AN Irish woman has become the first adult in the world to receive a revolutionary REMOTE CONTROLLED 'ROBO SPINE', which uses magnets to combat the effects of scoliosis. Deirdre McDonnell, 34, from Drogheda, County Louth, can now stand tall for the first time after undergoing the pioneering MAGEC rod operation. The operation, also known as the magnetic expansion control system, involves the insertion of a magnetic rod that is screwed onto the spine and controlled externally in order to correct the curvature caused by scoliosis. Up until now, the £15K procedure has only been performed on children, as it was thought only to be effective for early onset scoliosis - typically diagnosed before the age of ten.
As sunlight cascades through its vibrant stained glass windows, every inch of the Nasir-ol-Mulk Mosque bursts with colour .
BOXING DAY has come early for this pair of feisty squirrels, as their Christmas party quickly turns sour .
A woman has released pictures of the horrific injuries she suffered when her jealous ex attacked her with a brick .
The San Antonio Zoo in Texas has welcomed a bizarre new addition - a two-headed turtle named Thelma and Louise .
BEHIND the doors of this building, with its stacks of mattresses and discarded remains of wheelchairs, lies another victim of austerity cuts .
These are the faces of orphans suffering from the horrifying effects of chemical warfare .
A man has lost an incredible 20st after his addiction to food left him £15k in debt .
Jostling their quills into the noses of some unlucky cubs, this is the moment two feisty porcupines ALMOST defeat a pride of seven lions .
THESE kingfishers prove no rod is needed as they go fishing for their dinner .
SWIMMING in unison, millions of silverside fish dwarf the divers .
COURAGEOUS climbers descend 400 metres as they manoeuvre their way through thick walls of ice .