Washington, Sept 12 : While it is believed that biological and societal factors influence choice of partners, a new study has suggested that immunity traits may be more involved in selecting a mate.

The study by scientists in China, France, and the United Kingdom have shown that the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC), a large genomic region involved in immune response, influences mating selections and that this may be mediated by preferences based on body odor.

It was shown in some previous studies that humans have a tendency to prefer MHC-dissimilar mates, encouraging heterozygosity at MHC loci in offspring and resulting in improved immune response.

Miranshah, Sept 12 : Despite repeated warnings from Pakistan army and government against US attacks on Pakistani soil, at least 12 people were killed and 10 injured in yet another US drone attack at Miranshah in North Waziristan today.

The attack was carried out despite US assurance not to conduct any further raid inside Pakistan’s territory, reported The News.

US drones launched an attack inside Pakistan''s area at 4:00am early in the Friday morning, the paper quoted sources as saying.

Two missiles were fired at a house in Tol Khel area on the outskirts of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan district, killing dozen people and injuring 10.

Washington, Sep 12 : Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, in her first interview since becoming the Republican vice-presidential candidate, had no knowledge about the Bush Doctrine ans was visibly stumbled when asked about it.

Speaking at length with ABC’s Charles Gibson, Palin was most visibly stumbled when she was asked by if she agreed with the Bush Doctrine. Palin did not seem to know what he was talking about.

Gibson, sounding like an impatient teacher, informed her that it meant the right of “anticipatory self-defence.”

Washington, Sept 12 : Researchers at Mayo Clinic have shown that stem cells can be used to regenerate heart tissue to treat dilated cardiomyopathy, a congenital defect.

Their study is based on the use of embryonic stem cells to regenerate tissue and repair damage after heart attacks and demonstrates that stem cells also can repair the inherited causes of heart failure.

Washington, Sep 12: The United States and China are holding talks about what to do if the government in Pyongyang collapses after North Korean leader Kim Jong Il became physically impaired from a stroke apparently suffered last month, FOX News reports.

A senior Bush Administration official said that although Kim may not be close to death, the US does not accept reports from South Korea that he’s on his way to a rapid recovery.

The official told FOX News the United States is naturally engaging the Chinese about what to do if there is ensuing instability in North Korea. There is no logical successor to Kim. He has not been grooming one of his sons to replace him, as Kim’s father, Kim Il Sung, groomed him.

Caracas - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez expelled the US ambassador, acting out of solidarity with his embattled Bolivian counterpart, Evo Morales.

US Ambassador Patrick Duddy had to leave the country within the next 72 hours, Chavez said Thursday night in a televised speech. At the same time, the leftist populist president recalled Venezuela's ambassador to the United States, Bernardo Alvarez.

Duddy arrived in Caracas last year.