Scotland's leader says dream of independence alive despite his party's troubles
By Andrew MacAskill ABERDEEN, Scotland Scotland's leader Humza Yousaf is confident his dream of independence will come true
2023-10-17 19:52
Why October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - and why we wear pink ribbons
Although people typically associate the month of October with spooky season and the beginning of fall foliage, the month is also known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast Cancer Awareness Month dates back to 1985, when the American Cancer Society picked one week in October and teamed up with the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries – now part of AstraZeneca, which has worked to develop medicines for breast cancer treatment. The initial goal for the week-long event was to raise awareness towards breast cancer screenings and mammograms. First Lady Betty Ford was diagnosed with breast cancer when her husband, former US president Gerald Ford, was in office. As a breast cancer survivor, she initially helped bring attention to the disease during the week-long event. Over the years, the original week transformed into a month-long event. The goals for Breast Cancer Awareness Month have also evolved over time, such as supporting people diagnosed with breast cancer and metastatic breast cancer, educating people about breast cancer risk factors, stressing the importance of regular screening starting at age 40, and fundraising for breast cancer research. However, the well-known pink ribbon associated with Breast Cancer Awareness Month wasn’t introduced until the 1990s. The inspiration for the ribbon dates all the way back to 1979, when the wife of a hostage who had been taken in Iran tied yellow ribbons around the trees in her front yard as a symbol of her desire to see her husband return home safely. Ribbons were also used years later during the AIDS epidemic, when activists made bright red ribbons to represent those affected by AIDS. The AIDS ribbon was made mainstream after the 1991 Tony Awards, when actor Jeremy Irons was the first to publicly wear the pinned ribbon with a singular loop while hosting the awards show. A woman named Charlotte Haley is attributed with the creation of the Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon, as she was the granddaughter, sister, and mother of women who have all battled breast cancer. Initially, she designed the breast cancer ribbon to be peach-coloured instead of pink. With each ribbon, she passed out a card that read: “The National Cancer Institute annual budget is $1.8 billion, only five per cent goes for cancer prevention. Help us wake up our legislators and America by wearing this ribbon.” Because of her success in passing out thousands of ribbons, many corporations and news outlets reached out to Haley asking to showcase her ribbons and the message she was promoting. She declined each offer as she believed they were “too corporate”, but Self magazine was increasingly persistent. The magazine’s lawyer insisted they change the symbol’s colour, and the pink ribbon was born. In October 1992, the pink ribbon first spread across the nation after Estée Lauder displayed the symbol on its cosmetic counters throughout the country. While the iconic shade of pink is normally associated with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, other colours have been introduced, including hot pink for inflammatory breast cancer; teal and pink for hereditary and gynecologic cancers; pink and blue for male breast cancer; and teal, pink, and green for metastatic breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women after skin cancer. There is a 13 per cent chance, or one in eight chance, that a woman will develop breast cancer at some point in her lifetime. Although breast cancer is more typically associated with women, it can also occur in men. In 2021, President Joe Biden designated 17 October to 23 October as Men’s Breast Cancer Awareness Week. While Friday the 13th may be a spooky-themed day, don’t forget that it’s also Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. Read More Elizabeth Hurley issues reminder to women about getting mammograms as she raises awareness about breast cancer Amy Dowden delights Strictly Come Dancing fans in surprise appearance amid breast cancer treatment Jill Biden urges women to get mammograms or other cancer exams during Breast Cancer Awareness Month Why October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - and why we wear pink ribbons Elizabeth Hurley issues reminder to women about getting mammograms Sam Neill says he’s ‘not remotely afraid’ of death as he shares blood cancer update
2023-10-17 19:27
Cruise self-driving cars investigated after two accidents
The US safety regulator is looking into GM's Cruise self-driving cars after reports of pedestrian injuries.
2023-10-17 19:23
Rema's Calm Down falls off Billboard Hot 100 after setting new record
Nigerian music star Rema's song Calm Down falls off the Billboard Hot 100 chart after 57 weeks.
2023-10-17 19:21
Gaza aid arrives at border crossing but no plan for delivery yet
CAIRO (Reuters) -Egyptian aid trucks moved closer on Tuesday to the only crossing to Gaza not controlled by Israel, but
2023-10-17 18:57
WHO says it needs urgent access to Gaza to deliver aid, medical supplies
LONDON (Reuters) -The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday it needs urgent access to Gaza to deliver aid and
2023-10-17 18:54
France Sees Deal With Germany as Base for New EU Fiscal Rules
A deal between the European Union’s two biggest countries will lay the foundations for updated fiscal rules, French
2023-10-17 18:53
Hamas releases first video of a hostage taken to Gaza
The short video clip shows Mia Schem lying on a bed, her right arm being bandaged by someone out of the frame. A long, fresh scar is clearly visible.
2023-10-17 18:50
Zahmire Lopez, an 8-year-old with dance moves and rap skills, killed by gun violence in his Jersey home
The Newark boy is one of more than 1,300 children and teens killed by a gun so far in 2023 as firearms remain the top cause of death for US youth, according to the Gun Violence Archive and federal data.
2023-10-17 18:49
Turkey discussing release of foreigners, civilians, children with Hamas -minister
ANKARA Turkey is in talks with the Palestinian militant group Hamas on the release of foreigners, civilians, and
2023-10-17 18:28
Israel's Gaza evacuation order could breach international law - UN
By Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber GENEVA (Reuters) -The United Nations human rights office said on Tuesday that Israel's siege of Gaza and
2023-10-17 18:25
It's been 14 days without a speaker. Here's what needs to happen in the House
It's been 14 days since eight Republicans were able to bounce former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from the top position in Congress and hit pause on all legislative business on Capitol Hill.
2023-10-17 18:22