Nine killed in latest Iraq bloodshed

Nine killed in latest Iraq bloodshed

BAGHDAD: A series of attacks in Baghdad nine people on Monday, as Iraq grapples with a months-long surge in nationwide violence.

Coupled with a protracted stand-off between security forces and anti-government fighters in the western province of Anbar, unrest this month has left more than 850 people dead, fuelling fears Iraq is slipping back into the brutal conflict that plagued it in 2006-2007.

Attacks on Monday struck in Baghdad, and in and around the restive Baquba, Mosul and Samarra, security and medical officials said.

In the most brutal incident, gunmen killed two policemen and an anti-Qaeda Sahwa militiaman in an attack on their joint checkpoint near Samarra and then decapitated them.

Elsewhere, gunmen killed three people, including a police officer, in separate shootings in Baghdad, while two policemen were gunned down in the main northern city of Mosul.

Mortar fire in Muqdadiyah, near Baquba in Diyala province, killed one person and wounded three others.

The latest bloodshed took the overall death toll for the month above 870 -- more than three times the toll for January 2013. (AFP)

Karachi: two accused killed in alleged police encounter

Karachi: two accused killed in alleged police encounter

KARACHI: Two accused were killed in alleged police encounter near Juna Market at Napier road, Media reported.

 

Police claimed to have recovered arms from the custody of accused.

 

The identity of the accused was not ascertained till last reports.

No health shield from vitamin D pills: study

No health shield from vitamin D pills: study

PARIS: Vitamin D supplements have no significant effect on preventing heart attack, stroke, cancer or bone fractures, according to a review of scientific evidence published Friday.

Researchers led by Mark Bolland of the University of Auckland in New Zealand looked at 40 high-quality trials to see if supplements met a benchmark of reducing risk of these problems by 15 percent or more.

Previous research had seen a strong link between vitamin D deficiency and poor health in these areas.

But the new study, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, strengthens arguments that vitamin D deficiency is usually the result of ill health -- not the cause of it.

Its authors say there is "little justification" for doctors to prescribe vitamin D supplements as a preventive measure for these disorders.

"Available evidence does not lend support to vitamin D supplementation and it is very unlikely that the results of a future single randomised clinical trial will materially alter the results from current meta-analyses," they write.

Vitamin D is a key component for healthy bones, teeth and muscles.

It is produced naturally when the skin is exposed to sunlight or derived from foods such as oily fish, egg yolks and cheese.

In March last year, British scientists, in a comparison of 4,000 women, found that vitamin D supplements taken in pregnancy made no difference to the child's bone health.

And in September 2012, researchers at New York's Rockefeller University saw no evidence that vitamin D supplements lowered cholesterol, a factor in heart disease, at least over the short term.

In contrast, a November 2012 investigation into pregnant women who lived in high-latitude, northern hemisphere countries with long, dark winters found a link between low levels of natural vitamin D and an increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) in their offspring.

For these women, taking vitamin D supplements to offset the effects of long periods without sunlight could be advisable, according to that research.

Deepika, Farhan win Filmfare Best Actor awards

Deepika, Farhan win Filmfare Best Actor awards

MUMBAI: If there was any fear that India's sporting legends have been forgotten, the 59th Idea Filmfare Awards 2013 demolished that notion. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, the incredibly realistic biopic of sprint champion Milkha Singh, scored three out of the top four awards including best actor, best director and best film. 

The picture won a total of six prizes. The star-studded awards ceremony was held at YashRaj Studio in Andheri Friday evening.

 

Farhan Akhtar outran other nominees in the race for best actor while Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra gained winning position as best director. Deepika Padukone, who was expected to win best actress given she had two nominations, won for Goliyon Ki Raasleela, Ramleela.

 

Milkha Singh had made the country proud in the 50s and 60s and his revival in 2013 got extremely lucky as well. He was away in his hometown Chandigarh and unable to attend the awards ceremony.

 

Leading the list of nominations were films that pleased the box office in 2013, even if not all of them made it to the Rs 100-crore club. Chennai Express shared space with Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Ramleela and Raanjhanaa.

 

The jury also acknowledged the popularity of Kai Po Che, Aashiqui 2, Lootera, Krrish 3 and the little nugget, The Lunchbox.

 

Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who won for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, recalled his previous walk down the red carpet with Aks. "Winning a Filmfare is such a proud moment.

 

In fact Amitabh Bachchan had recalled during Aks how he used to join the crowd outside Shanmukhananda Hall in the '60s just to watch the stars arrive for the awards," he said. Amid the widespread praise that Bhaag... has received, the odd critic has questioned actor Farhan Akhtar's capability as well. Mehra said, "I welcome criticism, it is always better than exaggerated praise and points a mirror to your faults."

 

Javed Akhtar was cheering for son Farhan all the way. "We are here with great hope for Farhan," he said earlier in the evening, as wife Shabana interjected to say, "Farhan has to win, his movie also has to win." "He ran so fast that he has to reach somewhere. My most memorable Filmfare was the one in 1975 when I won three awards. This was the year when both Sholay and Deewar released. When the third award was announced, there was thunderous applause. This year I am happy to cheer for my son."

Pakistani stocks end lower; rupee weakens

Pakistani stocks end lower; rupee weakens

KARACHI: Pakistan’s main stock exchange closed lower on Friday with the benchmark 100-share index of the Karachi Stock Exchange fell 0.23 percent, or 61.45 points, to 27,002.89.

 

Consolidation was seen today after market has gained 7 percent since beginning of this year.

 

Profit taking was seen in textile and cement stocks. Engro foods rallied amid short-covering after the earnings announcement of Rs.1.14 for the year.

 

Nishat Mill Ltd fell 1.77 percent to 135.69 rupees and D.G.Khan Cement Co Ltd was down 1.44 percent to 94.25 rupees.

 

The rupee ended weaker 105.45/105.50 against the dollar compared to Thursday’s close of 105.35/105.38.

 

Overnight rates in the money market remained flat at 10.00 percent. (Reuters)

Nadal beats Federer, reaches Australian Open final

Nadal beats Federer, reaches Australian Open final

MELBOURNE: Rafael Nadal continued his dominant streak over Roger Federer to reach the Australian Open final for the third time, beating the 17-time major winner 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-3 Friday to set up a championship decider against No. 8-seeded Stan Wawrinka.

Nadal now has won 23 of his 33 matches against Federer, including nine of 11 in the majors.

The 27-year-old Spaniard is one victory away from being the first man in the Open era to win all four majors at least twice, and from joining Pete Sampras in second place on the list of all-time Grand Slam winners with 14.

At the end of the night, Federer knew he wouldn´t even be the No. 1-ranked player in Switzerland next week.

Wawrinka will replace Federer as their country´s highest-ranked player. (AP)