London, November 10
Britain's intelligence agency head was quoted today as saying up to about 30 major terrorist plots were being planned in the country and that future threats could involve chemicals and nuclear technology. Ms Eliza Manningham-Buller, Director-General of MI5, said young British Muslims were being groomed as suicide bombers and that her agents were tracking some 1,600 suspects, most of whom were British-born and linked to Al-Qaeda.

''We are aware of numerous plots to kill people and damage our economy. What do I mean by numerous? Five? Ten? No, nearer 30 ... that we know of,'' Ms Manningham-Buller said in a speech in London yesterday that was reported by British media.

Ms Manningham-Buller, who said her warnings were not intended to alarm but to paint a frank picture of the reality, was quoted as saying the plots were ''priority one'' cases.

Last year, Britain suffered its worst peace-time attack when four British Muslims blew themselves up on London's transport network, killing 52 commuters and wounding hundreds.

''My officers and the police are working to contend with some 200 groupings or networks, totalling over 1,600 identified individuals who are actively engaged in plotting or facilitating terrorist acts here and overseas,'' she said.

Ms Manningham-Buller said the number of cases being pursued by security services had risen by 80 per cent since January.

''Today we see the use of home-made improvised explosive devices. Tomorrow's threat may -- and I suggest will -- include the use of chemicals, bacteriological agents, radioactive materials and even nuclear technology,'' she said. — Reuters

Miranshah, November 10
Suspected militants fired five rockets at a military fort in a Pakistani tribal area bordering Afghanistan and separately kidnapped a driver supplying troops, officials said today.

There were no casualties from the rocket attack in troubled North Waziristan district late yesterday. It came a day after a suicide bomber killed 42 Pakistani troops at an army base in the country's north-west.

"Five rockets were fired at a fort used by security forces last night near Mir Ali town. They missed the target and exploded in open ground," a security official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Separately armed men snatched a private vehicle carrying supplies for troops at nearby Ippi village late yesterday and took the contractor hostage before fleeing, he said.

In another incident late yesterday armed men ambushed the car of a tribal elder who was travelling with four other people near Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan but they all escaped unhurt. — AFP

Washington, November 10
Soy yogurt, especially with fruit in it, may help control type two diabetes and high blood pressure, US researchers have reported. Although people with diabetes are usually discouraged from eating sweet snacks, soy yogurt and some dairy yogurts rich in fruit seem to help regulate enzymes that affect blood sugar levels, the researchers reported yesterday in the Journal of Food Biochemistry.

''What one eats should be part of an overall approach to therapy,'' said Mr Kalidas Shetty of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Type two diabetes, which affects more than 15 million Americans and up to 150 million people globally, is characterised by an abnormal rise in blood sugar right after a meal. This effect, known as hyperglycemia, can damage blood vessels, kidneys, heart, eyes and nerves.

Mr Shetty was interested in studying certain plant compounds that affect enzymes targeted by diabetes drugs, notably alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase.

He also wanted to check on foods' effects on angiotensin-converting enzyme or ACE inhibitors, medicines used to fight high blood pressure.

Mr Shetty and his team went to a local supermarket and bought peach, strawberry, blueberry and plain yogurt made by four different producers, including a soy brand.

Tests in their lab showed that soy blueberry yogurt strongly affected all three of the enzymes. Peach and strawberry yogurt also affected alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase.

The researchers tested the yogurt varieties for antioxidants and plant compounds called phenols. Phenols and polyphenols give red wine and tea some of their heart-healthy benefits.

Plain soy yogurt was the most potent, with blueberry dairy yogurt scoring second on phenol and antioxidant content, the researchers said.

Soy yogurt was also the best at inhibiting ACE, which causes blood vessels to narrow and raises blood pressure.

Mr Shetty noted that type two diabetes was most prevelant in poor communities and especially among native Americans.

''Cost-effective dietary changes are essential for fighting this disease, and traditional diets that have a higher content of these protective antioxidants are an important part of the solution,'' Mr Shetty said. — Reuters

BRIEFLY

Riot in China over land
HONG KONG: Thousands of Chinese villagers clashed with the riot police after barricading officials and foreign businessmen in a warehouse they said had been built on illegally seized land, a newspaper reported on Friday. — Reuters

Virus potent cancer-killer
New York: An engineered form of a virus can infect and kill malignant glioma cells while leaving normal cells unharmed, according to new research findings. In its natural form, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is a potent cancer-killer in a number of tumor cell types, including brain tumors called gliomas. — Reuters

10-yr jail for paedophile
LONDON: A British court jailed a man who has wrested control of the computers of girls as young as 13 in order to blackmail them for his sexual gratification. Adrian Ringland was given 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty. — Reuters

Exotic ladybug spreads allergy
NEW YORK: The exotic ladybug species, Harmonia axyridis, could be a significant cause of respiratory allergy for residents of homes infested with these insects, clinicians from Kentucky warn. — Reuters