Sunday, August 03, 2008
Surrogate 'baby factory' opens in Poland offering children for couples at £11,000 a time
A controversial "baby factory" producing infants for £11,000 for childless couples has opened in Poland.
The Warsaw centre is home to 37 young surrogate mothers ready to give birth to children for couples unable to have their own.
The surrogate mums have been medically examined, given support and checked for any history of genetic disease. The women undertake not to drink alcohol or smoke during pregnancy and sign a waiver giving up all rights to their children when they are born.
Addresses for the surrogate mothers and couples paying for children are cross-checked to ensure they don't live in the same area. The aim is to avoid the risk of surrogates bumping into their children in later life.
Couples using the surrogacy centre have to adopt the babies immediately after birth, whether healthy or not.
The centre's chief, nurse Elizhbeta Shimanskaya, 32, says she already has orders for babies and she will give birth to three herself in the coming years.
The Warsaw centre is home to 37 young surrogate mothers ready to give birth to children for couples unable to have their own.
The surrogate mums have been medically examined, given support and checked for any history of genetic disease. The women undertake not to drink alcohol or smoke during pregnancy and sign a waiver giving up all rights to their children when they are born.
Addresses for the surrogate mothers and couples paying for children are cross-checked to ensure they don't live in the same area. The aim is to avoid the risk of surrogates bumping into their children in later life.
Couples using the surrogacy centre have to adopt the babies immediately after birth, whether healthy or not.
The centre's chief, nurse Elizhbeta Shimanskaya, 32, says she already has orders for babies and she will give birth to three herself in the coming years.
US girl survives 14-storey fall
A 12-year-old girl who fell 14 floors down a chimney in her apartment block in New York was saved by a pile of soot at the bottom.
Grace Bergere suffered only an injured hip after she landed in 2ft (60cm) of soot in the basement furnace of the building in the West Village area.
Her father described her survival as an "absolute miracle".
The building's janitor said he was glad he had not had the chimney swept.
Grace Bergere suffered only an injured hip after she landed in 2ft (60cm) of soot in the basement furnace of the building in the West Village area.
Her father described her survival as an "absolute miracle".
The building's janitor said he was glad he had not had the chimney swept.
Saudi vice squad member held for having six wives
A member of the Saudi religious police has been accused of having six wives at the same time - two more than allowed under religious laws.
The 56-year-old man, who is an employee of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, is under investigation in Jazan province, south-west of the kingdom.
Three of the women involved were Saudis and the other three were from Yemen, just over the border.
The accused denies the women are all currently his wives and says he has divorced two of them.
Muslim men can keep up to four wives at a time under sharia, or Islamic law, which is applied in Saudi Arabia.
Members of the Saudi Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice are expected to enforce the kingdom's strict interpretation of Islam, particularly regarding relations between the sexes.
The 56-year-old man, who is an employee of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, is under investigation in Jazan province, south-west of the kingdom.
Three of the women involved were Saudis and the other three were from Yemen, just over the border.
The accused denies the women are all currently his wives and says he has divorced two of them.
Muslim men can keep up to four wives at a time under sharia, or Islamic law, which is applied in Saudi Arabia.
Members of the Saudi Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice are expected to enforce the kingdom's strict interpretation of Islam, particularly regarding relations between the sexes.
Post service axed because of steep hill
Delivering the mail to a hamlet has turned out be an uphill struggle.
Postal bosses have decided the road is "too steep" and are cancelling the service - to the fury of villagers.
Residents of 11 homes in Booze, in the Yorkshire Dales, face a 30- mile round trip to Richmond to collect post.
Photo from here.
Royal Mail acted because a health and safety report said the route was too dangerous - and it was feared it could make one postie's "bad back" worse.
A Royal Mail spokesman said the health and safety of its staff was of paramount importance.
He added: "We have agreed to deliver their mail temporarily to a different address while arrangements are made for roadside boxes, which will become their permanent delivery point."
Postal bosses have decided the road is "too steep" and are cancelling the service - to the fury of villagers.
Residents of 11 homes in Booze, in the Yorkshire Dales, face a 30- mile round trip to Richmond to collect post.
Photo from here.
Royal Mail acted because a health and safety report said the route was too dangerous - and it was feared it could make one postie's "bad back" worse.
A Royal Mail spokesman said the health and safety of its staff was of paramount importance.
He added: "We have agreed to deliver their mail temporarily to a different address while arrangements are made for roadside boxes, which will become their permanent delivery point."
Life-saving cat wins top award
A cat that goes for help when her disabled owner suffers seizures has been rewarded with a national prize.
Two-year-old tabby Speedy, from Aldeburgh in Suffolk, has been named Rescue Cat of the Year 2008.
Speedy's owner Christine Payne, 19, suffers from epilepsy and progressive spinal ataxia. She also has severe learning difficulties.
As well as being a faithful companion, Speedy senses Miss Payne's seizures and alerts the teenager's parents.
With news video.
Two-year-old tabby Speedy, from Aldeburgh in Suffolk, has been named Rescue Cat of the Year 2008.
Speedy's owner Christine Payne, 19, suffers from epilepsy and progressive spinal ataxia. She also has severe learning difficulties.
As well as being a faithful companion, Speedy senses Miss Payne's seizures and alerts the teenager's parents.
With news video.
Uproar as mother pulls child's fingers out of bag
A woman caused uproar in court when she pulled two fingers from her handbag claiming they had belonged to one of her six children.
Remi Fakorede, who was convicted of a £925,000 tax credit fraud, told London's Snaresbrook Crown court they had fallen off following a curse.
She said the same voodoo curse had caused her to participate in the fraud.
Photo from here.
When the child's fingers were produced, one juror burst into tears while the judge immediately adjourned the case for the rest of the day.
Reporting of the incident, which happened during the trial, was only lifted once the guilty verdict was returned.
Although it is understood one of her children had lost part of her hand after suffering renal problems and developing gangrene, DNA test results are now awaited to determine who the body parts belonged to.
Remi Fakorede, who was convicted of a £925,000 tax credit fraud, told London's Snaresbrook Crown court they had fallen off following a curse.
She said the same voodoo curse had caused her to participate in the fraud.
Photo from here.
When the child's fingers were produced, one juror burst into tears while the judge immediately adjourned the case for the rest of the day.
Reporting of the incident, which happened during the trial, was only lifted once the guilty verdict was returned.
Although it is understood one of her children had lost part of her hand after suffering renal problems and developing gangrene, DNA test results are now awaited to determine who the body parts belonged to.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)