British drinking is among world's highest

The level of drinking in Britain is among the 20 highest in the world, research suggests. 

The average Briton drinks more than 13 litres of pure alcohol a year, higher than the European average and equivalent to nearly 500 pints of beer, according to figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Beer accounts for 43 per cent of the alcohol drunk, with 30 per cent wine and 21 per cent spirits. The report also shows that deaths from liver cirrhosis have risen in recent years, and that one in 15 men in the country is an alcoholic.

It warns: “Alcohol consumption is the world’s third largest risk factor for disease and disability; in middle-income countries, it is the greatest risk.

“Alcohol is a causal factor in 60 types of diseases and injuries and a component cause in 200 others. Almost four per cent of all deaths worldwide are attributed to alcohol, greater than deaths caused by HIV/Aids, violence or tuberculosis. Alcohol is also associated with many serious social issues, including violence, child neglect and abuse, and absenteeism in the workplace.”

IBM Watson Team Takes Your Questions

IBM's Watson, the newly crowned Jeopardy champ, is now fielding your toughest questions at Reddit.com

Have you got any questions for the IBM team that created Watson, the world's first computerized Jeopardy champion? Well, now's your chance. IBM's engineering team behind the Jeopardy super computer will be answering the ten most popular Watson-themed questions submitted to this thread at Reddit.com on Tuesday, February 22 at noon Eastern. The answers will be posted on Reddit's blog as well as Reddit's r/IAmA section.

What is Reddit?

Reddit is a community-driven social news/question-and-answer site where users can post news links or submit their own questions and comments to be answered by others. Similar to Digg, all posts can be commented on and users can also vote them up or down. In the case of the Watson questions, the more popular a post is, the more likely it is to get answered.

Robert Latimer: Killing daughter was 'right thing to do.'

Robert Latimer, the Saskatchewan man sentenced to life in prison for the mercy killing of his severely disabled daughter in 1993, said he would do so again if he had to in his first interview since being released from prison.

In the CBC-Radio Canada interview, Latimer, who now lives in Victoria where he must abide by strict parole rules, slammed what he considered an "inflexible and malicious" justice system that showed "a real eagerness to do as much damage to me, especially, as they possibly could."

The mercy killing of his 12-year-old daughter, Tracy, vaulted Latimer to national prominence and launched a debate over euthanasia. Tracy suffered severe pain from cerebral palsy, and could not walk, talk or feed herself. Latimer decided to end her suffering by pumping exhaust from his truck into the cab, asphyxiating Tracy.

Bomb parts found in Co Wexford Ireland

A man in his 20s has been arrested over dissident republican activity.

He was detained in a raid on a house in Barntown, Co Wexford after bomb making parts were discovered.

Gardaí said the components could have used for improvised explosive devices, possibly pipe bombs.

The raid, by members of the Special Detective Unit and local officers in Wexford, took place at 8am.

The man is being held at Wexford Garda station under section 30 of the Offences against the State Act.

Florence Cassez

(Mexico) Cassez Florence is a pretty young woman, French, walking gracefully. Oui, c'est VRA But it is also scavenging, carrying weapons of organized delinciencia therefore bandit. It's true.

We find it difficult to explain how a girl of such good physical condition came from France to Mexico to their work of scavenging and more criminal activity than any country in the world are punished.

I can not silence her good looks is like a point of time, work for it, but after their activities, any sensible citizen rules: "To prison!" And that is what justice has decided to Mexico, where Florence made his misdeeds. He has been sentenced to 60 years in prison, their crimes are serious. Victims have to think and feel according to the decision, but given the game time, I tell myself that the same 50 which gives 60 to 70 years. Will freedom?

The curious thing about this case is that in France have taken it very seriously and want the authorities to move to France and serve his sentence there.

Do not argue the defense lawyers speeches or tricks to get away with it. That M. Sarkozy leave things alone and that authorities in Mexico not to shrink before the talk of the Gauls. Maybe if instead of being a pretty girl was an ugly man the situation would be different.

I imagine that within the prison, any prison, life must be very nice. Florence Gassez probably lived more comfortable with your partner, Ismael Cisneros Vallarta, head of the kidnap gang "The Zodiac."