Michael Schumacher latest news: Doctors wait for eye movements as they continue waking F1 legend from coma

Medics have been bringing the race ace out of a medically induced coma by slowly lowering the amount of drugs sedating him, giving his brain time to heal.

Doctors treating F1 legend Michael Schumacher will be hoping to see eye movements from the stricken race ace as they enter the third week of trying to wake him up.           

Schumacher, 45, has been in a medically-induced coma since smashing his head against a hidden rock during a low-speed ski-run in the French Alps just after Christmas.

It was decided to try to ease the seven-times world champion out of his unconscious state three weeks ago, by slowly lowering the amount of drugs being used to keep him under, giving his brain time to heal.

Now the surgeons at the University of Grenoble Hospital where he was airlifted to would be anticipating eye movements and a sense that he comprehends his environment.

Dr. Luca Regli, head of neurosurgery at the University Hospital of Zurich in Switzerland, said: "This usually takes between two and four weeks.

"The second step is more complex and longer. The patient slowly begins to recognise his environment and reacts accordingly.

"This phase can take days, weeks or even months. It is different for every patient with different injuries.

He added: "In an ideal case the patient attains a minimal awareness and then completely recovers. If this second step is unsuccessful we speak of a waking coma in which the patient opens his eyes but is unaware of his environment.

"We don't yet know where Schumacher is at. That he has still not regained full consciousness is in proportion to the severity of the trauma.

"We cannot predict today the duration and the extent of the recovery. Waking up from a coma is different for everyone."

Earlier this week it was reported that doctors treating the seven-times world champion had broken off the waking-up phase but his management broke a news blackout to insist the process was still being pursued.

Dr. Regli said: "A drug-induced coma protects the nerve cells. If they are threatened in any way, recovery goes back one step. Brain injury in some patients causes seizures. The brain can recover better with medication and the patient is protected from further attacks."

Schumacher's wife Corinna, 44, and his children Gina Marie, 16, and son Mick, 14, are at his bedside for a minimum of eight hours a day, talking to him constantly.

Source: The Mirror

British backpacker X-rayed after being arrested on suspicion of stealing and swallowing rare pink diamond worth £108,000

Police in Australia have X-rayed a British backpacker amid claims he has stolen and SWALLOWED a rare diamond worth more than £100,000.

The 29-year-old Brit, named as Matthew Osborne, was arrested at Melbourne Airport yesterday as he tried to get on a plane to New Zealand after allegedly stealing the rare pink Argyle diamond.

The Brisbane Times reports that police took action after the stone, which is normally kept in a safe at Cairns jewellery store The Diamond Gallery, was shown to customers at the weekend, before a man stole a container with the diamond inside and made off on a bike.

The diamond, measuring 4.3mm in diameter, is said to be worth $200,000 - around £108,000.

X-rays have failed to show if the suspected thief has swallowed the gem, but police say they are yet to rule out the possibility and he is due to appear in court tomorrow charged with stealing.

Asked if authorities are keeping a close eye on his movements in the meantime, Detective Acting Inspector Kevin Groan replied: "Most definitely."

The Australian says he told reporters: "We hope that he'll be with us for some time."

"The value of the property is such that it's going to be an impost to him for the rest of his life if he's identified as being responsible," he added.

Keith Bird, owner of The Diamond Gallery, said police told him the man had admitted stealing the gem and swallowed it as he prepared to board the New Zealand-bound flight.

But he doubted the diamond is inside him.

Mr Bird said: "If he thought he'd got away with it, why would you sit at the Melbourne airport and swallow it, and if you have to go to the loo on a flight to New Zealand? That would be a bit dangerous.

"If he's not going to confess where the stone is, he's going to do some serious time."

Police are said to have used DNA evidence and CCTV footage to track down the British backpacker, who had been living in Australia for five years on work visas.

Detectives are also thought to be looking at the possibility that the valuable stone was sent overseas.

In a statement this morning the Queensland force confirmed that the stolen diamond is still outstanding and investigations are continuing.

A spokesman said: "Detectives will escort the man back to Cairns later today.

"He is expected to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court tomorrow charged with entering premises and stealing property of a value greater than 5,000 Australian dollars (£2,699)."

A Foreign Office spokesman added: "We are aware of reports that a British national was arrested at Melbourne airport on Thursday.

"We have been in contact with the local authorities and offered to provide consular assistance."

Women queue round the block to be treated by world's hottest GYNAECOLOGIST

He has women queueing round the block to be treated by him.

For Manuel Rico has caused a stir as the world's hottest gynaecologist since arriving in Chile's Concepcion.

The part-time model has been inundated with work at the university hospital where he's completing an internship.

Health bosses even organised a press conference to mark the start of the Mr Spanish Beauty 2010's placement.

Now long lines of women outside his surgery are a common sight.

Rico, who plans to return to Spain once his course is completed later this year, said he prefers to focus on his medical career rather than live the celebrity lifestyle.

"I'd rather remain anonymous. The modelling I did was a great experience, but I don't want to have any more to do with it now," he said.

Source: The Mirror

Walt Disney

Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901. Disney became one of the best-known motion picture producers in the world. He is particularly noted for being a film producer and a popular showman, as well as an innovator in animation and theme park design.

Disney is famous for his contributions in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. His first success was through the series, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit which was created by the Disney studio for Charles Mintz of Universal Studios. When Disney asked for a larger budget for his popular Oswald series, Mintz refused and Disney had to quit. Later, Disney and his brother Roy O. Disney started from scratch and co-founded Walt Disney Productions, now known as The Walt Disney Company. Today, this company has annual revenues of approximately U.S. $35 billion. This succes is largely due to a number of the world's most famous fictional characters he and his staff created including Mickey Mouse, a character for which Disney himself was the original voice.

Disney won 26 Academy Awards out of 59 nominations, including a record four in one year, giving him more awards and nominations than any other individual. He is also the namesake forDisneyland and Walt Disney World Resort theme parks in the United States, as well as the international resorts in Japan, France, and China.

Disney died of lung cancer in Burbank, California, on December 15, 1966. The following year, construction began on Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. His brother Roy Disney inaugurated The Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971.

Source: Wikipedia