Pokemon Go Travel event LIVE worldwide Niantic confirms massive rewards

Pokemon Go players across the world have been challenged to catch three BILLION characters between them in exchange for a clutch of in-game rewards.

It's called the Global Catch Challenge and, if completed, will result in region-locked Pokemon like Farfetch'd and Kangaskhan being spawned outside of their catchment area.

The challenge is spearheaded by a group of trainers taking part in a new Pokemon Go Travel event - a video series from the game's creator Niantic Labs - which sees them traveling around the world catching the virtual creatures.

The event and accompanying challenge start on November 20 and will end in six days' time on November 26.

Trying to help the game's players on their way, a few milestones have been put in place with rewards of their own. Once the game's collective players grab 500 million Pokemon, they'll be treated to double XP and increased spawns.

Lures will also be expanded from 30 minutes to a whopping six hours.

If 1.5 billion critters are caught, players will get all the above as well as double Stardust.

“Ever since Pokémon GO launched, we've loved hearing stories of Trainers venturing abroad and playing together with new friends from different countries,” explained Niantic.

“That's what inspired us to create Pokémon GO Travel, a new video series to see the world through the eyes of a Pokémon Trainer.

“To kick things off, Pokémon GO Travel is taking a diverse group of Trainers from around the world to Japan to host our first-ever Global Catch Challenge.

“Stock up on Poké Balls, Trainers. The Global Catch Challenge starts now and concludes with a special celebration at the Pokémon GO Safari Zone event in Tottori, Japan, on November 26.

"We can’t wait to take you along on this amazing adventure and hear what you think about the Pokémon GO Travel tour."

Official: Dog owners are more likely to live long and healthy lives

Dogs really are man's best friend, as owning one can slash the risk of premature death by a third, according to major new research.

The landmark study of more than 3.4 million older people found Britain's favorite pet reduces the likelihood of heart disease and combats loneliness.

Those living alone were 33% less likely to die over the next 12 years if they owned a dog.

The biggest impact was seen on cardiovascular disease, the world's biggest killer, reducing mortality rates by a staggering 36%.

Scientists said the companionship was key, along with the physical activity in taking it for a walk. Hunting breeds such as Golden Retrievers, Irish Setters, and Beagles achieved the best results.

The findings come in the wake of a warning from Britain's top GP that loneliness is killing millions of Britons and is as dangerous as high blood pressure diabetes and depression.

According to the Campaign to End Loneliness, an estimated 1.1 million over 65s in the UK are chronically lonely and more likely to develop heart disease and dementia.

The nationwide analysis in Sweden found even those living in families or with partners were 15 and 11 percent less likely to die from cardiovascular disease or any cause, respectively, over the period.

But the effect on single, divorced and widowed individuals were three times more dramatic.

Senior author Professor Tove Fall, an epidemiologist at the Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden, said single owners may walk their dog more and have increased interaction compared to members of a family.

He said research has long associated dog ownership with good health but this was 100 times bigger than any previous study of its kind.

As it was an observational study it does not prove dogs prevent cardiovascular disease or how it may happen.

But Prof Fall said: "We know dog owners, in general, have a higher level of physical activity, which could be one explanation to the observed results.

"Owning a dog is associated with reduced mortality and risk of having heart disease," said Dr Mike Knapton, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation.

"Previous studies have shown this association but have not been as conclusive - largely due to the population size studied here.

"This association between dog ownership and risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD), was identified from Swedish registers and the national dog ownership register.

"We cannot infer a causal relationship, however, dog ownership is associated with an increased physical activity, improved psycho-social well-being and socialization, all of which are associated with reduced CVD mortality- so it is plausible the effect is mediated through these mechanisms.

"Alternatively it could be reverse causality - people who are fitter and more active are more likely to own a dog."

The study by Professor Tove Fall, an epidemiologist at the Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, and colleagues is published in Scientific Reports.

Indian medical student, beats 108 women to be crowned Miss World 2017

A medical student from India has been crowned Miss World 2017 after beating the fierce competition to take home the coveted title.

Manushi Chhillar took first prize at the coveted pageant, which was held tonight in China.

20-year-old Chhillar was clearly surprised with by her win, as television coverage of the event showed.

After scooping the top prize, Manushi tweeted: "Thank you, everyone, for your constant love, support, and prayers!"

She added: This one's for #India."

It's been 17 years since the country has won the title, according to the Miss India Twitter account, and the sixth time an Indian woman has been crowned the winner.

The first runner-up of the pageant, which was held at Sanya, China, was Andrea Meza, of Mexico.

In third place was Stephanie Hill from England.

Contestants from more than 100 countries take part in the 67th Miss World beauty pageant.

Manushi beat off competition from 108 other women to take the crown, which was handed over to her by 2016's winner, Stephanie Del Valle, from Puerto Rico.

The 20-year-old, whose parents are both doctors, said in an interview that mothers around the world deserve the highest salary of every profession.

She admitted: "My mother has been my biggest inspiration, so I have to say a mother's job. It is not always about cash, but love and respect as well. A mother deserves that the most."

Before her win, she said: ""The only thing I believe is certain in life is uncertainty, and this is what is amazing about the pageant."

Samsung Galaxy S9: Rumors about 2018's first Android superphone

Samsung set the bar for flagship smartphones early in 2017 with its stunning Galaxy S8 and there's no doubt the South Korean tech powerhouse is looking to do the same in 2018.

The company announced the S8 in March, which caught some off-guard as it traditionally reveals its new phones at the Mobile World Congress tech conference in February.

Providing this year was a one-off, we could be seeing the Samsung Galaxy S9 in as little as three months time.

There's been no official word from Samsung, but plenty of rumors are already circulating on the internet. Alongside the Google Pixel, the Samsung Galaxy S8 has emerged as a bona fide alternative to Apple's iPhone 8 and iPhone X phones.

Samsung was the first company to experiment with an edge-to-edge display as well as face-scanning unlock features. Other aspects of its phones, like the Bixby personal assistant, have failed to take off.

But it's highly likely that the new Galaxy S9 will pack in plenty of interesting features - but it won't be cheap.

Here's everything we know about it so far.

Release date

As mentioned, we expect the Samsung Galaxy S9 to be revealed sometime around February or March of next year. It's almost certainly going to be shown off at a glitzy Samsung "Unpacked" event.

Whether that's going to be at Mobile World Congress or a dedicated Samsung event remains to be seen.

Even after the phone's been announced, it usually takes a few weeks before it actually lands in the shops. To be conservative, we'd estimate the Samsung Galaxy S9 appearing around the end of March or the beginning of April next year.

One intriguing rumor is that the phone could launch in January - due to the fact that Samsung's engineers started work earlier than usual on the phone's OLED display. We're treating this with a huge pinch of salt as it's unlikely that many customers will rush to buy a brand new phone in January.

Price

Don't expect the Samsung Galaxy S9 to be a cheap gadget. The current lowest-price S8 will still set you back £689.

It's highly unlikely that Samsung will drop the price for its newer phone so you can expect it to cost at least that. What remains to be seen is whether the company will match Apple with a phone costing over £1,000 once you get the higher specs.

Design

Samsung's all-screen Galaxy S8 won plenty of praise when it was released so it's highly unlikely to change the design in any kind of meaningful way.

However, an early render (above) appears to show the company has changed the biggest annoyance with the S8 by moving the fingerprint scanner further down the body of the phone within easier reach of your fingertip.

What's more, the image shows a dual-lens camera. Samsung introduced this feature with the recent Galaxy Note 8 so it's not surprising to see it carried over to the Samsung Galaxy S9.

As has become customary, we can probably expect two different versions of the S9; a regular model and a larger "S9 Plus" model.

Specs

If the outward design remains unchanged, the story won't be the same on the inside of the phone. Samsung will no doubt up to the processor and, possibly, the RAM and storage space to try and make the new model more attractive.

However, according to a post on BGR, leaked specs from the new phone show that it fails to stack up against the iPhone X.

The post suggests it will boast a new octa-core Exynos chip with 4GB of RAM and the latest version of Android. But supposed benchmarks of the new phone didn't match what the iPhone X can achieve.

Samsung may, of course, tweak this before the launch and still has months left to fine-tune, so it's unlikely that this won't be one of the most powerful phones on the market when it finally appears.

Features

Samsung doesn't shy away from packing its phones with the latest features. This year we saw the Iris Unlock and the introduction of the Bixby personal assistant as well as the unique DeX station that turned the phone into a fully-fledged computer.

None of those really took to the mainstream but Samsung will likely push them even further next year.

Scientist edit his own DNA to get boosted strength and muscle growth

Josiah Zayner, a biochemist, and former NASA worker has become the first person known to have edited his DNA after removing a protein which inhibits muscle growth

Rogue scientists are editing their own genes in a bid to make ­themselves superhuman, with boosted strength and senses.

Biochemist Josiah Zayner has become the first person known to have edited his DNA with the CRISPR tool.

The ex- NASA worker removed myostatin, which inhibits muscle growth, with the gene-cutting technology. He said: “This is the first time in history that we are no longer slaves to our genetics.”

Such technology is highly regulated in the US and UK, but it is not illegal to edit your own DNA. Mr. Zayner, whose firm sells DIY gene-editing kits, live-streamed himself injecting the modified copy of his DNA.

He initially expects to see extra muscle growth in that arm. Another US “biohacker” plans to insert a genetic mutation that lets humans see in the ultraviolet spectrum.

London-based CRISPR researcher Robin Lovell-Badge warned of adv­­erse reactions. But University of Manch­ester bioethicist John Harris said: “There’s a long history of scientists experimenting on themselves.”

Top reasons why you’re tired all the time and how to get your energy back

Do you struggle to get out of bed, feel constantly drained and rely on pick-me-ups such as protein bars, coffee and sugary treats to get you through the day?

If so, you’re far from alone. Research by market analysts Mintel reveals that one in three of us admit we’re permanently worn out because of the pace of modern life. As a result, sales of supplements such as ginseng, energy drinks, and power bars have shot up more than 5% in the last year alone as part of our desperate bid to battle exhaustion.

No wonder figures from a survey by vitamin company Healthspan show a whopping 97% of us claim we feel tired most of the time, and doctors’ records reveal that 10% of people visiting their GP are there solely to investigate unexplained tiredness.

So much so that doctors have even created a handy acronym – TATT (Tired All The Time) – that they jot down in their notes when a patient complains of constant fatigue. Here, experts point to some of the causes – and how to deal with them.

1. You’re not exercising enough

It might be the last thing you feel like, but avoiding exercise because you’re tired actually makes you feel worse.

In a University of Georgia study, sedentary but otherwise healthy adults who began exercising lightly three days a
week for just 20 minutes reported feeling less fatigued and more energized after six weeks.

This is because regular exercise makes your heart and lungs work more efficiently, delivering oxygen and vital nutrients around the body.

Reboot your energy: Next time you’re tempted to flop on the sofa, force yourself up for a brisk 10-minute walk – you’ll feel more alert for it.

2. You don’t sleep as well as you think

Recent research shows many of us survive on so-called ‘junk sleep’ – the kind when we wake up frequently throughout the night. It doesn’t replenish our energy levels as well as long stretches of continuous sleep.

Junk sleep can be caused by stress, but also by over-stimulating the brain too close to bedtime. For example, by checking emails or using tablets and smartphones that emit a blue light found to disrupt sleep by tricking the brain into producing ‘wake-up’ hormones right when you need to wind down.

Reboot your energy: To avoid junk sleep, you need to develop good sleep hygiene – which means going to bed at a set time, banning screens for an hour beforehand and developing a wind-down routine that prepares your body for sleep, such as a warm bath, followed by a milky drink and half-an-hour reading something easy-going.

3. Your coffee addiction is sapping your energy

Although we think of caffeine as a pick-me-up, it actually makes us feel more tired once the initial surge wears off.

Dr Chidi Ngwaba, director of The Lifestyle Medicine Clinic, explains: “This is because our brain chemistry doesn’t like
being interfered with by stimulants, so it releases chemicals to dampen down the alert response.”

Coffee is also a serious sleep disrupter, with one study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine revealing that drinking it even six hours prior to bedtime meant poorer quality kip.

Reboot your energy: Avoiding caffeine will increase energy levels in the long run – but cut down gradually, cup by cup, to avoid headaches and irritability.

4. You have an iron deficiency

Figures show that around a third of women are low in iron often due to heavy periods.

Some have low enough iron levels to be anemic. If you pull down your bottom eyelids and the inner rim looks pale rather than pink, it’s an indicator.

Reboot your energy: A blood test will pick up any iron problems and you’ll be prescribed tablets to boost levels.

If iron levels are at the lower end of normal, but not anaemic, Healthspan’s Head of Nutrition Rob Hobson says: “Include plenty of iron-rich foods in your diet, such as lean meats, dark green vegetables, pulses and dried fruits, and pair them with foods like citrus fruit high in vitamin C.”

Or try Spatone Apple (£10.75, Boots) which mixes natural liquid iron with vitamin C.

5. You’re missing out on vital B-vitamins

Nutritionist Rob Hobson explains: “We all have increasingly busy lives, so it’s essential to provide the body with enough calories and vitamins to get through the day.

“B vitamins are particularly vital as they’re required by the body to convert the food you eat into energy.”

Reboot your energy: “You can find this group of vitamins in grains such as brown rice, barley and oats, as well as lean proteins such as oily fish and turkey,” says Rob.

6. You are dehydrated

Losing as little as 2% of your body’s normal water content can take its toll on your energy levels.

And it’s surprisingly easy to become dehydrated, especially as we tend to lose our thirst reflex as we get older.

Working in an air-conditioned office, going for a long walk or simply forgetting to drink regularly can quickly lead to depleted fluid levels.

This causes blood pressure to drop and means not enough blood gets to the brain or muscles. This can cause headaches, fatigue, and loss of concentration.

Reboot your energy: Try to drink every two hours. If you’re not peeing regularly or your urine is very dark, it’s a sign you need to drink more.

“Water is best, but if you find it boring, add mint, basil, lemon or cucumber to liven up the flavor,” suggests Rob.

7. You’re overdosing on sugar

Nutritionist Linda Foster says: “What many people don’t realize is that they can actually be made more tired by the very foods supposed to give them energy.

“Sugary energy drinks and snack foods such as biscuits, chocolate, and crisps cause sharp spikes then dips in blood sugar that can leave you flagging, irritable and desperate for a mid-afternoon nap.”

Reboot your energy: Swap to low-sugar foods – and this includes avoiding white carbs such as bread and pasta which quickly convert to sugar in the body.

Linda says: “Instead choose whole grain carbs such as granary bread, wholemeal pasta and brown rice which release energy more slowly. And eat them little and often to keep your blood sugar stable.”

8. You’re skimping on protein

Surviving on fruit and salad might feel worthy, but avoiding protein in the form of meat, dairy and nuts will leave you exhausted, as it’s a vital energy giver.

“It also takes more time for the protein to be broken down in the body, so the energy is released more slowly and it fills you up for longer,” explains Linda Foster.

Reboot your energy: Snack on protein to keep energy levels stable. Eating a minimum of a palm-sized amount of protein with meals, and eating seeds and nuts or nut butter can prevent tiredness. Good protein sources are meat, fish, cheese, tofu, beans, lentils, yogurt, nuts, and seeds.

9. You’re storing up stress

Naturopath Martin Budd, author of Why Am I So Exhausted?, says: “While a little stress helps to keep us on our toes, long-term stress – for example from work or relationship problems – can exhaust the body, as well as being emotionally draining.”

Reboot your energy: “It’s our response to stress that’s much more damaging to our health than the stress itself,” says Dr. Chidi.

“So by learning how to diffuse stressful situations, we can reduce their impact.”

When stress strikes, instead of going frantic to fix things, try to slow down and take a break instead. Call a friend, walk the dog or do some yoga.

10. Your thyroid is sluggish

Having an underactive thyroid – which means it’s not making enough of the hormone thyroxine – is a surprisingly common cause of unexplained fatigue, especially in middle-aged women.

Other symptoms of a thyroid condition include excessive thirst, weight gain and feeling cold.

Reboot your energy: See your GP who can give you a blood test. If an underactive thyroid is diagnosed, a simple once-a-day tablet can correct the problem – and most people get their normal energy levels back soon after starting treatment.

11. Log off

Dr Lipman, author of Revive: End Exhaustion and Feel Great Again, believes people who over-use technology risk running out of steam. “In today’s world, many of us literally can’t switch off,” he says.

“We’re glued to our computers during the day, our phones on the way to and from work, and our laptops in the evening.

"Then there’s TV. All of these are stimulants and they can disturb your quality of sleep.”

Dr. Lipman advises all his clients to switch off their laptops, TVs and mobile phones an hour — preferably two — before bed.

“Exposure to electromagnetic fields too close to bedtime stops the sleep hormone melatonin from being secreted as you fall asleep, which means you never reach the deep, restorative type of sleep we all need,” he says.

“This type of sleep leaves you feeling fully refreshed after seven or eight hours, plus it keeps your immune system strong.”

Dr. Lipman suggests his patients wear an eye mask in bed: “Total darkness helps you fall into a deep restorative sleep.”

12. Meditate for 12 minutes daily

Cut back on multi-tasking. Focus on doing one thing at a time and give that all your attention. Meditation greatly improves your focus and memory, and in studies, subjects’ memories improved by an average of 10-20%, with some showing an improvement nearer 50%.

13. Put houseplants around your home

Keep your windows open as often as possible – indoor air is often far dirtier than air outside, swirling with dust mites, bacteria, particles from cooking, cleaning, smoking, pet dander and pollutants brought in from outdoors such as pollen and pesticides, all of which can reduce our ability to perform mental tasks.

Houseplants (particularly lady palm, dwarf date and peace lily) can be an effective way to purify the air in your home.

Three instant SOS energy boosters

• Nosh a nana: Packed with natural sugars, and higher in starch than most other fruit, bananas provide the perfect blend of instant and slow-release energy.
• Try this quick acupressure pick-me-up: Pinch the point between your thumb and forefinger, hold for two minutes then gradually release. It’s thought to stimulate energy flow.
• Sniff yourself awake: Shake drops of aromatherapy oils like rosemary, lemon or juniper on a tissue and inhale for a few seconds.

Checking Facebook was wrecking my sleep: Claire Rees' story

I’m a mum to Alice, nearly two, and I work part-time as a health visitor.

I’m constantly on the go with my daughter and work.

Every morning I wake up shattered and rely on tea and sugary foods to keep me going.

I feel tired most of the time and also suffer from bloating.

So when I got a copy of Revive I couldn’t wait to read it.

I was wary that Gwyneth Paltrow was a fan – I just don’t have her time or money and need a plan that’s going to be easy and do-able.

Thankfully, all the advice is so simple and easy to follow.

The first thing I decided to tackle was my sleep – I started going to bed at the same time every night and wearing an eye mask.

Just doing this improved the quality of sleep as it clearly got me into a routine that my body liked so I woke up feeling more refreshed.

The next thing I did was cut back on sugar and alcohol, which made a difference to my energy levels and I looked less bloated.

But the biggest difference was avoiding technology. I often browse on my laptop in the evening and I didn’t realize how much it was disrupting my sleep.

I waste time on things like Facebook when I could be relaxing or having a bath – both of which would help me wind down and sleep better.

The best thing about this book is the sheer number of tips.

You don’t have to do all of them, just the ones that suit your life, to make a huge difference and stop you feeling like you’re running on empty.

Car owner who forgot where he parked his wheels finds it 20 years later

It's likely that we have all been faced with the dilemma of trying to remember where we parked the car .

But it's rare that our memories fail us to the extent that we have to file a police report admitting we have lost it.

Yet, that's exactly what happened in Frankfurt in 1997 and the mystery of what happened has only just been revealed to its now 76-year-old owner.

According to Augsburger Allgemeine , the driver had parked his car in the garage of an industrial building.

However, having failed to find it, he made a report to police and then most likely made peace with his misfortune.

Then by chance, the mystery was solved two decades later.

Construction workers had contacted the police after finding the car as they were preparing to demolish the building.

The police then discovered the 20-year-old report on their system and contacted the owner.

Sadly, the car was no longer road worthy and instead was sent to a junkyard for scrap.

City of the dead: An underground catacombs being built in Jerusalem

A huge network of catacombs excavated beneath a mountain over the past two years will provide enough space for 22,000 graves

An underground 'city of the dead' is being built in Jerusalem after the holy city ran out of burial plots.

A huge network of catacombs excavated beneath a mountain over the past two years will provide enough space for 22,000 graves.

Tunnels half a mile long and a network of lifts connecting the outside world with the crypts have been dug out of the ground.

Specialist drilling teams have bored down 45 metres under the Mount of the Resting to build the unique city.

The two-year project, costing £37million, is scheduled for completion at the Har HaMenuchot Cemetery - Israel's largest - next year.

And it should mean there's enough space for the city's dead at the cemetary for the next 25 years.

Teenage girl electrocuted after rolling onto broken 'iPhone cable'

A 14-year-old schoolgirl has been killed after she rolled onto her iPhone's broken charging cable while she slept.

Le Thi Xoan was electrocuted when she was exposed to the live wires of the damaged cable.

She was found unconscious by her parents and rushed to the hospital, but she could not be revived.

The teenager always charged her iPhone 6 next to her bed and police in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi found the burnt white cable.

The cable was found on her bed and officers believe a slight tear in the rubber casing may have revealed the live wires inside.

Medics confirmed electrocution as the cause of death.

According to investigators, the police believe the girl had plugged her Apple device into charge and laid the iPhone 6 on her bed like she did every night.

Officers believe the tragedy likely struck as she slept and rolled onto the iPhone's charging cable, which had tears in it and which electrocuted her with the current.

The charging cable is being inspected but the authorities said they are yet to determine whether it was the original Apple wire or a cheaper imitation.

In a picture showing the burnt cable, it appears to be shorter than Apple's original 0.5-metre (20-inch) charging cable.

The see-through tape had also been wrapped around the front of the cable, suggesting that the victim may have been aware of the wear and tear but decided to continue using it.