Microsoft Wants Its Wearable On Your Wrist And Your Health Data In Its Hands

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="leaderboard" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 0px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 10px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"> <div class="ad_initialized" id="article_container_0_top" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <hgroup class="prevent_widows prevent_widows_initialized" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: left;"><h1 itemprop="headline" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 42px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 15px 120px 18px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <img alt="" itemprop="image" src="http://blogs-images.forbes.com/aarontilley/files/2014/10/Device_Explode_19fps_v01_000001-e1414647773784.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: auto; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 803.328125px;" /></h1> <h1 itemprop="headline" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 42px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 15px 120px 18px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <a class="exit_trigger_set" href="http://www.forbes.com/companies/microsoft/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-size: 19px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Microsoft</a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 19px; line-height: 25px;"> </span><span class="quotecard_hook initialized loaded" data-exchange="NASDAQ" data-naturalid="fred/company/2854" data-quotes-closing="46.62" data-quotes-now="46.0" data-ticker="MSFT" data-type="organization" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="wrapper decrease" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="exit_trigger_set" href="http://www.forbes.com/companies/microsoft/" style="background: rgb(250, 236, 235); border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(246, 219, 217); box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 1px 3px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="ticker" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">MSFT</span> <span class="change" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">-1.33%</span></a></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 19px; line-height: 25px;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 19px; line-height: 25px;">has had a pretty tough time getting very far with smartphones. Maybe it will have better luck in wearables.</span></h1> </hgroup><div id="google_ads_iframe_/7175/fdc.forbes/article-new_0__container__" style="background: transparent; border: 0pt none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 19px; margin-right: 133.875px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> As Forbes staff writer Parmy Olson <a class="exit_trigger_set" href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2014/05/29/exclusive-a-microsoft-smartwatch-is-coming/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">first reported last May</a>, Microsoft is getting into the wearables game, and today it finally showed its hand with the announcement of the Microsoft Band, a $199 fitness wearable that continuously tracks your heart rate.</div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 19px; margin-right: 133.875px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> Available immediately in both online and physical Microsoft stores, the wearable is packed with 10 sensors–such as GPS, an optical heart rate monitor and a UV light monitor. In addition to constantly tracking your heart rate, it also can track things like how many steps you’ve taken, calories burned and your sleep quality. A Bluetooth radio in the wearable syncs the data up to your phone. Microsoft is claiming two days of usage and expects you to wear it all the time.</div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 19px; margin-right: 133.875px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> It also has a few so-called smartwatch capabilities with text, email, social media and calendar alerts.</div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 19px; margin-right: 133.875px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> The Band will work on iOS, Android and Windows Phone, but if you pair it with the Windows OS, you’ll be able to use digital assistant Cortana, Microsoft version of <a class="exit_trigger_set" href="http://www.forbes.com/companies/apple/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Apple's</a> <span class="quotecard_hook initialized" data-exchange="NASDAQ" data-naturalid="fred/company/280" data-quotes-closing="107.34" data-quotes-now="106.36" data-ticker="AAPL" data-type="organization" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="wrapper decrease" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="exit_trigger_set" href="http://www.forbes.com/companies/apple/" style="background: rgb(250, 236, 235); border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(246, 219, 217); box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 1px 3px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="ticker" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">AAPL</span> <span class="change" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">-0.91%</span></a></span></span> Siri. You can tell Cortana on the device to give you information on weather, traffic or stocks as well as set reminders or take notes.</div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: none; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 19px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"> <img alt="band_891x392-659x311" class=" size-full wp-image-1124" src="http://blogs-images.forbes.com/aarontilley/files/2014/10/band_891x392-659x311.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 198px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 420px;" /></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 19px; margin-right: 133.875px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> On top of the wearable announcement, Microsoft is also coming out with Microsoft Health, a cloud-based service to store and analyze health data coming from multiple sources–that includes data coming from competing health wearables. As with the watch, the cloud service is compatible with the three main mobile operation systems–iOS, Android and Windows Phone. The app will analyze information such as how many calories you’ve burned or how much sleep you’re getting and then give you feedback on fitness goals you’ve set.</div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 19px; margin-right: 133.875px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> The Health platform has a number of partners starting out that it will work with, including UP by Jawbone, MapMyFitness, MyFitnessPal and RunKeeper.</div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 19px; margin-right: 133.875px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> With this move, Microsoft is finally catching up to some of the competition of its fellow tech giants. <a class="exit_trigger_set" href="http://www.forbes.com/companies/google/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Google</a> <span class="quotecard_hook initialized" data-exchange="NASDAQ" data-naturalid="fred/company/1821" data-quotes-closing="558.35" data-quotes-now="557.21" data-ticker="GOOGL" data-type="organization" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="wrapper decrease" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="exit_trigger_set" href="http://www.forbes.com/companies/google/" style="background: rgb(250, 236, 235); border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(246, 219, 217); box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 1px 3px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="ticker" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">GOOGL</span> <span class="change" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">-0.2%</span></a></span></span> and Apple have already begun offering their own platforms for centralizing and analyzing health data across a number of sources. Apple brought on HealthKit with its iOS 8 update and Google has its Google Fit for Android.</div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 19px; margin-right: 133.875px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> The consumer market for fitness wearables is exceedingly crowded at the moment. There have been a number of new devices with a multitude of sensors and claims about battery life and accuracy. Basis, <a class="exit_trigger_set" href="http://www.forbes.com/companies/intel/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Intel's</a> <span class="quotecard_hook initialized" data-exchange="NASDAQ" data-naturalid="fred/company/2207" data-quotes-closing="33.92" data-quotes-now="32.81" data-ticker="INTC" data-type="organization" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="wrapper decrease" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="exit_trigger_set" href="http://www.forbes.com/companies/intel/" style="background: rgb(250, 236, 235); border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(246, 219, 217); box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 1px 3px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="ticker" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">INTC</span> <span class="change" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">-3.27%</span></a></span></span> fitness wearable startup it acquired this year, <a class="exit_trigger_set" href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/aarontilley/2014/09/30/intel-basis-peak/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">unveiled its the Peak</a> for $199 and will be available in November. Peak offers constant heart rate monitoring and claims five days of battery life over the Band’s two. And fitness wearable maker Fitbit recently announced its $250 watch, Surge, available next year.</div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 19px; margin-right: 133.875px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> Equipped with 10 sensors, the Microsoft Band is able to collect a lot more information than some of the other fitness wearables. For example, the UV sensor tracks your sun exposure and Microsoft can combine that with your other health data to find out how it relates to stress and health. But Microsoft consumer hardware products haven’t always shined. Its Zune music player went nowhere and the future of its Surface tablet remains uncertain.</div> <div class="loge_ad ad_initialized article_body_ad" id="article_container_0_loge" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: right; float: right; margin: 10px 0px 30px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div id="google_ads_iframe_/7175/fdc.forbes/article-new_3__container__" style="background: transparent; border: 0pt none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <iframe frameborder="0" height="600" id="google_ads_iframe_/7175/fdc.forbes/article-new_3" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="google_ads_iframe_/7175/fdc.forbes/article-new_3" scrolling="no" style="background: transparent; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 15px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="300"></iframe></div> </div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 19px; margin-right: 133.875px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> Between April 2013 and March this year, 3.3 million fitness trackers were sold in the US, according to research firm NPD Group. But the whole wearables market is expected to grow rapidly now that Apple has staked its claim in the ground with the $349 Apple Watch that is expected out early next year.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Microsoft Wants Its Wearable On Your Wrist And Your Health Data In Its Hands

Microsoft MSFT -1.33% has had a pretty tough time getting very far with smartphones. Maybe it will have better luck in wearables. As Forbes staff writer Parmy Olson first reported last May, Microsoft is getting into the wearables game, and today it finally showed its hand with the announcement of t…

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Entire Town Staged 'Cash Mob' For Beloved Store Owner Going Through Tough Times

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> Levittown, New York came together to be there for a man who was always there for them.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> Avi Gandhi, 63, originally from India, came to Levittown, New York about ten years ago and took over Center Lane Stationery, a convenience store. He became a beloved member of the community while working at his shop. Unfortunately, due to financial difficulties, the store owner announced earlier this year that he may have to close the store.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> "<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2014/10/residents-strangers-rally-to-save-ny-mom-and-pop-shop/" sl-processed="1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #e49400; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">The economy is hurting me</a>," Gandhi told ABC News. "I don’t know what is going to happen ... It is that bad. Business has gone down 75 percent in the last five years."</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> But Craig and Celeste Hamilton Dennis, customers and friends of Gandhi, weren't ready to give up on the man who meant so much to their town. Back in June, with the help of Gandhi's customers, they organized a "cash mob," where people flooded the store to boost its business. They also documented the event in a short film, "Cash Mob for Avi," in hopes of helping him to continue running his store.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> "Avi took in the whole scene and was just shocked and humbled. He kept insisting that this was not just an honor for him, but for all small business owners who work hard every day but never receive any acclaim," Liz Morrison, director of the short film, told The Huffington Post in an email.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <img alt="flash mob" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/2217586/thumbs/o-FLASH-MOB-570.jpg?6" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.zackdelaune.com/" sl-processed="1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #e49400; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Zack DeLaune</a></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> The project, which was put together through a Facebook event and took about a month and a half to plan, was kept a complete secret from Gandhi. When the cash mob began, Gandhi was confused as to why so many people were coming into his shop, and was bit flustered by the booming business. After it was revealed to him what was going on, and he stepped outside to a crowd of supportive customers, Morrison says he was overjoyed.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> "They escorted Avi out to the cheering crowd, and he just was blow away. He raised his fists and proclaimed that he wanted to 'serve them until his last moment,'" she said.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <img alt="cash mob for avi" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/2217614/thumbs/o-CASH-MOB-FOR-AVI-570.jpg?6" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.zackdelaune.com/" sl-processed="1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #e49400; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Zack DeLaune</a></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> While the gesture was a grand one, Celeste said that Gandhi definitely deserved it.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> "He knew the names of everyone who came in, who their family was, what their disappointments were, the dreams they had. He would frequently joke, offer sage advice, let people pay him back if they were hard up, listen intently, and make people feel like they mattered," Celeste told HuffPost. "He was like family to many of his customers."</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> While his business is still struggling, and may close by December, the 63-year-old is staying positive, and seeing it as an opportunity to spend more time with his wife, Bharati, and cut back on work hours. His community has continued to stand by him, in support of a man who Morrison says, "works tirelessly every day to serve his customers."</div> </div>

Entire Town Staged 'Cash Mob' For Beloved Store Owner Going Through Tough Times

Levittown, New York came together to be there for a man who was always there for them. Avi Gandhi, 63, originally from India, came to Levittown, New York about ten years ago and took over Center Lane Stationery, a convenience store. He became a beloved member of the community while working at his s…

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Google's Alan Eustace beats Baumgartner's skydiving record

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h1 class="story-header" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #505050; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 2.461em; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 34px; margin: 3px -160px 13px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; width: 623px;"> Google's Alan Eustace beats Baumgartner's skydiving record</h1> <div> <br /></div> <div> <div class="introduction" id="story_continues_1" style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> A senior Google vice president, Alan Eustace, has broken the world altitude record for a parachute jump set in 2012 by Austrian Felix Baumgartner.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> Mr Eustace was carried by a large helium balloon from New Mexico to over 40km (25 miles) above the earth.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> The 57-year-old leapt out in a specially-designed space suit, reaching speeds of more than 1,300km/h.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> He exceeded the speed of sound, setting off a small sonic boom, and set several skydiving records in the process.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> The dive was part of a project led by <a href="http://www.paragonsdc.com/stratex/#six" style="color: #4a7194; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;">Paragon Space Development Corporation</a>, aimed at the exploration of the stratosphere above 100,000 feet (30,480 metres).</div> <span class="cross-head" style="background-color: white; color: #505050; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.231em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Years of preparation</span><div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> Mr Eustace successfully jumped from near the top of the stratosphere at an altitude of 135,890 feet at 09:09 local time (16:00 GMT), the World Air Sports Federation (FAI) confirmed on Friday.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> The previous record was set by Mr Baumgartner two years ago, after he jumped from a height of nearly 128,000 feet.</div> <div class="caption full-width" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #505050; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; position: relative;"> <img alt="Alan Eustace preparing for skydive in New Mexico on 24 October 2014" height="351" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/78526000/jpg/_78526386_263.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none; border: 0px; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: 0px; position: relative;" width="624" /><span style="display: block; width: 624px;">Mr Eustace set off from an abandoned air field in New Mexico early on Friday morning</span></div> <div class="caption full-width" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #505050; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; position: relative;"> <img alt="Alan Eustace preparing for skydive in New Mexico on 24 October 2014" height="351" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/78526000/jpg/_78526460_284.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none; border: 0px; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: 0px; position: relative;" width="624" /><span style="display: block; width: 624px;">He wore a self-contained commercial space suit enabling him to explore the stratosphere</span></div> <div class="caption full-width" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #505050; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; position: relative;"> <img alt="Google Senior Vice President of Engineering and Research Alan Eustace speaks during the grand opening of Google Kirkland on 28 October 2009 in Kirkland, Washington. " height="351" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/78526000/jpg/_78526383_92430315.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none; border: 0px; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: 0px; position: relative;" width="624" /><span style="display: block; width: 624px;">Alan Eustace is Google's senior vice president of knowledge</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> Mr Eustace also broke the world records for vertical speed reached during freefall with a peak velocity of 1,321km/h (822 mph) and total freefall distance of 123,414 feet - lasting four minutes and 27 seconds.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> He set off from a runway in Roswell, New Mexico, at 07:00 connected to a balloon module, which carried him for two hours and seven minutes to his target altitude.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> The Google executive - who is also a veteran pilot and parachutist - had been planning this jump for several years, working in secret with a small group of people trained in parachute and balloon technology, says the BBC's David Willis in Los Angeles.</div> <div class="caption full-width" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #505050; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; position: relative;"> <img alt="Balloon module in New Mexico on 24 October 2014" height="549" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/78526000/jpg/_78526380_jmh_7478.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none; border: 0px; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: 0px; position: relative;" width="549" /><span style="display: block; width: 549px;">The Google executive was carried into the stratosphere using balloon technology</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> But, our correspondent adds, Mr Eustace completed it without the aid of sponsorship, and with considerably less fanfare than the previous record holder, Felix Baumgartner, whose jump from the edge of space was streamed live over the internet two years ago.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> "It was amazing," Mr Eustace was quoted by the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/25/science/alan-eustace-jumps-from-stratosphere-breaking-felix-baumgartners-world-record.html?_r=0" style="color: #4a7194; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;">New York Times </a>as saying.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> "It was beautiful. You could see the darkness of space and you could see the layers of atmosphere, which I had never seen before."</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> He told the newspaper that he did not feel or hear the sonic boom as he passed the speed of sound, although it was heard by observers on the ground.</div> </div> </div>

Google's Alan Eustace beats Baumgartner's skydiving record

Google's Alan Eustace beats Baumgartner's skydiving record A senior Google vice president, Alan Eustace, has broken the world altitude record for a parachute jump set in 2012 by Austrian Felix Baumgartner. Mr Eustace was carried by a large helium balloon from New Mexico to over 40km (25 miles) abov…

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Unexpected ways to wake up your brain

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h1 class="story-header" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #505050; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 2.461em; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 34px; margin: 3px -160px 13px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; width: 623px;"> <br /></h1> <div class="caption full-width" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #505050; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; position: relative;"> <img alt="Woman smelling pot of herbs" height="391" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/78620000/jpg/_78620441_sage.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none; border: 0px; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: 0px; position: relative;" width="624" /></div> <div class="embedded-hyper" style="background-color: white; clear: right; color: #505050; display: inline; float: right; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px -160px 0px 16px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 144px;"> <a class="hidden" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-29817519#story_continues_1" style="color: #4a7194; font-weight: bold; left: -5000px; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; top: -5000px;">Continue reading the main story</a><div class="hyperpuff"> <h2 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; font-size: 1.231em; margin: 0px 0px 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 12px 0px; position: relative; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine/" style="background: rgb(214, 0, 0); color: white; display: block; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: -13px; margin-top: -13px; padding: 13px 8px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; z-index: 1;">In today's Magazine</a></h2> <ul style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px;"> <li style="background: none; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-rendering: auto;"><a class="story" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-29804446" rel="published-1414633846321" style="color: #4a7194; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;">The nuclear attack on the UK that never happened</a></li> <li style="background: none; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-rendering: auto;"><a class="story" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-29817520" rel="published-1414672000248" style="color: #4a7194; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;">Is the traditional metal key becoming obsolete?</a></li> <li style="background: none; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-rendering: auto;"><a class="story" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-29830722" rel="published-1414674464153" style="color: #4a7194; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;">Caption Challenge: Crane-osaurus</a></li> <li style="background: none; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-rendering: auto;"><a class="story" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-29830942" rel="published-1414673911721" style="color: #4a7194; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;">Artist combats abuse with paintings</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="introduction" id="story_continues_1" style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> Tea or coffee is often the favoured brew for those who are tired and in need of a caffeine boost. But is this really the best way to make ourselves more alert? Michael Mosley tested caffeine against some unlikely alternatives - sage, fudge, chewing gum and electric shocks.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> How effective is caffeine for improving alertness? I drink lots of tea and coffee, so I assumed the answer is "very". But it is always worthwhile having your assumptions challenged.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> So the Trust Me team asked Professor Peter Rogers of Bristol University to put caffeine to the test. He recruited a group of 20 people, 10 of whom never normally touch caffeine. The other 10, regular caffeine imbibers, were asked to turn up for testing having abstained for at least 12 hours.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> Both groups were measured for mental agility, concentration and dexterity. Then they got a drink with a good jolt of caffeine in it. I found the results surprising, not to mention disappointing.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> "Overall, regular caffeine consumers who'd been without caffeine overnight, were slower on the reaction time task, were sleepier and were less mentally alert than non-users," Professor Rogers said.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> They did improve after they got a caffeine drink, but only up to the level the non-users had achieved without caffeine.</div> <div class="story-feature wide " style="background-color: white; clear: right; color: #505050; display: inline; float: right; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px -160px 16px 16px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 304px;"> <a class="hidden" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-29817519#story_continues_2" style="color: #4a7194; font-weight: bold; left: -5000px; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; top: -5000px;">Continue reading the main story</a><h2 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; font-size: 1.231em; margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 11px 0px 12px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"> Find out more</h2> <div class="caption body-narrow-width" style="clear: both; float: none; margin: 0px 0px 16px; position: relative;"> <img alt="Michael Mosley" height="171" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/68610000/jpg/_68610061_hi012823068.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none; border: 0px; display: block; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: -9px 0px 17px; position: relative;" width="304" /></div> <div style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> You can watch <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04mpk80" style="color: #4a7194; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Trust Me, I'm a Doctor</a>, with Michael Mosley and others, on <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/brand/b04j9gny" style="color: #4a7194; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">iPlayer</a></div> </div> <div id="story_continues_2" style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> When the non-users were given caffeine to drink their reaction times increased but they also became more jittery and anxious.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> Professor Rogers says that, contrary to what most people believe, drinking lots of coffee on a regular basis won't enhance your mental performance. Part of the problem with caffeine is we quickly develop dependency.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> So if you want to give your brain a boost, what else is out there?</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> Next we asked Dr Andy Johnson, of Bournemouth University, to test the impact on afternoon drowsiness of eating sugar, sage (the herb) and chewing gum.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> He lined up 24 volunteers and in the morning did some tests to measure alertness. Then, in the afternoon, our volunteers were randomly allocated to either chew gum, eat fudge, swallow a pill containing sage or a placebo.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> One hour later they did some really boring tests. They repeated this process three more times over the course of the week, each time trying something different.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> As expected, swallowing a placebo pill made little difference. The volunteers still felt drowsier in the afternoon. Eating fudge, if anything, made them feel slightly worse.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> Chewing gum, surprisingly, improved mood, possibly because chewing seems to increases blood flow to brain. Going for a brisk walk would probably be just as effective.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> In fact, the only thing in our test that really did seem to improve our volunteers' performance was the sage pills. This was not as unlikely as it might sound. There was a recent <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24836739" style="color: #4a7194; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;">systematic review of clinical trials</a>"assessing pharmacological properties of Salvia species on memory, cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease".</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> The review looked at eight studies which have tested the effects of sage on things like memory. Six of these trials involved normal subjects and two were done on people with Alzheimer's.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> The researchers concluded that extracts of sage can enhance cognitive performance and it is safe, but they also caution that because so many different herbal preparations were used (extracts, essential oils, raw sage) better-designed trials are needed to establish which preparation is best.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> The reason sage may have an effect is because it contains a cholinesterase inhibitor, a chemical which prevents the breakdown of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. Low levels of acetylcholine in the brain have been linked to memory problems. It is obviously only early stages of research into this herb, but there are clearly some interesting avenues for further research.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> The final thing I wanted to test was electric shocks. Is it safe to shock your brain? For some years scientists have been using tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation, a small electrical charge to the skull) to try to improve a whole range of things, from learning to reaction times.</div> <div class="caption full-width" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #505050; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; position: relative;"> <img alt="Michael Mosley" height="416" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/78611000/jpg/_78611818_mosley.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none; border: 0px; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: 0px; position: relative;" width="624" /></div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> Dr Charlotte Stagg of Oxford University, has been using it to help people recover strength in their hands after a stroke. Charlotte has found that, compared with a sham treatment, tDCS seems to speed up recovery, probably because of the effect that tiny electric currents have on neuronal connections inside the brain.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> To see what effect it would have on me, Charlotte carefully positioned some electrodes on my skull and turned on the machine.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> There was a slight itchiness and it did feel as if my brain had been given a jolt, but had it actually made any difference?</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> The short answer is yes. In a test which involved pressing a button when I saw a light go on, my reaction times improved from an average of 650 milliseconds before the machine was turned on, to 550 milliseconds with it on. These findings are in line with results from other subjects.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> tDCS is currently being tested, not just as a way of helping people recover from stroke, but also as a potential treatment for depression. Charlotte is concerned, however, that people don't turn to homemade devices or machines you can buy on the internet.</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> "We do our studies in a very measured way," she told me "but we just don't know what the long term consequences of prolonged, uncontrolled use are likely to be."</div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04j9gny" style="color: #4a7194; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;">Trust Me I'm a Doctor is on BBC iplayer</a></div> <div style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"> <em style="line-height: 16px;">Subscribe to the </em><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26567792" style="color: #4a7194; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;">BBC News Magazines email newsletter</a><em style="line-height: 16px;"> to get articles sent to your inbox.</em></div> </div>

Unexpected ways to wake up your brain

Continue reading the main story In today's Magazine The nuclear attack on the UK that never happened Is the traditional metal key becoming obsolete? Caption Challenge: Crane-osaurus Artist combats abuse with paintings Tea or coffee is often the favoured brew for those who are tired and in need of a…

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10 Reasons To Marry A Man With African Roots

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74893" style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_32971" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74890" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74888" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px;">By Julia Austin</span></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74888" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74887" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74886" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <img alt="Pixabay.com" class="attachment-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" height="350" src="http://d22atgph1ebwrd.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2014/10/couple-254683_640-620x350.jpg" style="border-style: none; line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;" width="620" /><span style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px;"> </span><span class="img-source" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Pixabay.com</span><span style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px;"></span><div style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; padding: 0px;"> You might be familiar with common traits of husbands from different countries in Europe, or even different states in the United States. But do you know much about how men with African roots are raised to treat their partners? Family and marital dynamics in African cultures are varied and interesting, and the relationship between a husband and wife is sacred. Here are 10 reasons a man with African roots would make a great husband.</div> <div style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; padding: 0px;"> Sources: <a href="http://www.duniamagazine.com/2010/10/5-reasons-why-african-men-make-good-husbands/" style="color: #095009; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Duniamagazine.com</a>, <a href="http://www.africanmarriage.info/" style="color: #095009; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Africanmarriage.info</a></div> </div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74886" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74886" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <a href="http://files.moguldom.net/sites/21/2014/10/African_Family.jpg" style="color: #095009; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Wikimedia.org" class="size-full wp-image-74886" height="350" src="http://files.moguldom.net/sites/21/2014/10/African_Family.jpg" style="border-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;" width="500" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="color: #666666; font-size: 9px; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding: 5px 0px 0px;"> Wikimedia.org</div> </div> <div style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div> <h2 style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">He’ll do anything to protect your family</strong></h2> <div> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></strong></div> <div style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; padding: 0px;"> In most African tribes and cultures, anything that threaten or offends a man’s family is immediately a threat or offense to him. You’ll never feel alone in your battles—your husband will fight them like they’re his own</div> </div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74887" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74887" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <a href="http://files.moguldom.net/sites/21/2014/10/Mixed-couple-e1412808209350.jpg" style="color: #095009; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Wikipedia.org" class="size-full wp-image-74887" height="600" src="http://files.moguldom.net/sites/21/2014/10/Mixed-couple-e1412808209350.jpg" style="border-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;" width="400" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="color: #666666; font-size: 9px; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding: 5px 0px 0px;"> Wikipedia.org</div> </div> <h2 style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Your relationship is a building block to him</strong></h2> <div> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></strong></div> <div style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; padding: 0px;"> In many African cultures, the marriage between a man and a woman is a crucial building block for a man’s life. After being married, in many African cultures, a man is then able to go after other pursuits. Your relationship won’t just be as something “fun” or seen as an accessory: it will be seen as crucial</div> </div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74888" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74888" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <a href="http://files.moguldom.net/sites/21/2014/10/african_american_middle_age_couple_bike_ride.jpg" style="color: #095009; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Sparkpeople.com" class="size-full wp-image-74888" height="254" src="http://files.moguldom.net/sites/21/2014/10/african_american_middle_age_couple_bike_ride.jpg" style="border-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;" width="390" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="color: #666666; font-size: 9px; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding: 5px 0px 0px;"> Sparkpeople.com</div> </div> <h2 style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">He has a good relationship with his parents</strong></h2> <div> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></strong></div> <div style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; padding: 0px;"> In African cultures, men take care of not only their wives and children, but also their parents and even grandparents. If you’re tired of meeting men who don’t have good relationships with their parents, that probably won’t be an issue with an African man</div> <span style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px;"></span></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74890" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74889" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74889" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <a href="http://files.moguldom.net/sites/21/2014/10/jamaica-80749_640.jpg" style="color: #095009; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Pixabay.com" class="size-full wp-image-74889" height="480" src="http://files.moguldom.net/sites/21/2014/10/jamaica-80749_640.jpg" style="border-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;" width="640" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="color: #666666; font-size: 9px; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding: 5px 0px 0px;"> Pixabay.com</div> </div> <h2 style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">You’ll get a big family</strong></h2> <div> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></strong></div> <div style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; padding: 0px;"> African families stay very close. An African man feels as obligated to help his third cousin as he does his immediate siblings. When you marry an African man you’ll instantly inherit a large, close-knit and supportive community</div> </div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74890" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74890" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <a href="http://files.moguldom.net/sites/21/2014/10/man-319287_640.jpg" style="color: #095009; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="pixabay.com" class="size-full wp-image-74890" height="426" src="http://files.moguldom.net/sites/21/2014/10/man-319287_640.jpg" style="border-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;" width="640" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="color: #666666; font-size: 9px; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding: 5px 0px 0px;"> pixabay.com</div> </div> <h2 style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </h2> <h2 style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">He feels responsible for the well-being of your family</strong></h2> <div> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></strong></div> <div style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; padding: 0px;"> In African cultures, the man is the provider of the family. There is no doubt in the mind of an African man that he is directly responsible for the wellbeing and happiness of his family. He’ll think about how all of his decisions affect you, not just himself</div> </div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_32971" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_32971" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_32971" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74891" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <a href="http://files.moguldom.net/sites/21/2014/10/8189598644_23ab637fbb_z.jpg" style="color: #095009; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Flickr.com" class="size-full wp-image-74891" height="426" src="http://files.moguldom.net/sites/21/2014/10/8189598644_23ab637fbb_z.jpg" style="border-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;" width="640" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="color: #666666; font-size: 9px; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding: 5px 0px 0px;"> Flickr.com</div> </div> <div style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div> <h2 style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">He is proud to be a husband</strong></h2> <div> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></strong></div> <div style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; padding: 0px;"> Whereas in many western cultures, men are taught to see marriage as some sort or prison— something that takes away their freedom — African men see it as a means to new freedom. Others see him as a man now instead of a boy. He is proud to say he has a wife and children, rather than sheepish about it. In African cultures, your success is measured more by how strong and happy your family is than anything else</div> </div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_32971" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74892" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74892" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74892" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <a href="http://files.moguldom.net/sites/21/2014/10/man-407083_640.jpg" style="color: #095009; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Pixabay.com" class="size-full wp-image-74892" height="426" src="http://files.moguldom.net/sites/21/2014/10/man-407083_640.jpg" style="border-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;" width="640" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="color: #666666; font-size: 9px; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding: 5px 0px 0px;"> Pixabay.com</div> </div> <h2 style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">He’ll be shunned if he gets out of line</strong></h2> <div style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; padding: 0px;"> In African cultures, if a man mistreats his wife, the rest of the community tends to shun him and considers him useless. Since one of his most important roles is as husband and father, if he does something bad for the family, his community truly does see him as a failure.</div> </div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_32971" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_32971" style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <a href="http://files.moguldom.net/sites/21/2013/12/117051348.jpg" style="color: #095009; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="ThinkStockPhotos " class="size-full wp-image-32971" height="507" src="http://files.moguldom.net/sites/21/2013/12/117051348.jpg" style="border-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;" width="338" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="color: #666666; font-size: 9px; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding: 5px 0px 0px;"> ThinkStockPhotos</div> </div> <div style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div> <h2 style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">He appreciates a home cooked meal</strong></h2> <div> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></strong></div> <div style="line-height: 15.7299995422363px; padding: 0px;"> Western cultures have learned to appreciate endless pasta cards from chain restaurants, great deals on ready-made chicken from the deli and celebrity-run restaurants. And that has turned the homemade meal into something second rate and boring. But an African man really values a good homemade meal.</div> </div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74893" style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74893" style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://files.moguldom.net/sites/21/2014/10/PediaPress_Book_Reading_1.jpg" style="color: #095009; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Wikimedia.org" class="size-full wp-image-74893" height="371" src="http://files.moguldom.net/sites/21/2014/10/PediaPress_Book_Reading_1.jpg" style="border-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;" width="500" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="color: #666666; font-size: 9px; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding: 5px 0px 0px;"> Wikimedia.org</div> </div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15.7299995422363px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <h2 style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">He’s open to learning</strong></h2> <div> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></strong></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15.7299995422363px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"> If a man moved directly from Africa to the United States, he already accepts that life will be very different and there will be a lot to become accustomed to, so he will be open to learning from you!</div> <br /> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_74885" style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://files.moguldom.net/sites/21/2014/10/couple-254683_640.jpg" style="color: #095009; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Pixabay.com" class="size-full wp-image-74885" height="354" src="http://files.moguldom.net/sites/21/2014/10/couple-254683_640.jpg" style="border-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;" width="620" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="color: #666666; font-size: 9px; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding: 5px 0px 0px;"> Pixabay.com</div> </div> <h2 style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 15.7299995422363px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Nurturing doesn't look needy</strong></h2> <div> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></strong></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15.7299995422363px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"> Many women from the western world have been taught that being nurturing to a man can look needy—like taking care of him when he’s sick or just being particularly affectionate. But African men are very comfortable with being nurtured, and in fact crave it!</div> <br /></div>

10 Reasons To Marry A Man With African Roots

By Julia Austin Pixabay.com You might be familiar with common traits of husbands from different countries in Europe, or even different states in the United States. But do you know much about how men with African roots are raised to treat their partners? Family and marital dynamics in African cultu…

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You won't believe what airport security found in this passenger's luggage

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="lead-text" itemprop="alternativeHeadline description" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'PT Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.006799697876px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <h2 class="" style="border: 0px; color: #5a6466; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; font-weight: 100; line-height: 1.41176471em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The offender is now facing five years in prison after two sports bags were seized by officers at Moscow Domodedovo Airport.</h2> </div> <div class="styleGroup span-15-5" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; float: left; font-family: 'PT Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.006799697876px; margin: 0px 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;"> </div> <figure class="inline-image clearfix " style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'PT Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.006799697876px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"></figure><div class="video-gallery-container" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'PT Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.006799697876px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="article-video-wrapper clearfix" data-is-youtube="" data-video-id="" data-widget="tm.video.videoPreloader" style="background: rgb(0, 0, 0); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 1200px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> </div> </div> <div class="body " itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'PT Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.006799697876px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.76923077em; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div class="video-gallery-container" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 25px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="article-video-wrapper standard clearfix" data-is-youtube="" data-video-id="3866229343001" data-widget="tm.video.videoPreloader" style="background: rgb(0, 0, 0); border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 1200px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <div class="article-video clearfix" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; overflow: hidden; padding: 25px 0px 348.75px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <div class="video-wrapper" itemid="" itemprop="video" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/VideoObject" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/birds" style="border: 0px; color: #e90e0e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Endangered birds</a> worth more than £80,000 were seized by airport security when a man tried to pass them off as hand luggage.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/rare-animals" style="border: 0px; color: #e90e0e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The five rare Russian saker falcon chicks</a> were found in the <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/smuggling" style="border: 0px; color: #e90e0e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">smuggler’s</a> two sports bags as he went through customs at Domodedovo Airport in the Russian capital Moscow.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> A customs spokeswoman said: "The man was headed for Armenia and officers became suspicious when they saw something move inside the bag.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "When he was stopped and asked about it, he seemed confused.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "When we opened the bag we found the three birds with hoods on their heads and their beaks tied up to stop them making a noise. Two birds were in a second bag."</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Saker falcons which can have a wing span of over four feet are found in a wide arc from eastern Europe to western China.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <figure class="inline-image clearfix " style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><div class="image-credit-wrapper" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span class="image-credit" style="background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6); border: 0px; bottom: 0px; color: #cccccc; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; position: absolute; right: 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">CEN</span><img alt="Smuggled falcons" class="captify" height="409" src="http://i3.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article4533806.ece/alternates/s615/PAY-Smuggled-falcons.jpg" style="border: none; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Rare: Falconry is a popular sport in Arab countries" width="615" /></div> <figcaption style="color: #444444; float: left; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; padding: 0.5em 0px 0px;">Rare: Falconry is a popular sport in Arab countries</figcaption></figure><div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The chicks rescued at Moscow airport are believed to be from the Siberian region of Khakassia.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Numbers have been in decline because of a loss of habitat and poaching.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The birds are frequently the target of smugglers who sell them to Arab countries where falconry is a popular sport and favourite pastime.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <figure class="embedded-gallery" data-config="{"url": "http://json.mirror.co.uk/news/gallery/silly-smuggling-attempts-1437237","id":"1437237", "headline":"Silly smuggling attempts", "galleryUrl":"http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/gallery/silly-smuggling-attempts-1437237"}" data-widget="tm.gallery.openGallery" style="background-color: black; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.92307692em; padding: 0.76923077em 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="border: 0px; color: #e90e0e; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Silly smuggling attempts"><img alt="Pigeon Tights (Pic:AustralianCustomsService)" src="http://i4.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article196066.ece/alternates/s1023/Silly_Smugglers_Image_11_231158528.jpg" style="border: none; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #5a6466; cursor: pointer; float: left; font-family: MirrorExtraCondBlack, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; left: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-top: -2.53846154em; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 234px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="border: 0px; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: table; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px auto; outline-style: none; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;" title="Silly smuggling attempts"><span class="view-gallery-button" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 6px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 6px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 0px; display: table-cell; font-family: inherit; font-size: 4.61538462em; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 0.83333333em; margin: 0px; padding: 0.15151515em 0.15151515em 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="-webkit-transform: skew(-8deg, 0deg); border: 0px; display: table-cell; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transform: skew(-8deg, 0deg); vertical-align: middle;">VIEW GALLERY</span></span><span class="icon-camera" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 6px; border-left-color: rgb(44, 44, 44); border-left-style: solid; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 6px; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; display: table-cell; font-family: inherit; font-size: 4.61538462em; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: middle;"></span></a></figcaption></figure> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The customs spokesman said: "They are often smuggled out with little or no regard for their well-being.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "Smugglers do not really care about the state of them. They sometimes die of thirst or suffocation.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "Fortunately, these ones were in an okay condition. Although the man was flying to Armenia we believe the birds’ ultimate destination was an Arab state."</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The birds were taken to a local nursery and the man now faces five years for smuggling.</div> </div> </div>

You won't believe what airport security found in this passenger's luggage

The offender is now facing five years in prison after two sports bags were seized by officers at Moscow Domodedovo Airport.   Endangered birds worth more than £80,000 were seized by airport security when a man tried to pass them off as hand luggage. The five rare Russian saker falcon chicks were fo…

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Alan Pardew Ebola announcement: Listen to bizarre moment Newcastle manager is interrupted by odd safety message

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="lead-text" itemprop="alternativeHeadline description" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'PT Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.006799697876px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <h2 class="" style="border: 0px; color: #5a6466; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; font-weight: 100; line-height: 1.41176471em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The under-pressure boss was speaking to the media after his side's 2-0 victory over Manchester City in the Capital One Cup</h2> </div> <div class="styleGroup " style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="sharewrap" data-context="share-bar-2230675" data-friendly-name="Share Bar Link Click" data-max-times-to-track-links="5" data-share-url="http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/alan-pardew-ebola-announcement-listen-4534968" data-tweet-via="mirrorfootball" data-widget="tm.share.shareBar tm.omniture.omniLinkTracking" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div> <span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em;">This is the bizarre moment Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew was interrupted by an Ebola safety message during a post-match press conference.</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="body " itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'PT Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.006799697876px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.76923077em; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The under-pressure boss was speaking to the media after his side's 2-0 victory over Manchester City in the Capital One Cup.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> But while Pardew was talking about his side's important win, an automated message suddenly began, much to the bemusement of the manager and reporters.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The message begins: "Ebola causes the following symptoms - sudden high fever, extreme tiredness..."</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> A confused-looking Pardew smiles as one reporter shouts: "You are not even moving your lips when you saying that."</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <figure class="inline-image clearfix " style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><img alt="Alan Pardew's Ebola Statement" class="captify" height="409" src="http://i2.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article4535029.ece/alternates/s615/MAIN-Alan-Pardew.jpg" style="border: none; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Alan Pardew's Ebola Statement" width="615" /><figcaption style="color: #444444; float: left; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; padding: 0.5em 0px 0px;">Alan Pardew's Ebola Statement</figcaption></figure> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The </div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">      </div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Newcastle manager then patiently waits for it to finish, saying at one point "Is it over?"</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> But as the journalists begin quizzing him again, the safety message suddenly starts.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> It even advises people how to handle the body of somebody who has died from the disease.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> More than 10,000 people have now been infected with Ebola worldwide and around half have died, global health chiefs said over the weekend.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Screening started at Heathrow a fortnight ago. And it is also being brought in at Gatwick.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/jeremy-hunt" style="border: 0px; color: #e90e0e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Health Secretary</a> Jeremy Hunt sparked confusion when he suggested that travelers would have to volunteer to be tested. But Downing Street said the checks were compulsory.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.30769231em; line-height: 1.52941176em; margin-bottom: 0.58823529em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Experts said tests are unlikely to detect infected travelers but they do provide an opportunity to tell anyone who might develop symptoms the importance of seeking medical help.</div> </div> </div>

Alan Pardew Ebola announcement: Listen to bizarre moment Newcastle manager is interrupted by odd safety message

The under-pressure boss was speaking to the media after his side's 2-0 victory over Manchester City in the Capital One Cup This is the bizarre moment Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew was interrupted by an Ebola safety message during a post-match press conference. The under-pressure boss was spe…

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Adamawa on fire: Boko Haram sacks police station, prison

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h1 class="entry-title" style="background: url(http://punch.cdn.ng/wp-content/themes/punch/images/dots-horizontal.gif) 0% 100% repeat-x scroll rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-color: rgb(255, 1, 1); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.17em; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 9px 4px;"> <span class="date published time" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.5px; text-transform: uppercase;" title="2014-10-30T00:02:33+00:00">OCTOBER 30, 2014</span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.5px; text-transform: uppercase;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.5px; text-transform: uppercase;">BY JOHN ALECHENU, FIDELIS SORIWEI, JUDE OWUAMANAM AND KAYODE IDOWU</span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.5px; text-transform: uppercase;"> </span></h1> <br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;" /> <div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="story-featured-image" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); float: left; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-right: 15px; min-width: 378px !important; width: 368px;"> <img alt="Mr. Bala Ngilari" class="attachment-bigstoryimage" height="225" src="http://punch.cdn.ng/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Mr.-Bala-Ngilari-360x225.jpg" style="background-color: whitesmoke; border: none; float: left; margin-right: 10px; padding: 4px;" width="360" /></div> <div style="float: left; padding: 10px 18px 5px 0px; width: 370px;"> <ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7167863529667065" data-ad-slot="6184555097" data-adsbygoogle-status="done" style="display: inline-block; height: 140px; width: 370px;"><ins id="aswift_0_expand" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: inline-table; height: 140px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 370px;"><ins id="aswift_0_anchor" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: block; height: 140px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 370px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="140" hspace="0" id="aswift_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="aswift_0" scrolling="no" style="left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;" vspace="0" width="370"></iframe></ins></ins></ins></div> <div id="nrelate_flyout_placeholder"> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Fighting between Nigerian troops and Boko Haram insurgents escalated in Mubi, Mararaba Mubi and Uba in Adamawa State on Wednesday.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Casualty figures could not be obtained as of 8pm but the development forced the state government to impose 24-hour curfew on the affected communities.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Our correspondents gathered that   Mubi, the second largest town in the state and host of two high institutions, was the worst hit.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> A parent, Ahmad Sajoh, whose   daughter is studying at the Adamawa State University, said that as of 2pm on Wednesday, the police barracks in the Government Reservation Area was overrun by the insurgents while the prison in the town was blown open.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> He added that   fighting which was ongoing at the army barracks caused confusion at the IDP camp in the Lamorde area of the town.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> However, an online newspaper, <em>SaharaReporters</em> reported that Boko Haram insurgents took over the headquarters of the 234 battalion in the town.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Our correspondents gathered that the development made banks to move their cash to Yola, the state capital.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Sources told <em>The PUNCH</em> that insurgents   launched an attack on Uba   in the Michika-Madagali area of the state in response to sustained aerial bombardment of their hideouts by security forces.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Residents said they saw a large number of insurgents at Mararaba, a town about seven kilometres from Mubi.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Sajoh told one of our correspondents that his daughter called to inform him about the development in Mubi.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> He said, “This morning, I got a call from my daughter who is a 200-level student. She was hysterical. I was in Abuja for a meeting, but her information forced me to head back to Yola immediately.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> “I ordered her to leave the hostel and join her cousins to escape the town. I called my father who confirmed the story. By the time I arrived at Yola airport, the town had fallen to the insurgents.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> “My parents are trapped while my daughter and her cousins are missing. We have lost contact for   six hours.”</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Sajoh, who is the director of Press and Public Affairs to the former Governor Murtala Nyako, added, “Mallam Iliyasu of the Bursary Department of the state university, who is trapped in the town said by 2pm, the Police Barracks in the GRA was overrun by the insurgents, the prison was blown open while fighting was going on at the army barracks. The IDP camp at Lamorde area was thrown into confusion.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> “The new rulers of the town had issued a decree banning   entry and exit to the town. Students who trooped to the motor park were stranded with most taking refuge in any house that could welcome them.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> “The barracks are the least safe locations in the town. So far, there are no reported cases of killings or abductions. But fear and apprehension have taken over.”</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Another source said that Mubi was currently deserted by residents after the incident, the second in three months.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> The   higher institutions in the   town were forced to close down again.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> There are fears of   humanitarian crisis should the town fall into the hands of the insurgents.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> A fleeing resident, Joshua Gajere, said   several people might have been killed during the shootings that lasted for almost two hours in Uba and other villages.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> He said, ‘‘We are in serious trouble as these boys (Boko Haram) have taken over our towns, splitting into groups and advancing towards Mararaba, Mubi and Vintim, the home town of the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh. They made the   Nigerian troops to retreat to Mubi’’.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Gajere added, “As I am talking to you now, residents are scampering for safety.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> ‘‘Mubi has now become a ghost of itself as people in their hundreds are fleeing for their lives.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> ‘‘Even here in Maiha, we saw military vehicles zooming off towards Yola, the state capital.’’</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> However, a resident from Michika, Mr. Siva Zira, told one of our correspondents that the   military was having an upper   hand as they were able to dislodge the insurgents in Michika and Uba.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Meanwhile,   Governor James Ngillari has asked the people of the state, particularly those in the affected areas to remain calm as security agents were on the top of the situation.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> His Director of Press and Public Affairs,   P.P. Elisha, said   the governor met with security heads in the state to assess the situation.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> He said, “It’s unfortunate with this development, His Excellency, has met with security chiefs in the state on Wednesday to assess the situation.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> “People should remain calm, security agents are on the top of situation.’’</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> It was further gathered banks in Mubi have taken the pre-emptive steps to move out large volume of cash to the Central Bank of Nigeria in Yola.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Our correspondents could not get the Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, to comment on the   hostilities as the calls to his mobile telephone line did not connect.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> The government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Mubi, Mararaba Mubi and Uba.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> The Secretary to the State Government, Mr Andrew Weyle, who announced this, advised the people to stay away from the roads and other public places.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> He said,“Following the escalation of violence by the insurgents, his Excellency the Governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Bala James Ngillari, has approved the imposition of 24 hours curfew on Mubi, Mararaba Mubi and Uba, with immediate effect.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> “People are advised to stay off the roads and public places except those on essential services.”</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> It was further gathered that the insurgents   killed the son of a prominent traditional ruler in the area.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> A resident, who identified himself as Kwahir Sani, said, “We fled to a village called Wuro Gude near Mubi when the violence erupted and I have lost contact with some of my children.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> “As I am talking to you now, we are hearing gunshots by military in Mubi.”</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> It was gathered that the insurgents also attacked Askira Uba and Kukawa in Borno State for over six hours.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> A fleeing resident said the terrorists killed many people, burnt many houses and carted away food stuffs.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Agence France Presse<em> reported that the heavily armed terrorists, on arrival in Kukawa, opened fire on a police station and market, sending many fleeing</em></div> </div> </div> </div>

Adamawa on fire: Boko Haram sacks police station, prison

OCTOBER 30, 2014 BY JOHN ALECHENU, FIDELIS SORIWEI, JUDE OWUAMANAM AND KAYODE IDOWU  Fighting between Nigerian troops and Boko Haram insurgents escalated in Mubi, Mararaba Mubi and Uba in Adamawa State on Wednesday. Casualty figures could not be obtained as of 8pm but the development forced the sta…

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