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Shakira is pregnant

Shakira is 'very happy' to announce that she is expecting a baby.
This will be the first child for the Grammy Award-winning Colombian superstar and her beau professional soccer player for FC Barcelona Gerard Pique.
In light of the good news Shakira, 35, will take a little break from her singing commitments.
"As some of you may know, Gerard and I are very happy awaiting the arrival of our first baby!' she wrote on her Facebook page.
'At this time we have decided to give priority to this unique moment in our lives and postpone all the promotional activities planned over the next few days. This means I will not be able to be a part of the iHeartRadio Music Festival, but I''m sure this weekend in Las Vegas will be spectacular and I will be closely following everything that happens there! I''d like to thank Clear Channel and my fans for their constant love and understanding."
(Music-News.com)

Organic Food No More Nutritious

Scientists have revealed that organic and non-organic food contain pretty much the same amounts and kinds of vitamins and other nutrients. This might be surprising news for those of us who choose to buy organic believing it to be healthier. Researchers from America's Stanford University concluded that there might not be any extra health benefits to buying organic, thus people might be better off saving their money and buying non-organic produce. Lead researcher Dr Crystal Smith-Spangle said there was no difference in the vitamin content in fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy products in organically- and conventionally-produced food. She said the only difference was slightly more phosphorus in the organic products.
Dr Smith-Spangle's review of over 200 different reports on organic food suggests people should perhaps revise their shopping choices, based on the levels of pesticides. Smith Spangler said both organic and conventional foods rarely exceeded the allowable limits for pesticides in the USA. She said the evidence wasn't too clear on whether the difference in pesticides would have an effect on health. She concluded by saying consumers should know there is overwhelming evidence that eating fruit and vegetables is good for your health, so people should eat more fresh produce, whether it is organic or conventional. Organic foods accounted for $31 billion in sales in the USA last year, up from $3.6 billion in 1997. (Breaking News English Lessons)

Soldier's surprise baby birth in Afghanistan

A British soldier who didn't know she was pregnant has given birth to a baby boy at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan.

The woman, who worked with front-line troops, only found out she was pregnant when she had stomach pains.
She went to medics on camp and they told her it was because she was in labour and about to give birth.
A statement from the The Ministry of Defence(MOD), which employs the armed forces, said: "Mother and baby are both in a stable condition."
Normally, if a soldier is pregnant, the MOD wouldn't allow them to work in a dangerous environment like Afghanistan.
The MOD said: "It is not military policy to allow servicewomen to deploy on operations if they are pregnant. In this instance the MOD was unaware of her pregnancy."
A team of medics from an Oxford hospital is being flown out to Afghanistan to help the new mum and baby on their flight home to the UK.
It was discovered the baby was born five weeks premature.
This is the first time a front line British soldier has given birth.  (CBBC Newsround)

Large demonstration in Madrid against the Government's policies

It's estimated that there were 50,000-65,000 at the protest organised by the unions and other organiations.

The march and demonstration organised by the unions CCOO, UGT on Saturday saw tens of thousands on the street in protest at the Government’s economy policy and the cuts in health and education.
The Madrid Government says there was between 50,000 and 65,000 protestors on the streets.
There was a festive atmosphere, not so when demonstrators tried to access Calle Génova where the main Partido Popular headquartes are located .Police cordons set up in the road stopped them.
Some of the demonstrators were detained for not supplying their identification.
La Cumbre Social demanded that the Government put any rescue to a referendum, and the unions also asked for a referendum or they said there would be a General Strike. (typicallyspanish.com)

Pedro Almodóvar's new film takes to the skies

'Los amantes pasajeros' is being filmed currently at Ciudad Real Airport.

The new film from Pedro Almodóvar will be shot in the inactive Ciudad Real airport where the airspace has been closed since May.
The film, ‘Los amantes pasajeros’ is said to be very light comedy, and stars Javier Cámara, Cecila Roth, Lola Dueñas and Blanca Suarez among others.
The action takes place inside a plane which is full of passengers. An A-380 plane fuselage has been constructed for the project and we know the plot includes an emergency landing.
Almodóver said in press conference in Cannes that his return to humour and the comedy of the 80s would ‘have its limitations’. (typicallyspanish.com)

U.K. Cancels Visas Of 2,500 Students

The British government has cancelled more than 2,500 visas of foreign students studying at the London Metropolitan University (LMU). The students are now desperately trying to find an alternative to being deported. Britain has given the students 60 days to find other courses or leave the country. The mass expulsion has created a scandal within Britain's academic community. Britain's immigration officials said LMU was not following visa rules regarding non-European Union students and so has removed its right to teach those outside the EU. Critics of the move believe it is part of the government's attempt to reduce migration into Britain by cutting down on overseas student numbers.

Britain's media is reporting the government's move will damage the country's reputation as a provider of world-class higher education. They also say it will cause as much as $1.5 billion in damage to the British economy. The average student spends close to $50,000 each during their three-year stay in Britain. People also note the decision is bad timing, as London is the host of the Olympics and Paralympics. The students themselves are furious. They enrolled in LMU in good faith, believing Britain to be a trustworthy and reliable country in which to study. Student Camila Alvarez, 25, from Brazil, said: "This is humiliating for us. We are here legally and have gone through a strict procedure to get into Britain." (Breaking News English)

Festivals in Britain

Schools in Britain II

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An introduction to Britain

School in Britain

Food in Britain