Pakistani Army ran Muslim extremist training camps: Anti-terrorist expert

The Pakistani Army ran training camps for a Muslim extremist group, at least until recently, with the acceptance of the US Central Intelligence Agency, according to France's foremost anti-terrorist expert.ean-Louis Bruguiere, who retired in 2007 after 15 years as chief investigating judge for counter-terrorism, reached this conclusion after interrogating a French militant who had been trained by Lashkar-e-Taiba and arrested in Australia in 2003.

In a book in his counter-terrorism years, The Times quotes Bruguiere, as saying that Lashkar-e-Taiba, which was set up to fight India over disputed Kashmir territory, had become part of the international Islamic network of al-Qaeda.

Willy Brigitte, the suspect, told Bruguiere, that the Pakistani military were running the Lashkar-e-Taiba training camp where he spent two and a half months in 2001-02.

Along with two Britons and two Americans, Brigitte was driven in a 4x4 through army roadblocks to the high-altitude camp where Pakistani regular army officers were training more than 2,000 men, he said. (ANI)

Fort Hood shooter wired money to Pakistan, claims US lawmaker

A US lawmaker Michael McCaul has claimed that he has confirmed reports that Major Nidal Malik Hasan, who killed 13 people and wounded 29 others at the Fort Hood Army Base, Texas, had transferred money to Pakistan.

"I have confirmed through independent sources that there were communications and wire transfers made to Pakistan," a US newspaper quoted McCaul, as saying.

"This Pakistan connection just raises more red flags about this case and demonstrates why it's important for Congress to exercise its oversight authority," McCaul's spokesperson, Mike Rosen said.

Rosen said McCaul does not want his sources to be named.

He said McCaul, who is the top Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee's intelligence subcommittee, has been actively seeking information from as many credible sources as possible.

When asked about McCaul's claims, noted terrorism expert Evan Kohlmann said Hasan is a US citizen of Palestinian descent, with no known family ties to Pakistan.

Kohlmann, who has worked with the FBI and the Defence Department, said there are only two reasons for the psychiatrist to wire money to Islamabad

'Children's Day' celebrated at Nehru's ancestral home

Children's Day was celebrated at Anand Bhawan, the ancestral home of the Nehru-Gandhi family on Saturday.

A cultural event was also organised during the two-hour-long programme.

Besides, a Bal Mela (children's fair) was also organised at many places across the city today.

The children participated with enthusiasm and fervor in this fair organised to celebrate the 120th birth anniversary of Nehru.

Fondly remembering Pandit Nehru, Jagdish Prasad, the caretaker of Anand Bhawan described Nehru as a very good man.

"He (Nehru) used to meet all kind of people be it poor, rich or political leaders. My grandfather always used to tell us that Panditji (as Nehru is fondly known as) was a good man. He was very kind towards poor people," said Prasad.

There were no restrictions on any of the mansion workers to meet him, he added.

"I feel sad when I think that if only Panditji would have been with us today, then he could have done something for us and our children. We could have celebrated 14th November with him. He was a great support to us and we used to see him like he is our God because he never made us feel like we are poor and there was no restrictions on any of the bungalow (mansion) worker to meet him," said Prasad.

Prasad further said that Nehru, who was especially fond of children used to look at everyone with same loving eyes.

India made significant technical, industrial and social advances when Nehru was the country's Prime Minister.

An ardent democrat and internationalist, Nehru, along with President Nasser of Egypt and President Tito of undivided Yugoslavia, founded the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Nehru was the Prime Minister from 1947 to 1964. (ANI)

Leonid meteor shower's best viewing before dawn on November 17

Reports indicate that this year, the Leonid meteor shower best viewing will be in the hours before dawn on November 17.

But, there is uncertainty on the intensity of this year's shower. Viewers will definitely see a dozen or more meteors per hour.

Some astronomers predict, however, that the rate could be greater than 100.

The Moon will not wash out any meteors

Two Afghan drug peddlers caught with heroin in Amritsar

Indian police arrest two Afghan nationals with two kilograms of heroin from Amritsar district.

Officials said the contraband was seized after the police intercepted a car.

The seized heroin, worth at least 430,000 dollars was displayed before the media in Amritsar.

"State Special Operation Cell has made biggest recovery in which two Afghani smugglers who were based in Delhi have been arrested and the police has recovered two kilograms of heroin have been recovered from them.

The main person Shahjahan is an Afghani citizen he was based in Delhi and is directly in touch with the dealers in Afghanistan," P.K. Rai, Superintendent of Police (Amritsar), said.

Afghanistan, devastated by three decades of Soviet occupation and civil war, accounts for 93 percent of world opium output, according to United Nations data.

China, India and Russia called for the creation of a security belt around Afghanistan to halt the spread of heroin. (ANI)

Bhagwat now calls BJP 'a divided house'

Continuing his sharp critique of the current stasis in the BJP, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has described the party "as a divided house."

"BJP is a divided house and a divided house can't function properly. The party should not forget its roots," Bhagwat told reporters in Pune.

He added that he had told the BJP leadership to look for a "young" candidate who can "restore its organisational set-up".

"We have told them (BJP) to restore and tighten the party's organisational system and structure and choose a young president having leadership mindset," he said.

Answering whether the RSS favoured Nitin Gadkari from Maharashtra as the new BJP President, Bhagwat only revealed that there were three to four names that were being discussed.

"We have conveyed our expectations of the new leader and if they (BJP leaders) approach us after taking a decision we will okay it," he added.

Answering a question, Bhagwat said RSS had never set a deadline for leader of the opposition L K Advani to step down by February. (ANI)

Kate Walsh warns fans of online impostors

Grey's Anatomy actress Kate Walsh has warned fans to be aware of hackers posing as her online, after she came to know that an impostor had duped her neighbour on a fake Facebook page.

Walsh, 42, was left shocked and disturbed after she learned that the impostor had planned a dinner date between her and her next-door neighbour.

"There are people out there apparently pretending to be me... (My neighbour) was like... 'You said you were going to come over and have wine and hang out - on your Facebook. My wife is a huge fan and we've been Facebooking you'," the Daily Star quoted her as revealing.

And Walsh admits she had to see the messages herself to believe the scam.

"He showed me his computer and somebody is pretending to be me on Facebook," she added. (ANI)

Brit teens more worried about looks than good grades

A new poll has shown that Brit teenage girls are more worried about looking good than about getting decent exam results.

The poll, commissioned by chemist chain Superdrug, showed that a quarter of the 3,000 nine to 15-year-olds in a poll said they believed good looks would get them further than good grades.

Over half also said they felt pressured to look perfect like celebrities such as Katie Price and Coleen Rooney.

But only one in four boys said the same thing - and 36 per cent of them said they wanted to do well in their exams so they could go on to have successful careers.

Girls spend double the amount of time getting ready for school each day - a minimum of 25 minutes compared to just 13 for boys.

"This research shows how important looking good is to today's teens, especially girls who are spending too much time worrying about the way they look," the Daily Express quoted Joanna Hutton of Superdrug as saying.

"Worries about hair and spots are in both boys' and girls' top 10s. Of the things that are keeping teens up at night, this is the one that we know we can help them with.

"Today's teens' top worries are those of a generation ago - getting rid of spotty skin, wanting to fit in and wanting to look good for their friends," she added. (ANI)

Gary Glitter wants to buy home near graves of Moors murder victims

Brit rock singer Gary Glitter, who is a convicted paedophile, sparked outrage when it was revealed he wanted to buy a home overlooking the bleak moor where Ian Brady and Myra Hindley buried their child victims.

Glitter, 65, real name Paul Gadd, is house-hunting for a property in the region of 900,000 pounds on the outskirts of Saddleworth Moor and is hoping to visit the area next week.

But his attempt to book an 85 pound-a-night room at a local hotel ahead of the trip was met with a point-blank refusal by the owner.

"That would be repulsive. He is simply unacceptable," the Daily Express quoted Alan Tupman, who runs the Clough Manor Hotel in Denshaw, near Oldham, as saying.

"We refused him. It was his booking agent who rang and obviously they know there is going to be a problem.

"We believe he will be looking for a property in the area next Monday or Tuesday and I just want to alert people.

"It is not just Clough Manor, it is the area generally, and I would question the motive. Why is he coming here?

"I am quite a philosophical person and do believe when people have been punished for a crime it is finished. But what he has done is unacceptable. I feel nothing but revulsion," he added.

Another local was repulsed not only by the fact that Glitter was moving into the area, but also by the location he wanted to move in to.

"The fact Glitter is trying to move into the area is bad enough, but for him to choose an area notorious for the murders of children is beyond belief," the local said.

"There is no way he will be welcome here," the local added.

Local estate agent Gwyn Jones said he had been approached by representatives he was led to believe were acting for Glitter.

"The approach was made in my absence to one of my team who contacted me on Wednesday. I have not yet personally spoken to his agents or him," Jones said.

"I believe he is planning to fly to Saddleworth by helicopter next week, but I do not know any more about his plans.

"I have to look after the interests of my clients first and foremost.

"They would have to understand that the prospective purchaser would be Gary Glitter and it would be their decision if they wished him to view their property.

"I have to be seen to be acting responsibly and looking after their best interests. We have to act within guidelines.

"I cannot say any more other than I am told the client is looking for a secluded property up to the 900,000 pounds mark," Jones added.

A spokeswoman for Glitter's solicitor, David Corker, has not confirmed the move.

"We never discuss our clients," she stated.

The Moors murders were carried out by Brady and Hindley between July 1963 and October 1965, in and around Greater Manchester, England.

The victims were five children aged between 10 and 17-Pauline Reade, John Kilbride, Keith Bennett, Lesley Ann Downey and Edward Evans-at least four of whom were sexually assaulted.

The murders are so named because two of the victims were discovered in graves dug on Saddleworth Moor; a third grave was discovered on the moor in 1987, over 20 years after Brady and Hindley's trial in 1966.

The body of a fourth victim, Keith Bennett, is also suspected to be buried there, but as of now it remains undiscovered. (ANI)

Interactive video games becoming health and wellness tools

A new study has shown that advanced interactive games are fast becoming health and wellness tools.

According to the November issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter, researchers found that interactive game systems are especially helpful for people with chronic health conditions.

And that playing the games help in increasing physical activity and can even improve the ability to care for oneself.

Nintendo's Wii and its activities package called Wii Fit is the most sought after system.

The Wii combines a virtual environment and wireless motion-sensitive remote controllers that allow participants of different abilities to play games such as golf or bowling.

Wii games also simulate daily living skills such as driving or cooking.

Health professionals who work in rehabilitation or retirement living centres are using Wii to create a virtual environment tailored to an individual's abilities and mobility, even if that person requires the use of a cane, walker or wheelchair.

For instance, gamers can bowl sitting down, or they can mimic the typical bowler's motion.

While these interactive systems are fun and games, researchers are taking them seriously.

One pilot study shows that people with Parkinson's disease who played Nintendo's Wii a few times a week for a month experienced improvement in their symptoms.

Rigidity, movement, fine motor skills and energy levels all improved and most saw depression levels decrease to zero.

In Scotland, a study is under way involving people over age 70 to determine if their balance might be improved and risk of falling might be decreased with regular use of Wii Fit.

Another study is using the Wii and a game called Dance, Dance Revolution, which gets people moving to musical and visual cues, as therapy for those who have had a stroke.

Mayo Clinic therapists already are convinced of the benefits for some patients.

They say playing interactive games might be useful in improving balance, eye-to-hand coordination, problem-solving skills and social interactions. (ANI)

First woman pilot joins Britain's Red Arrows

Britain's renowned Red Arrows aerobatic display team presented its first woman pilot on Thursday, ending a high-altitude all-male bastion.

Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Moore, 31, will perform with the Royal Air Force display team from next year until 2012 after becoming the first female fast-jet pilot to advance far enough in their flying career to qualify.

Moore said: "It's an awesome job. To be told I had been selected was one of the best days of my life. It was incredible.

"The girl thing is an aside for me because I have been a female all my life and I've been a pilot since joining the RAF," she said before taking to the skies above the Red Arrows' RAF Scampton base in Lincolnshire, eastern England.

She added: "I know for outsiders it is a big thing but for me it is about timing and someone was always going to be the first woman to join the Red Arrows. I'm lucky enough it's happened to me and I'm very proud."

The Red Arrows' jets are a firm fixture at national events such as Queen Elizabeth II's birthday and at air shows at home and abroad, performing heart-stopping loops and turns in tight formation.

Since their creation in 1965, they have given over 4,200 displays in 53 countries.

Moore, who was picked from up to 40 applicants, credited her father Robbie Stewart, a retired RAF navigator, with inspiring her to join up after studying for a Masters in Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial College, London.

"Hopefully in a small way, by me being a Red Arrows pilot, some girls might think that this is something they could be part of and they should go for it," she said. (AFP)

Money returns unevenly to NY art auctions

Serious money has flowed back into the international art market at New York's autumn sales, although still bypassing some of the big ticket items.

The November sales at Sotheby's and rival Christie's in New York marked something of a recovery from the low point during the financial crisis erupting last year.

While prices are not yet matching the go-go days of 2007, sales have often met expectations and large sums of money are once again being exchanged for top works.

At the same time, the market remains unstable, leaving major works as likely to sit unsold as to trigger bidding wars.

Wednesday's contemporary and post-war sales at Sotheby's were an unexpected success, pulling in 134.4 million dollars and selling 96 percent -- all but two -- of the 54 lots. Presale estimates were for sales of 97.7 million dollars.

Andy Warhol's "200 One Dollar Bills," a grey and black work showing 200 life-sized images of dollar bills, sold for 43.8 million dollars.

This was far over the pre-sale estimate of eight to 12 million dollars, although never likely to approach the 71.7 million dollar record for the artist.

And a Warhol self-portrait estimated at one to 1.5 million dollars sold for 6.1 million dollars, a fairy tale ending for a work that was hidden away in a cupboard for 42 years by its owner, Cathy Naso -- a one-time secretary at Warhol's famous Factory.

Sotheby's contemporary art director, Tobias Meyer, said the art market was rebounding.

"Bidding was very deep tonight. There is a great desire for great art. Consumer behavior has started to accelerate after May 2009."

But on Tuesday at Christie's, the contemporary and post-war sales picture was decidedly mixed.

The evening's big winner was Peter Doig's Reflection (What Does Your Soul Look Like), from 1996, which sold for 10.2 million dollars, double the pre-sale estimate.

Overall, the sale was respectable, with 85 percent of works being sold and total proceeds of 74.1 million dollars falling within pre-sale estimates.

But there were also high-profile flops, including an unsold Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat's unsold "Brother Sausage," valued at nine-12 million dollars.

The same uneven pattern applied to the impressionist and modern art sales at the start of November.

Sotheby's saw several records broken during an unexpectedly strong 181 million dollars in sales.

These included 13.8 million dollars paid for "Young Arab," by early 20th century Dutch artist Kees Van Dongen. His previous record was 11.1 million dollars.

French painter Andre Derain's "Barques au port de Collioure," from about 1905, went under the hammer for 14 million dollars, smashing the 6.1 million dollar record.

Simon Shaw, head of the impressionist department at Sotheby's, described those performances as "a shot in the arm for the market."

However, the impressionist and modern art sales at Christie's were subdued, with total sales of less than 66 million dollars, below the presale estimate.

Notably there were no bids for a 1943 Picasso, "Tete de femme," estimated at seven to 10 million dollars.

Marc Porter, president of Christie's Americas, said the emphasis was on art seen as a safe investment. "Classic impressionist paintings and sculptures across a range of prices continue to achieve strong results," he said. (AFP)

Bikinis, hugs and hairy heroics on world records day

Stripping down to bikinis, cuddling strangers in railway stations and dragging buses with their hair, thousands of people across the globe attempted to break curious world records Thursday.

From Australia to China, Britain, Egypt, Lebanon and Tennessee, people put their scalps, stomachs and reputations on the line.

The antics were all in the name of the fifth annual Guinness World Records Day, with hopefuls trying to secure a spot in the next edition of their famous Guinness World Records book.

"It's a wonderful feeling knowing that so many hundreds of thousands of people around the world are taking part in fun, inspirational, courageous and awe-inspiring record attempts," said editor-in-chief Craig Glenday.

Around the world, new records were set -- some in the preceding days -- in the rush to claim a place in history.

In London, "Ironman" Manjit Singh set a record by dragging an 8.5-tonne bus some 21.2 metres (69 feet six inches) -- with his hair.

It was something of a comeback for the 59-year-old, who failed to break the record for pulling a bus with his ears two years ago.

"I will never be discouraged by defeat because I know that success can be waiting around the next corner," he said.

"The only way to get there is to try again and stay positive."

Meanwhile 112 people, including total strangers commuting to work, set a record at London's St Pancras station as they hugged for a minute.

Outside the Sydney Opera House, 235 people stripped down to their bikinis and swimming trunks, but alas were 47 people short of setting a new swimwear parade record.

New Zealand's Alistair Galpin set three records, spitting a champagne cork five metres, blowing a Malteser candy 11.295 metres with a straw and blowing a coin 37.6 centimetres.

In China, Tao Yongming drove his motorcycle up a sand dune in six minutes and two seconds.

In Beirut, Toufic Daher made the tallest matchstick model, reaching six metres, 53 centimetres, while Nabil Karam broke the record for the largest collection of model cars, instructing the witnesses to stop counting at 22,222.

Meanwhile Hesham Nessim got his vehicle across the Egyptian western desert in 13 hours and 33 minutes.

In Helsinki, people from 76 nationalities squeezed into a sauna while the new fastest 40 metres human wheelbarrow race record was set at 17 seconds.

The largest gingerbread man (651 kilogrammes) was baked in Oslo, while in Denmark, Jim Lyngvild peeled and ate three lemons in 28.5 seconds.

In Milan, the record for the largest pizza base stretch in one minute was set at 42 centimetres, while Ernesto Cesario wolfed down a bowl of pasta in 90 seconds.

Hamburg in northern Germany saw two new records. Joe Alexander broke a stack of 11 concrete blocks with his elbow while holding a raw egg, and Maiko Kiesewetter climbed five metres up a wall -- on darts.

In the United States, 23 people in Fort Worth, Texas broke the record for lassoing simultaneously, while in Memphis, 297 people set the benchmark for the largest cheerleading dance.

In New York, the largest cup of hot chocolate record hit four gallons (15 litres), while 1,817 lipstick prints were collected in 12 hours across the city.

Brewers Guinness launched their famous records book in 1955 to settle disputes among drinkers.

All the record attempts are assessed by adjudicators from the organisation. (AFP)

New mega wine cultural centre for Bordeaux

Bordeaux on Thursday unveiled plans for a 55-million euro wine cultural centre that Mayor Alain Juppe says will act as a platform for developing wine tourism in southwest France.

The 10,000-square-metre centre, a decade in the pipeline, will grace the mouth of the city's tiny pleasure port just north of the historic Chartrons wine district where a new bridge will cross the Garonne river.

The development marks a new step forward for an urban renewal plan to transform the once sleepy city into a flourishing tourist destination with a tramway system, renovated river front, parks, bike paths, a botanical garden and clean facades.

The ambitious wine centre project stakes a claim to not only the region's historical dominance but its future position among the world's wine capitals.

"The center of the world of wine is Bordeaux," said Sylvie Cazes, president of the Union of Grands Crus and delegate to the City Council for economic development in the wine trade and tourism.

Wine is France's number two export after aeronautics, and France is the number one tourist destination. Bordeaux, both a city and a wine, intends to capitalize on that connection.

Amid the current economic woes striking the wine business, many are hoping the project will help secure the region's livelihood. One in six jobs in the region is in the wine business and five percent of the population works in tourism.

The historical city, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2007, sees 2.5 million visitors annually, and Juppe believes the city can deliver the 400,000 visitors needed per year to make the center a success.

Project leaders promise an architecturally impressive edifice that will also be convivial, lively, and create a positive image of wine. "We want to demystify wine," said Cazes.

Visitors will learn about making, selling and enjoying wine throughout the world as well as the idiosyncrasies of Bordeaux wine.

Architects will compete with their designs in 2010, a winner will be chosen next summer, and the doors will open in 2013. (AFP)

Cyprus tourism drop worsens in October

The pace of the year-on-year decline in tourist arrivals in Cyprus accelerated to 14 percent last month from 9.6 percent in September, official figures showed on Thursday.

The number of holidaymakers jetting in to the Mediterranean island sank to 230,431 in October from 267,866 a year earlier, hit by a hefty 29.6 percent reverse in arrivals from Russia and a 19.1 percent dip from Britain -- the island's biggest holiday market.

The blow was slightly softened by a 21.9 percent spike in tourists from Greece.

For the ten months to October, Cyprus tourist arrivals have dived 11.1 percent, overshooting the government's forecast of a 10 percent drop for the whole of 2009.

From January to October inclusive visitor numbers to the sunbaked Republic of Cyprus fell to 1.98 million from 2.23 million in the same period last year.

Bookings for next summer are down 20 percent, according to estimates.

To help ease the crisis, the government last week approved a 65 million euro tourism support package including loan guarantees for hotels and airport fee waivers.

A large majority of the island's tourists come from recession-hit European Union countries and Russia.

A fall in tourism revenue and arrivals has been instrumental in the Cyprus economy going into decline for the first time in three decades.

The country is technically in recession after GDP shrank by 0.6 percent in the first quarter and 0.5 percent in the second.

The government hopes tourism will receive a lift from the new state-of-the-art Larnaca airport, opened this month, but tour operators have complained about high charges for using the new facility.

Tourism contributes around 12 percent to the island's GDP. (AFP)

US town nixes Christmas parade to avoid legal squabble

Officials in an Ohio town canceled their Christmas parade this year to avoid huge legal fees in defending the tradition from possible lawsuits by religious groups.

The legal hurdle surfaced when the private group that for 28 years had funded the parade in Amelia village recently announced it could no longer do so, prompting the village mayor to step in with public funds.

On a lawyer's advice, the mayor decided to change the name of the event from Christmas Parade to the more neutral "Holiday Parade" to avoid lawsuits and abide by constitutional rules about the separation of church and state.

"Even though it may seem silly," Mayor Leroy Ellington said, "the legal fees that the village would spend to defend 'A Christmas Parade' would be costly."

"There was the likelihood that we would be sued on a first amendment issue," he added, referring to the constitutional requirements for secular government.

However, the name change did not sit well with local church officials, who promptly threatened to boycott the event if it was no longer called "A Christmas Parade."

Faced with legal quarrels and logistical problems in organizing the parade, Ellington threw in the towel.

"As a citizen I want a Christmas parade, as a mayor I've an obligation to prevent the village from spending unnecessary tax dollars," he said on announcing that his office was dropping out of the organization drive. (AFP)

Online call for religions to embrace compassion

Religious leaders from around the world joined a former nun on Thursday to unveil a Charter for Compassion that urges people to embrace understanding and shun violence.

A charterforcompassion.org website that sprang from a wish Karen Armstrong was granted in 2008 at a prestigious Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) Conference went live Thursday.

"It requires you in your own sphere to work for a more compassionate world," Armstrong told AFP. "The terrorists and extremists are all highly organized and networked; we must do the same."

The charter's growing list of "affirmers" includes the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, Queen Noor of Jordan, Grand Mufti of Egypt Sheikh Ali Gomaa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu; author Sir Ken Robinson, and musician Paul Simon.

The charter is approximately 330 words, calling on everyone to "restore compassion to the center of morality and religion" and to foster appreciation for cultural and religious diversity.

The charter also urges a "return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate."

A TED member with computer design prowess helped build a charter website where people can learn about the grassroots campaign or universal compassion, share the message and collaborate on taking action toward the goal.

"A launch is only the beginning of a voyage and not the end," Armstrong said. "Now people have their own website where they can organize and we can make it a movement. We have to go to work to put the charter into focus."

The website is also intended to serve as a venue for groups or individuals who have been working in isolation to collaborate as an online community.

The home page includes a box where people share word of compassionate deeds big or small.

"The charter is a summons to action, it is not just a feel good thing," Armstrong said. "It calls upon people to find creative ways of implementing... to work energetically for the good of humanity in one's own community."

A simple way to begin, she added, is to stifle nasty off-the-cuff comments.

Religious leaders worldwide helped craft the charter, which was memorialized in plaque form by designer Yves Behar and will be hung at secular spots in cities such as New York, Cairo, London, Ramallah, Melbourne, and Buenos Aires.

The charter is posted online in seven languages, with the list to be expanded.

"In the media, teaching, banking, or bringing up children one has to think of the passionate ethos," Armstrong said. "All day and every day to put yourself in the shoes of somebody else."

Annual TED conferences draw acclaimed thinkers and doers to candidly discuss evil, beauty, innovations, the future and how to save humanity.

The list of past speakers features novelist Isabel Allende, rock stars Bono and Peter Gabriel, former US president Bill Clinton and vice president Al Gore, Wikipedia creator Jimmy Wales, and Google founders Serge Brin and Larry Page.

TED speakers are challenged to give "the talk of their lives" in 18 minutes each, while listeners are called on to help make inspirational visions real.

Videos of talks are made available free online at ted.com.

TED prize winners each get 100,000 dollars in cash to fulfill "a wish to change the world." TED conference attendees, and now those viewing talks on the Internet, are called on to help make the wishes come true. (AFP)

Young Indians look to dance their way to fame, fortune

Dancing has always been a part of Bollywood, often with huge casts performing set-piece numbers as the glamorous hero and heroine lip-synch love songs in improbable locations.

But improved production values and an explosion in television dance shows in recent years have promoted dance from a second-best bit part to a viable -- and potentially lucrative -- career for aspiring young performers.

In a sign of the demand, newspaper classified sections on any given day are filled with advertisements offering tuition to would-be dancers, and with it hopes of a starring role on the small or big screen.

Jeetendra B. Singh ditched his job in the shipping industry to follow his heart rather than travel the world.

"I was just fed up with shipping, so, I gave up and decided to do dancing, which was always my passion since childhood," he said.

At 30, Singh has no regrets and now commands 4,000 rupees (84 dollars) a day to dance in shows.

"Five years back the money was not good. Sometimes I danced for 150 rupees a day, but today dancers are well-paid and the perception in Indian society has changed and they are willing to pay more for dancers."

Dancing as an art form has a long tradition in India, from ancient classical styles performed in Hindu temples, the courts of Mughal emperors and princely states, to regional folk interpretations.

Bollywood numbers were traditionally modelled on classical dance but have recently imported moves and music from Western pop videos -- often with foreign dancers and increasingly suggestive choreography

The profession has struggled to shake off its poor reputation among respectable families.

Singh said his family was "very hurt" when he told them his plan.

"My father is a school principal and he felt that I was wasting my life," he said.

But he added: "I appeared on the dance reality show "Nach Baliye" ("Dance Girl") as one of the choreographers and became famous. Now, I am a well-respected dance professional in my locality and also with my family."

Singh has choreographed cheerleaders of the Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings XI in the big money Indian Premier League cricket competition.

"I have many assignments and am constantly busy," he added.

Remo D'Souza has a similar story.

"In 1992, when I came to Mumbai after telling my father that I wanted to be a dancer, he told me I had gone nuts," he said.

"My father was in the Indian Air Force and my family was from a defence background. They just could not believe that one of their family members could be a dancer. They discouraged me but I was adamant."

D'Souza, in his mid-30s, persuaded his father that he would return to Jamnagar in western Gujarat state within three months if he failed.

"I gave dance tuition to children and also did odd jobs to survive in Mumbai. Finally, I got a part in a film -- "Rangeela" ("Colourful") -- in which I was one of the dancers. That changed everything for me. I never looked back," he said.

D'Souza is amazed at the recognition dancing now has in India -- and the money involved.

"There are immense opportunities. One of my dance students won the reality competition "Dance India Dance", which had a prize of 50 lakhs (five million rupees).

"Who will give you this kind of money in one go if you toil in an office from nine to five? In Bollywood, if you are an established dancer you can command a price of 25 lakh for one dance.

"Today, I say I earn more than a bank manager. When I look back I feel happy that I took the decision to pursue my passion rather than joining the Indian Air Force. I wasn't cut out for that." (AFP)

Global swine flu deaths slow as WHO toll passes 6,250

More than 6,250 people have died in the swine flu pandemic, World Health Organisation data showed Friday, as the global death rate appeared to slow.

The number of deaths from the A(H1N1) pandemic in the week to November 8 grew by about 179, against 224 a week earlier and a leap of about 700 in the last week of October.

The pandemic now stretches across 206 countries or territories worldwide, the WHO added in a statement.

The UN health agency said the influenza season showed signs of peaking in North America, but was intensifying across much of Europe and Central and Eastern Asia.

"Very intense and increasing influenza activity continues to be reported in Mongolia with a severe impact on the health care system," it added.

But the WHO found after investigating the sudden reported surge in flu cases in Ukraine in recent weeks that the swine flu virus had shown no signs of becoming stronger.

"The initial analysis of information indicates that the numbers of severe cases do not appear to be excessive when compared to the experience of other countries and do not represent any change in the transmission or virulence of the virus," the statement said.

More than 1.3 million Ukrainians have been taken ill with swine flu and 265 people have lost their lives to the virus since the end of October, the country's health ministry said Friday.

The Americas still account for the largest number of deaths. The WHO estimates 4,512 have died since the pandemic virus was first identified in April in Mexico and the United States, an increase of 113 in a week.

However, new data released late on Thursday, separate from the WHO figures, estimates that swine flu has killed as many as 3,900 people in the United States.

Health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) used a new counting method that yielded an estimate six times higher than the last.

The CDC's previous estimated death toll from H1N1 was 672.

While still imprecise, the new numbers provide "a bigger picture of what has been going on in the first six months of the pandemic," Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters.

She said previous estimates were based on "laboratory confirmed cases of hospitalisation and death, potentially giving an incomplete picture of the story of this pandemic."

The WHO said the number of deaths reported in Europe stayed stable at some 300, with signs the pandemic caseload was peaking in parts of Britain, notably Northern Ireland, as well as in Ireland and Iceland.

Meanwhile, the virus spread to the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on Friday as authorities there confirmed its first swine flu death.

Neighbouring Turkey, the only country to recognise the TRNC, also announced a further 20 deaths, bringing its total to 60 fatal cases.

Elsewhere in Europe, Hungarian officials said a 55-year-old and a 73-year-old woman had died in hospital from swine. Seven people have died from the virus in Hungary since July.

In Austria, the Kleine Zeitung newspaper said a 26-year-old man became the country's third fatal case after being hospitalised five days ago with an infection.

In Germany, Cologne footballer Christopher Schorch became the first player in the country's top division to contract the virus.

The 20-year-old German is being treated at home and should return to training next Wednesday, according to his club.

Sharp increases in cases were reported in several western and southern Asian nations, including Israel and Afghanistan in recent weeks, while growing numbers were reported in China and Japan.

Pandemic flu was largely on the wane in most of south and southeast Asia and in the warming southern hemisphere. (AFP)

Groups at risk from swine flu should avoid hajj: study

People at risk of suffering severe consequences from swine flu should postpone going to the hajj in 2009, according to a study released on Saturday.

Some 2.5 million Muslims from more than 160 countries converge annually on the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina in western Saudi Arabia.

The hajj pilgrimage -- to be completed at least once in a Muslim's lifetime, under the tenets of Islam -- can be undertaken at any time, but peaks this year from November 25 to 29, at the height of the alert over swine flu.

The study recommends that pregnant women, the elderly, individuals with chronic diseases and children who intend to participate in the 2009 hajj do so at a later date.

Secondary recommendations include providing persons showing flu-like symptoms with hygiene packs and information brochures, and setting up isolation facilities for those infected.

On average, each person infected with the 2009 pandemic flu spreads the virus to another 1.4 individuals.

But during the climax of the pilgrimage, when crowds can reach a density of up to seven people per square metre (10 square feet), the risk of infection could be much higher, the report said.

"These preparedness plans should ensure the optimum provision of health services for pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, and minimum disease transmission on their return home," the researchers said.

The study, published in the British medical journal The Lancet, was led by Ziad Memish of the Saudi Arabian health ministry.

It is based on a June meeting of experts charged with making recommendations on how to reduce health risks during the hajj. Scientists from the UN Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) also contributed to the findings.

The Lancet questioned, though, whether these measures would be widely accepted or effective.

"Because hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and should be done at least once in a Muslim's lifetime, individuals will probably not want to postpone after they have spent much time saving money and planning for this purpose," it said in an editorial.

A policy of isolating sick pilgrims might backfire by discouraging those with flu-like symptoms from reporting their illness, it added.

Saudi authorities have separately called on hajj pilgrims to get vaccinations for seasonal flu and, where possible, for the A(H1N1) pandemic flu as well.

Out of more than half a million pilgrims who had arrived as of last week, nine were diagnosed with swine flu, the Saudi health ministry said on Wednesday. (AFP)

High-energy alcoholic drinks under US spotlight

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Friday notified some 30 drinks manufacturers who combine alcohol and caffeine in their beverages that they must prove the products are safe.

"The increased popularity of consumption of caffeinated alcoholic beverages by college students and reports of potential health and safety issues necessitates that we look seriously at the scientific evidence as soon as possible," said Joshua Sharfstein, a deputy commissioner at the agency.

The FDA said it had received a letter from 19 prosecutors expressing "concern" about the products, saying it was not a safe mix.

Caffeinated alcoholic drinks have "been associated with dangerous behavior ... sexual assaults," said Mitchell Cheeseman, acting director of the office of food additive safety at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

The FDA "has not approved caffeine for use at any level in alcoholic beverages," the agency said.

For the first time the FDA has requested scientific evidence from the manufacturers that demonstrates the products are safe. The companies have 30 days to comply.

"We are asking their side of the story," said Sharfstein.

Already two major brewers, Anheuser-Busch and Miller, have agreed to discontinue their high-energy alcoholic beverages, sold as Tilt, Bud Extra, and Sparks.

If found to be deemed unsafe, the FDA will "take appropriate action to ensure that the products are removed from the marketplace," the agency said. (AFP)

S.Korea district to host mass blind dates to boost birthrate

Seoul's Gangnam district, South Korea's most prosperous area, has a single imperfection -- one of the country's lowest birthrates.

Now the district government, which already provides cash incentives for couples to have more babies, is arranging mass blind dates for singles.

On Saturday, 30 men and 30 women living or working in the area will be brought together in an attempt to help them find partners, the Gangnam district office said in a statement.

The singles, aged 27 to 40, include schoolteachers, company employees and professionals.

They will take part in various games and will have the chance to chat in small groups before picking three people they wish to meet again.

"Being so busy with work, they have little chance to meet the opposite sex," a district official said. Gangnam will arrange the mass blind dates three times every year.

South Korea has one of the world's lowest birthrates at 1.19 babies per woman of reproductive age.

To encourage couples to have more babies, the district offers one million won (854 dollars) for a second child, five million won for a third and 10 million won for a fourth. (AFP)

Singapore chef breathes fresh air into APEC summit

Singapore, a culinary melting pot that prides itself on spicy and pungent dishes, is cutting back on onions, garlic and chillies when it feeds Asia-Pacific leaders this weekend.

"A lot of onions in the cooking we try and reduce, because you know, it doesn't give you good breath," the summit's executive chef Jess Ong told AFP in an interview.

Garlic is on the blacklist to make sure the Asian-inspired dishes do not foul the air when the 21 leaders from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum converse.

US President Barack Obama, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russia's Dmitry Medvedev are among the summit participants, although Obama's schedule remains in flux and whether he will break bread with the others remains in question.

Preparing meals for APEC leaders is always daunting for host countries because the members represent hugely diverse food traditions in Asia and the Americas, stretching from China to Chile via Papua New Guinea.

"It's not a culinary adventure. They have a meeting, they want to recognise the food that they will eat, they do not want to look at the food and say 'I'm not sure I can down this dish'," said Ong, 51.

Onions and garlic aside, the chilli content of local delicacies served at the summit will also be toned down, and the guests can choose between cutlery and chopsticks.

But there will be no compromise on the essential flavour of the dishes, insists Ong, a 30-year industry veteran whose clientele has included the late Princess Diana.

"The element of our local specialities is delivered in a different format.

"This is a variation, rather than heavy, sweet, spicy, hot. So it becomes infused with olive oil, chilli, lemon grass, but very subtle integration."

The leaders' menu this weekend cannot be disclosed in advance, said Ong, who is executive head chef at the main APEC venue, the Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Luncheon and a banquet dinner are scheduled for Saturday. Obama will still be en route from a visit to Tokyo, and his only APEC repast could end up being lunch at Singapore's Istana presidential palace on Sunday.

A four-course lunch for APEC ministers last Wednesday featured seared barramundi fish with ginger scallops, mushroom dumpling, wilted water spinach, hot and sour coulis, radishes, baby carrots and asparagus.

Ong did drop a hint of what might be in store for the leaders.

For health-conscious Obama, Ong recommends the local delicacy "yu sheng" -- a colourful salad consisting of raw fish slices, thinly cut vegetables, sweet-and-sour sauces and strips of crackers.

"It's clean, it's healthy, it's tangy, it's about as Singaporean as you can be," he said of the dish, which is traditionally served during Lunar New Year parties and was created by Chinese immigrants in Singapore. (AFP)

Reality TV show exposes racial divides in China

Lou Jing sings Shanghai opera and speaks fluent Mandarin, but when she competed to be China's next reality TV pop star, it was not her voice that was criticised -- it was her black skin.

The daughter of a Chinese mother and an absent African-American father, 20-year-old Lou caused a media storm when she was named one of Shanghai's five finalists for "Let's Go! Oriental Angel," an "American Idol"-style show.

But her fame has been for all of the wrong reasons, after her appearance sparked a vigorous and often vicious nationwide debate on whether she was even fit to be on Chinese television because of the colour of her skin.

Ahead of US President Barack Obama's first visit to China, Lou's experience has put a spotlight on perceptions of race in the country and the challenges the Asian giant faces as its economic boom fosters a more ethnically diverse society.

"I am Chinese," Lou told AFP in an interview. "But when I read the comments, I started to question myself. I never questioned myself before. This time I started to think about how I am different from others."

Even though Obama is wildly popular among the Chinese people and the country is rapidly expanding its ties with Africa, commentators said Lou's story exposes deep racism in China, where the ethnic Han are in a vast majority.

"In the same year Americans welcomed Obama into the White House, we can?t even accept this girl with a different skin colour?" wrote Hung Huang, a talk show host and magazine publisher often described as "China's Oprah Winfrey."

"We tend to be biased against those who are darker-skinned, while admiring races that are paler than us. It is a deeply rooted evil within us," Hung wrote on her blog.

China Daily columnist Raymond Zhou called it "outright racism," saying the bias against dark skin had defined notions of beauty, but was also an offshoot of class discrimination: field labourers were tanned while the rich were pale.

"Many of us even look down on fellow Chinese who have darker skin, especially women. Beauty products that claim to whiten the skin always fetch a premium. And children are constantly praised for having fair skin," he wrote.

Lou said she feels tougher and more mature after her experience, but added if she could do it all over again, she would not have gone on the show at all.

An instructor at Shanghai Drama Academy, where Lou studies broadcasting, put forward the mixed-race beauty and a handful of classmates to appear on the television talent show, without asking first.

She was selected for the top 30 nationwide, but was not among the 12 contestants chosen by judges for the next round.

Lou said she was not surprised by the judges' decision, but was shocked by the thousands of web postings that followed, most of them negative and many of them expressing racist views.

"I couldn't help crying. I felt hurt. I never meant to offend anyone," she said.

Although Lou is still working towards her dream of being a television presenter, she said the episode had left her less optimistic about whether she can find a place on China's airwaves.

"They want a TV host who is considered traditionally beautiful," she said.

"Ever since I appeared on TV, I realised that maybe I don't fit the image of a TV host. Many believe a TV host should have white skin, high nose and big eyes."

Lou said she would follow Obama's visit to China, listing the US president -- himself of mixed-race descent -- as one of her heroes alongside her mother and Winfrey, whose show she watches over the Internet.

She said Obama's autobiography had inspired her, but added that she was unconvinced she could change people's minds about race.

"He convinced people that he has the capacity to change what people thought of African-Americans. Compared to him, I don't have that capacity for change because the Chinese media is too powerful," she said. (AFP)

'Let them eat vegetables', Bardot tells EU

Brigitte Bardot, one-time French screen goddess turned animal rights activist, wants the European Union to institute a "Vegetarian Day" as part of the battle against global warming.

In a letter this week to European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barrosoa, Bardot said "a few weeks before the Copenhagen climate summit, I would like to draw your attention to the need to question cattle-farming, whose effects on the environment are of concern."

Quoting studies by the World Bank and the UN food agency FAO, Bardot said in the letter which was released Friday that cattle-raising not only caused high carbon emissions but also polluted soils and the water table.

"If 'developped' nations were to reduce their meat consumption, there would be less famine, which kills almost six million children each year," Bardot wrote.

"Our collective duty is to act at all levels, including by promoting a vegetarian diet," she added.

"A European 'Vegetarian Day' would be a strong symbol." (AFP)

Buenos Aires okays gay marriage in Latin America first

An Argentine judge paved the way for gay marriage when she granted a homosexual couple permission to marry in a first for Latin America, the world's biggest Catholic region.

Buenos Aires, known for its active if low-key gay movement, became the region's first city to approve civil unions for gay couples in 2002. It was followed by Villa Carlos Paz in the north and the southern province of Rio Negro.

Those civil unions grant gay couples some, but not all, the rights enjoyed by heterosexual married couples.

Friday's ruling by Judge Gabriela Seijas ordered the civil registry to make official the marriage of Alejandro Freyre, 39, and Jose Maria Di Bello, 41, who had been denied their request because they were both men.

It could increase pressure for lawmakers to take up a stalled gay marriage bill in Congress.

"We are very happy, moved, but we also feel the heavy weight of responsibility because it's not just about us, it's encouraging legal equality in Argentina and the rest of Latin America," Di Bello told AFP.

The couple had filed a complaint in April.

In the rest of Latin America, Mexico City, the Mexican state of Coahuila and the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul also allow civil unions for same-sex couples.

Uruguay became the first country in the region in late 2007 to legalize civil unions for gays. In January 2009, the Colombian Constitutional Court recognized a series of rights for homosexual couples, including social welfare rights.

But no Latin American country authorizes marriage between gays.

Seijas deemed that "the law must treat everyone with the same respect according to their particular situation" and declared unconstitutional two articles of the civil code, including one stating that marriage is only between a man and a woman.

"All you have to do is change the words 'man' and 'woman' with the word 'party,'" said Di Bello, who along with his partner is HIV-positive.

The Catholic church is especially powerful in Argentina, a country whose population is 91 percent Catholic.

Bishop Baldemoro Martini charged that "same-sex unions do not contribute to the public good; they put it especially at risk."

The landmark decision could still be struck down if there is an appeal.

But Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri, a conservative, said the government would make no such move.

"The world is heading in this direction," he told reporters.

Several homosexual groups hailed the judge's ruling.

"I am very happy and I join the feeling of Argentine gays, who were repressed for many years," said Marcelo Cerqueira, president of Gay de Bahia, one of the most active gay rights groups in Latin American giant Brazil.

"For us in Brazil, we have no expectations, neither in court, nor in the medium or long term."

The decision by Seijas "is incredibly courageous, we didn't expect it," acknowledged Di Bello, who fell into his partner's arms when he learned of the verdict. (AFP)

Madoff's magnificent spoils go under the hammer

From diamond-encrusted watches to satin jackets emblazoned with his name, the personal goods of Wall Street swindler Bernard Madoff go under the hammer Saturday in New York to raise money to help pay those who lost their fortunes.

Collectors and curious members of the public gathered Friday for an open viewing of the objects in a room at the Sheraton Hotel in New York as police marshals kept a strict eye on the crowds.

Some two hundred lots are up for grabs and auctioneers are hopeful they can raise some 500,000 dollars -- a mere drop in the ocean compared to the 21.2 billion dollars the court-appointed liquidator says his investors lost.

"I am going to bid on a vintage Rolex, and on the Audemars which I would like to keep for me, and maybe on the jacket," said Chuck Spielman, president of "Only Yesterday" Classic autos in San Diego, California.

"It all depends how the bidding goes. My wife is looking at some purses."

Dian Gilmore, executive director of the American Board of Certification, came from Iowa for a congress of the Commercial Law League of America and took time off to wander around the displays.

"This is part of history. We came out of curiosity," she said.

Madoff, it seems, had a weakness for luxury watches. Around 20 are on display, including a Rolex estimated to be worth some 75,000 dollars, a Blancpain, a Patek Philippe model with a platinum frame, a Audemars Piguet and several Cartiers.

The catalogue of spoils reflects the gaudy life enjoyed by Madoff and his wife Ruth as a result of his decades-long, multi-billion-dollar Ponzi scheme.

It includes diamonds, fur coats, crocodile-skin belts and numerous items of jewelry.

On a more personal note, there was a blue satin New York Mets baseball team jacket emblazoned with "Madoff" on the back. Estimated price: 500 to 720 dollars. Nearby was a Mets cap embroidered in silver.

The Madoff name along with that of his wife appears on many other goods, ranging from golf clubs to beach boards to personal stationary.

Ruth Madoff's furs, all neatly hanging in plastic bags, attracted little interest, but the crowds were fawning over her designer bags bearing labels such as Hermes, Prada, Chanel or Vuitton.

"I would buy some bags for my son's girlfriend, for my ex-wife," said Tony Almeida, retired, from New Jersey.

"I don't think it's bad luck, I want to be able to say I have Bernie's purse."

One young onlooker, overwhelmed by the amount of ostentatious luxury on display, laughed: "This is not Madoff's. It must have belonged to a drug trafficker, although you see no difference."

Gaston and Sheehan auctioneers are handling the sale at a Sheraton hotel in New York, but the goods were seized by the US Marshals Service to raise compensation for hundreds of investors cheated by Madoff.

Properties, including a Manhattan penthouse and Palm Beach retreat, have also been seized. A Long Island beach getaway sold for eight million dollars.

Madoff, now serving a 150-year prison sentence for fraud, claimed just before his arrest last December to have been managing 65 billion dollars. However, much of that appears to have comprised phony funds.

The world of art however would seem not to have been one of the Madoffs' passions.

Apart from a few photographs, some sketches valued at 70 to 200 dollars, some copies of African masks and a heron sculpture bearing a 25- to 28-dollar price tag, there were no art works to be found among the sale. (AFP)