Melbourne, Dec 3 (ANI): If, by any chance, you've socks, jocks and blenders in your list of Christmas gifts, then it's time that you cross them off, for they are among the most hated festival gifts this year, at least that's what a new Oz survey suggests.

The survey conducted by Galaxy Research revealed that the above items along with books, underwear and dressing gowns, made up for the most unpopular but widely received of all Christmas gifts.

In fact, 56 per cent of people said that they would re-gift many of such items throughout the next year.

In October, Galaxy questioned 1242 people aged 13 years and older on behalf of NAB.

And it was found that there was significant disparity between how people perceive their gift giving prowess and the reality.

Despite 69 per cent of Australians rating their present buying ability as above average in the survey, almost 72 per cent of people regularly receive a Christmas gift they don't like.

Grandparents scored the lowest when it comes to giving gifts-they were rated as the worst gift givers (37 per cent), with mums taking second spot (20 per cent) and dads third (14 per cent), reports theage.com.au.

Clothes bought by parents topped the unwanted gift list for teenage girls-over 50 per cent were unhappy about receiving them as gifts. However, 70 per cent of parents rated clothes as a good purchase for daughters.

On the other hand, for teenage boys, books got the big thumbs down.

Kitchen appliances make up for the most re-gifted item for women and were also the type of gift women would least like to receive from their partner.

But, almost one-third of blokes were still planning to but kitchen utility for their partners.

A list of popular gift ideas from David Jones has the Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere perfume as the top gift for women and an iPod Nano as the male equivalent.

For boys, Lego and Transformers products are suggested, and for girls, Barbie and Baby Alive.

Kmart's top ten toys for Christmas include the Ben 10 Alien Force - Ultimate Omnitrix, a Star Wars Clone Wars vehicle and the Lego city coast guard platform for boys.

For girls there's a cupcake maker, Barbie princess doll and My Little Pony sing and dance horse. (ANI)

Islamabad/New Delhi, Dec.3 (ANI)): Pakistan has said that Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's warning that India will exercise its military options if its territorial integrity is compromised, will not help in toning down tensions between the two nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours.

Mukherjee told NDTV in an interview that India is not ruling out the option of military strikes against terror camps in Pakistan. He also said that every country has the right to protect its territorial integrity and take appropriate action when necessary, adding that continuing the peace process with Pakistan in the present circumstances is difficult.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has responded by saying that such statements will only aggravate the situation in South Asia.

"We want to defuse the situation. We do not want such exchange of statements. These statements will only spiral the situation out of control," said Qureshi.

The two statements come as the international community is putting pressure on Pakistan to crack down on the Lashkar-e-Taiba's reported headquarters in Muridke outside Lahore.

On Tuesday, Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani chaired an all-party meeting on national security to discuss the developing tensions with India in the wake of the Mumbai attacks and evolve a consensus on how to deal with the situation.

At present, the Indian Government is not thinking of a military option, choosing to await Pakistan's response to a demarche issued by the External Affairs Ministry that demands action against terrorist groups and individuals operating out of that country.

Mukherjee told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of the India-Arab Forum in New Delhi that nobody is talking about military action.

He said New Delhi had handed over a list of 20 fugitive terrorists wanted by it to Pakistan, which includes Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Mohammad, Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar and 1993 Mumbai serial blast prime accused Dawood Ibrahim.

The demarche was handed over to Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik.

The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, has also said that New Delhi will not tolerate use of territories by its neighbours for launching attacks on India and that there will be a cost to it. Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterji said that India is determined to root out terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

In a related development, the Navy Chief Admiral Suresh Mehta has said that systemic and intelligence failure led to the terror strike in Mumbai.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has asked Pakistan to fully cooperate in the ongoing investigations of the brutal Mumbai terror strikes. She told the media in London that it is incumbent on Pakistan to realise the seriousness of what has happened.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi has proposed the formation of a joint investigating mechanism with India to probe the deadly Mumbai terror strikes. Qureshi made the offer during a brief broadcast on the state-run PTV.

Responding to India's demarche seeking action by Pakistan against elements linked to the terror attacks in Mumbai that killed nearly 200 people, Qureshi said Islamabad is ready to extend a hand of cooperation and assist in every way in tracing the perpetrators of the strikes.

Asked about India's demand for the handing over of 20 wanted terrorists, Information Minister Sherry Rehman told reporters,"We have to look at it formally once we receive it (list of terrorists) and we will frame a response to that." (ANI)

New Delhi, Dec.3 (ANI): India on Tuesday evening expressed concern over reported moves by Israel to block humanitarian aid to the Palestine-held Gaza Strip.

"We remain concerned at the adverse effects of the closure of access points into the Strip (and) on the prevailing humanitarian situation," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said at a meeting of the India-Arab Forum hosted by the Indian Council of World Affairs.

Mukherjee also said peace and stability in West Asia is of paramount importance to India.

"India has constantly supported the quest of the Palestinian people for a homeland in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions," Mukherjee said.

Observing that the dialogue process to find a solution to the Palestinian issue should continue, he called for an end to the expansion of Israeli settlements.

Later addressing a round-table on 'India-Arab Historical Linkages and Civilisational Dialogue', Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed said: "The Arab world has always figured very high in India's foreign policy priorities. In modern times, traditional bonds have further strengthened and diversified as our ties have steadily developed," Ahamed said.

"In recent decades, the Arab world has has become our primary source of energy, a growing market for our goods, an important destination for our investment, and a region that provides livelihood to millions of Indians working in the region," Ahamed said.

"We wish to work together to enable and ensure a framework for future generations to consolidate our ties in emerging sectors of the economy," Ahamed said.

India has strong economic ties with the Arab world as the nation's trade with countries in the region has nearly quadrupled from eight billion dollars in 2000 to 30 billion dollars in 2007-08.

Earlier on Tuesday, India and Arab League today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for setting up of a joint forum for cooperation to enhance their ties in various fields, including trade and commerce, culture and communication technology.

The Arab League also extended support to New Delhi in its fight against terrorism saying there was a need to "stand firm" in tackling the menace.

Visiting Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa said every body should join hands to root out terrorism and piracy.

"This is a responsibility on our shoulders. All of us should stand firm against terrorism and against piracy," Moussa told a news agency in New Delhi.

On the economic front, Moussa said both countries should enhance economic ties as it was "very important" to negate the effects of global economic slowdown.

"We are now quadrupling the economic exchange in trade, investment and other avenues of economic activities," he said.

India's trade with Arab League nations is witnessing rapid growth and could top USD 100 billion in the next four years, he said. (ANI)

New Delhi, Dec.3 (ANI): US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will arrive in New Delhi on Wednesday morning for an overnight visit.

She has been asked by President George W Bush to meet both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and discuss the fallout of the terror strikes in Mumbai, and will probably caution India not to take on an aggressive posture against Pakistan.

The Indian Government is expected to share with Rice details of the evidence it has gathered so far against Pakistan, including intercepts like records of satellite phones used by the terrorists.

Rice is also expected to visit Pakistan on Thursday in a bid to reduce tensions between the two countries in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

However, there was no official word on that visit as yet. (ANI)