Woman claims shes vampire

A woman accused of having lured a teenage boy to a house where a group beat him to death says that she is a vampire.

“I know this is going to be crazy, but I believe that I’m a vampire. Part of a vampire and part of a werewolf,” 18-year-old Stephanie Pistey said. Apparently, Pistey confirmed to police that the five people including herself involved in the July murder of Jacob Hendershot, 16, near the panhandle city, were members of a vampire cult.

Pistey, who was arrested last Monday on charges of having fooled the boy into coming to the house where he was murdered, said in an interview that “Jacob didn’t deserve to die” and that she did not know that the others were going to beat him to death. At first, police thought that Hendershot was killed because Pistey had accused him of rape, but now the motives for the murder are not clear.

She denied drinking Hendershot’s blood, but she said that she had drunk the blood of her boyfriend.

Lack of sleep ups risk of colon cancer

Lack of sleep has been already linked with higher risks of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and death.

Researchers from University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine found that individuals who averaged less than six hours of sleep at night had an almost 50 per cent increase in the risk of colorectal adenomas compared with individuals sleeping at least seven hours per night.

Adenomas are a precursor to cancer tumours, and left untreated, they can turn malignant. “A short amount of sleep can now be viewed as a new risk factor for the development of the development of colon cancer,” said Li Li, the study s principal investigator.

In the study, patients were surveyed by phone prior to coming into the hospital for scheduled colonoscopies at UH Case Medical Center.

They were asked demographic information as well as questions from the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), which obtains information about the patient s overall sleep quality during the past month.

The PSQI asks for such information as how frequently one has trouble sleeping and how much sleep one has had per night.

Of the 1,240 patients, 338 were diagnosed with colorectal adenomas at their colonoscopy. The patients with adenomas were found in general to have reported sleeping less than six hours compared to those patients without adenomas (control) patients.

The researchers also found a slightly stronger association of sleep duration with adenomas with women compared to men, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Players strike tarnishes Spanish game’s reputation

The first players strike in nearly three decades could damage Spain s status as world champions and risked alienating fans who lost the first La Liga round on Saturday (August 20).

Atletico Madrid fan, Jesus, said that he supports the strike called by the Spanish Football Players Union (AFE).

“It seems good to me that the players go on strike because they are workers, they have their contracts and they have to be fulfilled and if they are not paid they have to claim and well, they have to earn as the rest of the workers,” he said.

“Okay, there are privileges because they earn more than other workers but they have rights as any other worker. They have the right to go to the strike.”

Real Madrid fan Miguel travelled from Sevilla, in the South of Spain, to Madrid to watch his side first league match against Atletico Bilbao.

“I used to go to Real Madrid s first match of the league. I already booked the hotel and the train and everything but the strike has ruined it,” he said.

Talks between the players union (AFE), which last week called the strike for the first two rounds of matches in the top two divisions, and the professional football league (LFP), which represents the 42 clubs affected, failed to prevent the action.

European champions Barcelona and Real Madrid, the two richest clubs by revenue in the world, had been due to start their campaigns on Sunday night.

Talks are now centred on preventing the second round of matches being halted which would create serious problems in the sporting calendar.

At the heart of the dispute is the union s demand that an emergency fund be set up to cover wages that have not been paid to players at clubs that have gone into financial administration.

The union says around 50 million euros ($72 million) is owed to 200 footballers from the end of last season, and the league s proposed 40 million euro fund is not enough to cover a growing problem.

Joaquin, owner of a picturesque Real Madrid fan bar, said that the strike is harming his business.

Shakira confirms romance with Pique

BOGOTA: Colombian pop star Shakira on Tuesday confirmed her romantic relationship with Spanish footballer Gerard Pique through a message on her Twitter account.

“I present to you my sunshine … Shak,” the 34-year-old singer wrote in the message accompanying a photo of the smiling pair.

Shakira and the 24-year-old Barcelona center-back became the focus of intense media attention earlier this month when gossip magazines published photographs of the couple holding hands and kissing in Barcelona.

In January, Shakira announced the end of her 11-year relationship with Antonio de la Rua of Argentina.

Shakira”s wildly popular “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” was the official song of the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa, won by Spain.

Pique, a member of the World Cup team, told a March 3 press conference at Barca”s training center that he prefers to just talk football.

Quizzed on his private life, he said: “I”d like it if people only talked about me from a sporting perspective but I get the impression that, ultimately, it”s inevitable.” (AFP)

A.R.Rahman receives Crystal Award at World Economic Forum

Academy Award winner A.R.Rahman received the World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award for his contribution to the world of art and culture and for his outreach to improve the state of the world. “Countries that work to eradicate poverty and help the poor are the best”, said Rahman at the annual summit of the forum at the Swiss ski resort after Hilde Schwab, president and co-founder of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, presented him with the award.

Jose Carreras, an opera artist from Barcelona, was also given the Crystal Award for his social work for the patients of leukaemia.

The award function was attended by several heads of governments, including Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, top C.E.O’s, religious leaders and academicians.

FIFA award: Lionel Messi wins

Lionel Messi won his second straight FIFA player of the year award, with his mesmerizing play for Barcelona outweighing a disappointing World Cup.

The Argentine forward beat out Barcelona teammates Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta for the renamed FIFA Golden Ball Award, which merged the FIFA player of the year with France Footballs Golden Ball. Messi became the first repeat winner since Ronaldinho in 2004 and 2005. Messi received 22.65 percent of the votes cast by national team coaches and captains plus selected reporters. Iniesta followed with 17.36 percent and Xavi received 16.48 per cent to finish third for the second straight year.

Lionel Messi forms music band

LONDON: Football star Lionel Messi has formed an “Oasis” tribute band and is all set to tour with the group in Europe.

The Argentinean footballer performs as guitarist Noel Gallagher in the group and has also recruited a Barcelona teammate to play singer Liam but does not want to admit who it is yet.

“Our disguise is based on how Oasis looked in the mid-90s. We have our wigs, clothes and glasses sorted. I also spent a lot of time getting the mannerisms right,” Messi said.

The 23-year-old footballer insists his band will tour soon and said he has invited Noel to see them play.

Spain beat Holland 1-0 to win World Cup

JOHANNESBURG: Spain won the World Cup for the first time on Sunday, Andres Iniesta netting in extra-time to see off Holland 1-0 in Johannesburg and hand the Dutch their third final loss.

With just four minutes of extra-time remaining, substitute Fernando Torres slid over a cross from the left which was partially cleared as far as Cesc Fabregas and his pass found Iniesta lurking in the area.

The Barcelona star promptly set his sights and fired past Dutch keeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

Five minutes earlier, the Dutch were down to 10 men when referee Howard Webb red-carded John Heitinga for a foul on Iniesta.

A niggly game saw a proliferation of yellow cards and missed chances at both ends – most notably in the first period of extra-time when Spanish substitute Fabregas raced onto a pass from Iniesta only to see Dutch keeper Maarten Stekelenburg block his shot.

Then fellow substitute Jesus Navas looked odds on to score but his shot deflected off Giovanni van Bronckhorst and hit the side-netting.

Spain, Dutch set for World Cup final battle

JOHANNESBURG: Spain and Holland championed unity as the key to Sunday”s World Cup final battle while Germany”s impressive collection of young talent set out their stall for the 2014 title by clinching third place.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque believes victory at Johannesburg”s Soccer City can strike a blow for national cohesion, a day after a million people marched in northeastern Spain in support of Catalan autonomy.

“There are players from all over Spain here in the squad, we are united and I hope the same feeling of unity occurs back in Spain,” said Del Bosque.

“I think sport does many good things and I hope football could lead to better relations in our country.”

Barcelona supplied seven of the starting line-up when Spain beat Germany in the semi-finals with that figure likely to be replicated when del Bosque”s stylish side look to add a first world title to their European crown.

Dutch skipper Giovanni van Bronckhorst also stressed the significance of team spirit as he confirmed there had been none of the tensions between players that have hampered Holland”s chances of success at previous tournaments.

“I think the spirit in the camp has been extremely important,” said Feyenoord star van Bronckhorst, who will retire after Sunday”s final.

“As players you have to spend six or seven weeks together to achieve your goal and I believe, if the atmosphere is good off the pitch, it will be good on it – you will go that extra mile for a team mate.”

It has not always been like that for the Dutch, whose chances of success on the international stage have been frequently sabotaged by squabbling.

Puyol strikes as Spain down Germany to reach final

DURBAN: Carles Puyol scored the only goal of the game to send Spain into the World Cup final against Holland following a 1-0 victory against Germany on Wednesday.

The Barcelona centre-back powered home a header from 10 yards from Xavi”s corner 17 minutes from time to send the reigning European champions into their first ever World Cup final.

Holland reached the title game by beating Uruguay 3-2 in Cape Town on Tuesday.

It means there will be a new name on the trophy for the first time since France claimed victory on home soil in 1998.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque had sprung a surprise before kick-off by dropping out-of-form Liverpool forward Fernando Torres and replacing him with Barcelona youngster Pedro.

That move allowed tournament top scorer David Villa to play through the middle and the switch almost paid dividends six minutes into the game.

Pedro came in off his wing and slipped a delightful ball in behind the Germany defence which Villa ran on to but he had to slide in to shoot before Manuel Neuer arrived and he succeeded only in prodding the ball into the goalkeeper”s chest.

Spain should have gone ahead on 14 minutes after a cleverly-worked corner routine left Andres Iniesta free to cross from the right, but Puyol got too much purchase on his diving header and sent the ball over the bar.

Germany were stretched again on 19 minutes as a great crossfield ball from Xabi Alonso found the marauding Sergio Ramos but after an exquisite piece of control his shot was wild and high.

Germany finally threatened on 32 minutes when Piotr Trochowski, in for the suspended Thomas Mueller, shot from distance and forced Iker Casillas into a sprawling save low to his left.

Mesut Ozil thought he should have had a penalty on the stroke of half-time when he went down under a challenge from Ramos but his appeals were waved away by referee Viktor Kassai.

For all their pretty approach play, Spain were struggling to get into the box and started hitting pot shots from distance with Alonso, twice, and Villa shooting wide.

Neuer then saved from Pedro, who moments later shot wide while Villa was inches away from a tap-in after Iniesta jinked into the box and squared the ball across goal.

Up the other end substitute Marcell Jansen”s cross was flicked on by a Spanish head, but on the turn Miroslav Klose could only volley high.

And on 69 minutes Germany created possibly their best chance of the match as substitute Toni Kroos arrived unmarked at the back post onto Lukas Podolski”s cross but his finish was weak and straight at Casillas.

But then came Puyol”s great leap to propel Spain into the final.

Spain had several chances on the counter attack late on but Pedro wasted the best of those as he tried to turn Arne Friedrich once too often instead of squaring to the unmarked substitute Torres.

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