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London, Jan 12 : Martial Saugy, director of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Lausanne laboratory, has rejected United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) claims that they helped banned cyclist Lance Armstrong to avoid detection for the blood-boosting agent EPO.

 Saugy admitted that in 2001 he met Armstrong and his team manager, Johan Bruyneel, and explained the tests for EPO, but he denied allegations this enabled Armstrong to avoid failing tests, the Telegraph reports.

Washington, January 12 : In a new study, researchers have identified microorganisms that live inside salt deposits in the acidic and ferrous environment of the Tinto River in Huelva, Spain.

The extreme conditions of these microniches appear to be similar to those of the salt deposits on Mars and Jupiter's moon, Europa. This possibility should be borne in mind on missions operating in these places, such as Curiosity.

London, Jan 12 : An Iranian government-affiliated arts bureau has planned to produce a film to offer the country's own version of the 1979 hostage crisis.

According to Iran''s semi-official media fir, the film named `The General Staff' will be produced by the state-affiliated Arts Bureau and directed by the Tehran-based film-maker Ataollah Salmanian.

The director said that the film, which will be a big production, should be an `appropriate response to the ahistoric film Argo.'

New Delhi, Jan 12 : To commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda on Saturday, a number of functions are being held across the country.

President Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the anniversary celebrations at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi and release a set of commemorative coins and stamps.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi along with several Union Ministers will be present on the occasion.

Sydney, Jan 12 : US President Barack Obama has said that NATO troops will speed up the transfer of lead security responsibility to Afghanistan forces.

Obama said NATO forces would have a `very limited' role in the country after 2014 and insisted that Washington had achieved its prime goal of "decapitating" Al-Qaeda.

His remarks came after a meeting Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Washington on Friday, News. com. au reports.

Los Angeles, Jan 12 : Singer Justin Bieber's childish and attention-seeking behaviour reportedly forced Selena Gomez to end their relationship, says a friend of the singer-actress.

The duo were together for over two years before their relationship hit a rocky end during New Year.

"Justin is super needy and can be a big baby around Selena. It is hard for him to make real friends because he likes the temporary attention of strangers, but didn't realise how it hurt Selena," radaronline. com quoted a friend as saying.