William, Kate appear on Buckingham Palace balcony

LONDON: Joyous crowds cheered and gaped in awe as beaming newly-weds Prince William and Kate Middleton rode through London in a fairytale horse-drawn carriage and kissed on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Hundreds of thousands of royal fans from all walks of life and from across the planet descended on London on Friday to witness the most talked about British wedding in years.

Some wore Union Jack dresses and old-fashioned wigs to celebrate the day, others partied feverishly with painted faces and fluttering flags. Many were just happy to witness all the rare pomp and circumstance of a full-blown royal event.

"We wanted to feel the atmosphere -- how the British get excited," said Zhang Ying, a Chinese university student, who declared Middleton was "born to be a queen".

William, in full military regalia, and his new bride, in show-stopping ivory-coloured silk and satin dress, had clearly wowed the hoards of people lining the streets from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace.

"The monarchy is like our Hollywood, the movies, for us," said 48-year-old Californian Diane Weltz who had treated her daughter Samantha to a trip to London for her 21st birthday.

Many well-wishers had spent the night sleeping in the streets around the abbey to make sure they got a prime spot to see William and Middleton emerge as a married couple.

"I managed to catch a few hours' sleep in a doorway, but I don't mind, today is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I had to be here," said Canadian Jay Edmonds.

Draped in a Union Jack flag, with tufts of white hair poking out from under a Union Jack hat, 77-year-old Terry Hut had spent five days establishing his position at the front of the barriers for his fifth royal wedding appearance.

In London's Hyde Park, giant screens beamed footage of the day to a crowd of all ages, creeds and backgrounds.

"It should have been me," shouted nurse Jo Newman, 27,dressed as a bride and clutching a bouquet of plastic roses.

Across Britain, communities were enjoying street parties and a welcome day off to celebrate the most talked about British wedding in decades. Hardcore fans along the streets of Westminster had been getting in the mood since dawn.

William, second-in-line to the throne, and Kate have already said thanks for the outpouring of affection this week, but the pair looked genuinely overcome by the atmosphere as they waved and smiled to fans.

"The pictures on the mugs don't do the couple justice," said 34-year-old Madeleine Senior who flew in from Australia for the big day.

While most of the revellers were happy to flood the couple with good wishes, a few republicans gathered to protest. "My message to the royal couple is good luck and enjoy your married life, but please don't take for granted that one day you will be king or queen," said Graham Smith of the anti-monarchist lobby group Republic. 

Misbah guides Pakistan to series-clinching victory

BRIDGETOWN: Misbah-ul-Haq dug deep and dragged Pakistan to a series-clinching, three-wicket victory over West Indies in the third One-day International of the best of five match series here on Thursday.

Misbah led the way with four fours and one six in an unbeaten 62 from 109 balls, Hammad Azam supported with 36, and Umar Akmal made 30, as the Pakistanis, chasing 172 for victory, reached their target with 29 balls remaining at Kensington Oval.

The Pakistanis were left reeling on 12 for three, following an opening burst from Ravi Rampaul, who also had Akmal caught behind to leave the visitors on 49 for four in the 12th over, finishing with four wickets for 32 runs from nine overs.

Azam joined Misbah and put on 78 for the fifth wicket to put Pakistan back on track before Devendra Bishoo took three for 42 from nine overs to trigger a slide that left the visitors wobbling on 148 for seven in the 36th over.

But Wahab Riaz joined Misbah to edge the Pakistanis over the finish line five overs later, when he swung a short ball from Dwayne Bravo over deep backward square leg for six.

Earlier, Saeed Ajmal had captured three for 29 from 8.4 overs and Wahab took three for 38 from eight overs to enhance Pakistan's chance of victory, as they dismissed their opponents for 171 in 43.4 overs after choosing to field.

The Pakistanis appeared to be under pressure, when West Indies duo Lendl Simmons and Darren Bravo comfortably added 86 for the second wicket in a volley of strokes before Ajmal and Wahab brought Pakistan back into the match, which was reduced to 45 overs-a-side.

Saeed held a return catch in the 21st over to dismiss Simmons for the West Indies top score of 51, and Mohammad Hafeez trapped Darren Bravo lbw for 47 in the 28th over to leave the home team on 118 for three.

But Saeed and Wahab ensured there was no fight-back from the remaining batsmen, as they all failed to offer any substanial scores before a disappointed holiday crowd.

Pakistan played an unchanged line-up, but West Indies made two changes, replacing Anthony Martin and wicketkeeper/batsman Carlton Baugh Jr with fast bowlers Andre Russell and Rampaul.

Play began an hour and 45 minutes later than scheduled, after rain delayed the start of the match on the day that the island celebrates their national heroes, including legendary former West Indies all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers.

The victory meant that Pakistan have now won their last eight ODIs against West Indies spread over the last four years, including their 10-wicket victory in a recent World Cup quarter-final in Bangladesh.

The fourth ODI will be played next Monday at Kensington Oval with the final match of the series three days later at the Guyana National Stadium.

Hunt begins for Mona Lisa model

FLORENCE: A team of researchers in Italy has begun a search for the tomb of a woman who may have been the model for Leonardo Da Vinci's painting Mona Lisa.

The team is using a special radar device at the convent in the city of Florence where it thinks the body of the woman, Lisa Gherardini, is buried.

It hopes to find skull fragments and to try to create a facial reconstruction.

The identity of the enigmatic Mona Lisa remains one of the great mysteries of the art world.

Heart attacks more serious in morning: study

PARIS: Heart attacks that occur in the morning are likely to be more serious than attacks at other times of the day, a specialist journal reported on Wednesday.

Spanish researchers looked at data from 811 patients who had been admitted to a Madrid clinic with a myocardial infarction between 2003 and 2009.

They used levels of an enzyme in the blood to measure the extent of dead tissue, known as an infarct, which is caused by blocked blood supply to heart muscle.

Those who had had a heart attack between 6:00 am and noon, during the transition from darkness to light, had a 21-percent larger infarct compared with patients whose attack occurred between 6:00 pm and midnight.

The study, published in the British journal Heart, builds on previous evidence that circadian rhythm -- the famous "body clock" -- influences the heart in many ways such as blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output and the function of cells that line cardiac blood vessels.

Of the 811 patients, 269 had their heart attacks in the period from 6:00 am to noon. More than three-quarters of the patients admitted to the clinic were men. Their average age was 62.

The findings should be useful in assessing the effectiveness of drugs against heart disease, the researchers said.

Earnestness of `Prom' grows on you

It's not just prom, it's Disney's "Prom." And so no one smokes, no one sneaks in peach schnapps in a flask and no one - that's right, no one - gets lucky in the back of a limo.

This is all about that magical night when everyone gets together, regardless of the social hierarchy that had been firmly in place for the past four years, and dreams come true. Wholesome, earnest dreams for wholesome, earnest kids - except for the resident bad boy, that is. But naturally, he'll turn out to have a heart of gold.

Yes, director Joe Nussbaum's film, from a script by first-timer Katie Wech, is chock full of high-school movie clichés - sometimes knowingly and amusingly so. There's a tall, misfit character named Lloyd (Nicholas Braun) who resembles "Say Anything ..."-era John Cusack - a tall, misfit character named Lloyd. His awkward attempts at landing a prom date represent the film's most consistent source of laughs.

Of course, straight-arrow good girl Nova (Aimee Teegarden) will get stuck working with motorcycle-riding rebel Jesse (Thomas McDonell), and they will see through their respective prejudices to not only get along but fall for each other. Various other couples will suffer through missed opportunities and miscommunication and come out better for them in the end.

"Prom" is so steadfastly family friendly, even the dude who's clearly stoned the whole time - his nickname is Rolo, like the candy - never even comes close to taking any sort of drugs. He's just laid-back and wisecracking. You're welcome to draw your own conclusions.

There is a plot, sort of. Members of the Brookside High School senior class are getting ready for prom. Along the way, the shed where the decorations are being stored burns down. Nova, the prom coordinator and Molly Ringwald figure here, must reconstruct the whole extravaganza with the help of Jesse, the Judd Nelson figure in the equation who's been thrust upon her because he's a delinquent. Making papier-mâchÃ(c) moons and stars will straighten him out, the principal figures.

Essentially, this feels like a Disney Channel TV show stretched out to fit the big screen. No one pops out as a major star quite like the actors did in the "High School Musical" series, but they're all harmless and good-looking and the school is sufficiently multicultural to make everyone feel comfortable and included.

Still, the sweetness and guilelessness of "Prom" is actually strangely charming, and for its target audience - girls who are several years away from having to pick out that perfect dress - this will be a safe, enjoyable and validating little diversion. The fact that it's not snarky and too-hip is unexpectedly refreshing.

Like the 3-D Justin Bieber movie, you have to look at it through the prism of the viewers for whom it was intended. Adults know prom sucks - they went to prom. Pre-teen girls are still idealistic (we hope). Let them enjoy their vicarious fun.

"Prom" means well - and it grows on you. And it's much less of a hassle than schlepping to the real thing.

Forex reserves ease to $17.18bn

KARACHI: Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves eased to $17.18 billion in the week ending on April 23, from $17.38 billion the previous week, a central bank official said on Thursday.

Reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) fell to $13.68 billion from $13.91 billion a week ago, while those held by commercial banks rose slightly to $3.50 billion from $3.47 billion, said SBP chief spokesman Syed Wasimuddin.

Pakistan's forex reserves have grown steadily thanks to higher export proceeds as well as record inflow of remittances, hitting an all-time high of $17.95 billion during the week that ended on March 26.

Reserves have since eased slightly on debt repayments.

Remittances from overseas Pakistanis increased by 22.37 percent to more than $8 billion in the first nine months of the 2010/11 fiscal year (July-June), and in March, a record $1.05 billion was received, according to SBP data. 

220 killed as tornadoes ravage US south

BIRMINGHAM: Tornadoes and storms carved a trail of destruction across the southern United States, killing over 220 people in one of region's worst weather disasters in years, officials said Thursday.

The severe weather killed 131 people in the state of Alabama alone on Wednesday, authorities said, and President Barack Obama said Washington would be rushing assistance to the battered southeastern state.

States of emergency were declared in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Oklahoma, and governors called out the National Guard to help with rescue and cleanup operations.

In all, state officials reported at least 227 people dead, but as the residents and emergency workers began to mop up and assess the damage the toll was likely to rise.

The National Weather Service (NWS) had preliminary reports of more than 300 tornados since storms began Friday, including more than 130 on Wednesday alone.

Alabama was especially badly hit, caught by two lines of storms and an evening tornado that tore through the city of Tuscaloosa, home to the University of Alabama.

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walter Maddox told CNN the tornado had "obliterated blocks and blocks" of his city, leaving 36 people dead there.

"Infrastructure has been absolutely devastated," he said Thursday. "When you look at this path of destruction, likely five to seven miles (eight to 11 kilometers) long and half a mile to a mile wide, I don't know how anyone survived.

"There are parts of this city I don't recognize.... It is a dark hour for our city," he added.

A tornado also struck the city of Birmingham. "This has been a very serious and deadly event that's affected our state, and it's not over yet," Alabama Governor Robert Brantley told reporters.

Stunned Birmingham residents assessed the damage early Thursday, some counting their blessings to still be alive, others distraught over the loss of their loved ones or homes.

Pak Navy bus attacked again, 5 dead

KARACHI: A roadside bomb hit a bus carrying Pakistani Navy officials on Thursday, killing five people and wounding eighteen others, officials said, the third attack on the navy in less than a week.

Pakistan navy spokesman said four navy officials aboard the bus were killed. A hospital official said a passerby was also killed.

"The bus was taking navy officers to a dockyard when a planted bomb exploded nearby," senior police official said. A civilian car and motorcycle were also damaged.

The bomb was placed in a gutter near the petrol pump on Shahra-e-Faisal near Karsaz Bridge and exploded when the bus arrived around 08:15 am.

About three kilograms of explosives were packed into the bomb which was detonated remotely, senior police official Iftikhar Tarar said.

He said the blast appeared to be the work of the same group behind twin bombings on Tuesday that killed four navy officials and wounded nearly 60 people in the worst attack on military officials in Karachi in years.

On Tuesday morning, two buses of the Pakistan Navy were also targeted when two bombs exploded near them. Four personnel of the Pakistan Navy, including a lady doctor and a junior officer, were killed while around 56 others sustained injuries.

KAREENA KAPOOR GOING TO LAUNCH SPECIAL EDITION TITLED BEBO HANDBAGS

Kareena Kapoor Going To Launch Special Edition Titled Bebo Handbags ust recently, Kareena Kapoor was appointed as the brand ambassador for Laive handbags. One thing that the company noticed is that since the leggy damsel was signed on, the sales picked up. In response to this sudden rise in sales, the company has decided to come up with a special edition of the bag. The said special edition will be titled Bebo, after the actress's nickname. Currently, the actress is in talks regarding the bag line. As there are multiple aspects that need to be considered like the selling and marketing as well as Kareena's involvement including her remuneration....

SALMAN KHAN LOOK FOR HIS UPCOMING MOVIE BODYGUARD

Salman Khan Look For His Upcoming Movie Bodyguard Salman Khan, who will be seen in the power packed Bodyguard, has proven once again that he is one of the biggest superstars of the country. In the film, Salman plays a bodyguard, of course, and there were many agencies who were vying to get Salman Khan to wear the uniform of their company. The companies were hard selling their uniforms, as it would've done wonders to their business, if Salman was seen wearing their uniform, since it was so integral to the narrative of the film. However, the actor who has a heart of gold put his foot down, and decided to wear the uniform, of his personal bodyguard,

SHAHID KAPOOR GOING TO DO A ACTION MOVIE WILL BE DIRECTED SIDDHARTH ANAND

Shahid Kapoor Going To Do a Action Movie Will be Directed Siddharth Anand About eight years ago in 2003, Ramesh Taurani launched Shahid Kapoor in Ishq Vishk, followed by Fida in 2004. Now, Shahid Kapoor is all set to feature in an action film to be produced by Ramesh Taurani. The film will be directed by Siddharth Anand. News has it that after Anjaana Anjaani, Siddharth Anand was supposed set to make a film based on Chetan Bhagat's novel 'The Two States'. However, after he moved away from the project, Siddharth planned an action film in which he wanted to feature Shahid Kapoor. Reportedly, Shahid loved the concept and Tips came on board.

Rani Mukherji finally becomes an item girl

Bollywood’s retired actress Rani Mukherji, who has attained the retirement tag from the media, has finally accepted an item girl role. The actress is left almost workless these days and nothing from her, is impressing, her fans or the industry wallas to feature her as a lead.

So, finally actress Rani Mukherji will be seen in the role of an item girl, for the movie “Houseful 2”. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala has made it official about this multi starter films. Rani Mukherji is not hesitant in disclosing this as well. The actress has accepted that, she was never against item girl roles and was just waiting for the right film to step into the shoes. Actress Rani Mukherji will be seen in a fancy dress type role in the item dance in ‘Houseful 2’ and promises that she will make people forget all munnis and Sheila’s with her gyrations.

Rani Mukherji is all set to follow the footsteps of actress Preity zinta and will soon be taking a TV role as a host in coming days.

Aamir Khan to promote Ra One with Shah Rukh Khan

Bollywood media is said to be buzzing with the rumors that, Aamir khan had again ignited a controversy with his words against SRK. When Aamir khan was present at the “Zokkomon” premiers show, he answered to a media query that he did not watch the promos of ‘Ra one’ which was presented SRK as a super hero. But this was a true lie by Aamir khan as the promos were screened by SRK at the world cup crocket 2011 finals and the event was attended by Aamir khan and his wife Kiran Rao.

While all the media sources were waiting for the response of from Shah Rukh khan, he came up with a surprising answer. When asked about the answer for Aamir’s negative noting on ‘Ra one’ promo, SRK added that, well it is a regret that Aamir khan did not have time to watch the promo. But Shah Rukh khan added that, he will surely be present at the promotional event of ‘Ra One’ which could take place in September 2011.

This has put forward the issue that SRK doesn’t want to mess with Aamir Khan any further and has requested for his support for promoting Rs 160 crore project

Deepika Padukone and Siddharth Malaya lip kiss discloses about their love

“Just friends” tag in the relationship of Deepika Padukone and Siddharth Malaya was under scrutiny when the to were spotted locking their lips, before the whole world, when Bangalore royal challengers team won an IPL match over Kolkata Knight riders. The most surprising part was that Siddharth Malaya and Deepika Padukone were seen spotted kissing each other, in front of Vijay Malaya, who is already a Casanova.

The whole media world of bollywood started to buzz that Deepika Padukone was indeed dating the Malaya scion Siddharth and the evidence of their love was their smooch, which was witnessed on the big screen of an IPL match.

But Sid however doesn’t accept this as a fact. He said that the moment he saw RCB win of KKR his adrenaline pumped up and so, he immediately hugged Deepika and smooched her in public. However, he denied that it was love and said that, it was just a winning expression. On the other hand Deepika was in a blush, to talk about her kiss. But she also supported that statement of Sid and said that, it was just a seconds full of adrenaline rush, which paved way for the kiss

Shehzad century steers Pakistan to victory

GROS ISLET: Opener Ahmed Shehzad struck his second one-day international hundred to anchor Pakistan to a confident seven-wicket victory over West Indies on Monday.

Shehzad hit seven fours and one six in his 102 from 148 balls as Pakistan successfully chased 221 for victory in the second ODI at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.

Umar Akmal carried the visitors over the threshold with 12 balls remaining when he lofted a delivery from Dwayne Bravo to long-off for the final boundary of the match.

The result means that Pakistan take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series after winning the first game by eight wickets on Saturday at the same ground.

Pakistan have now won their last seven ODIs against West Indies, a sequence spread over the last four years.

"We made a plan at our team meeting and our guys stuck to it and that was good," said Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi.

"Shehzad is a very talented guy and he showed that he is capable of performing. He took his time, but chasing a small total, he could afford to do that and we won the game.

"I think our bowlers are doing a great job, and the fielding has improved because it is a very important area for us. Our batting has shown responsibility and we hope to maintain this discipline right throughout the series."

The visitors' spin bowling trio of Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez and Afridi had dominated on another docile pitch.

After Pakistan chose to field, West Indies were dismissed for 220 in their 50 overs - one less than the total they made in the first ODI.

Ajmal, Hafeez and Afridi shared six wickets for 102 runs in 30 overs between them, and only West Indies opener Lendl Simmons looked close to getting on top of them, leading the way with 51 from 48 balls, which included four fours and two sixes.

"We didn't make use of the key moments in the match," said West Indies captain Darren Sammy.

"We could have tried to squeeze their batsmen more and when we batted we got a good start, but did not capitalise on it.

"The spinners continue to bog us down, and we could have got a lot more on the board. It seems that whatever approach we have taken, we seem only able to get the same kind of total on the board. We have a lot more work to do."

Shehzad shared three successive half-century partnerships with Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq and Misbah-ul-Haq that put Pakistan firmly on course for their victory.

He glanced a delivery in the 44th over from Dwayne Bravo to deep fine leg for a single to reach his milestone from 143 balls.

"We tried to keep wickets in hand. It was not a huge total so I knew that I had to control my stroke-play and not get carried away," said Shehzad.

He was fortunate on 30 when he came close to being run out after pulling a delivery from Bravo to mid-wicket and Hafeez turned down the chance of going for a single.

Sammy fired his throw from mid-wicket wide of the stumps and the opener was able to regain his ground.

By the time he became the second wicket for leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo in the 46th over, Pakistan required just 30 from the final 28 deliveries which came with little trouble.

The third and fourth matches of the series will be played on Thursday and Monday at Kensington Oval in Barbados, with the final game coming three days later at the Guyana National Stadium.

Navy buses attacked; one killed, several injured

KARACHI: Two navy buses were targeted in separate bomb explosions in the metropolis killing at least one personnel while injuring several others on Tuesday morning, police sources said.

According to the details, first bomb blast took place when an explosive-laden motorcycle rammed into the navy bus on Korangi Road in Defence phase II. The bus was carrying 50 navy personnel.

Second bomb explosion occurred in Baldia town when the bus, carrying navy personnel, was moving from Naval Colony to Hub.

Local administration reached the sites soon after the incidents. Meanwhile, injured personnel of Defence phase II blast were taken to PNS Shifa Hospital while injured men of Baldia town blast were taken to Murshid hospital.

Karachi be made a province, Shahbaz demands

DERA ISMAEL KHAN: Chief Minister Punjab Mian Mohammed Shahbaz Sharif Sunday called for formation of new provinces in Sindh province as being demanded in Punjab, adding that Karachi be made a province, Geo News reported.

Addressing a ceremony of laying the foundation stone of a school building, CM Punjab termed those killed in North Waziristan in US drone attacks as being his brothers.

Shahbaz said US drone attacks are promoting terrorism in Pakistan. “This government cannot stop missile attacks because they are earning dollars in exchange of those attacks,” he revealed.

Advising government he said, we will have to break begging-bowl if we want to lead an honorable life.

He said that being beggars and nuclear power are two different facts, which cannot run shoulder-to-shoulder.

Denying to comment on his party’s leader Makhdoom Javaid Hashmi’s statement, Shahbaz prayed for his long life.

Not only should new provinces be formed in South Punjab but Karachi should also be made a new province.

Christians celebrating Easter today

ISLAMABAD: The Christian community is celebrating Easter today (April 24) at all the churches across the country.

Easter Sunday is typically the most well attended Sunday service of the year for Christian churches as the Christian community holds prayers and special ceremonies to mark the Easter week.

The Friday before Easter Sunday is observed as a mourning day that lord died on Good Friday while Easter Sunday is celebrated as 'Jesus resurrected on Easter Sunday.

Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday (also Resurrection Day or Resurrection Sunday).

Easter marks the end of Lent; a 40-day period of fasting and the last week of the Lent is called Holy Week, which contains Good Friday, commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus.

Easter is followed by 50-day period, called Eastertide or the Easter Season ending with Pentecost Sunday. Easter is a moveable feast, as it is not fixed in relation to the civil calendar.

It occurs during the spring, in March or April; the method for determining the date of Easter Sunday is complex, based on lunisolar calendar. Easter customs vary across the Christian world, but decorating Easter eggs is a common motif.

In the Western world, customs such as egg hunting and Easter Bunny extend from the domain of church, and often have a secular character.

No evidence coffee ups risk of high blood pressure

NEW YORK: Despite earlier concerns, downing lots of coffee doesn't seem to increase the risk of high blood pressure, according to a new report -- but the evidence isn't conclusive.

High blood pressure has been linked to heart disease, stroke, and a shorter life expectancy, and some scientists have suggested that coffee might fuel the problem.

The new report pools data from six previous studies that included more than 170,000 people in total. For each study, scientists surveyed the participants to find out how many cups of coffee they drank each day -- from less than one to more than five -- and then followed them for up to 33 years.

Just more than one in five participants eventually developed high blood pressure, according to the findings, which appear in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

But the chance of being diagnosed with the condition was no different between people who said they chugged more than five cups of coffee per day and those who drank very little.

Still, the report "is not saying there's no risk" to drinking lots of java, Dr. Liwei Chen, who worked on the study, told Reuters Health.

Chen, from the Louisiana State University School of Public Health in New Orleans, said more data would be needed to draw a firm conclusion.

What's more, people who drank between one and three cups per day had a slightly higher risk of high blood pressure than those who drank less -- a result the researchers couldn't explain.

Dr. Lawrence Krakoff, who studies high blood pressure at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, said that the question about coffee's effects "keeps popping up" among both his patients and fellow doctors.

But it has yet to be answered completely, said Krakoff, who was not involved in the new work.

"I don't think of coffee as a risk factor for" high blood pressure, he told Reuters Health. However, "If people are drinking 12 cups a day and aren't sleeping, I assume that that's an important issue."

Dr. Gary Curhan, who worked on one of the studies Chen and her colleagues looked at, agreed.

"There may be other adverse effects to (drinking) large amounts of caffeine," Curhan, of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, told Reuters Health.

But based on the existing data, he said there is no reason to believe that drinking coffee would lead to high blood pressure.

Chen's team could not compare the effect of drinking caffeinated versus decaffeinated coffee, as some of the studies they analyzed had participants report both together or only asked about caffeinated coffee.

And the relationship between coffee drinking and blood pressure is further complicated by the possibility that it doesn't work the same way in everyone, she said.

"People with a different genetic background may react to coffee differently," Chen said. "For some people maybe it's safe to drink a lot of coffee, but not for other people."

Shah Rukh Khan's best friend? Who is this man?

Is entrepreneur Sachiin Joshi, who Shah Rukh Khan considers his lucky mascot

Shah Rukh Khan adds one more to his enourage. While his regular actor buddies accompany him to all the Indian Premier League matches his team the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) play, entrepreneur-turned-actor Sachiin Joshi now joins that exclusive list.

Says a source, "SRK and Sachiin have been great friends for some time now. He was present at all the matches KKR played last year.

But this year, shooting commitments kept him away. When Sachiin ventured into the energy drink market, it was Shah Rukh who helped him launch it. The younger man is making his B-Town acting debut with a thriller titled Aazaan and SRK has been a great support."

A man to know

Says Sachiin, "I know Shah Rukh through common friends. He has been supporting my brand as a friend though we have no official contract with him as brand ambassador. It was generous of him to launch the product. I am fortunate to get an invite from him to attend his KKR matches. He is a great man to know!"

About Azaan

The film stars Sachiin Joshi as an army officer (and informant) who has to go undercover beyond enemy lines to save the country from the threat of biological warfare. The film is being directed by Prashant Chaddha. 

Qureshi lauds MQM’s political policies

KARACHI: Former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi described MQM’s political policy of allowing middleclass people to reach parliament as being a landmark achieved, Geo News reported.

Qureshi visited MQM’s Headquarters 90 on Monday and held meeting with Rabita Committee members.

Subsequently, talking to media, he lauded host’s policies; saying that MQM encouraged politics at national level while the politics of race, language and personal gains tore country apart.

“MQM staged a historical and an organized public rally in Lahore, ” Qureshi praised, adding that Lahore’s public gathering is an evident of the depth in MQM’s ideology.

On the occasion, Farooq Sattar urged political parties to expel criminal elements form their ranks.

Islamic banks’ assets grow over 30% in a year

KARACHI: The asset base of Islamic banking industry expanded by 30 percent to Rs477 billion in 2010 from Rs366 billion in 2009, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said in a report on Tuesday.

Their non-performing finances (NPF) increased by 38.2 percent to Rs13.8 billion from Rs10 billion in 2009, the report added.

The central bank said that during the last quarter of 2010, Islamic banks’ assets grew by 12.5 percent to Rs477 billion from Rs424 billion in the quarter ended September 2010.

The NPF increased marginally during the quarter to Rs13.8 billion from Rs13.5 billion at the beginning of the quarter.

Recovery increased to Rs1.25 billion from last year’s figure of Rs0.8 billion.

Investment and financing rose 96 percent and 18 percent, respectively, on quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) basis. “The unprecedented surge in investments is attributable to issuance of long-awaited Ijarah Sukuk of Rs89 billion during the quarter,” the report said.

“The handy growth of 18 percent in financing could be attributed to seasonal uptake in credit.”

Cotton harvesting commences during the October-December quarter that gives significant rise to credit demand by textile sector. Share of financing by Islamic banks to the textile sector increased from 18 percent to 22 percent during the quarter, said the report.

Investments and financing increased to Rs158 billion and Rs180 billion, respectively, in 2010 from Rs72 billion and Rs153 billion in December 2009.

The central bank said that despite rapid growth in their assets and deposits, Islamic banks’ profitability remained considerably lower than the industry average.

The Return on Assets and Return on Equities at 0.6 percent and 5.2 percent, respectively, for the quarter ended December 31, 2010, was significantly lower than the industry average of one percent and 9.8 percent, respectively.

This is evident from the operating expense to gross income ratio for IBIs which is at 73 percent as compared to 53 percent for the industry.

The conversion of conventional branches into Islamic banking branches has picked up pace. In the last seven months, 15 conventional banking branches have been converted into Islamic banking branches, the SBP said.

Musharraf to be declared wanted

LONDON: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has decided to have former president Pervez Musharraf declared wanted following the Britain’s excuse to get him arrested, Geo News reported Saturday.

Judge of special anti terrorism court of Rawalpindi went to Adyala prison and held the trial of Benazir Bhutto’s murder case.

The counsel of FIA told the court that arrest of Pervez Musharraf could not be carried out on the warrant issued earlier. The British authorities have said that Musharraf had gone to Dubai, he added added.

The counsel requested the court that process for having Pervez Musharraf declared wanted be initiated and upon which the court ordered that the arrest warrant be withdrawn first.

Later, the court adjourned the hearing till May 7.

Govt forces retreat in Libya's Misrata

TRIPOLI: Government forces retreated in Misrata but seized a rebel town in Libya's remote Western Mountains, as no sign emerged of Muammar Gaddafi being dislodged from power despite more than a month of air strikes.

"Misrata is free, the rebels have won. Of Gaddafi's forces, some are killed and others are running away," a rebel spokesmen said in the rebel coastal city, where a punishing two-month siege that killed hundreds appeared to have been broken.

One government soldier, Khaled Dorman, among a group of 12 being brought to hospital for treatment in Misrata, told from the back of a pickup truck: "We have been told to withdraw. We were told to withdraw yesterday."

But the overall trend of fighting in Libya was far from clear. Heavy fighting continued on Saturday around a hospital in western Misrata being used as a base by Gaddafi's forces.

And government forces captured the town of Yafran in Libya's Western Mountains on Saturday, a rebel spokesman said.

The conflict in the remote mountains has received little international attention. Rebels there captured a border post two days ago and had begun been rushing supplies to towns under attack, saying they were cheered by reports from Misrata.

AIR STRIKES
At least three explosions were heard in Tripoli on Saturday evening after NATO aircraft flew over the capital, drawing Libyan anti-aircraft fire.

Legendary Moin Akhtar laid to rest

KARACHI: Legendary humourist Moin Akhter has been laid to rest in Model Colony graveyard, here on Saturday.

Earlier, funeral prayer of Moin, led by Junaid Jamshed was offered after Zohar prayers in Toheed mosque of Malir Cantt.

Various actors, politicians, social workers among thousands of people attended the funeral prayer of Moin Akhtar.

Pakistan beat West Indies by eight wickets

GROS ISLET: Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, and Mohammad Hafeez all coasted to half-centuries as Pakistan clinched a comfortable eight-wicket win over West Indies in the first one-day international on Saturday.

Misbah hit the top score of an unbeaten 73 from 90 deliveries, and Shafiq supported with 61 not out from 76 balls, after man-of-the-match Hafeez gave the Pakistanis a flying start with 54 from 45 balls in their successful chase of 222 for victory.

Shafiq ushered Pakistan over the finish line with 51 balls remaining when he edged a slog at a delivery from Kemar Roach to third man for a single.

The result gave Pakistanis a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, which continues on Monday at the same Beausejour ground.

Wayward bowling from the visitors in the closing overs had let West Indies finish with 221 for six from their 50 overs.

Wahab Riaz was the most successful bowler with two for 62 from 10 overs, but he and fellow left-arm fast-medium bowler Junaid Khan let their side down.

Pakistan's spin bowling triumvirate of Saeed Ajmal, Hafeez and captain Shahid Afridi tied the West Indies batsmen down in the middle overs in particular.

But the two Pakistani left-arm pacers did not have the same control over the home team's batsmen and Darren Bravo hit 67 from 109 balls to lead the way for West Indies.

"I was very happy when West Indies won the toss and chose to bat because I thought the pitch would help our spinners," said Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi.

"I think our spinners have been doing a great job for us in the last few months, and they again set things up for us.

"The way the openers Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad played was also good to see, and then the partnership between Misbah and Asad brought us home. It was good cricket all around for us."

Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad then gave the visitors a blistering start in an opening stand of 68 before Devendra Bishoo snared both of them in the space of 25 balls to end with two for 48 from his 10 overs.

Shehzad moving down the pitch was stumped for 22 in the 13th over off the leg-spinner, and Hafeez, whose 50 came from 48 balls, was caught at short mid-wicket in the 17th over off the same bowler.

Misbah joined Shafiq and they marched Pakistan to victory with an unbroken, third-wicket stand of 134, a record for any wicket on the ground.

Misbah reached his 50 from 63 balls with a pull to deep square leg for a single off Sammy in the 35th over, and Shafiq arrived at his landmark from 66 balls with an upper-cut to third man for four off Dwayne Bravo in the 39th over.

"We put ourselves in a hole when we were batting, and the spinners were bowling, so we really have to come better in the next game," said West Indies captain Darren Sammy whose team also lost to Pakistan in last month's World Cup quarter-finals.

"I was surprised to see the pitch offer so much turn and bounce, but I will back our guys. We will put in the hard work at practice and come back.

West Indies fined for slow over rate

GROS ISLET: West Indies were fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during their seven-run victory over Pakistan in Thursday's Twenty20 International.

Match referee Jeff Crowe imposed the fines after Darren Sammy's side were ruled to be one over short of their target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration.

Sammy was fined 20 per cent of his match fee while his players received 10-per-cent fines.

World's most premature baby born in Germany

BERLIN: A German woman gave birth to a one-pound baby after only 21 weeks and five days of pregnancy, making it the world's most premature baby to survive, the mass circulation Bild newspaper reported Saturday.

When Frieda was born on November 7 she measured 11 inches (28 centimetres) and weighed only one pound (460 grammes).

Five and a half months later, she is finally fit to leave the clinic in Fulda, western Germany, in the next few days, now weighing 7.7 pounds (3.5 kilos) for 50 centimetres (nearly 20 inches), the paper said.

Her twin brother Kilian died a few days after being born.

Professor Reinald Repp, director of the paediatric clinic, could not be reached on Saturday, but a doctor on duty said that "there is no foreseeable risk of after-effects for the moment" and that the little girl "should develop normally like any other child."

Repp told Bild that her survival was "a miracle" because generally babies born before 22 weeks have no chance because their lungs, heart and brain are not sufficiently developed.

"Frieda was kept in a completely sterile environment, with her breathing assisted and fed through her navel," he told the paper.

Any baby born before eight months of pregnancy is considered premature.

Very premature babies (less than 32 weeks) are considered at high risk of suffering developmental problems.

Joining PPP be linked to new provinces, PML-Q asked

LAHORE: PML-Q’s newly elected member of National Assembly, Owais Leghari and a delegation of Hazara Division in separate meetings with Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Pervez Elahi on Saturday demanded that PML-Q’s joining the PPP-led government be linked with formation of Siraiki and Hazara provinces, Geo News reported.

Sardar Owais Leghari, Senator Jamal Khan Leghari, MNA Jafar Leghari, MPA Yousuf Leghari and Mohsin Leghari were present at the meeting held at the residence of Chaundry Shujaat Hussain in Lahore.

The delegation from Hazara comprised Syed Qasim Shah and Sardar Yousuf.

Both the delegations expressing their reservations to joining hands with the PPP, said the coalition should be formed on the basis of a demand for Siraiki province, having Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan division as its constituents.

Owais Leghari made it clear to the Chaudhry brothers that in case the coalition is formed on any other agenda, he would be part of the same.

On this the Chaudhry brothers held out the assurance that no decision would be made without party consultation.

Gayle fires Bangalore to win with century

KOLKATA: Chris Gayle hammered an unbeaten 102 off just 55 balls to power Royal Challengers Bangalore to a nine-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Friday.

The West Indies batsman cracked seven sixes and 10 fours in a superb display of power-hitting as Bangalore achieved a 172-run target with 11 balls to spare for their second win in six matches of the Twenty20 tournament.

Gayle, playing his first IPL match after being dropped for the opening home games against Pakistan, put his team on course for victory with a 123-run stand for the opening wicket with Sri Lankan Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Dilshan scored 38 off 31 balls with the help of six fours before being bowled by fast bowler Lakshmipathy Balaji.

But there was no stopping Gayle, who completed the victory and his century when he hit left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan through the covers for a four.

Virat Kohli was the other notable contributor with an unbeaten 30.

Kolkata, who suffered their third defeat in six matches, earlier posted a competitive total, thanks to skipper Gautam Gambhir (48), Yusuf Pathan (46) and South African Jacques Kallis (40).

Kallis put on 44 off just 4.5 overs for the opening wicket with Australian Brad Haddin (18) and 58 for the second wicket with Gambhir before Pathan stepped up the run-rate in the closing overs.

Gambhir hit six fours in his 38-ball knock, while Pathan smashed three sixes and as many fours in his brisk 24-ball innings.

Seamer Sreenath Aravind dismissed both Gambhir and Pathan to finish with 2-37 off three overs.

Fasting Mexican gets her wish to see royal wedding

MEXICO CITY: A 19-year-old Mexican woman who fasted for 16 days in a bid for an invitation to the royal wedding of Prince William has finally been granted her wish.

Estibalis Chavez will be flown to London for the April 29 nuptials thanks to an anonymous benefactor, according to the Mexico daily, Milenio.

Chavez camped out in front of the British Embassy in Mexico City in February, refusing to eat, although officials at the embassy had told her she was fasting in vain.

Chavez lost 17 pounds (eight kilos) during her fast, and painted a portrait of Prince William and Kate Middleton, which the embassy also refused to deliver.

"I've been a fan of Lady Di since I was little and my mother's a fan as well," said Chavez. "And I promised myself I would go to a royal wedding," she told during her fast.

Susan Boyle wax statue revealed at Madame Tussauds

LONDON: 50 year-old singer, Susan Boyle, who received international attention through the show 'Britain's Got Talent', immortalized in Madame Tussauds wax sculpture collection of the British.

Wax statue was unveiled at the seaside resort of Blackpool, northwest England. Susan Boyle wax spend a budget of £ 150,000.

Susan Boyle twins appeared wearing a black dress which is owned by Susan Boyle.

The singer is also immortalized in Madame Tussauds wax sculpture, among others, Justin Bieber, Lady GaGa and Taylor Swift.

Sindh, Balochistan CNG stations shut down for 36 hours

KARACHI: All Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations in Sindh and Balochistan closed down their operations for 36 hours from midnight of Friday till noon on Sunday.

On late Friday, long queues of vehicles were witnessed at CNG stations.

According to Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) spokesman, this was mutually agreed in a meeting of the SSGC's top management and the elected representatives of several CNG associations at SSGC Head Office on Thursday, presided by SSGC's Deputy Managing Director Azim Iqbal Siddiqui.

The decision was taken in the larger interest of maintaining uninterrupted gas supply across the company's franchise areas in Sindh and Balochistan.

There was a need for this decision keeping in view of Bhit Gas Field Annual Turn-Around (ATA), which has been in effect since April 12.

It was also agreed between the SSGC and the representatives of CNG associations that the company's monitoring teams will be strictly checking all the stations during this 36-hour agreed shut-down.

The CNG stations found operating during the agreed shut down period of 36 hours will have their gas supply disconnected and will not be restored for 24 hours beyond the closure period and until the filing of a 'non objection certificate' (NOC) from the respective CNG association.

72 dead in Syria's bloodiest day of unrest

AMMAN: Syrian security forces killed at least 70 protesters on Friday, rights activists said, the bloodiest day in a month of escalating pro-democracy demonstrations against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian rights organisation Sawasiah said 70 civilians had been killed across the country, in the biggest demonstrations to sweep Syria so far.

Wissam Tarif, director of human rights group Insan, gave a similar death toll. "At least 72 people have been killed so far. The number of injured exceeds 80 people in Homs and its villages and the villages (near the southern city) of Deraa," he told.

It was not possible to independently confirm the figures.

Tens of thousands of people had taken to the streets of cities across Syria and called for the "overthrow of the regime", reflecting the hardening of demands which initially focused on reforms and greater freedoms.

The protests went ahead despite Assad's lifting of the state of emergency the day before. Ending the hated emergency rule, in place since the Baath Party seized power 48 years ago, was a central demand of demonstrators, who also seek the release of political prisoners and dismantling of the security services.

Friday's violence brings the death toll to about 300, according to rights activists, since the unrest which broke out on March 18 in the southern city of Deraa. Activists cited the highest toll in the nearby village of Izra'a where protesters had been trying to head for Deraa. Residents said 14 people were killed.

"Izra'a is in the dark. No mobile phones or landlines working. People have been talking from villages near to Izraa but not in the town," said Wissam Tarif of human rights organisation, Insan, who had 12 confirmed killed in Izra'a.

Syrian television said eight people were killed and 28wounded, including army personnel, in attacks by armed groups in the village. It added an armed group had attacked a military base in the Damascus suburb of Muadhamiya.

As in the Tunisian and Egyptian uprisings, citizens are rebelling against both a lack of freedom and opportunity and security forces' impunity and corruption that has enriched the elite while one-third of Syrians live below the poverty line.

PTI’s sit-in against drone attacks today

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) will stage sit-in in Peshawar tomorrow (Saturday) in protest against US’s drone attacks on Pakistani soil, Geo News reported.

Besides, Imran Khan, the chief of PTI, some other political leaders and member civil society will also speak on the occasion.

Secretary Information PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, Zahid Hussain, briefed media at the venue where PTI will stage sit-in.Briefing media, he said PTI activists from all over country will gather at Naran Garden in Hayatabad area on Saturday morning, commencing sit-in to register protest with the government against US’s drone attacks on Pakistani land and would continue till Sunday evening.“

A caravan comprising PTI’s activists, led by chief Imran Khan, will leave for Peshawar from Islamabad on Saturday morning at 9am, ” he informed. PTI’s activists from Hazara Division will join Imran Khan-led caravan at Hassan Abdal place while more activists will join them at Attock, Jehangirah and Nowshera places, he revealed.

All political parties except the government’s coalition partners have been invited to join sit-in, he added.

Militants' back broken, says COAS

ISLAMABAD: Military has broken the back of militants, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani said in a speech on Saturday.

Addressing a Passing Out Parade of 123rd PMA Long Course at Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul, General Kayani said Pakistan army was fully aware of the internal and external threats faced by the country.

"In the war against terrorism, our officers and soldiers have made great sacrifices and have achieved tremendous success," he said in a speech.

"The terrorists' backbone has been broken and Inshallah (God willing) we will soon prevail."

General Kayani said that the nation gives its priority to the independence and sovereignty of the country over any other thing.

COAS told cadets that this is the beginning of a long course, adding that they would get the chance to lead the most courageous army.

Famous artist Moin Akhter passes away

KARACHI: Veteran television, stage and film artist Moin Akhtar has died here on Friday at the age of 61, Geo News reported.

Moin Akhtar was under treatment at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) due to heart disease.

Moin Akhtar was a television, film and stage actor, as well as a comedian, impersonator, and a host. He was also a play writer, singer, film director and a producer.

Moin Akhtar was a highly dynamic and versatile performer from Karachi, the largest city of Pakistan, he made his debut for television on 6 September 1966, in a variety show held on PTV to celebrate the first defense day of Pakistan. Since then, he has performed several roles in TV plays/shows, later making a team with Anwar Maqsood and Bushra Ansari.

Whether on the stage or on the screen, Moin Akhtar is one of the most sought after actors in Pakistani entertainment industry. His apparent attempts to avoid vulgar in his humor has rendered him a favorite amongst family audiences.

He is an inspiration for the generations to come and is one of the few that stands out so distinguishably. Akhtar was fluent in several languages, including English, Bengali, Sindhi, Punjabi, Memon, Pushto, Gujarati and others, while in the Urdu-speaking world, he is beloved for providing humor for people of all ages, and with an etiquette that remains unmatched.

He has a following not only in Pakistan but on the other side of the border, India, too due to the stage shows, Bakra Qiston Pe and Buddha Ghar Pe Hai with Umer Sharif. It would not be wrong to say that his ardent fans are spread all around the globe.

Moin Akhtar rose to the national spotlight and gathered critical acclaim for his performance in the drama Rosy /Rozy, in which he played the role of a female TV artist. Rozy was an Urdu adaptation of Hollywood movie Tootsie starring Dustin Hoffman.

Moreover, in a talk-show namely Loose Talk, which began in 2005 on a private television channel, he has appeared as a different disguised guest who is interviewed by Anwar Maqsood, the writer and the host of the program. Loose Talk ended after over 400 episodes, each seen with Moin disguised as a different personality.

So embarrassing, Deepika Ko Roti Banana Nahin Aata

Deepika Padukone’s cooking lessons on the Aarakshan set

Knowing how to make a perfect round Roti is a basic skill that is deemed a must-know by any Indian girl, even a successful star like Deepika Padukone.

Deepika had to make roties in the movie Aarakshan, for a song sequence. Not knowing that the sequence involved her ‘actually’ making a roti, she froze on being presented with loose flour. With the whole unit waiting for her to do the action, Deepika just stood there.

As with most girls’ first attempts of making the simple roti, Deepika’s also came out in abstract shapes, sizes and maps of unknown countries. Seeing her comical trials and her gradually getting covered in white flour, Saif came to her rescue with not much success. Finally Prakash Jha came up with an innovative shortcut to a perfectly round roti.

Prakash Jha commented, “It was nothing major. Deepika was pretty comfortable in the kitchen. I just helped her a little bit.”

Saif Ali Khan commented, “It was interestingly funny, reminded me of the scene in Kaalia, where Amit ji helps Parveen Babi ji to make an egg. (laughs) thank god it wasn’t an egg for Deepika.”

Deepika Padukone commented, “ I was so embarrassed, I can totally cook but roti is a challenge. As with life the most simplest of things some times get to be a hardest to master.”

Salman tweaks 'Ready' made hit song Dinka Chika

Salman Khan ordered a change for Ready's Dinka Chika... and reshot it at his own expense

Salman Khan wants Ready to have a surefire hit track. He insisted on adapting Ringa Ringa (from hit Telugu flick Arya 2) and transformed it to Dhinka Chika for his upcoming Ready. Not just that, he was unhappy with the lyrics of the Hindi film's song and asked for them to be changed.

Better words, please

A source reveals, "Salman always gets what he wants. He has a great rapport with Ready producer Bhushan Kumar.

He rang him up saying the song needs new lyrics. In fact he refused to shoot the song until they came up with better words. Since they were on an outdoor shoot happening in Bangkok, the crew went ahead and shot the song nonetheless."

On returning to Mumbai, Khan sat with Devi Sri Prasad, the composer of the original Telugu track and came up with new lyrics. "He wants Dhinka Chika to be the song of 2011.

It already has the potential to be a huge chartbuster. Hence Salman got new lyrics penned and re-recorded the whole song." Buzz is that the actor bore the entire expenses of re-shooting the complete song with new lyrics.

Courtesy: Mid-Day.com

Aamir's favourite superhero is... Hint: It isn't SRK!

No prizes for guessing who Aamir Khan picked, when asked. Hint: It wasn't SRK!

Aamir Khan doesn't miss an opportunity to poke fun at Shah Rukh Khan. He did it again at an event held at his Pali Hill home to promote Darsheel Safary-starrer Zokkomon, which releases today.

Between the two, there was some light-hearted ribbing, at SRK's expense. King Khan's Ra.One was mentioned, simply by virtue of it also being a superhero flick.

Darsheel was asked if he had seen the promos of the SRK Ra.One. To which the child star quipped that in 30 seconds you can't figure out anything about a film. When the same question was posed to Aamir, he promptly said, "I'm happy and content being a hero and superhero means going a step ahead which I don't think I can, like the others."

Furthermore, Aamir claimed that he hadn't seen Ra.One's promos. AK chuckled while signing off and said, "Right now, I'm concentrating on Darsheel Safary's Zokkomon and he is my favourite superhero." The great Khan snub-fest continues..

PS: Is this Aamir's way of making his prot eg e's (Safary debuted in Aamir's Taare Zameen Par) film a talking point?

In the past

~~ Aamir Khan had blogged that his dog at his Panchgani farmhouse was called Shah Rukh!

~~ In the stakes of being the number 1, he had stated that he is No 2 because Shah Rukh always claimed that he is No 1

~~ During his birthday celebrations last month when he was asked about about film awards he said, "Like someone recently gave the Best Actor award to Shah Rukh Khan. Salman Khan should have won it for Dabangg or Ajay Devgn for Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai."

Taking short breaks helps the heart

ISLAMABAD: People who sit for extended periods of time without taking short breaks are at risk for heart disease than those who take more frequent timeouts to stand up and walk around, suggests a study.

The cardiovascular risk that stems from remaining sedentary for prolonged periods of time (at the office, for example) manifests itself in the form of larger waists, higher blood pressure, increased body inflammation and lower levels of `good' cholesterol.

In developed countries people spend more than half of their day sitting, on an average. To explore the potential connection between short breaks and cardiovascular risks, researchers from UK followed 4757 men and women aged 20 years and above for three years.

All participants had been outfitted with an accelerometer on their hips, to monitor a week's worth of walking, running and sitting routines.

Researchers also looked at heart disease-related risk factors, including blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The most sedentary participants were found to sit a little more than 21 hours per day, while the least sedentary sat just under two hours per day.

It was found that the longer the participants spent being sedentary the larger was their waist circumference. Overall, those who took the most breaks from sitting were found to have the smallest waists.

The findings suggest that even small changes to a person's activity levels might help to lower cardiovascular risk. These changes can be readily incorporated into the person's day-to-day life including the work environment.

Abhishek to release his hip-hop album this year

MUMBAI: Abhishek Bachchan's hip-hop album to be titled Side B (as a homage to those vinyl discs in the past which had two sides) composed by Vishal-Shekhar is finally moving into a gorgeous groove. Two years in the pipeline, the 6 tracks rendered by Abhishek for the album have been composed by Vishal-Shekhar.

With his two film-related hip-hop numbers doing well, Abhishek has now decided to complete the project in Los Angeles where Abhishek and Vishal-Shekhar will get the best sound-mixing engineers to work on his hip-hop sounds until they walk talk and sing.

Says a source, "Abhishek loves hip-hop. It's his favourite form of music. He loves to hear it and sing it. But he's not too confident about his voice. However, those who have heard him singing in the album by Vishal-Shekhar swear Abhishek has a winner on his hands."

Apparently the Big B, himself a Mr. Cool when it comes contemporary grooves, suggested that Abhishek and Vishal-Shekhar take the album to LA for the mixing and final version. The trio will head to the Mecca of modern grooves in the next couple of months.

The album Side B will be ready by the end of the year.

Says Abhishek, "I love hip-hop. But I don't know how well I sing. Vishal-Shekhar and I have been working on an album. We've some plans for making it sound better. Let's see how it goes."

Pakistan lose T20I by 7 runs against West Indies

GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia: Pakistan lost the only Twenty20 International by seven runs in an exciting finish here at the Beausejour Stadium on Thursday.

Chasing a modest target of 151 runs, they made 143 runs for nine wickets in the first ever T20I between the two countries.

For Pakistan, no batsman except Umar Akmal (41) and Asad Shafiq (25) could resist against accurate bowling by the West Indians as leg-break bowler Devendra Bishoo claimed four wickets for 17 runs and fast-medium bowler Ravi Rampaul took three for 31.

West Indies picked a youthful team for the one-off game and the upcoming ODI series, having dropped experienced batsmen Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

One of the young faces, opening batsman Lendl Simmons got West Indies off to a great start with a lively 65 off 44 balls and left-hander Darren Bravo struck 42 off 33 as the Caribbean side brought up their 100 in the 13th over.

But, as so often, Darren Sammy's side failed to build on their good foundation and ended up falling short of a really strong total, with just two other players making double figures.

Pakistan lost both their openers, Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez, early but Umar Akmal's 41 from 60 balls put them in with a chance.

Bishoo, who caught the eye of West Indies selectors with his performances in regional Twenty20 cricket, then showed his value in the shortest form of the game with some astute bowling.

The vital breakthrough came when Sammmy made a fine catch at extra-cover off Bishoo, to dismiss skipper Shahid Afridi (12) and break up what was a potentially match winning partnership.

Sammy then ran out Mohammand Salman and when Marlon Samuels caught Umar at deep midwicket off Ravi Rampaul, Pakistan were in trouble at 109-7.
]
But some loose bowling and some spirited resistance from Saeed Ajmal (21 not out) at the end gave the tourists a glimmer of hope and the last pair needed 14 from the final over.

Jamaican all-rounder Andre Russell kept his composure, after a no-ball with his first delivery of the over, and the West Indies had cause for celebration at the start of their home campaigns which also includes two Tests with Pakistan in May and three against India in June.

Sindh CNG stations to shut down for 36 hrs

 KARACHI: All Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations in Karachi and Sindh Interior would close down their operations for 36 hours from midnight of Friday (April 22) till noon on Sunday April 24.

According to Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) spokesman, this was mutually agreed in a meeting of the SSGC’s top management and the elected representatives of several CNG associations at SSGC Head Office on Thursday, presided by SSGC’s Deputy Managing Director Azim Iqbal Siddiqui.

The decision was taken in the larger interest of maintaining uninterrupted gas supply across the company’s franchise areas in Sindh and Balochistan.

There was a need for this decision keeping in view of Bhit Gas Field Annual Turn-Around (ATA), which has been in effect since April 12.

It was also agreed between the SSGC and the representatives of CNG associations that the company’s monitoring teams will be strictly checking all the stations during this 36-hour agreed shut-down.

The CNG stations found operating during the agreed shut down period of 36 hours will have their gas supply disconnected and will not be restored for 24 hours beyond the closure period and until the filing of a ‘non objection certificate’ (NOC) from the respective CNG association.

The gas utility through its advertisements in national press has been requesting all its customers to voluntarily reduce their gas consumption by 15 to 20 percent, which will facilitate the utility in providing uninterrupted gas supply to all its valued customers throughout its franchise area during the period of the annual maintenance of Bhit Gas Field. The SSGC regrets this situation for the inconvenience, which will be caused to the CNG users during 36-hour shutdown.

US to deploy drones against Kadhafi: Gates

WASHINGTON: The US military will use armed drones over Libya, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday, calling them a ‘modest contribution’ to international coalition efforts there. 

Gates said the decision to use unmanned drones armed with missiles was made "because of the humanitarian situation" in Libya, where strongman Moamer Kadhafi's forces are battling a Western-backed insurgency.

"They give you a capability that even the A10 (anti-tank aircraft) and AC130 (ground attack aircraft) couldn't provide" in the conflict in the North African nation, he told a press briefing. (AFP)

Load shedding won’t end in 2011: Qamar

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar on Friday said that electricity load shedding would not end in the current fiscal year.

During question-hour session of the National Assembly, Naveed Qamar said that India had so far constructed 43 hydro-electric projects on our western rivers of Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.

He said that power shortfall would remain more than 3,500 MW after four months.

Qamar said that during the last three years, all power distribution companies suffered loses of Rs 225.467 billion due to load shedding.

He said that that Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) had been assigned to carry out planning and construction of 32 small and medium dams across the country in two phases.

During question-hour session of the National Assembly, he said 12 small and medium dams would be constructed in different parts of the country in Phase-I.

According to the schedule, he said, the dams would be completed by 2014, however "the start and completion of these projects depends on availability of funds."

In first phase two water reservoirs would be built in Sindh, five in Balochistan, three in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas and two in Punjab. Work on some dams has already been started, he added.

He said that 20 other water reservoirs would be constructed in Phase-II.

Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, First Look…

Here is the first look of Mere Brother Ki Dulhan featuring Katrina Kaif, Imran Khan and Ali Zafar in the lead, was released on April 19 by Yash Raj Films.

The poster shows a colorful three wheel tempo, with Imran Khan at the driver seat, Katrina sitting in the rear wheel guard and Ali leaning against the tempo rear.

The poster undoubtedly promises full on comedy.

Written and directed by debutant Ali Abbas Zafar, “Mere Brother ki Dulhan” is a topsy-turvy story set amongst upper middle class families in northern India. Imran Khan plays a character who falls in love with his brother’s (Ali Zafar) fiancée (Katrina Kaif). Filled with humor and romance, the flick promises to tickle your funny bones.

Mere Brother Ki Dulhan will release in theaters worldwide on 9th September 2011

India successfully launches three satellites into space

NEW DELHI: India Wednesday successfully launched an indigenously developed rocket, carrying three satellites, including latest remote sensing Resourcesat-2, into space from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota, a top space research official said.

The rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle was launched by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota at 10:12 a.m. (local time); it carried two nano satellites Youthsat and X-Sat apart from the Resourcesat-2.

"PSLV-C16 Resourcesat-2 mission is successful," ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan said, after all the three satellites were hurled into space one after another 822 km above Earth.

While Resourcesat-2 with a five-year space life will provide information on ship surveillance by making 14 orbits per day, Youthsat, a joint Indo-Russian satellite for stellar and atmospheric studies will study the relationship between solar variability and thermosphere-ionosphere changes.

X-Sat is a mini satellite that intends to demonstrate technologies related to satellite based remote sensing and onboard image processing.

The launch was particularly important this year as last year saw the dramatic back-to-back failures of two of the larger rockets, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, that plunged down into the Bay of Bengal.