Manny Pacquiao has dropped all his preceding plans and commitments in Los Angeles to be with his constituents in Sarangani which was freshly hard hit by flashfloods and a tornado.
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake also rocked different areas in Mindanao, including General Santos City, yesterday morning just as Pacquiao was about to board a Philippine Airlines flight to Manila.
He is to arrived at 5:50 a.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from Los Angeles. (Related story on Page 20) Pacquiao, a congressman in Sarangani, said he felt the vital need to come home and be with his people. From Manila, he will fly straight to his province. He guaranteed the victims help is on its way, and called on them to pray hard. “Relax lang kayo. Pray and believe in God,” Pacquiao, imminent off an unbelievable loss to Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas last June 9, told GMA-7. Pacquiao has found new faith in God, and said that in just six months reading the Bible he learned much more than what he did through his lifetime. The day after he took a very notorious loss to Bradley at the MGM Grand, Pacquiao preached before more than a thousand worshipers at the Riviera Convention Center in Vegas. “I used to pray five times a day and yet I sinned. By understanding the Bible, the manual of life, I have learned that praying is not enough,” he said. While his supporters cried foul over the judges’ decision to give Bradley the victory, Pacquiao has taken it all in stride, urging everyone to “accept it with all their heart.” “Kailangan yung faith and belief natin hindi lang sa good times (We must keep our faith and belief not only in the good times),” he told the flood victims from his LA mansion. “Even in bad times it should be the same. Even during storms,” he said. Pacquiao flew home with his chief adviser Michael Koncz, and left behind his family, including his wife Jinkee and their four children in Los Angeles. Pacquiao had hoped to enjoy more time with his family, and they had planned a trip to Disneyland. But he said things like this couldn’t wait. Pacquiao was also scheduled to begin shooting his scenes for Rob Schneider’s Hollywood movie “Brass Knuckles” where he plays the role of a gangster. The shooting was supposed to last a week, but the disaster in Sarangani has forced the boxer known as “The People’s Champion” to reschedule his shoot. Pacquiao is also planning to visit Israel, and see for the first time its religious sites. The military has reported 88 persons missing and more than 700 families displaced after massive flashfloods struck the towns of Glan and Maasim in Sarangani. The victims are not packed in relief centers and barangay halls in the said towns. Last December, Pacquiao and his wife flew to Cagayan de Oro, in a private plane owned by Chavit Singson, to distribute relief goods to victims of Tropical Storm Sendong. “The evacuees were so happy to see Manny. Para silang nabuhayan ng loob. Some of them were almost in tears getting near Manny. They were so happy to see him,” said a member of Pacquiao’s staff. Late in 2009, as he trained in Baguio City for his fight with Miguel Cotto, Pacquiao used his Sunday off to be with the victims of Typhoon Pepeng in Metro Manila. It was a very dangerous move because even Baguio and the provinces leading to Manila were still reeling from the effects of the typhoon that left a thousand dead. But Pacquiao ignored the danger to personally distribute a busload of relief goods. “You know it’s dangerous, boss,” Koncz reportedly told Pacquiao before they left Baguio in the boxer’s black Hummer and a trail of SUVs and police escorts.
Steve Jobs, the legendary co-founder of Apple Inc., has succumbed to cancer on Wednesday.
The company, in a statement, announced that Steve Jobs has passed away after years of battling pancreatic cancer.
Jobs has been diagnosed with the cancerous tumor in his pancreas in 2004, a type of cancer can be cured if diagnosed early. And in 2009, he was forced to get a liver transplant.
After several years of failing health, Steve Jobs announced his resignation from his role as Apple’s CEO effective August 24, 2011. In his letter of resignation, Jobs strongly recommended that the Apple executive succession plan be followed and Tim Cook be named as his successor. Per his request, Jobs was appointed chairman of Apple’s board of directors.
On October 5, 2011, Apple announced that Jobs had died. He was 56 years old.
The official statement from the company reads:
“We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today. Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.
His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.”
Apple’s official website also posted a short eulogy for their founder:
Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.
Eight-division boxing world champion and congressman Manny Pacquiao has made it into various lists, from ESPN, Forbes to TIME magazine’s. This time, the Filipino boxer entered the US music charts.
Pacman’s single “Sometimes When We Touch” moved to No. 7 in the secondary adult contemporary rankings last Wednesday.
Last April 28, more than a week before his anticipated bout against American Shane Mosley, Paquiao has released his cover of the Dan Hill hit on iTunes.
The world first heard about Pacquiao’s singing talent when the boxing champion performed the same song on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” in late 2009. This paved way for Dan Hill, the writer/singer of the song, to reach out to Pacman.
They became fast friends, agreed to make the record and now it’s climbing the charts even without Pacquiao promoting it on radio stations and other media.
For a champion boxer, it’s definitely an amazing feat.
Last week, people voted for Kate Middleton as one of the best-dressed celebrities in the world. Now, her sister Pippa is voted to have the Most Desirable Celebrity Tan.
Pippa Middleton‘s “Royal Mocha” complexion was voted the most desirable celebrity tan of 2011 in a poll of 2,000 women between ages 18 and 44, according to the Daily Mail. The royal sister garnered 60% of the vote in the survey, commissioned by Britain’s TV channel Really on Freeview.
It was also said that Pippa’s bronzy complexion during the Royal Wedding reportedly boosted the sales of self-tanner products nearly 219% in the United Kingdom.
British pop singer Cheryl Cole came in a not-so-close second place, pulling in 26% of the vote with her “Cappucino” tan.
According to reports, the two heads of the snake react and eat separately.
“Sometimes one head wants to crawl in one direction and the other head in another direction,” zoo director Oleg Zubkov said.
Zoo officials say the snake sometimes even steal food from each other. Because of that, zoo workers have to put a barrier between the heads when feeding the snake.
The three-year-old, two-foot-long (60 centimeter) reptile is extremely rare, appearing once in every 50 years.
Visitor numbers had nearly doubled since it went on display in early July, said zoo keeper Yakovenko.
The two-headed snake will be on display at the zoo until Mid-September.
Turns out that the credit card-sized ferrotype is the only surviving authenticated portrait of Billy the Kid—the notorious Wild West outlaw and beloved folk hero. The ferrotype is an early form of photo using sheets of iron metal.
Billionaire William Koch, founder of Oxbow Carbon and a well-known art and antiques collector, paid a whopping $2.3 million for the picture, which was auctioned off at Brian Lebel’s 22nd Annual Old West Show & Auction in Denver, Colorado last night. A 15 percent fee was added to the bidding price, making the selling price more than $2.6 million.
The portrait was believed to be taken in late 1879 or early 1880 in New Mexico. The Kid (a.k.a. William Henry McCarty, Henry Antrim and William H. Bonney) reportedly paid 25 cents to have the photo taken. According to legend, the 19th-century American frontier gunslinger killed 21 men, but many historians believe the number was closer to nine. He died in 1881 at the hands of Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett when he was only 22. Last December, outgoing New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson declined to grant a posthumous pardon to the infamous outlaw.
I don’t dig why uber wealthy people buy and collect antiques. I guess they never got hand-me downs growing up.
21 May 2011 is the day the world will end— at least according to Harold Camping, leader of a California-based religious network who visited Manila recently to predict the dreaded day.
Will doomsday come sooner than 2012? Catch the full story about Camping and his disciples’ intrepid prediction about the said apocalyptic prophecy in “ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs Special Report” entitled “Gunaw” this Saturday (May 21).
ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs examines these possibilities and consults with scientists, astronomers, climate change proponents, and military experts on the possibility of humans facing extinction should any of these catastrophic events happen.
The special documentary will depict the terrifying scenarios that outline how the earth could end. With all the chaos happening around the world like the uprising in the Middle East, earthquake and tsunami in Japan, tornado and flooding in different parts of the world, is the world ending soon?
Watch this special report on Saturday 4PM, 21 May 2011, the very day Camping said the world will end.
Meanwhile, Ted Failon will investigate the anomalous race track in Clark Speedway that killed a 22-year-old four-time national superbike champion Maico Buncio and tries to give justice to the death of a six-year-old girl who just went to the carnival with his grandfather’s beer buddy.
“Failon Ngayon” follows after “ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs Special Report: Gunaw” this Saturday, 4:45pm on ABS-CBN.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched the historic last flight of space shuttle Endeavour from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the STS-134, 16-day mission, to the International Space Station.
The shuttle with its six crew members lifted off from Launch Pad 39A at 8:56 a.m. EDT on May 16 to deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS), Express Logistics Carrier-3, a high-pressure gas tank and additional spare parts for the Dextre robotic helper.
“This mission represents the power of teamwork, commitment and exploration,” Commander Mark Kelly said shortly before liftoff. “It is in the DNA of our great country to reach for the stars and explore. We must not stop. To all the millions watching today including our spouses, children, family and friends, we thank you for your support.”
Kelly’s crewmates are Pilot Greg H. Johnson and Mission Specialists Mike Fincke, Drew Feustel, Greg Chamitoff and Roberto Vittori of the European Space Agency.
Endeavour is scheduled to dock to the ISS at 6:15 a.m. on Wednesday and its first landing opportunity at Kennedy Space Center is scheduled for 2:32 a.m. on June 1.
LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao, the fighting Filipino congressman, tried to lay down the law Saturday against challenger Shane Mosley, a reluctant warrior in the desert who mostly refused to engage the WBO welterweight champion.
Pacquiao, the world's preeminent pound-for-pound pugilist, knocked down Mosley once but he was unable to stop the former champion while winning an easy unanimous decision. Judges Glenn Trowbridge (119-108), Dave Moretti (120-108 ) and Duane Ford (120-107) all had huge margins for Pacquiao.
Before a pro-Pacquiao sellout crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the goateed ring assassin floored Mosley in the third round by firing a right-left combo that was set up by a subtle feint. Mosley, bleary-eyed on the canvas, rose to his feet but was wobbly as he fended off the champion.
Mosley, when he wasn't cautiously retreating, tried to jab his way in, but rarely used a lead right hand, a prime punch against a southpaw. The earlier knockdown put Mosley on the defensive.
After the fifth round, Mosley's face was puffy and red from Pacquiao's consistent jab. "I just fought the best fighter in the world. He has exceptional power. I've never been hit like that before," Mosley said.
ICON: Manny packs punch for humanity
By the end of the seventh round, the crowd booed, wanting more exchanges between the fighters. Several times, their heads clashed during exchanges, leading to warnings from referee Kenny Bayless.
Pacquiao appeared to get knocked down in the 10th round, but a reply showed Mosley shoved the champion to the canvas.
Earlier in the day, a vehicle Pacquiao was riding in was struck by his camp's security vehicle as the champion was returning from a church service at Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, where the fighter is staying. Pacquiao was shaken but unharmed, according to his camp.
Pacquiao was making his first ring appearance in Las Vegas since 2009. Pacquiao's last two fights, in 2010, were held at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas. He has said he plans to retire in 2013.
In the meantime, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum will continue to try to arrange one of the biggest battles in boxing history: Pacquiao versus the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr., the slick boxer whose once-glowing career has been derailed by legal, financial and personal issues.
Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KOs) won his 147-pound title in 2009 when he knocked out four-time world champion Miguel Cotto. His remarkable ring history includes eight world titles in as many weight divisions. He has not lost since Erik Morales defeated him in a 12-round decision in 2005, winning (13) consecutive bouts. Pacquiao turned pro at 106 pounds in 1995.
Mosley (46-7-1, 39 KOs) came into the championship contest with a 15-5 record in world title bouts, including 12 knockouts. He is a four-time world champion in three different weight classes, including two victories against Oscar de la Hoya.
Mosley has not won since 2009 when he stopped Antonio Margarito in nine rounds in Los Angeles to capture one alphabet version of the welterweight crown. He dropped a 12-round decision to Mayweather in Las Vegas last May and his fight against Sergio Mora ended in a disputed draw four months later in Los Angeles.
On the undercard, Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. (20-1-1) of Puerto Rico lost his junior featherweight title when Jorge Arce (57-6-2) of Mexico stopped him the 12th round. Vasquez's corner threw a water bottle into the ring to halt the action as referee Joe Cortez watched the challenger mercilessly hammer the former champion.
Earlier, former world middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (37-2, 32 KOs) of Youngstown, Ohio, scored a majority 12-round decision against Alfonso Lopez (21-1, 16 KOs) from Cut and Shoot, Texas.
Osama is most widely recognized for the September 11 attacks on the United States when 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger jet airliners. The hijackers intentionally crashed two of the airliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing everyone on board and many others working in the buildings.
Osama Bin Laden is 54 years old when he was slain on May 1, 2011 (May 2 Manila Time). U.S. officials announced the news and that the United States was in possession of his corpse.
US President Barack Obama is about to make the dramatic speech shortly in a late-night appearance at the White House.
Side Note: Osama’s father, Muhammed bin Laden, was killed in 1967 in an airplane crash in Saudi Arabia when his American pilot misjudged a landing. His eldest half-brother and head of the bin Laden family, Salem bin Laden, was killed in 1988 when he accidentally flew a plane into powerlines near San Antonio, Texas, USA.
Here’s the full transcript of President Barack Obama‘s speech regarding the death of Osama Bin Laden:
Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who’s responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women and children. It was nearly ten years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history. The images of 9/11 are seared into our national memory. Hijacked planes cutting through a cloudless September sky, the twin towers collapsing to the ground, black smoke billowing up from the pentagon, the wreckage of flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the actions of heroic citizens saved even more heartbreak and destruction.
And yet we know that the worst images are those that were unseen to the world, the empty seat at the dinner table, children who were forced to grow up without their mother or their father, parents who would never know the feeling of their child’s embrace, nearly 3,000 citizens taken from us, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts. On September 11th, 2001, in our time of grief, the American people came together. We offered our neighbors a hand, and we offered the wounded our blood. We reaffirmed our ties to each other and our love of community and country. On that day, no matter where we came from, what God we prayed to or what race or ethnicity we were, we were united as one American family.
We were also united in our resolve, to protect our nation and to bring those who committed this vicious attack to justice. We quickly learned that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by al Qaeda, an organization headed by Osama bin Laden, which had openly declared war on the United States and was committed to killing innocents in our country and around the globe. So we went to war against al Qaeda, to protect our citizens, our friends, and our allies. Over the last ten years, thanks to the tireless and heroic work of our military and our counterterrorism professionals, we’ve made great strides in that effort. We’ve disrupted terrorist attacks and strengthened our homeland defense. In Afghanistan, we removed the Taliban government which had given bin Laden and al Qaeda safe haven and support. And around the globe, we worked with our friends and allies to capture or kill scores of al Qaeda terrorists including several who were a part of the 9/11 plot.
Yet, Osama bin Laden avoided capture. And escaped across the Afghan border into Pakistan. Meanwhile, al Qaeda continued to operate from along that border and operate through its affiliates across the world. And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda. Even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle and defeat his network. Then last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence community, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden. It was far from certain. And it took many months to run this thread to ground. I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information about the possibility that we could located bin Laden hiding within a compound deep inside Pakistan. And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action and authorized an operation to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice.
Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Pakistan. A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body. For over two decades, bin Laden has been al Qaeda’s leader and symbol and has continued to plot attacks against our country and our friends and allies. The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda. His death does not mark the end of our effort. There’s no doubt that al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must and we will remain vigilant at home and abroad. As we do, we must also reaffirm that the United States is not and never will be at war with Islam. I’ve made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11, that our war is not against Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader. He was a mass murderer of Muslims. Indeed, al Qaeda slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries including our own. So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity.
Over the years, I’ve repeatedly made clear that we would take action within Pakistan if we knew where bin Laden was. That is what we’ve done. But it’s important to note that our counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound where he was hiding. Indeed, bin Laden had declared war against Pakistan as well and ordered attacks against the Pakistani people. Tonight, I called President Zardari, and my team has also spoken with their Pakistani counterparts. They agree that this is a good and historic day for both of our nations. And going forward, it is essential that Pakistan continue to join us in the fight against al Qaeda and its affiliates.
The American people did not choose this fight. It came to our shores. And started with the senseless slaughter of our citizens. After nearly ten years of service, struggle and sacrifice, we know well the costs of war. These efforts weigh on me every time I, as commander in chief, have to sign a letter to a family that has lost a loved one or look into the eyes of a service member who’s been gravely wounded. So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when our people have been killed. We will be relentless in defense of our citizens and our friends and allies. We will be true to the values that make us who we are. And on nights like this one, we can say to those families who have lost loved ones to al Qaeda’s terror, justice has been done.
Tonight we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who have worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. The American people do not see their work nor know their names, but tonight they feel the satisfaction of their work and the result of their pursuit of justice. We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country. And they are part of a generation that has borne the heaviest share of burden since that September day. Finally, let me say to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11, that we have never forgotten your loss, nor wavered in our commitment to see that we do whatever it takes to prevent another attack on our shores. And tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11. I know that it has, at times, frayed. Yet today’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people. The cause of securing our country is not complete, but tonight we are once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history. Whether it’s the pursuit of prosperity for our people or the struggle for equality for all our citizens, our commitment to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the world a safer place. Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.
Nearly 500 prisoners have escaped from a jail in southern Afghanistan through a tunnel dug by Taliban insurgents, government officials revealed on Monday.
The governor of southern Kandahar province told Reuters that 488 prisoners were able to escape through the tunnel, which led to a nearby house. Many Taliban commanders are feared to be among the escapees. Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s spokesman said the incident was a serious blow to the government as it prepares to take control of security operations from foreign forces. “This is a blow, it is something that should not have happened. We are looking into finding out … what exactly happened and what is being done to compensate for the disaster that happened in the prison,” Karzai spokesman Waheed Omer said.
The Taliban has confirmed that they were responsible for the massive jailbreak, saying in a statement that the actual escape was completed in four-and-a-half hours. The insurgents said the jailbreak began late in the night. The jailbreak comes as foreign forces prepare to gradually cede to local police and military control of security operations in several areas starting this summer.
wo Filipinos are among the lucky few who are invited to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29, 2011.
They are Deputy Ambassador Reynaldo Catapang and Lillie Piccio, the pinay nanny of William and Harry.
Here is a handful list of the names of 1,900 guests invited to witness the “wedding of the decade”:
1. Joss Stone – British singer/actress
2. Guy Ritchie – filmmaker
3. Rowan Atkinson – Mr. Bean
4. Ben Fogle – adventurer
5. Tara Palmer-Tomkinson – socialite
6. Mario Testino – photographer
7. Ian Thrope – Australian Olympic swimmer
8. David and Victoria Beckham
9. Elton John
10. Lillie Piccio – The Pinay nanny of William and Harry
11. Reynaldo Catapang – Deputy Ambassador
12. Prince Albert of Monaco
13. Charlene Wittstock – South African swimmer
14. David Cameron – Prime Minister
The Royal Wedding Live Stream: All roads will be leading to Westminster Abbey on April 29 as the world bear witness to the royal wedding of Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton.
The William and Kate wedding comes 30 years after the groom’s father, Prince Charles, and mother, the late Princess Diana, were married at St. Paul’s Cathedral. The much awaited event, which has been an everyday media spectacle since Clarence House announced on November 16 that the couple were engaged, is scheduled to start at 11am on April 29, with the bride arriving in a car instead of by carriage, the traditional royal bridal vehicle. In another break from tradition, William will also have a best man in his brother, Prince Harry. Middleton, on the other hand, will have her sister, Pippa, as maid of honor. The wedding day has already been declared a national holiday in the United Kingdom.
Some 1,900 guests have been invited to witness the ceremony at the abbey, while nearly 300 people have been picked to join the couple and the rest of the Royal family in the evening dinner to be hosted by the groom’s father, Prince Charles. Queen Elizabeth II, on the other hand, will play host to some 600 guests in the luncheon reception at the Buckingham Palace.
William and Kate first met in 2001 as students at the University of St. Andrews, where they were flat mates at St. Salvator’s Hall. William proposed to Kate on October 19 while they were vacationing in Kenya’s Lewa game reserve. William is the first child of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana. The 28-year-old royal is second in line to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II. Kate, on the other hand, is the eldest daughter of Carole Elizabeth and Michael Francis Middleton.
Watch the Royal Wedding Live Stream Online
You can watch the Royal Wedding: Prince William and Catherine Middleton live from Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011. We will post updates and live stream links as to where you can watch the wedding live from your home just before the event begins. Be sure to check this page again on April 29.
After studying the brain activity of women presented with a chocolate milkshake, researchers in the US found that seeing the tempting dessert drink activated the same parts of the brain as a drug addict who sees cocaine.
The Yale University study -- published online this week and due to appear in the August issue of Archives of General Psychiatry -- found that higher food addiction scores correlated with greater activation in certain areas of the brain -- the same areas that light up among people with a substance dependence.
Participants included 48 healthy young women ranging from lean to obese. They were presented with both a chocolate milkshake and a tasteless control solution. Milkshakes were chosen not only for their high fat and sugar content, but also because it allowed participants to keep still during head scans.
The implications of the study could be wide-ranging. One-third of American adults are obese and suffer from obesity-related diseases, researchers point out. Most obesity treatments fail and patients regain the weight within five years. But if certain foods are addictive, not only could that explain why some people can't lose weight, it could also change the dialogue on obesity and food advertising, the study suggests.
"If food cues take on enhanced motivational properties in a manner analogous to drug cues, efforts to change the current food environment may be critical to successful weight loss and prevention efforts," reads the study. "Ubiquitous food advertising and the availability of inexpensive palatable foods may make it extremely difficult to adhere to healthier food choices because the omnipresent food cues trigger the reward system."
Researchers from The Scripps Research Institute in Florida came to similar conclusions last year when they found that overconsumption of high-calorie foods can trigger addiction-like responses in the brain. The study, which used lab rats, could help in understanding obesity as a food addiction and in developing therapies for it, researchers said.
Though compulsive eaters can do little to avoid fast-food billboard ads around their city or commercials on TV, the Mayo Clinic offers advice on how to change the food environment at home. For example, keep less food at home than usual to avoid temptation. Keeping the house junk food-free also eliminates visual cues.
http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/archgenpsychiatry.2011.32v1
A 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia’s main island of Java early Monday, the US Geological Survey said, prompting local residents to flee to higher ground. However, authorities lifted a tsunami warning after tidal waves did not materialize following the strong temblor. There have so far been no reports of any casualties or damage.
The quake, which was downgraded from a magnitude of 7.1, was centered 15 miles underwater, according to seismologists. The epicenter was located 412 km (256 miles) from the country’s capital Jakarta.
Indonesia is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the so-called “Ring of Fire,” an area where large numbers of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur in the basin of the Pacific Ocean. In 2004, a massive earthquake, which triggered a tsunami, killed more than 230,000 people in a dozen nations, nearly three-quarters of them in western Indonesia.
Michel Martelly is moving his act from the carnivals to the National Palace after the popular singer came out as the likely winner in the Haiti presidential election held last month.
Martelly, who is known for his outrageous performances and his own brand of Compas music, leads former First Lady Mirlande Manigat by a wide margin—67.6 percent to 31.5 percent—based on preliminary results released by Haiti’s election council on Monday. Martelly’s unlikely victory over the administration-supported Manigat came despite doubts about the 50-year-old carnival singer’s capacity to help Haiti rise from the ruins caused by the devastating January 2010 earthquake and stop other problems including an ongoing cholera outbreak.
Martelly, popularly known in Haiti as “Sweet Mickey,” ran on a promise to bring change to the poor country. He also pledged to bring back the country’s armed forces, which were dissolved by former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 1995 in a bid to prevent military-aided coups.
Facebook and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg have been hit with a lawsuit seeking more than $1 billion in damages over a page on the social network which called for a "Third Intifada" against Israel.
Facebook this week shut down the "Third Intifada" page, which had almost 500,000 fans, but the lawsuit filed in a court here claims that the social network showed "negligence" by not quickly responding to appeals to remove the page.
Besides awarding damages, the complaint calls on the court to bar Facebook "from allowing the Facebook page titled 'Third Palestinian Intifada,' and other related and similar sites, which advocate violence and death to Jews."
The suit, a copy of which was obtained by technology blog TechCrunch, was filed in DC Superior Court by Larry Klayman, who describes himself in the complaint as "an American citizen of Jewish origin" who is "active in matters concerning the security of Israel and all people."
Klayman also identifies himself as the founder of Freedom Watch, whose website describes it as a political advocacy group dedicated to protecting privacy, free speech and other rights and "our national sovereignty against the incompetent, terrorist state-controlled United Nations."
Facebook dismissed the case as "without merit" and said it would fight.
"While we haven't been served with a complaint, we believe the case is without merit and we will fight it vigorously," a Facebook spokesman said.
Facebook shut down the page on Tuesday, several days after Israeli Public Diplomacy Minister Yuli Edelstein sent a letter to Zuckerberg urging him to remove it.
Facebook said the page was initially tolerated because it "began as a call for peaceful protest" but direct calls for violence began appearing and the page was removed for violating Facebook's policies.
after it added another 181 million people over the last decade based on the latest census.
Although its present population growth rate of 17.6 percent is down from the previous census’s 21.5 percent, the South Asian power could overcome its Eastern counterpart in the next 20 years. India now has an estimated 1.21 billion people, while China, which has been pro-active in its population control, has 1.34 billion as of last year. According to United Nations projections, India could overtake China by 2030. The latest census result, released on Thursday, is not yet official, with the final tally expected to come out next year, according to the Daily Mail.
India is the world’s 11th largest economy by GDP based on the International Monetary Fund’s 2010 list, while China is ranked second only to the United States. However, despite economic success, the two countries, India in particular, are also known for their high poverty incidence. The census result for India could mean headache for policy makers, who are hard-pressed to reduce poverty incidence in the country, where some 800 million people are considered poor.
