African Migrants forced into selling their organs to pay for being trafficked to Europe

An international human trafficking ring forced migrants to sell their organs as payment for their journey from Africa to Europe, an Italian police investigation has revealed.

Five people have been arrested as part of the probe into the gang, which allegedly arranges the harvesting of kidneys and other organs of migrants arriving in Europe by boat.

Italy, with its southern-most province Lampedusa just 80 miles from Africa, is the gateway for many seeking new lives in Europe. Almost 150,000 have made the journey so far in 2014. Around 3000 have died attempting the journey this year.

The group of Libyans and Eritreans allegedly demanded that asylum seekers pay €1,500 (£1,200) up front to board one of the often overcrowded and unseaworthy boats.

Those who could not immediately pay the full price were given the option of paying after arrival, according to court documents seen by the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

Upon landing in Italy, the gang decided whether to 'use them as manpower or organ donors,' according to the arrest warrant.

Investigating magistrate Tiziana Coccoluto wrote that the situation of the migrants was like that of slaves, with the gangsters having the power to sell them off to other criminal groups.

The gang's 'treasurer' Michael Brhane, was among those arrested, along with four other men - Haile Seifu, Russom Gebrem Michael Henok, and Tesfay Bahta - who allegedly worked as cashiers collecting money owed in Italy.

The five face charges of human trafficking aiding illegal immigration.

Police suspect that other gang members are responsible for the tragedy off the island of Lampedusa last year that killed 300 people on October 3 2013.

The evidence found is thought to be only the tip of the iceberg of the international trade in organs.

The bodies of migrants lacking organs are often found in the north african Sinai desert, Alganesh Fessaha, an activist campaigning against trafficking, has warned.

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The 81 years old Britain's oldest transsexual

A former RAF navigator has become the Britain's oldest  person to have sex change surgery after NHS-funded operations.

Ruth Rose, 81, of Newhaven, East Sussex, underwent the final stage of her gender realignment surgery in July after she started living as a woman four years ago.

Ms Rose, who had been James - a father of three and grandfather of four, said she had always known she was living in the wrong body, and had started dressing up in secret while at school.

When she married in 1961, Ms Rose felt she could not tell her wife about her feelings, hoping instead that they would go away.

The couple were married for 42 years and had three children, but after they divorced amicably 11 years ago, Ms Rose began to be more open about living as a woman - having previously been living as a man at home, but dressing up to see friends.

She started hormone therapy four years ago when she stopped attending events as a man, and decided to undergo the dramatic surgery after coming through an unrelated operation for a hip and knee replacement. 

'My doctor had said I should have the gender ­transformation operation but I thought I was too old. I thought I had left it too late. But the surgeons wouldn’t have done it if they didn’t think I could go through with it,' the charity worker told the Sunday People.

Ms Rose, an activist and public speaker for charities like Age UK, says she is still close to her ex-wife, and says although her family tolerated her decision to live as a woman, they were shocked by the surgery.

She is the oldest in Britain to have the surgery, with her treatments and the operation costing the NHS £4,000.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has €1billion release clause in Real Madrid- Agent Jorge Mendes

Ronaldo's future has been the subject of recent speculation, with Sky Sports journalist Guillem Balague stating recently that "everything is in place" for the Portugal international to return to Manchester United.

The 29-year-old has enjoyed a stunning start to the season, with three hat-tricks and 13 goals in just six games for the European champions, but is has been suggested he is unhappy at the Bernabeu.

Chelsea have also been linked with the second-most expensive player of all time but manager Jose Mourinho was quick to shoot down the idea of a transfer, while Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has also discussed the player.

But the most enduring speculation has come from Old Trafford, with Ronaldo's personal attachment to his former club putting Louis van Gaal's side in a strong position should he wish to leave.

However Mendes recently explained it would be "impossible to get him out of Madrid", and the 48-year-old has perhaps now revealed why.

Speaking to Spanish daily sports newspaper AS, Mendes said: "I no longer get calls from anyone asking about Cristiano. It's not worth them calling to ask for it.

"The price is that stated in his release clause – €1bn (£785m)."

Ronaldo scored 118 goals in 292 appearances from 2003 to 2009 under Sir Alex Ferguson, helping steer United to three Premier League titles and a Champions League amongst numerous other club and individual honours.

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2014 Sexiest Woman Alive: Penelope Cruz named Esquire's Sexiest Woman Alive

Penelope Cruz is named Esquire's Sexiest Woman Alive in 2014. She is the 11th woman to be given the title, joining a number of famous figures including Scarlett Johansson, who won the same title twice in 2013 and in 2006, Mila Kunis, Rihanna and Minka Kelly.

Penelope tells the magazine in an interview for its November issue that she was attracted to drama in her teens and twenties. "I've played a lot of tricks on myself," she says, "I've made it hard for me sometimes, especially in my teens and twenties. I had an attraction to drama. Most of us have that, especially if you are an artist-you feel like you are tempted to explore the darkness."

The "Nine" actress adds, "I could not be less interested now. For me, the most attractive, charming, cool, fun, interesting thing-how could I call it? A plan."

Penelope refuses to discuss about her relationship with his husband Javier Bardem. "That is for us," says the "Volver" actress. She also declines to talk about her two children, only saying that her family is everything to her.

Penelope says that she doesn't feel like "sexiest woman alive", adding that she "feels like a mother who doesn't get enough sleep."

The 40-year-old actress can be seen in upcoming movie "Grimsby" along with Sacha Baron Cohen, Mark Strong, Isla Fisher and Annabelle Wallis. The action-comedy movie is scheduled to hit U.S. theaters on July 31, 2015.

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