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The most Earth-shattering event in Brazil this weekend took place in New York, where singer Ivete Sangalo played a sold out show at Madison Square Garden. Too bad, few Americans even noticed.

A superstar in her native Brazil, where she can pack a 70,000-capacity soccer stadium and commands crowds of millions during Carnaval, Sangalo kept the almost-entirely-Brazilian audience on its feet over the course of three hours and five costume changes.

Dancing frenetically, the crowd of 14,500 sang along with every word of her samba-inflected dance pop songs like “Festa” (Party) and “Acelere” (Accelerate).

“I just want you to be proud of me, and I want you to be proud of the show I brought here,” Sangalo said from the top of a massive, thrusting stage pulsing with lights and video — designed by the man responsible for this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, Bruce Rodgers.

In Brazil, Sangalo’s show was touted as her first step toward conquering the U.S., placing her in a pantheon with the likes of Madonna, the Rolling Stones, Beyonce and U2.

But a 100-foot-high banner that hung outside the Garden for weeks advertising the show still required the helpful caption explaining Sangalo is “A Brazilian Star.”

At a pre-concert news conference, the statuesque brunette said the relative anonymity didn’t faze her.

“When I started in Brazil, I was also unknown, and Brazil is a gigantic place with lots of talent,” the husky-voiced singer explained. “I haven’t come here with the pretension of being well known, but what I’ve come do to here, I’ve come to do right.”

As a Portuguese speaker, Sangalo may have had her work cut out for her, but promoters say selling out the Garden is a real accomplishment.

Shows by non-English-speaking acts there tend to top out at around 3,000 to 4,000 people, unless they sing in Spanish, which is spoken by a large and growing percentage of the U.S. population.

The only other Brazilian to headline a show at the Garden, singer Roberto Carlos, did so by reaching out to Latin audiences and singing in Spanish.

The closest comparison might be the Korean pop singer Rain, who sold out two nights at the smaller Madison Square Garden theater, which seats 4,000, in 2006.

Concert promoter John Scher said people have been calling him to ask who Sangalo is.

“I don’t think there’s been anything quite like this. There are Latin (Spanish speaking) artists who can sell out the Garden, but this is a pretty unique situation really,” Scher said. “There’s a lot of interest in the music industry, if not with the public.”

Sangalo, 38, got her start singing as a teenager from the top of the sound trucks that ply their way through the packed streets of Salvador da Bahia during Carnaval time.

When she left the Carnaval group Banda Eva to go solo in 1999 she was already one of the country’s biggest stars.

But her brand of Carnaval-inspired dance-pop, known as axe (pronounced ah-SHAY’), isn’t what U.S. listeners usually think of as Brazilian music, and her audience tends to be concentrated among teenagers and twenty-somethings looking for a chance to hook up.

Her lyrics express the irrepressible optimism of youth, and her sound is a world away from the cool, cerebral bossa nova of Joao Gilberto or the smooth sounds of Caetano Veloso and Marisa Monte, all of whom are better known in the United States, even if Sangalo outsells them all at home.

As many as 5,000 fans had been expected to fly in from Brazil for the show, organizers say.

So despite all the conquering America swagger, Sangalo’s intent is actually something entirely different: The Garden show was mainly intended to serve as a backdrop for her new DVD and a TV special to be broadcast in Brazil in December.

“They want a packed house and want to say ‘we’ve sold out Madison Square Garden’ and they’ve probably achieved that through various other means than from straight ahead ticket sales,’” says Gene de Souza, development director of the nonprofit Rhythm Foundation, who promoted Sangalo’s Miami show.

In Miami, with a larger Brazilian population, Sangalo sold only 6,500 of the 7,000 seats put up for sale, de Souza said, in an arena where Britney Spears was able to pack in 18,500 fans.

On Saturday night Sangalo appeared well aware of her target audience, addressing the crowd as “Brazil” and dedicating the show to Brazilians living abroad.

Her only nods to local audiences were covers of Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature” and Lionel Richie’s “Easy” and a duet with Nelly Furtado, in which her English sounded good with only a slight accent.

She also reached out to the Spanish-speaking audiences, performing duets with Colombian superstar Juanes and Argentina’s Diego Torres, but the warmest applause was reserved for Brazilian guests like Seu Jorge and fellow axe star Netinho, who appeared, briefly transforming the 25-minute-long encore into a mini-version of Carnaval.

“I didn’t come with the objective to transforming anything or parting the waters for Brazilian music or anything like that,” Sangalo said before the show. “I am a popular singer for the masses, and I will continue to be one, and this is my greatest pleasure.”

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Nicole Richie may have parted from her past party girl ways, but she can still throw a good bash – especially if she’s celebrating her son’s first birthday.

Richie, along with fiancéJoel Madden and big sis Harlow, 2 ½, held a party for Sparrow Saturday. He turns 1 on Sept. 9.

About 50 guests, including actress Ellen Pompeo and her daughter Stella Luna, 11 months, and Sparrow’s uncle Benji Madden, gathered in the backyard of the family’s Hollywood Hills home and noshed on birthday cake. The backyard was decorated with red, green, orange and purple “Happy Birthday” balloons for the occasion.

“Nicole was keeping the party simple to not overwhelm Sparrow,” a source at the party tells PEOPLE. “Everyone seemed to have a great time.”

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China’s Danxia Landform has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site, evoking cheers and worries from the people. The Danxia Landform consists of red bed characterized by steep cliffs. It is spread over six provinces in Central, South, East and Southwest China: Mount Langshan and Wanfoshan (Hunan), Mount Danxia (Guangdong), Taining and Guanzhishan (Fujian), Mount Longhushan and Guifeng (Jiangxi), Mount Jianglangshan (Zhejiang) and Mount Chishui (Guizhou).

Many people say the more than 1 billion yuan ($146.87 million) spent by the six local governments to earn the world heritage tag may not be worth it. They also question the money and efforts that local governments across the country are putting in to get the UNESCO stamp for 35 other sites.

But such people should have a balanced view, instead of blaming the local governments for spending astronomical amounts to win a UNESCO tag.

They have to understand that the world heritage honor is a hard-won and invaluable acknowledgement of the history and culture of a country. And the beautiful Danxia Landform deserves it. Besides, its new status would make it a popular tourist destination for tourists from home and across the world.

Bidding for the UNESCO World Heritage status, of course, requires huge funds.

But in return, it brings an honor that perhaps cannot be measured in terms

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Preventative surgeries may reduce the risk of getting breast or ovarian cancer, said a recent study quoted by AFP news on Monday.

The research tracked 2,482 women with certain genetic mutations. It found that preemptive surgeries to remove the ovaries or fallopian tubes nearly eliminated the incidence of either cancer.

Virginia Kaklamani, a co-author of the study, said that it was the first study to prove a woman of surviving longer with preventative surgeries when she has a family history of breast of ovarian cancer.

Kaklamani said the significance of the study was that not only has it found the potential benefits of preemptive surgery, but also showed the importance of genetic testing to detect whether the gene mutations are present.

“Cosmetic options for women getting mastectomies have greatly improved,” the researchers said, adding that removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes is a fairly low-risk, out-patient procedure.

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Dutch researchers developed a new method to convert biomass from forestry and agricultural waste into oil as efficiently and cheaply as possible, the University of Twente said Sunday.

Some biofuels are already in production, but the method used now produces pyrolysis oil, which is not yet suitable for processing in existing refineries, said Dr. Sascha Kersten, who is from the university’s IMPACT institute.

Pyrolysis oil will only react with hydrogen at high pressure, high temperature, and in the presence of a catalyst.

The oil produced using the new method, however, can be fed directly into existing refineries, said the scientist.

“This upgrading process produces a mixture of an aqueous fraction and an oil fraction. The oil fraction can go directly to the refinery,” he said. “We are therefore studying ways of improving efficiency, to cut the amount of hydrogen used to the bare minimum.”

The scientists are already on the right track. They recently applied for two patents on techniques that have yielded promising results.

Comparing with the first generation biomass, the production of this new method has obvious advantage. “Those biofuels mainly use ethanol and sugar cane, which are known as edible or first-generation biomass,” said Kersten. “We work with next-generation biomass, which consists of forestry and agricultural waste. This is available in much greater quantities, and it imposes less of a burden on the environment.”

Kersten anticipates that by 2020 many more vehicles will run on biofuel than is presently the case.

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Development projects being carried out with the aid of the Chinese government have significantly benefited Ethiopians while creating significant number of local jobs.

The projects are being undertaken in various sectors mainly in health, education, and infrastructure programs.

A primary school constructed in Siltie Zone of the Southern Nations and Peoples’ States of Ethiopia is one of the project carried out with the aid of the Chinese government.

Sherefedin Shumie, a local official from Siltie Zone Education Office, told Xinhua that the school has enabled local students to attend their education in a comfortable environment where the necessary facilities are fulfilled.

“Previously the students were learning in classrooms on dusty floors. Thanks to the Chinese government and its people now things have changed for good and the students are attending their study in comfortable place. Every thing is good here, the classrooms, the desks, the compound, everything is nicely done,” said Sherefedin.

According to the official, the number of students coming to primary schools has also highly increased after the construction of the school by the Chinese government.

“The school has enabled us to boost our intake to 840 annually and they are taught in 14 sections. The environment is very suitable both for the students and their teachers,” he said.

“On behalf of the children and their parents, the local people at large, I would like to thank the Chinese government and its people for they got us such a beautiful school,” he added.

Students of the school on their part expressed their happiness by learning in the beautifully built school.

Nadia Behredin is a 9-year-old girl. She is in grade 4. Nadia told Xinhua that the school is very nice and the teachers are also very good.

Abdulselam Jemal, 9, is in grade 3 while his friend Abdulfetha is in grade 2.

The children told Xinhua that they are extremely happy for having the chance to go to such a beautiful school with all the necessary school facilities.

They said the classrooms, the benches, the playing field, everything is good there.

Alewdres Kebede, a representative of the Ethiopian Ministry of Education, said the local people have had a very beautiful and quality school for their children from the Chinese government.

He said he is grateful for the Chinese government and its people for their help in the education sector.

Tirunesh-Beijing Hospital is another project carried out with the support of the Chinese government in the health sector.

The hospital got its name after Tirunesh Dibaba, an Ethiopian athlete, won two gold medals at the Beijing Olympics and also shows the support the Chinese government provides to Ethiopia in the health sector.

While visiting the project, Kebede Worku, Ethiopian State Minister of Health, said the hospital is exceptional in its design and it is symbolic for the strong relations between Ethiopia and China.

Worku commended the Chinese engineers and workers for their dedicated efforts they employ to complete the project in a good quality and speedy manner.

“It is really encouraging that they work with dedication on the project; it’s an exceptional building and I am very happy to see such building. They are working with dedication and the implementation of the project is speedy,” said he.

Tang Weiyi, Project Manager of the hospital, said the workers are working hard day and night and the whole project will be completed in nine months.

Qian Zhaogang, Counselor of the Economic and Commercial Office with the Chinese Embassy in Addis Ababa, told Xinhua that the Chinese government has been supporting Ethiopia in various sectors since the 1970s.

He said the support includes among others, in health, education sectors and also in infrastructure programs.

“We provide technical and other assistances to Ethiopia. Our contribution to economic growth of Ethiopia has also increased after the China -Africa Cooperation Forum, and the cooperation between China and Ethiopia is based on mutual benefit and interest, ” said Qian.

“The Chinese government supports Ethiopia in health programs constructing hospitals, primary schools and colleges as well as infrastructural programs,” he added.

The Ethio-China Ploy Technic College is another project supported by the Chinese government in the Ethiopian education sector.

The college was established in 2007 and currently some 330 students are attending 3rd and 4th level Technical and Vocational Education and Training education in the college, said Lu Shuangying, dean of the Ethio-China Poly Technic College.

According to Lu, the College has a plan to take some 980 new students in the coming academic year.

He said the College is the biggest polytechnic college established by the Chinese government outside the country.

The Ethio-China Poly Technic College was constructed by Anhui Longan Construction Company.

According to Yu Fanfu, General Manager of Anhui Longan Construction Company, the construction of the college took two years from 2005 up to 2007.

“The whole project includes the complex-multi-functional building, classrooms, teachers and students dormitories, and teaching building. During the construction we have received supports from different sides including among others, the Chinese embassy in Ethiopia, and the Ethiopian Ministry of Education,” said Yu.

The Chinese government has constructed technical colleges and primary schools in different parts of the country.

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The latest round of Middle East peace talks kicked off Thursday, with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressing optimism that the decades-long conflict between Israelis and Palestinians may be resolved in a year.

But some experts say that deadline is too ambitious. Previous talks over several decades and during many U.S. administrations have failed to bring a lasting peace, and many say this time is not different.

Flanked by the Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Clinton Thursday addressed those who harbored doubts about the talks.

“To those who criticize this process, who stand on the sidelines and say ‘no,’ I ask you to join us in this effort,” she said from the State Department in Washington.

“I fervently believe that the two men sitting on either side of me, that you are the leaders that can make this long cherished dream a reality,” she added.

Still, many have expressed doubt that such a goal can come to fruition.

“It is difficult to imagine that there is going to be an agreement in a year, or even in two or three years,” said Leon T. Hadar, a research fellow in foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute.

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A test on mice shows that taking omega-3 fatty acids may counteract inflammation that can lead to diabetes.

When obese mice were fed with omega-3 fatty acids, inflammation subsided, insulin sensitivity improved and blood glucose levels dropped significantly, said researchers at University of California in San Diego (UCSD).

Omega-3 fatty acids seem to act on a particular receptor on cells, GPR120, which, when activated, blocks inflammatory processes, the researchers noted in the study.

The GPR120 receptor is found only on pro-inflammatory macrophages in mature fat cells, according to the study appearing in the Sept. 3 issue of the journal Cell.

Exposure to omega-3 fatty acids activates the receptor, which reduces the runaway pro-inflammatory cascade.

But in obese mice that had their GPR120 receptor “knocked out” through genetic modification, omega-3 fatty acids had no effect, thus underscoring the researchers’ findings, according to the study.

Chronic inflammation can lead to insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes.

Therefore, “if we can fix the inflammation part, it’s possible that we could prevent insulin resistance or even ameliorate diabetes,” said study co-author Saswata Talukdar, a post-doctoral fellow at UCSD.

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Before we follow two writers know English country life, as before, many students can choose what living abroad relatively low cost of living in the city. In this issue we know from Germany, the study on Internet is a small city in Germany, belong to the former east, in his opinion, this is a similar “city” city, consumption level than the former Germany. The city is low Let us see his life, find out what his money secret.

Accommodation with electricity gas

Accommodation is one of the largest international expenses. Say to the accommodation in Germany, curry told
Reporter, except these tourists often choose hotels hotel accommodation, students usually have three choices:

Student apartments lies: this small city life of curry, a 17 square metre student apartments, single monthly in 170 euro and the same conditions for the house in big cities in Europe around 250 Hamburg. Although the rent sounds than others and outside your rent an apartment, but because the water heating, so is the sum of the expenditure is relatively cheap.

Rent: if his outer in school outside lease an apartment, lies in the city, curry school by three room hall, per capita monthly in Europe to 150 about 130. But this is only the monthly rental, utilities and around 20, winter heating costs is another. Germany’s winter heating not in the room is can’t stand, in cafes said, “I have a classmate, a winter almost all three months with heating, result in the end received more than 500’s bill.” So choose this rent, to take in electricity gas. Of course, the big cities in Germany, with friend together, if rent one at least 300 a month to Europe, a small city to you.

Villa rental: German family yourself some house, can rent one. This is because the accommodation of live together with landlord, so to improve the level of language is very helpful, but also different from that homestay. There is only one room to lease the landlord, besides all expenses are also bear, the price is in 200 to 250 European champions around January.

For housing, to give students curry advice is: if the beginning to Germany, still choose to live as a student apartments, is a stranger, 2 it is to save lives, student apartments are the most simple plan, what all packages. Familiar with the person can share, because after that can really cheap, but the water electricity heating will grow with a mind, easily overspending.

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Jigokudani volcanic name sounds just creepy. In a long time ago, it is not only the volcanic craters at white smoke, underground also from the evil spirit shout, like hell will be poured out. Therefore, people call it “hell”. Actually, it is a severe underground movement.

From the capital of Hokkaido Sapporo, drive about 3 hours to hell in a valley volcanoes national park was ye2 hole. Just opened the door, and a strong rotten eggs take me makes a cough. Although the crater are still jigokudani from a distance, but I have apparently smell thick of sulphur.

Continue to go inside the volcano is hell valley. Jigokudani is formed after the eruption of the valley, still an active volcano. I looked at ZhanWangTai jigokudani and found an interesting scenes: the ZhanWangTai opposite also long before the flowers, but in a ChiGongSe “gap”, the other side is fought ChiGongSe – the mountain to hell with white, black soil, this probably is the legendary ash. In the sky, more desolate, form a contrast of heaven and hell. “Hell” not only, still rise several fought like a wounded, white smoke in the wild, gasping at any time of the outbreak.

The jet jigokudani each has his own name. A girl called “hell”, A smoke when accompanied the rumbling noise of call “iron cannon hell”, There is a place will accompany the sound of underground water drop from exudate is just like a person cry, they call it “the tear hell”.

Perhaps to suppress the “hell”, in the valley of hell on the outlook, volcanic a kuan Yin. Japan is the common guanyin image of men, with China’s image of modelling of avalokitesvara.

Continue to go inside, end has Mr Koizumi, called geysers. And the water is different, this is a emit hot water “85 degrees Celsius,” once every two minutes gush water. Spring with white smoke, can reach half feet high. It is thought that a eggs in spring in 15 minutes can cook, become a jet mirrors the son of eggs.