UN says more than 733 Iraqis killed in January

UN says more than 733 Iraqis killed in January

BAGHDAD: The United Nations said Saturday that at least 733 Iraqis were killed during violence in January, even when leaving out casualties from an embattled western province.

 

The figures issued Saturday by the U.N.´s mission to Iraq show 618 civilians and 115 members of the security forces were killed in January. But the UNAMI statement excluded deaths from ongoing fighting in Anbar, due to problems in verifying the "status of those killed."

 

The figures also leave out insurgent deaths.

 

Also, the UN said at least 1,229 Iraqis were wounded in attacks across the country last month.

 

Baghdad was the worst affected province, with 297 killed and 585 wounded.

 

Al-Qaida-linked fighters and their allies seized control of the city of Fallujah and parts of the Anbar provincial capital Ramadi last month after authorities dismantled a protest camp.

 

UN mission chief Nickolay Mladenov expressed deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Anbar, saying thousands of families are displaced and others stranded in besieged Fallujah.

 

"I am deeply alarmed by the humanitarian situation of thousands of displaced families and particularly of those stranded in Fallujah. They lack water, fuel, food, medicine and other basic commodities," he said. (AP)

Chief Justice takes suo notice of Khuzdar mass graves

Chief Justice takes suo notice of Khuzdar mass graves

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Gilani has taken suo moto notice of the discovery of mass graves near Tootak in Khuzdar.

 

A report has been summoned from Inspector General Police Balochistan and Deputy Commissioner Khuzdar on February 04.

 

The thirteen bodies in a decomposed state in the mass graves had been discovered by a local shepherd.

 

On Friday, the government had broken its silence on the discovery of the mass graves and said a judicial inquiry would be conducted.

Obesity among US kids starts early: study

Obesity among US kids starts early: study

WASHINGTON: Obesity among US children is largely established by kindergarten, a study said, adding that nearly half of those obese at 14 already had the problem at age five.

 

The study published in the New England Journal of Medicine also showed that over 14 percent of children enter kindergarten overweight and are four times more likely than normal weight children to become obese by the eighth grade.

 

"Although trends in the prevalence of obesity are well documented, there is surprisingly little known about new cases of childhood obesity," wrote lead researcher Solveig Cunningham, assistant professor in the Hubert Department of Global Health at Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Georgia.

 

The researchers used data from children who took part in a study of kindergartens in 1998 and 1999.

 

With appropriate adjustments the data sample was representative of all of the estimated 3.8 million children in kindergarten during that time.

 

"Examining incidence may provide insight into the nature of the epidemic, the critically vulnerable ages, and the groups who are at greater risk for obesity," Cunningham wrote.

 

The study showed that 14.9 percent of kids entering kindergarten are overweight. The researchers used body mass index charts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

 

The rate of obesity rises to 20.8 percent when kids reach age 14.

 

Incidence of obesity at age 14 was highest among black children (17 percent), followed by Hispanics (14 percent). The rate was 10 percent among whites and children of other races.

 

Children from the richest 20 percent of families had the lowest rates of obesity in kindergarten than those of all other socio- economic groups, the study said.

 

At all ages between five and 14, the rate of obesity was highest (25.8 percent) among the poorest children.

 

"We have evidence that certain factors established before birth and during the first five years are important. Obesity-prevention efforts focused on children who are overweight by five-years-old may be a way to target children susceptible to becoming obese later in life," 

Bieber’s friend charged with drug possession

Bieber’s friend charged with drug possession

LOS ANGELES: Prosecutors have charged Justin Bieber’s friend Lil Za with two counts of drug possession after detectives found him with ecstasy and oxycodone in the singer´s California mansion this month.

The would-be rapper was arrested on Jan. 14 when detectives searched Bieber´s mansion looking for evidence in an egg-tossing incident that caused thousands of dollars in damage to his neighbor´s home.

Lil Za, whose real name is Xavier Domonique Smith, was the only person arrested during the search.

Bieber remains under investigation for felony vandalism.

Smith was also charged with damaging or destroying a jailhouse phone. All three charges are felonies.

Jail records do not list an attorney for the 20-year-old. Authorities initially said they arrested Smith on suspicion of cocaine possession, but they amended the charges after testing the drugs. (AP)

Two petroleum products prices reduced, rest unchanged

Two petroleum products prices reduced, rest unchanged

ISLAMABAD): While keeping the prices of rest of the petroleum products unchanged, the government Friday reduced that of kerosene and light diesel oil (LDO), by Rs1.24/litre and by Rs1.02/litre respectively for February, Media reported.

 

A notification has been issued for the same takes effect from February 1, 2014 (12:00 AM).

 

Ministry of Finance, in a statement issued, said that the step had been taken on the directives of Prime Minister, Mian Nawaz Sharif, who ordered the concerned authorities to pass on the reduction in the prices of kerosene and light diesel oils to the masses along with maintaining current prices of petrol, HOBC, and HSD.

 

Finance Minister, Ishaq Dar, called on the prime minister on Friday and discussed with him the recommendations made by Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA).

 

It must be noted that OGRA had suggested that the per litre prices of petrol, HOBC, and high speed diesel (HSD) be increased by Rs0.71, Rs4.33, and Rs1.06 respectively, whereas the prices of kerosene oil and light diesel oil be reduced by Rs1.24 and Rs1.02 respectively.

 

Ishaq Dar said that in order to maintain the current prices of petrol, HOBC and HSD the government would have to bear a subsidy of approximately Rs1 billion.

New Zealand beats India by 87 runs in 5th ODI

New Zealand beats India by 87 runs in 5th ODI

WELLINGTON: New Zealand´s Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson continued prolific summers with big scores and Matt Henry claimed four wickets on debut as the hosts beat India by 87 runs on Friday to complete a 4-0 win in the five-match series.

 

Taylor scored his second century in consecutive innings and Williamson his fifth half century of the series as New Zealand made 303-5 batting first.

 

Henry then took 4-38 in an impressive debut as India was all out for 216 in 49.4 overs in reply.

 

Virat Kohli fought a lone battle once again getting 82 off 78 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes. Dhoni got 47 with 3 fours.

 

New Zealand won the first two matches by 24 runs and 15 runs and the last two more emphatically, by seven wickets and 87 runs, while the third game was tied.