News Frist

Dr. Imran Farooq Murdered in London ,Mqm Leader Dr. Imran Farooq Killed in London

2010-09-17T02:13:00.001+05:00

Dr. Imran Farooq Killed ,Mqm Leader Dr. Imran Farooq Killed in London.Dr Imran Farooq of MQM murdered in LondonMQM senior leader Imran Farooq killed in London, Imran Farooq has been killed by the man in front of his house in London.The killer uses a knife as a weapon and attack on Dr Imran Farooq consistently. According to Pakistan time killer attack on Imran Farooq on 11:30 p.m. After that Imran Farooq has been sent to nearest hospital but doctor confirmed that he was dead.

Press media blocked and threatend in Pakistan:

2010-08-08T18:52:00.002+05:00

After the news channel's coverage of shoe throwing by a man at President Asif Ali Zardari
at People's Party meeting in Birmingham, the transmissions of ARY News and Geo news were
closed in most parts of the country.Many offices of cable operators in Karachi have been
set ablaze by angry activists of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).According to cable operators
sources, Some of PPP’s leaders and government officials have issued threats and warnings to
cable operators across country against continuation of Geo News transmission, pressurizing
them to shut Geo News transmission but most cable operators refused to do so.Members of
civil society,Journalists and politicians condemned the blockage.
E-press is also together with Geo News,Ary News And jang group of newspapers.Wahabuddin khan,editor of http:www.news-frist.blogspot.com and president "All Pakistan Blogger Forum" ,also expressed unanimity with Geo News,Ary News and Jang Group of Publications.
Tags: Ary news,geo news,jang,The news,Tv channels blocked,press blocked

OLD MAN THROWS SHOES AT ZARDARI:

2010-08-08T04:00:00.004+05:00

An old man thrown pair of shoes, one after one,at President of Pakistan,Asif ali

zardari,while he was adressing in Birmingham.Zardari did not show any reaction and

continued his speech.The attention of audience converted towards that old man who throw the

shoes.Although ,the security gaurds were present there,but the old man did all of

asudden.Aftr wards the said old man was arrested.

Tags:Man Throws two Shoes At Zarari in Birmingham ,Man Throws two Shoes At Zarari in Birmingham ,

zardari shoe, zardari jota ,zardari juta, Man Throws two Shoes At Zarari in Birmingham ,zardari

shoe, ,Man Throws two Shoes At Zarari in Birmingham, zardari shoes

zardari jota zardari

VEDIOS PICS AND NEWS OF AIR CRASH IN PAKISTAN

2010-07-28T22:58:00.006+05:00

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 (Wahabuddin khan Report)

An air bus of a Air Blue Airline, carrying 152 passengers and crew , crashed into densely wooded "Margala"hills outside Islamabad amid heavy rain and poor visibility, killing everyone on board.According to rescue authorities pieces of body parts were littered around the area.The plane disintegrated between two hills, enveloped in cloud.

Qamar Zaman Kaira,Federal Minister for Information, denied earlier reports that the black box (Flight Data Recorder) of the crashed plane has been found.Government announced for compensation of Rs 0.5 million to the victims and a day of national mourning.

Pakistan Beat Australia By 3 Wickets

2010-07-24T15:52:00.001+05:00

Pakistan was left tantalisingly close to ending its 15-year winless streak against Australia at stumps on the third day of the second and final Test at Headingley.Pakistan ended the third day on 3 for 140 - just 40 short of a victory target of 180 that would end a record run of 13 straight Test defeats by Australia stretching back to 1995.But despite Headingley being bathed in bright sunshine, the umpires took the players off at the scheduled close.Pakistan left-handed opener Imran Farhat, dropped on 4, made 67.Azhar Ali was 47 not out and Umar Akmal was on 2 as Pakistan opted not to request an extra half-hour play.Left-arm quick Doug Bollinger gave Pakistan a nasty jolt by taking two wickets for no runs in seven balls to remove both Farhat and fellow left-hander Umar Amin.It was a reminder to Pakistan, bowled out for 139, chasing a victory target of 176 in Sydney in January, of what can happen against Australia.However, Ali - in only his second Test - helped Farhat put on 110 for the second wicket as Pakistan's top order at last produced a significant partnership when it was most needed.The 28-year-old Farhat faced 95 balls with nine boundaries before he was yorked by Bollinger who then had Umar Amin caught behind for nought.Farhat told reporters Amin's exit ended any hopes Pakistan had of claiming an extra half hour in which to force victory."If Umar Amin had stayed in we would have stayed out for 30 minutes so it was a good decision by the management to come back in the morning because there's not going to be as much pressure," Farhat said.As for any bad memories of Sydney, he added: "We didn't think about that. We've forgotten that. The management and all the players said 'that's in the past'. The atmosphere is very positive."Australia's Steven Smith, who made a Test-best 77 earlier in the day, said his side had not given up hope."We'll see how it goes in the morning. We've got to believe in ourselves. Hopefully, we can get a few wickets and put a bit of pressure on."Pakistan were 0 for 18 when first slip Shane Watson dropped Farhat off Bollinger despite getting both hands to the ball.But Australia did remove in-form batsman Salman Butt, in his first match as Pakistan captain, when the left-handed opener, on 13, edged Ben Hilfenhaus to Michael Clarke at second slip.But captain Ricky Ponting was let down by his bowlers - Mitchell Johnson in particular, whose spray-gun accuracy continued to disappoint.Watson, who claimed a Test best 6 for 33 in Pakistan's first innings, allowed 10 runs off his fourth over, including two leg-glanced boundaries by Farhat to ill-directed balls outside leg stump.Smith battles
That Australia set Pakistan as many as they did was thanks mainly to Smith's dashing 77 in only his second Test.He was last man out in an Australia total of 349 - a vast improvement on its humbling first innings 88 - having come in when its lead was only 47..

Spain won the 2010 FIFA World cup ‎

2010-07-12T02:08:00.001+05:00

Spain has done it! Spain won the 2010 FIFA world cup and emerges as world soccer chamipion for the first time. Spanish players held their nerve in this all ...

Britney Spears 's 'too provocative' fans evicted from the show

2009-08-28T19:18:00.003+06:00

By Jano
It has been revealed that fans at pop princess Britney Spears’ concert at Madison Square Garden had to be evicted from the show for dancing “too provocatively” at their seats. Of those, who had been yanked out by security guards on August 25, was Sandra Ion, a Dramatics hair salon manager.Buzz up! “I guess there had been a complaint from someone in our section that our dancing was too risqué,” the New York Post quoted her as saying. “Meanwhile, Britney is onstage gyrating half-naked and singing ‘Get Naked’. It was totally ridiculous. They should have just moved whoever complained instead of all of us,” she added.Ion said that guards forced her and her pals, including Amanda Lapore’s stylist Harliquin, to miss three songs, and Garden management refused to reimburse them. A representative for the Garden did not return a call for comment. ------ News-Frist

Madonna booed in Romania

2009-08-28T18:51:00.003+06:00

MADONNA was booed by thousands of fans at her concert in Romania on Wednesday after she protested the treatment of Roma gypsies in the country.The Queen of Pop paused mid-way through the sell-out 60,000 gig in Bucharest to speak out about discrimination in eastern Europe, urging fans to fight prejudice against the travellers.Madonna told the audience: "I've never been to Romania before and I am happy to be here."But I found out that there is a lot of discrimination against gypsies in eastern Europe and that makes me very sad, especially because we believe in acceptance, gypsies, homosexuals, people that are different. It makes me very sad. Everyone must be treated the same, don't forget that."Despite the boos, Hindus and Jewish leaders have rushed out to SUPPORT the singer.

Man Aressted For Raping Two Teenage Girls

2009-08-28T18:49:00.002+06:00

By Jano
A 22-year-old man who raped two 13-year-old girls in his car after plying them with alcohol has been jailed for 14 years.Munshur Ali, from Hyde in Greater Manchester, asked his victims for directions and began chatting with them before offering the young girls a lift.Ali drove the girls to an off licence in Stockport and bought them a bottle of vodka to drink.He then took them to a church and raped the pair twice in the back of his car.While passing sentence, Judge Peter Larkin said: "You subjected these two vulnerable, naive 13-year-olds to a terrifying ordeal."The judge described Munshur Ali as "devious and manipulative".He said: "Not only have you made serious and deeply unpleasant allegations against the two girls, you also concocted a defence to fit the prosecution evidence against you." The girls mothers, who can't be named for legal reasons, said their children were naïve and too trusting: "We are absolutely devastated. "To any other young girls, I just want to say if you are going out - stay with a group... And never get into anyone's car."The second victim's mother said: "It's easy to say don't drink, but it's part of growing up. And it's so easy to get hold of alcohol now - I think the Government needs to crack down on that."They are not the same children now. He didn't show any remorse at court, joking with his friends. It's disgusting."Speaking outside court, Detective Constable Lindsey Morgan said: "Both the girls have basically lost their innocent childhood, and they are traumatised by what's happened to them." When asked about Munshur Ali she commented: "I think he was a sly, evil person...and he went out on this evening knowing that his intention was to get vulnerable girls into his car and rape them." .

Nokia N86 8MP

2009-08-28T18:43:00.003+06:00

By Jano
With higher resolutions and better imaging technology, camera phones are getting better than ever and are all the rage.For those wanting to take casual but camera-quality party pictures, high resolution camera phones like the Nokia N86 8MP offer users the convenience of an imaging-capable device.At 8 megapixels, the N86 isn't the highest resolution camera phone out there. But unless you want to print your photos in sizes larger than A4, the resolution the N86 offers is more than enough. Looks-wise, the N86 isn't that much of a departure from its predecessor, the N85.The glossy finish gives the phone a pretty defined and classy look, and successfully manages to avoid looking too plastic. A two-way slider, the phone allows users to access its various features and functions easily.For its size, I didn't find it too heavy. Photos taken with this phone are clear and sharp, and the camera works surprisingly quickly.Press the shutter button and the N86 takes a shot, versus the one or two second pause some other phones will take before an image is captured. At 8 megapixels, the N86 goes back into camera mode with the tap of a button.This eliminates the need to wait for images to be processed and saved, meaning that you won't lose precious moments while waiting for the phone to be camera-ready again. Fitted with Carl Zeiss optics, the N86 features a wide-angle lens.This is a good choice, as most people using their camera phones are likely to capture portraits of friends and other people shots, versus images of landscapes and such.In camera mode, the Nokia offers users several scene modes (automatic, user defined, close-up, portrait, landscape, sport and night), as well as capture modes (still, sequence, self-timer, video and panorama).While I would have liked more scene modes - kids, food and pets would have been good - I did find myself quite fascinated by the N86's panorama capture mode.While it probably isn't the best camera to capture panoramic scenes with, the panorama mode was very easy to use and is definitely worth a try. The usual basic camera settings are there, such as flash, white balance and colour tone.What I would really have liked to see is an exposure compensation setting, which will come in handy at places where the N86 is likely to be used, such as in restaurants and indoors places with low light.With a dedicated camera button, taking pictures is easy, but tweaking camera setting might take a little getting used to..

Zardari at 10 Downing for talks with Brown on regional security

2009-08-28T18:34:00.001+06:00

By Jano
President Asif Ali Zardari Friday arrived at British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s official residence at 10 Downing Street to hold talks on regional security and ways to strengthen bilateral ties.President Zardari is holding one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Brown, and is likely to discuss with him a range of issues including security situation in tribal areas.He will also focus on the forthcoming Friends of Pakistan meeting in New York to be co-chaired by the US President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister Brown and President Zardari.The President is also due to focus on Malakand Plan for the rehabilitation of displaced people and reconstruction of the area.President Zardari who arrived at the 10 Downing Street, was accompanied by Interior Minister Rehman Malik and his youngest daughter Aseefa Zardari Bhutto.
A Downing Street spokesman said the two leaders would discuss a number of regional issues including Afghanistan.When the two last met in May, Brown praised Pakistan’s efforts, promised aid for those displaced by the fighting and reaffirmed his commitment to a “new strategic dialogue” with Islamabad. .

Watch video ARY NEWS Program Sawal Yeh Hai 23rd August 2009

2009-08-24T07:41:00.003+06:00

Dr. Danish presents fresh episode of Sawal Yeh Hai & talk with Haider Abbas Rizvi MQM, Brig (r) Imtiaz (ISI), Ghulam Mustafa Khar Former Governor Punjab and Lt. Gen (r) Naseer Akhtar.

AUG 23 SAWAL YEH HAI on ARY: Dr. Danish discusses with Brig (R) Imtiaz (Ex DG IB & Incharge Int Wing of ISI during 1992 Karachi Ops), Ghulam Mustafa Khar (Former Gov Punjab) and Lt. Gen (r) Naseer Akhtar who was Corp Commander Karachi in 1992.

The confessional statements by Brig (R) Imriaz and Gen (R) Naseer Akhtar finally unfolds (after 17 years) the truth in accusations on MQM regarding their attempt to carve out a spearate homeland for Muhajirs called Jinnahpur.

Brig (R) Imtiaz said on the talk show today that the map of Jinnahpur was nothing more than a drama and no map was recovered from any MQM offices during Ops against them in 1992.

Former Corp Commander Karachi Gen (rtd) Naseer Ahmed Khan also confessed on the talk show that he had no knowledge of Jinnahpur map.

The statements by these two pivotal characters involved in the operation against MQM in 1992, proved that the operation, which was launched against the party, was absolutely wrong, as MQM was innocent, said Haider Abbas Rizvi of MQM on the talk show today.

Facebook is going social superpower !!!

2009-08-16T11:59:00.000+06:00

Report By Jano :
Facebook was born in 2004 as a way for college students to connect with friends. But what does the Palo Alto social media giant want to be when it grows up?Similar to how Microsoft, Google and Apple have inserted themselves into users' everyday lives, Facebook also seeks that type of influence by providing a social layer to every online activity."They want to be a communications platform," said Jeremiah Owyang, social media analyst for Forrester Research. "This is what they've been trying to indicate to the market all along."Put another way, Owyang said Facebook is moving toward becoming like a computer operating system for communications.Evidence of that evolution came last week when Facebook unwrapped an upgraded search function that gives its members instant access to the news links, hot topics and other status updates posted not just by friends but also across its growing network of 250 million registered users.That new search capability went live hours after Facebook announced a deal, reportedly worth nearly $50 million, to acquire FriendFeed, a company that allows users to combine content from their favorite sites, blogs and social media networks, including rival Twitter.The combination of these events gives Facebook the potential to deliver much more relevant information its users seek as well as real-time marketing data to companies hoping to sell products and services to a rapidly growing audience.
Membership growingPrivately held Facebook started as a network of Harvard students and eventually expanded to other universities like Stanford. But today, it's open to anyone older than 13, and various studies show it's attracting members from all age levels and demographics.The status updates and other posts created by Facebook members have created a collective stream of consciousness that has marketers salivating.According to its own numbers, Facebook says 120 million of its registered members log on at least once daily. And they share 1 billion photos and 10 million videos each month, and post 1 billion pieces of content - news stories, Web links and blog items - each week..

Man Raped 36 School Girls Of Ages 14-18 !!!

2009-08-16T11:56:00.001+06:00

Report By Jano:
HE WAS specific about the kind of girls he wanted. They had to be between the ages of 14 and 18, pretty, as well as gentle and quiet in manner. Most importantly, they had to be virgins. And Wu Tianxi was determined to bed 100 of them.The former member of China's national legislature and once wealthy entrepreneur from Henan province was desperate to end his spate of bad luck, which he blamed for his business failures.A fengshui master he consulted told him that sleeping with virgins would break the cycle of misfortune, according to a report in The Beijing News.So between 2005 and 2007, Wu acted on the advice. In under two years, he raped as many as 36 schoolgirls. Of the victims, six were under the age of 14, and the youngest was only 12 years old.Last Thursday, he was put to death by lethal injection in the city of Nanyang, in Henan, after the Supreme People's Court rejected his appeal against the rape conviction in 2007. His execution came amid a crackdown by China on officials who abuse their power.In the past week, the Chinese government had fired the head of its nuclear power programme for alleged corruption and carried out a big round-up of gang leaders and members of local legislative bodies in Chongqing in a sweeping campaign against organised vice.According to Chinese media reports, Wu's associates staked out schools in his hometown, Jia Song town, to find virgin girls for him and abducted unsuspecting victims.The 63-year-old raped them in his offices or in hotels. At least one associate was always on hand to restrain the girls when they struggled or fought back.While Wu will be remembered as one of Jia Song town's most ignominious villains, there was a time when he was a household name for different reasons. It was in 1988, when he set up a meat processing and freezing plant, that he struck gold. He became the richest man in town and single- handedly boosted the town's economy..

Brack Obama's Health Care Plan Fails , Angry Crowd Protest !!!

2009-08-16T11:37:00.002+06:00

Report By Jano
Barack Obama's health care reform drive has turned nasty as rowdy crowds abused members of his administration outside town hall meetings across America. "One day God is going to stand before you and judge you," shouted a fierce opponent of the president's plans in the face of Democratic Senator Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania.Similar scenes have played out across the country as Congress's August recess has set the stage for a battle over Mr Obama's flagship policy to cover nearly 50 million uninsured Americans.He has dispatched senators and congress people to school gymnasiums, public libraries and fire halls across the land, only to see them largely shouted down by uproarious crowds.Health care reform has bedevilled many administrations, including that of former president Bill Clinton who tried, and very publicly failed, to change the system.Republicans are loudly fretting over the cost of Mr Obama's plans, with some branding it "socialism" and warning that the soaring US budget deficit will skyrocket if the president gets his way.A 35-year-old woman won a standing ovation from the rowdy gathering in Lebanon, Pennsylvania when she called on Mr Obama to return government to its limits as prescribed by the US constitution."The government has the right to control our life from pre-birth to death," she said, angrily accusing Specter and Obama of seeking to transform the United States "into Russia, into a socialist country".This is an oft-heard cry from the Republican right who have been stoking fears that the president and his allies are plotting a government takeover of the private US health care system and will raise taxes to boot.Opponents also claim the result would find the federal government dictating health care choices and ultimately lowering the standard of coverage for people who already have insurance..

21 infected with H1N1 flu in India- Myanmar

2009-08-16T11:28:00.002+06:00

(Report By Jano)
The number of H1N1 flu-infected patients has reached 21 in Myanmar, according to the Health Department Sunday.A 21-year-old woman who returned from Singapore by flight No. MI-518 on Thursday was the latest confirmed case of the new flu.Four family members of the patient are being kept under home quarantine, while a total of 94 passengers and 135 airport staff are under surveillance.Of Myanmar's 21 flu patients, 15 have fully recovered and been discharged from hospitals, the sources said.Myanmar reported its first case of flu A/H1N1 on June 27 with a13-year-old girl developing flu symptoms after coming back home from Singapore a day earlier. The authorities continue to take preventive measures against the possible spread of the global human flu pandemic, advising all private clinics in the country to report or transfer all flu-suspected patients, who returned from abroad, to local state-run hospitals or health departments for increased surveillance. .

In India swine flu panic spreads faster than virus

2009-08-15T12:57:00.002+06:00

By Jano
The streets of the western city of Pune were half-empty, schools in Mumbai were ordered closed, and people suffering aches flooded hospitals across the country as India confronted dueling outbreaks of swine flu and swine flu panic.Twenty one people have died from the flu here, the government said Friday, and 1,390 have been confirmed infected in this nation of 1.2 billion people. But fear of the flu has outpaced the virus itself."The amount of frenzy or hysteria is totally disproportionate to the overall reality of the disease," Dr. Jai Narain, the head of the regional communicable disease office for the World Health Organization, said Friday.Breathless reports of swine flu have dominated India's 24-hour news channels desperate for stories amid the August doldrums. That in turn has helped whip the public into a frenzy, even in cities with relatively few cases of flu.In New Delhi, where no deaths have been reported, people have begun wearing surgical masks in the street. In Lucknow, parents demanded their children be tested."Over 1,000 people lined up at different hospitals. ... Eleven of them tested positive," Dr. R.R. Bharati, a top health official in the northern city of Lucknow said earlier this week.In Mumbai, the country's financial capital, the government closed all schools and movie theaters, hammering the Bollywood film industry over the long Independence Day holiday weekend. The government also asked malls in Mumbai to tone down their traditional holiday sales to keep away crowds.The nearby city of Pune is India's worst affected, with 13 of the country's 21 deaths..

Drugs is attacking on cancer stem cells !!!

2009-08-15T12:50:00.002+06:00

By Jano
A compound that appears to target the master cells which help breast cancers grow and spread has been discovered by US scientists.In tests in mice, salinomycin killed breast cancer stem cells far more effectively than some existing drugs, and slowed tumour growth.The drug, a farm antibiotic, has yet to be tested in humans, the journal Cell reports.But UK experts warned a human version could be some years away.The reasons why, even following powerful chemotherapy, some cancers can grow back, are not fully understood.Many scientists believe a key role lies with stem cells, which can be resistant to conventional chemotherapy, remaining to 'seed' new tumours and drive their growth.The drug's potential was identified by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who tested 16,000 existing chemical compounds against breast cancer stem cells in the laboratory.A compound that appears to target the master cells which help breast cancers grow and spread has been discovered by US scientists.In tests in mice, salinomycin killed breast cancer stem cells far more effectively than some existing drugs, and slowed tumour growth.The drug, a farm antibiotic, has yet to be tested in humans, the journal Cell reports.But UK experts warned a human version could be some years away.The reasons why, even following powerful chemotherapy, some cancers can grow back, are not fully understood.Many scientists believe a key role lies with stem cells, which can be resistant to conventional chemotherapy, remaining to 'seed' new tumours and drive their growth.The drug's potential was identified by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who tested 16,000 existing chemical compounds against breast cancer stem cells in the laboratory..

Obama 'focused on health anger'

2009-08-15T12:41:00.001+06:00

By Jano
US President Barack Obama has accused the media of focusing on healthcare forums only when "tempers flare"."What you haven't seen on TV and what makes me proud are the many constructive meetings going on all over the country," he said.Speaking at a town hall meeting in Montana, Mr Obama called on Americans who have insurance to support reform.Extending coverage to the millions of Americans who lack health insurance is Mr Obama's top priority for 2009.In recent days, a number of healthcare "town-hall" meetings hosted by US lawmakers have been targeted by conservative opponents of reform.The opposition has sometimes been quite vocal, with anti-reform campaigners chanting slogans and shouting down supporters of reform.Ruckus"I know there's been a lot of attention paid to some of the town hall meetings that are going on around the country, especially when tempers flare," said Mr Obama."TV loves a ruckus." .

Trail for sister`s rape and murder at Oakland.

2009-08-14T15:47:00.002+06:00

14th august,2009,Oakland,US.A man,named ,Steven Kelsey, 20, is to go on trial Dec. 7, charged with felony murder in the stabbing and sexual assault of his sister, Jesika Kelsey, in the family's Highland Township home.Kelsey, home on leave from Army basic training, is accused of attacking his sister in a bedroom. He told investigators they had been sexually active prior to his departure.His attorney, Michael McCarthy, had planned to argue that Kelsey was insane at the time.
But doctors at the state's Center for Forensic Psychiatry and an independent psychiatrist determined that he was sane and is competent to stand trial.McCarthy withdrew his motion for an insanity defense as Kelsey, shackled, watched. He remains jailed with no bond.Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Hala Jarbou told Judge Edward Sosnick that her office is awaiting DNA results. Prosecutors hope to link semen found during Jesika Kelsey's autopsy to Steven Kelsey.Outside the courtroom, McCarthy said he may challenge any DNA findings, seeking an independent analysis. The link could be critical to the prosecution's case: It would allow Kelsey to be charged with first-degree murder because he was committing a felony -- rape -- at the time of his sister's death.Without proof of rape, prosecutors would have to prove premeditation in order to charge him with first-degree murder.

Predicting future course of H1N1 virus difficult: Researchers

2009-08-14T13:21:00.001+06:00

Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Predicting-future-course-of-H1N1-virus-difficult--Researchers/501By Jano
Studying past influenza pandemics for gaining clues to the future course of 2009 H1N1 virus, a pair of American researchers have come to the conclusion that flu viruses are notoriously unpredictable, and robust preparedness efforts must be made to deal with them.David M. Morens and Jeffery K. Taubenberger of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health in the US, point out that it is commonly believed that severe influenza pandemics are preceded by a milder wave of illness because some accounts of the devastating flu pandemic of 1918-19 suggested that it might have followed such a pattern.They, however, say that the existing data are insufficient to conclude decisively that the 1918-19 pandemic was presaged by a mild, so-called spring wave, or that the responsible virus had increased in lethality between the beginning and end of 1918.

Videogames sales sink again !!!

2009-08-14T12:14:00.003+06:00

By Jano
FIGURES released on Thursday show US videogame sales sank in July for the fifth straight month as bleak economic conditions and a dearth of blockbuster titles weighed down the industry.US sales of videogame hardware and software in July fell to just shy of US$849 million (S$1.22 billion), a 29 per cent drop from the US$1.19 billion in sales racked up in the same month last year, according to NPD Group.Sales of videogame consoles and handheld devices for the month plunged 37 per cent to about US$281 million as compared to nearly US$448 million in July of 2008, NPD reported.Overall videogame industry sales in the United States for the first seven months of this year amounted to US$8.16 billion, 14 per cent lower than they were in the same period last year, according to NPD.'While year-to-date results are weak, there are some big titles set to be released over the next several months, including Madden this month, which should help spur sales,' said NPD analyst Anita Frazier.'The worst comps should be behind us.' Japan-based Nintendo's Sports Resort tailored to enhanced motion-sensing controllers for Wii consoles was the month's top selling title with slightly more than 508,000 units bought.The biggest decline in videogame sales was seen in the music and dance genres, according to NPD. Videogame sales should be boosted with the releases later this year of eagerly-anticipated titles including The Beatles: Rock Band, Halo 3: ODST, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, according to Ms Frazier. .

Swine Flu: 5th Marylander dies from swine flu

2009-08-08T15:33:00.003+06:00

By jano
A fifth person has died of swine flu in Maryland, state health officials said Friday.The person was an adult from the Washington suburbs who had an underlying medical condition, officials said. As with other deaths from the H1N1 virus, officials would not release the person's name, gender or hometown. Since the outbreak this spring, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 436 deaths and 6,506 hospitalizations nationwide stemming from the virus. The agency has stopped keeping track of cases that don't result in deaths or hospital stays as the pandemic continues to spread.Also Friday, CDC advised that most schools should stay open even if outbreaks ramp up this fall. The decision to close schools should be made by local officials, who should weigh the safety risks with the possibility of disrupting education and creating logistical problems for families, the agency said in its guidance to school districts. People who become sick should stay home until their fevers have been gone for at least 24 hours. Tthe CDC encouraged good hygiene such as frequent hand washing to stem the spread of the virus.The guidance is a shift from recommendations earlier this year, when schools were ordered to close for two weeks for even a probable swine flu case. The new CDC guidance makes exceptions in schools with children with underlying medical conditions that might keep them at higher risk..

Pakistan beats Sri Lanka by 146 runs in 4th one-day international

2009-08-08T15:29:00.001+06:00

By Jano
Sri Lanka — Umar Akmal hit a maiden century and Rao Iftikhar Anjum took his first five-wicket haul Friday to lead Pakistan to a 146-run win over Sri Lanka in the fourth one-day international.It was Pakistan's first win on tour after losing 2-0 in the three-Test series and now trailing 3-1 in the five-match ODI series.Akmal smashed five boundaries and four sixes to score 102 not out from 72 balls. He put on a record 176-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Pakistan captain Younis Khan (89) as the visitors made 321-5 at R. Prememadasa Stadium.In reply, Sri Lanka was bundled out for 175 in 36 overs with Iftikhar Anjum taking 5-30 from 8.1 overs.Younis won the toss and elected to bat first. He combined well with Akmal when Pakistan looked shaky on 130-4, eclipsing the previous best partnership for the fifth wicket between the two sides - 155 between Mohammad Yousuf and Younis in 2002.Younis played a more calm innings than Akmal, hitting only four boundaries in 111 balls.Sri Lanka started the chase positively. Mahela Jayawardene, in his new role as opener, hit two fours and a six for a run-a-ball 19 before being caught by Mohammad Aamer off seamer Naved-ul-Hasan to leave the hosts on 36-1 in the sixth over.Kumar Sangakkara fell for 39 off 33 balls, caught by Imran Nazir off Iftikhar Anjum, to make it 101-2 in the 17th over.Sri Lanka then lost 8-45 with Upul Tharanga anchoring the innings with 80 off 89 balls, hitting eight fours and a six.Legspinner Malinga Bandara was the pick of Sri Lanka's bowlers, taking 2-44. While paceman Lasith Malinga conceded an extraordinary 26 wides..

Angelina Jolie Hate Mails !!!

2009-08-08T15:12:00.001+06:00

By Jano
ACTOR Brad Pitt has defended his life with partner, Angelina Jolie, in a candid interview, said media reports on Friday.In an interview with Parade magazine, Pitt defended the couple's right to live together without being married, saying that he'd marry his 'soul mate' Jolie when "it's legal for everyone else" in a reference to his support for legalising gay marriage."I stand by that, although I took a lot of flak for saying it - hate mail from religious groups," he said. "I believe everyone should have the same rights."They say gay marriage ruins families and hurts kids. Well, I've had the privilege of seeing my gay friends being parents and watching their kids grow up in a loving environment."Pitt, 45, also told the magazine that he and Jolie make time to be together, describing a secret stone grotto behind a waterfall in their family pool. "It's a great place for sex," he said.Continuing to talk about their relationship, Pitt said that he resented people telling others how to live."Just the other night, I heard this TV reverend say that Angelina and I were setting a bad example because we were living out of wedlock, and people should not be duped by us,' he told Parade."What damn right does anyone have to tell someone else how to live if they're not hurting anyone? "How many times do you think real love comes to someone in a lifetime? If you're lucky, maybe two or three."

Michael Jackson show insurance excluded 'illicit' drug use

2009-08-08T14:11:00.004+06:00

Report By Jano
A concert promoter's insurance on Michael Jackson's London shows has provisions that may deny a multimillion dollar payout if the pop star was found to have illegally possessed drugs or was involved in the "illicit taking of drugs."The policy, a copy of which was provided Friday to The Associated Press, covers cancellations resulting from death, but its provisions will hinge on the results of an autopsy that has been delayed twice.Jackson's doctor administered multiple sedatives along with the powerful anesthetic propofol, a potentially lethal combination, hours before the singer died June 25, a law enforcement official who requested anonymity because the death investigation is ongoing told the Jano.It was not immediately clear whether any medications Jackson was taking would negate a payout up to $17.5 million, which would ultimately benefit his estate.The insurance policy, covering the first 13 shows of the 50-show run, was taken out by Jackson and concert promoter AEG Live in April. Such a policy and its provisions are considered standard for events on the scale of the one for which Jackson was preparing.A copy of the insurance policy also showed that it had several clauses that would prevent a payout, including if the singer concealed information or acted carelessly to increase the risk of a no-show.A claim could take months to resolve through a settlement or in court, and either route could be delayed as police investigate a manslaughter charge.A New York doctor with no connection to AEG Live conducted a medical exam of Jackson in Los Angeles in February. AEG Live Chief Executive Randy Phillips said he was told by the insurance underwriter that Jackson passed "with flying colors." The exam results were shown to the insurers, but not to AEG Live.......News-Frist.

Indonesia's Most Wanted Terrorist is Now Killed !!!

2009-08-08T14:06:00.003+06:00

By Jano
It's been a successful few days in the war on terror. On Aug. 5 Baitullah Mehsud, leader of Pakistan's Taliban, was apparently killed in a strike by a U.S. drone. And on Saturday Aug. 8, Indonesian authorities reported that Noordin M. Top, the country's most wanted terrorist, was probably killed during a police raid, ending a years-long manhunt for the Malaysian believed responsible for a string of bomb attacks in Jakarta and Bali in recent years. In a dramatic shootout broadcast on national TV, police surrounded and fired shots at a small house in Temanggung in central Java, where the fugitive had been holed up for the past two days. Police have yet to confirm officially the death of Top but local news sources say that small bombs or grenades set off in the house would have killed anyone inside.Police had surrounded the house since Friday afternoon but were trying to assess if the house had been booby-trapped or if the suspect was holding any hostages. After sending in a small robotic camera on wheels, both possibilities were ruled out, allowing police to fire on the barn-like structure set between a rice field and a small hill, from where more than 150 police surveyed the hideout. When asked by police to identify himself and surrender, the suspect yelled that his name was Noordin M. Top but refused to come out. It is not yet clear whether Top blew himself up, as he was believed to have a bomb vest strapped on, or whether he was killed by police gunfire or their explosives. (See pictures of Bali showing a city reeling from destruction and mourning loss.)-----News-Frist.

A man was Arrested in Raping Young Girls !!!

2009-07-31T13:06:00.001+06:00

Source:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/oxfordshire/8176480.stm
By Jano
A 46-year-old Oxfordshire man has been convicted of raping two girls, one of whom was three years old when his abuse of her began.Brian Hoverd, from Minster Lovell, committed the offences in the 1980s and 1990s, Oxford Crown Court heard.Hoverd denied 11 counts of rape and 11 indecent assaults on three girls. He was cleared of three counts of rape.Speaking after the trial, Det Con Jon Capps said Hoverd was a "dangerous man" and the "worst kind of paedophile".A further rape charge against Hoverd, of Charterville Close, was dismissed.Cemetery attack One of his victims told the court that she was so young she could not remember exactly how old she had been when the abuse began.It is thought she may have been as young as four when Hoverd first attacked her. The abuse continued for two years in her case.Another woman was abused between the ages of three and nine.The court heard how Hoverd attacked a third victim when she was about 13, grabbing her as she walked past a cemetery.Det Con Capps, of Thames Valley Police, said police had been investigating Hoverd since a woman came forward in December 2007 to accuse him of attacking her in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s.'Truth came out'The mother of one of the rape victims told BBC Oxford that she only found out about what had happened when her daughter came home on a break from university.She said of her daughter: "She seemed to be suffering from a fairly minor illness on and off for a period of time."Then one time she came back from the doctor's I asked what tests they were doing and, as she answered, I realised that all the tests signified she had been raped. .

Swine flu Patients death in california rises to 80 !!!

2009-07-31T13:01:00.004+06:00

The A/H1N1 flu death toll in the most populous U.S. State of California has reached 80 with hospitalizations of 699, according to the latest statistics released by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) late Thursday.The department said that 28 more deaths have been reported in the past two weeks, a formidable jump from the previous record of 52 released two weeks ago by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Since the outbreak of the A/H1N1 flu, California has been among the top states leading the nation with most deaths and confirmed cases of the new flu virus. But the department said on Thursday that, beginning from July 16, it has changed the reporting requirements for the A/H1N1 influenza by local health jurisdictions.The new reporting requirements will track only hospitalized and fatal cases, the department said, adding that non-hospitalized case reporting is no longer needed at this stage of the pandemic.The department now believes hospitalizations and fatalities provide the most accurate measures of disease severity in California communities and serve the public health goal of tracking A/H1N1 disease trends in the west-coast state.The A/H1N1 virus is now widespread throughout California and reporting outpatient cases does not assist in further efforts to understand the pandemic, the department said.The state health officials urge people to be well-prepared for the pandemic declared by World Health Organization last month. .

Yahoo: Losing the Geek Factor

2009-07-31T12:58:00.002+06:00

Source:http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jul2009/tc20090730_934695.htm
By Jano
Surrendering search responsibilities to Microsoft will likely take a toll on Yahoo's engineering and innovation prowess An identity crisis gripping Yahoo! (YHOO) had reached Shakespearean proportions by late 2007, when Apple (AAPL) CEO Steve Jobs paid a visit to the company's Sunnyvale (Calif.) headquarters. Yahoo needed to decide whether it would focus foremost on media or technology, Jobs told the small group of assembled executives, according to one executive who attended the meeting. Jobs made it clear which side he favored: "We are in Silicon Valley," Jobs said, according to the former exec.Which direction Yahoo would ultimately take became clear July 29, when it announced a partnership that, if approved, puts Microsoft (MSFT) in charge of Yahoo's search technology. With that, Yahoo would shelve a half-decade-long effort to rival Google (GOOG) in the lucrative market for search-related advertising and go further than ever to dismantle a culture of technological innovation, say engineers and former staffers.True, Yahoo employs legions of engineers who work on products other than search, including e-mail, instant messaging, and mobile applications. But for many developers, search was by far the most technologically compelling. "While we had lots of technologies, it wasn't rocket science stuff," says Lowell Goss, who headed user experience for Yahoo before leaving in 2006. "Search is the rocket science stuff." Goss and other Yahoo alumni say that as Yahoo outsources search to Microsoft, a wave of top-tier engineers will likely depart, taking with them the inner geekiness that's fueled much success over the years....News-Frist .

China delivers warship to Pakistan army

2009-07-31T11:56:00.000+06:00

Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=c1c6ba45-0a8e-416e-8da3-4d69f2fe8696&Headline=China+delivers+warship+to+Pakistan+army
By Jano
China on Friday delivered the first of the four state of the art F-22P frigates to its all-weather ally Pakistan in keeping with contracts signed between the countries four years ago.The frigate constructed at Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard in the eastern Chinese city Shanghai was formally handed over to Pakistan Navy at a brief ceremony here, the APP reported.Work on design and construction of F-22P ships started in 2005 after signing of a contract between Ministry of Defence Production and CSTC of China for construction of three ships in China and one at Karachi Shipyard. While first F-22P is now heading to Pakistan, all other three ships are at different stages of construction.The F22P frigates are equipped with state of the art weaponry and sensors. They would also carry at Z9EC helicopter as integral part of the platform. The construction of 4th ship is to be completed by 2013.Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Noman Bashir NI (M), said with the passage of time the relationship between Pakistan and China has grown deeper and fonder in all spheres of defence and economic cooperation."Pakistan is indeed proud of close association with China and this unique relationship does not draw any parallel elsewhere in the world," he said.Addition of these ships will not only strengthen the PN Fleet with much needed potential but will also contribute in enhancing country's shipbuilding capabilities, Bashir said...News Frist.

India's swine flu Patients rises to 475 !!!

2009-07-29T02:51:00.001+06:00

Twenty-one people, including a year-old child, were Tuesday detected with swine flu, taking the total number of the influenza A(H1N1) cases in India to 475, health officials said here.A high level meeting of joint monitoring group in Delhi decided that no school should be shut after swine flu detection instead infected students should be home quarantined.Most of those tested positive Tuesday were children. The youngest, who came from London and was detected with the swine flu, is a one-year-old boy from Thiruvananthapuram.'About 2,184 persons have been tested so far, out of whom 475 are positive for Influenza A(H1N1). Of the 475 positive cases, 353 have been discharged,' according to an official statement issued here.On Tuesday, 21 new confirmed cases were reported with Pune for the second consecutive day reporting the maximum number of swine flu cases in the country. Seven people were tested positive for the flu in the Maharashtra city followed by Delhi (5), two each in Gurgaon and Bangalore, and one each in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kozhikode, Trivandrum and Punjab.Out of the five cases in Delhi, four people, including two teenagers and a two-year-old boy, contracted the virus from those who had the flu earlier.A 10-year-old boy who had come from Frankfurt and had reached Delhi July 27 was tested positive. He was detected at the airport and was admitted to an identified health facility.The number of swine flu cases in Maharashtra Tuesday touched 101, with the maximum cases reported from Pune so far, a senior health official said.Pune has already been declared a pandemic city and a total of 66 cases, including 48 children, have tested positive, state Swine Flu Control Room head Pradeep Awatre told IANS.In the hillstation of Panchgani, the health authorities have launched a 'combing operation' in all the 16 top residential public schools to detect swine flu cases after 16 students tested positive Monday.Satara district health chief Vijaysinh Mohite said after Monday's 16 positive cases in Panchgani's St. Peter's High School, a health team has begun combing operations to detect more such cases.'Our health team is going around all the 16 residential public schools which house over 5,000 students, and we are checking them all for swine flu symptoms,' Mohite told IANS. .

1 Arrested in the Rape of 11 Year Old Girl After Kidnaping her !!!

2009-07-29T02:39:00.003+06:00

A 26-year-old man has waived his right to a preliminary hearing in the kidnap and rape of an 11-year-old girl in Kensington last month. But he still faced an accuser in another case.The defense waived the hearing in the one case, without explanation, but proceeded with a second case in which a 16-year-old says she was assaulted by Jose Carrasquillo the same morning -- shortly before the 11-year-old victim was attacked.Prosecutor Catharine Thurston called the teen to the witness stand:"The complainant in that case says she was waiting at the bus stop at about 7am when she was approached by the defendant who tried to engage her in a conversation. And when she was not interested in talking to him, he came up and groped her breast. It was at that point she turned and ran the rest of the way to school."Carrasquillo apparently followed her to school. He was spotted inside the school. He fled after being confronted.The defense attorney wouldn't comment, even to say whether Carrasquillo will plead guilty or not guilty at his arraignment next month....http:/News-Frist.Blogspot.com/

Police search Las Vegas home of Michael Jackson's doctor

2009-07-29T02:35:00.002+06:00

Las Vegas police searched the home of Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson's personal doctor, on Tuesday as the probe into the star's sudden death increasingly appeared to focus on whether the physician gave him drugs before he died.A spokesman for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and Los Angeles police said DEA agents, Las Vegas police and Los Angeles detectives entered Murray's home and office early on Tuesday morning.DEA spokesman Jose Martinez declined to say specifically what agents were looking for, but numerous media reports have said that the probe into the cause of the "Thriller" singer's sudden death on June 25 has focused on Jackson's use of the powerful anesthetic propofol, also known as Diprivan, to sleep.Investigators have questioned and searched the offices of other doctors who treated Jackson over the years, but last Wednesday federal agents and Los Angeles police raided Murray's office in Houston.At the time, Murray's lawyer said they were looking for "evidence of the offense of manslaughter." The attorney, Ed Chernoff, could not immediately be reached for comment on Tuesday.Murray was Jackson's personal physician in the weeks before he died of cardiac arrest, and Murray was at his bedside trying to revive the pop star before he was taken to a Los Angeles hospital where he was pronounced dead.os Angeles coroners have said they expect to issue a report into the cause of Jackson's death as soon as this week following toxicology reports..

Microsoft in new EU browser offer

2009-07-29T01:58:00.003+06:00

Souce:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8168235.stm
Microsoft has made a new proposal to European competition regulators that it hopes will end their row over the firm's Internet Explorer web browser.It proposes that European buyers of its new Windows 7 operating system will be offered a list of potential browsers when they first install the software.The move comes a month after Microsoft said European buyers of Windows 7 would have to download a web browser.Brussels ruled in January that pre-bundling Explorer hurt competition.The Commission welcomes this proposal, and will now investigate its practical effectiveness.Commission regulators Microsoft said its proposal meant that users would be able to "easily install competing web browsers, set one of those browsers as a default, and disable Internet Explorer" from a "ballot screen" of alternative browsers.We believe that if ultimately accepted, this proposal will fully address the European competition law issues relating to the inclusion of Internet Explorer in Windows," said Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith..... News-Frist

Hillary Clinton says to India to help pakistan in fight against terrorism !!!

2009-07-22T11:41:00.003+06:00

Source:http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/13+hillary+urges+india+to+help+pakistan+fight+terrorism-za-03
(Editing By Jano)
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had say India to help Pakistan fight against terrorism, saying that such assistance would enhance India’s stature as a global power.In a interview to an Indian news show, ‘Frankly Speaking’, Secretary Clinton stressed that US economic and military assistance to Pakistan would be linked to its progress in the fight against terrorism, but she said believed Pakistan was now committed to this fight.A transcript, released by the State Department in Washington on Tuesday, said the top US diplomat had assured India that the United States would do ‘everything that we can do to help protect India from terrorism’.‘India’s help in our fight against the extremists in Afghanistan and in support of what Pakistan is now doing will be very welcome and important,’ she added.Asked if the US would link its military and civilian aid to Pakistan to a tangible progress in the fight against terrorism, Secretary Clinton said: ‘Yes … we are always stressing the importance of counter-terrorism efforts in every country that we do anything with, including aid programmes.’Asked if India, as a major regional power, had a place in the new US strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Mrs Clinton said: ‘Absolutely, I consider India a not just regional, but global power.’.

A man arrested in 15 years girl rape !!!

2009-07-12T17:53:00.000+06:00

By Jano
A man suspected of raping a fifteen year old girl nearly two decades ago is finally charged with the crime.Lester Selmon, 47, was arrested Wednesday at his home in Pascagoula.The rape happened in 1990 at an apartment complex on Eden Street, but it was considered a cold case until the victim, who is now 39, went to the Pascagoula Police Department last December asking investigators to take another look.New technology applied to a sexual assault kit performed years ago resulted in the DNA match.(Report By Jano)

Young Indiana Boy dies of swine flu !!!

2009-07-12T17:43:00.002+06:00

By Jano
A 19-year-old man has become the first person in Indiana to die of swine flu, health officials said.Matthew McIntosh died in a hospital in Cincinnati after collapsing in a barn in Dearborn County in southeastern Indiana, The Indianapolis Star reported Saturday.McIntosh's death was unusual because he was healthy with no underlying illness, health officials said. Most of the 211 people believed to have died from infection with the H1N1 virus have suffered from conditions that made them vulnerable.O'Dell Owens, the coroner in Hamilton County, Ohio, said an autopsy showed McIntosh had no other adverse health conditions. Owens said McIntosh's sister, who became ill around the same time and is in intensive care, tested negative for H1N1, but McIntosh tested positive.

Check Twitter for Bargains

2009-07-12T17:37:00.003+06:00

By Jano
Businesses from your preferred airline to your favorite cafe are using Twitter to trumpet last-minute discounts and giveaways. You, too, can get looped in to these immediate and often exclusive deals.Users of the social network (Twitter.com) can sign up to "follow" stores or clubs they like. Messages, or "tweets," from businesses, like those from individual users, are limited to 140 characters.The best bargains, such as free meals at your local diner or cross-country flights for less than $20, may be gone in a few hours."For people that are on the go all the time, this is a great way to find the deal and it might be the only way to find a deal," said Hillary Mendelsohn, who uses Twitter to find bargains for her Web site, thepurplebook.com, an online shopping guide.Find your favorite businesses by using the search or "Find People" tools on Twitter.com. A quick search for a key phrase like "deals to Vegas" or "cheap laptops" will also yield a stream of messages, which you can then re-post to share with other users or keep to yourself -- you don't have to post tweets to take advantage of these deals.Stick to brands and names you trust to avoid scams and be wary of imposters, since Twitter is still developing a verification process for users who register well-known names..

Michael Jackson's Hometown Pays Tribute to him!!!

2009-07-11T18:33:00.002+06:00

More than 6,000 fans from around the world gathered in pop icon Michael Jackson's hometown for an upbeat memorial service Friday.The tribute in the Steel Yard stadium in Gary, Indiana, included performances of Jackson's hits and a speech by the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Children and teenagers from the crowd also performed some of the "King of Pop's" famous dance moves, and videos of Jackson's performances played on the big screen.Jackson spent his first eleven years in Gary, but left when the Jackson 5, a singing group of him and four of his brothers, hit big. Since then, he has rarely returned to the city.On Tuesday, an even larger crowd of fans gathered for a memorial service in Los Angeles. Among poignant tributes paid by well-known performers and family members, his daughter's words stood out. Fighting tears, she said her father was the "best father you could imagine."The cause of Jackson's sudden death after cardiac arrest is still under investigation. Toxicology results are not expected for weeks.

Kashmir rape murder probe points to police

2009-07-11T18:32:00.002+06:00

A judicial probe of the alleged rape and murder of two Kashmiri women, which triggered massive protests across the disputed Himalayan region, points to the involvement of Indian police, an official said on Friday.Anti-India protests have raged across the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley since the bodies of two Muslim women were found on May 29 in Shopian town, about 60 km (37 miles) south of summer capital Srinagar.Four protesters have died and hundreds have been injured.Locals say the two women, aged 17 and 22, were abducted, raped and killed by security forces.Authorities confirmed that the women were raped and ordered an investigation."The involvement of some agency of the J&K (Jammu and Kashmir) police in the present incident cannot be completely ruled out," Abdul Rahim Rather, the state's financial minister said, citing the Commission of Inquiry's report on Friday."The government has accepted the recommendations of the Commission and necessary follow-up action has been duly initiated," Rather told a news conference.Earlier this week, hundreds of Kashmiris took to the streets to protest the killing of a 20-year-old man, who they said was killed by security forces after they arrested him..

Swine flu:The death of Frist British patient without underlying health problemsSwine flu:The death of Frist British patient without underlying health

2009-07-11T18:21:00.002+06:00

A swine flu patient at an Essex hospital has become the first person in Britain without underlying health problems to die from the infection.Tens of thousands of Britons are suffering from swine flu Photo: REUTERSThe victim had been treated at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for nine days after presenting with the virus, but died this morning.They are thought to be the fifteenth person in Briton to die after contracting swine flu, but the first where it was the sole cause of death.Tens of thousands of Britons are now suffering from the virus, although most have shown only mild symptoms. Around 300 people in hospital, with 43 in a critical condition, according to recent figures.The victim's family have asked their identity remains private, although it is understood that they were not a child or elderly – considered two of the most vulnerable groups."The patient from Essex died at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on July 10," NHS East of England said in a statement."NHS East of England and Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust would like to extend their deepest sympathies to the family affected as they come to terms with their loss."Liam Donaldson, the Government's chief medical officer, said: "This case tragically underlines that, although the virus is proving generally mild in most people, it is more severe in some cases.""As with all flu like viruses, some people are at higher risk than others. Unfortunately, people who are otherwise healthy could also become seriously ill or, sadly, die."Government ministers have now accepted that they cannot contain the pandemic, and people who suspect they may be infected are advised to stay at home and telephone their GP.Epidemic levels of infection - defined as 200 cases per 100,000 people - are expected to be reached imminently in parts of the country including London. Official projections indicate that the number of cases could touch 100,000 a day by August.Britain now has the third highest number of cases of swine flu in the world after America and Mexico, where the virus was first reported.
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Saudi security courts convict 330 'Qaeda terrorists'

2009-07-09T11:07:00.000+06:00

A Saudi criminal court has convicted and sentenced an al Qaida militant to death and given more than 300 others jail terms, fines and travel bans.The legal moves were the country's first known terrorism trials for suspected members of the terror network, officials said.A Justice Ministry spokesman said the court looked into 179 cases involving the 330 defendants who were found guilty.The spokesman did not give any details on the person sentenced to death, but his punishment suggests he could be a senior member of al Qaida.Saudi Arabia has pursued an aggressive campaign against militants since May 2003, when they first began attacks in the kingdom, which is al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden's birthplace and home to 15 of the 19 September 11 hijackers.The network's attacks have targeted expatriate residential compounds, oil installations and government buildings.However, the first known legal proceedings, which have been held in utmost secrecy, apparently did not start until last year. Authorities had been reluctant to resort to trials for terrorism charges that could result in death sentences until they had shown the public that every effort had been made to give the men a chance to renounce their crimes and be rehabilitated..

Swine Flu: the rise of anti-viral resistance

2009-07-09T11:06:00.000+06:00

While much of the world’s media obsesses about death tolls from the swine flu pandemic, more evidence has emerged today of what is arguably the more concerning trend: antiviral resistance. The World Health Organisation has just reported that it has now been informed by health authorities in Denmark, Japan and Hong Kong of the appearance of H1N1 viruses which are resistant to Tamiflu.The good news: The resistant viruses, detected through laboratory testing, have been found in three patients who subsequently recovered after mild flu symptoms. All three responded to Relenza (zanamivir). The cases also appear to be sporadic, with no signs yet of a Tamiflu-resistant strain of H1N1 circulating in the communityThe bad news: While cases of resistance are not unexpected (common seasonal flu can do the same,And here is the rest of it. and a Tamiflu-resistant strain emerged last year and is now widely circulating), it hints at what might come, and the risk that the UK’s stockpile of tamiflu — so far successful in treatment — might be rendered ineffective...WHO has recommended that, on the basis of risk assessment of no evidence of widespread antiviral resistance, there should be no changes to clinical treatment guidance, and antiviral drugs remain a key component of the public health response when used as recommended. So treatment strategies the world over stay as is, for the time being...(Reporting By Jano)

Talking on Michael Jackson 51th 'birthday' Concert

2009-07-09T10:57:00.000+06:00

Speculation has mounted that a concert in Michael Jackson's memory could take place at London's 02 Arena on what would have been the star's 51st birthday.Reports have said plans are afoot for a star-studded gig at the venue, which was due to be the setting for Jackson's 50 summer shows, on August 29.The London Paper quoted US-based Randy Phillips, chief executive of concert promoter AEG Live, as saying: "We are determined that the world sees the show that would have taken place at the O2 Arena."

At G-8, Obama Avoids Berlusconi's Distractions

2009-07-09T10:52:00.002+06:00

This week's Group of 8 summit has turned the world floodlights onto the often grinning mug of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, the flamboyant billionaire now famous around the globe for his one-liners, presumed private peccadilloes and eternally unresolved conflicts of interest.Barack Obama's first meeting in Italy, however, was with the other face of Italian politics: President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano, 84, a soft-spoken veteran of the political left. And perhaps it was inevitable that the praise Obama heaped on Napolitano made most think right away of Berlusconi, who has spent the past two months swatting away questions about his allegedly swinging private life. "I had heard of the wonderful reputation of President Napolitano as somebody who has the admiration of the Italian people not only for his long-standing service but also his integrity and graciousness," Obama said of the largely ceremonial head of state during a brief morning stopover in Rome. "And I just want to confirm everything I have heard about him is true." And what, we can ask, has Obama been hearing about Berlusconi recently? About the Prime Minister's wife of 20 years saying in late April just before filing for divorce that her husband "frequents underage females"; about the photographs published by the Spanish daily El Pais of topless women and a nude man at his villa on the island of Sardinia; about accusations of high-paid prostitutes at Berlusconi's home in Rome on Nov. 4, the night of Obama's historic election victory.After Berlusconi's rock-solid rapport with President Bush, based largely on his support of the war in Iraq, some have wondered if Obama might have less patience for this atypical ally..(Reporting By Jano).

Teenage Rape is a Big Problem in Afghanistan, U.N. says

2009-07-09T10:45:00.001+06:00

Afghan law does not protect rape victims and for too long communities have turned to traditional forms of justice which tend to criminalize victims of a profound problem, the United Nations said on Wednesday."This is an issue that is under-reported and to a significant extent concealed, but it is a huge problem in Afghanistan," Norah Niland, the United Nations' human rights representative in Afghanistan, told a panel of Afghan women.A U.N. report, the full version of which is yet to be published, described rape as an everyday occurrence.A summary of the report said that in northern Afghanistan, for example, more than a third of cases analyzed showed rapists were directly linked to local leaders who are immune from arrest.Those likely to commit rape are close family members, men who work in prisons or orphanages and men in powerful positions either in state-run institutions or in armed groups and criminal gangs, it said.In many communities, shame is attached to a victim of rape rather than the criminal, the report said.Families will often resort to the traditional and religious practices of "baad" and "zina" to save face, either by insisting the victim marry the rapist or prosecuting her for sexual relations outside of marriage.Afghanistan's penal code does not explicitly address the crime of rape or define it, something which the government must address urgently, the report said.Sima Samar, head of Afghanistan's Independent Human Rights Commission, said the government had been reluctant to face the problem of rape, a taboo in conservative Muslim Afghanistan, but it should implement a new rape law soon."I have to admit that they are not very receptive ... but we have to resist and change that," Samar said.She said existing laws treat adultery and rape as the same crime.(Reporting By Jano).

Pakistan's Cricketer Muhammad Yousuf at number 1 on return

2009-07-09T10:33:00.002+06:00

Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf moved to the top of the official test rankings for batsmen this week after his first test since being recalled on quitting the unofficial Indian Cricket League.Yousuf struck 112 and 12 to give his side the upper hand against Sri Lanka before they dramatically collapsed to lose the opening test by 50 runs on the fourth day at Galle on Tuesday.Yousuf toppled countryman Younis Khan to move to the top of the rankings for the first time in his career, a statement from the International Cricket Council said on Wednesday.Yousuf, 2007 ICC cricketer of the year, was second when he was removed from the rankings early in 2009 because Pakistan had not played a test match since the qualifying date.(Reporting by Jano)

US Missile Strikes in Pakistan Kill At Least 45

2009-07-09T10:30:00.002+06:00

Two separate missile strikes by unmanned U.S spy planes in northwestern Pakistan are reported to have killed at least 45 suspected militants. A similar attack a day earlier in the same area, which borders Afghanistan, had left at least 14 extremists dead. The drone attacks came as the Pakistan army said one of its air strikes has wounded the Taliban leader in the Swat valley.The suspected U.S drone missile attacks targeted militants in the South Waziristan border region where the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, Baitullah Mehsud, is believed to have set up terror training camps.Tribal witnesses and local officials say that the first strike took place before dawn and it hit a Taliban training camp. The second attack came hours later when several missiles targeted a large group of Taliban fighters traveling in another part of the border region.The Pakistani government has also recently ordered its security forces to eliminate fugitive Taliban commander Mehsud and his network in the South Waziristan region. But leaders in Islamabad have opposed U.S drone attacks on their soil, saying they are undermining anti-militancy efforts and large numbers of civilian deaths in such strikes are fueling public anger.Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit reiterated his country's stance while commenting on the latest missile attacks..

Sarah Palin was speaking politically : if I die, I die

2009-07-07T18:48:00.001+06:00

Sarah Palin says she's not a quitter, she's a fighter, but adds that, politically speaking, "if I die, I die. So be it."The Alaska governor spoke in taped interviews on Many Channelas on Tuesday morning.She tells CNN that "all options are on the table" for her future.But she tells ABC's "Good Morning America" that she recognizes she might not have political staying power, saying "politically speaking, if I die, I die."Speaking in fishing waders from the town of Dillingham, she says her resignation on Friday was a matter of progressing in an unconventional way because that's how Alaskans are.Palin says she doesn't think she needs a title to affect "positive change," but also says she can't see herself being totally out of public service.

Jackson's Casket Expected at Memorial Service

2009-07-07T18:44:00.002+06:00

Michael Jackson's casket will be front and center during his star-studded memorial service today at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, morning infotainment shows reported.The physical presence of the remains of the King of Pop -- who died suddenly and suspiciously last week at age 50 -- means "crowd control could become an even bigger issue," said "Today" host Meredith Vieira, who was perched outside the downtown arena in the pre-dawn darkness broadcasting live alongside seemingly every other morning news program.Family spokesperson Ken Sunshine, interviewed by Viera, refused to confirm or deny the casket reports. But he did want Meredith to know that the Jackson family "has shown extraordinary dignity in a very emotional time" and that "Michael Jackson is the biggest figure emitting love ever.""Has anybody been to a wedding or family event when a Michael Jackson or Jackson Five song came on it wasn't the highlight of the event?" Sunshine asked rhetorically.There is no way to know precisely how many of the devoutly adoring and the simply curious from around the globe will watch today as the Land of La-La says ta-ta to Jackson, one of the best-known and most controversial entertainers ever.But that didn't stop the industry of celebrity navel gazers from forecasting the audience at an estimated 1 billion -- more than one out of every seven people on Earth.Mariah Carey, Usher, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Lionel Richie, and Jennifer Hudson are among those confirmed to participate. .

Yemen executes man for rape, killing 11-year-old

2009-07-07T18:41:00.001+06:00

The Yemen news agency reports that a barber has been publicly executed after he was found guilty of raping and killing an 11-year-old boy who came to his shop for a haircut.Pictures of the execution Monday in the capital of San'a showed hundreds of people gathered around as Yehya Hussein was killed.The pictures showed the barber lying face down on a large piece of red cloth, his hands bound behind him, after a Yemeni police official standing over him with what appeared to be a machine gun shot him four times.According to the news agency, Saba, the barber was arrested in December 2008 and confessed during a January trial to raping the boy inside his salon, killing him and cutting up his body before dumping it outside San'a.

Michael Jackson's Death's investigation doctors found Needle Marks!!!!!

2009-07-06T14:09:00.001+06:00

As investigators continue to dig into the mystery of Michael Jackson's death, new details are emerging constantly. A Jackson family source confirmed to E! News that there were needle marks on the singer's body, consistent with tales of drug injections, and at least four of Jackson's former doctors are facing intense scrutiny.LAPD detectives, who are being assisted by the DEA, have a special interest in questioning Beverly Hills dermatologist Arnold Klein and are still focusing on Dr. Conrad Murray, according to the source. Murray was with Jackson in his Holmby Hills Mansion at the time of his death, and has already been questioned by police.Klein, Jackson's longtime friend (and rumored biological father of Jackson's two oldest children), had not been questioned as of Friday afternoon. The source said investigators have been in contact with Klein's attorney, however.The source also claims that police are probing at least two unidentified anesthesiologist who might have information about if and how the King of Pop was able to get his hands on the potent anesthetic Diprivan that was reportedly found at the mansion when he died.Diprivan, which is generally administered by IV, has been one of the main drugs at the forefront in possible causes of Jackson's death.The source also confirmed that needle marks were found on Jackson's body during the coroner's autopsy. While the source would not confirm where on the body the marks were, they were consistent with puncture wounds from injectable medications.Reps for both Klein and Murray declined to comment today about their clients' possible knowledge of Jackson's drug use. Last week, Murray's lawyer insisted that his client was "not a suspect."Jackson's family is still cooperating with police, according to the source..

New Zealand's influenza A/H1N1 confirmed cases exceed 1,000

2009-07-06T13:58:00.003+06:00

The number of confirmed cases of influenza A/H1N1 in New Zealand rose to 1,059 on Monday, up from 961 on Sunday, the Ministry of Health said.The number of deaths associated with influenza A/H1N1 remained at three."It's important to note that the actual number of cases of the new influenza A/H1N1 will be significantly higher, as only a small proportion of people with symptoms are now being tested. This is because for most people it's a mild illness and they will recover readily at home without needing medical treatment," said Fran McGrath, Deputy Director of Health, Ministry of Health.For most New Zealanders, the flu will be a mild to moderate illness, but in some instances, the virus can cause more severe illness and in a few tragic instances, death.We know that people with some significant underlying medical conditions are at greater risk, however, it's important to remember that overseas experience has shown that some previously healthy people have also been seriously affected by swine flu," McGrath said."We all need to remain vigilant," she added. Among the confirmed cases, Wellington stood at 301, Auckland at 249 and South Island's Canterbury region at 238. .

New Prius tops Japanese sales

2009-07-06T13:54:00.003+06:00

Japanese car dealer figures show that Toyota's Prius hybrid more than doubled its sales in Japan in June, remaining the country's top selling car for the second month.Hybrids have claimed the top spot in Japan for three months in a row, fuelled by the growing popularity of products viewed as environmentally friendly as well as a government tax breaks.Japan Automobile Dealers Association says in numbers published Monday that over twice as many of the Prius were sold in Japan from a month earlier.In May, Toyota's revamped Prius debuted to become Japan's top seller.The rival Honda's Insight, a lower-cost alternative, fell to the fourth spot in June.

Sarah Palin quits as governor of Alaska in surprise move

2009-07-06T13:52:00.001+06:00

However, she said that she was "not retreating".The announcement fuelled speculation that she would focus on a run for the White House in 2012 but also prompted questions that she had buckled after months of relentless criticism.Speaking in her hometown of Wasilla, Mrs Palin said she was quitting because she was not going to seek re-election in 2010 and did not want to be a "lame duck" governor "wasting millions of dollars" on trade missions and official trips in the meantime.But in an edgy and at times incoherent performance, she also cited criticism of her actions and her family since the presidential campaign as a reason for her decision to hand over to her deputy, Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell, on July 26.She said: "I look forward to helping others - to fight for our state and our country, and campaign for those who believe in smaller government, free enterprise, strong national security, support for our troops, and energy independence."We are not retreating, we are advancing in a different direction. We know we can effect positive change outside government at this moment in time.""I polled the most important people in my life, my kids, where the count was unanimous," she said."Well, in response to asking, 'Hey, you want me to make a positive difference and fight for all our children's future from outside the governor's office?' - it was four yeses and one 'Hell, yeah!' And the 'Hell, yeah!' sealed it."Since she ran alongside John McCain for the White House, Mrs Palin has been the target of repeated denigration for her shortcomings as a vice-presidential candidate. .

Dmitry Medvedev starts nuclear arms talks with missile shield demand

2009-07-06T13:47:00.003+06:00

President Medvedev threw down the nuclear gauntlet on the eve of President Obama’s landmark visit to Moscow today, challenging him to roll back a planned missile shield in Eastern Europe in return for making huge cuts in Russia’s nuclear arsenal.The challenge came as the two prepared for historic talks on nuclear arms reduction with both already pledging major and reciprocal cuts.Mr Medvedev raised the stakes in an interview with Italian media in which he insisted that any agreement would have to include concessions on the European-based missile shield proposed by President Bush.“We believe that these topics are interrelated and for understandable reasons — because offensive nuclear capabilities do not exist by themselves,” Mr Medvedev said. “If we talk about reduction then we must understand how it correlates with defending against these capabilities, with what means we have for missile defence.”The two-day visit has been called the “reset summit” after Mr Obama’s promise of a fresh start in relations with Russia. He is keen to revive a relationship that hit a post-Cold War low over Mr Bush’s plans to site radar posts in the Czech Republic and ten interceptor missiles in Poland.Insiders say that despite Mr Obama’s lack of enthusiasm for his predecessor’s plan he is unlikely to cede much ground while Moscow remains overtly intransigent..

Tamiflu resistant case in HK

2009-07-04T19:22:00.002+06:00

HONG KONG - HONG Kong on Friday detected a strain of H1N1 flu that was resistant to Tamiflu, the main anti-viral flu drug, the health department reported on its website.
The statement said the resistant strain of influenza A (H1N1) was detected during routine tests of its sensitivity to anti-virals.'This is the first time Tamiflu resistance in HSI virus (has been) found in Hong Kong,' a spokesman said.The case came as the Japanese health ministry said doctors had detected the second case worldwide of a patient resistant to Tamiflu, widely used to treat the illness.In the Hong Kong case the resistant virus was isolated from a specimen taken from a 16-year-old girl who arrived in the southern Chinese city from San Francisco last month.She was admitted to hospital and opted not to take Tamiflu, the spokesman said, but was discharged after a week.The strain is not resistant to the other anti-viral drug, Relenza, the health department said.A spokesman for Swiss pharmaceuticals giant Roche, which makes Tamiflu, said the company had been informed of the case and called it 'normal'. 'It is absolutely normal,' she said, adding that '0.4 per cent of adults develop resistance' to Tamiflu.In Japan, the health ministry said doctors in Osaka prefecture had identified a woman who was resistant to Tamiflu - the second such case, after one found in Denmark.The Japanese woman had since been treated with Relenza and was recovering, Kyodo news agency reported on Thursday, citing the health ministry. .

Palin Stirs Debate About Her Political Future With Resignation

2009-07-04T19:16:00.002+06:00

Sarah Palin’s abrupt announcement that she was resigning as Alaska’s governor left observers speculating about a future for her that could range from a 2012 White House bid to political oblivion.“She is a source of constant surprise,” said John Feehery, a Washington-based strategist who advised former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican. “Only time will tell if she’s a meteor flashing through the sky or a bona fide political star.”In remarks to reporters yesterday at her home in Wasilla, Alaska, Palin did not directly offer reasons for her decision to quit the governorship before the end of this month.She provided possible hints of her motivations, including a bitter after-taste from the 2008 campaign, in which she burst on to the national stage as Arizona Senator John McCain’s running mate on the Republican presidential ticket.Since then, Palin said in her resignation announcement, she’s been subjected to the “the politics of personal destruction” through more than a dozen “frivolous” ethics complaints filed with state officials.“The state has wasted thousands of hours of your time and shelled out some 2 million of your dollars to respond to opposition research,” she said. And her family was “looking at more than half a million dollars in legal bills just in order to set the record straight,” she said.Palin, 45, was elected to a four-year gubernatorial term in 2006. Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell will assume the governor’s office. .

Inside Michael Jackson's 'Vibrant' Last Rehearsal

2009-07-03T19:42:00.000+06:00

This is a rush transcript from "On the Record," July 2, 2009. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWS HOST: Now, you are looking at Michael Jackson two days before he died. This was his very last rehearsal, the last known video of Jackson. Our next guest was right there at the Staples Center, photographing Jackson. He has been photographing Jackson for 30 years. Kevin Mazur joins us. Good evening, Kevin.KEVIN MAZUR, ROCK-AND-ROLL PHOTOGRAPHER: How're you doing?VAN SUSTEREN: Kevin, now there's a lot of focus, of course, on the last 24 hours, up until the time that Michael Jackson was found non- responsive. When did you last see him?MAZUR: I saw him at that performance. It's sad to watch that video. I mean, I still can't believe it. I'm in such shock still, to this day.VAN SUSTEREN: Now, you're a still photographer, right?MAZUR: Yes. I've been shooting concerts for a good, you know, 30 years, and Michael Jackson was one of my ultimate favorite artists to photograph through the years.VAN SUSTEREN: Did you notice anything unusual or different about him that night, since you've known him for over 30 years?MAZUR: No. I mean, he was the same Michael Jackson. When Michael hit the stage, I was, like, Wow! The same Michael Jackson I've photographed through the years, full of energy, full of life, having fun, very upbeat. You know, he's totally -- he was going toe-to-toe -- I mean, look at it, he's going toe to toe with 20-year-old dancers.VAN SUSTEREN: How close did you get? What size lens were you using that night?MAZUR: Well, I was -- you know, I shoot with a variety of lenses. I shoot from wide angle to telephoto because, you know, like, I'm there to document this for Michael Jackson. And so I have an array of lenses that I'm using to shoot wide to document the whole production, then to shoot close, you know?.

Back to Google News Britain facing swine flu upsurge, US calls crisis talks

2009-07-03T19:39:00.001+06:00

Britain warned it could face more than 100,000 daily cases of swine flu and the United States called a meeting of top officials as governments grappled on Friday with a resurgent swine flu pandemic.The warning from British Health Secretary Andy Burnham came as the Japanese health ministry said doctors had detected the second case worldwide of a patient resistant to the anti-viral Tamiflu, widely used to treat the illness.Burnham told parliament that 100,000 cases a day could occur in Britain by the end of August if the current infection rate is maintained. The country already has Europe's highest number of reported cases.Health officials say they are abandoning trying to stop the flu spreading, instead focusing on people who are most susceptible, such as the obese or those with asthma or breathing problems."Cases are doubling every week, and on this trend we could see over 100,000 cases a day by the end of August, but I stress this is only a projection," Burnham told the House of Commons on Thursday.Britain now had nearly 7,500 cases of swine flu, he added, with hundreds of new cases being confirmed every day. Three people have died in Britain so far from the virus.The latest numbers from the World Health Organisation, released on Wednesday, showed 77,201 reported swine flu cases, with 332 deaths.In Washington, the White House said it would hold a high-level meeting next week bringing together top government officials to prepare for the possibility of a more severe outbreak of A(H1N1) influenza.Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Education Secretary Arne Duncan will take part in the meeting at the National Institutes of Health next Thursday.The meeting was called after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that at least one million people in the United States have had swine flu, basing the projection partly on computer models.There have been roughly 28,000 confirmed cases of swine flu in the United States and 127 people are reported to have died, the CDC said.In Japan, the health ministry said doctors in Osaka prefecture had identified a woman who was resistant to Tamiflu -- the second such case in a week, after one found in Denmark.The Japanese woman had since been treated with another medication, Relenza, and was recovering, Kyodo news agency reported Thursday, citing the health ministry.A spokeswoman for Swiss pharmaceuticals giant Roche, which makes Tamiflu, called the case "absolutely normal" and added that "0.4 percent of adults develop resistance" to Tamiflu..

Gang rape pair get longer sentences

2009-07-03T19:36:00.002+06:00

Two men involved in the gang-rape of a 16-year-old girl who was doused in caustic soda at the end of her "nightmare ordeal" have had their jail sentences increased by the Court of Appeal.Three judges in London ruled the terms being served by Rogel McMorris, 18, of Tottenahm, and Jason Brew, 19, of Haringey, who were jailed at London's Wood Green Crown Court on January 19, were "unduly lenient". McMorris had his sentence increased from nine years to 14 years, while Brew had his six-year sentence raised to nine years.The victim, who had a mental age of just eight, was disfigured for life in the attack in Tottenham, north London.

Juice 'causes tooth decay'

2009-07-03T19:19:00.002+06:00

Orange juice is as bad for teeth as a can of cola, experts said yesterday.The fruit drink is so acidic that it erodes the enamel coating on teeth and reduces their hardness by 84%.Dentists said juice and fizzy drinks should only be drunk with a straw to reduce contact with teeth.Dr YanFang Ren, of the University of Rochester in the US, said: "Most soft drinks, including sodas and fruit juices, are acidic."Orange juice can cause significant erosion. It's a serious problem."

Suspected Drone Attacks Kills 13 in Pakistan

2009-07-03T19:11:00.001+06:00

At least 13 people were killed Friday in what was suspected to be an attack by an American drone in a remote village stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, according to two residents reached by telephone.A Pakistani intelligence official, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to talk to reporters, confirmed the attack but declined to give details. The United States routinely withholds comment on suspected drone attacks, of which there have been at least 40 since August.The residents asked not to be identified by name because of high tensions after the attack. They said three missiles struck in a village called Zamarai Nairai in an area of the lawless South Waziristan tribal region known as a stronghold of militants led by Baitullah Mehsud, the presumed leader of the Pakistani Taliban. He has been blamed by the Pakistani authorities for a string of suicide attacks in many parts of Pakistan.Residents said the missiles Friday hit a compound in the village that was being used as a base and a training camp.Some news reports put the death toll at 15.South Waziristan is mountainous region along Pakistan’s largely porous border with Afghanistan, where the United States and forces from other countries are locked in an escalating war with Taliban insurgents. A column of some 4,000 United States Marines, supported by British and Afghan forces, began a major offensive Thursday in southern Afghanistan.The Pakistani Army has indicated that it is preparing for an offensive of its own into South Waziristan, but its planners faced a setback this week when another Taliban leader in neighboring North Waziristan decided to pull out of a truce struck in February 2008.The Associated Press reported Friday that Pakistani warplanes bombed suspected militant hide-outs in North Waziristan, killing four militants and wounding seven others.Pir Zubair Shah reported from Islamabad, and Alan Cowell from Paris..

New Zealand influenza A/H1N1 confirmed cases rise to 711

2009-07-01T16:47:00.001+06:00

The number of influenza A/H1N1 confirmed cases in New Zealand rose to 711 on Wednesday, up 58 from 653 on Tuesday, the Ministry of Health said. There were also 51 probable cases. Among the confirmed cases, 226 were in Wellington, 188 in South Island's Canterbury region, and 187 in Auckland region.Whilst the majority of people who contract the flu this winter will be able to care for themselves at home, there are some people, with underlying health conditions who may fall acutely unwell with the illness, the Ministry of Health said.That advice came after two people with the virus were admitted to intensive care units in critical condition last week."Looking at overseas experience, there have also been cases reported where people who have been fit and healthy have contracted the virus and became very unwell. However, the majority of people who contract swine flu will be able to look after themselves," said Deputy Director of Public Health Fran McGrath."Those people who have symptoms which worsen, or those who are more at risk (including pregnant women, people with respiratory disease, heart disease, liver disease or blood disorders), should phone Health line or phone their GP," she said.

Michael Jackson 'pleaded for sedative' before fatal heart attack

2009-07-01T16:01:00.001+06:00

Michael Jackson suffered from crippling insomnia and pleaded for a powerful sedative in the days leading up to his death, according to a nutritionist who was working for the pop star.Cherilyn Lee said that she repeatedly rejected his demands for the drug, Diprivan, which is given intravenously. The singer told her that he had been given it in the past by an unnamed doctor.Several months ago, Jackson had begun badgering Ms Lee about Diprivan, also known as Propofol, she told the Associated Press. It is an anaesthetic drug widely used in operating rooms to induce unconsciousness, generally given through an IV needle in the hand.The powerful drug has a very narrow therapeutic window, meaning it does not take doses much larger than the medically recommended amount to stop a person's breathing, leading to cardiac arrest.The LA coroner's office performed an autopsy on the 50-year-old singer's body on Friday but deferred a decision on the cause of death, ordering toxicology tests. A second, private autopsy has been requested by the family, over concern about his final hours. Persistent reports claim that Jackson was addicted to painkillers and other prescription medicines.The Jackson family has questioned the role of the singer’s physician, Conrad Murray, who was with him when he collapsed. It took as long as 30 minutes for paramedics to be called after Dr Murray found Jackson with a faint pulse and performed CPR.Lawyers for Dr Murray, who had been treating Jackson for three years and who had recently moved into the rented mansion, have issued a categorical denial that the doctor had administered an injection of Demerol, a narcotic painkiller, to Jackson before his death.Ms Lee, 56, a registered nurse whose specialty includes nutritional counseling, said she received a frantic phone call from Jackson's staff on June 21 that the star needed her. She was in Florida at the time and told the staff member to take him to hospital."At that point, I knew that somebody had given him something that hit the central nervous system," she said, adding, "He was in trouble Sunday and he was crying out." .

Cops Dig Up Grandma's House in Search for 5-Year-Old

2009-06-29T16:13:00.000+06:00

Police spent the day Friday digging and dragging ponds at the home of missing Florida 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings' grandmother, but found only animal remains.
Cummings Police search searched the home of the grandmother of missing 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings on June 26, 2009, but said they found only animal remains.The new search comes more than four months after Putnam County, Fla., police scaled back their search for the little girl, who disappeared from the Satsuma, Fla., home of her father, Ronald Cummings, Tuesday, Feb. 10. He reported her missing in an desperate 911 call.Even though an amber alert was issued and police received some 4,000 tips, the girl has not been found and no suspect or person of interest has ever been identified."[The search] was initiated because we did a interview with some family members ... and during the interview they wanted to make sure we understood that they had buried some animals here during the investigation," Putnam County Sheriff's Office Capt. Dominick Piscatello said. "With that said, we couldn't leave any stones unturned."

Boy arrested in girl rape inquiry

2009-06-29T16:09:00.002+06:00

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested by police investigating the rape of a 17-year-old girl in Essex.The assault happened on Friday night on an area of grass near the junction of Southmayne and Ashlyns in Basildon.Police said the boy was arrested at his home in Wickford and is being interviewed in Basildon.Officers have repeated an appeal for a cyclist, who rode past the scene of the assault as it was taking place, to contact them.The attacker was described as black, aged in his late teens, 5ft 7ins, of slim build and with a shaven head. He was wearing a blue vest, grey hoodie and blue jeans.

Girlfriend: Man In Rape Attempt 'Demented'

2009-06-29T16:05:00.001+06:00

As police carried bags of evidence away from her Hanover apartment, Holly Hersh cursed the man who police say kidnapped a 6-year-old girl and tried to rape her in Hersh’s home on Saturday.“It’s sick! It’s demented!” exclaimed Hersh. “That poor little girl has to suffer the rest of her life. My kids have to suffer the rest of their lives. I can’t go back and live here.”Hersh’s ex-boyfriend, Justin Shine, 26, was arrested on Saturday and accused of kidnapping a young girl as she rode her bike. Police said Shine attempted to rape the girl inside Hersh’s apartment, but the 6-year-old managed to escape.The girl was found outside the apartment complex wearing shackles around her feet. Police said she had blood stains on her arms and legs. Shine was arrested inside Hersh’s apartment after the girl indicated to police that it was the location of the attack.“It’s sad and it’s disgusting how someone could do that and take a child’s innocence,” said Hersh on Sunday. “He’s a loser; he’s a deadbeat. I hope he rots in hell.”Hersh, who has two children, told NewsCenter 5’s Lynn Jolicoeur that she kicked Shine out of her apartment two weeks ago because he was abusing drugs. She said that Shine did not have keys to the apartment and that he broke in on Saturday before the attack.The victim, who was treated at a hospital, was a friend of Hersh’s son. The girl had played in the apartment and met Shine before the incident, Hersh said.“I thank God that she got out before she really seriously got hurt,” said Hersh. “I thank God.”Hersh refused to discuss the evidence that was removed from her apartment following the alleged assault.Shine will be arraigned Monday in a Hingham court. He will face charges of kidnapping, attempted rape, assault and battery and resisting arrest..

Fatty Diet Linked to Pancreatic Cancer

2009-06-29T16:01:00.001+06:00

To the risk of obesity and heart attack, the government had added yet another reason to avoid eating lots of fat, especially from meat and dairy products: pancreatic cancer.
PHOTO: Fatty Diet Linked to Pancreatic Cancer File photo showing a man preparing to eat a hamburger and fries. Fatty food may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer, researchers warn.The National Institutes of Health has determined that people who indulge heavily in meat and dairy fats are likely more to develop this deadly disease, which will strike more than 42,000 Americans this year and kill more than 35,000, according to the American Cancer Society.Men and women who consumed large amounts of saturated fat were 36 percent more likely to suffer from pancreatic cancer, researchers reported online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.The study found that the link between fat intake and cancer was strongest for saturated fat from animal food sources, which were associated with a 43 percent increase in cancer risk.

Obama officials say talks with Iran still possible

2009-06-29T15:59:00.001+06:00

The Obama administration is open to discussions with Iran over its nuclear ambitions despite protests questioning the legitimacy of President Muhammad Ahmadinejad's re-election, U.S. officials said Sunday.Ahmadinejad has accused the West of stoking unrest, singling out Britain and the United States for allegations of meddling. Last week, Iran expelled two British diplomats, and Britain responded in kind. Iran, which detained nine British Embassy employees Saturday before releasing four, has said it's considering downgrading diplomatic ties with Britain.The U.S. has not had diplomatic relations with Tehran since the aftermath of the Iranian revolution in 1979. On Saturday, Ahmadinejad said he would make the U.S. regret its criticism of the postelection crackdown and said the "mask has been removed" from Obama's efforts to improve relations.Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Sunday that Ahmadinejad is falling back on his government's usual strategy of blaming the West and the United States in particular for its internal problems."This is a profound moment of change. And what Ahmadinejad says to try to change the subject is, frankly, not going to work in the current context, because the people understand that the United States has not been meddling in their internal affairs," she said.The legitimacy of the government, while questioned by the people of Iran, is not the critical issue for the U.S. goal of preventing Iran from developing a nuclear capability, Rice said."It's in the United States' national interest to make sure that we have employed all elements at our disposal, including diplomacy, to prevent Iran from achieving that nuclear capacity," she said..

Janet Jackson Pays Tribute To Brother Michael At BET Awards

2009-06-29T15:49:00.002+06:00

'To you, Michael is a icon; to us, Michael is family,' Janet says before Ne-Yo and Jamie Foxx perform 'I'll Be There.'On Sunday night at the end of the BET Awards, Janet Jackson spoke publicly for the first time about the death of her beloved older brother Clad all in white, a visibly distraught Janet remained strong as she fought back tears while addressing the audience."My entire family wanted to be here tonight but it was too painful," she told the crowd — which included her father Joe Jackson — which cheered and stood on its feet. She then said her comments would be brief."To you, Michael is an icon," Janet said. "To us, Michael is family. He will forever live in all of hearts."On behalf of my family and myself, thank you for all of your love, thank you for all of your support. We miss him so much. Thank you so much." She teared up toward the end of her comments.Janet's thoughts led into a profound, almost gospel performance of "I'll Be There" by show host Jamie Foxx and Ne-Yo. The song — one of the Jackson 5's biggest hits — was a #1 hit single upon its original release in 1970 and again when covered by Mariah Carey for "MTV Unplugged" in 1992. On Sunday night, it was rendered quietly, with the duo accompanied only by a pianist. The performance was a strikingly different way to end an awards show, which usually conclude with big, rousing finales. It gave the show a dignified ending that perfectly suited the nature of the Jackson tribute.During the BET aftershow telecast, when asked how he felt, Ne-Yo said: "I feel good, man. It's a sad day for music but I've been telling people we should be celebrating his life, not mourning his death."
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Drug enhances power of vaccines

2009-06-28T19:08:00.001+06:00

A common immunosuppressive drug may have the ability to boost the power of vaccines, research suggests.Rapamycin is commonly give to transplant patients to stop their bodies rejecting donor organs.In tests on mice and monkeys, scientists found it enhanced the response of their immune system to experimental vaccines.The Emory University study, featured in the journal Nature, also raises hopes of a new generation of potent vaccines.Rapamycin seems to work by inhibiting a protein called mTOR, which plays a key role in controlling cell growth.The researchers found that when they switched off mTOR using rapamycin in virus-infected mice, the animals produced a better immune response.In particular, the treatment seemed to boost the number of 'memory' T cells - the cells that are responsible for remembering infections they have encountered before.The Emory team went on to show that rapamycin could improve memory T-cell responses to experimental vaccines in both mice and monkeys.The study suggests that mTOR plays a key role in regulating the generation of memory T cells.Harnessing this knowledge could potentially help vaccine manufacturers find a way to create memory T cells, which in theory may lead to more powerful vaccines against chronic infections and tumours.Enhanced efficacy Researcher Dr Koichi Araki said: "Many vaccines need multiple vaccinations to obtain enough immunity to overcome infections because immunity after a single shot of vaccination is often too weak to fight with infection."So, researchers are looking for the way to boost vaccine-induced immunity."Our approach might become one strategy to enhance vaccine efficacy."We believe that rapamycin could be administered at the same time as a vaccine to boost its potency."Professor Adrian Hill, director of the Jenner Insitutute, said the study was valuable because it enhanced understanding of T cells.He stressed very few currently licensed vaccines worked through the type of immune responses studied in the research - but new vaccines under development for diseases such as HIV, cancer and malaria potentially would."It might be complicated to use an immunosuppressive drug for widespread prophylactic vaccination but this could certainly be tried with some experimental cancer vaccines," he said.But he stressed that drugs that successfully modify the immune system in animals fail to work in humans. .

The EIGHT drugs Michael Jackson was taking EVERY DAY before his fatal heart attack

2009-06-28T18:58:00.003+06:00

Michael Jackson was taking a devastating cocktail of drugs in the weeks before his sudden death, it has emerged.The singer was said to be taking three powerful painkillers all at the same time, when more than could be potentially fatal, and was also consuming vast quantities of other pills every day.It is claimed Jackson, 50, was injected with the powerful painkiller Demerol - a synthetic drug similar to morphine - moments before he collapsed and died from a massive heart attack.Sources cited by The Sun claim the star was having three of these injections every day but was also taking two other painkillers Dilaudid and Vicodin.On top of this potentially deadly combination, Jackson was also taking a host of other medications as he battled to get fit and healthy ahead of his comeback concerts in Britain next month.They included the muscle relaxant Soma, sedative Xanax, anti-depressent Zoloft, Paxil for anxiety and the heartburn pill Prilosec, it is claimed.Such a huge amount of drugs would have been dangerous for anyone but even more so for Jackson, who at 5ft11 weighed only nine stone and whose health had long been a concern. The new claims about the singer's drug abuse came as his body was released back to his family early today as police were preparing to question one of the singer's doctors.The doctor, named as cardiologist Conrad Robert Murray, was said to have tried to revive Jackson, then disappeared for several hours.Sources said the singer had been using the drug Demerol as he battled to be fit for his first London show next month. The heart specialist had been living at his rented house.Enlarge Sad journey: The body of Michael Jackson is lifted from a helicopter and into a waiting coroner's van Sad journey: The body of Michael Jackson is lifted from a helicopter and into a waiting coroner's van According to U.S. website TMZ, which broke the news of Jackson's death, police are also looking to talk to Dr Tohme Tohme about an 'alleged indirect connection' between prescription drugs and the death.Dr Tohme describes himself as Jackson's longterm friend and manager. He told the website: 'I don't have anything to do with his (Jackson's) medication or health'.A three and a half hour post mortem was conducted yesterday. Coroners said there were no signs of foul play or trauma but more tests were needed and could take up to eight weeks to complete.Enlarge Jackson's drug cocktail Deadly cocktail: Jackson was allegedly taking painkillers Demerol, Vicodin, Dilaudid, anti-anxiety medications Xanax and Zoloft, muscle relaxant Soma, Prisolec for heartburn and the anti-depressant Paxil The new mystery over Jackson's sudden death came as:Police, who said prescription drugs had been found at the house, refused to identify the doctor. But the US celebrity website TMZ.com - which first broke the news of Jackson's death - named him as Dr Conrad Murray, from Texas.Another website, based in Houston, said a BMW towed away by police from outside Jackson's home belonged to the doctor's sister, Susan Rush.It quoted an assistant at Dr Murray's practice as saying the cardiologist had been living with 50-year-old Jackson and was with him when he suffered the fatal cardiac arrest..

Animal fats pancreas cancer link

2009-06-28T15:59:00.001+06:00

Eating a diet high in red meat and dairy products is linked to an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, a US study has suggested.Researchers followed 500,000 people who had completed a food diary for an average of six years.The Journal of the National Cancer Institute paper found those who had the most animal fats in their diet had a higher risk of developing the cancer.UK experts said cutting down on the fats was a way of reducing risk.There has previously been confusion over whether there was a link between animal fats and pancreatic cancer, with different studies reaching opposite conclusions.About 7,000 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the UK each year, with smoking being the biggest risk factor.The prognosis is poor - the time between diagnosis and death is usually about six months.'Welcome addition' This latest research was carried out by the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, which felt earlier studies had been too small to give reliable results.
The participants were being followed to see if they developed a range of diseases.This large study adds to the evidence that pancreatic cancer is more common in people who eat too much fat, particularly saturated fat Josephine Querido, Cancer Research UK Of the half a million studied, 1,337 developed pancreatic cancer.Men who consumed the highest amount of total fats had a 53% higher relative rate of pancreatic cancer compared with men who ate the least.In women, there was a 23% higher rate of the disease in those eating the most fat compared with those who ate the least.Overall, people who consumed high amounts of saturated fats had 36% higher relative rates of pancreatic cancer compared with those who consumed low amounts.Writing in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the researchers led by Dr Rachel Stolzenberg-Solomon, said: "We observed positive associations between pancreatic cancer and intakes of total, saturated, and monounsaturated fat overall, particularly from red meat and dairy food sources."We did not observe any consistent association with polyunsaturated or fat from plant food sources."Altogether, these results suggest a role for animal fat in pancreatic carcinogenesis."In an editorial in the journal, Dr Brian Wolpin, of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, and Dr Meir Stampfer, of the Harvard School of Public Health, said the study was a "welcome addition to the understanding of a disease that is in great need of new insights".Josephine Querido, senior science information officer for Cancer Research UK, said: "This large study adds to the evidence that pancreatic cancer is more common in people who eat too much fat, particularly saturated fat."Understanding ways of reducing the risk of pancreatic cancer is very important because it can be very difficult to treat."Apart from stopping smoking, the best way to reduce your risk of cancer is to eat plenty of fruit vegetables and fibre, and to cut down on fatty foods, red and processed meat and limit your intake of alcohol." .

Verdict expected on Iran election

2009-06-28T15:53:00.001+06:00

Iran's powerful Guardian Council is due to give its verdict on the result of the disputed presidential election, two weeks after the poll was held.Opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi has refused to support the electoral authority's plan for a partial recount.Mr Mousavi wants a re-run of the vote, but said on Saturday that he would accept a review by an independent body.However the Guardian Council has already backed President Ahmadinejad's re-election as a fair result.On Friday it said the presidential election was the "healthiest" held since the Iranian revolution in 1979.Some 17 people are thought to have died in street protests in the past two weeks, and Tehran has imposed severe restrictions on journalists, blogs and other media.Major fracture Although President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was almost invisible when Tehran's streets were full of demonstrators, he is now out in public sounding very confident, says the BBC's Jeremy Bowen in Tehran.He has blamed foreigners for inciting violence in Tehran, and on Saturday lectured US President Barack Obama for denouncing as "outrageous" the violence used to suppress protests.Behind President Ahmadinejad stands the Revolutionary Guard, whose regular forces and Basij militia have regained control of the streets for him, our correspondent says.Human Rights Watch, a New York-based pressure group, has accused the militia of carrying out "brutal" night-time raids, destroying property in private homes and beating civilians.The group said the raids were an attempt to stop the nightly chants against the government that resonate from the rooftops and balconies of Tehran in recent days.It also said satellite dishes were being confiscated to stop people from watching foreign news.Although everyday life is returning to the capital, the election has opened up a major fracture in the elite that may not heal, according to the BBC's Jeremy Bowen. .

LA police question Jackson doctor

2009-06-28T15:47:00.002+06:00

Jackson family left 'speechless and devastated' by star's deathLos Angeles police investigating the death of Michael Jackson say they have carried out an "extensive interview" with his doctor, Conrad Murray.Dr Murray - who was with the singer when he collapsed last Thursday - had provided information that "will aid the investigation", the police said.A spokeswoman for Dr Murray insisted he was not a suspect in the case.Michael Jackson's family are said to be seeking a second autopsy because they still have questions about his death.Coroners said there was no evidence of foul play after an autopsy on Friday, but gave no cause of death, saying the results of toxicology tests could take weeks to come back.A spokesman for the coroners office said Michael Jackson had taken "some prescription medication" without specifying which.Unconfirmed reports suggest the 50-year-old singer had been taking a daily dose of Demerol, a painkiller also widely known as pethidine.Mr Jackson's body was released to the family on Friday night.'No way a suspect'A spokeswoman for Dr Conrad Murray said he was interviewed for three hours by police on Saturday.Dr Conrad Murray Dr Murray is doing all he can to help the inquiry, his spokeswoman says Miranda Sevcik said the doctor had "helped identify the circumstances around the death of the pop icon and clarified some inconsistencies"."Investigators said the doctor is in no way a suspect and remains a witness to this tragedy," she said.She told the BBC Dr Murray "feels so deeply about his relationship with Michael Jackson that anything he can do to help this investigation come to a resolution, he is doing".She said Dr Murray had travelled in the ambulance with Michael Jackson after he collapsed last Thursday, had stayed for hours at the hospital comforting the family and would stay in Los Angeles to help with the police inquiry.Dr Murray had been hired by Michael Jackson in May to accompany him as he prepared to embark on a gruelling series of 50 concerts in London in July.The 51-year-old doctor, who has offices in Las Vegas and Houston, Texas, is said to have tried to resuscitate Mr Jackson until the paramedics arrived at his home in Los Angeles last Thursday.'Darkest moment'Earlier, veteran politician Rev Jesse Jackson, who has been counselling the family, said they had a flurry of questions of their own for Dr Murray. .

Elderly man with swine flu dies

2009-06-28T15:26:00.001+06:00

An elderly man who was suffering from swine flu has died, health officials have confirmed.The 73-year old was being treated at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley at the time. He died late on Saturday.A spokesman for the Scottish Government said he was suffering from underlying health complications.The pensioner passed away late on Saturday night. He is the second person in the UK who was suffering from swine flu to die.The first death, earlier this month, was a 38-year-old woman who gave birth prematurely while being treated at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. She also had underlying health conditions.Her death was the first connected to swine flu outside the Americas.It emerged on Saturday that three people attending the Glastonbury Festival have been diagnosed with suspected swine flu.Two students and a 10-year-old child from a family of four showed symptoms of the illness when examined by festival medical staff.The students, from Exeter and Edinburgh universities, and the family were moved off the festival site and into an isolation facility.They have since returned home.The H1N1 virus first emerged in April in Mexico, which has recorded 116 deaths and 8,279 cases, according to the World Health Organisation.On 11 June, the WHO declared a global flu pandemic, meaning that swine flu virus was spreading in at least two regions of the world.Officials stressed that this did not mean the virus was causing more severe illness or more deaths.According to the latest figures from the WHO, there have been 263 deaths and nearly 60,000 cases in some 100 countries and territories.
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Climate bill debate begins in House

2009-06-26T21:43:00.003+06:00

WASHINGTON -- The House has begun debating a historic and hotly contested global warming bill.Democratic leaders say it will usher in an era of cleaner energy. But Republican opponents called it "the largest tax increase in American history."Hours before the planned vote Friday, it was unclear whether House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had the votes to get the bill through, only that it would be close.The measure for the first time would impose limits on carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas pollution from power plants, factories and refineries. While energy costs would be increased, Democrats argued the costs can be contained for consumers.Republican opponents called it a "jobs killer" and a big energy tax on every American.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.WASHINGTON (AP) - The House has set the stage for a historic vote on hotly contested legislation to combat global warming and overhaul U.S. energy policy.The House Rules Committee cleared the bill for floor action early Friday after working through most of the night. Debate on the measure, which Republicans largely oppose as too costly, has been set for three hours.It was still uncertain whether House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has the votes to get the measure through. The bill would impose the nation's first limits on greenhouse gases linked to global warming and would shift the country away from reliance on fossil fuels.A handful of undecided Democrats hold the key to passage of the bill that the leadership has sought to act on before Congress departs for a weeklong Fourth of July recess.President Barack Obama, in both individual phone calls and in remarks from the White House Rose Garden on Thursday, urged lawmakers to pass the bill, calling it "a vote of historic proportions ... that will open the door to a clean energy economy" and green jobs. .

Drugs and Alcohol: Jackson Family Attempted Vegas Intervention

2009-06-26T21:29:00.001+06:00

As far back as 2006, members of Michael Jackson's family were terrified that his escalating dependence on prescription drugs had become a danger to his life – and attempted an intervention in Las Vegas."The family believes Michael is addicted," a family insider told PEOPLE. "There was an intervention in Las Vegas. Janet was on the phone, but Randy, Jackie and Rebbie were there in person," the source said, referring to several of Michael's eight siblings."Michael got p---ed off. He said he wasn't on drugs. But they didn't believe him."Jackson suffered cardiac arrest at his rented home in Los Angeles Thursday and was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. PST. His autopsy will be conducted by the Los Angeles County Coroner Friday, although some tests, including a toxicology report, could take days or weeks to complete.At the time of the Vegas intervention, another source close to the family blamed a Jackson aide for supplying the superstar with drugs from prescriptions acquired from multiple doctors"[The aide] has contacts wherever they are," said the source. In addition to consuming alcohol, Jackson takes "straight morphine, Demerol and opiates like Oxycontin. He also takes Valium and Xanax," said the insider."Michael is a clinically functioning addict and these are the most dangerous," the source continued. "They stop and start. These are the ones that OD ... It could happen any minute."After Jackson's death Thursday, family attorney Brian Oxman, who huddled with the grieving family at the hospital, raised the possibility that the drug abuse remained a critical factor in Jackson's life. "If you think that the case of Anna Nicole Smith was an abuse, it is nothing in comparison to what we have seen in Michael Jackson's life. .

My Sister's Keeper,Cameron Diaz Plays Iron Chef for Costars

2009-06-26T21:25:00.003+06:00

She surfs. She acts. And Cameron Diaz makes a really mean chili cheese fry.In her latest movie, My Sister’s Keeper, Diaz plays onscreen mom to Little Miss Sunshine Oscar-nominated actress Abigail Breslin, CSI: Miami's Evan Ellingson and Medium's Sofia Vassilieva. During production, the role continued off screen, too, when Diaz cooked lunch for them in her trailer."I made them guacamole and chili cheese fries and fajitas," Diaz, 36, told PEOPLE at Wednesday night's premiere of the film, based on novelist Jodi Picoult's bestseller about a young girl who sues her parents.Does she consider herself a budding Iron Chef? "You'll have to ask them!" said Diaz, referring to her young costars."She's an incredible cook," came the praise from Vassilieva, 16. "Everything was very organic. Very healthy. She's totally cool to hang out with. She's so nurturing and took care of us."Diaz also loved being a big kid. "I brought my paintball gun on set and she wanted to use it," says Ellingson, 20. "They were getting ready to call her on set and there she was outside shooting my paintball gun. She really liked to shoot it!"Playing Diaz's husband had its advantages, says Jason Patric, 43 – even though, as he joked, he didn't receive any of the perks that went to her onscreen kids. "I never got a neck massage," he carps. "I didn't get anything from her, actually. Apparently only the children got cooked for. But it's all right." .

Body Found in Rural Indiana Believed to Be That of Missing 2-Year-Old

2009-06-26T21:21:00.001+06:00

A body found in rural northern Indiana may be that of missing 2-year-old Jada Justice, police said at a press conference Thursday.Lake County Prosecuter Bernard Carter told the Post-Tribune, “We feel very comfortable that we do, in fact, have Jada Justice.”Justice was reported missing June 16 by her 18-year-old cousin, Engelica Castillo, who alleged she had left the toddler alone in the car at a gas station in Gary, Ind., to buy milk and when she returned, found Justice gone. Castillo was baby-sitting Justice while the girl’s mother, Melissa Swiontek, was away on vacation, according to the Post-Tribune.However, police started questioning Castillo’s story last week, and began investigating both Castillo and her boyfriend, Timothy Tkachik, 24. Neither has been cooperative with the authorities, police told the Post-Tribune.Police expect to file criminal charges Friday against Castillo and Tkachik, already in custody. An autopsy on the body will be performed Friday in an attempt to confirm police suspicion.

School Violated Teen Girl's Rights, Supreme Court Rules

2009-06-26T21:15:00.001+06:00

Arizona school officials violated the constitutional rights of a 13-year-old girl when they strip-searched her on the suspicion she might be hiding ibuprofen in her underwear, the Supreme Court ruled yesterday. The decision put school districts on notice that such searches are "categorically distinct" from other efforts to combat illegal drugs.In a case that had drawn attention from educators, parents and civil libertarians across the country, the court ruled 8 to 1 that such an intrusive search without the threat of a clear danger to other students violated the Constitution's protections against unreasonable search or seizure.Justice David H. Souter, writing perhaps his final opinion for the court, said that in the search of Savana Redding, now a 19-year-old college student, school officials overreacted to vague accusations that Redding was violating school policy by possessing the ibuprofen, equivalent to two tablets of Advil.What was missing, Souter wrote, "was any indication of danger to the students from the power of the drugs or their quantity, and any reason to suppose that Savana was carrying pills in her underwear."It was reasonable to search the girl's backpack and outer clothes, but Safford Middle School administrators made a "quantum leap" in taking the next step, the opinion said. "The meaning of such a search, and the degradation its subject may reasonably feel, place a search that intrusive in a category of its own demanding its own specific suspicions," Souter wrote.Justice Clarence Thomas was the lone dissenter. "Judges are not qualified to second-guess the best manner for maintaining quiet and order in the school environment," he wrote.He said administrators were only being logical in searching the girl. "Redding would not have been the first person to conceal pills in her undergarments," he wrote. "Nor will she be the last after today's decision, which announces the safest place to secrete contraband in school." .

Michael Jackson dies at the age of 50

2009-06-26T21:10:00.002+06:00

LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson, the pop superstar who dazzled the world with his dancing but also led a strange private life that included a child-molestation charge, died suddenly Thursday after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 50.Jackson was taken to hospital Thursday afternoon after going into cardiac arrest at his Los Angeles home, said brother Jermaine Jackson at an evening news conference. A personal physician who was with the icon at the time was unable to resuscitate him despite an hour-long attempt.He was taken to UCLA Medical Center and was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. local time.In his brief statement, an emotional Jermaine, said: "May Allah be with you always, Michael." He also asked for reporters and fans to "please respect our privacy during this tough time."Hundreds of fans and reporters had gathered outside the hospital, waiting for any news about the singer after he was rushed to the emergency room in an ambulance."I just have tears," Jackson family lawyer Brian Oxman told CNN. "Michael Jackson is my friend and I am just heartbroken"Tributes to the iconic singer quickly poured in online and to news outlets."I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news," said Quincy Jones, who produced Jackson's Thriller, the world's bestselling album. "For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words.""I'm in shock, as I know everyone must be," Jackson's former mother-in-law, Priscilla Presley, told Entertainment Tonight. "What a tragic loss. My heartfelt thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time.""Rarely has the world received a gift with the magnitude of artistry, talent and vision as Michael Jackson. He was a true musical icon whose identifiable voice, innovative dance moves, stunning musical versatility and sheer star power carried him from childhood to worldwide acclaim," said Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy, the organization that produces the Grammy Awards.His death was also felt north of the border.Celine Dion, the Canadian pop singer, said it "feels like when (John F.) Kennedy died, when Elvis Presley died. We are not only talking about a talented person dying, it's an amazing loss.""I'm fielding calls from all over Canada," said Donald Tarlton, the Montreal concert impresario who worked with Jackson many times over the years."Let's get one thing straight," he said. "He was one of the most creative forces that show business ever had. He was a leader in all areas. He had a wacky side that got in the way of his success. But at the same time, he was in constant turmoil from his handlers and family, never knowing who to trust."The Calgary-based film company Nomadic Pictures found itself in the eye of the storm that always followed Jackson when they were blasted by the pop icon for the 2004 movie they produced about his life, Man In The Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story.At that time Jackson was facing another round of child sexual abuse charges, a decade after a similar scandal haunted him in the '90s. Jackson condemned the made-for-TV movie, despite the fact that many thought it cast him in a favourable light and gave him the benefit of the doubt."He said it damaged his reputation and that he was vilified by the producers," said co-founder Chad Oakes. "But that movie was made with over a dozen lawyers. Every single thing was vetted. Every single word that was put in there came from Michael's mouth. From the Martin Bashir interview, the Oprah Winfrey interview, any interviews he did."We purposely did not do our own interpretation. We did not try to play judge and jury. . . . We were all big fans.".

Nine dead in Washington rush-hour metro crash

2009-06-23T16:58:00.001+06:00

Rescue workers respond to the site of two Red Line Metrorail trains that collided with one another between the Fort Totten and Takoma Park stations during the evening rush hour in Washington, DC. Early reports indicated at least six people died and dozens of injuries were sustained in the accident. –AFP Photo/Win McNamee WASHINGTON: Rescue workers searched through a mangled mess into the night after a Washington metro train rammed into another one during Monday evening’s rush hour, killing at least nine people and injuring 76.Rescuers used powerful blades to cut through the wreckage to find any more people trapped after a train slammed into a stationary one, forcing one subway car on top of the other and sending passengers hurtling through the air.Mayor Adrian Fenty confirmed nine people had died in the accident, but warned the toll could rise in what he described as ‘the deadliest accident in the 33-year history of our Metro train transit system.’ Fenty suggested the moving train may have been traveling too fast when it hit the stationary one.The rear car of the lead train compressed like an accordion before leapfrogging on top of it on an above-ground portion of the popular Red Line.‘It was going at a speed that would have made that initial car literally compress to about one-fourth of the original size,’ Fenty told CNN, strongly hinting the toll could rise.‘We have to go in (to the compressed rear car) and find out if there’s any remaining bodies.’ The collision involving the six-compartment trains took place at 5:02 pm near the Fort Totten Metro station, said Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) general manager John Catoe..

Zardari thanks Angelina Jolie for million dollar aid

2009-06-23T16:53:00.004+06:00

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari made a 'thank you' call to Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie for donating a million dollars for the people displaced by anti-Taliban military operations in the country's northwest.Mr. Zardari thanked Ms. Jolie and her companion Brad Pitt, who jointly run the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, during the phone call on Monday and also invited them to visit Pakistan, sources said.The Hollywood power couple have been running the Jolie-Pitt Foundation to assist in humanitarian crises around the world.Ms. Jolie, who has been a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commission on Refugees since 2001, donated a million dollars on World Refugee Day to aid displaced people in Pakistan.Ms. Jolie has said she decided to provide aid to the displaced Pakistanis because the refugee crisis in the country was relatively new and the numbers of displaced persons had "jumped so quickly"."I think in the last few weeks, there were about 100,000 displaced a day. There's over two million now. I think it's just there has been a giant appeal, a lot of funds have been sent in, a lot of aid has come to the people... But the numbers are so extraordinary and they're growing," Ms. Jolie told CNN after making the donation. .

Twenty-seven killed in spate of Iraq attacks

2009-06-23T16:51:00.001+06:00

An Iraqi policeman inspects the site of a bomb attack in Baghdad June 22, 2009. Two people were killed and 13 were wounded when a bomb went off inside a cafe in a Shia district of southern Baghdad, police said. –Reuters Photo/Ahmed Malik BAGHDAD: Twenty-seven people were killed on Monday as a spate of attacks hit Iraq just days before US troops are due to pull out of Iraq’s cities, security officials said.Seventy-six people were also wounded in the attacks in Baghdad and other restive parts of the country, with the death toll from attacks in the past three days topping 100.Security and hospital officials said the dead included five Iraqi soldiers, two policemen, three university students on their way to sit their final exams, and a four-year-old child.In the deadliest single strike, seven people were killed in a car bombing that targeted municipal offices in Abu Ghraib, a town on Baghdad’s western outskirts that is notorious as the site of the 2006 scandal over the abuse of prisoners by US jailers.The attack also wounded 16 people, including three US soldiers.The town was once a bastion of Al Qaeda, but the jihadists have since been beaten back by Sunni groups allied with US forces and the Iraqi government.In Baghdad’s sprawling Shia slum neighbourhood of Sadr City, a roadside bomb hit a minibus, killing three students on their way to sit exams. Twelve other students and the driver were wounded in the morning rush-hour attack.In Diyala province, one of Iraq’s most dangerous areas, three Iraqi soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb that struck their patrol east of the provincial capital Baquba, a military official said.And in Khalees, also in Diyala province northeast of Baghdad, a former Al Qaeda member who had recently been released from the US prison facility at Camp Bucca was assassinated, the official added.A woman and a four-year-old child were among three people killed when a bomb targeting a police patrol exploded near a market in Shaab, in northeast Baghdad, hospital officials said. Another 30 people were wounded..

Taliban warlord Baitullah Mehsud in Pakistan army’s sights

2009-06-23T16:48:00.002+06:00

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud has a five-million-dollar bounty on his head, but despite the rich reward for his capture, the fear he commands among his tribesmen makes him an elusive foe.Pakistan's military is steeling for an assault into the wild mountain belt along the Afghan border to hunt down the burly Al-Qaeda-linked warlord blamed for the deaths of hundreds of people in terror attacks over two years.Analysts and security sources say in-fighting among his Mehsud tribe and Taliban factions may bring him down before the army manages to unseat him from his fiefdom in the treacherous peaks of South Waziristan.But on Tuesday, one of his vocal critics — 26-year-old rival Qari Zainuddin — was found shot dead in his office, and the blame will likely fall on Mehsud's faction trying to cement its position.‘Baitullah Mehsud is the top man in his own tribe...he must have around 15,000 to 20,000 hardcore elements or armed men under him,’ said Brigadier Mehmud Shah, political analyst and former security chief of the tribal belt.‘People are scared of him, they are afraid of him, they are terrified, they don't like him,’ he added.The man the US State Department has called ‘a key Al-Qaeda facilitator in the tribal areas’ was born to a Sunni Muslim prayer leader in northwestern Bannu district into the Mehsud tribe from which he takes his name..

Obama to hold Rose Garden news conference

2009-06-23T16:40:00.000+06:00

President Barack Obama will hold his first Rose Garden news conference Tuesday.A White House spokesman says Obama will open the afternoon event with remarks on health care reform, energy legislation and Iran's disputed elections.Later the president will meet in the Oval Office with Chile's president, Michelle Bachelet (bah-cheh-LET').The White House will also mark the 37th anniversary of Title IX, the federal law that requires schools to offer equal athletic opportunities to men and women.All of Obama's previous news conferences have been during prime-time television hours and on international trips.

Pakistan The Champion of Twenty20 World Cup

2009-06-22T12:38:00.000+06:00

As comebacks go, Pakistan's turnaround from World Twenty20 whipping-boys to champions was as utterly unexpected as it was stirring to the soul. Phoenixes might want to consult copyright lawyers, soap opera scriptwriters think about upping their game.Battered by England by 48 runs at The Oval a fortnight earlier, comprehensively outplayed by Sri Lanka at this same venue nine days ago, Pakistan looked goners - disorganised in the field, toothless in attack and radars uncalibrated at the crease.That they could be raising the sport's newest trophy at the home of cricket, with thousands of their green-shirted supporters cavorting in the late afternoon sunshine, seemed scarcely believable.Oh we of little faith. We've been here before, of course. Pakistan's previous global triumph, the 1992 World Cup win, was pulled off in similar circumstances.Back then it was Imran Khan's famous talk of "cornered tigers" that inspired them to victory after just one win in their first four matches. This time skipper Younus Khan spoke of WWE wrestling. Enjoy yourself, was the message. Have some fun.And boy did they have some fun, no one more so than Shahid Afridi. Boom-Boom blew away South Africa in the semi-finals and did another demolition job in the final - 1-20 off his four overs, 54 not out off 40 balls to steer his side home with eight balls to spare.Pakistan celebrate their World Twenty20 winWhat made it special was the serious stuff that provided a backdrop to it all. Pakistani cricket has endured a dreadful few years, from the ball-tampering row which dominated their last trip to English shores to the untimely death of coach Bob Woolmer at the last World Cup. Just 110 days ago the attack by gunmen on Sri Lanka's team bus in Lahore threatened to make them outcasts of the international game.That they are now at the celebrating centre of it all is something that should give even neutral cricket fans a sense of pleasure.Two years ago in Johannesburg, Pakistan seemed to have the World Twenty20 trophy in their grasp, only for India to snatch it away at the death. Not this time. From the moment Mohammad Aamir dismissed the tournament's top scorer, Tillakaratne Dilshan, for a five-ball duck, Sri Lanka were wobbling. Abdul Razzaq's three wickets in 13 balls wiped out the middle order, and while Kumar Sangakkara's captain's knock of 62 not out gave the pre-match favourites hope, 138 always looked gettable on a pitch devoid of demons.It was fitting that Afridi was the man to dash the winning run. Here is a man capable of matching Imran's one-day deeds, of inspiring the same sort of fanatical devotion among his cricket-loving countrymen.For once, Sri Lanka's M&Ms melted away in the Lord's heat. Mendis, the most economical bowler in the tournament, went for 34 from his four overs; Muralitharan and Malinga could do nothing to halt the flow of runs.Umar Gul, the Waqar Younis of his generation, didn't need to have his greatest game. His 13 overall wickets were enough to top the bowling tables, an exact repeat of his deeds two years before. Just behind him was Saeed Ajmal, a spinner so inventive he bowls doosras as a stock ball.As both spectacle and commercial proposition, this World T20 was a success from almost-start to finish.PAKISTAN ZINDABAD :).

Hundreds arrested in violent Iran clashes

2009-06-22T12:32:00.001+06:00

At least 457 people were arrested in violent clashes in Tehran, state radio said, in which 10 people were also killed as Iran battled to curb its worst crisis since the Islamic revolution.Iranian state radio quoting the police said the arrests were made when demonstrators and security forces clashed on Saturday around the capital's Azadi square.The clashes resulted in the deaths of 10 people also, state television said on Sunday.The opposition led by defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi has remained defiant despite a crackdown by authorities and on Sunday the former premier told his supporters to remain steadfast.In clear backing for continued demonstrations, he said: "In your protests keep on refraining from violence... I as one of the mourners (of the Saturday killings) invite my dear people to self-restraint. The nation belongs to you."The post-election violence has shaken the Islamic republic and grabbed world wide attention.Independent British think tank Chatham House said the election results show "irregularities" in the turnout and "highly implausible" swings to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, according to an analysis published on Sunday.There would have to have been a radical shift in rural voting patterns and a "highly unlikely" change in heart among former reformist voters for Ahmadinejad to win as he did, the study concluded.Ahmadinejad was declared winner with a thumping majority of 63 percent of votes.Iranian state television blamed "terrorists" with firearms and explosives for Saturday's casualties in which 100 people were also wounded, bringing the overall toll reported by state media in a week of violence to at least 17.Struggling to contain the massive street protests unleashed since the disputed June 12 election, Iranian leaders lashed out at Western nations, foreign media and the exiled opposition.World leaders have voiced mounting alarm over the unrest, which has jolted the pillars of the Islamic regime and raised concerns over the future of the oil-rich Shiite Muslim powerhouse.On Sunday, witnesses said police and members of the Islamic volunteer Basij militia were patrolling flashpoint areas of Tehran but there did not appear to be any opposition demonstrations.The foreign media has been barred from covering the demonstrations as part of tight new restrictions on their work..

Laws Lag in Iraq, as Patience Wears Thin

2009-06-22T12:28:00.000+06:00

By Jano
BAGHDAD — Popular support for Iraq’s democratic institutions is being undermined steadily by official corruption, yet the country has no comprehensive anticorruption law.The country’s economy is dependent almost entirely upon oil revenue, but because there is no single law regulating the industry, there is widespread confusion about investment, production and lines of authority.And parts of northern Iraq continue to be beset by ethnic and sectarian violence that could engulf the rest of the country in a new wave of warfare, but there is little prospect of a political resolution being offered any time soon to settle competing claims in the disputed province of Kirkuk.There is a growing concern that if the country’s Parliament does not soon approve a series of critical legislative measures, Iraq’s democratic experiment could erode as America pulls back, militarily and politically. By the end of this month, the United States is required to withdraw combat troops from Iraq’s cities and, by the end of 2011, from the entire country.Some legislation that could help strengthen and diversify the economy has been awaiting passage in Parliament for as long as three years, even as large numbers of Iraqis live in poverty and without adequate housing, health care and other basic needs.
“If there was decent electricity and clean drinking water, there might be more patience from people,” said Haider Ala Hamoudi, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, who has advised the Iraqi government on legal issues. “But on some of these laws, especially the ones that aren’t controversial, Parliament has to do something or it risks losing legitimacy.”Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, who some members of Parliament blame for holding up several bills, has become so frustrated with the slow pace that he has began to lobby publicly for a switch to a presidential system, including holding direct elections for the nation’s leader.“Parliament’s system of democratic consensus is strange, conflicts with democracy and has many inherent problems,” Mr. Maliki said recently. “I think the presidential system is better than the parliamentary system if it will be accountable to the people.” .

Obama's Response Has Its Critics, Defenders

2009-06-22T12:23:00.002+06:00

WASHINGTON -- Some Republicans on Sunday urged President Barack Obama to do more to support protesters in Iran who have been clashing with security forces over election results, underscoring the challenge the president faces in trying to strike the right balance in addressing fast-moving events there."The president of the United States is supposed to lead the free world, not follow it," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), a member of the Armed Services Committee, on ABC's "This Week." He added that Mr. Obama was being "timid and passive."Under criticism over his approach to the Iran protests, Mr. Obama met in the Oval Office with advisers on Sunday for about a half-hour before an afternoon golf game. He had multiple briefings and meetings on Iran on Saturday.Since the protests broke out a week ago, Mr. Obama has taken a restrained tone, saying the election is an internal matter for Iran.White House officials said Mr. Obama has shifted his rhetoric on Iran as events have changed on the ground. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's speech on Friday declaring that protesters would be responsible for any bloodshed prompted Mr. Obama that day to invoke the word "justice," a term administration officials said would have more resonance in the Muslim world than "freedom," the term favored by former President George W. Bush.On Saturday, the president said in a statement: "Martin Luther King once said, 'The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.' I believe that. The international community believes that. And right now, we are bearing witness to the Iranian peoples' belief in that truth, and we will continue to bear witness."A senior administration official said the carefully calibrated message was aimed at achieving a sense of steadiness in Washington, not escalation. The president is "determined to not allow reactionaries use the U.S. or him as a foil," he said. "This is a debate in Iran among Iranians. It is not about us.".

Terrorists, anti-state elements will be defeated: Zardari

2009-06-22T12:11:00.001+06:00

President Asif Alil Zardari deliver his speech during a ceremony marking the 56th birthday of his late wife, former PM Benazir Bhutto in Naudaro near Larkana.—AP
Pakistan .News Frist: Terming terrorism and militancy a big challenge for the country, President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday vowed to render every sacrifice to defeat terrorists and anti-state elements.‘This is not a small challenge…this is not a small war, this is a war of ideologies. Those people are involved in it, who are against the very existence of Pakistan,’ the president said while addressing party workers and leaders at an event marking the 56th birth anniversary of Benazir Bhutto.He said Benazir Bhutto did not lay down her life to let terrorists and extremists take over the government.‘The terrorists are masking themselves and want to impose their narrow-minded agenda on people in the name of religion,’ he said.But, he said, nobody could cast an evil eye on the country and ‘we will save this country even by sacrificing our lives’.He said that PPP leaders and workers had sacrificed their lives and faced imprisonment in the past for the sake of the country and democracy and were ready to do so again.He said the PPP government was determined to steer the country out of the current crisis and would not let hostile internal and external forces succeed in their designs.President Zardari said Benazir Bhutto had sacrificed her life for the country and democracy and it was the tradition of the Bhutto family to suffer and sacrifice for democracy.‘We are proud of these martyrdoms,’ he said, adding that the Bhutto family had always been in the forefront of struggle to take the country out of crises and challenges.The president said the government would resolve people’s problems despite difficult international economic environment and recession.He said the vision of Benazir Bhutto and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto that guided him to put together the Friends of Democratic Pakistan forum to save the country from isolation at this critical hour.He said the forum which brought together major countries to one platform made pledges of over $5 billion in Tokyo to help Pakistan overcome its difficulties.Referring to his foreign visits, the president said these were meant to seek international support and cooperation for Pakistan.He recalled his recent visit to Brussels for the first-ever Pakistan-EU Summit and said he told the European leaders that in the name of Benazir Bhutto no dictator should ever be welcomed to the EU.The president said the PPP had always been committed to the cause of democracy.He said Zulfikar Ali Bhutto went to the gallows and Benazir Bhutto, he himself, his father Hakim Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani spent years behind bars for democracy.The president recalled the first oath taken by Benazir Bhutto as prime minister in 1988 and said she had told him at that time that ‘today I avenged the death of my father (Bhutto)’..

Obama: No Charges for Harsh CIA Interrogation

2009-04-18T13:12:00.002+06:00

President Barack Obama absolved CIA officers from prosecution for harsh, painful interrogation of terror suspects Thursday, even as his administration released Bush-era memos graphically detailing — and authorizing — such grim tactics as slamming detainees against walls, waterboarding them and keeping them naked and cold for long periods.Human rights groups and many Obama officials have condemned such methods as torture. Bush officials have vigorously disagreed.In releasing the documents, the most comprehensive accounting yet of interrogation methods that were among the Bush administrations most closely guarded secrets, Obama said he wanted to move beyond "a dark and painful chapter in our history."Past and present CIA officials had unsuccessfully pressed for more parts of the four legal memos to be kept secret, and some critics argued the release would make the United States less safe.Michael Hayden, who led the CIA under George W. Bush, said CIA officers will now be more timid and allies will be more reluctant to share sensitive intelligence."If you want an intelligence service to work for you, they always work on the edge. That's just where they work," Hayden said. Now, he argued, foreign partners will be less likely to cooperate with the CIA because the release shows they "can't keep anything secret.".

Obama Calls for Unity as He Faces U.S.’s Latin American Critics

2009-04-18T13:04:00.001+06:00

President Barack Obama, facing some of the U.S.’s harshest critics, said he seeks new ties with Cuba and called on fellow leaders in the Americas to work as equals with the U.S. instead of making the superpower a scapegoat.Obama made his debut last night at the Summit of the Americas, where leaders including Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega greeted him with rants about “Yankee troops” and complaints about U.S. policies, including the embargo against Cuba and Puerto Rico’s status as a U.S. territory.The barbs didn’t sway Obama from his message of hemispheric unity. He’s promising “equal partnership” and a “new chapter of engagement” as the global economic crisis, drug trafficking and security concerns weigh on the region. He responded to the most contentious issue hanging over the summit by saying that the U.S. and Cuba can start fresh after almost 50 years of severed ties, as long as Cuba is sincere.
“I am not interested in talking for the sake of talking,” Obama said at a welcoming ceremony last night in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, where all nations in the region except Cuba are gathered for talks. “But I do believe that we can move U.S.-Cuban relations in a new direction.”Obama didn’t directly respond to Cuban President Raul Castro, who said on April 16 that his government is “willing to discuss everything” that could ease five decades of hostilities between the two nations.Castro’s OvertureSecretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was in the Dominican Republic yesterday, said the administration is “taking a very serious look” at Castro’s overture.Ortega and Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, the first leaders to talk at the summit, both called for Obama to lift the almost 50-year-old trade embargo with Cuba. Obama administration officials have said there are no plans to do so. Fernandez also said the U.S. had subordinated Latin America.Obama didn’t mention the embargo as he made his case for alliances across the hemisphere that are built on “mutual respect, common interests and shared values.” He called for all countries to pull their weight and stop judging the U.S. based on old grievances.
“To move forward, we can’t let ourselves be prisoners of past disagreements. I am very grateful that President Ortega didn’t blame me for things that happened when I was three months old,” Obama said in his only direct reference to the Nicaraguan leader.‘Rose Above It’“Obama rose above it,” said U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York attending the summit. “He set the tone. He had the last word.”Ortega, who said he was upset that he was forced to wait for three hours on the tarmac after landing, spoke for 45 minutes and said he was “ashamed” Cuba wasn’t invited to participate in the summit. At one point, he prompted a smirk from Obama when he referred to “Yankee troops.”
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Sandra Cantu Case: Accused Female Molesters Rare, Often Accomplices

2009-04-16T15:38:00.002+06:00

Police accusations this week that the woman charged with the murder of Sandra Cantu penetrated the Tracy, Calif., 8-year-old with a "foreign object" sent psychological chills up the spine of Americans.women and abuse Three women who have been charged with molestation, which experts say is rare among women:... Expand .Three women who have been charged with molestation, which experts say is rare among women: (clockwise from left) Melissa Huckaby, the accused in the Sandra Cantu case; Carol Bundy, who was convicted of being one of the Sunset Strip Killers in the 1980s; and Canadian Karla Homolka, who helped her husband sexually torture two 15-year-olds in 1995. CollapseThe arrest of Melissa Huckaby, a 28-year-old mother and Sunday school teacher, on charges of kidnapping, rape and murder also sent up red flags for criminologists.Women are rarely sexual predators -- only about 5 percent to 15 percent, according to experts -- and when they do molest children, they are more often accomplices.Monday, San Joaquin County police accused Huckaby of murdering her daughter's playmate and stuffing her body in a suitcase that was found April 6 floating in a pond. .

Indian election: hundreds of millions go to polls - but violence breaks out

2009-04-16T15:11:00.002+06:00

The world’s biggest democratic exercise got under way this morning as India began voting in a marathon month-long general election that looks certain to produce another fragile coalition government.The poll is being held in five phases between today and May 13 so that all of India’s 714 million registered voters can cast their ballots at more than 828,804 polling stations across the country.Some election officials had to ride elephants to reach remote polling stations near the northeastern border with Myanmar, while others made two-day sea journeys to the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal.

Obama’s $855,323 Tax Bill Would Be Bigger Under His Budget Plan

2009-04-16T15:03:00.003+06:00

President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, earned $2.73 million last year and paid $855,323 in federal taxes, an amount that would be higher by about $102,000 if his budget plan were in effect.The Obamas had $2.35 million in taxable income after taking deductions, according to copies of their 2008 tax return released by the administration yesterday. That’s enough to put them in the top tax bracket, which kicks in at $372,950 for a married couple this year.The president, a Democrat, has dismissed Republican calls to extend tax reductions for top earners enacted under former President George W. Bush and set to expire in 2011. He wants to let the top two brackets revert to 36 percent and 39.6 percent from 33 percent and 35 percent. That would add up to $101,604 more in federal taxes for the couple based on this year’s returns, and Obama said he is prepared to pay an additional amount.“We need to end the tax breaks for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans, so that folks like me are paying the same rates that the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans paid when Bill Clinton was president,” he said in a speech yesterday, the deadline for Americans to file their returns with the Internal Revenue Service.The president’s tax and spending proposals, outlined in his budget blueprint for fiscal 2010, were the subject of “Tea Party” protests across the U.S. yesterday, including one in Lafayette Square in front of the White House.A “sealed cardboard box” was thrown over the White House fence during the protest, Darrin Blackford, a spokesman for the U.S. Secret Service, said last night. “It contained tea bags,” Blackford said. “Nothing else of a protective interest was discovered inside the box.”Book IncomeThe majority of the couple’s income, almost $2.5 million, came from proceeds on sales from the president’s books, “Dreams from My Father” and “The Audacity of Hope.”Their tax returns showed growing investment income. After reporting zero dividends in 2007 they reported $34,549 for 2008, of which $7,991 qualify for the preferred 15 percent rate Obama has proposed increasing to 20 percent in 2011. That 5 percentage point tax increase would have cost him $400 in extra taxes.
The Obamas also reported $1,107 of capital gains for 2008. They don’t qualify for preferential tax rates for capital gains because they owned the underlying assets -- U.S. Treasuries -- for less than one year.The first family’s income declined from 2007, when they earned $4.2 million. Book royalties contributed $4 million of that amount and the total was more than they earned in the previous seven years combined.Tax returns are confidential by law. Most recent presidents and vice presidents have chosen to make theirs public. .

Man who fathered baby with girl, 14, charged with child rape

2009-04-15T12:02:00.001+06:00

King County prosecutors today filed a child-rape charge against a 20-year-old man who allegedly fathered a child by the 14-year-old Federal Way girl who is accused of smothering the newborn.Leonel Guzman-Jacobo is being held in the King County Jail with bail set at $100,000.The 14-year-old girl was arrested after she gave birth to the baby girl in her mother's room Thursday. Prosecution documents allege she suffocated the baby to keep it from crying so her mother wouldn't find it.The girl is being held in King County juvenile detention. Prosecutors said they expect to charge her with second-degree murder this week.According to prosecutors, Guzman-Jacobo had been having sex with the girl at least once a week since she was 13, beginning in September. Prosecutors allege he was fully aware of her age.He is not implicated in the baby's death.However, he is charged with second-degree rape because of the age difference, according to Federal Way Police Department spokesman Raymond Bunk. The age of consent in Washington state is 16..