100-year-old Fauja Singh smashes world record for the oldest marathon runner as he completes Toronto race in a sprightly 8 hours and 25 minutes

 

• Fauja Singh finished 3,850th ahead of five other runners
• He started running aged 89 and runs 10 miles a day

By Emily Allen

Last updated at 10:37 AM on 17th October 2011

A British man has quick-footed it into the record books becoming the first 100-year-old to finish a full distance marathon.

The world's oldest marathon runner Fauja Singh, from Ilford, east London, finished the Scotiabank Toronto Marathon in Canada in eight hours, 25 minutes and 55 seconds yesterday.

Sikh Mr Singh raised his arms in triumph as he crossed the finish line to clinch the remarkable Guinness World Record record.

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Quick footed: Fauja Singh, 100, raises his arms in celebration after completing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon yesterday earning him a spot in the Guinness World Book of Records

Twenty-six miles is a hugely draining test for anyone and after almost 22 miles it looked like the centenarian might have to stop.

But he battled on for another two hours to reach the finishing line in 3,850th place - ahead of five other runners.

Triumph: Mr Singh waves at the crowds as he receives his marathon medal yesterday

Earlier this week he set eight world records for running distances between 100 metres and 5,000 metres.

Mr Singh, who only started running 11 years ago after the deaths of his wife and son, trains every day, running 10 miles.

He attributes his success to ginger curry, cups of tea and 'being happy'.

He holds the world record for the men's over-90 category after completing the 2003 Toronto marathon in five hours and 40 minutes.

He said last month: 'I am not a learned person in any shape or form. To me, the secret is being happy, doing charity work, staying healthy and being positive.

'If someone says I must stop running I ignore them - invariably they're younger than me. The secret to a long and healthy life is to be stress-free.

'If there's something you can't change then why worry about it? Be grateful for everything you have, stay away from people who are negative, stay smiling and keep running.'

Born in India on April 1 1911, Mr Singh was a farmer in the Punjab when he first developed a love for running, but he only took the sport seriously when he moved to the UK 50 years later.

He has completed seven marathons since turning 89 and has become the first person to sign up to the Edinburgh Marathon Festival 2012, 26.2-mile race, as part of four-man relay team with an average age of 86.

Nimble: Fauja Singh has become the first person to sign up to the 2012 Edinburgh Marathon Festival race

Training: Fauja Singh has revealed the key to conquering his daily 10 mile run is eating plenty of ginger curry and drinking copious amounts of tea

Running man: Fauja Singh will compete in Edinburgh's marathon next year

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2049994/Centenarian-smashes-world-record-oldest-marathon-runner-completes-Toronto-race-8-hours-25-minutes.html#ixzz1b3u51K2R

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• Brit, 100, is world's oldest marathon runner (thesun.co.uk)
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Ban on morning-after pills' ads lifted

Image via Wikipedia

Oct 15, 2011, 03.19AM IST TNN[ Kounteya Sinha ]

NEW DELHI: Advertisements, promoting morning-after pills, can be aired since the Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) lifted the ban on October 10.
The embargo on advertising all emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) was imposed in January, 2010.
Then, concerns had been raised that the ads were promoting the drugs as regular contraceptives and misrepresenting abortion.
The DTAB's latest guidelines say a committee, which would include the principal of a reputed girl's college, representatives from NGOs and the advertising council, can screen the ads and the scripts before they go on air.
No ways the ads can stigmatize abortion as an option, besides making it clear that the pills' side-effects include disruption of menstrual cycles.
The DTAB has suggested that both private firms and the Union health ministry to advertise and "promote EC pills so that the rural population are made aware of its availability".
The ads can promote the ECPs' use for emergency only. "The drug is safe for use in young as well as older women. It has no serious side-effects even after multiple uses. However, it should be promoted as emergency contraceptive only and not as regular means of contraception," the DTAB says.
"The DTAB's decision has been sent to the Union health ministry for notification," said a member of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). Seven companies market ECPs in India that have been available as over the counter (OTC) drugs since September, 2005.
India records 7 million abortions annually, and 20,000 women die because of abortion-related complications. Only two in five abortions are safe.
ECPs should be popped at the earliest, and not later than 72 hours after unprotected sex. Doctors advocate strongly against its indiscriminate use.
Around 8.2 million pills were sold in India last year. One of the most common misconceptions about the drug is that it is equivalent to an abortion pill. ECPs act as an interceptive agent and not an abortive one. Lack of proper knowledge about its functioning has led women popping them as regular oral contraceptives that are taken on a daily basis.
"It stops unwanted pregnancies in almost 855 of the cases. Unwanted pregnancies lead to unnecessary sufferings. There is a lack of adequate and safe abortion facilities, with at least 10 illegal unsafe abortions per legal ones," the DTAB says.
Experts said ECPs are comparatively heavier in dosage than regular oral contraceptives or birth control pills, and cannot be taken regularly as a family planning method.
The exact mode of action of ECPs is not known, but probable mechanisms include prevention of ovulation, fertilization and, or, implantation, depending on the phase of menstrual cycle when it is used.
The mechanisms for prevention of pregnancy are thought to happen before the implantation occurs. When used correctly - time and dose as prescribed - after a single act of unprotected sexual intercourse, the ECPs fail to prevent pregnancy in about 2% of cases.

http://m.timesofindia.com/PDATOI/articleshow/10360543.cms

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No threat to lesbian couple, say families

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The families of runaway lesbian couple Beena Dhama (22) and Savita Rani (24), who had strongly opposed their marriage, finally seem to have accepted the two and their relationship. Except for Beena's maternal uncle, their parents have come to terms with the union and 'pardoned' them.

“Savita's parents as well as mine have accepted our relationship and forgiven us. It was Savita's parents who had agreed initially. Now, my parents too have fallen in line after several media reports. However, my uncle Satbir Singh still has a problem with our marriage and has threatened to shoot both of us,” Beena said.

Friends for over 15 years, the duo had fled their hometown Baghpat in Uttar Pardesh about two months ago and had been staying together in Kasan village near Manesar in Gurgaon.

According to a petition filed before the Gurgaon court, Beena was unmarried prior to July 22 while Savita had tied the knot with one Ombir last December. Her marriage was dissolved in panchayat proceedings held in Nipura tehsil in Baghpat.

While Beena's father Sukhbir Singh is a farmer, Savita's father Jai Parkash works with a private firm in Baghpat.

The couple's lawyer Durgesh Boken had moved a Gurgaon court against nine relatives of Beena, including uncle Satbir Singh, apprehending a threat to their lives.

The court has sent notices to the Haryana police as well as the relatives to appear in court on August 16, Boken said.

Krishanpal Singh, brother-in-law of Beena, who was present in court on Saturday confirmed that her parents had forgiven her and accepted their marriage. “We have no objection to their marriage now,” he said. Savita's family members too said there was no threat to the couple.

Beena and Savita, however, moved into a safe home in the complex of State Council of Education Research and Training under police protection on Saturday. The one-room set has an attached toilet, kitchen and other basic furniture but the runaway couple would have to arrange food on their own.

While the couple had sought women police personnel to be deputed, officials turned down their request and two male guards have been posted for their protection.

Meanwhile, the couple is looking forward in life and say they have the larger responsibility of bringing up four children of Beena's elder brother. He had  died in 2007. The children, in the age group of 3 to 10 years, regard Beena as their father and also call her “papa”.

“Savita and I got married to bring up these children. I have been taking care of them ever since my brother died and his wife left them,” said the Class 12 dropout.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/NewDelhi/No-threat-to-lesbian-couple-say-families/Article1-727575.aspx

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• Besharmi Morcha aka SlutWalk launches website (rajneeshnews.blogspot.com)

Delhi Slutwalk conducted successfully

Sonakshi Babbar, Hindustan Times
New Delhi, July 31, 2011

After much criticism and unending debates, Delhi Slutwalk Arthaat Besharmi ...

As many as 700-800 people walked at Delhi Slutwalk arthaat Besharmi morcha today at Jantar Mantar, making it a success. People from all walks of life made their presence felt at the event. From foreigners, school children, teenagers, to city people, all were there to protest against sexual

harassment of women. Interestingly, there were as many men participating in the march as women.
Though the route of the walk was short - from Jantar Mantar via YMCA back to Jantar Mantar, the excitement among the participants was palpable.
The organiser Umang Sabarwal, a 19-year-old journalism student also attended the event along with her family, amidst police security.
Walk was followed by a streetplay and performance by Delhi Drum Circle.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/newdelhi/Delhi-Slutwalk-conducted-successfully/Article1-727672.aspx

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What I wore today: Blogger who chronicles every outfit becomes internet sensation

 

A blogger who posts pictures of herself in a different outfit online every day for fashion fans has become an internet sensation.

Poppy Dinsey sports everything from designer dresses to bikinis and pyjamas and now has so many clothes that her bedroom looks ‘more like a warehouse’.

The 24-year-old started her 'What I Wore Today' blog on January 1, 2010 after making a New Year resolution to vary her outfits.

Internet sensation: Poppy, from Guildford, Surrey, has won an army of female fashion followers with her funky outfits and style tips

Fashionista: Poppy Dinsey has been posting what she wore every day on her blog 'What I Wore Today' and has become an internet sensation

Poppy, from Guildford, Surrey, soon won an army of female fashion followers with her funky outfits and style tips.

And male admirers appreciated shots of Poppy dressing in a saucy Santa costume on Christmas Day and a plunging top on National Cleavage Day.

 

The site is now such a huge success, attracting 90,000 visitors a month,that Poppy is planning an entire social network for fashion fans to rival Facebook.

Poppy, who studied economics at University College, London, was working for a property search engine when she went on holiday to California in December 2009.

She says: ‘I came up with a New Year's resolution to try and wear something different every day, take a picture on my iPhone and upload it.

‘The previous year I'd decided to always have nice nails, so it seems my resolutions are quite girly.

Swimwear: Poppy posts her favourite bikinis online during the summer months to show off her figure - and the swimsuits

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2020166/Poppy-Dinsey-What-I-wore-today-blog-chronicles-outfit-wears.html#ixzz1TUmXR0bB

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