Berlusconi To Face Teen Prostitution Probe
Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is under investigation in a prostitution case involving a 17-year-old girl.
Italy PM Faces Prostitution Investigation
Reports say the PM is being investigated over whether he exerted improper pressure on police officers to have the Moroccan girl released when she was held over theft allegations. An investigation source told Reuters that the probe included underage prostitution allegations. Corriere della Sera said in its online editions the 74-year-old is suspected of abusing his power in trying to cover up his alleged sexual encounters with the girl, known as Ruby Rubacuori. Italian prosecutors said in a statement they had issued a summons to Berlusconi and his lawyers in the case. Mr Berlusconi's lawyers dismissed the prostitution investigation as "absurd and groundless" and a "very serious interference in the private life" of the prime minister. The case hit the headlines several months ago when it emerged that Berlusconi had intervened to get the girl released from police custody following her arrest for shoplifting. Berlusconi said at the time that he had done nothing wrong.The girl also denied having sex with the premier.
Top 10 most toxic foods
While most people know that cakes and chocolate aren’t great for your health, there are other seemingly healthy foods whose dangerous properties slip under the radar. While it is unlikely moderate amounts of these foods will harm you, in large quantities – or in certain conditions – they may do more damage to your health than you think. Here are some of the most toxic common foods.
Mushrooms
While mushrooms available in most supermarkets should be pretty safe to eat, mushroom fans need to be careful about what species' they are consuming as many varieties can be highly dangerous and even fatal. Around 100 species of mushrooms are said to be dangerous to humans, with symptoms ranging from headaches to seizures or even death. In 2010 a small variety of mushroom called the Little White was blamed for an estimated 400 deaths in China.
Chillies
Chillies are renowned for their heat, which is what makes them so popular. However, it is actually the chemical that causes this spiciness (capsaicin) which can cause toxic effects such as stomach pain, itchy skin and, in extreme cases, death. For most people eating chillies will do little harm, however capsaicin is best eaten sparingly so make sure to take it easy and avoid any chilli eating challenges!
Rapeseed oil
There has been much controversy about this seemingly innocent natural oil, but the general consensus seems to be that it could have many negative implications on our health. Reports state that the rape plant - from which the oil is produced - is extremely toxic, and side effects of consuming its oil could include respiratory problems and blindness.
Rice
It is impossible to dispute that rice has many great health benefits. However, like with most things, it may be best eaten in moderation due to its reportedly unsafe levels of arsenic. One study has suggested that one in five packs of American long-grain rice contain potentially harmful levels of the toxic substance, while others have reported concern for the levels of arsenic in rice milk and baby rice. While there is relatively little risk of the odd bowl of rice causing any long lasting harm, the consumption of high levels of arsenic has been linked to cancer.
Nutmeg
Perhaps one of the most immediately dangerous foods on this list is also one of the most surprising, and that is the common store cupboard spice, nutmeg. Although, like many of the foods on the list, nutmeg does have reported health benefits, it can also be extremely dangerous when taken in large doses. Containing a toxic substance called myristicin, moderate proportions of nutmeg can cause hallucinations, while larger doses can cause convulsions, palpitations, nausea, dehydration and death.
Non-organic apples
Although it is advisable to buy as much organic fruit and veg as you can, in reality this is hard to do on most people's budgets. When making decisions over whether or not to go organic, it is important therefore to note that some foods have a higher concentration of pesticides than others, and apples are one of the fruits that top this list. Because apples are vulnerable to insect infestations and growths, growers are liable to coat the fruit in chemical pesticides and fungicides, some of which will absorb into its flesh. To minimise health risks, try to buy organic apples wherever possible, or at least remove the skin before eating.
Farmed Salmon
We may be constantly urged to eat more oily fish, but research has suggested that consuming farmed salmon may not be the best way to do it. A study found that 13 different toxins - including PCBs, which have been classed as a probable human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - are at much higher levels in farm-raised salmon than in wild salmon. Due to the possible health dangers of consuming these toxins, it is advisable to either reduce your portions of farmed salmon (guidelines are for a half to two portions a month, depending on where the salmon is from) or switch to the wild variety.
Microwave popcorn
Although eating microwave popcorn is not believed to be particularly harmful, it has been found that butter flavoured versions of the snack contain a dangerous chemical (diacetyl) in the flavouring which releases toxic fumes when microwaved. While this has mainly affected factory workers so far - with many developing a lung condition dubbed "popcorn lung" - one consumer is now known to have also developed lung problems due to this toxin.
However, this is clearly a case of moderation being key, with the sufferer admitting to eating microwave popcorn at least twice a day for 10 to 12 years. Unless you are eating your popcorn in similar quantities, it is most likely safe to consume popcorn at home, just be careful to avoid the fumes when opening the bag.
Potatoes
Potatoes may look innocent enough, but did you know they actually come from the same family as poisonous plant the deadly nightshade? Although they are not quite as dangerous as this family member, potatoes do pose certain risks to our health due to them containing toxic compounds known as glycoalkaloids, the most worrying of which is solanine which affects the nervous and digestive systems, causing headaches, weakness, confusion, diarrhoea and vomiting amongst other things.
Poisoning from potatoes occurs very rarely but fans of the popular vegetable should take measures to protect themselves by avoiding potatoes with sprouts - which tend to have a higher concentration of glycoalkaloids - and those which have turned green. Although the green colour of the potatoes is harmless in itself, it does indicate that the potatoes have been exposed to light, which can also encourage solanine levels to rise over the safe level for consumption.
Peanuts
Not only are peanuts one of the most common food allergens, but the popular bar snack may also be dangerous to those who don't suffer from allergies. Peanuts are particularly best avoided by those with kidney or gallbladder problems as they contain oxalates which can crystallise and cause kidney and gallbladder stones.
However, even for the rest of us peanuts can be toxic due to their susceptibility to mould and the frequently occurring presence of aflatoxin - a highly toxic carcinogen - that is produced by a fungus called Aspergillus flavus invading the nuts. If you simply can't resist snacking on peanuts, try to purchase ones produced in arid areas - such as New Mexico -where the soil is dry and the risk of aflatoxins is lower.
Mobile phones help mothers avoid passing HIV on to their children
Nairobi. Pumwani Maternity Hospital, in the impoverished Nairobi neighbourhood of Eastlands, is the site of a trial project using mobile phones to help HIV-positive mothers avoid passing the virus on to their children. Ms Juliet Wangari Njuguna is a research nurse with Kenya Aids Control Project. She works at the Pumwani clinic to assist HIV-positive mothers.
“We help with the enrolment, and as the patients are coming in they are sifted. We talk to the ones who happen to be HIV positive, and we find out how long they have known their status and if they have disclosed it to anyone.” They also find out if the women have a mobile phone.
In July, the Kenya Aids Control Project started using the Pumwani Hospital as a site to study the potential of following up with HIV positive patients using mobile phones.
The phone contact is intended to make sure that mothers are keeping up with taking their antiretroviral medicines and stay informed on what they need to do during their pregnancy to reduce the risk of passing the virus on to their child.
Mobile phones have become a popular means of communication in Kenya. The recent lowering of costs by the various service providers is encouraging even more people to embrace the mobile phone.
Pediatrician Frida Govedi, the chief executive officer of Pumwani Maternity Hospital, says, “through this telephony they are being empowered with information. How they should eat, when they should take their vitamins, when they should come for their CD4 counts, it is an interactive medium between the mother and the healthcare worker.”
Ms Njuguna and the other research nurses at Pumwani guide HIV-positive mothers at the clinic through a questionnaire to determine if they are candidates for the mobile phone programme. The questionnaire records details such as the woman’s age, her general health, how long she has known that she is HIV positive and if she is already on any medication. The mother also has to live within a reasonable distance of the hospital and be able to understand English or Kiswahili.
The questionnaire responses are entered into a database. All the women will receive antiretroviral therapy, but a randomly selected group will also receive SMS messages. All the women will be followed-up after they give birth to assess the success of the course of treatment. This is also aimed at measuring the effectiveness of the SMS prompts to the mothers receiving the messages against the results of a control group.
“The women start receiving one message per week reminding them to come for their antenatal care visit,” says Ms Njuguna. “Then in their last month of pregnancy, the message changes to remind them to take their drugs. “But we write, ‘Remember to take your vitamins.’ We don’t want to put ‘ARVs’ in a text message, because we don’t know who can come across their phones.” Ms Njuguna says stigma and the pressure to hide one’s HIV status are a major challenge for HIV positive women.
Extreme poverty is another challenge, with women sometimes missing appointments due to a lack of money for transport or at times not being able to make it as they struggle to make ends meet.
Literacy is yet another obstacle. “Another thing is that some of them understand English and Kiswahili, but they can’t read, so the text messages will not help them. So there are some who feel like we should do calls in the future.”
Dr Govedi worries that the potential advantages of the SMS notification system are also limited by the late enrolment into the programme of many of the women, who are far into their pregnancy by the time they first come to Pumwani. “We would have loved to have gotten them as early as 14 weeks, when we are able to institute their antiretroviral therapy for PMTCT. But you find most of the mothers are coming to us well after 20 weeks,” says Dr Govedi.
A day in the life of the health workers providing mobile support is busy. Njuguna must keep up with responding to various text messages and calls from the over 90 women enrolled in the programme, as well as ensuring crucial information is sent out at the right time. The routine messages are programmed into a computer and sent out automatically, but when that system is down, a health worker must send them out manually to the women who depend on the reminders. She feels it’s worth the extra work. “It feels good that you are doing something and they are grateful.
Then they tend to ask you all sorts of questions, which is better than being at home and assuming things. So you feel like you are having an impact in people’s lives.” The initiative is expected to end in mid-2013. Researchers hope to find positive results in empowering women living with HIV to protect their own health and that of their newborn children.
Parents 'do not want 'free' schools'
Parents donot want free schools
The National Unionof Teachers (NUT) has warned the Government to stop "playing with the education future of this country2 and scrap plans for 2free" schools. General secretary Christine Blower said the state-funded schools were "not wanted or needed" and parents had not been given enough say on the matter. The Department for Education (DfE) said it was disappointed the NUT continued to "blindly oppose" the moves. ree schools can be set up by charities, universities, businesses, educational groups, teachers and groups of parents, with the first 25 scheduled to open across 22 local authorities from September. An NUT-commissioned YouGov survey of 1,021 parents in the approved locations found 31 per cent were against setting one up in their area, while 26 per cent were in favour and 29 per cent were neither in favour nor against. Ms Blower said: "This survey clearly shows that parents are not clamouring to set up free schools, have no issue with schools being accountable to the community through democratically elected local authorities and absolutely reject the premise of their children's education being handed over to private companies."
The NUT accused the Government of lacking transparency after 76 per cent of parents said they were unaware a free school was planned in their area and 72 per cent said they had had no opportunity to have their say on the matter. A DfE spokesman said: "It's disappointing to see the NUT continuing to blindly oppose free schools before one has even opened its doors just as they are blindly opposed to academies - schools which have proved incredibly popular with parents and pupils and have turned around under performance in deprived areas."
New Flu Risk As Schools And Firms Reopen
New Flu Risk As Schools And Firms Reopen
Close contact between so many people is expected to push the crisis towards an epidemic.
One of the strains causing real concern amongst doctors is H1N1 - swine flu. Virologist Professor John Oxford at St Bartholomew's hospital in London has revealed the precautions he must take with it. "This virus, H1N1 is pretty special - it gets to the parts other flu viruses don't reach," he told Sky News. "I treat it with huge caution when I'm handling it in the laboratory, it does move down easily into the respiratory tree to cause problems quickly and it is targeting the younger age group." Since October, 39 people have died from different strains of flu and of those, only one was over 65 and 15 were previously "healthy". There have been 738 people requiring intensive care which is four times higher than at the peak of last year's pandemic and Professor Oxford fears more people will die from flu. "Unfortunately I do expect there to be more fatalities with it," he said. "We've got the vaccine; we've got the Tamiflu drugs, very powerful drugs, and we've got the knowledge of spread and how to break it with hygiene so no-one should die. "But the fact is some people don't bother getting the vaccine, some people leave it too late to get Tamiflu and some don't increase their hygiene. "So unfortunately, I think there will be extra people in hospital and unfortunately some of them may die," he said. Symptoms include a high fever, chesty cough, sore throat, aches, upset stomach, headache and runny nose. The most at risk groups are pregnant women, asthma sufferers and young children who are eligible for the flu vaccine jab, which also includes the H1N1 strain. If you are not in a high risk group and display symptoms of flu, Tamiflu tablets are available from GPs, according to experts. They can shorten the length of the disease and curtail it from spreading. Prevention is better than cure and the general advice is to take basic hygiene precautions, such as using tissues for coughs and sneezes, and washing hands regularly.