Expense on Ajmal Kasab could be Rs50 crore

(Batkhela.tk) MUMBAI: According to Indian media, the state government might have spent three times the amount it claims to have incurred on gunman Ajmal Kasab. On Monday, the home department led by senior NCP leader R R Patil had submitted that the state government had spent Rs 16 crore on Kasab till date.

But a day later, if top police brass and bureaucrats associated with the case are to be believed, it transpires that a whopping Rs 48.75 crore has been expended on the jailed terrorist who is the main accused in the deadly terror attack on Mumbai on November 26, 2008.

"From our estimates, the state government must have spent a minimum of Rs 50 crore to keep the terrorist alive,'' a senior official told.

International Film Festival 2011 kicks off in India

(Batkhela.tk)GOA: Ten-day International Film Festival 2011 of India has begun in Goa, Geo News reported.

The 42nd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was inaugurated by king of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan along with Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni.

Chief Minister Goa, government officials besides Bollywood stars participated in the inaugural ceremony.

The festival will screen 150 movies from 65 countries.

Long-term study proves benefit of statins

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PARIS: Statins safely reduce the risk of cardiovascular illness even years after treatment is stopped, according to a probe into the popular cholesterol-busters published on Wednesday. Statins work by blocking a liver enzyme that makes fatty molecules which line arterial walls and boost the danger of heart disease and strokes. With worldwide annual sales of more than 20 billion dollars, the drugs have been dubbed "the aspirin of the 21st century" because of their benefit and wide use. But lingering questions persist about their long-term safety for the heart, liver and cancer risk. Researchers at the Heart Protection Study Collaborative Group in Oxford looked at 20,536 patients at risk of cardiovascular disease who were randomly allocated 40mg daily of simvastatins or a dummy look-alike over more than five years. During this period, those who took the statins saw a reduction in "bad" LDL cholesterol and a 23-percent reduction in episodes of vascular ill-health compared to the placebo group. (AFP)

Iran blasts new sanctions as 'reprehensible, ineffective'

(Batkhela.tk) TEHRAN: Iran on Tuesday blasted new sanctions against the Islamic republic announced by the United States, Britain and Canada as "reprehensible and ineffective."

Foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast made the comments a day after Washington, London and Ottawa said they were levelling additional sanctions on Iran's financial sector because of a report by the UN atomic energy watchdog strongly suggesting Tehran was researching nuclear weapons.

"These actions show the hostility of these countries towards our people. They are reprehensible and ineffective," Mehmanparast said during his regular weekly media briefing.

He said US and British sanctions previously imposed on Iran had likewise proved ineffective.

The new ones amounted to little more than "propaganda and psychological warfare," he said.

"Everybody knows our trade with Britain and the United States is at its lowest point. These past years we have decided for various reasons to reduce exchanges with those two countries to a minimum, so as to increase them with other countries," Mehmanparast said. (AFP)

Defiant Asif changes defence team for appeal

(BATKHELA.TK)LONDON: Cricketer Muhammad Asif has changed his legal defence team to launch an appeal against his conviction and sentence, this significant development has been disclosed by a credible source to The News/Geo.

Asif was given a 12 months prison sentence whilst ex-captain Salman Butt was jailed for 30 months, and Mohammed Amir received a six month term for their participation in a plot to bowl deliberate no-balls in a Test match against England. Butt and Amir have appealed against their sentences but not their convictions. Their appeal will be heard on Wednesday, tomorrow.

During his testimony, sports agent Majeed, who has been jailed for 32 months for orchestrating the scam, claimed to have paid paid Asif £65,000, Butt £10,000 and Amir £2,500.

The source has said that Muhammad Asif decided to change his defence team for “personal reasons”. The fast bowler remains most defiant that he has not committed any offence and certainly has not brought the game into disrepute. The police raided the team hotel in August last year. They did not find any money that was supplied by the News of the World journalist on Asif’s person or in his belongings. Intense investigations did not reveal even a trace of the tainted money linked to Asif. Such money was found on Amir and Butt.

The source told The News that Asif has already spoken to his new legal team and a meeting was held at Canterbury prison where he is in custody with Salman Butt. Asif’s appeal hearing will be delayed by a short period by reason of the change of his legal representatives.

If the appeal against his conviction is successful, the player would be a free man. The UKBA may take steps to detain him for immigration reasons. If such steps are taken The News understands that the same would be opposed vigourously.

The grounds of Asif’s appeal are being formulated at the time of the publication of this article. Such grounds could include the argument that the Judge may have fallen into error in some of the rulings he made during the trial.

The News has learnt that UK visas held by Muhammaad Asif and Salman Butt have expired.

Technically, they both could face deportation to Pakistan at the completion of their prison term. Any such application The News has learnt would be met with formidable legal arguments from Asif’s representatives.

Hugh Grant, slain girl's parents make new hacking claims

(BATKHELA.TK) LONDON: Actor Hugh Grant launched a stinging attack on Britain's tabloids Monday, alleging at an inquiry that phone hacking was used by a non-Rupert Murdoch paper and that a burglary at his flat led to stories.

On a dramatic first day of evidence in Britain's press ethics probe, the parents of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler also said Murdoch's News of the World gave them false hope that she was alive by deleting some of her messages.

Grant, best known for his comic roles in films like "Notting Hill", accused The Mail on Sunday newspaper of running a story on his relationship with socialite Jemima Khan in 2007 that he believed had been obtained by hacking.

The 51-year-old by turns delivered quips that would not have been out of place in his movies; became testy with the line of questioning by the inquiry lawyer; and delivered impassioned criticism of the tabloid press.

His allegation against The Mail on Sunday, owned by the UK's Associated Newspapers group, was the second time the inquiry has heard claims that Murdoch's News of the World was not the only newspaper involved in phone hacking.

Grant said the story -- for which he later won a libel payout -- claimed his relationship with Khan was on the rocks and he was having late-night telephone chats with a "plummy voiced studio executive", but was false.

"I'd love to hear what their source was if it wasn't phone hacking," he said, while admitting that he had no firm evidence for the allegation.

In a statement, a spokesman for the weekly tabloid said it "utterly refutes" the claims, which were "mendacious smears driven by his hatred of the media".

The story "came from a freelance journalist who had been told by a source who was regularly speaking to Jemima Khan."

The financier's daughter then tweeted: "That's not true as the first time I heard anything about this was when I read about it in the MoS.

"The 'source' close to me must be psychic. The MoS claim that he/she gave them a story I knew nothing about till it was in the paper."

Grant also accused another tabloid, the Daily Mirror, owned by Trinity Mirror, of accessing his medical records. (AFP)

Scanners could reduce number of autopsies

(BATKHELA.TK)PARIS: Hi-tech medical scanners could be used to probe causes of death, reducing the need for invasive autopsies that can upset bereaved families, a study published in The Lancet on Tuesday says.

In Britain, post-mortems are ordered in about a fifth of deaths, notably where crime is suspected. The procedure has changed little over the past century, entailing evisceration and then dissection of the major organs.

Keen to find whether a non-invasive alternative could be used, researchers tested frequency magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and computed tomography (CT) scanners in 182 adult deaths where the corpse was afterwards given an autopsy.

Autopsy was not needed in a third of cases that had been imaged by fMRI and in half of the cases imaged by CT, according to the study.

However, the scanners were not perfect.

They failed to spot, or misattributed, more than two dozen cases of heart disease as well as several dozen cases of embolism, pneumonia and intra-abdominal lesions.

Screening by scanners could identify some of the major causes of death and thus make some autopsies unnecessary, the paper suggests.

It could also identify suspect lesions that would enable pathologists to carry out only a minimal dissection to pinpoint the cause of death. (AFP)

London, Pakistan to show the documentary film shown on BBC

London (Batkhela.tk) Pakistan accused of playing a double game to put America in the last decade with Pakistan is playing a double game. BBC documentary showing unilaterally against Pakistan's dangerous game began. These ideasExpressions of British Pakistani Youth Council Chairman Kamran Ishtiaq and Pakistan Chairman Tariq Dar Centre Monday ulzdn green documentary "Secret of Pakistan" against the BBC during protests outside the main building. demonstrations organized by the British Pakistani Youth Council did. demonstrators were carrying posters and banners in their hands on the "Do not play dangerous, BBC, BBC, you have killed the spirit of journalism, the BBC for propaganda against Pakistan. 35 thousand civilians killed in Pakistan, the economy was destroyed, millions of Afghan refugees from Pakistan thirty years has given refuge to Pakistan despite being charged with playing a double game. Kamran Ishtiaq said the United StatesHe said that Pakistan since 2001 in Afghanistan, British troops mass lajstkl support is being provided by this country against the unilateral propaganda in any form is not suitable. He said that the ISI against the propaganda to the Taliban which is used in custody of the Afghan government. He said that the film djyan have been scattered by the principles of journalism. He said that the British army in the war in Afghanistan, Brigadier Ed DVC representing their brmla a question about this that they had expressed during his stay in Afghanistan once did not realize that the Pakistani military or ISI is involved in a double game. He said that the Pakistani Army Brigadier Ed spotless character is confirmed by the BBC just propaganda against Pakistan, on behalf of someone to make this film and brought it. Tariq Dar said that Pakistan is the center of their hopes that Pakistan should war against terrorism does not involve itself in the eyes of Western countries eventually steal. He said that against the BBC's film community centers, mosques and other institutions in the campaign and today'sThe BBC's top guns in the protests but it will be clear that British Pakistanis have suffered from the unilateral film. He said that Pakistan against terrorism should be careful and economic sacrifices.

No evidence Zardari sent memo: Pentagon

(batkhela.tk)PENTAGON: Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby has said that the memo sent by Pakistani origin US citizen Mansoor Ijaz was not credible and Mike Mullen was confident that it was not sent by President Zardari. In a statement, Pentagon Spokesman Kirby said former US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen neither knew Mansoor Ijaz and nor did he ever communicate with him. Kirby said Admiral Mullen knew intermediary who brought secret memo to him, adding that the memo was not signed and was not credible. There was nothing in the memo that indicated that it was from President Zardari, he added.

US hits Iran with new sanctions

(batkhela.tk)WASHINGTON: The United States announced fresh sanctions against Iran's energy sector Monday and warned firms against dealing with its banks as it pressed Tehran to abandon its nuclear weapons drive.

'The message is clear,' Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said. 'If Iran's intransigence continues it will face increasing pressure and isolation. Today the United States is taking a series of steps to sharpen this choice.'

Clinton, unveiling what she called a 'significant ratcheting up of pressure on Iran,' said the United States was targeting Iran's energy sector directly for the first time.

"Recent days have brought new evidence that Iran's leaders have continued to defy their international obligations," she said, referring to the strongest report yet from the UN's nuclear watchdog on Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Detailing sanctions against goods, services and technologies for the vital petrochemical sector, Clinton said 'there have to be consequences of such behavior.'

Iran's energy sales are thought to account for around 70 percent of the government's budget and are crucial to the broader Iranian economy.

In tandem, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner issued a warning that any firms doing business with Iran's banking sector could run the risk of funding illicit activities.

The US government named Iran as 'a primary money laundering concern, 'but stopped short of adopting fully blown sanctions against Iran's central bank. "Financial institutions around the world should think hard about the risks of doing business with Iran," said Geithner.(AFP)

Benchmark 100-share Index drops 43 points

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KARACHI: Stocks at Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) ended lower in thin trade taking a cue from world markets, dealers said. The Karachi Stock Exchange's (KSE) benchmark 100-share index ended 0.36 percent, or 43.02 points, lower at 11,894.79on turnover of only 31.1 million shares. Fears about out-of-control government debt on both sides of the Atlantic swept across financial markets again on Monday, knocking stocks sharply lower and pushing up prices of bonds deemed to be safe havens. "A major fall in global stocks and commodities on U.S. and Europe debt fears affected the sentiment on the local bourse," said a stock dealer. (Reuters)

Life-saving AIDS drugs push HIV numbers to new high

(batkhela.tk) LONDON: More people than ever are living with the AIDS virus but this is largely due to better access to drugs that keep HIV patients alive and well for many years, the United Nations AIDS programme (UNAIDS) said on Monday.

In its annual report on the pandemic, UNAIDS said the number of people dying of the disease fell to 1.8 million in 2010, down from a peak of 2.2 million in the mid-2000s.

UNAIDS director Michel Sidibe said the past 12 months had been a "game-changing year" in the global AIDS fight.

Some 2.5 million deaths have been averted in poor and middle-income countries since 1995 due to AIDS drugs being introduced and access to them improving, according to UNAIDS.

Much of that success has come in the past two years as the numbers of people getting treatment has increased rapidly.

"We've never had a year when there has been so much science, so much leadership and such results in one year," Sidibe said in a telephone interview from UNAIDS headquarters in Geneva.

"Even in this time of public finance crises and uncertainty about funding, we're seeing results. We are seeing more countries than ever before (achieving) significant reductions in new infections and stabilising their epidemics."

Since the beginning of the AIDS pandemic in the 1980s, more than 60 million people have been infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS. HIV can be controlled for many years with cocktails of drugs, but there is as yet no cure. (Reuters) 

Weightless US teachers eye giant science leap

LONG BEACH: "Excited," "nervous," "terrified" - just three emotions described by a group of US teachers about to take a dizzying "weightless" flight all for the cause of science, naturally.

The 30 classroom professionals donned blue "astronaut" jumpsuits to defy gravity in the skies above California, in a project designed to help them capture the imagination of young science students.

On the back of her jumpsuit, teacher Michelle Luke taped a drawing made by her pupils at Manhattan Beach Middle School, southwest of Los Angeles, showing two figures taking a giant weightless leap into space. 

But with only a couple of hours to go before the flight, her smile was still a little tense.

During the flight - in which a specially-decked out plane does a series of parabolic climbs and dives, the only way to experience weightlessness without going into space -- the body is subject to 1.8 G forces.

That makes the body feel nearly twice as heavy as it is - the downside in the steep climb phase, before participants fly up off the floor, shrieking as they float around the cabin like astronauts in the International Space Station. (AFP)

ALLAH toba toba

After ten minutes away on the demand of dowry

   (batkhela.tk)    Human rights groups operating in Bangladesh to get married this woman has received a few minutes later to ask for dowry from her husband refused to go along.
The incident in Bangladesh's southern district brgunh occurred when nubyahta woman named Farzana Yasmin laws when it refused to departure time for them not to get gifts such as TVs and refrigerators.Related TitlesWorldFarzana told the BBC that her husband and her sister in law's demand that 'we will only girl and the rest of you we did not promise anything.'.He also said, "I know that I alone decide the kind of life, maybe not hundreds of thousands of      girls bdlygy but at least I dare to remind them of this decision can be.Asك human rights organization dedicated to the rights group said Sultana Kamal, Farzana yasmyn in the case of dowry demand against injustice being done bahmt.
Farzana YasminHe said Farzana raising the voice against customs like dowry is quite strong and have proved their case that the practice of dowry for the girl and the family is so painful.The marriage dowry greedy husband after a few minutes away from the story of Bangladesh's hard-line opposition groups also have yasmyn and Bangladesh in this case got so much latitude that yasmyn supporters on Facebook and opponents of the evidence has sparked a war correspondent.
And to take care of the dowry law in Bangladesh and playing offense, but the tradition still holds.

Osama msfq and had a soft heart: Zawahiri

Ayman al-Zawahiri's new chief has released a video in which Osama bin Laden 'soft' and 'msfq, said.Osama in Pakistan last May, after the death of Ayman al-Zawahiri, who took responsibility for the network said the former leader Osama bin Laden was a sensitive man.Jihadi Web sites on the thirty-minute video titled "night and day spent with Al.Ayman al-Zawahiri said that his goal of releasing this video of Osama bin Laden a "common man" is to reveal the personality of the people.In the video Zawahiri was wearing a white gown. He said: "People do not realize that this very kind person, kind and delicate feelings msfq and owned.  (batkhela.tk) Zawahiri said: "We did not see this person '.
Bin Laden and Zawahiri in the 1980s, the Soviet forces in Afghanistan met while they both supported the Mujahideen who were fighting against. They spent time with bin Laden to 'honor' was declared.Ayman al-Zawahiri said, recalling the moments when they learned of the death of my loved ones how to embrace them with eyes full dlash Osama did.Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri said, despite a persistent location to another location that was special care that their children get good education.He said he had a teacher who taught children the Qur'an.Zawahiri said bin Laden wanted to be remembered that those who had attacks of September eleven. The United States in nearly three thousand people were killed in these attacks.Analysts believe that Osama bin Laden video in memory of this issue and its proximity to Bin Laden, Ayman Zawahiri's emphasis on the al-Qaeda supporters to increase their popularity.

Carrying 15 tons of bombs in the U.S. weapons stockpile kaazafh

WASHINGTON  U.S.(batkhela.tk) Air Force has confirmed that the weapons store in a new and very large bomb was increased, the 15 tons heavy and 20 feet long the bomb recent U.S. Air Force to have been Maceio Ordinance pynytrytr Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a time bomb in the underground bnkrz destroying the extraordinary capacity of the concrete 60 mytrmuty layer cyrkrapny target kunsanh a can, analysts, senior aursmaly kuryaas bomb targeting could have its nuclear facilities underground have earned up, the fifty-two American ships through astylth will drop bombs on target and will guide the satellite. two and a half tons of explosives with a six-meter thick layer of concrete before exploding a bomb hole in your target can reach, U.S. Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Jack mlrky the 32 million dollar deal under the U.S. company Boeing Air 8 a bomb would extend the spokesman not told how many U.S. Air Force to have been, analysts MOP bomb Iran to build aursmaly koryak underground bnkrzaursrngun kunsanh hthyarky turprdykha is important. amrykatuatrky khtarhahy with the air strikes to prevent Iran aursmaly Korea established its nuclear facilities underground is earned.(AFP)

Recalled its ambassador to France from Syria

 France Paris .(batkhela.tk).. its ambassador back toSyria blualya. French Foreign Minister,diplomatic missions in Syria, according to Alanjup attacks and other violent incidents on the riselater decided to withdraw the Frenchambassador's home. They the Syrian presidentsaid in recent days due to protests againstbsaralasd violence has increased in France forall of your Consular offices in the evening anddecided to stop tyuts Cultural Institute.

Two accused of terrorism in Karachi incident was identified

 (batkhela.tk)  Islamabad: Federal Interior Minister RehmanMalik said that terrorism in Karachi massacrelast night's incident, two suspects have beenidentified. Talking to media outside ParliamentHouse in Islamabad, Interior Minister said thattwo terrorists has been identified as one of themis from Punjab and Sindh, a terrorist's brother isa police sub inspector is also being investigated.He is standing behind People's party and ltafAltaf Hussain police will not tolerate abusive.