. Up until now I have chosen not to dignify the false allegations with a response, as it would just give them more oxygen.”

Cliff Richard said he would “co-operate fully” if the police wanted to speak to him.

It appears the allegation relates to an alleged assault at an event featuring preacher Billy Graham at Bramall Lane in Sheffield in 1985.

In a statement, South Yorkshire Police (SYP) said it had not alerted the media to the search in advance.

It said: “When a media outlet contacted SYP with information about an investigation, we took the decision to work with them in order to protect the integrity of that investigation.

“Since the search took place, a number of people have contacted the police to provide information and we must acknowledge that the media played a part in that, for which we are grateful.”

In his statement, Cliff Richard said the police had searched his home “without notice, except it would appear to the press”.

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Brazil elections 2014: Marina Silva to replace late presidential candidate Eduardo Campos

Diane A. Wade
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Brazil elections 2014: Marina Silva to replace late presidential candidate Eduardo Campos

Marina Silva, Brazil’s ex-environment minister, would replace former presidential candidate Eduardo Campos, who was killed in a plane crash on August 13.

Marina Silva is expected to be named in the next few days to run for president in October.

She agreed to run, but the decision still needs to be officially approved by Eduardo Campos’s Socialist Party (PSB).

The Socialists – the major partner in the opposition coalition established to run against President Dilma Rousseff – are expected to announce their decision after a meeting on August 20.

Marina Silva had decided to run for vice-president alongside Eduardo Campos after the Electoral Court in October 2013 refused to register her political movement, Rede Sustentabilidade (The Sustainability Network).

She fell out with the Workers’ Party government and left office to run against Dilma Rousseff in 2010.

An environmentalist and devout evangelical, Marina Silva polled surprisingly well, coming third with nearly 20% of the vote.

Marina Silva is expected to replace late Eduardo Campos to run for Brazil’s president in October
Marina Silva is expected to replace late Eduardo Campos to run for Brazil’s president in October

Dilma Rousseff, who is running for re-election in October, is the front-runner. On Sunday, the first opinion polls showing Marina Silva as candidate will be published in Brazil.

The first round of the presidential election will take place on 5 October and will go to a second round later that month if no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes.

The other main candidate is Aecio Neves, a current senator who will represent the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB).

Marina Silva is seen as a strong opponent and one who may win over even more support than Eduardo Campos would have.

She avoided addressing the issue as she travelled to Eduardo Campos’s funeral.

“I have a sense of responsibility and commitment,” she told journalists as she arrived in the north-eastern city of Recife.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather in the streets of the city on Sunday to pay their last respects to the popular politician.

Eduardo Campos came from a traditional family of politicians and was governor of Pernambuco for seven years, leaving office earlier this year with high approval rates.

His private jet – a Cessna 560XL – crashed in bad weather in the port city of Santos, in Sao Paulo state. It was travelling from Rio de Janeiro.

An investigation into the causes of the crash, which killed Eduardo Campos, 49, and six others, is under way.

The black box recovered from the wreckage of the plane did not record his flight, Brazilian Air Force (FAB) said.

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Germany spied on John Kerry and Hillary Clinton

Diane A. Wade
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Germany spied on John Kerry and Hillary Clinton

Germany recorded calls of US Secretary of State John Kerry and his predecessor Hillary Clinton, German media reports say.

According to Der Spiegel magazine, the calls were collected accidentally and the recordings were destroyed immediately.

John Kerry has reportedly spoken to his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, about the claims.

Correspondents say the reports will embarrass Germany after a row about the US spying on Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Germany recorded calls of Secretary of State John Kerry and his predecessor Hillary Clinton
Germany recorded calls of Secretary of State John Kerry and his predecessor Hillary Clinton

Der Spiegel said the German intelligence agency had tapped a satellite phone call John Kerry made in 2013.

Reports in German daily newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung and public broadcasters NDR and WDR said documents passed to the CIA show German spies had also eavesdropped on Hillary Clinton when she was US Secretary of State.

German government sources told the newspaper and two broadcasters, that they intercepted the call by chance, and she had not been deliberately targeted. They also said it happened just once.

However, media reports said it had not been an isolated case.

A spokesman for the US embassy in Berlin declined to comment on the reports.

If confirmed the revelations could prove difficult for Germany. Relations with the United States have deteriorated amid allegations of American spying on Germany.

The head of the CIA in Germany was expelled last month, after it emerged the agency had tapped Chancellor Merkel’s mobile phone.

Eduardo Campos plane crash: Black box did not record Brazilian presidential candidate’s flight

Diane A. Wade
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Eduardo Campos plane crash: Black box did not record Brazilian presidential candidate’s flight

According to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), the black box recovered from the wreckage of the plane crash that killed Brazilian presidential candidate Eduardo Campos did not record his flight.

It said the audio recording FAB experts had analyzed was not related to the flight that crashed on Wednesday.

A spokesman said they were trying to determine what the recording was.

Eduardo Campos, 49, and six others died when his private jet crashed in bad weather in the port city of Santos near Sao Paulo.

Experts from the Centre of Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia, have been trying to reconstruct the audio files from the black box in search for more clues as to what happened in the lead up to the accident.

The Brazilian Air Force says the black box recovered from the wreckage of the plane crash that killed Eduardo Campos did not record his flight
The Brazilian Air Force says the black box recovered from the wreckage of the plane crash that killed Eduardo Campos did not record his flight

“The two hours of audio, the maximum recording capacity of the equipment, which were received and validated by certified technicians, were not of the flight of August 13,” air force spokesman Pedro Luis Farcic said in a statement.

“It is not yet possible to determine the date of the dialogue recorded in the CVR (Cockpit Voice Recorder), given that this equipment does not record this information,” he continued, adding that an investigation would determine what may have happened.

Shortly after the accident, Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff declared three days of mourning and halted all her re-election campaign activities for October’s presidential poll.

Eduardo Campos, of the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB), had been running third in opinion polls.

It is not yet clear who will replace him as presidential candidate for the PSB.

The PSB has said it will meet on August 20.

Analysts say his running mate, 56-year-old Marina Silva, a popular politician and a former environment minister, could step in.

Under Brazilian law, the party has 10 days to choose a substitute.

It could also decide not to run and throw its support behind another candidate.

Eduardo Campos, a former governor of the north-eastern state of Pernambuco, was on his way from Rio de Janeiro to the city of Guaruja, near Santos, when the Cessna 560XL he was travelling in went down into a residential area, killing everyone on board.

Officials have blamed the crash on bad weather, but a federal investigation on the cause remains underway.

Darren Wilson’s first contact with Michael Brown was not related to robbery

Nancy Clayson
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Darren Wilson’s first contact with Michael Brown was not related to robbery

Michael Brown’s family has appealed for calm after Ferguson police revealed he was a robbery suspect.

CCTV footage appears to show Michael Brown, 18, stealing from a convenience store and intimidating the owner.

Michael Brown’s family denied their son was “perfect” but criticized what they see as a police attempt to “justify the execution-style murder”.

The killing sparked days of angry clashes between police and protestors.

“Stay with us, we don’t want to see any violence on the streets. Please continue to peacefully protest,” said Michael Brown’s cousin, Eric Davis.

There were no reports of unrest for a second successive evening on Friday, as a few hundred people demonstrated quietly at a filling station, which was looted and burnt last weekend.

Civil rights leader Al Sharpton says a rally, led by Michael Brown’s family is planned for Sunday.

“The family has never said that Mike Brown was perfect,” said a lawyer representing the teenager’s family.

Michael Brown was walking down the middle of the street stopping traffic before being shot by officer Darren Wilson
Michael Brown was walking down the middle of the street stopping traffic before being shot by officer Darren Wilson (photo Facebook)

Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson said the officer who shot Michael Brown, later identified as Darren Wilson, did not know that he had allegedly stolen goods from a nearby store.

“The initial contact between the officer and Michael Brown was not related to the robbery,” Thomas Jackson said.

Instead, he added, the reason for the stop was that Michael Brown “was walking down the middle of the street stopping traffic”.

Thomas Jackson said he had released the footage of the crime only because he had been forced to do so because of numerous freedom of information requests from journalists.

He described the robbery at the convenience store as being committed without the use of a weapon.

CCTV pictures in a police report show a well-built black man intimidating a clerk in the store.

The police report identifies the man as Michael Brown, described as being 6ft 4in and 292 pounds.

It says he “grabbed a box of Swisher Sweet cigars” and handed them to a second suspect identified as Michael Brown’s friend, Dorian Johnson.

Since the shooting on Saturday, Thomas Johnson has given a number of interviews in which he has said Michael Brown held up his hands in an act of surrender before being shot by the officer.

Also on Friday Thomas Jackson revealed the name of the officer who shot and killed Michael Brown – Darren Wilson – and said he was injured in a struggle with Brown.

Darren Wilson is a six-year veteran of the police force with no disciplinary record, Thomas Jackson said.

Members of the majority black Ferguson community have reacted angrily to the revelations.

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Pope Francis beatifies 124 of South Korea’s first Catholics

Diane A. Wade
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Pope Francis beatifies 124 of South Korea’s first Catholics

Pope Francis has beatified 124 of South Korea’s first Catholics at a large open-air Mass in Seoul on Saturday.

The pontiff paid tribute to the Koreans, who died for their faith in the 18th and 19th Centuries.

It comes on the third day of his visit to South Korea – his first trip to Asia since becoming pope in March 2013.

Pope Francis also met survivors of the Sewol ferry disaster and delivered his first public mass in the region on Friday.

The beautification ceremony was held at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, with hundreds of thousands of people in attendance.

Beatification, or declaring a person “blessed”, is the necessary prelude to full sainthood.

Pope Francis is spending five days in South Korea, where the Catholic Church is growing. It currently has just over 5.4 million members, some 10.4% of the population.

Crowds of worshippers lined the streets leading up to Gwanghwamun Plaza for Saturday’s ceremony. The square was the site where unrepentant Catholics were paraded before they were publicly executed.

Pope Francis has beatified 124 of South Korea's first Catholics at a large open-air Mass in Seoul
Pope Francis has beatified 124 of South Korea’s first Catholics at a large open-air Mass in Seoul (photo EPA)

“They were willing to make great sacrifices and let themselves be stripped of whatever kept them from Christ – possessions and land, prestige and honor – for they knew that Christ alone was their true treasure,” Pope Francis told the crowd in his sermon.

“They challenge us to think about what, if anything, we ourselves would be willing to die for.”

the people who were beatified today were the founders of the Catholic Church in South Korea 200 years ago .

They were also unique because they were not converted by missionaries who came to Korea but they learnt about Catholicism themselves and brought the books back to Korea to spread the Catholic Church and were executed by the royal authorities for doing so.

On Friday, Pope Francis held Mass for tens of thousands of people gathered at a football stadium in Daejeon, his first public event since arriving in South Korea.

In his address, the pope warned Catholics of a “cancer” of despair in materially-obsessed societies, saying that materialism was spreading like a spiritual desert across the affluent world.

Before Mass got underway, he met with some of the survivors and relatives of the Sewol ferry disaster that killed more than 300 people in April this year.

He was later greeted by a rapturous crowd of some 10,000 youths in Dangjin, where he spoke briefly off-the-cuff in English, acknowledging his difficulties with the language.

There he urged South Koreans to pray for unification with the north.

“Let us pray for our brothers in the north,” Pope Francis said.

Meanwhile, China’s leadership failed to receive a telegram sent by the Pope as he flew over the country on his way to South Korea, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said on Friday.

It is traditional for the pontiff to send blessings to the leadership of a country he flies over, but this was the first time a pope had been permitted to use Chinese air space.

The gesture is seen as significant because the Vatican and China have had no formal ties since the Communist party took power in 1949.

A technical glitch was thought to have stopped the message from being received, which was later resent via the Italian embassy in Beijing, Father Federico Lombardi said.

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Parkinson’s disease: Symptoms, causes and prognosis

Kathryn R. Bown
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Parkinson’s disease: Symptoms, causes and prognosis

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder which leads to progressive deterioration of motor function due to loss of dopamine-producing brain cells.

It is characterized by progressive loss of muscle control, which leads to trembling of the limbs and head while at rest, stiffness, slowness, and impaired balance. As symptoms worsen, it may become difficult to walk, talk, and complete simple tasks.

Primary symptoms include tremor, stiffness, slowness, impaired balance, and later on a shuffling gait.

They are all related to voluntary and involuntary motor function:

  • Tremors: Trembling in fingers, hands, arms, feet, legs, jaw, or head.
  • Rigidity: Stiffness of the limbs and trunk, which may increase during movement. Rigidity may produce muscle aches and pain.
  • Bradykinesia: Slowness of voluntary movement.
  • Postural instability: Impaired or lost reflexes can make it difficult to adjust posture to maintain balance.
  • Parkinsonian gait: Individuals with more progressive Parkinson’s disease develop a distinctive shuffling walk with a stooped position and a diminished or absent arm swing.

    Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder and the most common movement disorder
    Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder and the most common movement disorder

Most individuals with Parkinson’s disease are diagnosed when they are 60 or older, but early-onset Parkinson’s disease also occurs.

With proper treatment, most individuals with Parkinson’s disease can lead long, productive lives for many years after diagnosis.

Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder and the most common movement disorder.

The progression of Parkinson’s disease and the degree of impairment vary from individual to individual. Many people with Parkinson’s disease live long productive lives, whereas others become disabled much more quickly. Premature death is usually due to complications such as falling-related injuries or pneumonia.

In the US, about 1 million people are affected by Parkinson’s disease and worldwide about 5 million. Parkinson’s disease occurs in approximately 1% of individuals aged 60 years and in about 4% of those aged 80 years. Since overall life expectancy is rising, the number of individuals with Parkinson’s disease will increase in the future. Adult-onset Parkinson’s disease is most common, but early-onset Parkinson’s disease (onset between 21 and40 years), and juvenile-onset Parkinson’s disease (onset before age 21) also exist.

Descriptions of Parkinson’s disease date back as far as 5000 BC. Around that time, an ancient Indian civilization called the disorder Kampavata and treated it with the seeds of a plant containing therapeutic levels of what is today known as levodopa. Parkinson’s disease was named after the British doctor James Parkinson, who in 1817 first described the disorder in great detail as “shaking palsy.”

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Chiquita rejects Brazil takeover bid

Clyde K. Valle
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Chiquita rejects Brazil takeover bid

Chiquita has rejected a $611 million takeover bid by Brazilian groups Cutrale and Safra, saying it was sticking to its plan to merge with European fruit seller Fyffes.

The banana company said the offer from Brazil was “inadequate” and that it would not hold talks with the groups “at this time”.

Fruit juice company Cutrale and investment bank Safra made a $611 million bid for US-based Chiquita on Monday.

In March, Chiquita and Irish fruit group Fyffes agreed to merge.

Monday’s offer from the Brazilian businesses sent Chiquita shares 31% higher, while Fyffes fell 15%.

Chiquita has rejected a $611 million takeover bid by Brazilian groups Cutrale and Safra
Chiquita has rejected a $611 million takeover bid by Brazilian groups Cutrale and Safra

A Chiquita-Fyffes merger would create the world’s largest banana supplier, with $4.6 billion in annual revenues.

The deal would allow Chiquita to avoid higher US taxes by relocating its statutory headquarters to Ireland.

This so-called tax inversion has been considered by other US companies, and become highly controversial as it would mean lost government revenues.

Chiquita said on Thursday that the Brazil offer was “inadequate and not in the best interests of Chiquita shareholders”.

“Having made such a determination, Chiquita has determined not to furnish information to, and have discussions and negotiations with, the Cutrale Group and the Safra Group at this time.”

Cutrale and Safra said on Monday that their offer was “clearly more favorable to the Chiquita shareholders than the proposed merger with Fyffes”.

According to the UN, the global banana market is currently controlled by four firms, Chiquita, Dole Food Company, Fresh Del Monte and Fyffes.

Casey Kasem’s body to be moved to Norway for Oslo burial

Lisa.Felice
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Casey Kasem’s body to be moved to Norway for Oslo burial

DJ Casey Kasem’s body is to be moved to Oslo, Norway, according to reports in the Norwegian newspaper VG.

A Norwegian government official told the paper an application had been made to bury Casey Kasem’s remains in the city.

His body was moved by his wife, Jean Kasem, to Ontario in Canada after he died, aged 82, in Washington state in June.

Casey Kasem’s children from a previous marriage say his remains are being kept from them by their stepmother.

Jean Kasem and children have been in dispute over his body since his death.

Casey Kasem’s daughter, Kerri, has accused Jean Kasem of abusing her father before he died.

Kerri Kasem wants a full autopsy to be performed on the body.

The abuse allegations are being investigated by police in Santa Monica, where Casey Kasem had been in hospital before his death.

Kerri Kasem’s spokesman, Danny Deraney, told Billboard it was not clear what Jean Kasem planned to do with her husband’s remains.

After Casey Kasem's death his body was then moved to Ontario, despite a court order designed to prevent his remains being removed from a funeral home in Tacoma
After Casey Kasem’s death his body was then moved to Ontario, despite a court order designed to prevent his remains being removed from a funeral home in Tacoma (photo Getty Images)

“We just know that she wants to keep Casey away from family and friends and by the looks of it, [is] hiding from law enforcement,” he said.

If Casey Kasem is finally laid to rest in Norway, it will be the end of a journey for the man who was the voice of Shaggy in the TV animation, Scooby Doo.

In May, Casey Kasem – who had been suffering from dementia – was taken by his wife from Santa Monica to Las Vegas and then to Washington state, where they were tracked down by a private investigator working for Kasem’s children.

After Casey Kasem’s death his body was then moved to Ontario, despite a court order designed to prevent his remains being removed from a funeral home in Tacoma.

Now it appears Oslo may be the body’s final stop.

However, Casey Kasem’s son, Mike, said his father had no connection to Norway.

“I don’t know if Jean has any ties to Oslo. She certainly has never mentioned it in the last 35 years,” Mike Kasem told Billboard.

“Everyone keeps asking for motives as to why Jean acts how she acts. I don’t have an answer.”

Casey Kasem began his career in the 1950s and found fame with the chart program.

DJ Casey Kasem famously ended his broadcasts with his signature sign-off: “Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.”

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Michael Brown was robbery suspect before being shot by Officer Darren Wilson

Nancy Clayson
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Michael Brown was robbery suspect before being shot by Officer Darren Wilson

Michael Brown was a suspect in a robbery just moments earlier he was shot by police on Saturday in Ferguson, Missouri, police have said.

Michael Brown, 18, was one of two men suspected of robbing a nearby convenience store, police say.

Minutes later he was shot by Officer Darren Wilson after a struggle, Ferguson police Chief Thomas Jackson said on Friday.

The killing sparked days of violent protests in Ferguson.

Thomas Jackson described the robbery at the convenience store as being committed without the use of a weapon.

Police released to the press pictures of a well-built black man intimidating a clerk in the store.

The report identifies Michael Brown, who is described as being 6ft 4in and 292 pounds, as one of the robbers.

It says he “grabbed a box of Swisher Sweet cigars” and handed them to a second suspect identified as Michael Brown’s friend, Dorian Johnson.

Since the shooting on Saturday, Thomas Johnson has given a number of interviews in which he has said Michael Brown held up his hands in an act of surrender before being shot by the officer.

He has not mentioned his involvement in any robbery.

Michael Brown was suspected in strong-arm robbery before being shot by police
Michael Brown was suspected in strong-arm robbery before being shot by police

Darren Wilson, the police officer said to have shot Michael Brown, is a six-year veteran of the police force with no disciplinary record, Thomas Jackson said.

Thomas Jackson said he was treated for injuries sustained during the confrontation with Michael Brown, but he provided no other details of the deadly encounter.

Members of the majority black Ferguson community reacted angrily to the announcement that Michael Brown was a police suspect.

The revelations came after days of furious protests in Ferguson over the killing, to which police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.

On Thursday night, tension seemed to ease, at least momentarily, as state police took charge of security.

Captain Ronald Johnson of the Missouri Highway Patrol, an African-American who grew up nearby, was named as the new head of the operation.

The previous evening, the reverberations from the Mid-west town were felt nationwide with dozens of vigils organized by a social media campaign.

The event in Washington DC was attended by hundreds of people in Malcolm X Park, many holding placards saying: “Hands up. Don’t shoot”.

Similar vigils were held in New York, Boston, Detroit, Chicago and many other cities.

They came at the end of a day when Missouri Governor Jay Nixon likened the scenes of violence in Ferguson to a “war zone” and the police conduct was questioned.

Attorney General Eric Holder said the use of military equipment and vehicles in Ferguson had sent a “conflicting message”, while President Barack Obama said there was no excuse for police using “excessive force”.

Barack Obama has promised a full investigation by the US Department of Justice into the teenager’s death, and the FBI has launched its own inquiry.

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Coca-Cola buys 16.7% stake in Monster Beverage for $2.15 billion

Clyde K. Valle
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Coca-Cola buys 16.7% stake in Monster Beverage for $2.15 billion

Coca-Cola has bought a 16.7% stake in Monster Beverage in a cash deal, as it looks for growth away from fizzy drinks.

In the $2.15 billion deal, Coca-Cola will transfer its worldwide energy business to Monster.

In exchange, Monster will transfer its non-energy business, which includes Peace Tea and Hansen’s Natural Sodas, to Coca-Cola.

The deal gives Monster access to Coca-Cola’s global distribution system.

For Coca-Cola, the partnership will give it the opportunity to increase its market share in the fast-growing energy drinks market.

Coca-Cola has bought a 16.7 percent stake in Monster Beverage in a cash deal
Coca-Cola has bought a 16.7 percent stake in Monster Beverage in a cash deal

Muhtar Kent, chairman at Coca-Cola, said in a statement: “The Coca-Cola Company continues to identify innovative approaches to partnerships that enable us to stay at the forefront of consumer trends in the beverage industry.”

He added that “investment in Monster is a capital efficient way to bolster our participation in the fast-growing and attractive global energy drinks category”.

Also in the same statement, Monster chairman Rodney C. Sacks said the deal gives the company “enhanced access to the Coca-Cola Company’s distribution system, the most powerful and extensive system in the world. At the same time, we become The Coca-Cola Company’s exclusive energy play”.

The deal is subject to regulatory approvals, and both companies hope the transaction will close by early next year.

Monster shares surged 22% in after-hours trading on the news, while Coca-Cola shares rose 1.2%.

Coca-Cola is the world’s largest beverage company, with more than 500 brands to its name, including Diet Coke, Fanta and Minute Maid.

The deal comes as consumers in developed economies and more mature markets are turning health-conscious.

One effect of that is they are staying away from fizzy drinks and soda which have high sugar content and are widely known to cause weight gain and in some cases, lead to obesity.

Coca-Cola has been grappling with falling sales from products that used to be its core revenue driver.

Anna Kendrick denies dating Alfie Allen

Lisa.Felice
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Anna Kendrick denies dating Alfie Allen

Anna Kendrick let her Twitter followers know on August 13 that despite the romance rumors going around about her and Game of Thrones star Alfie Allen, she is not dating the HBO actor.

“Ahh, this has been hilarious and all but, nope. My apologies to Mr. Allen, who must be equally confused,” Anna Kendrick, 29, tweeted, and later deleted.

Anna Kendrick denies dating Alfie Allen
Anna Kendrick denies dating Alfie Allen

This message was in response to a New York Post report that claimed Anna Kendrick and Alfie Allen were an item after they were allegedly spotted on a date at Las Vegas’ SushiSamba this past week.

Anna Kendrick called it quits with director and producer Edgar Wright this past year after dating for four years. Before Alfie Allen, she hadn’t been romantically connected to anyone since her breakup.

Alfie Allen, the 27-year-old brother to pop star Lily Allen, reportedly broke up with actress Jaime Winstone this past month.

Riley Keough: Elvis Presley’s granddaughter engaged to Ben Smith-Petersen

Lisa.Felice
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Riley Keough: Elvis Presley’s granddaughter engaged to Ben Smith-Petersen

Elvis Presley’s granddaughter, Riley Keough, is engaged to Ben Smith-Petersen.

Ben Smith-Petersen announced the news via Facebook on August 14.

Riley Keough is engaged to Ben Smith-Petersen
Riley Keough is engaged to Ben Smith-Petersen (photo Facebook)

“So that happened,” the stuntman captioned a picture of the two snuggling.

Actress Riley Keough, 25, went without makeup for the ceremony and showed off her gorgeous engagement ring.

Lisa Marie Presley’s daughter and Ben Smith-Petersen first met while filming Mad Max: Fury Road in 2012.

In 2012, Riley Keough was engaged to her Magic Mike co-star Alex Pettyfer. She was also linked to Ryan Cabrera, and denied rumors she hooked up with Robert Pattinson in July 2013.

Paul Walker theft: James Brooks Witty sentenced to six months in jail

Lisa.Felice
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Paul Walker theft: James Brooks Witty sentenced to six months in jail

Jameson Brooks Witty, one of the two suspects accused of stealing the roof of the burned-out Porsche Paul Walker was a passenger in at the time of his death last year, has been jailed for six months.

One of the two suspects accused of stealing the roof of the burned-out Porsche Paul Walker was a passenger in at the time of his death has been jailed for six months
One of the two suspects accused of stealing the roof of the burned-out Porsche Paul Walker was a passenger in at the time of his death has been jailed for six months (photo PA)

Teenager Jameson Brooks Witty and his co-defendant, Anthony Edward Janow, 26, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of destroying evidence, grand theft and resisting or delaying a police officer last week, after allegedly walking off with the roof panel from a tow truck carrying the destroyed Porsche Carrera GT from the crash site.

The car burst into flames after it crashed into a post in Santa Clarita, California, killing the driver and Paul Walker on November 30, 2013.

On Thursday, James Brooks Witty was sentenced to serve the maximum punishment for the crimes.

Anthony Edward Janow is set to learn his fate on October 23.

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Ford recalls more than 83,000 vehicles over faulty part

Clyde K. Valle
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Ford recalls more than 83,000 vehicles over faulty part

Ford has announced it is recalling 83,250 cars because a faulty part could cause them to lose power or roll away if they are parked, Associated Press reported.

The recall involves the 2012-2014 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX; the 2013-2014 Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT; and the 2013-2014 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS.

Ford is recalling 83,250 cars because a faulty part could cause them to lose power or roll away if they're parked
Ford is recalling 83,250 cars because a faulty part could cause them to lose power or roll away if they’re parked

The carmaker says that due to the improper installation of a clip in the axle, the halfshaft can disengage from the linkshaft. If that happens, power won’t be transmitted to the wheels, increasing the risk of a crash. Also, the vehicles could roll out of the “park” position if the emergency brake isn’t engaged.

The company says there have been no reports of injuries or accidents related to the defect.

Ford will notify owners and begin free repairs by the end of August.

Michael Brown shooting: Vigils in Ferguson and nationwide

Nancy Clayson
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Michael Brown shooting: Vigils in Ferguson and nationwide

Vigils have been held across the US in honor of Michael Brown, the black teenager killed by police in Missouri.

Moments of silence and protests were held in New York, Chicago, Atlanta and elsewhere, five days after Michael Brown, 18, was fatally shot.

After four nights of violence in Ferguson, Missouri, where Michael Brown died, state police took charge of security.

In contrast on Thursday evening, state troopers and local police walked with protestors, shaking their hands.

Captain Ronald Johnson of the Missouri Highway Patrol, an African-American who grew up nearby, was named as the new head of the operation.

As he walked at the front of a march through the streets, he was seen hugging people he met.

“We all want justice. We all want answers,” Ronald Johnson said.

For the first time, the reverberations from this Midwest town were felt nationwide with dozens of vigils organized by a social media campaign.

Vigils have been held across the US in honor of Michael Brown, the black teenager killed by police in Missouri
Vigils have been held across the US in honor of Michael Brown, the black teenager killed by police in Missouri

The event in Washington DC was attended by hundreds of people in Malcolm X Park, many holding placards saying: “Hands up. Don’t shoot”.

Similar vigils were held in New York, Boston, Detroit, Chicago and many other cities.

They came at the end of a day when Missouri Governor Jay Nixon had likened the scenes of violence in Ferguson to a “war zone” and the police conduct was questioned.

Attorney General Eric Holder said the use of military equipment and vehicles in Ferguson had sent a “conflicting message”, while President Barack Obama said there was no excuse for police using “excessive force”.

Governor Jay Nixon then announced that the state highway patrol would direct the security operation.

Hours later, reporter Wesley Lowery of the Washington Post summed up the change in atmosphere on the streets of Ferguson.

“At this time at night on Monday, residents were in real fear for their lives,” he said.

“Tonight they’re taking selfies with cops.”

The tension in Ferguson had been sparked by the death of Michael Brown on Saturday afternoon.

Details about the incident have been disputed but eyewitnesses said the unarmed teenager had his arms raised when he was shot multiple times by a police officer.

Police say there was a struggle and the officer suffered facial injuries.

The authorities are under pressure to release the officer’s name, but they say they are worried that his life and that of his family could be in danger.

Four nights of violence have seen heavily armed riot police firing tear gas at demonstrators and looting, arson and the throwing of bottles and Molotov cocktails.

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WHO: Scale of Ebola outbreak vastly underestimated

Kathryn R. Bown
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WHO: Scale of Ebola outbreak vastly underestimated

According to the World Health Organization, the scale of the Ebola outbreak appears to be “vastly underestimated”, as the death toll from the disease reaches 1,069.

The WHO said its staff had seen evidence that the numbers of reported cases and deaths do not reflect the scale of the crisis.

The UN health agency said in a statement that “extraordinary measures” were needed.

The outbreak began in Guinea in February and has since spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

However, the WHO said the risk of transmission of Ebola during air travel remained low, as the disease is not airborne.

As a consequence, Kenya Airways has rejected pressure to suspend its flights to the Ebola-hit states of West Africa.

The Ebola virus death toll reaches 1,069 in West Africa
The Ebola virus death toll reaches 1,069 in West Africa (photo AP)

The WHO said the outbreak was expected to continue “for some time”.

“Staff at the outbreak sites see evidence that the numbers of reported cases and deaths vastly underestimate the magnitude of the outbreak,” its statement said.

“WHO is co-ordinating a massive scaling up of the international response.”

Part of the challenge was the fact that the outbreak was in “settings characterized by extreme poverty, dysfunctional health systems, a severe shortage of doctors and rampant fear”, the WHO added.

Two people have died in Nigeria after drinking a salt solution rumored to prevent Ebola infection.

Text messages began circulating in Nigeria towards the end of last week recommending that people drink and bath in a salt solution as a way to stop getting the virus, for which there is no cure or vaccine.

Despite the health minister scotching the rumor, many people have been admitted into hospital after drinking salt water.

Ebola is transmitted by direct contact with the body fluids of a person who is infected.

Initial flu-like symptoms can lead to external hemorrhaging from areas such as eyes and gums, and internal bleeding which can lead to organ failure.

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Cliff Richard’s UK property searched by police over alleged assault

Lisa.Felice
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Cliff Richard’s UK property searched by police over alleged assault

Cliff Richard’s Berkshire property has been searched by police in relation to an alleged historical assault on a teenage boy.

No arrests have been made and Cliff Richard, 73, who is abroad, said the allegation was “completely false”.

Police said the allegation involved a boy under 16.

The alleged assault happened at a 1985 event where preacher Billy Graham appeared at Bramall Lane, Sheffield.

The allegation is believed to have been reported to police recently.

The search in Sunningdale was carried out by South Yorkshire Police.

The investigation is not connected to Operation Yewtree and police said officers from that operation – set up by the Metropolitan Police to investigate hundreds of allegations in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal – had been notified.

Cliff Richard’s Berkshire property has been searched by police in relation to an alleged historical assault on a teenage boy
Cliff Richard’s Berkshire property has been searched by police in relation to an alleged historical assault on a teenage boy (photo Getty Images)

Thames Valley Police said it had assisted the South Yorkshire force with the execution of a search warrant at the property.

Eight plain-clothed police officers in five unmarked cars arrived to conduct the search.

Cliff Richard has responded to the police search of his apartment in a statement, which said: “For many months I have been aware of allegations against me of historic impropriety which have been circulating online.

“The allegations are completely false. Up until now I have chosen not to dignify the false allegations with a response, as it would just give them more oxygen.

“However, the police attended my apartment in Berkshire today without notice, except it would appear to the press.

“I am not presently in the UK but it goes without saying that I will cooperate fully should the police wish to speak to me. Beyond stating that today’s allegation is completely false it would not be appropriate to say anything further until the police investigation has concluded.”

Cliff Richard’s spokesman said the singer would not be conducting interviews at this time.

The singer left his home there on Thursday morning and has travelled with his sister to another part of Portugal for a few days.

Cliff Richard, born Harry Webb, is one of the most successful British musicians of all time.

Sir Cliff Richard was knighted in 1995 and performed at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace in 2012.

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Iraq: Nouri al-Maliki agrees to step aside in favor of Haider al-Abadi

Diane A. Wade
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Iraq: Nouri al-Maliki agrees to step aside in favor of Haider al-Abadi

Iraq’s PM Nouri al-Maliki has agreed to step aside, ending political deadlock in Baghdad as the government struggles against insurgents.

His replacement, Haider al-Abadi, has already been asked by Iraq’s president to form a new government.

Nouri al-Maliki was under intense pressure to make way for Haider al-Abadi, a deputy speaker of parliament.

Iraq’s PM Nouri al-Maliki has agreed to step aside, ending political deadlock in Baghdad
Iraq’s PM Nouri al-Maliki has agreed to step aside, ending political deadlock in Baghdad

An offensive led by Islamic State (IS) rebels in the north has triggered a security and humanitarian crisis.

Nouri al-Maliki’s spokesman, Ali Mussawi, told AFP news agency that the outgoing Shia Muslim prime minister would drop his bid to remain in his post.

“Maliki will withdraw the complaint against the president and will back the prime minister designate,” he said.

The move, also confirmed by Shia Muslim members of parliament to AP news agency, was announced by state TV.

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Michael Jackson’s new single A Place with No Name premieres on Twitter

Sonia Pantiss
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Michael Jackson’s new single A Place with No Name premieres on Twitter

Epic Records has premiered a video for Michael Jackson’s new single A Place with No Name on Twitter, which is more commonly used to provide links to others’ material.

To promote the event, Twitter created a map showing Michael Jackson’s top-tweeted songs in different countries.

The release comes in the same week that Twitter declared its goal was to bring “more video into our users’ timelines”.

It added that it sought to make money by charging for “promoted” slots.

“We now offer advertisers the ability to run ads with a new cost per view (CPV) ad buying model,” David Regan, senior product manager, TV and Video wrote on its advertising news page.

Michael Jackson’s A Place with No Name is the first video to premiered on Twitter
Michael Jackson’s A Place with No Name is the first video to premiered on Twitter (photo Wikipedia)

“This means advertisers only get charged when a user starts playing the video.

“Additionally, advertisers using Promoted Video have access to robust video analytics, including completion percentage and a breakout of organic versus paid video views.”

Twitter began experimenting with video in 2012 when it allowed users to embed YouTube links into tweets.

At the start of 2013, it launched the Vine app, which allowed the creation of six second videos designed to play on a loop in newsfeeds.

A few months later it rolled out its Amplify program, which allows advertisers to pay for short pre-roll sponsorship clips that run before videos posted by a select number of organizations.

Video ads have already proved to be a big revenue generator for Twitter’s rival Facebook.

Unlike Facebook, Twitter’s ads will not auto-play when they appear, at least at this stage.

A Place with No Name comes from a recently released posthumous album that features previously unreleased tracks recorded by Michael Jackson between 1983 and 1999.

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Susan Schneider reveals Robin Williams had Parkinson’s at time of his death

Lisa.Felice
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Susan Schneider reveals Robin Williams had Parkinson’s at time of his death

Susan Schneider has revealed that her late husband Robin Williams was suffering from the early stages of Parkinson’s disease at the time of his death.

Susan Schneider said Robin Williams had been sober but “not yet ready to share publicly” his struggles with Parkinson’s.

She added that the actor had also been suffering from anxiety and depression.

Robin Williams was found dead in an apparent suicide in his home on Monday. He was 63.

Police said Robin Williams died of asphyxia due to hanging.

Susan Schneider has revealed that her late husband Robin Williams was suffering from the early stages of Parkinson's disease at the time of his death
Susan Schneider has revealed that her late husband Robin Williams was suffering from the early stages of Parkinson’s disease at the time of his death (photo Getty Images)

“His greatest legacy, besides his three children, is the joy and happiness he offered to others, particularly to those fighting personal battles,” Susan Schneider said in a statement, adding her husband’s sobriety was “intact”.

“It is our hope in the wake of Robin’s tragic passing that others will find the strength to seek the care and support they need to treat whatever battles they are facing so they may feel less afraid.”

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative neurological disorder.

It is believed that the disease is brought on by a mixture of genetic and environmental factors, but the exact cause is still unknown.

Parkinson’s symptoms can include tremors and other uncontrollable movements, impaired balance and co-ordination, stiffness, slowness of movement, loss of smell, a decline in intellectual functioning, and speech and swallowing problems.

It is estimated to affect about five million people worldwide and usually, but not always, occurs in old age. The statement did not specify when Robin Williams had been diagnosed.

In the past, Robin Williams had talked and even joked about his struggles with alcohol and drugs and had returned to rehab to “fine tune” his sobriety earlier in the year.

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Igor Strelkov: Ukraine rebel military chief resigns

Roy Siemens
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Igor Strelkov: Ukraine rebel military chief resigns

Igor Girkin, the military leader of pro-Russian rebels in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, also known as Igor Ivanovich Strelkov, has resigned.

Alexander Borodai, the former PM of the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic, confirmed the news but denied reports Igor Strelkov had been wounded.

There has been heavy shelling both in Donetsk and Luhansk as Ukrainian forces battle the separatists.

The news came with a disputed Russian aid convoy stationed near the border.

Alexander Borodai confirmed Igor Strelkov’s departure to Russian media but gave no reason.

He said reports that Igor Strelkov, a Russian citizen, had been injured were “total rubbish”.

“You probably already know that he, like myself, has left his post,” Alexander Borodai said in a video posted by Russia’s pro-Kremlin Life News website.

Igor Girkin, the military leader of pro-Russian rebels in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, also known as Igor Ivanovich Strelkov, has resigned.
Igor Girkin, the military leader of pro-Russian rebels in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, also known as Igor Ivanovich Strelkov, has resigned (photo Reuters)

“The [Donetsk People’s Republic] already has a new defense minister.”

Alexander Borodai said the new minister went by the nom de guerre Tsar. His name was given by other sources as Vladimir Kononov.

There have been two other high-profile resignations of rebel leaders in the past week.

Alexander Borodai handed over to Alexander Zakharchenko as “prime minister” in Donetsk and the rebel chief in Luhansk, Valery Bolotov, said he was temporarily handing over to his defense minister, Igor Plotnitskiy.

The Russian aid convoy of at least 260 trucks, which moved towards the border on Thursday, has now halted.

There is continuing confusion over the final destination.

Russia has dismissed as absurd claims that its convoy is a pretext to send military supplies to the rebels.

However, Ukraine has said the Russian convoy must be inspected by international monitors before it can be let in.

Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, said that if this did not happen, “movement of the convoy will be blocked with all the forces available”.

Artillery fire could be heard all around Donetsk on Thursday, with the authorities urging people to stay off the streets.

Two shopping centers were reportedly hit and at least one person killed.

The situation was reported to be desperate in Luhansk, where civilians have been short of water, food and electricity for more than a week. Phone lines are also down as shelling continues.

Dmitry Medvedev’s Twitter account hacked by Shaltay-Boltay

Nancy Clayson
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Dmitry Medvedev’s Twitter account hacked by Shaltay-Boltay

Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev’s Twitter account was hacked on Thursday with the infiltrators posting a message claiming the premier had resigned.

The Russian-language feed, which has more than 2.5 million followers, was also filled with tweets denouncing President Vladimir Putin.

The impersonator wrote that Dmitry Medvedev would be pursuing a new career as a freelance photographer.

A Russian hacking collective has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Hackers wrote on Dmitry Medvedev’s Twitter account that he had resign and would be pursuing a new career as a freelance photographer
Hackers wrote on Dmitry Medvedev’s Twitter account that he had resign and would be pursuing a new career as a freelance photographer (photo Twitter)

The government quickly confirmed the account had been hacked.

“I resign. I am ashamed of the government’s actions. I’m sorry,” the infiltrators initially wrote, following it up with tweets saying that electricity would be banned, and that Vladimir Putin was “wrong”.

Shaltay-Boltay, a Russian hacking collective, has said it carried out the attack.

The group, whose name is Russian for Humpty Dumpty, also claimed it had infiltrated the Gmail account and iPhones of Dmitry Medvedev.

Shaltay-Boltay tweeted: “Several mail accounts – including the Gmail – and the content of three iPhones of a certain prime minister have randomly fallen into our hands on the internet. Details later.”

Dmitry Medvedev’s English-language Twitter account did not appear to be affected by the attack.

Obesity linked to 10 of most common cancers

Kathryn R. Bown
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Obesity linked to 10 of most common cancers

Obesity puts people at greater risk of developing 10 of the most common cancers, according to research in the Lancet medical journal.

Scientists warn if obesity levels continue to rise there may be an additional 3,700 cancers diagnosed annually.

The study of five million people is the largest to date to confirm the link.

Doctors often warn being overweight can increase the risk of developing cancer, but this study highlights those forms of the disease where the risk is greatest.

Scientists from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine researchers gathered data on five million people living in the UK, monitoring changes to their health over a period of seven years.

They found each 2-2.5 stone of extra weight an average adult gained was linked firmly and linearly to a greater risk of six cancers.

Obesity puts people at greater risk of developing 10 of the most common cancers
Obesity puts people at greater risk of developing 10 of the most common cancers

How big this risk was varied depending on tumor type.

  • Cancer of the uterus had the highest increased risk
  • gallbladder
  • kidney
  • cervix
  • thyroid
  • leukaemia had the lowest rise in risk.

People who had a high body mass index (calculated using weight and height) were also more likely to develop cancer of the liver, colon, ovaries, and post-menopausal breast cancer.

However, the effects for these cancers were less clear-cut and were influenced by individual factors such as the menopause.

There is some evidence to suggest a higher BMI is associated with a lower chance of getting prostate cancer.

Dr. Krishnan Bhaskaran, who led the research, said: “There was a lot of variation in the effect of BMI on different cancers.

“For example, risk of cancer of the uterus increased substantially at higher body mass index, for other cancer we saw a more modest increase in risk or no effect at all.

“This variation tells us BMI must affect cancer risk through a number of different processes, depending on cancer type.”

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