Pakistan girl burned alive for rejecting marriage proposal

A teenage girl died in Pakistan after being doused in petrol and set alight by a man who wanted to marry her but whose proposal had been rejected, police said Sunday.

It was the second brutal killing in Pakistan's Punjab province within days, after a 17-year-old girl and her husband were murdered by a group of relatives for marrying against their wishes.

The latest incident took place Saturday in a village which is part of Toba Tek Singh town.

Sudanese Christian woman freed again

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) — A Sudanese Christian woman whose death sentence for apostasy was overturned was freed again on Thursday after being detained on accusations of forging travel documents.

Wearing a traditional white and green dress, Meriam Ibrahim, 27, walked out of a Khartoum police station carrying her newborn baby hours after lawyers said she was ordered released. Ibrahim and her husband, who is disabled and was seen being carried by two men, got into a vehicle with their other child and sped away, followed by police cars and two vehicles with diplomatic plates.

Earlier, Ibrahim's lawyer Eman Abdul-Rahman told the Associated Press that she had been released after foreign diplomats pressed the government to free her. However, Abdul-Rahman later said that Ibrahim had been granted release but had not physically left the police station, adding that her initial account was based on what Ibrahim had told her over the phone earlier in the day.

Giving Birth Later in Life Is a Sign of Longevity

Doctors often discourage women from delaying childbirth, but a new study published this week in the journal Menopause found a surprising perk to late motherhood: a longer life expectancy. 

Researchers at Boston University and Boston Medical Center studied women who lived to the age of 95 or older and compared them with 151 women who died at younger ages. What they found was interesting: Women who gave birth naturally (without fertility assistance, such as IVF) after the age of 33 were twice as likely to live to the age of 95. And women who gave birth after the age of 40 were four time as likely to live to the age of 100. 

“We believe the ability to have kids at an older age is a sign that a woman’s reproductive system is aging slowly, which is a marker that her entire body is aging slowly," lead researcher Thomas Perls, MD, a geriatrician and professor of medicine at Boston Medical Center, tells Yahoo Shine. "That means she is better able to ward off life-threatening, age-related diseases such as heart attack or stroke.”

“Look at Halle Berry,” he says. “She became pregnant without fertility assistance at the age of 46 and she looks young and appears to be healthy.”  

10 Things You Should Never Say to a New Mom

By Michelle Ruiz

New moms are in a glass case of emotion, so choose your words carefully, guys.

1. "Oh my gah, just enjoy. This. Time."/"Treasure. Every. Moment."/"Isn't it bliss?" There are moments of bliss - like when your baby stops crying and falls asleep on your shoulder. But when everyone implies new motherhood is nirvana, when in fact your baby is really whiny and you're so overwhelmed, you're spontaneously crying for no reason, you shame yourself and wonder what the eff is wrong with you. Better to just say, "Are you hanging in there somehow?"

Celebrities and Their Pregnancy Cravings

What do some of your favorite stars get a hankering for when they're eating for two? From sauerkraut to strawberries, take a look at which expectant celebs are getting some odd (and a few normal) cravings.

Store's New Policy Lets You (Temporarily) Take Clothes Home Without Paying

Here's an interesting new policy we'd love to see in the States: The Japanese clothing store GU recently announced that customers can try on up to three pieces of clothing and then leave the store to test-drive clothes out "in the wild," provided they return before the end of the day. Though it may seem like sanctioned shoplifting, the policy actually makes a lot of sense — the brand, owned by retail chain Uniqlo, is trying to combat the phenomenon of shoppers buying something, taking it home, changing their minds, and returning the item.

Though GU's policy is groundbreaking for a retail store, it's not so revolutionary for online stores. Many online-only clothing and accessory companies already use the "test it out for a while before you buy it" approach. Eyewear brand Warby Parker, for example, sends customers five pairs of glasses and gives them five days to choose which one(s) to keep. Customers will often post pictures of themselves in different pairs of glasses to social media, asking their friends to decide which pair looks the best. That results in satisfied customers — and free publicity for the brand.

GU's new idea is not only smart for shoppers, but smart for the company. Reducing the number of returns saves time and money. And the store, which limits the sanctioned-shoplifting policy to 30 people per day at just one location for now, encourages potential buyers to take note of how the clothes feel on, to make sure it's a good fit.

Drunk 5th-graders and Tattooed 12-year-olds: Meet the Contenders for Worst Parents of the Year

(Newser) - Two police reports illustrate what results when adult supervision is a little shaky: drunk fifth-graders and tattooed 12-year-olds.

A hospital birth doesn’t make my pregnancy an illness

On Monday, a good friend of mine posted a story on Facebook called “It’s time to stop treating pregnancy like a disease,” written by Globe and Mail health columnist André Picard. At first glance, I thought the story was going to be a push toward medication-free childbirth, which, as a parenting editor, I’ve read before, and I’m neither here nor there on the matter. To each their own. Que sera sera. Whatever floats your delivery boat.

But as I read further, I realized Picard was touting the necessity of non-hospital births in this country, adamantly insisting that hospital births under the care of physicians are unnecessary in most pregnancies—that such care and delivery practices are costly and a waste of obstetrical education and skill. According to Picard, doctors should be reserved for complicated pregnancies only, leaving the majority of births in Canada to midwives at home or in birthing centres. Moving toward this model of prenatal care will apparently mean fewer needless interventions, not to mention savings on the healthcare bottom line.

World's Most Beautiful Marriage Proposal

This Proposal is a wild wow wedding proposal! You will try beating it....

10 best couples wedding song 2013

Beautiful wedding slideshow. Mercedes & Tim Wedding images by R.I.P Teresa Newcomb. Mercedes best friend who passed away one week after receiving her wedding picture. A nice tribute to love... 

Kissing in Wedding Photos Is Gross Let’s end the scourge of posed PDA.

By Ben Mathis-Lilley

My wife and I just got a big delivery of pictures from our wedding photographer. She asked us to look them over and mark any shots that we didn’t want in the final albums that she’ll print for us and our parents. She did an excellent job capturing the day—many artfully lit shots of people dancing, cramming high-fat foods into their face-holes, and slamming beers, as we wanted—so we didn’t have many notes for her. Only one, actually: Please remove as many shots as possible of the two of us kissing. Our own pictures had creeped us out.

It wasn’t that our photographer had an unusual fixation on PDA. Compared with the other engagement and wedding pictures that show up in my mailbox, our photos were fairly discreet. Many couples apparently consider it normal to have themselves photographed kissing, gazing deeply into each other’s eyes, spooning in the standing position favored by high school kids who figured out that it allows them to press their areas together under the guise of “hugging,” and otherwise posing like people who are 15 minutes away from having, as they say, marital relations. And then they send these pictures to their grandparents.

Woman in surgery to have ovaries removed found to be pregnant

Rebecca Oldham and baby James (Personal photo)

PAPATOETOE, New Zealand, June 16 (UPI) --A 25-year-old New Zealand woman in the hospital to have her ovaries removed due to pain and cramps was instead found to be pregnant.

Rebecca Oldham had already been put under anesthesia in November when surgeons discovered she was 32 weeks pregnant with a 9-pound baby.

"I was facing not being able to have any more children because they thought there were problems with my ovaries and all of a sudden we had a son," she said, adding that she and husband James Tipene have a 20-month-old daughter, Hayley.

Doctors woke Oldham up from anesthesia to tell her they would perform a caesarian section to deliver her baby instead of remove her ovaries.

Woman about to have ovaries removed delivers baby instead

Rebecca Oldham found herself suffering painful cramps, and after multiple tests, New Zealand doctors decided to remove her ovaries in November, believing them to be the cause of the problem.

But then they woke the 25-year-old up to deliver some very surprising news: Instead of removing her ovaries, they were about to perform an emergency caesarean section ...

Scientists Ready to Test 'Super Banana' on Humans

(NEWSER) – Vitamin A deficiency kills hundreds of thousands of children worldwide; hundreds of thousands more go blind, says a researcher. That's why his team has developed a "super banana" it aims to grow in Uganda by 2020. Cooking bananas are an East African staple, so Prof. James Dale and his team in Australia genetically engineered a version of the food that's packed with alpha and beta carotene. The body converts the two into vitamin A, AFP reports.

The super bananas are now being sent to the US for their first human trials, which will take six weeks and are backed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Time notes; details of the bananas' impact on vitamin A levels are expected to be released by year-end.

10 Ways Wedding Planning Prepares You For Marriage

From the time you get engaged to your big day, with every decision you make and hurdle you overcome, you're putting all kinds of wisdom into play. You're also fine-tuning skills that can help build a successful marriage, such as sticking to a budget, navigating family politics and knowing when to take a de-stressing break from it all.

Apply these learning experiences from your wedding-planning journey to your future together:

HIV Positive Parents Gives Birth To Three Children HIV Free, Father's Part

Hubert and Jeanne Mwangaza have both been HIV-positive since they married and started a family together years ago. Now, they have three children, and all of them are HIV-free.

Is it a medical miracle? Hardly.

Hubert and Jeanne's commitment to one another has made a profound impact on the health of their three daughters long before their children were even born. A father's involvement in his wife's prenatal care may not seem relevant in preventing HIV transmission from mother to baby, but evidence taken in sub-Sahara African nations — where rates of HIV infection remain disproportionately high — tell a different story.

Nike releases animated short film starring Neymar, Zlatan, and Cristiano Ronaldo as a human mannequin

Nike apparently felt that their five-minute, star-filled, live action commercial wasn't enough for this World Cup, so now they've gone and produced an animated short featuring all of their top footballers too. Titled "The Last Game," it tells the story of how players are phased out by clones capable of footballing perfection.

After losing their jobs to their clones, the players (voiced by actors) are all forced to take up regular jobs — Zlatan Ibrahimovic mans a newsstand, Neymar and David Luiz work in a hair salon, Wayne Rooney as a fisherman and Cristiano Ronaldo as a human mannequin in a shop window. The Brazilian Ronaldo won't stand for this though, and convinces them all to unite for one last game against the clones. The result is pretty great.

Anyway, at this rate World Cup commercials are going to start being nominated for Academy Awards before you know it.

Charlie White Is Engaged to Girlfriend Tanith Belbin

After five years, Olympic gold medalist and "Dancing with the Stars" alum Charlie White popped the question to his girlfriend Tanith Belbin.

Guess what -- she said yes!

"Couldn't ask for a more beautiful setting for the best time in our life! Hashtag she said yes!!!" White posted today on Instagram alongside a picture of him and his new fiancee showing off her beautiful ring. The two are currently on vacation in Hawaii.

World Cup cuties - Players share tender moments with their kids

This year, Father’s Day coincides with the first weekend of the 2014 World Cup. Dads across the country will put their feet up, crack open a beverage and watch the planet’s best soccer players shoot for glory. Our gallery looks at the fathers plying their trade in the stadiums of Brazil. We’re used to seeing these superstars on the pitch, see them share a moment with their children.

Nick Rimando carries his son

Nick Rimando #18 of Real Salt Lake carries his son on the field at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. (Melissa Majchrzak/MLS via Getty Images)

Doctor emphasizes babies' need for additional vitamin D

Experts finally agree on one thing in the bottle vs. breastfeeding debacle: Regardless of how their mothers choose to feed them, babies need more vitamin D.

The milk of most breastfeeding mothers contains very little vitamin D, and additives in formulas are largely insufficient, says Dr. Robert Heaney, a clinical endocrinologist specializing in nutrition and a professor at Creighton University in Nebraska.

Although vitamin D is important throughout life, it is essential within the first year in reducing risk of current infections and later development of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes.

Dr. Heaney cites a study published a year ago in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism that indicates vitamin D plays a crucial role in metabolism and hormonal functioning.

The No. 1 Way to Keep Metabolism Soaring Post-Workout

You know that your metabolism gets a big boost during exercise. That's why you burn more calories by running than by sitting. But there are ways to trick your metabolism into running strong all day long, even hours after you exercise. Metabolism consists of hormones and enzymes that convert food into fuel. This fuel provides the energy the body needs to do daily tasks like thinking, all the way through to more active tasks like biking or yoga. When your metabolism is working at its peak — such as when you're running at your race pace on a treadmill — you are creating and using energy more efficiently. As your body plows through those calories, you'll lose weight faster and streamline your journey to a fitter physique.

My Son's Letter From Camp Was NOT What I Expected (Funny)

Last year my 8-year-old son went to summer camp. It was the first time he had been away from home for more than a night. An hour after he left, I missed him. By the time I went to bed, I found myself wandering into his bedroom, just to feel close to him. As the days passed, I wrote to him daily. Each hour dragged as I'd wait for the mailman, hoping and praying for just one letter from him. By that point I missed him so much, I began to imagine what he might write to me. I fantasized I'd receive a letter something like this:

The Best and Worst Foods to Eat During Pregnancy

When I was about three months pregnant, my obstetrician told me, "Certain foods go to the front, and others go to the back." Since then, no matter how many years I studied nutrition or how many prenatal classes I taught, no statement was as succinct or painted as clean an image as that one. So if you're around three months pregnant, and you've already gained about 20 pounds, most of that weight gain probably had little to do with your growing fetus and more to do with overfeeding.

Armed with a cache of wit and wisdom, I'd like to share a few maternity mantras to help you enjoy this unique and amazing time in your life -- while also looking ahead to enjoying the way you look and feel after your special delivery:

The thought of eating for two could lead to eating too much. Excessive portion sizes and giving into every craving could lead to double time at the gym after delivery. Even more seriously, it could put you at risk for complications during pregnancy. On average, the demands of pregnancy require around an extra 300 calories per day. The goal is to add foods rich in nutrients you may otherwise not get enough of, like calcium from milk or fiber from whole grains.

The power of protein is important for you and your baby to fuel muscles and promote growth. You may be getting enough protein from your typical diet, but it's important to choose the right sources of lean protein and be sure to double check that your taking in the right quantities. Choose chicken, lean meat, low-fat dairy and part-skim cheeses.

You Won’t Believe Where Schools Are Now Sending Scantily-Clad Teens Home

The totally sovereign country of Canada is all atwitter after several schools sent students home or publicly chastised them because they were wearing clothing that did not adhere to official school dress codes.

One case occurred in late May in a Labrador City amid the generally frozen tundra of Labrador. Officials at Menihek High School sent at least 20 female students home for wearing dresses deemed too short and shoulder-baring tops, reports the National Post.

The newly-tweaked dress code prohibits short dresses and clothes that don’t cover shoulders or which show “the crease of the breast.”

Underage and Pregnant

A teenager finds it hard to give up her partying lifestyle after giving birth and her mother issues her with an ultimatum. A girl talks about her concerns about the effects of pregnancy on her body.

Women Sue Sheriff’s Office Over Forced Pregnancy Tests

Three women have filed a lawsuit against the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office in California, saying they were forced to take pregnancy tests while being booked into the county jail. The sheriff’s office said the testing is standard procedure when processing female inmates. However, the women argue that the county violated their constitutional rights.
Sergeant J.D. Nelson said the testing is the result of a prior lawsuit. In the previous lawsuit, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office was sued for failing to conduct pregnancy tests on inmates. Although they eventually reached a settlement, the sheriff’s office agreed to test all female inmates upon booking.
Nelson said the sheriff’s office is simply following through with a prior agreement. He also said the testing is done in the best interest of the inmates, as those who are pregnant are transferred to a specialized unit.
Norther California ACLU attorney Elizabeth Gill disagrees. As reported by Huffington Post, Gill agrees that the women should be given the option of taking a pregnancy test. However, she is concerned that the tests are being forced against the inmates’ will:

Taking antidepressants during pregnancy doubles child's autism

(NaturalNews) Antidepressant medications like SSRIs detach users from reality by modifying neurotransmitter levels of serotonin. According to a new study, if these brain chemistry manipulators are taken during pregnancy, they may also detach offspring from reality, inviting newborns into a new age of autism spectrum disorders.

Today, the emergence of autism spectrum disorders continues to expand, now affecting 1 in 68 births, representing a society bathed in neurotoxins and mind-altering chemicals.

Researchers are now attempting to isolate the causes of autism spectrum disorders. Prenatal use of antidepressant medications may pose one of the greatest risk factors for autism spectrum disorders as confirmed by a study from Drexel University.

The team of Drexel researchers investigated large population-based registers between 1997 and 2006. The total number of pregnancies studied was 750,000.

In the study, two categories of pregnant women were evaluated. Both groups of women were reportedly depressed during pregnancy. The factors for depression could have included stress, malnutrition, life situations or toxin overload. The difference between the groups of women was that one group faced their depression naturally without taking SSRIs; the other group departed from reality and succumbed to SSRI antidepressant medications during pregnancy.

This Dad Pummeled An 11-Year-Old Kid For Bullying His 9-Year-Old Autistic Son

A furious father escorted his 9-year-old autistic son onto a school bus late last week and proceeded to beat up an 11-year-old kid who had allegedly been bullying the boy.

The incident occurred on Friday morning in the Bay Area suburb of Richmond, Calif., reports CBS San Francisco.

10 Surprising Things that Ruin Relationships

By Tori Rodriguez

Make time for your mate, show your appreciation, say more positive things than negative ones and keep the lines of communication open: Most of us have gotten the memo by now on these relationship rules. But researchers have turned up plenty of not-so-obvious factors that can help or hurt a couple's level of happiness with each other. We tapped the latest science to turn up new pitfalls, as well as tips to help you keep your love connection going strong. Photo by Getty Images

1. Too much power. While you would expect the partner with less say-so to be unhappier, researchers discovered that the one with more influence over their mate was actually less satisfied. Since many folks now value equality in relationships, both of you should be 'wearing the pants.'

Bride straps newborn to gown: Bride defends decision to 'drag' baby along floor

A bride straps her newborn to her wedding gown in some strange effort to include her baby in her big day. According to Yahoo! News, Shona Carter-Brooks didn't do something "normal," however. The bride actually strapped her one-month-old daughter to the train of her gown... and basically dragged her down the aisle.

Carter-Brooks took to Facebook to respond to the backlash:

"Media Media I see how it works regardless the situation or purpose people gone have something negative to say! The answer is we do what we want when we want long as Jesus on our side everything worked out fine and gone continue to be fine. Our 1 month old was awake and well secured on my train.