Pakistan to build more N-plants: Gilani

June 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s nuclear capability was purely for peaceful purposes, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said while declaring that the country would build more power plants to meet its growing energy needs.

Addressing a seminar, Gilani said Pakistan would continue to comply with the requirements of International Atomic Energy Agency’s nuclear safeguard agreements.

“Building and operating nuclear power plants is vital to country’s interests because of its severe energy deficiency,” Gilani was quoted as saying by Associated Press of Pakistan Tuesday.

Gilani said the Atomic Energy Commission was poised to achieve the 8,800 MW nuclear power production by 2030 and he hoped the commission would look beyond 2030 to build more nuclear power plants.

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UN denies receiving Pak govt’s request to delay Benazir murder report publication

April 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Apr.7 (ANI): The United Nations (UN) has rejected reports in the Pakistani media that the government has sought a further delay in the publication of the investigation report of the UN commission probing the former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.

“We have received no new request,” UN spokesperson Marie Okabe said, adding that the report would be released next week.

The Pakistani media had flashed reports that the government has requested the UN to further delay the publication of the report until June or even beyond, The Daily Times reports.

It may be noted that the report was due to be published last month, but the UN delayed the process following President Asif Ali Zardari’s request.

The three-member UN commission, headed by Chilean Ambassador Heraldo Munoz, was set up following a request by the Pakistani government to probe the December 2007 attack on Bhutto, and began its work in July 2009. (ANI)

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The Talbots, Inc. Extends Expiration Date of Its Offer to Exchange Each Outstanding BPW Warrant for Shares of Talbots Common Stock or Talbots Warrants

April 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Offer Extended Until 6:00 pm, New York City Time, on Monday, April 5, 2010

As of 6:00 pm on Friday, April 2, 2010, Approximately 88.0% of BPW Warrants
Issued in Initial Public Offering Had Been Tendered
HINGHAM, Mass.–(Business Wire)–
The Talbots, Inc. (NYSE: TLB) today announced that it is extending its offer to
exchange each outstanding warrant to acquire shares of common stock of BPW
Acquisition Corp. (“BPW”) (NYSE AMEX: BPW) for shares of Talbots common stock or
warrants to acquire shares of Talbots common stock, subject to the election and
proration procedures described in the prospectus/offer to exchange, filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 2010.

The exchange offer is being extended until 6:00 p.m., New York City time, on
Monday, April 5, 2010, unless further extended by Talbots. Holders of BPW
warrants must tender their BPW warrants prior to the expiration date if they
wish to participate in the exchange offer. The exchange offer was previously
scheduled to expire at 6:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 2, 2010.
Approximately 30.8 million BPW warrants (including BPW warrants subject to
guarantees of delivery), or approximately 88.0% of BPW warrants issued in its
initial public offering, had been tendered as of 6:00 p.m., on April 2, 2010.
The minimum condition to consummation of the exchange offer is the tender of 90%
of BPW warrants issued in its initial public offering.

The full terms of the exchange offer, a description of Talbots common stock and
Talbots warrants, the material differences between Talbots common stock and BPW
common stock, the material differences between Talbots warrants and BPW
warrants, and other information relating to the exchange offer, Talbots and BPW,
are set forth in the prospectus/offer to exchange filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on March 17, 2010.

Talbots urges investors and security holders to read its exchange offer
materials, including the prospectus/offer to exchange, Schedule TO and related
materials, because they contain important information about the exchange offer.
Investors and security holders may obtain the prospectus/offer to exchange and
related material through the information agent for the exchange offer, Morrow &
Co., LLC, 470 West Avenue, Stamford, Connecticut 06902; telephone number: (203)
658-9400 or toll free (800) 662-5200.

About The Talbots, Inc.

The Talbots, Inc. is a leading specialty retailer and direct marketer of women`s
apparel, shoes and accessories. At the end of fourth quarter 2009, Talbots
operated 580 Talbots brand stores in 46 states, the District of Columbia, and
Canada. Talbots brand on-line shopping site is located at www.talbots.com.

About BPW Acquisition Corp.

BPW Acquisition Corp. is a special purpose acquisition company formed in 2008
for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset
acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business
combination with one or more operating businesses.

Cautionary Statement and Certain Risk Factors to Consider

In addition to the information set forth in this press release, you should
carefully consider the risk factors and risks and uncertainties included in each
of Talbots` and BPW`s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q, as well as in this press release below.

This press release contains forward-looking information.These statements may be
identified by such forward-looking terminology as “expect,” “achieve,” “plan,”
“look,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “outlook,” “will,” “would,” “should,”
“potential,” or similar statements or variations of such terms. All of the
information concerning Talbots` or BPW`s outlook, future liquidity, future
financial performance and results, future credit facilities and availability,
future cash flows and cash needs, and other future financial performance or
financial position, as well as assumptions underlying such information,
constitute forward-looking information. Forward looking statements are based on
a series of expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about BPW
and/or Talbots, are not guarantees of future results or performance, and involve
substantial risks and uncertainty, including assumptions and projections
concerning liquidity, internal plans, regular-price and markdown selling,
operating cash flows, and credit availability for all forward periods. Business
and forward-looking statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and
uncertainties, including the following risks and uncertainties:

* Talbots` and BPW`s ability to satisfy the conditions to consummation of the
contemplated transactions;
* BPW`s and Talbots` ability to obtain the necessary participation of BPW
warrant holders in the exchange of BPW warrants for Talbots stock or warrants;
* Talbots` ability to satisfy the conditions to the $200 million credit
commitment provided by GE or, failing that, to obtain sufficient alternative
financing on a timely basis;
* the availability of proceeds of the BPW trust account following any exercise
by stockholders of their conversion rights and the incurrence of transaction
expenses;
* the continuing material impact of the deterioration in the U.S. economic
environment over the past two years on Talbots` business, continuing operations,
liquidity, financing plans, and financial results, including substantial
negative impact on consumer discretionary spending and consumer confidence,
substantial loss of household wealth and savings, the disruption and significant
tightening in the U.S. credit and lending markets, and potential long-term
unemployment levels;
* Talbots` level of indebtedness and its ability to refinance or otherwise
address its short-term debt maturities, including all Aeon short-term
indebtedness due April 16, 2010, on the terms or in amounts needed to satisfy
maturities and to address its longer-term liquidity and cash needs, as well as
its working capital, strategic initiatives and other cash requirements;
* any lack of sufficiency of available cash flows and other internal cash
resources to satisfy all future operating needs and other Talbots cash
requirements;
* satisfaction of all borrowing conditions under all Aeon credit facilities
including no events of default, accuracy of all representations and warranties,
solvency conditions, absence of material adverse effect or change, and all other
borrowing conditions;
* risk of any default under Talbots` Aeon credit facilities;
* Talbots` ability to achieve its 2009 financial plan for operating results,
working capital, liquidity and cash flows;
* risks associated with Talbots` appointment of and transition to a new
exclusive global merchandise buying agent and that the anticipated benefits and
cost savings from this arrangement may not be realized or may take longer to
realize than expected, and risk that upon any cessation of the relationship for
any reason Talbots would be able to successfully transition to an internal or
other external sourcing function;
* Talbots` ability to continue to purchase merchandise on open account purchase
terms at existing or future expected levels and with extended payment of
accounts payable and risk that suppliers could require earlier or immediate
payment or other security due to any payment concern or timing;
* risks and uncertainties in connection with any need to source merchandise from
alternate vendors;
* any disruption in Talbots` supply of merchandise;
* Talbots` ability to successfully execute, fund, and achieve supply chain
initiatives, anticipated lower inventory levels, cost reductions, and other
initiatives;
* the risk that anticipated benefits from the sale of the J. Jill brand business
may not be realized or may take longer to realize than expected and the risk
that estimated or anticipated costs, charges and liabilities to settle and
complete the transition and exit from and disposal of the J. Jill brand
business, including both retained obligations and contingent risk for assigned
obligations, may materially differ from or be materially greater than
anticipated;
* Talbots` ability to accurately estimate and forecast future regular-price and
markdown selling, operating cash flows and other future financial results and
financial position;
* the success and customer acceptance of Talbots merchandise offerings;
* future store closings and success of and necessary funding for closing
underperforming stores;
* risk of impairment of goodwill and other intangible and long-lived assets; and
* the risk of continued compliance with NYSE continued listing conditions.

All of the forward-looking statements are as of the date of this press release
only. In each case, actual results may differ materially from such
forward-looking information. Neither Talbots nor BPW can give any assurance that
such expectations or forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. An
occurrence of or any material adverse change in one or more of the risk factors
or risks and uncertainties referred to in this press release or included in
Talbots` and/or BPW`s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission could materially and adversely affect Talbots` and/or BPW`s
continuing operations and Talbots` and/or BPW`s future financial results, cash
flows, prospects, and liquidity. Except as required by law, neither Talbots nor
BPW undertakes or plans to update or revise any such forward-looking statements
to reflect actual results, changes in plans, assumptions, estimates or
projections, or other circumstances affecting such forward-looking statements
occurring after the date of this press release, even if such results, changes or
circumstances make it clear that any forward-looking information will not be
realized. Any public statements or disclosures by Talbots and BPW following this
press release which modify or impact any of the forward-looking statements
contained in this press release will be deemed to modify or supersede such
statements in this press release.

Important Additional Information and Where to Find It

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of
an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote, consent or
approval. Talbots has filed with the SEC, and the SEC has declared effective, a
Registration Statement on Form S-4 containing a Prospectus/Proxy
Statement/Information Statement regarding the proposed merger transaction
between Talbots and BPW. The final Prospectus/Proxy Statement/Information
Statement regarding the proposed merger transaction has been mailed to
stockholders of Talbots and BPW. Talbots has also filed with the SEC, and the
SEC has declared effective, a Registration Statement on Form S-4 containing a
Prospectus/Offer to Exchange and other documents, as required, in connection
with the warrant exchange offer. The Prospectus/Offer to Exchange and related
offer documents have been mailed to warrantholders of BPW. Investors and
security holders are urged to read the Prospectus/Proxy Statement/Information
Statement, the Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, any amendments or supplements
thereto and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC when available
carefully because they contain important information. Investors and security
holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statements, the
final Prospectus/Proxy Statement/Information Statement, the Prospectus/Offer to
Exchange, any amendments or supplements thereto and other documents filed with
the SEC by Talbots and BPW through the web site maintained by the SEC at
www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders will be able to obtain
free copies of the Registration Statements, the final Prospectus/Proxy
Statement/Information Statement, the Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, and any
amendments or supplements thereto when they become available from Talbots by
requesting them in writing at Investor Relations Department, One Talbots Drive,
Hingham, MA 02043, or by telephone at (781) 741-4500. The documents filed by BPW
may also be obtained by requesting them in writing to Doug McGovern at BPW
Acquisition Corp., 767 Fifth Avenue, 5th Floor, NY, NY 10153, or by telephone at
(212) 287-3200.

The offer by Talbots to exchange all warrants exercisable for shares of BPW
common stock for shares of Talbots common stock and warrants exercisable for
shares of Talbots common stock, subject to the election and proration procedures
set forth in the Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, will only be made pursuant to
such Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, the letter of election and transmittal and
other offer documents initially filed with the SEC on March 1, 2010, as amended
or supplemented. The warrant exchange offer is scheduled to expire at 6:00 p.m.,
New York City time, on April 5, 2010, unless further extended. If the offer is
extended, Talbots will notify the exchange agent for the offer and issue a press
release announcing the extension on or before 9:00 a.m. New York City time on
the first business day following the date the exchange offer was scheduled to
expire.

The Talbots, Inc.
Julie Lorigan
Senior Vice President, Investor and Media Relations
781-741-7775
or
Berns Communications Group
Stacy Berns/Melissa Jaffin – Investor/Media Relations
212-994-4660

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , ,

Healthways Extends Maturity of Revolving Credit Facility to December 1, 2013

April 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

NASHVILLE, Tenn.–(Business Wire)–
Healthways, Inc. (NASDAQ: HWAY) today announced a two-year extension of its
revolving credit facility to a new maturity date of December 1, 2013.
Availability during the two-year extension beginning December 1, 2011 will be
$345 million, including a swingline sub facility that has been increased to $20
million from $10 million and a $75 million sub facility for letters of credit.

In regards to the extension, Mary A. Chaput, the Company`s Chief Financial
Officer, commented, “The Company is pleased with the terms and the amount of the
revolving credit extension. We fully achieved our objectives of extending the
term of our revolver, reducing our unused capacity, and retaining attractive
pricing. We believe that the reduction from $400 million to $345 million in
capacity during the two-year extension will save the Company on unused
commitment fees, yet with only $87 million drawn as of March 31, 2010, still
provide ample financial flexibility to execute the Company`s strategies over the
term of the extension.”

As a result of this extension, which became effective March 30, 2010, the
interest rate on the Company`s outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit
facility will increase by approximately 100 basis points, while the cost of
undrawn commitments will increase by approximately 12.5 basis points. The
Company`s financial guidance for 2010 remains unchanged as a result of this
extension.

Safe Harbor Provisions

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including guidance and
financial expectations for future periods, which are based upon current
expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Those
forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical
statements of fact and those regarding the intent, belief or expectations of the
Company, including, without limitation, all statements regarding the Company`s
future earnings and results of operations. In order for the Company to utilize
the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995, investors are hereby cautioned that these statements may be affected by
the important factors, among others, set forth in the Company`s Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, and other filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. Consequently, actual operations and
results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking
statements.

The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such
forward-looking statements.

About Healthways

Healthways is the leading provider of specialized, comprehensive solutions to
help millions of people maintain or improve their health and well-being and, as
a result, reduce overall costs. Healthways’ solutions are designed to help
healthy individuals stay healthy, mitigate and slow the progression of disease
associated with family or lifestyle risk factors and promote the best possible
health for those already affected by disease. Our proven, evidence-based
programs provide highly specific and personalized interventions for each
individual in a population, irrespective of age or health status, and are
delivered to consumers by phone, mail, internet and face-to-face interactions,
both domestically and internationally. Healthways also provides a national,
fully accredited complementary and alternative Health Provider Network and a
national Fitness Center Network, offering convenient access to individuals who
seek health services outside of, and in conjunction with, the traditional
healthcare system. For more information, please visit www.healthways.com.

Healthways, Inc.
Mary A. Chaput, 615-614-4929
Chief Financial Officer

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , ,

Congress – NCP to finalise seat-sharing formula on Saturday

September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Sep 19 (ANI): The crucial meeting of the Congress Party and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders will be held here on Saturday to give the final shape to the seat sharing agreement for next month’s Maharashtra Assembly polls.

The Election Commission issued notification for the assembly polls in Maharashtra, which is to be held on October 13.

On Thursday it was reported that both parties had broadly agreed to a formula of 174: 114 seats for the Congress and the NCP respectively.

The Maharashtra Assembly has 298 constituencies.

Poll management leaders of both the Congress and the NCP met their respective party chiefs on Friday after three days of negotiations.

They had earlier held a series of discussions in Mumbai to give final shape to the seat sharing process.

If the current formula gets the stamp of approval of both parties then the NCP would settle for ten seats less than what it contested the last time.

Meanwhile the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – Shiv Sena alliance settled on a seat sharing, for 119 for the BJP and 169 seats for Shiv Sena (ANI)

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Veraval riots: Nanavati Commission not to issue notice against Modi

September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Ahmedabad, Sep.19 (ANI): In a major reprieve for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the Justice Girish Thakorlal Nanavati Commission on Saturday confirmed that it would not be issuing any notice to him in connection with the communal riots in Veraval.

However, the commission has asked the State Government to give it transcripts of the conversations that took place prior to the riots, during the riots and in its aftermath.

The commission has so far given a clean chit to Modi in the post-Godhra events. The Nanavati Commission said there was no evidence to show there was lapse in Modi’s or his ministers’ role in providing protection, relief and rehabilitation to the victims of communal riots or in the matter of not complying with the recommendations and direction given by the National Human Rights Commission.

Communal attacks on Muslims took place in Gujarat between February and May 2002.

The riots occurred after the burning of the Sabarmati Express. According to official figures tabled in the parliament, more than a thousand people were killed (790 Muslims and 254 Hindus) in the violence after the train incident. More than two hundred and fifty thousand people were displaced (about 200,000 Muslims and 40,000 Hindus).

Organizations such as Human Rights Watch criticized the Indian government for failure to address the resulting humanitarian condition of people, “overwhelming majority of them Muslim,” who fled their homes for relief camps in the aftermath of the events.

Many of the investigations and prosecution of those accused of violence during the riots have been opened for reinvestigation and prosecution. According to an official estimate, 1044 people were killed in the violence, including those killed in the Godhra train fire. Another 223 people were reported missing, 2,548 injured, 919 women widowed and 606 children orphaned. About 100,000 Muslims and 40,000 Hindus were in relief camps. (ANI)

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Election Commission issues notification for assembly elections in three states

September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Sep. 18 (ANI): The process for forthcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh will begin formally with the issuance of notification on Friday.

The prospective candidates would be able to file their nomination papers till September 25.

The prospective candidates can file nomination papers to the Returning Officer or to the Assistant Returning Officer from Friday till September 25.

The assembly elections in three states are expected to be a litmus test for all major parties after the Lok Sabha elections.

The vote-counting will take place on October 22.

It is notable that all the three states that are ruled by Congress, which shares power in Maharashtra with NCP as a major coalition partner.

Maharashtra has a 288-member Assembly, Haryana a 90-member House and Arunachal Pradesh Assembly has 60 members.

There are 2,061 polling stations in Arunachal Pradesh, 12,894 in Haryana and 82,028 in Maharashtra. (ANI)

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Karzai unlikely to claim Afghan election victory soon

September 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Sep.17 (ANI): With accusations of vote fraud piling up around Afghanistan’s presidential election, incumbent Hamid Karzai is unlikely to claim victory any time soon.

At the very least, a national electoral complaints commission investigating fraudulent voting will take weeks to determine how much of Karzai’s officially declared 54.6 percent of the vote will be tossed out, reports the Christian Science Monitor.

At the other extreme, a potential need for a runoff vote could end up stretching Afghanistan’s political turmoil into next spring – presenting President Obama and other NATO leaders with an unsettled and deteriorating climate just as crucial policy decisions are under review.

Marvin Weinbaum, a former State Department intelligence specialist in Asian affairs now at the Middle East Institute in Washington, said:. “We face a possible constitutional crisis that, if not resolved, becomes a disaster for us, and a partner [Karzai] acting in ways that in effect raise questions as to whether he should be in there or not.”

Aside from a runoff vote, which could be declared if investigations show Karzai’s total falling below 50 percent, some parties are calling for a coalition government, while others support the idea of a nonpolitical transitional government.

That debate has crystallized in a row between foreign officials over the best way to address Afghanistan’s political predicament. Peter Galbraith, a senior US official working in Kabul as the deputy special UN representative for Afghanistan, abruptly left the country after clashing with his boss, Kai Eide, over what path forward to advocate.

Galbraith favors a larger recount of votes, even if it leads to a runoff between Karzai and his main political rival, Abdullah Abdullah, and an extended period of political uncertainty. (ANI)

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Archaeologists discover gemstone carrying portrait of Alexander the Great

September 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, September 16 (ANI): An archaeological team, during excavations in Israel, has discovered a gemstone that has a portrait of Alexander the Great engraved on it.

The excavations at Tel Dor were carried out by an archaeological team, which was directed by Dr. Ayelet Gilboa of the University of Haifa and Dr. Ilan Sharon of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

“Despite its miniature dimensions – the stone is less than a centimeter high and its width is less than half a centimeter – the engraver was able to depict the bust of Alexander on the gem without omitting any of the ruler’s characteristics,” said Dr. Gilboa, Chair of the Department of Archaeology at the University of Haifa.

“The emperor is portrayed as young and forceful, with a strong chin, straight nose and long curly hair held in place by a diadem,” he added.

The Tel Dor researchers have noted that it is surprising that a work of art such as this would be found in Israel, on the periphery of the Hellenistic world.

“It is generally assumed that the master artists – such as the one who engraved the image of Alexander on this particular gemstone – were mainly employed by the leading Hellenistic courts in the capital cities, such as those in Alexandria in Egypt and Seleucia in Syria,” according to the researchers.

“This new discovery is evidence that local elites in secondary centers, such as Tel Dor, appreciated superior objects of art and could afford ownership of such items,” they added.

The significance of the discovery at Dor is in the gemstone being uncovered in an orderly excavation, in a proper context of the Hellenistic period.

This tiny gem was unearthed by a volunteer during excavation of a public structure from the Hellenistic period in the south of Tel Dor, excavated by a team from the University of Washington at Seattle headed by Prof. Sarah Stroup.

Dr. Jessica Nitschke, professor of classical archaeology at Georgetown University in Washington DC, identified the engraved motif as a bust of Alexander the Great.

This has been confirmed by Prof. Andrew Stewart of the University of California at Berkeley, an expert on images of Alexander and author of a book on this topic.

Alexander was probably the first Greek to commission artists to depict his image – as part of a personality cult that was transformed into a propaganda tool. (ANI)

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Malaysian spiritual seeker who ‘went through bad karma in India’ leaves for home

September 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Sep. 11 (ANI): A Malaysian spiritual seeker, who landed in a Varanasi jail for violating Indian immigration laws, has finally left for home in Johor.

After being released from jail on August 27, Lim Soon Seng was waiting to obtain his exit certificate from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office in Delhi to leave India.

“I was shattered in prison. All I wanted to do was to heal and help people but I went through some bad karma in India. There were so many legal complications.

“It placed so much stress on my family and me. Now I am free and happy to go home and see my sister,” The Star Online quoted Lim as saying before his departure on a Malaysia Airlines flight for Kuala Lumpur.

A follower of the Krishna Consciousness movement, Lim of Johor landed on the ghats of Varanasi in 2001. For the next six years he diligently renewed his visa as he wandered in orange robes with sadhus and lived a life of solitude.

But Lim’s spiritual sojourn turned into a nightmare when his passport expired in 2005 and he failed to renew it.

For the next 20 months, Lim, in his 50s, languished in Varanasi jail, one of the most crowded and dreaded Indian jails where notorious criminals are held.

Lim was charged under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, where offenders can face a jail sentence of between six months and seven years.

A German diplomat, who visited the jail to meet a fellow citizen, came across Lim and notified the Malaysian High Commission in Delhi about his predicament.

Once the embassy assured the local district magistrate that he would be repatriated to Malaysia safely, Lim was released. (ANI)

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IAAF in a fix as tests prove Semenya is a hermaphrodite

September 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Melbourne, Sep 11 (ANI): The International Association of Athletics Federations is likely to strip champion runner Caster Semenya of the gold medal she won in Berlin last month, as a test has shown that she is a hermaphrodite – a person with both female and male sexual characteristics.

The tests, not yet publicly released, show the 18-year-old has no womb or ovaries.

The IAAF is expected to disqualify the South African from future events and advise her to have surgery because her condition carries grave health risks, The Daily Telegraph reports.

And she could be stripped of the gold medal she won in Berlin in last month, as she has three times more testosterone than a normal female.

A source closely involved with the IAAF tests said Semenya had internal testes — the male sexual organs, which produce testosterone.

“There certainly is evidence Semenya is a hermaphrodite. But the trouble is the IAAF now has the whole ANC and the whole of South Africa on their backs. Everything is going to have to be done absolutely by the book, no question of a challenge to the findings,” the source said.

It is believed that Semenya is unaware the tests has identified her as a hermaphrodite.

Only the certainty of a backlash from South Africa has so far prevented the IAAF from banning Semenya and revoking her gold medal.

South Africa embraced the feisty teenager after the storm of controversy from Berlin, declaring her “Our girl”.

African National Congress MP and National Assembly sports committee chairman Butana Komphela has already lodged a complaint with the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights, accusing the IAAF of racism and sexism.

The IAAF expects to receive the full set of results this week. (ANI)

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CBI records Buta Singh’s statement in bribery case

September 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Sep 10 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday recorded the statement of Buta Singh, Chairman for the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), in connection with a bribery case involving his son Sarobjit Singh.

A two-member CBI team recorded Buta Singh’s statement at his NCSC office in the Lok Nayak Bhavan in the national capital.

Heavy security arrangements were made at the Lok Nayak Bhavan during the recording of Singh’s statement.

Singh had informed the Delhi High Court on August 31 that he would appear before the CBI only after it clarified that he is required as a witness and not as an accused in the case.

Earlier, Singh, had struck a defiant note saying CBI has no authority to question a constitutional functionary having powers of a civil court, without Central Government’s sanction.

The CBI arrested Sarobjit, on July 31 for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs one crore from a Nashik-based contractor to dispose off an atrocity case against him pending before the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) headed by Buta Singh.

The Lok Nayak Bhavan was declared out of bounds for the public and also to the media till 2 p.m. (ANI)

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Scientists develop robotic hand that ‘restores sense of touch’

September 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sept 10 (ANI): The first robotic hand to give amputees a sense of touch has been created by Swedish scientists.

When pressed against an object the 40 sensors in the Smarthand get activated. It also has four motors, which move the thumb and fingers.

They stimulate nerves in the arm to activate the appropriate part of the brain. This allows patients to feel objects they are holding, reports Sky News.

“It’s a feeling I have not had in a long time,” said Robin af Ekenstam, the first amputee to try the hand.

“When I grab something tightly I can feel it in the fingertips. It’s strange since I don’t have them any more! It’s amazing,” he added.

The motors are connected to nerves in the arm that once moved Robin’s real digits. Thanks to the “hand”, he’s able to pick up a plastic water bottle, without crushing it, and pour himself a drink.

Professor Goran Lundborg, a surgeon at Malmo University Hospital, said the artificial hand was a significant advance.

“If you find the right spot the correct areas of the brain cortex will be activated. If you put pressure on the index finger of the artificial hand then the index finger area of the brain will be activated,” he said.

The research is funded by the European Commission. (ANI)

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US in delicate spot over Afghan vote fraud claims: NYT

September 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Sep.9 (ANI): Though Obama administration officials are reluctant to confirm that there has been wholesale fraud in the presidential elections in Afghanistan, they have recognised that with President Hamid Karzai getting a slim majority, that they will have to keep dealing with him for another five years.

While there are clearly numerous egregious instances of fraud or vote-rigging, these officials said, it would take further investigation to judge whether, as one put it, “this whole thing is rotten, top to bottom.”

According to the New York Times, their caution reflects the fact that while the initial vote-counting has reached its conclusion, the Electoral Complaints Commission, an Afghan and international panel that will certify the final count, is still in the early stages of an investigation that could take several weeks.

They know that raising too many doubts about Karzai’s legitimacy could make it impossible to work with him later.

“Even if we get a second round of voting, the odds are still high that Karzai will win. We have a fundamental interest in building up the legitimacy of the Karzai government,” said Bruce Riedel, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who advised the administration on its Afghan policy.

European diplomats have also expressed a similar frustration that they were powerless to do much now except wait.

“There’s a great perception out there that Karzai has stolen this,” one diplomat said.

“I’m realistic enough to know that there’s not much we can do about that right now,” he adds.

The American ambassador in Kabul, Karl W. Eikenberry, has briefed US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and has also delivered a blunt message to Karzai: “Don’t declare victory.”

The slim majority tentatively awarded to Karzai, has put the Obama administration in an awkward spot: trying to balance its professed determination to investigate mounting allegations of corruption and vote-rigging while not utterly alienating the man who seems likely to remain the country’s leader for another five years.

“We realize that the allegations have reached such a level that we need to be very careful to allow the process to breathe,” said an administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

“The message was, Let’s make sure that the electoral bodies do their work, and do it rigorously,” he added.

On Tuesday, the United Nations-backed commission that is the ultimate arbiter of the vote said it found “clear and convincing evidence of fraud” at several polling stations and ordered a partial recount.

Election officials said Karzai won 54.1 percent of the vote, a percentage that, if certified, would spare him a runoff against his main challenger, Abdullah Abdullah, who received 28.3 percent. (ANI)

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Jet Airways sacks three pilot, calls strike illegal

September 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Sep. 8 (ANI): Jet Airways, which had to cancel 190 flights by 2 p.m. on Tuesday due to mass sick leave taken by its pilots, has sacked three pilots.

The airliner has called the agitation illegal, and has secured a restraint order from Bombay High Court against any strike.

“The Bombay High Court has passed an order restraining any kind of strike,” Jet CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer was quoted as saying.

“We were assured by the National Aviators Guild last night that there would be no strike and we went by this assurance. But we were shocked by the mass sick leave by about 360 pilots… it is nothing but a simulated strike,” he added.

The Jet pilots have been protesting the sacking of two of their colleagues by the management for reportedly joining the guild.

Asked what action the management would take against the striking pilots and if the two-sacked pilots could be reinstated, Prock-Shauer declined to comment.

Prock-Schauer also said that he was confident about normal services by Wednesday.

“The matter is on in the Labour Commission and we would not like to comment,” he said.

Jet Airways had earlier sought the Directorate General of Civil Aviation”s (DGCA) intervention to resolve the crisis.

Last month, Jet Airways had terminated the services of two of its senior most pilots, saying their services were not required after both formed a trade union body within the company.

A conciliatory meeting was called on August 31 between the Jet Airways management and the union, which claims to have representation of over 650 pilots.

Jet Airways has 1000 pilots on its rolls.

Although the National Aviators Guild (NAG) has decided not to go on the proposed strike, its members have decided on an alternate course of protest like going on mass casual leave to hamper operations of the private carrier. (ANI)

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More than half Britons get injured while eating biscuits!

September 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, September 8 (ANI): Britons have an amusing way of getting injured – eating biscuits on coffee or tea breaks.

According to a survey conducted by Mindlab International, on commission by Rocky, a chocolate biscuit bar, more than half of Britons have been injured while eating biscuits during a tea or coffee break.

Moreover, 500 people have landed themselves in hospital, the Telegraph reports.

Flying fragments or dunking in scalding tea hurt maximum people.

Some even poked themselves in the eye with a biscuit, while few fell off a chair reaching for the tin.

One man even ended up stuck in wet concrete after wading in to pick up a stray biscuit.

In a list of biscuits linked with potential dangers, the custard cream biccy beat the cookie to be ranked the top.

The safest of all was Jaffa cakes with a risk rating of 1.16 compared to custard cream with 5.63, as calculated by The Biscuit Injury Threat Evaluation.

The research also found that 28 per cent of people had choked on crumbs while one in 10 had broken a tooth or filling biting a biscuit.

In more funny ways of getting injured, seven percent had been bitten by a pet or “other wild animal” when trying to get their biscuit.

Mindlab International director Dr David Lewis said: “We tested the physical properties of 15 popular types of biscuits, along with aspects of their consumption such as ‘dunkability’ and crumb dispersal.”

Mike Driver, Marketing Director for Rocky added: “We commissioned this study after learning how many biscuit related injuries are treated by doctors each year.”

The full list of riskiest biscuits: Custard Cream 5.64, Cookie 4.34, Choc Biscuit Bar (eg: Rocky) 4.12, Wafer 3.74, Rich Tea 3.45, Bourbon 3.44, Oat Biscuit 3.31, Digestive 3.14, Ginger Nut 2.99, Shortbread 2.90, Caramel Shortcake 2.76, Nice Biscuit 2.27, Iced Biscuits/Party Rings 2.16, Chocolate Finger 1.38, Jaffa Cakes 1.16. (ANI)

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Afghanistan Electoral Commission rejects some votes due to irregularities

September 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kabul, Sep. 7 (ANI): Afghanistan’s electoral commission has rejected results from hundreds of presidential polling stations due to “irregularities”.

According to a Sky News report, the Independent Election Commission (IEC) has thrown out results from 447 voting sites because of irregularities.

The IEC has investigated over 650 claims of serious violations during and after the August 20 vote.

The commission has the power to nullify the results from districts or provinces, or even call for a new election, if it finds large-scale fraud.

President Karzai is currently leading the polls with a 48 percent vote, while his main rival and former foreign minister Dr. Abdullah has got over 33 percent of the vote.

Commission chairman Daoud Ali Najafi has insisted the commission was unbiased in fulfilling its duties throughout the process. (ANI)

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Britain is culturally sexist, says equality watchdog

September 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sep. 6 (ANI): The Chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Trevor Phillips, has declared that Britain is ‘culturally sexist,’ and yet to reach a consensus about whether women are equal to men.

According to Phillips, most bosses still operate on the pretext that their workers are male, and even organisations with vast resources into countering discrimination remain biased.

“There is still a huge argument to settle. As a nation, we haven’t quite got a consensus about whether women really are equal or not,” The Times quoted him, as saying.

“We have a culture which produces bias, even when people don’t mean it to, even when they are doing their damnedest to make things change,” he added.hillips said “serious culture change and institutional reform” was needed to put women on an equal footing with men.

His comments coincide with a time when the latest government-commissioned investigation is expected to show pay gaps of up to 60 percent for some women doing the same jobs as men.

Tomorrow’s report is expected to reveal that women are “locked out” of top jobs in the City because employers “massively and preferentially” hire and promote staff between the ages of 25 and 40.

“It’s like Hollywood. There’s no role for women over 40,” Phillips said.

“The fact is, most offices, no matter how enlightened the bosses are, still operate on the premise that the average ‘normal’ worker is male, that someone will look after his children if he has them, that he will be able to work 9am-5pm most days – that’s how we organise things. Doesn’t work for most women,” he added.

He named the BBC and the Metropolitan police as two institutions that had failed to eradicate sexism despite ploughing resources into the problem.

“These organisations have tried very hard. But at some point we are going to need radical cultural change and institutional reform if we’re not going to get stuck at a place where in 20 years’ time we’ll still be saying, ‘why haven’t we got any women on boards?’ (ANI)

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Pak wants relationship with India on ‘equal footing’: Gilani

September 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, Sep.6 (ANI): Stressing the need for resumption of bilateral talks with India, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said Islamabad wants relations with New Delhi on an equal footing.

“We want relations with India on an equal basis and it is our resolve that we will not allow our soil to be used for terrorism. Therefore, we want a proper dialogue to be resumed as in the present situation, the terrorists are getting benefit of the situation,” Gilani said.

Interacting with media persons at the Governor’s House here, Gilani said tensions between India and Pakistan would benefit the militants, so it was important for both countries to restart the peace process as soon as possible.

“We want relations with India on the basis of equality. If Pakistan and India do not enter into negotiations for the betterment of the region, then someone else would get the benefit. If there will not be bilateral talks, the terrorists will take advantage of it,” The News quoted Gilani, as saying.

Commenting on the massive reshuffle in the bureaucracy, Gilani defended his action saying it was important to ensure efficiency, integrity and quality in the system.

Gilani has revamped the top bureaucratic posts, replacing over a dozen federal secretaries in several ministries with over 50 civil servants.

In what is being touted as the single largest grade-22 promotion in many years, secretaries of interior, information, industries, privatisation commission, labour, and special secretary of finance are among those who have been replaced with the newly promoted officers.

However, the move has being criticized by many civil servants, as they believe the reshuffle reeks of nepotism and favouritism. (ANI)

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Election Commission reviews Haryana assembly election arrangements

September 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Chandigarh, Sep 5 (ANI): The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday visited Haryana and met leaders of various political parties to review arrangements being made prior to the Haryana Assembly elections scheduled to be held on October 13.

Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla, Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi and Assistant Election Commissioner Alok Shukla met leaders of Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India(M), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD).

Congress Secretary Rajinder Singh Saini represented the party in the meeting and assured the EC that Congress was committed to follow its directions.

Meanwhile, INLD General Secretary Ajay Chautala and BSP’s state President Parkash Bharti said that the EC should conduct polls through ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines to have a fair election.

According to reports, the EC also held a meeting with the Divisional Commissioners, Inspector Generals of Police (Ambala, Hissar, Rohtak and Gurgaon), Commissioners of Police (Gurgaon and Faridabad) and District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police of 21 districts. (ANI)

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