Just to attract a man: Ancient sign of beauty

When scouring through far-flung corners of the world, you never know what you might find.

This month, an Australian film crew, led by cinematographer Abrahem Joffe, stumbled upon the world’s largest lip disc in the remote valleys of southern Ethiopia.

Joffe told Daily Mail Australia the crew was filming a documentary series for Canon Australia when they made the discovery.

‘We were taking a tour with some of the local guides. When they spotted the woman, they were absolutely bewildered,' he said.

‘I’m a big reader of Guinness World Records and I figured it was out of the ordinary, but you know you've found something special when the locals are amazed.'

Ataye Eligidagne, 20, dons the largest lip disk in the world. At a whopping 59.5 cm in circumference and 19.5 cm in diameter, it’s over twice the size of the average disc.

The previous record disc in the Guinness Book of World Records was 15cm in diameter.

Lip discs are a long-running tradition amongst the Surma woman of the lower Omo Rover valley in Ethiopia.

There is evidence of woman wearing the discs in this region from 1896. The procedure, which also involves knocking out the bottom two teeth, is done at the age of 15-18. 

In recent times, the Ethiopian government has taken measures to ban the discs, and the frequency amongst the younger generations is reportedly dwindling.

The discs carry a multifaceted significance. They are intended to attract a husband as well as a dowry for the family of the wife, who provide a contingent  of cattle respective to the size of the disc.

‘I think that locally, it's a matter of pride. The larger the disc, the more impressive. Young people try to outdo each other all over the world.'

Eligidagne has been stretching her lips for three years since the initial piercing. 

The process also involved the removal of bottom two front teeth. 

Joffe asked for their guides to translate for the woman so he could interview her, but the guides were not fluent in Mursi, the local dialect, so they had to use a local warrior to translate for the guide.

‘During the interview, we offered her some Coca-Cola. It was a fascinating, because she had clearly never tasted anything like it,' he said.

‘Ataye poured it onto her tongue with the disc in place, and suddenly had this stunned expression. It was incredible.’

Joffe asked if there were any hurdles that come with such an unusual tradition. 

‘She said it was not painful at all and there weren't any adverse affects.'

But Eligidagne acknowledged that the discs may not be around forever.

‘When we asked her if her daughter would adhere to the tradition, she said wasn’t sure her daughter will see it the same way, and she would respect her daughters decision on whether or not to do it.

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Miley Cyrus dragged into a Lawsuit Over Sister's Dog

Miley Cyrus has been dragged into a lawsuit which involved her half-sister Brandi Cyrus, TMZ reports. An L.A. model named Yolande Ngom has filed a suit against Miley and Brandi, alleging that she was "viciously attacked" by Brandi's dog Feather.

According to court documents obtained by the site, Yolande claims the attack took place in an apartment building, which is owned by Miley's company Smiley Miley, Inc, where the "We Can't Stop" singer and her half-sister live. The model adds that "one of Miley's employees was handling the dog and couldn't keep it under control ... allowing the attack to go down."

Yolande states the dog bit her right thigh, tearing it open and causing her thigh badly scarred. Because of the scars, the model claims that she will "never be able to work as a model again." She is suing Miley's company and Brandi for medical expenses and lost wages.

Miley's representative has not commented on the issue.

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First Ebola Patient diagnosed in U.S. Has Died

The first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the U.S. has died.

Thomas Eric Duncan, the 42-year-old Liberian man who recently traveled from West Africa to Dallas, had been in isolation at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas since Sept. 28.

The hospital released this statement:

It is with profound sadness and heartfelt disappointment that we must inform you of the death of Thomas Eric Duncan this morning at 7:51 am. Mr. Duncan succumbed to an insidious disease, Ebola. He fought courageously in this battle. Our professionals, the doctors and nurses in the unit, as well as the entire Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas community, are also grieving his passing. We have offered the family our support and condolences at this difficult time.

It wasn’t unclear exactly how body, "which could remain contagious for several days," will be handled by hospital officials, reports Yahoo News' Jason Sickle: "Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention call for the remains to be immediately shrouded in plastic and double-bagged in leak-proof bags at the hospital, then promptly cremated or buried in an airtight casket."

Over the weekend, Duncan had begun receiving brincidofovir, an experimental antiviral drug which recently gained emergency approval from the FDA.

The news of his death comes as the Department of Homeland Security ordered agents at airports and other ports of entry to observe everyone coming into the U.S. for potential signs of Ebola infection.

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Mesut Ozil out for 10-12 weeks with knee injury- German Football Federation

Mesut Ozil is set to be ruled out for "10 to 12 weeks" with ruptured ligaments in his left knee, the German Football Federation (DFB) has announced.

Ozil, 25, played the full 90 minutes for Arsenal in Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but was sent to Munich on to undergo an MRI scan earlier on Wednesday after joining up with the Germany national team for their upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers.

The midfielder did not take part in the first training session on Tuesday after a problem in his knee was detected, before being sent on to Munich for precautionary tests with team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt the following day.

DFB spokesperson Jens Grittner wrote on Twitter: "Arrived here already injured: Ozil to miss 10 to 12 weeks. Diagnosis: Partial lateral collateral ligament tear in left knee. Get well soon, Mesut!"

The DFB added in a statement: "The Arsenal playmaker already complained about pains in his left knee when arriving at Frankfurt. A MRI scan at team doctor Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt today revealed a partial lateral collateral ligament tear in left knee.

"The treatment will be non-operative with a six-week immobilisation of the knee. Mesut Ozil is likely to be out for 10 to 12 weeks."

Arsenal later released a statement suggesting the club was hopeful the injury may be less severe.

It read: "Arsenal can confirm that midfielder Mesut Ozil is returning to London from international duty with Germany after picking up a knee injury during Sunday's game at Chelsea.

"Ozil complained of a sore left knee after the game and the club advised the German FA to run medical checks when he joined up with his international squad. The club will make further assessments and it is too early to say how long Ozil may be out of action."

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Selena Gomez made a surprise visit to Patients at Children's Hospital

Selena Gomez has made a surprise appearance at a children's hospital and spent some time with the sick kids. Wearing a white top, black pants and a wide-brimmed hat, Gomez went to the Children's Hospital Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 8 to talk to the children and their family.

Gomez then took to Instagram to share some photos from her visit. One photo shows her posing with a girl whom she calls "princess." Another photo shows her talking to a boy. She rests her head on her hand while the boy sits on his bed.

"Selena took the time to stop and visit with each one, hear their stories, give hugs, share laughs and provide encouragement. It was a much-needed lift for these children and their families during an incredibly difficult time. We are so grateful for genuine kindness and compassion for our patients, families and the staff who care for them," the hospital said of the 22-year-old star's visit.

The "Come & Get It" singer also took to Twitter to share her excitement. "Spending time with @ChildrensLA :)," she wrote. The hospital retweeted the post and added a reply, "Thank you for visiting and spending a special moment with our kids!"

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US hostage 'Abdul-Rahman Kassig' formerly 'Peter Kassig' now a very dedicated Muslim

The American hostage Abdul-Rahman Kassig, known as Peter Kassig before he converted to Islam, is now a "dedicated Muslim", according to a former cellmate. The aid worker was kidnapped in Syria by the so-called Islamic State.

Abdul-Rahman Kassig, 26, always cut a slightly unworldly figure on the Turkish-Syrian border: open, honest, slightly intense, beguiled by Syria's uprising and motivated by the simple desire to help people. It didn't surprise me when his parents later spoke about him "searching for his place in the world".

He found that place giving medical training to Syrians, teaching skills that probably saved a number of lives. It was a job with many risks: bullets and bombs; air strikes and kidnapping.

"The last time I saw him," said a Syrian colleague, Dr Anas Mulla, "I asked: Aren't you scared for your life? He said: My life isn't worth more than all of yours."

Going to Deir Azour in northern Syria a year ago, Abdul-Rahman was seized by the group calling itself Islamic State. They have said he will be the next Western hostage to die.

The French journalist Nicholas Henin was held with Abdul-Rahman for four months - before being freed along with the other French hostages.

"The beginning of his detention had been a bit hard," Nicolas said of his former cellmate. "He was quite affected by his captivity."

Nicolas spoke to me in Paris. Taxis trundled by on a cobbled street outside as he described the mixture of hunger, boredom and terror experienced by the Western hostages.

"The routine was mostly waiting for food, because we never received enough. And Abdul-Rahman was basically sharing all of his food but looking for sweets. He was always looking for some extra marmalade."

Shortly after being kidnapped, Peter converted and now uses the Muslim name Abdul-Rahman.

"When I first met him, he was introducing himself already to all the guards as Abdul-Rahman," said Nicolas.

"Peter told me about how important Islam was to him, how much it helped to overcome his situation in captivity. And he was a very dedicated Muslim. He gave me the impression that he was a bit fragile, but that Islam was strengthening him."

Abdul-Rahman wasn't the only Western hostage to become a Muslim.

"In our group of hostages there were a few who converted. They were practising … the five daily prayers and they would even sometimes perform two extra prayers…They would fast on Mondays and Thursdays, which is extra [to what is mandated] … like … dedicated Muslims."

Wasn't this just Stockholm Syndrome, I asked, a perfectly understandable defence mechanism?

"Our captors were not very good at psychology," Nicolas replied. "But they were extremely good at preventing us from having any Stockholm Syndrome."

That was an elliptical reference to the stories about the hostages being beaten and even tortured.

He continued: "For some guards, there would be more respect to those of us who had converted. But for other captors, I had the feeling that it made no difference."

I asked Nicolas if he had seen the latest hostage video, the one where Alan Henning is killed, and where Abdul-Rahman Kassig is threatened with death. There was a very long pause before he told me he had seen all the videos.

"It's very traumatic for me," he said, "because I can very much imagine seeing me being in their place."

Abdul-Rahman managed to get a letter out to his family. In it, he wrote: "In terms of my faith, I pray every day and I am not angry about my situation in that sense. I am in a dogmatically complicated situation here, but I am at peace with my belief."

His parents interpret that as a statement he is now Muslim. They hope desperately that his faith will save him.

Of course, for the group that calls itself Islamic State, hostage-taking and summary executions are an everyday tactic of war.

His family must hope that "Peter Kassig" becoming "Abdul-Rahman Kassig" may help. They will also be painfully aware that Islamic State have not hesitated to kill many Muslims - Iraqis and Syrians - in the course of their bloody campaign.

-bbc

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