Women Who Don’t Smoke Face Greater Obesity Risk, Scottish Researchers Find

Women who have never smoked face a higher risk of being overweight or obese than those who light up, according to a study by Scottish researchers in today’s British Medical Journal.

The findings from the study of 3,613 Scottish women who were followed for 28 years suggest that higher smoking rates decades ago masked the true extent of obesity, the researchers wrote. Declines in tobacco use in industrialized countries since the early 1970s may help explain the increase in the number of people who are overweight or obese, they said.

The study also concluded that obesity was more prevalent in poorer women, who had higher death rates from related conditions, than in wealthier ones. Women in the study who avoided smoking and kept their weight in check had the lowest death rates, regardless of whether they were rich or poor.

“There is a general sense that if you live on the wrong side of the tracks, you are bound to be less healthy,” Laurence Gruer, the lead researcher and director of public health science for NHS Health Scotland in Glasgow, said in a telephone interview. “This shows that’s not necessarily the case.”

Nicotine, a stimulant found in tobacco, may eventually explain more about the relationship between smoking and obesity rates, Gruer said. Nicotine appears to suppress the appetite of some smokers and may play a role in why some people who quit smoking go on to gain weight, he said.


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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-28/women-who-don-t-smoke-face-greater-obesity-risk-scottish-researchers-find.html

Nadal faces scan on foot after battling victory

Rafael Nadal yesterday overcame both an ankle injury and a truly formidable opponent to extend his Wimbledon winning streak to 18 matches and reach the quarter-finals, where he will meet the tenth seed, American Mardy Fish. The defending champion beat the towering Argentinian Juan Martin Del Potro 7-6, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 in an enthralling and incident-packed contest, the ominous skies overhead matched by the mood on Centre Court, especially when it seemed as if Nadal might be unable to continue.

After a lengthy medical time-out in the first set, however, the Majorcan seemed confident that he could rely on his heavily-strapped left foot – on which he will have an MRI scan today – and clinched the tiebreaker having trailed 0-3. But his opponent, angry both to have been made to wait for so long and to have conceded the tiebreaker with a double-fault, played thunderously in the second set, becoming the first man all tournament to take a set off Nadal.

He is also the first, and only, man to defeat both Nadal and Roger Federer in the same Grand Slam, which he did en route to winning the US Open in 2009. Del Potro has suffered grievous injury problems since then, requiring surgery on damaged right wrist tendons and missing almost the whole of last year, but nevertheless entered this contest with the swagger of a former Grand Slam champion. From the first exchanges there was plainly no sense of inferiority in the No 24 seed, who after all has climbed as high as world No 4, and in eight previous encounters with the world No 1 lagged only 3-5.

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http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/nadal-faces-scan-on-foot-after-battling-victory-2303701.html

Mandela on life, the universe and everything

He was a man who moved a nation with his words. And through his words he helped a nation move towards democracy.

For many years, the quotes of former president Nelson Mandela could not be uttered in South Africa for fear of a criminal record or a prison sentence.

It was only on February 11 1990 that the world listened to a newly released Mandela utter the words: "I greet you all in the name of peace, democracy and freedom for all".

Since then, Mandela's words of wisdom have been quoted, often incorrectly, the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory said on Monday.

The foundation decided to release a book of his quotes in June to provide an accurate and extensive resource for the public as well as document his life.

The collection of over 2 000 quotes spans more than 60 years of "Tata's" life.

Gathered from Mandela's vast archive of private papers, speeches, correspondence and audio recordings, the quotes give insight into a man who spent 27 years in prison and emerged to become a revered politician and father of the nation.

As he said on July 14 2000 at the International Aids conference in Durban: "It is never my custom to use words lightly.

"If 27 years of prison have done anything to us, it was to use the silence of solitude to make us understand how precious words are and how real speech is in its impact on the way people live and die."

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http://mg.co.za/article/2011-06-28-mandela-on-life-the-universe-and-everything

Kuwait to try two over Twitter posts: official

Kuwait will put on trial two citizens for criticizing Gulf Arab ruling families on social media site Twitter, a security official said on Monday.

Nasser Abul, a Kuwaiti Shi'ite Muslim, was arrested for posting criticisms of the Sunni Muslim ruling families in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and Lawrence al-Rashidi posted defamatory comments of Kuwait's emir, he said.

He said both would remain in detention for two more weeks before a hearing is scheduled, where they will likely face charges of harming the Gulf Arab state's interests and defaming the country's ruler after being arrested earlier in June.

Democracy activists have used social media such as Facebook and Twitter to debate, organize and share information in Bahrain, where the kingdom's Sunni rulers crushed a protest movement in March led mostly by the country's Shi'ite majority.

Bahrain called in troops from Sunni-led neighbors such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to enforce its crackdown. OPEC member Kuwait, which has a Shi'ite minority, sent naval forces.

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/27/us-kuwait-twitter-idUSTRE75Q1UH20110627

Microsoft Sets Rival to Google Apps

With a new package of online applications called Office 365 launching Tuesday, Microsoft Corp. is courting customers who have resisted running some of the company's most lucrative products: small- and medium-sized businesses.

If the Redmond, Wash., software maker succeeds with its online applications among those customers, it could tap into a new wave of growth for the venerable Office franchise, which is already used by more than one billion people world-wide, according to Microsoft.

The company also faces competitive issues: Google Inc. has won more converts to a rival set of online applications called Google Apps among small and mid-sized businesses than among large companies, according to analysts.

Office 365 includes the latest versions of Microsoft's familiar suite of productivity applications—Word, Outlook, Excel and others—combined with online versions of related software for server systems that most people never see. That includes Exchange for messaging, SharePoint for collaboration and Lync for conferencing and communication.

For roughly $6 per user a month, Office 365 customers will get the traditional Office applications, either accessing them through a Web browser or by installing them on their PCs. Microsoft will run all of the servers that manage the Office applications in its own data centers.

Even if they run the Office productivity applications, the targeted customers—which usually have 500 or fewer employees—have been especially reluctant to install and run Microsoft's Office server programs, in large part because of the costs associated with maintaining technology support staff and purchasing hardware.

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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303627104576412223191996248.html#ixzz1QXq4VKl5

US warns Syria over troop movement at Turkey border

The US has expressed concern over reports that Syria is moving troops near the border with Turkey, and warned of a possible escalation of conflict.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the reported Syrian troops movements were "very worrisome".

She said it could increase the risk of a border clash with Turkey and worsen the plight of refugees.

Syrian tanks and snipers reportedly entered the village of Khirbet al-Jouz, forcing resident to flee to Turkey.

More than 1,300 people are said to have been killed since a crackdown on anti-government protests began in March.

Thousands more protesters have been detained, opposition activists say.

Several Syrian cities - including Homs and Hama - have declared a general strike after deadly clashes with security forces and supporters of President Bashar al-Assad earlier this week.

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13899035

Lady Gaga urges fans to visit Japan

The flamboyant pop star, in Tokyo this week for a benefit concert for tsunami victims, said yesterday she is making a point to get out and enjoy the city and its food, and that her fans should do the same thing.

"I can't say enough to people all over the world that the majority of Japan right now, Japan in general, is very safe," she said.

"It's fine to come here. It's beautiful."

Many performers and athletes have cancelled appearances in Japan after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that caused widespread destruction and set off a crisis at the Fukushima nuclear power plant about 220 kilometres north of Tokyo.

Tens of thousands of people were forced to leave homes near the plant because of the radiation danger, but even far from the evacuation zone, Japanese tourism has suffered because of the disaster.

Lady Gaga said she couldn't wait for the chance to show her support.

"The most important thing, and the best thing, we could do for Japan right now is to boost tourism, and so everyone come to Japan and come enjoy the beautiful country," she said.

The singer received a certificate from the commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency yesterday thanking her for her support and money-raising efforts.

Lady Gaga will appear at MTV Video Music Aid Japan on Saturday and move on to Taiwan on July 1.

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http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/music/gaga-urges-fans-to-visit-japan/story-e6frf9hf-1226081389515

Seized Phone Offers Clues to Bin Laden’s Pakistani Links

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The cellphone of Osama bin Laden’s trusted courier, which was recovered in the raid that killed both men in Pakistan last month, contained contacts to a militant group that is a longtime asset of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, senior American officials who have been briefed on the findings say.

The discovery indicates that Bin Laden used the group, Harakat-ul-Mujahedeen, as part of his support network inside the country, the officials and others said. But it also raised tantalizing questions about whether the group and others like it helped shelter and support Bin Laden on behalf of Pakistan’s spy agency, given that it had mentored Harakat and allowed it to operate in Pakistan for at least 20 years, the officials and analysts said.

In tracing the calls on the cellphone, American analysts have determined that Harakat commanders had called Pakistani intelligence officials, the senior American officials said. One said they had met. The officials added that the contacts were not necessarily about Bin Laden and his protection and that there was no “smoking gun” showing that Pakistan’s spy agency had protected Bin Laden.


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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/24/world/asia/24pakistan.html

Wimbledon 2011: Brilliant Sabine Lisicki knocks out Li Na

Wildcard Sabine Lisicki produced the shock of the tournament after defeating French Open champion Li Na 3-6 6-4 8-6 in the women's singles.

The German world number 62, who has suffered a string of injuries in the last 12 months, could not handle Li's groundstrokes in the first set.

But she hit back in the second and saved two match points at 5-3 in the third set before claiming victory.

Sixth seed Francesca Schiavone and 18th seed Ana Ivanovic both advanced.

Italian Schiavone recorded a 7-5 6-3 victory over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova and will play Austria's Tamira Paszek in the third round, while former world number one Ivanovic enjoyed a comfortable 6-3 6-0 win over Greece's Eleni Daniilidou.

However, the biggest story of the day was Lisicki's stunning win over world number four Li.

The 21-year-old has been beset by numerous injuries as well as illnesses in the last 12 months, including a lengthy ankle injury and appendicitis.

And she continued her excellent form in Birimingham last week, where she beat the in-form Daniela Hantuchova to win the Edbgaston championship, at SW19 as Li suffered only her second Grand Slam defeat this year.

Australian Open finalist Li had been 4-2 up in the third set and twice served for the match, but Lisicki displayed impressive resilience each time.

"I really had to start from zero after being on crutches for seven weeks so it just means so much to me, winning the title in Birmingham and getting the wild card here," a delighted Lisicki told BBC Sport.

"I appreciate it so much, to be back in Wimbledon. It's just a place that I love so much.


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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/13892462.stm

Yemen General Says Opposition Will Be Ally Against Terrorism

SANA, Yemen — As the Arab Spring has turned to summer, this impoverished nation has fallen into chaos, raising fears in Washington that it will become the next headquarters of Al Qaeda — particularly with the declining influence of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, one of America’s staunchest allies in the fight against terrorism.

But Gen. Ali Mohsin al-Ahmar, long one of Yemen’s most powerful military commanders and now a prominent opposition figure, says that familiar scenario has it just about backward.

Once it comes to power, he says, the opposition will become a far more dependable counterterrorism ally for the United States than President Saleh ever was. Mr. Saleh, now laid up in a Saudi hospital, is the problem, the general says, not the answer.

“As long as this regime is in power, Al Qaeda will continue to exist in Yemen,” said General Ahmar, sitting in his office at the headquarters of the army’s First Armored Division, which he leads. “Now, counterterrorism cooperation is based on material cooperation only. It is for the exchange of funds. How much will you give me if I can kill a person for you?”

As soon as political power is no longer consolidated in the Saleh family, General Ahmar vowed: “We will deal with terrorism as a critical issue. It will fight the terrorists as a matter of life or death. Not for material gain.”

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/23/world/middleeast/23mohsin.html

Analysis: U.S. forces face new challenges after drawdown

WASHINGTON — The United States and its allies have made dramatic progress in Afghanistan over the past year, seizing the initiative from the Taliban and driving insurgents from key strongholds in the south.

The challenge for military commanders now will be to consolidate those gains and shift the military main effort to tackle insurgent strongholds in the east — all with fewer troops.

The plan is a "compromise that will be problematic to many of the players," warned David Barno, a retired three-star general who commanded coalition forces in Afghanistan and is now a senior adviser at the Center for a New American Security.

Several commanders in Afghanistan had said reductions should be made so as to not jeopardize gains.

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http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2011-06-22-analysis-drawdown-afghanistan-obama_n.htm?csp=34news

Large earthquake hits north-east Japan

A large earthquake has hit north-east Japan in the same area where a massive quake in March triggered a devastating tsunami, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

Japan's meteorological agency issued a tsunami warning for the region, but cancelled it about an hour later.

Thursday's quake hit about 30 miles (47km) from the shore of Iwate prefecture at 6.51am local time (9.51pm GMT Wednesday), the meteorological agency said. Much of the coast in the area is still heavily damaged from March's disasters.

The US Pacific Tsunami warning centre said it did not expect a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami.

The quake, 19.9 miles deep, caused tremors across the northern half of the country, including Tokyo, which is about 325 miles to the southwest. It was followed by several smaller aftershocks.

Japan is located on the Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines spanning the Pacific Basin, and is regularly hit by earthquakes.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/23/earthquake-hits-north-east-japan

Nadal, Murray through as Venus given scare

World No.1 Rafael Nadal and British hope Andy Murray stayed on course for a Wimbledon showdown on Wednesday as Venus Williams came from a set down to reach the third round of the women's draw.

Spanish reigning champion Nadal swept into the last 32 with a brisk demolition of American journeyman Ryan Sweeting, winning 6-3 6-2 6-4 under a closed Centre Court roof as rain disrupted play early on.

Nadal, aiming for his third Wimbledon title in four years, will face Luxembourg's Gilles Muller in the third round, who beat him here in 2005

"I played well. I had the match under control at 2-1, 40-0 in the third set but then made a few mistakes," said Nadal, who added he preferred to play without the roof covering the action.

"That's something strange. They told me they were going to open the roof. But at the last minute, they told me they predicted a shower. Never comes.

"It's a new experience for me, a good experience. But the tournament is outdoor, not indoor and I prefer to play outdoors. I prefer to play with no roof, that's for sure."

Nadal is on course to meet Murray in the semi-finals, with the Scottish fourth seed aiming to become the first British man to win at Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.

Murray was stretched to four sets in his first round match on Monday but faced no such problems against Germany's Tobias Kamke on Court Number One, wrapping up a 6-3 6-3 7-5 win with a minimum of fuss.

Murray will take on Ivan Ljubicic for a place in the last 16 after the Croatian veteran made short work of Ukraine's Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-4 6-4 6-2.

"I served well but the rest of my game needs work. It was quite tricky and windy," Murray said.

"He was hitting the ball very hard and flat, so it was tough to get into a rhythm."

Murray was joined in the last 32 later Wednesday by American eighth seed Andy Roddick who had too much class for Romania's Victor Hanescu en route to a 6-4 6-3 6-4 win.

Roddick, a three-time losing finalist, will face Spain's Feliciano Lopez in the third round on Friday.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, the men's draw went mostly to form, with seeded players Mardy Fish, Tomas Berdych, Richard Gasquet, Gilles Simon and Gael Monfils all reaching the third round.

The highlight of the women's tournament saw five-time champion Venus Williams pushed all the way by 40-year-old Japanese veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm in a pulsating three-hour battle.

Williams, 31, finally prevailed 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 8-6 to advance to a third round meeting with Spain's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez on Friday, who defeated Monica Niculescu 6-3 6-0.

Williams, seeded 23, is feeling her way back into tennis after a five-month lay-off following an injury sustained at the Australian Open in January, an enforced absence that has left her hungrier than ever.

"I think more than anything I've learned I'm very competitive. I've been extremely positive regardless of how my opponent's playing. Just keeping fighting," Williams said

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http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/nadal-murray-through-as-venus-given-scare-20110623-1gftz.html

Syrian Regime's Backers Take a Turn at Protest

Syrian supporters of President Bashar al-Assad took to the streets in large demonstrations in several cities, as the regime and its supporters threw their weight behind the leader's offers of reform.

Opposition activists, who dismissed the president's pledges in a speech Monday as insufficient, also demonstrated on Tuesday, leading to the deaths of at least four people in three cities when security forces fired on protesters, according to activists.

Mr. Assad, in his first public address since April 16, promoted a process of national dialogue as a path to reform. Opposition leaders have said they wouldn't take part.

Assad supporters were out in force in Damascus, the Syrian capital,which has yet to see sustained, mass antiregime demonstrations. In a central square, thousands of people waved flags and portraits of Mr. Assad, chanting: "We sacrifice ourselves for you, Bashar."

The proregime demonstrations were backed, and possibly organized to some extent, by the government. Mass text messages were sent Monday urging people to march. Syria's state news agency said millions of people across the country were "flocking to the public squares in support of the reform process under the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad."

But almost four months into protests that have polarized Syrian society, Mr. Assad maintains a loyal base among the large merchant families of Damascus and Aleppo, the country's second-largest city. He also commands support among some minorities—including the Christian population—who prefer his autocratic rule over an unknown alternative and the potential of sectarian strife.

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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304887904576399703507263370.html

44 die in Russian plane crash

STPETERSBURG, Russia - A Russian passenger jet crashed in heavy fog and burst into flames on a highway in northwestern Russia, killing 44 people, officials said. Eight people survived.

The Tu-134 plane, belonging to the RusAir airline, had taken off from Moscow and was moments from landing at the airport of Petrozavodsk when it slammed into the highway just before midnight on Monday, said Emergencies Ministry spokeswoman Oksana Semyonova.

The ministry said in a statement on its website that 44 people were killed, including four with dual US and Russian citizenship.

Semyonova said the plane slammed into the ground about 100 meters from a small village, but no casualties were reported on the ground.

Petrozavodsk is in Karelia, near the Finnish border, about 640 kilometers northwest of Moscow.

Russia's top investigative agency said bad weather, human error or a technical malfunction might have contributed to the crash.

A 9-year-old boy and his teenage sister were among eight people who survived the crash, the ministry said.

Anton Terekhin and his 14-year-old sister Anastasia Terekhina are being treated for severe injuries in hospital in Petrozavodsk.

The brother and sister feature on a list of survivors published by the Karelia branch of the emergencies ministry on its website. They are registered as residents of the Pacific island of Sakhalin.

A spokeswoman confirmed that the two were in hospital but that their mother Oksana was killed in the crash. A stewardess, named as Yulia Skvortsova, 23, also survived, the only one of the plane's crew who was not killed.

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http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-06/22/content_12748617.htm

Ban Ki-moon unanimously elected for second term as UN chief

The 192-nation UN General Assembly has voted unanimously to elect Ban Ki-moon for a second five-year term as the global body's secretary-general. The assembly unanimously backed the former 67-year-old South Korean foreign minister by acclamation on Tuesday. Ban's second term will commence from January 1 2012.

With no contenders to throw a challenge for the post, the assembly approved the new term by consensus. Ban declared his candidacy two weeks ago and had the formal backing by the Security Council on Friday. All regional groups at the UN also endorsed him.

Ban has termed his re-election as a "very great honour beyond expression."

The UN chief's first term has been a mixed bag of sorts.

Ban has faced criticism for not adequately addressing human rights violations in countries like Sri Lanka and China, but has been seen as championing the cause of climate change, women's rights and more recently speaking out against the crackdown on protesters in the Middle East and North Africa.

His role in backing decisive action by the Security Council in Libya and Ivory Coast has also gone down well with the international community.

Ban's re-election was welcomed by US envoy to the UN, Susan Rice.

"No one understands the burden of this role, better than he and my government is grateful that he willing to continue to take them on," she said.

"Secretary-General Ban is a leader who listens to the voices of the voiceless," she said.

Among other agendas, the UN chief will oversee 'Rio+20' next year, which is being dubbed as the most important environmental summit in recent times.

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http://www.hindustantimes.com/Ban-Ki-moon-unanimously-elected-for-second-term-as-UN-chief/Article1-712270.aspx

First lady Michelle Obama visits ex-president Nelson Mandela in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG —First lady Michelle Obama has said she hopes to inspire young adults during her visit this week to South Africa and Botswana, but she seemed inspired herself after a brief visit Tuesday with former South African president Nelson Mandela.

The unscheduled talk with Mandela, the nation’s first black president and patriarch of racial equality here, came after a visit to his foundation. Mandela, 92, who has not been seen often in recent months, is revered here. He was hospitalized in January, and rumors of his ill health have been reported in the local news media.

In photos taken of the private 20-minute visit between members of Mandela’s extended family and Obama, her mother, daughters, niece and nephew, he is sitting on his couch holding a book of his quotations that he is signing for the first lady.

Earlier, during a tabletop tour of a display of letters, photos and years of desk calendars that Mandela kept while in prison for 27 years, Obama said, “Wow,” and asked how he kept up with all of the documents.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/first-lady-michelle-obama-visits-ex-president-nelson-mandela-in-south-africa/2011/06/21/AGHs8oeH_story.html

China raises flood alert to top level, 555,000 evacuated

China has mobilized troops to help with flood relief and raised its disaster alert to the highest level after days of downpours forced the evacuation of more than half a million people in central and southern provinces.

The official China Daily said more than 555,000 people had been evacuated in seven provinces and a municipality after rains in recently drought-stricken areas caused floods and mudslides in the Yangtze River basin.

Central authorities have raised the disaster alert to the highest level 4, and the government is describing the floods in some areas, such as eastern Zhejiang province's Qianting River area, as the worst since 1955.

Local media said two dykes in the village areas of Zhuji in Zhejiang province were breached on Thursday, flooding two towns and 21 villages.

In the flood-hit Banshan and Moshan villages on the outskirts of Zhuji, hundreds of people had been evacuated, but many have since returned to guard their homes and belongings.

"For us now, we will be worried if we leave our homes. That's why we are still staying here. Yesterday, the water level was receding slowly so we came back to clean up our house," said 49-year-old Jie Jingping.

Jie is staying put in her flooded home with her daughter and elder sister. The first floor of her village home is completely inundated and she has moved all their belongings to the second and third floors.

She said the local government has been distributing a box of instant noodles and a carton of bottled water to every family as flood aid.

Other villagers said life was tough for some residents who were still trapped deep inside the village by the flood waters as aid distribution has been slow.

"Some did not even get any relief items. There is no electricity and you get bitten by mosquitoes all the time," said 25-year-old Shou Pengfei.

"To be frank, those rescue boats cannot go through those narrow lanes inside the village. A lot of them depend on their relatives rowing small wooden boats to get to them... It is hard to help these people inside there," he added.

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/17/us-china-floods-idUSTRE75F5W220110617

Wimbledon: Rafael Nadal is the greatest, says Andy Murray

ANDY MURRAY has thrown his weight behind Rafael Nadal in the ongoing argument about whether the Spaniard or Roger Federer is the best player of all time.

Federer holds 16 grand slam crowns to his rival’s 10 but Nadal has won an Olympic gold medal and the Davis Cup and is nearly five years younger.

Murray said: “Rafa for me is maybe the best.

“He’s won on all of the surfaces and his head-to-head record with Federer is very impressive.”

Federer has dropped to third in the world behind Nadal and Novak Djokovic but the draw placed him in the opposite half to Nadal, opening up the possibility of a fourth SW19 final between the two. The 2007 final, when Federer picked up a fifth successive title, was Nadal’s last defeat at the All England Club.

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http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/tennis/tennis-news/2011/06/20/wimbledon-rafael-nadal-is-the-greatest-says-andy-murray-100252-28905775/#ixzz1Pn3Q6GTZ

Australia and NZ to work together on ETS, medicines

Australia and New Zealand have agreed to work together to try to link the two countries emissions trading schemes.

Prime Minister John Key met with his Australian counterpart Julia Gillard on Monday afternoon, ahead of his speech to the Australian Parliament.

Ms Gillard is under domestic political pressure over her plan to introduce a price on carbon.

But she says both Governments recognise that linking global markets provides the most cost effective approach to reducing greenhouse gases.

John Key says it is up to Australia to decide its own emissions policy, but he believes New Zealand's ETS is working.

New, joint medicines agency

Mr Key also announced a new trans-Tasman agency to regulate medicines, medical devices and new medical interventions.

He says New Zealand's regulatory arrangements need to be updated, and this is a cost effective and comprehensive way of achieving that.

Mr Key says officials from both countries will begin work on a joint agency immediately.

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http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/78179/australia-and-nz-to-work-together-on-ets,-medicines

NATO: Errant Strike May Have Killed Civilians in Libya

NATO has admitted another accidental airstrike by its forces may have killed civilians in the Libyan capital, Tripoli.

The alliance said the air strikes were launched against a military missile site in Tripoli Sunday, but "one weapon did not strike the intended target" because of a possible "weapons system failure." NATO said it regretted the "loss of innocent civilian lives."

Libyan officials said Sunday, NATO warplanes struck a residential neighborhood and killed nine people. Two children were among the dead.

This was the second recent admission of deadly error by coalition forces. On Saturday, NATO acknowledged that aircraft under its command had accidentally hit a rebel column near the oil refinery town of Brega on the frontline between the rebel-held east and the mainly government-held west on Thursday. The number of casualties in that attack were not revealed.

Elsewhere Sunday, rebels and medical officials in Libya say fighting near the rebel-held western city of Misrata has killed at least nine people and wounded more than 50 others.

The officials said forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi used heavy artillery to pummel Dafniya, just west of Misrata.

On Saturday, the coalition called Libyan government claims that alliance airstrikes are targeting civilians "outrageous." Spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said it is Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and his forces who have been "systematically and brutally attacking" the Libyan people

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http://www.voanews.com/english/news/NATO-Errant-Strike-May-Have-Killed-Civilians-in-Libya-124168929.html

Al-Zawari becomes new al Qaeda leader

Al Qaeda has a new leader. That's according to a statement on an Islamist website published today. It says Ayman al-Zawari, Osama bin-Laden's long-time lieutenant, has now taken full command of the group's operations.

Zawari, who has long been viewed as bin-Laden's most likely successor, vowed earlier this month to press ahead with al-Qaeda's campaign against the US and its allies. It was his first public response to the U.S. commando raid in Pakistan last month, in which bin-Laden was killed.

Believed to be in his late 50s, Zawahri met bin-Laden in Pakistan in the mid-1980s, while helping guerrillas fight the Soviet troops in Afghanistan. He now tops Washington's most-wanted list, with a 25-million U.S.-dollar bounty.

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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/video/2011-06/17/c_13935432.htm

Rory McIlroy grabs lead at U.S. Open

BETHESDA, Md. -- So much for those scars from Augusta National, where Rory McIlroy turned watershed victory into humiliating defeat with a final-round, dead-man-walking 80.

If blowing a four-shot lead at the Masters was supposed to deflate the 22-year-old wunderkind from Northern Ireland, he obviously didn't get the message.

Playing the kind of brilliant golf that had Ernie Els gushing earlier this week about the kid's potential to "change history," McIlroy shot a bogey-free 6-under 65 in the first round of the 111th U.S. Open on Thursday.

While playing partners Phil Mickelson (74) and Dustin Johnson (75) hit it all over the lot, McIlroy was a study in clinical precision, hitting 17 of 18 greens in regulation at Congressional Country Club and making three birdies on each nine. It was like watching two Double-A pitchers trying to throw strikes and Sandy Koufax painting the black.

"All you're trying to concentrate on is your own game," McIlroy said. "It's a major championship, and the toughest major championship of them all is the U.S. Open. You can't let any other thoughts get in your head. You're just trying to concentrate entirely on your game and trying to get that ball around the course in as few strokes as possible."

McIlroy took a three-shot lead over Y.E. Yang of South Korea and Charl Schwartzel, the South African who took advantage of McIlroy's collapse to win the Masters in April.

The three-shot cushion is the largest first-round lead at the Open since 1976, when amateur Mike Reid led four players by three shots.

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http://www.mercurynews.com/golf/ci_18297038?nclick_check=1

Colonel Gaddafi wants Libyans to vote for him as leader meets rebels

MUAMMAR Gaddafi's regime is in direct talks with Libya's rebels, a Russian envoy indicated today, as the strongman's son said the way out of a months-long conflict is the staging of elections.

Russia's Mikhail Margelov, in Tripoli for one day after visiting the rebels in their Benghazi stronghold last week, made the remarks following a meeting with Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi al Mahmudi.

"I was assured at today's negotiations that direct contacts between Benghazi and Tripoli are already underway," Mr Margelov said, according to Russia's ITAR-TASS news agency.

"The Libyan prime minister told me that a round of such contacts concluded yesterday in Paris," he said, adding that French President Nicolas Sarkozy "has been informed of the outcome of these contacts".

He did not disclose the nature of the talks, which could not be confirmed by the rebels' Transitional National Council.

Mr Mahmudi said Colonel Gaddafi's departure from power was a "red line" that cannot be crossed, despite growing international calls for him to quit and the armed insurrection against his 41-year rule.

"Of utmost concern to us in any dialog is the unity of Libya," Mr Mahmudi told a news conference in Tripoli.

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http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/colonel-gaddafi-wants-libyans-to-vote-for-him-as-leader-meets-rebels/story-e6frf7jx-1226077079165

China, Russia issue joint statement on major international issues

China and Russia on Thursday issued a joint statement on a broad range of key international issues.

The statement was signed by visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev.

Countries of the world have become increasingly interdependent against the backdrop of profound changes and major adjustments in the international situation as well as the emergence of global challenges and regional threats such as the international financial crisis, regional conflicts, natural disasters, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,terrorism and climate change, said the statement.

The two sides recognize the need to make concerted efforts to effectively cope with such global challenges and threats, it said.

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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-06/16/c_13934280.htm

Narco gangster reveals the underworld

The elderly are killed. Young women are raped. And able-bodied men are given hammers, machetes and sticks and forced to fight to the death.

In one of the most chilling revelations yet about the violence in Mexico, a drug cartel-connected trafficker claims fellow gangsters have kidnapped highway bus passengers and forced them into gladiatorlike fights to groom fresh assassins.

In an in-person interview arranged by intermediaries on the condition that neither his name nor the location of his Texas visit be published, the trafficker also admitted to helping push cocaine worth $5 million to $10 million a month into the United States.

Law enforcement sources confirm he is a cartel operative but not a fugitive from pending charges.

His words are not those of a federal agent or drawn from a news conference or court papers.

Instead, he offers a voice from inside Mexico's mayhem — a mafioso who mingles among crime bosses and foot soldiers in a protracted war between drug cartels as well as against the government.

If what he says is true, gangsters who make commonplace beheadings, hangings and quartering bodies have managed an even crueler twist to their barbarity.

Members of the Zetas cartel, he says, have pushed passengers into an ancient Rome-like blood sport with a modern Mexico twist that they call, "Who is going to be the next hit man?"

"They cut guys to pieces," he said.

The victims are likely among the hundreds of people found in mass graves in recent months, he said.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/topstory/7607122.html#ixzz1PPkUwjcT

Lunar eclipse: Google doodle, photos document the rare red moon

Lunar eclipses are a rarity, but thanks to modern technology, there are a few ways to get in on the red-moon action for those who missed seeing the astronomical event as it happened.

Google.com's home page on Wednesday features a Google Doodle (as the tech giant likes to call the logo on its search engine site) that mimics the eclipse with photos of the actual event itself. A click and a push of the slider under the doodle moves the images from a white moon to red and back to white again, replicating the Earth's shadow passing by.

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http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/06/lunar-eclipse.html

Innovation key to IBM's next 100 years

The company that invented and found applications for countless technologies is celebrating its first century.

IN a row of hospital incubators in Canada, a technological revolution -- some might call it a tiny miracle -- is being born. Using advanced stream computing software developed by IBM, doctors are developing an early warning system that will alert healthcare staff in advance when premature babies in intensive care are at risk of developing life-threatening complications.

The system is one example of the ways in which IBM, which celebrates its centenary today, is reinventing itself in an economy increasingly dominated by "big data".

During its 100 years IBM has played many roles, from manufacturer of coffee grinders and weighing scales to computer pioneer, inventor of the barcode and global business consultant. Although very different on the surface, these roles have one thing in common: goods and services that make businesses more efficient.

It's a guiding principle that is particularly apt to IBM's work with premature babies. Working with Carolyn McGregor at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, IBM is developing software to analyse a constant stream of biomedical data (heart rate, respiration, temperature etc) gathered from hospital monitoring equipment.

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http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/news/innovation-key-to-ibms-next-100-years/story-e6frg90o-1226076161568

Bruins shut the door in Game 7 to take first title in 39 years

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — They won it for every New England mom and dad who ever woke up to drive kids to the rink at 6 a.m. and drank hot chocolate in cold arenas.

They won it for the Revere girls with the big hair and O’Reilly sweaters; for the shot-and-beer guys who pour every dollar of expendable income into the hockey budget.

They won it to avenge losing Bobby Orr to Chicago, too-many-men-on-the-ice in Montreal, free agents never signed, trades that went bad, unspeakable injuries, and Game 7 disappointments.

They won it for you.

The Boston Bruins last night won the Stanley Cup, shocking the Vancouver Canucks, 4-0, capping an epic seven-game series and bringing the holy grail to the Hub of Hockey for the first time since 1972. The goals were scored by Patrice Bergeron and Brad (’Lil Ball ’O Hate) Marchand, two apiece.

The non-goals were stopped by playoff MVP Tim Thomas.

At this hour, Everyman Thomas is Tom Brady, Bill Russell, and Curt Schilling. And the Bruins are Stanley Cup champs. They outscored the favored Canucks by a whopping 23-8 in the series.

At 10:52 (Boston time), the Cup appeared and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman beck oned Bruins captain Zdeno Chara. The big defenseman skated toward the commissioner, received the Cup, hoisted the chalice, skated in a circle, then presented it to 43-year-old teammate Mark Recchi.

Recchi had just played his last game. The veteran forward took his turn, then passed it on to Bergeron as the public address system blared “Dirty Water.’’ Thomas took the Cup from Bergeron. On and on it went. They’re probably still passing it to one another as you read this.

Today would be a good day to call your out-of-town friends and tell them you live in a city that just won its seventh championship in 11 years. You live in the only hamlet that’s won the Grand Slam of North American trophies within seven seasons.

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http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/articles/2011/06/16/bruins_win_first_stanley_cup_in_39_years/

Shallow aftershock rocks Christchurch as experts warn of more earthquakes

A car is trapped in water on Ferry Road after two magnitude 6.0 and 5.5 earthquakes struck on Monday in Christchurch, New Zealand.

THE probability of another major earthquake hitting the devastated New Zealand city of Christchurch in the next year has increased in the wake of this week's new tremors, experts said today.

The already traumatised South Island city was rocked by major quakes on Monday, with a 5.0-magnitude aftershock at a depth of just 1km rattling the nervous residents again early today.

Christchurch mayor Bob Parker later reported no new damage was caused by today's aftershock, which was followed by others including a 4.2-magnitude shake at 2.30pm local time.

The most recent quakes - which come after the February 22 disaster that killed 182 people - have been blamed on a new faultline in the region.

New calculations by GNS Science showed that from today until June 15 next year there was now a 30 per cent chance of a quake of between magnitude 6.0 and 6.9 striking the area, compared with a 23 per cent probability expressed last month,

Read More

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/shallow-aftershock-rocks-christchurch-as-experts-warn-of-more-earthquakes/story-e6frf7jx-1226075675624

Facebook denies losing users

Facebook has denied that it is losing customers, saying it is "pleased" with growth.

Figures from Faceboook monitoring site Inside Facebook suggested that during May, Facebook lost six million users in the US and 100,000 in the UK.

But the social network, which does not usually comment on third party statistics, questioned how it arrived at this figure.

Other net measurement firms said they had seen growth over the same period.

"From time to time, we see stories about Facebook losing users in some regions. Some of these reports use data extracted from our advertising tool, which provides broad estimates on the reach of Facebook ads and isn't designed to be a source for tracking the overall growth of Facebook," the firm said in a statement.

"We are very pleased with our growth and with the way people are engaged with Facebook. More than 50% of our active users log on to Facebook in any given day," it added.

The figures from Inside Facebook claimed that 1.5 million Canadian users left the social network in May.

But overall it showed that Facebook was growing, to a total of 687 million users worldwide with many new customers coming from countries such as India, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Its figures on customer leakage do not appear to tally with those from net measurement firm comScore.

It told the BBC it had seen a 21% growth for US users on Facebook during May, while the UK gained 368,000 new recruits between February and May.

According to comScore, the average amount of time spent on the site was also up, from 21 minutes per day in December 2009 to 25 minutes per day by December 2010.

Measurement firm Nielsen said its figures also showed growth.

"There are months when figures dip but I'd be very cautious on calling a trend based on two months," said Nielsen spokesman Neil Beston.

Read More

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13760244

Italy to China: four countries sidelining nuclear power

Italians voted in a referendum vote yesterday to put a lid on nuclear power indefinitely, derailing one of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s efforts to restart nuclear energy in Italy. Nuclear energy was first abandoned in a 1987 referendum vote after the Chernobyl nuclear accident and Italy shuttered its four nuclear power plants soon after. The recent referendum vote extends a moratorium on nuclear plans that was imposed after Japan’s nuclear crisis.

Berlusconi had hoped to relaunch the shelved nuclear program – one of the first in the world used for power supply only – by building several nuclear power plants. In 2009, he reached out to France for assistance with the construction of four new plants. The first one was slated for completion by 2020.

The country lacks many natural energy resources and imports 86 percent of its energy supply, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Berlusconi said Monday, as the results of the referendum became clear, that if Italy opted to abandon nuclear energy, it was going to need to make a stronger commitment to renewable energy.

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http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-Issues/2011/0614/Italy-to-China-four-countries-sidelining-nuclear-power/Italy

Huge Protests in Yemen Call for Transitional Government

Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis have rallied in major cities throughout the country, demanding President Ali Abdullah Saleh step down and calling for a transitional council that excludes members of the current government.

In the capital, Sana'a, a huge crowd swelled Tuesday outside the home of Yemen's acting leader, Vice President Abd al-Rab Mansur Hadi - a day after Yemen's political opposition held talks with him on a possible transition plan.

Similar demonstrations were held in several other cities, Hadramawt, Hodeida, Ibb, Damar and Saada.

Mr. Saleh transferred power to his deputy after traveling to Saudi Arabia to seek medical treatment for wounds suffered in an attack on his presidential compound earlier this month. Several high-ranking Yemeni officials wounded in the attack are also being treated in Riyadh.

Yemen's state news agency said Mr. Saleh told Saudi King Abdullah by telephone Tuesday that his health is "constantly improving."

Meanwhile, the Gulf Cooperation Council met in Riyadh Tuesday to discuss how to resurrect its initiative aimed at resolving Yemen's political crisis.

The United States and Saudi Arabia are attempting to persuade Yemen's ruling party to adopt the GCC deal that would end Mr. Saleh's rule, create a unity government and conduct elections within two months. The group's efforts to help resolve the unrest stalled after President Saleh refused to sign a proposal which calls for him to eventually leave office.

In another development, Yemeni security sources say a bomb killed an army officer in a region near the southern port of Aden. Officials said the blast tore through the car of Colonel Muti'a al-Sayani while he was driving Monday.

In Washington, the State Department's counterterrorism coordinator said the U.S. is concerned Yemen's ongoing unrest could fuel connections between al-Qaida-linked militants there and al-Shabab insurgents in Somalia.

Daniel Benjamin said the United States is still cooperating with Yemen in the fight against al-Qaida despite the Gulf nation's political crisis and Mr. Saleh's absence.

Read More

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/middle-east/Bomb-Kills-Colonel-in-Yemens-South-123823269.html

Thousands Of Syrians Flee Into Turkey

Thousands of Syrians have fled into Turkey fearing a military attack, officials have said, as the country prepares for the possibility of more violent anti-government protests

Government troops have massed outside the town of Jisr al-Shughour, the scene of recent demonstrations, residents have said, adding that the settlement was now largely deserted.

There are now fears violence could intensify after Friday prayers.

The latest reports of a government crackdown intensified international concerns over Syria's handling of the protests.

Britain, France, Germany and Portugal have asked the UN Security Council to condemn President Assad, although veto-wielding Russia has said it would oppose such a move.

Foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said the Damascus government must be allowed time to implement promised reforms.

He said: "We do not believe the Syrian issue is a subject for consideration by the Security Council, let alone the adoption of some kind of resolution.


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http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Syria-Thousands-Flee-Over-The-Border-Into-Turkey-Fearing-A-Military-Attack-In-Jisr-Al-Shughour/Article/201106216009213?lpos=World_News_First_Home_Article_Teaser_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_16009213_Syria%3A_Thousands_Flee_Over_The_Border_Into_Turkey%2C_Fearing_A_Military_Attack_In_Jisr_Al-Shughour

MF Husain's funeral to take place in London today

London: The funeral of legendary painter MF Husain will be held in London today. Ninety-six-year-old Husain died from complications caused by lung congestion in London on Thursday.

Husain, who rose from a Bollywood billboard artist to become India's most celebrated painter worldwide, was on a self-imposed exile.

India's very own 'Picasso', who earned both fame and wrath for his paintings, breathed his last London's Royal Brompton Hospital where he was admitted after being in "indifferent health" for the last one-and-a-half month, reported PTI quoting family sources.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Mr Husain's death is "a national loss." President Pratibha Patil said his death "left a void in the world of art."

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http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/mf-husains-funeral-to-take-place-in-london-today-111317