Life Insurance tips

Definition of Life Insurance
Life insurance is the definition of a transfer of risk (Risk Shifting) for the financial loss (financial loss) by the Insured to the Insurer. Risks that are delegated by the Insured to the Insurer is not the risk of loss of one's soul, but the financial losses as a result of the loss of one's soul, or because of old age so it is not productive anymore.
Concept of Risk
The economic value of the life of a head of household (the breadwinner) is equal to earnings capacity. If the economic value of the life of a family head is lost or reduced, then that will suffer directly is the loss of his relatives. The risk of loss of income is to be borne by the families left behind.
To reduce these risks in modern times has been taken one way to assign or delegate the risk to others, in this case the Insurance Institute which specializes efforts in this area as a profession. The delegation of the risk is more popular is called "buying a life insurance policy".
Types of risk to insured
Throughout human life is always confronted with the possibility of occurrence of events that can lead to lost or reduced its economic value. This resulted in harm to themselves and their families or other interested person. In other words, human beings always face the events that would pose risks as follows;

• Dead (death) either naturally (natural death) and died at a young age due to illness, accidents (accidental death) and others. Each person would have died, although not sure when it will happen. The death of a breadwinner will result in loss of income sources for the interested. Therefore required financial guarantee within a specified period during which abandoned have not been able to adjust to new conditions.
• Disability agencies (disability) due to illness or accident. As a result of illness or accident, a person is physically or mentally unable to work while thus affecting earnings. Whereas if a person suffers total and permanent disability, they can not work at all.
• Critical illnessCritical illness can come at any time regardless of age, whether a person is young or old. Critical illness can not be known when the arrival and can not be known with certainty.
• Old age (old age) / Retirement. Old days of events will inevitably occur, but how long it lasts the life of the old days, can not be known with certainty.
• Education. The development of the education the longer the better. The cost of a child who will continue the longer education even more expensive. Parents should be able to anticipate the development of the education very seriously, because the cost of education today and ten years would have been much different peningkatanya.

The types of life insurance policies
Of the various types of life insurance available today, there are basically three types of life insurance;

• Term life insurance (Term Insurance). Is a life insurance contract where the sum assured is paid only if death occurs within the period of insurance coverage period is still valid. Term Insurance is the simplest form of insurance and the elderly. This type of insurance is sometimes referred to as temporary insurance, according to insurance. The amount of premiums on insurance is also the cheapest compared with life insurance and life insurance Dwiguna.

• Lifetime Life Insurance (Whole Life Insurance).  Life for life insurance is designed to provide lifelong protection as long as he keeps the Insured the policy remains active with her policy through premium payments. In addition to death protection, policy in also provides a savings element which is known as cash value that arises because premiums remain.

• Life Insurance Dwiguna. This insurance is comprised of two elements, namely protection of life and savings. Mental Protection provides death protection. Savings on the insurance element is higher so appropriate for the purpose of saving money. With the savings element  higher than the Insurance Term Life Insurance and Life long

•  Life Insurance Unit-link. In addition to the above three types of policies or also called the traditional policy, the life insurance business insurance policy is also known Unit link. Unit-link life insurance policies combine insurance with investment components. This policy provides life insurance policyholder protection as well as the opportunity to participate in investments managed by insurance companies. Funds placed in the product cut for insurance coverage and the remainder is invested in units of the fund concerned.

The purpose of this policy is to invest. By linking the investment policy unit-link with the performance of a fund, the policyholder has the potential to get higher investment returns than traditional policies. Investment risk entirely the responsibility of the policyholder and the possibility of policy values ??may fall. So, even though the potential policyholder investment returns greater than a traditional policy, investment risks are also great.

Transformers: dark of the moon makes box office debut

Transformers: dark of the moon makes box office debut
NEW YORK: The third installment in the Transformers series “dark of the moon” is being released today. The movie will be released in both 2D and 3D formats.

"Transformers: Dark of the Moon" is set to hit theaters across the US on June 29. The move showcases a mysterious event from Earth's past which erupts into the present day; it threatens to bring a war to Earth so big that the Transformers alone will not be able to save us.

Lindsay Lohan ends home detention after 35 days Entertaiment

Lindsay Lohan ends home detention after 35 days Entertaiment
LOS ANGELES: Actress Lindsay Lohan was released from home detention on Wednesday after spending 35 days at her Los Angeles apartment for stealing a gold necklace, authorities said.

A private company that handles monitoring equipment for home detention inmates removed the electronic ankle bracelet from the "Mean Girls" star on Wednesday morning, said Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Department.

Lohan was sentenced in May to 120 days in jail, but the 24 year-old actress qualified for a shorter period of house arrest under programs for nonviolent offenders and to reduce overcrowding in Los Angeles jails.

Lohan, a former child star, pleaded no contest in May to the theft of a $2,500 gold necklace from a Los Angeles boutique. She had walked out of the store wearing the jewelry.

Her once promising Hollywood career has been derailed because of repeated run-ins with the law and trips to rehabilitation to deal with drug and alcohol problems.

Nevertheless, she is due to start filming a movie about New York crime boss John Gotti later this year with co-stars John Travolta and Al Pacino.
   

The 10 biggest movie flops of 2011 so far Entertainment News

The 10 biggest movie flops of 2011 so far Entertainment News
LOS ANGELES: It's been a rough six months for Hollywood, which turned out a string of disappointments at the domestic box office.

Some hurt more than others, depending upon their production budgets and marketing spends. The following list doesn't account for how much was spent on marketing, since studios hold those figures closed to their chests, but we're talking many, many millions.

MARS NEEDS MOMS
Robert Zemeckis' motion-capture pic was one of the most expensive bombs in Hollywood history, costing at least $150 million to produce and grossing $21.4 million at the domestic box office. Overseas, it didn't do much better, grossing $17.6 million for a total $39 million.

YOUR HIGHNESS
The raunchy comedy, set in medieval times, didn't go over well with audiences, even if it starred newly anointed Oscar winner Natalie Portman (along with James Franco and Danny McBride). Costing $50 million to produce, the film earned $21.6 million domestically and a paltry $3 million overseas.

ARTHUR
The remake of the classic Dudley Moore comedy failed to rustle up many laughs, topping out at $33 million domestically. Starring Russell Brand, Helen Mirren and Jennifer Garner, "Arthur" did even less overseas, earning $12.7 million for a global total of $45.7 million. The production budget was reportedly $40 million.

PROM
"Prom," earning a mere $10.1 million at the domestic box office, was the first movie greenlit by newly installed Disney chairman Rich Ross to hit theaters. It's the lowest grossing studio film of the year so far, but luckily for Ross, "Prom" cost only $8 million to produce.

JUDY MOODY AND THE NOT BUMMER SUMMER
The producers of "Precious" were hoping to launch a new film franchise based on the popular kids book series. But the $20 million film, distributed by Relativity Media in the U.S., has grossed just $13.4 million to date.

GREEN LANTERN
Costing at least $200 million to produce, "Green Lantern" needed to do a big number worldwide to be financially solid (think $500 million plus). Now, it seems the Ryan Reynolds superhero pic will top out at roughly $250 million or $260 million worldwide. It didn't help that the movie was bashed by critics.

PRIEST
The supernatural action film, based on the Korean graphic novel, was the most expensive movie ever made by Screen Gems, costing $60 million to produce. It earned $29.1 million domestically, but made up some ground overseas, where it earned $46 million.

SUCKER PUNCH
Zack Snyder's female action-fantasy couldn't find its groove, grossing $36.4 million domestically and $53.4 million overseas for a worldwide total of $89.8 million. The movie, which cost roughly $82 million to produce, came in No. 2 on its opening weekend behind "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules."

HOODWINKED TOO! HOOD VS. EVIL
The first "Hoodwinked!" was a sleeper hit at the worldwide box office, grossing $51.4 million domestically and $58.6 million internationally. The sequel, however, came and went quickly, earning only $10 million in North America and $3.6 million overseas. Its production budget was a reported $30 million.

THE BEAVER
There was heat around actor/director Jodie Foster's high-profile movie for months, but it quickly disappeared at the domestic box office, grossing less than $1 million. Many saw it as a referendum on Mel Gibson, who stars in the $20 million film.

Libya regime talking to rebels, says Kadhafi daughter

Libya regime talking to rebels, says Kadhafi daughter
PARIS: Moamer Kadhafi's daughter said Wednesday that her father's regime is in "direct and indirect" contact with the Libyan rebels, during an interview with the France 2 news channel.

"At the moment there are direct and indirect negotiations. We are working to stop the flow of Libyan blood and for that we are ready deal with the devil," the 35-year-old Aisha Kadhafi said.

She insisted, during the interview in Tripoli, that the ongoing conflict had "strengthened" her family, and denied reports of "divisions" or "disputes."

She refused to directly answer questions as to whether her father would consider leaving power, saying only that he remained an important figure to the Libyan people.

"Where would you like him to? Here, this is his country, his land, his people (...) Where is he going to go? There is one thing that you will never understand, it's that my father is a symbol ... a guide," she insisted.

The rebels have on several occassions confirmed having indirect contacts with the regime through intermediaries.

But "these negotiations are never direct", spokesman for the rebels' National Transitional Council Mahmoud Shammam said on June 24.

The rebels have said they would consider allowing Kadhafi to stay in the country, provided he agree to leave power.

In her interview, Aisha Kadhafi appealed directly to "mothers and wives of the French pilotes" participating in NATO's continuing raids on regime targets.

"I have already lost one of my children ... Your husbands are not working to protect civilians in Libya. They are killing my people and our children," she said.

"And they are doing all this for what? To satisfy Sarkozy who believes that the more he kills the Libyans, the more votes he will win in elections," she told the French news channel.

Kadhafi's exit was on Thursday a key topic at the African Union's ongoing summit in Equatorial Guinea, where African leaders remain divided on the how to end to the conflict in Libya, although many have criticised NATO's bombing.

Osama's killing a highlight of my tenure: Panetta World News

Osama's killing a highlight of my tenure: Panetta
WASHINGTON: Outgoing CIA director Leon Panetta said Thursday it had been "one hell of a ride" leading the spy agency and called the killing of al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden a highlight of his tenure.

In a final message to CIA employees titled "arrivederci," the son of Italian immigrants praised "America's silent warriors" at the agency and described what he called the peaks and valleys of his more than two year tenure.

"Emotionally, this job took me to both the depths and heights: from hearing we had lost seven of our own at Khowst (in eastern Afghanistan), to the moment that sealed one of the greatest successes in our agency's history -- ridding the world of Usama Bin Ladin," he wrote.

"We had one hell of a ride together."

Panetta won praise for the May 2 raid that killed the Al-Qaeda mastermind, with the spy agency hauling away a trove of material from bin Laden's Pakistani compound.

Panetta, who is due to be sworn in Friday as the next defense secretary, thanked agency employees and said he had witnessed "personal courage," "technological marvels" and "history in the making.

William, Catherine make Canadian debut world News

William, Catherine make Canadian debut
OTTAWA: Prince William and new bride Princess Catherine arrived in Canada Thursday for their international debut as Britain's royal golden couple, hoping star power will win skeptical Canadians over to the monarchy.

William and Kate, her dark hair blowing in the wind, stepped off the plane under overcast skies to be greeted by dignitaries before rushing off to their first official engagement on foreign soil.

Thousands desperate to glimpse the 29-year-old newlyweds lined the streets of Ottawa ahead of a wreath-laying ceremony at a World War I memorial.

While Prince William has plenty of experience of royal duties, his wife -- known until recently as Kate Middleton -- is still a rookie in the public eye.

At the start of the nine-day tour of the key British Commonwealth nation, Princess Catherine was to have an immediate chance to show she had learnt the ropes, meeting and greeting the gathering throng after the ceremony.

Prince William's great-grandparents King George VI and Queen Elizabeth unveiled the memorial in 1939 and established a new tradition with the first royal walkabout, stopping to chat with some in the 100,000-strong crowd.

Full of pomp and ceremony, the trip comes just two months after a radiant Kate Middleton walked down the aisle in the wedding-of-the-year, watched by an estimated two billion people worldwide.

"It's symbolic that Canada is the first place they have chosen to visit," said Dave Sencial, who had come all the way from Canada's easternmost Newfoundland province to see the royal couple.

Canadian fans packed every hotel in sight of the capital. Some even camped overnight on the steps of the war memorial, awakened by Canada's national anthem blared from nearby Parliament Hill where technicians readied sound and stage equipment for Friday's Canada Day celebrations.

Support for the monarchy hovers above 50 percent in Canada and has risen from last year since the royal nuptials, although there is still a vocal anti-monarchist minority.

In addition to official pageantry and military ceremonies, the schedule of the royal visit has its lighter moments, such as a cooking class, an aboriginal sports event and a rodeo.

The initiation for the British royal family's newest member, also known as the Duchess of Cambridge, will be vital training for the future queen in the cauldron-like atmosphere of public walkabouts.

Their first day will kick off with military honors as well as speeches by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Governor General David Johnston and Prince William himself.

Later, the royals are to attend a barbecue with 120 young Canadians at the official residence of the British governor general, Rideau Hall, originally the home of a Scottish stonemason.

On July 1, they cap off their visit to Ottawa celebrating Canada's national holiday, joining tens of thousands outside parliament for musical performances and fireworks.

After taking a cooking class in Montreal on July 2, William and Catherine will travel to Quebec City, Charlottetown, Yellowknife and Calgary.

Prior to their final stop in Canada, the newlyweds, who honeymooned in May in the Seychelles, were expected to sneak away on a romantic getaway to a secluded and undisclosed location in the Rocky Mountains for a day and night.

Their tour of Canada coincides with a grim milestone -- Friday would have been the 50th birthday of Princess Diana, Prince William's mother, who was thronged by fans when she made her own visit to Canada in 1983.

Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William's grandmother, is Canada's official head of state but has next-to-no role in the country's governance.

A poll released on the eve of their visit showed one-third of Canadians wish to cut ties with the British monarchy.

Anti-monarchists in the French-speaking independence-leaning province of Quebec added their own event to the royal itinerary, calling for protests when the couple stops in Quebec City on Sunday.

After wrapping up their tour of Canada, the couple will travel to California for three days, July 8-10, for a visit whose highlight will be a black-tie celebrity reception for British filmmakers in Los Angeles.
   

Libyan rebels say will end fighting if Kadhafi quits

Libyan rebels say will end fighting if Kadhafi quits
MALABO: Libyan rebels said Friday they were prepared to end their conflict with Moamer Kadhafi through military means but would stop hostilities if the long-time leader quit power.

"If we see that Kadhafi withdraws, we are ready to stop (the hostilities) and negotiate with our brothers who are around Kadhafi," National Transitional Council representative Mansour Safy Al-Nasr said as African leaders discussed the conflict.

But the rebels would not retreat, "not this time", he said on the sidelines of the African Union summit in the Equatorial Guinea capital, without excluding that the forces would take the capital Tripoli.

"If military operations advance to surround Tripoli, he will accept (to leave). Kadhafi is isolated. He is in his bunker. He cannot move, he does not have a life," Al-Nasr said.

"The troops are advancing," he said.

Asked if he thought the conflict would be ended through a political or a military means, he said: "We are ready for anything."

Al-Nasr also dismissed an African Union statement last week that Kadhafi had agreed to keep out of negotiations. "He never said it," he said.

An African Union panel mediating in the Libyan conflict is proposing a roadmap out of the fighting that would include a ceasefire, humanitarian aid, transition period, reforms towards democracy and elections.

The five-leader panel presented the plan to counterparts at closed door talks on the first day of their summit Thursday but the meeting ended in the early hours of Friday morning with no consensus.

The talks were to resume at 10:00 am (0900 GMT).

Some officials say pre-conditions that Kadhafi should quit for a political solution to be reached should be brought to the negotiating table.

Strauss-Kahn case in jeopardy: New York Times

Strauss-Kahn case in jeopardy: New York Times
NEW YORK: The sexual assault case against ex-IMF chief and French presidential hopeful Dominique Strauss-Kahn is collapsing due to doubts over the victim's credibility, a report said Thursday.

The New York Times story, citing two law enforcement sources close to the sensational case, was published shortly after the district attorney's office announced that Strauss-Kahn would make an unexpected court appearance Friday.

It said prosecutors did not believe much of the story from the Guinean-born maid and suspect she has repeatedly lied to them since the alleged May 14 attack in the French politician's Manhattan hotel room.

If confirmed, the doubts could mark a dramatic reversal in the case that has upended politics in France -- where Strauss-Kahn was once seen as a likely presidential candidate -- and prompted a change in leadership at the International Monetary Fund at a time of major upheaval in the eurozone.

Officials said that within a day of the alleged rape attempt, the maid was recorded speaking on the phone with a man jailed for possessing 400 pounds (180 kilograms) of marijuana and discussing the benefits of pursuing charges.

The Times said he is one of several individuals who made multiple cash deposits, totaling around $100,000, into the woman's bank account over the last two years.

It said Friday's unscheduled hearing would likely alter the strict bail conditions imposed on Strauss-Kahn, allowing him to travel within the United States, and that lawyers were discussing dismissing the felony charges.

The district attorney's office may ask Strauss-Kahn to plead guilty to a misdemeanor, but his lawyers would contest such a move, it added.

Among the discoveries, one official told the newspaper, are issues involving the asylum application of the 32-year-old housekeeper, and possible links to criminal activities, including drug dealing and money laundering.

Officials declined to reveal the reason for Friday's hearing.

The former French finance minister had not been expected back in court until July 18.

Strauss-Kahn had posted $1 million bail and a $5 million bond when he was released in May, and agreed to remain under house arrest with an ankle monitor.

Earlier Thursday, French newspaper Liberation, citing Strauss-Kahn's defense lawyers, said he was likely to challenge the legality of the identification lineup that took place a day after his arrest, during which the then-IMF director had been picked out by the alleged victim.

Strauss-Kahn had spent days in New York's tough Rikers Island jail pending the bail package agreement, but is now awaiting trial in his luxury rental apartment in Manhattan's TriBeCa neighborhood.

The Frenchman has denied all seven charges, including trying to rape the woman and sexually assaulting her when she came to clean his luxury suite.

Strauss-Kahn resigned from the IMF shortly after his arrest, setting off a battle for the leadership of the US-based multilateral lender, from which French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde ultimately emerged victorious.

In a separate article published Wednesday, the Times reported that Lisa Friel, head of the Manhattan district attorney's sex crimes unit for nearly a decade, was leaving the post.

It was not immediately clear if the move was related to the Strauss-Kahn case. Friel had made an early court appearance as part of the case, but did not remain on the investigating team, the Times said.

No magic wand for setting Karachi right: Durrani

No magic wand for setting Karachi right: Durrani
KARACHI: Sindh IG Wajid Ali Durrani has said situation in the city was bad, which would take some time to set it right and added DIGs transfers was a routine feature.

He termed it a wrong perception that the police have any coordination with the criminal elements.

On the occasion of his visit to CPLC office in the Governor House, Sindh IG said that effective measures were being taken to control the target killings, kidnappings for ransom and street crimes, while wherever required the rangers would be called.

Replying to a question, Wajid Ali Durrani said that the police enter into the affected areas only after the firing between the two groups stop and added this perception was wrong that the police have any coordination with the criminal elements.

National agenda need of the hour: Nawaz

National agenda need of the hour: Nawaz
LAHORE: PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif said Friday that consensus for a national agenda was the need of the hour, Geo News reported.

Addressing a meeting of the party’s coordination committee, Nawaz said that with the peoples’ help the PML-N had managed to bring an end to the dictatorship of Pervaz Musharraf. He added that strong democratic parties in Pakistan were the key to the country’s stability and decisions should be made after consultation with all stakeholders.

Zardari, Cameron discuss joint cooperation

Zardari, Cameron discuss joint cooperation News
LONDON: President Asif Ali Zardari met British Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street on Friday, Geo News reported. The two leaders discussed ways to enhance strategic dialogue and the killing of Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden by US Navy Seals in Abbottabad on May 2.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that the British PM told President Zardari militants in Afghanistan were on the back foot and Pakistan could play a major role in the political settlement in the country. He added that Britain appreciated Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war against terrorism.

The Presidential spokesman also told the media that Prime Minister Cameron pledged his support to Pakistan stating that Britain was a friend of democracy.
   

AJK poll rigging planned at Presidency: Ibrahim

AJK poll rigging planned at Presidency: Ibrahim
ISLAMABAD: Chief of Jammu Kashmir People’s Party Sardar Khalid Ibrahim Friday rejected the results of recently held Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) Legilative Assembly elections, alleging that rigging of the polls was planned at Presidency, Geo News reported.

At a press conference here, Sardar Khalid Ibrahim announced that on July 4 his party would organize a protest rally against the ‘direct role of the Federal Government in the rigging of the AJK elections’.

He said his party would also chalk out its future course in consultation with its electoral ally Pakistan Muslim League-N.
   

9 hurt as wall collapses in Raiwind

9 hurt as wall collapses in Raiwind
LAHORE: Nine people received injuries when a wall of a house collapsed due to rain in Raiwind area, Lahore.

Nine people including Humaira, Rasheed and Bashir were hurt when the wall caved in as a result of rain.

Rescue and emergency services reached the spot and shifted the injured to a hospital where their condition is said to be out of danger.
   

KSE 100-index sheds 184 points, ends at 12,179

KSE 100-index sheds 184 points, ends at 12,179
KARACHI: The Karachi Stock Exchange's (KSE) benchmark 100-share index ended 0.69 percent, or 184.25 points, lower at 12,179.81on turnover of 87.31 million shares.

Stocks ended lower on Thursday ahead of the announcement of the budget for the next fiscal year, but dealers said an expected removal of a capital gains tax on individual investors should boost to the market.

The 2011/12 (July-June) budget is due to be unveiled on Friday.

According to media reports, the government may decide to remove the capital gains tax. A 10 percent capital gains tax is imposed on stocks held for six months or less and 7.5 percent on stocks held between 6 months to a year.

In the currency market, the rupee edged lower to close at 85.93/98 to the dollar from 85.92 a day earlier, amid steady dollar demand.

"The demand for the dollars is pretty steady, but inflows were good as well today, so the rupee id not fall much," said a dealer at a foreign bank.

The rupee hit a record low of 86.50 last week and dealers said the local unit may face some pressure in days ahead amid increased demand for dollar for import payments and a bleak outlook.

Pirates 4’ still top pick at box office

Pirates 4’ still top pick at box office
LOS ANGELES: The fourth "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie ruled the foreign box office for a second weekend, fending off strong debuts by the "Hangover" and "Kung Fu Panda" sequels.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," playing everywhere overseas, captured $123 million during the weekend, raising its total to $471 million -- more than three times its domestic gross ($153 million).

"The Hangover, Part II" pulled in $59 million from 40 markets. Warner Bros. said the opening is three times higher than the comparable opening gross of the original 2009 hit in the same markets.

The comedy drew huge numbers from its No. 1 U.K. bow ($16.4 million), while Australia chipped in $11.6 million and France $5.8 million. Germany and Russia will open this week.

"Kung Fu Panda 2" in 3D followed closely with $57 million from just 11 markets, mostly in Asia.

The sequel to 2008's "Kung Fu Panda" finished in the top spot in nine markets, with China ($18.5 million), Russia ($15 million) and South Korea ($13 million) leading the list.

This week will see "Kung Fu Panda 2" adding 11 markets as it rolls out gradually over the summer months to capitalize on school holidays.

No. 4 on the weekend was "Fast Five," which grossed $13.3 million in 61 territories, pushing the foreign total for the turbo-charged street-racing sequel to $346 million.

"Rio" came in at No. 5 with $3.8 million from 37 markets for an overseas total of $321.9 million.

Google reveals Gmail hacking, says likely from China

Google reveals Gmail hacking, says likely from China
SAN FRANCISCO: Suspected Chinese hackers tried to steal the passwords of hundreds of Google email account holders, including those of senior U.S. government officials, Chinese activists and journalists, the Internet company said.

The perpetrators appeared to originate from Jinan, the capital of China's eastern Shandong province, Google said. Jinan is home to one of six technical reconnaissance bureaus belonging to the People's Liberation Army and a technical college that U.S. investigators last year linked to a previous attack on Google.

Washington said it was investigating Google's claims while the FBI said it was working with Google following the attacks -- the latest computer-based invasions directed at multinational companies that have raised global alarm about Internet security.

The hackers recently tried to crack and monitor email accounts by stealing passwords, but Google detected and "disrupted" their campaign, the world's largest Web search company said on its official blog.

The revelation comes more than a year after Google disclosed a cyberattack on its systems that it said it traced to China, and could further strain an already tense relationship between the Web giant and Beijing.

Google partially pulled out of China, the world's largest Internet market by users, last year after a tussle with the government over censorship and a serious hacking episode.

"We recently uncovered a campaign to collect user passwords, likely through phishing," Google said, referring to the practice where computer users are tricked into giving up sensitive information.

"The goal of this effort seems to have been to monitor the contents of these users' emails."

It "affected what seem to be the personal Gmail accounts of hundreds of users, including among others, senior U.S. government officials, Chinese political activists, officials in several Asian countries (predominantly South Korea), military personnel and journalists."

Google did not say the Chinese government was behind the attacks or say what might have motivated them.

But cyberattacks originating in China have become common in recent years, said Bruce Schneier, chief security technology officer at telecommunications company BT.

"It's not just the Chinese government. It's independent actors within China who are working with the tacit approval of the government," he said.

The United States has warned that a cyberattack -- presumably if it is devastating enough -- could result in real-world military retaliation, although analysts say it could be difficult to detect its origin with full accuracy.

Lockheed Martin Corp, the U.S. government's top information technology provider, said last week it had thwarted "a significant and tenacious attack" on its information systems network, though the company and government officials have not yet said where they think the attack originated.

"We have no reason to believe that any official U.S. government email accounts were accessed," said White House spokesman Tommy Vietor.

A spokesman at South Korea's presidential office said the Blue House had not been affected, but added they did not use Gmail. South Korea's Ministry of Strategy and Finance said it had warned all staff "not to use, send or receive any official information through private emails such as Gmail.

200 migrants missing off Tunisia coast: official

200 migrants missing off Tunisia coast: official
TUNIS: Around 200 migrants are missing off the Tunisian coast after an operation to rescue some 800 people aboard a small ship that ran aground on a sandbank, the official news agency TAP reported Thursday.

A rescue operation that began Wednesday has lifted 570 people off the overcrowded vessel after it ran aground and capsized near Tunisia's Kerkennah islands, the agency said.

But around 200 were still missing after they tried to scramble aboard a flotilla of rescue boats, it said.

17 die in clashes in Mogadishu main market: official

17 die in clashes in Mogadishu main market: official
MOGADISHU: Clashes pitting Somali government forces and their African Union allies against Islamist rebels for control of Mogadishu's main market left at least 17 civilians dead on Thursday, officials said.

Many of the victims died when stray artillery fire hit a bus station where people were waiting.

"At least seventeen civilian dead have been counted so far and nine of them were killed after artillery fire struck a bus station near Arafat hospital," Ali Muse, head of the Mogadishu ambulance service, told media

100 killed in Abyei conflict: ex-administrator

100 killed in Abyei conflict: ex-administrator
JUBA: Around 100 people were killed when northern Sudanese troops overran the contested Abyei area last month, the former administrator of the flashpoint border district said on Thursday.

"We are fearing that the number of those who died is around 100," Deng Arop Kuol told AFP, adding that the toll was a "preliminary estimate."

"The situation there is very bad, and our people are suffering," he said.

Kuol, a southern appointee, was controversially sacked as Abyei's administrator by President Omar al-Bashir after Khartoum's troops and tanks occupied the disputed region on May 21, in what the south's government branded an "invasion."

Khartoum has since appointed Brigadier Izzedine Osman, who led the army's seizure of Abyei town, as the region's caretaker administrator.

The UN Mission in Sudan said they could not confirm the numbers killed.

"Our patrols following the fighting saw dead bodies," UNMIS spokeswoman Hua Jiang told AFP.

"At present, however, we cannot confirm a final casualty toll."

The United Nations says at least 60,000 people from the Abyei region have fled the violence, while the south claims many more have been displaced.