|
WASHINGTON: Mild Alzheimer's disease patients with higher physical fitness had larger brains compared to mild Alzheimer's patients with lower physical fitness, according to a study published in the July 15 issue of journal Neurology. For the study, 121 people age 60 and older underwent fitness tests using a treadmill as well as brain scans to measure the white matter, gray matter and total volume of their brains. Of the group, 57 were in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease while the rest of the group did not have dementia. "People with early Alzheimer's disease who were less physically fit had four times more brain shrinkage when compared to normal older adults than those who were more physically fit, suggesting less brain shrinkage related to the Alzheimer's disease process in those with higher fitness levels," said study author Jeffrey Burns of the University of Kansas.
-- Xinhua
UNITED NATIONS: The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are undermining efforts to destroy surplus weapons by creating new markets for countries to sell their unwanted firearms, according to a survey published here Monday. Although the world is witnessing "the largest systematic destruction of military small arms and light weapons since the end of World War II," countries that would normally have destroyed their surplus weapons are now being encouraged to export them, the Small Arms Survey 2008 said. "The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have created a revolution in the market for second hand weapons," said Aaron Karp, a senior consultant with the Survey.
-- AFP
TOKYO: South Korean Ambassador to Japan Kwon Chul Hyun on Tuesday protested over Japan's claim of ownership of two disputed islets during meeting with Japanese foreign ministry officials. Kwon met with Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka for about 40 minutes at the Foreign Ministry. "As South Korea and Japan have decided to be forward-looking and are aimed at jointly building a "new era" for the bilateral relations, what was happening was inconceivable, the ambassador was quoted by Kyodo News as telling.
-- Xinhua
NUSA DUA: Indonesia on Tuesday accepted a truth commission report blaming it for gross human-rights abuses in East Timor in 1999, amid fresh calls for the perpetrators to face international justice. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono promised to implement the commission's recommendations and expressed "regret" to East Timor for the months of violence, including murders and rapes surrounding its independence vote. We have conveyed our very deep regret about what happened in the past, that caused casualties and material damage," he said.
-- AFP
KHARTOUM: The United Nations on Tuesday scrambled to airlift non-essential staff from Darfur as supporters of Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir planned protests to denounce the world court prosecutor's call for him to be arrested for alleged war crimes. Fears of violent reprisals have mounted since the International Criminal Court chief prosecutor on Monday sought an arrest warrant against Beshir on 10 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.
-- AFP
JOHANNESBURG: It's a decade since he retired and his public appearances are increasingly rare, but the image of Nelson Mandela is still being worked overtime in the hope it can sprinkle some of his stardust. As the former South African president and anti-apartheid icon turns 90 this week, his charity foundation has unveiled a whole new range of "Madiba" products while warning off others who attempt to cash in on his name.
-- AFP
TEHRAN: The US claim that Iran poses a threat to the Gulf states is nothing but "a meaningless lie," Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Monday. "Iran's stance toward its neighboring countries is one of leniency and mutual respect," said Ahmadinejad when addressing a meeting of the country's envoys to the Gulf countries on Iran's English- language Press TV. The United States was pressuring the Gulf countries to rethink their close ties with Iran, he said.
-- Xinhua
TOKYO: Thousands of Japanese fishermen on Tuesday protested in Tokyo to protest against soaring fuel costs as boats across the country sat idle for a one-day strike to draw attention to the industry's woes. Warning that soaring oil prices could put them out of business, about 3,600 fishermen gathered in a park, demanding state subsidies and emergency help, organizers said. About 200,000 boats-almost the country's entire fishing fleet-canceled the day's work to raise awareness of the industry's plight.
-- AFP
|
