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Forget those cheesy pick-up lines and expensive colognes to impress a woman. The winning formula to land a hot date requires nothing but a straight look into her eyes accompanied by a light touch on her arm, according to a new study. The study, by scientists at Aberdeen University, has found that two-thirds of women gave a nod to dance with a man who requested for a dance by resting his hand on her arm for a second or two. And those who did not comply with the trick and kept their hands by their side while asking the same question had a success rate of only 50 percent. In fact, women also preferred to give their phone-number to a man who touched their arm as he approached them in the street. Published in Focus Magazine, the study said that touching makes a man appear dominant, and henceforth more attractive to the opposite sex. In fact, researcher Dr Ben Jones said that making eye contact also indicates interest in a woman, but only if it is genuine. "Smiling can make you more att...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's chief army spokesman says a suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into a group of paramilitary officers near the Afghan border, killing at least eight troops in the volatile region. The attack on Sunday occurred near Wana, the main town in South Waziristan, a tribal area considered a haven for al-Qaida and Taliban-linked militants. Pakistan has deployed security forces throughout its northwest to tamp down growing militancy. The troops have been frequent targets of attacks. Army spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas says the latest attack occurred at a checkpoint near the main gate of the Zalai Fort, where members of the Frontier Corps were gathered.

SEOUL: A news report says North Korea has released a new photograph of leader Kim Jong Il amid intense speculation over his health. Yonhap news agency reported that the North's state media released an undated photo Sunday of what they say is Kim watching a football match between two army-affiliated teams. The photo posted on Yonhap's website showed a smiling Kim sitting inside a building and watching something through a window. Scenes of a football match, athletes and the audience stand were not shown in the photo. Kim, 66, reportedly suffered a stroke and underwent brain surgery in August. North Korea has denied he is ill and has in recent weeks released news reports, photos and footage portraying the leader as active and able.

LONDON: A looming famine in Afghanistan poses a greater threat to international efforts to rebuild the country than the ongoing insurgency there, a leading defence think-tank warned on Friday. According to the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a combination of factors -- from rising global food prices to a summer drought -- have created the conditions for a famine in Afghanistan this winter. "While the eyes of the world have focused on violence which is increasingly terrorist in character, an estimated 8.4 million Afghans, perhaps a third of the nation, are now suffering from 'chronic .. food insecurity'," RUSI analyst Paul Smyth said in a briefing note. "Whatever the effect of insurgent violence on the UN-mandated mission in Afghanistan, it is widespread hunger and malnutrition that will place a greater obstacle in its progress." He continued: "To maintain its credibility and moral authority to act in Afghanistan the international community must ...

MOSCOW: Russia and Libya are negotiating a deal under which Moscow would build nuclear research reactors for the North African state and supply fuel, officials said on Saturday. Russia earns billions of dollars each year by exporting its civilian nuclear expertise, but it has faced criticism from Western governments who say the nuclear technology could fall into the wrong hands. Officials said a document on civilian nuclear cooperation was under discussion at talks on Saturday between Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, on his first visit to Russia for 23 years, and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Under the deal, Russia would help Libya design, develop and operate civilian nuclear research reactors and provide fuel for them, said a Reuters reporter who saw a draft of the document. A spokesman for Putin said the deal was under discussion. "The agreement has not yet been signed. Negotiations are under way," Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Russia is in a three-way race with Euro...

VIENNA: Two Austrians kidnapped in Tunisia by an al-Qaida affiliate have been released, ending an eight-month ordeal and anguished diplomatic attempts to win their freedom. Wolfgang Ebner, 51, and Andrea Kloiber, 43, were freed on Thursday after 252 days in captivity and were under the protection of Mali's military, Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik said on Friday. Al-Qaida in Islamic North Africa had claimed responsibility for abducting the pair Feb. 22 while they were on vacation in Tunisia. The precise circumstances leading up to the pair's release remained unclear, but Plassnik said the kidnappers let them go and Defense Minister Norbert Darabos said no rescue operation had been mounted. Austria's government had feared the worst after three deadlines set by their captors had expired with no sign of the missing couple from Salzburg - and no clear sense of exactly where they were being held. The group had unsuccessfully demanded the release of a Muslim husband and wife fro...

MONTREAL: Republican vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin on Saturday was the victim of a prank phone call by a French-Canadian comedian impersonating French President Nicolas Sarkozy. After Palin realized the call was a hoax, her campaign staff admitted she was "mildly amused." The prank tag-team from Quebec, "Justiciers masques," who have previously targeted heads of state and celebrities, posted the conversation on their website. In the recording, John McCain's running mate enthusiastically takes the fake Sarkozy's call. "It's so good to hear you, thank you for calling us ... we have such great respect for you, John McCain and I, we love you!" Palin said. She appeared unfazed by the fake president's thick French accent and some outrageous comments. At one point the impersonator, comedian Sebastien Trudel, told the Alaskan governor he is following the US elections closely along with his special American advisor Johnny Hallyday -- a famou...