Rupee hits 50/dlr for first time in over 2 years

Mumbai: The Indian rupee tumbled by 34 paise to an almost 28-month low of Rs 49.82 per US dollar in early trade on the Interbank Foreign Exchange on Friday as the American currency firmed up against other major rivals overseas.

Forex dealers attributed the rupee's fall to a level last seen in May, 2009, to strong dollar demand from importers and some banks and dollar gains against other currencies.

They said the continued slide in the equity market also put pressure on the Indian rupee

on Thursday, the rupee had fallen by 124 paise to close at at a two-and-a half-year low of Rs 49.57/58 against the American currency.

Meanwhile, the Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex was down by 204.71 points, or 1.25 per cent, at 16,156.44 in opening trade day.

Mark Zuckerberg Now Richer Than Larry Page & Sergey Brin on Forbes 400

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg rocketed past Google CEO Larry Page and co-founder Sergey Brin on the 2011 installment of the Forbes 400, the 30th installment of Forbes’ annual list of the richest Americans. Here's a quick rundown of the richest men in search and social and their net worth as of August 26.

14. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO/President, $17.5 billion. Last year, Zuckerberg was 35th on this list with a net worth of $6.9 billion. Others with Facebook ties on the list include Dustin Moskovitz (91st, $3.5 billion); Sean Parker (200th, $2.1 billion); and Eduardo Saverin (212th, $2 billion).

15.(tie) Larry Page, Google CEO, $16.7 billion. Last year, Page was 11th on the list, with a net worth of $15 billion.

15.(tie) Sergey Brin, Google co-founder, $16.7 billion. Last year, Brin was 11th on the list, with a net worth of $15 billion.

19. Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO, $13.9 billion. Last year, Ballmer was 16th on the list, with a net worth of $13.1 billion.

50. Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman of Google, $6.2 billion. Last year, Schmidt was 48th on the list with $5.45 billion in net worth.

273. Kavitark Ram Shriram, Google shareholder, board member, venture capitalist, $1.6 billion.

375.(tie) David Filo, Yahoo co-founder, $1.1 billion. Last year, Filo was 356th on the list with a net worth of $1.15 billion.

375.(tie) Jerry Yang, Yahoo co-founder, $1.1 billion. Last year, Yang was 356th on the list with a net worth of $1.15 billion.

Other familiar names of note on the Forbes 400 list include Apple’s Steve Jobs (39th, $7 billion) and Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn co-founder (293rd, $1.5 billion). Microsoft founder Bill Gates topped the list for the 18th straight year with a net worth of $59 billion.

Vanity Fair’s New Establishment 2011

Zuckerberg also beat out Brin and Page on another list of tech power players, Vanity Fair’s New Establishment top 50 list, which appeared in the magazine’s October issue. This was the second year Zuckerberg topped this list, though Page and Brin jumped up one spot from 2010. Eric Schmidt was added to Vanity Fair’s top leader’s “Hall of Fame.”

Also appearing on the list: Jack Dorsey, Twitter (5th); Dick Costolo, Twitter (11th); Hoffman (18th); Robin Li, Baidu (25th); Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook (26th); and Dennis Crowley, Foursquare (45th).

Apple to Announce iPhone 5 on October 4 [REPORT]

Apple‘s new CEO, Tim Cook, will hold a big media event Oct. 4 to announce the iPhone 5, All Things Digital reports citing sources familiar with the matter.

If true, the launch date of the next generation iPhone is consistent with the recent wave of rumors claiming it will be released in early October.

ATD‘s sources say that Cook will preside over the announcement — with the help of other key executives such as Phil Schiller, who participated in such events in the past — which would give this event even more significance. Cook must persuade the shareholders, the audience and Apple fans all over the world that he can sure-handedly take over the role of Apple CEO and company showman. And the expectations for that particular job are, simply put, enormous.

It is not known whether Steve Jobs, who resigned from the role of Apple CEO in August, will be present at the event.

The newest iPhone will reportedly be available in the few weeks following the announcements

Source: Facebook To Launch Read, Listened, Watched, And Want Buttons

The cat is out of the bag that Facebook is going to launch something big at its developer conference f8 this week. We’ve heard about the social music services that could be debuting in a few days, but as the New York Times conveyed this past weekend, Facebook is planning for ways to surface personal content better. And we’ve heard from a source that Facebook will introduce new buttons on the wall that will begin introducing some granularity to the “Like” concept. We’re told these new buttons are “Read,” “Listened,” “Watched.” The network will also soon launch new social commerce buttons like “Want” following the introductions of the aforementioned buttons.

It’s important to qualify that this is from a source (and not from Facebook) but from what we hear, Facebook users will be able to click Read, Listened, Watched on content in their news feed. And soon, “Want” as well.

And it’s unclear what will happen to the Like button and how these new buttons will affect the Like button. And we don’t know what Facebook will do with this data, but there is so much the network could do with the data from these buttons. It seems pretty obvious that ad targeting would be a huge opportunity as well as the capability of delivering a more personalized experience for users. Not to mention that brands, retailers, entertainment companies and other businesses will be able to gain segmented data around the Like.

If all of this is starting to sound a bit like Facebook’s infamous Beacon project, it shouldn’t be too surprising — from what we’ve heard a key part of these new Facebook features is to provide Beacon-like functionality in terms of auto-populating News Feed stories based around intent and actions. But they’ll do so without the advertising and privacy ramifications. At least for now…

The introduction of these new, granular buttons would certainly add more depth to content surfaced by media sharing apps as well as from retailers, which is in line with previous reports of what’s being launched. We’ll keep you updated on what else we hear is in the pipeline for f8 (and we know what’s not being announced: Project Spartan).

Gujarat best example of effective governance: USA

Washington: Identifying Gujarat as perhaps the best example of effective governance and impressive development in India, a Congressional report showered praise on the Chief Minister Narendra Modi and said that the state under him has become a key driver of national economic growth.

Gujarat, is followed by Bihar and its Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, for his governance and administrative skills, the latest report of the Congressional Research Service (CRS) on India said.

"Perhaps India's best example of effective governance and impressive development is found in Gujarat, where controversial Chief Minister Narendra Modi has streamlined economic processes, removing red tape and curtailing corruption in ways that have made the state a key driver of national economic growth," said the CRS report.

An independent and bipartisan wing of the US Congress, the CRS prepares periodic reports on issues of interest to the US lawmakers.

The 94-page report was released by the CRS for US lawmakers on September 1, a copy of which made public by the Federation of American Scientists.

"Seeking to overcome the taint of his alleged complicity in 2002 riots, Modi has overseen heavy investment in modern roads and power infrastructure, and annual growth of more than 11 per cent in recent years," the CRS said.

Gujarat, the CRS said, has attracted major international investors such as General Motors and Mitsubishi and with only five per cent of the country's population, the state now accounts for more than one-fifth of India's exports, it said.

The CRS mentions Bihar after Gujarat in good governance. "Another positive example in 2011 has been Bihar, one of India's poorest states, where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has won national attention through his considerable success in emphasising good governance over caste-based politics.

"He is credited with restoring law and order across much of the state, as well as overseeing infrastructure and educational improvements of direct benefit to common citizens projects," the report said.

"Kumar's Janata Dal (United) party, in alliance with the main national opposition BJP, won an overwhelming reelection majority in November 2010 state elections," the report said.

The examples set in by Chief Ministers Modi and Kumar may have inspired the popular leader of India's most populous state Uttar Pradesh.

"Chief Minister Mayawati, who is widely believed to maintain national political ambitions and was at the forefront of a nascent "Third Front" in 2009, has shifted her own focus much more toward infrastructure projects such as road-building and improving the state's poor energy grid," the report said.

The CRS also refers to the ongoing Telangana movement in Andhra Pradesh, and the new Trinamool-Congress rule in West Bengal.

As West Bengal's new Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee is faced with repairing one of India's poorest states.

PTI

Nintendo 3DS has extra controller-button device

Tokyo: Nintendo's add-on button device for its 3DS video game machine is facing criticism as a possible design flaw and a detraction for the already struggling portable.

Some critics say Nintendo Co. is embarrassed about the 1,500 yen ($20) "slide pad," noting President Satoru Iwata didn't mention a word about the gadget at his presentation earlier this week.

The device, which goes on sale in Japan on December 10, works as another controller. It's handy to have for more complex games from outside software makers like theMonster Hunter series from Capcom Co., set to go on sale in Japan on the same day.

Five other games, including Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D from Konami Corp., also can use the extra device. More games may be added to the list.

Nintendo, the Japanese manufacturer of the Wii home console and Super Mario andPokemon games, says the peripheral part isn't necessary, just a matter of preference.

Adding it helps deliver a gaming experience more similar to a home console in remote-controlling.

Hiroshi Kamide, analyst at JPMorgan Securities Japan Co., believes Nintendo is displaying a surprising lack of confidence.

"It's a bit of a shame. Only six months after releasing a new platform they're having to come out with an attachment to make it more attractive for some people," he said.

Game fans were disappointed.

The part, although not massive, makes 3DS bulky and harder to carry around in your pocket, important for a portable.

No wonder the device was quietly introduced on the company website this week.

Iwata said nothing about the device during his presentation, although he delivered praise about the upcoming "Monster Hunter" and other games to a packed crowd at a Tokyo event.

The device has also been witnessed, but not displayed prominently, at the Capcom booth at the Tokyo Game Show exhibition, which previewed to media Thursday and opens to the public this weekend.

"I think it feels like too little too late, and it also confuses consumers," Jean Snow, a gaming expert, who writes about Japanese pop culture. "I do believe it was a design flaw not to include it."

Snow said having the additional controller makes a big difference in shooting games, and he expects the feature to be later included in a 3DS upgrade.

Competition in portable gaming is heating up with the arrival of Japanese rival Sony Corp.'s latest portable offering, PlayStation Vita, which already comes with buttons that work in a similar way as the 3DS new device.

PlayStation Vita goes on sale in Japan on Dec. 17, and early next year in the US and Europe.

Both 3DS and PlayStation Vita face a threat from smartphones and tablet devices that also offer on-the-go games and other entertainment.

Nintendo has already slashed the price of the 3DS in a move analysts say is a sure sign it's worried about wooing consumers.

Kamide says Nintendo is likely to fall short of its sales target of 16 million 3DS by the end of the fiscal year through March 2012.

So far, Nintendo has sold just 4.32 million 3DS machines around the world.

Nintendo has ruled in portable gaming for years. It sold nearly 150 million DS machines since they went on sale in 2004, outpacing the Sony PlayStation Portable, whose cumulative global sales total 71 million.

But the gaming industry may be rapidly changing.

"It's a bit of a hard sell," Kamide said of the 3DS attachment.

US suspects ISI behind Kabul Embassy attack: report

Washington: US suspects that Pakistan's powerful spy agency ISI could be behind the attack on its Embassy in Kabul this week and is looking for direct evidence in this regard.

A senior US defence official said that given the ISI's history of supporting and sheltering the Haqqanis, it was "almost reflexive" to see if the spy agency had any role in the latest Kabul violence that left 27 people dead.

"The possibility of ISI involvement was already being considered within hours of the attack's conclusion when President Barack Obama's National Security Council met Wednesday, said a US official," The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

The American suspicions are being partly fuelled by growing concerns that deteriorating bilateral relations, and the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, may be pushing elements of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence spy agency to more closely embrace the Haqqani network, the Taliban faction blamed for this week's violence and a spate of attacks in and around Kabul.

Neither the ISI nor the Pakistani military, of which the spy agency is part, immediately responded to the US suspicions, the WSJ said, adding that Pakistani government officials dismissed the suspicions as insulting and unfair.

Top US officials, including Defence Secretary Leon Panetta, have already blamed the violence in Kabul on the Haqqani network, an Afghan insurgent faction whose history is intertwined with the ISI. The Pakistani spy agency has aided Haqqani network attacks in Kabul in past years, officials say.

The US has warned the Pakistanis of stronger action if the group wasn't reined in.

Afghan officials say mobile phones found on the slain attackers in this week's commando-style raid in Kabul indicate they were in contact with people from "outside Afghanistan" a typical Afghan way of indirectly pointing to Pakistan.

Even so, US and Afghan officials have stopped short of publicly linking the attack to the ISI, as they did after past attacks in Kabul, such as the 2008 and 2009 bombings of the Indian Embassy in Kabul.

In those and other cases, US officials said that communications intercepts and other intelligence directly linked the ISI to the attacks. Yet it took months to reach that conclusion and publicise it.

What is different this time is the speed with which some US officials publicly said they were exploring ISI links, a sign of the growing frustration of US officials who in recent months have become more public in their finger-pointing at Pakistan for its coordination with Islamist militant groups.

According to the daily, a senior US defence official said there is currently no "actionable intelligence" linking Pakistan's spy service to this week's attack.

"But we're looking for it closely," the defence official said shortly after the violence ended," the official was quoted as saying.

"That illustrates the deep vein of mistrust now running through the relationship between Washington and Islamabad," the officials said.

"The level of patience has just gone out the window," Seth Jones, a political scientist at the Rand Corp, who has spent much of the past two years working with the US military in Afghanistan, was quoted as saying.

"People aren't keeping it inside anymore and containing it in a circle that, for a while, was just private," he said.

"US officials say they are looking for evidence that directly links elements of Pakistan's powerful spy agency to this week's assault on the US Embassy and coalition headquarters in Kabul, a sign of just how rancorous relations have become between the two allies in the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban," the daily said.

A direct attack on an American embassy "isn't something we can treat as business-as-usual," said the US defense official.

Even if no ISI link is found, the Pakistani relationship with the Haqqanis is "long past unacceptable," the official said.

"Missteps by both the US and Pakistan this year have led to a sharp deterioration in relations, which may also be prompting Islamabad to more closely embrace militant groups from which it has sought to publicly distance itself in recent years, according to US officials and Mr Jones of Rand," the daily said.

'Banned' Aamer pleads guilty to spot-fixing

NEW DELHI: Tainted Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Aamer has pleaded guilty to spot-fixing in a London court.

The International Cricket Council ( ICC) had previously banned Aamer from all forms of cricket for a period of five years.

During Pakistan's tour of England in 2010, British tabloid 'News of the World' accused then-captain Salman Butt, fast-bowler Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer of spot-fixing.

'News of the World' alleged they bowled no-balls at pre-arranged times during August's fourth Test at Lord's.

The alleged bookie Mazhar Majeed has also confessed to spot-fixing during the hearing in a London court.

Sizzling Wilson grabs a share of BMW lead with Rose

Lemont (Illinois): After making a brilliant start to the PGA Tour season, Mark Wilson set himself up for a big finish by firing a five-under-par 66 to share the second round lead with Justin Rose at the BMW Championship on Friday.

Rose, two strokes clear overnight, had looked poised to reach the midway point sitting alone atop the leaderboard after rolling in a 32-foot eagle putt at the 15th followed by a birdie at the 16th.

However, the Briton stumbled with a bogey at the last to card a three-under 68 and join American Wilson at 11-under 131 -- two shots ahead of FedExCup leader Webb Simpson, who also signed off with a 68.

"You never quite know what to expect after playing so well in the first round," Rose told reporters. "I`ve taken the chances when the golf course has presented them to me."

With only the top 30 in the FedExCup standings after Sunday`s final round qualifying for the season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta, where a $10 million bonus will go to the overall points leader, there was no shortage of drama on a chilly overcast day at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club.

Having lived in Chicago and called Cog Hill his home club for several years, Wilson`s name was a popular one atop the leaderboard.

The American made a dubious start with a bogey at the first but it would be his only miscue of the day as he got back to level par with a birdie at the fifth before racing up the leaderboard with four straight birdies from the eighth.

He added another birdie at the 15th to cap a solid round and bring back memories of his sizzling early season form that saw him win twice in his first three starts.

Following that blistering start to his campaign, the middle part of the season was not nearly as good, particularly at the big events with Wilson missing the cut at the Masters, the Players Championship and U.S. Open.

However, he looked primed for a big finish at Cog Hill and has even drawn speculation about the possibility of being in contention for PGA Tour player of the year honours should he win again this week.

"That would put me with the most wins of anybody (this year) and then going into East Lake, if I can get another one there, I think I would have a good argument," said Wilson.

"But that`s a lot of ifs. The game is fickle, you never know. There are a lot of good players out there but I feel like I am playing very close to the same form I had when I started the year."

While Wilson, lying 17th in the FedExCup standings coming into this week, can look confidently ahead to the season finale in Atlanta, Rose still has work ahead of him if he is to book a ticket to East Lake.

Sitting just outside the top 30 in 34th place this week, Rose arrived in Chicago with a do-or-die attitude that has carried him to the top of the leaderboard.

Red-hot Simpson, who has triumphed twice in his last three starts, has showed no signs of cooling off in chilly Chicago and was just two off the pace with Australian John Senden (66) a further stroke further back at eight-under 134.

British world number one Luke Donald, fourth in the standings, recovered from an opening 75 to card a five-under 66 and move within striking distance of the leaders at one under.

Injury played huge part in England debacle: Dhoni

Cardiff: India suffered a humiliating whitewash in both Test and One-Day series in their disastrous England tour but captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that injury to several key team members played a huge part in the debacle.

"I have not seen so many injuries in the last five years. To see 9-11 players get injured in one series has been shocking. In the ODI series we also did not have luck," he said at the press conference after India lost the fifth and final ODI by six wickets here.

"If you look at the first two Tests, we were left with three bowlers. If your bowling starts looking weak, the pressure piles up on batsmen. You cannot carry a team consistently on just one department.”

"If Zaheer was there in the first Test and we could have pressed advantage in the second innings instead of relying on part-timers. It could have looked different. But it`s important what we did. There is no point in sulking," Dhoni said.

Dhoni, however, said that his side would not be thinking for revenge when England tour India next month to play five one-day matches.

"You should not have such a feeling. If you have revenge in your mind, you become desperate and start putting pressure on the whole side. It`s better to stick to basics," he said.

"We also would have to see how many of the 9-11 players who are injured are now fit and have played some matches. We have to see who all are available for selection."

Asked if he thought injured players should straightaway be allowed to get back into the side without having a few matches under their belt, he said, "It`s tough. We have to exactly see what kind of injury it is.

"It is good if someone has some matches under his belt. But it`s difficult because you need experience in a line-up. You try to balance it. You don’t want your bowling department to look completely fresh."

Dhoni blamed the conditions and injury to Munaf Patel as the reason for India`s six-wicket defeat in the fifth and final match here.

"To have Munaf injured after four overs, broke the rhythm of our bowling. The ball was also getting very wet. This was the fifth time we lost the toss and it became very difficult for spinners," he reasoned.

The Indian captain underlined the point that the practice games should not be an official fixture where only 11 players can play. Flexibility with numbers of players who can play is important for practice games.

"We were not able to use practice games in best possible manner. The first game was official and we could not play more than 11 players. Just before a Test match, the players had to be on the field for 90 overs. The second practice game was the same," he said.

"We will make sure there is an MoU in place that practice games should be just practice games. You should be able to play more than 12 players. If I am asked to play an official game, I would prefer playing a Test match than these practice games," he added.

Dhoni held a high view of the present England side but was not prepared to concede they were the current best side in the world.

"England are a very good side, irrespective of the format they are playing. As they play more and more cricket, they would get only better. But it`s difficult to say if they are the best side. The top 3-4 sides are all good. They are among the best sides.”

"In sub-continent, it might be different but they can still get the reverse swing to control the batsmen. England`s batting line up also looks settled. Broad and Bresnan can not only bowl fast and quick but they can also bat which means England bats very deep," he said.

Despite playing without a break for a long time, Dhoni gave the hint that he could be turning out in the Champions League Twenty20 rather than take a break.

"There are four games to be played at the league stage in 10 days. We will see how I stand before the start of the Champions League Twenty20. Next 3-4 days will be complete rest. Our first game is on 24th. I am hoping my fitness does not get worse."

Asked about the Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Aamir admitting to spot-fixing, Dhoni said, "It`s something seriously wrong. People might talk about forgiveness but for me match-fixing and spot-fixing is going against the nation. It`s my personal view."

PTI

Passenger: Was cuffed, searched over 'appearance'

AP – 6 hours ago

Detroit: A US woman said Tuesday that she endured nearly four hours in police custody that included being forced off an airplane in handcuffs, strip-searched and interrogated at Detroit's airport on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks — all, she believes, because of her Middle Eastern appearance.

Shoshana Hebshi, 35, told The Associated Press she was one of three people removed from a Denver-to-Detroit Frontier Airlines flight after landing Sunday afternoon. Authorities say fighter jets escorted the plane after its crew reported that two people were spending a long time in a bathroom — the two men sitting next to Hebshi in the 12th row.

Hebshi said she didn't notice how many times the men went to the bathroom. "I wasn't keeping track," she said.

"I really wasn't paying attention," said Hebshi, a freelance writer, editor and stay-at-home mother of twin six-year-old boys who lives in a suburb of Toledo, Ohio. "I was minding my own business — sleeping, reading, playing on my phone."

The FBI has said the three didn't know each other. One man felt ill and got up to use the restroom and another man in the same row also left his seat to go to the bathroom. The FBI said they never were inside together.

Hebshi has written extensively on her blog about the incident, saying she felt "violated, humiliated and sure that I was being taken from the plane simply because of my appearance."

Hebshi, who describes herself as half-Arabic, half-Jewish with a dark complexion, told the AP after they landed, she noticed police first surrounding, then storming the plane. She said she was surprised when they stopped at her row and ordered her and the men to get up.

Her Twitter posts from Sunday bear that out. At one point, she wrote: "A little concerned about this situation. Plane moved away from terminal surrounded by cops. Crew is mum. Passengers can't get up."

Later she wrote, "I see stairs coming our way...yay!" Her last post said, "Majorly armed cops coming aboard."

It's then than she says the officers ordered her and the men, whom she described as Indian, to get up.

She said she was patted down and taken by car to a holding cell. A uniformed female officer eventually came in and told Hebshi to take off her clothes.

After the strip search, another officer who identified herself as a Homeland Security agent led Hebshi to another room, Hebshi said. There, a man who identified himself as an FBI agent asked her a series of questions while a female agent took notes, Hebshi said.

Hebshi said that when she asked what was going on, the male agent told her someone on the plane reported that she and the men on her row were "conducting suspicious activity."

FBI spokeswoman Sandra Berchtold said the three passengers were questioned but not arrested before the FBI determined there was no reason to suspect or hold them. She also said FBI agents who questioned the passengers were not involved in any strip searches.

"We received a report of suspicious activity on that particular plane," Berchtold said. "We did not arrest ... these passengers. ... We didn't direct anybody to arrest them."

Airport police are under the supervision of the Wayne County Airport Authority, which operates Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

In an email to the AP, agency spokesman Scott Wintner said airport police "responded appropriately by following protocol and treating everyone involved with respect and dignity. "

Wintner said the decision on how to respond was a call made by the Airport Authority's CEO, who he said is Arab-American.

Hebshi said that finally, after being fingerprinted and allowed to call her husband, she was told she and the men were being released and that nothing suspicious was found on the plane. She said an official apologized and thanked her for understanding and cooperating.

Hebshi said she received another call of apology from an FBI agent Monday, before she wrote her blog post.

"I can understand they were just doing their job," she told the AP. "My beef is with these laws and regulations that are so hypersensitive. ... Even if you're an innocent bystander, you have no rights."

AP left email and phone messages seeking comment Tuesday night with Frontier.

The flight was one of two for which fighter jets were scrambled Sunday after crews reported suspicious activity on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, officials said. In both cases, it involved bathroom use. In neither case did authorities find anything to substantiate the suspicions.

On American Airlines flight 34 from Los Angeles, three passengers who made repeated trips to the bathroom were cleared after the plane safely landed at New York's Kennedy Airport.

Also Sunday, a GoJet Airlines flight bound for Washington was still on the runway in St. Louis when the pilot returned the aircraft to the gate and requested all passengers be re-screened after crew found paper towels stuffed in a toilet, according to a United Airlines spokesman. GoJet is a regional carrier for United.

Passenger de-planed for opening craft's emergency door

By Indo Asian News Service | IANS – 23 hours ago

New Delhi, Sep 14 (IANS) A New Delhi-bound flight was delayed for three hours at the Lucknow airport after a passenger opened the emergency exit of the plane, the Kingfisher Airlines said Wednesday.

'As guests were being boarded on Kingfisher Airlines flight IT 4660 on Tuesday night, it appears that a guest on board opened one of the emergency doors,' the company said in a statement.

'The aircraft was stationary at that time as boarding was still in progress. The guest was de-planed and handed over to the authorities. After a thorough examination, the aircraft was cleared for departure,' it added.

Tedy Bruschi is mad at Ochocinco for appreciating Tom Brady

Now that Tedy Bruschi(notes) is retired from the NFL and being paid as an analyst, it seems like he's mad all the time. Tuesday, on radio station WEEI in Boston, Bruschi tore into New England Patriots wide receiver Chad Ochocinco(notes). The reason? The Ocho appreciated Tom Brady's(notes) 517-yard performance on Monday night.

Chad tweeted this:

Just waking up after a late arrival,I've never seen a machine operate like that n person,to see video game numbers put up n person was WOW

And then Bruschi got all red and huffy.

"Drop the awe factor, OK, Ocho, Chad, drop the awe factor," Bruschi said. "You're not a fan, all right? You're not someone who's on another team or watching TV. You're not an analyst. You're a part of it. They want you to be a part of it.

"So get with the program because obviously you're not getting it and you're tweeting because you're saying, 'It's amazing to see'? It's amazing to see because you don't understand it! You still don't understand it and it's amazing to you because you can't get it."

It's not friendly advice taken out of context, either. Bruschi's angry. You can listen to it here (the Ocho talk starts at about the 5:42 mark). You can almost hear Bruschi's blood pressure rising through your computer speakers. He may also be foaming at the mouth.

Tom Brady, who was unaware Bruschi made those remarks, defended Ochocinco's work ethic

But the most bothersome part of Bruschi's response is his veiled jab against Chad Ochocinco's work ethic on his own WEEI-AM radio spot Wednesday.

"Chad, for the day that he go here, he's worked really hard to be a part of this offense and be involved," Brady said.

Now, don't get me wrong, expecting Chad Ochocinco to be more productive at this point is perfectly reasonable. He had one catch for 14 yards on Monday night, accounting for about 2.7 percent of Tom Brady's passing yards. The Patriots probably expect him to account for more than 2.7 percent of their passing offense.

But it's some kind of crime for Ocho to be impressed with Tom Brady? He's not allowed to marvel at a 517-yard passing performance? The man was a Cincinnati Bengal for 10 years. It's like someone gets released from a Malaysian prison after 10 years, then moves into Oprah's house, and you expect him not to notice that the flooring is a little bit nicer.

A couple of weeks ago, crotchety old Bruschi turned his attention toward Arian Foster(notes), using the words "incredibly dumb" and "incredibly stupid" to describe Foster posting his hamstring MRI on Twitter.

Bruschi was a very good player, and his opinions and analysis are to be respected. And I do respect it, and Chad's not above a little criticism right now. But there's a difference between that and turning into a self-important hate machine, walking around all day being angry and thinking, "Things were so much better in my day!" Lighten up a little bit, Tedy. It's OK for a brand new Patriot to admire Tom Brady a little bit.

Steve Jobs resigns from Apple, Cook becomes CEO

San Francisco: Silicon Valley legend Steve Jobs relinquished the reins at Apple Inc to right-hand man Tim Cook on Wednesday, after 14 years in command at a company he brought back from the brink and turned into the world's largest technology corporation.

Jobs, who fought and survived a rare form of pancreatic cancer and revolutionized the technology arena with the iPhone in 2007, is deemed the heart and soul of a company that started in a garage and is today neck-and-neck with Exxon Mobil in the race to become the largest US corporation.

Analysts do not expect Jobs' resignation -- which was more a question of when than if -- to derail Apple's fabled product-launch roadmap, including possibly a new iPhone in September a third iteration of the iPad tablet in 2012.

But the company's shares still dived as much as 7 percent in after-hours trade after the industry icon, who has been on medical leave for an undisclosed condition since Jan. 17, announced he will be replaced by COO and heir apparent Cook.

"I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come," he said in a brief letter announcing his resignation.

The 55-year-old CEO had briefly emerged from his medical leave in March to unveil the latest version of the iPad and later to attend a dinner hosted by President Barack Obama for technology leaders in Silicon Valley.

Jobs' often-gaunt appearance has sparked questions about his health and his ability to continue at Apple.

"I will say to investors: don't panic and remain calm, it's the right thing to do. Steve will be chairman and Cook is CEO," said BGC Financial analyst Colin Gillis.

Again, Deep Bench

Jobs' resignation marks the end of an era at Apple.

A college dropout, a Buddhist and a son of adoptive parents, he started Apple Computer with friend Steve Wozniak in the Jobs family garage in Silicon Valley in the late 1970s.

The company soon introduced the Apple 1 computer. But it was the Apple II that became a huge success and gave Apple its position as a critical player in the then-nascent PC industry, culminating in a 1980 IPO that made Jobs a multimillionaire.

Despite the subsequent success of the Mac, Jobs' relationship with internal management soured, and in 1985 the board removed most of his powers and he left the company, selling all but one share of his Apple holdings.

Apple's fortunes waned after that. However, its purchase of NeXT -- the computer company Jobs founded after leaving Apple -- in 1997 brought him back into the fold. Later that year, he became interim CEO and in 2000, the company dropped "interim" from his title.

On Wednesday, Apple shares slid to USD 357.40 in extended trading after a brief halt. They had gained 0.7 percent to close at USD 376.18 on the Nasdaq.

Analysts again expressed confidence in the Apple bench, headed by longtime company No. 2 and supply-chain maven Cook.

"Investors are very comfortable with Tim Cook even though Jobs has been a driver of innovation and clearly an Apple success. Tim has shown Apple can still outperform extremely well when he's been acting as CEO," said Cross Research analyst Shannon Cross.

"I don't know if it's a health issue. I don't know if it is a shock. Most likely it was going to happen at some point. Why today versus another day? I don't know."

Bureau Report

Switzerland to tax black money in UK citizens' secret accounts

London: The Swiss government has agreed to tax black money held by UK citizens in Swiss bank accounts for the first time, while still hiding their identity.

According to a BBC report, the deal could see between 3 billion pounds and 6 billion pounds a year being handed to HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) by the Swiss authorities.

The agreement is a part of the HMRC's latest efforts to track down and tax money hidden in offshore bank accounts.

It follows a similar deal agreed earlier this month between Germany and the Swiss authorities.

UK officials said the agreement was a landmark one.

"The world has changed for tax evaders," said Dave Hartnett of HMRC.

"A few years ago, nobody would have anticipated that we would conclude an agreement with Switzerland to tackle tax evasion. We will secure significant sums of tax that some had thought we would never see," he added.

Meanwhile, David Gauke, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, said, "The historic agreement will enable us to collect billions of pounds from those who have for too long evaded their responsibility to pay UK tax by abusing Swiss banking secrecy."

For decades, Swiss banking laws have provided complete secrecy to foreigners operating bank accounts there.

The account holders have been able to use the accounts to hide money from the own tax authorities, without even having to pay any Swiss tax.

From 2013, the Swiss will tax the bank accounts of UK citizens and transfer the money directly to the Treasury, but without revealing the identity of the account holders.

The UK citizens' accounts in Swiss banks will be taxed at between 19 percent and 34 percent on the principal sum hidden, depending on how long the account has been running.

The Swiss have agreed to make an initial downpayment of 500 million Swiss francs toward the tax liabilities of UK citizens with Swiss bank accounts.

From 2013, the account holders will also face an annual levy of between 27 percent and 48 percent on the income from their accounts, depending on whether it has arisen as capital gains, dividends or interest.

The UK authorities will also have the right to request the banking details of 500 UK individuals a year for further investigation.

Chas Roy-Chowdhury of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) said the deal was "very innovative".

"This is a wake-up call to tax dodgers and will flush some of them out of the woodwork," he said.

UK citizens will only be able to avoid the new tax measures in Switzerland if they come forward and make a full disclosure of their finances there to HMRC.

Ronnie Ludwig, of accountants Saffery Champness, said the UK's agreement was a huge step forward in the search for untaxed income offshore.

But he said people hiding their money in Switzerland would still be getting away with substantial tax evasion.

"The Swiss agreement is a pragmatic move by the UK Treasury that will certainly help bring an immediate boost to tax revenues, but it is a quick fix measure," he said.

"It means some tax revenues from secret accounts will flow into Treasury coffers, but the fact remains that only a small proportion of the total tax that would have been due on the money stashed away in secret accounts in Switzerland over the years can be recovered under these latest proposals," Ludwig added.

Since 2007, HMRC has been targeting people in the UK who have failed to pay tax on money kept in offshore bank accounts.

In 2009, the UK authorities struck a deal with the government of Liechtenstein, a notorious tax haven.

If UK citizens hiding cash there confess, they will face penalties amounting to just 10 percent of the tax they have evaded.

They will still have to pay their back-taxes and interest, going back up to 10 years.

As many as 5,000 British investors are thought to have stashed an estimated 3 billion pounds in secret accounts in Liechtenstein.

Those who do not take advantage of the disclosure "opportunity", which runs to the end of March, 2015, will face fines amounting to 200 percent of their unpaid tax, as well as back-taxes and interest.

Chris Oates of Ernst and Young said: "As a side effect of today's announcement, we could also see an increase in people moving their assets to Liechtenstein rather than paying up to the Swiss authorities."

"The Liechtenstein Disclosure Agreement only requires a back payment of taxes from 1999/2000 onward, rather than the total value of assets held in Switzerland.

"This could prove a more cost-effective way to resolve past tax liabilities for UK individuals than the new Swiss arrangement," he added.

PTI

Washington Monument Cracked, Closed Indefinitely

Yesterday's relatively exciting magnitude 5.8 East coast quake didn't tilt the D.C.'s Washington Monument, but it cracked it enough to concern the National Park Service. So a centerpiece of the National Mall will now be closed indefinitely for public safety reasons, the Associated Press reported. The damage was found by structural engineers "where the 555-foot landmark narrows considerably."

The Lincoln and Jefferson memorials are also closed for further inspection, Politico relayed. The newly unveiled Martin Luther King Jr. sculpture will remain open. And the rest of the nation's capital dwellers will talk about where they were during quake for the forseeable future--or at least until Congress is back in session.

Apple suppliers building cheaper, 8GB iPhone 4 - sources

TAIPEI/HONG KONG (Reuters) - Asian suppliers to Apple Inc have begun manufacturing a lower priced version of its hot-selling iPhone 4 with a smaller 8 gigabyte flash drive, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

The flash drive for the 8GB iPhone 4 is being manufactured by a Korean company, one of the people said on Tuesday, declining to name the company. Apple currently sources its flash drives from Japan 's Toshiba and South Korea 's Samsung Electronics.

The sources declined to be identified because the information has not been made public.

Apple, which demands high levels of secrecy and security from suppliers and employees, declined to comment.

The existing iPhone 4 was first launched in June 2010 with 16 GB and 32 GB versions, with a white version added to the lineup in April. The 8 GB version expected to launch within weeks, one of the sources said.

In addition to launch of the smaller iPhone 4, Apple is targetting an end September launch for the next-generation iPhone 5, one source said, confirming earlier reports on Apple follower blogsites and industry websites.

The new iPhone , which some call the iPhone 4S because of its largely identical appearance to the existing iPhone 4, will have a bigger touch screen, better antenna and an 8-megapixel camera, one of the people said.

The iPhone 5's two manufacturers have been told to prepare production capacity for up to 45 million units altogether, the source said. The phone will be made by Hon Hai and Pegatron, the person added.

8 Wonder ways for a flat tummy

Blame it on SRK's six-pack-magic, Aamir's eight-pack-charisma or Priyanka's hot bikini bod, but flaunting the flattest tummy and a set of well toned abs is the latest dream for many youngsters.

But, they usually tend to forget that it takes more than just basic crunches and crash dieting to carve a drool worthy, flat stomach. Explains fitness trainer, Deanne Pandey, "Ab exercises + cardio exercises + right diet - this is the most effective formula to achieve well-toned abdominal muscles. Missing upon any one of these will take away the real impact of an abs-workout."

"An ideal diet and workout for every individual depends upon his/her weight loss requirement, body type and body shape," suggests Pandey. For instance, a pear shaped person may indulge in a less strenuous workout and minimal diet modifications to get the desired tummy in comparison to an apple shaped body, who is usually heavy in the tummy area.

Here are a set of workout and physical activities, which when combined with an ideal eating plan and cardio workouts can assure you of the killer abs that you always dreamt of...

1. Naukasana- A common yoga posture that works wonders on your abs.

Method: Lie flat on the ground, with your back on the floor. Raise your upper body and legs to an angle of 30 degrees and hold the posture for 30-40 seconds, then relax. Repeat this asana for 10 times to begin with, graduating to 30 times. Breathe normally all through the work out.

"Holding onto the posture tightens and contracts your upper and lower abs while repeating the movement tones them up," tells yoga expert Usha Chegappa of Bharat Thankur's Artistic Yoga.

2. Ushtrasana : It is the counter pose to naukasana .

Method: Stand on your knees, with heels facing upwards. Arch your back, placing your hands on your knees one by one. Hold your head behind pushing your belly outwards. Hold this posture for 30 seconds and repeat 30 times.

"During naukasana , the ab muscles contract building up tension in the area, while ushtrasana releases the tension by giving your tummy a good stretch. It is important to practice ushtrasana after naukasana to save one's back from injury," explains Usha.

3. Basic crunch : The good old crunch still remains the best exercise to bag the perfect abs.

Method: Lie on the floor with your legs off the floor in a right angle. Keep your shoulders just above the floor. Breathe in and bring your knees in towards your chest, while lifting your upper body to an angle of 30 degrees and breathe out while you relax. Repeat this exercise 15-20 times to begin with.

"Don't arch your back. The crunches will help you contract your abdomninal muscles giving them an effective workout," suggests Deanne.

4. Bridging: Stretch till you feel the burn!

Method: Lie flat on the floor with your hands resting by your sides, feet flat on the floor, shoulder width apart and knees bent. Now, contract your abdominals, lower back and gluts and slowly lift your midsection to form a bridge from your knees, through your hips to your shoulders. Hold this position for a few seconds, and then slowly lower. Fitness expert Kiran Swahney suggests, "Avoid this exercise in case you are suffering from lower back problems."

'Potter' finale conjures up $1 billion worldwide

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Harry Potter has joined the billion-dollar club.

Distributor Warner Bros. said Sunday that "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" crossed the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office. It's soon expected to pass "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," which is this year's top grossing movie at $1.03 billion.

The last of the eight films about the young wizard is the first in the franchise to reach the billion dollar mark. The previous best global haul was $974.8 million for the original film, 2001's "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

With $21.9 million domestically this weekend, "Deathly Hallows: Part 2" climbed to a domestic total of $318.5 million. That tops the franchise's previous best of $317.6 million for "Sorcerer's Stone."

But factoring in today's higher admission prices, "Deathly Hallows: Part 2" has not caught up to "Sorcerer's Stone" in terms of actual tickets sold.

The 2009 film "Avatar" holds the record for the biggest worldwide box office haul, grossing $2.8 billion. It's followed by another James Cameron film, "Titanic," which brought in $1.8 billion.

Obama administration approves no-cost birth control, including ‘morning after’ pill

Pro-lifers are horrified at the announcement Monday that the Obama administration has approved a recommendation from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to guarantee full health insurance coverage for birth control, including the so-called “morning-after” pill, under the Affordable Care Act.

The new guidelines, which the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) labeled “historic,” will require new health insurance plans to include women’s preventive services including FDA approved contraceptives, breast feeding support, and well-women visits — all without charging a co-payment, co-insurance or a deductible — beginning August 1, 2012.

“The Affordable Care Act helps stop health problems before they start,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a statement. “These historic guidelines are based on science and existing literature and will help ensure women get the preventive health benefits they need.”

The Obama administration also released an amendment to the guidelines allowing religious organizations to opt out of providing the contraception services.

Still, pro-life advocacy groups virulently opposed the IOM recommendation. LifeNews is reporting that these organizations may push Congress to pass legislation to reduce harm which they believe will accompany the new guidelines.

“The real issue is not about ‘birth control’ as such but rather about specific contraceptives that can function as abortifacients, in particular, emergency contraceptives,” Jeanne Monahan, director of the Family Research Council’s Center for Human Dignity explained to LifeNews. “This isn’t a matter of opinion or political ideology.”

“The FDA approved label for Plan B suggests it can prevent implantation of an embryo. Moreover, the most recently approved EC, ‘ella,’ is chemically similar to RU-486 and it may destroy an embryo after it is already implanted,” she added.

Groups such as Planned Parenthood and NARAL were major advocates for the new directive.

“As someone who has worked on women’s rights for nearly 30 years, I can say that today’s news marks one of the biggest advances for women’s health in a generation,” Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America said in a statement when IOM released their recommendation.

“Currently, nearly one in three women finds it difficult to pay for birth control, and that’s why the United States has a far higher unintended-pregnancy rate than other industrialized countries. Making family-planning services available at no cost will help millions of women prevent unintended pregnancy and thereby reduce the need for abortion.”

Know your couple type to transform your relationship!

London, August 1 (ANI): Do you and your partner often find yourself in the middle of blazing rows? Turns out, you are the 'Cat and Dog' couple type.

Psychologists say identifying the type of couple type we are - or would like to be - holds the key to a happy relationship and being able to understand our own needs and those of our partner, reports the Daily Mail.

Experts have identified six different 'couple types' that we all fall into.

One is the 'Cat and Dog' type. As the name suggests, this couple fight constantly, in private and in public.

This kind of couple may be attracted to one another because they enjoy the cycle of fight and make up (often accompanied by passionate sex).

The second type is called the pursuer/distancer couple, in which one partner is in pursuit of the other, trying to secure their attention and affection.

"One pretends they don't want to know and the other enjoys the thrill of the chase," says relationship psychologist Susan Quilliam.

"Often, couples take it in turns to play the pursuer or distancer. Whenever one senses the other is losing interest, they will switch.

The third type of couple is the 'Parent and child', wherein one feels responsible for nurturing the other, who they regard as less capable.

"The parent partner is attracted because they feel that in caring for this person, they have found a purpose in life," says Quilliam.

"The child partner may lack self-esteem or be a supreme coper who wants a break," she added. (ANI)

Amy Winehouse Found Dead

Amy Winehouse was found dead in her London apartment Saturday afternoon.

Just last month, Winehouse was forced to cancel her European tour, following a disastrous performance in Belgrade that went viral on YouTube. The troubled singer, has long struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, making many references to these struggles in her music.

TMZ confirmed earlier reports out of London, that Winehouse was found in her apartment and pronounced dead on the scene.

Best known for her 2006 breakthrough album, Back to Black, the singer was known for her deep voice and brazen lyrics. Winehouse was 27.

A Look Back at a Star for the Digital Era

Winehouse was extremely popular on YouTube. The songs from Back to Black continue to be popular cover targets for aspiring YouTube artists, thanks to its haunting lyrics and musicality. From iTunes to AOL Live, Winehouse made a number of appearances at digital focused events and distributed releases specifically for digital audiences.

At SXSW 2007, Winehouse performed an electrifying live acoustic set.



Sadly, Winehouse’s more troubled moments were captured and disseminated online as well. Earlier this summer, Winehouse’s disastrous performance in Belgrade, Serbia was caught by several audience members. The resulting fallout from the videos, which went viral, caused her to cancel her European tour and her record label issued takedown notices agains the most popular videos.

Mumbai blasts toll rises to 19

Mumbai: The toll in the Mumbai triple blasts rose to 19 with a victim succumbing to his injuries at Saifee Hospital early Saturday, an official said.

The victim has been identified as Babulal Das, the official from Birihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) Disaster Control Centre told a news agency.

Das died around 3 am.

On Friday evening, another victim, Avinash Tanka, 24, had succumbed to his injuries.

The three blasts that rocked central-to-south Mumbai Wednesday evening -- Dadar, Zaveri Bazar and Opera House -- was the first terrorist attack in the financial hub of the country after 26/11.

Of the 129 injured, 21 continue to be in a critical state and are under treatment in various hospitals.

US takes hardline on North Korea, South China Sea

Bali: Tentative steps by North and South Korea to repair relations are not enough to warrant a return to multination nuclear disarmament talks, the Obama administration said at an Asian security conference on Saturday, where it also took a tough line on resolving heightened tensions in the South China Sea.

Declaring the United States a "resident power" with vital strategic interests throughout the Asia-Pacific, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said North Korea must do more to improve ties with the South before Washington will consider resuming six-party talks aimed at getting Pyongyang to abandon nuclear weapons in return for concessions.

In addition, Hillary laid out specific guidelines for the peaceful settlement of competing territorial claims by China and its Southeast Asian neighbours in the South China Sea, where she said such disputes are threatening the peace and security that has driven the region's economic growth and prosperity.

Also on the agenda at Saturday's talks on the Indonesian resort island of Bali was Myanmar, which Hillary said has reached a "critical juncture”.

The new civilian government, which took over late last year after a half-century of military rule, needs to make "concrete, measurable progress" in bringing about democratic reforms if it wants to win the confidence of the international community.

That includes releasing more than 2,000 political prisoners and holding meaningful dialogue with its political opponents.

The meeting opened with a buzz, with South Korea's Foreign Minister, Kim Sung-hwan, and the North's Pak Ui Chun walking casually into the conference hall together.

A day before, their countries' top nuclear negotiators met for the first time since nuclear disarmament talks collapsed three years ago, opening the door for dialogue and a potential return, eventually, to more negotiations between the two Koreas, the US, China, Japan and Russia.

Hillary told diplomats from 26 other Asian and European countries that she was encouraged to see the change.

"But we remain firm that in order for six-party talks to resume, North Korea must take steps to improve North-South relations," she said. "North Korea continues to present a critical proliferation challenge to the international community and to threaten regional stability with its provocative actions."

Since the last round of talks, North Korea has conducted a second nuclear test and revealed a uranium enrichment facility that could give it another way to make atomic bombs. Recent North Korean threats against Seoul's conservative government include a vow to retaliate over South Korean soldiers' use of pictures of the ruling North Korean family for target practice.

Ahead of the conference, China and its Southeast Asian neighbours also agreed to a preliminary plan to resolve territorial disputes in the potentially resource-rich South China Sea.

China claims the sea — of tremendous strategic importance to everyone because one-third of the world's shipping transits through it — in its entirety. The Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia loudly disagree.

There have been several flare-ups in the waterway in recent months, with Beijing usually accused of being the instigator.

Hillary urged all parties to show restraint and to comply with international law "and resolve their disputes through peaceful means”. It's vital, she said, that they work together.

As a starting point, the US wants all nations to map out their claims in terms consistent with customary international law, a senior US official said on condition he not be named, adding that many of the claims seem to be "exaggerated”.

North Korea's newly appointed envoy, Ri Yong Ho, meanwhile, said on Friday that he and his South Korean counterpart, Wi Sung-lac, agreed during their meeting to work together to quickly restart nuclear talks.

Wi, who described the talks as "productive" and "helpful”, confirmed the agreement and said he and Ri would continue their efforts.

North Korea stands to get badly needed aid and other concessions if it returns to the talks and has indicated in recent months that it may be ready.

North Korea's main ally, China, has been pressing for a speedy resumption of the talks. The US and other countries have held out, saying that meaningful North-South dialogue must occur first. A senior US official welcomed Friday's meeting but said it remains to be seen if the rapprochement is enough to warrant a return to the table.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door diplomacy, said Hillary and the foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea would meet in Bali on Saturday to assess the situation and plot a way forward. The official would not predict if a decision on resuming the six-party talks would be made at the meeting.

In a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Hillary affirmed "our mutual desire for peace and stability on the Korean peninsula" but offered no hint on whether the US would agree to resume the nuclear talks.

Yang, however, signalled China's intense interest in getting things back on track. "Anything we can do together to promote better atmosphere and good dialogue among the parties concerned and to work together to restart the six-party talks would be in the best interests of peace, stability and security of the region," he said.

The disarmament talks have been stalled since 2008, when North Korea walked out to protest international criticism of a prohibited long-range rocket launch. Tensions between the North and South have remained high ever since.

Norway horror: 80 die in camp shooting, 7 in blast

Oslo: A homegrown terrorist set off a deadly explosion in downtown Oslo before heading to a summer camp dressed as a police officer to commit one of the deadliest shooting sprees in history, killing at least 80 people as terrified youths ran and even swam for their lives, police said on Friday.

Police initially said about 10 were killed at the forested camp on the island of Utoya, but some survivors said they thought the toll was much higher. Police director Oystein Maeland told reporters early Saturday they had discovered many more victims.

"It's taken time to search the area. What we know now is that we can say that there are at least 80 killed at Utoya," Maeland said. "It goes without saying that this gives dimensions to this incident that are exceptional."

A suspect in the shootings, and the Oslo explosion that killed seven people, was arrested. Though police did not release his name, Norwegian national broadcaster NRK identified him as 32-year-old Anders Behring Breivik and said police searched his Oslo apartment overnight. NRK and other Norwegian media posted pictures of the blond, blue-eyed Norwegian.

A police official said the suspect appears to have acted alone in both attacks, and that "it seems like that this is not linked to any international terrorist organisations at all”. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because that information had not been officially released by Norway's police.

"It seems it's not Islamic-terror related," the official said. "This seems like a madman's work."

The official said the attack "is probably more Norway's Oklahoma City than it is Norway's World Trade Centre." Domestic terrorists carried out the 1995 attack on a federal building in Oklahoma City, while foreign terrorists were responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The official added, however, "it's still just hours since the incident happened. And the investigation is going on with all available resources."

The attacks formed the deadliest day of terror in Western Europe since the 2004 Madrid train bombings, when shrapnel-filled bombs exploded, killing 191 people and wounding about 1,800.

The motive was unknown, but both attacks were in areas connected to the ruling Labor Party government. The youth camp, about 20 miles (35 kilometres) northwest of Oslo, is organised by the party's youth wing, and the Prime Minister had been scheduled to speak there on Saturday.

A 15-year-old camper named Elise said she heard gunshots, but then saw a police officer and thought she was safe. Then he started shooting people right before her eyes.

"I saw many dead people," said Elise, whose father, Vidar Myhre, didn't want her to disclose her last name. "He first shot people on the island. Afterward he started shooting people in the water."

Elise said she hid behind the same rock that the killer was standing on. "I could hear his breathing from the top of the rock," she said.

She said it was impossible to say how many minutes passed while she was waiting for him to stop.

At a hotel in the village of Sundvollen, where survivors of the shooting were taken, 21-year-old Dana Berzingi wore pants stained with blood. He said the fake police officer ordered people to come closer, then pulled weapons and ammunition from a bag and started shooting.

Several victims "had pretended as if they were dead to survive," Berzingi said. But after shooting the victims with one gun, the gunman shot them again in the head with a shotgun, he said.

"I lost several friends," said Berzingi, who used the cell phone of one of those friends to call police.

The blast in Oslo, Norway's capital and the city where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded, left a square covered in twisted metal, shattered glass and documents expelled from surrounding buildings. Most of the windows in the 20-floor high-rise where Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and his administration work were shattered. Other buildings damaged house government offices and the headquarters of some of Norway's leading newspapers.

The dust-fogged scene after the blast reminded one visitor from New York of September 11.

Ian Dutton, who was in a nearby hotel, said people "just covered in rubble" were walking through "a fog of debris”.

"It wasn't any sort of a panic," he said, "It was really just people in disbelief and shock, especially in a such as safe and open country as Norway. You don't even think something like that is possible."

Police said the Oslo explosion was caused by "one or more" bombs.

The police official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the Oslo bombing occurred at 3:26 pm local time (1:26 pm GMT), and the camp shootings began one to two hours later. The official said the gunman used both automatic weapons and handguns, and that there was at least one unexploded device at the youth camp that a police bomb disposal team and military experts were working on disarming.

The suspect had only a minor criminal record, the official said.

National police chief Sveinung Sponheim said seven people were killed by the blast in downtown Oslo, four of whom have been identified, and that nine or 10 people were seriously injured.

Sponheim said a man was arrested in the shooting, and the suspect had been observed in Oslo before the explosion there.

Sponheim said the camp shooter "wore a sweater with a police sign on it. I can confirm that he wasn't a police employee and never has been."

Aerial images broadcast by Norway's TV2 showed members of a SWAT team dressed in black arriving at the island in boats and running up the dock. Behind them, people who stripped down to their underwear swam away from the island toward shore, some using flotation devices.

Sponheim said police were still trying to get an overview of the camp shooting and could not say whether there was more than one shooter. He would not give any details about the identity or nationality of the suspect, who was being interrogated by police.

Oslo University Hospital said 12 people were admitted for treatment following the Utoya shooting, and 11 people were taken there from the explosion in Oslo. The hospital asked people to donate blood.

Stoltenberg, who was home when the blast occurred and was not harmed, visited injured people at the hospital late Friday. Earlier he decried what he called "a cowardly attack on young innocent civilians”.

"I have message to those who attacked us," he said. "It's a message from all of Norway: You will not destroy our democracy and our commitment to a better world."

NRK showed video in Oslo of a blackened car lying on its side amid the debris. A reporter who was in the office of Norwegian news agency NTB said the building shook from the blast and all employees were evacuated. Down in the street, he saw one person with a bleeding leg being led away from the area.

A reporter headed to Utoya was turned away by police before reaching the lake that surrounds the island, as eight ambulances with sirens blaring entered the area. Police blocked off roads leading to the lake.

The United States, European Union, NATO and the UK, all quickly condemned the bombing, which Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague called "horrific" and NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen deemed a "heinous act”.

"It's a reminder that the entire international community has a stake in preventing this kind of terror from occurring," President Barack Obama said.

Obama extended his condolences to Norway's people and offered US assistance with the investigation. He said he remembered how warmly Norwegians treated him in Oslo when he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009.

Nobel Peace Prize Chairman Thorbjorn Jagland said it appeared the camp attack "was intended to hurt young citizens who actively engage in our democratic and political society. But we must not be intimidated. We need to work for freedom and democracy every day."

A US counterterrorism official said the United States knew of no links to terrorist groups and early indications were the attack was domestic. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was being handled by Norway.

At least two Islamic extremist groups had tried to take credit for the attacks. Many intelligence analysts said they had never heard of Helpers of Global Jihad, which took initial credit. The Kurdish group Ansar al-Islam also took credit on some jihadist web sites.

Norway has been grappling with a homegrown terror plot linked to al Qaeda. Two suspects are in jail awaiting charges.

Last week, a Norwegian prosecutor filed terror charges against an Iraqi-born cleric for threatening Norwegian politicians with death if he is deported from the Scandinavian country. The indictment centred on statements that Mullah Krekar — the founder of Ansar al-Islam — made to various news media, including American network NBC.

Terrorism has also been a concern in neighbouring Denmark since an uproar over cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad six years ago.