Ice caves discovered in China

Five out-of-season ice cave groups have been discovered in succession in the Yunqiu Mountain of Xiangning County in North China s Shanxi Province. They have been identified as the largest group of ice caves ever discovered in China, according to the Institute of Geology and Geophysics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences after textual research.

People could shudder at the entrance to one of the natural out-of-season ice caves even when the outdoor temperature is over 22 degrees centigrade. Thick ice froze inside the cave, with many icicles on the ceiling of the cave, making a striking contrast with the green vegetation outside. Five groups of ice caves like this have been discovered in an area of 35 square kilometers at the Yunqiu Mountain, the largest of its kind ever discovered in China.

According to Chen Shicai, researcher of the CAS Institute of Geology and Geophysics, only about one in every 10,000 caves in China is ice cave. So the ice cave groups are rather a miracle.

Dum Maaro Dum lands up in controversy once again

For years, whenever one heard of ‘Dum Maaro Dum’, one would recollect the hippy looking Zeenat Aman singing the famous track from the super hit film Hare Rama Hare Krishna. Circa 2011… today when one hears Dum Maaro Dum, there are so many first that comes to the person’s mind. On one hand, there’s Deepika and her booty-licious body that gyrates to the groovy track, followed by controversies galore!

Just couple of days after controversies surrounding Dum Maaro Dum settled down, the producers seem to have step into another tricky situation. This time, it’s in the form of Frankfinn Institute, one of the high-flying institutes that groom youngsters for aerial jobs. Reportedly, Samir Valia, Frankfinn’s Vice President said that when Fox Star Studio had approached them for having an in film branding, they were game for the same, and they shared their logos, and trademarks and other required material. But when they realized that the overall portrayal of the airhostess shown in the film does not mirror the quality and standards that they impart to their students, they refused the offer for in film branding.

What then shocked Valia was the fact that the filmmakers apparently made a logo which was strikingly similar to theirs! Valia, when he filed the case, said that, his institute does not intend to stall the resale of the film or anything of that sort. But they do want to remove the tarnishing and damaging portions from the film.

Further details regarding the case are awaited.

Vatican Bank Faces Money-laundering Charges

VATICAN CITY: The Vatican Bank, the financial face of the city, has been hit by criticism over suggestions of money laundering and history says the allegations against this secretive organisation could be well founded.

This is no ordinary bank: The ATM’s are in Latin. Priests use a private entrance. A life-size portrait of Pope Benedict XVI hangs on the wall.

Nevertheless, the Institute for Religious Works is a bank, and it’s under harsh new scrutiny in a case involving money-laundering allegations that led police to seize euro23 million ($30 million) in Vatican assets in September. Critics say the case shows that the “Vatican Bank” has never shed its penchant for secrecy and scandal.

The Vatican calls the seizure of assets a “misunderstanding” and expresses optimism it will be quickly cleared up. But court documents show that prosecutors say the Vatican Bank deliberately flouted anti-laundering laws “with the aim of hiding the ownership, destination and origin of the capital.”

The documents also reveal investigators’ suspicions that clergy may have acted as fronts for corrupt businessmen and Mafia.

The documents pinpoint two transactions that have not been reported: one in 2009 involving the use of a false name, and another in 2010 in which the Vatican Bank withdrew euro650,000 ($860,000) from an Italian bank account but ignored bank requests to disclose where the money was headed.

The Vatican Bank was founded in 1942 by Pope Pius XII to manage assets destined for religious or charitable works.

Top prelates have a special entrance manned by security guards. There are about 100 staffers, 10 bank windows, a basement vault for safe deposit boxes, and ATMs that open in Latin but can be accessed in modern languages. In another concession to modern times, the bank recently began issuing credit cards.

Swati seeks Kazmi’s removal as Religious Minister

Staff Report

MANSEHRA: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Azam Khan Swati has called for immediate removal of Hamid Saeed Kazmi as Federal Religious Minister over alleged Haj corruption.

He was speaking to journalists after attending an oath-taking ceremony at Private Education Institute of Management Association in Mansehra on Sunday.

He said that thousands of pilgrims had to face difficulties during Haji pilgrimage due to mismanagement of Federal Religious Minister. Trend Pk

Less chance of depression among those who exercise: Research

People who take regular exercise during their free time are less likely to have symptoms of depression and anxiety, a research claims.
Researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London teamed up with academics from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the University of Bergen in Norway to conduct the study. Participants were asked how often, and to what degree, they undertook physical activity in their leisure time and during the course of their work. Researchers also measured participants’ depression and anxiety using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. People who were not active in their leisure time were almost twice as likely to have symptoms of depression compared to the most active individuals, the study found.

PPP law maker harasses medical officer in Multan

Staff Report

MULTAN: Punjab Assembly member Nazim Hussain Shah harassed a Medical Superintendent (MS) at the Institute of Cardiology, SAMAA learnt on Wednesday.

Shah is a Pakistan Peoples Party leader; Multan is the home town of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.

According to details, MS Dr. Fazl-ur-Rehman suspended four officials, including Executive Director Ali Raza, but the medical officials obtained a stay order from the court. MS Rehman did not allow them to take charge.

According to Rehman, MPA Nazim Shah along with a dozen others reached the institute and broke the lock of the office.

Dr. Rehman has also alleged that the PPP law maker has issued him death threats. SAMAA

Construction of Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology stopped

Construction of Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology has been stopped on orders of PAF for it was started without any NOC. The Institute is being constructed parallel to PAF base, the reason why PAF has interrupted as the area is considered sensitive.
According to sources, a 4 billion PKR project to construct a 250-bed hospital was given to Allied Engineers. Punjab Govt., until now, has paid 500 million PKR to the construction company.
Secretary Health Punjab, Fawad Hassan was appointed Project Director of the Institute.

Oil falls below $72 on stronger dollar

SINGAPORE: Crude prices fell below $72 on Wednesday on a slightly stronger U.S. dollar, reversing earlier gains of as much as 0.6 percent boosted by forecasts of a second weekly fall in U.S. inventories.

Prices tracked volatile equities in the past two days, paring gains on Tuesday after a report from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) showed a slowdown in the U.S. service sector. But the expected tightening of U.S. crude and gasoline supplies allowed oil to shrug off falling Asian equities on Wednesday.

U.S. crude for August fell 24 cents to $71.74 a barrel by 0706 GMT on Wednesday after advancing as much as 40 cents to $72.38 a barrel earlier. ICE Brent for August fell 25 cents to $71.20.

“Yesterday”s non-manufacturing data fell more than expected, so investors have a wait-and-see approach,” said Serene Lim, a Singapore-based oil analyst with ANZ.

“The market is pricing in a drop in crude inventories, but if inventories fall less than expected, we might see prices falling.”

U.S. crude stockpiles probably fell 2.6 million barrels in the week to July 2, a survey showed on Tuesday, as imports may have dropped for a second straight week.

Gasoline inventories were forecast down 300,000 barrels on average, following a surprise modest build in the prior week, while supplies of distillates, including heating oil and diesel, probably posted their sixth straight weekly increase, adding 1.5 million barrels.

The American Petroleum Institute will publish weekly inventory data on Wednesday at 2030 GMT, followed by government statistics from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Thursday at 1500 GMT. Both reports come a day later than usual because of the independence day holiday on July 5.

Asian stocks fell on Wednesday as investors worried global growth was faltering, while the euro held near a 7-week high as investors pared long positions in the dollar on doubts about the resilience of the U.S. recovery.

“Investors are still very concerned about the economic outlook,” said Lim, adding that prices may test the $68-$70 range before the end of the month.

“I don”t think oil could decouple from the stock markets. It”s quite highly correlated these days. Whatever is going to happen in the stock market will have some impact on crude prices.”

A weather system over Mexico”s Yucatan peninsula and the eastern Gulf of Mexico had a 30 percent chance of developing during the next two days into a tropical cyclone, a category that includes tropical storms and hurricanes, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said late on Monday.

The system”s course so far has been similar to that of Hurricane Alex, which in late June forced Mexican oil terminals to shut and U.S. producers to curb output.

Global oil output will rise faster than first expected in 2010 with a strong rebound in prices from the depths of the crisis ensuring growing demand will not stretch supplies for at least another year, a Reuters poll of 10 top oil-tracking analysts and organisations found on Tuesday.

UK film body launches adopt a Hitchcock scheme

LONDON: The British Film Institute (BFI) has called on the public to adopt an Alfred Hitchcock movie in a bid to raise the one million pounds ($1.

More here:
UK film body launches adopt a Hitchcock scheme

KU announces B.Com Part II result

KARACHI: The University of Karachi on Tuesday announced the result of B.Com Part II /Both Parts (Regular) Annual Examinations 2009.

Hassan Hamid of the Institute of Business Education with 847 marks out of maximum of 1100, stood first.

Sadaf Muhammad Yousuf of DA Degree College for Women with 834 marks remained second while Saba Fatima of Government College of Commerce and Economics who got 829 marks was declared third.

According to statistics, 21,568 candidates appeared in the examinations and the pass percentage remained at 26.03.

A Karachi University announcement said that marks certificates will be issued in due course of time.

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