Outspoken Canadian Miss World finalist accuses China of meddling as visa application delayed

 

Miss World Canada, Anastasia Lin: “As a Canadian citizen I shouldn’t be afraid to speak my mind.”

When she won the Miss World Canada crown in May, Anastasia Lin said her outspoken views on China got her father harassed by Chinese officials.
Now the Chinese-born Lin, a follower of Falun Gong, suspects that the People’s Republic is intentionally dawdling on a visa application that could cost her a spot at the upcoming Miss World pageant in Sanya, China.
“As a Canadian citizen I shouldn’t be afraid to speak my mind (and) by rejecting my candidacy, it’s sort of rejecting a whole country’s values,” Lin, 25, told the National Post by phone from Toronto.
While she is still in the running for the pageant, Lin has faced an unusual delay in obtaining a key recommendation letter from Chinese authorities needed to process her visa.
If she does not receive the letter in time for her departure on Nov. 20, it would mark the first time in 58 years Canada has not sent a contestant to what is now the world’s oldest surviving international beauty pageant.

Lewis Hamilton throws his mum a surprise 60th birthday party

Over the weekend, the Formula One champion threw a surprise 60th birthday party for his mother, Carmen Larbalestier. Held in London, Hamilton released photos of the special occasion via his Instagram account, showing no expense was spared. 'All for you mum,' accompanied one caption of the venue..

Photos: 4-year-old Saudi boy stabbed 8 times by Ethiopian maid

According to a Saudi Arabian newspaper, Sada, an Ethiopian housemaid on Sunday, November 8, stabbed the four-year-old son of her Saudi employer while he was asleep. She reportedly brought a kitchen knife and stabbed him eight times while screaming "die… die" The little boy, who was admitted to the intensive care unit in a serious condition was stabbed three times in the face, one in the hand and four in the back before she was overpowered by the child’s mother.

A nude painting by Modigliani sold for $170 million — the 2nd-highest price ever for a painting at auction

A painting by Italian artistAmedeo Modigliani sold for$170,405,000 at a Christie’s auction Monday night.

The painting, entitled "NuCouché," depicts a naked women reclining.

The only painting to sell for more at auction than “Nu Couché” is Picasso’s “Les femmes d’Alger (Version ‘O’),” which took the record in May when it sold for $179.4 million, also at Christie’s.

The painting’s sale took nine minutes and the winning bid came via telephone, well over the guaranteed price of $100 million,according to The New York Times.

Man arrested for shooting a nursing mother in her home during an attempted robbery

A young mother, 21 year old, Semantha Bunce, was shot inside her home in east Charlotte last Tuesday and remains at Carolinas Medical Center with serious injuries caused by at least two gunshot wounds.
Bunce was shot by intruders who kicked in the front door to her home on Matlea Court last Tuesday morning, police said.

Bunce was feeding the baby when the assailants forced their way into the home. Bunce met the intruders at her bedroom door and when the men opened fire on her in the stairwell area, she fired back, her husband said.

“I think it was a shock to the intruders just as much as it was to her,” said Paul Bunce, her husband.

Paul told Channel 9 his wife is a combat medic with the National Guard. He believes her training allowed her to stay mentally focused and calm during what was a fight for her life.

“They've got a long journey,” said one neighbor outside the Bunce family’s home.

Tamar Braxton Rushed To The Hospital For Pneumonia

So scary.

On Monday, Tamar Braxton was rushed to the emergency room, not long before she's slated to perform on Dancing with the Stars.

Insiders say the 38-year-old has been suffering from pneumonia for a couple weeks now, and the rigorous rehearsals for the reality competition have only made it worse.

So, The Real panelist's husband, Vincent Herbert, drove her to the hospital, where she's currently being treated.

It's not clear as to whether or not the singer will be able to make the DWTS taping. If she doesn't, Tamar will probably get the boot, just like Kim Zolciak did following her mini-stroke.

But right now, the lovely lady's health is much more important than her standing on a television show. We're wishing her a speedy recovery during this scarysituation.

pictures that show why a US aircraft carrier is such a dominant force

Aircraft carriers are the heart of the US Navy. The deck of a carrier is literally a few acres of American territory floating around the world, projecting massive air and seagoing military might.

Carriers are expensive, with new Ford-class ships running about $13 billion, but they last about 50 years.

Business Insider visited the USS Eisenhower during a massive mine clearing effort in the Persian Gulf a few years ago.

The Ike, which is currently undergoing repairs, is the second-oldest US carrier still in service. But as you'll see, her age takes nothing from her powerful presence near foreign soil.

This post is originally by Robert Johnson and Jeremy Bender.

The US Navy currently has 10 commissioned carriers, some of which can carry upwards of 90 aircraft. Thousands of men and women serve on aircraft carriers, with 5,000 pilots, sailors, and Marines serving on the Ike at any one time.

Stringer . / Reuters

Revealed the cause of the mysterious blue light in sky that sparked panic in California

A mysterious blue light streaking across the sky sparked panic on Saturday with people calling police with fears it was a flare, a comet or even a nuclear weapon.

The UFO flashed in the sky over southern California just after sunset and police and newspapers were inundated with calls from concerned members of the public.

Videos and photos were quickly posted online as people debated what it was on social media.

The light was reportedly seen as far away as Nevada - home of Area 51 - and Arizona.

However, it was later revealed to be an unarmed Trident missile fired from a Navy submarine, the USS Kentucky, off the coast.

How Vitamin D can turn you into Superman

Daylight savings time is here, whether you like it or not. That means more cold weather, less warm sun, and for some people, vitamin D deficiencies, which, like any vitamin deficiency, can cause a host of health problems.

This week, though, researchers completed a preliminary study on vitamin D and found that if you do happen to get enough of this essential vitamin, it not only reduces the risk of heart disease, but also helps you exercise more strenuously, while simultaneously exhibiting lower signs of exertion.

A destructive myth about Robin Williams was just destroyed

When someone famous dies, the rest of the world scrambles to make the death feel meaningful by building a narrative around it.

And when Robin Williams died, our narrative of choice was the Sad Clown myth. Funny people are actually sad — their humor is amask, a crutch, a coping mechanism. Media coveragehastened to portray Williams’ death as the result of depression.

We saw his death as a suicide in which Williams lifted his playful mask to reveal his true, sadder self.  

But we've since learned that it was wrong and premature to apply the Sad Clown myth to Williams.

He did not just commit suicide because he was depressed; he actually suffered from a horrifying disease whose symptoms are pulled from the dark playbooks of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, dementia, and schizophrenia.

Nicole Scherzinger and Lewis Hamilton spotted on night out together sparking reconciliation rumours

The pair sparked reconciliation rumours

Nicole Scherzinger and Lewis Hamilton haver sparked reconciliation rumours after they were snapped at the same London nightclub this weekend.

The former couple split up in February, but sent the rumour mill into overdrive as they partied at The Box in Soho together on Friday night.

According to reports, they spent up to four hours inside together as singer John Newman performed, but left the venue separately.

Photos show Nicole keeping her head down as she stepped past cameras, dressed down in a loose pink silk blouse and jeans.

Billionaire steel magnate's son Angad Paul falls to his death from penthouse

Angad Paul and his wife Michelle at the Fortune Forum Club dinner in 2014

A boss at embattled steel company Caparo died after falling from his penthouse home.

Angad Paul, son of billionaire Lord Paul, fell eight storeys, landing on the roof of a building below where his body was spotted by horrified onlookers.

Firefighters were called to lead the operation to get him down and paramedics pronounced the 45-year-old dead at the scene in central London.

Golden Eaglets retain their crown

Nigeria became only the second side to retain the FIFA U-17 World Cup with a 2-0 win against Mali in Vina Del Mar. Victor Osimhen stole the show once again thanks to his record-breaking tenth goal of the tournament, with Funsho Bamgboye adding a second moments later. Samuel Diarra had saved an early Osinachi Ebere penalty as the Malians played their part in an entertaining finale to Chile 2015.

The penalty came as both sides were just finding their rhythm in the opening exchanges, Chato the culprit with a handball. Ebere saw his low effort saved brilliantly by Diarra, the No17's follow up header hit the bar before a third bite of the cherry was blocked by the Malian defence.

Both sides had chances in a tense opening period, with Golden Eaglets skipper Kelechi Nwakali hitting just wide and Boubacar Traore seeing his glancing header tipped over by Akpan Udoh.

Arsenal held as Klopp suffers first defeat

Premier League leaders Manchester City and nearest challengers Arsenal were both held to draws on Sunday as they each dropped points in the title race.

City, surprisingly, could only manage a goalless draw away to bottom-of-the-table Aston Villa, the Birmingham club marking new French manager Remi Garde's first match in charge with a point that owed much to a fine display by goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

Arsenal, who kicked off later on Sunday, knew that if they beat arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby they would leapfrog City, who they still trail on goal difference, at the top of the table with a victory at the Emirates Stadium.

But instead they had to make do with a 1-1 draw.

Meanwhile Liverpool suffered their first defeat in seven games under new manager Jurgen Klopp with a 2-1 loss at home to Crystal Palace.

Manuel Pellegrini lost the services of Wilfried Bony to a hamstring injury and then watched in frustration as City failed to make their second-half domination count in a match where Villa ended a dismal run of seven successive defeats.

Man 'with terminal cancer marries sex doll so he doesn't leave a grieving widow'

Wedding: A 28-year-old man has married an inflatable doll

A man with terminal cancer was desperate to get married - but didn't want to leave a heartbroken widow.

His solution? Get married to a SEX DOLL.

Now his surprisingly tasteful wedding pictures have become a viral sensation in his native China.

The Beijing man reportedly wanted to experience a fancy wedding shoot before he died, so he brought the life-like inflatable doll and got the full works - including a make up artisyand a beautiful wedding dress.

In the pictures he is seen tenderly holding his plastic 'bride', enjoying a first dance in a ballroom and even taking part in candid shots in front of the make-up mirror.

16 fascinating facts about North Korea

Everyone's heard a thing or two about North Korea, the "hermit kingdom" that sits on the east coast of China.

North Korea frequently makes headlines as its government continues to tout its military hardware and make boisterous, but so far benign, nuclear threats.

The country has also been linked to several cyber-related incidentslately, but it denies involvement.

Still, the one thing that remains a bit of a mystery is what goes oninside the hermit kingdom, as data isn't readily available or reliable. But check out below some of the things we do know about what makes the country tick:

Women are either bisexual or gay but NEVER straight, say scientists

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Study: Women were shown videos and had their responses recorded, including whether their pupils dilated in response to sexual stimuli (file pic)

Most women are either bisexual or gay but "never straight", research suggests.

Women who say they are straight are in fact aroused by videos of both naked men and naked women, whereas lesbians are much more attracted to the female form.

The study, led by Dr Gerulf Rieger from the Department of Psychology at the University of Essex, involved 345 women

They were shown videos and had their responses recorded, including whether their pupils dilated in response to sexual stimuli.

Soldier is vomited on by fellow trooper - but doesn't even flinch

5 ways drinking enough water changes your body

I'm sure you don't need one more person telling you why you should be drinking more water — but seriously, drinking more water may be the easiest and cheapest way to get healthier.

Drinking enough water affects everything from our skin to our mood to our poop — and since our bodies are about 60 percent water, failing to stay hydrated can really mess us up. We should all make drinking lots of water part of our daily routine, because drinking water changes our bodies for the better.

The benefits of drinking water have been widely researched and reported — often times with eye-catching headlines about how drinking water will magically give you the skin of a baby angel — but what's more important than the potential beauty benefits of drinking water are the many ways water consumption can keep your insides in good shape.

Drinking water helps our kidneys flush toxins out of our blood, it can prevent urinary tract infections and constipation, and it prevents your muscles from shrinking, too. (Yes, dehydration can literally shrink your muscles. Freaky, right?)

So, if you don't already drink lots of water, you really should start — because drinking water changes your body in the best ways. Here are five ways your body changes when you drink water.

New photos suggest Russia's operation in Syria stretches well beyond its air campaign

Three serving or former Russian soldiershave been geolocated by photographs in Syria, including locations near Hama, Aleppo and Homs, Russian bloggers said on Sunday, suggesting the Kremlin's operation stretches well beyond its air campaign.

Russia first launched air strikes to support President Bashar al-Assad in Syria's four-year civil war on Sept. 30 but has repeatedly said it has no intention of mounting a ground operation. 

It has instead said it will limit its help to military trainers, advisers and deliveries of military equipment.

Big match feature: Nigeria vs Mali U17 WCup final

Sunday’s Fifa Under-17 World Cup final will be unique in more ways than one when English referee Michael Oliver gets proceedings underway at the Estadio Sausalito in Vina Del Mar.

This will be Nigeria’s second successive trip to the final after beating Mexico 3-0 in the final to win the last edition in the United Arab Emirates.

It will also be a second all-Africa final at the Fifa Under-17 World Cup after Nigeria edged out Ghana 1-0 in the final of the 1993 edition in Japan where a Wilson Oruma header put the Starlets to the sword.

Four time champions Nigeria will look to make it a fifth trophy at under-17 level and also a record eight appearances in the final of the competition.

Mali, who are the African champions at this level will hope to make it their first Fifa Under-17 World Cup title in their history.

BREAKING NEWS: Four Killed, Many Trapped As Another Building Collapse In Lagos

No fewer than four persons, including three children were on Saturday morning confirmed dead, after another building collapsed in Lagos.
The building, a bungalow located at Orisha Street, Isheri, Magodo caved in during a heavy rainfall.

Their names were given as Sylva Odiah, 24; Sayo Odiah, 15; Clinton Odiah, 11 and eight year-old Endurance Odiah.

The deceased were said to be siblings from the same mother, who was said to have collapsed and was rushed to a nearby hospital.

'You don't truly know your partner for three years, never overshare, and you MUST get a joint bank account: The things couples need to know before tying the knot

When it comes to relationships, Dr Karen Phillip has seen it all. 

And as the divorce rate continues to climb, the 58-year-old counsellor has put together a list of what she believes to be the most essential things to know and cover before entering into a serious relationship or marriage. 

'I've been a family psychotherapist for 15 years now and over the last decade I've found that so many of the same issues keep presenting themselves... so I thought why not try and address the issues before they become major and end up breaking a couple up,' Dr Phillip told Daily Mail Australia.  

Essential things to know before marriage: Relationship expert Dr Karen Phillip has revealed the top things couples need to address before tying the knot - most of them common occurrences 

Judy Collins Shares Joan Rivers' Advice on Coping With Suicide

With a career that spans five decades and an astonishing fifty albums, legendary folk singer and social activist Judy Collins continues to inspire her audiences performing over 100 shows per year. She is out now with a new duets album, Strangers Again, which features some amazing guest vocalists including Jackson Browne, Jimmy Buffet, Michael McDonald, Willie Nelson and Don McLean.

In the clip below, Collins shares advice that Joan Rivers gave her in the wake of her son's suicide twenty-three years ago.

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Drunk and dishevelled in public. Worried he looks old on screen. And terrified X Factor could face the axe as Antiques Roadshow gets more viewers

With fake tan in a fetching shade of terracotta, and sporting as much maquillage as a magazine cover girl (he often wears his TV make-up when he is out of the studio), Simon Cowell cut a distinctive figure on Monday night.

On the face of it, the 56-year-old, who was presented with a prestigious Music Industry Trusts award at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, was being lionised for his successes in the pop world and his charity work.

However, as was obvious from his skittish behaviour at the event, here was a man reeling from an unaccustomed sensation. Failure.

Despite knowing he had to make a speech, by his own admission, Cowell got ‘hammered’ on beer beforehand.

While accepting the award, he made bizarre jokes about his predilection for Botox and Zayn Malik leaving One Direction.

This to the obvious embarrassment of the remaining members of the boyband who were present with Cowell on stage. The sense of crisis was unmistakable.

It was an uncharacteristic loss of control from Cowell, who is generally punctilious about the image he presents to the world.