foxbest News: 2012-02-12

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Adjournment motion moved in KP assembly against US resolution

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Donald opens defense of US PGA money title

Daly, Hamilton star draws at Avantha Masters

J. Mendel fills Fashion Week with swank

Greece seeks Monday bailout deal, EU questions remain

Veena Knocks Down, Mathira Goes Topless,

Can anyone knock down the ‘Veena Malik Posing Nude’ for FHM magazine in India? Yes, Mathira has shown the courage of getting topless and that under the nose of Veena Malik.
In the recent topless controversy, now Pakistan’s well known fashion model Mathira gets indulged very boldly. Mathira is posing topless with another fashion model Waqas Pathan at the cover page of Valentine’s special issue of Pakistani fashion magazine ‘Fashion Diet Fortnightly’. She is looking too ravishing with her red lips and red roses in the photos.
However, both Veena Malik and Mathira are now the bold girls of L-town with their topless shoot.
States Times (www.statestimes.net)

Healthways posts 4Q loss on impairment charge

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Wellness program administrator Healthways Inc. posted a larger fourth-quarter loss Wednesday after taking more than $183 million in impairment charges.

Healthways announced in December that it would take a write-down of about $184 million to reflect the end of a contract with health insurer Cigna Corp. The charge came to $183.3 million, and Healthways also reported $9 million in costs related to job cuts and the closures of two call centers. The company reported a fourth-quarter loss of $177.1 million, or $5.32 per share. In the fourth quarter of 2010 Healthways earned $15.6 million, or 45 cents per share.

Excluding one-time items the company reported a profit of 27 cents per share in the most recent quarter. Its revenue fell 8 percent, to $180 million from $195.3 million, as its results a year ago got a boost from a settlement with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Analysts expected Healthways to report an adjusted profit of 34 cents per share and $182.5 million in revenue, according to FactSet.

Healthways' contract with Cigna began winding down Jan. 1, and it will end in February 2013. Cigna has been one of the company's largest customers and a major source of revenue.

In 2011, Healthways lost $157.7 million, or $4.68 per share. In 2010 it reported a profit of $47.3 million, or $1.36 per share. Revenue slipped 4 percent, to $688.8 million from $720.3 million.

The company said it expects a profit of 42 cents to 54 cents per share and revenue of $665 million to $705 million in 2012. The wind-down of the Cigna contract will reduce its revenue by about $75 million.

Analysts were forecasting a larger profit of 76 cents per share and $655.8 million in revenue on average.

Shares of Healthways picked up 15 cents to $7.94 during Wednesday trading and were unchanged aftermarket.

LHWs hold protest in Karachi

Staff Report

KARACHI: Lady Health Workers (LHWs) held a protest in Karachi in support of their demands for better remuneration on Wednesday.

Police fire teargas shells and resorted to lathi-charge after the LHWs tried to march toward Governor House. Some of the protesters incurred injuries.

Earlier, hundreds of LHWs gathered outside the press club and chanted slogans in support of their demands.

The peaceful protest turned violent when police beat up marchers to stop them from going to Governor House.

Police say they tried to stop protesters from entering the Red Zone.

The LHWs threatened to continue the protest if their demands were not met. SAMAA

Congress negotiators complete payroll tax cut deal: aide

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bipartisan negotiators in the U.S. Congress on Wednesday reached a deal to extend a payroll tax cut and long-term jobless benefits, a Republican congressional aide said.
The action should clear the way for anticipated votes on the agreement in the House of Representatives and Senate, likely by Friday, before lawmakers leave for a week long break.
(Reporting By Donna Smith; Editing by Sandra Maler)

Some 5,000 militia men join new Libyan army

By Mohammad Al Tommy
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - About 5,000 rebels have joined Libya's nascent national army but more of the militias that have dominated the country since the revolution must sign up if the armed forces are to reassert their authority, the new chief of staff said.
The militias, which fought to unseat former leader Muammar Gaddafi, are now the biggest threat to the stability of Libya, clashing regularly with each other in violent turf wars and undermining the authority of the new rulers.
Libya's interim government, the National Transitional Council (NTC), wants to amalgamate the militias into the police force and army. NTC chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil warned last month that if they did not comply, the country risks being dragged into a civil war.
Drawn from dozens of different towns and ideological camps, militias are reluctant to lay down arms they believe will help them secure their due share of political power in the new Libya.

U.S. pushes EU, SWIFT to eject Iran banks

By Rachelle Younglai and Roberta RamptonWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is pressuring the European Union and a global electronic banking system to expel Iranian banks from a network used to transfer money, another step in Western efforts to deprive Tehran of funds needed to develop nuclear weapons.
Kicking Iranian banks out of the Belgium-based SWIFT, or Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, would cut off one of the only remaining avenues for Iran to transact business with the rest of the world.
European banking regulators may meet with SWIFT's board as early as Thursday to discuss expelling designated Iranian bank users, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
SWIFT facilitates the bulk of the world's cross-border payments, exchanging 18 million payment messages per day between banks and other financial institutions in 210 countries.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Mathira Naked Photoshoot for V Day

Mormons baptise parents of Nazi-hunter Simon Wiesenthal

LDS' Mormon Temple in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah 27 January 2012

Changes in the Mormon genealogical database in 2010 were designed to prevent proxy baptisms

Obama presses next China leader on rules

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama on Tuesday urged China to play by the 'same rules' in the global economy but voiced hope for cooperation in a key introductory meeting with leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping.China s vice president, who is expected to take the helm next year, largely focused on the positive on his closely watched US visit. He pledged in general terms that China would improve its widely criticized record on human rights.Xi made the rounds in Washington as Tibetans and others staged noisy protests outside most venues. At the Pentagon, he was given a rare honor ceremony with a 19-gun salute and booming cannons. Obama, welcoming Xi to the Oval Office, said that Washington welcomed a 'prosperous' China and praised its 'extraordinary development over the last two decades,' but stressed that power came with 'increased responsibilities.''We want to work with China to make sure that everybody is working by the same rules of the road when it comes to the world economic system,' Obama said alongside a relaxed-looking Xi, as senior aides and translators stood by.'That includes ensuring that there is a balanced trading flow not only between the United States and China but around the world,' Obama said.The US leader also brought up concerns about human rights, saying Washington would 'continue to emphasize what we believe is the importance of realizing the aspirations and rights of all people.'Speaking later at a luncheon for Xi at the State Department, Vice President Joe Biden sharply criticized China s decision to join Russia in vetoing a UN resolution condemning violence in Syria, as well as Beijing s rights record.'We have been clear about our concern over the areas in which, from our perspective, conditions in China have deteriorated and about the plight of several very prominent individuals. We appreciate your response,' Biden said.Xi responded that China has made 'tremendous and well-recognized achievements' in human rights but added: 'There is always room for improvement.''We will, in light of China s national conditions, continue to take concrete and effective policies and measures to promote social fairness, justice and harmony and push forward China s course of human rights,' Xi said.Chinese President Hu Jintao made similar remarks in Washington last year, and acknowledged China does not share Western ideas about human rights, believing its 'national' characteristics must be taken into account.The Obama administration has spent months planning the visit by Xi, who is expected to succeed Hu next year and could serve as president for a full decade in which many experts believe that China will grow at breakneck speed.But China is already in the firing line ahead of US elections in November, particularly on economic issues. US lawmakers accuse Beijing of keeping the value of its currency unfairly low to fuel inexpensive exports that have turned China into a manufacturing superpower.At the luncheon, Xi said the United States and China should 'should address each other s economic and trade concerns through dialogue and consultation, not protectionism, and uphold the mutually beneficial pattern of China-US economic relations and trade.'China has let its yuan appreciate since mid-2010 in response to concerns over inflation. But the United States wants China to do more and to take action in other areas including protection of US intellectual property.As he held talks at the White House, dozens of impassioned pro-Tibet activists outside waved flags and chanted 'China lies, Tibetans die' and 'Xi, Tibet will be free!'China has stepped up detentions of government critics since last month and has recently imposed what residents say is virtual martial law in Tibetan areas after a wave of self-immolation protests against Beijing s rule.The wife of Gao Zhisheng, a lawyer who has defended some of China s most vulnerable people including coal miners and underground Christians, voiced fear that her husband may be dead. He was arrested in February 2009 and little has been heard from him since.'The government has lied to the family so many times in the past few years. They laugh at and play games with the family,' Geng He told AFP before testifying Tuesday at the US government s Congressional-Executive Commission on China.Author Yu Jie, who fled to the United States last month after what he said was torture by Chinese police, pressed for Obama to take a firmer approach on human rights.'The Chinese Communist Party remains a tiger that will bite,' Yu wrote in an opinion piece in The Washington Post.Xi heads Wednesday to Iowa, where he will meet Midwesterners from his first trip to the United States in 1985, before heading to California where he is likely to watch a Los Angeles Lakers basketball game.

Meera & Shoaib Akhtar Proposal Story

Pakistan film actress Meera has said that two years ago former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar proposed to her but she refused as Shoaib Akhtar also proposed to Meera’s cousin. Meera also said that I and Shoaib like each other'. Meera added that she was offered 50 million Rupees to appear on Big Boss house with Shoaib but she and shoji refused.Meera said that eight years ago she wanted to marry Pakistan film actor Saud but her family was not convinced for her marriage. Meera said that Reema Khan is a cheater. Meera said that 'I and Resham did a guest appearance in Love Mein Ghum song but Reema didn’t pay us. She is dishonest. '
On Veena Malik controversial photo shoot, Meera said that it’s easy to get fame anyone can get 10 seconds of fame by taking off their clothes.
Meera will soon marry Pakistani-Amercian pilot Naveed Pervez.

Rights advocates press White House while China's Xi visits

By Lily Kuo and Chris Buckley
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - While China's leader-in-waiting, Xi Jinping, enjoyed center stage in Washington on Tuesday, the wife of a jailed Chinese rights lawyer and other opponents of Beijing's grip on dissent said the Obama administration should increase pressure on China.
The White House has said it always presses human rights concerns in talks with Chinese leaders.
"On critical issues like human rights, we will continue to emphasize what we believe is the importance of recognizing the aspirations and rights of all people," President Barack Obama said during Xi's visit to the White House.

Flights by U.S. airlines hit 10-year low

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. airlines in 2011 operated the fewest number of flights since the hijack attacks on New York and Washington depressed air travel and accelerated the industry's worst-ever financial downturn, government figures on Tuesday showed.
The Transportation Department said major airlines, their chief low-cost competitors and the biggest regional carriers, recorded 6.08 million departures last year. Takeoffs were not that low since 2002, when they totaled 5.27 million.
Reduced operations and good summer weather, especially in the East, helped airlines post a 79 percent on-time rating in 2011, unchanged from the previous two years.
The overall number of flights by U.S. airlines have steadily declined since 2008 when the recession dampened travel demand. Most recently, stubbornly high fuel prices have prompted airlines to further cut capacity to reduce costs and maintain higher fares.

Eurozone leaders 'call off Greece crisis talks'

Gavin Hewitt: "EU officials are playing it tough... For the moment this second bailout is on hold"

The head of the eurozone countries has downgraded a eurozone finance ministers meeting on Wednesday, saying Greece has not yet given the necessary assurances about its austerity plan.

Venezuela opposition: row erupts over voter list

Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles

Henrique Capriles faces a tough political battle with President Chavez in the months ahead

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Grammy Awards see US audience boosted to 40 million

British singer Adele picked up six awards

Whitney Houston's body arrives home in New Jersey

Fans cheered as a gold hearse carrying the singer's body arrived at the funeral home

Whitney Houston's body has been flown from California to her home state of New Jersey, ahead of a funeral expected later this week.

LHC energy boost will aid hunt for Higgs boson

Two teams at the LHC have seen hints of what may well prove to be the Higgs

Scientists at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) will increase the energies of the bunches of subatomic particles called protons that it smashes together.

China court to review Wu Ying death penalty amid outcry

Wu Ying's case has raised debate about local loan laws

China's top court says it is to review a death sentence "with caution" after a public outcry.

Thailand blasts: 'Iranian' bomber injured in Bangkok

A man thought to be Iranian has had both legs blown off after attempting to throw a bomb at police in the Thai capital, Bangkok, officials say.

China Premier Wen Jiabao vows to help on eurozone debt

China's Premier Wen Jiabao: ''We are facing enormous challenges''

China has promised to help resolve the eurozone's debt crisis, after talks with EU leaders in Beijing.

Madagascar hit by cyclone Giovanna

An image released by the Nasa Earth Observatory and taken on 13 February 2012 of Tropical Cyclone Giovanna located about 250 nautical miles (465km) east of Antananarivo, Madagascar

US space agency Nasa says the storm spans hundreds of kilometres

A tropical cyclone has hit the island of Madagascar, with winds of up to 194km (120mph) ripping up trees and electricity pylons.

Bahrain restricts protests on uprising anniversary

Riot police fire tear gas to disperse anti-government protesters on a road near Manama (13 February 2012)

Demonstrators were prevented from reaching Pearl Roundabout on Monday

A heavy police presence is preventing people marking the first anniversary of pro-democracy demonstrations in Bahrain's capital, Manama.

Osama bin Laden

Whitney Houston 'found underwater' in bath

Lt. Mark Rosen, Beverly Hills Police: Houston was "pulled from bath"

Court hears challenge to CA affirmative action ban

Betsey Johnson clothes take '60s time machine ride

Adele triumphs at Grammys, clouded by Houston death

British soul diva Adele made a triumphant return to the stage at the Grammys, winning a clean sweep of six awards and a standing ovation, in a show clouded by the death of Whitney Houston.
The 23-year-old Londoner, who has been out of action since October to undergo throat surgery, wowed a star-studded audience with a storming rendition of her worldwide hit "Rolling in the Deep."

Low rates spur colleges to refinance, issue debt

By Manuela Badawy
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Extremely low interest rates and an improved financial environment in the United States are encouraging educational institutions to refinance and take on debt.
As university endowments continue to refill their coffers after the credit crisis, school administrators are starting to consider borrowing money to maintain the premises and spend in their institutions.
Credit rating agencies have seen a sharp increase in rating requests from U.S. colleges and universities in the month of February as these institutions seek to take advantage of the near zero rates to borrow more debt or refinance existing ones.

U.S. clears Google-Motorola deal, Nortel patent sale

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Google Inc received U.S. antitrust approval to buy Motorola Mobility, a deal aimed at building up an arsenal of patents, and an Apple-led consortium also received the go-ahead to purchase a trove of patents from bankrupt Canadian company Nortel Networks, the Justice Department said.
The department also said on Monday that it would not hesitate to take enforcement action to ensure that essential patents -- patents needed to ensure that devices sold by different companies are interoperable -- were licensed fairly.
(Reporting By Diane Bartz and Jeremy Pelofsky; Editing by Bernard Orr)

PM ridiculing judiciary to save Zardari: Imran

Staff Report

KARACHI: PTI Chairman Imran Khan accused Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani of ridiculing the judiciary to save President Asif Ali Zardari.

Sierra Leone president forced out U.N. envoy: letter

By Simon Akam
FREETOWN (Reuters) - The United Nations was pressured by the president of Sierra Leone to cut short the tour of its mission chief ahead of an election later this year, the envoy said in a letter seen by Reuters on Monday.
Michael von der Schulenburg, who had been expected to stay until next year but has just left, told his headquarters in a December 22 letter that the United Nations' credibility and success story in the West African state risked being undermined if it caved in to "unreasonable and unjustified pressures."
A spokesman for the United Nations would not comment on the letter while a spokesman for President Ernest Bai Koroma denied he had ever called for the United Nations to withdraw the mission chief.
The election, slated for November, will be a test of what the United Nations has touted as a success story for a reconstruction effort following 11 years of war that ended in 2002.

Monday, February 13, 2012

'The Vow' tops North American box office takings

Arabs agree Syria opposition contacts, peace force

CAIRO: The Arab League said it agreed on Sunday to open contacts with Syria s opposition and to ask the United Nations to form a joint peacekeeping force to the unrest-swept nation in moves swiftly rejected by Syria.Arab diplomats 'will open channels of communication with the Syrian opposition and offer full political and financial support, urging (the opposition) to unify its ranks,' it said in a statement..They would also 'ask the UN Security Council to issue a decision on the formation of a joint UN-Arab peacekeeping force to oversee the implementation of a ceasefire,' it said.After marathon talks in Cairo, the 22-member bloc also announced it had formally ended its own observer mission to Syria, suspended last month because of an upsurge in violence.Only Algeria and Lebanon expressed reservations about the resolution, an Arab League official said.Syria s ambassador to Cairo 'categorically' rejected the Arab League moves.'The Syrian Arab Republic categorically rejects the decisions of the Arab League,' which 'reflects the hysteria of these governments' after failing to get foreign intervention at the UN Security Council, Yusef Ahmed said in a statement. (AFP)

Central Athens burns as lawmakers weigh austerity

Apple launches new legal attack on Samsung phones

(Reuters) - Apple Inc has asked a federal court in California to block Samsung Electronics Co Ltd from selling its new Galaxy Nexus smartphones, alleging patent violations.
In a suit filed last week in San Jose, Apple said the Galaxy Nexus infringes on patents underlying features customers expect from its products. Those include the ability to unlock phones by sliding an image and to search for information by voice.
Samsung spokespersons did not immediately return requests for comment.