Hormones are an underlying cause of most cases of excess hair growth

Excessive hairiness in women is not just a cosmetic problem but is likely to be a sign of an underlying medical condition, say UK doctors in a report.

Five to 15% of women have excess hair, and a hormone disorder is the most likely cause in many cases, they said.

Women with the problem should not be afraid to seek medical advice, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists report urged.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the cause in 70% to 80% of cases.

Report author, Dr Rebecca Swingler, a specialist registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology at St Michael’s Hospital in Bristol, said the condition, known as hirsutism, is distressing and can be particularly upsetting for young women.

Estimates of how many women are affected are likely to be underestimated because women can be reluctant to seek help, she added.

Often women have spent many years trying to cope with their hirsutism before they seek professional help Dr Rebecca Swingler

In addition to PCOS, rarer causes of excessive hairiness include certain tumours and thyroid dysfunction, as well as the use of certain drugs.

Mild cases can be treated cosmetically, she said, but in moderate to severe cases, hormone therapy, such as the oral contraceptive pill and other treatments are available.

Weight loss, especially in obese women, may also help reduce high levels of the male hormone testosterone which can be an underlying factor in cases of excess hair.

“Often women have spent many years trying to cope with their hirsutism before they seek professional help,” said Dr Swingler.

“Women need to look at themselves in the context of their family and ethnicity and what is ‘normal’ for them.

“If they notice a change in the pattern of hair growth or they notice they having to wax more often then they should seek help,” she said.

Reluctance

Professor Stephen Franks, an expert in reproductive endocrinology at Imperial College London, said the condition could be very embarrassing and women might be reluctant to seek medical advice.

They may also not realise hirsutism could be linked to a condition like PCOS because symptoms such as irregular periods are not present, he added.

“It’s always worth getting it investigated. Even if it’s a benign condition.”

Professor Franks said how much hair growth was considered excessive was subjective, but that women should not be afraid to seek help.

Rachel Hawkes, chairwoman of PCOS charity Verity, said many women with excess hair growth did not actively seek treatment because they were embarrassed.

“The effect that excess hair can have on a woman’s self-esteem and how she views herself as a woman – and therefore her quality of life – can be extremely distressing.

“We recommend women with PCOS who suffer with excess hair growth seek the advice of their GP, or ask to be referred to an endocrinologist or dermatologist.”

Two moderate earthquakes have hit eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 22 people and destroying about 200 homes, officials say.

The US Geological Survey says a 5.5-magnitude quake struck at 0157 local time (2127 GMT), followed by a 5.1-magnitude aftershock two hours later.

The quakes struck in Nangarhar province, about 50 miles (80km) east of Kabul near the Pakistan border.

At least four villages were reported to have suffered serious damage.

A provincial official in Jalalabad told the BBC that at least 30 people were also reported to be injured and that rescuers had been sent to the scene to retrieve bodies and help those hurt.

The official said he feared the death toll could go higher.

Quake-prone

Ahmad Shekib Hamraz, a disaster management official, told AFP news agency “the centre of the earthquake is located 45km (28 miles) from Sherzad district”.

An earlier photograph of Sherzad district, said to have been hit

Survivors in Mir Gadkhel village were scrambling through the rubble of flattened houses to recover bodies after the quake, Reuters reported.

“Three of my family members were killed and seven are injured,” villager Gul Mohammad said.

“I think about 40 people have died. Hundreds of houses have been destroyed.”

The earthquake is in a remote area that is difficult to reach by vehicle, the BBC’s Martin Patience in Kabul says.

The mountains of northern Afghanistan and Pakistan are hit by dozens of minor earthquakes every year.

Because many Afghan homes are made of dried mud, even minor tremors can cause high casualties and widespread damage, our correspondent says.

A 7.6-magnitude earthquake that rocked north-west Pakistan in October 2005 killed 74,000 people and displaced 3.5 million.

China has deployed its ships off the coast of Somalia on anti-piracy duties

China is planning to boost the size and sophistication of its naval power, the head of the Chinese navy told state news agency Xinhua.

In a rare interview, Admiral Wu Shengli said the communist party leadership had made naval preparedness a priority, but did not provide specifics.

Last month, China said it would step up naval patrols to protect its interests in disputed waters.

Its navy was also involved in a confrontation with a US ship in March.

Admiral Wu told Xinhua that the Chinese navy would focus on speeding up the development of large warships as part of its efforts develop an oceangoing fleet.

His comments are being interpreted as a further hint that China will soon be getting its first aircraft carrier – often considered the most vital element in any navy seeking to project power over long distances, says the BBC’s defence correspondent Rob Watson.

Regional role

The country is already engaged in extensive modernisation of its navy and its naval ambitious are increasingly directed at regional interests.

This year, for example, Beijing deployed ships off the coast of Somalia on anti-piracy duties – the country’s first major overseas naval operation.

It also said it plans to step up naval patrols in disputed waters in the South China Sea to protect against illegal fishing and other countries’ “unfounded territorial claims” in oil-rich areas.

But while some of China’s neighbours have been watching the build up of its naval and other military capabilities with some concern, it still lags a long way behind the United States, which remains the major naval power in the region, our correspondent said.

Last month, the US Navy complained that one of its survey vessels was “harassed” by Chinese ships in what it called international waters off Hainan Island, south China.

China rejected the complaint, accusing the US of breaking international law by operating in seas it claims as its own. The two nations later agreed to try to avoid rows.

The items will now be returned to Michael Jackson

A planned auction of more than 1,000 items from the former home of pop star Michael Jackson has been cancelled.

Nearly 1,400 items from the singer’s Neverland Ranch in California were due to go under the auctioneer’s hammer next week.

But Jackson’s production company sued the auction house to stop the sale.

A last-minute settlement means Jackson’s belongings will now be returned to him. In response, he has dropped the lawsuit.

A public preview of the collection had already begun in Los Angeles and the exhibition of Jackson’s possessions will stay open until the end of next week.

But many will be sad they will not get to own any Michael Jackson memorabilia.

The items that were to be sold included his famous crystal-encrusted white glove, a golden throne and the gates to the Neverland Ranch.

The sprawling property was Mr Jackson’s home for many years. It included a zoo and theme park.

He left in 2005, after he was acquitted of child abuse charges in a high-profile court case.

Financial problems forced him to sell part-ownership of the property last year.

Lampard scored twice to help set up a semi-final showdown with Barcelona

Chelsea survived a huge scare before drawing one of the most entertaining Champions League games of recent times to seal a 7-5 aggregate win over Liverpool and book a semi-final against Barcelona.

Guus Hiddink’s team led 3-1 after the first leg at Anfield but Fabio Aurelio’s free-kick after an awful misjudgement from Petr Cech and Xabi Alonso’s penalty put Liverpool in control at the break.

Jose Reina fumbled Didier Drogba’s deft touch into his own net and Alex’s thunderbolt free-kick levelled the scores on the night with two goals in six dramatic second-half minutes.

The inspirational Frank Lampard put the Blues 3-2 ahead, slotting home Drogba’s intelligent cross.

The tie looked finished but Liverpool were not done yet and Lucas Leiva’s deflected strike was quickly followed by Dirk Kuyt’s near-post header.

I think I’ve just watched the greatest match in Champions League history Flourescent_lmp

It was 4-3 to Liverpool with seven minutes of normal time remaining and Stamford Bridge was stunned, while the Reds required just one more goal to complete a sensational victory on away goals.

But Lampard converted Nicolas Anelka’s pass to level at 4-4 in the final dramatic action of a truly memorable game of football.

Liverpool were without their skipper Steven Gerrard because of an injury but came close to pulling off a memorable victory without their inspirational leader.

Liverpool gave the hosts an early warning when a delightful touch from Yossi Benayoun after 13 minutes created a clear opening for Fernando Torres, who failed to hit the target with his left-foot strike.

It was a poor miss and Liverpool’s slim hopes were almost completely extinguished a minute later but Lampard narrowly missed the target with a free-kick.

Then came the moment that embarrassed Cech and handed Liverpool a lifeline, as Aurelio smashed his free-kick into the bottom corner.

Alex celebrates with Michael Ballack after scoring Chelsea’s second

Chelsea had only bothered to put one man in the wall and Cech was so focused on dealing with a floated ball into the congested area that he neglected the possibility of a low shot at goal.

Even so, it was a terrible error as the Czech keeper was caught completely out of position and scrambled across goal in vain.

Buoyed by their goal, Liverpool suddenly found an incisiveness and rhythm to their play, while Chelsea, with suspended skipper John Terry watching from the stands, looked uncharacteristically brittle.

Terry will be back for the semi-final first leg tie against 2006 champions Barcelona at the Nou Camp in two weeks, but left-back Ashley Cole will be absent after picking up a yellow card for a foul on Alvaro Arbeloa.

The Blues defensive unit struggled to cope with the passing and movement of an attacking line that had struggled so manifestly at Anfield eight days earlier.

And the Reds doubled their lead through Alonso’s unstoppable penalty after the Spaniard had been fouled by Chelsea’s first-leg hero Branislav Ivanovic.

Chelsea boss Hiddink withdrew Salomon Kalou and brought on Anelka after 35 minutes.

And his bold decision was vindicated when the Frenchman’s low cross from the right shortly after the restart was deflected by Drogba past Liverpool keeper Reina, who could only parry the ball into his own net.

Drogba was inches away with a free-kick as Chelsea found the attacking menace that had almost completely eluded them in the first-half and it came as no huge surprise when they did draw level, Alex drilling home his long-range free-kick.

Kuyt’s goal gave Liverpool renewed hope of a famous result

Liverpool now needed to score twice more but Michael Ballack should have put the result beyond doubt after Drogba broke down the right and picked out the unmarked German with a precise low cross. Ballack, however, shot tamely and Reina dived to his left to save.

Torres, an increasingly marginal figure, went close from distance but it was Chelsea who were in control now and Lampard put his team ahead with a close-range finish from Drogba’s cross.

The tie seemed to be dead and buried before Lucas’ deflected strike after 81 minutes was quickly followed by Kuyt’s bullet header from substitute Albert Riera’s cross.

Suddenly it was only the visiting supporters who could be heard but the final goal of a pulsating match fell to Lampard, whose strike went in off both posts.

There was hardly any time remaining but the fragile Cech still managed to fumble a cross that David N’Gog drilled towards goal, forcing a superb headed clearance from Michael Essien.

Booked: Ivanovic, Carvalho, Ashley Cole.

Goals: Drogba 52, Alex 57, Lampard 76, 89.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa (Babel 85), Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Lucas, Mascherano (Riera 69), Alonso, Kuyt, Torres (Ngog 80), Benayoun.
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Dossena, Hyypia, Agger.

Booked: Benayoun, Arbeloa.

Goals: Aurelio 19, Alonso 28 pen, Lucas 81, Kuyt 82.

Agg (7-5)

Att: 38,286

Ref: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain).

Button has piloted his Brawn to victory in the first two races of the season

Jenson Button will find out if his car is legal when world motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, makes a final ruling on the diffuser row on Tuesday.

The Formula 1 championship leader’s Brawn Grand Prix team, Toyota and Williams use a split-level diffuser.

The FIA rejected a protest by rival teams who argue the design does not conform to the new 2009 regulations.

But the International Court of Appeal will rule on the issue and could deduct points from Brawn, Toyota and Williams.

An independent panel will hear arguments from both sides in Paris on Tuesday, with a verdict expected the following day.

WHAT IS A DIFFUSER? It is the rear part of the floor of the car between the rear wheels and under the rear wing It is crucial to the aerodynamics, and small changes can have a big impact on downforce – and therefore grip and speed

The row broke out when Ferrari, Renault and Red Bull protested against the legality of the split-level diffusers on the eve of the season-opening Grand Prix in Australia, but race stewards in Melbourne rejected their claims.

BMW Sauber then had a similar protest rejected at the Malaysian Grand Prix while McLaren have recently added their weight to the official protest.

The protesting teams say the split-level design contravenes a rule that states the diffuser – an aerodynamic body part which aids performance – must have an upper edge that runs in a horizontal straight line.

They also believe the design is negating the main aim of this season’s new rule changes to make overtaking easier.

The split-level diffusers are able to generate more downforce at the rear of the car, resulting in a clear performance advantage of around 0.5 seconds per lap.

If the protestors win their appeal the FIA has two options.

It could allow the results of the first two races to stand, with the three teams concerned being forced to alter their cars from Sunday’s Chinese GP onwards, or they could remove any points won by those teams in Australia and Malaysia.

British driver Button – who insists his car is “100% legal” – has won both and his team lead the constructors’ championship with 25 points, ahead of Toyota on 16.5 points.

The other eight teams have only 17 points between them and Ferrari, the reigning constructors’ champions, are yet to get off the mark.

Brawn GP team boss Ross Brawn is optimistic the Court of Appeal will agree with the race stewards and sanction the split-level diffuser design.

“I would just be surprised if the appeal court can make judgements on technicalities – it’s quite a complex technical matter,” he told BBC Sport.

“You can’t be 100% confident but I hope common sense prevails on their side.”

If the judges rule the diffusers are legal, then the seven teams who are running without the split-level diffusers are expected to try and incorporate the design into their cars as soon as possible.

Setting about such a radical redesign with the season underway will not be easy.

Many of the teams running with regular diffusers argue the cost of making the changes is too great, especially during a climate of cost-cutting within the sport in the face of the global economic crisis.

“I’ve heard several of them complaining about the cost,” said Brawn.

“But there are lots of things teams copy from each other and the cost doesn’t get debated.

“I think some teams will be able to do it very quickly, but for other teams it will be more difficult because of their suspension configuration or other elements of the car,” added Brawn.

Whichever way the judges rule in Paris, the outcome of the hearing is likely to have a significant effect on the season.

“The championship could be more or less decided,” warned Renault’s double world champion Fernando Alonso.

“If the diffusers are legal, then the Brawns are going to be nearly unreachable for any other team.”

Officers initially trailed the couple’s car after noticing it was swerving from side to side and travelling at 33km/h (20mph) over the road’s speed limit.

But they soon realised the erratic driving was due to the woman “sitting on the man’s lap”, a spokesman said.

After filming the exploit for evidence, they pulled them over at a rest area.

The 28-year-old man’s punishment will be decided within the next week, but police said he was likely to face a fine of several thousand Norwegian kroner and a lengthy driving ban.

“Why they did it on a highway with such a high risk we don’t know,” Tor Stein Hagen, a superintendent with Soendre Buskerud Police District, told the AFP news agency.

“[The vehicle] was veering from one side to the other because the woman was sitting on the man’s lap while he was driving and doing the act, shall we say,” he added.

“He couldn’t see much because her back was in the way.”

Despite her prominent role in the incident, the 21-year-old woman was permitted by police to drive her lover home.

Rossi disappointed with MotoGP washout

The opening round of the 2009 MotoGP championship in Qatar will take place at 1900 BST on Monday after Sunday’s race was cancelled because of rain.

Earlier on the weather had curtailed the 125cc and 250cc races but the rain returned with a vengeance as the riders sat on the grid for the MotoGP race.

Because it was being staged under lights, the glare off the wet track would have made racing impossible.

Qatar only has an average of eight days rain per year.

The signs were not good on Saturday, when rain fell just before and after the MotoGP qualifying session, where 2007 world champion Casey Stoner secured pole position, ahead of 2008 champion Valentino Rossi.

“It’s a big disappointment,” said Rossi.

“We wait six months for the first race of the season. but when you decide to have a night race, it’s risky. No-one expected these conditions in Qatar.”

Sunday’s racing programme began with the 125cc race, which had to be stopped after just four laps because of the rain.

Italy’s Andrea Iannone was declared the winner, ahead of Julian Simon and Sandro Cortese, with Britain’s Bradley Smith in fifth place.

The 250cc riders fared slightly better, with their race reduced from 20 to 13 laps because of earlier weather problems.

Spain’s Hector Barbera won ahead of French pair Jules Cluzel and Mike Di Meglio, getting the crowd warmed up for the eagerly-anticipated main race.

But with the riders in place on the grid, the heavens opened and a combination of rain and high winds made racing impossible.

If the race had taken place during the day, it would just have been a factor for the riders to deal with rather than stopping the race, but the glare factor meant there was no way racing could take place.

The car industry has been hit hard by the economic slowdown

The government is likely to introduce an incentive scheme for car owners to scrap old vehicles in exchange for new ones, the BBC has learned.

The move would probably involve a payment of £2,000 to trade in cars that are a certain number of years old.

The controversial plans are designed to boost demand for new cars and help struggling carmakers who are suffering during the recession.

A similar scheme in Germany has seen demand for new cars rise dramatically.

France and Italy have also introduced so-called car scrappage schemes to boost their beleaguered car industries.

Details of the UK scheme are likely to be announced in the Chancellor’s budget on 22 April, according to BBC correspondent Joe Lynam.

“A scrappage scheme will provide the incentive needed and the evidence is clear that schemes already implemented across Europe do work to increase demand,” said Paul Everitt at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Record falls

The government has been reluctant to introduce a scheme at a time when its finances are being stretched by a series of economic stimulus packages.

It is also concerned about supporting one struggling industry over another.

But it appears that the dire state of the automotive industry has forced its hand.

Car sales fell by almost a third in March this year compared with last year.

The drop was viewed as particularly disappointing given that March is the month for new car registrations and sales are, therefore, usually strong.

Car production has been affected even more dramatically, with the number of new cars produced in the UK falling by a record 59% in February, year-on-year.

This represents the largest monthly fall since records began in 1970, according to the SMMT.

Root cause

Carmakers have been forced into drastic action in order to survive.

For example, Honda has closed its Swindon plant for four months, while Toyota has reduced pay across its UK factories by 10%.

While sales have been falling in the UK, new car registrations in Germany rose 40% in March and by 10% in France after both countries adopted scrappage schemes.

In Germany, drivers get 2,500 euros (£2,250; $3,299) for trading in a car more than nine years old, while in France motorists can receive up to 1,000 euros. Scrappage has also recently been introduced in Spain.

The UK government has already announced some help for UK carmakers.

In January, it revealed its £2.3bn Automotive Assistance Programme to provide loans to troubled car manufacturers, while Jaguar Land Rover has been granted £27m to develop a fuel efficient vehicle.

But car scrappage schemes are seen as targeting the root cause of the industry’s woes – a lack of demand for its products. They also, the government argues, help the environment by replacing old, inefficient vehicles with cleaner, more efficient ones.

However, their environmental credentials are not universally accepted.

“This scheme won’t create jobs and it won’t help the environment. All that you’re going to get is a switch to more polluting, bigger vehicles. And that’s not going to help anyone,” said Peter Cranie of the Green Party.

Easter services were held in many of the 67 tent cities in the Abruzzo region

Hundreds of people made homeless by Monday’s earthquake in the Italian city of L’Aquila have attended Easter Mass.

Survivors used a makeshift altar in a giant tent. Similar services are being held in many surrounding villages.

Some 20,000 people are living in camps in the Abruzzo region, where Monday’s quake killed at least 294 people.

Pope Benedict XVI sent out greetings to those “suffering from the earthquake” when he celebrated Easter Mass on St Peter’s Square in the Vatican.

He also delivered his main “Urbi et Orbi” (To the city and the world) blessing.

It’s a really different Easter… Usually I’m with my friends, but here I’m surrounded by tents Giovanni Diletti, survivor

On Saturday, Pole Benedict offered a special prayer for quake survivors at an Easter eve service in St Peter’s Basilica.

The Pope also sent chocolate Easter eggs to victims of the earthquake.

Easter, the most important Church feast in the predominantly Roman Catholic country, is being celebrated at makeshift venues in the area.

Conquering fear

In L’Aquila a brick from a destroyed building was blessed by a priest, along with equipment used by the emergency crews.

Services were held in many of the 67 tent cities that have been set up to accommodate the survivors.

The Pope sent greetings to to earthquake victims during Easter Mass

Survivor Giovanni Diletti, 47, told AFP news agency: “It’s a really different Easter after what happened. Usually I’m with my friends, but here I’m surrounded by tents.”

Local Archbishop Giuseppe Molinari, who celebrated Mass in a makeshift venue north of L’Aquila, said in his homily: “I was afraid, I suffered like you. We’re here to conquer that fear.”

Many churches were ruined or damaged by the quake or are in areas cordoned off by the security forces as a precaution.

Some found little comfort in religion.

“Now the professionals of prayer are praying, saying Mass,” said Francesco Pagani, an elderly survivor sitting in one of the emergency camps.

“Everybody prays… and yet Jesus Christ sends us an earthquake.”

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi went to L’Aquila to attend Easter Mass.

Months of uncertainty

The local chief prosecutor has set up an inquiry to see if there is any criminal blame for the number of collapsed buildings.

Some rescuers have spoken of the ease with which they sawed through concrete blocks and the investigation will look at whether the correct mix of sand and concrete was used in their construction.

One estimate values the earthquake damage at up to 3bn euros ($4bn) but the impact on Italy’s economy, already hit by recession, is expected to be limited, Reuters news agency reports.

About 40,000 people are homeless of whom some 15,000 have found shelter in hotels or private homes.

The authorities have said it could be weeks, if not months, before it is known which of the houses left standing are safe enough to be repaired and which will have to be demolished.