|
|
Ricky
Martin may STOCKHOLM, Mar 10: Pop singer Ricky Martin is in talks about a role in a cartoon film with music Icon Madonna and actor Mel Gibson, a Swedish tabloid reported....more Doctor
links viagra to NEW YORK, Mar 10: A US ophthalmologist says there appears to be a very small risk that men taking the impotence drug viagra could suffer permanent vision loss, but the firm that makes the drug has played down the reported threat....more US urges
support WASHINGTON, Mar 10: The United States has made a strong plea for support to internet telephony, which will make telephone free at home or abroad to anyone with a computer.....more Europe
preparing PARIS, Mar 10: Europe is preparing its first moon mission, SMART-1, a satellite scheduled to be.....more |
|
Chinese
leader urges BEIJING, Mar 10: President Jiang Zemin has called on China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to ...more India-Mauritius
PORT LOUIS, Mar 10: President K R Narayanan said tonight that India and Mauritius were commit........more China’s
most wanted HONG KONG, Mar 10: The key suspect in China’s biggest corruption case of modern times has been freed from detention in Canada and placed under.......more Pak
Govt rules out ISLAMABAD, Mar 10: The Pakistan Government has ruled out possibility of early return of deposed Premier Nawaz Sharif and his family members from......more |
 |
 |
Ricky Martin may star in film with Madonna, Gibson STOCKHOLM, Mar 10: Pop singer Ricky Martin is in talks about a role in a cartoon film with music Icon Madonna and actor Mel Gibson, a Swedish tabloid reported. Martin, in Sweden on a promotion tour, told a Swedish television talk show late on Thursday evening he might lend his voice to a character in a movie produced by Steven Spielberg’s company dreamworks, the tabloid expressen said. Asked whether he had any film plans, Martin said: "One is the possibility to work together with Madonna and Mel Gibson in a movie." (REUTERS) |
|
Doctor links viagra to 5 cases of blindness NEW YORK, Mar 10: A US ophthalmologist says there appears to be a very small risk that men taking the impotence drug viagra could suffer permanent vision loss, but the firm that makes the drug has played down the reported threat. Howard Pomeranz, Director of Neuro-Ophthalmology at the University of Maryland Medical Center, said yesterday he knows of five men across the United States who were diagnosed with permanent vision loss by doctors after taking the impotence drug. More than ten million people have taken the drug since it was approved in 1998. The condition, called ischemic optic neuropathy, is caused after blood flow is cut off to the optic nerve in the eyeball. It usually occurs in people with diabetes, hypertension and other vascular disorders. A spokesman for Pfizer Inc., which makes viagra, dismissed Pomeranz’s observations, which were first presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Conference in Dallas in November. The company spokesman told Reuters that the three-year old product is not a threat to its users. "From all clinical experience with viagra, there have been no cases of treatment-related blindness reported, and reports of serious visual problems have been extremely rare," said Geoff Cook, the Pfizer spokesman. Viagra, which is available in 100 countries, is known to cause some temporary vision problems such as blue/green color distortions in some patients. Pomeranz said the five men diagnosed with the condition after taking viagara had a low cup-to-disk ratio, which is a way doctors measure the small circular indentation where the optic nerve connects to the eyeball. The low cup-to-disk ratio means that the blood vessels and nerves are tightly bundled together into the small space in the back of the eye, according to a University of Maryland release about the issue. "We know that viagra regulates a chemical in the body to constrict the arteries. The constriction may cut off the blood flow to the optic nerve, especially in people with a low cup-to-disk ratio, where the blood vessels and nerves are tightly bundled," Pomeranz said in the release. Pfizer’s cook associated potential permanent visual damage with the known risk factors for men taking the drug, such as diabetes, and not the drug itself. "In the population of men who take viagra, many men with diabetes and other conditions have significant associations with long term visual problems," he said. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which reviews reports of drug side effects, said it had not received any complaints of sudden blindness in patients taking viagra. "We do not have any reports of people losing their sight like that," FDA spokeswoman Susan Cruzan said. "We would take any such reports seriously, and we encourage health professionals to submit any such information to us," she added. Leonard Yaffe, analyst with Banc of America Securities, said more information was needed before evaluating what effect the report would have on Pfizer. "I’d want to know how often the men were taking the drug, for how long a period of time?" he said. "You need to know a lot more than these five guys had this problem." Pomeranz, who is also assistant professor of ophthalmology and neurology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, called for more research into the matter. "People who take viagra who have this particular configuration of their optic nerve at least need to be aware that this is a potential problem that may occur if they use this medication," he said. "Whether this is a significant increased risk, I don’t have the statistics to back that up." (REUTERS)y |
|
US urges support for internet telephony WASHINGTON, Mar 10: The United States has made a strong plea for support to internet telephony, which will make telephone free at home or abroad to anyone with a computer. Susan Ness, Federal Communications Commissioner, in an address to an International Telecommunications Policy Forum on Internet Protocol (IP) telephony, urged countries now opposed to it on revenue grounds to withdraw their opposition and realise the potential of internet telephony to "spur economic growth and development." At present, it is possible for a person with a computer in India to use internet telephony and call the US or any other country and talk as long as he or she wants and not spend a penny. But it is not possible to use internet telephony to access a number in India, for Indian rule does not allow such free telephone calls. There are wants to get around it by sophisticated "circuit switching" to make international calls local calls but that is not well, media reports quoted ness as saying. Ness urged that market forces should be allowed free play in IP telephony though temporarily some countries may lose revenue. (PTI) |
|
Europe preparing its first moon mission PARIS, Mar 10: Europe is preparing its first moon mission, SMART-1, a satellite scheduled to be launched in October 2002 by the European Space Agency (ESA). The 350-kg satellite will be placed in an elliptical orbit around the moon at an altitude varying from 1,000 to 10,000 km. Cost of the project, including the launch on an Ariane-5 rocket, is estimated at 86 million euros (80.1 million dollars). SMART-1 (Small Mission for Advanced Research and Technology) will be equipped with a high-resolution mini-camera to observe the lunar surface, an infrared spectometre to analyse minerals and another spectrometre to study the basic composition of lunar rocks and dust. The satellite will also be used to test a helio-electric propulsion system which ESA plans to use on other satellites, such as the Bepi-Colombo, scheduled to be launched towards the planet mercury in 2009. (DPA) |
|
Chinese leader urges Army to prepare for hi-tech combat BEIJING, Mar 10: President Jiang Zemin has called on China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to develop high-technology weapons and combat systems, state media reported today. Jiang told the PLA to accelerate military modernization and give priority to developing defence technology, the official Xinhua news agency said. "The PLA should closely monitor changing situations, get well prepared for various military tasks and help local authorities to maintain social stability," the agency quoted Jiang as telling PLA deputies Friday at the ongoing meeting of the National People’s Congress (NPC). "The enhancement of the PLA’s combat effectiveness should rely mainly on progress in science and technology", Jiang said. During the NPC, China announced an 18-per-cent increase in its defence budget to 141 billion yuan (17.0 billion dollars) this year, following a 13-per-cent rise in 2000. The increase includes higher salaries for military personnel and will help the Army "adapt to drastic changes in the military situation of the world and prepare for defence and combat given the conditions of modern technology, especially high technology," said Finance Minister Xiang Huaicheng. Many analysts believe that military spending from other budgets makes China’s true defence budget at least double the published figures. (DPA) |
|
India-Mauritius committed to
democracy, PORT LOUIS, Mar 10: President K R Narayanan said tonight that India and Mauritius were committed to democracy, secularism and a strategic partnership in new and modern technologies which would secure the future of coming generations. "India and Mauritius are bound together by a shared history, close ties of kinship and a common vision for a better world. We have both striven to build a society that is multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-lingual," Narayanan said here speaking at a banquet hosted in his honour by his Mauritius counterpart Cassam Uteem. He said the two countries have co-operated closely in the international arena on the basis of a common commitment to shared values and principles. "This interaction reflects an identity of views on important global issues of mutual concern. We believe that peace is a prerequisite for progress. But rivalries, not of our making impinge upon our prosperity and impede our development. It is imperative that, for a better tomorrow, interaction among nations be based on coexistence not conflict, co-operation not confrontation, concord not coercion", he said. Narayanan, who is here as state guest for the Mauritius national day celebrations on March 12, said India rejoiced at the success of Mauritius in building a prosperous country, a peaceful society and vibrant democratic polity. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had attended Mauritius National Day celebrations of the millennium last year. Narayanan said India was of the firm conviction that the unity of nations can only be secured by encouraging the creative genius of the peoples of the two countries. "We must be ever vigilant against forces that divide in the name of religion, language or culture", he said. The President said the two countries shared the Indian Ocean but this did not separate them but brought them together. "A common civilization and the shared experiences of history bind us together." "As we celebrate these achievements together, allow me to pay tribute to those great Mauritian sons and daughters, including the Bisondoyal brothers, Sookdeo and Basdeo, Sir Sewoosagar Ramgoolam and my good friend, late Sir Veeramasamy Ringadoo, who laid the foundations of a modern nation", Narayanan said. The President said it is almost a century since Mahatama Gandhi visited this great country and the "torch of political awakening lit by him in those fateful days guided the two countries to independence and economic emancipation." He aptly summed up the intertwining destinies of the two nations quoting late Mauritian poet Somduth Bhuckory who said "Barah March Ko Aaya, Pandrah Agast Hamara" (on March 12 has dawned our own August 15). (PTI) |
|
China’s most wanted man freed from prison HONG KONG, Mar 10: The key suspect in China’s biggest corruption case of modern times has been freed from detention in Canada and placed under house arrest at his own expense, it was reported today. Lai Changxing, 46, who has been battling since his arrest last November to be freed from custody as he seeks political asylum in Canada, will pay more than 50,000 US dollars a month for him and his wife to be placed under guard in their luxury Vancouver home. The couple fled to Canada from China in 1999 shortly before Lai was identified as the kingpin behind a massive smuggling racket in Xiamen in which officials were bribed to turn a blind eye to billions of US dollars worth of contraband. A number of officials convicted of involvement have already been sentenced to death. Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said last week he was confident Lai would be returned to China by Canada. His battle to get out of custody and be put under house arrest finally succeeded after the last of a succession of Government appeals against the court ruling failed, Hong Kong Government radio station RTHK reported today. Canadian Government lawyers argued strongly against Lai and his wife being put under house arrest, saying they faced the death penalty if they were sent back to China and would take the opportunity to flee to a third country. Lai won house arrest after offering to pay 53,000 US dollars a month to turn his house into a virtual prison. A security firm testified in court how it could deploy guards at Lai’s home in a vancouver suburb to ensure Lai and his wife did not escape. The firm said it would install round-the-clock guards, cameras, special locks, metal detectors and telephone monitoring equipment. Lai’s lawyer told the court Lai would be able to foot the bill from his resources. Canadian Government lawyers said they feared Lai and his wife would flee if released from high-security detention. Lai is alleged to have masterminded a huge smuggling racket in which top officials were bribed to ignore illegal import of goods from Hong Kong to the port of Xiamen in China. He fled to Canada with his family in August 1999 as the net closed in on the smuggling racket and a massive round-up of suspects got underway. (DPA) |
|
Pak Govt rules out early return of Sharif ISLAMABAD, Mar 10: The Pakistan Government has ruled out possibility of early return of deposed Premier Nawaz Sharif and his family members from exile in Saudi Arabia as any such attempts tantamount to violation of the terms of exile agreed by Sharifs with both Pakistan and Saudi Governments. An official spokesman was quoted in the Pakistan media today as saying that the reports appearing in the press that Sharif or his brother Shahbaz Sharif could return home in the coming months were wrong and baseless as the Saudi authorities have given a categorical assurance that they would not permit any violation of the agreed terms of exile. He said the speculative stories about the possibility of their arrival were part of a media campaign aimed at harming the Pakistan-Saudi relations as well as serving someones political interests. The official spokesman comments came after the return of Pakistan’s military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf from an eight-day-long tour to Saudi Arabia. Gen. Musharraf returned here on March eight. Sharif, who was convicted for life for preventing the plane carrying Gen. Musharraf from landing in the October 1999 military coup, was permitted to go to Saudi Arabia along with his family following an understanding reached between Saudi and Pakistan authorities. (PTI) |
|
|
