Racist dad slaughtered his partner and daughter

Racist dad slaughtered his partner and daughter but spared youngest child because she was "pure Aryan"

7 Nov 2013 06:12

John Miller's four-year-old daughter was left for at least 12 hours in the house with the bodies of her mother and sister after the attack

Jailed for life: John Miller

PA

A racist father butchered his teacher ­girlfriend and eight-year-old daughter with an axe and a knife in a drug-induced frenzy.
Crazed BNP member John Miller then fled, leaving his surviving daughter cowering at the top of the stairs.
He spared Amelia, four, because she was a “true Aryan” but a court heard she was alone for 12 hours before police officers found her.
Plasterer Miller, 38, was yesterday jailed for life with a minimum of 15 years after he admitted manslaughter with diminished responsibility.
Leeds crown court earlier heard how Miller erupted in a “psychotic” rage after a decade of abusing drugs including, cannabis, cocaine and steroids.
His partner Sarah Laycock, 31, had her tongue cut out and suffered 23 wounds to her face, neck and chest.

Attacked: Partner Sarah Laycock

PA

Older daughter Abigail was left with nine deep wounds all over her body.
Prosecutor Michelle Colborne QC said Abigail put up a “considerable struggle” as she tried to fight off her “paranoid” dad. Ms Colborne told how the bloodbath began at the family home in Garforth, West Yorkshire, in January 2011.
She said: “He sat down with his family as if it was their last meal. He said they were all going to die. There were warships going to the Gulf and he was being told by signals what to do with Sarah and Abigail.
“Amelia was to be spared because of her superior DNA – because she was Aryan.”
The court heard Miller got his axe from the garage as Sarah took the girls upstairs. When he returned he threw Sarah down the stairs before he launched the frenzied attack.
He fled and police found him the next day naked and “grunting and growling” at a nearby nature reserve. Miller had also slashed his wrists.

Struggle: Abigail Miller

PA

In a mental hospital he told doctors “people with brown eyes were muddying the gene pool” and “voices in his head” told him to kill his family.
Yesterday the judge ruled Miller was fit to serve a prison sentence after psychiatrists disagreed over whether he was a paranoid schizophrenic.
Sarah’s sister-in-law said in a victim impact statement that traumatised Amelia’s only question had been about “the size of the padlock on daddy’s door”.
The family later released a statement which told how their hearts “had been ripped out”.
It said: “We’ll never come to terms with Miller’s reasons why he killed Sarah and Abi, the graphic details are truly horrendous.
"John Miller has single-handedly destroyed our lives. No custodial sentence could ever be long enough.”

Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk.

RWANDA SANCTIONS-U.S

US may consider easing Rwanda sanctions

Envoy says that if Washington believed Rwanda was no longer supporting Congo's M23 rebels it may reconsider situation. Last Modified: 06 Nov 2013 22:21

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame denies his government gives any support to M23 [Getty]

The United States would consider resuming military aid to Rwanda if it found Rwandan support for Congo's M23 rebel group had ended, a senior US official has said. On October 3, Washington said it would block US military aid to Rwanda because of its "support for the M23, a rebel group which continues to actively recruit and abduct children" and which has posed a threat to the stability of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rwanda has repeatedly denied backing the rebels. If it turns out that Rwanda is no longer involved in such activities, if it turns out that their role here has been a positive one... then we would certainly review whether it's appropriate to continue these sanctions. Russ Feingold, US special envoy to the Great Lakes region. M23 is a Tutsi-dominated rebellion of former Congolese soldiers that began taking parts of eastern Congo last year, accusing the government of failing to honor a 2009 peace deal. The group on Tuesday called an end to its 20-month revolt after the army captured its last hilltop strongholds, raising  hopes for peace in a region where millions have died in nearly two decades of violence. Under US sanctions, Rwanda does not get US International Military Education and Training funds, which help train foreign militaries, or US Foreign Military Financing, which funds the sale of US military equipment and services. Russ Feingold, US special envoy to the Great Lakes region of Africa, told reporters that the United States would conduct an investigation and could lift the sanctions if it found that any Rwandan support for M23's use of child soldiers had ceased. "If it turns out that Rwanda is no longer involved in such activities, if it turns out that their role here has been a positive one - and there is much that they have done during this (peace) process to be positive ... then we would certainly review whether it's appropriate to continue these sanctions," Feingold said. "They are based specifically on certain actions that we believe occurred and if those actions cease, there would certainly be a serious review of whether it is appropriate to continue it (the sanctions)." Millions of people have died from violence, disease and hunger since the 1990s as foreign-backed insurgents have waged a series of rebellions, often for control of eastern Congo's rich deposits of gold, diamonds and tin. The M23 is just the latest manifestation of simmering anger toward Kinshasa among ethnic Tutsis in eastern Congo. The real test will be whether government and rebels can reach a lasting political deal.

Source: Reuters

What is polonium?

Read more on the history of the rare and highly radioactive substance found in Arafat's final personal belongings. Last Modified: 06 Nov 2013 15:33

One gramme of polonium-210 could theoretically poison and kill about 10 million people [EPA]

Polonium is a rare and highly radioactive element. It is found naturally in the atmosphere and in the earth’s crust, though in miniscule quantities. World-renowned scientist and Nobel laureate Marie Curie discovered the element in the late 19th century and named it after her native country Poland (Polonia in Latin). Polonium has dozens of isotopes. One of the most common is polonium-210, which emits highly radioactive particles, known as alpha particles. This was the isotope found on Yasser Arafat’s personal effects during Al Jazeera’s initial investigation into What Killed Arafat? Because of its radioactivity, polonium has been used as a trigger for nuclear weapons, and as a power source for satellites and other spacecraft. The Russian space programme used it to heat rovers that landed on the Moon in the 1970s. Polonium is harmless when it is outside the body, but after ingestion it becomes one of the deadliest substances know. An amount equivalent to the size of a particle of dust is lethal. Ingesting just 50 nanogrammes, or inhaling 10 nanogrammes, of the substance can cause death. This means one gramme of polonium-210 could theoretically poison and kill about 10 million people. What are the symptoms of polonium poisoning? Because there have been so few recorded cases, there is not much scientific literature on the subject. The handful of human cases, as well as animal studies, suggest symptoms similar to other forms of radiation poisoning - vomiting, diarrhoea, hair loss, and a low white blood cell count. After ingestion, polonium quickly gets into the bloodstream where it bombards blood cells with millions of radioactive alpha particles, which damages vital organs - first the liver and kidneys, causing jaundice and then the intestines causing toxic shock syndrome. Finally it attacks the heart. How is polonium produced? Polonium occurs naturally in uranium ores, but at extremely small concentrations; as low as 100 microgrammes per tonne of ore. Rather than laboriously extracting it from uranium, modern-day manufacturers create polonium in nuclear reactors by bombarding the element bismuth with neutrons. Most of the world’s polonium supply is produced in Russia. Natural levels of polonium that accumulate on surfaces barely register, and the element disappears quickly. Polonium-210 has a half-life of 138 days, meaning that half of the substance decays roughly every four-and-a-half months.

Source: Al Jazeera

THIS IS WHAT KILLED MR.ARAFAT IN 2004-WIDOW

Palestinian leader Arafat was murdered with polonium: widow

Was Palestinian leader Arafat poisoned? Widow says yes

Wed, Nov 6 2013

By Paul Taylor

PARIS | Wed Nov 6, 2013 3:14pm EST
(Reuters) - Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was poisoned to death in 2004 with radioactive polonium, his widow Suha said on Wednesday after receiving the results of Swiss forensic tests on her husband's corpse.

"We are revealing a real crime, a political assassination," she told Reuters in Paris.
A team of experts, including from Lausanne University Hospital's Institute of Radiation Physics, opened Arafat's grave in the West Bank city of Ramallah last November, and took samples from his body to seek evidence of alleged poisoning.
"This has confirmed all our doubts," said Suha Arafat after the Swiss forensic team handed over its report to her lawyers and Palestinian officials in Geneva on Tuesday. "It is scientifically proved that he didn't die a natural death and we have scientific proof that this man was killed."
She did not accuse any country or person, and acknowledged that the historic leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization had many enemies, although she noted that Israel had branded him an obstacle to peace.
She told Reuters the polonium must have been administered by someone "in his close circle" because experts had told her the poison would have been put in his coffee, tea or water.
"I'm so angry at what happened and I feel that I'm mourning him all over again. This was an act by cowards."
Arafat signed the 1993 Oslo interim peace accords with Israel and led a subsequent uprising after the failure of talks in 2000 on a comprehensive agreement.
Allegations of foul play surfaced immediately. Arafat had foes among his own people, but many Palestinians pointed the finger at Israel, which had besieged him in his Ramallah headquarters for the final two and a half years of his life.
"President Arafat passed away as a victim of an organized terrorist assassination perpetrated by a state, that is Israel, which was looking to get rid of him," Wasel Abu Yousef, member of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, said in a statement on Wednesday.
"The publishing of the results by the Swiss institute confirms his poisoning by polonium and this means that Israel carried it out."
The Israeli government has denied any role in his death, noting that he was 75 years old and had an unhealthy lifestyle.
"This is more soap opera than science, it is the latest episode in the soap in which Suha opposes Arafat's successors," Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said.
Investigations into his demise amounted to "a highly superficial attempt to determine a cause of death."
An investigation by the Qatar-based Al Jazeera television news channel first reported last year that traces of polonium-210 were found on personal effects of Arafat given to his widow by the French military hospital where he died.
That led French prosecutors to open an investigation for suspected murder in August 2012 at the request of Suha Arafat. Forensic experts from Switzerland, Russia and France all took samples from his corpse for testing after the Palestinian Authority agreed to open his mausoleum.
"SMOKING GUN"
The head of the Russian forensics institute, Vladimir Uiba, was quoted by the Interfax news agency last month as saying no trace of polonium had been found on the body specimens examined in Moscow, but his Federal Medico-Biological Agency later denied he had made any official comment on its findings.
The French pathologists have not reported their conclusions publicly or shared any findings with Suha Arafat's legal team. A spokeswoman for the French prosecutor's office said the investigating magistrates had received no expert reports so far.
One of her lawyers said the Swiss institute's report would be translated from English into French and handed over to the three magistrates who are investigating the case.
Professor David Barclay, a British forensic scientist retained by Al Jazeera to interpret the results of the Swiss tests, said the findings from Arafat's body confirmed last year's results from traces of bodily fluids on his underwear, toothbrush and clothing.
"In my opinion, it is absolutely certain that the cause of his illness was polonium poisoning," Barclay told Reuters. "The levels present in him are sufficient to have caused death.
"What we have got is the smoking gun - the thing that caused his illness and was given to him with malice."
The Swiss scientists' report, posted in full on Al Jazeera's website, was more cautious. It concluded: "Taking into account the analytical limitations aforementioned, mostly time lapse since death and the nature and quality of the specimens, the results moderately support the proposition that the death was the consequence of poisoning with polonium-210."
Al Jazeera said the levels of polonium found in Arafat's ribs, pelvis and in soil that absorbed his remains were at least 18 times higher than normal.
The same radioactive substance was slipped into a cup of tea in a London hotel to kill defecting Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in 2006. From his deathbed, Litvinenko accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of ordering his murder.
Barclay said the type of polonium discovered in Arafat's body must have been manufactured in a nuclear reactor.
While many countries could have been the source, someone in Arafat's immediate entourage must have slipped a miniscule dose of the deadly isotope probably as a powder into his drink, food, eye drops or toothpaste, he said.
BRIEF RECOVERY
Arafat fell ill in October 2004, displaying symptoms of acute gastroenteritis with diarrhea and vomiting. At first Palestinian officials said he was suffering from influenza.
He was flown to Paris in a French government plane but fell into a coma shortly after his arrival at the Percy military hospital in the suburb of Clamart, where he died on November 11.
The official cause of death was a massive stroke but French doctors said at the time they were unable to determine the origin of his illness. No autopsy was carried out.
Barclay said no one would have thought to look for polonium as a possible poison until the Litvinenko case, which occurred two years after Arafat's death.
Some experts have questioned whether Arafat could have died of polonium poisoning, pointing to a brief recovery during his illness that they said was not consistent with radioactive exposure. They also noted he did not lose all his hair. But Barclay said neither fact was inconsistent with the findings.
Since polonium loses 50 percent of its radioactivity every four months, the traces in Arafat's corpse would have faded so far as to have become untraceable if the tests had been conducted a couple of years later, the scientist said.
"A tiny amount of polonium the size of a flake of dandruff would be enough to kill 50 people if it was dissolved in water and they drank it," he added.
The Al Jazeera investigation was spearheaded by investigative journalist Clayton Swisher, a former U.S. State Department Diplomatic Protection agent who became friendly with Arafat and was suspicious of the manner of his death.
Suha Arafat called for an investigation inside the Muqata Palestinian government headquarters and said she and her daughter, Zahwa, would pursue the case through the courts in France and elsewhere until the perpetrators were brought to justice.
(Additional reporting by Gerard Bon in Paris and Crispian Balmer and Ori Lewis in Jerusalem; Writing by Paul Taylor; Editing by Crispian Balmer, Ralph Boulton and Giles Elgood)
(This story was refiled to correct U.S. Secret Service to State Department Diplomatic Protection in the penultimate para).

WHAT KILLED ARAFAT OF PALESTINE????

What Killed Arafat?

The results of a nine-month investigation into what killed the late Palestinian leader.

Al Jazeera has spent nine months investigating the cause of Yasser Arafat's death, which after more than seven years still had not been positively identified.
The material presented here includes the late Palestinian leader's medical file from the final weeks of his life; it includes reports from doctors in both Ramallah and in France, where he ultimately died. Al Jazeera was also given access to his final belongings, everything from his slippers to his iconic kaffiyeh.
All of this was reviewed by some of the top forensic pathologists in the world, in Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Their investigation found abnormal levels of polonium, a rare and highly radioactive substance, on Arafat's belongings, most of which were stained with his bodily fluids - suggesting that the radioactive substance might have been inside his body.
As a result of the investigation, his widow, Suha Arafat, is calling to exhume his body and conduct further tests.
The full medical file, and the final report from the laboratory in Switzerland, can be found here.
DOCUMENTS INFORMATION:

• Arafat's complete medical file, including reports on haematology, biochemistry, toxicology and other studies;
• medical imagery, including CT scans
• The final report on his personal belongings.

Top 10 Countries Infamous for Human Trafficking

Article by Shreya Samant, August 20, 2013

We live in the 21^st century where each and every individual is free to do whatever they like, act however they like, and live however they please. We talk about freedom but in reality, not all individuals are free. Slavery is abolished and is made illegal in all the countries of the world, but people are still slaves to many things, knowingly or unknowingly. One such situation where an individual lacks freedom is prevalent widely amongst many countries of the world till date. This is none other than human trafficking.
Human trafficking can be described as – the trade in humans, most commonly for the purpose of sexual slavery, forced labor or for the extraction of organs or tissues, including surrogacy and ova removal. Human trafficking is done because it ensures that these traffickers get easy money in no time. It is a very risky job but the traffickers have established such a strong network throughout the world that the global police are finding it very difficult to curb these activities. Human trafficking is extremely inhuman and gross and it goes against the very principles of human rights. It is seen that human trafficking is carried out more in poor, under-developed or developing countries than in the rich and developed ones. The countries that have a huge urban-rural gap are especially targeted for human trafficking. Here are the top 10 countries infamous for human trafficking –

10. China

China is a top developing country in the world and everyone keeps talking about how China will soon turn into a super-power. But, one must know as modern and planned the Chinese cities are, equally poor and unplanned are the villages. The urban-rural gap is tremendously huge. China is a source, a transit and a destination for human trafficking. Humans are trafficked mostly for the sake of forced labour or forced prostitution. Because of it’s population, the labour in China is cheap. Traffickers make use of this fact and lure poor people into trafficking for labour which is gruesome and hardly pays anything. Forced prostitution happens within the Chinese borders and beyond it. It was recently found out that there are large Chinese human trafficking rackets in Spain and France will buy and sell these Chinese people for about $72,000.

9. Ghana

Ghana is a country situated in the North West region of the African sub-continent. It is not a poor country but it is not a very rich country either. Ghana has a lot of mines, especially gold mines. So Ghana has become a point of origin and a destination for a lot of trafficking in children. These children are forced to work as labourers in these mines. They are not even paid, sometimes. The girl child is forced into prostitution. Apart from that, these children are forced into fishing, begging, agriculture etc. The conditions in which these children live and work is terrible. Sometimes, children are injured on purpose so that people give money to them out of sympathy but this money goes straight into the pockets of the traffickers.

8. Uganda

Uganda is not unknown to miserable life conditions. People in Uganda are subjected to violence on a daily basis due to the conflicts between the state and the rebels. Uganda is a very poor nation and these radicals do not have money to employ people into their armies. So, they traffic children and force them to join the military forces. Children, aged 11, have to vigil these camps with guns heavier than them and sometimes ever kill other people. Girls are forced into sexual slavery by men and they are treated very badly. Sometimes, these young children are killed for their organs which are then sold into the market for a very high price.

7. Nepal

Human trafficking is a very serious concern in the country of Nepal. The most booming type of human trafficking taking place is the trafficking of women from Nepal to India. Almost 5,000 to 10,000 Nepali women and girls are trafficked just to India every year. It is considered to be the busiest route of human trafficking in the world. Nepali girls are favoured in India because of their light skin colour. Apart from that, a lot of people are bought into India from Nepal as India is a fast developing country and in need of a lot of labour. Nepal provides for cheap labour which is forceful. Apart from India, Nepal also has human trafficking connections and routes to other countries across the globe.

6. Sri Lanka

Humans are trafficked in and outside Sri Lanka, mainly for the purposes of domestic help, prostitution and labour. But even within Sri Lanka, children are trafficked around to be used in the military forces. Sri Lanka is a country that had been in turmoil over the Government- LTTE conflicts since a long time. The LTTE sometimes forcibly recruited these children to be used in the war against the government. Girls and women are trafficked into Sri Lanka to be exploited sexually.

5. India

Human trafficking is a major problem in India. Although it is illegal in India by law by these laws are not implemented properly. Humans are trafficked in, out and across India for various purposes such as forced labour, forced prostitution, forced organ implantation etc. Girls are forced to become surrogate mothers against their will. Children are trafficked for working into factories that manufacture dangerous stuff like gunpowder and firecrackers. Sometimes, rackets are run by traffickers wherein they force children to beg. Just so that they earn more by gaining sympathy of passer-bys, the children are subjected to many atrocities such as hot oil is poured into their eyes to blind them, they’re beaten till they’re greatly injured. Their organs are sold off in the market. Indian government is taking action against this but it does not seem to be working so well.

4. Pakistan

Pakistan, like India, faces a lot of problems due to human trafficking. People are trafficked into the country and are sent out. The biggest problem in human trafficking that Pakistan faces is that of bonded labour. Bonded labour can be for domestic help or for working in industries, factories or in the mines etc. This takes place especially in the Sindh and Punjab regions of Pakistan. Prostitution is also a major reason for human trafficking. Although Pakistan is a very religious, orthodox country, the rate of prostitution is very high.

3. Haiti

Haiti is a small country in South America. It is a very poor country which mostly runs on tourism. Tourists influx from America and Europe is very high in Haiti. Haiti faces the biggest problem of human trafficking in form of slavery and prostitution. But what makes Haiti worse from other countries in this matter is that these prostitutes are young girls aged 12. These girls are forced to have sex with these foreigner tourists who crave for young virgins. They’re given $1 for it and sometimes, they have to beg for coins to be able to eat a meal in a day.

2. Brazil

Brazil, like India and China forms a part of the BRICS nation. It is a developing country but the gap between the urban and the rural and also between the rich and the poor is very large. Human trafficking is an on-going problem in Brazil. Women and trafficked extensively as prostitutes because the tourists that come to Brazil wish for them. It is a very lucrative business in Brazil. Men are trafficked as forced labour for doing the gruesome manual labour at a very cheap rate. The Brazilian government is trying very hard to fox this problem.

1. Bangladesh

Bangladesh is the most infamous country when it comes to human trafficking. It is a major hub for trasit routes all across the world. It is a source, transit and destination for human trafficking. Men, women and children are all forced into doing things. Forced prostitution, forced labour, forced organ donations, selling of organs, even selling ova eggs. A lot of Bangladeshi people are trafficked to India and China and from there, they are further moved to other countries. These people have a very terrible life. They are mistreated, they are stowaways, they are poor . Human trafficking is a criminal offence and all the governments and the police forces of the world, along with the UN should join hands in the work against human trafficking.

Top 10 Countries that can Challenge U.S Supremacy

Article by rupsha mukherjee, November 4, 2013

The United States of America is one such country which continues to dominate world politics for more than two decades now. The President of the United States of America is called the most powerful man on earth. Putting into use ones’ sense of humour, people often refer to the U.S as “The Big Daddy” or “The Big Brother”, considering how often they meddle into the internal matters of other countries. Staunch supporters of the U.S. may as well disagree on this as they believe that USA only tries to help the oppressed citizens of troubled countries and much should not be read into that. Speculations continue but there is no denying the fact that over the years, US has managed to emerge as the first among equals on various parameters.
Be it defense, economic growth, citizen welfare or other issues, they have fared better than many other countries. They too had their share of lapses but have successfully retained their numero uno position in a post-Cold War era. With a population of 313.9 million and a GDP of 14.99 trillion USD in 2011 itself, it is still ruling the roost. In the last few years though, its economic growth has faltered as a result of global economic slowdown. Another major problem that looks to bother USA at the moment is the high number of high-school dropouts, leaving USA’s future overtly dependent on outsourcing work from other countries. Every country reaches a peak, from where there is hardly any possibility of going higher. In a few years time, this trend is surely to catch up with the US as well. The void that will then be created can be optimally utilized by a number of countries, in order to establish themselves as major global players. So here I present top 10 countries that can challenge U.S supremacy.

10. Italy -The Land of History

 
The Italian Republic has a parliamentary form of government. It is a prominent member of the European Union and a part of the influential G-7 nations. Going by calculations done in 2012, Italy boasts of a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 1.833 trillion USD. After the fall of the mighty Roman Empire, Italy faced many invasions before it could bring about stability and peace in the country. Due to geographical disadvantages, they have faced hurdles in the past. The Italian football team lifted the 2006 Football World Cup. Who knows, someday perhaps Italy would emerge as a world champion in other arenas as well.

 9. Brazil- The Land of Celebration

 
Most of us have heard about Brazil for mainly two reasons. One is their dance form, namely Samba and the other is their world famous football team. You may be surprised to know that the Brazilian economy is the seventh-largest in the world in terms of nominal GDP. The defense sector of Brazil is perhaps the largest in Latin America. Agriculture forms the backbone of Brazilian economy. Besides these, the tourism sector records a high turnout of tourists year after year, with the beach at Rio de Janeiro as the top attraction. With an impressive mix of good economic growth, able administration and tempting tourist destinations, it has the potential to make it big.

 8. Germany – The Land of Ideas

 
The Republic of Germany has come a long way from the time of the controversial Adolf Hitler and the World Wars. After Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbour ,Germany declared war against the United States of America. The World War 2 ended in 1945 with Germany facing a severe defeat. Much water has flown beneath the bridge and currently both America and Germany are in cordial terms with each other. Germany’s economy is heavily dependant on skilled labour. The United Nations Population Fund lists Germany as the third-largest host to international migrants from all over the world.

 7. Australia – The Land Down Under

 
The country is known for its diverse population, cricket and not to forget the kangaroos. With a GDP OF 1.541 trillion USD in 2012, it is likely to emerge as an important economic hub of the world. Much like India, it was colonized under the British Empire and has shown major development post its independence. It has a federal parliamentary democracy and Australia is considered to be in very good terms with both the United States and the Great Britain. Australia has a great variety of landscapes and a soothing climate, along with tropical rain-forests. It is a relatively wealthy country with low poverty rate.

 6. Japan – The Land of the Rising Sun

 
With the help of its many technological inventions, Japan is already taking the world by a storm. In recent years, Japan has been the subject of Nature’s ire in the form of the many earthquakes that shook the country and brought forth unimaginable destruction. Battling against all such odds, Japan continues to flourish in an era of American dominance. It has the third highest GDP in the world of 5.867 trillion USD and is militarily considered one of the most powerful in the world. Despite being a small country, it has an enviable stock of nuclear power and world-class infrastructures.

 5. France – The Land of Romance

 
Brimming with a population of 65.43 million, France has the third-largest nuclear stockpile in the world. It is also the founding member of the European Union. Being the largest country in Western Europe, France was under the control of monarchy for a long time before being designated as a semi-presidential republic. France continues to have a substantial control over its former African territories. It has one of the largest aerospace industries in the world and continues to sign major defense deals with many countries. The Eiffel Tower in Paris is one of its landmark destinations and the French language is the official language in 29 countries.

 4. Great Britain – The Land of Hope and Glory

 
The British Empire was once hailed as the empire on which the sun never sets. Times have changed and most of the former British colonies are now independent. The fortune of the British may have declined from their former invincible position. Nonetheless, they continue to be one of the most influential nations of the world by being a part of the G-7 countries, head of the Commonwealth nations and a prominent member of United Nations. England, Scotland and Wales constitute the three pillars of the mighty Great Britain. Its total GDP stood at 2.68 trillion USD in the year 2012.The English language is the most widely spoken language in the world. Some of the best manufacturing companies and educational institutions are based in England.

3. India- The Land of Diversity

 
India has shown a phenomenal growth since its independence in 1947. It has already recorded a GDP of 4.711 trillion USD, the ninth-largest in the world, till the end of 2012.According to the list furnished by World Defense Review in 2013, India stands in the 4^th position in terms of military strength. Currently, it is recording one of the fastest economic-growth, looking to topple the economy of quite a few of the developed nations as well. The Rich-Poor divide is one such problem that India needs to tackle efficiently to emerge as a completely developed nation. Considering its huge population rate, India can challenge US supremacy with proper planning and utilization of resources.

 2. Russia- The Land of Fire and Ice

 After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Russia’s power diminished to some extent. It has attained the status of a federal semi-presidential setup.  Russia’s GDP is considered to be the eighth-largest in the world with a total of 3.38 trillion USD. Leaving aside the economic growth, Russia may as well reclaim its numero uno spot on the basis of its mineral and energy resources and military power. It has got the second-largest military base in the world. Russia was once the hub of the communist revolution. It has also secured for itself a permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council. Technologically advanced, this country is set to achieve many milestones in the future.

 1. China – The Land of Confucius

 

The Chinese dragon is aiming to rule the world in a few years time. People’s Republic of China is a sovereign country but not a democratic one. It is set to pose the biggest threat to USA’s supremacy. The world is already getting divided into two parts. One consists of China and its partners and the other has USA and its partners. China’s GDP is just lower than that of The United States of America at 12.405 trillion USD. Its economy is at an all-time high and militarily as well, it is the second-largest in the world, right after the US. On parameters like biodiversity, citizen welfare, tourism and others, it continues to score brownie points. China’s policies towards nations like Tibet have been often questioned but seems like the route to the top is always a grey-shaded area.

10 Most Intelligent Animals in the World

Article by surbhi jalan, November 4, 2013

We humans do not own the world alone. We are masters because we are the most intelligent ‘’animals’’ supposedly. Other animals aren’t clever enough to be scientist but they aren’t that brainless either. They have showed different results with some common ones like rats, primates and dolphins. Each animal possess a unique characteristic. From sheep that know how to cure themselves to elephants that carry out ritualistic ceremonies for the dead, our world is filled with secreted gems of genius. So here is the time to Surprise you with the facts about some of the intelligent animals around us.

10. Octopus

Octopus is the brainiest among all invertebrates in the sea. It is because they can change color in less than fraction of a second. They can easily use any tool with the help of their tentacles, for example they exerts skills like precise muscle control to eat. By birth they are highly skilled hunters and use well planned strategies to find food. And like many of the other animals on this list they too have shown the ability to solve some very complicated and difficult problems. They possess traits like curiosity, boredom, learning ability and the capacity to use tools. The octopus exerts skills like precise muscle control to eat.

9. Squirrel

 
Squirrels may be small by size but their brains are not. They have this innate ability to remember their home by identifying locality, trees, bushes, flowers, etc. During every fall, they bury atleast thousands of nuts in many places and then they can easily remember where to find all these nuts during winter. Their intelligence is mainly very much focused on one thing that is gathering food.  They are uniquely adapted with storing provisions. Their minds are everything which includes a ridiculous memory to remember where they have stored it.

8. Pig

According to some experts pigs are one of the smartest animals as a pet – more than cats and dogs. They are emotional, sensitive, have feelings, gets easily bored and are also very social to humans. Few experiments in 1990s have shown the sign of their cleverness. Researchers have shown that, a pig of middle age can be as smart as a three year old human being. They possess the ability to learn new skills easily as they can adapt to any situations. They are trained to move cursor on a video screen using their snouts. The cursor is used to distinguish between scribbles they already knew and the new ones. They learned and performed the task as quickly as chimpanzees.

7. Dog

 
Dogs are the man’s best friend. They are among those animals that are part of our daily life. They can identify and remember animal as well as human faces. They are sensitive, jealous and they won’t forget anyone hurting them throughout their life span.Border collie is widely accepted as the most intelligent dog breed in the world .This breed of dog can be used for tending sheep and other cattle. This pet can easily perform any task and has many abilities. They can be trained well for personal help as well as for rescue purposes. In general they learn new skills very easily and are quick to respond to any human training.

6. Crow

 
Along with parrots, crows are other intelligent birds in the world. They possess the ability to solve complicated problems and adapt to difficult situations, which can be easily identified in the way they gather food and collect resources for their daily activities. For example, occasionally they put nuts on the street and wait for car or pedestrian to crack the nuts and then eat them. Crows are crafty critters; they are born with a tool making skill. They fashion tools from things like twigs, feathers and other bits of debris to collect food from hard places. They are born with a tool-making ethic, but they learn this skill by watching their elders, which is again a sign of higher intelligence.

5. Sheep

According to scientists and researchers sheep possess an incredible kind of instinctive ability and intelligence beyond our imaginations. If they are threatened, they make a large groups and run away from predators. Sheep have the ability to remember and identify animal as well as human faces. They can easily identify when a fellow sheep mate is lost in their flock. They also exhibit a wide range of emotions, feelings and responses to various activities around them which shows a high level of intelligence. Some researchers believe that sheep possess the most powerful memories, better than human in certain situations.

4. Parrot

 
Parrots are most beautiful and loving among all the birds in the world. They are famous for their ability to talk is pure mimicry as most of us know parrots have excellent memories and like many other intelligent animals they are capable of solving complicated problems. They have innate ability to mimic human words, understand their meaning and later use them to make sentences. They can answer easy questions and can also use tools using their beak. This is something that makes them unique from other birds. African gray Parrot is the best species in terms of intelligence among all. This breed can communicate with each other using body gestures, songs and calls. They can be trained to create various voices and small sentences.

3. Dolphin

 
According to scientists when it comes to body mass to brain ratio, dolphins have the largest brains in the animal kingdom. They are characterized by their advanced communication skills, they also have been considered to be self aware of their ability to recognize themselves in a mirror. They are the smartest aquatic animal and use whistling sound to communicate. Bottlenose Dolphin who lives in the warm water is the most intelligent species of dolphins. Scientists have discovered that they have very large brain and the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for social communications. It is seen that they can be trained easily and perform difficult tasks. They possess the amazing ability to think, plan and solve difficult problems.

2. Elephant

The complete size of an elephant’s brain suggests that they must know a thing or two more about the world. It is very large animal who have three different species. They have been seen consoling their family members, helping other group in times of need, playing in water and interacting with each other through vibrations sensed in their feet. Some identify themselves in the mirror too. In many parts of the world elephant is seen as a symbol of wisdom and known for their astonishing memories. Their brain is very large as compared to all present animals on this universe. They also possess excellent hearing ability; use their ears and trunks to listen. They use their brains to generate and route complex social interactions and seem to even possess traits such as empathy. They create a mental map and remember the exact location of water holes that feed them in the past but have not visited for years now. They can communicate with bellows, roars and can even send voice distantly using the land. Elephants have showcased a variety of behaviors. Including actions connected with grief, creating music, love, play, and the use of classy equipments.  They have unexpected taste for artistic achievement hence, they can paint a portrait.

1. Gorillas & Chimpanzees

Chimpanzee is the most intelligent animal with the highest abilities and capabilities to perform various activities. They have better memory than any other animals. Apart from the fact that they look like humans, they also have the capacity to think and analyze like humans. They can easily be taught to use computers, to crack mathematical problems and this may be the world uppermost ability in any animal. Chimpanzees can quickly adapt sign language and perform them to communicate with humans. Apart from the fact that they look like humans, they also have the capacity to think and analyze like humans. They are so skilled that they can easily mandate their environment and utilize tools in order to attain certain goal. By and large they are the smartest primate and one of the smartest animals in the world.

Top 10 Negative Effects of Using Cosmetics and Makeup Daily

Article by Saranya Nayak, November 4, 2013

 

Foundation, toner, bronzer, kaajal, eyeliner, eyebrow pencil, eye-shadow, blusher, lipstick, lip-gloss, powder, deodorant,nail polish…if you are in the habit of putting on at least ten of these every single day, whether at work, parties, picnics, dinners or walks, you are definitely an obsessive compulsive cosmetics user! Of course, they make you look pretty, but not forever. They make you look younger, but they don’t make you younger. Too much of a good thing can turn very nasty in the long run. Cosmetics today contain a wide range of chemicals which, if used in excess, slowly damage our skin and body until it is too late to mend. A study has found that the average woman exposes her skin to one hundred and seventy five different chemicals everyday in the form of make- up and beautification products. Dangerous chemicals like sodium sulphates, phthalates, parabens, triclosan and various reactive acids present in most popular cosmetic products today are absorbed by the skin into the bloodstream and lead to numerous lingering side effects, some of which are known to have serious repercussions for the user’s general health. Read on to discover more about how these so-called magic make up tricks can be little devils in disguise!

10. Skin Discoloration

Skin Discoloration

A number of cosmetics, like fairness creams, skin toners, sunscreens and blushers can have bleaching and/or darkening effects on the skin, especially if the products are of inferior quality. Poor quality cosmetics when used without regulation can lead to marked discolouration of skin, including patches, redness, brown to gray pigmentation, blotches and unevenness. You surely don’t want your face to become dotted with brown, flecked with grey and look as red as if you’ve been pinched all over, then you would do well to use these synthetic skin care products as little as possible. Hence it is extremely important to use these products only while they are well within their date of expiry. Switching to natural remedies like preparing pastes from fruits and medicinal herbs, eating healthy and drinking plenty of water are always the wiser options.

9. Headaches

Headaches

There is a scientifically proven relationship between make-up and headaches. Surveys point out that most women who wear make-up for long hours daily are more prone to serious headaches at irregular intervals. Thick coats of make-up, especially on the face and forehead increases susceptibility to painful migraine attacks which may even lead to dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Harsh chemicals interfere with the skin and underlying muscles, triggering headaches, weakness and fatigue. So if you are getting headaches at odd hours for which you haven’t been able to pinpoint the cause, then ask yourself how much make-up and perfume you’ve been wearing lately, and try going through a week without them. You’ll definitely find your headaches reduced to near non-existent soon.

8. Itching and Skin Disorders

Itching

A number of oil-based skin foundations clog pores on the facial skin, leading to scary acne outbreaks. Blushers and bronzers contain ingredients which can lead to pimples, lead patches and long term skin irritation all over the affected areas. Salicylates found in a number of pain relief lotions and skin care creams can lead to severe itching especially among those who are sensitive to the chemical. And the next time you think about buying that new anti-ageing fairness cream, remember to collect thorough information about the ingredients, quality and side-effects as a number of poor quality skin care products contain chemicals which though temporarily may present you with a youthful glow, can in the long run lead to premature ageing of your skin. Sodium lauryl sulphate, a popular ingredient used by most of the modern cosmetic brands, is known to reduce the protective barrier of the skin by at least ten percent, thereby increasing the skin’s susceptibility to irritation by a host of chemicals. Heavy metals and ammonia in hair dyes can lead to abrasions in the skin and scalp, follicle damage and hair loss.

7. Allergic Reactions

Allergic Reactions

A large percentage of health problems from cosmetics involve allergies. Commonly used chemicals contained in make-up products can produce allergic reactions in the skin, eyes and hair if used in excessive amounts. Parabens, (examples – ethyl-paraben, butyl-paraben, isopropyl-paraben etc.) which are chemicals used as preservatives to prevent bacterial growth in cosmetics, have been reported to cause allergic reactions including various kinds of skin irritation, blotches and blemishes on the skin of the users of these products. A lasting infection caused by the use of certain fragrances is photosensitization, in which the perfume reacts with sunlight to create brown patches on the skin. Salicylate sensitivity is another reason for increased allergic reactions including the outbreak of painful rashes or hives among sensitive users to products containing the chemical as one of the ingredient. Sadly, very few cosmetics in the market are completely free of salycilates.

6. Eye Infections

Eye Infections

Use of excessive make-up on and around the eyes can lead to serious infections, accompanied by redness, watery eyes and stinging sensations. Applying too many coats of eye shadow creates considerable damage as the glittery dust which makes your eyes shine also slips through the corners and ends of the eyelids to cause redness and itching. Too much mascara can lead to the stopping of eyelash growth or falling of eyelashes. Mascara also attracts bacteria for breeding, as a result causing severe eye irritation potentially resulting in blindness. Same goes for too much kaajal and eyeliner. Our eyes are one of the most important and sensitive organs of our body – it would be a shame if we destroy them in our attempts to beautify them.

5. Depression

Depression

A most recent study by international scientists has linked cosmetic use with depression and mood swings. They claim that women who tend to wear heavy make-up including  foundations, toners, lipstick, blushers and dark mascaras tend to feel more gloomy and depressed more often than those who use minimal or no make-up. Triclosan, parabens and other damaging chemicals in skincare products and perfumes disrupt lead to hormonal imbalances The prevalence of such negative feelings leads to loss of concentration, determination and optimistic outlook, which can have immensely adverse effects on one’s professional, social and personal lives. So if you want to stay happy throughout the day, throw out those countless tubes of fairness creams, wrinkle lifts and  hair colours!

4. Disruption of Thyroid Systems

Thyroid Gland

Damaging chemicals in cosmetics over a long period of time, can wreak havoc with your endocrine system, particularly the thyroid gland. A prominent example is Triclosan – a chemical used to keep many of your skin care products germ free. It is commonly found in deodorant sprays, make-up, and acne-removing scrubs. Absorption and accumulation of triclosan and perfluorinated compounds within the body due to daily cosmetic application has an extremely detrimental effect on the thyroid gland, leading to severe after-effects occurring from hypothyroidism  i.e. insufficient secretion of the thyroid hormone. Sudden headaches, shivering bouts, depression and weight gain are some of the adverse consequences resulting from the hyposecretion of the thyroid gland.

3. Damage to Reproductive Systems

DNA damage in Reproductive Cells

The allergy-causing parabens present in cosmetics in the form of antimicrobial ingredients have been proven by medical research to be toxic to the reproductive cells and system. Butyl paraben in particular was linked to DNA damage in men’s sperm, according to a study that compared the levels of this compound to several reproductive measures in men. If the DNA of reproductive cells are damaged, it can lead to a terribly adverse impact on reproduction processes and reproductive hormones. Moreover, since women are the dominant consumers of cosmetics, these toxic chemicals tend to put them at even greater risk. Skincare products and deodorants have been linked to some very complicated reproductive irregularities, which could even lead to infertility and  I am sure you don’t want that to happen to yourself. So stop wondering and just be careful. Don’t overdo your make-up. It won’t change who you are!

2. Breathing Disorders

Asthmatic Airway

Chemically reactive beauty products can not only ruin your healthy physical appearance and cause painful allergies, they can go so far as to interfere with your respiratory system, causing serious breathing disorders. For example, salicylates and lead-containing lipsticks can lead to breathing difficulties that are similar to asthmatic attacks. Even the seemingly harmless bubble bath you buy for your little boy or girl can be a potential cause of respiratory disorders, especially if it contains the foaming agent alkylarylsulphonate. What is the use of beautification if it results in our being unable to breathe properly? Hence it only makes sense to be extremely careful while choosing the cosmetics we purchase and limiting their use altogether.

1. Increase Susceptibility to Cancer

Skin Cancer

If nothing else can make you control the use of cosmetics, this definitely will.The most pressing reason to minimize the use of cosmetics and toiletries is to protect yourself fro cancer risks, in other words, almost certain death. A majority of chemical cosmetics available in the  market today contain toxic ingredients that, with prolonged use, can cause multiple kinds of cancer – breast cancer, skin cancer and blood cancer.Fragrances containing phthalates, synthetic shampoos and deodorant sprays and nail polish contaminated with benzene in particular can be the causes of the worst kinds of cancer. And the worst part is, since companies try their best to make these products look as innocent as possible, and because of the lack of consumer awareness regarding the their toxicity, people hardly suspect them to be the cause of their health troubles, until it is too late.