Iran appears to be getting ready to close the book on a case that has sparked an international outcry. Sakineh Mohammedi Ashtiani, who was sentenced to death by stoning for adultery, appeared on state-run TV last night and confessed not only to adultery, but to aiding in the murder of her husband. Her lawyer says the mother of two was tortured for two days before the broadcast, the Guardian reports, and fears she will soon be executed in secret.

Her sentence was commuted from stoning to hanging last month. Amnesty International slammed the “so-called confession.” It “makes a complete mockery of the judiciary system in Iran,” a spokesman said. “Iran is inventing crimes. It is an unacceptable practice that flies in the face of justice.” Brazil has offered to give asylum to Ashtiani, and the lawyer who brought her case to the world’s attention has fled to Norway.

Read more: http://www.newser.com/story/97891/iran-mom-in-stoning-case-confesses-to-murder.html#ixzz0wP2pAl3Q

The Australian psychic, who has not been named, told police a premonition about Keisha Abrahams, who has been missing for 12 days, drew her to Sydney’s sprawling Nurragingy Reserve, where she discovered a woman’s torso wrapped in plastic on Wednesday.

Police said it was not the missing girl. But they did not rule out asking the psychic, who has not been named, to help them in their search.

“Well, it’s quite interesting that there’s a woman and she had a sense or feeling it was worth her while to come to this particular part of the park,” Detective Chief Inspector Pamela Young said.
“We’re still exploring that, it’s certainly an interesting proposition of hers.”

Ms Young added that police were contacting relatives of Kristi McDougall, a mother of two who has been missing since June 19.
Keisha went missing after her mother put her to bed on July 31. The front door was unlocked but showed no sign of forced entry, and the child has not been seen since.

see more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/7940767/Australian-psychic-searching-for-missing-6-year-old-instead-discovers-womans-body.html

The 26-year-old sunbather, identified only as Luisa under Italian privacy laws, was questioned by officers, who opened an obscenity investigation.

The mother had initially asked the woman, an assistant in a fashion store, to cover herself up as her “ample” breasts and the act of rubbing suncream on her body had disturbed the boys, aged 12 and 14, she said.

The sunbather, who was on a public beach at Anzio, south of Rome, refused. When police arrived, she remonstrated with them, still unclothed, to the amusement of holidaymakers.

Yesterday, Gianluca Arrighi, the sunbather’s lawyer, said: “Something like this happening in 2010 is absurd. My client was approached and asked to cover up by the woman and she simply asked her what her problem was.

Sensuous

“From there, the woman gathered up her children and went and complained to police, bringing the officers to the scene, where Luisa was still on the beach sunbathing.

“Let’s be clear, my client is tall, brunette and has an ample breast and is, therefore, naturally going to be sensuous when she applies cream to her chest.

“This may well have attracted the attention of the woman’s two sons but it should not lead to my client being convicted.”

Topless sunbathing has fallen out of fashion in recent years. In both France and Italy, far fewer women abandon their bikini tops on the beach.

A police spokesman said: “A patrol was stopped by a mother of two sons who was angry at a topless sunbather and the way she was applying suntan cream.

“She told us that she had asked the woman to cover herself up because her young sons had been admiring the sunbather and they had been troubled by what she was doing.

“We have opened a file on committing an obscene act.

“From what I heard she was very attractive,” the police spokesman added. (© Daily Telegraph, London)

- Nick Pisa in Rome

Irish Independent

A shower of shooting stars is set to descend on the country tonight as the Earth sweeps through a cloud of shining space particles.

Experts say tonight should offer almost ideal conditions to watch the Perseid meteor shower as a moonless night combines with the possibility of favourable weather conditions.

Watchers who take up position in a good spot, well away from city lights, may be able to spot as many as 80 meteors per hour if the night sky is dark and clear — averaging more than one a minute.

The shower will be at its height at 10pm, according to the Irish Astronomical Association (IAA).

At this time every year the Earth sweeps through a storm of tiny dust particles originating from Comet Swift-Tuttle which rush into our atmosphere at speeds of about 100km per second before they are burned away in the flash of light that we see as a meteor.

This shower is known as the Perseids because the meteors appear to come from the constellation of Perseus, which is rising in the north-easterly part of the sky when it gets dark every evening.

The Perseid cloud consists of particles ejected by the comet as it travels on its 130-year orbit — many of them around a thousand years old.

The Perseids are sometimes known as the tears of St Lawrence, since August 10 is the date of the saint’s martyrdom.

Experts says Perseids can be seen from early August until around the 17th, but most will be visible from August 11-13, with the peak tonight.

Philip Baxter, president of the IAA, said: “If you look to the north-east and look overhead you’ll see the shooting stars which are small grains of sand entering the atmosphere, creating a streak of light as they go across.

“If it’s nice and clear and dark, you should be able to see maybe up to 80 in an hour.

“They go very fast so you never know where they are going to appear.

“If you’re looking down railway tracks, they appear to meet at a point — it’s the same with meteors. They appear to originate at one point in the sky and diverge to different parts of the sky.”

The best way to see meteors is to go somewhere well away from the light pollution of roads, towns and cities and allow half-an-hour for your eyes to dark-adapt.

Best places to view the Perseids:

- Beaches offer a great expanse of unpolluted night sky.

- Astronomers suggest a forest clearing would be ideal to block out light from nearby settlements.

- A big expanse of darkness without too much light pollution such as a lake shore.

- Linda Stewart

see more: http://www.independent.ie/national-news/perseid-meteor-shower-to-offer-stargazers-a-cosmic-treat-2294578.html

Convicted rapist Larry Murphy was released from prison today.

The notorious criminal, who served 10 years of a 15 year sentence for a brutal attack on a woman in the Wicklow Mountains, walked free from Arbour Hill.

Murphy, 45, who kidnapped his terrified victim in Carlow before repeatedly raping her, was also a suspect in the disappearance of several young women in the 1990s.

Wearing a hooded top, baseball cap and sunglasses, he walked out of the prison’s front gate and left in a taxi at about 10.15am.

Murphy ran to the waiting cab without making comment.

A large Garda presence was on duty at the Arbour Hill complex in north Dublin with the Garda helicopter circling overhead as the rapist left.

The taxi was also followed by three photographers on high-powered motorbikes and Garda officers in unmarked cars as it made off towards the Phoenix Park.

Fears have been growing around Murphy’s hometown of Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, that the sex attacker will return to the area where his ex-wife and family have rebuilt their lives.

His brother Tom has previously denied reports the rapist will be moving into his home.

“Beast”

A handful of angry spectators gathered outside the prison and shouted “rapist”, “beast” and “f****** bastard” as the sex attacker was released.

One woman said she just wanted to see what Murphy looked like ten years on.

“I can’t believe how cool and casual he was as he walked out,” she said.

“I didn’t think they’d let him out like that and just get in a car. I can’t believe a taxi took him away.

“I just hope they throw him in the Liffey.”

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said its national helpline was open on 1 800 77 88 88 for victims of rape or sexual abuse affected by the coverage of the case.

A public meeting will also be held in the west Wicklow village of Grangecon by Sinn Fein tonight, where locals residents will discuss with gardai extending the community alert scheme in the area.

Guilty

Murphy pleaded guilty to rape and attempted murder of a young woman in February 2000 after she survived a vicious sex attack. He repeatedly raped her before putting a shopping bag over her head in the boot of his car in a secluded spot in the mountains.

His victim was saved when two late-night hunters stumbled across the scene and recognised Murphy, who fled and was arrested the following morning at his home.

Murphy was also investigated as part of Operation Trace, a garda inquiry into the disappearance of several women in Leinster including Annie McCarrick, 26, Jo Jo Dullard, 22, and teenager Deirdre Jacob.

The former carpenter was sentenced before the Sex Offenders Act was passed in 2001 so he is not subject to a post-release supervision order.

However gardai have said a management plan was in place to monitor Murphy’s movements and his whereabouts. He must formally register an address with them with seven days.

As a high-risk offender, he will also be visited by a member of the force at least once a month.

Complaint

It is understood Murphy travelled to a north Dublin Garda Station and made a complaint about media intrusion.

Meanwhile, Tallaght councillor Sean Crowe said the purpose of the meeting was to bring residents together to reassure them.

“There’s a lot of fear, a lot of people scared within that community itself,” Mr Crowe said.

“There’s people there from the Rape Crisis Centre … and I suppose to reassure people that the guards are going to be monitoring this individual if he does arrive in this community.

“No-one wants to see an individual like that landing in their community.”

Mr Crowe said he was in favour of looking at the tagging of convicted sex offenders.

“I think in relation to sex offenders you need to look at all avenues in relation to reassuring the public,” he said.

“But as an Irish republican I would have difficulty in relation to the whole question of tagging of offenders or individuals, but people are scared at the moment and we need to look at all avenues and hopefully look at new ways of tackling the problem.”

Press Association

see more: http://www.independent.ie/national-news/notorious-rapist-larry-murphy-released-from-prison-2294451.html

Thomas Beatie, the “pregnant man” who gave birth to a daughter in 2008 and a son the next year, is a father for the third time. “He’s very handsome and adorable, and he’s big and healthy,” says a source of the baby, born July 25. Beatie, who was born a woman, is back home with wife Nancy and their children, Susan and Austin, Radar reports. “It’s happy bliss,” the source says. “They’re soaking up all the love.”

Read more: http://www.newser.com/story/97132/pregnant-man-has-baby-no-3.html#ixzz0vZTnk0Pt

Read more: http://www.newser.com/story/97154/teacher-throws-self-down-stairs-to-avoid-review.html#ixzz0vZSAPyAb

Bradford Crown Court heard that Staci Hargreaves (33) was in the back of a cab in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, when she kicked Gavin Taylor (28) after he turned around in the front seat.

David McGonigal, prosecuting, said Hargreaves was wearing three-inch stiletto heels, one of which caused her boyfriend serious injuries.

“The heel of one shoe went through the left eye of Mr Taylor and fractured the socket and entered his brain and caused a blood vessel to burst.”

Mr McGonigal said Mr Taylor began coughing up blood and slumped into unconsciousness. He was taken to hospital where his condition initially deteriorated before he eventually made a “surprising” recovery, the jury heard. The prosecutor said Hargreaves told police she could not recall the incident but told officers she may have kicked out and unintentionally caused the injuries.

Hargreaves, of Stalybridge, Manchester, denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent and an alternative charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm. The case continues.

- Dave Higgens in Huddersfield

Irish Independent

If you wake up on Monday mornings feeling less sharp than usual it is probably because you do not treat yourself to long enough lie-ins at the weekend.

Scientists have discovered that an extra dose of sleep is more than just a luxury – it provides an essential boost to brain power ahead of the working week.

Those who return to work on Monday morning refreshed from a long lie-in the day before perform better than those who spent less time in bed at the weekend, research has found.

A single lie-in is all that is required to replenish the brain and boost energy, alertness and attention span after a week of restricted sleep, the study showed.

But even 10 hours in bed may not be enough to restore those who regularly burn the candle at both ends – so they should lie in even longer.

The scientists also warned against staying up all night partying at the weekend, which they said would significantly impair a person’s performance at work the following week.

Dr David Dinges, chief of the Division of Sleep and Chronobiology at the University of Pennsylvania, who led the study, said: “The additional hour or two of sleep in the morning after a period of chronic partial sleep loss has genuine benefits for continued recovery of behavioural alertness.

“The bottom line is that adequate recovery is important for coping with the effects of chronic sleep restriction on the brain.”

The scientists conducted a sleep deprivation experiment on 159 healthy adults, with an average age of 30.

After two nights of 10 hours in bed, 142 participants were restricted to four hours in bed from 4am to 8am for five consecutive nights.

They were then allowed randomised doses of recovery sleep ranging from zero hours to 10 hours for per night. The other 17 participants spent 10 hours in bed on all nights.

Participants were asked to complete 30-minute computerised assessments every two hours while they were awake. Those whose sleep had been restricted were found to have a shortened attention span, impaired alertness and reduced reaction time. But their normal functions were restored after just one full night of sleep.

The study also showed that people who got no sleep at all after the period of sleep deprivation performed significantly worse than normal.

“This highlights the importance of avoiding all-night sleep deprivation following a period of restricted sleep,” Dr Dinges said.

The study was published in the latest issue of the journal Sleep.

It comes after a separate study published in the same journal found that the optimum amount of sleep is seven hours per night.

The findings contradict the received wisdom that eight hours’ sleep provide the best start to the day.

The study of more than 30,000 adults found that cardiovascular disease – which includes heart attacks, strokes and angina attacks – is twice as high among those sleeping less than five hours a day, compared with those getting seven hours.

Those who slept nine hours or more also had a markedly increased risk.

- Heidi Blake

© Telegraph.co.uk

The earth could be hit by a wave of violent space weather after a massive explosion on the sun, scientists have warned.

The solar fireworks at the weekend were recorded by several satellites, including Nasa’s new Solar Dynamics Observatory which watched its shock wave rippling outwards.

Astronomers from all over the world witnessed the huge flare above a giant sunspot the size of the Earth, which they linked to an even larger eruption across the surface of Sun.

The explosion, called a coronal mass ejection, was aimed directly towards Earth, which then sent a “solar tsunami” racing 93 million miles across space.

Images from the SDO hint at a shock wave travelling from the flare into space, the New Scientist reported.

Experts said the wave of supercharged gas will likely reach the Earth today, when it will buffet the natural magnetic shield protecting Earth.

It is likely to spark spectacular displays of the aurora or northern and southern lights.

“This eruption is directed right at us,” said Leon Golub, of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA).

“It’s the first major Earth-directed eruption in quite some time.”

Scientists have warned that a really big solar eruption could destroy satellites and wreck power and communications grids around the globe if it happened today.

Nasa recently warned that we could face widespread power blackouts and be left without critical communication signals for long periods of time, after the earth is hit by a once-in-a-generation “space storm”.

The Daily Telegraph disclosed in June that senior space agency scientists believed the Earth will be hit with unprecedented levels of magnetic energy from solar flares after the Sun wakes “from a deep slumber” sometime around 2013.

It remains unclear, however, how much damage this latest eruption will cause the world’s communication tools.

Dr Lucie Green, of the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Surrey, followed the flare-ups using Japan’s orbiting Hinode telescope.

“What wonderful fireworks the Sun has been producing,” the solar expert said.

“This was a very rare event – not one, but two almost simultaneous eruptions from different locations on the sun were launched toward the Earth.

“These eruptions occur when immense magnetic structures in the solar atmosphere lose their stability and can no longer be held down by the Sun’s huge gravitational pull. Just like a coiled spring suddenly being released, they erupt into space.”

She added: “It looks like the first eruption was so large that it changed the magnetic fields throughout half the Sun’s visible atmosphere and provided the right conditions for the second eruption.

“Both eruptions could be Earth-directed but may be travelling at different speeds.

“This means we have a very good chance of seeing major and prolonged effects, such as the northern lights at low latitudes.”

A Nasa spokesman was unavailable for comment.

- Andrew Hough

© Telegraph.co.uk