US warns on Egypt travel after American among three killed
CAIRO, June 29 (AFP) -Washington warned against travel to Egypt after an American was among three people killed during rival demonstrations for and against Islamist President Mohamed Morsi ahead of Sunday’s anniversary of his turbulent maiden year in office. The US State Department also authorised the departure of non-essential embassy staff for fear of further [...]
Who runs the world? Girls!
Oprah Winfrey is back in her throne on top of Forbes’ list of the world’s most powerful celebrities, after a two-year stint in the runner-up seat. The billionaire American talk-show host, 59, knocked singer Jennifer Lopez off the spot and into number 12, but still shares the top ten winners’ enclosure arena with a multitude [...]
China denies lifting ban on Dalai Lama portraits in Tibet
BEIJING, June 29 (AFP) -China denied changing its stance on exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Saturday, after reports said Beijing had relaxed its policies of publicly denouncing him and banning worship of his image. “Our policy towards the Dalai Lama is clear and consistent, and has not changed,” China’s state bureau of [...]
Kerry, on Mideast tour, to confront doubts in Asia
JERUSALEM, June 29 (AFP) -Secretary of State John Kerry heads to talks in Asia trying to quash fears that the vaunted US refocus on the region is not serious as he puts a personal priority on peace in the Middle East. Kerry plans to attend Southeast Asian talks in Brunei from Monday, which has become [...]
Obamas skip hospital visit to see Mandela
PRETORIA, June 29 (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will meet with relatives of anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela, but they will not visit the hospital where the former South African president is critically ill, the White House said. Obama is in South Africa on the second stop of a three-nation [...]
China media warn Philippines of ‘counterstrike’in disputed Sea
BEIJING, June 29 (AFP) -Chinese state-media accused the Philippines of using the ASEAN group of nations as an “accomplice” in the violation of its sovereignty claims in the South China Sea on Saturday, and warned of a potential “counterstrike”. The editorial in the overseas edition of the People’s Daily, the mouthpiece of China’s ruling Communist [...]
‘Grant all illegal immigrants an amnesty to stay in Britain’
All illegal immigrants in Britain should be granted an amnesty to stay in the country, a Tory MP has said. Nadhim Zahawi, MP for Stratford-Upon-Avon, argued that the move makes sense economically and that a ‘seismic’ shift in policy is needed for the Conservatives to attract votes among minority groups. But it would represent a [...]
Retirement homes in vogue as Indians live longer and prosper
PUNE, India, June 28 (Reuters) – The Athashri retirement community offers the over-55 crowd Western-style amenities such as a clubhouse, gym, library and pool but with a distinctly Indian twist: a temple on site where residents worship Ganesh, the elephant-headed god followed by many Hindus in Maharashtra state. The 180-unit development in the city of [...]
Inside Guantanamo Bay: Rare pictures show harsh life of inmates
It might not look out of place in a private gym – but for the various straps to keep the occupant in place and the hospital drip stand looming ominously behind. Pictured is the notorious restraint chair at Guantanamo Bay, where former inmates claim they were subjected to long hours of agonising forced feeding. The [...]
Royal heir’s new home makeover costs £1m
The cost to taxpayers of refurbishing the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s new Kensington Palace home has hit £1million so far, officials revealed yesterday. William and Kate are hoping to move into Apartment 1A, the 57-room residence once inhabited by Princess Margaret, with their new baby this summer. Although the couple are personally paying for [...]
Babies with three parents could be born by 2015
The first baby with three parents could be born as early as 2015 after a landmark decision to move ahead on a controversial genetic treatment. Britain could become the first country to sanction the creation of babies with three genetic parents, despite fears it might lead to ‘designer babies’. The Government will publish draft regulations [...]
Japan PM Abe hops and flips in voter-wooing game app
TOKYO (Reuters) – It’s a bird, it’s a plane … It’s a cartoon version of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, hopping and somersaulting his way through the sky in a smartphone game app his party hopes will lure young voters ahead of a July 21 election.A growing number of Japanese politicians are venturing into the [...]
Singapore gripped by ‘Hello Kitty’ frenzy
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Singapore residents braved hazardous air, bid hundreds of dollars and queued for hours to lay their hands on a special Hello Kitty stuffed toy, swept up in a craze for the mouthless Japanese cat that peaked this week in the city-state. The frenzy began at the end of May, when U.S. fast [...]
Did our brains evolve to foolishly follow celebrities?
Our obsession with celebrity culture is a result of our poorly adapted brains, argues social anthropologist Jamie Tehrani. I love a good quote. One of my all-time favourite quotes comes from Mark Twain, who once wrote to his friend “I am sorry for the length of this letter, but I did not have the time [...]
Forget cancer: Vanity will stop people smoking
Women are concerned about wrinkles and men are worried about losing their sex drive when deciding whether or not to quit smoking, new research reveals. Despite smoking carrying significant health risks – such as a higher likelihood of developing cancer or heart disease – many smokers who give up are motivated to do so because [...]
The secret to eternal youth
The secret to the fountain of youth lies in awakening ‘sleeping’ stem cells in the skin, according to new research. A computer model found that as we grow older, we lose the ability to trigger these ‘master cells’ to kick into action and regenerate damaged skin. British and U.S. scientists say the breakthrough may open [...]
Samsung launches TV with curved screen
Samsung has officially launched its first super-thin curved TV screen with a price tag of £8,500 ($13,000) – five times more than its flat-screen equivalents. The 55-inch model has a high-resolution OLED display and its design means the screen is an equal distance from the viewer at all times. It is now on sale in [...]
21st Century one-man band
The one-man band has had a 21st Century makeover. A Nashville musician and university lecturer has designed a multi-instrument gadget that can switch from being a guitar to a banjo to a piano to a violin and even a set of drums at the tap of a button. The ‘Instrument 1’ is light enough to [...]
Hell is other people
Ever bumped into a friend when you’re not looking your best or when you’re just not in the mood for a chat? Well there is now an app to help you avoid these awkward social situations. The Hell is for Other People app uses location-based social networking site Foursquare to track any friends who have [...]
Dry death in Gaza
A tiny wedge of land jammed between Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean sea, the Gaza Strip is heading inexorably into a water crisis that the United Nations says could make the Palestinian enclave unliveable in just a few years. With 90-95 percent of the territory’s only aquifer contaminated by sewage, chemicals and seawater, neighbourhood desalination [...]
A Glimmer of hope in Iran
BERLIN – No one could have reckoned with Hassan Rouhani’s victory in Iran’s presidential election. Even Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was probably more than a little surprised by Rouhani’s first-round victory, following a campaign that began with eight candidates. As a result, the negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme, as well as the [...]
Amerika going Stasi way
It is hard to understand the fuss that Washington and its media whores are making over Edward Snowden. We have known for a long time that the National Security Agency (NSA) has been spying for years without warrants on the communications of Americans and people throughout the world. Photographs of the massive NSA building in [...]
