World

London, February 28: An 11-day-old baby girl died after her mother unwittingly infected her with the virus which causes cold sores, probably through a kiss or breastfeeding, a coroner ruled.
An inquest on Thursday found newborn Jennifer Schofield died from Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). Her mother Ruth, 35, probably caught it late into her pregnancy, the coroner said, most likely for the first time in her life, meaning she had not developed immunity and nor had her child.

The virus attacked the baby’s major organs and she died within days.

Washington, February 25: After receiving accolades worldwide and sweeping Oscars, Slumdog Millionaire, the feel good film about a Mumbai tea boy, has now caught the fancy of US president Barack Obama.

Barack ObamaObama wants to watch British Director Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, which is made with a modest budget of USD 13 million and has so far grossed around USD 100 million.

Washington, February 25: Sending a strong message to Pakistan and Afghanistan, President Barack Obama on Wednesday asserted that terrorists will not be allowed to plot against the US from safe havens “half a world away”.

He also promised to forge a new and comprehensive strategy with US’ allies to defeat Al-Qaeda and combat extremism.

“With our friends and allies, we will forge a new and comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan to defeat Al-Qaeda and combat extremism,” Obama said in his maiden address to the joint session of the US Congress.

Rome, February 25: Militants behind last year’s attacks on Mumbai used cell phones that were activated in the United States and paid for with funds sent from Italy, an Italian newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Corriere della Sera daily said India sent the intelligence information to Italy and other countries so anti-terrorism investigators could attempt to expose any ties to the network behind the November assault that killed at least 179 people.

Islamabad acknowledged for the first time this month that the November assault was launched from, and partly planned in, Pakistan.

Washington, February 25: President Barack Obama has asked Americans to ‘confront boldly the challenges we face’, saying the ‘day of reckoning has arrived, and the time to take charge of our future is here’.

‘Now is the time to act boldly and wisely – to not only revive this economy, but to build a new foundation for lasting prosperity,’ he said in his first speech Tuesday to a joint session of Congress.

New York, January 17:A nude picture of Madonna, taken when the queen of pop was a struggling dancer in New York in 1979, is expected to sell for at least $10,000, auction house Christie’s said Friday.

Madonna received $25 in payment for the modelling session, after answering a newspaper ad by photographer Lee Friedlander. The results of the session were published in Playboy magazine in 1985.

The full-frontal nude print, which is said to be the most revealing of the series, will be sold Feb 12 in New York, with many expecting Madonna herself to be among the high bidders.