Pak successfully test fires Ghauri Hataf-V

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan successfully test-fired ballistic missile Ghauri Hataf-V capable of carrying all kind of warheads, the military spokesman said.


According to Geo News, ISPR spokesman stated that the missile is capable of carrying all kind of warheads besides hitting its target at a range of 1300 kilometers.

The test of Ghauri Hataf-V is normal experiment to identify its capability.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani have f congratulated Pak Army and the whole nation on succesfull test of Ghori Hataf-V.

Britain acts to keep Queen's head on stamps

LONDON: The government insisted it is closing a loophole that could see Queen Elizabeth II's head removed from stamps if the Royal Mail national postal service is sold to a foreign firm.

The monarch's head, facing left, has appeared on adhesive postage stamps since their invention with the 1840 "Penny Black", featuring queen Victoria.

The current standard stamps, drawn up in 1967 by Alan Machin, are considered a design classic and a defining icon of Britain.

Her Majesty's Government is in talks with Buckingham Palace after realising that the legislation paving the way for the Royal Mail to be sold off failed explicitly to guarantee the Queen's head would remain on the stamps.

The bill gives Queen Elizabeth a veto over any use of her image but does not insist that her head is shown, as per tradition.

Postal services minister Ed Davey found the loophole but said he was sure a solution could be found before the law passes through parliament.

Govinda celebrates 47th birthday

MUMBAI: It's Govinda's 47th birthday today, and he is going to have quite a day, that his kids, Narmmadaa and Yash have ensured.

In fact, celebrations began last night, when the family rang in his birthday over a sumptuous dinner. Today's plans include a private family lunch. Says Narmmadaa, "Dad's not very fond of Continental, so we've zeroed in on a nice place that serves great Chinese cuisine, and we'll be cutting the cake after lunch. It's a private family get-together."

The brother-sister duo then plan to gift daddy a surprise birthday present. "We've have been doing it for three years now. Since he's very fond of gadgets we gifted him a smart phone last year. This year, well, it's a surprise, so we aren't disclosing now."

Govinda, who was earlier set to fly to London on his birthday, for a solo vacation, has now postponed the plans. After the family lunch, Govinda is set to fly to Kolkata, "I am going there for a show, and will be visiting a few temples there on my birthday," he told.

Death toll in Iraq suicide bombings rises to 17

BAGHDAD: Two suicide car bombers targeting a government compound in the Iraqi town of Ramadi killed at least 17 people and wounded 47 on Monday, a police official said.

"The death toll has risen to 17, most of them police officers, and 47 people have been wounded," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. He said most of the wounded were in serious condition. He said rescue operations were continuing.

Ramadi is 100 km (60 miles) west of Baghdad.

‘Artificial pancreas’ shows promise in pregnancy

LONDON: Scientists have shown how an "artificial pancreas" can help pregnant women with type 1 diabetes and say their finding could significantly reduce cases of stillbirth and death among diabetic expectant mothers.

British researchers used a so-called "closed-loop insulin delivery system" or artificial pancreas, in 10 pregnant women with Type 1 diabetes and found it provided the right amount of insulin at the right time, maintained near normal blood sugar, and prevented dangerous drops in blood sugar levels at night.

"To discover an artificial pancreas can help maintain near-normal glucose levels in these women is very promising," said Helen Murphy of Cambridge University, who led the study.

The experimental artificial pancreas was created by combining a continuous glucose monitor, or CGM, with an insulin pump, both of which are already used separately by many people with type 1 diabetes.

Previous trials in children with the condition found that using an artificial pancreas system at night improved blood glucose control and reduced hypoglycaemia -- when the level of glucose in the blood falls too low.

The bodies of type 1 diabetes sufferers become unable to properly break down sugar and if untreated, bloodvessels and nerves are destroyed, organs fail and patients can die.

Pregnancy can be particularly risky for women with diabetes as hormonal changes make it very difficult to keep blood glucose levels within a safe range, especially at night.

As a result of high blood glucose levels, babies of women with diabetes are five times as likely to be stillborn, three times as likely to die in their first months of life and twice as likely to have a major deformity, the researchers said.

Data from previous studies suggest that pregnant women with type 1 diabetes spend an average of ten hours a day with glucose levels outside recommended targets, said Murphy, whose findings were published in thejournal Diabetes Care.

This increases the risk of birth defects, stillbirth, neonatal death, preterm delivery, oversized babies and other complications.

Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease in which the body destroys its own ability to make insulin, accounts for around 10 percent of all people with diabetes. The more common type 2 diabetes is often linked to bad diet and lack of exercise.

Iain Frame, director of research at the charity Diabetes UK, which part-funded the study, said that although it was a small and early stage trial, the results were encouraging.

"It's a fantastic example of how existing technologies...can be adapted and developed to benefit as many people with diabetes as possible," he said in a statement.

The researchers said more studies were now needed on larger numbers of women to validate their findings, and to see if the system could be developed for use outside of a hospital.

Miss Thailand Universe 2004 Aimee Morakot

Morakot Aimee Kittisara is a 23-year-old student, actress, model and host who won the Miss Thailand Universe pageant in 2004. Morakot Kittisara was born and raised in England to Thai parents. She graduated with a Bachelor of Law degree [LL.B] from Brunel University in England. She's currently studying at Raffles Design Institute, the very first international design school in Thailand. she was voted number 29 sexiest woman in the world 2006 by FHM Thai edition readers in their 100 Sexiest Women contest. The truth is I skipped her when I was doing the countdown. That's why she doesn't appear on that page with my other favorites from the top 100. The photo they had for her looked like one from the pageant and sexy it was not. But now Aimee is all grown up, or shall I say, out from under the pressures of being Miss Thailand Universe. She is now doing rather racy photo shoots for the likes of FHM Thai edition. And she is looking pretty hot for the first time that I have noticed.

GEO Amazing and Interesting

LONDON: The craftsmen have engineered some unique and creative beds, which also are an addition to the beauty of a house. Some of the most unusual beds designed for people who love to sleep.

Zipper Bed: Letto Zip bed makes daily bed-making process faster and easier.
Spaceship Bed: This bed will bring the drama of space dogfights to your bedroom.
Floating Bed: Cool bed designed by Ego Paris for use in swimming pools.
Yin Yang Bed: Creative bunk bed created by Italian designer Alessio Pappa.
Suspended Bed: Innovative bed with suspended mattress designed by Max Longin.

Jan trade deficit at $1.11b

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's trade deficit narrowed to $1.11 billion in January, from $1.63 billion a year earlier, the Federal Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday.

The trade deficit was $1.62 billion in December 2010.

Exports totalled $2.32 billion in January, against $1.68 billion a year ago, according to the bureau's data.

Imports totalled $3.44 billion, up from $3.32 billion in January last year.

The country's trade deficit for the first seven months of the 2010/11 fiscal year (July-June) was $9.31 billion, compared with a $8.53 billion deficit in the same period a year earlier.

Kate Middleton deemed top fashion buzzword

LOS ANGELES: Prince William's bride-to-be, Kate Middleton, has de-throned Lady Gaga as the top fashion buzzword for the fashion season that starts in New York on Feb 10, according to a survey released on Tuesday.

Middleton, 29, who will marry the British prince on April 29 in London, soared as a fashion icon in November after the blue dress by designer Daniella Issa Helayel that she wore for the official engagement announcement sold out of stores within 24 hours.

Speculation is now rife in the fashion world over who will design Middleton's wedding dress, and what it will look like.

A survey by the Texas-based Global Language Monitor of fashion buzz words and phrases in print, on the Internet, and in social media, ranked Middleton the No.1. word for the upcoming season.

Singer Lady Gaga, known as much for her striking outfits as her hit records, was pushed into second place in the annual survey.

"Sheer" -- the trend for translucent fabrics -- came in third place, followed by "shirt dresses," and "sustainable style," reflecting a growing trend of clothing made of recycled fabrics.

New York fashion week starts on Feb 10, kicking off an international calendar of shows that includes London, Milan and Paris.

BB murder case; Non-bailable warrant of Musharraf issued

RAWALPINDI: Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Rawalpindi has issued non-bailable arrest warrant of former President Gen Pervaz Musharraf (retd) in Benazir Bhutto assassination case, Geo News reported on Saturday.

ATC-III judge Rana Nisar issued the order while hearing in Adiala Jail.

FIA presented an interim charge of the case in which statements of former DG National Crisis Cell and IB Chief were recorded and Musharraf was declared nominated accused.

First Amendment Protects Protestors at Military Funerals

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the First Amendment of the Constitution protects the fundamentalist church members who regularly put together anti-gay protests just outside military funerals. While family members at the funerals have a difficult time dealing with the protests, the ruling indicates that there is nothing that can be done about the Westboro Baptist Church, of Topeka, Kansas, which has routinely been involved in such protests. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the opinion for the court in the case, while Justice Samuel Alito dissented.

Noted Roberts, "Speech is powerful. It can stir people to action, move them to tears of both joy and sorrow, and – as it did here – inflict great pain. On the facts before us, we cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker. As a nation we have chosen a different course – to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate." Alito, however, strenuously disagreed with the majority, writing, "Our profound national commitment to free and open debate is not a license for the vicious verbal assault that occurred in this case."

As is regularly the case, the Westboro Baptist Church showed up at the funeral of Matthew Snyder, a soldier who died in Iraq in 2006. The group blames the deaths of U.S. soldiers in Iraq on America’s acceptance of homosexuality and hold up signs at the funerals that read "Thank God for dead soldiers," "You’re Going to Hell" and "God Hates the USA/Thank God for 9/11.

Friends Worried About Recently Divorced Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera has played down any reports that she may be unhappy in the wake of her October, 2010 divorce from Jordan Bratman, but friends of the singer are worried about her behavior of late. Noted a friend of Aguilera’s, "She’s not being honest with herself. She’s saying she’s this strong independent woman and she’s fine, but what she’s not stepping back to realize is that moving on after a divorce is not easy. She thinks she’s gotten her life together and has already moved on, when maybe she still needs to process it some more."

Aguilera, of course, claims that she’s found love with her new beau Matthew Rutler, who is 25, but her behavior since starting to date him has been erratic. In February, the 30-year-old veteran singer messed up the words to the national anthem at the Super Bowl, and was noticeably drunk at a party for Jeremy Renner in January. A week ago, Rutler was arrested for DUI and Aguilera was thrown in jail, apparently for her own safety.

Some friends are worried that Rutler is having a bad influence on Aguilera, noting, "There’s a real concern about this guy, and a lot of her friends feel she needs to get away from him. Hopefully, what happened is a real wake up call. She is going out and drinking more.

Justin Bieber's Hair Sells for $40,000 on eBay

You have to hand it Justin Bieber. Whether you like his music or his image, the kid seems to have his heart in the right place. After recently raising millions for charity by asking fans to donate $17 to a water organization in honor of his 17th birthday, Bieber and Ellen have now collaborated on a quick-hit $40,000 boon for another charity. After recently cutting his famous locks, Bieber appeared on the Ellen show and gave her some of his hair. The winning bid on eBay was in excess of $40,000!

That is one serious Justin Bieber fan, or possibly someone who is going to try to use the DNA in the hair to clone the Biebs. Either way, what a great use of his incredible fan appeal. Instead of pushing harder to increase his fame and build his brand, Bieber is using his fame to call others to action on behalf of good causes. Obviously, many celebrities do outstanding charity work, but Bieber is only 17 years old and is in the midst of an amazing streak of success and fame. It would be understandable if his focus was on an upcoming album or tour. Instead, he's taking the time to make an immediate impact.

Kudos to his parents and the people who have helped to develop what appears to be a very stable and mature teenager. His actions at such a young age will have an even greater impact as a result of the example that he is setting for legions of young fans around the world.

Killer of Two U.S. Airmen in Germany May Have Acted Alone

The investigation into the shooting deaths of two U.S. Airmen is still ongoing at this time, but officials seem to be leaning toward the theory that the gunman acted alone. Information has surfaced leading authorities to believe that the shooter was a recently radicalized Islamist who acted on his own to kill American troops. Ironically, it is believed that the man is an ethnic Albanian from Kosovo, a nation that is generally very supportive of the U.S. because of its role in helping Kosovo separate from Serbia.

"The suspect is accused of killing two U.S. military personnel and seriously injuring two others," federal prosecutors said in a statement. "Given the circumstances, there is a suspicion that the act was motivated by Islamism."

The two injured Airmen are still in the hospital at this time, with at least one of them in critical condition, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. The investigation is continuing, with police speaking with family and friends of the shooter to try to determine his motives and if any other people were involved in the planning or execution of the attack.

In related news, U.S. General David Petraeus issued an apology for an errant attack by coalition forces that killed nine Afghan children who were gathering firewood.

Killer of Two U.S. Airmen in Germany May Have Acted Alone

The investigation into the shooting deaths of two U.S. Airmen is still ongoing at this time, but officials seem to be leaning toward the theory that the gunman acted alone. Information has surfaced leading authorities to believe that the shooter was a recently radicalized Islamist who acted on his own to kill American troops. Ironically, it is believed that the man is an ethnic Albanian from Kosovo, a nation that is generally very supportive of the U.S. because of its role in helping Kosovo separate from Serbia.

"The suspect is accused of killing two U.S. military personnel and seriously injuring two others," federal prosecutors said in a statement. "Given the circumstances, there is a suspicion that the act was motivated by Islamism."

The two injured Airmen are still in the hospital at this time, with at least one of them in critical condition, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. The investigation is continuing, with police speaking with family and friends of the shooter to try to determine his motives and if any other people were involved in the planning or execution of the attack.

In related news, U.S. General David Petraeus issued an apology for an errant attack by coalition forces that killed nine Afghan children who were gathering firewood.

Justin Bieber's Hair Sells for $40,000 on eBay

You have to hand it Justin Bieber. Whether you like his music or his image, the kid seems to have his heart in the right place. After recently raising millions for charity by asking fans to donate $17 to a water organization in honor of his 17th birthday, Bieber and Ellen have now collaborated on a quick-hit $40,000 boon for another charity. After recently cutting his famous locks, Bieber appeared on the Ellen show and gave her some of his hair. The winning bid on eBay was in excess of $40,000!

That is one serious Justin Bieber fan, or possibly someone who is going to try to use the DNA in the hair to clone the Biebs. Either way, what a great use of his incredible fan appeal. Instead of pushing harder to increase his fame and build his brand, Bieber is using his fame to call others to action on behalf of good causes. Obviously, many celebrities do outstanding charity work, but Bieber is only 17 years old and is in the midst of an amazing streak of success and fame. It would be understandable if his focus was on an upcoming album or tour. Instead, he's taking the time to make an immediate impact.

Kudos to his parents and the people who have helped to develop what appears to be a very stable and mature teenager. His actions at such a young age will have an even greater impact as a result of the example that he is setting for legions of young fans around the world.

Friends Worried About Recently Divorced Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera has played down any reports that she may be unhappy in the wake of her October, 2010 divorce from Jordan Bratman, but friends of the singer are worried about her behavior of late. Noted a friend of Aguilera’s, "She’s not being honest with herself. She’s saying she’s this strong independent woman and she’s fine, but what she’s not stepping back to realize is that moving on after a divorce is not easy. She thinks she’s gotten her life together and has already moved on, when maybe she still needs to process it some more."

Aguilera, of course, claims that she’s found love with her new beau Matthew Rutler, who is 25, but her behavior since starting to date him has been erratic. In February, the 30-year-old veteran singer messed up the words to the national anthem at the Super Bowl, and was noticeably drunk at a party for Jeremy Renner in January. A week ago, Rutler was arrested for DUI and Aguilera was thrown in jail, apparently for her own safety.

Some friends are worried that Rutler is having a bad influence on Aguilera, noting, "There’s a real concern about this guy, and a lot of her friends feel she needs to get away from him. Hopefully, what happened is a real wake up call. She is going out and drinking more.

First Amendment Protects Protestors at Military Funerals

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the First Amendment of the Constitution protects the fundamentalist church members who regularly put together anti-gay protests just outside military funerals. While family members at the funerals have a difficult time dealing with the protests, the ruling indicates that there is nothing that can be done about the Westboro Baptist Church, of Topeka, Kansas, which has routinely been involved in such protests. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the opinion for the court in the case, while Justice Samuel Alito dissented.

Noted Roberts, "Speech is powerful. It can stir people to action, move them to tears of both joy and sorrow, and – as it did here – inflict great pain. On the facts before us, we cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker. As a nation we have chosen a different course – to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate." Alito, however, strenuously disagreed with the majority, writing, "Our profound national commitment to free and open debate is not a license for the vicious verbal assault that occurred in this case."

As is regularly the case, the Westboro Baptist Church showed up at the funeral of Matthew Snyder, a soldier who died in Iraq in 2006. The group blames the deaths of U.S. soldiers in Iraq on America’s acceptance of homosexuality and hold up signs at the funerals that read "Thank God for dead soldiers," "You’re Going to Hell" and "God Hates the USA/Thank God for 9/11.