For many who doesn’t the History of Lashkar e Taiba, this news can be surprising. But this once again proves no terrorist organization can prosper without the backup of Nations.

Last three times the UN Security council attempted to ban Lashkar e taiba’s political wing Jamaat-ud-Dawah, it was blocked by India and Pakistan’s common neighbor China. China and US have always stood behind Pakistan over the years with main goal of preventing India’s rise in the region. But now with the global focus squarely on Pakistan and its militant groups, Will China again block a move to ban the Jamaat-ud-Dawah again?

This also brings questions about Al Qaeda itself, Osama was grown by US to fight against Russians within Afganishtan. Though most countries intelligence agencies support terrorists in one way or other it always backfires. China Keeps a tight lid on any muslim religious activities within its borders even banning daily prayers, but still supported Jamaat-ud-Dawah for no strange reason.

It’s learnt the UNSC has already initiated the necessary steps to ban JUD and tighten the screws on its chief Hafiz Saeed, regarded as a key man behind the Mumbai carnage, who is wanted by India as a criminal terrorist. A Saeed-specific ban is also a certainty, said government sources.

Pakistan, which had denied the complicity of Lashkar in Mumbai attacks, had to make the statement about banning JUD at the UNSC because of the near-unanimity in the Security Council about JUD’s involvement in terrorism. The UNSC move marked a global concert against Pakistan because of its failure to carry out its repeated pledges to India and others to crack down on terrorist camps.

Researchers have isolated a gene which create Obese tendencies in kids. A specific gene variation was observed in Kids of the same age group. The kids with a specific gene mutation had the tendency to pick fatty foods compared to kids without this mutation.

The kids with the mutation picked Fattening Fries compared to fruits and this occurred more often than not. These kids had 100 more calories in every meal they had. This 100 calories add up eventually resulting in obesity.

As with all the studies and researches the findings are not conclusive, but says this Gene effect still can be overcome with mind.

Palmer and his team brought out its conclusion recently.Palmer said the results support the theory that childhood obesity today could be connected to the widespread availability and low cost of high-calorie foods. The research is published in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine.

Last year, scientists discovered the gene, named FTO, was linked to obesity but they didn’t know why. Most of the other genes thought to affect body weight influence appetite.

Palmer and his colleagues wanted to know if the FTO gene also had to do with eating behavior, or whether it involved how the body burns calories. They studied over 2,700 Scottish children ages 4 to 10 and put a group of them through extensive tests.

Nearly two-thirds of the children had at least one copy of the gene variant, about the same proportion found in last year’s study of mostly white Europeans. That study found that those with one copy of the gene variant had a 30 percent increased risk of obesity, and carriers of two copies had almost a 70 percent increased risk.

The gene variation is also found in other populations; the frequency in Chinese is about half that of Europeans.

Many of the Zune users seem to agree a Zune Phone would push Microsoft’s dull mobile market into high gear. The inbuilt Music software in the Microsoft Mobile is no where near the quality we get in a Zune. There are lots of possibilities including the Zune software getting embedded in Windows Mobile. But ultimately it also depends on the hardware which Microsoft cannot control in the case of Windows Mobile.
Most of the Windows Mobiles are made by HTC,HP and Motorola.

Ever since the launch of the Zune, with its far superior music playing software compared to the player built into Windows Mobile, people have urged Microsoft to incorporate the Zune software into a phone. That idea has spurred rumors of a Microsoft-branded phone that includes the Zune software and is targeted at consumers. The latest speculation has Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer introducing a Zune phone at CES in Las Vegas in January.

Microsoft flat out denies that it will introduce a phone any time soon, but experts say it should.

“Microsoft’s only chance is to build a phone,” said Satoshi Nakajima, president of Big Canvas, an iPhone application development startup, who spent more than a decade at Microsoft. If Microsoft were to package hardware and software, much like its Xbox effort, it could better control the end result and potentially earn more revenue than it does on Windows Mobile, he said.

But Microsoft, which has historically said that it won’t release its own device because it would compete with its phone manufacturer customers that use Windows Mobile, said not to count on an announcement. “Microsoft has no plans to make a phone. Our core focus has been and will continue to be providing software plus services and working with our partners to deliver great phones. Our partners have been integral in our success to date, and we are excited about the innovation we are bringing to the market together,” it said in a statement.

Microsoft shouldn’t let the competitive issue hold it back, some say. If Microsoft clearly differentiates its phone, which would be based on software from recently acquired Danger and incorporate the Zune and potentially Xbox gaming functions, as squarely targeted at consumers, it might convince Windows Mobile phone makers that it doesn’t compete, Nakajima said.

Microsoft could further distance the new platform from Windows Mobile by spinning out a consumer focused company that includes Xbox, Zune and Danger and produces the consumer phone, Nakajima suggested.

Mumbai, India

TATA Consultancy Services, Infosys and Wipro the IT biggies from India have put big brakes on the recruitment drives. Most of the IT companies were running amok in terms of recruitment for past few years in college campuses. But the current batch might have to struggle hard to find good positions in IT industry.

Now the focus turns to quality from quantity as far as IT industry is concerned. The most expected outcome is the companies will reduce the number of colleges they visit in the next few years. And within each college they will pick only the cream, gone are the days when able to utter few words in English would mean a position in one of these companies.

Strangely this will affect the Mechanical and Electronics (ECE) and other departments of the colleges compared to Computer Science and Information technlogy departments. These companies will prefer already trained candidates compared to the other departments.

The questions in interviews might tougher and interviews themselves will get longer as the number of positions will reduce. So tough times ahead for the present batch in College, but if you are good enough you will still have job.

Many in Congress and analysts question the idea of helping Chrysler make it out of this troubled economy. Chrysler LLC privately owned by a Cerebrus a foreign equity company which specializes in buying and selling companies and making profit out of it.

Many question whether it actually makes sense helping Chrysler, as Cerebrus is just trying to sell Chrysler to make profit. Even if Chrysler comes out of its trouble, many wonder jobs will be safe in Chrysler as most of the work will be outsourced and finally the company sold to GM.

Unlike GM and Ford which are public listed companies, the power Govt can wield in Chrysler’s management is debatable. As the accounting standards of chrysler cannot be enforced.Even all the conditions and restructuring talk may not fully apply to Chrysler as the real shots will be called by Cerebrus and its Management.

So what will happen to Chrysler, Will Cerebrus bow out, it will interesting days and months ahead for the Auburn Hills based Automaker.

US Customs caught a traveller from Central Africa carrying carcasses of three spider monkeys in his bag. It is not known whether he brought them as food or as pet. But once the confiscated carcasses were removed and tested for any disease, he was let to go.

Customs spokesman Steve Sapp said a trained dog alerted authorities to the man’s bag on Friday. The luggage also contained deer meat and dried beef, which has been destroyed.

Sapp said it’s not unusual for foreign visitors to bring exotic foods to the U.S., but he says the discoveries were “a first.” After the confiscations, the man was allowed to enter the U.S.

The monkey carcasses were inadmissible under U.S. law. Monkeys can transfer infectious diseases to people.

In one of the most bizzare surgeries of its time a group of Boston Vetenarians performed a one of a kind plastic surgery to reattach the face of a cat. The cat had caught under the hood of car and its face was hanging before being rescued and operated upon.

Edgar, a 4-year-old long-haired feline, went missing from her home in Winthrop for three days last week. When she finally came home, her owner found her in her litter box — with part of her face dangling from her head.

“When her owner saw her face, she passed out,” said Elizabeth Kendrick, a surgical technician at Angell Animal Medical Center.

The owner, who asked not to be identified, recovered from the shock and rushed Edgar to an animal hospital.

Remarkably, Edgar suffered no major blood loss nor any permanent nerve damage from her accident. She just needed to have her facial skin stitched back on during an hour-long surgery, according to veterinary surgeon Michael Pavletic.

“And she should be fine after this,” Pavletic said.

Besides the skin hanging from Edgar’s face, Edgar seemed normal, Kendrick said.

“She was purring and sticking her head up so we could pet her,” Kendrick said. “She even tried to chew at her skin. I’d never seen anything like it.”

Pavletic reattached Edgar’s face using about 35 stitches. She came through the hourlong surgery with no problems, though she looks as though someone punched her in the eye. “She’ll need to take some medicine but I don’t anticipate her having any problems,” Pavletic said.

Bonnie Beaver, a professor of small animal clinical services at Texas A&M University, said such animal injuries are extremely rare since cats are usually killed instantly from car fan belts.

“She may have problems later,” Beaver said, “but the cat was saying, “I may have lost this life but, by golly, I have eight more.”

Police in India said Tuesday they had identified the nine suspected Islamic militants killed during the three-day siege of Mumbai and uncovered new details about them — including their hometowns in Pakistan.

The new information, which included three gruesome photos of maimed faces, appeared to bolster India’s claims that all the attackers were from Pakistan.

Mumbai’s chief police investigator Rakesh Maria also showed photos of eight of the men — some from identity cards, while others were gruesome shots of the dead attackers. The body of the ninth, he said, was too badly burned.

Most of the attackers came from Pakistan’s Punjab province, and all were between the ages of 20 and 28.

Meanwhile tensions are raising in pakistan, Prof Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, the founder of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, who now heads Jamaatul Daawa, has condemned Pakistani security forces’ raid on the Muzafafrabad offices of the JuD, saying the Pakistani rulers have finally bowed to the Indian government which has apparently decided to use the Mumbai attacks as an excuse to crush the ongoing freedom movement in Jammu & Kashmir.

The terrorists in the Mumbai attacks recently were tech savvy and used Google earth to train and get to know about the streets of Mumbai. They also tracked the events using their web enabled balckberry. And their main communication tools were a Satellite phone and number of sim cards (to prevent being tracked), they had used advanced GPS navigation systems in the sea for navigation.

Now there Public interest Litigation in Mumbai High Court ,asking Google to reduce resolution/remove sensitive areas all through out India.

Few years back this issue came to the fore when Indian parliament was attacked by suspected LeT militants.

Based on the on going legislation discussions in the House, the Govt might end up becoming the majority shareholder of GM,Ford and Partial owner of Chrysler. According to a previous legislation any Government loan should get warrants of 20% of loan amount in Stocks. In the instance of GM which is currently valued under 3 Billion dollars , their bailout package being estimated at 10 billion dollars, a 20% warrant ould mean 67% of shares of GM.

This brings us to the already discussed rumors about Govt may end up owning the Auto mobile industry. This along with Auto Czar talks will ive Govt ultimate control over the Big 3.

The Congress is working overtime to get a bailout package ready and get it approved by the White house.President Bush adminstration has been very reluctant to give a full fledged bailout, but the decling job market and a poor November job numbers put the pressure back on George Bush to accept a partial bailout.

With all the reports coming in the following are the terms for bailout

- 17 Billion dollars for GM and Chrysler (Ford is in not dire straits atleast till now)

- GM CEO rick wagoner must go.

- Appointment of Auto Czar, who will be appointed by Bush till the end of his term. Congress wants a six member panel. But finally would have to agree with Bush.

- Strict rules on executive bonuses and Golden parachutes.

- Binding clauses on the restructuring  pay structure and number of models/plants.

The rumours abound that a much improved 4GB Apple Iphone 3G might be in WalMart stores for the Big festive season. This could be decision based on the current economic situations, where every penny counts for the usually generous Holiday shoppers.

Some of the popular newspapers have confirmed this with Wal-mart store employees, who have started getting training to handle 2 versions of the Glamarous iphone.

Our speculation is that Wal-Mart will start selling iphone this Holiday season  but if it will be 4GB is a big question. Apple might just start selling both 8GB and 16GB versions in Wal-Mart instead of the rumoured  4GB.

Most iphone users would agree that the one time price for the Apple Iphone is very little compared to the 2 year commitments in data ($720) and Voice($960 minimum). So It will be interesting see Apple debuting its 4GB version, and more interesting if customers wil be interested in the phone.

Pakistan took a big U turn this monday by arresting Lashkar e Taiba /toiba (LeT) Operatives in Pakistan Controlled Kashmir Area (POK). It should be recalled till last week Pakistan had maintained that there is no concrete evidence linking the Mumbai attacks to terrorists/Groups in its soil.

But with the evidence obtained through Satellite phones and also the caught militant, both India and US FBI team was able to convince the US Secretary of condoleezza rice that Pakistan based LeT was behind the attacks. Also various links between ex Pakistan Army Officers and also present officers with the LeT was given as evidence. Eventually Condo impressed upon the Pakistan President to take concrete action instead of playing cat and mosue with India.

This might come as a huge shock to LeT and its supporters. For its part LeT has been only attacking Indian targets and fought alongside Pakistan army in previous wars. Lashkar had never involved in any incident within Pakistam, and was a proxy army of Pakistan.

But mounting pressure from US and other  countries, raised a possible case of Pakistan becoming a Target like Iraq. To show the support for War against terrorists Pakistan had to do something, and thats what exactly happened on  Monday. Though the Lashkar camp was raided and its Commander was arrested.

But the founder of Lashkar e Taiba is now protected as the organisation was split into Jamaat-ud-Dawa and the Lashkar-e-Taiba few years back when the LeT was banned in Pakistan and abroad. The Chief of the organisation and Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed moved to  Jamaat-ud-Dawa taking a more political role and giving financials and logistical support to LeT.

But going by the history of actions against terrorists in pakistan, India might not get too excited. Usually Pakistan arrests the elements whenever pressure mounts and eventually releases them after few months claiming not enough evidence. But this time the whole world is watching.

In a moral victory for the brainiacs  all over the world,  The researchers, based at the Institute of Psychiatry in London have found with a sample of 425, that the sperm quality is directly reflected in the Smartness of the men.

But in turn they found usually the intelligence also is also associated with healthy individuals, who knew how to adjust to various situations and mentally strong.

Researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London made the link after comparing archived data on 425 Vietnam War veterans.

This dated back to 1985, when the men had given sperm samples as part of an extensive medical and undergone intelligence testing.

Comparing the two clearly showed that the brainiest men had the best quality sperm.
Total sperm count was higher, as well as sperm concentration and ability to swim, the journal Intelligence reports.

Atleast the research proves being dumb and strong doesnt make you better in ability to produce offsprings.

The ladies who have weakness to intelligent guys does have a reason.