GMTV breast milk comments spark row

Ofcom is looking into complaints after a midwife suggested during a TV debate that breast milk may not be any better for older children than drinking cola. The comments were made on GMTV, during a discussion hosted by Lorraine Kelly tackling the "taboo" subject of breastfeeding older infants, which also included opinions from members of the public. Midwife and breastfeeding specialist Clare Byam-Cook, one of three guests involved in the studio debate, told GMTV: "Breast milk beyond the age of two isn't necessarily good because it's very, very sweet... "The fact that it's breast milk doesn't make it any better than a glass of Coca-Cola. It does damage babies' teeth." Ann Sinnott, author of a book about breastfeeding older children, challenged her view, asking what the evidence was. She said: "There is no solid research on this at all." Mother Nicola Harris, who is breastfeeding her four-year-old child, told the ITV1 debate on Thursday that her daughter has perfect teeth. Ms Byam-Cook told GMTV she is all for breastfeeding, but this became a "private decision" beyond the age of about two. She said: "I certainly don't see why babies should decide. If your toddler decided that she wanted to spend all day eating sweets, watching television, going to bed at midnight would you say: 'Well that's your choice?' No." It is understood GMTV received between 10 and 20 emails responding to the item, giving a range of opinions. A spokesman for Ofcom said: "We have received a small number of complaints which are being assessed against the Broadcasting Code." A spokeswoman for the show said: "We are satisfied that we presented a fair and balanced item. "Each guest was given ample time to express their views." (my view)-I disagree,breastmilk is better then cola,i drink both and breastmilk has won hands down in my book and breastmilk/breastfeeding is healthier and has many benefits....i down get sick as much 87% less illness,and i can think more clearly

Thankyou Barbara

Poltergeist actress Zelda Rubinstein dies, aged 76

Zelda Rubinstein, the US actress best known for her role as the diminutive psychic in 1982 film Poltergeist, has died in Los Angeles at the age of 76. The 4ft 3in (1.29m) actress died in hospital on Wednesday after recently suffering a heart attack, her agent told the Los Angeles Times. Eccentric medium Tangina Barrons was her first major role and one she reprised in two Poltergeist sequels. More recently, Rubinstein appeared in Southland Tales and TV's Picket Fences. She also appeared in a high-profile Aids public awareness campaign in the 1980s and was an outspoken activist for the rights of people of restricted height.

Haunted house

Born in Pittsburgh in 1933, the former lab technician was almost 50 when she made her big-screen debut as a woman playing a Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz in 1982's Under the Rainbow. Poltergeist followed, in which her character came to the assistance of a suburban family living in a haunted house. Fans will remember her child-like voice exhorting spirits to "go into the light" before declaring "this house is clean". She went on to appear with Molly Ringwald in Sixteen Candles, before returning as Tangina in Poltergeist II: The Other Side and Poltergeist III. Rubinstein was sent to hospital at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center two months ago, after suffering a mild heart attack. "She had ongoing health issues and unfortunately they finally overtook her," her agent Eric Stevens said.

R.I.P Zelda

India announces first manned space mission

India's space agency has said it will launch its first manned mission to space in 2016.

India's space programme is more than 45 years old

A senior official of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) in Bangalore said that two astronauts would take part. "We are preparing for the manned space flight," Isro Chairman K Radhakrishnan told reporters. "We will design and develop the space module for the manned mission in the next four years," he said. Observers say India is emerging as a major player in the multi-billion dollar space market. In September it launched seven satellites in a single mission, nearly a month after the country's inaugural Moon mission was aborted. Key architect Isro says that it will soon shortlist two astronauts to train for the space flight. The manned mission will cost 124 billion rupees ($2,676,740,597). Delhi has given its approval for the mission, space officials told the BBC. India's space agency is also setting up a full-fledged training facility in Bangalore to train the astronauts. The country's first unmanned Moon mission, Chandrayaan, was launched last year. The second unmanned project, Chandrayaan-II, will be launched in the first quarter of 2013 - a prelude to the manned space mission. India's first Moon mission had to be terminated because of a failure of critical communication components, but Isro officials termed the mission a success because 95% of the scientific objectives were completed. India also plans a mission to Mars in 2030.