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News update
Cola consumption linked to weaker bones in women
NEW YORK: Women who want to keep their bones strong may want to keep their cola consumption to a minimum, a new study suggests.
In a study of more than 2,500 adults, Dr Katherine L. Tucker of Tufts University in Boston and colleagues found that women who consumed cola daily had lower bone mineral density (BMD) in their hips than those who drank less than one serving of cola a month.
“Because BMD is strongly linked with fracture risk, and because cola is a popular beverage, this is of considerable public health importance,” the researchers said.
Studies in teen girls have tied heavy soft drink consumption to fractures and lower BMD, the researchers note, but it is not clear if this is because they're drinking less milk, or if it is due to any harmful effects of soda itself.
To investigate this question in adults, the researchers measured BMD in the spine and at three points on the hips in 1,413 women and 1,125 men participating in a study of the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis.
While there was no association between soft drinks in general and BMD, the researchers found that women who drank the most cola had significantly less dense bones in their hips. The greater their intake, the thinner the bones, and the relationship was seen for diet, regular, and non-caffeinated colas. Cola consumption had no effect on BMD in men.—Reuters
Ban Ki-moon nominated as next UN secretary-general
The UN Security Council on Monday formally nominated South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon to succeed Kofi Annan as United Nations secretary-general, all but assuring that the quiet diplomat will become the eighth chief in the world body's 61-year history.
What would have been an event of major significance — Ban will become one of the world's best-known and most influential diplomats over his five-year term — was overshadowed by North Korea's claim that it had conducted a nuclear test.
''This should be a moment of joy. But instead, I stand here with a very heavy heart,'' Ban said at a news conference in Seoul. ''Despite the concerted warning from the international community, North Korea has gone ahead with a nuclear test.''
Ban, who participated in six-party talks with the North in 2005, vowed to help resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis after he becomes secretary-general. He would take office on January 1, a day after Annan's second and final five-year term expires.
Japan's UN Ambassador Kenzo Oshima asked the 192-nation world body to act promptly to give final approval to Ban so he can have a sufficient transition before taking over as UN chief on January 1.
The final straw poll last week revealed that he had the support of all five veto-wielding members of the council, and the remaining five candidates quickly left the race.—AP
Pakistan rejects England's Oval compensation demand
KARACHI: Pakistan has rejected a compensation demand by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for the forfeited Oval Test in August, official said Tuesday.
“We have officially written a letter that the Oval Test not being completed is a case of cause and effect and we are not going to pay. The cause was umpire Darrell Hair and not us,” PCB director operations Salim Altaf said.
The ECB had last week written to the PCB that it incurred losses of 800,000 pounds ($1.5 million) after Pakistan team refused to resume play on the fourth afternoon in protest at being penalised for ball tampering.
Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was cleared of tampering charges but was handed a four-match ban for bringing the game into disrepute over his protest after a disciplinary hearing of the International Cricket Council.
The Test was awarded to England on forfeit - the first in Test cricket's 129-year history.
The ECB said it had to return 40 per cent to fans with fourth day tickets and a full refund to those with fifth day tickets.
Former PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan told AFP that his successor Nasim Ashraf was briefed about the Oval Test standoff.
“We had outrightly rejected ECB's demands when it was verbally told to us earlier this month and we are not ready to pay because it was not our responsibility,” Khan said.—AFP
91-year-old man completes law degree
SYDNEY: A 91-year-old man has received a law degree from an Australian university, finishing the six-year course more than a year ahead of schedule because he said ''time is of the essence.''
Allan Stewart was granted a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New England in eastern Australia last Saturday. The course normally runs for six years, but Stewart finished in just 4 1/2.
''There is a saying in law that time is of the essence,'' he said in a statement. ''I think if I had let it run too much longer I might not have finished it.''—AP
Britain is the fattest country in Europe
LONDON: Britain's status as the fat man of Europe was confirmed by a government report on Tuesday showing that many citizens are losing the battle of the bulge and slipping into obesity.
The “Health Profile of England” report showed that adult obesity rates in Britain were the highest in Europe at 24 per cent.This compares with just eight per cent in Italy, nine per cent in France and about 12 per cent in Ireland, Germany and Spain.
Obesity was measured as the percentage of people who had a body mass index (BMI) — height to weight ratio — of more than 30.
Overweight is defined as a body mass index of between 25 and 30.—AFP
PHILLIPSTON: A shed and the colours of turning trees are reflected in a pond in Phillipston, Massachusetts on October 10, as autumn sets in.—Reuters
MIAMI: A black spiny-tailed iguana suns himself next to a canal on October 10 in Miami, Florida. Hundreds of thousands of feral iguana roam freely in upscale neighbourhoods, especially near water, like the Intracoastal Waterway. Large male spiny-tailed iguanas are often misidentified as alligators by startled homeowners because of reduced dorsal spines and dark colour.—AFP
BOGOTA: This undated photo shows a new bird that has been discovered in a previously unexplored Andean cloud forest, according to a statement by conservation groups on October 9. The bright yellow and red-crowned Yariguies brush-finch was named for the indigenous tribe that once inhabited the mountainous area where it was discovered and which committed mass suicide instead of submitting to Spanish colonial rule.—AP
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