They've had a ruff time! Adorable puppies bred on illegal dog farm found stuffed into car boot bound for Britain (but don't worry, the poor things are alright now)

These adorable puppies had more than a stroke of luck after being rescued from a nightmare journey at the hands of illegal dog smugglers. Police in Ireland seized around 50 of the dogs found in boxes stuffed into the back of two cars in Dublin on Tuesday. It's believed they were bred illegally on an Irish puppy farm and were destined for the UK. Officers arrested two men in their 20s and 30s at the scene under suspicion of committing animal cruelty.

Brian Gillen, chief executive of the Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, urged the public to be vigilant when buying a pup. 'Do not buy from the boot of a car or a van, and always arrange to meet the puppy with its parents at the breeders home. 'The conditions the mother is living in is a good indication of the health and welfare of the animals,' said Mr Gillen. The men were arrested on Tuesday when police searched the vehicles which were stopped in the Coolock area of Dublin.

Boxed in: The puppies include around 25 Jack Russells, cocker and springer spaniels, and terrier, beagle and Labrador breeds

Several of the puppies are now in special care because they were too young when taken away from their mothers

Officers from the DSPCA took the pups into quarantine and safety, after they were discovered in boxes in the back of both vehicles. The dogs include around 25 Jack Russells, cocker and springer spaniels, and terrier, beagle and Labrador breeds. They were all given a veterinary check-up and placed in secure accommodation.

The animals have a number of conditions such as mange, ear mites, fleas, eye infections and parasitic infections, the DSPCA said. Several of the puppies are now in special care because they were too young when taken away from their mothers. Many of them also had their tails docked and claws removed. 

None of the puppies will be available for new homes until DSPCA inspectors have concluded the animal cruelty investigation

Officers from the DSPCA took the pups into quarantine and safety, after they were discovered in boxes in the back of both vehicles

Police have arrested two men in their 20s and 30s at the scene under suspicion of committing animal cruelty

The DSPCA said the discovery is a further reminder of the importance for Ireland to push through legislation making it easier to prevent animal cruelty and to prosecute offenders.

Making the microchipping of all dogs compulsory is one of the organisation's biggest goals, a spokesman said. None of the puppies will be available for new homes until DSPCA inspectors have concluded the animal cruelty investigation. The two men arrested at the scene are said to be in their 20s and 30s. They were taken to Coolock Garda Station in Dublin and have since been released. 

The puppies were suffering from a number of infections and had ear mites, fleas and mange

"This is really sad... The things dogs have to go through..."

Story by: Leon Watson, Daily Mail.

Ghanaian Actress Nadia Buari celebrates her Weight Loss in Los Angeles

Leading Ghanaian actress, Nadia Buari is having a fab time on holiday in Los Angeles, USA with her younger brother – Majeed Buari.

The beautiful actress who recently lost some weight - thanks to a change of meals, Yoga and daily exercises with a healthy diet – recently got signed up on Instagram (IAmNadiaBuari) and posted some pictures of her trimmer body.

She said in a recent interview that she lost 10kg in 6 months. On how she lost the weight, she told a fan on Twitter:
Mind u, I wasn’t fat, only a bit chuby, so losing it ws hard & easy. hard cos I’m a real food lovr and easy cos I didnt av to loose much

She looks like she’s having some fun and we totally love this new look!

Story by Adeola Adeyemo, Bella Naija

10 of The Hottest Young Nigerian Musicians

"I always knew that they would take over, but never this soon. Nigerians are giving their best in the music industry and this is ten of Nigeria's Hottest Musicians today."

WizKid

Call him the “small boy wonder”, Wizkid is undoubtedly one of Africa’s most promising acts for the future.

He’s got everything that should aid a smooth transition to the top. A fine singer who’s got Africa dancing to his music, Wizkid has, since his arrival on the Nigerian music scene, given African music a whole new meaning and twist. With several awards and nominations from both local and international schemes to his credit, the “Don’t dull”, “Tease me”, “Pakurumo”and “Holla at your boy” singer is the “kid” to watch. 
Wizkid's Fan Page

Asa

One of Africa's most well-known artists, Asa makes singing look effortless. Her global hit song “Jailer” is a testament to the depth of talent she wields.

Constantly making a case for Nigerian musicians, Asa combines absolute skill, and a flawless command of her act, to produce hits one after another. The 30-year-old World Music singer, born in Paris and raised in Lagos, is inspired by the sounds of Marvin Gaye, Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey.

The 2011 Best Female Act at the French Music Awards is without doubt, one of the finest singers the world of music has ever produced. Her 2010 effort “Beautiful Imperfection” was a big success that followed the now-famed 2007 debut, which also saw her at her utmost best fusing pop, R&B, funk, soul and reggae, an end product that wowed the world. 
Asa's Fan Page

M.I.

He is without doubt, the greatest Nigerian rapper alive. He commands an enormous respect not just among his many Nigerian fans but even within industry circles. M.I’s delivery skill and unique punch lines over the years have endeared him to an almost cult-like following.

Recognitions from MTV, BET, and other international mediums have also helped boost his career, which has been on an upward trajectory since he entered the scene. He holds the unofficial title of “African Rapper No.1”, the same title as one of his all-time hit songs. 
M.I's Fan Page

D'Banj

D'Banj is one of Nigeria’s best music heads. He has a global following that can’t stop dancing to his hits including the very latest “Oliver Twist”. He’s been reviewed and featured on almost every important medium, and he is without doubt, the hottest Nigerian act at the moment.

A signee to Kanye West’s GOOD Music label, D'Banj is in many aspects, an idol and a gift to the Nigerian music industry.
He is winner of several music awards including Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007, Artist of the Year at the 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards, and 2011 BET Awards for Best International Act; Africa. 
D'Banj Fan Page

Waje

She’s been hailed as the smooth voice behind the chart toppers. Waje has a unique voice of her own – one that has kept her going for years.

A fine material who became a nationwide sensation after featuring on M.I’s”One Naira”, Waje is one to watch. She featured on the remake of P-Square’s most recent hit “Omoge Mi” as well as their “Do Me” track, off the Game Over album released in 2007. She is a recipient of multiple nominations for music awards. 

Waje's Fan Page

Brymo

26-year-old Brymo is considered one of Nigeria’s finest male singers. He rose to fame when he featured on the then popular “Oleku” song by fellow Chocolate City label mate Ice Prince.
Post “Oleku” he has become the artist want to feature in their songs in the hopes of creating a hit that goes platinum.

Recent successes include topping the charts with songs like Ara, which is a favourite of many across the continent, “Good morning”, and the most recent single “Go hard”. 
Brymo's Fan Page

Omawumi

Omawumi, 30, is a past “Idols West Africa” finalist, whose debut single “In The Music”, became an instant hit in 2008. “In The Music”, a Kwaito-driven song laced with subtle traces of Pidgin English, saw her top the charts for months.

In 2009, she released her much anticipated “Wonderwoman” album, which included the now-popular “Ma Fi Mi Shere” song.
Onawumi's Fan Page

Nneka

Her musical career took off in 2005. Since then, she’s been more than impressive creating songs for a global audience. Nneka is an amazing singer who has been compared to the likes of Nina Simone, Erykah Badu and the legendary Bob Marley.

Her debut album Victim of Truth, which was released in the United Kingdom in 2007, was well received. Daughter of a Nigerian father and a German mother, Nneka Egbuna was born in Warri, Oil City in the Delta region of Nigeria. She’s earned praise from a wide range of industry people including Lenny Kravitz and Lauryn Hill.
Nneka's Fan Page

Davido

His “Dami Duro” single is said to be “one of Nigeria’s top hits ever made”. This could be true considering how well the song has been received. And he continues to live that dream, as a young, super talented musician who is gradually becoming a force to be reckoned with in the Nigerian music industry.

An artiste of incredible flair, Davido falls under the league of extraordinary young Nigerian musicians the world should look out for. 
Davido's Fan Page

Tiwa Savage

A Grammy Award nominee, and once background singer for George Michael, she’s your typical singer of substance. After years of vocal-backing for other top musicians such as Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Blu Cantrell, Emma Bunton from The Spice Girls, Kelly Clarkson, Andreas Bocelli, and Ms Dynamite among others, Tiwa Savage finally made an entry onto the Nigerian music scene in 2010.

Almost immediately, her “Kele Kele Love” single became a hit, recording enormous success across Nigeria and parts of Africa.
An amazing songwriter, Savage has also written songs for the likes of Babyface, Kat Deluna, Fantasia Barrino, Monica and Mya. In 2009, she signed as a singer/songwriter with SONY/ATV a deal that did a lot of good to her credibility as a fine material.

She is currently signed to Mavin Records, owned by Nigerian producer Don Jazzy. 
Follow Tiwa Savage on Twitter

Story by Obed Boafo, Howzit Msn Africa

Mind-Boggling Buildings and Vineyards, Alentejo, Portugal

You don't need to be an architectural whizz to appreciate some of the world's most chic, futuristic places to spend your money, but we will leave it to the experts when it comes to actually deciding which ones are worth a visit. Publisher, Taschen, has the final word on cool in its new Architectural Now! book called Fat Shop Drink, and they shared 11 extracts with us.

Galleria Centrecity, Cheonan, South Korea
The architect: UNStudio
It is: a shopping mall

The exterior of the building creates an optical illusion with two layers of customised aluminium extrusion profiles on top of a back layer of composite aluminium cladding. Waves of colour cross the facade at night. The architects have also created a VIP Room, art centre and customerwhite service zones.

The architect: Rojkind Arquitectos
It's a: Restaurant

he project was carried out in a former house, the residential interior of which was stripped out. The client sought a Japanese interpretation that would be 'contemporary and cosmopolitan'. The unusual facade was made of two self-supporting layers of steel plates cut with a CNC machine and then handcrafted.

The architect: Hakuhodo

It is: a shop

The And Market concept was developed by Atsushi Muroi and Hattori Kimitaro for Japan's first smart phone retailer that is not part of a major mobile phone company. Customers can buy phones, accessories and applications, and benefit from various membership services, not confined to any one certain carrier both in the retail shop and on the website.

The architect: Concrete

It is: a restaurant

The IQ Creative Group decided to revive this restaurant which was a well-known fixture of Amsterdam in the 70s and 80s. referring to the Dutch tradition of putting Persian rugs on tables, they designed a floor made of Portuguese cement that tiles that recall the pattern of these rugs. In the style of a brasserie, Witteveen is both a bar and a restaurant, open all day. 

The architect: 2G arquitectos
It is: a nightclub

The Nébula or Lightcloud is a small discotheque. The space concerned served as a bar and had been completely soundproofed, allowing the architect to carry out the new design with a considerable cost saving but requiring him to respect the existing envelope to the greatest extent possible. Juan Manuel González from 2G arquitectos calls the result an 'intelligent environment of light and sound'.

Architect: David Lynch
It is: a nightclub

Silencio is located at 142 Montmartre in Paris, in an 1883 building on the site of the headquarters of the newspaper La France. The structure subsequently served as the Paul Dupont printing houses. David Lynch conceived the interior design and furniture, and even the carpets of Silencio. The basic colour scheme is a gold monochrome including a good deal of actual gold leaf.

The architect: Estudio Nómada
It is: a cafe and shop

The project is situated in two structures next to the Archive of Galicia, part of Peter Eisenman's Galician City of Culture. The architects broke through preecisting walls to link the two spaces of cafe and shop with one long, shared bar, recalling the typology of Galician village canteens.

The architect: Rizoma Arquitectura
It is: a shop

Located in the grounds of the Inhotim Contemporary Art Center, this shop is intended for the sale of plants and garden utensils. The architects explain: 'The shop is simply an open shelter to keep the products protected from the weather. It consists only of four elements: two service boxes and two walls.' Like the Oiticica restaurant, the Botanical Shop, made with concrete, wood and stone, was erected in a very brief, three-month period.

The architect: March Studio
It is: a shop

The architects say: 'The wood of choice for this store is Victorian ash, a timber grown in renewable forests across Australia. The wood was cut in a factory in Melbourne's inner-city suburb of Richmond, then each of the approximately 3,500 pieces was hand-cut, hand-sanded, sealed, and numbered according to meticulously drafted plans before being strategically packed in shipping crates.' Created in 1987 in Melbourne, Aesop markets products for the skin, hair and body, presented here on an accumulation of ash planks.

The architect: Marcio Kogan
It is: a hotel

Located in the Alentejo area of Portugal, L'And Vineyards includes a 22-suite exclusive country club hotel and a residential development. The central reception building contains a 'contemporary reinterpretation of Roman and Arabix atrium architecture', creating a generous living room, library and gift shop offering vineyard products. The central building also houses a winery, a 'wine club', an 800-square-metre spa, a courtyard restaurant and lobby lounge area.

'I was robbed of my childhood' Rape victim, 17, speaks out about five years of sexual abuse by her stepfather

A brave teenager has spoken out about the sex abuse she suffered 
at the hands of her stepfather, a leading RAF serviceman. Danii Wiblin, has waived her right to anonymity to reveal how she was repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted by Alan Harrison, 43, for more than five years. The brave 17-year-old has told how she summoned up the courage to finally go to police in January this year and hopes her story will encourage other victims of abuse to do the same.

Abused: Danii Wiblin, 17, (left) suffered five years of horrific sexual abuse at the hands of her stepfather Alan Harrison (right)

Miss Wiblin, who lives near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, opened her heart after paedophile Harrison was jailed for 12 years earlier this month. He admitted 11 child sex offences, including raping his step-daughter nine times and making indecent pictures of the attacks.

The horrifying catalogue of abuse began when Harrison was stationed in Oxfordshire, before moving to RAF Honington, Suffolk.

Harrison used to give Miss Wiblin alcohol and 20 cigarettes every time they had sex, his trial at Ipswich Crown Court heard. He even bought her a sex toy and underwear, the court was told, as he bombarded the schoolgirl with texts and phone calls. Miss Wiblin, who was just 11 when the abuse began, said last night that she did not feel as though she had a childhood as a result of the abuse. 'It was taken away from me when I was 11-and-a-half,' she said.

Brave: Miss Wiblin (pictured) spoke out after Harrison was jailed for 12 years earlier this month

The teenager said she felt as though the abuse had robbed her of her innocence. 'I thought it was about time to live the remainder of my life and not let it be ruined by him,' she said.

The courageous youngster revealed that at one point she turned to drink and drugs to help her deal with the mental effects of the abuse she suffered.

'I was smoking at 11,' she said.

Miss Wiblin said that she had contacted the police about the abuse at the age of 13 but that no-one believed her.

'I felt so alone that I dropped the allegations,' she said. Miss Wiblin went back to Suffolk Police in January this year but she revealed that Harrison tried to stop her revealing the truth for a second time.

'He was texting me while I was giving my (police) interview,' she said.

Miss Wiblin is full of praise for the officers who dealt with her case, particularly PC Lindsay Poole, of Suffolk's child protection team.

'I didn't think she was going to believe what I was saying, but she couldn't tell me enough that she believed me. Then Detective Inspector Adrian Randall came into the room and said "I believe you; we all believe you".'

She said the pain she was feeling eased for that split second 'because I was believed.' 'It felt like I wasn't alone after all those years of feeling alone,' she said.

After revealing what happened to the police, she said she began to go 'downhill' emotionally and 'started to feel guilty.'

'How I managed to deal with things was to write notes to myself about my feelings,' she said. 'After a while I stopped that and was suicidal.

'I did a lot of things to hurt myself. That was the wake-up call I needed. She said she now puts all the blame 'and any thought that it was my fault - on to him and it got me through it.'

'I said on (the police) video that despite how much I hate him, I don't really hate him. I hate what he has done to me.'

As the months went on, the traumatic legacy of the abuse continued with Ms Wiblin suffering dark, terrifying moments.

New life: Miss Wiblin has waived her right to anonymity and said she wanted to tell her devastating story to give other abuse victims the confidence to report their attackers 

The teenager described having terrible nightmares which stopped her from sleeping.

'I used to scream my eyes out,' she said. 'I was on anti-depressants. I had counselling throughout the case, and then my mental state started to pick up after about three months.'

She said she feels like she has a future now and thanked PC Poole and the other people who have supported her, for helping her pull through.

'If it wasn't for Lindsay Poole and the people around me I don't think I would be here now,' she said. 'But I have got everything now, and I'm starting from scratch.'

Miss Wiblin said she would eventually like to start a charity to help victims of abuse.

'Not just for sexual abuse,' she said, 'but for all [kinds of] abuse. So people have someone they can go to so they can speak about what is happening to them, and you can put them on the right path to the people they need to speak to in order to [get] help.

When she was going through her ordeal, Miss Wiblin said she did not feel she had anyone to talk to. Asked what advice she would give to other children suffering abuse, she said: 'Don't let your fear hold you back, because it was my fear that held me back.

'At the time I had thought I was alone and no-one else was going through the same thing. But if I can do it, others can do it.'

Courage: The teenager says that coming forward to report was the first step to rebuilding her life

Miss Wiblin said that others must not be afraid to speak out.

Sentencing Harrison, Judge David Goodin told him: 'You committed offences of unimaginable gravity in abusing her as you did repeatedly, sustainedly and systematically.

'This sexual activity was unprotected. It included, on occasion, the application of alcohol to ease the path to which you subjected her. It would be difficult, in my judgment, to imagine more serious offences against a little girl.'

Referring to the indecent images Harrison took of himself and Miss Wiblin together, Judge Goodin branded them 'an outrageous indignity for a little girl to deal with.'

As well as jailing him, the judge also made Harrison subject to a sexual offences prevention order without a time limit. He was also added to the sex offenders' register.

Story by: Daily Mail 

Arnold Schwarzenegger bragged ‘I’m getting me a 20-year-old honey’ after split from Maria Shriver: report omg! from Yahoo!

Arnold and Maria. (WireImage)

Arnold Schwarzenegger certainly wasn’t licking his wounds when he split from his wife of 26 years, Maria Shriver, last May after it was revealed that he had fathered a child with the family’s longtime housekeeper.

According to a new report, the former California governor actually bragged to his neighbor that the mother of his four children would likely forgive him, but if she didn’t, “I’m getting me a 20-year-old honey.”

That’s just one of the new revelations about Schwarzenegger and Shriver’s family, which he destroyed by carrying on for years with the also-married Mildred Baena, with whom he has a 14-year-old son named Joseph, born just after Shriver gave birth to the couple’s son Christopher. Newsweek reports that after the affair and love child came to light last spring, Shriver begged her husband to go into therapy with her to fix their problems. He only went to one session and refused to return, even though he knew it would cost him his marriage, according to her friends. And when Shriver, 56, did finally ask him for a divorce, Schwarzenegger, 65, shot back, “I have the money, the power, and the plane, and I will have the friends,” reveals a family member.

According to Newsweek, Shriver then asked Schwarzenegger – who will appear on “60 Minutes” on September 30 to promote his upcoming autobiography Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story – to move out of their family home in Brentwood, but he refused. Instead, she was forced to move into a hotel, where she was visited often by her children, Katherine, 22, Christina, 21, Patrick, 19, and Christopher, who have sided with their long-suffering mother. Patrick goes by the last name Shriver on Twitter and his sisters “fear that [Schwarzenegger] wants to use them as part of his campaign to rehabilitate his image,” reports Newsweek. 

Schwarzenegger and Shriver’s divorce has yet to be finalized. 

Story by Kathleen Perricone ~ OMG! Yahoo

'People should stop staring and start learning': World's ‘ugliest woman’ gives courageous interview

Lizzie Velasquez was born without any adipose tissue, meaning she does not have body fat and cannot gain weight. The 23-year-old reveals she has been bullied by strangers online. Despite this she says she would not want to look like a beautiful celebrity. She has been ridiculed, stared at in the street and called 'the world's ugliest woman' by insensitive cyber bullies. 

But, after years of misery and self doubt, Lizzie Velasquez says she can finally shrug off the hurtful comments about her looks as 'just words'. Miss Velasquez, from Austin, Texas, was born without adipose tissue - meaning she has no body fat and, despite eating up to 60 small meals a day, remains at a delicate 4.4stone (58lbs).

Battle: Lizzie Velasquez says she has had to face being stared at and bullied because of her unusual looks

The rare condition still baffles doctors and is thought to affect just two other people worldwide. Miss Velazquez has now written a second book about her struggle to be accepted and hopes it will help others in a similar position. 

In Be Beautiful, Be You the 23-year-old college senior shares advice on being unique, how to make and keep good friends and how to deal with bullying and negativity. Speaking to Dr Drew Pinsky on Tuesday night about her experiences, Miss Velasquez said when cyber bullies first started attacking her online it was hard.

Rare: Miss Velasquez was born without any adipose tissue, meaning she has no body fat and, despite eating up to 60 small meals a day, remains at a delicate 4.4stone (58lbs)

THE SYNDROME SO RARE IT REMAINS UNDIAGNOSED

Lizzie Velasquez was born without adipose tissue, meaning she has no body fat and, despite eating up to 60 small meals a day, remains at a delicate 4.4stone (58lbs). Her syndrome is so rare that to this day it remains undiagnosed. Besides Miss Velasquez there are only two other people in the world known to suffer from the condition. The main symptom is the inability to gain weight. Miss Velasquez is also blind in one eye and has limited vision in the other.

The 23-year-old says her condition is particularly puzzling because it takes on aspects of other syndromes, including progeria. Miss Velasquez says she has the pointed nose, small mouth and ageing skin of someone with progeria but her syndrome is not though to be terminal. As she says on her website her condition is 'just one big mystery', but she remains hopeful that one day doctors will discover just what it is and how to treat it.

She told Dr Drew: 'I'm human... of course these things are going to hurt... (but) I'm not going to let those things define me.'

Eventually Miss Velasquez realised the people issuing the hurtful comments online were just cowards hiding behind a computer screen. 

'At the end of the day, these are just words,' Miss Velasquez told Dr Drew. 'If they are so proud, then they should show their face.'

When asked how she deals with being constantly stared at in the street Miss Velasquez said: 'I'm starting to want to go up to these people and introduce myself or give them my card and say, "Hi, I'm Lizzie - maybe you should stop staring and start learning".'

Miss Velasquez also revealed she does not have any desire to look like a beautiful celebrity. She said: 'I feel I'm really glad I don't look like the celebrities out there who are beautiful, because there are a lot of stereotypes attached to that. 

'People think "she's so pretty, she must be really dumb". Since I don't look like that it's better because people can get to know the real me.'

Miss Velasquez was born four weeks prematurely weighing just 2lb 10oz. Doctors found there was minimal amniotic fluid protecting her in the womb. 'They told us they had no idea how she could have survived,' Miss Velasquez's mother Rita, 45, a church secretary, said.

Dinner: Miss Velasquez says she has to eat high calorie food every 15-20 minutes to keep her energy level high 

'We had to buy dolls' clothes from the toy store because baby clothes were too big.' Doctors could not make a diagnosis so they prepared Miss Velasquez's parents for the worst.

'They told us she would never be able to walk, talk or have a normal life,' said her mother, who has two other children with Miss Velasquez's father Lupe - both children are of average height and weight. Despite the grim prognosis Miss Velasquez's brain, bones and internal organs developed normally but she was always very small.

At the age of two she was still only 15lbs - the same as the average five-month-old baby.

Born this way: Miss Velasquez, aged two, (left) and pictured a couple of years ago, right. The university student has never weighed more than 4.3stone. She went blind in one eye aged four

Born with two brown eyes, when Miss Velasquez was four the right began to cloud and change hue. Doctors then discovered she had gone blind in that eye.

'They still don't know why it happened but now I have one blue and one brown eye.' 

Miss Velasquez's case has fascinated doctors all over the world and she is part of a genetic study run by Professor Abhimanyu Garg at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Support: Miss Velasquez with her supportive family, mother Rita, father Lupe, brother Chris and sister Marima. No one else in her family has the syndrome

Professor Garg and his team now believe Miss Velasquez may have a form of Neonatal Progeroid Syndrome (NPS), which causes accelerated ageing, fat loss from the face and body, and tissue degeneration. People with PRS often have triangular and prematurely aged faces with a pointy nose. He said: 'I am aware of a small number of people that have similar conditions to Lizzie but each case is slightly different.

'We cannot predict what will happen to Lizzie in the future, as the medical community are yet to document older people with NPS.

'However Lizzie is lucky to have healthy teeth, organs and bones so the outlook is good. We will continue to study her case and learn from her.'

Miss Velasquez doesn't take medication but she relies on vitamin supplements and iron to stay healthy.  It is thought she should be able to conceive naturally without passing the condition to her children. 

Her new book is out on September 13.