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Bishop Tawadros chosen as the new pope of Egypt’s Coptic Christians

Diane A. Wade
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Bishop Tawadros chosen as the new pope of Egypt’s Coptic Christians

Bishop Tawadros has been chosen as the new pope of Egypt’s Coptic Christians, becoming leader of the largest Christian minority in the Middle East.

His name was selected from a glass bowl by a blindfolded boy at a ceremony in Cairo’s St Mark’s Cathedral. Three candidates had been shortlisted.

Bishop Tawadros, 60, succeeds Pope Shenouda III, who died in March aged 88.

He succeeds as attacks on Copts are on the increase, and many say they fear the country’s new Islamist leaders.

The other two candidates were Bishop Raphael and Father Raphael Ava Mina. They were chosen in a ballot by a council of some 2,400 Church and community officials in October.

Bishop Tawadros’ name was selected from a glass bowl by a blindfolded boy at a ceremony in Cairo's St Mark's Cathedral
Bishop Tawadros’ name was selected from a glass bowl by a blindfolded boy at a ceremony in Cairo’s St Mark’s Cathedral

Their names were written on pieces of paper and put in crystal balls sealed with wax on the church altar.

A blindfolded boy – one of 12 shortlisted children – then drew out the name of Bishop Tawadros, who until now was an aide to the acting leader, Bishop Pachomius.

Bishop Pachomius then took the ballot from the boy’s hand and showed it to all those gathered in the cathedral.

Strict measures were in place to make sure there was no foul play during the televised ceremony: the three pieces of paper with candidates’ names were all the same size and tied the same way.

Copts say this process ensures the selection is in God’s hands.

Bishop Tawadros has been chosen as the new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians
Bishop Tawadros has been chosen as the new pope of Egypt’s Coptic Christians

Bishop Tawadros will be enthroned in a ceremony on 18 November.

The new pope has studied in Britain, and has also run a medicine factory.

He is a man of broad experience and with managerial skills and will need all those talents to lead the Copts as they face an uncertain future in a country now debating the role of Islam following last year’s revolution.

No-one in Egypt expects the new pope to introduce radical changes to the deeply conservative church.

Pope Shenouda died in March. Under his leadership, the Coptic Church expanded significantly, including outside its traditional Egyptian base.

He was a passionate advocate of unity among the Christian churches, and also clashed with then President Anwar Sadat, particularly over their conflicting views on the future of Egypt’s relationship with Israel.

Coptic Christians have long complained of discrimination by the Egyptian state and the country’s Muslim majority.

But when President Hosni Mubarak was ousted last year and succeeded by the Muslim Brotherhood, their fears grew.

In October 2011, 25 people died in clashes with the security forces after a protest march in Cairo over the burning of a church.

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New York alert over post-Hurricane Sandy housing

Diane A. Wade
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New York alert over post-Hurricane Sandy housing

Tens of thousands of people whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Sandy could soon need housing as cold weather closes in, New York’s political leaders have warned.

Homes without heat would become uninhabitable as temperatures fell, state Governor Andrew Cuomo said.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg put the figure at 30,000-40,000 people.

At least 106 US deaths – 40 of them in New York City – have been blamed on Superstorm Sandy, which struck on 29 October.

Residents who had so far refused to leave their homes would have no other option, Andrew Cuomo told a news conference on Sunday.

He also said there would be increasing pressure on public transport on Monday, as more people returned to work and the schools re-opened.

Fuel shortages were easing, but Andrew Cuomo urged New Yorkers not to hoard petrol, saying more supplies were on their way.

Tens of thousands of New Yorkers whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Sandy could soon need housing as cold weather closes in
Tens of thousands of New Yorkers whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Sandy could soon need housing as cold weather closes in

New York City opened warming shelters in areas without power and handed out blankets to residents who insisted on staying in homes without power.

But Michael Bloomberg urged those without heating to leave their homes if necessary.

“You can die from being cold. You can die from fires started when you use candles or stoves to heat your apartment,” he said.

“If you don’t know where to go, stop a cop on the street and say, please tell me where to go. They’ll help you. But we have to make sure that you are safe for a few days and that you have food and water for a few days.”

Temperatures fell to 39 F (4 C) on Sunday and are forecast to go as low as 30 F (-1C) on Monday.

About 730,000 people in New York state still do not have electricity, including more than 130,000 in New York City, the governor said.

Nearly a million people in the neighboring state of New Jersey remain without power, and petrol is being rationed.

Hundreds of runners who had been planning to take part in the New York marathon – cancelled by Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Friday – joined impromptu runs to raise funds or deliver aid.

The storm damage from Sandy is also affecting preparations for voting in Tuesday’s elections.

New Jersey residents displaced by Hurricane Sandy will be able to vote by email or fax, the state’s chief election official has decided.

They will be designated as “overseas voters” and can apply for mail-in ballots up until 17:00 on Election Day.

Michael Bloomberg said New York officials would do “anything we can” to help the board of elections, saying “they have real problems”.

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Simvastatin doses to be reduced after fears over side-effects

Kathryn R. Bown
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Simvastatin doses to be reduced after fears over side-effects

Thousands of people taking common statin simvastatin are to have their dose reduced due to fears over side effects.

The medicines regulator has warned that patients taking one particular type – simvastatin – at the same time as other drugs used to reduce high blood pressure are likely to suffer more muscle aches and pains.

And for the first time, it has produced a patient leaflet to inform people of the changes being made.

Statins have been hailed as a wonderdrug which can slash cholesterol and protect against a host of chronic illnesses.

But the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in UK is concerned that some people taking other drugs with them could suffer painful muscle problems, lung disorders and kidney damage.

Every day eight million people in the UK take various statins, which cost as little as 40p (60 cents) a day.

Simvastatin is the most frequently prescribed one; last year GPs gave out almost three million prescriptions for it in England alone.

But studies have shown that patients taking simvastatin, particularly the 40 mg dose which is the most commonly prescribed in England, suffered more problems if they were also on amlodipine and diltiazem.

These are used to treat high blood pressure and chest pain associated with heart disease and they are often prescribed with simvastatin.

The side effects are those usually associated with statins, including muscle problems such as pain, tenderness, weakness and cramps and more rarely muscle breakdown leading to kidney damage.

These occurred more frequently when patients were on both drugs at the same time.

Thousands of people taking common statin simvastatin are to have their dose reduced due to fears over side effects
Thousands of people taking common statin simvastatin are to have their dose reduced due to fears over side effects

The general advice from the MHRA is that patients should not stop taking simvastatin. However, if they experience any muscle pain, weakness or cramps whilst taking simvastatin, they should stop taking it and see their doctor as soon as possible.

Doctors may lower the simvastatin dose as the side effects were less common when patients were on a 20 mg dose, or switch them to another statin.

Despite advocates saying that everyone over 50 should be statins, the side effects are well-documented.

Some taking the drugs suffer mild side-effects such as insomnia and stomach upsets, but others complain of agonizing muscle pain and there have been reports about patients developing a rare but serious lung disorder.

However, most experts still agree that the benefits of taking them far outweigh any risks.

Patients are being advised that if they are taking simvastatin alongside either of the other two medications their doctor may review their treatment at the next routine appointment.

An MHRA spokesman said: “The MHRA is committed to public health and continuously monitors the safety of all medicines.

“We have recently published information on dosing recommendations for simvastatin which were updated due to a small risk of an increase in side effects when it is used at higher doses in conjunction with amlodipine or diltiazem.

“This advice is intended to optimize the proven beneficial effects of statins while minimizing any adverse effects and should not be a reason for stopping statin treatment. We have advised that patients continue their treatment and discuss this with their doctor at their next routine appointment.

“The updated information has been highlighted in our first Drug Safety Update article designed exclusively for patients, with the aim that people taking these medicines can understand why their statin treatment may have changed.”

 

Lifelong Guide to Perfect Teeth

Kathryn R. Bown
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Lifelong Guide to Perfect Teeth

Statistics show only 6% of adults were edentate, or had no teeth, in 2009, compared with 37% in 1968. Yet according to the Adult Dental Health Survey, only 10% of us have “excellent” oral health and 83% have some level of gum disease.

Dentist Dr. Susan Tanner says: “With the right advice, routine and technique, you should be able to have healthy teeth all your life.”

Dr. Simon Khoury, a private and NHS dentist from Bath, agrees: “Some of my patients don’t have a single filling.”

So how can we make teeth last for ever? We asked the experts…

1. GET THE CORRECT TOOLS FOR THE JOB

A. DITCH FANCY PASTES

“Fluoride is the most important component of toothpaste and in the prevention of tooth decay,” says Dr. Will Carter, cosmetic dentistry specialist at the Queensway Dental Clinic in Teesside.

“Whitening pastes can be abrasive, making teeth prone to staining and they can’t whiten significantly as no more than 0.1% bleach can be added.

“Don’t bother with enamel building paste,” says Dr. Jeremy Hill of The Centre of Dental Excellence in Essex.

“Ingredients to remineralize teeth are too small to make a difference.”

B. THE BUDS AND THE BEES

After brushing, Harley Street dentist Dr. Dana York says put bee propolis liquid along the gum line.

“Propolis is gathered by bees from buds and bark to disinfect the hive. It keeps decay at bay.”
TRY: Bee Health Propolis Tincture, 30ml, nutricentre.com

C. TONGUE TWISTER

“To some extent the tongue is self-cleaning,” says Dr. Asif Chatoo, orthodontist at the London Lingual Orthodontic Clinic.

“However, the deep grooves means it stores bacteria that could damage teeth. Try a scraper.”
TRY: DenTek Tongue Cleaner, thehealthcounter.com

D. WHICH MOUTHWASH?

“Don’t use mouthwashes containing alcohol as these have been linked to an increased risk in oral cancer,” says Dr. Mark Hughes at the Harley Street Dental Studio.

Ones containing chlorhexidine can stain teeth, he says.

“It’s an antiseptic found in Corsodyl, and should only be used if your dentist instructs you to.”
TRY: One containing fluoride.

E. CHEW GUM

Some US pastes contain xylitol, a sugar-free sweetener. It can reduce decay by binding to bacteria, weakening its bond to the teeth.

“Orbit Complete, a sugar-free gum, also contains xylitol,” says Dr. Uchenna Okoye of London Smiling.
TRY: Spry Toothpaste with Xylitol, healthstore.uk.com

2. MAKE SURE THE TIME IS RIGHT

A. USE A STOPWATCH

We should brush for two minutes, twice a day, but a quarter of adults brush once a day or less.

“Studies show we do it for only 45 seconds,” says Dr. Mark  Hughes. Yet two minutes of brushing will remove 25% more plaque.

B. BRUSH BEFORE BREAKFAST

“Brushing after breakfast is one of the biggest fallacies around,” says Dr. Uchenna Okoye, and Dr. Dana York agrees.

“Brush as soon as you wake up then you don’t have any bacteria in your mouth when eating,” he says.

“As soon as the bacteria has something on which to feast, you are more likely to develop tooth decay,” Dr. Uchenna Okoye adds.

“Any acidity in food softens enamel, and brushing teeth after may damage teeth.”

C. GO ELECTRIC

“I’d love to say otherwise but it is worth investing when it comes to brushes,” says Dr. Mark Hughes.

“A £10 [$15] toothbrush that vibrates will be more effective at plaque removal than manual brushing.

“Expensive sonic toothbrushes, which can cost up to £250 [$400], are even better. They can create more than 30,000 strokes a minute. Electric ones operate between 2,500 and 7,500 vibrations a minute. Sonic vibrations also clean under the gum.”

D. BE GENTLE

“Never use a hard brush. Plaque is quite soft and can be dislodged with gentle movements,” says Dr. Uchenna Okoye.

“Opt for a medium firmness with a rounded filament,” says Dr. Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation.

E. BRUSH UP ON YOUR TECHNIQUE

Studies suggest that 80% of adults don’t brush their teeth correctly – poor technique can damage gums.

“I regularly have to correct my patients,” says Dr. Mark Hughes. Here is his quick guide…

Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the brush.

– Start at the back of the upper teeth. With the brush head at an angle of 45 degrees so the bristles face up, use gentle rotating motions. Do not saw back and forth.

– Brush along the gum line.

– Do the same with the bottom teeth and on the inside. Afterwards, don’t rinse – residual toothpaste on the tooth surface makes it more resistant to decay.

– If using an electric brush, do not rotate it but instead steadily move it along the gum line.

3. CUT DOWN ON SUGAR AND WINE

A. BLEEDING GUMS CAN BE A GOOD SIGN

If you don’t floss, you are leaving 40% of the tooth surface untouched. “Flossing removes plaque and debris,” says Dr. Uchenna Okoye.

“It also helps prevent and treat bad breath. Just smell the floss after it has been used. I recommend a waxed tape rather than floss as it has a wider surface area.”

“Use an interdental brush for bigger gaps,” says Dr. Nicola Owen, of the Dental Phobia Clinic, Manchester.

“If your gums bleed it’s a good sign as you’re reaching areas where there is a build-up of plaque. It should stop after a few days as plaque is cleared.

“If it doesn’t, see your dentist as you may have a deeper problem.”

Dr. Federico Tinti, periodontist at London Smiling, adds: “Water-picks – also known as hydro-flossers – which emit a jet of water to remove trapped debris, are not as effective as old-fashioned floss.”

B. LEARN TO RELAX

“Tooth grinding – bruxism – is common,” says Dr. Asif Chatoo.

“It causes cracking and chipping of teeth and receding gums,” says Dr. Uchenna Okoye. Headaches are another side-effect.

Dr. Asif Chatoo recommends a tooth shield. “It’s a smaller version of the ones boxers wear to stop teeth grinding. Try to get a custom-made one as they are more comfortable.”

C. HIDDEN SUGAR

Sweets and sugary drinks cause tooth decay, but Dr. Simon Khoury says we also need to be aware of sugar in foods such as tomato ketchup and baked beans. Meanwhile, wine is acidic and will gradually erode the teeth. The key is not the quantity of sugar you eat but how often.

“It’s a great reason to avoid snacking,” says Dr. Uchenna Okoye.

“It takes an hour for mouth pH to rebalance after eating.”

4. BRACE YOURSELF…

A. STRAIGHT TEETH LAST LONGER

Braces are not just about vanity as straighter teeth are simply healthier for your body. So, it’s time to see an orthodontist…

“Crooked teeth lead to more decay,” says Dr. Asif Chatoo.

“Straight teeth are easier to clean so you are less likely to get gum disease,” says Dr. Simon Khoury.

“Food can get into awkward places in crooked teeth, meaning that bacteria collects.”

B. FILLINGS: WHITE OR SILVER?

There have been concerns about the health risks of silver amalgam fillings, which contain mercury.

Dr. Stuart Johnston, of the British Dental Association, says: “Amalgam fillings were banned in some European countries but this was because of the environmental impact of mercury waste being washed down the plughole.

“It’s nothing to do with health. In my mind amalgam is safe and effective.”

White fillings are made of glass particles, synthetic resin and a setting ingredient and last five to eight years, compared with eight to 12 years with amalgam.

C. WHITENING:

The laws changed last week. It is now illegal to whiten the teeth of those under 18 and single-session whitening treatments are banned. Beauticians are no longer allowed to carry out whitening.

D. FALSE ECONOMY OF VENEERS

Dr.Jeremy Hill, of The Centre of Dental Excellence, Essex, says veneers can damage the tooth as treatment involves drilling on to the surface.

“One in ten people with veneers needs a root filling because the process irritates the nerve and affects the tooth.”

World’s longest married couple: Karam and Katari Chand have been married for 87 years

Nancy Clayson
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World’s longest married couple: Karam and Katari Chand have been married for 87 years

Indian couple Karam, 107, and his wife Katari Chand, 100, who have eight children and twenty eight grandchildren together, have lived in wedded bliss for 87 years making them the world’s longest married couple.

Karam and Katari Chand say that the key to success is looking after each other in every way possible.

“My trick is to make Katari laugh. I like to tell jokes and make her smile. Being funny is my way of being romantic,” says Karam Chand.

“I have been told laughing makes you live longer… my wife is still alive so it must have worked! I love her so much and I want to spend another 80 years by her side,” he added.

From romantic meals to sharing jokes, the couple, who hail from Punjab, India and now live in Bradford, UK, ensure that they do little things for each other to keep the romance alive.

Katari Chand told romantic networking site Zoosk.co.uk: “When I was young I used to make him a nice fresh meal every night. We are vegetarian so I brought lots of fresh vegetables and made sure he was eating healthy food.

“Health is very important and I wanted to look after him so we could grow old together. Some would say it has worked!

“Oh and how can I forget, I always save a bit of my chapatti for him. Just a little gesture that he appreciated a lot and it kept me a bit slimmer.”

Karam Chand, who likes to do a word search every day to keep his mind alive, believes that spending plenty of time together has helped their marriage last.

“We have not spent any long span apart in over 50 years. We go everywhere together – up until a few years ago we went to India every year with the family and for all family weddings we make sure we get to stay together,” he said.

Their marriage has lasted nearly five years longer than that of the current Guinness World Record holders and the couple is in the process of getting confirmation from the company that they will be named as the new record holders.

Many modern day romances fail to stand the test of time but longevity and experience makes Karam Chand the best man to go to for relationship advice.

“In the past people used to listen. Now I don’t think people take the time to listen to each other properly. People seem too busy today with work, TV and other stuff going on around them.

“Relationships are about understanding one another and listening to concerns and problems, so my advice to men and women is to listen to their partners, show interest in what they are saying and help them overcome any worries or problems they are going through,” he said.

And their son Satpaul, who is extremely proud of his parent’s relationship, added his own words of wisdom.

He said: “One piece of advice that I can’t stress enough is to keep your parents very close. We live with them in Bradford and look after them because we want to help them live as long as they can together.

“I don’t want to see their love story end. I truly believe that by helping them over the last few years we have enabled them to enjoy their time together with no stress and being looked after.

“Also, you have to value them while they are here because you never know how long they are going to be around for.”

The still loved-up couple, who met through an arranged marriage, are having a big party in November to celebrate Karam’s 107th and Katari’s 100th birthday. The Mayor of Bradford as well as lots of community members will be joining in the festivities.

Karam and Katari Chand have lived in wedded bliss for 87 years making them the world's longest married couple
Karam and Katari Chand have lived in wedded bliss for 87 years making them the world’s longest married couple

Karam and Katari Chand’s top five tips to keeping the romance alive

• Always be faithful: always be faithful to one another. When you get married you commit to devoting your life to that person and even when the times are tough, don’t believe that the grass is greener…because it isn’t.

• Look after each other as best you can: if you want to grow old with your partner you have to make sure you always look after each other in every shape and form. Whether it is making a meal, holding your partners hand when crossing the road or being a shoulder to cry on when something goes wrong.

• Be tolerant of each other: everyone has bad habits or annoying traits. Whether it is leaving a towel on the floor or listening to the radio too loudly, you have to tolerate each other and realize that no one is perfect. Of course we irritate each other occasionally, but if you want to last nearly 90 years, learn to love bad habits or it won’t work.

• Listen to each other: the most important thing in a relationship is to listen. People don’t listen anymore because they are too busy with work and TV. Listen to your loved ones’ problems and concerns every day, because then you can help them overcome them and be happier. Also, it brings you closer together because you are the first port of call for each other when there is an issue in your life.

• Follow social and religious values: always make sure you follow social or religious values. Respect, care, cherish, love and value your partner – always treat them how you would want to be treated yourself.

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Latest polls put Barack Obama and Mitt Romney at 48%

Diane A. Wade
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Latest polls put Barack Obama and Mitt Romney at 48%

Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are heading into the final two days of campaigning with the outcome still too close to call.

Republican Mitt Romney will campaign in Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, while Barack Obama heads for New Hampshire, Florida, Ohio and Colorado.

Both candidates addressed large rallies on Saturday in key swing states.

The latest ABC News/Washington Post survey suggests the pair are level with 48% of support.

Both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are showing signs of exhaustion as they continue their daily, multiple-state visits to attract any undecided voters in the marginal battleground states that will determine the winner.

Former President Bill Clinton was also suffering as he joined Barack Obama in Virginia, addressing the rally in hoarse tones, saying he had “given my voice in the service of my president”.

Barack Obama told the 24,000 people in Bristow, Virginia, that the planning and organization of his campaign now no longer mattered.

“The power is not with us anymore, the planning, everything we do, it doesn’t matter. It’s all up to you, it’s up to the volunteers… you have got the power. That’s how democracy is supposed to be.”

At Barack Obama’s rally in Milwaukee, pop star Katy Perry, wearing a dress emblazoned with the Democratic slogan “Forward”, helped warm up a 20,000 crowd.

Barack Obama told them not to allow Mitt Romney to return the US to a time when Wall St had “free rein to do whatever” it liked.

Campaigning in New Hampshire on Saturday, Mitt Romney criticized Barack Obama for saying that voting would be their “best revenge” on the Republicans.

“Vote for revenge? Let me tell you what I’d like to tell you: Vote for love of country. It is time we lead America to a better place.”

The latest ABC News-Washington Post survey suggests Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are both level with 48 percent of support
The latest ABC News-Washington Post survey suggests Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are both level with 48 percent of support

Later, in Colorado Springs, the Republican challenger told supporters that Tuesday’s election would be “a moment to look into the future, and imagine what we can do to put the past four years behind us”.

“We’re that close right now,” he said.

“The door to a brighter future is there.”

The campaigning there has been at its fiercest. No Republican has ever been elected president without first winning Ohio.

But when there has been so much pressure on people to vote early and when all but a tiny fraction of likely voters have made up their mind, how much difference will all this frantic last-minute campaigning have?

An opinion poll on Sunday for ABC News and the Washington Post put the two candidates at 48%, with even voters who term themselves independents split evenly on 46%.

Mitt Romney remains favored in the whites, seniors and evangelical groups; Barack Obama in women, non-whites and young adults.

Barack Obama remains slightly ahead in most of the nine-or-so swing states that will determine the election.

Opinion polls published on Saturday showed him well-placed in Iowa, Nevada and Ohio, but most remain within the polls’ own margins of error.

The election is run using an electoral college. Each state is given a number of votes based on its population. The candidate who wins 270 electoral college votes becomes president.

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Syrian opposition groups to meet in Doha

Roy Siemens
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Syrian opposition groups to meet in Doha

Syrian opposition groups are preparing for a crucial meeting on Sunday in the Qatari capital, Doha, to discuss how to form a more united front.

The meeting could lead to a replacement for the Syrian National Council (SNC), the main opposition body in exile.

The SNC has been criticized as out of touch by rebel forces in Syria, and the opposition is also split ideologically.

The Doha talks come a day after rebels in northern Syria launched an offensive to win control of a key airbase.

Video posted on the internet on Saturday showed fighters attacking the strategically important Taftanaz base in the north with multiple rocket launchers, mortars and other weaponry.

Activists said the fighting at Taftanaz, which is crucial for government supply lines into northern Syria, continued into Saturday evening, although state media said government forces had repelled the assault.

In recent months, the government forces have been making increasing use of air power to strike areas held by the rebels, who lack anti-aircraft weapons to deter the attacks.

The SNC will be looking to broaden its ranks and agree on a common platform at the conference.

However, other groups and opposition figures will also be present, including respected dissident Riad Seif.

Riad Seif is being apparently being suggested by the US as the head of a new government-in-exile which would be dubbed the Syrian National Initiative.

“An alternative to the regime is dearly needed,” Riad Seif told the Reuters news agency.

“We are talking about a temporary period that begins with forming a political leadership until a national assembly that represents all Syrians meets in Damascus, once Assad falls,” he added.

What may emerge from the meeting is a new leadership body for the Syrian opposition separate from the SNC but including some figures from it, our correspondent reports.

The US is hoping a new leadership will help unify the disparate opposition elements and bring a successful conclusion to an uprising that has killed more than 36,000 people since protests against President Bashar al-Assad erupted in March 2011.

Earlier this week, American officials signaled the opposition needed to be expanded from just the SNC to take in more of those operating inside Syria.

Divisions have arisen not just between those in Syria and opposition figures abroad, but also between Islamist and secularist groups.

A previous opposition meeting in Cairo in July accepted that the Assad government must fall but failed to appoint a committee to act for the opposition internationally.

Representatives at Doha will include various other religious and secular groupings, plus Kurdish figures and dissident members of Bashar al-Assad’s Alawite sect.

The question of apparent brutality by some rebel units has also come to the fore ahead of the Doha meeting.

Video footage which emerged on Friday appeared to show rebel forces beating and then shooting dead a group of prisoners from pro-government forces who were cowering on the floor.

Although nothing certain has been established about the footage, a radical Islamist faction called the al-Nusra Front has been named in connection with the killings at Saraqeb, near the city of Idlib.

The UN has said the video could be evidence of a war crime.

On Friday, the US said it “condemned human rights violations by any party in Syria”.

State department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said: “There is no justification for that kind of behavior ever. Anyone committing atrocities should be held to account.”

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Egypt’s Coptic Christians await new pope to succeed Shenouda III

Diane A. Wade
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Egypt’s Coptic Christians await new pope to succeed Shenouda III

Egypt’s Coptic Christians will learn the name of their new pope on Sunday, when a blindfolded child selects the name of one of three candidates.

Two bishops and a monk are on the shortlist to become the 118th leader of the largest Christian minority in the Middle East, about 8 million strong.

The individual chosen will succeed Pope Shenouda III, who died in March.

Attacks on Copts are on the increase, and many Copts say they are afraid of the governing Muslim Brotherhood party.

Pope Shenouda III, who led the church for four decades, had urged officials to do more to address Copts’ concerns.

The shortlisted candidates are Bishop Raphael, Bishop Tawadros and Father Raphael Ava Mina. They were chosen in a ballot by a council of some 2,400 Church and community officials in October.

Their names will be written on pieces of paper and placed in a box on the altar of St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo.

Egypt's Coptic Christians will learn the name of their new pope on Sunday, when a blindfolded child selects the name of one of three candidates
Egypt’s Coptic Christians will learn the name of their new pope on Sunday, when a blindfolded child selects the name of one of three candidates

A blindfolded boy will then be asked to draw out one of the names. Copts say this process ensures the selection is in God’s hands.

The chosen man will be enthroned in a ceremony on 18 November.

No-one in Egypt expects the new pope to introduce any radical changes to the deeply conservative church.

Under Pope Shenouda, the Coptic Church expanded significantly, including outside its traditional Egyptian base.

He was a passionate advocate of unity among the Christian churches, and also clashed with then President Anwar Sadat, particularly over their conflicting views on the future of Egypt’s relationship with Israel.

Coptic Christians have long complained of discrimination by the Egyptian state and the country’s Muslim majority.

But when President Hosni Mubarak was ousted last year and succeeded by the Muslim Brotherhood, their fears grew.

In October 2011, 25 people died in clashes with the security forces after a protest march in Cairo over the burning of a church.

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Honey Boo Boo dressed as pink pirate for Halloween

Lisa.Felice
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Honey Boo Boo dressed as pink pirate for Halloween

While the rest of the nation dressed as Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson for Halloween, the reality starlet put that same flair for pageantry into her pink pirate wench costume on Wednesday.

In a photo obtained by TMZ, precocious 7-year-old Honey Boo Boo smiles cherubically while wearing a pink and black pigtail wig, lashes and red lips, and a pink and black pirate dress fastened with a skull-and-crossbones belt.

The Toddlers & Tiaras star finished her trick or treat look off with a festive purple jack- o’-lantern basket.

On Halloween, Honey Bo Boo was seen playing in her McIntyre home’s front yard alongside a similarly costumed friend sporting a two-tone wig, blue dress and Frankenstein stitches on her arms and legs.

According to TMZ, Honey Boo Boo had a great time and ate delicious candy, including her favorite – lollipops.

Alana Thompson has been known to ingest a junk food and “Go-Go-Juice”, a mixture of Mountain Dew and Red Bull, that her mother June Shannon provides for her before pageant shows.

TV Guide recently confirmed that Alana Thompson’s hit TLC spin-off series, Here Comes Honey Boo, was renewed and three specials are due to air for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

The popular show follows Honey Boo Boo, along with her mother, father Mike Thompson, and her three older sisters in their rural Georgia hometown.

Honey Boo Boo dressed as pink pirate for Halloween
Honey Boo Boo dressed as pink pirate for Halloween

In a special Halloween clip released by TLC, the street-smart star told viewers that her favorite costume for the holiday was actually her “bride costume”.

“I love that costume and then you can get married in your costume,” Honey Boo Boo told cameras.

Meanwhile, her stay-at-home mother waxed lyrical about some of her favorite kids’ costumes.

“My cutest costume I’ve had for my kids would be… Alana would be a princess because she’s a princess diva,” said June Shannon.

“Jessica has been… last year when she dressed up as a kind of Madonna issue, I thought that was kinda like crazy.”

And she added of her oldest daughter who has just given birth to a six-fingered baby girl: “Anna has never been into trick or treating so she never like dressed up as a kid.”

Honey Boo Boo and her mother just returned from Los Angeles where they promoted their series on Dr. Drew, Access Hollywood, and the Jimmy Kimmel show where the tiny diva officially endorsed President Barack Obama.

Here Comes Honey Boo Boo airs Wednesdays on TLC.

 

Myriam Aouffir: DSK and his new girlfriend spotted at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem

Lisa.Felice
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0
Myriam Aouffir: DSK and his new girlfriend spotted at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem

Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been spotted with his new girlfriend, Myriam Aouffir, at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.

Myriam Aouffir, 43, is a high-profile press officer for French television.

She has already been seen with DSK on the Mediterranean island of Corsica but now the couple have been pictured lapping up the sun in the holy city.

In May 2011, DSK, 64, was arrested for assaulting a maid at the Sofitel, a midtown Manhattan hotel. Charges were later dropped but it led to revelations about the former IMF chief’s sex life, in which he admitted attending swingers’ parties.

Anne Sinclair, Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s former partner, confirmed she has split from her scandal-hit husband at the end of last month.

Anne Sinclair, 64, originally stuck by DSK after he was embroiled in a catalogue of scandals last year.

But the multi-millionaire heiress finally kicked her husband out of their Paris apartment in June, before immersing herself in a new job running an internet site in the French capital.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been spotted with his new girlfriend, Myriam Aouffir, at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem
Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been spotted with his new girlfriend, Myriam Aouffir, at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem

The new relationship between Dominique Strauss-Kahn and Myriam Aouffir has been high profile even though they have been together less than a year.

Like DSK, Myriam Aouffir comes from a Moroccan background, and is also believed to be estranged from her husband, with whom she has two children.

Myriam Aouffir, who studied at Montpellier University, has been seeing Dominique Strauss-Kahn for a number of months, according to close friends of the couple.

 

Joe Biden admits watching Here Comes Honey Boo Boo on Air Force Two

Lisa.Felice
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0
Joe Biden admits watching Here Comes Honey Boo Boo on Air Force Two

Honey Boo Boo has yet again made it into the Presidential election campaign – this time with Vice President Joe Biden admitting to “catching snippets” of the TLC show on Air Force Two.

Quizzed about his pop culture habits, gaffe-prone Joe Biden revealed his favorite television shows were Modern Family and Parks and Recreation in an interview with a Miami Radio station on Friday.

But Joe Biden said he was well aware of the phenomenon that is Here Comes Honey Boo Boo after watching the program while travelling.

“Beyond Modern Family and Parks and Recreation, that’s about it, those are ones that I spend most of my time [watching],” Joe Biden told 93.9 MIA radio.

“I haven’t spent most of my time with pop culture that, like, my granddaughter talks about. Like Honey Boo Boo is not top on my list, but I am aware just, you know by catching snippets on Air Force Two, [that it is] quite a phenomenon. But, but I do try.”

Joe Biden admits watching Here Comes Honey Boo Boo on Air Force Two
Joe Biden admits watching Here Comes Honey Boo Boo on Air Force Two

Alana Thompson aka Honey Boo Boo found fame as an unlikely beauty pageant favourite in the TV show Toddlers and Tiaras before landing her own reality TV show, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.

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Agent 88: Kung-fu granny Kay D’Arcy makes Hollywood debut in martial arts movie at 79

Sonia Pantiss
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Agent 88: Kung-fu granny Kay D’Arcy makes Hollywood debut in martial arts movie at 79

British grandmother Kay D’Arcy, a former midwife, has trained in tai chi and studied Filipino stick fighting in order to land a role in a martial arts show where she will play Agent 88 – “the world’s most deadly assassin”.

Kay D’Arcy, 79, takes the lead role in the Hollywood series which is described as “an extreme comic book style cinematic romp, full of martial arts action, killer special effects and unforgettable characters”.

Her role is “an 88-year-old British woman on the verge of Alzheimers” who “may appear to be a decrepit old lady, but in reality she is a highly skilled warrior assassin”.

The web series, directed by Digger T. Mesch has been made possible thanks to money being raised through Kickstarter, a fundraising platform to finance independent art forms including films and plays.

Producer Jan Utstein-O’Neill said Kay D’Arcy “blew us away” in her audition with her martial arts moves.

“What impressed us is she could go from being really frail, and looking like she could break, to a totally empowered woman,” he told the L.A Times.

Kay D'Arcy has trained in tai chi and studied Filipino stick fighting in order to land a role in a martial arts show Agent 88
Kay D’Arcy has trained in tai chi and studied Filipino stick fighting in order to land a role in a martial arts show Agent 88

Kay D’Arcy’s rise to fame is as remarkable as her kung fu abilities.

She was a retired midwife living in London, when ten years ago, at the age of 69 and against the advice of her family, she decided to up sticks and move to L.A. to pursue an acting career.

It’s taken ten years for her to make her big break and she hopes her story empowers other people to make a change in their lives by proving you’re never too old to enjoy life.

Speaking of her role in Agent 88, she said: “This project is very special to me as it’s showing a senior making the most of the last years of her life.

“She’s not just a doddering woman in a nursing home, she’s not being passed over and used by her family.

“She’s empowered herself, and I suppose I did that when I left England and chose to start all over again. We all have the capacity to do that.”

Kay D’Arcy added that she hopes her role in the martial arts film helps change people’s attitudes towards the elderly and their capabilities.

She said: “You all have old people, give them a dignity in their life, let them see there is something they can do towards the end of their lives.”

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Is Chris Christie endorsing Obama? New Jersey Governor was Mitt Romney’s first choice as VP before changing to Paul Ryan

Diane A. Wade
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0
Is Chris Christie endorsing Obama? New Jersey Governor was Mitt Romney’s first choice as VP before changing to Paul Ryan

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was Mitt Romney’s first choice as a running mate before he had a sudden change of heart and dumped him for Paul Ryan.

Chris Christie was miffed by Mitt Romney’s decision, particularly because he was led to believe in the weeks leading up to Paul Ryan’s introduction that he would be joining Romney on the Republican presidential ticket, Politico reported, citing conversations with “campaign insiders”.

Now Republican party bosses suspect Chris Christie’s momentary embrace of Barack Obama during the President’s tour of devastated New Jersey this week was a deliberate snub to Mitt Romney.

Chris Christie was vetted so hard by the Romney campaign in July that even some of Mitt Romney’s top advisers believed the New Jersey governor was the final choice as the Republican vice presidential candidate.

But Mitt Romney changed his mind over the course of two weeks this summer, advisers told Politico, and instead offered the job to Paul Ryan, a Republican congressman from Wisconsin.

Mitt Romney was attracted to Chris Christie for his unfiltered style that has helped turn him into rising star – albeit a controversial one – within the Republican Party.

Chris Christie has a propensity toward swearing, making him a bit of a liability for Mitt Romney, but he also has a knack for appealing to middle class voters, with whom Romney has had a hard time connecting.

Republican party bosses suspect Chris Christie's momentary embrace of Barack Obama during the President's tour of devastated New Jersey this week was a deliberate snub to Mitt Romney
Republican party bosses suspect Chris Christie’s momentary embrace of Barack Obama during the President’s tour of devastated New Jersey this week was a deliberate snub to Mitt Romney

At a campaign event for Mitt Romney in Iowa last December, Chris Christie bullied “Occupy” protestors out of a rally, leading Romney supporters to start chanting Christie’s name as they cheered with approval.

“You know what, we’re used to dealing with jokers like this in New Jersey all the time,” Chris Christie shouted at the protesters as they were led out of the rally by Mitt Romney staffers.

“So you guys go all out and chant and do what it is that you want to do.You are so angry, aren’t ya?” Chris Christie badgered.

“It’s so terrible… Oh work it out. Work it all out for yourselves. Work it all out for yourselves.”

In the end, it wasn’t Chris Christie’s bombast that drove Mitt Romney away: It was his disregard for Romney as the man at the top of ticket.

Chris Christie would consistently arrive late at campaign events that he was attending on behalf of Mitt Romney and he would spend the majority of his speaking time on himself, not the Republican presidential candidate.

Mitt Romney advisers began to think that Chris Christie wouldn’t know how to be a “number two” and they suddenly stopped vetting him without explanation just before Romney’s trip to Europe over the summer.

When Mitt Romney returned, he offered the job to Paul Ryan and waited another week to let Chris Christie know, just shortly before announcing his pick publicly.

Chris Christie has since been quietly retaliating against the Romney campaign for his sudden fall from favor, political analysts say.

He made news for his scarce mentions of Mitt Romney during his speech at the Republican National Convention.

“His view was, <<They saw the speech before I gave it. They vetted it. They said it was fine>>,” a Mitt Romney adviser told Politico.

“And the campaign’s view was, <<We told him that we thought there were more opportunities for him to put in stuff about Mitt, and he didn’t take the hint>>. There was a lot of agitation that led to a lot of sarcasm and the kind of comments that people don’t mean, but they kind of do.”

Chris Christie heaped praise on Barack Obama after he was invited onto Air Force One to tour the wreckage left behind by the storm.

“This was as comfortable and relaxed an interaction as I’ve had with the president since I’ve known him,” Chris Christie said.

“And I think it’s ’cause we’re both doing what we wanted to do, which is to get things done.”

Chris Christie said he expected to be criticized for complimenting the president.

“But you know what, I speak the truth,” he said.

“That’s what I always do. Sometimes you guys like it, sometimes you don’t. Sometimes politicians like it, sometimes they don’t. But I say what I feel and what I believe.

“And I’m just doing the same thing with the president of the United States. So, I do pinch myself every day. You know, like when I got on Marine One? I’m pinching myself, believe me.”

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Baby Mop: turn your crawling baby into a cleaning machine

Nancy Clayson
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Baby Mop: turn your crawling baby into a cleaning machine

An enterprising designer has come up with a unique way to get children involved with the housework: by turning crawling babies into cleaning machines.

The entrepreneur has combined the traditional “onesie” Babygro with specially designed mop heads fixed to the arms and legs which enable babies to polish the floor as they learn to crawl.

The $40 Baby Mop is the brainchild of U.S. website BetterThanPants.com and was inspired by a spoof Japanese advert of a similar invention.

In their blurb for the novelty product the writers on the website joke the outfit will “teach your baby a strong work ethic early on in their life” while helping to educate them not to drop food on the floor.

They go on to say that the baby “will get a nice workout, burn off energy, and do muscle toning. And sleep better too”.

Baby Mop is the brainchild of BetterThanPants website and was inspired by a spoof Japanese advert of a similar invention
Baby Mop is the brainchild of BetterThanPants website and was inspired by a spoof Japanese advert of a similar invention

Mike Parker from BetterThanPants.com said: “We have sold about 100 in just one month since adding it to our site.

“So far all the feedback from customers has been very positive, however we get some negative emails surrounding the idea of the actual product.

“It’s made from microfibre mop material attached directly to the baby clothes. We use the full <<footie-type>> pyjamas.

“The idea formed to make the actual product from a Japanese commercial on the web.

“I believe the idea was submitted as part of a contest on ridiculous inventions in Japan but was never actually sold anywhere.

“But this is the real deal, it’s a legit product and is proving very, very popular.”

Shoppers visiting the site have reacted with good humor, saying they love the product – with one jokingly suggesting wetting the mop to make the baby more efficient.

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The power of presentiment: How your body can predict the future

James J. Williams
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0
The power of presentiment: How your body can predict the future

A scientific research paper claims to have discovered that your body can predict the future.

Scientist believe that during tests they have found proof that people can anticipate events, or realize that something about to happen, without any cues.

The paper, in the Frontiers of Perception Science journal, says that after studying people’s reactions in 26 different tests, they found that subjects could “predict” that something out of the ordinary was about to happen.

Julia Mossbridge, from Northwestern University in Illinois, Patrizio Tressoldi, from the Università di Padova, Italy and Jessica Utts, from the University of California, compiled the test.

They showed random images, some which were neutral and some designed to stimulate.

They discovered a “presentiment” effect, which measures physiological excitement that change seconds before an event.

A scientific research paper claims to have discovered that your body can predict the future
A scientific research paper claims to have discovered that your body can predict the future

People’s reactions happened up to ten seconds before the event occurred, suggesting people can predict the future.

The finding suggests that people’s bodies subconsciously sense the future when something important is about to happen, even if the people don’t know it, Live Science reported.

They measured excitement by studying pupils dilating, heart rates quickening, blood volume and brain activity.

Scientists Julia Mossbridge, from Northwestern University in Illinois, Patrizio Tressoldi, from the Università di Padova, Italy and Jessica Utts, from the University of California, compiled the test.

Julia Mossbridge said that they do not believe it is supernatural phenomena, rather scientific laws that nobody understands as of yet.

However, other scientists are skeptical of the findings, Live Science reported.

One scientist said that the findings showed scientists were looking for evidence of “presentiment” and did not actually prove that it existed.

Another researcher said it could be that the examinations were unintentionally biased which researchers had failed to spot.

 

Barack Obama and Mitt Romney target key swing states as latest polls suggest they are almost tied

Diane A. Wade
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Barack Obama and Mitt Romney target key swing states as latest polls suggest they are almost tied

President Barack Obama and his Republican rival Mitt Romney have begun a crucial swing through key battleground states that will determine who wins Tuesday’s vote.

Barack Obama campaigns in Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa and Virginia on Saturday, while Mitt Romney targets New Hampshire, Iowa and Colorado.

Both candidates will visit the Iowa town of Dubuque within hours.

Opinion polls suggest the rivals are almost tied, although Barack Obama is slightly ahead in most swing states.

Barack Obama, addressing crowds of Democratic supporters in Mentor, Ohio, said the election was a choice “about two different visions for America: the top down vision that crashed the economy, or a future built on a strong and growing middle class”.

Republican MItt Romney, opening his three-state campaign day in New Hampshire, said: “Let me tell you what I’d like to tell you: Vote for love of country. It is time we lead America to a better place.”

These frantic last days mark a punishing sprint at the end of a long marathon.

On the eve of the election, the pendulum appears to be moving towards Barack Obama, as the opinion polls are not shifting in Mitt Romney’s favor in enough battleground states.

Barack Obama has arguably had the better of the past week, given Friday’s moderately good news on the employment front and the wide praise of his handling of the aftermath of Storm Sandy. He also won the endorsement of independent New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Barack Obama and Mitt Romney target key swing states as latest polls suggest they are almost tied
Barack Obama and Mitt Romney target key swing states as latest polls suggest they are almost tied

Correspondents say Mitt Romney has the tougher task for victory on Tuesday, as he must win a majority of the nine most keenly contested states.

But Barack Obama’s opinion poll lead in all the swing states is within the margin of error and Tuesday’s vote is likely to be close.

The election is run using an electoral college. Each state is given a number of votes based on its population. The candidate who wins 270 electoral college votes becomes president.

Ohio is proving to be a tough battle and, with 18 college votes, could prove a tipping point.

Barack Obama began his Saturday campaigning in the Ohio town of Mentor, while Mitt Romney staged his biggest rally of the campaign so far – 18,000 people – in West Chester on Friday.

Mitt Romney was joined by former primary rivals Rick Santorum and Rick Perry, as well as the defeated 2008 presidential candidate John McCain.

He said: “We’re almost home. One final push will get us there. The door to a brighter future is there, it’s open, it’s waiting for us.”

The Republican, whose main manifesto pledges are lower taxes and a $500 billion federal budget cut by 2012, said Friday’s jobs report was actually a “sad reminder that the economy is at a virtual standstill”.

Barack Obama has held mid-range rallies so far but plans to increase the size over the weekend, when he will be joined by former President Bill Clinton in Virginia on Saturday and in New Hampshire on Sunday.

The president campaigned hard in Ohio on Friday, highlighting his decision to bail out indebted US car makers in 2009, a move that was politically unpopular but which he says helped restore the industry.

Barack Obama’s manifesto sets out tax rises for the wealthy and more funding for job creation.

Mitt Romney has tried to make inroads into Pennsylvania, where opinion polls suggest the Democrats lead by four to five points but which would be a crucial boost to his chances if he could secure its 20 college votes.

The Republican challenger has also wooed Michigan and Minnesota, forcing the Democrats into late advertising there.

Early voting has been a key focus of this presidential election – some 25 million voters have already cast ballots in 34 states and the District of Columbia.

Some states have released the affiliation of early voters, giving Barack Obama an edge in Florida, Iowa, Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio, while Mitt Romney is favored in Colorado.

However, the figures suggest Barack Obama does not have the lead he had over John McCain four years ago.

Nevertheless, the Obama team has released data showing that two-thirds of those who have voted early are women, young people, blacks and Hispanics – demographics the Democrats say favor them.

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Fateh Khan, Pakistani anti-Taliban politician, killed by bomb attack in Buner

Roy Siemens
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0
Fateh Khan, Pakistani anti-Taliban politician, killed by bomb attack in Buner

A bomb attack in the north-west Pakistani city of Buner has killed local anti-Taliban politician Fateh Khan and three of his guards, police sources say.

Fateh Khan, an ex-leader of the secular Awami National Party, was killed as his car left a petrol station.

It was not immediately clear if he was victim of a suicide attack or of a bomb placed on a motorcycle.

Security forces largely freed Buner from the control of Taliban militants three years ago.

District police chief Jehanzeb Khan told AFP news agency a suicide bomber had blown himself up in front of Fateh Khan’s vehicle, killing the politician and his guards.

Up to five people were also injured in the attack, he said.

According to Pakistan’s Express Tribune, Fateh Khan was a former ANP leader who had recently joined the Qaumi Watan Party.

Fateh Khan was also the head of a local tribal anti-Taliban force.

ANP leaders have been a regular target of the Taliban in this region but that this is the first suicide attack there for several months.

 

Honey Boo Boo’s estranged pig Glitzy makes surprise appearance on Anderson Cooper’s live show

Lisa.Felice
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Honey Boo Boo’s estranged pig Glitzy makes surprise appearance on Anderson Cooper’s live show

Honey Boo Boo’s estranged pet pig Glitzy made a surprise appearance on Anderson Cooper’s live show recently after spending a week in the city weathering the effects of Hurricane Sandy.

Anderson Cooper had arranged for the reality star teacup pig to feature on his Halloween episode and flew him in before the storm hit.

During his post-Sandy live show Anderson Cooper joked: “It’s very hard to find places for a pig to stay in the city, let me just tell you.”

Glitzy was given to Honey Boo Boo by her parents earlier this year but after falling in love with her new squealing ball of fur, her outspoken mother June Shannon, decided the animal would have to leave the house.

Anderson Cooper told viewers: “They finally got rid of it and sent it away to a farm which frankly I thought meant they ate it.”

But as his audience chuckled the silver-haired television host revealed that they didn’t in fact kill the pig for bacon and was right there in the studio.

Greeting the sweet black and white pig, who despite being male was named Glitzy by his princess-loving former owner, Anderson Cooper displayed a gentle touch with the animal.

After he squealed and squeaked a bit, Glitzy finally settled into Anderson Cooper’s arms as he kissed it lightly on the head and reassured the traumatized creature.

Honey Boo Boo's estranged pet pig Glitzy made a surprise appearance on Anderson Cooper's live show
Honey Boo Boo’s estranged pet pig Glitzy made a surprise appearance on Anderson Cooper’s live show

Honey Boo Boo showed similar affection to her pet back in August when she crowned Glitzy with a tiara and pronounced her female.

“We’re going to be the prettiest girls at the pageant and there’s no way we can’t win cause I’ve got me a pig, how about that?” she told him.

Devastated by Glitzy’s sudden departure, Honey Boo Boo – real name Alana – burst into tears and waved goodbye to him.

“What I love about Glizy is that she loves me,” Honey Boo Boo had once confessed.

But unable to cope with the constant noise and lack of house training the family had to let the pig go.

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Allie Romney, Mitt Romney’s granddaughter, posts pictures on Rich Kids of Instagram

Diane A. Wade
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Allie Romney, Mitt Romney’s granddaughter, posts pictures on Rich Kids of Instagram

Allie Romney, Mitt Romney’s granddaughter and the daughter of Tag and Jenn Romney, is the latest elite youngster to feature on the blog Rich Kids of Instagram.

Rich Kids of Instagram rounds up photos snapped by America’s wealthiest offspring as they drive Lamborghinis, drink copious amounts of Dom Perignon champagne and generally indulge their every, invariably expensive, whim.

Showing she is most definitely not amongst the 47% grandfather Mitt Romney famously wrote off, the pretty 16-year-old appears on the site not only wearing an expensive ball gown but clutching its famed fashion designer’s arm.

“Oscar de la Renta I love you lots sir! Thank you for everything!” Allie Romney wrote on two photos posted a couple of months ago on her Instagram page.

Mitt Romney, who is hoping this time next week he’ll have been named the country’s 45th president, is worth an estimated $250 million, according to Bloomberg News.

He earned his fortune when he helped pioneer the private equity industry as co-founder of Bain Capital.

Allie Romney appears on Rich Kids of Instagram not only wearing an expensive ball gown but clutching Oscar de la Renta's arm
Allie Romney appears on Rich Kids of Instagram not only wearing an expensive ball gown but clutching Oscar de la Renta’s arm

With the motto “They have more money than you and this is what they do”, Rich Kids of Instagram follows the lavish lifestyles of such rich kids as Hilton hotel heir Baron Hilton and the Dell CEO’s daughter Alexa Dell.

The heirs and heiresses are seen using private jets, driving hot pink Bentleys and quaffing limited edition bottles of Perignon in the pictures they upload to their Instagram accounts, which anger and disgust the many who disagree with the staggering level of excess.

Summing up the obscene opulence that is the norm for these youngsters, Rich Kids of Instagram has chronicled how its regulars fared through Hurricane Sandy, as it ravaged large parts of New York, New Jersey and a raft of other states.

In stark contrast to the thousands who were left without power, food and clean water for days, the wealthy teens and young adults posted photos of themselves stockpiling room service, rather than tinned food, and driving a Lamborghini to pick up fast food.

 

New Jersey gas shortage: Gov. Chris Christie issues Odd-Even gas rationing order similar to 70’s crisis

Diane A. Wade
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New Jersey gas shortage: Gov. Chris Christie issues Odd-Even gas rationing order similar to 70’s crisis

In an effort to protect the state’s dwindling fuel reserves, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has issued an order restricting motorists in 12 northern counties to buying gas every other day.

Chris Christie says he wants to ease long lines and extended wait times at gas stations and prevent a fuel shortage in the state hard-hit by Superstorm Sandy. Some gas stations closed because of a lack of electricity or gasoline, causing those open to be overburdened with customers.

Prices at the pump have remained steady despite the shortages, AAA said, averaging just below $4 a gallon in New York City, 2 cents lower than last week. However, on Long Island, where only a third of all stations were working, average gasoline prices jumped 5 cents from a day earlier.

But online, Craigslist users started offering gasoline for as much as $15 a gallon to motorists and homeowners not wishing to brave the lines.

It was also revealed that a third day of gasoline “panic buying” among storm-stricken New York area motorists prompted authorities on Friday to tap strategic oil reserves and waive shipping regulations even as limited deliveries resumed in the battered region.

The U.S. government said it will loan 2 million gallons of diesel from the Northeast emergency heating oil reserve to the military for recovery efforts, and waived rules barring foreign-flagged vessels from carrying fuel between U.S. ports in a bid to boost supplies.

Drivers with license plates ending in an even number will be able to buy gas on even-numbered days, and those with plates ending in an odd number can make gas purchases on odd-numbered days.

A Gov. Chris Christie spokesman tells the Star-Ledger newspaper in Newark that there currently are no restrictions on filling gas containers.

New Jersey Gov Chris Christie has issued an order restricting motorists in 12 northern counties to buying gas every other day
New Jersey Gov Chris Christie has issued an order restricting motorists in 12 northern counties to buying gas every other day

Chris Christie’s order comes as President Barack Obama announced buying 22 million gallons of gas to help get residents of some of the areas worst affected by Hurricane Sandy back on the road.

The administration has purchased up to 12 million gallons of unleaded fuel and up to 10 million gallons of diesel fuel that will be distributed in New York and New Jersey to supplement private sector efforts.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday that another 28 million gallons of fuel will be delivered over the next few days.

The Department of Defense will also set up mobile fuel stations around the New York metro area to distribute gasoline, offering only 10 gallons per-person but free of charge.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said on Friday that the President had directed the Defense Logistics Agency to handle the purchase of the fuel.

It will be transported by tanker trucks and distributed throughout the two states and other communities impacted by the storm.

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said the fuel purchase is part of efforts by governments, private organizations and others to help the region recover from the Superstorm, which left residents queuing at gas stations for a diminishing supply of fuel.

This purchase is in addition to an emergency diesel fuel loan from the Energy Department’s Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve.

Large parts of the tri-state area were left without power for five days after the storm struck and fuel shortages have become even more dire, prompting some opportunist convenience store owners to charge as much as $6 a gallon.

Becoming ever more desperate for fuel, residents have been bickering over their place in the queue at gas stations and even brandishing firearms to get what they need.

Along the New Jersey turnpike cars have lined up for miles in the hope of getting fuel, but gas stations in many outer-borough areas are sealed off with yellow tape.

As New York Governor Andrew Cuomo promises that fuel-starved areas will be getting relief and “people will see it quickly”, these motorists want gas and they want answers.

Earl Lucas, 72, had seen something like it before – in the Seventies when, he said, there was “a real gas shortage”.

He added: “People are angry because the gas is there they just can’t get it. Do you know how to get it? Can you use your influence to get some?

“There were five trucks came in here from a Catholic charity and they got straight through and filled up. Some people can get it.”

A source from the Coast Guard told DNAInfo that two million barrels of petrol were being unloaded in surrounding ports, and tankers are heading into New York Harbor.

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Syrian rebels capture Taftanaz airbase

Roy Siemens
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Syrian rebels capture Taftanaz airbase

Syrian rebels say they have launched a major offensive to capture key airbase at Taftanaz, in the north of the country.

Video posted on the internet showed fighters attacking the Taftanaz base in an attempt to control a strategic zone between Syria’s two biggest cities, Aleppo and Damascus.

The attack comes a day before a crucial opposition meeting in Doha, Qatar.

It also follows the apparent murder of a number of Syrian troops by rebels, which drew international condemnation.

Separately, Israel said three Syrian tanks had entered the demilitarized buffer zone in the Golan Heights to tackle rebel fighters, prompting an Israeli complaint to the UN forces overseeing a truce in the area.

The attack on Taftanaz took place as dawn broke, with five different units of rebel fighters opening fire with multiple rocket launchers, mortars and other weaponry, according to the video.

This appears to be a major operation aimed not just at striking the airport, but at occupying it.

In recent months, the government forces have been making increasing use of air power to strike areas held by the rebels, who lack anti-aircraft weapons to deter the attacks.

Rebel forces are reported to have taken control of the main roads in much of the area south-west of Aleppo.

The video said the rebel groups involved included several brigades of the Free Syrian Army, but also the radical Islamist al-Nusra Front.

Syrian rebels say they have launched a major offensive to capture key airbase at Taftanaz
Syrian rebels say they have launched a major offensive to capture key airbase at Taftanaz

Although nothing certain has been established, al-Nusra has been named in connection with the killing of captured army soldiers two days ago at Saraqeb, just 15 km (10 miles) from where this latest attack is taking place.

The UN has said the video that appears to show the murder of the soldiers or pro-government militiamen could be evidence of a war crime.

The footage shows gunmen beating and shooting a group of prisoners who were cowering on the floor.

On Friday, the US said it “condemned human rights violations by any party in Syria”.

State department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said: “There is no justification for that kind of behavior ever. Anyone committing atrocities should be held to account.”

The question of apparent brutality by some rebel units has become a serious concern ahead of the major opposition meeting being held in Qatar this weekend.

The US is hoping a new leadership will help unify the disparate opposition elements and bring a successful conclusion to an uprising that has killed more than 36,000 people since protests against President Bashar al-Assad erupted in March 2011.

Divisions have arisen not just between Islamist and secularist groups, but also between those operating inside Syria and opposition figures working abroad.

Victoria Nuland said there was a need for cohesion of rebel forces within Syria and a strong organization outside the country that could work with the international community.

A previous opposition meeting in Cairo in July accepted that the Assad government must fall but failed to appoint a committee to act for the opposition internationally.

The US this week signaled the opposition needed to be expanded from the main overseas grouping, the Syrian National Council, to take in more of those operating inside Syria.

Representatives at Doha will include various other religious and secular groupings, plus Kurdish figures and dissident members of Bashar al-Assad’s Alawite sect.

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Ourson Guimauve: Why the French love chocolate bears

Kathryn R. Bown
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Ourson Guimauve: Why the French love chocolate bears

Market statistics show the French confectionery industry has been unaffected by the country’s financial problems and continues to grow at about 8% a year. And there is one particular treat that has always proved a favorite – ourson guimauve.

Oursons guimauve are small chocolate-covered marshmallow teddy bears (an ourson is a “bear cub”, guimauve is “marshmallow”). About the size of a Paris Metro ticket but considerably plumper, they are celebrating their 50th birthday.

The French – young and old – adore them. They eat 400 million of the bears each year. The seductive bears were invented by a confectioner from the north, Michel Cathy, who, the legend claims, bravely championed his recipe in the face of skepticism from superiors and has been vindicated by their triumph ever since.

Biting into an ourson guimauve, the French say, is like tasting Marcel Proust’s madeleine cake that launched his voyage into the remembrance of things past.

They come in milk or white chocolate, in cellophane packets from supermarkets, paper bags from small sweetshops or chic limited-edition designer tins.

Oursons guimauve have just been launched on the US market, a move that prompted some disgruntled voters to call for President Francois Hollande – long-nicknamed The Human Marshmallow (l’Homme de Guimauve) – to be dunked in chocolate and exported along with them.

The bears are predicted to make their French producers 900 million euros a year by 2015.

Cecilia Hermabessiere is in her sweetshop.

“I prefer oursons Lutti,” she says (Lutti is a sweet manufacturer).

“They’re almost the same, but larger. The marshmallow is firmer, creamy and slightly chewy. And they come coated in dark chocolate, which I always crave.”

She knows about sweets. Her little shop on the Rue Brea – busy with customers of all ages – has regional bonbons, chocolates and lollipops from all over the country. There are about 650 varieties of traditional sweets in France, the most for any one country in the world.

Cecilia Hermabessiere grew up with them. Her parents owned a patisserie – a cake shop and bakery – where sweets were always sold.

“Sales haven’t gone down,” she says.

“If anything, they’ve gone up. People need a treat and if there’s something they won’t do without, it’s chocolate or the comfort of their favorite childhood sweet or regional speciality from home.”

Shelves are lined with tall glass jars filled with glistening frou-frous bonbons (square-shaped boiled sweets), rondelles d’orange (slices of candied orange half-coated in bitter chocolate) and large cubes of rose and lemon Turkish delight heavy with powdered sugar.

Oursons guimauve are small chocolate-covered marshmallow teddy bears
Oursons guimauve are small chocolate-covered marshmallow teddy bears

Juicy, chocolate Muscat raisins, shining sugared almonds and caramelized hazelnuts, rows of amber barley sugar from Moret (a region in north-central France) and sticks of sucre de pomme (apple sugar from Rouen) bristle temptingly beside smooth peppermint lozenges from Lourdes made with holy water from the shrine and individually stamped with an image of the Virgin Mary.

Slabs of chocolate are sold by the kilo – milk or dark – with hazelnuts, almonds, crystallized ginger or filled with liquid caramel. There is a small hammer nearby to break off chunks.

“Children still eat a piece of bread and chocolate for their after-school gouter [teatime treat],” Cecilia Hermabessiere explains.

“It’s the original pain au chocolat – bread with chocolate – before the pastry version was ever thought of. There’s lots of nostalgia for childhood here in France, so grown-ups at the school gate often sneak a portion for themselves.”

Opposite a small park and playground shaded by large beech trees, Georges Marques has opened the sweetshop of his childhood dreams.

“We were Portuguese immigrants and didn’t have much money,” he says.

“[In 1970] for my eighth birthday, an uncle gave me a five franc piece. Sweets cost one centime each so that was a fortune. I went straight to my local patisserie and bought a huge bagful to share with my family. I burst in, crying out to my mother, <<When I grow up, I’m going to open the best sweetshop in the whole world>>.”

Georges Marques travels around France, personally tasting and selecting regional sweets. He hunts them down, then brings them to Paris and pops them in a jar in the window.

“People really appreciate it,” he says.

“They suddenly see a rare sweet from some tiny place that they love and rush in to eat it.”

Georges Marques has about 200 varieties, from those oursons guimauve to marshmallow Petit Jesus (small Jesus-shaped marshmallows) to such fancies as Les Tetines de la Reine Margot (Queen Margot’s Nipples) named after a beleaguered monarch notorious for her insatiable sexual appetites.

These are dome-shaped confections of milk chocolate, apricot, raisins soaked in Grand Marnier liqueur, all coated in white chocolate with a discreet, tasteful milk chocolate nipple.

An ever-popular gift, says Georges Marques, to cheer-up “les monsieurs”.

French marshmallow

• First made in France about 1850

• Called “pate de guimauve” or “guimauve” for short

• By late 19th Century, French manufacturers had started to use egg whites or gelatine combined with modified corn starch to create the chewy base

• It made the process of making marshmallow much less labor intensive

• The classic Bouquet d’Or Petit Ourson – chocolate-covered marshmallow bear – turned 50 this year

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Ryugyong Hotel of Doom in Pyonyang to be opened in 2013

Kathryn R. Bown
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Ryugyong Hotel of Doom in Pyonyang to be opened in 2013

Ryugyong Hotel, the 105-storey building which dominates the skyline of the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, may open next year, 26 years after construction began.

The pyramid-shaped building has become known as the “Hotel of Doom”.

Reto Witter, chief executive of the Kempinski group, which will manage the Ryugyong hotel, said only 150 rooms on the top floors would be used as a hotel.

Reto Wittwer said shops, restaurants and offices would eventually open on the lower levels.

Construction on the building began in 1987.

It is the 47th tallest building in the world, at 330 m, and has the fifth greatest number of floors, 105.

Ryugyong Hotel was scheduled to be completed in 1989 in time for the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students.

But construction was abandoned in 1992 when North Korea suffered an economic crisis.

Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang may open in 2013, 26 years after construction began
Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang may open in 2013, 26 years after construction began

Its hulking, unfinished presence has long been an embarrassment for the North Korean leadership, analysts say.

Ryugyong Hotel was voted “Worst Building in the History of Mankind” by Esquire magazine in 2008.

The American publication called it “hideously ugly, even by communist standards.”

There are reports of poor construction and the use of inferior materials.

A delegation from the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Korea, which inspected the building almost 15 years ago, concluded it was beyond repair and its lift shafts crooked.

But in 2008 an Egyptian company, Orascom Telecom, which operates a mobile phone network in North Korea, began equipping the building.

It is reported to have spent $180 million on finishing the hotel’s facade.

Reto Wittwer said the hotel will “partially, probably” open for business next year.

But original plans for 3,000 hotel rooms and three revolving restaurants have been greatly scaled back.

Earlier this year, the Beijing-based company, Koryo Tours, which organizes trips to North Korea, was granted a rare glimpse inside the hotel.

Photos taken by the company showed a vast glass-covered lobby and atrium with tiers of bare concrete at its base, resembling a multi-storey car park.

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Drew Barrymore creates her first make-up line exclusively for Walmart

Lisa.Felice
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Drew Barrymore creates her first make-up line exclusively for Walmart

Drew Barrymore has been the face of CoverGirl for the past five years, but now she is rumored to be launching her own cosmetics brand.

According to WWD, Drew Barrymore, 37, has created a line of make-up exclusively for Walmart, which will hit stores across the U.S. early next year.

The name of the beauty collection remains unknown.

It is believed that Drew Barrymore’s contract with Procter & Gamble, CoverGirl’s parent company, comes to an end in 2013, although a spokesman for the company declined to give an exact date.

However, sources say that she has been working on her own line with one of the world’s leading cosmetics manufacturers, Intercos.

When she signed as a CoverGirl ambassador in 2007, Drew Barrymore said that she wanted to “bring myself and my personality into it, as well as some edgy fashion-forward thinking and positivity to it.”

Drew Barrymore has been the face of CoverGirl for the past five years, but now she is rumored to be launching her own cosmetics brand
Drew Barrymore has been the face of CoverGirl for the past five years, but now she is rumored to be launching her own cosmetics brand

Drew Barrymore’s usual makeup look is very subtle. Perhaps we can expect rosy shades of blush, neutral eyeshadows, along with darker lip colors.

This would be her first time venturing into the world of celebrity beauty marketing, following the likes of the Kardashians, Kate Winslet and Dita Von Teese.

Drew Barrymore has never even had her own fragrance.

Drew Barrymore was spotted over the weekend enjoying a family day out in Los Angeles with her husband Will Kopelman and their one-month old daughter Olive.

 

Stop Hangovers: Bytox Hangover Prevention Patch

Kathryn R. Bown
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0
Stop Hangovers: Bytox Hangover Prevention Patch

Christmas revellers have been offered a helping hand to get them through the season of excess as a hangover “cure” is unveiled that claims to be second only to an “intravenous stuck in your arm”.

The Bytox Hangover Prevention Patch, invented by the U.S. plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Leonard Grossman, has gone on sale in the UK following its launch in New York late last year.

According to the packaging, the patch replenishes the vitamins and acids lost when consuming alcohol – in the same way that the intravenous “party drip” vitamin injections made famous by Rihanna earlier this year – Cole although it has not received any official medical backing either here or in the U.S.

It has, however, received glowing reviews from consumers who have posted on websites, with one writing: “I tried it twice. Both times after nine or 10 martinis. I can only account for myself. It works great.”

Users are instructed to attach the patch – which is similar in appearance and design to a nicotine patch – 45 minutes before drinking and leave it on until the next day or about eight hours after they finish drinking.

The Bytox Hangover Prevention Patch, invented by plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Leonard Grossman replenishes the vitamins and acids lost when consuming alcohol
The Bytox Hangover Prevention Patch, invented by plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Leonard Grossman replenishes the vitamins and acids lost when consuming alcohol

Dr. Leonard Grossman has claimed that the ingredients – B vitamins, acai berry, vitamins A, D, E and K and folic – are delivered continuously to the bloodstream as opposed to those from a pill which are excreted relatively quickly.

Firebox, which is selling the patch in the UK, says on its website: “The rationale for this <<game changing>> body patch is to stop hangovers before they start.

“Easily applied, it is infused with a powerful blend of vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants which are absorbed whilst imbibing, meaning a faster recovery time. American inventor Dr. Leonard Grossman claims <<only an intravenous stuck in your arm while drinking could be more effective than a Bytox patch>>.”

It adds: “It won’t, however, prevent you getting drunk and definitely won’t prevent embarrassing and/or regrettable behavior.”

Ben Redhead, product manager at Firebox, said: “Look, we’d never usually encourage excess partying but the Firebox team, armed with the Bytox Hangover Prevention Patch, are definitely intending to take it up a level this Christmas.

“And if the patch means more productivity at work the next day then bingo, we’re not only helping cure hangovers but we’re helping the economy too.”

 

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