Say NO to child sexual abuse

Nishtha Desai defends victims of travelling paedophiles through Children's Rights in Goa. Here's her story…

Taking up the cause
Being a lecturer and also interested in research, I was led to explore the issue of travelling sex offenders. The more I researched the subject, the more I felt the need to get actively involved in a programme to prevent the institutionalisation of tourism related child sexual abuse.

Fighting for their rights
Children's Rights in Goa (CRG) is involved in child protection and the advocacy of children's rights. Its activities are exclusive to the coastal belt of North Goa. Children's Rights in Goa has three core programmes:

1) Child Empowerment Programme through which it works directly with children in the north coastal belt;
2) A Campaign Unit to spread awareness on the need to protect children from abuse or exploitation at the local level;
3) A Child Protection Cell to manage cases of abused children referred to CRG, and to assist child victims seeking justice through the legal system.

In addition, there is a documentation unit and is involved in capacity building of different stakeholders such as police, teachers, hotel staff etc.

Children are the future
It would help if CRG could forge links with the corporate sector and organise for the vocational training of older children, resulting in better employment opportunities. Giving children the opportunity to look outside the confines of hawking and working in shacks is very important so that they understand that there are other vocations they can get into.

CRG observes India's ratification of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child by organising a Bal Mela every year on 11 December. The objective of the Mela is to provide a platform for the participation of children from different socio-economic backgrounds from the Child Activity Centres and the formal schools.

Changing laws
The Goa Children's Act provides for the adoption of a child friendly tourism code by the Tourism Department and the tourism industry. CRG participated in the drafting of the Goa Children's Act making significant contributions to the section on Child Abuse and Trafficking.

Today Goa is the only state in India to have the Act. It is a comprehensive law that attempts to make the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child legally enforceable; guaranteeing children's rights to survival, development, participation and protection.

On 4 June 2006, members of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) took a pledge to adopt the Child Friendly Tourist Code developed by TTAG office bearers. We felt that this was a very significant step.

Vigilant adults, safer children
Numerous complaints have been made to the police since the launch of the campaign. Interestingly, CRG has received a number of complaints from tourists, who are extremely disturbed when they witness fellow tourists engaging in inappropriate behaviour with children.

CRG also believes that the Goa Children's Act has to be implemented in letter and in spirit for it to transform children's lives. All members of civil society, especially children, need to be aware of the provisions of the Act so that they can ensure that children's rights are not violated with impunity, as is the case today.

India's billionaire list doubles

Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani is once again the wealthiest person in India. The net worth of the promoter of the largest listed Indian company is put at $32 billion, an increase of 54 per cent from nearly $21 billion last year, according to a Forbes report.

"Trailing behind him are Lakshmi Mittal (Arcelor Mittal) with a net worth of $30 billion, up 46 per cent from $20.5 billion, and Mukesh's estranged brother, Anil Ambani, whose net worth of $17.5 billion, 40 per cent, higher than before, put him in third place," it said. A rebounding stock market that gained two-thirds in the past year and an economy growing at 6 per cent have boosted the net worth of India's richest people. The combined net worth of India's 100 richest people is $276 billion, almost a quarter of the country's GDP.

"Last year, there were only 27 billionaires on the India Rich List. This year, the number has almost doubled to 52, just two short of what India had at the peak of the stock market boom in 2007," according to the Forbes report.

Though the top 10 positions remain largely unchanged, there are some shifts in fortunes across the list. Sunil Mittal, chairman of Bharti Airtel, has moved down from Number 4 to Number 8 and Wipro chairman Azim Premji has moved up to Number 4 position.

"The Ruia brothers (Essar group) with a net worth of $13.6 billion have made it to number 5 this year. Adi Godrej has moved out of the top 10 to the number 12 position. Savitri Jindal, nonexecutive chairwoman of O P Jindal Group, at a net worth of $12 billion this year has made it to number 7 on the list she is one of only six women on the list," the Forbes report said.

The richest newcomers are two brothers from Torrent Power - Sudhir and Samir Mehta, ranked 23 at $2.02 billion. Another notable mention is Nandan Nilekani who has stepped down from Infosys board and is now a part of government. He ranks 43 with a net worth of $1.25 billion. Southern India's TV king Kalanithi Maran, ranked 20, almost doubled his net worth to $2.3 billion from $1.2 billion.

Behold the sexiest man alive!

Hollywood star Johnny Depp has been named the sexiest man alive by 'People' magazine. This is the second time the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' star has been awarded the title. Let's take a look at Depp and the other winners over the last five years!

Hottest New Spot

Times Square in NYC was heating up as the cast of CW’s hottest show Gossip Girl attended the opening of the American Eagle Outfitters Flagship Store opening party.

The big gossip of the night was watching Leighton Meester take over the mic and perform for the crowd that brought in Jessica Szohr, Michelle Trachtenberg, Ashlee Simpson, Entourage's Adrian Grenier among others. Leighton sang her new single "Somebody to Love” while Pete Wentz took on the turntables.

The AE store is 25,000 square-feet in the heart of Times Square. VIP guests walked an interactive, subway-themed red carpet featuring an American Eagle accessories cart and were the first to explore the brand's four floors of New York-exclusive offerings. Guests personalized their own American Eagle hoodies, received trucker hats painted by New York graffiti artists and shopped for limited-edition aerie underwear with graphics of New York neighborhoods. In a nod to Times Square's cinematic spirit, New Yorker’s were treated to inside access to the event through live streaming on American Eagle’s 15,000-square-feet exterior LED screens.

'Pretty Woman Plot Synopsis

Self-involved corporate raider Edward Lewis has recently split up with his girlfriend. Seeking directions to the Beverly Hills Hotel, he makes the acquaintance of free-spirited hooker Vivian Ward and decides to put her on a 3,000-dollar retainer as his "date." He Cinderellarizes her by bankrolling a full wardrobe and cosmetic makeover. Of course, the setup will be strictly platonic. A disarming modern-day fairy tale, Pretty Woman was the picture that made Julia Roberts a superstar. As charming as she is in her "giggling" sequences, Roberts' best scene is her triumphant return to a posh Rodeo Drive shop where she'd been previously snubbed. Keeping Pretty Woman afloat throughout is the buoyant direction of Garry Marshall and the always welcome presence of Marshall's stock company of actors, including Hector Elizondo as a stuffy but golden-hearted concierge. Pretty Woman began its life as a much darker story of prostitutes and homicidal drug dealers, but more box-office-savvy heads ultimately prevailed.

Yoga for Hotter Sex

In ancient times yogis practiced abstinence from sex so that all of their energy could be directed toward yoga and spiritual advancement. Makes you wonder: How could these supposedly wise guys have gotten it so wrong?

Today yoga lovers are finding that more time on the mat means more--and steamier--time spent reveling in their newly toned bodies. To take a walk on yoga's carnal side, add these sex moves to your yoga routine for overall better sex. Or just do them by themselves to turn up the heat.

Flex Time Is Sex Time

Having more flexible muscles and joints definitely helps in assuming those compromising positions. Opening your hips in particular gives you a wider range of motion in your nether regions, allowing for more direct stimulation in just the right spots. After all, one micro-movement in missionary is sometimes all it takes to ring the bell.

Sex Rx: Bound Angle In a seated position, bring the soles of your feet together, put your hands on your ankles, allow your knees to relax toward the floor, and hinge forward at the hips as far as is comfortable. Hold for 10 to 15 complete breaths (inhales and exhales).

Power Up the Pelvis

Strengthening one key muscle helps you engage and lift the pelvic floor, bringing you more sensation and control during your sex moves.

Sex Rx: Root Lock You may also hear this referred to by its Sanskrit name, Mula Bandha. Seated or standing, contract and then release the pubococcygeus muscle located between the pubic bone and the tailbone, as if you wanted to stop the flow of urine. You can even do this at your desk, say, 10 times at three workday intervals.

Sex Goddesses Go the Distance

Shake-the-headboard sex moves are hard work. "The better shape you are in, the more pleasure you have and the longer you can do it," says Kimberly Fowler, owner of Yoga and Spinning Studio in Venice, California.

Sex Rx: Yoga Pushups Start in the pushup position, arms extended. Engage your abs as you lower your body slowly toward the floor. Stop when your torso is about 2 to 3 inches away. Keeping elbows in, hold there for five breaths, then lower to the floor. Repeat three times at first and build up to five.

Charge Up the Bed Batteries

A killer day at work can leave you too beat to boogie. But a few minutes of nonstrenuous yoga when you get home can mean one less night with Netflix and one more erotic evening entwined with your sweetie.

Sex Rx: Legs Up the Wall Change into some yoga-friendly clothes. Lie on your back with one hip touching a wall. Swing your legs up and turn your body so you face the wall, legs resting against it from heels to butt, arms at your sides. Bring your awareness to your breath and focus on it for 5 minutes. This position allows more oxygen-rich blood to flow from your lower body back up to the heart and the brain, so you'll get up reenergized, refocused, and ready to rumble.

Breath of Desire

While most yoga poses help prepare you for a libidinous rendezvous, this breathing exercise can actually heighten your pleasure in flagrante.

Sex Rx: Breath of Fire While you're in the act, take rapid, forceful, and rhythmic breaths through your nose with your mouth closed. Don't worry if your partner thinks you're hyperventilating; he'll forget all about it when you reach a spine-tingling climax (and no doubt take credit for your fulfillment).

Double Your Pleasure

Practicing yoga with your man is like foreplay, says Jacquie Noelle Greaux, creator of the Better Sex Through Yoga video series. "You start to breathe together, sweat together, and move together. It gets your energy synched up." Some mat work might make him more sex-imaginative as well. "Yoga sparks creativity," Fowler says. "Women don't want bang-boom from a man, they want an explorer--and yoga invites you to explore."

Talking to Your Parents About Sex

We all have questions about sex. Some are based on curiosity, some are based on fear and some are based on pure anticipation! And though you may no some people your own age who think they have all the answers about sex, they probably don't. To be honest, many adults haven't got it all figured out either.

So, who can you go to for answers? Ever think about talking to your parents about sex? They may not have all the answers, but they're great resources on sex because they have definitely been there - you're living proof of that. And in the rare case that they don't have the answer to your question, there's a good chance they'll know where to find it.

You may be contemplating having sex for the first time, debating back and forth about how to handle your sexual feelings. There are a lot of aspects to consider first. You have to weigh your morals and emotions carefully and then decide what you really want...and remember, the decision is permanent - there's no way to "un-have" sex. And even though your parents may just want to scream "nooo!", it's only because they love you and have your best interests and your health in mind.

In the end, you're old enough to know that, good or bad, you're going to have to live with your decisions. What you choose to do is your call, but it's a good idea to really think it through, and talk to a few people about the way you feel before you decide on anything.

You may feel that your parents' values and attitudes are a bit stricter than your own. You may just chalk this up to "old age," but they may also have some valuable reasons for feeling the way they do. Believe it or not, but questioning authority and the reasons for doing things is a sign that you're growing up. A simple, "because I said so" is usually enough to convince young kids to do something a certain way, but you're older and you need to know why things are done.

But remember, just because you don't necessarily agree with everything your parents have to say, it doesn't automatically mean they're wrong. And you might be surprised just how open your parents are about talking about sex.

Just tell your parents that you want to talk about sex, or try these line to "back into" a conversation about sex:

• "We're going to be talking about sex in school this year, but I don't really know that much about it."
• "We talked about sex in class today. I learned a lot of really interesting things."
• "I heard some kids talking about sex today. They said that...(mention something you want to know about sex)...is that true?"

How To Drive Him Wild

Men are sexually stimulated by visuals. Women are often different in this respect in that they tend to respond more to what they hear and feel. Switching off the light might be a real turnoff for him.
Ask him what he likes. Men are mostly quite straightforward creatures and will respond honestly to a direct question as to what he enjoys – this can be done over a glass of wine, or in the bedroom. Often it is easier to talk about sex if you are not in a sexually-charged situation. It is better to feel a bit silly for a few minutes than to find out, months down the line, that what you have been doing to him is not what he wanted.

Easy does it. Be gentle in your touch. Men can find rough handling very painful, especially initially. Most men enjoy oral sex, but not all of them. Ask before you simply go ahead. And remember, teeth and rings can inflict painful wounds.

Stop/Start A sexual encounter is not a journey on a runaway train. Go slow. It is highly stimulating to slow down sexual stimulation before an orgasm is inevitable, and then to start again. Many men experience more powerful orgasms, when the preceding sexual encounter did not last a mere five minutes.

Gentle caressing of the genitals and nipples is very stimulating to most men. Use your hands, your mouth, or even your own nipples. Ask if he would like a firmer touch – don’t just assume it.

Kissing can be very arousing. Start gently. Explore gently – remember that neither of you is digging a mineshaft with your tongue.

Never underestimate the power of suggestion. Descriptions of what you would like to do to him, have the power of interrupting dinner dates or making someone leave work early.

5 Easy Tips to Seduce Women

Seducing a woman is an art form that has a certain rhythm. Seducing a woman is like dancing with a woman. For the most part, women are looking for men just as men for women, and, for the most part, the only difficulty which presents itself in seducing a woman is persuading her that you are indeed the man for whom she is looking. The general idea of seducing a woman is to make her comfortable, to help her to relax.

Last, but not the least, seducing a woman is all about understanding a woman from deep within. One of the most important tips for seducing a woman is to be indirect and subtle. The biggest mistake a man can make when seducing a woman is to move too fast. The first phase of seducing a woman is getting yourself ready. The second phase of seducing a woman is interrupting her, and getting her attention. The worst thing you can do in seducing a woman is becoming her friend first. The art of seducing a woman is also exercising the power of walking away. And most importantly it's about honestly not wanting something in particular from a woman because seducing a woman is not a goal in itself, is not a hunting game, nor a chess game.

Sexy Japanese Idol

Reon Kadena, also known as Minamo Kusano, was born on Feb. 19, 1986 in Osaka, Japan. She stands 5′5″ tall and weighs a mere 95 lbs, but the petite model does not come short with her 35C-23-34 measurements.

As a highly popular Gravure idol in her native Japan, Kadena mainly profits from photo books and self-promotional DVDs (most with clothes on), but in recent years, she has explored other opportunities by making appearances in movies, talk shows, TV commercials, and late night comedy skits.

Reon’s innocent and angelic appearance, paired with her fabulous figure, has made her the sexiest and the most profitable Gravure idol in Japan.

Brazil Model Who Lost Hands, Feet Dies

Mariana Bridi, 20, died at 2:30 a.m from complications related to a generalized infection caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the Espirito Santo State Health Secretariat said in a statement. The bacteria is known to be resistant to multiple kinds of antibiotics.

Bridi had been in the hospital in the city of Serra in Espirito Santo state since Jan. 3.

Doctors originally diagnosed her with kidney stones in December, local media said. But as her condition worsened, she was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection that spread.

The cause of the infection was not immediately known.

It reduced the flow of oxygen to her limbs, causing her feet to be amputated last week and her hands this week. Part of Bridi's stomach was also removed as doctors tried to contain internal bleeding, local media said.

Health officials on Friday said Bridi was not breathing on her own and was undergoing hemodialysis at a hospital in the city of Serra.

Best Actress Oscar Nominees 2009

Angelina Jolie,Kate Winslet, Meryl Streep and Melissa Leo will vie for the Oscar for Actress in a Leading Role at this year's

Celebs in Black

This former Miss World can carry off many colours with panache, you would still see her in a black evening gown many times, including her famous appearances at Cannes also. In Photo: Former Miss World, Aishwarya Rai of India arrives for the screening of 'Lemming' directed by French director Dominique Moll, opening the 58th international Cannes film festival, southern France, Wednesday, May 11, 2005. The film takes part in the competition.

Not just mystic, black has exudes a sense of power also. Take a look at the power trio of the Bond movie- perfect in black! In Photo: British actors Daniel Craig who plays James Bond, right, and Gemma Arterton who plays Agent Fields, left, pose with Ukrainian actress Olga Kurylenko, centre, for photographers at a photo call for the new Bond film, which has now been titled Quantum of Solace, at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008.

Even a perfect figure needs black! Take a look as Penelope Cruz shows off a mermaid shaped black evening gown. In photo: Actress Penelope Cruz arrives before the screening of her film 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona' in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008.

No wonder designers say that black is a must in your wardrobe. Can't think of anything for a formal party or an informal night-out? Trust a black short number which fits everywhere. Meghan Fox strikes a pose in this sexy black dress. In photo: Actress Megan Fox arrives at the premiere of 'Eagle Eye' in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008.

You would take our word on black with the Sexiest Woman of the world picking up a black dress for a fashionable event. Halle Berry looks chic! In photo: Actress Halle Berry attends the Calvin Klein 40th anniversary party during Fashion Week in New York, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008.

Be it anchoring the Academy awards or just another every day party, Nicole Kidman looks ravishing in black. In photo: Actress Nicole Kidman introduces an honorary Oscar to art director Robert Boyle at the 80th Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008. Kidman is wearing a necklace with 7,645 diamonds totaling nearly 1,400 carats by L'Wren Scott.

Trust black even for wild performances! Madonna has a thing to do with black. She carries it with so much elegance and poise even during one of her performance. In photo: Madonna performs during her 'Sticky and Sweet' tour Wednesday Oct. 15, 2008 in Boston. Madonna and Guy Ritchie announced earlier Wednesday that they are divorcing after nearly eight years of marriage.

A black leather jacket, or a skin tight dress has always light up the imaginations of movie goers down the ages. What if you see one at a party? Nicole Scherzinger attempts it. In photo: Nicole Scherzinger of U.S. pop group The Pussycat Dolls arrives for the Vodafone Live Music Awards in central London, Thursday Sept. 18, 2008.

Did you think that it was just Hollywood which sang praises for black dresses? Even though not considered auspicious, the Indian celebs do make a style statement in black. Abhishek Bachchan along with his wife Aishwarya Rai flaunts black at a photo shoot. In photo: Abhishek Bachchan, left, and Indian actress Aishwarya Rai pose for photographer prior to the premiere screening of the Bollywood film Sarkar Raj Friday, June 6, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand. The showing kicked off a weekend-long Bollywood extravaganza of films, fashion shows and awards ceremonies.

The latest rage in Bollywood, Deepika Padukone, trusts black for formal dos. Even if it's the ramp the leggy Deepika looks fab in black. In photo: Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone walks the ramp showcasing an outfit from her Bollywood film Om Shanti Om during a fashion show in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007.

Want to make a style statement or show off a lighter moment, then black would be the best option as Katrina Kaif finds out. In photo: Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif models a creation by designer Ashish Soni, at the Grand Finale of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WLIFW) Autumn/Winter 2008 in New Delhi, India, Sunday, March 16, 2008.

Priyanka looks ravishing in a flowing black dress along with Salman Khan in a black suit. In photo: Bollywood actors Salman Khan, left, and Priyanka Chopra walk the ramp during a fashion show held at the launch of the music of Bollywood film 'Salaam-e-Ishq' ('A Salute to Love') in Mumbai, India, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2006.

Kareena Kapoor dons the black dress with Shahid Kapur as they walk the ramp. In photo: Bollywood actors Kareena Kapoor, left , with Shahid Kapur, right, display creations by Indian designer Manish Malhotra, during the Wills India Fashion Week in New Delhi, India, in this Sunday, Sept. 3, 2006

Of course you could not deny the fact that black makes you look thin. Especially for the Indian full body it would subtly hide the curves at the wrong places. In photo: Indian actresses Preity Zinta and Rani Mukerji, right, smile as they arrive for the screening of their film 'Zeer-Zaara' directed by Indian Yash Chopra during the Bollywood Week in Paris Wednesday, April 26, 2006.

Woman in red drives the men crazy

If a woman wants to drive the men wild, she might want to dress in red. Men rated a woman shown in photographs as more sexually attractive if she was wearing red clothing or if she was shown in an image framed by a red border rather than some other colour, US researchers said. (Text courtesy: ANI) In photo: Kylie Minogue performs on June 26, 2008 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The concert is part of her KYLIE X 2008 Tour.

Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury bowled over to catch Wisden

Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury is set to become the custodian of another icon of the world of books: Wisden.

The group whose success was founded on finding JK Rowling, said today it is buying John Wisden & Co, publisher of Wisden's Cricketers' almanack, reckoned to be the world's most famous sports book.

Bloomsbury, which has been a sales partner to Wisden for the last four years, is buying the business from the superrich Getty family.
Cricket nut Sir Paul Getty rescued Wisden back in 1993, and since his death in 2003 it has been run by his son Mark.
Acquiring Wisden is an important step in our strategy to increase our presence in reference and sports publishing,' said Bloomsbury's chief exeutive Nigel Newton.

Wisden sales have fallen back from their 2006 high point of more than 50,000, the edition which celebrated england's first ashes series victory in nearly two decades.

U.S. monthly job losses the worst in 34 years as Obama warns

The U.S. economy suffered its worst monthly job losses since 1974, data showed today, as President-Elect Barack Obama warned the situation was going to get worse before it gets better.

The new data underscores the depth of the global financial crisis which this week prompted a slew of interest rate cuts worldwide.

Payrolls were cut by 533,000 - much worse than the forecast for a reduction of 340,000 jobs.

Market reaction was immediate, with shares, oil and the dollar falling, and U.S. Treasury prices leaping.

Today oil fell to below $45 a barrel, with expert predicting it could plummet as low as $25 if the global recession reaches China.

"These are horrendous numbers... This is an economy that is in absolute free-fall right now. Confidence has collapsed," said Nigel Gault, chief U.S. economist at Global Insight.

Mr Obama called for a stimulus plan to create jobs over the next two years.

"There are no quick or easy fixes to this crisis, which has been many years in the making, and it's likely to get worse before it gets better," he said.

Obama has called for a massive government stimulus package that would preserve or create 2.5 million jobs and rebuild crumbling infrastructure in an effort to contain the damage from the recession.

"This painful crisis also provides us with an opportunity to transform our economy, to improve the lives of ordinary people by rebuilding roads and modernizing schools for our children, investing in clean energy solutions to break our dependence on imported oil, and making an early downpayment on the long-term reforms that will grow and strengthen our economy for all Americans for years to come," he said.

Neighbouring Canada registered more job losses in November than any other month since June 1982.

Global sales at BMW, the world's top premium carmaker, plunged by a quarter in November, and Honda backed out of Formula One motor racing, vividly demonstrating the problems facing the auto industry.

With many developed countries either in recession or heading that way, central banks have cut interest rates close to the bone and attention is now starting to focus on what happens if they get to zero.

U.S. interest rate futures leapt after the jobs data, moving to price in a half-point rate cut when the Federal Reserve meets later this month, which would take the fed funds rate to just 0.5 per cent.

Against the bleak economic backdrop, signs of tension marked two days of economic talks between the United States and China.

The Americans fretted that China might be losing the stomach to let its currency keep rising in value and Beijing voiced concern about Washington's management of the world's largest economy - in which China has a huge financial stake.

US. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson described the talks as "robust" and characterised by "straightforward back-and-forth" exchanges.

Assistant Chinese Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao, asked whether Beijing would keep buying U.S. debt, responded by urging Washington act to protect China's financial interests.

"We hope the U.S. side will seriously consider the Chinese side's concern and protect the interests of Chinese investors," Zhu told a news conference.

Among the few concrete results at the end of the meeting, the governments agreed to make an extra $20 billion of credit available to finance U.S. and Chinese exports to developing countries that are struggling to get access to trade credit.

Investors have been especially sensitive about the fate of the U.S. automobile industry, the failure of which would hit a chain of parts suppliers and financiers that spans the world.

General Motors Corp and Chrysler LLC told sceptical lawmakers they were open to restarting merger talks to secure aid and prevent job losses.

Paulson said the failure of any major U.S. car maker "would be a bad thing".
Interest rate cuts, higher government spending and tax cuts have been introduced to try to restart stalling economies.

Germany's upper house of parliament on Friday approved a package of measures designed to boost Europe's biggest economy as data showed manufacturing orders plunged in October after a record decline the previous month, pointing to a deepening recession in Europe's biggest economy.

The government says the package is worth 31 billion euros ($39.6 billion) over two years, but critics say it is not radical enough.

Sweden unveiled $1 billion worth of stimulus measures to help the job market and the construction sector and also faced criticism in financial markets for taking too cautious an approach given the scale of its troubles.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also bailed out several developing countries.

Turkey is expected to seek a loan agreement with the IMF amounting to $25 billion, government sources told Reuters.

Policymakers have stressed official rate cuts are not having the impact they should because banks are not passing them on or lending freely - begging the question, what to do next?

The Bank of England is considering buying up government debt and flooding markets with cheap cash, an unsourced report from The Daily Telegraph newspaper said.

A chorus of Federal Reserve watchers expect it to lower its key fed funds rate to zero by January and to expand quantitative measures to pump more liquidity into markets, echoing efforts by Japan to revive its economy in the 1990s.

Asked about quantitative easing, ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet said on Thursday: "If new decisions are needed we will take new decisions."

If Christmas Presents Were Honest

Every Christmas we're all forced or guilted or shamed into giving presents that we don't want to give. Whether it's for the postman, or the guy three cubicles down from you, or your first born son, Christmas gifts always come with an unspoken message. Here are those messages.

This Is What's Called A "Bad Nose Job"

While we have a fondness for Jodie Marsh's outgoing and friendly (read: whorish) demeanor, her nose leaves us a little frightened. I have no idea what her nose looked like before, but something tells me it didn't have 75 hard angles and look like she's got a couple Goldfish crackers lodged in her nostrils. Let this be a lesson to all you ladies out there who are considering plastic surgery. Your nose may not be perfect now, but it might look like an Olympic ski ramp after you go under the knife. (If your nose currently looks like an Olympic ski ramp, then cut the shit out of it ASAP.)

Perfect Beach Physique

With beach season in full swing, you're probably looking for ways to make the time you spend in the gym more productive in order to get a killer upper body that will garner a second glance from the hot girl tanning a few feet away.

To do so, you have to tone up that body of yours and build some muscle mass in key regions of your body.

muscle groups

The major muscle groups you should focus on are, in order of importance, your abs, chest, biceps, triceps, back, and shoulders. These are all the important muscles in your upper body and the ones that get noticed most.

By performing a full upper body workout up to 3 times a week, you will be sure to hit each muscle frequently enough to see some fast changes, but still allow enough time between sessions for recovery. Also, since you will also be working your triceps and biceps during some chest and back exercises, you will indirectly be stimulating more than one muscle group in a single exercise.

If you are short on time, your best bet is to perform a single set of at least one exercise for each body part. This will still allow you to target all the major muscles and will help you maintain your strength. Here is a list of some great exercises that will give you the most bang for your buck.

abs

Swiss ball crunches
Performing exercises on the Swiss ball is ideal; as it is not a stable surface, you will have to recruit all your core muscles to stabilize yourself and will therefore get a much better complete core workout. To perform this exercise, lay with the center of your back on top of a Swiss ball, your arms out to the side and your hands behind your head. Curl up and do an abdominal crunch, just as you would if you were lying on the floor. This exercise will primarily target your rectus abdominis (the vertical muscle), while calling in your obliques to stabilize you, and will help you achieve the desired "six-pack" look.

Hanging leg raise
To perform this exercise, grab hold of a pull-up bar or another bar that is high enough for you to hang off. Once you have a good grasp, slowly bring your knees up to your chest, and then lower them back down. The slower and more controlled you can perform this movement, the greater the benefit. This exercise will also target your rectus abdominis, as well as your hip flexors.

chest

Barbell chest press
Think of this as the king of all chest exercises, and probably the most frequently performed. Why? It is a compound movement, which causes many muscle fibers to fire and ensures more muscle growth. You will be working your pectoralis major muscle, while also indirectly working your triceps and anterior deltoid muscles. The result will be more defined chest muscles.

To perform this exercise, lay flat on a bench press machine. Make sure your back is touching the bench at all times (to prevent unnecessary stress on the back joints). Grasp the barbell with both hands placed shoulder width apart and push the barbell away from the rack. Slowly move the barbell down to your chest and then drive it back up to the starting position on a count of two going down and two coming up.

To increase the intensity of this lift, use a cambered bar. This will allow you to increase your range of motion and work the deeper tissue of your chest muscles to a greater extent. Watch out with this version, however, as it does place more stress on the shoulder joint, so if injury is a concern, you are better off with the normal barbell.

shoulders

Barbell military press

Using an overhand grip, grasp a barbell with hands slightly farther than shoulder width apart. Bring the barbell up to neck level and then drive it upwards, moving your arms over your head. Extend your elbows completely (be careful to not hyperextend, however), lower back down to neck level and repeat. This exercise will primarily target your anterior deltoid muscle in your shoulders and will give them that rounded shape.

Lateral raise

This movement will focus more on the lateral (middle) deltoid muscle in the shoulder and will give a nice round appearance to this group of muscles. To start, comfortably grasp a pair of dumbbells by your sides. Slowly move your extended arms upward along the lateral plane of the body (sideways). Keep your elbows slightly bent during the motion to prevent strain on the elbow joints. Keep raising your arms until they are in line with your shoulders or just slightly below, and then lower them back down to your sides.

back

Bent-over row
Bend over at the waist with knees slightly bent. Grasp the barbell with hands shoulder with apart using an overhand grip. Focusing on using the middle muscles in your back, slowly pull the barbell up toward your chest. Then, lower the barbell until it is almost touching the floor.

While performing this exercise, it is best to tilt your head up slightly, as it will help to keep your back aligned and maintain proper form. You will be primarily using the trapezius muscles during this exercise, and your rhomboids and latissimus dorsi will be working indirectly, which will give your back a wider appearance.

Lat pulldown
This exercise will help to work your latissimus dorsi muscle and give your back that "V" look -- wider at the top and narrower at the waist. Grab the bar of the lat pulldown machine as you sit down on the bench. Lean back slightly and bring the bar down to your chest level so it almost touches your collarbone, focusing on using the muscles in your back. Once you have lowered the bar, slowly let it rise back up to the starting position.

biceps

Dumbbell curl
Grasp a pair of dumbbells by your sides. In a controlled manner, bring the dumbbells up to your shoulders by bending your arms at the elbow. While performing this motion, be sure to keep your elbows tight against your sides to ensure that your biceps are doing all the work and that your back does not start to sway.

After you have curled the weight up, return it to the starting position in an equally controlled motion. You will be targeting your biceps brachii muscles, along with your brachialis as a helper muscle. Developing these two muscles will help you achieve a greater arm circumference.