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Horror of Moroccan earthquake survivors forced to live among remains of those killed and

admin — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 20:29:14 +0000

Survivors of Morocco’s deadliest earthquake in sixty years have told of the horror of living alongside dead bodies still submerged under collapsed homes, which four days on from the disaster are beginning to rot.

Aziz, a villager from Ijoukak, 10 miles from the quake’s epicentre, said: ‘Until now we have found no survivors, only the dead buried under the rubble… the smell of corpses is very, very strong. We still have no electricity and no water.’

The death toll has now surpassed 2,800 and is expected to rise even further, as hopes fade of bringing out those still trapped under piles of debris following Friday’s 6.8-magnitude quake.

Desperate villagers still waiting for aid in the worst-hit regions of the Atlas mountains reported being left to search for survivors themselves, digging with their bare hands to get the bodies of their neighbours and loved ones out of the rubble.

After the fourth night sleeping outside for many Moroccans on Monday – either in makeshift tents or under the stars in rural areas and on the streets of Marrakech – many are waking up today still waiting for help.

A victim covered in a sheet is carried to a makeshift grave that has just been dug in Talat N’yakoub

Desperate villagers still waiting for aid in the worst-hit regions of the Atlas mountains reported being left to search for survivors themselves

A victim is carried away by rescue workers in Talat N’yakoub, Morocco

A group of men carry the body of a local who was killed in the quake to place them in a freshly dug grave

Because homes in quake-hit villages of the High Atlas mountains are typically made of mud bricks, stone and clay, it is usually harder for people to survive in them than in modern buildings destroyed by quakes.

‘When all of that collapses, you don’t have much chance of surviving, because there are no air pockets,’ Rescuers Without Borders’ founder, Arnaud Fraisse, said.

‘People are generally suffocated by the dust.’

Abdelqader Tarfay, the general secretary of Morocco’s National Health Union, said that the greatest challenge for medics and rescue teams is still to get trapped people out.

‘Then they have to work on removing the remaining corpses under the rubble so that they do not rot,’ he told Al Jazeera.

Homes, mosques and schools have been decimated, with a religious teacher in the village of Tafeghaghte saying that 22 of his students had been killed.

Some residents in the worst-hit mountain regions criticised the government’s relief efforts, saying that while other communities had received assistance they have had to fend for themselves.

Said Hartattouch said it was understandable why some communities were receiving state assistance while others were not, due to the enormity of the destruction that has killed more than 2,800 people.

Remote hamlets in the areas around Ijoukak are still not accessible, the Guardian reports, with ‘huge boulders blocking the roads’.

‘The problem for Atlas Mountains is that it is big… ‘It’s not possible to help everyone’.

The 34-year-old was at work in Marrakech when the 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck.

The moment the earth began to shake, he rushed to his family’s village more than 60 miles away in the High Atlas Mountains, anxious to get to his mother and two sisters.

Moroccan rescuers carry a body out of the rubble in Talat N’Yacoub village of al-Haouz province

Said Hartattouch, 34, was at work in Marrakech when the 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck

Women react as they walk on the rubble of Imoulas village in the Taroudant province

When he arrived several hours later, his childhood home lay in ruins.

Speaking outside the rubble of the earth-and-straw house, Hartattouch said that in the days following the quake he had sometimes felt like he was in a horrible dream.

‘But then you wake up the day after and you find reality,’ he said.

While Hartattouch’s mother and sisters survived, fifteen other people from the close community of about 100 people perished.

Among them was his uncle, who was buried by a collapsing wall after he fled his home, and a close family friend who lived next door.

The village of Tinmel lies in a state of devastation. The homes have been crushed and the historic 12th-century mosque that sits at the end of the village and attracted tourists from around the world is now a ruin.

Recounting his return to the village, delayed due to a road blocked by a landslide, Hartattouch described a scramble inside his destroyed family home to gather blankets and his mother’s insulin.

A Moroccan soldier comforts a man sitting on the ruins of a home in the mountainous area of Tizi N’Test

People wait as emergency personnel open a road to their village in the mountainous area of Tizi N’Test, in the Taroudant province

Family members hold a woman as she is overcome with grief as the body of her husband is removed from beneath a collapsed house

An excavator digs through the rubble of collapsed buildings on September 11, 2023 in Douz

Boxes of humanitarian aid prepared to be sent to quake-hit Morocco following the deadly earthquake

With nowhere to go, the villagers have slept out in the open since the earthquake struck on Friday.

Residents say the village has received little government help and instead relied on charitable donations. A mother of a 15-day-old baby boy said the child needed milk formula and medicine.

There is an urgent need for tents to protect the people from the dropping temperatures at night.

‘It is the beginning of the cold weather, the first day was very tough,’ Hartattouch said.

Disposable vapes to be BANNED to stop addiction among children

admin — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 08:32:22 +0000

Disposable vapes are set to be axed to prevent children from becoming addicted to the devices under new Government plans.

Campaigners have long called for much tougher regulations on marketing to children and a tax on disposable vapes, which are most popular among teens.

But concerns have mounted in recent weeks with ministers urged to ban predatory firms selling vapes in brightly-coloured packaging and in kid-friendly favours like bubblegum.

While sales of e-cigarettes to under-18s are banned, latest data suggests 11.6 per cent of 11 to 17-year-olds in the UK have already tried vaping.

The proposals — which follow in the footsteps of countries including France and New Zealand — could be unveiled as early as next week, reports suggest.

NHS Digital data, based on the smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England survey for the year 2021, showed 30 per cent of children in Yorkshire and the Humber have used a vape

A senior Whitehall source told The Telegraph today: ‘Disposable vapes are almost entirely aimed at kids and they are environmentally damaging.

‘There is a wide consensus emerging on the need to act.’

But ministers are understood to have stopped short of a ban on all vaping without a prescription, with e-cigarettes still seen as a good alternative to help smokers quit.

Earlier today science and technology secretary Michelle Donelan did also not deny the reports.

She told Sky News: ‘We have been looking into this and have been doing a review because this is a very worrying trend that we’re seeing of young children taking up vaping that had never smoked before, and it is extremely dangerous to their health and their wellbeing.

‘It’s something that we do need to act on and, as a Government, what we’re trying to do is recognise what are the key challenges and grip them.’

Asked whether the Government will be banning single-use vapes next week, she said: ‘We’ll be making further announcements on that.’

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: ‘We are concerned about the rise in youth vaping and the environmental impacts of disposable vapes.

‘That is why we launched a call for evidence to identify opportunities to reduce the number of children accessing and using vaping products – and explore where the Government can go further.

‘We will set out our response in due course.’

Last week the French government vowed to push ahead with its own plans to ban disposable e-cigarettes over claims they encourage smoking among young people.

Both Germany and Ireland have outlined their own plans to place restrictions on vapes, with the German government currently considering an outright ban on disposable e-cigarettes.

Separately, Australia has put in place measures to make vapes available only to those who have prescriptions.

Meanwhile, New Zealand has also put in place restrictions that ban vape shops from being within 300 metres of a school and which ensure all vapes must have removable batteries.

Colourful displays of the gadgets, sold for as little as £5, currently litter high streets across the UK.

Predatory manufacturers lure kids in with flavours such as bubblegum and cotton candy and some shops even sell the devices next to sweets.

Other experts have also demanded a total ban on disposable vapes such as Elf bars, popular with teenagers.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics last week revealed that the number of young women who have tried e-cigarettes has surged to one in eight.

The data, labelled ‘worrying’ by experts found a 3.5-fold increase in 16 to 24-year-old females taking up the habit.

Some 15.5 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds vaped daily or occasionally, up from 11.1 per cent in 2021.

Around 4.5million Brits were also found to have vaped daily or occasionally — a rise of some 500,000 in just 12 months.

Almost 1,000 serious adverse reactions to e-cigs have been logged by Britain’s health watchdog including blood, nervous system and respiratory disorders, as well as cancer and injuries like burns. This includes five deaths linked to the devices. Latest figures show the proportion of adults using e-cigs in the UK increased last year to the highest rate on record, at 8.3 per cent, according to the charity Action on Smoking and Health. This accounts for the roughly 4.3million people across the country

Tests on e-cigarettes confiscated from youngsters found they contained dangerous levels of lead, nickel and chromium. Some were almost 10 times above safe limits. Exposure to lead can impair brain development, while the other two metals can trigger blood clotting

NHS figures also show a rise in the number of children admitted to hospital due to vaping.

Forty children and young people were admitted to hospital in England last year due to ‘vaping-related disorders’, which could include lung damage or worsening asthma symptoms, up from 11 two years earlier, the NHS said.

E-cigs allow people to inhale nicotine in a vapour — which is produced by heating a liquid, which typically contains propylene glycol, glycerine, flavourings, and other chemicals.

Unlike traditional cigarettes, they do not contain tobacco, nor do they produce tar or carbon — two of the most dangerous elements.

Although widely viewed as safer than smoking, the long-term effects of vaping still remain a mystery.

Doctors have expressed fear there could be a wave of lung disease, dental issues and even cancer in the coming decades in people who took up the habit at a young age.

Earlier this year leading paediatricians also warned children were being hospitalised with vaping-induced breathing difficulties amid a ‘disturbing’ youth vaping epidemic.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) warned that e-cigarettes ‘are not a risk-free product and can be just as addictive, if not more so than traditional cigarettes’.

It called for urgent action to protect youngsters, saying experts agree that longer-term data is needed on the effects of vaping, particularly in regard to cardiovascular disease.

Under an anti-smoking push, health minister Neil O’Brien revealed in May that a £3million taskforce would be established to enforce the current rules of selling of vapes.

But one million cigarette addicts will also get e-cigarette ‘starter kits’ as part of a ‘swap to stop’ scheme.

The free kits are set to be offered to almost one in five of all smokers in England at an estimated cost of £45million over two years.

Health chiefs hope the world-first policy will make England smoke-free.

It comes as MailOnline revealed in June that e-cigarettes have been linked to five deaths in Britain.

None of the fatalities, which have all occurred since 2010, are proven to have been caused directly by vaping. No ages were mentioned for any of the deaths.

But health chiefs tasked with policing the safety of e-cigs admit there is ‘a suspicion’ the gadgets may have been to blame.

Two were put down to heart disorders, including one cardiac arrest.

Respiratory complications were blamed for the other three deaths, with one caused by inhalation of fat — a known potential consequence of vaping.

Almost 1,000 serious adverse reactions to e-cigs have also been logged by Britain’s health watchdog including blood, nervous system and respiratory disorders, as well as cancer and injuries such as burns.

Everything you need to know about e-cigarettes

How much nicotine is in an e-cigarette?

There are many different brands of e-cigarettes, containing various different nicotine levels.

The legal amount of nicotine in an e-liquid capacity in the UK is 20mg/ml equating to between 600 and 800 puffs.

The Elf Bar 600, one of Britain’s most popular vapes, is advertised as coming in nicotine strengths of 0mg, 10mg and 20mg.

How many cigarettes are ‘in’ an e-cigarette?

The Elf Bar 600 contains the equivalent to 48 cigarettes, analysts say.

It delivers 600 puffs before it needs to be thrown away, meaning, in theory, every 12.5 puffs equate to one cigarette.

Experts say for many e-cigarettes, 100 puffs equate to ten normal cigarettes.

Elf Bars are a brand of e-cigarettes often sold in snazzy colours and with child-friendly names and flavours, like blue razz lemonade and green gummy bear

Is vaping better for your health than cigarettes?

Vaping products are considered to be better than cigarettes as users are exposed to fewer toxins and at lower levels, according to the NHS.

The health service adds that vaping instead of smoking cigarettes reduces your exposure to toxins that can cause cancer, lung disease and diseases of the heart and circulation, such as strokes and heart attacks.

Public Health England, which is now defunct, published an expert independent review in 2015 concluding that e-cigarettes are around 95 per cent less harmful than cigarettes.

However vaping is not risk-free, as while levels in tobacco-products are much higher, e-cigarettes still contain harmful toxins, according to a study by researchers from the Medical University of Silesia in Poland.

And Dr Onkar Mudhar, a London dentist who posts videos on TikTok, said Elf bars can cause gum inflammation, swelling and bleeding.

He said this is because nicotine dries out your mouth and reduces saliva, causing irritation from a build-up of bacteria and food that can’t get washed away.

Nearly 350 hospitalisations due to vaping were logged in England in 2022, which are thought to be mainly down to respiratory problems, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, lung inflammation and, in severe cases, respiratory failure.

US Open draws Justin Timberlake, Nicole Kidman and Leo Di Caprio among many celebs as

admin — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 00:58:02 +0000

Stars are rarely seen in New York, but many of them showed up for The US Open Final on Sunday between Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev, as Nicole Kidman, Justin Timberlake and Leo Di Caprio were all spotted at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens.

Timberlake – one of the world’s best-selling music artists, with sales of over 88million records – looked dapper in a green and white checkered shirt and khaki pants while sitting relatively close to the court. He also wore a watch with a brown leather strap and golden frame to complete his look.

Kidman, on the other hand, sat next to her husband and singer Keith Urban, in a box while wearing a striped button-down shirt of her own over a beige top. The couple, who have two children, looked very much in love as they held hands while watching what was happening on the court.

Urban even got close to his wife’s ear to tell her something secretive in a snap for the cameras while showing off a light purple button-down.

Also sitting in a box high-up was American model Emily Ratajkowski, who braved a grey dress in rainy New York weather while also donning black sunglasses and high boots

American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake looks on prior to the US Open final on Sunday

Australian-American singer Keith Urban & American-Australian actress Nicole Kidman in a box

American comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his wife Jessica engaged in discussion during the final

American actor Leonardo DiCaprio barely looked recognizable behind his all-black outfit

Emily Ratajkowski sat next to a friend with what looks like to be an Espresso Martini in her hand

Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey came to NYC just a day after being in Alabama

DiCaprio, like Ratajkowki, wore black shades to compliment his all-black attire for Sunday’s game. The 48-year-old, who’s believed to have settled down with a 25-year-old Italian model, sported a silver chain with a black baseball cap to complete his fit.

Jerry Seinfeld – America’s favorite comedian – was also spotted in the stands with his wife of 24 years, Jessica. The pair chatted back in for during the match.

Kylie Jenner showed off her new romance with actor Timothee Chalamet as she wore jeans with a black t-shirt and sunglasses. The youngest of the Kardashian-Jenner clan also wore her hair short – an unusual sighting – although it remains to be confirmed if the look was just for Sunday’s game.

Chalamet dressed up similarly to his girlfriend’s attire, wearing a black cap, hoodie and t-shirt.

Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey, who was spotted in Alabama a day earlier to root for the Texas Longhorns’ football team, looked effortlessly chic in an all-white shirt and blazer. He watched Djokovic win in straight sets along with his wife, Camilla Alves.

Kylie Jenner and American-French actor Timothee Chalamet wrapped their arms around each other during Sunday’s game

US YouTube personality-turned-into-boxer Jake Paul was in the stand with his mom, Pam

American businesswoman Martha Stewart, right, greeted a friend at the start of the match

American model Christie Brinkley made sure to take photos and videos of the once-a-year final

American actor James Marsden looks on during the Men’s Singles Final match won by Djokovic

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, top right, watches on the final at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens

English musician and actor Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner CBE, known as Sting, was also in attendance

Former American tennis player Billie Jean King was recognized during Sunday’s US Open Final

US actress Emma Roberts bought a ticket for the last game of America’s biggest tennis game

Martha Stewart was also among the crowd, wearing what seemed to be an oversized brown button down with white stripes.

American actor James Marsden, who’s known for his roles as Cyclops in ‘X-Men’ and Prince Edward in Enchanted, was seen high up from a private box, sporting a beige long-sleeve shirt with white pants and a square-shaped watch.

Former American tennis player Billie Jean King, who wore 39 Grand Slam titles in her career (1968-1990), was also shown by the cameras, as she played in integral role in shaping equality for women in tennis. This year, the US Open is celebrating 50 years of equal pay.

American boxer Jake Paul was also spotted in attendance for Sunday’s game with his mother, Pamela. He wore a light blue NFL-looking shirt with silver earing and chain just weeks after defeating Nate Diaz.

American rapper Lil Wayne ate a bag of Nerds candy while watching Sunday’s game with a pal

Eva Longoria attended the Men’s Final match opposing Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev

American actress Molly Ringwald (L) was all smiles with a friend at the US Open Final, Sunday

Actor Jon Hamm & wife Anna Osceola dressed up to see Djokovic win his fourth US Open title

Ex=professional New York Rangers player Henrik Lundqvist (R) was in attendance with his wife

Croatian-Canadian businessman Robert Herjavec, who’s on Shark Tank, was also in the stands

US actress Eva Longoria also made sure to be there for the final of the biggest tennis tournament in America, wearing a Casa Del Sol cap and a black top while showing off her brown curls and round earrings in the stands.

American actress Molly Ringwald was seen taking her phone out to take picture and videos of Sunday’s final, which will be one for the books as Djokovic won his fourth US Open title.

The Serb won his latest Grand Slam title in front of other household names, such as American rapper Lil Wayne and actors John Hamm and Emma Roberts.

Former mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg was also there, as well as musician Sting, model Christie Brinkley, former NHL player Henrik Lundqvist and Croatian-Canadian businessman Robert Herjavec.

More to follow…

England’s stand-in captain for the World Cup Millie Bright is among FOUR Lionesses in the

admin — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 18:32:26 +0000

Daphne Van Domselaar (Twente and Aston Villa)

Lena Oberdorf (Wolfsburg)

Hinata Miyazawa (MyNavi Sendai)

Millie Bright (Chelsea)

Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)

Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns)

Hayley Raso (Manchester City and Real Madrid)

Amanda Ilestedt (PSG and Arsenal)

Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich)

Olga Carmona (Real Madrid)

Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona)

Rachel Daly (Aston Villa)

Alba Redondo (Levante)

Lina Caicedo (Real Madrid)

Kadidiatou Diani (PSG and Olympique Lyonnais)

Patricia Guijarro (Barcelona)

Ewa Pajor (Wolfsburg)

Guro Reiten (Chelsea)

Sam Kerr (Chelsea)

Debinha (North Carlina Courage and Kansas City Current)

Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)

Alexandra Popp (Wolfsburg)

Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City)

Jill Roord (Wolfsburg and Manchester City)

Katie McCabe (Arsenal)

Wendie Renard (Olympique Lyonnais)

Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona)

Mary Earps (Manchester United)

Khadija Shaw (Manchester City)

Mapi Leon (Barcelona)

Revealed: The Northern Lights, Niagara Falls and the Maldives are among Brit’s top 10

admin — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 16:51:41 +0000

1. Experience the Northern lights in Iceland

2. See Niagara Falls

3. Visit the Blue Lagoon in Iceland

4. Stay in an over water bungalow in the Maldives

5. Go island hopping in Greece

6. Visit the Amalfi coast, Italy

7. See the cherry blossom in Japan

8. Go to the Colosseum, Rome

9. Stand in the middle of Times Square NY

10. Enjoy the best beaches in Bali

11. Walk the Las Vegas strip

12. See a Santorini sunset

13. Fly in a helicopter over the Grand Canyon

14. Walk across San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge

15. See turtles in Cape Verde

16. Safari in Kenya to see the “Big Five”

17. Swim with dolphins off the coast of Mexico

18. Snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef

19. Enjoy the view of Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower

20. Visit a Costa Rican rainforest

21. Visit historic Lucca, Italy

22. See the wildlife in Galapagos

23. Take a boat trip down the Amazon River

24. Enjoy tapas in Barcelona

25. Make a wish at the Trevi Fountain, Rome

26. Visit the Taj Mahal, India

27. Island-hopping in Croatia

28. Climb up to the Christ the Redeemer statue, Rio

29. Party at Mardi Gras, New Orleans

30. Accomplish a Machu Picchu Trek, Peru

31. Go wine tasting in the Napa Valley

32. Go to Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany

33. Arrive in Venice by speedboat

34. Travel to the Golden Triangle in Thailand

35. Visit the Karnak Temple Complex, Egypt

36. Tiger spotting in Bandhavgarh, India

37. Visit Jerusalem

38. Visit Iguazu Falls, Argentina and Brazil

39. Wander the old town of Montenegro

40. Go to a Michelin-star restaurant in Copenhagen

Danger across the border: Nine Mexican cities place among the 10 deadliest in the world

admin — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 23:02:59 +0000

Newly released data shows that nine Mexican cities rank among the 10 deadliest in the globe in 2022, according to World of Statistics.

The report listed the western Mexico municipality of Colima as the murder capital in the world with 181.9 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants.

The city is the second largest in the state of Colima and placed first in the list in 2021 with 196.6 murders per 100,000 inhabitants.

Murders are on pace to equal or slightly surpass those figures in 2023, with 512 homicides registered through the first seven months of the year, an average of 73.1 per month, after 887 people were murdered the previous year at a clip of 73.91 homicides a month.

New Orleans, the only non-Mexican city in the list, was ranked eighth with 70.6 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants

According to World of Statistics, nine of the ten most dangerous cities in the world are located in Mexico. An additional two placed 13th and 14th

Mexican troops were dispatched to Tijuana International Airport on August 13, 2022 following a weekend of violent incidents that left 24 burned vehicles across the state of Baja California, including 15 in Tijuana, a border city across from San Diego. Tijuana ranked fifth with 105.1 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022

Police in Acapulco stand near the body of one of the five men who were shot and killed at Santana’s Sports and Snacks Bar on December 5, 2022. Once a top destination for the Hollywood elite, the beach resort town has been engulfed with crime and registered 65.6 murders per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022

The municipality of Zamora, located in the western state of Michoacán, came in second, with 177.7 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants while Ciudad Obregón, the second largest city in the northwestern state of Sonora, recorded 138.2 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants.

Zacatecas, the capital and largest city of the north-central state of Zacatecas, came in fourth with an average of 134.6 per 100,000 inhabitants and the Pacific border city of Tijuana, across from California, ranked fifth 105.1 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants.

The cities of Celaya and Uruapan in the central state of Guanajuato placed fifth and sixth, respectively. Celaya registered 99.6 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants and Uruapan followed with 78.3 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants.

The top 10 list is rounded out by Ciudad Juárez at nine. The border town, located in the northwestern state of Chihuahua and south of El Paso, Texas, registered 67.7 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants. It was second in 2019 with 104.4 murders per 100,000 inhabitants.

Once a top destination for the Hollywood elite, the beach resort town of Acapulco placed 10th, tallying an average of 65.6 murders per 100,000 inhabitants.

Forensic personnel work at the crime scene where unknown assailants left the bodies of three dismembered people in a vacant lot in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, on August 31. Ciudad Juárez, which sits on the northern Mexico border across from El Paso, Texas, ranked ninth in 2022 with 67.7 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants

A forensic technician walks at a crime scene where unknown assailants left the bodies of men wrapped in blankets in Zacatecas, Mexico on February 5, 2022

The Guanajuato municipality of Irapuato ranked 13th with 61.60 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants and the city of Cuernavaca in the central state of Morelos was listed in 14th place with 60.2 murders per 100,000 inhabitants.

Each of the cities listed in the report are within the Mexican states that the U.S. Department of State has issued travel advisories due to crime and kidnapping.

María del Carmen López, 63, a Mexico-U.S. dual citizen, has been missing since February 9 when gunmen kidnapped her home in the Colima municipality of Pueblo Nuevo.

In June, one of her seven children held a press conference in Los Angeles and pleaded with President Joe Biden to help find her.

She revealed that the kidnappers had sent the family an audio in which the woman can be heard begging to be brought back home.

Her daughter, Zonia López, said her mother asked them to ‘please hurry, act quickly, my children, and give them what they want. My life depends on it.’

Prostate cancer drug may reduce Covid-19 infections among vulnerable people by limiting

admin — Sat, 19 Aug 2023 22:34:28 +0000

Researchers tested the effect of a prostate cancer drug called proxalutamide
The team found the drug limited the number of cells the Covid virus invaded

By Eve Simmons

Published: 17:55 EDT, 19 August 2023 | Updated: 18:12 EDT, 19 August 2023

A prostate cancer drug could help stop vulnerable people becoming ill with Covid, a study suggests.

US researchers at The University of Michigan Medical School tested the effect of a medicine called proxalutamide, a new and promising cancer treatment, on animal cells infected with Covid.

The team found that the drug limited the number of cells the virus invaded.

And when they added another licensed Covid drug, remdesivir, the virus was blocked completely.

Follow-up mice studies found that this drug combination reduced the risk of the internal inflammation that causes severe Covid and also slashed mortality.

A prostate cancer drug could help stop vulnerable people becoming ill with Covid, a study suggests.

Proxalutamide works by blocking an enzyme that helps viral cells enter healthy cells in the lungs and proliferate.

When used for prostate cancer, it blocks the activity of androgens – hormones such as testosterone – that can drive tumour growth.

According to the latest Government data, about 70 people die every week with Covid. At present, roughly 2,200 Britons are hospitalised with the virus – some 79 of which are currently on ventilators.

Several treatments are now available, but they don’t always work for everyone – especially the most vulnerable, including people with blood cancer and organ transplant survivors.

Proxalutamide has been shown in studies to keep disease at bay in two thirds of patients, although it is not yet approved in the UK.

Speaking of the new findings, Arul Chinnaiyan, director of the Michigan Center for Translational Pathology and co-author of the study, said: ‘The thought is that proxalutamide could work as a combined therapy with remdesivir, hitting the virus from multiple angles – a bit like how we use combination therapy for the HIV infection.’

Early on in the pandemic, it was suggested that there were links between the virus and male hormones, given that the majority of deaths were in men.

The experts say their research provides proof of a mysterious link between androgens and the virus – although the connection’s intricacies are not yet fully understood.

Proxalutamide is currently in final-stage clinical trials for prostate cancer and early human trials for Covid.

Thought you were HARD Left? Rates of erectile dysfunction among US men have nearly

admin — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 13:02:13 +0000

The number of men seeking treatment for erectile dysfunction has soared in recent years amid what some have described as a ‘silent epidemic’.

Viagra – the ‘little blue pill’ – is normally associated with old people but the most recent figures suggest an estimated 30 million American men now live with erectile dysfunction – nearly twice as many in the early 2000s.

Around a quarter of under-40s are though to struggle to get it up in bed, which has been linked to a rise in obesity rates, poor mental health, and an overconsumption of pornography.

Northeastern states like Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire have relatively high median ages. ED is typically more common in older men

States where ED meds are most common

Hawaii

Massachusetts

Connecticut

Vermont

New York

Minnesota

Rhode Island

California

Pennsylvania

New Jersey

States where ED meds are least common

Utah

Idaho

Arkansas

South Dakota

Wyoming

Mississippi

Oklahoma

Tennessee

Kansas

North Carolina

Pill prescribing rates vary by state, but research shows the ones that lean left politically tend to have more little blue pills in circulation which, men’s health experts say, could translate to more open dialogue between patients and doctors about sexual health issues that are taboo in many conservative states.

Dr Helen Bernie, Director of Sexual and Reproductive Medicine at Indiana University said: ‘What you see from that top 10 list, those are your more progressive states, right? New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, Nevada.

‘Those are typically more progressive states where they have better reproductive rights so you would assume that maybe people talk about sex a little bit more, maybe it’s a little bit more ok to prescribe these medicines.’

Overall, Southern states had far fewer pill bottles in circulation, with the exception of Florida, where ED prescriptions made up 0.25 percent of the total filled there.

‘Then you look at the alternative. Down south, the strong Bible Belt, there’s a lot strong religious tie and, just in general, people don’t talk about sex, we can only talk about abstinence or pregnancy.

‘And so perhaps doctors aren’t asking their patients about sexual activities so they’re not prescribing as much of the medication. It’s taboo.’

It is for this reason that Dr Bernie said that the true number of men with erectile dysfunction is likely much higher than the estimated 30 million.

If a doctor living in a conservative-leaning area where sex is not freely discussed does not bring up a taboo subject in the safety of the exam room, the patient likely won’t either.

Erectile dysfunction is often a biomarker for a man’s overall health. An inability to get or maintain erection could be a result of undiagnosed high cholesterol or blood pressure or even a warning sign of cardiovascular disease.

Dr Bernie added: ‘I mean, that’s the most simple question you’re going to have to ask: Do you have any problems achieving or maintaining an erection? And by asking that simple question, you will get an answer and it will open up the dialogue between the patients to be able to actually ask questions and seek treatment options for preventative health.’

Erectile dysfunction is most often considered in older men because of the many age-related changes the body undergoes such as naturally declining testosterone levels, weakened pelvic muscles, and a loss of the necessary nerve function that helps the brain communicate with other systems in the body that leads to an erection.

But in younger men, the source of the problem is often psychological. Performance anxiety and high levels of stress can affect the delicate balance of hormones in the body and functioning of the nervous system.

Testosterone levels typically peak at around the age of 20 followed by a slow descent throughout the rest of adulthood. At their highest, testosterone levels should be anywhere between 300 and 1,200 ng/dL. Once men hit their mid-thirties, testosterone levels begin declining by at least one percent per year.

Pornography use and overuse can also contribute to ED. Constant exposure to explicit images and videos desensitizes the viewer, making the brain less responsive to sexual stimuli such as your partner standing in front of you naked.

And repeat exposure to porn can lead to the same disruptions in the brain as do hard drugs.

The brain’s reward system releases dopamine when something that feels good happens, whether it’s finding food in the middle of a desert, snorting cocaine, or watching hardcore porn.

Over time, the brain becomes used to the images and videos and does not get the same heavy hit of dopamine when the person presses play. This hinders the brain’s reward system and makes it more difficult for the brain to get excited for the real thing.

But people’s penchant for porn likely won’t change any time soon. Internet viewing has ticked up consistently over the past two decades, suggesting that the pool of young men with ED will expand.

And as the US population gets grayer by the year, the prevalence of erectile issues could potentially increase still further, translating to even bigger profit margins for the companies behind blockbuster drugs like Viagra and Cialis.

Jake Paul’s win over Nate Diaz marred by brawl among fans in Dallas… staff try to

admin — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 00:29:15 +0000

Jake Paul’s win over Nate Diaz marred by brawl among fans in Dallas… staff try to intervene after chaos breaks out and punches are traded in the arena

By Daniel Matthews For Dailymail.Com

Updated: 20:23 EDT, 6 August 2023

Fighting broke out following Jake Paul‘s victory over Nate Diaz on Saturday night, with supporters brawling on the concourses of American Airlines Center in Dallas.

Paul returned to winning ways inside the ring, dropping Diaz in the fifth round en route to a comfortable unanimous decision win against the former UFC star.

The Youtube star’s brother Logan Paul found himself involved in a ringside brawl while the action unfolded in Texas.

Later on Saturday, the violence spread to the corridors of the arena, where several fans became embroiled in fights between themselves.

Supporters stood back as a number of clashes broke out, with men thrown to the floor and punches traded while staff and onlookers tried to break them up.

Fighting broke out following Jake Paul’s victory over Nate Diaz on Saturday night in Dallas

Supporters stood back as clashes broke out, with men thrown to the floor and punches traded

An elderly member of staff used a small sign to hit one of the men fighting in the arena

An elderly member of staff used a small sign to hit one of those fighting and several women intervened, too, before the violence subsided.

Earlier at ringside, footage captured by a bystander showed a spectator goading Logan Paul into a fight.

Paul could be seen in the clip angrily returning verbal fire as the action continues inside the ring in the background.

Paul beat Diaz in ten rounds by unanimous decision in the fight taking place in Dallas

Logan Paul found himself embroiled in a ringside altercation during brother Jake’s win

Paul could be seen arguing with someone in the audience before a brawl erupted with one person swinging a chair

The brawl quickly spread across the floor, and one person could be seen attempting to swing a chair before it is wrestled away from them by another.

Security quickly intervened in an attempt to restore order as the involved parties crushed into a barricade, knocking it over in the process.

Despite the distracting incident outside the ring, Jake Paul produced a confident performance in his first fight since losing to Tommy Fury in February.

Speaking following the fight, the 26-year-old took aim at Conor McGregor, claiming that the Irishman ‘needs to go to rehab’, but insisted he would rather work towards a bout with multi-weight boxing world champion Canelo Alvarez.

Draymond Green, Kyrie Irving, Khris Middleton and Kyle Kuzma are among the stars agreeing

admin — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 02:06:47 +0000

NBA free agency has gotten off to a fast-paced start, with multiple players already agreeing to massive, life-changing contracts.

Within the first hour of free agency opening, a reported $1.02 billion in salaries was committed as teams began to splash a serious amount of cash.

Players changing teams cannot officially sign with new teams until July 6 and details may be subject to change.

Here, Mail Sport take a look at all of Friday night’s big deals and who’s moving where, so you don’t miss a thing…

Kyrie Irving staying in Dallas

Kyrie Irving has reportedly agreed a $126million, three-year contract to remain with the Dallas Mavericks, ending talk of him exploring other options in free agency.

The controversial 2016 NBA champion arrived in Texas from the Brooklyn Nets in February, after requesting a trade, but the team fell short of the playoffs.

Irving had been linked with the Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat and Houston Rockets among others in free agency, but he has opted to stick with the Mavericks.

Kyrie Irving has decided to stay in Dallas, agreeing a three-year $126million deal with the Mavs

Draymond Green stays in Golden State

Draymond Green will be staying with the Golden State Warriors after agreeing to a new $100million, four-year deal, it has been reported.

The four-time NBA champion declined his $27.5million player option last week, but has since agreed a lucrative new contract that will take him through until the age of 37.

It also paves the way for Green to retire with the Warriors after playing his entire career with the team, having been drafted No 35 overall in 2012.

He won titles with the team in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022, and is a four-time All-Star.

Green’s deal was brokered by CEO of Klutch Sports, Rich Paul.

Draymond Green will continue with the Golden State Warriors after agreeing a new contract

Fred VanVleet gets a max deal from Houston

Fred VanVleet has agreed to a three-year $130 million max deal with the Houston Rockets.

VanVleet averaged 19.3 points, 7.2 assists, and 4.1 rebounds last season with the Toronto Raptors.

The 29-year-old point guard was a major part of the Raptors 2019 NBA Finals Championship victory and earned his first All-Star appearance during the 2021-2022 season.

VanVleet was considered to be one of the most sought-after free agents this offseason and has now netted himself a major paycheck as he looks set to be the centerpiece of newly hired head coach Ime Udoka’s new project.

Fred VanVleet has agreed to a max contract worth $130 million over three years with Houston

Kyle Kuzma remains a Wizard

Kyle Kuzma and the Wizards have agreed to a four-year $102million contract that will keep the star forward in Washington, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Kuzma recently declined the $13 million player option in his contract for next season, allowing him to enter free agency, but had admitted he was open to staying with the franchise.

‘It’s 100 percent an option… I’ve had a great time here,’ Kuzma said. ‘I’ve developed my game significantly here, and there’s good people here. I’d be a fool to say it’s not an option for me.’

The soon-to-be 28-year-old averaged a career-high 21.2 points to go along with 7.2 rebounds and was expected to be one of the more sought-after free agents on the market this summer.

Kyle Kuzma has agreed to a four-year deal for $102million that will keep him with the Wizards

Khris Middleton back with the Bucks

Khris Middleton and the Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to a three-year deal $102 million deal that will extend his stay with the franchise.

Middleton had declined the $40.4 million option in his contract in a move that was long expected in order to secure him a long-term deal.

The 31-year-old forward battled injuries this season and played in only 33 regular-season games while averaging 15.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and shooting 31.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Khris Middleton and the Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to a three-year deal worth $102 million

Jerami Grant remains in Portland

The Portland Trail Blazers and Jerami Grant have agreed to five-year $160 million contract that will keep the super athletic small forward with the team long term.

Grant played 63 games last season for the Trail Blazers and averaged 20.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assist.

It was the second time in his career that Grant averaged at least 20 points a game, with the first time coming during his breakout season with Detroit Pistons back during the 2020-21 campaign.

The Athletic recently reported that part of the dream scenario for Portland to convince Damian Lillard to remain with the team involved re-signing Grant.

The Portland Trail Blazers and Jerami Grant have agreed to five-year $160 million new deal

Cam Johnson extends his stay in Brooklyn

Restricted free agent forward Cam Johnson has agreed to a four-year $108 million deal to remain with the Brooklyn Nets.

Johnson was acquired by Brooklyn in the blockbuster trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns.

The 27-year-old initially missed the first two months of the season due to a knee injury but played in every game for the remainder of the campaign after being dealt to Brooklyn.

He averaged 16.6 points per game and 30.8 minutes a night after putting on a Nets uniform.

Cameron Johnson and the Nets have agreed to a four-year million deal to keep him in Brooklyn

Bruce Brown moving to Indiana

The Indiana Pacers have agreed to sign Bruce Brown to a two-year $45 million contract following the guard’s impressive stint with the NBA champion Denver Nuggets.

Brown’s contract is said to contain an option for the second season, meaning he could opt out and once again become a free agent next offseason.

He averaged 12 points, 4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals off the bench during Denver’s postseason run, after carving out a niche as one of the team’s most important role players.

Brown declined the $6.8 million option in his contract earlier this offseason which allowed him to hit the market as a free agent.

Bruce Brown has agreed to a two-year deal with the Indiana Pacers following his stint in Denver

Gabe Vincent finds a new home with the Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers and guard Gabe Vincent have agreed to terms on a three-year $33 million deal.

After going undrafted out of UC Santa Barbara, Vincent became a key part of the No.8 seed Miami Heat’s Cinderella run to the NBA Finals. He initially entered the league on an Exhibit 10 contract with the Sacramento Kings worth only $50,00 before being released the next day.

The 27-year-old became an even more pivotal part of the rotation after Tyler Herro suffered a broken hand in the first game of the round one series against Milwaukee.

Vincent put forth five 20-point games during the playoffs and his 51 3-pointers were the third most ever record by a Heat player in a single postseason.

The LA Lakers and guard Gabe Vincent have agreed to terms on a three-year $33 million deal

Jakob Poeltl extends his time in Toronto

Jakob Poeltl has agreed to a $80 million contract that will make sure he remains with the Toronto Raptors for another four years.

The 27-year-old center averaged 12.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks through 72 games last season.

Poeltl played only 26 of those 72 games in Toronto last season, after he was acquired in a trade from the San Antonio Spurs.

The trade served as a homecoming for Poeltl who was originally drafted No. 9 overall by the Raptors in 2016, but was traded to the Spurs in 2018 as part of the Kawhi Leonard.

Jakob Poeltl has agreed to a $80 million contract that will keep him with the Toronto Raptors

Joe Ingles lands deal with the Magic

Joe Ingles has agreed to a contract with the Orlando Magic for two years and $22 million following his stint with the Milwaukee Bucks.

He missed the first part of the season as he was recovering from a torn ACL and did not take the court until December.

After returning from injury Ingles worked his way into an important role off the bench and averaged 6.9 points and 3.3 assists per game while shooting nearly 41% on his 3-point attempts.

The 35-year-old Ingles made his NBA debut at age 27 after playing overseas and played the first eight seasons of his career with the Utah Jazz before the one year in Milwaukee.

Forward Joe Ingles has agreed to a two-year $22 million contract with the Orlando Magic

Herbert Jones not leaving New Orleans

Herb Jones has agreed to a four-year for $54 million contract that will ensure he stays with the New Orleans Pelicans.

The 24-year-old Jones was selected by New Orleans in the second round of the 2021 draft, and quickly found his way into the starting lineup in large part due to his defensive ability.

The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 9.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists last season. He has also shown impressive durability after starting in 135 of a possible 144 games.

Herb Jones has agreed to a four-year for $54 million contract keeping him with the Pelicans

Rui Hachimura remains in LA

The Los Angeles Lakers and Rui Hachimura have agreed to a three-year $51 million contract that will keep the 25-year-old in purple & gold going forward.

After being acquired in a midseason trade with the Washington Wizards Hachimura proved he could fit in as a valuable rotation piece going forward.

In his 33 games in an LA jersey he averaged 9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds. He went on to excel during the playoffs and increased his scoring output to 12.2 points per game and shot 48.7 percent from beyond the arc.

LA had previously extended a $7.7 million qualifying offer to Hachimura making him a restricted free agent and from that point on most predicted him to remain with the Lakers.

Rui Hachimura will remain with the Lakers after agreeing to a three-year $51 million contract

Dennis Schroder heading to Toronto

Veteran point guard Dennis Schroder is set to replace Fred VanVleet in Toronto after agreeing to a two-year deal with the Raptors for $26 million.

Schroder appeared in 66 games for the Los Angeles Lakers last season and averaged 12.6 points and 4.5 assists in 30.1 minutes per game.

The 29-year-old has proved to be a reliable albeit not spectacular floor general throughout his nine seasons since being drafted in the first round of the 2013 draft by the Atlanta Hawks.

He has experience as both a starter and a rotational player off the bench and should have no issue filling either role for the Raptors.

Dennis Schroder has agreed to a two-year $26 million contract with the Tornoto Raptors

Miami agrees to two deals

The Miami Heat have agreed to two-year deals with guard Josh Richardson and Kevin Love.

Richarson averaged 10.1 points last season after splitting time between the San Antonio Spurs and the New Orleans Pelicans.

The 29-year-old veteran was originally drafted by the Heat in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft and has since suited up for the Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, and Philadelphia 76ers, along with the aforementioned Spurs and Pelicans.

Love fell out of favor in Cleveland where he once raised an NBA Finals trophy alongside LeBron James back in 2016 and was bought out by the team in February before landing in Miami.

The soon-to-be 35-year-old averaged 7.7 points and 5.7 rebounds in 20 minutes per game during the regular season with Miami. He then started 18 games for them in the playoffs.

The Miami Heat have agreed to two-year-deals with both Kevin Love and Josh Richardson

Seth Curry dashes to Dallas

Sharp shooting Seth Curry has agreed to join the Dallas Mavericks on a two-year deal that will see him depart the Brooklyn Nets.

Curry averaged 9.2 points per game last season, and it was the first time in five years he failed to register more than 10 ppg.

He also has never recorded less than 40 percent from 3-point range during his nine years in the NBA.

Sharp shooting Seth Curry (30) has agreed to join the Dallas Mavericks on a two-year contract