Home Tags Posts tagged with "heart"
heart
Eleven people have died in a hot-air balloon crash in the Wairarapa region, about 80 km (50 miles) north-east of New Zealand’s capital Wellington.
Police and witnesses say the balloon struck power lines and burst into flames, before plunging to the ground.
The crash happened on farmland at Clareville, near the town of Carterton, in the Wairarapa region – an area that is popular with balloonists.
Five couples from the Wellington area were on board, plus the pilot. Nobody survived.
“We are deeply sorry to learn of this tragic accident and our hearts go out to those who are now mourning the loss of life,” Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee said, according to Associated Press news agency.
Eleven people have died in a hot-air balloon crash in the Wairarapa region, about 80 km (50 miles) north-east of New Zealand’s capital Wellington
An investigation by New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission is under way.
Eyewitness Bevan Lambess, who was driving by, told Reuters news agency: “The wicker basket was on fire and I saw something holding it down – it looked like ropes but I got closer and it was actually the top (electric) power line that was holding the basket down.
“It probably still would have been 15m in the air. I slowed down and then the whole basket started to go up in flames.”
Police commander Mike Rusbatch said two people appeared to have jumped from the basket of the balloon as it came down.
Another witness, David McKinley, told the state broadcaster TVNZ he noticed part of the basket was on fire when it passed over his garden.
“It was just above the trees when I first saw it. It looked like he tried to raise it a bit higher. All of a sudden there was just 10 m of flames.
“It was like a rocket coming down,” David McKinley said.
The incident occurred in bright, clear conditions with little wind.
The only victim publicly identified so far is the pilot and balloon owner, Lance Hopping, reported AP.
Lance Hopping was considered an experienced and safety-conscious pilot who acted as safety officer for the Balloons over Wairarapa annual event – with organizer Jonathan Hooker quoted as saying he had more than 10,000 hours of commercial ballooning experience.
The incident is New Zealand’s worst air disaster since 1979, when an Air New Zealand sightseeing flight crashed into Mt Erebus in Antarctica, killing all 257 passengers on board.
[youtube k-mrJt-JxPM]
After his success with Halloween prank among kids, late night jokester Jimmy Kimmel did it again for Christmas. This time, his success on YouTube was even bigger and the commedian had to do a second part of Christmas prank.
The first Christmas present challenge – “I Gave My Kids a Terrible Present” – in which the comedian appealed to parents to post videos of their children opening one terrible Christmas present early, aired three weeks ago.
But even after the show aired with the clips, parents continued to post more videos on YouTube of their tortured children opening unwanted presents.
Before debuting the compilation, Jimmy Kimmel said: “Hundreds more videos were posted online, so once again we went through them and picked the best of the worst kids.”
After his success with Halloween prank among kids, late night jokester Jimmy Kimmel did it again for Christmas
From pickles to Barbie dolls, the reactions varied. Some children cried and some screamed, but other pranks backfired when the children actually liked their gifts.
“Pickles! Yuck! Put that away from me. I don’t want no pickles,” said one extremely disappointed girl when she discovered a glass jar.
Another girl, who opened up a stick of deodorant, was confused at first, but then proceeded to roll some on with a smile on her face.
Footage shows a girl, kicking and screaming, chanted: “No broccoli, no broccoli, no broccoli.”
Another girl, a die-hard Chicago Bears fan, throws her gift across the room and sobs to her mother after opening a Green Bay Packers jersey, then tells her father: “IT SUCKS.”
Two boys who got Barbie dolls as gifts had different, but negative reactions. One cried and told his mom: “You broke my heart,” while the other screamed in agony.
But stealing the show were two brothers with completely opposite reactions.
Both clad in Angry Birds pajamas, the boys open their gifts at the same time. The older brother, who wanted a Nintendo 3DS for Christmas instead got a chain with “3DS” on it.
The boy then cries, saying that his brother, who got a potato, received the best gift while he got the worst.
The latest video prank has more than 65,000 hits on YouTube in just two days. First part has collected more than 15 million views on the video-sharing site.
[youtube yWXKUPt7a-U]
[youtube q4a9CKgLprQ]
The brain’ skills can start to decline as early as 45, much earlier than previously thought, suggests a study published in the British Medical Journal.
A major study shows the brain’s capacity for memory, reasoning and comprehension starts waning in middle age rather than in the 60s.
Researchers say the finding is important because younger people should be encouraged to boost their brain power with healthier living, while some may benefit from medicines to stave off further decline.
Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health in France and University College London in the UK studied more than 7,000 people over a 10-year period.
The study participants were civil servants aged between 45 and 70 working in London when cognitive testing began in 1997 to 1999.
Cognitive function was measured three times over 10 years to assess memory, vocabulary, hearing and visual comprehension skills.
Tasks included recalling in writing as many words beginning with the letter S as possible and as many animal names as could be thought of.
All cognitive scores, except vocabulary, declined among all age groups during the study, and there was evidence of faster decline among older people.
The brain' skills can start to decline as early as 45, much earlier than previously thought, suggests a study published in the British Medical Journal
The study found that, in men group, there was a 3.6% drop in reasoning after 10 years among those who were aged 45 to 49 at the start of the study and 9.6% among those aged 65 to 70. In women group, the decline was 3.6% and 7.4% in the same age groups.
Dr. Archana Singh-Manoux, who led the study, said there had been debate over when mental skills started failing, with some researchers concluding there was little evidence of problems before 60.
But this was disproved by the study findings, she added.
Dr. Archana Singh-Manoux said: “Cognitive decline is already evident in middle age, between 45-49 years.
“The results for all tests, except vocabulary, showed significant declines in all age categories in both men and women.”
The study says diseases such as dementia are believed to take at least 20 to 30 years to develop but promoting healthy lifestyles and good heart health could help.
“There is emerging consensus that ‘what is good for our hearts is also good for our heads, making aggressive control of behavioural and cardiovascular risk factors as early as possible key targets for clinical practice and public health” it said.
Medicines and other medical interventions are more likely to work at an earlier age, so could be used in people whose cognitive decline is faster than the average, it said.
Previous research suggests around half of people with diagnosed mild cognitive impairment (MCI) develop Alzheimer’s.
In cases of MCI, a person has cognitive or memory problems which are more marked than typical age-related memory loss, but not yet as severe as those found in Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Anne Corbett, research manager of the Alzheimer’s Society in UK, said: “This large, important study adds vital information to the debate over when cognitive decline begins.
“However, the study does not tell us whether any of these people went on to develop dementia, nor how feasible it would be for GPs to detect these early changes.
“More research is now needed to help us fully understand how measurable changes in the brain can help us improve diagnosis of dementia.
“An early diagnosis is essential as it can provide access to support and potential treatments which can vastly improve people’s quality of life.”
Nguyen Duy Hai from Vietnam has come through a 12-hour operation to remove a 198 lb tumour from his right leg
Nguyen Duy Hai from Vietnam has come through a 12-hour operation to remove a 198 lb tumour from his right leg.
Nguyen Duy Hai, 32, is said to be in a stable condition after the surgery at the France-Vietnam hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.
Leading U.S. surgeon McKay McKinnon led the eight-strong team who began operating on Nguyen Duy Hai’s leg at 8:55 a.m. local time this morning.
The surgeons didn’t finish until 9:15 p.m.
Dr. McKay McKinnon, who has successfully removed other large tumours in his 30-year career, had been positive about the surgery despite it carrying just a 50% success rate.
Speaking to Tuoitrenews, a Vietnamese website, before the procedure, Dr. McKay McKinnon said it was essential for his team to take out the “nidus” or origin of the tumour to stop the growth returning.
Nguyen Duy Hai suffers from neurofibromatosis, a disease that causes disfiguring tumors to form on nerves throughout the body.
The tumour began growing when Nguyen Duy Hai was a boy and is thought to be the biggest ever recorded in Vietnam.
Over the year it has grown from the base of his spine, snaking up his back and around his thighs.
It is intertwined with bloody vessels making cutting it away potentially deadly.
The strain on Nguyen Duy Hai’s already weakened heart was also a risk. To combat this, the team decided to keep him upright throughout the operation.
While the tumour is not cancerous, its sheer mass means it absorbs vital blood and nutrients from Nguyen Duy Hai’s body, making it weak.
Dr. McKay McKinnon agreed to waive his fee for the operation while the remaining costs of around VND 252million (around $12,000) has been raised by family and well wishers at home and abroad.
Nguyen Duy Hai’s family wept after being told he had survived the operation.
They had been anxious after an attempt to remove the tumour in 1997 was unsuccessful. Doctors had been forced to amputate Nguyen Duy Hai’s right leg below the knee.
Speaking before the operation Nguyen Duy Hai told Tuoitre News, a Vietnamese website: “It’s common for people to fear death, and I’m no exception.
“But when I heard Dr McKinnon had decided to come back to Vietnam one more time to give me a new life, I became more hopeful.”
Dr. McKay McKinnon successfully operated on a similar size tumour growing out of a Michigan woman in 1999.
He said this patient was older and in worse shape than Nguyen Duy Hai, but came through the operation and is now leading a normal life.
“She survived that surgery after 50 units of blood transfusion,” Dr. McKay McKinnon told Tuoitre News.
“She was in the hospital for about six weeks, and required physical therapy for about a year.”
Despite Nguyen Duy Hai’s operation being a success the healing process will not be an easy one.
An infection on the large open wound could easily kill him and he will later have to endure multiple skin grafts and reconstruction operations.
Nguyen Duy Hai will also be in intensive care for weeks and will then have to undergo physiotherapy for months.
Jorge Saavedra, a 15-year-old boy from Florida, has become the youngest person in the U.S. to escape a murder charge under a controversial “Stand Your Ground” law.
A judge ruled that Jorge Saavedra was in danger from the older boy and acted in self-defense when he stabbed 17-year-old Dylan Nuno to death.
Jorge Saavedra, who was 14 at the time, stabbed his attacker 12 times with a pocket knife.
He had been charged as a juvenile with second-degree murder and faced spending the next seven years in jail if he was convicted.
However, a judge ruled Jorge Saavedra was within his right to use deadly force to defend himself.
Jorge Saavedra, 15, from Florida, has become the youngest person in the US to escape a murder charge under a controversial “Stand Your Ground” law
Under the “Stand Your Ground” law people living in Florida are allowed to use deadly force if they fear their life is in danger.
The self-defense law was introduced in Florida by Governor Jeb Bush in 2005 and has mostly been used by homeowners protecting themselves from burglars.
According to legal experts, Jorge Saavedra was the youngest person to escape criminal prosecution under the seven-year-old law.
Dylan Nuno’s family criticized Collier County Circuit Judge Lauren Brodie’s decision, calling it “unbelievable and heartbreaking”.
“We know this wasn’t the right decision,” said Dylan’s aunt, Adriana Nuno.
“(The judge) is showing those kids it’s OK to get away with murder.”
In a nine-page written judgment Judge Lauren Brodie concluded that Jorge Saavedra was being bullied and had attempted to avoid a fight with the older boy who also attended Palmetto Ridge High in Naples.
She said Jorge Saavedra had got off the school bus a few stops before the location where he was expected to fight Dylan Nuno.
Witnesses said Jorge Saavedra tried to run away, but ended up fighting with Dylan Nuno and used his knife in the brawl that was witnessed by other students.
Dylan Nuno died after being stabbed 12 times in the chest and abdomen. One of the blows pierced the teenager’s heart.
In her decision, signed December 30, 2011, Judge Lauren Brodie said Jorge Saavedra had “no duty to retreat” and was “legally entitled to meet force with force, even deadly force”.
She stated: “The defendant was in a place where he had a right to be and was not acting unlawfully.
“He had more than enough reason to believe he was in danger of death or great bodily harm … (He) was under attack from the first punch to the back of his head until he stabbed Dylan Nuno.”
A spokesman for the State’s Attorney’s Office said they accepted the decision and would not be appealing.
The “Stand Your Ground” law states that an individual has no duty to retreat, no matter where an attack takes place.
Under the 2005 law people have the right to use deadly force as long as they “reasonably believe” their life is in danger.
Criminal defense lawyer Eddie Suarez, said the law had redefined when you can act in self-defense.
Eddie Suarez said: “The statute provides immunity for a citizen who reasonably believes they are in danger of serious bodily injury or death or the commission of forcible felony.
“That person has the right to use deadly force. They don’t have to retreat. They can use deadly force to protect themselves. The key is that belief has to be reasonable.”
Gun control groups criticize the legislation as encouraging citizens to “shoot first, ask questions later”.
“Stand Your Ground” law exists in states including Florida, Alabama, Texas, Georgia and Nevada.
Greg Walker, a 7ft tall basketball star, is undergoing a sex change and will become the world’s tallest transsexual.
Greg Walker, now 25, grew up sports-mad with beautiful cheerleaders on his arm, but said he “always felt different”.
Strapping teenager Greg Walker – who has size 16 feet and weighs around 20 stone – regularly lifted weights and would ride motorbikes to mask his true feelings.
The basketball had dozens of girls chasing him but shunned their advances, preferring to become friends instead and discuss fashion and “girly’ things.
In his early 20s, Greg Walker – now Lindsey – was unable to continue the “charade” and began wearing women’s clothes.
He then sought medical advice and began taking oestrogen to become more feminine and now boasts a curvy woman’s body – and a 38B bra size.
Now legally recognized as female after living as a woman for two years, Lindsey said: “I was one of the popular kids in high school.
“I was smart and always had girlfriends and loads of girls chasing me. But it somehow didn’t feel right, almost like it was a charade.
“I started to feel really isolated as thought here was something wrong with me and at 18 I started doing research secretly into why I was feeling so different from everyone else.
“Although I hid my feelings well I lived my life always knowing there was something different. By 21 I had hit my rock bottom and I started having emotional problems and turned to drink.
“Then one day it just clicked and I knew what I had to do. I started wearing women’s clothes and later turned to female hormones to suppress the testosterone in my body.”
Greg Walker, a 7ft tall basketball star, is undergoing a sex change and will become the world's tallest transsexual
Lindsey Walker, from Ohio, grew up as Greg and experienced a “normal boyish” childhood as a keen sportsman and gifted basketball player.
He was offered a basketball scholarship to study economics and marketing at Central Michigan College, but dropped out aged 21.
Greg Walker became increasingly isolated and changed his name from Greg to Lindsey. Lindsey then poured her heart out in a letter to her supportive parents explaining she had always felt and wanted to be a woman.
The acceptance gave Lindsey the confidence to start wearing women’s clothes and undergo a course of female hormones to become more “womanly”.
Lindsey now proudly boasts a B-cup bra size and buys her fashionable clothes and high-heeled shoes to fit her size 16 feet from specialist websites online.
She is legally classified as a woman and is now saving up for full gender reassignment surgery, which she hopes to have by the end of the year or early 2013.
Her supportive parents have accepted her decision although Lindsey is estranged from her younger brother. She has also contacted the Guinness Book of Records in the hope she will be officially recognized as the world’s tallest transsexual.
Rochelle Wiseman and Marvin Humes announce that they got engaged during their holiday in the Caribbean.
The Saturdays singer, Rochelle Wiseman, 22, took to Twitter immediately after JLS star Marvin Humes, 26, proposed her to reveal the news, posting a picture of the ecstatic couple on the beach toasting with champagne.
Rochelle Wiseman proudly flashes her dazzling engagement ring, an enormous heart-shaped diamond.
The singer wrote: “Its official Marvin proposed 2me 2day,wanted 2 tell u b4 some1 else did! SO excited 2 b Mrs Humes. X”
Writing from the official JLS Twitter account, Marvin Humes added: “Happy New Year everyone!!! So everyone hears it from me… Rochelle and I are engaged!! Party time tonight! Have a great one..All love..Marv x”
“Thank you so much for all the love,” Marvin Humes wrote as congratulations flooded in.
“We are the happiest 2 people in the world. A perfect start to 2012.This year is gonna be massive. Luv ya! Mx”
Rochelle Wiseman and Marvin Humes announce that they got engaged during their holiday in the Caribbean
Rochelle Wiseman and Marvin Humes, who first began dating in March 2010, are on holiday in Antigua.
It was reported back in July that Marvin Humes was planning a romantic New Year’s proposal after he booked an appointment at Tiffany and Co.
The couple rekindled their relationship in January and moved in together following a two month separation.
They began dating in March the year before after meeting a number of times at awards shows and concerts.
Shortly before their brief split, Marvin Humes said in an interview: “I wouldn’t be with her if she wasn’t The One. I don’t believe in being with someone if you don’t believe they couldn’t be that person.”
Jena Dolstad, 14, from Anchorage, Alaska, has died six days after she was allegedly injected with heroin by a 26-year-old Navy Veteran
Jena Dolstad, a 14-year-old girl from Anchorage, Alaska, has died six days after she was allegedly injected with heroin by a 26-year-old Navy Veteran.
Jena Dolstad had been critical since she was taken to the hospital last Friday with a drug overdose.
The teenager died Thursday afternoon, police spokeswoman Anita Shell said.
On the tragic night which would lead to her death, Navy Veteran Sean Warner and two other men picked Jena Dolstad up and took her back to his home to hang out, according to police reports.
Sean Warner was sharing a gram of heroin with two men when the Jena Dolstad said she was willing to try something “new” but did not want to inject herself, the court papers report.
The Navy Veteran tried to inject the girl, but failed, so he had her lie down on his bed and hold out an arm, then used his belt as a tourniquet and shot 25 to 30 units of heroin, taking several times to find a vein, the papers say.
The two witnesses told authorities they left the Jena Dolstad on the bed and found her the next morning, face down in her own vomit.
“They felt for her pulse, sat her up, and grew concerned at her condition and upset at Warner’s ambivalence,” the documents state.
Sean Warner initially did not want to call 911 because of fears authorities would find drugs, and instead gave the teen Suboxone, a prescription drug used to treat opiate addicts, according to the court papers.
He only called 911 after Jena Dolstad began to convulse a couple of hours after he gave her the Suboxone, the papers say.
Sean Warner is under arrest on charges of delivering a controlled substance to a minor, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and evidence tampering.
With the death, Sean Warner now faces additional charges, including manslaughter, said assistant District Attorney Regan Williams.
The case is still in the “investigatory stages,” Regan Williams said.
When emergency services attended his address to tend to Jena Dolstad, Sean Warner locked his bedroom door, and responding officers did not search it when he told them it was his roommate’s room, the documents state.
After police left, Sean Warner and one of the witnesses put needles and other “related evidence” into a box then dumped it behind a trash bin at a nearby business, according to the papers, which police later recovered.
Jena Dolstad was found to have heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine in her system when she was brought to the hospital, charging documents said.
Medics told authorities she had sustained damage to her brain and heart.
Authorities have said the heroin used is known on the street at “China White,” considered more potent than common tar heroin.
Sean Warner also is charged with theft, accused of stealing a $900 surveillance system from Costco on the same day he took the girl to his home, according to the documents. He is being held on $100,000 cash bail.
After Europe hailed his discovery of the Americas in the 15th century, Christopher Columbus was blamed for introducing syphilis to Old World.
However, several reports have since argued the case that the deadly disease was already widespread before Columbus landed back in Spain in 1493.
Researchers George Armelagos, from Emory University, Molly Zuckerman, from Mississippi State University and Columbia University’s Kristin Harper, claim that all the evidence putting Christopher Columbus and his crew in the clear is flawed.
George Armelagos told LiveScience: “There’s no really good evidence of a syphilis case before 1492 in Europe.”
After Europe hailed his discovery of the Americas in the 15th century, Christopher Columbus was blamed for introducing syphilis to Old World
Curable in the present day by antibiotics, syphilis used to be a debilitating and often fatal disease.
Caused by the Treponema pallidum bacteria, syphilis affected the heart, brain, eyes and bones and was the scourge of every major city.
Ever since the first recorded case in Europe took place in 1495 – three years after Christopher Columbus’s first voyage to the New World – doctors have argued over its origins.
Historians who argue that Christopher Columbus couldn’t have been source point out that rudimentary 15th century medical know-how meant that doctors would not have been able to distinguish the disease among others that had similar symptoms, so it could have been around for a long time.
There are also skeletons from Europe that pre-date Columbus’s epic voyage and that show signs of syphilitic lesions.
It’s strong evidence and George Armelagos admits to finding the idea of Christopher Columbus bringing the disease back laughable at first.
But then he began a closer inspection of the 54 published reports putting Columbus in the clear.
George Armelagos found that the skeletal material wasn’t irrefutable proof, by any means.
Writing in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, George Armelagos’ team report: “We did not find a single case of Old World treponemal disease that has both a certain diagnosis and a secure pre-Columbian date.
“We also demonstrate that many of the reports use non-specific indicators to diagnose treponemal disease, do not provide adequate information about the methods used to date specimens, and do not include high-quality photographs of the lesions of interest.”
In the cases where the skeletons definitely were afflicted with syphilis, the researchers noted that they came from coastal areas, which would make radio-carbon dating difficult.
This is because it’s likely the victims ate seafood, which can contain carbon many thousands of years old from water wells.
The team adds: “Solid evidence supporting an Old World origin for the disease remains absent.”
North Korea has hailed Kim Jong-Un as “supreme leader of the party, state and army” after his father’s funeral.
Kim Jong-Un took centre stage at a memorial service in Pyongyang’s main square a day after his father’s funeral.
Kim Yong-Nam, formally the number two leader, told a million-strong crowd their sorrow would be turned into strength “1,000 times greater under the leadership of comrade Kim Jong-Un”.
State TV showed Kim Jong-Un surrounded by top government and army officials.
The memorial event appeared to be the Kim dynasty’s unofficial handover of power.
A three-minute silence was also held, after which trains and ships throughout the country sounded their horns.
North Korea has hailed Kim Jong-Un as "supreme leader of the party, state and army" after his father’s funeral
Kim Jong-Il died of a heart attack on 17 December, aged 69, state media said. He had ruled North Korea since the death of his father Kim Il-Sung in 1994.
“Respected Comrade Kim Jong-Un is our party, military and country’s supreme leader who inherits great comrade Kim Jong-Il’s ideology, leadership, character, virtues, grit and courage,” Kim Yong-Nam told the massive crowd gathered in Kim Il-Sung square.
“The fact that he completely resolved the succession matter is Great Comrade Kim Jong-Il’s most noble achievement.”
A top military official, Kim Jong-Gak, also addressed the crowd.
“Our people’s military will serve comrade Kim Jong-Un at the head of our revolutionary troops and will continue to maintain and complete the Songun accomplishments of great leader Kim Jong-Il,” he said.
Songun refers to the “military-first” policy – channeling funds into the military.
On Wednesday, thousands stood weeping and wailing in the snow as Kim Jong-Il’s funeral cortege passed, images from state television showed.
The ceremonies echoed the displays of pomp and military might that marked the death of Kim Il-sung, in 1994.
Kim Jong-Un – Kim Jong-Il’s third son – cried as he walked alongside the hearse. Tens of thousands of soldiers lined up to bow their heads in homage in the city’s main square.
Kim Jong-Un – who is thought to be in his late 20s and who has little political experience – was accompanied by his uncle, Chang Song-Taek.
Chang Song-Taek is expected to be a key player as the younger Kim Jong-Un consolidates power.
Kim Jong-Il – known in North Korea as the “Dear Leader” – was in the process of formalizing Kim Jong-Un as his successor when he died.
However, the transition was not complete, leaving regional neighbors fearful of a power struggle in the nuclear-armed pariah state.
Kim Jong-Il’s two older sons, Kim Jong-Nam and Kim Jong-Chol, were not seen at the funeral.
No foreign delegations have attended any of the events. However, UN offices around the world lowered their flags to half-mast.
A spokesman at the UN headquarters in New York said that the move had been requested by Pyongyang’s UN mission but was part of normal protocol for the funeral of any head of state.
[youtube OOGHJ_zxf3I]
Giuliana Rancic has decided to return to work just two weeks after undergoing a double mastectomy.
Giuliana Rancic, 37, looked radiant as she got back to her hosting duties on E! News last evening.
Before presenting the entertainment news, including stories about Matthew McConaughey engagement to Camilla Alves and Katy Perry and Russell Brand being separated on Christmas Day, Giuliana Rancic expressed her thanks to her many supportive fans.
“It is so good to be back two weeks after my surgery,” Giuliana Rancic said.
“Thank you so much for your love, support and prayers. It means the world to me. Thank you so much.”
Giuliana Rancic has decided to return to work just two weeks after undergoing a double mastectomy
Ahead of her appearance, Giuliana Rancic tweeted her excitement about getting back in front of the camera.
“Back at work today since surgery,” the TV host wrote on the social networking site.
“Excited to be on set of @ENews. I’ve missed my 2nd family (co-workers and you guys!!!) #thankful.”
“Even though I moved a tad slower than usual today, everyone welcomed me back with open arms and it was a wonderful homecoming,” Giuliana Rancic added on the E! website.
Giuliana Rancic revealed that it was touch and go as to whether she would be well enough to go back to work today.
“It feels great to be back at work,” she said.
“I wasn’t sure whether I was going to return to E! News this week or after the new year. The last thing I wanted to do was rush my recovery.
“Thankfully, I’ve been feeling better every single day since surgery and this weekend my doctors gave me the green light to get back to work.”
After the program, Giuliana Rancic also appeared on a special edition of Fashion Police.
Joining Joan Rivers, Kelly Osbourne and George Kotsiopoulos on the couch to critiques this year’s fashion hits and misses, she looked great in a black lace shirt, black miniskirt and matching over-the-knee boots.
Earlier this month, Giuliana Rancic told People magazine that she would also be working on New Year’s Eve in Times Square.
Meanwhile, she recently sent out a heartfelt thank you to her husband Bill Rancic on Twitter.
“Dedicating this #FF to @BillRancic for taking such wonderful care of me this past week!!! Love you baby:)” Giuliana Rancic wrote in the endearing post.
She ended the touching sentiment with the hashtag “#HotMaleNurse”.
Bill Rancic, 40, hasn’t left his wife’s side since she first announced that she was diagnosed with breast cancer in mid-October.
As she underwent a lumpectomy, followed by radiation, Bill Rancic was at Giuliana’s hospital bedside and continued to take care of her when she returned home.
The American entrepreneur has also been nursing his wife back to health after she underwent her recent successful double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.
Giuliana Rancic was released from hospital to recover at home a few days after the procedure.
“I’m feeling good and I’m happy to be back home,” she told E! News at the time.
“It’s been tough, but I’m trying to stay strong and manage the pain.
“I have a new found respect for women who have been through breast cancer and this surgery.”
Giuliana Rancic decided to undergo the four-hour procedure, after learning that she still had breast cancer following her treatment in October.
Before the surgery, Giuliana Rancic admitted that while she was putting on a brave face, she was fearful.
“[I’m scared] just of the unknown,” the TV star told Us Weekly.
“I’ve never been through anything like this. I’m scared of waking up and the pain.
“I do hear it’s a painful recovery, so I worry about that.”
Explaining her choice to undergo the surgery before Christmas, Giuliana Rancic said: “It’s a great time to do it. I’ll be recovering during the holidays.
“It’s kind of quiet, and my family – and of course [my husband] Bill will be with me, so it’s great.”
Giuliana Rancic said her husband has been assuring her every step of the way, and told her he doesn’t care what her breasts look like following the surgery.
“He looked at me and said: <<I want you to know that I could not care less about the physical aspect of this. I need you here to be my wife, and I need you here to be the mother of my children one day>>.”
In an interview with Wendy Williams, Giuliana Rancic said it was important that the couple remain lighthearted about the mastectomy.
“They might come out looking even hotter,” she laughed.
“You gotta have fun with this. We find the humor in everything. Bill helped pick ’em out. I’m like, Bill, that big? Really?”
Bill Rancic said this month that with less then 1% chance of the disease returning following the operation, they “wanted to bring in 2012 [and] not look back”.
“There’s something really symbolic about starting out the new year like this,” Bill Rancic said.
“I always tell Giuliana, once the clock strikes midnight, we’re taking the rear view mirror off the car and we’re not looking back because we’re going to be done.
“No looking over her shoulder, no worries. We can start living life.”
North Korea has started the two-day funeral services for late leader Kim Jong-Il with a huge procession in the capital, Pyongyang.
Television footages showed tens of thousands of soldiers with their heads bowed as a giant portrait of Kim Jong-Il was carried slowly through the streets.
Kim Jong-Il’ successor and third son, Kim Jong-Un, walked beside the hearse, images from state television showed.
Kim Jong-Il died of a heart attack on 17 December, aged 69, state media said.
He has been lying in state for the past 10 days.
No schedule was released ahead of the commemorations and no foreign delegations are attending.
Observers said the ceremonies echoed the displays of pomp and military might that marked the death of Kim Jong-Il’s father, Kim Il-Sung, in 1994.
Kim Jong-Un – who is thought to be in his late 20’s and who has little political experience – was shown weeping beside the hearse as it drove through the snowy capital.
He was accompanied by his uncle, Chang Song-Taek, who is expected to be a key player as the younger Kim consolidates power.
Ri Yong-Ho, the army chief, also accompanied the hearse as it drove past ranks of troops.
North Korea has started the two-day funeral services for late leader Kim Jong-Il with a huge procession in the capital, Pyongyang
The three-hour funeral procession was led by a limousine bearing a huge portrait of a smiling Kim Jong-Il. The coffin was draped in a red flag and surrounded by white flowers.
As it passed by, crowds of mourners wailed and flailed their arms as soldiers struggled to keep them from spilling into the road.
One soldier interviewed by North Korean state television said: “The snow is endlessly falling like tears. How could the sky not cry when we’ve lost our general who was a great man from the sky? As we’re separated from the general by death, people, mountains and sky are all shedding tears of blood. Dear Supreme Commander!”
The procession was broadcast live on state television. When it ended outside Pyongyang’s Kumsusan Memorial Palace, state TV began broadcasting documentaries about Kim Jong-Il’s life.
Kim Jong-Il’s body had previously lain in state in a glass coffin at the palace.
Observers are keenly watching the line-up over the two-day funeral to see which officials are in prominent positions.
Kim Jong-Il – known in North Korea as the “Dear Leader” – was in the process of formalizing Kim Jong-Un as his successor when he died. However, the transition was not complete, leaving regional neighbors fearful of a power struggle in the nuclear-armed pariah state.
North Korea’s reluctance to open up the funeral ceremony to foreign delegations may signal that those hierarchies have not yet been fully agreed.
In the week since Kim Jong-Il died, state media has called Kim Jong-Un the “Great Successor” and referred to him as the leader of the military and the party.
Commemorations are expected to continue on Thursday, with a three-minute silence at noon local time (03:00 GMT), followed by trains and ships sounding horns. The national memorial service will then begin.
The inter-Korean Kaesong industrial park has been closed for two days for the mourning following a North Korean request, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reports.
[youtube 22D0eNlzk3o]
[youtube Pkr-IGWJRwQ]
The multi-vitamin pills are taken daily by millions of people in the world, hoping to ward off ill-health.
However, a major study showed that the vitamin pills do nothing for our health.
A team of French researchers spent more than 6 years following 8,000 people and found that those taking supplements were just as likely to have developed cancer or heart disease as those who took an identical-looking dummy pill.
And when they were questioned on how healthy they felt, there was hardly any difference between the two groups.
Experts said the study – one of the most extensive carried out into vitamin pills – suggested that millions of consumers may be wasting their money on supplements.
Many users fall into the category of the “worried well” – healthy adults who believe the pills will insure them against deadly illnesses – according to Catherine Collins, chief dietician at St. George’s Hospital in London.
Catherine Collins said: “It’s the worried well who are taking these pills to try and protect themselves against Alzheimer’s disease, heart attacks and strokes.
“But they are wasting their money. This was a large study following people up for a long period of time assessing everything from their mobility and blood pressure to whether they were happy or felt pain.”
A team of French researchers spent more than 6 years following 8,000 people and found that those taking supplements were just as likely to have developed cancer or heart disease as those who took an identical-looking dummy pill
Multi-vitamin supplements have become increasingly popular as a quick and easy way of topping up the body’s nutrient levels.
But a series of studies have indicated that, for some people, they could actually be harmful.
Two studies published in 2010 suggested supplements could raise the risk of cancer.
One found pills containing vitamin E, ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, selenium and zinc increased the risk of malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, four-fold.
Other study discovered women on a daily multi-vitamin pill increased their risk of breast cancer by up to 20%.
While the evidence that vitamins can do harm is still limited, the latest study seems to confirm that many people are at the very least taking them unnecessarily.
The team of French researchers, led by experts at Nancy University, tracked 8,112 volunteers who took either a placebo capsule, or one containing vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, selenium and zinc, every day for just over six years.
They assessed the state of their health at the beginning and end of the trial, taking a quality of life survey designed to measure everything from mobility and pain to vitality and mental health.
When researchers analyzed how many in each group had gone on to develop serious illnesses over the years, they found little difference.
In the supplement group, 30.5% of patients had suffered a major health “event”, such as cancer or heart disease. In the placebo group, the rate was 30.4%.
There were 120 cases of cancer in those taking vitamins, compared to 139 in the placebo group, and 65 heart disease cases, against 57 among the dummy pill users.
In a report on their findings, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, the researchers said: “The perception that supplementation improves general well-being is not supported by this trial.”
Catherine Collins said the results of the study “reinforce the idea that if you’re worried about your health and start taking multi-vitamins, you will still be worried about it six years later”.
The Health Supplements Information Service, which is funded by supplements manufacturers, said the finding that vitamins had no impact on how people perceived their health was “to be expected”.
Spokeswoman Dr. Carrie Ruxton said: “The role of vitamin supplements is to prevent deficiencies and make sure people are receiving their recommended levels.
“They won’t have a measurable impact on how you feel on a day-to-day basis but what they are doing is topping up your recommended levels to the right amount. They are not meant to be a magic bullet.”
Sinead O’Connor has announced on her official website that she ends her fourth marriage, which lasted just 16 days.
Sinead O’Connor, 45, wrote a lengthy and heartfelt message after fearing the news of her split from Barry Herridge, who she wed on December 8, was about to be leaked.
The Irish singer revealed that she and Barry Herridge actually lived together as husband and wife for just seven days before ending their relationship on Christmas Eve, 16 days after their Las Vegas union.
Sinead O’Connor blamed “intense pressure” placed on her husband from members of his circle following their sudden Las Vegas union, which she revealed ended in a “wild” journey to find marijuana.
The singer told her fans that the pair have parted amicably and said she still loves Barry Herridge “very much”, but that he was too nice “to trap”.
Sinead O’Connor wrote: “From the moment myself and my husband got together not long ago, there was intense pressure placed upon him by certain people in his life, not to be involved with me. These were people who had never met me but had formed opinions of me based on what they read about <<Sinead O’Connor>> in the media etc.
“Entitled as they are to their opinions about me many perhaps well deserved, there was no righteousness on anyone’s part to put my husband through what he was put through as a result of his desire to be with me and to marry me and as a result of his actually marrying me.
“Within 3 hours of the ceremony being over the marriage was kyboshed by the behavior of certain people in my husband’s life. And also by a bit of a wild ride I took us on looking for a bit of a smoke of weed for me wedding night as I don’t drink. My husband was enormously wounded and very badly effected by that experience and also by the attitude of those close to him toward our marriage.
“It became apparent to me that if he were to stay with me he would be losing too much to bear. And that being with me was not going to serve him positively, career wise or any other wise. I saw his life leave him because of how people close to him reacted. And I can’t take anyone’s life. And a woman wants to be a joy to her husband. So.. U love someone? Set them free.
Sinead O’Connor continued: “He is a wonderful man. I love him very much. I’m sorry I’m not a more regular woman. I truly believe though it is painful to admit, we made a mistake rushing into getting married, for altruistic reasons, and weren’t aware or prepared for the consequences on my husband’s life and the lives of those close to him. He has been terribly unhappy and I have therefore ended the marriage. I think he is too nice to do so. And too nice to trap.”
Sinead O'Connor has announced on her official website that she ends her fourth marriage with Barry Herridge, which lasted just 16 days
Sinead O’Connor asked for fans and media to respect her husband’s privacy, and added: “Meanwhile I intend to get on with being fully me. With never an apology for ANY part if being FULLY ME. No matter what.
“I am a 21st century full woman and proud of living it. I am in a very good and happy and strong place in life so I am doing fine. The marriage was 16 days. We lived together for 7 days only. Until Xmas eve. And we haven’t been awful to each other.
“So while I feel sad for my husband, and sad to be the cause of sorrow to yet another poor man, I’m also happy that I know we weren’t horrible to each other and he is better off free. And that I can be me. And that’s a freedom I can’t give up for anyone or anything.”
The Irish singer ended the announcement with “rock n roll”.
Sinead O’Connor and Barry Herridge wed at The Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas after just three months of dating.
After the ceremony, for which she wore a pretty strapless pink dress, Sinead O’Connor wrote on her blog: “Dear friends… amongst whom I include whomever may be reading this with a view to writing about the glorious marriage.
“Am blogging this cus media people are naturally seeking me. On Sunday I will put up a blog on whole day. Too glorious for words.”
Pictures of Kardashian’s annual Christmas Eve party show the famous family posing with Santa Claus, opening presents by the festive tree and making the most of the holiday period and quality time together.
Kim Kardashian, 31, looked far from miserable about her recent heartache as she glammed up for the occasion in a floor-length dress and no doubt asked the big man himself if he could just grant her a speedy divorce from Kris Humphries.
Kim Kardashian wore a silver grey garment with long-sleeved and she teamed it with a pair of matching stilettos and several bangles.
However, it wasn’t long until she’s had enough of being dressed up and emerged wearing a pair of gnome-print pyjamas.
Kim Kardashian giggled and played with the young kids as she donned a pair of reindeer antlers too.
The reality star spent time cuddling her adorable nephew Mason as they admired her younger sisters’ new chocolate Labrador puppies.
Mason, 2, had also been dressed up for the party and wore a dark red velvet blazer with a white shirt and black bow tie.
Mason’s mother, Kourtney Kardashian, looked happy and relaxed as she posed with her son who wore a hat made of balloons.
The Kardashians’ spent quality time together at their glamorous annual Christmas Eve party
Kourtney Kardashian showed off her growing baby bump on a black shift dress that had lace sleeves, which seemed to match her boyfriend’s attire.
Her partner, Scott Disick, wore a black and white checked suit with a white shirt and looked rather serious as he posed with the rest of the family.
The mother-of-six, Kris Jenner, looked exceptionally glamorous in a black floor-length dress that was covered in sequins.
Kris Jenner also stopped by the staircase for a chat with Santa and looked rather happy with one of her gifts – an Apple iHome docking station.
She also spent time mingling with her party guests, which included plastic surgeon Garth Fisher and former ox Sugar Ray Leonard.
Her husband Bruce Jenner seemed happy to step away from the spotlight and is rarely seen in any of the photographs, but he does look happy in a group shot that sees the family all come together.
Bruce Jenner teenage daughters Kendall and Kylie looked older than their years in more glamorous party dresses.
Kendall Jenner wore a rather short black fitted dress that was decorated with tiny gold studs whereas Kylie opted for a short cream dress that had a pleated skirt.
The girls looked extremely pleased with Santa as they sat on his knee and paraded around the house with their new puppies.
It was recently revealed that they have named the dogs Louis and Vuitton.
Someone who didn’t look so pleased to see Father Christmas was Mason.
The toddler looked annoyed as his father Scott Disick held him up on the bearded man’s lap and appeared desperate to get back down.
Mason’s parents couldn’t miss an opportunity for a photograph though and posed for the cameras as their son pulled a face.
They were later seen posing again by the Christmas tree as Mason clutched his giant candy cane and looked tired in his mother’s arms.
Kim Kardashian’s brother wasn’t so keen on being in front of the cameras either and only posed for a few pictures with his family.
Rob Kardashian wore a simple black shirt and matching trousers with red suede shoes.
But he wasn’t the only Kardashian sibling who wasn’t pictured much as someone who wasn’t even there at all was Khloe.
Khloe Kardashian, 27, was in Dallas with her husband Lamar Odom for the opening of the NBA season as he is now playing for the Dallas Mavericks.
The famous family made up for Khloe’s absence as they were joined by various celebrity friends.
U.S. star Maria Menounos arrived at the party in a low-cut black dress that showed off her trim figure perfectly.
The leggy actress posed with Kourtney and Kim before admiring the puppies along with the family.
Also there to have a good time were twin actresses Khadijah and Malika Haqq.
The women – who have starred in the Kardashians reality programmes – donned Christmas hats as they posed with Kim kardashian and celebrity make-up artist Rob Scheppy.
A photo of some of the food that was laid out shows a variety of cupcakes, toffee apples, profiteroles and a giant gingerbread house.
As her family was struggling financially and was unable to afford a big Christmas celebration, all that 5-year-old Helen Berence Cardenas de Reyes wanted, when she wrote a Christmas message to Santa, was a doll, some clothes and a pair of shoes.
Helen Berence Cardenas de Reyes from Auburn, Washington, attached her frugal Christmas list to two balloons and set it off hoping it would somehow reach Santa in the North Pole.
Julie Sanders and her son discovered the scrap of paper while they were out on their quad bikes near their home in Laytonville, California.
Although Helen’s letter was written in Spanish they could tell it was a Christmas list and could make out a few words.
So Julie Sanders asked a ranch hand to translate the rest of note.
Julie Sanders told ABC news: “The fact that she asked for a doll, some pants, boots and nothing materialistic, I just knew it was a family in need.
“I thought if I we can get a hold of them we can make sure there is something for her under the tree for Christmas.”
Julie Sanders decided to get on the phone and called up the family.
She found out that Helen’s mother is injured and her father had struggled to find any work at all this year.
Little Helen sent her letter on December 2, which is a particularly emotional date for Julie Sanders as it is the birthday of her brother, who passed away a few years ago.
So kind-hearted Julie Sanders headed to the shops and bought little Helen a few outfits and toys.
Julie Sanders addressed the package from Santa and sent it special delivery so it could be under the girl’s tree in time for Christmas.
Dennis Dodds, a family friend of the Sanders was also there when they found the balloon message.
He told ABC: “Laytonville is a small timber industry town that has lost its mill. People here know what it is like to struggle around the holidays. It is always good to pay it forward.
“We’ve been in that situation ourselves, I know what it feels like,’ said Sanderson ‘but now we are in the position to help so it really felt good to help this little girl.”
Helen’s mother, Rosa Cardenas de Reyes, said she helped send the note.
The mother said: “I didn’t know what to do.
“So I always told her we would send a balloon to Santa because that was a tradition when I was little.”
Children and parents across the world can see just how far Santa and his reindeer are from their homes, thanks to a “Santa Tracker” that follows his route around the globe.
Santa tracker – a collaboration between Google and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) – shows live footage of the sleigh passing landmarks including Big Ben, the Empire State Building and, of course, his grotto in the North Pole.
The tracker uses radar, satellites, Santa Cams and fighter jets to follow his sleigh, and can be seen online on Google Earth.
Santa can also been seen on the Google Maps app on smart phones by typing in “Santa” or on the NORAD Santa Site.
NORAD Santa site explains: “The moment that radar indicates Santa has lifted off, we use our second detection system. Satellites positioned in geo-synchronous orbit at 22,300 miles from the Earth’s surface are equipped with infrared sensors, which enable them to detect heat.
“Amazingly, Rudolph’s bright red nose gives off an infrared signature, which allows our satellites to detect Rudolph and Santa.”
Children and parents across the world can see just how far Santa and his reindeer are from their homes, thanks to a “Santa Tracker” that follows his route around the globe
NORAD has been tracking Santa’s journey for more than 50 years.
In 1955, a Colorado Springs newspaper advert invited children to talk to Santa on a hotline.
But the number had a typo, and dozens of children mistakenly dialed the Continental Aerospace Defense Command in Colorado Springs, the predecessor to NORAD.
The officers on duty sprang into action and began passing along reports on Santa’s progress – and the tradition was born.
It is going strong, with a Denver-based NORAD crew answering 80,000 phone calls and 7,000 emails on Christmas Eve last year.
The NORAD Tracks Santa website has had more than 2.2 million unique visitors this year, compared with 2 million last year, according to the Associated Press.
More than 1,200 volunteers will answer calls in shifts until 3:00 a.m. Mountain Time on December 25.
They check big-screen computer monitors to pass along information to the children who call in.
“It’s just so precious to hear the little sigh or (only) breathing on the other end, and you realize how nervous they are,” Joyce Creech, NORAD’s project leader, told the Associated Press.
“But we’ve had really heart-wrenching stories as well,” she said.
“<<Can you ask Santa to heal my brother of cancer?>> Or, <<Can I get a new pair of shoes? I don’t have any.>>”
This year, they have added a further 20 phones this year, bringing the total to 120, and four more laptops, totaling at 23.
Santa tracker now even has a Twitter account, a Facebook page, a Youtube channel and apps for mobile phones, along with a website, and the phone line, 877-HI NORAD.
[youtube OcTzRXlBcm4]
[youtube TWDbSgQnh8]
Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, has been visited by The Queen at Papworth Hospital following his emergency heart surgery to treat a blocked coronary artery.
The Queen arrived at the hospital this morning from her Sandringham estate, where the Royal family is spending Christmas.
The Duke of Edinburgh was this morning recovering after being airlifted to hospital for emergency heart surgery.
Prince Phillip was flown to the specialist cardiothoracic unit, near Cambridge, in a RAF search and rescue helicopter after being taken ill at Sandringham with serious chest pains last night.
Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, has been visited by The Queen at Papworth Hospital following his emergency heart surgery to treat a blocked coronary artery
After “precautionary” tests, Prince Philip underwent what was described as a “minimally invasive procedure” known as coronary stenting.
This involves placing a tube in the coronary arteries that supply the heart, to keep them open in the treatment of heart disease. Stents reduce chest pain and have been shown to improve survival rates in the event of an acute heart problem.
Today Buckingham Palace said Prince Phillip “had a good night” and was currently under surveillance in the world-famous Papworth Hospital after emergency surgery for a blocked coronary artery.
He is expected to be visited by members of his family this morning.
There was no indication when he would be discharged, but medical experts have said that many patients can leave hospital a day after undergoing the procedure, providing there are no complications.
Dr. Simon Davies, a cardiologist at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, said: “The pain was from the heart. It means that one or more of the coronary arteries was badly narrowed or perhaps blocked.
“That meant that the blood was not passing through that artery so the muscle was starving of oxygen and in danger of dying, in other words a heart attack, or was on the verge of one.”
In view of his age, Prince Phillip, who still conducts more than 350 engagements each year, will remain in hospital for a day or so for further monitoring.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement last night: “His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh was taken to Papworth Cardiothoracic Centre this evening from Sandringham House for precautionary tests after experiencing chest pain.
“Following tests at Papworth the Duke of Edinburgh was found to have a blocked coronary artery which had caused his chest pains. This was treated successfully by the minimally invasive procedure of coronary stenting. Prince Philip will remain in hospital for observation for a short period.”
It is believed the Duke of Edinburgh was flown to the hospital, which is around 60 miles away from the Sandringham estate, by a Sea King helicopter from RAF Wattisham, near Stowmarket in Suffolk, where Prince Harry is based.
Aisha Khan, a student who disappeared from the Edwards campus of the University of Kansas last week has been found alive and well, but where she was for the last five days remains a mystery.
Aisha Khan, 19, was believed to have been kidnapped when she vanished from her university campus after claiming in a frantic voice-mail on Friday that she had been attacked by a man.
Police said today Aisha Khan was NOT abducted, sparking anger among people who had supported the massive search for her.
Many took to the Help Find Aisha Khan Facebook page to raise questions about why she did not contact police earlier.
Aisha Khan has been found alive and well, but where she was for the last five days remains a mystery
FBI agents had joined 10 police detectives, 50 police officers, and University of Kansas security guards in the massive search for Aisha Khan, which received nationwide media coverage.
Officers on horseback searched nearby woodland and volunteers handed out flyers.
Aisha Khan husband of five-months, Waseem Khan, appeared on “Good Morning America” yesterday where he begged kidnappers to let her go and her family offered a $10,000 reward for clues on her whereabouts.
However, police said they were able to locate Aisha Khan and she was not abducted or held against her will, according to KMBC, and despite the strange disappearance no criminal act occurred.
The police investigation has been closed, but no other details on Aisha Khan’s whereabouts for the last five days or what happened have been released.
A statement posted on the Help Find Aisha Khan Facebook page said: “On behalf of the Khan family, we are ecstatic to announce that Aisha has been found.”
However, the family are keeping quiet about the details of the disappearance.
As it became clear Aisha Khan had not been abducted, hundreds of supporters of the group took to the page to demand answers to where she had been.
Some commented that the young bride had run away and or even faked her own kidnapping.
Aamer Trambu, a family friend, told The Kansas City Star: “We believe our prayers have been answered. We do not have enough information yet, and we cannot tell you anymore.”
Aisha Khan, who is studying for her finals, disappeared on Friday morning after she was allegedly assaulted on a secluded picnic table at the campus in Overland Park.
After running away from a “intoxicated man” Aisha Khan called her older sister Faiza and left a voicemail saying she had been attacked and that she was “freaked out”.
When Aisha Khan’ sister arrived at the scene shortly after, all she found were her books and mobile phone on her favorite bench.
The message said: “My heart is pounding. I’ve never got this scared in my life. Pick up your phones. I am freaking out right now!”
The student made it clear she had slapped the man and run away, but it was unclear whether she thought he smelt of alcohol or marijuana.
Authorities said workmen believe they saw someone matching Aisha Khan’s description walking away from the campus alone.
Concerns have been raised that her five-month marriage had been arranged against her will, but they have been denied by friends.
Emily Cheatham told ABCNews: “She would not run away. She was happy with her life, with her new marriage.
“There wouldn’t be any reason that she’d want to run away.”
[youtube v3BUVxUI1QA]
Health experts believe Christmas is the perfect time to tell the loved ones they are overweight.
The UK National Obesity Forum and International Chair on Cardiometabolic Risk said it was important to be upfront because of the health risks.
Being overweight – particularly around the waist – increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
But a poll by the groups suggests too many people shy away from the issue.
The survey of more than 2,000 people found 42% of 18 to 24-year-olds would not tell a loved one they should lose weight because of a fear they would hurt the other person’s feelings.
For those aged 25 to 44 it was just over a third, while for older people it was about one in four.
Men find it hardest to tell their partners, while women were more worried about bringing up the issue with a friend.
But with families and friends getting together up and down the country over the festive period, the experts believe there is an opportunity that should not be missed.
Prof. David Haslam, chair of the National Obesity Forum, said: “Suggesting to someone that they should consider losing a few pounds may not be a comfortable conversation to have.
“But if someone close to you has a large waistline then as long as you do it sensitively, discussing it with them now could help them avoid critical health risks later down the line and could even save their life.”
Dr. Jean Pierre Despres, scientific director of the International Chair on Cardiometabolic Risk, agreed.
“Start by encouraging someone close to you to make simple lifestyle changes such as becoming more active, making small alterations to their eating habits and replacing sugary drinks with water.”
Waist fat
• In recent years, health experts have begun talking much more about what is known as abdominal obesity – basically fat round the stomach
• It is recommended that men are no larger than 94cm (37in) and women 80cm (31.5in)
• Fat around the waist is related to the release of proteins and hormones which affect how the body breaks down sugars and fats
Maria de Nazare from Brazil has given birth to a baby with two heads, as she had initially expected twins.
Maria de Nazare, 25, gave birth by caesarean at a hospital in Anajas, in Brazil’s northern Para state, with her newborn weighing 9.9 lbs.
In a tribute to the religious celebrations at Christmas, Maria de Nazare has decided to call the pair Emanoel and Jesus.
Following the birth of her baby, Maria de Nazare admitted that she had been told she was set to welcome twins.
In a tribute to the religious celebrations at Christmas, Maria de Nazare has decided to call her two-heads baby Emanoel and Jesus
But following a number of tests, doctors have revealed that the baby has two brains and two spines but shares one heart, lungs, liver and pelvis.
The hospital’s director, Claudionor Assis de Vasconcelos, told Brazil’s O Povo newspaper that the woman decided to travel to the hospital because she was feeling strong abdominal pains.
The mother, who lives in a rural area of the state, had no ultra-sound scans during her pregnancy and only found out about the abnormality minutes before the baby was born at 1:00 a.m. on Monday morning.
Claudionor Assis de Vasconcelos said: “When doctors scanned her they realized that the baby had two heads and that a normal birth would be a great risk both for mother and baby. The caesarean took an hour because the baby was sitting down.
“Despite all the problems we have as a small interior hospital we managed to save both mother and baby, which was our aim. And for us it was a great surprise to find out that the child was in really good health.”
Neila Dahas, director of the Santa Casa hospital said: “If both their brains are functioning, how are we going to choose which head to remove?
“We are not considering the possibility of surgery. What we’ve got to think about at this moment is to maintain the children in good condition and see how they will develop.”
Claudionor Assis de Vasconcelos added that at no point did the mother, who has three other children, appear distraught that her son has two heads.
He said: “On the contrary, the baby was received with much happiness by the family.
“The mother fed both mouths and the baby stayed with her in her room the whole time. Her desire was to take her baby straight home.”
The mother and baby were taken by air ambulance yesterday afternoon to a specialist hospital in the state capital, Belem, to carry out further tests. They are expected to be allowed home later this week.
Remarkably, this is the second time a two-headed baby has been born in Brazil this year. Sueli Ferreira, 27, gave birth to a two-headed baby in Paraiba State, but it died a few hours later because of lack of oxygen to one of the child’s heads.
Linda Gipson, a mother-of-five from Ypsilanti, Michigan, who mistakenly loaded her children’s Christmas presents into the trunk of the wrong car, is counting on the kindness of its owner to return the missing items this season.
Linda Gipson was overloaded with $700 worth of merchandise during her shopping trip to Twelve Oaks Mall in nearby Novi, so she put her bags in what she thought was her daughter’s car before returning inside.
When Linda Gipson finished shopping an hour later, she returned to the parking lot to find the car she had filled up with gifts was gone.
Linda Gipson told Detroit Free Press: “The first thing I thought was, <<Please, don’t tell me I put my things in the wrong car>>.”
But when she realized what had happened that Thursday afternoon, she broke down.
“I just started crying,” Linda Gipson said.
Linda Gipson, who described herself as an in-home health aide who currently has no clients, estimated the value of the missing items at $700
Linda Gipson said a similar silver 2003 Focus parked nearby opened with the same key as her car.
She told ABC News she and her husband reported the incident to mall security, who in turn called police.
But until the stranger behind the wheel of the other car comes forward, several items will be missing from under the family tree, including a pair of boots, perfume, sweaters, a hat and a scarf – and two gifts her husband had bought for Linda Gipson.
Linda Gipson, who described herself as an in-home health aide who currently has no clients, estimated the value of the missing items at $700.
Assistant Police Chief Tom Lindberg of the Novi, Michigan Police Department, told ABC surveillance cameras did not capture Linda Gipson leaving the mall with the packages.
A Ford spokesman was unaware of any other instance where someone was able to unlock a vehicle using the key to a different car.
The company is said to be investigating the incident.
But Linda Gipson is meanwhile pleading for anyone who may have parked at the shopping mall driving a similar car on the same day to check their trunk and come forward if her purchases are found.
“I’m hoping that whoever has the gifts.. is going to have a heart and return everything back,” Linda Gipson said.
Fred Zajonczloski is going to miss his father’s funeral because Continental Airlines was charging him almost $675 to change his flight – on top of the $1,200 he had already paid.
The grieving son Fred Zajonczloski flew from his home in San Antonio, Texas, to Rochester, New York, as soon as he found out his father Walter, 85, was dying.
Fred Zajonczloski was scheduled to return on Saturday December 17 but when he found out his father’s funeral was being changed to tomorrow, he tried to change his flight and his fiancee’s.
Continental Airlines informed him that the changes would cost a total of $675.
Fred Zajonczloski’s sister Julie Knapp told News10 they are “just a normal family” and could not afford that kind of money.
Julie Knapp said: “All we wanted was some compassion.”
Now, Fred Zajonczloski is going to miss his father’s burial tomorrow as he has already flown back on the original ticket.
Julie Knapp said: “I understand that people have jobs and people have things to do, but have a heart. Have a heart. I mean there’s somebody there that could have said yes, it’s okay to switch this flight.
“It’s frustrating and it’s very disappointing when I put my brother on that airplane and I said goodbye to him and knew he wasn’t going to be here.”
Julie Knapp also revealed that it was her father’s last wish to be buried beside his son Dale, who was just three when he died.
“That’s why it is so important that Freddie was here. To have that closure to be able to see his dad be buried with his son.
“He should be here with his family so he can say goodbye.”
Continental Airlines believe that a simple mistake has been made as their highest charge fee for changing flights is $200 – and that is for international flights.
A Continental Airlines spokesman said they are looking into the story.
He said: “Continental customer care will contact the customers directly. We certainly offer them our deepest condolences.”
Dead body of North Korean “Dear Leader” Kim Jong-Il has been laid in state in a glass coffin as weeping mourners filled public squares across the country.
State television showed still images of the Kim Jong-Il body in the open coffin, surrounded by wreaths and covered with a red blanket.
Kim Jong-Un – his third son and successor – paid his respects to his father along with top military and Workers’ Party officials during a “solemn ceremony”.
North Korea declared an 11-day period of official mourning, with flags flown at half-mast at all military units, factories, businesses, farms and public buildings.
The streets of the capital Pyongyang were quiet, but crowds of people gathered at landmarks to mourn Kim Jong-Il who died suddenly on Saturday from a massive heart attack at the age of 69.
Kim Jong-Il ruled North Korea for 17 years in a brutal and repressive dictatorship.
Under his regime’s economic mismanagement, a terrible famine in the 1990s caused the death of millions from starvation and hardship.
The tyrant imprisoned thousands of political “opponents” and there is no access to freedom of the press, the internet or health care in the country.
North Korean state television showed still images of the Kim Jong-Il body in the open coffin, surrounded by wreaths and covered with a red blanket
The dictator’s body was lying in state in the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, a mausoleum where the embalmed body of his father – national founder Kim Il-Sung – has been on display in a glass sarcophagus since his death in 1994.
A state funeral will be held there on December 28.
Ri Ho-Il, a lecturer at the Korean Revolutionary History Museum, said: “Our General is our people’s benevolent father. He defended our people’s happiness, carrying on his forced march night and day.”
Since Kim Jong-Il’s death, state media have stepped up their lavish praise of his son Kim Jong-Un in an effort to strengthen a cult of personality around him similar to that of his father.
Although there have been no signs of unrest or discord in Pyongyang’s somber streets, the possibility of a power struggle in a country seeking nuclear weapons and known for its secrecy has heightened tensions in the region.
North Korean officials said they will not invite foreign delegations and will allow no entertainment during the mourning period.
The Korean Central News Agency described Kim Jong-Un as a “great person born of heaven”, a propaganda term only his father and grandfather Kim Il-Sung had enjoyed.
The Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the ruling Workers’ Party, described Kim Jon-Un as “the spiritual pillar and the lighthouse of hope” for the people.
It described him as “born of Mount Paektu” – one of Korea’s most cherished sites and Kim Jong-Il’s official birthplace.
Yesterday, North Korea’s military pledged to “uphold the leadership of comrade Kim Jong-Un” and called him a “great successor”.
[youtube t7eCrZ63vvI]
[youtube pSWN6Qj98Iw]
Basketball star Kobe Bryant was almost served with divorce papers four years ago it has emerged.
Kobe Bryant’s estranged wife Vanessa saw divorce lawyers after being pushed to the limit by the NBA legend’s antics, according to RadarOnline.
But Vanessa Bryant had a change of heart after he promised to change his ways and attend marriage counseling.
A source close to them said: “Vanessa almost threw in the towel four years ago. “Kobe has always had a slew of girlfriends, and the cheating was almost blatant.
“Vanessa had consulted with a divorce attorney, not Laura Wasser, who she has hired to represent her now. Kobe promised Vanessa he would stop cheating, and the two went to marriage counseling.
“Kobe did seem like a devoted husband, and Vanessa decided not to go through with filing at that time.”
Vanessa Bryant filed for divorce from Los Angeles Lakers star citing “irreconcilable differences”
Vanessa Bryant, 29, even stood by Los Angeles Lakers star when he was accused of sexually assaulting a worker at a hotel in Colorado.
Kobe Bryant, 33, admitted having sexual relations with 19-year old hotel employee Katelyn Faber, but denied assault.
The case was dropped by prosecutors after she refused to testify in the trial, but a separate civil lawsuit was eventually settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
However, Vanessa Bryant decided to call time on their marriage of almost 11 years after growing tired of his philandering, despite hoping they could work things out for the sake of their two daughters.
The source said: “Vanessa wanted to stay together for the children. Vanessa stood by Kobe during his darkest hour, and she believed him when he said there would be no more women.
“Vanessa began to get suspicious again about 16 months ago about Kobe cheating on her, he knew that if he wasn’t faithful, she would leave him. Vanessa had no other choice.”
The revelation follows claims Kobe Bryant was growing close to one of Kim Kardashian’s best friends, Carla DiBello.
Several websites claimed Carla DiBello, 27, has been on close terms with Kobe Bryant for the last couple of years, according to Radar Online.
Some note that Carla DiBello has been spotted courtside at Lakers games.
Carla DiBello is one of Kim Kardashian’s closest friends, and is also a producer on Keeping Up With The Kardashians and Kourtney & Kim Take New York.
She travels around the world with the reality behemoth, and most recently was by her side during Kim Kardashian’s trip to Dubai.
Carla DiBello was director of strategic relations for SBE Group which owns a number of exclusive hotels and clubs in Hollywood.
She was also Steve Wynn’s assistant at his luxury hotel casino of the same name in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, TMZ are reporting that Kobe Bryant is worth much less than the $400 million that was being suggested in some quarters, with his net worth instead being around $150 million.
Still a small fortune, but with a divorce settlement looming, every dollar will count as Kobe Bryant prepares to negotiate spousal and child support.
Vanessa Bryant filed for divorce from Los Angeles Lakers star citing “irreconcilable differences”.
TMZ further claims that she has caught Kobe Bryant with “multiple women” over the years – but the latest affair was the one that broke the camel’s back.
Sources did not tell the website how Vanessa Bryant found out about his alleged fling with Carla DiBello – but apparently it was through text messages.
Vanessa Bryant has been married to the LA Lakers player for ten years.
They have no pre-nuptial agreement, according to TMZ, so Vanessa Bryant will be entitled to substantial monies and has requested spousal support.
It is said that Kobe Bryant has already moved out of the mansion in Orange County that the couple once shared.
According to TMZ, Kobe Bryant purchased the abode ten years ago, but his wife will get the home as part of the couple’s divorce settlement.
They met when Vanessa was just 18, when she was working as a backing dancer in a studio where he was recording, though that material was never released to the public.
According to the legal documents obtained by TMZ, Vanessa Bryant is asking for joint custody of their two daughters – eight-year-old Natalia and five-year-old Gianna.
But she is asking that Kobe Bryant get visitation rights, which means she wants the kids in her care most of the time.
Vanessa Bryant is being represented by Laura Wasser and attorney Samantha Klein, whose clients include Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie, Maria Shriver and Kim Kardashian.
Prev1...234...9Next 
Page 3 of 9
