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[JohnCenaFan28]

A week-old conjoined twin died and her sister has a 50-50 chance of survival after they were separated by emergency surgery, a hospital said.

Hope Williams died on Tuesday night after medical staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital, in central London, carried out "one of the most complex and challenging" operations they have ever faced.

Professor Agostino Pierro, head of the surgical team, said Hope's lungs proved too small to support her breathing.

He said twin Faith was in a "stable" condition and "gradually improving".

The twins, who were joined from the breastbone to the top of the navel and had separate hearts, were delivered by Caesarean section at London's University College last Wednesday and taken to Great Ormond Street.

Their mother, 18-year-old Laura Williams, from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, was Britain's youngest mother to give birth to conjoined twins.

Medical staff warned the babies might not survive after a 12-week scan revealed the problem, but Mrs Williams and her husband Aled, 28, refused to consider a termination. The couple have another daughter, 18-month-old Carly.

Prof Pierro said his team had to start operating because of a "sudden deterioration" in the children's health.

More than 20 hospital staff were involved in the procedure and the twins were moved into different theatres after they were separated.

The procedure lasted for about 11 hours in total.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

A total of £100 million a month is currently being spent on building work for the London 2012 Games, Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said.

Noting the scale of the £9.3 billion Olympic budget, she said: "The Delivery Authority (in charge of Olympic build and infrastructure) is now spending at the rate of £100 million a month - 23% of the construction having been committed and only 9% of the contingency to this date."

She told local authority officials at a London conference there would be "no more public money" for the £9.325 billion budget which is treble original estimates.

She said: "The Exchequer is contributing 64% of that cost, the Lottery is contributing 23%, broadly in line with Lottery contribution to the Millennium and London taxpayers are contributing somewhere around 11% of the total.

"The budget is identified and remains the same now as it did when I made the revised budget which I said we would always have to do. There is no more money and as I have said before we are on time and on budget."

Meanwhile, sports chiefs have taken a hard-line approach to the chase for medals at the London 2012 Olympics by allocating the bulk of the £292 million funding announced to sports which can win.

Despite a £50 million shortfall in its budget for elite athletes, UK Sport is still targeting a top four place in the medals table at the 2012 Olympics and second place at the 2012 Paralympics.

They also declared their intention to win more medals across more sports than ever before in the hope of producing the best performance by British teams for 100 years.

Funding was confirmed for 19 Olympic and 14 Paralympic sports for the 2009 to 2013 period. Another £12 million is to be announced for another eight Olympic and four Paralympic sports.

UK Sport's chair Sue Campbell said the funding agency is taking a "brutal no compromise approach" based on past performance and future potential.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

A mother is fighting for her life in hospital following a car-jacking in which she was dragged up to 60 feet underneath the vehicle, police said.

Caroline Johnson was scraping ice off her windscreen before taking her son to school when a man jumped into her car and drove off, leaving her lying in the road in Langley, Berkshire.

Detective Inspector Steve Armstead said it was likely Mrs Johnson, 46, had been dragged behind the car when it ran her over.

Speaking at a press conference he said: "We think she was dragged along the road a considerable distance, it is believed she was dragged 10 to 20 metres and passed under the vehicle."

Mrs Johnson's young son did not witness the incident in which his mother suffered serious internal injuries and injuries to her arms and legs.

Mrs Johnson, who works as a receptionist at a local veterinary surgery, is now in a critical but stable condition in Wexham Park Hospital.

Her husband, Mark Collins, said: "This whole incident has left us devastated and will continue to do so for months to come.

"What happened was completely unnecessary, and I urge anyone who can help the police catch whoever did this to my wife to come forward."

Pc Clive Benson said: "Over 14 years of road traffic collisions, I have never seen anyone with as many injuries as this woman has sustained.

"The family are struggling to deal with what has happened and they are naturally devastated. It's an incident no one expected to happen."

-Nova

[John]

Guns On Prescription For Elderly

A small arms manufacturer in the US is taking deposits for a gun specially designed for elderly and disabled people, who may be able to get it on prescription.
The Palm Pistol is the world's first ergonomic firearm, according to Constitution Arms.

The single-shot 9mm weapon is grasped in the palm of the hand, with the barrel pointing out between the fingers.

Instead of pulling a trigger to fire the gun, users press their thumb on a button at the top.

"Point and shoot couldn't be easier," the New Jersey-based company claims on its website.

And it goes on to say: "It is ideal for seniors, disabled or others who may have dexterity limitations or difficulty sighting and controlling a traditional revolver or semi-automatic pistol."

The Palm Pistol has been certified as a Class I Medical Device by the US Food and Drug Administration, Constitution Arms said.

That means doctors could prescribe it to certain people, such as those who have had fingers amputated.

And patients could be able to claim back the cost on their medical insurance, if the manufacturer is successful in an attempt to have the gun defined as "durable medical equipment".

The Palm Pistol will cost around $300 when it goes on sale.

Constitution Arms has not confirmed when that will be, but is taking deposits of $25 for anyone interested in buying one.

-Yahoo.

[DUKE NUKEM]

interesting thanks for the read John

[JohnCenaFan28]

Thanks for the read.

[John]

Blast kills at least six in Pakistan
A bomb blast in the Pakistani city of Peshawar has killed at least six people and wounded 75.
North West Frontier province information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said: "It was a bomb. The number of casualties is very high. People are still trapped under the rubble."

The blast occurred near a Shia assembly hall in a busy part of the city.

One building collapsed in flames, while half a dozen others were badly damaged and on fire.

A witness said he saw three bodies being pulled out of the rubble.

Sunni Muslim militant groups have launched several gun and bomb attacks on the minority Shia sect in recent weeks.

-Yahoo.

[JohnCenaFan28]

Thanks for the read.

[John]

MoD names soldier killed in Iraq
A soldier who died from a single gunshot wound while serving in Iraq has been named.
The body of Lance Corporal David Wilson, who was serving with 9 Regiment, Army Air Corps, was found at Basra's Contingency Operating Base. He was declared dead at the scene.

The incident is subject to a full investigation. The Ministry of Defence said: "No enemy forces were involved and there is no evidence at this stage to suggest that anyone else was involved."

The 27-year-old leaves behind his fiancee, his 11-week-old daughter Poppy, his parents, brother, family and friends.

Lance Corporal Wilson's family said: "David was a loving and devoted family man who was the light of Michelle's life. The recent gift of their beautiful baby daughter had made his world complete.

"David wore his uniform with pride and was fulfilling his lifelong ambition to be a soldier. The family are extremely proud of him and our world will be a much sadder place without him. Words cannot express how much he was dearly loved."

The Commanding Officer of Joint Helicopter Force (Iraq), Lieutenant Colonel Richard Green, said: "Lance Corporal Wilson embodied exactly what is best about soldiers in the British Army; he was a jolly, friendly and selfless character who was wholly respected by his peers and friends alike.

"He was a committed family man and recently became a proud father. He leaves behind his fiancee Michelle, daughter Poppy, parents and a brother

"Lance Corporal Wilson was an excellent soldier who will be deeply missed. We have all had the privilege to serve with him and will fondly remember him as a chatty, affable individual who was always at the front of the queue to help others. A dearly loved father, our thoughts now sit firmly with Michelle and his family."

-Yahoo.

[JohnCenaFan28]

Thanks for the news.