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(CNN) -- When Tiffany Wilson noticed a small growth on her left hip, she didn't think much of it.

"It was bizarre," recalled the 41-year-old salon owner from Minneapolis, Minnesota. "I just thought it was a pimple."

Wilson, who is African-American, can't say exactly what prompted her to point out the bump to her physician, but she said she remembered thinking the diagnosis wouldn't be anything serious.

"It never occurred to me that it was skin cancer," she said. But it was. She had basal cell carcinoma, the most common skin cancer.

Wilson spent long hours as a child in the summer sun at Lake Nokomis in Minnesota and went to the tanning bed before visiting relatives in the Caribbean, she said. She also said she never wore sunscreen.

"Back then, I just don't think people were aware of the effects [of the sun]," she said.

Those may seem like obvious red flags to people who are sun-conscious, but they were foreign concepts to Wilson, which is why her diagnosis came as a shock.

"I just assumed, 'I'm a person of color, I'll be OK,' " she said.

Dermatologists say they are concerned because skin cancer rates are increasing among minority groups in the United States. Like Wilson, many people of color often mistakenly believe skin cancer is not something they should be worried about.

Soruce: edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH

According to details released by the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap) during July-May period, the country exported 801,72 tons of Basmati and fetched $908 million and non-Basmati 1.782 million tons, thereby earning $920 million.

Abdul Rahim Janoo, Reap chairman, while appreciating exporters achievement of the target of $1.8 billion, said it was only possible because of business friendly policies of the government.

He said it is a remarkable achievement when looked at global recession and financial crisis.

Mr Janoo said last year (2007-08) the country exported 3.5 million tons of rice, valuing more than $2.2 billion but this was only possible when global prices of rice and other commodities were going higher every day.

He said Reap has sent trade delegations with the help of TDAP to Saudi Arabia and Republic of South Africa for further enhancing rice exports.

Mr Janoo said next month two other rice exporters’ delegations would be leaving for Qatar and EU countries to explore new rice markets and promote Pakistan rice which is the best in the world.

Similarly, the Reap is planning to send delegations in July and August to Kuwait, Iran, Senegal and Zambia which are also big markets for rice.

Source: dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/business

ISLAMABAD (AP) Batsman Mohammad Yousuf and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq have resigned from the unauthorized Indian Cricket League to become eligible for Pakistan team selection, a Pakistan Cricket Board official said Friday.

"Both players have resigned from ICL and their resignations have been accepted," Wasim Bari, a PCB director, told the Associated Press.

"Now it's up to the (Pakistan) selection committee whether they consider these players for the forthcoming international matches."

Last month the International Cricket Council rejected an ICL application for official recognition at its board meeting in Dubai, but left it up to the individual cricket boards to decide what penalties to impose on players who decide to return to officially sanctioned cricket.

Consequently the PCB offered amnesty to players who resign from the ICL before May 31 and said it would deal with them on a "case to case basis."

Both Yousuf and Razzaq will miss the Twenty20 World Cup in England starting on June 5, but could return for the three tests and five-match ODI series against Sri Lanka in July.

Yousuf, 34, last played a one-day international against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup in Karachi last July before he was banned for his participation in the ICL.

The 29-year-old Razzaq last represented Pakistan in an ODI against Sri Lanka in 2007 before he too was barred from playing international cricket by the PCB.

Source: sports.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/cricket

NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- The death toll from a powerful cyclone that hit India and Bangladesh this week has climbed to at least 180, officials said Wednesday.

Cyclone Aila struck eastern India, causing an estimated $8 million damage in one district alone.

In Bangladesh, some 111 people have died and more than 6,600 others have been injured in the storm, said Sultanul Islam Chowdhury from the country's food and disaster management ministry.

Cyclone Aila, which made landfall on Monday, has swept away nearly 180,000 homes and affected the lives of more than 3.3 million people, he said.

In India, the number of storm-related deaths climbed to 69 Wednesday, according to an emergency official.

About a quarter of the total, 20 people, died in landslides triggered by Aila on Tuesday in a hilly region of West Bengal, said Debabrata Pal, a joint-secretary with the state's disaster management department.

Source: cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- A well-coordinated attack involving gunmen and an explosives-packed van reduced a police building to rubble in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore on Wednesday.

Amid the confusion and the chaos in Pakistan's second-largest city, various officials offered conflicting casualty counts -- with almost all agreeing that at least 23 were killed. Most were police officers and staffers.

The blast also wounded more than 250, with one hospital -- Sir Ganga Ram, itself damaged by the explosion -- alone treating 128 victims.

Authorities expected the death toll to rise as rescue workers pick through twisted metal and other debris, looking for more bodies. Watch more on the attack »

The attack comes amid a Pakistani military offensive to remove militants from their haven in the northwestern part of the country.

source:cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf

JOHANNESBURG: After being a long drawn festivity breathing effervescence, this IPL 2 gala came to an end. All eyes were set to witness when the curtains were drawn to what has been a uniquely exhilarating experience where sultry siren Shilpa Shetty was supposed to perform with the American R&B star Akon. But she ditched & how!

The southern beauty & co-owner with beau Raj Kundra of the IPL team Rajasthan Royals took a stanch to opt out at the last minute as she was running short of time to set the act in place.

Reports say that at an international platform, she did not wish to present anything less than her best when representing her country India. Due to lack of rehearsals, she regretfully backed out but continued to cheer on as a spectator at the finals.

On the other side, Bollywood bombshell Katrina Kaif, who was also to perform at IPL, represented showbiz firepower in full force, joined reggae music legend Eddy Grant as he sang his anti-apartheid hit 'Gimme Hope Jo'anna'. Alas! Our hopes to watch Shilpa's performance powering quite a punch along with the showbiz bounty were clean bowled this time round!

source:aryoneworld.net

NEW YORK: The UN Security Council unanimously condemned North Korea for testing a nuclear bomb, with major powers vowing new punitive action against Pyongyang for violating the world body's resolutions.

"The members of the Security Council voiced their strong opposition and condemnation of the nuclear test conducted on 25 May 2009 by North Korea, which constitutes a clear violation of (UN) Resolution 1718," council president Vitaly Churkin of Russia told reporters following an emergency meeting of the 15-member council.

Several western diplomats hinted they would seek fresh sanctions against Pyongyang under a new resolution.

"This resolution should include new sanctions in addition to those already adopted because such behavior should have a cost and a price to pay," said French Deputy Permanent Representative Jean-Pierre Lacroix.

"It is important that North Korea pays a price for its behavior, the very serious provocation of this nuclear test."

Lacroix declined to give details on any new sanctions, which he said would be determined through UN Security Council negotiations.

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, said "the United States will seek a strong resolution with strong measures," calling the test "a grave violation of international law, and a threat to regional and international peace and security."
But she stopped short of mentioning possible sanctions.

"We believe it ought to be a strong resolution with appropriately strong contents, but obviously unless and until we complete the negotiation process, it is premature to say what its contents will be," Rice added.

Japan's UN ambassador, Yukio Takasu, called the nuclear test "a direct threat to the security of Japan and Asia."

He declined to provide details on the contents of the future resolution, although he rejected that it would constitute a "punishment" toward North Korea, saying the resolution would instead provide "consequences" for Pyongyang's actions.

Japan has been involved in stalled six-party talks aimed at shuttering the North's nuclear program.

Even China, the secretive North's closest international ally, expressed "resolute opposition."

Compounding the frustration among world leaders, the nuclear detonation came amid reports that Pyongyang also tested a short-range missile.

UN Resolution 1718, adopted in October 2006 after North Korea's first nuclear test forbids the reclusive regime from conducting any future nuclear tests or missile launches.

The Security Council on April 13 slapped sanctions against North Korea, banning transactions and calling on UN member states to freeze the assets of three business entities of Pyongyang following its April 5 rocket launch.

In response, the North said it was quitting a six-nation nuclear disarmament pact with the United States, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia. It also said it had stopped cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and reactivated its nuclear installations.

source:aryoneworld.net

SEOUL: North Korea is preparing to test-fire short-range missiles in the Yellow Sea, one day after it staged a nuclear test, South Korea's news agency said.

"North Korea has declared an off-limits area for vessels in the Yellow Sea off Jungsan county in South Pyongan province," it quoted a Seoul government source as saying.

"The North is likely to fire short-range missiles today or tomorrow."

Jungsan is about 40 km (25 miles) west of Pyongyang.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it could not comment on intelligence matters.

The North Monday staged its second underground nuclear test, with an explosive force much larger than the first in October 2006.

It also fired three short-range ground-to-air missiles from locations near its east coast, Seoul's military said.

Several times in recent years, the North has test-fired ground-to-ship or ship-to-ship missiles in either the Yellow Sea or the Sea of Japan (East Sea).

The launches are often staged to coincide with periods of regional tension.

North is preparing to launch ground-to-ship missiles with a range of 160 km (100 miles), which use technology based on China's Silkworm missiles.

The South summoned an emergency meeting of top military commanders to review its defence posture, a Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman said.

The meeting would stress the need to heighten vigilance against the North's "militarily provocative acts," the spokesman told.

Source:aryoneworld.net/

According to sources, the assurance was given to a jirga at a joint gathering of local people and Taliban. The jirga representing the people of Asbanr held talks with the Taliban at government primary school.

It urged Taliban to leave the area because thousands of people had been rendered homeless and scores killed or injured a result of their activities and deployment of security forces in Adenzai tehsil.

Sultanat Yar of Jamaat-i-Islami, Khurshid Ali of Pakistan People’s Party and tribal leaders Umar Bacha and Shamsul Qamar attended the jirga.

A member of the jirga claimed the talks had been fruitful. He said the Taliban, who were represented by a cleric from Swat, had promised to start leaving on Thursday.

‘They did not set any condition for pulling out,’ he said. According to the sources, the Taliban called upon people to cooperate with them because they were struggling for the enforcement of sharia, but members of the jirga said their presence in the area had created problems for the populace.

The jirga had been in contact with Taliban for five days and the militants had left Shawa and Kityari villages on its request. Another member of the jirga claimed the Taliban had promised to leave Adenzai by Friday. Members of jirga urged Lower Dir Nazim Ahmed Hassan Khan and Adenzai Tehsil Nazim Mohammad Omar to persuade the government to withdraw security forces and remove checkpoints in the area after the Taliban leave.

They demanded that the government should stop the military operation and pull out troops to restore peace in Adenzai.

Source:dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan

TEHRAN: Iran test-fired a new missile on Wednesday it claimed had a range capable of reaching Israel and US bases in the Middle East, sending a provocative message days after President Barack Obama pressured Tehran to accept his offer for dialogue.

The announcement by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad comes less than a month before Iran’s presidential election. The vote could determine how Iran responds to Washington’s threat of further international sanctions if Tehran does not respond positively by year-end to US attempts to open negotiations on its nuclear programme. Analysts said the launch was likely intended for domestic consumption ahead of the June 12 elections, rather than a message to the US, which has criticised Iran’s past missile launches as stoking instability in the Middle East.

“But I don’t think the Obama administration and other nations will look at this as a constructive sign,” said Patrick Clawson, deputy director for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. After the missile test, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned that if Iran manages to produce nuclear weapons, it would “spark an arms race” in the Middle East.

A US government official confirmed there was an Iranian launch and said Washington was working to determine details such as the missile’s range and trajectory. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the media.

Iran said the solid-fuel Sajjil-2 surface-to-surface missile has a range of about 1,200 miles. It is a new version of the Sajjil missile, which the country said it successfully tested late last year and has a similar range.

Many analysts said the launch of the solid-fuel Sajjil was significant because such missiles are more accurate than liquid fuel missiles of similar range, such as Iran’s Shahab-3.

“Defence Minister (Mostafa Mohammad Najjar) has informed me that the Sajjil-2 missile, which has very advanced technology, was launched from Semnan and it landed precisely on the target,” state radio quoted Ahmadinejad as saying. He did not name any future targets for the missile when he spoke during a visit to the city of Semnan, 125 miles east of the capital Tehran, where Iran’s space programme is centered.

Italy said its foreign minister, Franco Frattini, canceled a planned trip to Iran on Wednesday because Ahmadinejad wanted to meet in Semnan rather than in Tehran. Najjar said the Sajjil-2 differs from the Sajjil missile because it “is equipped with a new navigation system as well as precise and sophisticated sensors,” according to Iran’s official news agency.

Sajjil means “baked clay.” It is a reference to a story in the Holy Qura’an, in which birds sent by Almighty Allah drive off an enemy army attacking the holy city of Makkah by pelting them with stones of baked clay.

Ahmadinejad is running for re-election and has been criticised by his opponents and others for antagonising the US and mismanaging the country’s faltering economy. Iran said on Wednesday that its constitutional watchdog has approved three prominent candidates to challenge Ahmadinejad, setting up a showdown between reformists and hard-liners.

Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes have alarmed Israel. The country’s new Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, pressed Obama to step up pressure on Tehran when the two met in Washington on Monday. Israeli officials had no immediate comment on the Iranian missile launch.

Moshe Arens, a former Israeli defence minister who trained in the US as an aerospace engineer, said on Wednesday’s test was apparently part of Iran’s broader quest to develop more advanced missiles and nuclear capability.

“They’re increasing their abilities to launch rockets of longer and longer range that go beyond Israel and into Europe and eventually will carry nuclear weapons,” he said.

“They’re troublemakers and you have to deal with troublemakers.” Ahmadinejad has repeatedly called for Israel’s elimination, and the Jewish state has not ruled out a military strike to deal with the Iranian nuclear threat. The Israeli government has been skeptical of US overtures to Iran, which have received a mixed response from Ahmadinejad.

Many Western experts have expressed skepticism about Iran’s professed military achievements, saying the country provides no transparency to verify its claims. Most believe Iran does not yet have the technology to produce nuclear weapons, including warheads for long-range missiles. The US released an intelligence report about 18 months ago that said Iran abandoned a secret nuclear weapons programme in 2003 under international pressure and has not restarted it.

Israel and several other countries have disputed the finding. But many in the West at least agree that Iran is seeking to develop the capability to develop weapons at some point.

A group of US and Russian scientists said in a report issued on Tuesday that Iran could produce a simple nuclear device in one to three years and a nuclear warhead in another five years after that.

The study published by the nonpartisan East West Institute also said Iran is making advances in rocket technology and could develop a ballistic missile capable of firing a 2,200-pound nuclear warhead up to 1,200 miles “in perhaps six to eight years.”

Source: thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=178635

By Emily Anderson
CNN

NEW YORK (CNN) -- One of the perks of using search engine Google's home page is checking out the frequently changing seasonal, current-event, and holiday-inspired "doodles" used for the logo.

Soon the work of 12-year-old Christin Engelberth will occupy the Google spotlight to be viewed by millions of online searchers worldwide.

On Wednesday, Google announced that Christin, a sixth-grader at Bernard Harris Middle School in San Antonio, Texas, is this year's winner of "Doodle 4 Google," a yearly competition that asks K-12 students to dream up their own variation of the logo. Her work will be featured on Google's main site for 24 hours on Thursday.

The theme of this year's contest was "What I Wish for the World."

"Both our country and the world are undergoing significant change," Google said on the contest's Web pages. At Google we believe in thinking big, and dreaming big, and we can't think of anything more important than encouraging students to do the same."

"A New Beginning," the title of Christin's doodle, depicts the Google logo as a land and sea naturescape intertwined with trees, a frog and leaping dolphin, a curious lizard, a turtle and fish, and a butterfly set against an orange and yellow background with a rising sun represented by the second "O" in "Google."

In an interview with CNN, Christin said she portrayed a dawn as a symbol of a new day. Her wish was that "out of the current crisis, discoveries will be found to help the Earth prosper once more." She added that wanted to portray a brighter tomorrow and "discoveries being made lead to a better Earth for everyone."

Christin said her initial idea for a doodle was for animal conservation, but then she decided "it shouldn't just include animals; it should include the rest of the world."

Christin did check out her competition, and said she thought the other doodles were "much better than mine."

But a panel of independent judges and Google employees, along with close to 6 million online voters, disagreed, and chose her sketch as the overall winner from a field of over 28,000 other submissions.

Google's Marissa Mayer, vice president of search products and user experience, and Dennis Hwang, webmaster manager, said on the Google Blog that Christin's design was part of "a very creative pool of doodles."

As the national winner, Christin will receive a $15,000 college scholarship, a laptop, and a $25,000 technology grant for her school, in addition to having her artwork featured on the Google site.

She was presented with her award at the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York City, where Google also unveiled an exhibit of the top doodles. They will be on display until July 5.

National finalists also were selected in three grade groups. Each will receive a laptop computer.

All winners were treated to a day in New York that Google said "included activities which promote peace, sustainability and wellness -- all inspired by this year's theme." The winners also will participate in a doodling class led by Dennis Hwang and the Google doodle team.

Grand prize winner Christin -- who told CNN she was excited to visit New York City -- said she's been "drawing for as long as she can remember."

When she grows up, she said, she hopes to do "anything to do with art."

Source: edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/05/20/google.doodle