Paul Conroy claimed to be 'safe' in Lebanon after being smuggled out of Homs

 

Conroy, a British photographer working for the Sunday Times, and Bouvier, a French correspondent for Le Figaro, were reported to have travelled safely out of Syria overnight and were in Lebanon on Tuesday morning. "We've just had word from Beirut," said Mr Conroy's father, Les, on Tuesday morning. They are understood to have been smuggled out of a besieged enclave of Homs by the Syrian opposition. However, there were conflicting reports over whether they had been successfully evacuated. Miles Amoore, Sunday Times correspondent in Afghanistan, tweeted that they were still in the Baba Amr area of Homs. Both journalists suffered leg injuries last Wednesday during a barrage that killed Marie Colvin of the Sunday Times and Remi Ochlik, a French photographer.

Sunday Times journalist Marie Colvin killed in Homs

 

Marie Colvin, the respected Sunday Times journalist, was killed today alongside French photojournalist Remi Ochlik in Syria. The veteran correspondents were killed by a rocket as they fled the house they were staying in, which was hit during shelling in Homs, a witness told Reuters. Colvin, the only journalist from a British newspaper in the besieged city, had covered conflict for The Sunday Times for the past two decades.  French government spokeswoman Valerie Pecresse confirmed the deaths. At least two other Western journalists, and seven activists were reported to have been injured after in excess of ten rockets hit the house. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was investigating reports that a British photographer was also injured in the incident. Yesterday government troops heavily shelled the districts of  Baba Amr, Khaldiyeh and Karm el-Zeytoun  in Homs, which is considered to be a stronghold of resistance. Ochlik, the founder of the picture agency IP3 Press, was an award-winning photojournalist who covered events including the 2004 rioting in Haiti and last year’s Arab Spring. US-born Ms Colvin, in her final dispatches had detailed the unfolding conflict in Homs, which has been the focus of unrest against the Syrian president. While working in Sri Lanka a grenade attack left her blind in one eye and forced her to wear an eye patch to cover up the injury. Ms Colvin, who was educated at Yale, started her career as a police reporter for a news agency in New York before moving to Paris and then London. She was featured in the 2005 documentary Bearing Witness about women war reporters and was named foreign reporter of the year at the 2010 British Press Awards. The same year, she spoke at a memorial service for journalists who died reporting conflicts around the world.

500,000 passengers allowed to enter Britain on Eurostar without border checks

 

Home Secretary Theresa May told the House of Commons that border security checks at ports had been suspended regularly and applied inconsistently for more than four years. Mrs May also said students from low risk countries had been allowed to enter Britain even when they did not have visa clearance. She said the practice was unlawful and discriminatory. John Vine, the independent chief inspector of the UK Border Agency, launched an investigation after it emerged the UK's border checks were being relaxed at ports and airports without ministerial approval. His report found that border staff went "over and beyond" any scheme approved by ministers. It also discovered that the biometric chip reading facility had been deactivated on 14,812 occasions at a number of ports between January and June 2011.

Spending on health per patient in Spain is down ten percent in two years

 

The spending cuts in the health service are causing a deterioration in patient care, as the regions reduce the budget by 5 billion €. The cost per inhabitant has fallen 10% over the past two years, waiting lists are getting longer, and a shortage of beds and a lack of payment to suppliers is ever more common. Supplies are also being rationed. Unions claim there are some hospitals which are rationing the use of bandages. There are already hospitals which no longer operate in the afternoons, and emergency departments are often saturated. All the staff has met the brunt of the cuts, there have also been cut backs on medicines, technology and maintenance. Professionals and patients are starting to notice the cuts. At the Ramon y Cajal emergency department in Madrid, some 100 workers have denounced the saturation, and say there is a shortage of beds. Patients are being placed in overcrowded rooms. The amount owed to suppliers by hospitals by the regional health authorities has now risen to 11.6 billion €.

Teenagers jailed for south London murder

 

teenager accused of two gang murders at the age of 16 has been sentenced to a life term. Jordan Williams was told on Thursday he would serve a minimum of 18 years for murdering Daniel Graham, 18, who was stabbed 24 times in 45 seconds. Williams, who turned 17 last month, was part of a gang which attacked Graham as he stepped off a bus on 29 January last year. Williams was later arrested for the murder of promising athlete Sylvester Akapalara, 17, who was shot dead in Peckham, south London, a month before. But a jury cleared him of that killing, which resulted in Sodiq Adeojo, 20, being jailed for a minimum of 30 years, also on Thursday. Williams, Colin Aghatise, 16, and Lennie John, 24, all from Peckham, were found guilty on Wednesday at the Old Bailey of murdering Graham. Williams and Aghatise were ordered to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure, with Aghatise given a minimum term of 15 years. John, 24, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years. They were said to be members of the GMG gang, which is said to stand for various names, including Guns, Murder and Girls. Graham was attacked with knives and a broken bottle in front of horrified passengers as he got off a bus in East Dulwich, south London. He was helped back on to the 176 bus by passengers, but died from his injuries. Judge Timothy Pontius told the defendants: "Daniel Graham was murdered in circumstances of horrific and merciless brutality. "He was killed in an attack which, for all its brevity, was intensely ferocious. "At least four, and probably more, played an active part. They were acting like a pack of hyenas." Williams had taken one of two lock-knives he kept at home to a party where violence was likely to arise at the meeting of two opposing groups. Williams and Aghatise were both 15 at the time. All three defendants were from decent homes and had good academic achievements. But on the night "they all too readily followed the pack instinct". The court was told that Williams was a server at his local church and had been elected chairman of his school council. And John's mother was said to work at a central London magistrates court. Duncan Penny, prosecuting, said trouble flared at an under-18s event at Dulwich Hamlet football club and a gun was fired, hitting a youth in the leg. He said a row broke out between Graham's friends and another group of youths. Penny said: "Daniel's group was punched and knives were produced and it appears a firearm was discharged and at least one shot was fired. "Daniel's group fled the party and their escape route took them past East Dulwich railway station. They were pursued by members of the defendants' group." Graham had tried to take refuge on the double-decker bus before changing his mind and jumping off. But he was attacked in front of passengers by a large group of youths who subjected him to "a volley of punches, kicks and stamps" to the body and head. Penny said CCTV on the bus showed the time of the attack as 12.09am. "It lasted in the region of 45 seconds," he added. "In that short period he had received 24 stab wounds, having been descended upon by a group of murderers." Passengers made the driver drive off while Graham, who was covered in blood, was laid across two seats by a nurse and her sister. After seeing some of the attackers at the next stop, the bus drove on until police and an ambulance reached it in Lordship Lane. Williams and John were identified by a youth who had viewed them rapping on YouTube. Aghatise's DNA was found on a broken bottle with Graham's blood on it. Graham had gained seven GCSEs and was doing business studies. He did voluntary work for the NSPCC children's charity in his spare time. His mother, Stephanie, said in an impact statement to the court that she had been devastated by his death. She added: "Everyone loved Daniel. He was instantly likeable to all who knew him."

Hells Angel charged over Sydney ice labs

 

Police say they have charged a senior member of the Hells Angels bikie gang over the discovery of two illegal drug laboratories earlier this week. The 33-year-old man was arrested with an alleged Hells Angels associate on Wednesday afternoon at an apartment block at North Ryde, in Sydney's north-west. Police say they found drugs and a loaded handgun at the unit. The apartment was raided by officers investigating the discovery of two methylamphetamine labs on Tuesday in the city's south-west at Catherine Field and Narellan. Specialists from the Drug Squad's Chemical Operations Team are still working to dismantle the equipment and chemicals used in the manufacture of ice. Both men arrested yesterday have been charged with drug manufacture and other drug offences, while one has been charged over the pistol. Two other men who were arrested at the lab sites on Tuesday, aged 36 and 41, remain before the courts.

1993 £1m Felixstowe heist: Suspect Eddie Maher was 'bankrupt'

 

A man wanted in Suffolk over a £1m heist in 1993 had been declared bankrupt with debts of more than $30,000 (£19,000), American court papers have revealed. Eddie Maher, 56, originally from Essex, was arrested on 8 February after being found in Ozark, Missouri. Mr Maher had $85 (£54) in his bank account when he filed for bankruptcy in 2010. He is due in court in America on 22 February for a preliminary hearing. Anonymous tip-off Mr Maher disappeared in 1993 after a security van packed with cash was taken from outside a bank in Felixstowe. The former security guard, who had been living in South Woodham Ferrers when he disappeared, has been charged with immigration and firearm offences in the United States. Bankruptcy papers filed in November 2010 revealed Mr Maher had got into financial difficulties. They showed that he had $17,061 (£10,881) of loan and credit card debts. He also owed $1,759 (£1,121) in hospital and doctors bills and $3,148 (£2,007) in unpaid tax. The security van disappeared after stopping outside Lloyds Bank, in Felixstowe, in January 1993 Assets listed on the court papers included a rifle and digital camera valued at $170 (£108) and a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer car valued at $1,700 (£1,083). He was working as a broadband technician and earned $1,896 (£1,208) a month. His monthly expenses totalled more than $1,807 (£1,151). 'Financial management' course The papers also revealed Mr Maher and his family regularly moved home. Between May 2007 and September 2010, they lived in three addresses within the Ozark area. After being declared bankrupt in November 2010, Mr Maher was forced to complete a course in "personal financial management" on 13 December 2010. Police in America arrested Mr Maher after receiving an anonymous tip-off that he was a "fugitive wanted in England". Papers from a US District Court, in Springfield, Missouri, revealed Mr Maher cannot afford a lawyer. Suffolk police is looking to start extradition proceedings to bring Mr Maher back to the UK.

Let’s clear up a few things about Whitney Houston.

 

 First of all, she left a last will and testament. It was drawn up after her divorce from Bobby Brown, according to my sources. Daughter Bobbi Kristina is her likely main heir. Despite dire reports, Houston also was not bankrupt or broke. Even though she didn’t have a publishing legacy–others wrote her songs–she did have money from album sales and touring. She likely had advances, too, from various deals with Sony (formerly Sony BMG) dating from 2000. She made a lot of money–at least $35 million gross–from touring Europe and Asia in 2010. Sony is shipping and selling millions of her records right now. And while there may not be a lot in the vaults of unreleased material, there will be enough to do some kind of souvenir album. Her estate in Mendham, New Jersey has been on the market for three years. Yesterday, the price was dropped to $1.7 million. “The property is amazing,” says a friend. “Someone will buy it and remodel it.”  The gated home comes with an Olympic sized swimming pool that at one time bore a large “W” scripted on its bottom. Mostly, Houston had been dividing her time between Atlanta and Los Angeles. Some other things to note: Houston was not scheduled to sing at the Clive Davis party on Saturday. She was merely there as a guest and cheerleader. As I reported on Saturday night– on Thursday she spent the morning and early afternoon with musical director Ricky Minor and Monica and Brandy. Minor reported that she’d been swimming and was in a good mood. Press saw her on Thursday with Davis and the singers. I was staying in the very same Beverly Hilton Hotel. The sense that Whitney was wildly partying all over the place has been conveyed by the tabloids. It’s just not true. What she did at night outside the hotel is another story. And then there was the exclusive story we reported here about the leak on Friday night from her room into the one below. The man in the suite below her saw water cascade through his bathroom ceiling at 2:30am. When he went upstairs, he found that the bathtub had been left on and was overflowing. Bobbi Kristina, 18, was not taking a bath at that hour. But she was awake, and the television in the room with the overflowing bathtub was cracked.

Whitney Houston's Funeral To Be Streamed Live Online

 

Whitney Houston's funeral will be streamed live on the internet so fans can pay their final respects to the legendary singer. The Greatest Love Of All hitmaker, who was found dead in her hotel room last weekend, is to be laid to rest at her childhood church in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday (18th February). Following confirmation that the ceremony will be a private, invite only event, Houston's publicist Kristen Foster has announced that The AP are allowed to film the service and stream it on their website - with the footage also available to broadcasters via a satellite. The 48-year old's body was flown from Los Angeles to New Jersey on Monday (13th February) ahead of the planned service at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark where she sang as a child with her cousin, Dionne Warwick. It is thought that Whitney will be buried next to her father, John Russell Houston Jr - who passed away in 2003 - with family members making the decision based on what the R&B star would have wanted. Despite her tragic death, Whitney's music continues to dominate the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, with one of her most famous hits I Will Always Love You on course to re-enter the UK singles chart top 10 on Sunday.

Shyness could be defined as a mental illness

 

Under changes planned to the diagnosis handbook used by doctors in the US, common behavioural traits are likely to be listed as a mental illness, it was reported. The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders could also include internet addiction and gambling as a medical problem. Although the guidelines are not used in the UK, experts said they feared it would affect thinking on the subjects. "We need to be very careful before further broadening the boundaries of illness and disorder," Simon Wessely, of the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London, told the Daily Mail. "Back in 1840 the census of the United States included just one category for mental disorder.

Two arrested in connection with Cabopino stabbing

 

Two people have been arrested in connection with the stabbing to death of a man whose body was found in Cabopino in the early hours of Tuesday week. The 26 year old received three stab wounds in his back after an argument in a bar. Diario Sur reports that two arrests have been made but that the investigation remains open. Police will have to establish which one of the two arrested men was the main player in the aggression. It seems there was an argument at about 1,20am close to the Bar Mesón 24 horas in Marbella, and it was the waiter there who called the police after finding an injured man on the ground. An ambulance went to the scene, but the medics could do nothing to save the victim who had suffered three stab wounds and a blow to the head. The victim was of Ecuadorian origin but had Spanish nationality and lived in a nearby urbanisation. The waiter said that the victim did not want any problems with the two men, and even invited them in the bar to a ‘chupito’. He said that he thought the group went outside to smoke. Robbery could have been a motive, and the victim was found without his wallet and mobile phone.

Spiritual beliefs can have psychological pros, cons

 

When Kenneth Pargament decided to start researching psychology and religion, he did not receive the most support from the psychological community. "The field tended to take a negative view toward religiousness," Pargament said. "[Sigmund] Freud, for instance, talked about religion as a defense against anxiety. Religion was often linked in the minds of many people in mental health to psychopathology, but that picture has changed in the last 25 years. The research has shown some pretty consistent links between religious involvement and health and well-being." Pargament, a professor in the Department of Psychology, researches the aspects of religion and spirituality that can be helpful as well as harmful to people. "We think of religion and spirituality as a double-edged sword," he said. Carney Strange, a professor of student affairs in the College of Education and Human Development, teaches a course about the "spiritual dimensions of student development." This involves looking at questions of purpose students have during college and whether their viewpoints change over time regarding these questions. These can include wondering about job prospects, whether people depend on the student and whether the student is a worthy human being. "I teach in a graduate program where people are working on master's [degrees] to become student administrators," Strange said. "My goal is to help them understand this dimension of students as they go through the college experience." The idea of an afterlife can often help answer questions like these, Pargament said. "I think beliefs in the afterlife also respond to the basic need for transcendence and continuity in life, the need to feel that our lives matter," he said. Studies, particularly some the Department of Psychology has coordinated, show people often turn to faith during times of stress, such as illnesses, mortality and frailty, Pargament said. "Generally, I think religion is especially well-designed to help people come to terms with their finitude, their limitations [and] the fact we can't control everything," he said. Sammy Hitchcock, a junior in the SEARCH Community that Strange advises, said her Christian faith helps her through all aspects of her life, such as school. "I have to have faith that I am doing as much as I can to pass my classes or pass a test," Hitchcock said. "If I don't [pass], then I have faith that it is going to work out regardless." Hitchcock said she prays not only when she is stressed, but also when she is happy. "I don't really pick and choose which parts I apply faith to," she said. Nonetheless, Hitchcock said she understands religion is not going to solve all of her day-to-day problems. "People expect that God or spirituality and whatever they believe in is going to be given to them because they ask for it," she said. "That goes back to the grand scheme of things where if one door closes, another one opens." When it comes to scientifically proving the existence of a deity, Pargament said it is wise to take an agnostic point of view. "We can know [God exists] as individuals, we can have our own personal belief systems and affiliations, but as scientists we have no device to measure God's existence ... [or] nonexistence," he said. "There is no ‘God-ma-tron' out there." When it comes to atheists and agnostics, Pargament said there are different kinds, with some people not caring about the existence of a deity and others expressing passion toward their disbelief. He pointed out that all people put faith into some kind of personal belief and into things that cannot be measured by sight. "I don't think so much the issue is faith versus the lack of faith," he said. "I think the critical thing is, ‘what do we put our faith in?'"

15 unique hotels from all over the world where you can relax in an unforgettable holiday you’ve always dreamed of.

Whenever you feel the need to get out and have a glimpse of the wild, or just to relax by a nice fireplace or even to spend a few days trapped inside icy rooms or jungle canopies, there is a place awaiting you.

 

With prices ranging from too low too exorbitant, we invite you to take a tour into what we call “the most interesting places you can spend a few days at”, 15 unique hotels from all over the world where you can relax in an unforgettable holiday you’ve always dreamed of.

The Balancing Barn, England

Built by Living Architecture of an idea belonging to the Swiss writer Alain de Botton – the author of “The architecture of happiness” –, the purpose of this spot is to accommodate people and allow them to live in harmony with the environment, using modern architecture and high-quality materials. It’s situated in Suffolk, it may accommodate up to 8 people and it’s situated by the edge of a natural reserve.

With an odd shape and design, it has previously won a few rewards. Built with silver tiles and comprising huge windows, one can enjoy great landscapes while chilling inside any of the rooms.

Cost: $38 / person / night, depending on the occupancy.

The Mountain Retreat Inn, China

 
Situated in the Guanxi province, near Yungshuo, over viewing the Yulong River, this resort is renowned among the exotic seekers, being already recommended by The Telegraph and Trip Advisor.

It comprises simple rooms, but it uses the natural landscape surrounding it to emphasize every little piece of the beautiful design it has. Comfort is at high standards, the mountains offer one the possibility of totally getting away from day-to-day city life, and the nearby Li River is beautifully decorated with karst peaks.

Cost: $62 / single room.

Wild Brown Bear Hotel, Finland

This place is truly depicted out of fairy tales and novels. The beautiful scenery includes moss carpets, birch and pine forests, blueberries and forest fruits all over the place. It’s situated in the Karelia region, offering a rare chance to commune with nature itself.

One can reserve a night just to spend some time into the hides located here, watching wolverines and brown bears, or even make documentaries and photo-shooting from inside the photographer’s hide. You can also do some kayak-sailing on the silent lakes around the hotel, or even grab a bike to catch some wild air.

Cost: $213 / night / person.

Hotel Saratoga, Cuba

If you decide to visit Cuba, you probably want to have a cigar in Havana, or relax into a luxurious hotel; the chance to miss this hotel = 0. Far away from day-rush and noise, it’s the perfect place to be.

With a nice positioning, away from the great chaos from Paseo del Prado, the Guardian has put it among the top 10 Cuban hotels. With a not-so-good food reputation, it’s considered to be one of the best accommodations; the rooftop pool offers a great view over the town and it’s this hotel’s greatest card to play.

Cost: starting from $238 / night / Deluxe patio room.

Hoshi Ryokan, Japan

This resort has been built for everyone that wants to taste the uniqueness of the Japanese culture. Traditional tatami-matted rooms with futons, communal spas and the best Japanese food one can find are the reasons you should get here. The reputable business, lasting for 1300 years now, is located Hokuriku, Ishikawa. Considered to be one of the first Japanese ryokans, it has seen 46 generations.

The spring near the resort is believed to have curative powers; the rooms are decorated in pure sukiya style, while the kitchen offers traditional meals at breakfast and dinner.

Cost: $91 / guest room / night and going up.

Akköy Evleri Cave Hotel, Turkey

Situated in Cappadocia, this hotel is built near the historical village Akköy near Ürgüp. It’s owned by the AkköyEvleri family, comprising five bootique rooms, designed as caves and built in ex-cave houses.

Among the other similar locations around the spot, this one has the upper hand, because of the irreproachable services and great food it has to offer. One can visit the surrounding Byzantine caves or the underground cities Kaymakli and Derinkuyu.

Cost: $106-284 / room.

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Tanzania

This is one of the most desirable places to be on Earth. Located on the edge of the Ngorongoro volcano, it offers absolutely superb views over the surrounding savannah. The Ngorongoro is a conservation area protected by UNESCO, and there are around 40,000 Maasai semi-nomadic pastoralists that go on with their living.

Wild animals, from herbivores to carnivorous beasts live here, and this spot is located right on the path of the migrating wildebeests, zebras and gazelles. The local design based on the Maasaimanyattai culture gives the guests a true African experience at a colonial comfort level. Marvelous safaris await you.

Cost: $720 / person / night.

La Résidence Phou Vao, Laos

UNESCO has reached even this spot, protecting the old Laos capital city of Luang Prabang. A mini-forest of palm trees, a large white colonial mansion and mountains as far as the eye can see is what makes this place unique.

Living in harmony with nature there are Buddhist monks around this resort. Observing them and the stupas is a great activity for the tourists that decide to come and visit this place, being accommodated by simple dark-wood rooms with cotton-wafting around doorways. There’s a Zen-like spirit at hand here.

Cost: $260 / double room.

Adrère Amellal eco lodge, Egypt

One of the few places left unspoiled is the Sahara desert. This resort is closely situated near it, providing easy access to the vast sands and great surroundings. One may check out the old Siwa culture, and taking benefit of the non-existent Internet services, no phone signal and no electricity, they can rest in peace without any speck of bother from the big city hustle.

The restaurant offers local meals, both vegetarian and meat, the Roman springs await everybody and the complex was built using only traditional methods, rock-hewn and kershef. It’s approximately 750 km away from the Egyptian capital of Cairo, but the ride is compensated by this particular spot.

Cost: $500 / night.

Palacio de Sal, Bolivia

White rock salt is everything here. Everything is made out of it. The spot offers some great night views over the stars, beautiful light shows on the salt lake and a mountain-like atmosphere, due to the location: 3,650 meters above sea level, on the eastern shore of the Great Salar de Uyuni. It comprises a golf course and a relaxing spa.

One can try to get the perfect shot here, playing with all the lights, decorations and landscapes. There’s always the need to get out alone and wonder alone. This place is ideal.

Cost: from $100 / single room.

Albergo ll Monastero, Italy

The surrounding Capri and Amalfi may capture tourists’ attention, but this tiny island is surely a subject to returning to Italy. The Albergol Monastero Hotel offers a great view over the Neapolitan gulf. The Mediterranean atmosphere is enhanced by the location; being a part of the Aragonese Castle, built during the 16th century, it’s located on a beautiful rock outcrop.

Thermal hot springs, volcanic mud treatments and wellness massage packages for the tourists spending at least two nights here are some of the few amenities one can try here.

Cost: prices oscillate, starting at $142 / room.

Alila Ubud, Indonesia

Rice terraces, a huge pool that looks like a mirror painted on the ground that doesn’t seem to end and the Bali hill-side – great location for this particular resort. It’s been recommended by Green Globe.

Totally eco-friendly, the hotel offers four-star services, traditional foods in the local restaurant, designed in a contemporary way. Come and see!

Cost: $148 and going up.

Great Orme Lighthouse, Wales

Comprising a beautiful history and a one-hundred-and-eighty degree view over the Irish Sea and North Wales, this former lighthouse was built in 1862 and was used for sailing purposes until 1985.

The hostess, Fiona, presents a modest accommodation, but promises to share the story of the lighthouse with you.

Cost: $129 / person / night.

Riad L’Ayel d’Essaouira, Morocco

Located in the middle of Essaouira’s old quarter, this particular hotel comprises four rooms, designed in Barber-style. Pleasing every eye, the level of detail this place was built with is astonishing: silky fabrics, carved-wood furnishings, tadlakt-coated walls and colored ceramic all over the place.

Offering a decent range of prices, check out the Travel Intelligence website and you’ll notice this location is marked there.

Cost: Starting at $71 / room.

The Oberoi Udaivilas, India

Located in Udaipur, this is your chance to spend one night as a Mughal Emperor. The traditional gold-leaf domes and sand-colored walls are easily noticed reflecting in the local clear-water pools. With Lake Pichola right near it, this location was voted as the highest level hotel Asia by Travel + Leisure’s 2011 after a poll they did.

Decorated with plenty of marble and frescoes manually painted by enthusiasts, this resort makes on feel like a Rajah. And, considering that the hotel is located in the middle of the ancient Mewar kingdom, the historical value of the place is unmatchable. The Aravalli Hills and the local lakes make this spot a desired destination for every human being, not mentioning that the feel it gives you is unique.

Cost: From $760.

Brussels gives green light for storage of Olive Oil

 

The European Commission is to give the green light this month for a new storage of olive oil for as much as 100,000 tons for five months. Taking that amount from the marketplace means that prices will be controlled. A similar amount was stored last November and since then only 45,000 tons has been released from cooperatives and some industrial groups. The olive oil sector is in a deep crisis with very low prices over the past year, a lower quality of product and an average 155 € per kilo for normal, and under 2 € for virgin extra. EU aid of between 80cents and 1€ only partially solved the problem and so producers are turning to storing the oil to put up the price. Minister for Agriculture, Arias Cañete, considers storage to be just another measure. Last season 1.4 million tons were produced, an amount expected to be beaten this year.

Demi Moore on road to recovery

. Known for its individualized approach to addiction treatment, the super-posh Cirque Lodge has also helped Lindsay Lohan, Mary-Kate Olsen and Eva Mendes overcome their addictions. Moore's decision to seek treatment comes on the heels of a sad downward spiral for the 'Margin Call' star, who split from husband Ashton Kutcher in November. Friends are relieved that the actress is seeking treatment - more than 20 years after she first went to rehab in 1985. "She knows she's in a bad place and needs help. Rehab is the only thing she can do right now. She needed something serious to get her back on track," a source said. Meanwhile, singer-actress Miley Cyrus has spoken out in support of Moore. The 19-year-old, who stars alongside Moore in the forthcoming film 'LOL' took to her Facebook page to stand by Moore. "Everyone needs to leave Demi alone. She's been through so much the past year. She doesn't need all this. How can you talk about someone you don't know?'," Cyrus wrote. "The media makes everyone in Hollywood seem weak, stupid or unbalanced. Just because she's in Hollywood doesn't mean she's on drugs. NOT EVERYONE IS ON DRUGS!!!.

The original 12 Step program that had a 90% success rate

The original 12 Step program that had a 90% success rate | DREAM WARRIOR RECOVERY

NON DILUTED 12 STEPS http://www.bigbooksponsorship.org/downloads/4-hour-12-steps.pdf

The label, sponsorship did not come from A.A. nor is the word mentioned in there BIG BOOK.

Sponsorship is the downfall of A.A | DREAM WARRIOR RECOVERY

The label, sponsorship did not come from A.A. nor is the word mentioned in there BIG BOOK. Sponsorship came from recovery places that injected it into A.A as a whole thus dividing A.A.– The message of A.A. is clear “ God could and would if sought”– Sponsorship goes against God ability and the message of A.A. You can count on if it doesn’t come from ones own heart (personal willingness) it is not A.A