How to stay fit in flu season

Washington, Sept 20 (ANI): As cold and flu season approaches, giving up junk food for more healthy options would help maintain a strong immune system.

Dr Ara DerMarderosian, professor of pharmacognosy for University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and an expert in nutraceuticals and natural foods, have provided guidance to change how you eat and break habits that pack on the pounds and compromise immunity.

? Don’t play “food police”

Be conscious of what and how much you eat, but don’t overdo self-monitoring to the point that a healthy lifestyle shifts from being a choice to becoming overwhelming, pushing other activities away and interfering with relationships.

? Pay attention to true hunger

Listen to your hunger signals and refrain from eating when you’re not hungry. Eating when your body doesn’t need food can cause you to overindulge.

? Eat slowly

Eat like a gourmet – enjoy each bite to have, chewing methodically, and truly enjoy the taste of your food. Eating slowly gives your body time to break down the food, which can prevent post-meal indigestion and feeling bloated.

? Focus on eating

Do not watch television, read or work while you eat. When you’re not focused on eating, it’s unlikely you’ll notice how much is going in your mouth.

? Avoid eating when stressed

Stress is a well-known cause of overeating and digestive issues, such as heartburn. A relaxing atmosphere, enjoyable company and conversation, and not feeling rushed for time makes for a healthy meal.

? Everything in moderation

Eating food is pleasurable, so enjoy a few morsels of candy, but limit the quantity. (ANI)

Macca says Beatles overindulged in drugs

Washington, Sept 11 (ANI): Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney is amazed he and his band mates survived the excessive drug habit they had in their heyday.

The singer admits that the Fab Four overindulged in drugs, often falling asleep during recording sessions.

“(We were) overdoing substances and really getting crazy, as we all were… (We’d be) falling asleep – the kinda thing when you can hardly get your head off the pillow. You go, ‘Woah, I’d better get my head off this pillow,’” McCartney was quoted by Contactmusic as saying in the U.S. news show Entertainment Tonight.

However, the 67-year-old star also confessed it was during on such drug session that he wrote the Beatles classic Let It Be.

He said: “I had a dream, where my mother, who had been dead, by then, 10 years came to me in the dream and was very sort of helpful and very calming, and it was lovely just to see her… and she said, ‘Don’t worry about it… Let it be.’

“I went, ‘OK’, and I felt so good… and I woke up and wrote Let It Be. I thought, ‘That’s a good idea for a song.’” (ANI)

Arnie believes sex is most important part of marriage

Washington, September 11 (ANI): Comedian Tom Arnold has revealed that California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger advised him before his wedding that sex is the most important thing in marriage.

The ‘Pride’ star met the actor turned politician just before marrying his fourth wife Ashley Groussman.

“He (Schwarzenegger) called me and he said he was concerned. He said, ‘It’s getting close to the marriage, how’s the sex?… Keep your eye on that,” Contactmusic quoted him as saying.

Tom added: “He doesn’t mean it in a sexy way, he means keep it (the marriage passionate), because you forget about the important things and sex is important in the marriage. He’s reminding me: Don’t forget about the sex!’”

The two became friends long before the ‘Terminator’ star joined politics. (ANI)

US in delicate spot over Afghan vote fraud claims: NYT

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)

Aniston thinks “laziness” makes relationship fail

Washington, September 8 (ANI): Jennifer Aniston believes “laziness” causes relationships to fail.

The actress, who split from former husband Brad Pitt, actor Vince Vaughn, model Paul Sculfor and singer John Mayer, shared her relationship wisdom with Australia’s Harper’s Bazaar magazine.

“Why does the romance leave relationships? I think it’s laziness. I really do,” Contactmusic quoted her as saying.

“I think a good relationship is about collaboration. That’s the way to go in a relationship,” she added.

The “Friends” star further revealed what she thought made romances work, saying: “I think you just need to talk to each other. Say what you need. Say what you want. That way it’s not threatening.

“You just need to say, ‘This is important to me.’ Don’t expect your mate to read your mind.” (ANI)

‘Special to take final Australian wicket to clinch Ashes’ says Swann

London, Aug 25(ANI): England cricketer Graeme Swann, who took the last Australian wicket to clinch the Ashes, has said that he has never experienced anything like the surge of emotion and happiness he felt after winning the Ashes.

Swann said that he would cherish the day and the experience for rest of his life, as he has seen all the phases in his career and the experience on the final day at The Oval beats it all.

“I’ve experienced some dark days in my career when I didn’t think I’d get into my county team, let alone play for England. But, however low I felt then is not comparable to how high I have felt since we won at The Oval. I would take 364 rubbish days a year just to have one like that,” Swann wrote in The Sun.

He highlighted that it was special to take the wicket, and said that he was praying for fellow bowler Steve Harmison to miss it.

“Harmison was bowling and the crowd was going mad but deep down I was thinking, ‘Don’t get him out, I want to finish this off!’ Honestly, I wouldn’t have minded if Harmy had got it,” he added.

Swann further said that the incident was so phenomenal, that he was confusion made it hard for him to decide whether to laugh, cry or dance around.

“Paul Collingwood said to me after the game that I should cherish the moment because it might not happen again. He was right. It was the best feeling I’ve ever had playing cricket. I doubt if I’ll ever feel that good again,” he added. (ANI)

Rajnath stays mum on Jaswant, says Advani will continue to lead BJP

Shimla, Aug 21 (ANI ) : Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) President Rajnath Singh, on Friday refused to take any questions from the media on the issue of expulsion of former External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh from the party and said L.K Advani will continue to lead the party “forever.”

” Advaniji will lead the party for longer time.”

Addressing the media at the end of the three-day Chintan Baithak here, Singh said “Don’t bring up the old issues again, and I told whatever I can on day one.”

Singh said the members attending the Chintan Baithak had decided to be tough on the ideological and individual discipline of party leaders and workers.

He urged party leaders and workers to adopt a model life style in their public as well as personal life.

Singh also said the BJP has decided to stick to its core ideology of cultural nationalism as said in the ideological draft of “Integral Humanism.”

Integral Humanism is a draft of five speeches made by Jan Sangh President Din Dayal Upadhyaya. The BJP adopted Integral Humanism as its philosophy in place of Gandhian Socialism at Party’s National Executive of 1984 held at Kolkata.

The analysis of party’s performance on all the fronts made at the Chintan Baithak would be discussed at a general secretaries meeting soon.

He also said that the party would constitute a committee to draft the “road ahead” map for the party, which would be placed before party’s National Executive in September – October.

” I will call a meeting of senior leaders and all general secretaries to discuss the analysation made here, and a committee will be formed to prepare a road map draft for the party, which will be placed before the national executive,” Singh said.

Singh also rebuffed allegations of any leakage of the draft of the party’s performance.

“Both Bal Apte and Ram Lal were assigned to analyse the party performance based on the reports given by various state units, and accordingly they put their views before the meeting. And they brought all the points in their diary and no draft was prepared, “Singh explained.

Considering RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s suggestion to give preference to youngsters, Singh said : ” The meeting considered the sarsnghchalkji’s statement and decided to give preference for youngsters from Mandal level to the Central level.”

Rajnath read out the points of the resolutions adopted by the meet, which states, (1) The BJP will be committed to the ideology of cultural nationalism and Integral Humanism, (2)Stress on expansion of party’s geological and social base, (3) Preference to women, youths, farmers in party leadership (4) Strengthening NDA, (5) No compromise on discipline (6) Role model administration by the party’s governments at the state level, (7)Constructive and aggressive opposition at the centre and (8) Leading model life by leaders and workers of the party.

Singh said no one is responsible for party’s debacle, ” No one is responsible for election debacle. If at all any one is responsible, its Rajnath Singh, I owe my responsibility being party chief.” (ANI)

Susan Sarandon, John Goodman team up with Al Pacino

Washington, July 14 (ANI): American actress Susan Sarandon is set to reunite with her ‘Speed Racer’ co-star John Goodman in Al Pacino’s forthcoming drama, ‘You Don’t Know Jack’.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Pacino, 69, will be playing the part of ‘suicide doctor’ Jack Kevorkian, in the upcoming TV biopic.

The movie by director Barry Levinson, is based on the medic who created the ‘Mercy MAChine’ in a bid to help patients end their lives, reports Contactmusic.

Sarandon, 62, will be playing the part of Kevorkian’s activist friend Janet Good, while Goodman, 57, will star as the doctor’s long-time laboratory partner, Nicol. (ANI)

Don’t link terrorism with Islam: Imran Khan

Lahore, July 5 (ANI): Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has said that terrorism should not be linked with Islam.

Talking to media persons after visiting Jamia Naeemia to express grief over the assassination of country’s top religious scholar Sarfaraz Naeemi here, Khan termed the suicide bombings as a ‘political issue.’

“No religion can allow suicide bombing. There is no solution to this problem in Islam. The suicide bombing is an entirely political issue,” The Daily Times quoted Khan, as saying.

He criticized the PPP-led government for towing the lines of the United States, and said that the extremism in Pakistan could not be rooted out until the US continues its operation in Afghanistan.

“Pakistan is heading towards disaster as the ruling political leadership is in pursuit of dollars for their personal gains.The growing extremism in Pakistan cannot be curbed as long as US stays in Afghanistan,” the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief said.

Khan said he is sure that mid-term polls will be held in the country, but added that even the polls would not be able to pull Pakistan out from the current turbulent situation. (ANI)

Sree Dasari turns matchmaker on ‘Big Brother’

London, Jul 3 (ANI): Big Brother contender Sree Dasari has been handing out love tips to Freddie Fisher on how to land Charlie.

Dasari, 25, was lying between the pair in the garden when he told bisexual Fisher, 24, he should make the Newcastle lad miss him.

“You need to teach him how important you are to him,” the Sun quoted him as saying.

“Then express your feelings, play hard to get at him,” he said.

Fisher retorted: “But I’m not hard to get I’m easy to get. It would be a bit out-of-character.”

The business student then turned to Charlie, 22, telling him: Every single second he closes his eyes he dreams of you. Don’t ignore his love.”

The student continued on the subject until a tired Charlie admitted that he had feelings for Fisher too.

“You’re in there,” an excited Dasari told Fisher. (ANI)

Don’t fool people by claiming “premature”success in Swat operation : former PAF official

Islamabad, July 1 (ANI): While the Pakistan government has been claiming that the Swat military offensive has been successful and nearing its end, a former Pakistan Air Force (PAF) top official, Air Marshal (retired) Masood Akhter has raised questions over the claims by saying that people shouldn’t be fooled through such statements.

During a discussion on ‘Post-Swat Operation Outlook’ here, Akhter said people should not hope that the war against terrorism and the extremist threat would end within a few weeks.

“We shouldn’t befool people by saying war against militancy will end within a few weeks. The army is rendering sacrifices there and we must support it but it’ll take some time to completely defeat these elements,” The Daily Times quoted Akhter, as saying.

Akhter said the military offensive in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) would continue until militants are rooted out from region, and added that it was in Pakistan’s interest to quell extremism.

“It’s our war because it threatens our vital national interest and our moderate way of life, and the non-state actors are also threatening all of us,” he added.

Akhter highlighted that the government’s work should not be limited to flushing out of the militants, but it should also cover the post-war scenario.

“The government should socially and ideologically isolate adversaries, sever links between local terrorists and international jihadis, and wean people away from religious extremism,” he said. (ANI)

Jane Fonda says she could never understand pal Jacko

London, June 30 (ANI): Although she struck up a close friendship with Michael Jackson, actress Jane Fonda insists she could never really understand the King Of Pop.

The pair became pals back in the 1970s, during Fonda’s acting heyday and shortly after Jackson began his solo career.

While writing on her blog, the 71-year-old actress said that Jack was a frequent visitor to her Santa Barbara, California home and confesses she never really understood him.

She even wondered if Jackson sought to seduce her.

“I couldn’t pretend to understand him. There were so many complicated signals. Did he want me to be his ‘older women’ friend? He gravitated to older women. For solace? …Did he want me to teach him the ropes? I never could quite figure it out,” the Daily Express quoted her as saying.

Recalling an incident, Fonda said once she showed him the burial spot she had prepared for herself and was stunned to see the ‘Thriller’ hitmaker’s reaction.

“He shrieked and bent over and said, ‘No, no, no!’ ‘What’s the matter,’ I asked. ‘Don’t ever talk about your dying. Don’t ever think about it’” she said.

Fonda is relieved that Jackson’s death was probably painless, adding, “I like the fact that it was quick. Massive heart attacks that you don’t recover from are quick. You don’t know what hit you. That’s probably the kindest death for Michael.” (ANI)

Bruce Springsteen’s rock star status “embarrasses” his kids

Washington, June 24 (ANI): Bruce Springsteen has said that his kids find his rock star status “embarrassing.”

The Boss, who has three kids with wife Patti Scialfa – Evan, 18, Jessica, 17 and 15-year-old Sam, admitted that he faces the same challenges as any other parent does, reports Contactmusic.

He says, “One day they’ll say, ‘Man, you rock,’ then another day they’ll say, ‘You’re embarrassing me! Don’t drop me off here. I don’t want people to see you. Please don’t come in the room.’

“I think we more often play the role of embarrassing parents than cool ones.” (ANI)

Callous Kasab asked to stop laughing or face Dara Singh

Mumbai, June 22 (ANI): The lone surviving gunman behind the Mumbai terror attacks, Ajmal Amir Kasab, has been reprimanded by lawyers for laughing during the court proceedings, and recently a lawyer asked him to be serious or else he would call Dara Singh.

Kasab is the gunman captured alive during the terrifying three days beginning November 26, 2008, when 10 men arrived in Mumbai by boat and attacked 10 sites, killing more than 170 people. His trial, on charges of terrorism, criminal conspiracy and waging war against the state, began two months ago.

He has drawn reprimands from the lawyers for laughing, although they have also nicknamed him “the short one” and occasionally joke with him.

On Thursday, when he was laughing at their banter, prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam turned to him and said: “Don’t laugh. Be serious. Otherwise I will call Dara Singh,” a reference to the legendary Indian wrestler often invoked by parents to keep their children quiet. Kasab laughed even more.

Last Monday, 27 photographs taken at the station on 26/11 were shown to the court, including a widely published image of a man identified as Kasab in cargo pants and a black T-shirt, toting a blue backpack and holding an AK-47, The Washington Post reported.

A police official said that Kasab hung his head low in court and that tears welled over. The judge asked him whether he was crying, but Kasab did not respond, just wiped his face. Nikam dismissed the reaction as “crocodile tears.”

“Kasab is a trained commando. No question of remorse. He plays the psychological game. He smiles, looks innocent or pretends to shed tears. These are tricks to get media sympathy,” he said.

Abbas Kazmi, Kasab’s attorney, said his client is becoming “increasingly gloomy” and has “a sense of hopelessness written all over his face.”

When the trial began in April, Kasab, speaking through his attorney, pleaded not guilty and sought to retract his confession, saying it was made under duress, the paper said.

The trial is conducted mostly in English and Marathi, the official language of Maharashtra state, neither of which Kasab knows well. He often looks bored or bewildered, but when witnesses recount the horrors of that November night, he appears to try hard to follow. (ANI)

New York schoolteacher accused of having sex with teen pupil in classroom

Washington, May 30 (ANI): A teacher in New York was put behind bars and charged with rape, sexual abuse and child endangerment after she was allegedly caught having sex with a 14-year-old student in the classroom.

It was the student’s mother who tracked the teacher named 27-year-old Melissa Weber down.

“It’s real disconcerting to find that,” CBS News quoted parent and school employee Stacy Gold as saying.

“It’s extremely shocking. This is a teacher that teaches my son,” added Gold, who works at I.S./M.S. 8 with Weber.

Cops revealed that it all happened after Weber took one of her students to a second-story classroom for giving him lessons in sex education.

It is alleged that Weber took particular interest in the boy, and had had sex with the teen seven times from mid-April to mid-May, all after school.

She allegedly told him: “Don’t tell anyone. I could get arrested and I could lose my teaching license.”

After being tipped of by school employees, the boy’s mother checked her son’s cell phone and found hundreds of calls and texts from Weber, the last text reading, “erase your phone.”

The incident has left Weber’s co-workers stunned.

“I had no idea of her private life or anything. I just know she was a good teacher and, wow, this is a shock to me,” school employee Mike Kertley said. (ANI)

International Cricket Hall of Fame to be built in Bradman’s hometown

Sydney, May 29 (ANI): The International Cricket Hall of Fame will be built in Don Bradman’s hometown of Bowral, cementing the town’s appeal as a pilgrimage site for cricket aficionados.

According to The Herald Sun, the Bradman Foundation said it would open next year as an extension of the Bradman Museum, at Bradman Oval in the NSW Southern Highlands.

While the museum celebrates The Don, the world’s greatest batsman, the Hall of Fame will honour past and present international cricketers.

The Hall of Fame list will include 55 of the game’s top players from seven nations, spanning a century of cricket.

The project was financed by a Federal Government grant to recognize the centenary of Sir Donald’s birth in 2008. (ANI)

Lara Bingle, Lee Furlong no-shows at WAG counselling session

Melbourne, May 27 (ANI): Cricket WAGS Lara Bingle and Lee Furlong were no-shows at yesterday’s special counselling seminar held at the team’s pre-Ashes camp on the Sunshine Coast.

The wives and girlfriends of all 25 contracted Australian cricketers – especially the 16 to tour England – were invited to sessions overseen by Relationships Australia.

They came after scenes of high tension between some WAGS on the 2005 Ashes tour.

According to the Daily Telegraph, partners of just over half the 16 – and their children – attended two sessions designed to help them cope with tensions on the road or being without their partners for long periods.

The WAGS will be with the team for the first two Tests in July, then another long separation from husbands, beaus and fathers begins.

Don’t call me a WAG, says Furlong

Confidential has learnt one of the catalysts for the counselling sessions was following the Lords Test in 2005, when the cricketers, on returning to their hotel after celebrating their win, discovered their women in the middle of a heated argument.

A source said two senior players’ wives had an argument – and other WAGS joined in.

“We walked into the foyer and all the partners were angry and upset with their hands on hips,” a source said.

Pope said Furlong who is partner to Shane Watson and Bingle who is fiancee of Michael Clarke were unable to attend due to work commitments. (ANI)

Booming Malay sex sector requires no stimulus package

Kuala Lumpur, May 25 (ANI): While most industrialists can be seen craving for more and more stimulus packages amid the ongoing recession, solicited sex in Malaysia is one sector that seems far from going into a tailspin.

Sources in the local prostitution scene say that solicited sex is going through a boom.

They have revealed that they raked in more than RM3.2 billion last year, which is just the earnings of sex workers, not including those of pimps and other spin-offs.

Statistics from the international non-governmental organisation, Coalition Against the Trafficking of Women, suggest that there are about 150,000 prostitutes working in Malaysia, with over 10,000 in the Klang Valley.

According to information from the women rescued by local women’s aid NGO Tenaganita, a prostitute usually works a seven-day week, charging RM150 an hour.

“Serving an average of eight clients a day, she ends up making RM1,200 daily and possibly RM36,000 a month,” the New Strait Times quoted Aegile Fernandez, anti-human trafficking coordinator of the NGO who has had experience making women escape the sex industry for more than 20 years, as saying.

“But that is just full-time sex workers who enter the trade willingly. If the girls are forced into the trade via human trafficking, she gets nothing except a traumatic experience,” Aegile added.

The syndicate running the brothels is said to usually have up to 100 girls under them, meaning that they could rake in about RM120,000 a day and a whopping RM3.6 million a month.

Information from pimps operating in the country suggests that Malaysia has hundreds of such syndicates, each operating several brothels in their designated areas. Many brothels in Malaysia double as “health centres” offering massage services.

JJ, a pimp for more than 10 years, says that clients are willing to pay from RM60 to RM100 for an hour of massage, followed by an additional RM150 for sex.

“Prostitutes who double as massage ladies also get a fee from their handlers for massage services, usually about RM20 per customer,” JJ says.

So, in addition to as much as RM36,000 monthly from sex alone, a prostitute can add on another RM9,000 for offering “half services”, bringing her monthly untaxed income to a whopping RM45,000.

“Don’t forget their RM200 a day wages for massaging an average of 10 customers. That’s a legitimate RM5,200 a month or RM62,400 a year. They can choose to pay tax on that, but most don’t,” says JJ.

He has also revealed that each sex worker pays RM3,000 a month to pimps “as tax or rent for using our centres to do business and for protection from aggressive customers.”

According to him, prostitution is a recession-proof business.

“Things didn’t slow down for us during the 1997 Asian financial crisis or any of the recessions before that. Sex, like food, is a necessity,” he said. (ANI)

Blair believed God wanted him to go to war to fight evil, claims his mentor

London, May 24 (ANI): One of former British Prime MinisterTony Blair’s closest political mentors, has said that his decision to go to war in Iraq and Kosovo was part of a “Christian battle”.

John Burton, Blair’s political agent in his Sedgefield constituency for 24 years, says that Labour’s most successful ever leader – in terms of elections won – was driven by the belief that “good should triumph over evil”.

Blair has previously admitted that he was influenced by his Christian faith, but Burton reveals for the first time the strength of his religious zeal.

Burton makes the comments in a book he has written, and which is published this week, called “We Don’t Do God”.

In it he portrays a prime minister determined to follow a Christian agenda despite attempts to silence him from talking about his faith.

“While he was at Number 10, Tony was virtually gagged on the whole question of religion,” says Burton.

“Alastair [Campbell] was convinced it would get him into trouble with the voters. But Tony’s Christian faith is part of him, down to his cotton socks. He believed strongly at the time, that intervention in Kosovo, Sierra Leone – Iraq too – was all part of the Christian battle; good should triumph over evil, making lives better,” The Telegraph quotes Burton, as saying.

Blair was not worried by people questioning his decisions, Burton says, but was “genuinely shocked if they questioned his morality because there was never a dividing line between his politics and Christianity”.

Since leaving Downing Street, Blair has set up the Tony Blair Faith Foundation and given a number of interviews about his faith.(ANI)