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Friday 8 October 2010

British soldier killed in Afghanistan

A British soldier has been killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has said.Skip related content
The serviceman, from 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, died while on a patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand and Province on Friday 8 October. His family have been informed.
Lieutenant Colonel David Eastman, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said:
"The soldier was carrying out a patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj area of the province, providing a reassuring presence to the local population seeking to go about their daily lives in peace, when he was hit by an explosion.
"He gave his life protecting the people of the United Kingdom and Afghanistan - no more could be asked of any man. He will be sorely missed."
A total of 340 UK troops have died since operations in Afghanistan began in 2001.

Hungarian villages covered in toxic red sludge

The clean-up is continuing in Hungary three days after a torrent of toxic sludge from an alumina plant tore through three villages 100 miles west of Budapest.Skip related content
Hungarian officials have said that pollution levels from the spill had subsided in the Danube and there was no risk of a biological or environmental catastrophe in the river.
But while the spill's impact on the Danube may be limited, western Hungarian villages that bore the brunt of the sludge torrent could suffer in the longer term.
According to environmental group Greenpeace, test samples from the sludge showed that government health and science agencies had underestimated the ecological dangers unleashed
The villages nearest the burst reservoir have turned into a red-stained wasteland, with walls and lamp posts stained red to a height of three meters, fences shattered, trees uprooted, and objects as heavy as cars swept away.
According to Greenpeace, arsenic, mercury and chromium levels were found to be especially high in Kolontar, contrary to earlier claims by the National Academy of Sciences which said the sludge contained no harmful levels of heavy metals.
At least seven people were killed and more than 150 injured in the disaster, mainly as a result of burns and eye ailments from the caustic and corrosive sludge.
All waterlife died in the smaller Marcal River, first struck by the spill. There were also reports of sporadic fish death on Thursday in the Raba and Mosoni-Danube rivers. There were no reports of major damage to the main branch of the Danube.

Five causes of bad breath

Kill bad breath before it kills you
Snore
Bad breath will kill your social life, so it's reasonable that you should figure out what may be causing it. Some causes, like spicy foods, are easy to fix, but others may well point to something more serious.
But let's take this step by step.
How do you know you've got bad breath? Well, people may be keeping their distance, but may be too polite to tell you the real reason.
If you're lucky, someone will be direct, but failing that, you can lick your wrist and smell your saliva - if it stinks, your breath probably does too.
Ok, so you've got bad breath. Let's look at the possible causes.

Smoking

Are you a smoker? Smoking, aside from the many other obvious ways in which it is bad for you, will make your breath smell of stale smoke. It will also irritate your gums and may increase your risk of gum disease, which can also cause bad breath.
Solution? Stop smoking.

Food

Next is food. If you like your garlic and onions raw, you'll just have to choose between this particular passion and decent breath. Alcohol and coffee also affect your breath, but fortunately you can get rid of your bad breath by limiting your intake.
Solution? Watch what you eat and drink.
Keep in mind that eating infrequently, or dieting can also cause bad breath. This is also the case if you're not eating carbohydrates. There, eat that croissant without guilt - it's good for your breath.

Hygiene

Of course, if you're casual about keeping your mouth clean, no amount of cutting down on garlic will be of help. The old "I'll brush in the morning" routine doesn't really cut it.
Your mouth is full of bacteria which cause plaque, gum disease and dental decay.
When the bacteria are mixed with saliva and food trapped between your teeth, a bad odour ensues. The bacteria can also reside on your tongue, which will also impact your bad breath.
Solution? Obviously, floss and brush, at least twice a day. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles, and take your time to clean the teeth and scrape the tongue.
You can also rinse with anti bacterial mouthwash, though this does not replace brushing your teeth, no matter what your friends tell you. Visit a dentist.

Gum disease

So, after reading this article you've been diligent and keeping away from the garlic and brushing furiously, but the bad breath persists?
Well, you might have gum disease or dental decay. This is something that should immediately be addressed by your dentist.

Medical problems

Though this is rare, your bad breath could actually indicate a medical condition.
For instance, your mouth might not be producing enough saliva, or you could have an infection in your lungs, throat or nose. The bad breath could also indicate you have diabetes, liver or kidney problems, or that you suffer from heart burn.
If you've been diligent about your oral cleanliness and the bad breath persists, see your GP.
And if you're not quite concerned enough yet, here is something that will make you brush as soon as you're done with this article.
Recent studies have confirmed that poor oral hygiene can actually increase your risk of heart attack.
This is because poor hygiene can lead to bleeding gums, which provide bacteria with a route into the bloodstream, where they can initiate blood clots leading to heart disease.