Welcome to Olamama's blog!!!: January 2017

Tuesday 31 January 2017

US surgeons successfully remove tumour on Brazilian girl’s face

Doctors in Louisiana, United States, have conducted a successful surgery to remove a rare facial tumour from a 3-year-old Brazilian girl. Melyssa Delgado Braga from Sao Paulo was diagnosed with myxoma, a very rare and aggressive tumour which weighed 5 pounds. This condition was making breathing difficult for the little girl and also was pushing her tongue to the back of her throat. In desperation, her parents reached out for help on social media and their saviour came in the form of a medical doctor. Dr. Celso Palmieri Jr., an assistant professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the Louisiana State University Sciences Centre, read a post online and came across the plea for help. The good doctor deciding his colleague, Dr. G.E. Ghali, could be of help to the girl showed Dr. Ghil the photo of the girl then set plans in motion to make it happen.
Check out her new look after the cut

Akia Thomas and Roshad Richardson

A young boy suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest after finding a gun that belonged to his mother’s boyfriend, according to police in Florida. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said that they have arrested 26-year-old Akia Thomas, after being accused of illegally possessing a gun. Thomas has been charged with one count each of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, unsafe storage of a firearm and possession of cocaine. The boy’s mother, 24-year-old Delicia Forte, has not been charged as she was not home at the time of the shooting.
According to the police investigation, Thomas hid his stolen gun under a dresser in the home. 4-year-old Roshad Richardson, who was home alone with Thomas, found the gun under the dresser. The boy pulled the trigger and shot himself in the chest. Richardson was taken to the St. Joseph's Hospital, where he is said to be in stable condition.

Man commits suicide after wife accidentally kills his mother

A Zimbabwean man who works as an office administrator at Kana Mission hospital in Gokwe South has killed himself after his wife drove their family pick-up into the house killing his mother and a visitor. The deceased, Delani Ngwenya who reportedly committed suicide on Sunday, January 29, 2017, is said to have recently bought the vehicle and decided to teach his wife how to drive. But his wife accidentally rammed into the family house killing her mother in law and a visitor.
According to a source who witnessed the tragic scene, he said Delani who couldn't withstand the loss of his mother hanged himself after the wife mistakenly stepped on the accelerator instead of the brakes while he was teaching her to drive.
'It is said that Delani recently bought a car and was teaching his wife to drive and upon reaching his home yesterday afternoon she mistakenly stepped on the accelerator instead of the brakes thereby driving straight into the house where Delani’s mother, a visitor and his father were sitting, 'Mrs. Ngwenya, Delani’s mother and Mrs. Chamunorwa the visitor died on the spot and Delani could not stomach the loss thus he hanged himself,' he said.

Source: ZimNews

Bill de-criminalizing domestic violence passed in Russia

Domestic violence in Russia is no longer a crime. The people of Russia, seem to think that slapping one's spouse a slap is okay.
Deputies in the lower house of parliament, in a bid to accommodate conservative voters, have given initial approval to a bill abolishing criminal liability for domestic violence that does not involve serious bodily harm or rape. Russia's parliament on Friday, voted 380-3 to decriminalize domestic violence in cases where it does not cause "substantial bodily harm" and does not occur more than once a year. The move, which eliminates criminal liability in such cases, makes a violation punishable by a fine of roughly $500, or a 15-day arrest, provided there is no repeat within 12 months. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists that family conflicts do "not necessarily constitute domestic violence." Andrei Isayev of the main Kremlin faction, the United Russia, said lawmakers are “heeding the public call” by correcting a mistake they made last year.

Tanzania suspends mining after 15 workers were trapped for 3 days

The Tanzanian government has reportedly suspended mining at a site in Grita town where 15 workers were trapped underground for three days. The suspension comes after Fourteen Tanzanians and one Chinese were rescued from the Chinese-owned gold mine on Saturday, January 28, 2017.
The trapped miners who looked weak after they were rescued are said to be receiving treatment at a health centre. In November 2016, five miners who were also trapped underground for more than 40 days, were also rescued.

The Boy Scouts of America announced on Monday that it will now allow transgender children who identify as boys to enroll in its boys only programs. The organization said it made the decision to base enrollment in boys only programs on the gender a child or parent lists on the application to become a scout. The all boys organization had initially held a policy that relied on the gender listed on a child’s birth certificate but have now had a change of heart.
A spokeswoman for the organization says it made the decision based on states and communities changing how gender is defined.
The decision was also motivated by an incident in Secaucus, New Jersey, where a transgender child was asked late last year to leave the Scout troop after parents and leaders found out the child was transgender.

Source: AP

Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards 2017: Full list of Winners

The 23rd annual 2017 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards held Sunday, January 29, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. See below for the full list of nominees and winners

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Captain Fantastic
Fences
Hidden Figures WINNER
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge
Ryan Gosling, La La Land
Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic
Denzel Washington, Fences WINNER

In 2015, he went viral as the man with the world's biggest penis. He even said women were running away from him out of fear and wished for a reduction. However, he has now had a change of heart saying he is happy with the size because it has given him fame. Speaking to Barcroft TV, Roberto said: '
"I am famous because I have the biggest penis in the world."I am happy with my penis, I know nobody has the size I have. I would like to be in the Guinness Book of Records but they don’t recognise this record."
Doctor Jesus David Salazar Gonzalez said:
“We have advised him 'Mr Roberto, the best thing for you is that the doctors give a normal shape to your penis so that it doesn’t hurt you, in order to have sexual relationships, in order to have children.'
"But he doesn’t accept it, he’d rather have a penis bigger than the rest of the people. In Latin culture whoever has the bigger penis is more macho.

Masaya Nakamura founder of Namco, the arcade trailblazer known as the Father of Pac-Man has died at the age 91. Masaya created the Japanese company behind the wildly popular dot-munching video game, in 1955. It began with two electric horses on the roof of a department store. The company became Bandai Namco after its merger with a gaming company in 2005. Nakamura died on January 22, 2017 and the company announced his death on Monday, January 30, 2017. A private wake and funeral were held for Nakamura, and a separate memorial is currently being organized.

In a mysterious turn of events, Apple has allegedly began removing Iran-based mobile apps from the App Store. Local media outlet TechRasa reports Apple has taken the biggest Iranian e-commerce service DigiKala off its app distribution platform. While the reasons for the takedown remain unclear, TechRasa speculates the move has to do with certain restrictions in international trade laws – though the details seem to suggest there might be room for maneuver. TechCrunch remarks that last September Apple granted Iranian startups and developers limited access to the App Store in order to avoid having software-builders register their apps from foreign countries. Although initially the electronics giant kept gradually easing off its restrictions for Iran-based apps, it seems things have suddenly came to a halt.

Exactly one year ago, Danish aid worker Anja Ringgren Loven was photographed giving water to a severely emaciated child. The then 2-year-old boy was rescued in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria after he was branded a witch by his family and left to starve to death. He had been wandering the streets for eight months when Anja got a phone call and immediately led a rescue team to bring him home. The boy later named Hope, had to be have a blood transfusion and treated for worms.
Today, the founder of the African Children's Aid Education and Development Foundation (ACAEDF) disclosed that Hope has started school. Read her post below and check out adorable photo of Hope in his school uniform.

Nigerian Customs intercepts 661 pump-action rifles in Lagos

The Nigerian Customs Service announced on Monday that its Lagos State Command intercepted a truck carrying 661 illegal pump-action rifles along Mile 2 Apapa Road. According to Comptroller General Hameed Ali, the rifles were concealed in steel doors and boxes in a 40-foot container being transported by a Mack truck. He told reporters in Ikeja that three suspects have been arrested.
More pictures of the confiscated guns below, courtesy of Punch Newspaper

These horrifying pictures show a woman's eye oozing out because of a gruesome tumour which had ripped through her face. The sight in one of Hunsar Suwannachai's eyes has already gone and doctors fear the other may go soon and could spread to her brain. She is now considering suicide because she cannot take the severe pain anymore. The 27-year-old was just 14 when she was diagnosed after she found a small lump on the roof of the mouth.
After a biopsy, a rare form of cancer known as CA Hardpalate was discovered. The lump was then removed with a series of treatments including chemotherapy and radio therapy.
Over the next four years Fifa suffered pain in the area but doctors tried to play it down believing her to have imagined it. However, the lump had returned - accompanied by bleeding from her nose and mouth. Hunsar is now desperate to find a cure after chemotherapy failed and doctors warned that she has limited time left to live.
More pictures after the cut

Congratulations are in order, once again, for The Daily Show host, Trevor Noah!
The comedian was announced as the 2017 recipient of the Zora Neale Hurston Award. According to the American Library Association, “The Zora Neale Hurston Award honors an individual who has demonstrated leadership in promoting African-American literature (sic).”
The site further explains, “Mr Noah has consistently featured notable African American figures on his Emmy and Peabody Award-winning show. Mr Noah will receive an honorary ALA membership for his immeasurable efforts of showcasing and promoting African American writers, artists and cultural contributors and the works they’ve created (sic).”
Sharing the news on Instagram, Trevor wrote, “What a huge honor! Many thanks to the #ALA – my english teacher would be so proud! (sic)”

This spiritual healer cures blindness by licking patients' eyeballs

An elderly spiritual healer claims she can cure blindness by licking patients' eyeballs - and now charges them for the privilege. Her powers are so revered that she believes locals will cut out her tongue when she dies so they continue to harness its alleged powers. In rural Bosnia and Herzegovina, 80-year-old, Hava Celebic or 'nana Hava' as she is known locally, claims to be the only person in the world who heals with her tongue. The frail old woman uses her tongue to remove pieces of lead, iron, coal, sawdust and glass from eyeballs after sterilising her mouth with alcohol. Patients will raise their eyelid for nana Hava to begin licking in search of a foreign body.
Hava said: "I learned this from a woman who was also called Hava.
"Unfortunately I can not pass this to my descendants, because my children are too disgusted to put their tongue on someone's eye."

A Zambian law that entitles women to take one day off work a month when they have their period is stirring increasingly fierce debate in a country reluctant to discuss sexual health. Discreetly called Mother's Day, the 2015 law - unique in Africa - enables women to be absent from work without notice or a doctor's note to help them cope with menstrual bleeding, pain and cramps.
"It helps me to manage my physiological needs (and) I think it's very important that I always endorse it," Shupe Luchembe, 36, a civil servant in the capital Lusaka and mother of three, told AFP.
"As a woman, it goes without saying that every month I need a special day away from the office to manage myself properly."

A tourist has been mauled by three tigers in front of his wife and child, horrified witnesses say.
One tiger was shot dead after the visitor reportedly climbed into the enclosure and walked towards the animals as they were being fed. Horror footage shows the tigers leap on the man at Ningbo Younger Zoo, leaving him writhing around on the ground in agony as they passed him between their massive paws. Reports from China say the man has died from his injuries. Zoo keepers tried to frighten the animals away with firecrackers and water canons, but they were undeterred. The animals then bit into his head and neck and ripped off his clothes, leaving him face down on the ground in just his pants.
Watch the 'disturbing' video after the cut.

A teenager who sheds her skin every six weeks due to a rare condition that dries it out has been thrown out of school because classmates are scared of her. Shalini Yadav, 16, suffers from Erythroderma, an inflammatory skin disease also known as 'red man syndrome', which doctors are unable to treat. She needs to soak her body in water every hour and smear it in moisturiser every three hours to prevent it from seizing up and flaking off. But her family of eight cannot afford the cream and she has shed her skin every 45 days since she was born. And she has now been thrown out of school because the other children are scared of her because of her snake-like appearance.

Starbucks Corp Chief Executive Officer Howard Schultz said on Sunday that the company planned to hire 10,000 refugees over five years in 75 countries, two days after U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order banning refugees from certain countries. Trump on Friday put a four-month hold on allowing refugees into the United States and temporarily barred travelers from Syria and six other Muslim-majority countries, saying the moves would help protect Americans from terrorist attacks. The order sparked widespread international criticism, outrage from civil rights activists and legal challenges.
Starbucks in a letter from Schultz told employees it would do everything possible to support affected workers. The hiring efforts announced on Sunday would start in the United States by initially focusing on individuals who have served with U.S. troops as interpreters and support personnel in the various countries where the military has asked for such support, Schultz said.

A toddler has been left with horrific facial burns after grabbing her mum's scalding cup of tea and accidentally pouring it over herself. Libbie Patterson was left screaming in agony as the boiling hot drink splashed over her face, shoulders and back after she grabbed it from the kitchen counter. The 16-month-old girl was raced to hospital by her frantic mum Emma where medics spent three nights treating her for burns. But medics hope Libbie's face - which has been left disfigured following the incident - will not be permanently scarred. Now Emma has released a picture of Libbie's injuries to warn other parents about the dangers of hot drinks.

A dental student from Paris was crowned Miss Universe on Monday, becoming the second Frenchwoman to win the title in the pageant's history and the first champion from Europe in more than a decade. Iris Mittenaere beat 85 other hopefuls in the finale in the Philippines in the 65th edition of the three-hour show that focused on diversity and empowering women to overcome the struggles of life.
"I was very surprised I won, I feel blessed," said the 24-year-old, whose competition profile had described her goal as advocating for dental and oral hygiene if she won.
Having clinched the crown, Mittenaere said she wanted to go beyond that and promote education for children and young women.
"Miss Universe was a dream, every girl wants to be Miss Universe ... the stage is amazing, everything is amazing," she said, beaming throughout her victory news conference.
"I want to help people, I want to understand people, I want to meet people, that's why this is a dream for me."
Haiti's Raquel Pelissier was the first runner-up, while Andrea Tovar of Colombia placed second runner-up.

Sunday 29 January 2017

5 people killed in Québec mosque shooting, Canada

Five people have reportedly been killed and several injured in a gun attack at a mosque in Québec City. Witnesses said the shooting was carried out by three attackers and happened during evening prayers at about 8pm on Sunday. Two arrests have been made, a police spokesman said. Local newspaper Le Soleil said police told them a third suspect could still be on the run. Details of the death toll have not been released, however, the mosque’s president, Mohamed Yangui, said five people were killed.
One of the suspects was carrying an AK-47 assault rifle and one was aged 27, Le Soleil reported. At the time of the attack, about 40 people were thought to be in the two-storey building – the Québec City Islamic cultural center, also called the Grande Mosque de Québec, on Sainte-Foy Street. The mosque is equipped with several CCTV cameras.The city’s police said the site has been secured and all occupants evacuated. A large security cordon has been set up around the site. Witnesses reported seeing heavily armed police entering the mosque after the shooting.
Prime minister Justin Trudeau offered his condolences to those affected by the “cowardly attack”.

Basketball player’s eye pops out of its socket in freak accident

New Zealand Breakers forward Akil Mitchell was the victim of a horrific accident on Thursday night (NZ time) when his eye literally popped out of his socket. The 24-year-old was contesting for a ball against Cairns Taipans' Nnanna Egwu when his opponent accidentally caught him in the eye. Mitchell can be seen immediately going to ground clutching his face. But it's not until he turns over in a state of agony do we see the shocking nature of what's happenned. Medics are rushed to his aide before the forward is escorted off the court. Miraculously, Mitchell has come out of the incident with his eye intact and with vision.

NHS doctors have been told not to call pregnant women ‘expectant mothers’ because it might offend transgender people, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. The astonishing warning comes in official guidelines issued by the British Medical Association to its 160,000 members, which says mothers-to-be should be referred to as ‘pregnant people’ instead. The controversial advice to doctors in hospitals and general practice comes just weeks after it emerged that a Briton who was born a girl but is changing to a man put his operation on hold to have a baby.
The British Medical Association (BMA) insists doctors should drop the word ‘mother’ when referring to pregnancy to avoid offending transgender people and to ‘celebrate diversity’. The contentious call is made in a 14-page booklet called A Guide To Effective Communication: Inclusive Language In The Workplace.

Video: Muslim girl beats up boy who tried to remove her hijab

A Somali Muslim girl has caused a stir with her boxing skills in a viral video. The unidentified boy is said to have tried to remove the lady's hijab in Washbun, MN, US and paid dearly for his audacious attitude.
Watch the video after the cut

Zimbabwe authorities offered residential land to government employees in lieu of annual bonuses, unions said on Thursday, rejecting a proposal that suggests the cash squeeze gripping the country is unlikely to ease this year. The southern African nation's economy stagnated last year, fanning anti-government protests and compounding President Robert Mugabe's problems ahead of national elections due in 2018. Public sector workers are paid an annual bonus equivalent to a month's salary every November and December, but the government - which spends more than $250 million monthly on salaries - has not said when it will make the 2016 payment.
Owning residential land is seen as unattractive as most plots lack basic amenities such as roads, electricity and sewerage, making them difficult to settle on or sell. Raymond Majongwe, secretary general of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, described the government's offer as "madness" and said unions rejected it at a meeting on Wednesday. Unions also turned down a second offer to pay half the bonus in cash and the rest in "non-monetary" benefits that the government did not spell out.

Mexico leader cancels US visit as Trump insists Mexico must take border bill

Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto has said he will not go to the US for meeting with President Donald Trump next week. The move came on Thursday after Trump said it was "better to cancel" Pena Nieto's visit to Washington if Mexico was unwilling to foot the bill for a border wall. "This morning we informed the White House that I will not attend the work meeting planned for next Tuesday with the POTUS," Pena Nieto said on Twitter, referring to Trump.

An early-morning fire Saturday destroyed a Texas mosque that was a target of hatred several years ago and experienced a burglary just a week ago. A clerk at a convenience store spotted smoke and flames billowing from the Islamic Center of Victoria at around 2 a.m. and called the fire department.
"It's sad to stand there and watch it collapse down, and the fire was so huge," Shahid Hashmi, the Islamic center's president, said. "It looks completely destroyed."
Victoria Fire Marshal Tom Legler asked for help from the Texas Fire Marshal's Office and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to determine what caused the blaze. Hashmi said authorities have told him it was too early to speculate.

Raging forest fires in central Chile have killed 10 people, displaced thousands and destroyed entire villages, the government said Thursday. Multiple blazes fueled by strong wind and drought conditions have ravaged 273,000 hectares (680,000 acres) in just over a week. The latest fatality was a fireman killed when a tree fell on his truck in the Biobio region 550 kilometers (340 miles) south of the capital Santiago, the regional government said. So far five firefighters, two policemen and three local residents have been killed while battling the blazes. Frantic locals have been joining in efforts to tackle the fire to save their homes, animals and farmland.

US President Donald Trump's controversial executive order banning people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering America also applies to green card holders from those countries, the Department of Homeland Security has said. Keeping his election promise, Trump in an executive order signed Friday halted the arrival of foreign nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries in the US. The countries named in the order are Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia.
"It will bar green card holders," acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokeswoman Gillian Christensen told reporters yesterday.

Prince William and Prince Harry have announced a statue will be erected on the grounds of Kensington Palace to honor their late mother, Diana Princess of Wales.
"It has been twenty years since our mother's death and the time is right to recognise her positive impact in the UK and around the world with a permanent statue," Prince William and Prince Harry said in a statement issued by Kensington Palace. The princes have convened a commission, led by their former Equerry Jamie Lowther Pinkerton, who is also Prince George's godfather, to raise funds and oversee the design of the statue of their mother. Princess Diana's oldest sister, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, who was president of the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, and Julia Samuel, Diana's best friend and another godparent of Prince George's, are also on the commission. Samuel is also the patron and founder of Child Bereavement UK, which Diana was involved with, and William has now taken over as royal patron.

A boat carrying 31 people, including around 20 Chinese tourists, is missing after sailing out from an eastern Malaysian city, Chinese state media said Sunday. The Chinese Consulate General in Kota Kinabalu in the Malaysian state of Sabah said the boat lost contact after leaving Kota Kinabalu on Saturday morning, according to the official Xinhua News Agency said. It was bound for Pulau Mengalum, an island about 60 kilometers (38 miles) west of the city. The report cited the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency as saying there were 28 Chinese tourists on board. But the Chinese Consulate could only confirm the passport details of 18 Chinese citizens, Xinhua said.
Malaysia deployed search and rescue ships and helicopters after receiving a call Saturday night about the boat's disappearance, Xinhua reported.

Saturday 28 January 2017

President Zuma urges parents to read to their children to improve literacy

South African president, Jacob Zuma has urged parents to spend more time with their children by reading to them to improve literacy in the country.
'I call upon all parents who are able to do so‚ to read to their children and to also encourage them to read. Let us not allow television to take away the time of our children to read.'
The president who is pleased with the progress the education sector has achieved so far in curbing illiteracy, also pleaded with parents to monitor the time their children spend in watching television.
'Parents should control the time spent by children watching television‚ so that it does not affect their school work. We must do more to improve learner outcomes in mathematics‚ physical science‚ accounting and languages.
'More children must be encouraged to take these subjects‚ and more teachers must be trained to teach these subjects. The Basic Education Department is working on these matters.'

Source: Times Live

Teacher suspended over bizarre video of her 'shooting' President Trump and shouting 'die' in classroom

A teacher has been suspended over a bizarre video of her shouting 'die' and shooting Donald Trump with a water pistol in her classroom. Footage of Payal Modi firing the water gun at an image of the US president during a broadcast of his inauguration went viral after the teacher posted it on Instagram. Laughter can be heard in the background during the eight-second clip, although it is unclear whether children were in the classroom at the school in Dallas, Texas. Education bosses launched an investigation after copies of the video were watched and retweeted thousands of the times on YouTube and Twitter.
The clip sparked fury among some social media users, who called for Modi to be fired.
But others defended the teacher, with one saying: "It's a water gun... obviously a joke."
Watch the video after the cut

The reality of Donald Trump's hardline stance on immigration came into force last night when he ordered a four-month ban on all refugees entering the US. The President also singled out refugees from Syria as barred from entering the country indefinitely, or until he himself decides they are allowed in. No visas will be issued to immigrants from seven mainly-Muslim nations including Syria, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen for 90 days.
"I'm establishing new vetting measures to keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the United States of America. Don't want them here," Trump said earlier on Friday at the Pentagon.
"We only want to admit those into our country who will support our country and love deeply our people," he said.
Trump claimed the move would keep America safer, despite evidence which shows none of the countries on the list have been the source of terror attacks on US soil since 9/11. Having given no notice of the ban, it caused chaos for thousands of Arab-American families who already had family members en route to visit. That Trump chose Holocaust Memorial Day to make the announcement was all the more upsetting for many Americans.

Serena Williams beats Venus Williams to set Grand Slam record at the Australian Open 2017

Serena Williams beat sister Venus in straight sets to win her seventh Australian Open and an Open-era record 23rd Grand Slam singles title. Serena, 35, won 6-4 6-4 to pass Steffi Graf in the all-time list of major winners since the Grand Slams accepted professional players in 1968. The American regains the number one ranking from German Angelique Kerber. Australia's Margaret Court, with 24, is the only player still ahead of Serena in terms of Grand Slam singles titles.
"Congratulations Serena on number 23," said Venus, who at 36 is the oldest Australian Open finalist in the Open era.
"I have been right there with you, some of them I lost right there against you. It's been an awesome win.
"I'm enormously proud of you, you mean the world to me. I, God willing, would love to come back. Thank you for all the love."

A shop owner has come up with a bizarre way of 'punishing' thieving rodents - by 'shaming' them with tiny signs declaring their crimes. Photographs of live rats tied up with notes tied around their necks appeared on China's Twitter-like micro-blogging site Weibo. The pictures are thought to have been taken in Heyuan city in south eastern China's Guangdong Province. One shows a rat tied up with a note, written in Chinese, that reads simply: 'I dare not do it again!' And another, with the rodent tied by each of its limbs in the same way, with a lengthier message that reads: 'Huh, is this the best you could do? Even if you beat me to death, I would not admit that the rice at your home had been stolen by me.'
The pictures, uploaded by a Weibo user, were captioned: "A friend of mine found a small rat in the warehouse of a convenience store.

Sir John Hurt, the two-time Oscar nominated star of the Elephant Man, has died at the age of 77, his agent confirmed this morning. Tributes poured in from the world of showbiz with the director Mel Brooks hailing him as a 'truly magnificent talent'.
Hurt first rose to fame in A Man For All Seasons in 1966 and later clinched a BAFTA for best supporting actor, along with an Oscar nomination, for playing a drug addict in Midnight Express.
Hurt picked up yet another BAFTA just two years later in 1980 - this time as a leading actor in David Lynch's Elephant Man. He also received his second Oscar nomination for the performance, which many extolled as Hurt's best. The actor also enjoyed immense commercial success, playing Kane in the 1979 blockbuster Alien. The iconic scene in which an alien bursts from his chest won the actor a place in film history. He later reprised the role in Mel Brooks' parody Spaceballs, and fans went on to compile clips of Hurt's famous last scenes, since the actor gained a reputation for taking on characters who meet their tragic ends.

Spain's first naked restaurant opens with staffs that serve up an “aphrodisiac menu” off their bodies

Innato opened to the public in Tenerife this week, offering diners to eat some gourmet libido-boosting food while completely in the buff. Owner Tony de Leonardis said the restaurant was inspired by pop-up nude eatery The Bunyadi , which came to London last summer. The restaurant booked every one of its 46,000 places within weeks - and had a waiting list of of thousansds. At Innato things will be a little more racy than its British counterpart as staff will strip-off and display the culinary delights on their bodies - with just vine leaves or cloths to keep their modesty. Diners will be asked to check in their phones at the door before they are led to a changing room to get into nothing but a bathrobe. They are then taken to their table where they can dine in the buff, separated from other diners by bamboo partitions

A man worked with the founders of TelexFree, and hid millions of dollars in stolen cash inside the box spring of a bed, according to police in Massachusetts. Approximately $20 million in cash was found hidden inside the box spring in a Westborough apartment. It was seized and a Brazilian man was arrested in connection with conspiring to launder proceeds of the massive TelexFree pyramid scheme. Cleber Rene Rizerio Rocha, 28, was charged with one count of conspiring to commit money laundering. According to the complaint, several years ago, federal agents searched the headquarters of TelexFree, Inc., in Marlborough. Later that day, Carlos Wanzeler, one of the founders of the company, allegedly fled to Brazil, where he has remained. Wanzeler and TelexFree co-founder James Merrill were indicted on charges that they operated TelexFree as a massive pyramid scheme. Merrill pleaded guilty to those charges. The complaint alleges that an intermediary working on Wanzeler’s behalf, contacted an associate for help transferring millions of dollars of TelexFree money, still hidden in the greater Boston area, from the United States to Brazil.

The US Department of Homeland Security has temporarily halted trips by staff to interview refugees abroad as it prepares for a likely shakeup of refugee policy by President Donald Trump, two sources with knowledge of the decision said on Thursday. The decision effectively amounts to a pause in future refugee admissions, given that the interviews are a crucial step in an often years-long process. The DHS leadership's decision to halt the interview trips was communicated to those involved in the US refugee admission process on Wednesday, one of the sources said. It means that though Trump has not yet ordered a temporary halt to the refugee program, future admissions are likely to be delayed.

90 Somalis and 2 Kenyans deported from the US after Trump policy

A plane carrying 90 Somalis and two Kenyans landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Wednesday, January 25, after deportation from the United States. A security officer at the ariport said they were then flown to Mogadishu via Juba Airways. The officer said American security officers who accompanied the men said the deportation was as a result of President Donald Trump's policy. An estimated 30,000 Kenyan illegal immigrants are now at imminent risk of being deported from the USA back to Kenya. There are around 11 million illegal immigrants in the USA who Trump threatened to deport while he was on the campaign trail. Many illegals were hoping that he would tone down after winning the election but it is now clear that Trump will not backtrack on his hardline immigration policy.

Two students were nearly killed after they were given enough caffeine for 300 cups of coffee during a botched science experiment. Northumbria University has been fined £400,000 for the incident in March 2015 which caused Alex Rossetto and Luke Parkin to be rushed to hospital and put on dialysis. On Wednesday a judge said the two sports science students probably only survived because they were fit and and active young men. The pair had volunteered to take part in a test aiming to measure the effect of caffeine on exercise, but a basic calculation error meant the second-year students were given 100 times the correct dosage. Prosecutor Adam Farrer told Newcastle Crown Court that the pair should have been given 0.3g of caffeine in the orange juice mix, but were in fact given 30g. There is 0.1g in the average cup of coffee.

Kenya, Rwanda ban poultry from Uganda over bird flu

Kenyan and Rwandan authorities said on Wednesday they had banned poultry products from neighbouring Uganda, where a virulent H5 strain of avian flu has broken out. "The government banned importation of poultry and poultry products from Uganda with immediate effect," said Kenya's agriculture cabinet secretary Willy Bett at a press conference. The move from Nairobi comes two days after Rwanda also blocked poultry imports.

Two Ghanaians have been confirmed dead after a tyre they were fixing exploded at Hwidiem in the Asante Akyem North District of Ashanti Region on Tuesday. The deceased persons, a steel welder and a tricycle rider died on the spot. While two other persons who were standing close-by the scene of the accident also suffered injuries from the explosion. According to the Agogo Police, the welder with the assistance of the motorbike rider ignored the safety precaution of deflating the tyre before working on it. Few minutes later, the tyre exploded and chopped off the head of the steel welder and also mutilated that of the motorbike rider beyond recognition.
The two other persons at the scene of the accident, a 14-year-old boy, and a 30-year old man are currently responding to treatment at the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital. The bodies of the two have been deposited at the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital morgue.
Warning: Graphic pictures after the cut

A Starbucks barista was suspended after 'humiliating' a man who struggles with a stammer by allegedly writing his name as 'RRR...ichard' on his order. Richard Procter says he was handed the cup in the Starbucks at Ashford International railway station in Kent by the callous barista last Friday morning. The employee appears to have daubed Mr Procter's name around the lip of the cup with extra letters and an ellipsis to indicate where he struggled with a speech impediment. Mr Procter, who runs an IT company in Kent, complained to the Starbucks UK Facebook page.
He wrote: 'The treatment I received from one of the [Starbucks] staff was extremely offensive and humiliating.
'Would this be acceptable to a person with more obvious disabilities? I highly doubt it.
'Yes I have a speech impediment, and have been subjected to many jokes over the years, of which most I can handle, however there are many people that struggle to cope in public and this could be extremely upsetting for them.

Tuesday's announcement of Denzel Washington's Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his role in "Fences" makes him the only black actor to land seven Oscar nominations. This is a historic achievement for the 62-year-old as he holds the record for being the black actor who has earned the most Oscar nominations in history. Morgan Freeman comes in close with a total of five Oscar nods. It marks a significant moment as Washington stands out among a short but talented list of people of color who have been nominated for an Oscar throughout history. In honor of his nomination for his fictional role as former Negro Leagues baseball player Troy Maxson in "Fences," we've complied a list of the roles the two-time Oscar winning heartthrob has been nominated for over the years:

15-year-old boy arrested for extorting $28,000 from teacher after having sex with her

Thao “Sandy” Doan

A mother was devastated when she found text messages, showing her son extorting money from his teacher. She took a screenshot of the messages to the school and the police were called. Officers arrested her 15-year-old son and the 26-year-old teacher who was identified as Thao “Sandy” Doan. The mother said that she has been through alot with her son since last year, when he began having sex with his math teacher at just 14 years old. The boy became addicted to drugs. He spent weekends away from home and he was out late at night. His mother had to go look for him to bring him home.
The mother was horrified to learn that her son was getting the money to fuel his drug addiction from his teacher. Text messages showed that the boy threatened the teacher, saying that he will call the police and hand over nude photos she sent him if she did not give him money immediately. The teacher, who lost her job over the scandal, told police that she took out payday loans to pay off the boy.
The boy got a total amount of $28,000.

Finland on a mission to make the whole country tobacco-free by 2040

The Finnish government has set an ambitious goal for residents in a bid to benefit their health -- and their bank balances. Officials plan to make the country tobacco-free by 2040, meaning they want less than 2% of their adults to consume tobacco -- in any form -- by that deadline. So that's more than 98% of the Finnish population saying no to cigarettes, snuff and other forms of smokeless tobacco, cigars, pipes and even e-cigarettes. As per the trend in industralized countries, smoking rates in Finland have been on the decline in recent decades due to measures such as bans on advertising and shop displays, and the creation of smoke-free public spaces. In 2013, 16% of 15- to 64-year-olds in Finland smoked on a daily basis, while nearby in the UK, 19% of adults were smokers in 2014. But at the start of this year, a new level of control measures came into force.

A fast food worker who became upset with a drive-thru customer was arrested on a felony charge of "selling unwholesome bread or drink" after allegedly licking the cheese and placing menstrual blood on a cheeseburger before serving it at a Jack's restaurant in early January. 18-year-old Sky Samuel turned herself in and has been released on a $5,000 bond. City of Columbus Public Information Officer Joe Dillon tells KFOR-TV,
"The employee didn't understand the woman's order, words were exchanged, and it went downhill from there."

Tuesday 31 January 2017

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Thursday 26 January 2017