Heidi Klum As A Grandma | Discover How Far You can go For Halloween

The 40-year-old German stunner completely transformed herself for the big event, with ultra-realistic age spots on her body and raised varicose veins running up her famously long legs. Gone were her trademark blonde tresses; in their place was a stringy, white wig.

It's amazing the things people do for Halloween. First and foremost, I'm sure nobody could stop staring at Heidi Klum 's Halloween costume.

Klum's face was unrecognizable, too. Her normally taut skin appeared to sag, and there were wrinkles all over her forehead, chin, and neck. She wore a pearl necklace, printed top, and a houndstooth suit, and she had a black cane to help her walk. 

Elaborate, jaw-dropping costumes are the supermodel's trademark. In the past, she has transformed herself into Cleopatra (2012), an ape (2011), an alien robot (2010), a black crow (2009), and a Hindu goddess (2008). Speaking about her penchant for killer Halloween getups in an interview with Parade earlier this month, the stunning supermodel said she puts a lot of thought into every costume.

The old lady make-up! The perfectly white hair! The fake varicose veins! It's absolutely incredible. The supermodel was willing to look like the opposite of her typical self. 

According to the America's Got Talent judge's style of dress, this old lady lives on the Upper East Side, Regularly expect the ballet and vacations in the south of France. Look at that Chanel-inspired tweed skirt and perfect paisley tank, they're in the season's hottest colors! And to top it all off, she Has the strings of pearls, just like a refined retired Would woman.

If this is any indication of what we can expect from Heidi Klum in 40 years, we look forward to covering it.

For the Sneak Peek Photos of Heidi's Transformation, click HERE to discover the undiscovered. I think it was amazing!

Heidi says, "I start thinking of ideas months before Halloween, and I have an amazing team who makes the impossible possible," she told the mag. "I don't really have a system for picking my costume each year, they just kind of come to me. It's definitely not a last-minute decision. It takes months of preparation."

Courtesy: 

E! Online

US Weekly

US Magazine

Russian Fashion Week | Unprecendented Chance for Fashionistas to buy online

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Leaders of the fashion industry have flocked to the Russian capital this week, with over 70 designers from Russia, Britain, Japan and many other countries showcasing their 2014 spring-summer collections at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. And for the first time, fashionistas worldwide have a unique chance to snap up the outfits online, hot off the catwalk. VoR's Daria Chernyshova reports from the scene.

The most significant event in the Russian fashion industry – the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Moscow - has kicked off with over 70 designers from all over the world presenting their 2014 spring-summer collections on the catwalks at Moscow’s Manezh Exhibition Hall.

And even though Russian Fashion Week still sounds like an oxymoron to many, it is in fact a well-established event that's been held in Moscow since 2001.

Fashion Week gives western designers a chance to break into the Russian fashion market.

It also provides an opportunity for Russian designers to gain more recognition abroad as buyers and fashion gurus come here to see the crème of the Russian fashion market.

Photo: MBFWR

And this season consumers have a unique chance to snap up Russian designer outfits online, as they move straight from the catwalk onto eBay.

Fashionistas all around the world can watch fashion shows online and order the models on eBay – an opportunity that’s never been provided by Milan, Paris or any other fashion capital of the world.

This retail project not only provides easy access to Russian designers, but also the chance to get the edge with clothing that will only appear in stores next in spring - and at very affordable prices.

Alexander Shumsky, the president of the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, tells us about the new scheme.

SB SHUMSKY in Russian

Participants of the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Russia are going on eBay. This is a big event as internet retail is our future, we all understand that. This is a unique option which has never been explored by anyone. We are the first. I’m glad that Russian designers open new opportunities, and I’m sure this new project will translate into a big story.

Fashion Week started with the Day of Industrial Collections, demonstrating co-operation between well-known designers and major industrial companies within the concept 'Made in Russia.'

And over the week, every day offers a wide assortment of fashion shows and designers.

But Moscow is a place of exploring opportunities and has already made this fashion week the show.

Meanwhile, the Miss Universe contest will be held in Moscow at the beginning of November. Contestants from the competition modelled creations by British designer Tony Ward on the catwalk in Manezh and Olivia Culpo – the current Miss Universe – opened  the show.
Read more: http://voiceofrussia.com/uk/news/2013_10_28/Russian-Fashion-Week-unprecendented-chance-for-fashionistas-to-buy-online-6920/

Photo: Tony Ward fashion show, MBFWR

Tony Ward has been on the Russian Fashion circuit for 8 years already and says the market is flourishing.

"I’ve been in the Russian Fashion market for eight years now, I work with the Russian clients – bridal and couture.. It’s an amazing market, very exciting, huge one, and runs from Russia to Azerbaijan, to Turkmenistan. We can have a wider exposure. Britain is different. When you sell in Russia, you sell to a Russian client, when you sell in Great Britain, of a hundred per cent, 70 to 80 will be to Arabs and Americans. Here you are dealing with the real people of the country."

And Russians do like fashion.

It is probably in their DNA, as many designers, models and fashion industry connoisseurs notice Russian women are not only beautiful, but also have a profound sense of style.

Photo: MBFWR

Olivia Culpo, Miss Universe, is in the Russian capital for the fourth time.

"One of the things that I noticed is that women are beautiful," she says. "I think that European women have a different classic style that’s been around for years, that people in America don’t have. I think it’s more sophisticated here. I think we need to take a little bit of Russian fashion over to the US."

As a part of European fashion traditions, Russia has its unique style that’s been inspiring the artists and designers for years and as Russian fashion is on the rise, the notion of Russian style is now not only about fur, winter coats, and bulky hats, but a mixture of traditional western fashion with Russian zest.

(Voice of Russia)

Story By: 

Voice of Russia, Daria Chernyshova

Hakimullah Mehsud killed by drone, Pakistan Taliban say

The BBC's Richard Galpin: "One intelligence source has said his (Mehsud's) funeral has been scheduled  The leader of the Pakistani Taliban, Hakimullah Mehsud, has been killed in a drone strike, a high-ranking Taliban official has told the BBC. The strike targeted a vehicle used by Mehsud with four missiles in the north-western region of North Waziristan. Four other people were killed in the strike, including two of Mehsud's bodyguards, intelligence sources say. Several previous claims of his death, made by US and Pakistani intelligence sources, have proven untrue.for tomorrow afternoon" Pakistan's government has issued a statement strongly condemning the drone attack, saying such strikes were a "violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity". Friday's strike targeted Mehsud's vehicle in the Dande Darpakhel, some 5km (3miles) north of the region's main town, Miranshah. A senior US intelligence official told the Associated Press that the US received positive confirmation on Friday morning that he had been killed. However, a spokesperson for the US National Security Council said that "we are not in a position to confirm those reports, but if true, this would be serious loss for the... Taliban". BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins says that however weakened the Taliban may be by this loss, they will fight on under a new leader. Hakimullah Mehsud had come to prominence in 2007 as a commander under the militant group's founder Baitullah Mehsud, with the capture of 300 Pakistani soldiers adding to his prestige among the militants. In January 2010 he gained further notoriety when he appeared in a video alongside a Jordanian who is said to have blown himself up, killing seven CIA agents in Afghanistan to avenge Baitullah Mehsud's death. Hakimullah Mehsud had a $5m FBI bounty on his head and was thought to be responsible for the deaths of thousands of people. Mehsud became leader of the Pakistani Taliban in 2009, aged 30, after Baitullah Mehsud died in a US drone strike at his father-in-law's residence in South Waziristan. Hakimullah Mehsud spoke exclusively to the BBC in a recent interview The strike against Baitullah Mehsud reportedly came after repeated complaints by Pakistani officials that the Americans were not hitting militant groups who attacked targets in Pakistan. His second-in-command, Waliur Rehman, died in a drone strike in May. The attack targeting him comes on the same day that the Pakistani government announced it was about to send a delegation to North Waziristan to try to get peace negotiations with the Taliban under way. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had pledged to talk with the Taliban to try to end its campaign of violence, which has left thousands dead in bombings and shootings across the country. In a rare interview with the BBC two weeks ago, Mehsud said he was open to "serious talks" with the government but said he had not yet been approached. Mehsud denied carrying out recent deadly attacks in public places, saying his targets were "America and its friends". He had loose control over more than 30 militant groups in Pakistan's tribal areas. The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says that Khan Said Sajna is one of those now tipped to become the new leader of the Pakistani Taliban. Story by: BBC News Continue reading the main story

Lady GaGa's New Single is Trending with this Hashtag #DoWhatUWantWithMyBody

I went on twitter this morning and saw that #DoWhatUWantWithMyBody was trending. I was wide-eyed and thought it was another of those porn inspired trends. Curiosity drove me to click it. With a glad surprise, I realized it was a Lady Gaga song. I used to be a fan but fell off the band wagon though I still enjoy one or two of her songs. 

"Do What U Want" is a collaboration with R & B Star R. Kelly. 

The cover of the single features a shot of Lady Gaga's 'backside' and the lyrics are supposedly aimed at negative comments directed at Lady Gaga about her image and body. 

In a series of tweets leading to the release of the single, Gaga dropped hints about the inspiration behind the lyrics of this song.

 The song was released at midnight on 20th October. Take a listen...

Is TOMS Shoes Listening to its Critics?

 TOMS comes in for a lot more criticism from academics and international development types than your average trendy footwear purveyor thanks to its trademark BOGO—“buy-one-give-one”—model: for every pair of shoes you buy, TOMS donates a similar pair to someone in a developing country. (The company recently expanded into eyewear using a similar model.)

The feel-good marketing of TOMS has been one of the keys to its success, but manycritics charge that in-kind donation programs are an inefficient way of helping people in need compared to simply donating money to dedicated antipoverty programs, and that dumping donated clothing in poor countries can actually hinder economic growth by undercutting local producers. (TOMS shoes are donated to over 50 countries but produced only in China, Argentina, and Ethiopia.)

Moreover, TOMS shoes reportedly often simply turn up for sale in markets in the countries where they are donated. (TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie has also taken flack for working with the controversial Christian group Focus on the Family.)

But there are some recent signs that TOMS is starting to get the message. The company announced recently that it will open a factory in Haiti, paying what it says will be “competitive” wages to 50 Haitian workers. According to Public Radio International, Mycoskie has also pledged that by 2015, the company will produce one-third of its shoes in the countries where they are being donated. 

There are still good questions to be raised about whether clothing donations are a helpful form of aid at all. One 2008 study, for instance, found that used clothing imports accounted for 50 percent decline in employment in the African apparel sector. Employing apparel workers in developing countries could simply be counteracting a problem that TOMS is itself contributing to.

To give credit where it’s due, the company does seem to be starting to think about its impact more seriously. But compared to, say, donating $50 to a reputable charity, buying a $50 pair of canvas sneakers probably still won’t be the most effective way to help people in need.

Story by:

Joshua Keating, Slate.com

OPCW beats Malala to Nobel Peace prize!

Remember Malala, the Pakistani girl who was shot by the Taliban for promoting girl's right to education? Well, after being tipped as favourite to win, she missed out on the coveted Nobel Peace prize which was won by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, OPCW.

Malala Yousafzai, is a 16 year old blogger and activist who was shot in the head whilst in a bus on her way home from school on the 9th of October, 2012. She came to prominence at the age of 11 for writing a dairy for the BBC Urdu program. On her blog, she wrote about life under Taliban occupation in her hometown of Swat Valley. Among other things, the Taliban prohibited girls from going to school.

Malala being taken to the hospital after being shot.

Malala, now living in Birmingham after receiving life-saving surgery in the UK, was tipped to win the Nobel Peace prize this year only a few days after winning the EU's Sakharov human rights prize. On 10th October, 2013, a year and a day after she was shot, she beat Edward Snowden, fugitive US whistle blower to win the 50,000 euro ($65,000) prize.

Malala received a standing ovation after delivering a speech at a special youth
assembly convention of the UN. 12th July, 2013, UN Headquarters.

This years Nobel Peace award went to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in honour of their 'extensive work to eliminate chemical weapons'. This is in the wake of their activities in Syrai. This is the first time that the OPCW, based in the Hague and established in 1997, is working in an active war zone. Accepting the gold medal and the 8m Swedish Kronor ($1.25m, £780,000) cash prize, Ahmet Uzumcu, Director General of the OPCW, said that is was a 'great honour' and will spur the organization on.

Ahmet Uzumcu, Director General OPCW.

Denis Mukwege, a gynaecologist from the Democratic Republic of Congo, was also in contention for the top award.

'The Hamilton Series' introduces Steeltown to visiting students

Every world traveler wants a taste of local flavour, and students are no exception. To satisfy the most insatiable global learners at McMaster International Student Services recently launched "The Hamilton Series" — a hands-on program that exposes visiting students to the city's unique history and popular attractions.

The initiative consists of educational workshops and off-campus excursions throughout the fall term, and was designed to help visiting students get the most out of their time in Hamilton. Organizers received a $4,700 Student Life Enhancement Fund grant to finance the pilot project.

"For international and exchange students, they don't really know what the city's history is like, or where we come from as people," said Jenna Levi, education abroad coordinator, International Student Services.

"International students often remain on campus, even well into their second and third years."

To help familiarize newcomers with their adopted home, Levi and her team focused on a number of key areas related to Hamilton, including: the arts, the changing economy, local history, urban attractions and natural resources. The goal was to offer well-rounded, informative and fun sessions to students from all over the world.

To date, the seminars have included participants from Brazil, China, Australia, Singapore, Japan and numerous countries in Europe and the U.K.> "What's the point of going abroad if you don't truly know where you're living? We want these students to learn all about the city's industrial heritage, but also get a sense of the beautiful, natural resources in their backyard, including Hamilton Harbour and Cootes Paradise," said Levi.

Ron Hermenau, a 23-year-old exchange student from Atlenburg, Germany, has already attended two of the fall sessions — one at the Art Gallery of Hamilton, and another in scenic Cootes Paradise. He says the Hamilton Series is a great opportunity for newcomers to feel connected with the city in a more meaningful way.

"You can only learn so much by reading," said Hermenau, who's studying chemical biology at McMaster during his six-month exchange. "I wanted to gain a deeper insight into the culture and environment in Hamilton, and also understand what it looked like in the past. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone Interested."

Upcoming Hamilton Series events are as follows:
"A Town Called Hamilton: A Historical Perspective" — Friday, Oct. 11
Speaker: Margaret Houghton, Local History & Archives, Hamilton Public Library
Excursion: Dundurn Castle

"Neighbourhood Watch: A Look at Hamilton's People & Communities" — Friday Oct. 18
Speaker: Terry Cooke, Hamilton Community Foundation
Excursion: TBA

"Progress from a Steeltown: Hamilton's Economy" — Friday Nov. 8
Speaker: Jennifer Patterson, Economic Development
Division, City of Hamilton
Excursion: TBA

Story by:
Andrew Baulcomb, Dail Mail, McMaster University.

DJ Switch emerges Winner of the 2013 Glo X Factor – Photos & Scoop of the Finale

And the winner of the Africa’s debut X Factor show is DJ Switch.

29 year old rapper DJ Switch (real name - Obianuju Catherine Udeh) has been crowned winner of the 2013 Glo X Factor singing competition. The finale show was recorded on Wednesday 18th September 2013 and just aired today Saturday 21st September 2013.

DJ Switch who is a geology graduate from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers, beat out the two other finalists Ethel Eshun and Victoria “Vicky” Gomoti in the last round of voting. She wins a cash prize of N 24 Million and a recording contract with Sony Music. Just before the announcement, there were performances by UK X Factor winner Alexandra Burke as well as Efya and Flavour. The finalists – DJ Switch, Vicky Gomoti and Ethel Eshun also took to the stage to give their farewell performances.

Spiro Damaskinos (Sony Marketing Director), Alexandra Burke, DJ Switch & Bella Disu

DJ Switch & Her Mum

The first runner-up  Ethel Eshun as well as the second runner Vicky Gomoti, both won a cash prize of N 1 Million. Glo ambassadors Chee and Omawumi were also present at the event.

Check out more photos from the event

Ethel Eshun

Victoria Gomoli

Courtesy: BellaNaija

Ghana can earn $300m from cashew if production increases – Association

The prospects of Ghana’s cashew production is high because the country can rake in between $300 and $400 million if she increases her cashew production from the current 50,000 metric tonnes to 200,000 tonnes annually. 

Mr Windfred Osei Owusu, President of the Ghana Cashew Industry Association, who made the observation on Tuesday, added that the country could attain the goal if 90 per cent of the raw cashew nuts were processed. He was speaking in Accra at the launch of the World Cashew Festival and Expo 2013 in Africa, on the theme: “Value Chain and Gains-Focusing on the Potential to Leverage Profit in Each Sector of the Cashew Industry and in New Markets.” The event, which is expected to come off between September 16 and 19, would be organised by the African Cashew Alliance’s (ACA), to assist players in the industry to develop the value-chain process. The four-day programme would also provide a platform for cashew farmers, processors, traders, exporters, service providers, retailers, equipment manufacturers, bankers and other stakeholders to fashion out innovative ways to improve and sustain the industry. Mr Owusu called on the Government to roll out the Cashew Development Project and similar policy interventions to sustain the industry. He was optimistic that if the players received Government support, similar to those enjoyed by cocoa, palm and mango farmers, the cashew business would thrive. 

Mr Owusu appealed to Government to make funds available to cashew farmers through the Export Development and Agricultural Investment Fund. He called on the farmers to join associations and apex bodies to access technical support to build their capacity to sustain their businesses. Mr Owusu said increased investor interest in the industry was a positive indication that the sector had much to offer in terms of job creation, poverty alleviation and income generation. He said one of Brazil’s leading cashew businesses, was in the process of setting up a 35,000-metric-tonne capacity facility at Prampram, in the Eastern suburb of Accra. Mr Owusu said he was hopeful the project would create 2000 direct jobs and other auxiliary employment opportunities and called on the media to sensitise the public on the economic and the nutritional value of cashew products. 

Mr Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture expressed Government’s commitment to partner ACA to ensure that the cashew industry became vibrant. He discredited speculations in the media that the cashew production in the country was dwindling. Speaking on the upcoming Cashew Festival, Mr Roger Brou, Managing Director of ACA, said the event would give farmers the platform to explore innovative business prospects in the industry. Beekeeping and production of cashew-apple juice are some new markets farmers could discover. Ghana is said to have produced more than 20,000 metric tonnes of raw cashew nuts in the year 2012, with its production largely centered in the Brong-Ahafo Region. 

The country is considered to be the hub for trading cashews from neighbouring countries, including Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso. In total, more than 80,000 metric tonnes of raw cashew nut was exported in 2011. On the processors side, Ghana has an installed processing capacity of about 18,000 metric tonnes.

Story by: 

Ghana Business News 

Mary of Nazareth, Epic Film on the Mother of Christ in Theaters this October, 2013

This fall’s must-see Catholic movie?  Fr. Donald Calloway got an early look and raved:

The most stunning portrayal of the Virgin Mary on film. It will make you want to love her more than ever. An absolute masterpiece! Yes, my friends, I can assure you that we finally have a movie that gets Mary totally right! Trust me, I am super hard to please when it comes to any portrayal of Mary in film, but this one nailed it entirely!

(Um…Father, is “nailed it” really the way you want to describe a movie about the mother of Jesus?)

Anyway…check out the trailer.

Courtesy: 
Catholic News Agency