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All six ABVP men acquitted in Prof Sabharwal murder case

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Nagpur, July 13: A court here on Monday acquitted all six ABVP activists accused of beating Professor H S Sabharwal to death in Ujjain in 2006.

In its verdict, the Nagpur Sessions Court said it was acquitting six workers of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the BJP’s students wing, as the prosecution had failed to prove their involvement in the murder.

According to the lawyer of accused, the court further noted that the prosecution even failed to file conclusive evidence to prove the six were present at the site of the murder.

Law soon to regulate foreign education providers: Sibal

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New Delhi, July 13: Government will soon bring a law to regulate foreign education providers in the country and would not allow students to be “exploited” by them, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal told the Lok Sabha on Monday.

A law is being contemplated to put in place a mechanism to facilitate entry of reputed foreign universities accredited in their country of origin for further improving the quality of higher education and research in the country, while preventing entry of foreign institutions/universities of dubious quality, he said.

Delhi-Hardwar highway closed till July 20

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Muzaffarnagar, July 13: The Delhi-Hardwar national highway has been closed to vehicular traffic from Monday till July 20 to ensure smooth movement of Shiva devotees, Kawad , police said.

Superintendent of Police (City) Muzaffarnagar Rajive Malhotra said, “The Delhi-Hardwar national highway has been closed and this has been done to prevent any untoward incident.

Security has been beefed up along the route and vehicular traffic plying from Delhi to Dehradun, Rishikesh, Hardwar and Roorkee have been diverted to alternative routes.”

Mayawati will use Centre funds to install statues

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Lucknow, July 13: The Samajwadi Party on Monday here said that even if the Finance Commission agrees to help the Uttar Pradesh government by releasing funds to undertake various developmental activities, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati would again use it in installing statues.

Speaking to reporters here, state SP president Akhilesh Yadav said, “The Bahujan Samaj Party government in the state is not utilising money meant for development activities.

Melanoma genes ‘discovered’

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Washington, July 13: Scientists claim to have discovered two new genes that together double a person’s risk of developing melanoma — the most deadly form of skin cancer.

An international team, led by Nick Hayward of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, has identified the two genes after a detailed study of the genes of some 6,000 people together with their mole count.

New drugs for Alzheimer’s may also treat traumatic brain injury

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Washington, July 13: Researchers have stumbled on how two brain disorders are linked — both Alzhemier’s and traumatic brain injury trigger destruction of cellular pathways. This finding could pave the way for successful treatment of both conditions.

Both Alzheimer’s and traumatic brain injury are associated with the build-up of beta amyloid, a toxic brain peptide.

Low vitamin D level not good for heart

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Washington, July 13: Low levels of Vitamin D and other nutrients may not be good for the health of your heart, according to latest research.

Recent studies have identified low vitamin D levels as a common problem with many adverse health effects, including higher rates of cardiovascular disease.

People with vitamin D deficiency are at increased risk of high blood pressure (BP), heart failure and heart disease, according to Suzanne Judd, University of Alabama, Birmingham (UA-B) and Vin Tangpricha of Emory University.

Coming soon: Unmanned aircraft!

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Melbourne, July 13: Imagine an eerie experience on board an unmanned aircraft which may soon fly side-by-side with piloted passenger planes.

Well, your imagination may soon come true — thanks to a team of scientists who are carrying out an experiment which, if successful, would make flying machines buzz about without any incident and without direct control inputs from any human.

New advances in ‘bullet fingerprinting’ technology

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London, July 13: The ‘bullet fingerprinting’ technology is now being advanced in new ways as a researcher in UK has developed a method to visualise fingerprints even after they have been erased.

The technique, developed by Chemistry researcher Alex Goddard at University of Leicester, involves studying the chemical and physical interactions occurring between the metal and the fingerprint sweat deposit.

Jobs, business outlook show signs of revival

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Bangalore, July 13: The employment and business outlook indicates signs of revival with the net employment outlook index at 46 percent and the net business outlook index at 26 percent for the coming quarter from July to September 2009.

The net employment index is 22 percent up while the net business index indicates an increase of 26 percent compared to the previous quarter. The net business index was negative last quarter according to The Employment Outlook Report for July-September 2009 drafted by TeamLease Services, a leading staffing company.

Storm system halts fourth Endeavour launch attempt

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Cape Canaveral, July 13: A gathering storm forced NASA to cancel for a fourth time the launch of the space shuttle Endeavour on its mission to the International Space station, officials said.

“Looks like the team is ready but the weather is not. At this time we are no-go,” the US space agency’s launch director Pete Nickolenko said with little more than 10 minutes to go before the planned takeoff.

The shuttle launch was rescheduled for today at 1721 IST, Nickolenko said.

Rains brings down mercury in Delhi

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New Delhi, July 13: Overnight rains in some parts of the city brought denizens respite from the searing heat on Monday.

According to the weatherman, the maximum temperature is expected to climb down to 37 degree Celsius against yesterday’s 39 degrees Celsius as the day progress. The low is expected to touch 27 degree Celsius.

Today’s maximum and minimum temperature recorded at 8.30 am is 39 degree Celsius and 28.6 degree Celsius respectively.

CIA planned al Qaeda assassinations

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Washington, July 13: A secret operation, halted last month by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director, planned assassinations of al Qaeda targets, a newspaper reported said on Monday.

The activities of the highly classified US operation weren’t clear, and the agency refused to comment, but some officials said it followed a 2001 presidential directive to capture or kill al Qaeda operatives, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing intelligence officials.

Kargil can never be repeated, says Army

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Kargil, July 13: Ten years after Pakistan Army regulars had occupied Indian peaks in the Kargil sector, the Indian Army said “another Kargil” can never be repeated by the adversary.

“Pakistan had breached our trust at that time and illegally occupied our posts on the mountain peaks but we have learnt our lessons. With our increased vigil, repeating another Kargil would be impossible for the adversary and they also know this,” Kargil-based ‘Forever in Operations’ Division Commander Major General S K Khajuria said.

New pill likely to protect against radiation exposure

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Washington, July 13:Researchers have discovered and analysed a class of new compounds, which could potentially prevent radiation-related injuries to the kidneys, lungs, skin and intestinal tract.

These agents are novel synthetic “antioxidants” that protect tissues against the kind of damage caused by agents such as “free radicals”.

Free radicals, and similar toxic by-products formed in the body, are implicated in many different types of tissue injury, including those caused by radiation exposure.

Jet terminates services of some trainee technicians

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Mumbai, july 13: Private air-carrier Jet Airways is believed to have terminated the service contracts of 150 trainee technicians across the country, although the airline said only 43 had been laid off.

“The company has abruptly terminated the service contracts of 150 trainee technicians across the country. In Mumbai alone, the company has handed over pink-slips to 46 trainee technicians,” a laid-off technician said.

However, a Jet spokesperson said “only 43 trainee technicians have been (retrenched) in accordance with their contract terms and in compliance with law”.

AP govt to invite bids for Hyd Metro Project on July 16

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Hyderabad, July 13: The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to invite fresh global bids for the Rs 12,200 crore Hyderabad Metro Rail Project that was taken away from Maytas Infra after funding related problems.

The process will be initiated on July 16 and completed by November 15, according to state Municipal Administration Minister Aanam Ramanarayana Reddy.

“We want to put the Metro on tracks within the next three to four years,” the Minister told reporters soon after a high-level review meeting on the HMR Project, chaired by Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy here today.

Malegaon blast: Sadhvi threatens to commit suicide

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Mumbai, July 13: The prime accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur has threatened to kill herself alleging ill-treatment meted to her in jail.

In a letter dated July 11 addressed to the media, Sadhvi states that she is fed up with the manner in which she is being treated by the police, hospital and jail authorities and thus would commit suicide in the Byculla jail where she is lodged.

Obesity ‘linked to same-sex parent’

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London, July 13: Like father, like son. And, like mother, like daughter. Yes, obesity is linked to same-sex parent, say researchers.

A new study by the Plymouth’s Peninsula Medical School has revealed a strong link in obesity between fathers and sons as well as mothers and daughters — but not across the gender divide, the ‘International Journal of Obesity’ reported.

According to the researchers, it’s “highly unlikely” that genetics is playing a role in the findings as it would be unusual for them to influence children along gender lines.

Slow blood flow hinders statins’ protective effect

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London, July 13: Imperial College London scientists say that slow blood flow in arteries may hinder the protective effect of statins.

The researchers say that slow blood flow tends to reduce statins’ ability to trigger production of beneficial antioxidant molecules.

Moreover, the body’s own protective mechanisms also tend to fail in the same areas – leaving them vulnerable to damage.

These cholesterol-lowering drugs work by stimulating the production of beneficial antioxidants in the cells of the arteries, by boosting levels of a key enzyme, called heme oxygenase (HO-1).

Strength training exercise may help treat tennis elbow

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Washington, July 13: People with pain in the elbow or forearm might be able to use a simple bar and strengthening exercise to ease it, say researchers.

Tennis elbow is a common condition effecting nearly three percent of the population, not just those who play tennis.

“Our study illustrated that a novel exercise, using an inexpensive rubber bar, may provide a practical and effective means of adding isolated wrist strengthening exercises to a treatment plan,” said study co-author Timothy F. Tyler of the Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma, New York.

Scientists find genes that double skin cancer risk

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Sydney, July 13: Scientists have discovered two new genes that double a person’s chances of developing melanoma — the deadliest form of skin cancer.

As part of an international study, a team at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR), led by Nick Hayward and Grant Montgomery, studied the genes of almost 6,000 people together with their mole count.

Specific changes in two genes were found to make people more susceptible to developing moles. The researchers went on to show, in another 4,000 people, the same two genes increased the risk of developing melanoma.

‘Govt will take steps to end ID card duplication’

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Bangalore, July 13: Nandan M Nilekani, who was appointed as head of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIAI), on Monday said the government would take steps to end ID card duplication leading to fraud and create a network of verification and authentication.

“The UIAI would create a centralised, national database of Indian residents,” the former Infosys co-chairman told reporters here after meeting Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who felicitated him on his new assignment.

The key issue was to ensure that there were no duplicates, he said.

Cranes topple at Delhi Metro accident site; 6 injured

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New Delhi, July 13: Recovery operations at Sunday’s Delhi Metro bridge collapse site suffered a serious setback on Monday when three cranes trying to remove the debris toppled with one of them falling on adjacent buildings.

There were no reports of any casualties but reports said six workers were injured in the second mishap in two days at the Metro construction site at Zamroodpur near Amar Colony in South Delhi. It was not clear whether crane operators had escaped or were still trapped inside the heavy equipment.

Chhattisgarh Naxal attack toll mounts to 36

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Raipur, July 13: A day after Maoists struck in Chhattisgarh thrice and killed at least 36 policemen including a district police chief, the state which has been battling Maoist militancy since the 1980s, has been put on high alert.

Police forces have been asked to be vigilant and cautious while rushing to forested areas for patrolling, as police have received fresh inputs that the banned terror outfit, Communist Party of India-Maoist’s (CPI-Maoist) military wing, People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) fighters are itching for more deadly attacks.