An invasion of privacy, you can't catch a cold from a kiss and the Vanity Fair party

Charmain Naidoo found this interesting in the news today...

1. Last August, police raided the home of one of Britain’s best known and loved musicians, Sir Cliff Richard – while the BBC filmed it. The reason for the raid was an alleged sex scandal with a boy dating back to 1985. It now emerges (from a high level police investigation), that there was a secret deal between the broadcasting company and the police. The raid was found to have been unnecessarily invasive of Sir Cliff’s privacy.

2. It’s official: you can’t catch a cold from kissing, but holding hands is definitely out if you want to avoid cold bearing germs – left there by your partner’s used tissue or sneeze blocking. Other interesting recommendations to keep germs at bay include flushing with the loo lid down, kissing children on the top of the head, wearing socks as warm toes protect you against coughs and cold. And, turn the temperature up on your washing machine if you want to kill organisms that live on your body! The very thought!

3. The New York Times has an excellent piece about displaced Afghanistan families, who have sought refuge in bordering Pakistan, being forced back into their native land, a land that is foreign to many of the refugees. The repatriation push intensified after the terrorist attack on a school in Peshawar last December.

4. The Telegraph’s Nick Allen cracked an invite to the most sought after party in Hollywood on Oscar night, the Vanity Fair party. Read his account of how best actor winner Eddie Redmayne told him he thought he’d lost his Oscar statuette and how Benedict Cumerbatch shared a plate of chips with Dame Joan Collins. Here’s a tidbit: “Under an 80ft long LED chandelier weighing 6 000lbs they circled each other, feasting on Maine lobster roll, Gruyere cheese Gougeres with Sauce Mornay, and In-N-Out burgers prepared to individual requirements. British actor David Oyelowo was among those tucking into a burger as Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul handed food to other guests.”

5. Dame Vivienne Westwood, the queen of Punk, tells The Telegraph that she’s disappointed that her 17-year-old granddaughter Cora Corre ignores her! She might be the world’s most untraditional granny, but her response to being ignored by her flesh and blood is pretty traditional

6. On March 5, Carnegie Hall in New York City will host Tibet House’s 25 Annual Benefit Concert – which aims at keeping Tibetan culture top of mind around the world. This year’s lineup includes what the NYT calls “the legendary troika of rock goddesses Laurie Anderson, Patti Smith and Blondie front-woman Debbie Harry”. Harry, now 69, tells why she thinks she’s a style icon. Not much modesty here!

7. British scientists have warned that fluoride in drinking water may trigger depression and weight gain. The study, conducted at the University of Kent, finds that people could be suffering needlessly from thyroid problems because of the fluoride.

8. Ultimo bra tycoon Michelle Mone caught her husband cheating so she “trashed his R1.8-m Porsche, put laxatives in his drink, cut up his clothes… and fought him tooth and nail for control of the bra company she started.” Read this account of a woman who plotted and planned her way to revenge with the precision of an army general.

9. As someone who quite tobacco more than two years ago, I loved reading this story in The Daily Mail: Why there is no such thing as a “calming cigarette”: Smokers are 70% more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression – but quitting can reverse the damage.