Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.
A complaint made by former royal butler Paul Burrell over a tabloid story that claimed he boasted of having sex with Diana, Princess of Wales, has been upheld.
The News of the World's failure to include Burrell's denial may have misled readers, according to the Press Complaints Commission ruling, which was revealed today.
The complaint referred to the newspaper's front-page splash, headlined: "Burrell: I had sex with Diana".
The story centred on claims by Ron Cosgrove, Burrell's brother-in-law, that the former butler confided the secret to him in a pub in 1993.
The commission said there was a "strong likelihood" that the omission of any denial may have misled readers into believing that Burrell accepted Mr Cosgrove's allegations.
The News of the World said it had three sources for the story, all of whom had signed affidavits supporting their comments.
The newspaper said it had not approached Burrell prior to publication for fear he would block the story with an injunction.
The commission accepted there has "never been an absolute requirement for newspapers to contact those who are about to feature in articles", but said a failure to so "may constitute a lack of care".
The News of the World said it had failed to publish Burrell's denial after the story appeared because he was "a notorious liar" - as branded by the judge at the Diana inquest.
But the commission ruled that it "has never said that people have no right ever to comment on a story, or to be offered a right of reply, if they have misled people in another context".
It added: "It has never been an absolute requirement for newspapers to contact those who are about to feature in articles.
"[But] in this case the newspaper made the wrong decision and the complaint was upheld."
An economics graduate is about to begin a year-long mission to live without money.
Mark Boyle, 29, plans to put his potatoes where his mouth is and become the ultimate 'freeconomist' by ditching cash for 12 months.
He intends to live completely off the land and waste products he scrounges around his borrowed caravan at Timsbury, near Bath.
And he'll even use his very own composting toilet for good measure.
"I've been preparing a lot over the last couple of months, but the challenge will be the things I can't plan for - a broken arm, exhaustion or the worst case scenario, a family bereavement," he said.
"I suspect the most difficult thing will be socialising in a world that revolves around money. I'll be living on a day-to-day basis, hand to mouth, which means I'll never really know where my next meal comes from."
Mark plans to scour skips and other people's rubbish to find what he needs. He'll also make use of a scheme called Freecycle, a network of recycling enthusiasts; and Freeconomy which allows people to swap skills.
A friend, he says, will pay his National Insurance for the 12 months.
"Any skills you need you can get through Freeconomy and with other 'pay-it-forward' based organisations such as Liftshare and Couch-surfing now flourishing, the simple life doesn't have to be so difficult anymore," he said.
And with the credit crunch biting Mark, from Bristol, believes there's never been a better time to seek out the good life.
"It is the disconnection we have with what we consume that is the primary cause of the wasteful culture we live in today," he explained.
"If we all had to grow our own food again we wouldn't waste one third of it. We've absolutely no respect or real appreciation for the energy that goes into the things we consume and buy today, so we think nothing of throwing them away."
Mark will be hoping this 'freebie' experiment goes a bit better than his last cashless odyssey.
In February he set off to visit Gandhi's birthplace on India's west coast, aiming to get there without spending a penny.
But he only managed to get to Calais - about 300 miles - before cold and the language barrier forced him to hang up his boots. He then had to use money to pay for his trip back to Britain.
At the time he told Sky News: "Not only did no one speak the language, they also see us as just a bunch of freeloading backpackers, which is the complete opposite of what the pilgrimage is really about.
"The advice was to make a bee line for Belgium as folk said they would be more likely to want to speak some English.
"The only trouble was the first decent-sized town in Belgium was 170km away, and all we had was three tins of soup, a bag of trail mix and a chocolate bar to sustain us."
Mr Boyle begins his money-less mission tomorrow (Sat) - on the rather aptly named Buy Nothing Day.
Are you worried about how a recession might affect you? You can put your fears to rest because there are many everyday habits the average person can implement to ease the sting of a recession, or even make it so its effects aren't felt at all. In this article, we'll discuss seven ways to do just that.
No. 1: Have an Emergency Fund
If you have plenty of cash lying around in a high-interest, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)-insured account, not only will your money retain its full value in times of market turmoil, it will also be extremely liquid, giving you easy access to funds if you lose your job or are forced to take a pay cut. Also, if you have your own cash, it won't be an issue if other sources of backup funds dry up, such as a home equity line of credit.
No. 2: Always Live Within Your Means
If you make it a habit to live within your means each and every day, you are less likely to go into consumer debt when gas or food prices go up and more likely to adjust your spending in other areas to compensate. Debt begets more debt when you can't pay it off right away - if you think gas prices are high, wait until you're paying 29.99% annual percentage rate (APR) on them.
To take this principle to the next level, if you have a spouse and are a two-income family, see how close you can get to living off of only one spouse's income. In good times, this tactic will allow you to save incredible amounts of money - how quickly could you pay off your mortgage or how much earlier could you retire if you had an extra $40,000 a year to save? In bad times, if one spouse gets laid off, you'll be OK because you'll already be used to living on one income. Your savings habits will stop temporarily, but your day-to-day spending can continue as normal.
No. 3: Have More Than One Source of Income
Even if you have a great full-time job, it's not a bad idea to have a source of extra income on the side, whether it's some consulting work or selling collectibles on eBay. With job security so nonexistent these days, more jobs mean more job security. If you lose one, at least you still have the other one. You may not be making as much money as you were before, but every little bit helps.
No. 4: Have a Long-Term Mindset With Investments
So what if a drop in the market brings your investments down 15%? If you don't sell, you won't lose anything. The market is cyclical, and in the long run, you'll have plenty of opportunities to sell high. In fact, if you buy when the market's down, you might thank yourself later.
That being said, as you near retirement age, you should make sure you have enough money in liquid, low-risk investments to retire on time and give the stock portion of your portfolio time to recover. Remember, you don't need all of your retirement money at 65 - just a portion of it. The market might be tanking when you're 65, but it might be headed to Pamplona by the time you're 70.
No. 5: Be Honest About Your Risk Tolerance
Yes, investing gurus say that people in certain age brackets should have their portfolios allocated a certain way, but if you can't sleep at night when your investments are down 15% for the year and the year isn't even over, you may need to change your asset allocation. Investments are supposed to provide you with a sense of financial security, not a sense of panic.
But wait - don't sell anything while the market is down, or you'll set those paper losses in stone. When market conditions improve is the time to trade in some of your stocks for bonds, or trade in some of your risky small-cap stocks for less volatile blue-chip stocks. If you have extra cash available and want to adjust your asset allocation while the market is down, however, you may be able to profit from infusing money into temporarily low-priced stocks with long-term value.
The biggest risk is that overestimating your risk tolerance will cause you to make poor investment decisions. Even if you're at an age where you're "supposed to" have 80% in stocks and 20% in bonds, you'll never see the returns that investment advisors intend if you sell when the market is down. These asset allocation suggestions are meant for people who can hang on for the ride.
No. 6: Diversify Your Investments
If you don't have all of your money in one place, your paper losses should be mitigated, making it less difficult emotionally to ride out the dips in the market. If you own a home and have a savings account, you've already got a start: you have some money in real estate and some money in cash. In particular, try to build a portfolio of investment pairs that aren't strongly correlated, meaning that when one is up, the other is down, and vice versa (like stocks and bonds).
No. 7: Keep Your Credit Score High
When credit markets tighten, if anyone is going to get approved for a mortgage, credit card or other type of loan, it will be those with excellent credit. Things like paying your bills on time, keeping your oldest credit cards open, and keeping your ratio of debt to available credit low will help keep your credit score high.
Conclusion
The best part about these habits is that they won't only serve you well during times of recession - they'll serve you well no matter what's going on in the market. But if you implement these financial strategies, a recession is less likely to have a significant effect on your financial situation.
A four-year-old Chinese boy born with a protruding heart has undergone five hours of surgery as doctors try to correct the defect.
Zhang Weiyuan has Pentalogy of Cantrell, which means the heart does not have a sternum or muscles to protect it and is covered only by skin.
It is so rare it occurs in around five in a million births.
After the operation, octors at Shenjing Hospital at the Chinese Medical University said that Weiyuan would have to be in intensive care for three days before they could find out if the operation was a success.
"We organized a team of doctors from different departments to do the surgery. It was a challenge for everyone," said chief consultant Dr Li Dongyu.
The little boy, from Hetai Village in China's Liaoning Province, was not taken to hospital earlier because his parents could not afford it.
Instead, they wrapped him up in clothes with extra padding to protect his heart and stopped him playing with other children in case of accidents.
His father, Zhang Xianzhen, says he feels guilty for not taking his son to see a doctor sooner.
"My wife and I are both garbage collectors, and we don't make much money," he explained.
"So we didn't take our son to the doctor because we couldn't afford the fees."
Sky News health correspondent Thomas Moore says: "This is a very rare condition. Only 90 cases have been reported worldwide.
"Sadly, most children born with it die. There is a good reason for the heart to be protected by the ribcage, and this little boy is extremely vulnerable to any blow to his chest.
"But the condition can also result in defects within the heart that affect its function."
Only two other cases have ever been reported in China.
Singapore's prime minister is to lose 19 percent of his salary because of the global economic turmoil but will still earn almost two million US dollars a year, a report said Monday.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, his cabinet, and other senior administrators will see their pay cut by up to 19 percent next year because of salary components linked to the city-state's economic growth, The Straits Times website reported.
Singapore is in recession and the government said the economy could contract next year.
"In view of the clouded economic outlook and the likelihood that salaries will be lower next year, the government has decided to defer the January 2009 salary adjustment," the report quoted the Public Service Division as saying.
The Division could not be immediately reached for comment.
With the pay cut, Lee will earn 3.04 million dollars (1.99 million US) a year, while ministers will see an 18 percent drop to 1.57 million dollars, The Straits Times said.
Rare public fury erupted in April 2007 when the government announced salary hikes for politicians and senior officials. In response, Lee said the government would pay him the higher salary but he would "donate" the increase "to suitable good causes" for five years.
The White House said at the time that US President George W. Bush got paid 400,000 dollars per year for doing his job.
Singapore officials have said high salaries are necessary to recruit and retain talented individuals, and to prevent corruption.
Teo Chee Hean, the minister in charge of the civil service, said the government last year introduced the mechanism linking a significant proportion of senior civil servants' salaries to economic performance, a system which is working as planned.
"Public sector salaries follow the market up and down," The Straits Times quoted him as saying. "This mechanism allows salaries to respond more rapidly to market conditions."
Turning your passion into your profession is the dream of every hobbyist, but one amateur game developer turned that dream into reality with a smash hit iPhone puzzle game, CNN reports this week.
Steve Demeter wrote "Trism", a sliding-block, color-matching puzzle game, in his spare time, and put it on Apple's App Store for $4.99. Just two months later, the game had earned Demeter over $250,000, and prompted him to quit his day job at a bank and start a development studio.
Demeter's studio, Demiforce, is working on five new games, including the sequel to Trism.
Want to get in on the action yourself? Go right ahead: companies like Apple and Microsoft (with the Xbox 360's new Community Games channel) have begun to provide bedroom developers easy, low-cost ways to develop on hardware that was once closed off to all but the biggest games makers. But with low barriers to entry comes lots of competition. Over 1,500 games are currently available on the iPhone's App Store, according to CNN, compared to about 900 two months ago.
I was interested to see the recent report in the August 23, 2007, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine suggesting that sexual relations often accompany healthy aging. This research should be reassuring news, since none of us is getting any younger.
I like to emphasize that mental health goes far beyond the absence of mental disorders. Thus, sexuality is one realm of our lives that may reflect aspects of mental well-being and satisfaction within healthy relationships.
It is, however, a behavioral domain that can also be associated with disorders. There are specific sexual disorders, and our sexual experiences can be influenced by mood, anxiety, and many other factors.
Like most people, I don't really want to know the details about my parents' sexual activities; however, I am aware that they remained sexually active for most of their 61 years of marriage. The NEJM article by Dr. Stacy Tessler Lindau from the University of Chicago and her colleagues shows that my parents were not unusual.
The researchers presented data on the prevalence of sexual activity, behaviors, and problems in a general population sample of over 3,000 U.S. adults ages 57 to 85 years. The percentages of individuals in different age categories reporting that they remained sexually active were as follows:
73% – Ages 57 to 64 years
53% – Ages 65 to 74 years
26% – Ages 75 to 85 years
About half of men and women reported at least one bothersome sexual problem. Most common among men was erectile dysfunction and for women low desire, problems with vaginal lubrication, and inability to climax.
The authors concluded that "the majority of older adults are engaged in spousal or other intimate relationships and regard sexuality as an important part of life," and that "a substantial number of men and women engage in vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and masturbation even in the eighth and ninth decades of life."
A reader recently asked whether it was abnormal for people to talk to themselves.
I don't believe there's anything unusual in someone speaking out loud to no one in particular, or when no one else is around. For some people, it's simply a habit; they may be using it to keep themselves organized, stay focused, and remind themselves what to do next.
Some people talk out loud when they feel lonely. Or others will reflect on their actions with comments such as "Great job," "I'm glad that's finally done," or "That was really stupid."
And who doesn't occasionally talk back to the radio or television, especially when engaged in viewing sports events or listening to a despised politician?
On the other hand, sometimes talking to oneself can indeed be a manifestation of mental illness. Some people with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia may lose touch with reality and experience auditory hallucinations of voices. They feel compelled to respond to "their" voices and even carry on extensive conversations. It's not unusual in downtown areas of big cities to see homeless people, quite oblivious to their surroundings, conversing earnestly when no one else is nearby.
When people seem to be carrying on conversations with themselves these days, however, it most often means they have a Bluetooth earpiece and a cell phone. These one-sided conversations can be pretty annoying if you're stuck in front of such a caller in a line for any length of time.
So... there are plenty of situations when talking out loud to yourself or to no one in particular is perfectly appropriate and socially acceptable. But when we have to listen to lengthy one-sided conversations from a cell phone user, we call it "noise pollution."
Who, finally, are the crazy ones? It's the oblivious cell phone talkers who don't look where they are going, don't care who hears every mind-numbing detail about their business and personal affairs, and couldn't care less that they're driving everyone within earshot... a little mad. They should know better.
A college student in southern China was bitten by a panda after he broke into the bear's enclosure hoping to get a hug, state media and a park employee said Saturday.
The student was visiting Qixing Park with classmates on Friday when he jumped the 6.5-foot (2-meter) -high fence around the panda's habitat, said the park employee, who refused to give his name.
The park in Guilin, a popular tourist town in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, houses a small zoo and a panda exhibit. It was virtually deserted when the student scaled the fence surrounding the panda, named Yang Yang, the employee said.
He said the student was bitten in the arms and legs. Two foreign visitors who saw the attack ran to get help from workers at a nearby refreshment stand, who notified park officials, the employee said.
The student was pale as he was taken away by medics but appeared clear-headed, he said.
"Yang Yang was so cute and I just wanted to cuddle him. I didn't expect he would attack," the 20-year-old student, surnamed Liu, said in a local hospital, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.
Liu underwent surgery Friday evening and was out of danger, but will remain in the hospital for several days, Xinhua said.
Yang Yang, who was flown to Guilin last year from Sichuan province, was behaving normally on Saturday and did not seem to suffer any negative psychological effects, the park employee said.
He said it was not clear whether the facility would add more signs around the enclosure or put more fences up.
"We cannot make it like a prison. We already have signs up warning people not to climb in," he said. "There are no fences along roads but people know not to cross if there are cars. This is basic knowledge."
Pandas, which generally have a public image as cute, gentle creatures, are nonetheless wild animals that can be violent when provoked or startled.
Last year, a panda at the Beijing Zoo attacked a teenager, ripping chunks out of his legs, when he jumped a barrier while the bear was being fed.
The same panda was in the news in 2006 when he bit a drunk tourist who broke into his enclosure and tried to hug him while he was asleep.The tourist retaliated by biting the bear in the back.
Fantasying about sex with a stranger? One night stands can be thrilling and liberating, but while it may feel carefree, there are rules...
Don’t Be Pressured Into One
You’ve had a lovely night with your date; you’ve chatted and flirted until closing time and now it’s that awkward parting moment: do you give him a quick peck on the cheek, swap numbers or hop in a cab back to his? Whatever you decide to do, make sure it’s your choice; you don’t owe your date a night of passion because he made you laugh a couple of times. Even in these enlightened times, many men’s opinion of women and sex is still stuck somewhere in the 1950s and most blokes still file women who have sex on a first date under ‘not relationship material’. So if you like him, and want to see him again, your smartest move could be opting to go home alone.
Be Honest
There’s nothing wrong with wanting no-strings sex so don’t try and hide your desires under cover of anything more long-term. Problems between two one-night-standers only occur when one party thinks it’s the beginning of a relationship while the other assumes it was just a bloody good night. If you fancy him, but can’t image discussing laundry and life with him over dinner ever night; then let him know you’re only looking for a one night stand – before sex. Don’t leave it until the morning when he’s cuddling up next you and discussing whether it’s too soon to move in together. This is especially important if he’s a mate; friends with benefits can be a great, as long as you both know that night of passion was for fun and not the future.
Your Place Or His?
Both have their advantages – and disadvantages. Many experts agree that taking him back to your place is the safest option as you’re on familiar territory, making you more in control of the situation. The flipside? He knows where you live and in the cold light of day you’re left with a strange man hanging around your home – one that might stubbornly refuse to leave on cue. If you do decide to go back to his, then text a friend and let them know where you’re going. Ideally, get his address and send that to them. Pay attention to how you’re getting there and look out for notable landmarks and train stations or bus stops that you’ll need for tomorrow’s walk of shame.
Talk Condoms
One night stands are usually a result of a heady combination of drink and sexual chemistry. Unfortunately desire + drink do not a sensible combination make and level-headed decisions can disintegrate in the heat of the moment. But it’s imperative that you use a condom; even if you’re on the Pill you have no idea what diseases your chosen bed fellow is carrying and condoms are the only way to protect yourself against STIs. Slip a couple in your handbag along with your lippy and phone; there’s nothing promiscuous about carrying condoms, so don’t leave it up to him. If neither of you have a condom, then, regardless of how many clothes you’ve already lost, stop. Sorry to pour cold water on your fumblings; but you don’t want to spend the rest of your life regretting a few thrilling minutes.
Keep It Simple
This is not the time to live out your sexual fantasies: unless you met at an S&M party leave your whip and PVC outfit in the drawer. Sex with a stranger can be thrilling and liberating but what you gain in excitement, you lose in intimacy. Your ONS isn’t going to know – or probably even care – where your G-spots are so don’t expect an earth-shattering orgasm, especially if you’ve both been drinking. Save any acrobatics for another time, unless you’ve both revealed
Don’t Do A Runner
You might be tempted to grab your clothes and tip toe out of his flat while he’s still snoring, but while he might not be the Johnny Depp lookalike that you’re so sure he was last night, doing a runner isn’t just rude, but increases the feeling that you’ve done something to be ashamed of when you haven’t. So he’s a bit chunkier and hairier than you remember, and you don’t want to spend the afternoon with him let alone the rest of your life, but, if you’re feeling a little embarrassed, doing a bunk will only heightened that sense of shame. There’s a good chance that breakfast chat will be a little silted, but it’s the perfect time to be honest with each other and make it clear that, while you had a great time, there’s no need to commit to anything other than the memory of a night of unadulterated pleasure.
Offer Him Breakfast
Similarly if he came back to your place, don’t unceremoniously throw him out while he’s still pulling on his jeans; offer him breakfast, or at the very least a cup of tea. Again this gives you time to talk, ensuring that you both know where you stand and preventing any desperate “but I thought we had a connection” texts later in the week. Chatting about it will also help to banish any residue of guilt that you may be feeling and reassure you that you’re both consenting adults who simply had a lot of fun last night! But don’t let him get too comfortable – if he’s settled himself down in front of Football Focus, it’s time to announce that you’re mum’s popping round in 10 minutes.
What If You Wanted More?
But what happens when, what you thought was the beginning of something, was to him a one night stand? This can be especially hurtful when his messages were so mixed. You had a great night, he even gave you breakfast in bed and a kiss the next morning, and he seemed as keen as you to swap numbers. So why hasn’t he called? Because he didn’t have the balls to be honest. He’s got what he wanted and, feeling guilty, he thought it would be easily to pretend that he wanted to see you again. As well as feeling hurt, it’s easy to feel used and abandoned and your self esteem can take a battering. But ask yourself whether you’d want a relationship with a man who discards your feelings so easily? It’s also an opportunity to be honest with yourself: do you want to feel wanted by him, or do you just want to feel wanted?
If the financial crisis makes you want to poke a finger in your boss's eye or unleash some high karate kicks in the office, a Japanese toymaker may have the -- virtual -- answer.
Bandai has created the "tuttuki bako" or poking box, a palm-sized plastic box with a simple digital display on the front, a coin-size hole on the side and a motion sensor inside.
The display shows moving images including a panda on a hanging tyre, a karate-fighting stickman and a human face.
When you stick your finger in the hole, a virtual finger appears on the screen for petting or even torturing the animal or stickman.
"Bored office workers can have it on the desk as it serves as a clock, and occasionally stick their fingers into the hole to work off stress," said Hajime Kondo, a Bandai official who helped create the toy.
The box is on sale in Japan for 3,990 yen (41 dollars).
Muslims in Malaysia should not practice yoga because it will erode their faith in Islam, a senior Islamic cleric said Saturday.
"Yoga is forbidden for Muslims. The practice will erode their faith in the religion," Abdul Shukor Husin, chairman of the government-backed National Fatwa Council, told reporters.
"We advice Muslims not to practice yoga. It does not conform with Islam," he said in response to a call to ban Muslims from doing yoga
Islam is the official religion of Malaysia, where more than 60 percent of the population of 27 million are Muslim Malays who practice a conservative brand of the religion.
Yoga, an ancient Indian aid to meditation dating back thousands of years, is a popular stress-buster in Kuala Lumpur.
Zakaria Stapa, a professor at the Islamic faculty of the National University of Malaysia, recently called on Muslims to stop doing yoga as it could cause them to "deviate from their faith".
Abdul Shukor said yoga involved physical and religious elements of Hinduism including the recitation of mantras.
He could not say how many Muslims were practising yoga but called on state authorities to punish those who do.
The fatwa council, one of Malaysia's highest Islamic bodies, recently banned women from dressing or behaving like men and engaging in lesbian sex, saying it was forbidden by the religion.
The dry winter winds may carry tidings of holidays to come, but I'm just being honest when I admit that those winds are seriously messing with my hair. Being a foodie, I found myself wondering if I could eat something to help my struggling strands. To get the answer I spoke to Val Weaver from RealAge, a group of food experts and researchers focused on bringing the health benefits of youth to all ages. Val says, "Docs are now saying, the same superfoods that are especially good for the rest of you will also be good for your hair. If you eat them regurlarly, they can help make your locks look more like they did at 20."
Here are her tips that give hope to our hair.
RealAge's 8 tips to shinier, healthier hair:
Eat more salmon. Or more nuts "Omega-3 rich foods like salmon and sardines help seal in shine," say RealAge experts Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen, MDs. Capsules of distilled fish oil or DHA supplements will work, too. You can also get omega-3 essential fatty acids in seeds (especially flaxseed) and nuts (especially walnuts). Yes! Nuts without guilt!
Think "B " As in beans, bran, Brazil nuts, and vitamin B, a must for hair that the first two foods are full of. Vitamin B may slow hair loss and promote hair growth, according to Roizen and Oz. [Other B-rich victuals include peas, carrots, cauliflower, soybeans, nuts, and eggs.]
Dip into the guacamole Avocados (and avocado oil) may prevent some funky stuff, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which kills hair follicles, from getting where it wants to go.
Say no to animal fat --and red meat, if you're losing hair. They can lead to more DHT production and hair-follicle damage.
Be sure you're getting enough iron Thinning hair may be a sign of iron deficiency. Be sure to eat plenty of iron-rich foods such as eggs, legumes, wholegrain cereals, dried fruits, and green, leafy vegetables.
Healthy protein Why? By body standards, hair cells grow super-fast, and the #1 hair nutrient is protein. So all that protein-rich fish is perfect for healthy growth and shine. But there are other healthy sources: egg whites, nuts, beans, lean poultry, beans, and small amounts of very lean red meat.
Tip #1: Wash your hair with diluted apple cider vinegar on your hair
Yes! To restore shine to dull hair, rinse it in lukewarm water, douse with 1/4-cup apple cider vinegar mixed into a pint of water, then rinse again with lukewarm water. "The acid in vinegar washes away styling products that can cling to hair despite shampooing. Just be sure to dilute the vinegar in water for gentler action," says RealAge's skin and hair expert, dermatologist Amy Wechsler, MD. Colorist Lana Gordon of the Cristophe salon in Beverly Hills seconds the doctor's opinion, but adds one caveat: Because the acid closes the cuticle of each hair strand, tresses are shinier but flatter. In other words, you're trading a little less fullness for a little more gloss.
Tip #2: Hair Hazard
If you're tempted to drop pounds fast with the latest fad diet, it could leave you with less-than-healthy hair -- along with a growling stomach. Low-calorie diets are often low in some of the most important nutrients for healthy hair, including omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and vitamin A. In addition to stunting hair growth and leading to dullness, super-low calorie plans may even cause hair loss. "Crash diets can affect the hair cycle," Mirmirani tells WebMD. "Losing a significant amount of weight in a short amount of time can affect that normal hair rhythm. Two to three months later, you might notice a significant increase in shedding. This is a temporary problem that you recover from with a well-rounded diet."
An Australian mayor who begged unattractive women to move to his town has been crowned 'sexist of the year'.
John Malony pleaded for "ugly ducklings" to migrate to Mount Isa to counter a lack of eligible women.
The mayor of the remote mining town in northwest Queensland state defended his comments, saying he was "telling it like it is".
He later told national radio that large women could even lose weight under the gaze of Mt Isa males.
But his outrageous sexism has seen him receive the 'name and shame' Ernie award by an all-women voting panel.
The annual awards have 10 categories and are decided by the level of boos, jeers and stamping of feet at the event, held at the New South Wales state parliament in Sydney.
Malony earned his top golden Ernie award with a defence that "the protesters are blaming me for their looks".
Event organiser Meredith Burgmann said the awards provided a necessary check of sexism in society.
Malony saw off some stiff opposition for his golden gong.
Western Australian politician Troy Buswell was runner up, having been accused of sniffing a female staffer's chair and snapping a bra strap earlier in the year.
Do you find yourself wondering why most of your buddies have steady dates, yet you can barely secure a first date, let alone a second (and, playing a regular game of Mahjong and Canasta with your grandparents and their friends doesn't count)? Guys, if so, it's time to ask yourself a few Foxy questions...
Do you... have a problem with eye contact? Even if you love everything about this other person, it won't matter, if you can't take your eyes off their body parts. They'll likely think you're out for one thing, or that you're just kind of creepy. Sure, they might be wearing something revealing, but that's no excuse to stare all night long. Get a grip and get comfortable with eye contact, which creates a much better bond.
Do you... eat like a caveman? Utensils are there for a reason -- so you can eat like a gentleman. Shoveling food into your mouth is not something you should subject your date to. Same goes for talking while chewing. Not only is it unpleasant to watch at a time when your job is to be easy on the eyes, it's a red flag that says you're a little short on self-awareness -- an important characteristic in a mate.
Do you... trim your toenails? Not that your date will necessarily see your toenails right away, but when they do end up eyeballing them, unkept toenails are a guaranteed huge turnoff. It means you don't take care of yourself, and valuing yourself is an important part of a healthy relationship. Plus, let's not forget the damage they can do to the other person's leg when you're snuggling up on the sofa watching movies.
Do you... order "everything on the side" at a restaurant? In other words, do you order like a girl? Please don't. Because if your date has to be tortured by, "I'll have the Cobb salad, but no cheese, avocado, or bacon, and dressing on the side, and the pasta, but no oil please, and extra light on the pinenuts," they may be forced to hide under the table or at least wonder what kind of demanding partner you could be. If you have dietary restrictions, do your best, just don't get into what will happen to your belly if you don't follow them.
Do you... assume you're going to strike out? The Secret said it once but we'll say it again: In a lot of ways, you manifest your own destiny. So, if you have lots of thoughts about being unlucky in love, you may be pushing people away in ways you may not even know. If you assume the worst of the world and yourself, spend a few minutes before your date making a mental list of why you're looking for a relationship and why you are an incredible a catch.
It's taken more than a century, but Einstein's celebrated formula e=mc2 has finally been corroborated, thanks to a heroic computational effort by French, German and Hungarian physicists.
A brainpower consortium led by Laurent Lellouch of France's Centre for Theoretical Physics, using some of the world's mightiest supercomputers, have set down the calculations for estimating the mass of protons and neutrons, the particles at the nucleus of atoms.
According to the conventional model of particle physics, protons and neutrons comprise smaller particles known as quarks, which in turn are bound by gluons.
The odd thing is this: the mass of gluons is zero and the mass of quarks is only five percent. Where, therefore, is the missing 95 percent?
The answer, according to the study published in the US journal Science on Thursday, comes from the energy from the movements and interactions of quarks and gluons.
In other words, energy and mass are equivalent, as Einstein proposed in his Special Theory of Relativity in 1905.
A vet in Australia thought he was seeing double when a cat in labour gave birth to a two-headed kitten.
The one-in-a-million grey and white mog can only use one of its two faces to eat because of a cleft palate.
But remarkably both of its mouths can miaow at the same time.
The tiny kitten was born at the Swan Veterinary Clinic in Perth, Western Australia.
Its mother had endured complications during the birth.
But veterinarian George Huber and his nurse, Louisa Burgess, successfully delivered the remarkable cat in a litter of three.
The other two cats were born without deformities.
It follows the birth of a four-eared kitten in Illinois in August.
The feline's freaky feature is the result of a congenital deformity.
Ms Burgess said she was used to kittens being born with double joints, but never two faces.
"I have seen cats with two tails and extra legs, but not this," she told the website inmycommunity.com.au.
Despite its irregular birth, Ms Burgess reported that cat and its mother were doing well.
The body of an Austrian billionaire, whose family fortune was built on Nazi slave labour, has been stolen from a graveyard.
Police are hunting for the corpse of controversial industrialist Friedrich Karl Flick after a gang of graverobbers stole it from the the family tomb - in what could be an attempt to extort money from his widow.
The robbers prised the 18 stone oak coffin from the mausoleum at the cemetery at Velden am Woertherse in southern Austria where the 79-year-old was laid to rest in 2006.
Flick, who lived in fear of kidnap attempts, inherited a huge part of the family business when his father died in 1972.
The empire had made massive use of concentration camp labourers in their factories, but despite their Nazi legacy, the Flick family always refused to pay compensation to war-time victims, even though Flick had major interest in companies such as Daimler-Benz.
The grave robbers struck last weekend but the theft was only discovered on Wednesday.
A stonemason hired by the family to repair his gravestone which had been damaged by vandals noticed the marble slab inside the mausoleum had been moved.
Gottlieb Tuerk, of the police in Carinthia, said: "The background to this remains murky at present."
Police estimate it would have taken at least six men to disinter the remains of the industrialist who, at the time of his death, was the wealthiest person living in Austria.
His widow Ingrid Flick, his third wife, inherited an estimated £4bn.
She and his children are now under police guard.
Flick hired security throughout his life to guard his family but his brother and sister-in-law were kidnapped in 1991.
The kidnapper was caught when the £3.5m ransom was handed over by undercover police.
A Malaysian technology conglomerate pledged Friday to repay $900,000 to Hollywood star Bruce Willis, but denied any wrongdoing after he took legal action to demand a refund of his investment.
The Kuala Lumpur-based Petra Group environmental technology company said Willis invested $2 million in its subsidiary, Green Rubber, a developer of technology that can recycle rubber in old tires, in 2007.
Petra returned $1.1 million to Willis earlier this year when he decided to pull out his investment. U.S. news reports said the star of the "Die Hard" action films filed a court complaint in Los Angeles this week to recoup the remaining $900,000.
The company said in an e-mailed statement to The Associated Press that it intends to pay Willis the balance "within the next few weeks" and that the actor need not have filed the court complaint.
Petra Group is "very surprised by Mr. Willis' actions and refute in the strongest possible terms any allegations of impropriety," it said.
Green Rubber had been seeking an initial public offering in London when Willis made the investment last year, but the Petra Group's chief executive agreed to buy back the star's shares at any point "as a gesture of goodwill," the statement said.
"Unfortunately, the market then took an unforeseeable severe downturn, caused by the global credit crunch, and flotation plans had to be put on hold," the statement added. "Mr. Willis asked to sell his shares back ... despite the company's exceptional underlying operating performance."
The United States has asked four oil-rich Gulf states for close to 300 billion dollars to help it curb the global financial meltdown, Kuwait's daily Al-Seyassah reported Thursday.
Quoting "highly informed" sources, the daily said Washington has asked Saudi Arabia for 120 billion dollars, the United Arab Emirates for 70 billion dollars, Qatar for 60 billion dollars and was seeking 40 billion dollars from Kuwait.
Al-Seyassah said Washington sought the amount as "financial aid" to face the fallout of the financial crisis and help prevent its economy from sliding into a painful recession.
The daily said the United States plans to use the funds to help the ailing automobile industry , banks and other companies suffering from the global financial turmoil.
The four nations, all members of OPEC, produce together 14 million barrels of oil per day, around half of the cartel's production and about 17 percent of world supplies.
The four states are estimated to have amassed close to 1.5 trillion dollars in surplus in the past six years due to high oil prices that rocketed above 147 dollars in July before sliding to just above 50 dollars.
The daily also said that the United States has asked Kuwait to forgive its Iraqi debt estimated at around 16 billion dollars.
Nicholas Tse said in a recent interview that he does not hate Edison Chen. This is his first comments about Edison after the racy photo scandal broke out in Hong Kong 9 months ago.
Nicholas said he has known Edison for 13 years; they were classmates before. Their friendship is even longer than his wife.
Nicholas knew Edison when he was transferred to Hong Kong International School in 1995. Although they were only classmates for 4 months, they got along very well. Edison has said that "he often goes to Nicholas' home to stay over and Nicholas will do the same."
Does Nicholas still want to be friend with Edison? Nicholas said: "I do not mind."
"I have known him for 13 years. You think I am not clear what kind of person he is? I have known him longer than my wife," said Nicholas. Does Nicholas mind his wife's racy photos? Nicholas answered: "I have known her for 11 years. When I proposed to her, I had already known what kind of person she is. We have similar images. We dare to do things and bear responsibilities. Everyone has their past. I trust her absolutely."
Nicholas said that the racy photo scandal has not caused any crisis in his marriage.
Victoria's Secret's angels have descended upon Miami Beach.
Singer Usher kicked off the Victoria's Secret show Saturday, which featured 35 supermodels, some wearing angel wings. Models including Heidi Klum and Adriana Lima strutted down the runway at the newly renovated Fontainebleau Miami Beach during the show, which coincided with the opulent reopening of the hotel.
"The theme of the show is a return to glamour," said company CEO Sharen Turney. "Victoria's Secret is about sexy and the new sexy is glamorous for this season."
The catwalk glittered and two silver palm trees adorned the stage. Models showed 68 outfits, including the $5 million Black Diamond Fantasy Miracle Bra worn by Lima and designed by jeweler Martin Katz. It is decorated with white and black diamonds and rubies, and will be for sale in the company's catalog, Katz said.
"You could wear it as an open top," he said. "It looks like a finished top."
Lima said she was excited to be wearing it.
"I always wanted to wear the Fantasy Bra. It's the first time that Victoria's Secret makes a black diamond bra," Lima said. "A woman could definitely buy it if they love it and men too."
Themes in the show included glamorous goddesses and bold colors with geometric designs influenced from the 1920s. Professional dancers wore one-piece bathing suits for one segment and models got playful with Usher when he performed.
There were also designs from the youthful Pink collection, along with pastels, florals and a black tie theme.
Models wore gilded bras with Swarovski crystals attached. There was also a gold sculpted feather body piece that curved around the model's body. Metal sculpted laurel leaves were also worn around some of the models' necks.
Model Karolina Kurkova wore a bra and underwear in a diaphanous hand-dyed, pleated, draped gown with a leather belt and gilded feather jewelry. Meanwhile, Klum was in a cutaway evening gown of handprinted silk, tulle and duchess satin, decorated with red roses.
Another model wore a crystal yarn, knitted catsuit with a hard leather lacquer belt and boots by Pierre Hardy.
For the Pink collection, a model wore a recycled plastic bag jacket and skirt on top of a handknitted bra and boy briefs.
A model also walked down the runway in a quilted, velvet body corset embellished with ostrich feathers and crystals.
It's "a celebration of sophistication and elegance ... our way to do a new take on holiday celebrations," said Todd Thomas, the costume designer.
For the finale, Klum stepped onto the catwalk in a red bra, underwear and sparkling, red wings, which were made to resemble a bow on a present.
Wing designer Martin Izquierdo made seven pairs of wings for the show. He said he turned to Greek mythology, butterflies and even designed a pair with spiderwebs on rose branches that are composed of crystals.
Miranda Kerr, who wore the wings with the multicolored butterflies, said "it adds a whole theatrical aspect" to the show.
Meanwhile, celebrities spotted on the pink carpet included P. Diddy, Russell Simmons, Michelle Trachtenberg, John Stamos, Kim and Kourtney Kardashian and Martha Stewart.
"We watch the show every year on TV, so it's really cool to see it in person," Kim Kardashian said.
Debbie Harry said she likes the big production.
"The show, it's based on lingerie, but it's about creating an event," she said. "It's just a big, wild extravaganza and I think that's what attracts me."
Ed Razek, chief marketing officer and the show's executive producer, said each year's event has to top the one before.
"It's the most watched fashion show in the world," Razek said. "You've got an obligation to do a better show every year."
Taiwanese top model Lin Chi-ling recently shot a mobile phone advertisement for a top Chinese company for endorsement fee of reportedly nearly 10 million dollars. However, the commercial was banned by Chinese authorities as the wordings used in the commercial went against Chinese advertisement regulations.
According to media reports, Lin Chi-ling helped China's Changhong Group endorse a certain series of luxury mobile phones. The cover of this particular brand of mobile phone is made with 23K gold and laid with eleven diamonds from South Africa.
Shortly after this commercial was aired in China, the Chinese authorities released a list of commercial that violated Chinese regulations and Lin Chi-ling's commercial was forced to be taken down.
In response to this, Lin Chi-ling's agent said that if the company wishes to make amendments to the commercial to comply with Chinese regulations, Lin Chi-ling is willing to cooperate.
Though her career is not taking up in China, but back in Taiwan Lin Chi-ling is still as popular as ever. She will be taking part in the promotional clip of the annual Golden Horse Awards ceremony, whereby she will be acting as Audrey Hepburn and Charlie Chaplin, on top of other roles.
Japan, the second largest economy in the world, has become the latest country to officially slip into recession.
It joins Germany, Italy, Spain and Ireland on the list of major nations that have had two successive quarters of their economy shrinking.
Japanese shares ended slightly higher after a volatile day, starting lower but then recovering later as the yen grew weaker.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average finished up 60.19 points, or 0.7%, at 8,522.58.
It sank nearly 250 points early in the session after gloomy gross domestic product figures, then bounced up about 550 points from there before coming back down at the finish.
The news that export-dependant Japan is in recession for the first time in seven years comes despite emergency steps by world powers to try to stem months of turmoil on the financial markets.
"Japan is as export-driven as ever. So as long as exports are slowing due to the weakness of the global economy, we cannot escape," said Kyohei Morita, economist at Barclays Capital, who expects the recession to last for four quarters.
The economy contracted 0.1% in the third quarter after shrinking 0.9% in the second.
The last time Japan fell into recession was in 2001 after the internet bubble burst.
The latest figures "showed that the economy is in a recession phase. There is a risk it may worsen further," warned Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano.
"This is not going to be a short or painless recession," said Noriko Hama, a professor and economist at Doshisha University.
"When financial crises of this magnitude occur, as a rule of thumb we generally have a 10-year recession. We had that in the 1990s in Japan," she said.
Business investment has slumped 1.7% in the third quarter while exports were worse than expected, as the financial crisis triggered by a US housing slump squeezed other major economies.
Although Japan has not suffered financial turmoil on the same scale as the United States or Europe, its trade-dependent economy remains highly vulnerable to global downturns.
After suffering a series of on-off recessions in the 1990s, Japan had been slowly recovering on the back of brisk exports and business investment.
But corporate profits are now sliding as exports suffer from the global slowdown and a stronger yen, prompting companies to slash investment in new equipment and factories, which had been a key driver of economic growth.
It might be nothing to get excited about, but there is a new addition to the Collins English Dictionary.
The preferred response of the apathetic, "meh" is the newest word in the famous lexicon.
The word, defined as "an interjection expressing indifference or boredom", beat off hundreds of others to gain entry.
It has won its place between "megrim" (whose plural means "low spirits") and "meibomian" ("the large sebaceous glands of the human eyelid") thanks to generating a surprising amount of enthusiasm among lexicographers.
Cormac McKeown, head of content at Collins Dictionaries, said: "This is a new interjection from the US that seems to have inveigled its way into common speech over here.
"It was actually spelled out in The Simpsons when Homer is trying to prise the kids away from the TV with a suggestion for a day trip.
"They both just reply 'meh' and keep watching TV; he asks again and Lisa says 'We said MEH! - M-E-H, meh!'
Publisher HarperCollins said that the word had been chosen from terms suggested by the public for inclusion in the dictionary's 30th anniversary edition, to be published next year.
The dictionary will define "meh" as an expression of indifference or boredom, or an adjective meaning mediocre or boring.
Examples given by the dictionary include "I feel a bit meh about the whole thing" and "The Canadian election was so meh."
The dictionary's compilers said the word originated in North America and spread through the Internet.
As more and more research reveals the differences in the male and female brains, it becomes easier for each gender to better understand the other and to allow the differences to unite rather than separate us.
After many carefully controlled studies, scientists have discovered actual physical differences between the brains of males and females. Men and women tend to maintain these unique brain characteristics throughout their lives.
For example, men’s brains are about 10% larger than female brains. Larger doesn't necessarily mean smarter, although men like to think this is so. Now women can understand why men let compliments "go to their head." Aside from the obvious distinctions, one of the more intriguing facts researchers have noted is the varying ways in which men and women approach time, judge the speed of things, accomplish mental mathematical calculations, and visualize objects in three dimensions.
Scientists believe these differences may explain why there are a significantly larger number of male mathematicians, mechanical engineers, architects, airplane pilots, bush guides, and race car drivers. Men also show an advantage in tasks requiring quantitative and reasoning abilities, and excel in science and math. In young boys, these areas of the brain mature around four years earlier than in girls.
Verbal abilities arise earlier in girls than in boys. But although men and women may communicate differently, they do process some language tasks similarly, while there are significant differences in other aspects of language processing. Scientists have also found that while men and women appear to process single words similarly, in the interpretation of whole sentences, women use both sides of the brain while men use only one side.
As early as a few months after birth, behavioral differences between boys and girls are already noticeable. Males display greater efficiency in visual-spatial ability. This relates to being able to visualize things, their shape, position, geography, and proportion and demonstrates itself as boys aim at stationary or moving targets and notice minor movements in their visual fields. Males also perform better in navigation, and scientists have theorized that through evolution these kinds of abilities were necessary for survival when males had to seek food in unfamiliar terrain.
Better spatial ability in men might also account for the male superiority in map-reading, although as we know, men never ask for directions. So for women to be more of a team player with their man, maybe they should give them a map before the journey so they’ll be prepared.
One of the most pronounced behavioral differences between the genders is the innate aggression of men, which makes sense since we see their historical physical dominance over women. Even social conditioning cannot counteract this natural tendency. Of course, their greater muscle mass also contributes to this trait.
According to scientists, the reason boys excel in sports early on is their superior hand-eye coordination necessary for ball games. Another distinction is men are able to imagine, change, and rotate an object in their mind's eye. The male's advantage of seeing patterns and abstract relationships may explain why men dominate in games like chess.
On the flip side, boys usually have more learning disabilities than girls, such as dyslexia and ADHD. The symptoms differ as well. Girls with ADHD tend to show inattention, while boys show lack of impulse control.
While the chemical make-up of their brains differs, women and men have equal intellectual capacities, although they may go about accomplishing tasks in different ways. Knowing what we come into the world with allows us to accept our strengths and enhance them, as well as improving upon our weaker areas.
So just because men tend to excel in logic, reasoning, and math, does not exclude women from exhibiting these skills with study and practice. As more girls engage in sports traditionally reserved for boys, such as baseball and soccer, the inherent differences in the natural tendencies will begin to recede and we'll see fewer disparities between females and males.
These differences help us understand and recognize that conflicts between men and women, whether partners, spouses, friends, siblings, or in work environments are not necessarily due to personalities that don't mesh, but the result of brain biology. When women complain that men don’t listen or remember to do things, a lack of concern or lack of interest may not be at fault. Because the brains of men and women are wired differently, we can hope to understand that our differences are beyond our control, and we can demonstrate more patience and acceptance.
Many of these brain variations are beneficial as they are complementary, and thereby improve the chances of men and women getting along and joining forces to help each other and live together in harmony.
After a long day of blogging, my dear dog Bonnie greets me at the door with blind adoration. All that love is such an ego boost. Pets are good for more than your self-esteem. Besides being great buddies, according to WebMD pets can also improve your health in these five ways:
Prevent allergies: Many new studies show that children who grow up in a household with furry animals or on a farm, have less risk for allergies, and asthma and a stronger immune system.
Friend magnets: Pets are natural conversation starters so your pet can help you meet people if you have social anxiety or chronic shyness.
Benefit the aged: For the elderly, caring for a pet can offer exercise and companionship. Studies have also shown that for Alzheimer's patients, those who have a pet have fewer anxious outbursts.
Good for the mind and soul: Those who have pets are less likely to suffer from depression, are better equipped to handle stressful situations, and they also have lower blood pressure.
Good for your heart: Pet owners who suffer from a heart attack will live longer than those who are petless. Studies have also shown that men who own pets have lower cholesterol.
Want more interviews? Job searches in tough times like now demand polished resumes more than ever. If you are attempting to write your own resume, these seven tips are important to follow:
1. Select the best format.
While most resumes are written in a history chronological format, often a better technique is to evenly balance between skill-set description, achievements, and employment.
2. Make certain your document is error free.
Since you are familiar with your own writing, you will "see" what you were thinking and not what is actually on the page. Do not rely on yourself to proofread your work and do not rely on spell-check. Find a friend who has strong grammar skills to check your work.
3. Find a balance between wordiness and lack of detail.
Employers need to see details about your work history and experience, but they don't need to know everything. The fact that you were den leader in your Cub Scout troop is irrelevant. Keep information germane to the goal of attaining an interview. Eliminate information that is not related and will not have a direct impact on winning the interview.
4. Do not use personal pronouns.
"I," "me," "my," "mine," and "our" should not be on a resume. Resumes are written in first person (implied). Example: For your prior job description, instead of writing: "I hired, trained and supervised a team of assistant managers and sales associates" you would instead state that you "Hired, trained and supervised a team of assistant managers and sales associates." Fragment sentences are perfectly acceptable on a resume and actually preferred.
5. Use numerical symbols for numbers.
While we are taught in school to spell out numbers less than ten, in resume writing, numerical symbols serve as "eye stops" and are a much better method. Instead of writing "Developed a dynamic team of eight consultants." it would be much more advantageous to state "Developed a dynamic team of 8 consultants."
6. Think "accomplishments" rather than "job duties."
What makes you stand out from the crowd? How did you come up with a way to do things better, more efficiently, or for less cost? What won honors for you? Information such as this is vital, will grab attention, and put your resume at the top of the list.
7. Keep it positive.
Reasons for leaving a job and setbacks do not have a place on a resume. Employers are seeking people who can contribute and have successfully performed in the past. Concentrate on communicating these issues and avoid any detracting information.
Remember, many first-time job interviews are conducted via telephone rather than in person. Make sure you are prepared for that telephone call when it arrives. And make sure you have a resume that will make the phone ring!
People are fleeing their homeland with the promise of new lives and jobs - only to find themselves forced into lives of slavery and prostitution in China.
A Sky News investigation reveals North Koreans are crossing the border to escape the regime in their country but become embroiled in a hidden underworld when they arrive.
Prostitution is illegal in China, but in the red light districts of the country's far north you would never guess it. Brothels line the streets, masqueraded as karaoke parlours.
With names like Don't Tell Mama and CEO VIP Club they advertise their presence in shameless neon.
Inside the brothels, young women - the foot soldiers of China's massive sex trade - wait for customers in locker rooms.
Adorned in clinging nylon dresses and gaudy make-up, they chat flirtatiously with passing males.
"Do you want me to do a dance for you?" asked one. "I'll take my clothes off. It's very pretty."
Posing as business people looking for women to entertain clients, and filming with a secret camera, Sky News went undercover in some of China's brothels, following a lead from underworld contacts.
In a darkened room a pimp confirmed that the story was true. "There are North Korean women in these brothels," he said. "They're smuggled across the border to work here".
Then, down a dingy corridor, we found what we were looking for. A madam introduced us to a young and very nervous North Korean girl.
Dressed in knee-high boots and a tiny mini-skirt, the girl waited for the madam to leave the room before telling her story in broken Chinese.
She said she had been selling her body in China for about two years, earning around £200 per month.
"When I first got here I was very frightened, I cried every day," she said. "Then I thought, I'm here now, and I can't leave. I have to earn money."
The next day, using the same cover story, we were taken to a grey Chinese tenement building where a pimp introduced us to a North Korean woman in her forties.
Perched on the end of a bed, she told us that she picks up men off the street for £5 a time, bringing her customers back to the tiny cubicle that she rents from the pimp.
He stood by, seemingly unmoved, as she recounted a story of unimaginable loss.
The North Korean economy has long teetered on the brink of collapse. In the nineties famine killed an estimated one million North Koreans. Now the United Nations is warning that the country is again facing a deadly food shortage.
Motivated by fear and hunger, thousands of North Koreans flee to China every year, wading across the river border in summer and walking across the ice in winter.
It's suicidally risky. North Korean border guards have orders to shoot to kill. And even if they make it to China, there's no safe haven.
The Chinese treat the refugees as illegal immigrants; if they're caught by the police they are shipped back across the border where they face imprisonment, and perhaps worse.
That makes North Korean refugees vulnerable - especially the women, who quickly become commodities in China's whirlwind market economy.
Our contacts took us to a village near the North Korean border where we met a woman who was trafficked into China. Human smugglers tricked her with the promise of work, and then bribed North Korean soldiers to let her cross the border.
Only when she arrived safely in China did they tell her that she'd been sold for £1,000 to a Chinese peasant farmer who couldn't find a wife in his own village.
In China, though, she's a modern day slave, who serves not only her 'husband' but also his elderly parents.
It's estimated that there are hundreds and probably thousands more like her across China, all of them traded for their bodies and their labour.
In desperation and grave danger they escaped a totalitarian state, but for North Korea's women - whether trafficked as brides, or employed in the Chinese flesh trade - there is no safe refuge in China, only exploitation and abuse.
A teenage boy who many believe is the reincarnation of Buddha has re-emerged from the jungle in southern Nepal, attracting thousands of devotees, officials said Tuesday.
After retreating into the jungle for more than a year, Ram Bahadur Bamjan, 18, re-emerged Monday near Nijgadh town, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of the capital, Katmandu.
Upon hearing the news, thousands of Bamjan's followers, some from as far away as India, traveled to the site Tuesday to see him, police official Abhaya Joshi said by telephone.
There has been no formal declaration by Buddhist authorities that Bamjan is the reincarnation of the Buddha. But people have worshipped the teenager since he was first seen in 2005 meditating in the jungle, where he sat for months, motionless with his eyes closed among the roots of a tree.
Joshi said Bamjan plans to talk to his followers for a few hours every day for a week before returning to the jungle to meditate.
The long-haired Bamjan, dressed in a white cloth, appeared to be in good health as he spoke to his followers about peace and ending discrimination, according to the Rajdhani newspaper.
"It was an amazing experience to hear and see him. I have no doubt now he is the reincarnation of Buddha," said Sangeeta Lama, a woman who met Bamjan for the first time.
Buddhist priests have been divided on whether the boy is truly the reincarnation of Siddhartha Gautama, who was born in southwestern Nepal around 500 B.C. and later became revered as the Buddha, which means Enlightened One.
Buddhists strongly believe in reincarnation, the doctrine that every soul reappears after death in another bodily form.
Min Bahadur Shakya of the Nagarjuna Institute of Exact Methods in Katmandu said Buddhist priests have not reached a conclusion about Bamjan because they have not been able to fully investigate the boy.
"Meditating without food does not prove that he is reincarnation of Buddha. There is much study needed to be done," Shakya said.
Buddhism is practiced by about 325 million followers, mostly in Asia.
The highly anticipated wedding between Singapore’s celebrity ’IT’ couple Christopher Lee and Fann Wong is still in the works, but their upcoming on—screen wedding already promises to be a grand affair.
The MediaCorp sweethearts will be donning not just one, but several wedding costumes of different ethnic flair in the upcoming romantic comedy "Wedding of the Year".
Said Fann: "(We will be wearing) a few multi—racial costumes. It’s going to be very local. There will be Chinese... Indian... for sure all the Singapore bride looks will be in the movie."
Slated to open early next year, the movie stars Christopher and Fann as two celebrated artistes who cook up a big media storm with their very publicized wedding, much to the delight of fans and the paparazzi. But underneath all the hype, it is really just a publicity stunt to boost their careers.
Without revealing names, Fann admitted she has heard of such scandals in the entertainment circle, but said the celebrities probably did not know what they really wanted.
Despite playing a pair of scoundrels on screen, Christopher and Fann are very much a real couple and all eyes are on their actual wedding, scheduled for sometime late next year.
But will it be as grand an affair as their on—screen union?
"It will be very, very grand," said Fann jokingly. She added: "We don’t know, but we’re trying to make it a fun party."
"It’s a romantic wedding," said Christopher solemnly.
"Oh yay! I’m so lucky," quipped Fann.
Hundreds of Congolese soldiers have reportedly rampaged through several villages in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The troops allegedly raped women and pillaged homes as they pulled back ahead of a feared rebel advance, the United Nations said.
UN spokesman Colonel Jean-Paul Dietrich said the soldiers are believed to have attacked civilians near the town of Kanyabayonga.
Kanyabayonga is 60 miles north of the provincial capital, Goma.
Mr Dietrich said 700 to 800 Congolese soldiers then fled Kanyabayonga and went on a rampage through several villages to the north.
In New York, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for an immediate cease-fire so aid workers could urgently help "at least 100,000 refugees" cut off in rebel-held areas north of Goma.
The UN chief also said he was "very concerned by reports of targeted killings of civilians, looting and rape".
Ban said about 3,000 more UN peacekeeping soldiers and police were urgently needed to bolster the 17,000-strong UN force in Congo that has been unable to stop the fighting or halt the rebel advance.
Congo's armed forces are notoriously ill-disciplined soldiers, historically better at looting than standing their ground.
The fighting in eastern Congo is fuelled by ethnic hatred left over from the 1994 slaughter of at least 500,000 Tutsis in neighbouring Rwanda.
Rebel leader Laurent Nkunda has said he is fighting to protect minority Tutsis from Rwandan Hutu militants who participated in the genocide before escaping to Congo.
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