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Special recruitment drive for persons with disability

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New Delhi, July 09: Center has initiated a special recruitment drive to fill up backlog vacancies for the posts reserved for persons with disability, Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.

“A special recruitment drive has been initiated recently to fill up backlog vacancies for the posts reserved for persons with disability,” Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment D Nepoleon said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.

He was asked whether government has recently taken steps for creating jobs for disabled persons to improve their condition in the country.

China plans first woman astronaut by 2012: Report

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Beijing, July 09: China could launch its first woman into space as early as 2012, state media reported.

Yang Liwei, who in 2003 became China’s first astronaut and is now in charge of new recruits for the space programme, said the search for the first woman in space was under way, the China Daily said.

“I believe Chinese women will soon be seen in space,” said Yang during a webchat, the paper reported.

Sui Guosheng, an officer in charge of recruitment with the Chinese Air Force, said the female “taikonaut,” China’s word for astronauts, was expected to blast off in 2012.

No corporatisation of Indian Railway: Mamata

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New Delhi, July 09: Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday ruled out corporatisation of the country’s railroad network but said the private sector’s participation can be considered for commercial use of railway land for areas like healthcare and education institutions.

“I’m always in favour of our employees. I’ll be the last person to do it,” Banerjee said in her reply to the debate on the Railway Budget, referring to demands for corporatisation of some of the services and larger role for private sector in overall development Indian Railways.

BJP demands rollback of hike in petrol, diesel prices

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New Delhi, July 09: Accusing the UPA government of “plundering” the common man, the Opposition BJP on Thursday demanded a rollback of hike in prices of petrol and diesel.

“We condemn the government for hastily raising prices of petrol and diesel even as international prices for the crude oil have come down. We demand its immediate rollback,” party spokesperson Prakash Javdekar told reporters outside Parliament.

“They (UPA) sought votes during election in the name of aam admi. They have betrayed the people and are indulging in loot and plunder,” he added.

New Zealand players fear IPL, Test clash

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Wellington, July 09: Some top players are delaying signing new contracts with New Zealand Cricket over concerns the team`s international program next season will conflict with their lucrative roles in the Indian Premier League, local media reported on Thursday.

A New Zealand newspaper named wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum and all-rounder Jacob Oram, New Zealand`s highest-paid players in the IPL, among players who were hesitant to sign contracts until dates for the next IPL tournament had been released.

Nehwal to lead Indian challenge at worlds

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Chennai, July 09: Women’s world number six Saina Nehwal will spearhead host India’s challenge at next month’s World Badminton Championships.

Nehwal, 19, won the Indonesian Super Series title last month, raising hopes of a strong performance in the August 10-16 world championships in her home town Hyderabad.

World number 14 Chetan Anand will lead the men’s challenge after Anup Sridhar failed to make the cut following a series of injuries last year that pushed down his rankings.

–Agencies

US releases 5 Iranian diplomats

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Tehran, July 09: Iran’s state television says US forces have released five Iranian diplomats who were detained in 2006 in northern Iraq on suspicion of aiding Shi’ite Iraqi militants.

The Thursday report cites an announcement by Iran’s embassy in Baghdad, which said the US Army delivered the five diplomats to Iraqi officials.

The detention of the diplomats in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil became a new point of contention between Tehran and Washington.

South Korea developing new electronic bombs

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Seoul, July 09: Amid fears of a North Korean attack, South Korean defence researchers are developing electronic bombs that can knock out equipment including radars, ships and communication networks within a one km radius.

Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) bombs, if exploded, can jam and damage surrounding high-tech defence systems. EMP can be generated through a nuclear blast or simulated without one, the officials at South Korea’s state-run Agency for Defence Development (ADD) said.

Kabir Khan to cast Shah Rukh in a ‘thrilling love story’

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Mumbai, July 09: With a super hit like ‘New York’ safely tucked away in his kitty, Kabir Khan has become the taskmaster every actor in B-town is vying to work with. And owing to his latest offering the director has now caught the fancy of none other than Shah Rukh Khan, who it seems is desperately trying every means possible to secure a hit.

First ‘Kabul Express’ and then ‘New York’, the talented filmmaker is now looking to make a flick on a lighter subject. And if sources are to be believed then Shah Rukh will be in his next film.

Wockhardt’s two promoters revoke 53 lakh shares

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Mumbai, July 09: Drug maker Wockhardt’s two promoter group firms, including Khorakiwala Holdings and Investments, have revoked 53 lakh shares pledged with the lenders, reducing their combined stake of pledged shares to 52.89 percent.

In a regulatory disclosure to the Bombay Stock Exchange, Wockhardt today said its promoter Khorakiwala Holdings and Investments has revoked 11.47 lakh shares on June 22, after which the entity’s pledged stake in the drug company stands at 52.89 per cent.

Zardari’s admission a ‘healthy’ sign: Tharoor

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New Delhi, July 09: Terming as a “healthy sign” Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s admission that terrorism has been “created and nurtured” by the establishment there for tactical gains, India on Thursday said it wanted see actions which show his “serious change of heart”.

“It’s a healthy sign. We certainly would like action that shows his (Zardari’s) serious change of heart when it comes to such activities emanating from Pakistani territory against our country,” Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor told reporters here.

Australia to teach local culture to Indian students

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Melbourne, July 09: In the wake of recent attacks on Indian students, an Australian business body has come out with a novel initiative — “Friendship Programme” — for the newcomers in the country to help them better understand local culture before they arrive Down Under.

The new initiative by the Australia-India Business Council (AIBC) aims to bring the two culture together in the long-term interest of the two countries that can improve both cultural and business relations.

Raj Thackeray associate joins Shiv Sena

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Mumbai, July 09: Former president of the MNS women wing Shweta Parulkar today joined Shiv Sena.

Parulkar met Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray at his residence in suburban Bandra and later announced that she had joined MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s former party.

Raj set up MNS in 2006 after parting ways from the Sena in 2005.

“Leaving MNS was not a sudden decision. I had been thinking of the same for some time as working atmosphere in that party is not conducive,” Parulkar told.

Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe confirmed Parulkar’s joining the party.

British Queen’s property empire slumps by 1 bn pounds: report

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London, July 09: The worst economic recession in generations has seen the British monarch loosing 1.3 billion pounds from the value of her assets in the property market collapse, a news report said on Thursday.

The Crown Estate, which supervises Queen Elizabeth’s land and property empire, slumped in value from 7.3 billion pounds to 6 billion pounds in the year to March. The 18 per cent decline in its potential asking price was the first since 1993, the Daily Mail newspaer reported today.

Coal India to raise indigenous fuel production

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New Delhi, July 09: To increase coal supply to the power sector, state-run Coal India (CIL) will step up indigenous production of the fuel.

“Coal India will increase the indigenous production of the fuel to meet demand,” Minister of State for Coal Sriprakash Jaiswal said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

The government has envisaged new mining projects with additional capacity of around 310 million tonnes during the current XIth Five-Year Plan (2007-12).

Canadian-Indian victim of medical negligence gets $5 million

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Vancouver, July 09: An Indian-Canadian man has been awarded $5 million (about Rs 20 crore) by a court for medical negligence by a local hospital that left him incapacitated for life.

Shawn Kahlon, 41, and his wife Michelle of Richmond on the outskirts of Vancouver were granted the record compensation for the careless way in which he was treated by the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and UBC Hospital almost a decade ago.

Older mums cope with pregnancy better

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Sydney, July 09: First-time older mums cope surprisingly well with the exacting demands of pregnancy, compared to their younger counterparts, but are more anxious about their unborn baby’s well-being, according to new research.

“Generally it has been thought that older mums may not cope with the physical demands of pregnancy as well as younger mums, or they may be very anxious or find it difficult to cope with lifestyle changes,” said Macquarie University psychologist Catherine McMahon.

Eating fruits reduce respiratory infections during pregnancy

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Washington, July 09: Pregnant women who eat at least seven daily servings of fruits and vegetables cut down the risk of developing upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), according to a new study.

URTI include the common cold and sinus infections, which can lead to respiratory infections like asthma or pneumonia.

“Pregnant women may require more fruits and vegetables than usual because of the extra demands on the body,” said study co-author Martha M. Werler, professor at Slone Epidemiology Centre, Boston University Medical Centre (BUSM).

Neuroscientists locate encoding of fear in brain

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Washington, July 09: In a landmark research, neuroscientists have located the neurons responsible for fear conditioning in the mammalian brain, a development that will facilitate better understanding and treatment for human phobias and anxiety disorders.

Researchers at the University of Washington used an imaging technique, which enabled them to trace the process of neural activation in the brains of rats, to pinpoint the basolateral nucleus in the region of the brain, called the amygdala, as the place where fear conditioning is encoded.

Dermatologist denies giving dangerous drugs to Jackson

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Los Angele, July 09: Michael Jackson’s long time dermatologist, Arnold Klein who has been linked to the investigation of the pop icon’s death has denied giving him dangerous drugs.

Dr. Klein blasted reports that he supplied the ‘King of Pop’ with powerful prescription drugs and insisted that he attempted to ween the singer off his alleged addiction in an interview on Wednesday on ABC’s Good Morning America.

Iron supplements don’t increase kids’ malaria risk

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Washington, July 09: A new review by Cochrane Researchers suggests that iron supplements do not increase the likelihood of contracting malaria and should not be withheld from children at risk of the disease.

“Based on our review, children should not be denied iron supplements, even if they are living in areas where malaria is prevalent. Iron is important for growth and development, and maintaining a healthy immune system,” says lead researcher Juliana Ojukwu of the Department of Paediatrics at the Ebonyi State University in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Transplant drug helps mice live longer

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Washington, July 09: An antibiotic pill originally developed to help prevent rejection in organ transplant patients helps mice live longer and might offer a route to fighting age-related disease in people, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.

The drug, called rapamycin or sirolimus and marketed under the brand name Rapamune by Wyeth, suppresses the immune system but also fights inflammation, which underlies cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and a range of other ills.

Massive supernova occurred 11 billion years ago

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Paris, July 09: Astronomers on Wednesday said they had found the farthest supernova ever detected, a giant star that ripped apart around 11 billion years ago.

A new technique enabled the cosmologists to make the find, which should help advance knowledge into these rare phenomena and their role in generating other stars, they said in a report published by the British journal Nature.

A supernova occurs when a massive star runs out of fuel, collapses in upon itself under the force of its own gravity to become a tiny, ultra-dense object called a neutron star.

NASA poised for third shuttle launch try Saturday

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Cape Canaveral, Florida, July 09: Countdown clocks resumed ticking at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday in preparation for NASA’s third attempt to launch space shuttle Endeavour on a construction mission to the International Space Station.

Liftoff is scheduled for 7:39 p.m. EDT on Saturday. Two previous launch attempts in June were canceled due to potentially dangerous hydrogen fuel leaks.

Europe launches study into manned spacecraft scheme

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Paris, July 09: The European Space Agency (ESA) said it had taken an important first step in a tentative project to build a manned spacecraft that would be launched atop its Ariane 5 rocket.

ESA officials signed a contract in the northern German city of Bremen on Tuesday with space company EADS Astrium to conduct a feasibility study into the idea, it said in a press release.

Europe does not have its own manned spaceflight capability, and instead depends on the US shuttle and Russia’s Soyuz rocket to take its astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).