Exploiting DRC's 'cobalt kids'

Western firms turn blind eye as child miners toil in dangerous conditions for precious "battery" mineral, Amnesty says.

India celebrates Republic Day in style

India celebrated its 67th anniversary of becoming a republic with celebrations across the country on Tuesday, including a military and cultural parade through the capital.

French President Francois Hollande was the chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, with maximum security measures employed to thwart any threats.

The French leader joined President Pranab Mukherjee and Premier Narendra Modi as the military parade marched through a central avenue near the Presidential Palace.

India celebrates the day its constitution was adopted - January 26, 1950 - as Republic Day.

French soldiers also took part in the parade. It is thought to be the first time a foreign army contingent has participated in India's celebrations.

The parade included marching troops, military bands, tanks, and other hardware.

Colourful floats from various Indian states, traditional dances, and gymnastics by children were also part of the event.

Big Question: Was Zika outbreak caused by release of genetically modified mosquitoes in Brazil?

Birth defect:  Zika  caused by genetically-modified mosquitoes?

The Zika virus outbreak currently gripping the Americas could have been sparked by the release of genetically modified mosquitoes in 2012, critics say.

The insects were engineered by biotechnology experts to combat the spread of dengue fever and other diseases and released into the general population of Brazil in 2012.

But with the World Health Organisation(WHO) now meeting in Geneva to desperately discuss cures for the Zika virus, speculation has mounted as to the cause of this sudden outbreak.

The Zika virus was first discovered in the 1950s but the recent outbreak has escalated alarmingly, causing birth defects and a range of health problems in South and central America.

The first cases were reported in Brazil last May with up to 1.5 million now thought people affected by the virus which is spread by mosquitoes endemic to Latin America.

Vulture accused of spying for Israel released by Lebanese villagers who held it captive

Spy

A huge vulture captured by Lebanese villagers on suspicion of being an Israeli spy has been released after UN intervention.

Israeli officials confirmed that the bird, that had escaped from a game reserve in the occupied Golan Heights and flown over the border, had been returned.

The huge griffon vulture was captured by Lebanese villagers in Bint Jbeil on Tuesday after they became suspicious of the Israeli tracking device on its tail.

Initially from Catalonia, the bird is part of an attempt to increase the population of endangered vultures in the region.

The griffon vulture has been nearly extinct from the mountains of Israel and is the subject of a reintroduction project.

11 ways to fight food cravings

Food cravings are the dieter’s worst enemy.

These are intense or uncontrollable desires for specific foods, stronger than normal hunger.

The types of foods that people crave are highly variable, but these are often processed junk foods that are high in sugar.

Cravings are one of the biggest reasons why people haveproblems losing weight and keeping it off.

Here are 11 simple ways to prevent or stop unhealthy food and sugar cravings.

1. Drink Water

Thirst is often confused with hunger or food cravings.

If you feel a sudden urge for a specific food, try drinking a large glass of water and wait a few minutes. You may find that the craving fades away, because your body was actually just thirsty.

Furthermore, drinking plenty of water may have many health benefits. In middle-aged and older people, drinking water before meals can reduce appetite and help with weight loss (1, 2, 3).

Bottom Line: Drinking water before meals may reduce cravings and appetite, as well as help with weight loss.

Hip Hop Fans Question Olamide’s Sexuality, Wale Gets Emotional

Hip Hop fans of mainly black American descent got to tripping after Maybach Music Group rapper , Wale uploaded to Instagram, photos of himself and Olamide chilling at Tolu Oniru (Toolz) wedding to pilot, Tunde Demuren. yesterday

The sight of Olamide in expensive designer sandals is being construed as homosexual to many ignorant young black Americans who consider Timberland boots and Jordan sneakers as the only acceptable form of hetero male footwear.

24 allegedly high-level Sinaloa cartel members were captured in a secret US-Mexico border raid

The highly secretive, daylong law enforcement operation around the Arizona border withMexico resulted in the arrest of two dozen alleged high-level Mexican drug cartel members, according to a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman.

The sting known as Mexican Operation Diablo Express took place all of Friday as numerous law enforcement agencies converged onto Lukeville, Arizona, which sits on the border with Mexico.

Homeland Security Investigations, a unit of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, helped Mexican authorities nab 24 alleged members of the Sinaloa Cartel, one ofMexico's biggest drug-trafficking organizations, who were operating around Sonoyta, Mexico, and the US border, spokeswoman Gillian M. Christensen said.