Saturday 31 December 2016

Happy New Year!!!


This is wishing all my readers a great new year!!!

Identical twins who share boyfriend reveal they now plan to marry him


Two identical twins who share a bed with their joint boyfriend (You can read the story here) have now revealed they BOTH plan to marry him. Anna and Lucy DeCinque, from Perth, Australia, both plan to tie the knot with boyfriend Ben Byrne having met him on Facebook five years ago.The 30-year-old sisters say they plan to travel to Tucson, Arizona, to say their three-way vows. Arizona's constitution bans polygamy but lists no punishment - meaning many travel for wedding services which are described as 'spiritual' rather than legal unions. According to UK Mirror, announcing their intentions on YouTube, the pair said:

Dad 'choked 4-year-old son to death after he stumbled in on him murdering boy's mother'


A dad choked his four-year-old son to death after he stumbled in on him murdering the boy's mother . Isaac Infante, 23, strangled Felicia Barahona, 36, with an electric cord in the bathroom of her New York apartment on December 22.He then strangled his young son, Miguel Barahona, after the boy walked in on the crime scene. Infante, who was a high school pupil when he began a relationship with his teacher Barahona, then placed the child's body face down in the bathtub.The bodies of the mother and son were discovered by the superintendent at the apartment in Hamilton Heights, in Harlem, on Monday, police said. Infante, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was arrested and confessed to the killings, CBS New York reported.

Friday 30 December 2016

Nurse arrested after pulling off baby’s hand during delivery

Picture for illustration

An auxiliary nurse, identified only as Oyekanmi, has been arrested by the police for her role in the death of a baby she took delivery of in the Odogunyan, Ikorodu area of Lagos State, Nigeria.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the victim’s mother, Adeola, had been taken to Oyekanmi’s residence last Saturday when she went into labour. Oyekanmi, while attempting to force the delivery, was said to have pulled off the baby’s hand. She was said to have advised that the child be taken to the Ikorodu General Hospital, where the dead child was finally delivered. Doctors at the hospital were reported to have queried the baby’s parents on what truly transpired, and they opened up. The hospital management then alerted the police to the incident.

Thumb sucking!


Children who suck their thumb, fingers, binky, or pacifier can develop problems with the roof of their mouth and how their teeth come together. Most children stop between ages 2 and 4. Thumb sucking should stop before the child's permanent teeth start coming in.

© HowardFarranDDS, MBA/Facebook

Myanmar to jail men for failing to marry women they impregnate


Myanmar’s government (formerly Burma) is drafting a law that could see men jailed for up to seven years for getting a woman pregnant but not marrying her, a senior official said on Wednesday. The provision is part of tough new legislation designed to strengthen women’s rights as the country opens up after half a century of military rule. According to the Hindustan times, Director of the social welfare department Naw Tha Wah said the new law would criminalise domestic violence for the first time and make gang-rape a capital offence.
If passed in parliament, the law would also carry a penalty of up to five years in prison for any man who refuses to marry a woman after they have lived together, and up to seven if she is pregnant.
“Women can complain if they are bullied into not getting married after living together. We will give them protection under the law.”

At least 10 killed in mine collapse in eastern India


A coal mine collapse in eastern India killed at least 10 workers and 13 others may be trapped by the mound of fallen earth, police said Friday. The collapse happened late Thursday but heavy smog prevented rescue workers from entering the open coal mine until early Friday morning, said S.K. Singh, the general manager of the Rajmahal Open Cast Mines in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand. Jharkhand police spokesman R.K. Malik said 23 workers were reported missing after the accident, and that after 10 bodies were recovered 13 remain unaccounted for. The Godda district where the mine is located is more than 1,570 kilometers (975 miles) southeast of New Delhi.

Russia vows response to diplomat expulsion from US


Russia has promised to respond to the expulsion of 35 of its diplomats from Washington, amid a bitter dispute over alleged Russian interference in the recent US presidential election (You can read the story here). A spokesman for President Vladimir Putin said the Kremlin's reaction would cause the US "significant discomfort". However, he hinted that Russia may wait until Donald Trump, who has played down the hacking claims, becomes president. Russia has denied any involvement and called the US sanctions "ungrounded". On Thursday, the US state department declared the 35 Russian diplomats from the Washington embassy and the consulate in San Francisco "persona non grata", and gave them and their families 72 hours to leave the US. Sanctions have also been announced against nine entities and individuals including two Russian intelligence agencies, the GRU and the FSB.

Thursday 29 December 2016

U.S. evicts 35 Russians for spying, imposes sanctions after election hacks

US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin (C)Reuters

President Barack Obama on Thursday ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian suspected spies and imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies over their involvement in hacking U.S. political groups in the 2016 presidential election. The measures, taken during the last days of Obama's presidency, mark a new post-Cold War low in U.S.-Russian ties and set up a potential flashpoint between incoming President-elect Donald Trump and fellow Republicans in Congress over how to deal with Moscow. Obama, a Democrat, had promised consequences after U.S. intelligence officials blamed Russia for hacks intended to influence the 2016 election. Officials pointed the finger directly at Russian President Vladimir Putin for personally directing the efforts and primarily targeting Democrats, who put pressure on Obama to respond.

Woman gives birth in Walmart bathroom on Christmas Eve, dumps newborn in trash can


A 34-year-old woman gave birth to a healthy baby in a Walmart bathroom on Christmas Eve and abandoned it in a trash can. According to Inside Edition, New Falls, Louisiana resident Kyandrea Thomas was arrested on Monday, December 26th, for the dastardly act and charged with attempted second degree murder. Thomas was soliciting patrons outside of the Walmart for tips on behalf of the Salvation Army on Saturday, December 24, when she suddenly went into labor. Rather than request medical assistance, the accused instead made her way to a bathroom stall inside of the department mega-store and gave birth to a healthy baby girl, before placing the her inside of a plastic bag and tossing her into a garbage
Another Walmart employee who was sent to clean out the bathroom discovered the child inside of the bin and called for help. Initially unresponsive, the newborn was able to be properly resuscitated at nearby Point Coupee General Hospital before being transferred to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge. The child, who was temporarily named Olivia by medical staff, is now said to be in stable condition.

10 definitive signs that show you are in love (and the ones that prove it's just lust)


You may think you're head-over-heels in love with someone but do you really know the difference between being in love and lusting after somebody? Gary Amers, a relationship expert at amerscoaching.com, tells FEMAIL the ten signs to look out for that tell you that you really are in love - and the five signs that prove it's really just lust.

SIGNS THAT SHOW YOU ARE IN LOVE

 
1. You become like an eager child who is about to open their favourite Christmas present: Your heart and subconscious knows what you are wanting and recognises this is the one - long before your conscious mind can understand it

2. You light up every time you think of them:
Their presence creates an instant ‘burst’ of adrenaline.

3. You feel sick in your stomach: Falling in love can make you feel out of control so your stomach can be unsettled.

Carlos Tevez leaves Boca for Chinese Super League, Shanghai Shenhua


Shanghai Shenhua have completed a deal to bring former Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez to the Chinese Super League (CSL). Shenhua, who are coached by former Chelsea and Tottenham midfielder Gus Poyet, made the announcement on Thursday, after the Argentina star arrived in Shanghai for a medical ahead of his unveiling.
"Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC reached a transfer agreement with Argentina Club Atletico Boca Juniors. Carlos Alberto Tevez is officially joined Shanghai Shenhua,'' a club statement said. Shanghai Shenhua paid a £9 million ($11m) transfer fee to get the striker, and while it was initially said he would be paid a world-high of £615,000 ($760,632) a week to make the move, reports in China say it will be significantly less. The total deal over two years is reported to be £32.5m ($40m) including the transfer fee, which works out at £226,000 per week and that would place Tevez significantly behind the reported salaries for Cristiano Ronaldo (£288,000 after tax) and Lionel Messi (£256,000 after tax).

Otonamaki…Japanese therapeutic method of wrapping themselves up in cloth



Otonamaki, which directly translates to "adult wrapping", is a Japanese therapeutic method meant to alleviate posture problems and stiffness and it is gaining traction around the country. The idea for Otonamaki comes from the practice of Ohinamaki, which sees babies wrapped up in cloth in a similar fashion. This is meant to help with their physical development. Each session lasts around 20 minutes.
"The reason why Otonamaki was invented was because some people were worried about babies struggling or feeling claustrophobic while being wrapped up," says Orie Matsuo of Kyoko Proportion, one of several companies that offer Otonamaki to its customers.

Scientists claim taking fish oil supplements during the last three months of pregnancy prevents your child from having asthma


Taking fish oil supplements could reduce the risk of a child being born with asthma, scientists claim. The benefit was found to be higher in mothers who had low levels of EPA and DHA - two key ingredients found in the capsules. It is believed a lack of both makes their children vulnerable to inflammation in their airways - which causes asthma.  But taking supplements during the final three months of pregnancy can alleviate the risk, a study suggests. Despite both the ingredients being present in fish, researchers say people are unlikely to get sufficient amounts through their diet. 

Magnitude 5.5 earthquake hits New Zealand just weeks after massive quake ripped through the country


A severe earthquake with a 5.5 magnitude has struck central New Zealand, just weeks after two massive quakes rocked the country.  More than 7,000 people reported feeling the ground tremble beneath them on Thursday afternoon as the earthquake ripped through the small town of Seddon, near Kaikoura, at a depth of 17 kilometres. Some felt the quake from as far as Christchurch, almost 500 kilometres away, The NZ Herald reported.  The intensity and depth of the quake was described as 'severe' after it hit, 35 kilometres northeast of Seddon, according to GeoNet. Locals have been asked to remain indoors during the quake and to 'drop, cover and hold' during each tremble.
Last month, two major earthquakes measuring 6.3 and 7.8 struck Cheviot, located between Christchurch and Kaikoura. More than 1000 tourists and residents were evacuated from the small seaside town of Kaikoura by a fleet of helicopters and a naval vessel after the massive quake. The 7.8 earthquake tore apart the seabed, homes, roadways and claimed the lives of two people.

China vows to become the first country to soft land a probe on the moon by 2018 and launch its first Mars mission by 2020

China's first moon rover touching the lunar surface on Sunday, December 15, 2013

China has vowed to speed up its space development as it set out plans to become the first country to soft land a probe on the far side of the moon as early as 2018. The Chinese government has also indicated today its desire to launch its first Mars probe by 2020.
'To explore the vast cosmos, develop the space industry and build China into a space power is a dream we pursue unremittingly,' a memo read setting out the country's space strategy for the next five years.
Officials said China aims to use space for peaceful purposes and to guarantee national security, and to carry out cutting-edge scientific research. The white paper, released by the information office of China's Cabinet, points to the growing ambitions of China's already rapidly advancing space programme. 

Woman beheaded in Afghanistan for entering a city to go shopping without her husband


A 30 year old woman was beheaded on Monday evening in Sar-e-Pul province of Afghanistan by a group of armed men, local officials said today. Provincial Governor spokesman Zabiullah Amani, confirmed the incident to the Nation and said that the armed men were linked with Taliban. The incident took place in the remote village of Latti in Sar-e-Pul. Amani said that the women was beheaded because she visited the city alone without her husband. Amani said that the victim’s husband is in Iran and they don’t have children. Sar-e-Pul women's affairs head Nasima Arezo, also confirmed the incident. The village is under Taliban control and so far no one has been arrested. However the Taliban rejected any involvement.

Korean Air to allow crew members to use stun guns to manage unruly passengers


Korean Air Lines said it will allow crew members to "readily use stun guns" to manage in-flight disturbances, after coming in for criticism from U.S. singer Richard Marx for its handling of an incident involving a violent passenger. The South Korean carrier also said on Tuesday it will beef up security training of crew members. Last week, Marx said on Facebook and Twitter that he helped initially subdue "a psycho passenger attacking crew members and other passengers," accusing crew members of being "ill-trained" and "ill-equipped" to handle the "chaotic and dangerous event".

Girl teased at school because of her coal-colored skin turns to modelling


Meet Khoudia Diop, a 19-year-old Senegalese model with a very unusual skin color. As a kid, she was often taunted because of her looks. But, with time, Khoudia learned to love herself for who she is. Not long ago, the girl was noticed by modeling agencies. For the last two years, she has enjoyed a successful career in the fashion industry. Just look at how astonishingly smooth and beautiful her skin is!
Nowadays, the Melanin Goddess’s Instagram page has more than 250,000 followers.
More pictures after the cut

Man stabs his 9-year-old daughter to death because wife left him


A man, angry that his wife had left him and taken his youngest daughter, took a knife and viciously stabbed their eldest daughter to death in Chiang Rai town, Mae Sai, Thailand on Monday, December 26th. The nine year old had multiple puncture wounds to her chest. After the gruesome murder, the 37-year-old identified as Noi washed the body carefully, cleaned up the scene and the murder weapon - then redressed his daughter in new clothes. He then went out and told neighbors what he had done - but no one believed him. So he went home and waited for his wife to come and visit. Later in the day she arrived and found her daughter dead. She immediately called police who hurriedly arrested Noi.

Wednesday 28 December 2016

EPL week 18 result


Saudi man who called for end to 'guardianship of women' is jailed


A Saudi man has been jailed for one year for calling for an end to the Muslim kingdom's guardianship system that gives men wide controls over women, local media said Tuesday. The man, who was also fined 30,000 riyals (£6,500) by a court in the eastern city of Dammam, was convicted of "inciting to end guardianship of women" in statements he posted on Twitter and in public posters, the Okaz daily said. He was arrested while putting up posters in mosques in Al-Hasa district calling for an end to the globally unique system that subjects women in the ultra-conservative kingdom to male control.

Train derailment kills two and injures 43 in northern India


A train derailed in northern India on Wednesday injuring at least 43 people, police and rail officials said, at least the third such accident in recent weeks that has raised concerns about the safety of the ageing rail network. The train derailed near the city of Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh state early in the morning. All the injured, several of whom were in critical condition, had been taken to nearby hospitals, Javeed Ahmad, director general of police, Uttar Pradesh, said in a tweet.

Swansea City sacks manager Bob Bradley after 85 days, 11 matches in charge


Swansea City announced Tuesday the club has parted ways with manager Bob Bradley, the American being fired after an ill-fated spell at the helm that lasted a mere 85 days.cBradley, the first American to manage in the Premier League, inherited a terrible squad when he replaced Francesco Guidolin on Oct. 3, but his short tenure can only be categorized as a disaster after the Swans conceded 29 goals in 11 matches. The Welsh side conceded three or more tallies in eight of those contests, and came away with only eight points; the decisive blow came on Boxing Day, when fans at Liberty Stadium chanted for Bradley's dismissal as his side was dismantled 4-1 by lowly West Ham.

Philippines: Christmas typhoon leaves at least 6 dead and 18 missing


At least six people were dead and 18 others missing after Typhoon Nock-Ten lashed the Philippines over the Christmas holidays, the government said on Tuesday as it tried to assess the damage. The unusually late storm first hit the eastern provinces on Christmas Day, flooding roads and farms, destroying homes and damaging ships as it crossed the archipelago, though the highly-populated Philippine capital was spared. In the worst incident, a ferry known as the MV Starlight Atlantic sank off the coastal province of Batangas, killing one and leaving 18 crewmen missing, the coast guard reported after confirming the number of people on board. Five others were killed by floods and falling objects knocked down when the storm hit, bearing gusts of 146 miles an hour, local officials said.

Thousands attend teen girl's party after viral invitation


Thousands of people have attended a girl's birthday party in Mexico, after her parent's video invitation to "everyone" went viral on social media. Family members had to move away an army of waiting reporters so Rubi Ibarra Garcia could attend a Mass in La Joya community, central Mexico. She was celebrating her 15th birthday - a traditional coming-of-age party in Mexico known as "quinceanera". About 1.2 million people had earlier vowed to attend the party. However, the father later said the idea had been to invite neighbours and friends only - while stressing he would not turn anyone away. On Monday, dozens of tents and tables filled with food were prepared for those who made the journey.
More pictures after the cut

Tuesday 27 December 2016

Baby born with half face cared for by kind monk over Christmas


 A baby born without a skull and with only half a face was being cared for by a kind monk this Christmas. Social media has been a source of much needed help for baby Nurafaiha, 8 months, who lives in Sayaburi in Southern Thailand. Nurafaiha was born with a cleft lip and pallet as well has having no skull and is blind. Her disabilities mean that she cannot take milk normally and has to be fed through a tube. According to UK Mirror, her case was highlighted on social media as a way to get the funds necessary for treatment by a monk, name of Bhin, from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation in Bangkok.'

Trump refers to the UN as a club for people to 'Have a Good Time'


Days after the United Nations voted to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, Donald Trump questioned its effectiveness Monday, saying it's just a club for people to "have a good time." The president-elect wrote on Twitter that the U.N. has "such great potential," but it has become "just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!"
On Friday, Trump warned, "As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th," referring to the day he takes office. The decision by the Obama administration to abstain from Friday's U.N. vote brushed aside Trump's demands that the U.S. exercise its veto and provided a climax to years of icy relations with Israel's leadership. Trump told The Associated Press last December that he wanted to be "very neutral" on Israel-Palestinian issues. But his tone became decidedly more pro-Israel as the presidential campaign progressed. He has spoken disparagingly of Palestinians, saying they have been "taken over" by or are condoning militant groups.

Saudi Arabia launches campaign to raise funds for Syrians displaced by war

Kurdish refugees from the Syrian town of Kobani     (C)Reuters

Saudi Arabia has launched a fundraising campaign for Syrians displaced by a five-year civil war, including those evacuated from eastern Aleppo, state news agency SPA reported on Monday.More than 11 million Syrians - around half of the population - have been displaced by the fighting, which began in 2011 and has killed more than 300,000 people. Saudi Arabia has been one of the main supporters of rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whom Riyadh regards as a tool of regional arch-rival Iran.

Embarrassing pictures of people who got stuck in the most unlikely places


Jailbreak fail

Mum charged for beating her two young sons after they opened Christmas presents early


A mum allegedly beat her two young sons and bit one of them after they opened their Christmas presents early. Sascha Collins, 36, is charged with two counts of battery following the alleged assault in Greenfield, Indiana, last Sunday.Her seven and nine-year-old sons told police they had opened presents found hidden in their mother's wardrobe. They claim she beat them with a belt buckle and threw them against the wall. Derek Towle, acting chief for Greenfield Police, told WISH-TV:
The boys' teenage sister alerted authorities after finding them upset and covered in bruises.
"When we see these types of things happen it breaks our hearts knowing that this is going on.
"We try to see that it was just a kid's excitement and that is what we want for them to have, excitement around Christmas time."

US government collecting social media information from foreign travelers

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

The US government has begun asking select foreign travelers to disclose their social media activities as part of an expanded effort to spot potential terrorist threats.  The request functions as a prompt on the online Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or Esta, a visa waiver application that many visitors are required to submit before travelling to the US. The choices include platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube, and additional space for applicants to input their account names on those sites. The Customs and Border Protection, which began the program last week, has previously said it wouldn’t prohibit entry to foreigners who didn’t provide their social media account information.

Study shows Cheetah’s population is heading towards extinction


The sleek, speedy cheetah is rapidly heading towards extinction according to a new study into declining numbers.  The report estimates that there are just 7,100 of the world's fastest mammals now left in the wild. Cheetahs are in trouble because they range far beyond protected areas and are coming increasingly into conflict with humans. The authors are calling for an urgent re-categorisation of the species from vulnerable to endangered. According to the study, more than half the world's surviving cheetahs live in one population that ranges across six countries in southern Africa. Cheetahs in Asia have been essentially wiped out. A group estimated to number fewer than 50 individuals clings on in Iran.

Pope says Christmas 'hostage' to materialism, God in shadows


Pope Francis said on Saturday that Christmas had been "taken hostage" by dazzling materialism that puts God in the shadows and blinds many to the needs of the hungry, the migrants and the war weary. Francis, leading the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics into Christmas for the fourth time since his election in 2013, said in his Christmas Eve homily that a world often obsessed with gifts, feasting and self-centeredness needed more humility.
"If we want to celebrate Christmas authentically, we need to contemplate this sign: the fragile simplicity of a small newborn, the meekness of where he lies, the tender affection of the swaddling clothes. God is there," the Pope said at St. Peter's Basilica.

Etihad Airways to cut jobs


East carriers which have shaken up the global aviation business over the past decade, is to lay off some staff, in the latest sign of difficulty among the region’s airlines. According to a spokesperson for the airline, it is embarking on a restructuring exercise to cut costs and improve productivity “against a backdrop of weakened global economic conditions”. The airline hasn’t said how many jobs will go, but it has described it as “a measured reduction of headcount in some parts of the business.”

Monday 26 December 2016

3 year old girl found locked inside tiny wooden box full of dead bugs


Authorities were stunned after a 3-year-old girl in Indiana was found locked inside a wooden box. Officers with the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office found the disturbing scene after executing a search warrant at the North Judson home last week. Sheriff Jeffrey Richwine told WNDU.
"Never seen anything like this,"  "It's one of those deals, you go there and think, 'hopefully this is not true.'" Nobody's going to have a small girl in a box, that's just not going to happen. And you go there, when they say it, you just don't believe it, you're thinking, 'my god, who would do this?'"
I've seen people treat their animals better," the girl's grandfather Frank Jackson told the station. "It's like a nightmare and I wish I'd wake up."

Sunday 25 December 2016

George Michael (1963 – 2016)


Singer George Michael has died at his home at the age of 53. The star, who launched his career with Wham! in the 1980s and had huge success as a solo performer, "passed away peacefully" on Christmas Day in Goring, Oxfordshire, his publicist said. Thames Valley Police say they are treating the death as unexplained but there were no suspicious circumstances.
Former Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley said he was "heartbroken at the loss of my beloved friend".
George Michael has sold more than 80 million records worldwide in a career spanning four decades

How a shop owner’s carelessness caused an inferno which destroyed 150 buildings

              Some of the houses consumed by fire                 (C)KYODO

The owner of a Niigata ramen shop on Friday effectively admitted to causing the inferno that destroyed some 150 buildings in the city of Itoigawa, Japan by leaving a gas burner unattended in the kitchen. The fire, which injured 11 people and forced hundreds to evacuate, was declared extinguished on Friday afternoon, about 30 hours after it broke out at his noodle shop. The blaze, driven by high winds, spread so quickly that the Self-Defense Forces were called in to help. According to the police, the owner of the ramen shop, believed to be the origin of the fire, left the kitchen and returned to his home after putting ingredients into a pot and setting it on the kitchen stove. He said that when he returned, he saw flames coming out from the pot.

Car thieves caught using donkeys to drag stolen bakkie to Zimbabwe from South Africa

                                                                         (C)SAPS/Facebook

Suspected car thieves who were using donkeys to pull a stolen bakkie across the Limpopo River between South Africa and Zimbabwe deserted their loot when they were spotted in the middle of the river, police said on Saturday. During aerial surveillance on Friday, provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba spotted the roof of the double cab bakkie in the middle of the Limpopo River, Saps spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe told News24.

Uganda boat accident kills at least 20 Xmas travellers


At least 20 people were killed when their boat capsized on Friday in Lake Victoria as it was carrying passengers to mainland Uganda for Christmas holidays, police said. The vessel was travelling from Bukasa island to the coastal town Entebbe when it flipped for reasons that are still unclear.
"About 20 confirmed dead, 10 have been rescued", area police commander Richard Musisi told AFP. "Of the 20 who died we have managed to retrieve four bodies from the lake."
"We can't at the moment put a finger on what happened. Whether it was overload or the waves", he said adding none of the passengers were wearing life jackets.
Bukasa's inhabitants are largely fishermen and farmers. It is a favourite for foreign tourists, though none were among the dead. Deadly accidents are common on Ugandan waters. In November about 10 people drowned when a boat capsized on Lake Albert in northeast Uganda.

Source: BBC

Merry Christmass from Olamamasblog


Saturday 24 December 2016

Ad giant Dentsu declared Most Evil Corporation of the Year


The major ad agency has been awarded this year’s Most Evil Corporation of the Year Award, also known as the Black Company Award, a corporate raspberry prize given to companies with a culture of overwork, discrimination and harassment, a group of journalists and rights activists announced Friday. The suicide of one of its workers, Matsuri Takahashi, 24, was recognized as work-related in October. After pushing more than 100 hours of overtime per month, she committed suicide in her company dorm on Christmas Day last year.
“Dear Dentsu Inc., your 24-year-old new employee, Matsuri Takahashi, committed suicide on Dec. 25, 2015. She worked 105 hours of overtime, which is extremely long. In addition, she was suffering from power harassment from her bosses, and was mentally pressured,” said Tokachi Tsuchiya, a film director who is a member of the selection committee.
“On Twitter, she wrote, ‘I don’t want to work,’ and ‘two hours of sleep everyday is extreme.’ Several days before her death, she retweeted a post about the 2015 Black Company Award. She retweeted about this moment right now. It’s regrettable,” he said.

Friday 23 December 2016

“The One Cup Tip” for those traveling for the holiday


The three main elements are a coin, a cup of water, and a freezer.
What do those three have in common you might ask? Well, during times of evacuations, it is uncertain whether your electricity, amongst other things, will still be intact. It is also unclear, based on the circumstances, how long you will have to be evacuated from your home. Ideally, most people will have an evacuation kit, filled with first-aid kits and imperishable foods amongst other things. But what about your refrigerated and frozen goods? What is to become of those, and how will you be able to tell if they are still safe to eat once you return to your home?

Directions:
1.    Place a cup of water in your freezer.
2.    Freeze the water until it is solid, and then put a quarter on top of the frozen water and return it to your freezer.
3.    Leave it in your freezer.


Parents die in car crash on way to see their son who was hospitalized after head on car collision

Chris Hahn

Parents in Missouri, received a call, notifying them that their son was involved in a car accident. Their son, 19-year-old Chris Hahn, was injured when a Fedex truck hit his vehicle His parents, Daniel Hahn, 38, and Loretta Hendrickson, 37, were heading to University Hospital in Columbia, to be with him. On their way to the hospital, another car crossed the centerline and hit their car head-on at 5:30 p.m. Witnesses rushed to help the crash victims, but sadly, Hahn and Hendrickson died at the scene.
The driver who crossed over the centerline, was identified as 36-year-old Arthur Hayes. He and his girlfriend, 35-year-old Crystal Hayes, who was a passenger in his vehicle, were also killed. A GoFundMe page was setup to help Chris Hahn pay off his medical bills and funeral costs. Sadly, while Chris Hahn is focusing on his recovery at the hospital, he will also have to plan the funeral for his parents.

Sam Allardyce replaces Alan Pardew as Crystal Palace manager

Sam (L) and Pardew (R)

Crystal Palace have appointed former England boss Sam Allardyce as manager on a two-and-a-half-year deal, a day after sacking Alan Pardew. Pardew was sacked on Thursday with the club 17th in the Premier League after a run of one win in 11 games. Chairman Steve Parish said the club was "fortunate that someone of Sam's calibre and experience was available".
Allardyce has been out of work since losing the England job after 67 days, in the wake of a newspaper sting. The 62-year-old will take training on Saturday, before Palace's Boxing Day game at Watford.
"You generally get a new job because there are difficulties at a club," Allardyce told Crystal Palace's website.
"I have to sort those difficulties out, hopefully with my experience, and try to get a few more results on the board, particularly over Christmas and New Year, to make everybody feel more comfortable."

Former Liverpool striker Titi Camara gets 6 months jail sentence in wife’s lawsuit



Former Liverpool and Guinea striker Titi Camera, who also served as the country's sports minister after his playing career, has been handed a six-month suspended prison sentence and given a $5,000 (£4,000) fine by a court in Guinea, local media report. He was found guilty of "forgery, threats, public insults and family abandonment" in the case, which was brought by his ex-wife. The lawyer for his estranged wife, Mariama Koulibaly, said: "We are going to see if we can make an appeal to get a larger sum. Because 50 million Guinean francs ($5,000) is not even enough to pay the kids' school fees."
Titi Camara's lawyer says he will appeal the ruling,

Nokia sues Apple for infringing on patent rights


Finland’s Nokia Corp (NOKIA.HE) on Wednesday said it had sued Apple Inc (AAPL.O), accusing the iPhone maker of violating 32 technology patents. Apple sued Acacia Research Corp (ACTG.O) and Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc [GEGGIM.UL] on Tuesday, accusing them of colluding with Nokia to extract and extort exorbitant revenues unfairly and anti-competitively from Apple. Nokia’s lawsuits, filed in courts in Dusseldorf, Mannheim and Munich, Germany and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, covered patents for displays, user interfaces, software, antennas, chipsets and video coding.
“Since agreeing on a license covering some patents from the Nokia Technologies portfolio in 2011, Apple has declined subsequent offers made by Nokia.
“Apple also declined to license other of its patented inventions which are used by many of Apple’s products’’, Nokia said in a statement.
However, Apple and Acacia did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Mum walks into room with just her underwear as son live-streams himself playing a video game


People were shocked to see a mother walking into her son’s room with nothing but her underwear on. The son who is from Denmark, was playing the League of Legends video game in his bedroom when the incident took place. The young man decided to live-stream himself playing the video game. He had one camera focusing on the game and the other camera was on him. His mother, who did not know that he was live-streaming the game for the world to see, casually walked into the son’s bedroom in full view of the camera.
She was wearing a black bra and panties. The son quickly shut the door in her face. The mother did not understand why her son reacted by shutting the door. She then tried to open the door again, revealing her half naked body. That is when the son informed her that he was live on the Internet. The mother and son laughed about the incident. The embarrassing footage was posted to the video-sharing site Twitch.


Man wrongly imprisoned for 31 years given $75 check to restart his life


A man from Tennessee, Lawrence McKinney, who was wrongly imprisoned for 31 years for a crime he didn't commit has asked for a $1m compensation to restart his life after he was handed $75 by the Tennessee Department of Corrections. In October 1977, a woman was raped by two strangers and upon questioning by police, identified one of her alleged rapist as her neighbor, Lawrence-  he was then convicted on rape and burglary charges in 1978 and sentenced to 115 years in jail at the young age of 22. In 2008, DNA evidence cleared Lawrence of any crimes and he was now released from prison the following year, but was sadly given $75 to start his life from scratch.