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Delilah and Gabriel: sister, 4, gives younger brother, 2, a stern dressing down for spitting in hit YouTube video

Nancy Clayson
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Delilah and Gabriel: sister, 4, gives younger brother, 2, a stern dressing down for spitting in hit YouTube video

Four-year-old Delilah O’Donoghue’s earnest lecture on behavior to her two-year-old brother Gabriel could be about to make their family a fortune.

Saturday night their father Lee O’Donoghue told how he had initially posted a 65-second video clip of his children on YouTube thinking simply that friends and family could find it amusing.

Within days it had become an internet sensation, attracting more than half a million viewers as well as requests for interviews from media outlets here and in America.

Lee O’Donoghue and wife Alex, from Balsall Common, West Midlands, UK, described the interest in the video as “surreal”.

The 42-year-old said he began filming on his smartphone about two minutes into the little girl’s scolding.

“I watched from afar until I realized he must be really getting it from her,” he said.

“In classic Delilah style she decides to give it to him straight.”

Four-year-old Delilah O’Donoghue’s earnest lecture on behavior to her two-year-old brother Gabriel could be about to make their family a fortune
Four-year-old Delilah O’Donoghue’s earnest lecture on behavior to her two-year-old brother Gabriel could be about to make their family a fortune

Alex O’Donoghue, 40, a teacher, said of their daughter: “Delilah’s very bossy – it’s how little girls are, I think.

“She has scolded Gabriel in the past. But it is as much about trying to teach him. They are good little buddies really.”

The clip shows Gabriel receiving the dressing down from his sister after he found himself in hot water with their father for spitting at another child in the playground.

Delilah O’Donoghue was quickly on hand with sisterly advice – some of which belies her young years.

“I’ll keep remembering you being about two and I’ll tell my friends that too,” she tells him.

“You’re nearly three, you should toughen up a bit.”

As the lecture continues, Gabriel hangs his head, swings his legs, fidgets with his hands and looks away.

Delilah tells him: “When Mum and Dad said you don’t do that, you don’t do that… and you don’t spit.”

Referring to the child with whom Gabriel had apparently had the playground spat, she adds: “That boy’s old enough. You’re only two.

“You’re not old enough for that boy to… do a fight.

“That boy’s older than you. Maybe he’s nine or ten…or maybe eight.” Delilah completes her reprimand with the words: “Think about it, Gabriel. Think about it.”

Lee O’Donoghue, a company director, said he posted the clip, titled You Need to Toughen Up A Bit, on YouTube last Tuesday.

He said: “I’m not the sort of father who follows my children around with a digital camcorder. I just spotted it and thought it was comedy gold.”

Lee O’Donoghue and his wife have now signed up with global video marketing company Viral Spiral, which represents hundreds of home-movie makers with the aim of maximizing profits from clips posted online.

The couple said they had not decided how to proceed with marketing linked to the video, saying their first concern is the impact any deal would have on their children.

The most viewed viral video of all time is of another pair of British siblings.

The clip, called Charlie Bit My Finger, shows a little boy having his finger bitten by his baby brother and has been viewed more than 480 million times since it was posted in 2007.

Their parents, Howard and Shelley Davies-Carr, from Buckinghamshire, also represented by Viral Spiral, have earned about £100,000 ($160,000) from advertising revenue and marketing deals. By today, 959,000 YouTube viewers had clicked on Delilah and Gabriel’s video.

Viral Spiral said: “This one is certainly endearing as Delilah shows so much maturity in what she says.

“What happens next depends on how far the family want to go with it.”

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Jack Osbourne and Lisa Stelly wedding pictures published by Hello! magazine

Diane A. Wade
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Jack Osbourne and Lisa Stelly wedding pictures published by Hello! magazine

Jack Osbourne and Lisa Stelly married little over two weeks ago, but now the official pictures of their wedding have been published by Hello! magazine.

The youngest of the famous family said his “I do” to his girlfriend Lisa Stelly in a lavish ceremony at the Four Seasons Resort in Hawaii.

The couple have a five-month-old daughter, Pearl Clementine, together, and she was the guest of honour.

The star pair’s wedding pictures, which appear in this week’s Hello! Magazine, show just how magical their day was.

The images show Lisa Stelly looking every inch a bride in a classic white satin wedding dress, featuring an embroidered neckline, and a lace veil.

Jack Osbourne and Lisa Stelly married in a lavish ceremony at the Four Seasons Resort in Hawaii
Jack Osbourne and Lisa Stelly married in a lavish ceremony at the Four Seasons Resort in Hawaii

Baby Pearl Clementine was also dressed in a white wedding outfit for the occasion, and even sported a veil just like mummy.

The lovebirds were joined by 48 guests, including the famous Osbourne clan, during the ceremony and party on the romantic island.

And the emotional ceremony was definitely a family occasion, as Jack Osbourne’s sister Kelly served as a bridesmaid, and his mother Sharon also happened to turn 60 on the day of her youngest son’s wedding.

Kelly Osbourne recently told an Australian radio show she couldn’t stop crying when she heard her son say his vows.

“He did get married and it was wonderful! Oh my goodness I cried, people thought I was sad, but it was tears of joy,” she said.

“All I kept thinking was, <<My boy’s still 12 years of age and he’s getting married!>>, then I realized, no he’s not, he’s 26, what am I doing!”

And the day after the nuptials, Jack and Lisa’s honeymoon took a dramatic turn, as the youngest of Osbourne’s helped save a woman from drowning.

Jack Osbourne leaped into action with a few friends when he saw a woman struggling to swim in the ocean, after she had a heart attack.

His proud wife immediately took to Twitter to tell the world about her new husband’s brave rescue.

“Really proud of Jack and his friend Tyler who saved a woman on the beach yesterday who’d had a heart attack and nearly drowned.”

 

Kim Kardashian heads to dinner in a cut-out bikini top and see-through skirt

Lisa.Felice
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Kim Kardashian heads to dinner in a cut-out bikini top and see-through skirt

Kim Kardashian headed to upmarket dinner venue Prime 112 on Sunday night in an outfit more suitable for a day at the pool.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were photographed at the exclusive Prime 112 restaurant in Miami, with Kim turning heads in a black bra-style bikini top which showed slivers of her stomach and breasts.

She teamed the barely there top with a high-waisted grey pencil skirt. But even this bordered on the indecent side – as it was transparent.

Kim Kardashian’s most famous asset – her behind – was clearly visible through the skirt, which she cinched high at her waist with a thick leather belt which featured what looked like a jaguar head on the buckle.

She wore no jewellery with her eye-popping outfit, her only bling a pair of metallic silver heels.

Her tiny black bra top revealed plenty of cleavage at the front, as well as a small amount of Kim Kardashian’s midriff.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were photographed at the exclusive Prime 112 restaurant in Miami
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were photographed at the exclusive Prime 112 restaurant in Miami

Kanye West, meanwhile, rocked an all-black outfit of jeans and a short-sleeved collared shirt over a black T-shirt.

The 35-year-old musician completed his look with black trainers, his only bling a prominent gold chain around his neck.

Prime 112 is an upscale steak and seafood restaurant known for its deep and delicious dessert menu.

But given her tightly belted waist, Kim Kardashian may not have had too much opportunity to squeeze in dessert.

Kim Kardashian admitted recently to Life & Style magazine that she had put on weight, and would start dieting.

Friends of the famous personality say her relationship with Kanye West is at least partly to blame.

“She’s gained 15 to 20 pounds. All Kim and Kanye ever do is go out to eat,” a friend tells the magazine.

“She feels so comfortable around him – he loves her curves – she hasn’t been vigilant about dieting.”

After their dinner, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were seen leaving the restaurant, where they ran into NFL player Reggie Bush.

 

Norodom Sihanouk, former King of Cambodia, dies aged 89

Diane A. Wade
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Norodom Sihanouk, former King of Cambodia, dies aged 89

Norodom Sihanouk, the former Cambodian king who was a key figure through decades of upheaval, has died aged 89.

The former king died at a hospital in the Chinese capital, Beijing, after having a heart attack. He had been in poor health for several years.

Norodom Sihanouk, who was 89, came to the throne in 1941 and led Cambodia to independence from France in 1953.

Despite long periods of exile and his abdication in 2004 due to ill health, he remained an influential figure.

Norodom Sihanouk abdicated in 2004 in favor of his son, King Norodom Sihamoni.

“His death was a great loss to Cambodia,” said his assistant and relative Prince Sisowath Thomico.

“King Sihanouk did not belong to his family, he belonged to Cambodia and to history.”

Norodom Sihanouk died at a hospital in Beijing after having a heart attack
Norodom Sihanouk died at a hospital in Beijing after having a heart attack

His body is expected to be returned to Cambodia for an official funeral at the royal palace in Phnom Penh. King Sihamoni is flying to Beijing to accompany the late king home, a Cambodian government spokesman said.

A statement from China’s foreign ministry hailed Sihanouk as a “great friend of the Chinese people”.

Born in 1922, Sihanouk was the eldest son of King Norodom Suramarit and Queen Kossamak.

Educated at French schools in Saigon and in Paris, the Nazi-controlled Vichy government in France crowned Sihanouk king of Cambodia in 1941, bypassing his father in the hope that the 18-year-old could easily be manipulated.

However, after the war Sihanouk embarked on an international campaign aimed at ensuring independence for Cambodia.

It was achieved without bloodshed in 1953 – after nearly a century of French rule. Two years later Sihanouk abdicated in favor of his father and became both prime minister and foreign minister of his country.

Norodom Shihanouk tried – but failed – to keep the country from the Cold War conflict that engulfed South East Asia in the 1970s.

When a US-backed coup installed Lon Nol as Cambodia’s leader, Sihanouk – by then alienated by US bombing raids on Vietnamese communist guerrillas inside Cambodia – was forced into exile in Beijing.

It was from there that he struck an ill-fated deal with the emerging Maoist rebel force, the Khmer Rouge. When the Khmer Rouge seized power in 1975, Sihanouk returned as head of state but was subsequently detained.

Norodom Sihanouk remained confined to the royal palace for most of the four years of the regime’s rule, during which time an estimated 1.7 million people died.

People were killed or worked and starved to death, as the Khmer Rouge emptied cities and forced Cambodians to work on the land.

Nrodom Sihanouk later condemned the Khmer Rouge for the deaths of the Cambodians, including of several of his own children.

When Vietnamese forces ousted the Khmer Rouge, Sihanouk went again to Beijing. He was to remain outside the country for 13 years, as Cambodia faced civil war and the struggle to rebuild from economic devastation.

When the UN in 1991 persuaded the Vietnamese to withdraw and set Cambodia on the road to democracy, Sihanouk returned, and was again crowned king in 1993.

His role was increasingly one of broker between Cambodia’s warring political factions. But as the country slowly worked its way towards political stability, Sihanouk’s health steadily worsened.

In 2004, he announced he would step down in favor of one of his sons, the little-known Norodom Sihamoni. The former ballet dancer was crowned king in October 2004.

After that, Norodom Sihanouk spent much of his time overseas, in Beijing and Pyongyang.

But he remained a prominent national figure who – although criticized as autocratic and elitist, and blamed by some for his initial endorsement of the Khmer Rouge – symbolized constancy through Cambodia’s years of violence.

 

Malala Yousafzai flown to UK for medical treatment

Roy Siemens
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Malala Yousafzai flown to UK for medical treatment

Malala Yousafzai, the 14-year-old Pakistani girl shot in the head by Taliban gunmen last week, is being flown to the UK for medical treatment, the Pakistani army has said.

Malala Yousafzai has until now been at a military hospital in Rawalpindi, with doctors saying her progress over the next few days would be “critical”.

The girl wrote a diary about suffering under the Taliban and was accused by them of “promoting secularism”.

The UK said Malala Yousafzai’s transfer followed London’s offer to help her in any way.

Malala Yousafzai was taken to Islamabad and then left the country on board an air ambulance provided by the United Arab Emirates, accompanied by a full medical team.

The military said her doctors in Rawalpindi were “pleased with her present condition which has been described as optimal”.

“The panel of doctors recommended that Malala be shifted abroad to a UK centre which has the capability to provide integrated care to children who have sustained severe injury,” it said.

Malala Yousafzai is being flown to the UK for medical treatment
Malala Yousafzai is being flown to the UK for medical treatment

Malala Yousafzai is expected to need treatment to repair or replace damaged bones in her skull and to undergo neurological treatment.

The UK said it would not release information about where she was being taken to respect patient confidentiality, but said it had “capacity for Malala to be treated without affecting the normal operations of the hospital”.

The UK’s Foreign Secretary William Hague said the attack on Malala Yousafzai and her friends “shocked Pakistan and the world” and that her bravery was “an example to us all”.

“Malala will now receive specialist medical care in an NHS [National Health Service] hospital. Our thoughts remain with Malala and her family at this difficult time.”

“The public revulsion and condemnation of this cowardly attack shows that the people of Pakistan will not be beaten by terrorists. The UK stands shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan in its fight against terrorism.”

Malala Yousafzai – who was a well-known campaigner for education for girls – was attacked last Tuesday as she was returning home from school in Mingora in north-western Swat.

Two armed men, on foot, stopped a van packed with about a dozen schoolgirls in a congested area of the town.

One of them got into the van and asked which of the girls was Malala Yousafzai before he fired three shots, hitting Malala in the head and injuring two others.

The Taliban has warned they will target Malala Yousafzai again.

Malala has been kept sedated and on a ventilator since she was taken to hospital, with tight security around her.

The ventilator was removed briefly over the weekend to see how she coped and presumably have determined she is well enough to travel.

Four people have been arrested in connection with the attack. They were among about 100 people rounded up this week, most of whom were later released on bail.

On Monday, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is now the UN’s Special Envoy for Global Education, said he was launching a petition in Malala Yousafzai’s name “in support of what Malala fought for”.

“Today, sadly, 32 million girls are not going to school and it is time to fight harder for Malala’s dream to come true,” he said.

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Felix Baumgartner surpasses speed of sound

James J. Williams
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Felix Baumgartner surpasses speed of sound

Felix Baumgartner has become the first skydiver to go faster than the speed of sound, reaching a maximum velocity of 833.9 mph (1,342 km/h).

In jumping out of a balloon 128,100 ft (24 miles; 39 km) above New Mexico, Felix Baumgartner, 43, also smashed the record for the highest ever freefall.

Felix Baumgartner said he almost aborted the dive because his helmet visor fogged up.

It took just under 10 minutes for him to descend. Only the last few thousand feet were negotiated by parachute.

Once down, he fell to his knees and raised his fists in triumph. Helicopter recovery teams were on hand moments later.

“Let me tell you – when I was standing there on top of the world, you become so humble. You don’t think about breaking records anymore, you don’t think about gaining scientific data – the only thing that you want is to come back alive,” Felix Baumgartner said afterwards at a media conference.

None of the new marks set by Felix Baumgartner can be classed as “official” until endorsed by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI).

Its representative was the first to greet the skydiver on the ground. GPS data recorded on to a microcard in Felix Baumgartner’s chest pack will form the basis for the height and speed claims that are made.

These will be submitted formally through the Aerosport Club of Austria for certification.

Felix Baumgartner has become the first skydiver to go faster than the speed of sound
Felix Baumgartner has become the first skydiver to go faster than the speed of sound

There was concern early in the dive that Felix Baumgartner was in trouble. He was supposed to get himself into a delta position – head down, arms swept back – as soon as possible after leaving his capsule. But the video showed him tumbling over and over.

Eventually, however, the Austrian was able to use his great experience, from more than 2,500 career dives, to correct his fall and get into a stable configuration.

Even before this drama, it was thought the mission might have to be called off. As he went through last-minute checks inside the capsule, it was found that a heater for his visor was not working. This meant the visor fogged up as he exhaled.

“This is very serious, Joe,” he told retired US Air Force Col. Joe Kittinger, whose records he was attempting to break, and who was acting as his radio link in mission control at Roswell airport.

The team took a calculated risk to proceed after understanding why the problem existed.

Felix Baumgartner’s efforts have finally toppled records that have stood for more than 50 years.

Joe Kittinger set his marks for the highest, farthest, and longest freefall when he leapt from a helium envelope in 1960. His altitude was 102,800 ft (31 km). (His record for the longest freefall remains intact – Joe Kittinger fell for more than four and a half minutes before deploying his chute; Felix Baumgartner was in freefall for four minutes and 20 seconds).

Joe Kittinger, now an octogenarian, has been an integral part of Felix Baumgartner’s team, and has provided the Austrian with advice and encouragement whenever the younger man has doubted his ability to complete such a daring venture.

“Felix did a great job and it was a great honor to work with this brave guy,” the elder man said.

The 43-year-old adventurer – best known for leaping off skyscrapers – first discussed seriously the possibility of beating Joe Kittinger’s records in 2005.

Since then, Felix Baumgartner has had to battle technical and budgetary challenges to make it happen.

What he was proposing was extremely dangerous, even for a man used to those skyscraper stunts.

At Sunday’s jump altitude, the air pressure is less than 2% of what it is at sea level, and it is impossible to breathe without an oxygen supply.

Others who have tried to break the records have lost their lives in the process.

Felix Baumgartner’s team built him a special pressurized capsule to protect him on the way up, and for his descent he wore a next generation, full pressure suit made by the same company that prepares the flight suits of astronauts.

Although the jump had the appearance of another Felix Baumgartner stunt, his team stressed its high scientific relevance.

The researchers on the Red Bull Stratos project say it has already provided invaluable data for the development of high-performance, high-altitude parachute systems, and that the lessons learned will inform the development of new ideas for emergency evacuation from vehicles, such as spacecraft, passing through the stratosphere.

NASA and its spacecraft manufacturers have asked to be kept informed.

“Part of this programme was to show high-altitude egress, passing through Mach and a successful re-entry back [to subsonic speed], because our belief scientifically is that’s going to benefit future private space programmes or high-altitude pilots; and Felix proved that today,” said Art Thompson, the team principal.

A BBC/National Geographic documentary is being made about the project and will probably be aired in November.

Felix Baumgartner’s jump in numbers:

• Exit altitude: 128,100 ft; 39,045 m

• Total jump duration: 9’03”

• Freefall time: 4’20”

• Freefall distance 119,846 ft; 36,529 m

• Max velocity: 833.9 mph; 1,342.8 km/h; Mach 1.24

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Kim Kardashian tries out Halloween costume

Lisa.Felice
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Kim Kardashian tries out Halloween costume

Kim Kardashian was out shopping for Halloween outfits on Sunday in Miami and tweeted a picture of herself in a revealing tiger costume.

Kim Kardashian, 31, took the Instagram snap in the mirror of the changing room, and putting every inch of her famous curves on display in the process.

The skintight catsuit was sheer in the middle area, revealing Kim Kardashian’s enviable cleavage and stomach in the process.

Kim Kardashian teamed it up with a cat-ear headband, as the intimate photo also revealed a Michael Jackson-like costume hanging in the changing room.

The famous Kardashian is a big fan of skimpy Halloween costumes.

Kim Kardashian was out shopping for Halloween outfits in Miami
Kim Kardashian was out shopping for Halloween outfits in Miami

Last year, Kim Kardashian dressed up in a green sequin dress and a red wig in an effort to portray Poison Ivy from the Batman comic books.

The shopping trip was a good way for Kim Kardashian to get her mind off of her recent moving troubles.

The reality star, who’s been dating Kanye West since the beginning of this year, has been plotting a move to Miami, which has not been going as planned.

Kim and her sisters have been trying to rent a house in the popular South Beach area of the city, which sports many nightclubs, restaurants and stylish boutiques.

But instead, the famous family has been forced to find a home in the unfashionable area of North Beach, after residents blocked their application to move to South Beach.

 

Elvis Presley Beverly Hills home for sale

Lisa.Felice
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Elvis Presley Beverly Hills home for sale

Elvis Presley’s former Beverly Hills home has been put up for sale for $13 million.

Elvis Presley lived in the four-bedroom, five-bathroom French regency-styled house with his then-wife, Priscilla, until they divorced in 1973.

Like the singer’s Graceland home in Memphis, Tennessee, Elvis fans have flocked to visit the Los Angeles property for years.

The entry gate is still covered with handwritten tributes from fans.

Built in 1958, it was until recently leased out for $25,000 a month.

According to an estate agent’s website, the house sits on 1.2 acres (4,800 sq m) of land “overlooking spectacular panoramic city-to-ocean views”.

It also boasts a pool and spa, floor-to-ceiling windows, glass walls and an attached guesthouse.

Elvis Presley Enterprises said the singer first rented the house before he and Priscilla bought it in 1967. It was then sold in 1973 after the couple divorced.

Elvis Presley died in August 1977 at the age of 42. This year, to mark the 35th anniversary of his death, more than 75,000 fans held a candle-lit vigil outside the gated complex, where they were joined by Priscilla and daughter Lisa-Marie.

 

Felix Baumgartner lands on Earth after record freefall from 128,000 ft above Roswell

James J. Williams
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Felix Baumgartner lands on Earth after record freefall from 128,000 ft above Roswell

Felix Baumgartner has broken the record for the highest ever skydive by jumping out of a balloon 128,000 ft (39 km) above New Mexico.

Felix Baumgartner, 43, was hoping also to break the sound barrier during his descent – although that mark awaits confirmation.

Video cameras relayed the moment Felix Baumgartner stepped from his balloon capsule to begin his fall to Earth.

It took 10 minutes for him to reach the desert surface below.

Only the last few thousand feet were negotiated by parachute.

Helicopter recovery teams have gone to Felix Baumgartner’s landing site to return him to the mission control centre set up at Roswell airport.

Video cameras relayed the moment Felix Baumgartner stepped from his balloon capsule to begin his fall to Earth
Video cameras relayed the moment Felix Baumgartner stepped from his balloon capsule to begin his fall to Earth

Felix Baumgartner’s efforts have finally toppled records that have stood for more than 50 years.

The previous highest, farthest, and longest freefall was made by retired US Air Force Col. Joe Kittinger, who leapt from a helium envelope in 1960. His altitude was 102,800 ft (31.3 km).

Joe Kittinger, now an octogenarian, was on hand to witness the dramatic jump from the stratosphere. Indeed, he acted as “Capcom” – capsule communicator – throughout the ascent and descent, maintaining voice contact with the much younger man.

None of the new marks set by Felix Baumgartner can be classed as “official” until approved by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI).

Its representative in Roswell will analyze GPS data recorded on to a microcard in the Austrian’s chest pack. This information will form the basis for any height and speed claims Baumgartner intends to lodge with the FAI.

The adventurer – perhaps best known for leaping off skyscrapers – first discussed the possibility of beating Joe Kittinger’s records in 2005.

Since then, he has had to battle technical and budgetary challenges to make it happen.

What he was proposing was extremely dangerous, even for a man used to those skyscraper stunts.

At an altitude of 120,000 ft (36.5 km), the air pressure is less than 2% of what it is at sea level, and it is impossible to breathe without an oxygen supply.

Others who have tried to break the records for the highest, fastest and longest freefalls have lost their lives in the process.

Felix Baumgartner’s team built him a special pressurized capsule to protect him on the way up, and for his descent he wore a next generation, full pressure suit made by the same company that prepares the flight suits of astronauts.

Although the jump had the appearance of another Felix Baumgartner stunt, his team stressed its high scientific relevance.

The researchers on the Red Bull Stratos project say it has already provided invaluable data for the development of high-performance, high-altitude parachute systems, and that the lessons learned will inform the development of new ideas for emergency evacuation from vehicles, such as spacecraft, passing through the stratosphere.

NASA and its spacecraft manufacturers have asked to be kept informed.

Jon Clark is the medical director on the team. The former shuttle flight surgeon lost his wife in the Columbia accident in 2003.

He said Felix Baumgartner’s experience could help save the lives of future astronauts who get into trouble.

A BBC/National Geographic documentary is being made about the project and will probably be aired in November.

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Scarlett Johansson breaks up with Nate Naylor

Lisa.Felice
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Scarlett Johansson breaks up with Nate Naylor

Scarlett Johansson has broken up with her boyfriend Nate Naylor.

Scarlett Johansson, 27, met the dashing advertising executive in January – after splitting up with 52-year-old actor Sean Penn – and the romance progressed quickly, with Nate Naylor, 38, all but moving into her Manhattan apartment.

But last month she was pictured cuddling up to and holding hands with her ex-boyfriend, actor Jared Leto, 40, during a speech at a political rally in North Carolina.

At the time Scarlett Johansson insisted they were just good friends and her representatives adamantly denied that she and Nate Naylor had split, saying: “Scarlett is still dating Nate. This is very innocent. Scarlett and Jared have remained friends, nothing more, nothing less.”

Scarlett Johansson has broken up with her boyfriend Nate Naylor
Scarlett Johansson has broken up with her boyfriend Nate Naylor

But just a few weeks later Nate Naylor – who is a dead ringer for Don Draper from the TV series Mad Men and who has posted hundreds of violent and sexually charged bondage photographs on his personal website – has moved all of his belongings out of her flat and the relationship is over.

“They never officially lived together, but Nate has moved all of his stuff out and back into his apartment,” says a source.

“The relationship is over. It has not been amicable.”

Scarlett Johansson’s representative declined to comment last night.

 

Russell Crowe and Danielle Spencer split after nine years

Lisa.Felice
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Russell Crowe and Danielle Spencer split after nine years

Russell Crowe and his wife of nine years, Danielle Spencer, have separated, according to a report in Sydney today.

Russell Crowe, 48, and his 43-year-old singer wife have gone their separate ways, with Crowe turning his undivided attention to his acting career after the split, said the report.

The couple, who have two children – Charles and Tennyson, aged eight and six – have parted on friendly terms, the children remaining with Danielle Spencer while her now-estranged husband continues filming the biblical epic Noah in the US.

The report has come as a shock to showbusiness circles in Australia because the couple were regarded as a having a strong marriage despite the demands of their careers, with New Zealand-born Russell Crowe in constant demand for film roles while his wife, whose mother is English, has managed caring for the children as well as singing and appearing on Australian TV.

They were married in a chapel on Russell Crowe’s farm in the hamlet of Nana Glen, in northern New South Wales, in 2003, following which they lived in a penthouse on the shores of Sydney harbor before moving into a $10 million mansion in the posh harborside suburb of Rose Bay.

Russell Crowe and his wife of nine years, Danielle Spencer, have separated
Russell Crowe and his wife of nine years, Danielle Spencer, have separated

The Sydney Morning Herald, which broke the news of the split today, said Danielle Spencer was the quiet, unassuming woman who tamed the Gladiator with her calm and steady nature.

Danielle Spencer once said of her husband’s fame and fortune that “all that stuff has nothing to do with me as a person”.

Despite the general belief that they were a strongly-bonded couple, some critics were surprised to note that Danielle Spencer had been photographed on a night out with Damian Whitewood, her dance partner in a TV show, Dancing With the Stars, a few months ago.

Russell Crowe made a big point of dismissing rumors about their relationship later when he gave his wife a lingering kiss in front of the cameras at Sydney airport.

But the demands of his acting career have kept him away from Danielle Spencer for much of this year.

Russell Crowe has also missed most of the games of the Sydney rugby league club in which he has a financial interest and has left his wife to care for their children.

He has six films coming out in the next 12 months – Man with the Iron Fist, Les Miserables, Broken City, Superman, Noah and the Winter’s Tale.

Russell Crowe and Danielle Spencer met 22 years ago on the set of the movie The Crossing, but before developing his relationship with Danielle he had a much publicized romance with Meg Ryan.

He said of Danielle Spencer after their marriage that the thought of marrying her had crossed his mind the first time he had met her.

Danielle Spencer was careful with her words when her husband was involved in a phone-throwing incident in a New York hotel seven years ago after he was unable to get through to her.

“I’m not condoning his behavior,” she said.

“I don’t want to make excuses for him because I’m certainly not.

“But I do understand when you’re apart that the loneliness kicks in.”

 

Felix Baumgartner begins skydiving record attempt

James J. Williams
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Felix Baumgartner begins skydiving record attempt

Felix Baumgartner has lifted off on his mission to break a series of freefall records.

Austrian skydiver’s giant helium balloon left the ground at Roswell, New Mexico, a short while ago and is currently on a climb that should take it to more than 120,000 ft (36.5 km).

Felix Baumgartner will then jump out.

The near absence of air at this high altitude means he should break the speed of sound as he falls – a velocity in excess of 690 mph (1,110 km/h).

The journey down should take 10 minutes, about half of it in freefall.

No-one has ever gone so high in a balloon, nor attempted to make such a high skydive.

The current record for the biggest jump of all time is now 52 years old. It was set by US Air Force Col. Joe Kittinger when he leapt from a helium envelope at an altitude of 102,800 ft (31.3 km).

There are immense risks involved in what Felix Baumgartner is trying to do.

Felix Baumgartner has lifted off on his mission to break a series of freefall records
Felix Baumgartner has lifted off on his mission to break a series of freefall records

Where he is going, the air pressure is less than 2% of what it is at sea level, and it is impossible to breathe without an oxygen supply.

Others who have tried to break the existing records for the highest, fastest and longest freefalls have lost their lives in the process.

Engineers have done everything possible to limit the risks. They have built the Austrian a special pressurized capsule to carry him aloft under the helium balloon.

He will also be wearing a next-generation, full-pressure suit, an evolution of the orange protective clothing worn by shuttle astronauts on launch.

Although the jump has the appearance of another Felix Baumgartner stunt, his team prefers to stress its high scientific relevance.

The researchers on the Red Bull Stratos project believe it will inform the development of new systems for emergency evacuation from high-performance, high-altitude vehicles. NASA and its spacecraft manufacturers have asked to be kept informed.

There are a few examples of pilots being ejected in supersonic airflows when their planes broke apart in the sky, but there is no detailed data on what happens to the human body as it goes supersonic and then, as it slows, goes subsonic again.

Felix Baumgartner will be instrumented to acquire this new data.

Engineers have incorporated an automatic device in his gear that would deploy a drogue stabilization chute if he gets into trouble.

There is, however, high confidence in Baumgartner’s team that he will complete the task ahead of him. He has been buoyed by the success of two practice jumps that have taken him progressively higher into the stratosphere – from 71,600ft (21.8km) and 97,100ft (29.6km).

The official lift-off time for the balloon was 09:31 MDT (16:31GMT). Mission control at Roswell airport is following every moment of what is likely to be a more than two-hour ascent to the jump altitude.

Baumgartner is in video and radio contact throughout. The only person who will speak to him, however, is Col. Joe Kittinger, who was brought into the team early to advise the Austrian how best to beat the octogenarian’s records.

“We are going to get your goal and your dream accomplished Felix,” Joe Kittinger told Felix Baumgartner just before lift-off.

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Turkey bans all Syrian planes from its air space

Diane A. Wade
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Turkey bans all Syrian planes from its air space

All Syrian planes have been banned from Turkish air space, Turkey’s foreign ministry has announced.

The ban follows similar restrictions imposed by Syria, after a Syrian plane alleged to be carrying Russian munitions was intercepted by Turkey.

Turkey’s ban came in on Saturday night and was communicated to Syria, but was only made public on Sunday.

It applies to civilian aircraft, as military aircraft were already de facto banned, a ministry official said.

The Syrian move followed Turkey’s interception on Wednesday of a Syrian jet, which Turkish warplanes forced to land in Ankara.

Turkish officials confiscated what they described as munitions bound for Syria’s defence ministry – an allegation disputed by Damascus.

At the time, Turkey warned its own civilian airlines to avoid Syrian air space as a precaution.

Tensions have been recently rising between the two countries after a series of cross-border incidents.

Last week, there were several days of firing across the border after five Turkish civilians were killed by Syrian shelling.

Turkey’s government has backed the Syrian opposition and called for the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad.

While Turkey may not be at war with Syria, it is now increasingly involved in its neighbor’s conflict.

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Lithuanians vote in parliamentary election

Diane A. Wade
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Lithuanians vote in parliamentary election

Lithuanians have begun voting for a new parliament in a ballot seen in the wider EU as a test for austerity policies to tackle the economic crisis.

Opinion polls suggest the centre-right government will be punished for cutting pensions and public sector pay.

Under its leadership, the economy has rebounded but analysts say it is too soon for voters to feel the impact.

A centre-left government promising to raise wages and reduce taxes for the poor is expected to emerge.

Lithuania enjoyed an economic boom fuelled by cheap Scandinavian loans until the 2008 world financial crisis.

That crisis saw economic output drop by 15%, unemployment climb and thousands of young people in the Baltic nation of 3.3 million emigrate in search of work.

Under Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius’s coalition government, GDP grew by 5.8% last year – one of the fastest rates of any EU economy – and the budget deficit has been tamed.

The price was swingeing cuts to the extent that only every third street lamp in the capital Vilnius was allowed to be lit and fuel for police cars was rationed.

“They cut my pension,” a 72-year-old man selling souvenirs in the capital Vilnius told Reuters news agency.

“I have to keep working because otherwise I won’t be able to afford the rent on my apartment, or the electricity bills.”

Opinion polls suggest the Social Democrats under Algirdas Butkevicius will do best at the polls, followed by their potential coalition ally, the Labour Party.

Algirdas Butkevicius promises to raise the minimum wage, make the rich pay more tax and put back euro entry until 2015, a year later than scheduled.

By delaying euro entry he could run a bigger deficit than euro accession rules permit. Of the Baltic states which joined the EU, only Estonia has so far joined the eurozone.

Analysts say that if the centre-left win, economic factors will oblige them to stick largely to the existing austerity programme.

The parties of the left have also promised to improve the ex-Soviet state’s strained relations with Russia, still Lithuania’s biggest trade partner.

In addition to the parliamentary election, Lithuanians are voting in a non-binding referendum on building a new nuclear power station, a project which could reduce dependence on Russian energy supplies.

Just before the election, PM Andrius Kubilius announced a lawsuit against Russian gas monopoly Gazprom for 5 billion lita ($1.9 billion), alleging that it had overcharged for deliveries.

 

Gary Collins dies aged 74

Sonia Pantiss
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Gary Collins dies aged 74

Legendary TV actor and presenter Gary Collins has died aged 74.

Gary Collins passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning and his death was said to be from natural causes.

The tragedy took place just before 1:00 a.m. at Biloxi Regional Medical Center in the American state of Missouri, according Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove.

Gary Collins married former Miss America Mary Ann Mobley in 1967 and the couple – who separated last year although remained wedded – had one child together, Mary Clancy Collins, Senior Vice President of Development for MGM Television.

He was previously married to Susan Peterson with whom he had two other children, Guy William Collins and Melissa “Mimi” Collins.

Legendary TV actor and presenter Gary Collins has died aged 74
Legendary TV actor and presenter Gary Collins has died aged 74

The master of ceremonies for the Miss America Pageant from 1985-1989 is also known for having appeared on episodes of programmes such as Fantasy Island, Charlie’s Angels, Alice, The Love Boat and Police Story.

Gary Collins also hosted the talk show Hour Magazine from 1980-1988.

Over the last few years, his public image has been far from wholesome.

In January 2008 Gary Collins served four days in a Glendale, California jail for his second driving under the influence conviction.

Gary Collins pleaded no contest to driving a motor home drunk after his arrest January 31, 2009, in Santa Barbara County, California.

He was sentenced to 120 days home detention according to a Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s spokesperson.

His blood alcohol content was measured at .29, more than three times the legal limit.

In November 2010 Gary Collins was charged with a misdemeanor for leaving the scene of an accident in Jackson, Mississippi. He was fined $500 for the incident.

Then on January 5, 2011, Gary Collins was charged with defrauding an innkeeper, a felony, in Harrison County, Mississippi, for allegedly failing to pay his bill at Jazzeppi’s Restaurant, according to a statement released by the Biloxi Police Department.

Gary Collins paid a $500 fine two weeks later and did not appear in court.

 

Alfonso Ribeiro marries Angela Unkrich

Lisa.Felice
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1
Alfonso Ribeiro marries Angela Unkrich

Fresh Prince of Bel Air star Alfonso Ribeiro has married his fiancée Angela Unkrich.

Alfonso Ribeiro and Angela Unkrich wed in a ceremony in California, according to People magazine.

It is a second marriage for Alfonso Ribeiro, who was has a 9-year-old daughter Sienna with his ex-wife Robin Stapler.

Alfonso Ribeiro is best known as Will Smith’s rich spoiled cousin Carlton Banks in the popular TV show Fresh Prince of Bel Air, which ran from 1990 to 1996.

His famous “Carlton dance” saw him jiving to Tom Jones in a clip which went viral on YouTube.

Alfonso Ribeiro has married his fiancée Angela Unkrich
Alfonso Ribeiro has married his fiancée Angela Unkrich

Alfonso Ribeiro, now 41, got his start in showbusiness on the 1980s series Silver Spoons and once danced with Michael Jackson in a Pepsi commercial.

He more recently worked as a director and now hosts gameshow Catch 21.

Alfonso Ribeiro was recently seen on TV reprising the role of Carlton in an episode of Big Time Rush.

 

Bye Bye Laundry hanger works as a powerful odor eliminator

Lisa.Felice
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Bye Bye Laundry hanger works as a powerful odor eliminator

The good news for undomesticated goddesses is that now you don’t have to do laundry, thanks to the Bye Bye Laundry hanger.

This innovative new design by British designer Lisa Marie Bengtsson is a hanger that contains specialized charcoal capsules to freshen-up your clothes when you are too lazy to give them a full wash.

Lisa Marie Bengtsson designed a hanger that contains specialized charcoal capsules to freshen-up your clothes when you are too lazy to give them a full wash
Lisa Marie Bengtsson designed a hanger that contains specialized charcoal capsules to freshen-up your clothes when you are too lazy to give them a full wash

The environmentally-friendly hanger has a filtered glass chamber located at the top, where the charcoal lies and is processed with oxygen allowing it to function as an extremely powerful and effective odor eliminator.

Although this is a huge step forward for lazy laundry doers, don’ expect it to work wonders on last night’s stains, its sole function is to absorb odor so don’t expect those curry spills to disappear.

 

Echinacea largest ever clinical study finds herbal remedy can protect against colds

Kathryn R. Bown
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Echinacea largest ever clinical study finds herbal remedy can protect against colds

According to the largest ever clinical study of echinacea, the herbal remedy can prevent colds and is of most benefit to people who are prone to them.

Researchers found that taking three daily doses of the common remedy for four months reduced the number of colds.

The duration of the illness suffered by patients also went down by an average of 26%.

According to the results of tests on 750 people, the treatment also cut the number of recurrent colds suffered by those with weak immune systems or a history of catching several bouts each year by 60%.

Several previous studies, including an overview of evidence by the highly respected Cochrane Library, had suggested that echinacea could soothe symptoms and cut colds short, but there was only limited evidence it could prevent the illness from ever taking hold.

The most recent major paper into the therapy, by the American College of Physicians, had found that it did not prevent colds or significantly reduce the length or severity symptoms.

But the new study by experts from the Cardiff University Common Cold Centre suggested that taking Echinaforce, a common form of the herb extract, could not only reduce the risk of colds but reduce the amount of paracetamol patients took while ill.

The research, which was part-funded by A. Vogel, the Swiss manufacturers of Echinaforce, was published in the peer-reviewed journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

It was primarily designed to test the safety of the treatment, and found that it caused no adverse side effects in the participants, who were all over the age of 18.

Echinacea is extracted from the Eastern Purple Coneflower, which is found in North America, and has long been used as a herbal remedy for the common cold.

It is purported to work by fighting viruses, which cause up to 95% of all colds and flu, and studies suggest it can also boost weak immune systems if swallowed.

Patients mixed 25 drops of Echinaforce or a placebo with water and held it in their mouths for 10 seconds before swallowing it, three times per day over a four month period.

Those who took the treatment suffered 149 bouts of illness compared with 188 in the placebo group, a difference described by researchers as “borderline significant”, but the total number of days spent with flu was reduced from 850 to 672, a “highly significant” change.

Recurring infections were cut from 100 episodes in 43 patients to 65 episodes in 28 patients, a difference of 59%, the authors wrote.

Roland Schoop, a medical researcher for Bioforce, the British arm of A. Vogel, and one of the study’s authors, told the Daily Telegraph: “We were actually pretty amazed when we found this 26% difference in cold episodes.”

 

Drinking a litre of mineral water every day can prevent Alzheimer’s memory loss

Kathryn R. Bown
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0
Drinking a litre of mineral water every day can prevent Alzheimer’s memory loss

Drinking a litre of mineral water every day can prevent cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s sufferers by removing aluminium from their bodies, a new study has found.

British researchers found drinking silicon-rich mineral water “significantly reduced” the levels of neurotoxin aluminium in the body.

Aluminium has long been linked to the development of Alzheimer’s but no scientific relationship has yet been proved.

Patients who took part in the new study drank a litre of mineral water every day for 13 weeks – and the majority showed no further signs of cognitive decline.

One patient saw the amount of aluminium in their body drop by 70% and three participants actually showed an improvement in their mental health.

Professor Christopher Exley, of Keele University, who led the research, said the “surprising” results gave hope to findings ways to combat the devastating disease.

He said: “There were two parts to our research. The first is that drinking silicon water does remove aluminium from the body.

“When you drink silicon-rich mineral water aluminium throughout the body is gathered up into the blood and then excreted through the urine.

“It seems to purge the aluminium from the body. We now know we can use this silicon-rich <<therapy>> water to reduce aluminium.

“The second part of our research was looking at the cognitive abilities of people with Alzheimer’s and whether these changed as the aluminium was reduced.

“The most interesting thing was that we did see this potential relationship between the removal of aluminium and the positive improvement in cognitive function.

“It is highly unlikely to see changes over such a short period of time so the fact we saw changes in cognitive ability was quite a surprise.

“We saw improvement in some cases, cognitive function remained the same in others and it did decrease in others.”

Previous studies have linked the presence of aluminium with plaques and tangles – two kinds of microscopic damage – in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers examined the aluminium levels of 15 sufferers and their carers or partners – 15 women and 15 men in total.

The brand of water used in the study – published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease – was a Malaysian water called Spritzer, which has high levels of the chemical element silicon.

Brands with similar levels include Volvic and Fiji water.

Scientists asked the participants to drink a litre of Spritzer water every day for 13 weeks and measured their aluminium levels at the end.

The patients saw a huge reduction in their aluminium levels, with a number showing drops of 50, 60 and 70%.

Participants were also assessed using the ADAS-Cog (Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive) method, which is a recognized 11-part test.

The tests include memory questions and “simple” tasks such as drawing a clock face – people with a deteriorating function may struggle to put the numbers in the right place.

After 13 weeks, cognitive function is eight of the 15 Alzheimer’s sufferers had not deteriorated – and actually improved “substantially” in three.

Prof. Christopher Exley added: “We now want to carry out further research to see if we could reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s who seem to be predisposed to it.

“They are usually aged between 40 and 60. If we could get people to include silicon-rich water in their diet in the future and reduce their risk, it would be a great.”

The Spritzer mineral water containing 35 mg of silicon per litre.

However, Prof. Christopher Exley says mineral water brands also contain high levels of silicon.

He said: “Volvic has high levels of silicon, around 20mg/litre. Fiji water has approximately 45mg/litre.

“There is a simple equation you can do to work out the silicon levels in water. If you look at the back of the bottle, it will often state a mg/litre analysis.

“On that list should be <<silica>>, which is silicon with oxygen. If you divide that number by two you get the approximate value of silicon in that water.”

Prof. Christopher Exley added that it is more effective to drink the water over a shorter period, such as an hour, rather than sipping it all at once, in order to remove aluminium.

“The major challenge is that we don’t have an effective drug for Alzheimer’s. This is a real tragedy,” he said.

“While we know a huge amount, we don’t have an effective drug and I think anything that shows some promise should stand a chance of being investigated.

“I think this deserves a chance.”

The research is published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Volume 33, No. 2.

 

Bobbi Kristina Brown and Nick Gordon come to the aid of a man collapsed in parking lot

Lisa.Felice
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0
Bobbi Kristina Brown and Nick Gordon come to the aid of a man collapsed in parking lot

Bobbi Kristina Brown and her boyfriend Nick Gordon came to the aid of a man who had collapsed in the parking lot of an Atlanta strip mall.

Bobbi Kristina Brown, 19, and her beau were alerted by bystanders to help the man, with a witness reporting that Nick Gordon got him out of his Jeep and placed him on the floor to perform first aid.

Nick Gordon, 22, and Bobbi Kristina were at the strip mall to withdraw money from an ATM, before they rushed over to help.

The couple both held up the young man’s legs, as they stood among a crowd of nine people waiting for emergency services to arrive.

Bobbi Kristina Brown and her boyfriend Nick Gordon came to the aid of a man who had collapsed in the parking lot of an Atlanta strip mall
Bobbi Kristina Brown and her boyfriend Nick Gordon came to the aid of a man who had collapsed in the parking lot of an Atlanta strip mall

Bobbi Kristina Brown looked stricken and ran her hands through her hair as Nick Gordon bent down to try to help, before paramedics arrived to perform CPR. However, the man’s state of health after he reached hospital is not yet known.

Earlier this week, Bobbi Kristina Brown and Nick Gordon sat stoically through the We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston at the Nokia Theatre LA Live, where Jennifer Hudson, Britney Spears and Usher were among those on hand to give tear-jerking music tributes.

The tribute will air in the U.S. next month.

 

Kardashians blocked by residents to move to South Beach

Lisa.Felice
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Kardashians blocked by residents to move to South Beach

When Kim Kardashian plotted a move to Miami it seemed a given that she’d be settling into the exclusive South Beach area of the city.

But Kim Kardashian and her sisters have instead been forced to find a home in the unfashionable area of North Beach, after residents blocked their application to move to South Beach.

When the sisters tried to rent beach homes on Sunset Islands, De Lido Islands and on North Beach Road, their efforts were blocked by neighbors, Radaronline.com is reporting.

A local rule meant the Kardashians needed to get signatures from neighbors living within 500 feet of the three homes they wished to lease with a 90% approval rate.

South Beach residents refused to bend to Kardashian sisters’ wishes, undoubtedly fearing their placid streets being overrun by television crews and photographers and turning into a virtual circus.

So, while they are filming their show in South Beach, Kim, Kourtney and Khloe have had to settle for a 51,000-square-foot property within a gated community in North Miami Beach, which is nearly 14 miles away from their filming locations.

“The area is known for its hourly hotels, strip clubs and high crime rate,” a source told Radaronline.com.

“It’s a far-cry from their usual posh digs, with just a 7-Eleven and an abandoned old bank close by.”

 

Fungal meningitis outbreak: death toll rises to 15

Kathryn R. Bown
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Fungal meningitis outbreak: death toll rises to 15

The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) say 15 people have now died from an outbreak of fungal meningitis linked to steroid injections to treat back pain.

CDC said the latest death occurred in Indiana – the second in the state.

In all, nearly 200 people in 13 US states have been affected.

A company in Massachusetts earlier recalled more than 17,000 vials of steroid it had sent to more than 70 clinics across America.

Thirteen states have been affected: Tennessee, Michigan, Virginia, Indiana, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, Idaho and Texas.

Fungal meningitis is not contagious, the CDC says.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include severe headache, nausea and fever as well as slurred speech and difficulty walking.

The drugs have been traced to Massachusetts’ New England Compounding Center.

The drug manufacturer last week voluntarily recalled all products in circulation that were made at its Framingham facility.

Massachusetts health regulators have said there were complaints against the pharmaceutical company in 2002 and 2003.

According to the Massachusetts Health Department, 17,676 vials of the steroid methylprednisolone acetate were sent to 76 healthcare providers in 23 states between July and September.

The CDC has published a list of clinics that received shipments of the drug, which was recalled on 26 September.

 

Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz accidentally shot by patrol

Diane A. Wade
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Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz accidentally shot by patrol

Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz has been wounded in what is said to be an accidental shooting.

Officials say Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz is now being treated for a light injury at a military hospital in the capital, Nouakchott.

Communications Minister Hamdi Ould Mahjoub said on national TV that a military patrol had mistakenly opened fire on the presidential convoy.

The minister added that President Abdel Aziz, 55, was injured in the arm and that his life was not in danger.

“On his way back to Nouakchott, the presidential convoy was shot by a Mauritanian patrol as they did not recognize his convoy,” Hamdi Ould Mahjoub said.

“The Mauritanian people can be reassured, the president is fine… He got out of the vehicle unassisted upon arrival at the hospital, where he walked in without difficulty.”

The hospital remains sealed off by security forces.

President Abdel Aziz came to power in a military coup in 2008 in the West African nation. He won presidential elections a year later held under an agreement with coup opponents.

Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz is seen by the West as a bulwark against Islamists in the region, particularly in neighboring Mali.

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Syria bans Turkish civil flights over its territory

Roy Siemens
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Syria bans Turkish civil flights over its territory

Turkish civilian planes are no longer allowed to fly over Syria, Damascus has said, amid growing tensions between the two neighboring countries.

The ban took effect at midnight on Saturday.

This comes just days after Turkey intercepted a Syrian-bound plane, claiming it carried Russian-made munitions for the Syrian army.

Syria has described the claim as a lie, challenging Ankara to put the seized goods on public view.

The Syrian foreign ministry said its ban on Turkish flights was in retaliation for a similar move from Ankara.

Turkey has not announced such a measure, although it has said it will continue to ground Syrian civilian planes it suspects are carrying military cargo.

Tensions have been recently rising between the two countries after a series of cross-border incidents.

Last week, there were several days of firing across the border after five Turkish civilians were killed by Syrian shelling.

Turkey’s government has backed the Syrian opposition and called for the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad.

In Syria itself, there were reports on Saturday that rebels had shot down a Syrian military jet outside Aleppo – the town at the centre of recent fighting.

Footage posted online showed the burning wreckage of what appeared to be an aircraft, but the claim has not been independently verified.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has accused the government of President bashar al-Assad of dropping cluster bombs – which are banned by more than 100 countries – into populated areas.

The group said there was a number of credible reports that the number of cluster bomb strikes had increased dramatically in recent days.

Syria refuses to join the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans the use of such weapons.

In a separate development, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan told a conference in Istanbul that the UN’s failure to act in Syria gave President Assad the green light to kill tens or hundreds of people every day.

Turkey may not be at war with Syria, but it is now increasingly involved in its neighbor’s conflict.

Recep Tayip Erdogan’s comments come as the UN-Arab League envoy for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, had talks in Istanbul with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to hear Ankara’s perspective on the crisis.

No breakthroughs were expected, and none were reported after the meeting.

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Lakhdar Brahimi has crisis talks in Turkey

Roy Siemens
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Lakhdar Brahimi has crisis talks in Turkey

The UN-Arab League envoy for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, has had talks in Turkey amid rising tensions between Ankara and Damascus.

Lakhdar Brahimi met Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to hear Turkey’s perspective on the crisis.

Several days of cross-border firing followed the killing of five Turkish civilians by Syrian shelling last week.

Earlier this week, Turkey intercepted a Syria-bound plane amid reports it had Russian-made defence equipment aboard.

Syria has dismissed the claim as a lie, challenging Turkey to show any evidence.

In Syria itself, there were reports on Saturday that rebel fighters had shot down a Syrian military jet outside Aleppo.

Footage posted online showed the burning wreckage of what appeared to be an aircraft, but the claim has not been independently verified.

Lakhdar Brahimi met Ahmet Davutoglu in Istanbul on Saturday, as did German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.

“It is important that no-one pours oil on the fire. We are counting on moderation and de-escalation,” the German minister said, according to news agency AFP.

Meanwhile Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan told a conference in Istanbul that the UN’s failure to act in Syria gave President Bashar al-Assad the green light to kill tens or hundreds of people every day.

Turkey may not be at war with Syria, but it is now increasingly involved in its neighbor’s conflict.

President Bashar al-Assad’s government accuses Turkey, along with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, of arming the rebels.

However, Syria has said it is ready to set up a joint committee to oversee security on the border.

Its foreign ministry said it had been discussing with diplomats from Russia, a key ally, the idea of a Syrian-Turkish security committee to avoid misunderstandings at the border, which would establish a “mechanism for surveillance of the border while respecting national sovereignty”.

Lakhdar Brahimi’s visit comes a day after he met senior Saudi officials in the city of Jeddah.

Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Prince Abdel Aziz bin Abdullah was quoted as urging “an immediate halt to the bloodshed of the Syrian people”.

However, the envoy’s visit to the region carries no immediately obvious peace plan.

He adds that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has suggested Lakhdar Brahimi may head to Damascus next week if his meetings in the region go well.

Meanwhile state media in Iran, Bashar al-Assad’s key supporter in the region, say Lakhdar Brahimi is to travel to Tehran on Sunday for talks, ahead of a visit to Iraq on Monday.

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