If there is anything in the world of high fashion more vulnerable to whim than clothes, it is the models who wear them. They seem to emerge from nowhere, sparkle brilliantly, then plunge into Stygian darkness,* the victims of too much deja vu. Now rising into ascendancy is a new heavenly body who, because of her striking singularity, promises to remain on high for many a season.Donyale Luna, as she calls herself, is unquestionably the hottest model in Europe at the moment. She is only 20, ...

Nine ironwood spears protruded from the lifeless body of Luis Castellanos when it was found in March, near a jungle road. Castellanos, 37, was the third poacher of rare woods murdered in this remote patch of eastern Ecuador since 2005. And the prime suspects in the killings, say officials, are the ferocious warriors of the Tagaeri and Taromenani tribes — primitive and virtually unknown groups who cling to their Stone Age lifestyles deep in the Amazon rain ...

Though most of us spend a lifetime pursuing happiness, new research is showing that that goal may be largely out of our control. Two new studies this month add to a growing body of evidence that factors like genes and age may impact our general well-being more than our best day-to-day attempts at joy. In one study, researchers at the University of Edinburgh suggest that genes account for about 50% of the variation in people's levels of happiness ...

In his 1934 travel book Beyond the Mexique Bay, Aldous Huxley compared Guatemala's Lake Atitlan to Italy's Lake Como. The Italian body of water, he wrote, "touches the limit of the permissibly picturesque." Atitlan, however, "is Como with the additional embellishment of several immense volcanoes. It is really too much of a good thing." Guatemalans have interpreted this declaration by the author of Brave New World to mean that Lake Atitlan is the most beautiful lake in the ...

The Israeli government has ruled out setting up an independent investigative body that would interview Israeli military personnel about allegations that the military committed war crimes during its offensive against Hamas earlier this year.

Chelsea are seeking to have the English club's worldwide transfer ban put on hold until an appeal is heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The London outfit have already lodged an appeal against FIFA's ruling, which prevents the club from registering any new players during the next two transfer windows. They had been found guilty of illegally inducing teenager Gael Kakuta to breach his contract with French club Lens two years ago. The CAS has now confirmed ...

Formula One is currently being torn apart over a row concerning next season's proposed $60 million budget cap. The sport's world governing body Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) wants teams to sign up to the agreement for the 2010 season but has met resistance from Ferrari and other leading constructors who claim it will create a "two tier" championship. In a bid by the FIA to survive a "harsh recessionary period" the body published plans on its Web site to ...

Manchester City could become the second English club to receive a transfer ban after being reported to football's world governing body FIFA by French side Stade Rennes over an alleged illegal approach for a youth player. FIFA confirmed on Tuesday that it would be investigating City's acquisition of 17-year-old defender Jeremy Helan in February. "We can confirm that there is a case pending with FIFA's Player Status Department involving Jeremy Helan, Stade Rennes FC and Manchester City," it said in ...

Iraq's deputy minister of transport has been arrested after investigators taped him taking a $100,000 bribe, the Iraqi Integrity Commission said Monday. United have grown angry at the sustained assault by Le Havre, which came in the wake of a transfer ban imposed on Chelsea last week for a similar infringement of the rules. Now club officials have written to the French club, and made them aware in the strongest terms that they must either put up, or shut ...

English Premier League side Chelsea have said they will mount the "strongest appeal possible" following the transfer ban placed on the club by world football's governing body FIFA. The punishment, which would prevent any new member joining the squad until 2011, was dished out after the club were found to have "induced" Gael Kukuta to breach his contract in a transfer from French league side Lens in 2007. In a statement on their official Web site, Chelsea announced their plan ...