‘No talks on resumption
of military aid during Pasha’s visit’
ISLAMABAD,
July 17: Pakistan’s powerful ISI chief
Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha visited the US to
discuss intelligence coordination and not the
resumption of military aid that was recently
suspended by the American administration, a
military spokesman has said.
The resumption of
military aid was not even on the agenda of
Pasha’s visit, military spokesman Maj Gen
Athar Abbas told the media yesterday.
Pasha had a
one-on-one meeting with Acting CIA Director
Michael Morrell.
"A range of
intelligence issues were discussed in a congenial
environment to improve mutual
understanding," Abbas said.
Contrary to
speculative reporting in a section of the press,
doubts were not raised and no aspersions were
cast on the functioning of the ISI, Abbas said.
"Both sides
focused more on the way forward," he said.
The US
administration recently announced that it had
suspended military aid for Pakistan worth USD 800
million following strains in intelligence and
military cooperation between the two countries.
(PTI)
Coming
soon: Robo nurses?
LONDON,
July 17: Coming soon: Robo nurses, say
scientists who claim to be developing such
interactive robots capable of caring for the sick
or elderly.
An international
team, led by Queen Mary University in UK, is
creating the new generation of emotionally
intelligent robots that could become extra carers
in hospitals, nursing and even residential homes.
The scientists
have already have built prototypes with features
reminiscent of the Cadbury’s Smash martians
that featured in the popular Seventies TV
advertisements, the ‘Daily Express’
reported.
Prof Peter McOwan
is heading the European Union-funded four-year
project involving specialists from seven
countries.
"Our research
aims to develop software, based on biology, that
will allow robots to interact with humans in the
most natural way, understanding things like
personal space.
"These will
be able to recognise human expressions and make
expressive movements in response. This technology
could in future improve standards of hospital
care which are facing the growing pressure of
increasing demand," he added.
The scientists,
who exhibited their research at the recent Royal
Society Summer Science Exhibition, have used
psychologists to give instruction about polite
social rules.
The robots are
also being built with a set of instructions about
body posture and personal space which can be
tailored to individual people, says the team.
The scientists
hope that the machines could also be used to
create interactive children’s toys and
office helpers. (PTI)
Pak
court issues notice to Khosa over
‘missing’ wife, daughter
LAHORE,
July 17: A Pakistani court has issued a
notice to former Punjab Chief Minister Dost
Muhammad Khosa in response to a habeas corpus
petition seeking the recovery of his estranged
actress wife Sapna Khan and their minor daughter,
who have been "missing" since June 22.
The court of
Additional District and Sessions Judge Malik
Mubeen Ahmad issued the notice yesterday and
asked Khosa, a leader of the PML-N that rules
Punjab, to respond by July 20.
Earlier, the court
had dismissed the petition, saying the counsel
for the petitioner was not present in court.
The petition was
restored after the petitioner, Judicial Activism
Panel Chairman Azhar Siddique, filed a
restoration application that contended that his
associate was present in the court and had marked
his attendance to the court reader.
Siddique told the
District and Sessions Judge that Sapna Khan, also
known as Zeba Khan who is Khosa’s third
wife, was allegedly beaten up by Khosa and his
friends outside his residence on June 22.
He said the men
snatched Sapna’s daughter and took them both
to some unknown location.
Siddique alleged
that police did not take action even after they
were informed about the matter.
He asked the judge
to order police to recover Sapna and her daughter
and produce them in court.
Siddique also said
that after the recovery and production of the
alleged detainees in court, the judge should
direct police to register a case against persons
involved in the alleged abduction. (PTI)
Look on the bright side of
life ‘if you want to feel young’
LONDON,
July 17: Want to feel young as you age? Look
on the bright side of life, say researchers.
A new study has
found that people who age best have a
light-hearted, optimistic outlook on life, a
finding which offers a new theory on why some
with good genes have a sunnier outlook and
sharper mind in old age.
The researchers at
University of Hamburg in Germany have discovered
that simply focusing one’s brain on positive
thoughts, and living for the moment, rather than
looking too far into the future, can help
maintain good mental health.
Lead researcher Dr
Stefanie Brassen said that successful ageing came
down to "the positivity effect". She
said this was "a biased tendency towards and
preference for positive, emotionally gratifying
experiences".
For their
research, the researchers conducted an experiment
which saw young and elderly adults presented with
pictures of happy, sad, fearful or neutral faces.
During certain
parts of the task when participants were told
they could relax, researchers noted that the
elderly subjects were much more engaged by the
sight of a happy face, ‘The Daily
Telegraph’ reported.
By scanning the
brains of participants, the researchers
discovered increased activity in the rostral
anterior cingulate cortex, the part of the brain
that controls emotions. High levels of activity
in this part of the brain are associated with
good mental health.
The study,
published in the ‘Biological
Psychiatry’ journal, suggest that staying
happy and focusing on life’s positives are
key to people remaining mentally alert as they
get older.
Dr John Krystal,
the editor of Biological Psychiatry, added:
"The lessons of healthy ageing seem to be
similar to those of resilience throughout
life." (PTI)
N Korea says rain left
casualties, destroyed homes
SEOUL,
July 17: Floods triggered by torrential
rain that hit North Korea last week washed away
homes, roads and farmland and caused unspecified
casualties, according to state media.
Heavy rain from
July 12 to 15 left more than 20,000 hectares
(50,000 acres) of farmland destroyed or submerged
across the country, Korean Central News Agency
said.
The western and
northeastern regions of Hwanghae and South
Hamgyong were hit hard, with more than 250
millimetres (around 10 inches) of rain recorded
in some areas, it said.
The downpour left
several dykes, public buildings as well as roads
destroyed, and the eastern city of Hamhung saw
casualties, it said without giving details.
Reconstruction
efforts were under way in affected areas, it
said.
After decades of
deforestation, the impoverished North is
particularly vulnerable to flooding. In 2007 it
reported at least 600 dead or missing from
devastating floods.
State media said
last week a tropical storm that hit the country
in June had caused casualties and left more than
150 homes and 20,000 hectares of farmland
destroyed or submerged. (AGENCIES)
Chavez heads to Cuba, says
chemo to ‘attack hard’
CARACAS,
July 17: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
flew to Cuba today to begin chemotherapy, vowing
to win his fight against cancer and calling for
his political allies to stay united in his
absence.
Before boarding
the presidential plane at Caracas’
international airport, Chavez said,
"It’s not time to die. It’s time
to live."
He stood by one of
his daughters, Rosa, on a red carpet leading to
the plane as a military band played the national
anthem and soldiers stood at attention.
"I’m
saying goodbye for some days," Chavez said,
"but in a deeper sense I’m not saying
goodbye. I’m going to be in the same
homeland, in the great homeland. And I’ll be
attentive every day, every hour, every minute to
internal events and I’ll be in permanent
contact."
He then climbed
the stairs of the plane holding the hand of his
daughter, who left with him. He has not said how
long he expects to stay in Havana.
Cuban state
television showed President Raul Castro greeting
Chavez at the airport.
The 56-year-old
leftist leader spent much of today discussing his
health and other issues, including during a
televised speech at the presidential palace.
"Tomorrow I
begin chemotherapy treatment," he said,
"and we’re going to give it everything
we’ve got." He said the treatment would
ensure cancer cells have not reappeared since he
underwent surgery last month to remove a tumor.
After thorough
medical checks, "no malignant cell has been
detected in any other part of my body,"
Chavez said to the applause of aides and allies.
He added there is always a risk cancer cells
might reappear, "and therefore there’s
a need to attack hard through chemotherapy."
Chavez also made
contingencies for his absence by delegating some
of his duties to Vice President Elias Jaua and
Planning and Finance Minister Jorge Giordani.
Chavez previously
had refused opposition demands that he
temporarily cede power to Jaua while undergoing
chemotherapy. But shortly after a legislative
vote approving his trip today morning, Chavez
said at a televised Cabinet meeting that he would
hand off some administrative responsibilities.
"Chavez is now going to be: Chavez
delegating, much more than before," he said.
Chavez said his
decision to entrust some of duties to aides was a
result of "deep reflection" in recent
days. He said his vice president would oversee
budget transfers to government ministries,
presidential commissions, any approved
expropriations of businesses and other
budget-related responsibilities. Giordani would
deal with matters including budget shortfalls and
certain tax exemptions. (AGENCIES)
Japan to suspend nuclear
cooperation talks with India: Report
TOKYO,
July 17: The Japanese government has decided
to suspend negotiations with India and four other
countries on civil nuclear cooperation following
Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s call for
Japan’s eventual exit from atomic power,
according to a media report.
Any move to
proceed with the talks now "could risk
contradicting the Prime Minister’s
policy," an unnamed government source was
quoted as saying by ‘Kyodo’ news
agency.
The report said
the government will suspend talks with India,
Brazil, South Africa, Turkey and the United Arab
Emirates on the sale of Japanese-made nuclear
power equipment and technology. The decision
concerns negotiations over completing separate
nuclear power cooperation agreements with these
countries.
Negotiations with
all five countries have been stalled since the
killer earthquake and tsunami in March triggered
the nuclear crisis in Japan’s Fukushima
Prefecture.
The source also
indicated the government will not schedule any
high-level talks with the five prospective
nations on completing nuclear cooperation accords
without getting Kan’s nod, the report said.
Ministries
involved in forging the accord, including the
Industry Ministry and the Foreign Ministry, will
hold off to also see if and when Kan resigns.
Kan has expressed
his intention to step down if three conditions
are met during the current Diet (Parliament)
session that concludes at the end of August,
including the passage of a bill aimed at
promoting the use of renewable energy sources.
(PTI)
Germany withdraws award for
Russian PM Putin
BERLIN,
July 17: A Berlin-based political
organisation has abandoned its plans to award
this year’s Quadriga prize for enlightenment
to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
following protests from former recipients,
political leaders and human rights organisations.
The Werkstatt
Deutschland ("Workshop Germany")
organisation said it was forced to cancel the
ceremony scheduled for October 3, the Day of
German Unity, because of "massive
criticism" of its decision to honour Putin
for his "contributions for the dependability
and stability of the Russian-German
relations".
In a statement,
its board of trustees said, Workshop Germany was
sharply criticised by German politicians across
the political spectrum, former recipients, human
rights organisations and intellectuals for its
decision to honour Putin.
They expressed the
view that Putin, who is widely criticised in the
West for his authoritarian leadership and
disregard for human rights, especially during his
tenure as the Russian president, is not the right
candidate for the prize.
Besides Putin,
three other nominees, Palestinian Prime Minister
Salaam Fayad, Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia
Espinosa and Turkish-German author and teacher
Betul Durmaz also were to be honoured at the
ceremony.
The statement said
the board of trustees will take a decision in the
coming days on the future of the annual award,
which was instituted in 2003 to honour persons,
who make a contribution to awakening, renewal and
pioneering spirit through their work and become
inspirational to other people.
The award, which
has no monetary component is awarded to four
persons every year, who are seen as "role
models" in Germany for the outside world or
vice-versa.
Among its past
recipients are former Russian President Mikhail
Gorbachev, who ushered in the dramatic political
changes which led to the collapse of communism in
Eastern Europe, Queen Sylvia of Sweden, former
president of the Czech Republic Vaclav Havel,
former German chancellors Helmut Kohl and Gerhard
Schroeder, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Greek
Primer Minister George Papandreou, Israeli
President Shimon Peres and founder of Wikipedia
Jimmy Wales.
Cem Ozdemir,
co-chairman of Germany’s opposition Green
party and Jimmy Wales stepped down from the board
of trustees of the organisation in protest and
Havel threatened to return his prize, which he
received in 2009, if the organisation went ahead
with its plans to honour Putin.
Danish artist
Olafur Eliasson had already returned his
prize,according to media reports.
Withdrawal of
Putin’s nomination for the
"Quadriga" prize comes just two days
before the two nations hold their
inter-governmental consultations in Hannover.
Chancellor Angela
Merkel and Russian president Dimitri Medvedev
will lead their delegations to the meeting, where
further strengthening the economic cooperation
between the two countries will be high on the
agenda.
Several economic
cooperation agreements and business deals are
expected to be signed in their presence. (PTI)
Citi has $22 bn exposure to
five crisis-hit European nations
NEW
YORK, July 17: Banking major Citigroup has exposure
of at least USD 22 billion to five European
nations -- Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and
Italy—grappling with debt woes.
Citi, which fought
the financial meltdown with American
taxpayers’ money, has revealed that exposure
to these five countries include a whopping USD 11
billion net credit exposure.
"As of June
30, 2011, Citi’s net funded exposure to the
sovereign entities of Greece, Ireland, Italy,
Portugal and Spain (GIIPS), as well as financial
institutions and corporations domiciled in these
countries, totalled USD 13 billion, based on our
internal risk management measures," Citi
said.
The debt turmoil
in all these five nations have raised alarming
concerns for the overall health of global
economy. Among them, Greece and Portugal are
fighting severe financial crisis, which even
threatens to result in sovereign defaults.
The disclosure
about its exposure to GIIPS, came on Friday when
India-origin Vikram Pandit-led Citi posted a
profit of USD 3.34 billion for the three months
ended June 2011 -- the entity’s sixth
straight profitable quarter.
Citi’s USD 13
billion exposure includes USD 2 billion worth
assets held in various trading portfolios, that
are marked-to-market daily.
Trading portfolio
exposure level vary, depending on inventory
consistent with customer needs, the banking
entity noted.
According to Citi,
it also has a USD 9 billion unfunded exposure,
primarily to multinational corporations which are
headquartered in GIIPS countries.
"Citi also
has additional, locally-funded exposure in these
countries to retail customers and small
businesses, as part of our local lending
activities.
"The vast
majority of this is in Citi Holdings (Spain and
Greece)...," it said.
The banking
behemoth stressed that Greece, Ireland, Italy,
Portugal and Spain, as well as the financial
institutions and corporations domiciled in these
nations, "are an important part of the
global Citi franchise".
Citi’s latest
quarterly profit of USD 3.34 billion came on the
back of lower credit costs and improved showing
in investment banking segment. (PTI)
Casey Anthony released from
Florida jail
ORLANDO,
FLA, July 17: Casey Anthony was released from a
Florida jail today to resume the life interrupted
three years ago when she was charged with the
murder of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee.
Witnesses saw
Casey Anthony exit the jail and step into a
waiting car shortly after midnight yesterday.
Anthony was
acquitted by a jury on July 5 of culpability in
Caylee’s death. Since then, her future has
been the subject of much speculation, but with no
publicly known facts beyond her jail departure
date.
(AGENCIES)
Angelina-Brad not marrying,
says France Mayor
LOS
ANGELES, July 17: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s
recent marriage speculations have been rubbished
off by a local Mayor of South of France.
The reports
suggested that the two stars will tie the knot
soon in a South of France chapel, reported
People.
But Mayor Michael
Latz, who is a good friend of the actors,
says,"There are no plans for them to marry
that I know of – and I would know.
"Every year,
the rumor resurface. More noise from the American
press to sell a few more pounds of paper,"
he added.
The mayor has been
friendly with Jolie, 36, and Pitt, 47, whom he
says invited him to their home after they first
moved into the Chateau Miraval just outside
Correns three years ago.
There is a chapel,
part of which dates back to the sixteenth
century, on the property, leading to speculation
they might opt for a private, in-house religious
ceremony.
The couple raise
six children together of which three are adopted.
(PTI)
Eva Longoria shoots steamy
scene with female co-star
NEW
YORK, July 17: ‘Desperate Housewives’
actress Eva Longoria will be seen in an intimate
scene with her female co-star Kate Del Castillo
in ‘Without Men’.
The 36-year-old
says that she couldn’t control laughing
while shooting the scenes and felt a little
nervous throughout, reported Huffington Post.
"It was a
little difficult as the two girls are both
straight so they were very nervous and laughed a
lot. But I think that just made it even lovelier.
Female audiences don’t want to watch porn,
so it was all very sensual, both are very
beautiful women aside from being incredibly
funny," said Gabriela Tagliavini, the
film’s director.
The movie follows
the story of a Latin American village that loses
all its men when they are forcibly recruited by a
bunch of guerrilla revolutionaries.
It is then how
women take over the various unsavory roles that
men fill in everyday society, with "The
Office" star Oscar Nunez, as a priest, the
only man in town. (PTI)
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