Leona Lewis up for US MTV award :

Leona Lewis, Duffy and The Ting Tings are amongst the acts nominated for a special British prize at September's MTV Music Video Awards in the US.
The pop acts go up against Coldplay and Estelle in the Best UK Video category, with the winner decided by public vote.
It has already been announced that comic Russell Brand, who caused a stir when he hosted the 2007 Brit Awards, will present the show.
The ceremony takes place at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles on 7 September.
Nominations for the VMAs are being revealed on a weekly basis in the run-up to the awards.

Freeman recovering after surgery :

Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman is in "good spirits" after surgery for injuries sustained in a serious car accident near his Mississippi home.
Mr Freeman's spokeswomen said the surgery to reconnect nerves and repair damage to his left arm and hand lasted four-and-a-half hours.
She said the 71-year-old Dark Knight star was now looking forward to being discharged "as soon as possible".
The accident happened shortly before midnight on Sunday.
Mr Freeman's car ran off the side of the road and overturned several times, landing upright in a ditch.
Mr Freeman, who was driving the car, and a female passenger were airlifted to Memphis's Regional Medical Center, about 90 miles (145km) north of where the accident occurred in Tallahatchie County.
"He is in good spirits and was visiting with family members this morning," said Mr Freeman's spokeswoman, Donna Lee.
"He was walking this morning, and is looking forward to his release as soon as possible."

Germany hails 'bullet-proof bra' :

It is being dubbed the new "bullet-proof bra", a new kind of Wonderbra which could help protect thousands of women police officers here in Germany.
It may sound like a joke, but this is a serious matter - the policewoman who came up with the idea said normal bras can be dangerous when worn in combination with a bullet-proof vest.
"The impact of a bullet can push the metal and plastic bits of the bra into an officer's body, causing serious injury," said Carmen Kibat, an adviser on equal opportunities for the Hamburg-based Bundespolizei - Germany's federal police force.
"I always thought normal bras posed a safety risk and I wanted to change that," she said.

Berlusconi in breast cover-up row :

Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is well known as an admirer of beautiful women - yet an exposed breast has embroiled him in a new row.
A copy of a painting by 18th-Century Venetian master Gianbattista Tiepolo, on full display during Mr Berlusconi's press conferences, has been retouched.
The woman in Tiepolo's painting now has some drapery hiding her bare breast.
"That breast, that nipple... ends up right inside the frame captured by TV news," Mr Berlusconi's spokesman said.

Firm claims first pet dog clones :

Scientists in South Korea say they have successfully completed the world's first commercial cloning of a pet dog.
Bernann McKinney, from the US state of California, stumped up $50,000 (£25,000) for five identical copies of Booger, her beloved pit bull terrier.
The puppy clones were unveiled at a press conference in the South Korean capital, Seoul, on Tuesday.
"Booger was my partner and my friend," Ms McKinney said, as she appeared with the five identical copies of her pet.
Scientists at Seoul National University created a number of embryos from preserved skin cells taken from Booger's ear tissue before he died.

Hi-tech criminals target Twitter :

Micro blogging site Twitter is the latest target of cyber criminals who are increasingly finding fertile ground on social networks.
A fake Twitter profile with a malicious payload has been spotted by security firm Kaspersky.
It purports to link to a pornographic video but downloads a fake version of Adobe Flash which installs programs capable of stealing data.
The attack is believed to be the first to target Twitter.

Yahoo bosses under fresh pressure :

Bosses at US internet firm Yahoo are under fresh pressure after it emerged that opposition to them at its recent AGM was far greater than first thought.
The outcome of shareholder votes were revised after technical glitches meant some votes had not been counted.
The revisions show that 33.7% voted against the re-election of chief executive Jerry Yang - much more than the 14.6% figure first published.
Yahoo bosses came under fire for their handling of Microsoft's recent bid.

US cracks 'biggest ID fraud case" :

The US authorities have charged 11 people in connection with the theft of credit-card details in the country's largest-ever identity theft case.
They are accused of stealing more than 40 million credit and debit card numbers before selling the information.
They allegedly hacked into the computer systems of several major US retailers and installed software to access account details and passwords.
Prosecutors said the alleged fraud was an "international conspiracy".

How secure is your card info ?

In light of the biggest identity theft case ever prosecuted in America, the spotlight is being turned on just how secure is our credit and debit card information?
The question is a simple one but the answer might appear to be a bit harder to pin down.
VeriSign, a firm that secures websites for e-commerce, told the BBC that credit and debit card information is "vulnerable" but they are working with retailers to change that.
"Credit and debit card information is just not incredibly secure," said Perry Tancredi, VeriSign's senior product manager for fraud detection.
"But it is counterbalanced by the amount of fraud losses due to cheque fraud and direct debit fraud which is much greater than credit card fraud."
Mr Tancredi said: "Regardless of how strong the security measures, and how vigilant, the weak part of the chain is there is always a human who is responsible and who has overall control over the information."
He suggested the best bet was for all consumers to "assume that there will be some sort of fraud on your account sooner or later" and put in place a plan to deal with it.

'Al-Qaeda' woman appears in court :

A Pakistani woman scientist accused of links to the al-Qaeda leadership has appeared in a New York court charged with attempting to kill US soldiers.
Aafia Siddiqui, 36, is accused of assaulting and attempting to kill the US personnel sent to take custody of her in Afghanistan last month.
She faces 20 years in prison on each charge if convicted, but her lawyer dismissed the charges as ridiculous.
Rights groups say she has spent the last five years in secret US jails.
Ms Siddiqui - who the US say was married to a nephew of the man accused of masterminding the 9/11 attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed - wore a purple headscarf and moved slowly into the Manhattan federal court for a short hearing.
Her lawyer said she was in pain, having been shot.
The mother-of-three, an ex-student at the elite Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), did not enter a plea and is due to appear in court again on Monday for a bail hearing

Arctic Map shows dispute hotspots :

British scientists say they have drawn up the first detailed map to show areas in the Arctic that could become embroiled in future border disputes.
A team from Durham University compiled the outline of potential hotspots by basing the design on historical and ongoing arguments over ownership.
Russian scientists caused outrage last year when they planted their national flag on the seabed at the North Pole.
The UK researchers hope the map will inform politicians and policy makers.
"Its primary purpose is to inform discussions and debates because, frankly, there has been a lot of rubbish about who can claim (sovereignty) over what," explained Martin Pratt, director of the university's International Boundaries Research Unit (IBRU).
"To be honest, most of the other maps that I have seen in the media have been very simple," he added.
"We have attempted to show all known claims; agreed boundaries and one thing that has not appeared on any other maps, which is the number of areas that could be claimed by Canada, Denmark and the US."
Energy security is driving interest, as is the fact that Arctic ice is melting more and more during the summer
Martin Pratt,Durham University

Olympic relay in Beijing climax :

The Olympic flame is being carried through the streets of Beijing, on the final leg of its global relay.
Torch bearers left the Forbidden City and carried the flame to landmarks such as Tiananmen Square ahead of Friday's opening ceremony of the Games.
The torch has travelled 140,000km (87,000 miles) through six continents since it left Greece on 24 March.
The relay has been marked by protests over China's human-rights record and its policies in Tibet.
Cheering, flag-waving crowds greeted the Olympic torch as it began its last leg on Wednesday.
One of China's best-known sportsmen, basketball star Yao Ming, carried the torch through Tiananmen Square, receiving a rapturous reception from the crowd.
More than 800 torch bearers are taking part in the three-day relay across the city of 17 million people.
On Tuesday, the flame passed through Sichuan province, which was devastated by an earthquake in May.
A minute's silence was held in Guang'an city, honouring almost 70,000 people who were killed in the quake.

No security threats in Pakistan: Younus Khan

LAHORE: The stylish veteran middle order batsman of Pakistan cricket team Younus Khan has said Tuesday that there are no security threats for foreign cricketers here in Pakistan and International cricket teams must come to Pakistan to partake Champions Trophy.Talking to media at International Cricket Academy in Lahore he said that recent spells of showers have affected net practices however boys, being fully committed, have been taking the full advantage of this academy and partaking indoor cricketing school side by side with Gym for training.Pakistan is a safe country for cricket having no security threats. The reservations foreign players possess regarding their security in Champions Trophy he termed baseless.

PARCO seeks hike in LPG price :

ISLAMABAD: PARCO too has made submissions to the ministry of petroleum and natural resources for the enhancement of LPG per ton price by 10 percent.PARCO sources told Geo News that the LPG production cost continued rising due to the global market crude price hikes, which presently stood at $120 per barrel, triggering financial crunch for the LPG refineries. OGDCL contributes 20/25 percent share of the total production, while PARCO nearly 25 percent, said the market sources. On the other hand, JJVL Director, Fasih Ahmad said that in the wake of PARCO and OGDCL raising their LPG price, JJVL would also enhance its price under an agreement with Sui Southern. JJVL is the country’s largest producer of LPG, as its market share stood at 30 percent.

Japan remembers nuclear attack on Hiroshima :

HIROSHIMA: Japanese city of Hiroshima is marking the 60th anniversary of the world's first atomic attack. Hiroshima is located at the distance of 600kms in Southwest of Tokyo where thousands were killed in a nuclear attack by US on August 6. Under a scorching sun, some 45,000 people recited silent prayers and laid flowers before a memorial to the dead within sight of the famous A-bomb dome, a former exhibition hall burned to a skeleton by the bomb's incinerating heat. Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fakuda also participated in the memorial prayers where one-minute silence was observed for the dead. Three days after this attack, atomic bombs were also fell at Nagasaki.

Japan remembers nuclear attack on Hiroshima :

HIROSHIMA: Japanese city of Hiroshima is marking the 60th anniversary of the world's first atomic attack. Hiroshima is located at the distance of 600kms in Southwest of Tokyo where thousands were killed in a nuclear attack by US on August 6. Under a scorching sun, some 45,000 people recited silent prayers and laid flowers before a memorial to the dead within sight of the famous A-bomb dome, a former exhibition hall burned to a skeleton by the bomb's incinerating heat. Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fakuda also participated in the memorial prayers where one-minute silence was observed for the dead. Three days after this attack, atomic bombs were also fell at Nagasaki.

Govt. to restore deposed CJ: Zardari :

ISLAMABAD: PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari has said on Wednesday that government will restore the deposed chief justice Itikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. In an interview given to a private TV channel, Asif Zardari said that all judges including deposed chief justice would be restored. PPP Co-Chairman said issue of judges’ reinstatement would be resolved soon but refused to give any timeframe in this regard. He further said it was Iftikhar Chauhdry’s democratic right to participate in protest rally and termed it the beauty of democracy.

Zardari urged on the need of dialogue to resolve the judges’ issue.I wanted to meet the deposed judges but they did not meet me, said Zardari while give a fresh invitation to deposed judges for a meeting with him. PPP Co-Chairman termed the PML-N legel wing weak and said a magician of PPP was given them legal advice. He said PML-N and PPP have had similar stance on judges’ reinstatement however there is a difference on modalities.

Dr. Aafia Siddiqui declines U.S charges in NY court :

NEW YORK: A Pakistani neuroscientist and mother of three, who is accused of Al-Qaeda links and shooting at US officers in Afghanistan has refused all the U.S allegations leveled against her that she tried to kill U.S. agents and military officers in New York court here on early Wednesday. Wearing a maroon headscarf, she talked very softly and was asked by the judge to speak up.

Down with the weakness and having a bullet wound in her leg she refused to admit allegations leveled against her by nodding her head slowly.US officials paint Siddiqui as a desperate, highly dangerous figure arrested in Afghanistan on July 17, 2007, in possession of bomb-making instructions. Aafia Siddiqui didn't enter a plea at her Tuesday arraignment in Manhattan federal court. Prosecutors say she was stopped last month for questioning by Afghan police who found in her handbag documents including recipes for explosives and chemical weapons and descriptions of New York landmarks. Prosecutors say she pointed a rifle at an Army captain and fired two shots, which missed.

Siddiqui's attorney says the case against her is absurd. A bail hearing is set for Monday.

Nawaz, Zardari key meeting ends without result :

ISLAMABAD: PML-N chief, Mian Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari concluded their meeting on Tuesday without any result that could well decide the fate of the ruling coalition.The spokesman of Pakistan Peoples Party, Farhatullah Babar has said both leaders discussed all important issues in detail and there will be another round of talks today (Wednesday). He said Nawaz-Zardari meeting would be held at 11:30 am on We ... Full Story

President Musharraf cancels China visit over impeachment concerns :

ISLAMABAD: President Pervez Musharraf has cancelled his visit to China after the ruling coalition government decides to impeach him from the office of president.The President House sources told Geo News that President Musharrf had expressed serious concerns over chances of impeachment movement by the ruling coalition government. The president has decided to remain in the country due to prevailing political situation and informed the Foreign Office regarding his intentions not to visit the China for Beijing Olympics inaugural ceremony. Sources told President Musharraf would consult his reliable legal experts and partners to face any move of impeachment.

Turbulent KSE-100 index breach 10,000 marks :

KARACHI: Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) today witnessing a tumultuous trading session managed to dash pass 10,000 marks and the KSE-100 index closed at 10042 points, up by 189.Following persistent fearsome bearish spell, trading in the market today commenced late by over one hour and initially the index was seen surged by over 100 points, which the brokers claimed that the lackadaisical purchases by the Market Support Fund soon sent the market in negative zone and it so happened that at one time the index shedding 296 points plummeted to two-year lowest.

However, SECP announcement of pumping Rs400 million by the Support Find trigged the index back tracking and ended well in positive zone.Volume leader NIB Bank shares gaining Rs0.42 closed at Rs9.38. Among other companies, Hub Power Company losing Rs0.35 closed at Rs23.15, while National Bank gaining Rs1.92 wrapped up at Rs110. Turnover today higher by 13 million shares stood at 143 million shares.

US, SKorea press NKorea on nuke programme :

SEOUL: The US and South Korean presidents urged North Korea Wednesday to move quickly to disable its nuclear programmes and to make "meaningful progress" on improving human rights.The calls came in a joint statement after a summit between Presidents George W. Bush and Lee Myung-Bak. South Korea and the US, along with China, Japan and Russia have since 2003 been negotiating an aid-for-denuclearisation deal with North Korea, which tested an atomic weapon in October 2006.

The North handed over details of its bomb-making nuclear programme in June as part of a six-nation pact and Bush announced his intention to remove it from a terrorism blacklist. But Washington says the communist regime must first agree to a comprehensive protocol on ways to verify the declaration. Lee and Bush welcomed progress made on the disarmament pact. "They also agreed that a rigorous verification regime needs to be established in order to ensure the completeness and correctness of the declaration submitted by North Korea." the statement said. They urged the North promptly to finish disabling its Yongbyon atomic plants under the second phase of the deal and "through third-phase actions, to implement full abandonment of all its nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes."

Winning Olympic gold medals better that making world record: Bolt

BEIJING: Jamaican world record holder sprinter, Usain Bolt has said that winning Olympic gold medals was better than making world record.The fastest sprinter of 100 meters, Usain Bolt is engaged in making preparations for the Olympics these days. He said that there could be no record higher than the Olympic gold medal, as world record could be made anywhere and anytime, but for the Olympics, one has to wait for long 4 years.Usain Bolt will compete in Olympics 100 meters and 200 meters races.

He had set up a world record in May this year, but in Beijing Olympics, he would have to face stiff competition against his fellow countryman Asafa Powell and US’s World Champion Tyson.