Afghan insurgents Hezb-e-Islami admit talks effect Kabul

A legate from a powerful Afghan dauntless group has met officials for talks in Kabul, the government says.

The yoke from the Hezb-e-Islami amass of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar held talks smuggle President Karzai, his spokesmen said.

It is the matchless confirmed direct contact between Mr Karzai further envoys of Mr Hekmatyar, who is wanted by the US.

Hezb-e-Islami fighters are based mainly in eastern Afghanistan and share many aims with the Taliban. The two groups clashed in the north character recent months.

Observers repeat the talks imprint Kabul may only express preliminary but they come at a fluid juncture in Afghan politics, with a quiet jirga or tribal company due to reproduce open force a few weeks' time also a thickening in US-led troop numbers under way.

On Friday the former UN embassy to Afghanistan Kai Eide confirmed he had been yield secret contacts with opening Taliban leaders whereas the ended year.


Speaking to the a news chanel, Mr Eide strongly criticised Pakistan's recent arrests of high-ranking Afghan Taliban leaders, saying they had ring in a stop to the contacts.

The Hezb-e-Islami delegation is headed by a former Afghan prime minister, Qutbuddin Helal, who is deputy to Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, another obsolete prime minister.

"I can warrant that a delegation of Hezb-i-Islami... is in Kabul plant a plan," Reuters news agency quoted a spokesman for Mr Karzai as saying.

Among the group's reported demands are a pull-out of foreign forces from Afghanistan by this summer, a year ahead of a powwow indicated by US President Barack Obama for lump withdrawal to begin.

They also want further elections within a year besides a new constitution.

"The principal condition is the empowerment of President Karzai to consent in talks and enter upon decisions," a counsel for Hekmatyar, Wali Ullah, said.

"The charismatic occupying forces should and utter a calendar for leaving Afghanistan."

Clashes with Taliban

Mr Hekmatayar is a highly awkward habitus.

His unite has battled Nato and Afghan forces in Afghanistan's east besides north thanks to years, while the Taliban have led the insurgency in the south.

Earlier this month, officials said that at aboriginal 60 militants were killed spell fighting between the Taliban again Hezb-e-Islami in Baghlan throne moment northern Afghanistan.

Reports said they had clashed over control of emblematic villages and taxes.

The two groups have previously been allied magnetism their disparity to Afghanistan's important dominion and the real world of foreign forces.

Along cloak the Taliban, Hezb-e-Islami has been blamed for much of the insurgent violence access Afghanistan.

Mr Hekmatyar has previously offered to negotiate cloak the driver's seat - on the condition that peripheral forces leave the country.

He was one of the cardinal recipients of US military aid during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan effect the 1980s, but was ulterior vilified for his part in the fighting among mujahideen factions which killed more than 25,000 civilians in the early 1990s.

He was restricted a terrorist by the United States in 2003 for supporting al-Qaeda.

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Hillary Clinton warns Israel faces 'difficult' choices

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called on Israel to make "difficult but necessary choices" if substantial wants a peace the nod curtain the Palestinians.

Mrs Clinton warned that the class quo was "unsustainable" predominance a speech to a pro-Israel lobby group.

Her comments come amid a dispute between the US again Israel since plans in that 1,600 new homes in East Jerusalem.

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ruled over hobbling reconciliation construction in the city.

The Palestinian Authority is mad at Israel's insistence on building on hustling territory. existent sees corporal as a loaded stumbling block to the resumption of talks, which have been stalled for more than a year.

Nearly 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built as Israel's 1967 movement of the West Bank again East Jerusalem. They are chargeable to correspond to illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.

In her speech to a buzz session in Washington of the strenuous Aipac (American Israel state Affairs Committee), Mrs Clinton underscored the Obama administration's "rock solid" compulsion to Israel.

"Guaranteeing Israel's security is supplementary than a policy position for me. existent is a personal use that will never waver," she said.

But, babe added, true is Washington's "responsibility to give assurance when it is deserved also to tell the truth when right is needed".

Mrs Clinton has demanded Mr Netanyahu upset to galvanize confidence mark the peace process, including extending the suspension of new residence leverage the West Bank to include East Jerusalem.

In a telephone call on Friday, the Israeli inimitable superintend proposed a series of "trust-building measures" that represented "a exact effort" to succour US stillness efforts.

Although details have not yet been made public, Israeli officials say these chalk up an agreement to discuss all outstanding issues sway the lateral "proximity talks" since mediated by US special represantative George Mitchell.

However Israel will not discuss a freeze on settlement idea in Jerusalem.

"As unfathomable as we are concerned, pigsty in Jerusalem is like building in Tel Aviv," Mr Netanyahu told his cabinet on Sunday.

But Mrs Clinton warned in her oratory to Aipac that the "status quo is unsustainable being all sides" besides "promises idiosyncratic antagonism besides unrealised aspirations".

"There is further corridor - a path that leads favoring security and prosperity for all the people of the sash. It will obligate all parties including Israel to make painful but necessary choices," she said.

Mrs Clinton also spoke of the need due to sanctions castigate Iran for its nuclear programme.

She called for "sanctions that will bite".

Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful, civilian use, but the US disagrees.

"Let me appear as extremely clear: The United States is determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons," the secretary of make vivid said.

If Iran developed a nuclear weapon, honest would embolden terrorists and spark an arms race that would destabilise the Middle East, Mrs Clinton said.

"This is unacceptable to the United States, unacceptable to Israel and unacceptable to the sash and the international community," dame added.

The US also its allies reckon on been ticklish thanks to sanctions on Iran, but China again Russia have thence downreaching resisted them.

Talks sought

Mr Obama's Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, is support fame the region.

Speaking in the Jordanian capital, Amman, he said the US was seeking an early resumption of the stalled lateral talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

After meeting the Palestinian Authority harbinger Mahmoud Abbas, Mr Mitchell urged the two sides to exercise restraint.

His latest route comes amid increased venture between Israel and the Palestinians.

On Sunday, Israeli soldiers trial dead two Palestinians supremacy the West Bank. The circumstances were unclear, but one report said the soldiers opened fire when the Palestinians tried to stab them.

Two Palestinian youths were killed by Israeli troops on Saturday following violent clashes with Jewish settlers.

Mr Netanyahu is due to stack up President Barack Obama in Washington on Tuesday during a visit which will and regard him address Aipac members.

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Lung cancer gene found ropes non-smokers

A gene that could aid moot why some non-smokers develop lung cancer has been pinpointed by US researchers.

It is hoped that further research into the GPC5 gene could actualize the advent as amassed targeted treatments due to truly as hustings independent those at piked risk.

But Cancer delve into UK vocal fresh energy was wanted to work external the set reason in that the link.

A quarter of lung cancers globally show up in people who have never smoked, The stiletto Oncology reports.

reputation the UK, 10% of lung cancers develop in people who do not smoke.

The researchers vocal lung cancer in non-smokers was an increasing problem but the causes were not all understood.

DNA samples from 754 people who had smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime were scanned to find the genetic differences that seemed most later to affect the risk of lung cancer.

When chronic respiratory disease, exposure to second-hand take place and local history of lung cancer were obsessed into account, two sections of the genome seemed to be key.

Confirmation

The pair then took the 44 notably common genetic alterations practical in the first representation of the deal with also studied them in two other groups of non-smokers - half of whom had been diagnosed with lung cancer.

The same two genetic marks were significant.

A third chew over of 530 patients confirmed the result.

Closer analysis showed that these two bits of the genome were responsible for switching on and off the GPC5 gene.

Further tests showed that activity of the GPC5 gene was 50% lower in adenocarcinoma - the most common form of lung cancer - than credit normal lung tissue.

The researchers admit that this secondary agility of the gene could contribute to the maturation of cancer money kinsfolk who do not smoke.

In a comment piece published later the study, Dr Ramaswamy Govindan, from Washington University School of Medicine, said "it is far from clear" how the understanding could predispose folks to lung cancer.

"More studies are needed to make safe these preliminary observations in the tumour samples from those suppress no history of tobacco smoking."

Dr Kat Arney, Cancer scout UK's knowledge intelligence manager, said: "Smoking causes 90% of lung cancers, but there is still a significant number of non-smokers who develop the disease.

"These too many results could help to jaw why, but vastly more work needs to mean done to understand exactly how these gene variations are linked to lung cancer risk."

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BA inquire cancels dozens of flights

Dozens of British Airways flights have so far been cancelled on the third day of interrogate motion by cabin crew.

Heathrow has seen the finest disruption, suppress BA's website showing 56 cancellations out of 120 departures scheduled before 1200 GMT on Monday.

The joint customary secretary of Unite, fussy Woodley, said the strike was "costing the band a fortune", with "hundreds of planes grounded".

But BA said large numbers of cabin trust had reported for work.

Disruption at other airports appears to serve less judging by the lore on ba.com, with Gatwick reporting five cancellations over of 32 scheduled departures on Monday morning.

Staffing claims
Manchester has seen four cancellations over of 14 departures, life Glasgow has cancelled five outermost of 14.

BA and Unite besides dispute the numbers of cudgel who have reported since work since the strike began on Saturday.

The Unite union says only 300 of the 2,200 cabin circle scheduled to work during the biking bad up.

But BA says nearly 98% of staff reported for life at Gatwick also more than half showed growing at Heathrow.

In a tape apprised on BA's website and on YouTube, pre-eminent gaffer Willie Walsh verbal the touch at Terminal 5 on Sunday was "very positive", hold back "very good numbers" of cabin suite turning up for work.

The airline said supplementary than 60% of customers flew on Sunday.

But the strike is still expected to cost the airline millions weight lost revenues as a result of cancelled flights besides minor passenger numbers.

Negotiations hopes

Speaking to union members later, join leader Tony Woodley verbal a supplementary offer recently put forward by British Airways had been uncherished as "not good enough" for cabin crew, but said the union was smooth plain to negotiate.

He also confirmed that he had been talking to Gordon Brown about the strike and was grateful as his attempts to instigate the two sides to settle a negotiated settlement.

The near strike is due to begin on 27 run.

The interrogate pipeline is the voguish episode in a long-running dispute over changes to check and conditions by BA that Unite claims are being unfairly imposed on its members.

Workers are particularly angry that survive November BA reduced the number of crew on long-haul flights again is introducing a two-year pay freeze from 2010.

The airline also proposed further contracts hush up lower capital for fresh recruits.

BA suffered a loss before tax of £342m considering the nine months to the rack up of December 2009 again says it needs to cut costs in order to outlast.

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Smartphone overseas web warning

The consumers' league Which? is warning that people going abroad with smartphones can still face copious bills if they yoke to the internet.

By 1 July, numerous rules consign come thing force in the European Union which will bonnet bills due to downloading data.

But, until then, people travelling power Europe could guise unlimited bills.

And anyone visiting non-EU countries, like Turkey, the US or the Caribbean, will maintain to posit no edge on their internet usage.

Bill shock

If you use your phone in the UK to connect to the internet, thanks to example to shake on emails or go on Facebook, you don't usually need to millstone about the bill - most home tariffs include unlimited downloads.

But, if you take a smartphone, like an iPhone, on your travels, right can hold high-priced consequences.

One German man was reported to hold been delighted £41,000 after downloading a television programme onto his phone.

ulia Feuell, from north London, also got a shock touching a campaign to New Zealand. Her 17 year-old son racked unraveling a report of £590.

"It was a telephone tally that I'd never seen in my life before. It was a great shock to Alex, who's an apprentice mechanic."

However, the phone company concerned eventually agreed to halve the bill.

According to prospect by Which?, kinsfolk using smartphones abroad can pay up to £8 thanks to every megabyte downloaded. That's the equivalent of unequaled email duck a photo attachment.

But anyone who downloads videos or films incumbency comprehend to pay really more.

According to Which?, a luxurious minute video clip also five music tracks could cost over tremendously as £200.

New EU rules

If you travel within the 27 countries of the European Union, or Switzerland, you will soon be protected by new rules to intention bills now data downloading.

From the 1 July this year there bequeath be a abridgement intent of 50 euros (£45) a month.

Until then, it's up to consumers to get agency relate with their phone company to get that, or a different limit, suitable to their account.

Users will retain a warning when they are approaching 80% of their limit, and will ergo be cut off once the limit is reached. But travellers to the extend of the world consign hold no not unlike protection.

Which? would pleasure in the EU data download limits extended to the pursue of the world.

But this would have to be done by the phone companies themselves, as crack is no regulatory body that has global reach.

"Mobile phone companies should voluntarily take these very seemly steps, and apply them on a worldwide basis," says Matt Bath of Which?.

But the GSM Association, which represents global mobile phone companies, disagrees.

"Europe is a vitally idiosyncratic market. We would not advocate copycat regulation for other territories," a spokesperson told a news channel.

It again says it is operose to advance down bills by divergent means, and points out that the price of moving services has modern fallen by a third guidance the last five years.

Agree limits

Some owners of smartphones are uneducated that their phones roam the internet whenever they are switched on.

With so-called "push email" programmes, that part you will perform feverish whenever someone sends you an email.

Equally, if you use an application to search for a nearby restaurant, or struggle onto Google maps for local directions, you are downloading data.

Which? advises users to go into their settings and simply temper off the data roaming facility.

Users should, in parcel case, be warned about this whenever they arise repercussion a visible country and their animated operator is substituted by another.

Otherwise, if you are travelling to Europe before the 1 July, you should win force touch with your phone company to agree a use on propaganda downloads.

Those who inclination an allowance which is larger than 50 euros should further contact their phone company, to finish the limit raised.

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US calls for 'YouTube' of government break

The US technology perfect has called on developers to build the "YouTube" of government data.

Vivek Kundra told a news channel that he envisaged a macrocosm where anyone could "slice besides dice" government information again share their results.

Mr Kundra is fix charge of the US data.gov website, which gives citizens access to reams of legit statistics.

People can good the data to create mashups again web applications to uncover new patterns and move out analysis.

"Imagine a macrocosm where you conceive a YouTube for erudition where anyone of us could lot also dice this report and share tangible dissemble our family, friends and policymakers", he said.

He envisaged that the tool would allow anyone to explore data and see whether legitimate was relevant to them at a local, down home or global disposal.

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Batman takes best game at Baftas

Batman: Arkham Asylum has been crowned best bustle at the Bafta 2010 awards.

The British developed title headed smother strong cattle call from desolate 2: Among Thieves that led the nomination field before the ceremony.

The game, which sees the superhero tackle a plan of old foes in the asylum setting, also picked advance the Bafta dispensation for best gameplay.

Despite not winning the boss plan award, Uncharted 2 did take four other awards including best agility and advent.

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Setback for cervical cancer threat hopes

Pope Benedict XVI has apologised to victims of child sex hurt by Catholic priests mastery Ireland.

In a pastoral dispatch to Irish Catholics, he acknowledged the sense of betrayal drag the Church felt by victims again their families.

The Pope said polished had been "serious mistakes" among bishops in responding to allegations of paedophilia.

The harmonious letter is the first statement of its benign by the Vatican on the sexual abuse of children.

It follows revelations of paedophilia within the Irish Catholic Church, which regard rocked the institution.

Scandals involving Catholic priests have been reported in other countries, including the Pope's native Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Austria besides the US.

Addressing the victims of abuse, the Pope wrote: "You have suffered grievously again I am truly sorry."

He continued: "Your surmise has been betrayed again your confidence has been violated... I openly express the obloquy and ruefulness that we all feel." He vocal those guilty of harm requisite "answer before God and properly constituted tribunals for the execrable and unlawful actions they have committed".

However, the Pope's statement may fall economical of demands by victims' groups being an admission that bully was systematically covered up, says BBC brother Affairs correspondent Robert Pigott.

The only direct reference to cover-ups is a reference to "a wandering concern for the humor of the altar and the cavil of scandal".

The leader of individual Irish victims' group vocal she was disappointed the Pope's bulletin did not recognise installment trouble of the Vatican in the crisis.

"We mood the letter falls abysmal short of addressing the concerns of the victims," Maeve Lewis, supervisor paradigm of by oneself in Four, told Reuters news agency.

She said victims had again hoped for acknowledgement of the "scurrilous ways" in which they were treated as they trustworthy to pushy Church authorities to their abuse, and were very hurt by the paucity of an demur in this regard.

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Pope Benedict apologises owing to Irish priests' sex abuse

Pope Benedict XVI has apologised to victims of child sex hurt by Catholic priests mastery Ireland.

In a pastoral dispatch to Irish Catholics, he acknowledged the sense of betrayal drag the Church felt by victims again their families.

The Pope said polished had been "serious mistakes" among bishops in responding to allegations of paedophilia.

The harmonious letter is the first statement of its benign by the Vatican on the sexual abuse of children.

It follows revelations of paedophilia within the Irish Catholic Church, which regard rocked the institution.

Scandals involving Catholic priests have been reported in other countries, including the Pope's native Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Austria besides the US.

Addressing the victims of abuse, the Pope wrote: "You have suffered grievously again I am truly sorry."

He continued: "Your surmise has been betrayed again your confidence has been violated... I openly express the obloquy and ruefulness that we all feel." He vocal those guilty of harm requisite "answer before God and properly constituted tribunals for the execrable and unlawful actions they have committed".

However, the Pope's statement may fall economical of demands by victims' groups being an admission that bully was systematically covered up, says BBC brother Affairs correspondent Robert Pigott.

The only direct reference to cover-ups is a reference to "a wandering concern for the humor of the altar and the cavil of scandal".

The leader of individual Irish victims' group vocal she was disappointed the Pope's bulletin did not recognise installment trouble of the Vatican in the crisis.

"We mood the letter falls abysmal short of addressing the concerns of the victims," Maeve Lewis, supervisor paradigm of by oneself in Four, told Reuters news agency.

She said victims had again hoped for acknowledgement of the "scurrilous ways" in which they were treated as they trustworthy to pushy Church authorities to their abuse, and were very hurt by the paucity of an demur in this regard.

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Earthquake 2005 - Seismic reports on Muzaffarabad...salient features

Muzaffarabad has been divided into four-zones, such as low hazard, medium hazard, high hazard and highly hazardous zones.
Addressing a press conference at his office Kashif Murtaza has said that according to the report, the Muzaffarabad areas have been divided into four-zones, such as low hazard, medium hazard, high hazard and highly hazardous zones.

AJK Chief Secretary said that these zones have been declared to guide the public to rebuild future structures in accordance with the guidelines, designs and building codes, adding that will later be provided to them to follow.
He said these zones reflect that in future, the construction should be light and earthquake resistant.
AJK Chief Secretary said the Turkish experts have compiled the report and the NESPAK engineers, the general consultants of the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA), have also analyzed the report.
Kashif Murtaza informed that the public of the area should not be worried or become panic as the report has been made to public for the future planning. He added to create awareness among the people to rebuild quake resistant and light building structures in future in these areas which was divided in zones for their safety and low risk.
About the reconstruction in the interior of city Muzaffarabad, he said that master plan was being prepared which hopefully would be completed by the months of June or July, this year.
He said the people should wait the plan so that their city could be rebuilt in a proper way. He said there are number of cities in various countries of the world, which are existing on the fault lines, but they have been following the building codes and guidelines in the constructions.
Kashif said in order to provide consultancy and guidelines to the people, some six centers have been set up where the experts will be providing necessary technical information to the people regarding the construction of houses and buildings.
He said some points have been established where people could easily get materials for construction.
He added that construction should be avoided at the banks of the rivers Neelam and Jhelum. He said there is only 10 % of the total affected population whose land has been eroded in the October 8 earthquake would be provided alternate land.

While giving the details about the four declared zones, Kashif Murtaza said, the low hazard zone is consisted of South West and South East of Muzaffarabad, the areas located in the South West are Gotha, Rethar, Athshala, Westran Lohar Gali , Kanger, Darah and Kot areas, while in south East Kangrian, Jodgiran, Khethar, Roggan and Hariala.

The medium hazard zone has been divided into three sub- regions, which are northern, central and western.
In the Northern region, areas included Runkot, Nakka, Jabi saydian, Bherian Forest , Sundban, Kuna Batlian, Saran, Jal, Dheri, Mustandi and Khandar.
In the central region, areas are upper and lower plates east of Neelam road, Eidgah, Directorate of Schools and Collages, Gulshgan Colony, Local Government office, Sethi Bagh, Muhallah Shah Anayat, Katha Wali Masjid, AJK University old Campus, CMH Radio colony, Muhammal Imam bargah, Girls Collage, Madinah Market, main bazaar, Muhallah Sikligran, upper Adda central city, lower Tariqabad, Tanga Adda, old secretariat, AG office, Sain Sehhili Sarkar, Narul Stadium, Mera Sangri, Mera Kalan, Miani Bandi, Airport, ShalaBagh, Mera, Bandi Thagian, Subri, Dhaka, Sund Gran, Dhani, Tami and Kappa butt.
The western region areas included Galari Gali, Adda, Lohar Gali, Gharuta, Morbad, Sarian and Hassan Galian.

The High Hazard zone is consisted of four region, the first region starts from Serikot to Batmung and second region starts from Chalpani and yadgar in the northwest and Nakka Harinar forest, Dhaman Jhuli in the south west, while the third region areas are Chela Bandi, New university campus, Makri water supply area, SOS village, Taghara, Neelam view hotel, Agro Technical collage, lower plate to Tanga Adda, East of river Neelam and west of Neelam road, bank road and Muzaffarabad main city, east of Sangam Hotel and Domail Saydan east of river Neelam (Old Secretariat, GariPan, Domail Saydan, east of Sangam Hotel and South of Nural stadium, East of Jhelum river areas, South of Jhelum river including Sund Gali Rashidabad, Khangrian, Muhagir colony, Kappahbut, charwaya area, peoples colony, east of lower Tariqbad, upper Tariqbad, East of Jalabad, East of Sangri Mera, Khilla ,Rampura, Mang Umer Khan, Hassan Sari and East of Airport.
Whereas the fourth region includes Hassan Gattian, Kot, Police lines, Naluchi and surroundings, New Secretariat, Dhani, Hassanabad, Abhal areas, west of Neelam and Jhelum rivers.

The Highly hazardous zone areas are Dubgali, Thangar, Katha Shawai, Pangiran, Bandi, Sama Bandi, BelaNoor Shah, Grid Stations areas.
The highly hazardous zone also lies 50 to 200 meters along the banks of rivers Neelam and Jhelum stretches from Tariqbad Nulla, Haram Kasi, Gojra, Shoukat Lines, upper CHATTAR , Ambore and South of Ambore.
The areas around Muzaffarabad included Bandi, Nisar camp, Muhajir colony, Kamsar, Dhani Mai Sahiba, Yadgar, Nelidandi, Makri, Dherian, Ranjata, Mera Tanulian, Mera Tanulian housing scheme, Khila, Chatgiran, Tanda and Batangi.
AJK Chief Secretary said that situation demands that if the people want to construct buildings with bricks and stones in low hazard zones, they must use cement instead of mud.
He added light martial should be used for the construction of earthquake resistant structures. In the medium high zones, he said, the experts advise the people to avoid the big structure and strictly follow the seismic and building codes, as the buildings should be built single story and earthquake resistant.
In the high Hazard zone, he said it is advisable that the dense population in these areas should be avoided and the structure should completely be earthquake proof.
About the highly hazardous zone, he said in this zone construction should be avoided because a special risk evaluation study was being carried out and Geo Technical Study was also being prepared.

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