Parents donate organs to daughter

Jasmine said it felt "special" to have received the help from her parents

A five-year-old girl is thought to be the first in the UK to receive organ transplants from both her parents.

Jasmine Mirza is recovering after being given 30% of her father Sohrab's liver and one of her mother Cathie Locke's kidneys.

Jasmine was diagnosed with liver failure at seven months before her kidneys started to fail in 2007.

Ms Locke, from Farnborough, Hampshire, said the transplants have given Jasmine "her life back".

"For me, I wasn't worried about the operation side of things," she added.

"Through all this Jasmine's health has been the main priority.

'Feels special'

"It has given her back her life as she would have still been on dialysis.

"Hopefully she has had her ups and downs early in life and it will be over."

Jasmine said "it feels very special" to have received the help from her mother and father.

Mr Mirza, 38, donated about 30% of his liver at King's College Hospital in London in 2005.

The liver tissue will grow with her, while his liver has regenerated.

When Jasmine's kidneys started failing in 2007 her father stepped in again but he was not considered a suitable donor and Ms Locke, 33, came forward.

Jasmine was given one of her mother's kidneys last October at St Thomas' Hospital in London.

She is recovering so well that she was able to go back to North Farnborough Infant School in January.

Doctors said they are not aware of any other child receiving "living" organ donations from both parents.

The NHS Blood and Transplant agency said it was very rare to receive transplants from a mother and father.

Obama sorry for disability remark

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Barack Obama "It was like Special Olympics or something"

US President Barack Obama has apologised for joking on a TV chat show that a poor bowling performance was "like the Special Olympics".

He made the comment during an appearance on Jay Leno's Tonight Show, and later phoned the chairman of the Special Olympics to apologise.

Responding, Tim Shriver said Mr Obama's remarks could be seen as "humiliating" to people with special needs.

The organisation involved people with intellectual disabilities in sport.

It was established in 1968 and now runs programmes in more than 180 countries.

Reacting to Mr Obama's comments, Mr Shriver said the president had apologised for his remark.

I think it's important to see that words hurt and words do matter Timothy Shriver Chairman, Special Olympics

"He expressed that he did not intend to humiliate [the disabled] population," said Mr Shriver.

But he stressed that the president's comments should not be dismissed out of hand.

"I think it's important to see that words hurt and words do matter," he added.

"And these words that in some respect can be seen as humiliating or a put down to people with special needs do cause pain and they do result in stereotypes."

'Wonderful programme'

A spokesman for Mr Obama said the remarks were not meant to disparage the Special Olympics.

"He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful programme that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world," the spokesman said.

Mr Obama made the remark after telling Mr Leno that he had been practising his bowling in the wake of a much-lampooned performance on the campaign trail in 2008.

On that occasion he managed to score just 37 points, a tally that was filmed and widely highlighted during the campaign.

He had improved his score since then, he said, but was still unhappy with his most recent tally of 129 points: "It was like the Special Olympics or something," the president told Mr Leno.

Mr Obama also talked about his economic policies in the interview, as well as engaging in discussions about his family, and his efforts to find a pet dog for his daughters.

The BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan said the smooth segue in conversation from economic policy to more personal matters demonstrated Mr Obama's so-called "Barackstar" status, as a man equally happy to play the role of politician and personality.

Actress Richardson dies aged 45

A look back at Natasha Richardson's life

British actress Natasha Richardson has died from head injuries sustained in a skiing accident in Canada.

Richardson, 45, the daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave, fell on a beginners' slope at the Mont Tremblant resort in Quebec on Monday.

The family were devastated by the death of their "beloved Natasha", her husband Liam Neeson's publicist said.

Richardson died in a New York hospital, close to the home she shared with Irish actor Neeson and their two sons.

The accident happened while the actress was taking a supervised skiing lesson at the Quebec resort.

She had a sort of luminous presence on the stage, but off- stage she was a very shy, easy-going, almost self-deprecating character Theatre critic Tim Walker

Richardson initially showed no sign of injury but about an hour later she was taken to a nearby hospital after feeling unwell. It was later confirmed her injuries were critical.

Irish actor Neeson, 56, flew from the set of his new film in Toronto to be with his wife as soon as he heard news of the accident.

He accompanied her as she was flown from Canada to Lenox Hill Hospital, in New York, on Tuesday.

Neeson, her mother Oscar-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave, 72, and two sons, Michael, 13, and Daniel, 12, had gathered at her bedside.

Richardson and Neeson got married in 1994

Her sister, the Nip/Tuck actress Joely Richardson, was also pictured visiting the hospital.

Richardson's death was announced shortly before midnight GMT. Neeson left the Manhattan hospital in the back seat of a people carrier at about 2030 local time (0030 GMT).

Alan Nierob, Neeson's publicist, said: "Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha.

"They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time."

'Great actress'

Richardson starred in films and TV but won most acclaim for her stage work.

Part of the Redgrave acting dynasty, she was the daughter of Redgrave and director Tony Richardson.

Our hearts go out to her family. This is a catastrophic loss for them, and it is a terrible loss for amfAR and the fight against Aids Foundation for Aids Research

The Sunday Telegraph's theatre critic, Tim Walker, said she never needed to ride on the coat-tails of her famous relations.

He said Richardson took the decision early in her career to "stand or fall on her own" and left London to begin her career in Leeds at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

"The world of acting has been deprived of a great actress, really in her prime," he said.

"She had a sort of luminous presence on the stage, but off-stage she was a very shy, easy-going, almost self-deprecating character who didn't like being made a fuss of."

Richardson, whose father director Tony died of Aids-related causes in 1991, was on the board of the US-based charity amfAR, The Foundation for Aids Research.

A spokeswoman for the charity said she was a "dedicated Aids advocate" and an "eloquent spokesperson for amfAR".

"Our hearts go out to her family. This is a catastrophic loss for them, and it is a terrible loss for amfAR and the fight against Aids," she said.

"She generously contributed her time and resources to amfAR for over 15 years."

Head injuries

It is not known exactly what happened to Richardson.

However, leading neurosurgeon Chris Chandler said a seemingly minor blow on the head can cause life-threatening injuries.

Mr Chandler, from King's College Hospital in south London, said the effects of a blow to the head may not become apparent until several hours afterwards and, if untreated, a patient can fall into a coma.

"A blow to the head can cause a bruise or rupture a blood vessel that slowly swells, causing pressure to build up inside the skull," he said.

"In the skull there is nowhere for the brain to move to so pressure continues to grow and that swelling can cause the brain to malfunction because it can limit circulation.

"If that pressure is not relieved it can kill."

Obama 'outraged' at AIG bonuses

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President Obama said he was 'choked up with anger'

US President Barack Obama has expressed anger at $165m (£116m) bonuses pledged to executives of bailed-out insurer AIG, calling the payments "an outrage".

"It's hard to understand how derivative traders at AIG warranted any bonuses, much less $165m in extra pay," he said.

He has told Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to "pursue every single legal avenue" to block the bonuses.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs later said AIG's next bailout payment could be altered to protect taxpayers.

He did not say how this could be achieved, but analysts say the government could reduce the payment - which is $30bn - by $165m, in order to force AIG to account for the bonuses in another way.

'Play by rules'

AIG announced the bonus payouts on Sunday.

In a speech which was intended to launch initiatives to help small businesses deal with the economic crisis, President Obama strongly criticised the company.

"All across the country, there are people who work hard and meet their responsibilities every day, without the benefit of government bailouts or multimillion-dollar bonuses," he said.

"And all they ask is that everyone, from Main Street to Wall Street to Washington, play by the same rules."

AIG insures financial institutions around the world

The $165m was payable to executives by Sunday and part of a larger total payout reportedly put at $450m.

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo now says he has issued legal papers demanding that AIG reveal the names of those receiving the bonuses - something which he says the firm has refused to do.

"When a company pays funds that the company effectively doesn't have, it's akin to a looting of a company," he said.

AIG has not yet commented on the legal move, but a spokeswoman said the firm was "in ongoing contact" with the attorney general.

'Outrageous'

AIG has received bailout payments from the US government totalling $180bn (£127bn) since coming close to collapse in 2008.

AIG: QUICK FACTS 30 million US policy holders Operates in 130 countries Provides insurance to 100,000 companies and other entities

AIG boss Ed Liddy - who was installed by the government after the company got into trouble - earlier said the bonuses had to be paid to honour contracts signed before the financial crisis hit.

But Mr Liddy said bonuses for this year had been revamped and cut by as much as 30%.

However, such concessions have done little to appease angry senators.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said: "Did they enter into these contracts knowing full well that, as a practical matter, the taxpayers of the United States were going to be reimbursing their employees?

"Particularly employees who got them into this mess in the first place? I think it's an outrage."

Democrat Elijah Cummings was equally incensed: "It's like, OK, you got to help me screw you. And by the way I'm going to take your money and I'm going to slap you with it."

Doctors save speared Indian boy

Doctors praised Mehul Kumar as they successfully removed the iron rod

A six-year-old Indian boy is recovering after doctors removed a two metre (6ft) iron rod that speared his body when he fell from a terrace.

Mehul Kumar was rushed to hospital in the city of Ranchi in Jharkhand after the incident on Wednesday.

Doctors at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences removed the rod in a four-hour operation.

The doctors said he had lost a lot of blood and suffered liver and stomach injuries but "nothing major".

Mehul was playing on the Indian festival of Holi when he fell on the rod in a terrace under construction at his grandparents' home

He was given first aid at a local hospital than transferred to the Rajendra.

A surgeon there, Sandeep Aggarwal, said: "Opening the abdomen, we discovered his liver was injured, the stomach was injured, but thankfully, the spleen and pancreas were safe.

"The child was lucky that he did not suffer any major injury but yes he had substantial injuries."

Dr Aggarwal praised Mehul for his strong willpower.

RIMS director NN Agarwal said: "Mehul will recover fast and properly because he is a child and most of his vital organs are in the process of development.''

Amazingly this is not an isolated incident in India.

Last year, doctors in Delhi removed a 5ft iron rod from the chest of a 22-year-old man after a road accident.

And a 21-year-old construction worker in the western city of Pune had a 6ft rod removed that pierced him from shoulder to thigh via his abdomen.

Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry restored as Chief Justice of Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani early Monday morning announced reinstatement of the deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and other judges.

“I restore the deposed chief justice and others according to the promise made by me and the President,” Gilani said in a televised address to the nation.

The announcement, in light of the directive of President Asif Ali Zardari, met the main demand of the political parties and the lawyers’ community.

He said, “A notification to this effect is being issued now.” He said Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry would replace Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, who retires on March 21.

Gilani said and pledged to “continue the politics of reconciliation.” The deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was removed from service by former President Pervez Musharraf on March 9, 2007, sparking a wave of protest that led to his resignation from his office on August 18, 2008.

The prime minister also announced reinstatement of other judges of the Supreme Court and said the number of judges for the apex court has already been increased through legislation to accommodate the reinstated judges.

The prime minister also announced that the federal government would file a review petition in the Supreme Court seeking reversal of the order of disqualification of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, and addressing all issues in light of the Charter of Democracy.

“I invite them to move forward along with all political forces for the implementation of the Charter of Democracy,” Gilani said.

He asked the provincial governments to lift the Section 144 immediately and release the arrested persons. He said the PPP had made a lot of contribution to the lawyers’ movement and rendered numerous sacrifices. He said shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had pledged to reinstate the deposed Chief Justice.

Gilani said President Asif Ali Zardari also pledged to do the same.

Gilani recalled that soon after securing a heavy mandate from the parliament he had announced the release of the detained judges and also restoration of their emoluments.

The prime minister said the decision was taken in consultation with the allies.

Gilani also greeted Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, lawyers, political workers, and civil society on this auspicious occasion and asked them to celebrate the occasion in a befitting manner.


GUJRANWALA: Pakistan Muslim League-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif announced on Monday to call off the long march. He congratulated the whole nation over the reinstatement of deposed judges.

Addressing a charged long march rally here, Nawaz termed the restoration of Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry a big success and a prelude to positive change.

He said Justice Iftikhar did not bow down to the dictator.

He said that the decision to call off the long march has been made after consultations with Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chief Imran Khan and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Ali Ahmed Kurd.


US welcomes restoration of Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry
ISLAMABAD: The United States Monday welcomed Pakistan's decision to reinstate its top judge as a move to "defuse a serious confrontation" and a "substantial step towards national reconciliation."

"This is a statesmanlike decision taken to defuse a serious confrontation, and the apparent removal of this long-standing national issue is a substantial step towards national reconciliation," said the US embassy in Islamabad.

"Now is the time for all Pakistanis and their political representatives to work together, with the support of their friends and allies, to peacefully strengthen their democracy and ensure a positive dialogue," it added.

Web founder looks to big changes

Mobile phone Web access will benefit the developing world, says Sir Tim

The founder of the World Wide Web says the pace of innovation on the web is increasing all the time.

Marking the 20th anniversary of his proposal to create the web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee said "new changes are going to rock the world even more".

The future of the web lies in mobile phones, he said at the research centre in Switzerland where he was working when he proposed the web.

He also warned of user profiling on the internet and the risks of "snooping".

Sir Tim was working at the Cern nuclear research centre, near Geneva, in March 1989 when he proposed to his colleagues a hypertext database with text links that would help scientists around the world share information quickly.

His supervisor described the proposal as "vague, but exciting" and the next year Sir Tim wrote the software that allowed users access to information on the already-existing internet.

In developing countries it's going to be exciting because [mobile phones are] the only way that a lot of people will actually get to see the internet at all Sir Tim Berners-Lee

Speaking to the BBC's technology correspondent Rory Cellan Jones, Sir Tim credited scientists around the world with helping to build the web.

"Creative people all over the planet started to get involved and I'd get these random e-mails from people in different fields and different countries who decided the web would be a good idea if everybody did it, so they would do it."

'Tip of iceberg'

As director of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) that guides the web's development, Sir Tim said much more was to come.

"The web is not all done, it's just the tip of the iceberg... I'm convinced that the new changes are going to rock the world even more," he said at the 20th anniversary celebrations at Cern.

Mobile phones would form a key part of the web's future, he said.

"In developing countries it's going to be exciting because that is the only way that a lot of people will actually get to see the internet at all."

But he also sounded a warning about the emergence of systems that can automatically track a web user's habits and create a detailed profile of the person.

"That sort of snooping is really important to avoid," he said.

Google has become the latest firm to launch a system to send advertisements to web users based on their online activities.