Ebola outbreak: US nurse criticises quarantine treatment

26 October 2014 Last updated at 00:31

BBC

A nurse quarantined on her return to the US from treating Ebola patients in Sierra Leone has criticised the way she was dealt with at Newark airport.

Kaci Hickox said the experience was frightening and could deter other health workers from travelling to West Africa to help tackle the Ebola virus.

Illinois has become the third state after New York and New Jersey to impose stricter quarantine rules.

Meanwhile the US ambassador to the United Nations is to visit West Africa.

Samantha Power will travel to Guinea on Sunday, continuing later to Liberia and Sierra Leone – the three worst-hit countries.

New cafe in Harajuku serves up Pom Pom Purin-shaped cuisine, attracts fans and pop idols alike

    Hayashi ‘Fang’ Hougi

Despite being nowhere near as famous as his feline counterpart abroad, Sanrio’s Pom Pom Purin has a very loyal fan base in his homeland, so much so that the pastel-yellow “pudding” dog managed to clinch fourth place in this year’s Sanrio Character Ranking, at one point leading the pack.

But while Hello Kitty, My Melody and Kiki & Lala have all been given their own themed cafes, poor old’ Pom Pom has had to wait on the sidelines like the patient pup he is. But by the looks of it, the first ever Pom Pom Purin Cafe was well worth the wait, with the Harajuku location boasting a super-kawaii menu with meals, desserts and drinks featuring everyone’s favorite Sanrio canine as well as adorable merchandise available only at the cafe.

Catholic synod: Gay rights groups ‘disappointed’

19 October 2014 Last updated at 01:32

BBC

Catholic gay rights groups say they are disappointed after bishops rejected a call for wider acceptance of gay people, which had the Pope’s backing.

The draft report, which also urged more tolerance for divorcees who remarried, failed to win two-thirds backing at the bishops’ synod in Rome.

The final report says only that anti-gay discrimination is “to be avoided”.

Pope Francis has asked for the full draft document, including the rejected paragraphs, to be published.

The synod will meet again in a year’s time in an expanded form.

The ultimate guide to Kyoto ice-cream

    Hayashi ‘Fang’ Hougi

While the weather is gradually getting chillier as many parts of the world meander into autumn, we know we’ll never be able to give up the sweetest bit of summer – ice cream. You can never be too full, nor the weather too cold, for a bowl of that delicious, frozen goodness, and if you happen to be heading to Kyoto to catch the beautiful autumn leaves, you’ll be pleased to know that Japan’s most traditional city is positively brimming with ice cream at this time of year, and today we have a guide to some of the best out there.

Whether you’re into fruity flavors or traditional Kyoto desserts, or simply wanting to satisfy your sweet tooth, the ancient capital is bound to have something for you.

Cyclone Hudhud pounds India’s Andhra Pradesh and Orissa

 12 October 2014 Last updated at 08:07

BBC

Cyclone Hudhud is pounding the eastern Indian coast, causing extensive damage and prompting the evacuation of some 300,000 people.

The cyclone, classed “very severe” and bringing winds of up to 195km/h (120mph), is passing over the coast near the city of Visakhapatnam.

Hundreds of trees have been uprooted and power lines brought down in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa states.

Two people have so far been reported killed in Andhra Pradesh.

It is feared a storm surge of up to two metres could inundate low-lying areas and hundreds of relief centres have been opened in the two states. Disaster relief teams have also been sent.

 Travelers pick the top three destination restaurants in Japan

   Casey Baseel

Between the country’s natural beauty and historic sites, there are plenty of things to see on a trip to Japan. Eventually, though, you’re going to have to take a break from sightseeing in order to eat, and even then you’re in luck, since Japan is a foodie’s paradise.

But while it’s true that Japan is filled with great restaurants, only one can be at the top of travelers’ dining wish list, as decided by users of travel website Trip Advisor in a recent ranking of where they want to eat in Japan.

Hong Kong protesters promise to keep up occupation

Demonstrators say they will stay put as Monday deadline approaches, but offer to open access lanes

Tania Branigan in Hong Kong

The Guardian, Sunday 5 October 2014 09.20 BST

Pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong have vowed to keep up their occupation as a Monday deadline fast approaches, but are seeking compromise by offering to open access lanes.

The Hong Kong chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, announced on Saturday that protests had to be removed by Monday morning so that life could return to normal. He said officials and police would take “all necessary actions” to restore order.

In a Sunday lunchtime statement, the government said it was ready to offer a dialogue on constitutional reform with the Hong Kong Federation of Students – but only if demonstrators cleared the roads and lifted the blockade around government facilities in the downtown Admiralty area.

Al-Qaeda-linked group warns US-led coalition

 Nusra Front vows retaliation over military operation in Syria as air raids target ISIL fighters besieging Kurdish town.

Last updated: 28 Sep 2014 07:10

A group to al-Qaeda has pledged retaliation over the ongoing air strikes in Syria, as the US-led coalition widens its assault on ISIL targets in Syria and British warplanes fly their first combat missions over neighbouring Iraq.

In its first reaction to the military operation aimed at destroying ISIL, or the Islamic State of Syria and the Levant, the Nusra Front, al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch, said the air strikes in Syria were a “war against Islam”, and threatened to attack the worldwide interests of participating Western and Arab countries.

A US attack on a Nusra base in Aleppo on the first day of the air campaign killed dozens of the group’s fighters.

 Japanese company creates ball-balancing cheerleader robots

   Michelle Lynn Dinh

Japan has an infatuation with robots; after all, you don’t see beautiful cyborg women hanging out in restaurants in the US or 24-fingered hair washing bots in the UK. That’s why we weren’t surprised at all to find that Japan has just produced a gang of cheerleading robots that dance in sync while balancing on a ball.

Officially called the “Murata Cheerleaders,” these balancing robots are the fourth generation of robots to be produced by the company. The bicycle-riding Murata Boy was first to come in 1991, followed by the second version of the Murata Boy in 2005, and the Murata Girl who learned to ride a unicycle in 2008.

Alan Henning’s wife appeals to IS to release him

 21 September 2014

BBC

The wife of a British taxi driver being held hostage by Islamic State has pleaded with the militants to “see it in their hearts” to release him.

Alan Henning, from Eccles in Salford, was seized while on an aid mission to Syria last December.

In a statement released via the Foreign Office, his wife Barbara said he had been driving an ambulance stocked with food and water at the time.

Mrs Henning said she had sent messages to IS but had received no response.

The militants issued their threat to kill the 47-year-old in a video released last Saturday which showed the killing of another British man, David Haines.

‘Selfless man’

The full statement released from the Henning family read:

“I am Barbara Henning, the wife of Alan Henning.

“Alan was taken prisoner last December and is being held by the Islamic State.