Coming soon: a horror story on American Fritzl’s victim?

London, Sept 20 (ANI): Publishers and Hollywood studios have begun a multi-million dollar bidding war for the rights to sex slave Jaycee Dugard’s horrifying life story.

Fresh details of the American Fritzl’s victim have emerged, including that in the early days of her captivity, the terrified schoolgirl was so hungry she ate bugs and worms in the rambling back garden where she was held in tents and lock-up sheds, reports The Daily Express.

She had to use a garden hose to shower outside, even in winters, say detectives guarding her and her two daughters, fathered by kidnapper Phillip Garrido.

However, the public apparently is desperate for the full story of how Jaycee, now 29, survived after being snatched on her way to a school bus stop when she was only 11.

A New York literary agent, who estimates the book and film rights to be worth up to 12million dollars, said: “You couldn’t dream up a script like this. Americans can’t wait to hear the story from the girl who lived it.”

A Hollywood studio producer said: “Everyone is in the market for this story. Poor Jaycee’s life may have been hell for 18 years but she’ll never want for anything for the rest of it.”

Garrido, a registered sex offender, has been linked to six child abductions and murders stretching back years within a 400-mile radius of the ramshackle home in Antioch, California, where Jaycee was held. (ANI)

Miss Fresh Face of North East contest a major draw for youth

Guwahati, Sep.18 (ANI): With the growing number of fashion conscious youngsters present in the northeast region of the country, the fashion and beauty industry is gaining popularity here.

This was recently noticed when Miss Fresh Face of North East 2009 contest was held in Guwahati and it received an enthusiastic response from people of the region.

Dabur Gulabari organized the Miss Fresh Face of North East 2009 for which a model hunt was conducted across colleges and institutes in the region to discover fresh new faces from the northeast.

The organisers of the contest received an overwhelming response with over 700 entries of which 150 girls were short-listed for the auditions.

After extensive screening and audition, 18 participants were selected for the Grand Finale.

It was a unique way of spreading awareness among the beauty conscious women of the North East and provides them a platform to enter the world of mainstream modelling.

“Northeast is full of talent. We don’t get into big celebrities. We take fresh faces from the common public and make them a celebrity. We want to associate with fresh talents and bring them to the national platform so that they can grow,” said Dyas Anand, the organizer.

“It is gradually increasing and I believe that it will go on increasing and the reputation will also keep on going up as good upcoming models are also there. I feel it is very good,” said Bidisha Baruah, the winner.

Bidisha Baruah, a resident of Guwahati, was awarded one-year modelling contract with Dabur Gulabari and a cash prize of rupees 50,000.

The first and second runner-up, Wanda Mary of Shillong and Nabanita Sarma of Guwahati also received cash prize of rupees 30,000 and rupees 20,000 respectively. By Peter Alex Todd (ANI)

EU supported urban agricultural market popular in Kerala

Maradu (Kerala), Sept 18 (ANI): Agricultural Urban Wholesale Market at Maradu in Kerala has become popular among residents and farmers alike.

Fresh and cheap agricultural products are available here and the farmers have the storing, testing and other facilities.

The market is run by the Kerala Government and is financially aided by the European Union (EU). Fresh fruits, vegetables, spice and other agriculture produces are sold in the market.

The place is attracting hordes of customers, as the prices of products are cheaper compared to other shops.

“Most of the products sold in this market are fresh and of a good quality. Earlier, I used to go to main market. But this place is cheap, easy and products come directly from the farms as compared to other shops,” said Sebastian, a customer.

The setting up of warehousing, packaging and marine testing units for frozen or dried fish, vegetables and fruits at the Urban Market are some of the facilities available to farmers.

Prices are low since the farmers directly supply their produce in this market and own shops.

“Compared to other markets here, the prices are low as we have no labour cost involved During festival and other occasions, sellers used to charge high but here prices always remain low because we ourselves produce and later sell and for customers,” said Saji Kumar, a farmer and a shop owner.

Recently, various programmes and exhibitions have been introduced with the help of the State Government and horticulture mission to make the market more farmer-friendly.

The market was set up to improve the marketing infrastructure and enabling farmers to get a better price for their produce.

The market is developed at an area of 46 acres that can handle more than 2,500 tons of produce.

Facilities such as internet access enable the farmers keep track of the daily prices, Agmark certification for the produce is also available at the Agmark Testing Laboratory functioning at the market. By Juhan Samuel (ANI)

Lee declares his goal for breaking 100 mph bowling speed barrier

London, Sep.14 (ANI): Fresh from destroying England with a scorching display of fast, swinging yorkers that skittled stumps all over Lord’s to help Australia seal a series-clinching 4-0 lead with three ODIs remaining, Brett Lee has declared his goal of breaking the 100mph (160.93km/h) speed barrier.

That feat would be worth a fair sum for a fast bowler who has already earned three million dollars in the past 12 months, according to Forbes magazine.

Lee could not force his way back into the side for the Ashes series and his Test future remains unclear but the 32-year-old remains far more marketable than his bowling peers.

The combination of blond-haired, blue-eyed good looks and sheer speed is an irresistible combination for some brands.

To date, only Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar has broken the 100mph limit, clocking 100.2mph (161.3km/h) during a World Cup match against England in 2003. Lee’s fastest delivery was recorded at 99.8mph (160.7km/h) at the same tournament.

“I know I’m in the team to try and bowl fast, there’s always talk about your age but I’m feeling really fit, probably the fittest I’ve ever felt,” Lee said after taking 5-49 at Lord’s on Saturday, clean-bowling four victims.

“I’m only 32 and I want to keep bowling in excess of 90mph for a long time yet but we’ll wait and see what happens with the body,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted him, as saying. (ANI)

Xinjiang riots: Urumqi party chief, Xinjiang police chief removed

Urumqi, Sep. 6 (ANI): In the aftermath of Xinjiang riots that erupted on July 5, the party chief of Urumqi and police chief of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have been sacked.

According to a decision by the CPC Xinjiang Autonomous Regional Committee, Li Zhi, secretary of the Urumqi Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), was replaced by Zhu Hailun.

Xinjiang’s police chief Liu Yaohua was also replaced by Zhu Changjie, party chief of Xinjiang’s Aksu Prefecture, Xinhua reports.

Fresh protests broke out this week after hundreds of Urumqi residents said that they were attacked by syringes. Five people were killed in the following protests.

Local hospitals had dealt with 531 victims of hypodermic syringe stabbings by Thursday, 106 of whom showed obvious signs of needle attacks.

Chinese military medical experts on Saturday ruled out the possibility that radioactive substance, anthrax and toxic chemical were used in recent syringe attacks in Urumqi City.

“According to the preliminary test results, such possibilities can be ruled out,” said Qian Jun, director of Disease Control and Biological Security Office with China’s Academy of Military Medical Sciences.

Samples had been sent to Beijing for further test, he added.

Xinjiang police has captured 25 suspects amid the syringe scare. (ANI)

Scientists see dramatic increase in amount of fresh water in Arctic Ocean

Washington, July 5 (ANI): A new study by scientists has shown a dramatic increase in the amount of fresh water in the Arctic Ocean.

Fresh water flowing into or out of the Arctic Ocean plays an important role in ocean circulation and may be a factor in the response of the world ocean to climate change.

To study recent change in freshwater content of the Arctic, M. G. McPhee from the McPhee Research Co., Naches, Washington, US, and his colleagues analyzed data from an extensive aerial hydrographic survey carried out in March and April 2008.

Their study shows a dramatic increase in the amount of fresh water in the Arctic Ocean as well as a significant change in the distribution of fresh water, as compared with average winter values.

In particular, the researchers found that freshwater volume in the Canada and Makarov basins on the Pacific side of the Lomonosov Ridge increased by about 8,500 cubic kilometers (about 2,000 cubic miles), while the freshwater volume on the Eurasian area decreased by about 1,100 cubic kilometers (about 260 cubic miles).

The freshening of the Arctic occurred in conjunction with the recent dramatic loss of Arctic sea ice, the authors note.

They found that these changes have altered Arctic Ocean circulation, with a large increase in northward transport of fresh water in the Canada Basin. (ANI)

Fresh batch of 1,703 Amarnath pilgrims leaves Jammu for holy shrine

Jammu, June 22 (ANI): A fresh batch of 1,703 pilgrims left Jammu on Monday for their onward journey to the holy Amarnath cave shrine.

The batch comprising of 1,185 men, 384 women, 61 children and 73 sadhus left in 53 vehicles, including 40 buses, from the base camp at Bhagwati Nagar here at around 4. 50 a.m.

With today’s batch, a total of 7,793 pilgrims have left Jammu for the Shrine since the beginning of the Yatra on June 15.

The yatra remained suspended for three days due to bad weather prevailing in Kashmir valley before resuming on June 19.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government and the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has set up three base camps at Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu, Nunwan in Pahalgam and Baltal for providing food and lodging facilities to pilgrims.

Located in Jammu and Kashmir, the Amarnath caves shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Last year, over 450,000 pilgrims visited the cave. The two month long pilgrimage will conclude on August 5. (ANI)

Fresh batch of 1,395 Amarnath pilgrims leaves Jammu for holy shrine

Jammu, June 21 (ANI): A fresh batch of 1,395 pilgrims left here on Sunday for their onward journey to the holy Amarnath cave shrine.

The batch comprising 734 men, 305 women, 60 children and 295 sadhus left in 50 vehicles including 31 buses from the base camp at Bhagwati Nagar here at around 4:50 a.m.

With today’s batch, a total of 6090 pilgrims have left Jammu for the cave shrine since the beginning of the Yatra on June 15.

The yatra remained suspended for three days due to bad weather prevailing in Kashmir valley before resuming on June 19.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government and the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has set up three base camps at Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu, Nunwan in Pahalgam and Baltal for providing food and lodging facilities to pilgrims.

Located in Jammu and Kashmir, the Amarnath caves shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Last year, over 450,000 pilgrims visited the cave. The two month long pilgrimage will conclude on August 5. (ANI)

Fresh after break, Ponting ready for Ashes tour with new-look team

Melbourne, May 23 (ANI): Australian skipper Ricky Ponting is excited about his new look team for the Ashes series, and is also prepared to face the challenge of the Twenty20 World Cup.

Ponting, who is fresh after a break, got back into training a couple of weeks ago and feels good too.

The break well and truly ended this week, as you can probably see from the papers, FOX Sports quoted Ponting, as saying.

“We’re off to Coolum this weekend for the players’ camp and we’ve got our first game on June 5, which is not that far away. And then we’re straight into the Ashes and the cricket doesn’t stop after that until the end of the Australian summer.

“It was good to see Mitchell Johnson and Michael Hussey get some time off and the guys who have come back recently will have also used the time well, which means they’ll go to England physically and mentally refreshed,” he said.

“With so many quicks and limited bowling places in the team it is going to be no fun at all in the nets for the batsmen, but that will be good for them too.

Ashes selection is going to be exceptionally hard but that’s a good thing when you are trying to fit so many worthy players into one side,” he said.

The selectors have shown a lot of faith in the team that won in South Africa and those guys have earned their places by putting performances on the board, Ponting added.

He said that everybody is talking Ashes, but “we’ve got the World Twenty20 to play first, and hopefully win. We were terribly disappointed to lose last time.” (ANI)

NASA examines long stretch of nicks on space shuttle Atlantis

Washington, May 13 (ANI): Astronauts aboard NASA’s space shuttle Atlantis have uncovered a long stretch of nicks on their space shuttle, which are the result of launch debris.

They were inspecting their ship for signs of launch damage when they came across the nicks.

Mission Control informed the crew that it’s a 21-inch stretch of nicks over four to five thermal tiles on the right side of Atlantis. The damage is where the right wing joins the fuselage.

Mission Control says it could be related to debris that came off the fuel tank almost two minutes after liftoff.

NASA said that the damage does not appear to be serious, but more analysis is needed.

Atlantis blasted off on May 11 on a risky repair mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. Endeavour is on standby in case a rescue is needed.

This final trip to Hubble is especially dangerous because of all the space junk in the telescope’s 350-mile-high orbit.

Atlantis seems to have come through its launch fairly well, at least. But the analysis is continuing.

On this fifth and final repair mission, Atlantis’ crew will replace Hubble’s batteries and gyroscopes, install two new cameras and take a crack at fixing two broken science instruments, something never before attempted.

They also will remove the command and data-handling unit that failed in September and had to be revived, and put in a spare that was hustled into operation.

Fresh insulating covers will be added to the outside of the telescope, and a new fine guidance sensor for pointing will be hooked up.

Five spacewalks will be needed to accomplish everything. (ANI)

New York considers closing schools if swine flu spreads

New York – New York City authorities considered Monday to close schools to prevent the swine flu from striking children after eight students at a Queens high school were confirmed sick of disease, reports said. The US government has declared a national public health emergency after tests confirmed 40 people in the United States, including the eight students in New York, have mild cases of the flu.

The Saint Francis high school in Fresh Meadows, Queens, where the eight students were found sick, was closed Monday and Tuesday to allow cleaning crews to sanitize the school.

Local news reports said six of the eight ill students apparently contract the flu during spring break in Mexico. They said about 150 students at the same school reported flu-like symptoms and were submitted to tests, prompting talks of a mass school closings to thwart the flu from spreading.(dpa)

Buy More and Save at Fresh and Easy

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., April 15 /PRNewswire/ — With customers looking for ways
to stretch their budgets, Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Market today launched a
new multi-buy discount on a variety of products that will rotate every few
weeks. The more customers buy, the more they can save, allowing customers to
buy larger quantities for less.

“Customers are telling us they are increasingly looking for ways to stretch
their budgets because times are tight,” said Simon Uwins, chief marketing
officer at Fresh and Easy. “Fresh and Easy’s new multi-buy promotion will help
customers save when they buy more, so they can feed their families for less
money.”

A few of the products that launched Fresh and Easy’s new multi-buy promotion(1)
include:

— fresh and easy Tea Bags, all varieties (20 Count) – Any 2 for $3
— fresh and easy Marinades, all flavors (12.25 fl oz) – Buy 2 Save
50-cents
— fresh and easy Sliced Bacon (12 – 16 oz) – Any 2 for $6
— fresh and easy Sliced Bread (24 oz) – 2 for $5
— fresh and easy 4 Count Apples (Fuji, Red Delicious, Granny Smith and
Gala) – Buy 2 for $3
— fresh and easy non-fat and low-fat yogurt, all flavors (8 oz) – Any 6
for $3
— Pampers Dry Big Packs (Sizes 3 – 5) – Any 2 for $40

— Cesar Dog Food – Buy 5 Save 50-cents

Customers now can also save 20% when they buy three or more fresh and easy
prepared meals labeled with a “Buy More and Save” sticker. Fresh and Easy’s
prepared meals are made fresh daily in the company’s kitchen, and are
developed by a team headed by Fresh and Easy’s Chef Mike Ainslie. Like all
Fresh and Easy brand products, these meals contain no artificial colors or
flavors, no added trans fats and only use preservatives when absolutely
necessary.

Earlier this year, following increased customer interest, Fresh and Easy added
bigger packs to stores including diapers, laundry detergent, produce, and
cereals. The company also introduced larger-sized freshly prepared meals that
feed four people for only $8.
More information regarding Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Market can be found at
www.freshandeasy.com. Photos available upon request.

(1) Customers must purchase multiples as indicated to receive the discount.
Single items purchased at the everyday low price.

SOURCE Fresh and Easy

Brendan Wonnacott of Fresh and Easy, +1-916-554-3466, Cell, +1-310-384-3833

Global cooperation needed to solve problems: Obama

WASHINGTON: Global cooperation is needed to tackle the financial meltdown, climate change, nuclear proliferation and other pressing problems,
President Barack Obama
said on Saturday.

Fresh from his first trip overseas as president, Obama used his radio and Internet address to ask people in the United States and around the world to focus on areas of common interest.

“These are challenges that no single nation, no matter how powerful, can confront alone,” Obama said. “The United States must lead the way. But our best chance to solve these unprecedented problems comes from acting in concert with other nations.”

Obama pointed to his London meeting with leaders of the G-20 nations – a gathering that represented 85 percent of the global economy – where he pressed for increased regulation and economic stimulus. He also noted his attendance at the NATO summit in France to discuss strategy toward Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as his speeches against nuclear weapons in the Czech Republic and about faith divisions in Turkey.

All are big-picture priorities for the young administration and most have general support among Obama’s U.S. constituents.

“With all that is at stake today, we cannot afford to talk past one another. We can’t afford to allow old differences to prevent us from making progress in areas of common concern,” Obama said. “We can’t afford to let walls of mistrust stand. Instead, we have to find – and build on – our mutual interests. For it is only when people come together, and seek common ground, that some of that mistrust can begin to fade. And that is where progress begins.”

Obama used the eight-day trip to highlight his ambitious foreign policy agenda, including starting negotiations with Russia about reducing nuclear stockpiles. Such talks, announced alongside Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, would be the first in years and are part of Obama’s pledge “to free the world from the menace of a nuclear nightmare.”

Taken as a package, Obama said, his agenda in Europe should be the common goals among people of faith during holy days of Easter and Passover.

“These are two very different holidays with their own very different traditions. But it seems fitting that we mark them both during the same week,” Obama said. “For in a larger sense, they are both moments of reflection and renewal. They are both occasions to think more deeply about the obligations we have to ourselves and the obligations we have to one another, no matter who we are, where we come from, or what faith we practice.”

Indian mission in Dubai to launch radio programme

Dubai, April 3 (IANS) Fresh after launching a monthly magazine to project India and the Indian diaspora in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Indian consulate here will launch a weekly radio programme Saturday to complement the publication.

Named India Matters, the same as the magazine that was launched March 29 by former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the new radio programme will be aired on FM 105.4 Radio Spice every Saturday between 6 and 7 p.m.

The one-hour show will be packed with news, views and interviews regarding consulate services, India-UAE relations and trade and tourism in India, according to a statement issued by the Indian mission here.

It will aim to provide information on the latest developments in India, as well as events and happenings relating to India and the Indian community in the UAE.

‘Radio is a very powerful medium and we want to take full advantage of it,’ India’s Consul General in Dubai Venu Rajamony said in a statement.

‘This is an effort to reach out to a wider audience. The idea is to complement the magazine, which will come out every month, with a broadcast every week. This will help us to get the information out to our audience and bring us feedback much quicker,’ he said.

Radio Spice caters to the varying musical tastes of the South Asian community in the UAE broadcasting mainly in Hindi and English. It offers popular music, news, including business and sports, contests and utilities.

There are around 1.5 million expatriate Indians in the UAE.

German federation calls on Rangnick to explain doping tests remarks

German federation calls on Rangnick to explain doping tests remarks Frankfurt – The German football federation DFB has called on Hoffenheim coach Ralf Rangnick to elaborate on comments in which he sought to explain why two of his players turned up late for a doping test.

The federation has also called for written statements from the players, defenders Andreas Ibertsberger and Christoph Janker, who are being investigated for breach of doping regulations.

The players turned up 10 minutes late for a doping control immediately after the Bundesliga match on February 7 at Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Rangnick told a regional television programme Sunday evening the players had gone into the changing room to put on a fresh shirt, saying this was common practice at other Bundesliga clubs.

“It was often so in the past that even the doping expert said they could go quickly to the dressing room to put on a fresh shirt,” Rangnick said.

The coach said he had spoken to other managers about it and “it’s also the case at other clubs that players have the possibility or are told to change into a fresh shirt.”

Both Ibertsberger, a 26-year-old Austrian international, and fellow defender Jancker, 24, recorded negative doping tests in the controls carried out after the match which ended 1-1.

“That doping does not take place at Hoffenheim and in the Bundesliga is without question,” Rangnick said.

DFB vice-president and legal affairs expert Rainer Koch said the federation adhered strictly to the anti-doping guidelines. It would take legal proceedings should it become aware of any practices which were in breach of the regulations, he said.

The Hoffenheim players could face suspension, while Borussia Monchengladbach have lodged an official appeal over the 1-1 draw.

Borussia sports director Max Eberl said the appeal was lodged as a “legal safeguard” and not with the aim of being awarded the points.

“For me as a former professional player it would be sad if the players were to receive drastic sanctions. They weren’t doped after all,” he said.

However Eberl said doping “is an issue in sport and we have to be credible in football and cannot be negligent on this.” Clear rules were necessary “and rules always mean consequences.” dpa

Govt fills up backlog vacancies of SCs/STs

New Delhi, Feb 23 (PTI) Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, government today said it had filled up backlog vacancies of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, through a special recruitment drive. A drive was launched in August 2004 for filling up a total backlog vacancy of 74,008, Home Minister P Chidamabaram said.

“Of the total available vacancies of 26,358, 20,705 seats were filled up with direct recruitment. About 47,650 posts were available in the promotion quota, of which no candidates were found for 11,366 posts despite expansion of the area of consideration,” he said, describing it as “impressive”.

The drive covered all the ministries and their attached departments, sub-ordinate offices, public sector undertakings and autonomous bodies. A fresh Special recruitment Drive was launched in November 2008 to fill up the remaining backlog reserved vacancies and the drive would also cover Other Backward Classes.

PTI.

Eating right, not giving up food is key to stay healthy, says Kareena

Eating right, not giving up food is key to stay healthy, says Kareena Kareena Kapoor stormed the industry with her zero size figure in Tashan. Recently she launched her dietician Rujuta Diwekar’s book ‘Lose Your Weight Not Your Mind’ in Mumbai. Rujuta Diwekar is the person behind size zero Kareena.

Kareena praised her dietician for her balanced approach. She said: “I had not been to a dietician before I met Rujuta and her whole approach appealed to me. I come from a hearty Punjabi family with a close attachment to food.”

She also gave some tips to youngsters to stay ‘fit and healthy’.

She said: “Eat fresh. That is the most important thing. Rujuta tells me that even though I may be travelling, I should focus on freshly cooked foods – it does not matter if I am eating out as long as I am eating on time and eating right.”

Fresh US drone attack kills 16 in South Waziristan

Islamabad, Feb.14 (ANI): In a fresh US predator attack, 16 persons have been reported killed with several others injured in Ladha area of South Waizirstan.

According to The News, two rockets were launched by an unmanned US plane at a house, supposedly belonging to a Taliban commander, in Malik Khel in Ladha destroying it completely and killing 16 persons on the spot.

Bodies of six persons have been recovered from the rubble of the attacked house so far, and the search for more bodies are on.

Eight of the severely injured persons have been admitted to a local hospital, The News reports.

This was the third drone attack inside Pakistan’s territory after the change of authority in the United States and Barack Obama taking over the charge. (ANI)

I’m not a diva, says Beyonce Knowles

London, Jan 26 (ANI): Singer Beyonce Knowles doesn’t think her diva reputation is fair and insists she is just a normal girl.

Knowles says she enjoys life more when she is out of the spotlight.

“I’m not this round the clock diva looking for attention,” the Sun quoted her, as saying.

“I’m way more comfortable out of the spotlight and just chilling out with my family.

“I’m very quiet. I love to paint. I love to watch TV though it seems I never get to do it. I love a lot old television shows. I still love the Cosbys. I also love the Fresh Prince,” she added. (ANI)