shameen

Syria war also targeting allies: Assad

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The civil war raging in Syria is targeting not only Damascus but the entire “axis of resistance” formed with its allies, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said.

Syria, Iran, its closest ally in the region, as well as the Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah and Hamas, the de facto rulers of the Gaza Strip, refer to themselves as an “axis of resistance” in their common opposition to Israel.

“The ongoing war is targeting the entire axis of resistance, not just Syria,” the Syrian SANA news agency quoted Assad as saying at a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi.

Russian telecom operator blocks YouTube over Proph

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Rostelecom, one of Russia’s largest telecom operators, has suspended access to YouTube in the central region of Omsk after local prosecutors reacted to a film that has triggered protests across the Islamic world.

The regional prosecutor’s office wrote to the telecom company urging it to stop distributing the anti-Islam film “Innocence of Muslims” over fears that it advertises extremist ideas.

A representative of Rostelecom’s Omsk subsidiary said the company had blocked access to YouTube Tuesday, because illegal content had been posted on the file-sharing site.

Paris office of ‘Closer’ raided over topless pics of Kate

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French police have raided the offices of ‘Closer’ magazine in Paris in the hunt for the photographer who took topless pictures of Kate Middleton, a media report today said.

Detectives confirmed they were looking for evidence at Closer’s Paris headquarters “which might lead to the identity” of the paparazzi photographer responsible, The Daily Mail reported here.

UK regulator raps James Murdoch, but Sky is fine

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Media baron Rupert Murdoch’s television company in the UK on Thursday got a clean chit from regulator Ofcom following an investigation sparked by the phone-hacking controversy, but it criticised former Sky chairman, James Murdoch for his role in the scandal.

The phone-hacking row at Murdoch’s newspaper titles (owned by News Group Newspapers) were not linked to Sky, but the regulator decided to launch investigation since the companies were part of his News Corporation. Murdoch owns 39 per cent of Sky.

Will not tolerate anti-people decisions, Mulayam tells UPA

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In a veiled threat to the UPA, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Thursday said his party will not “tolerate” anti-people decisions like hike in diesel prices and kept open the option of forming a Third Front.

Yadav also reiterated that the SP was supporting the Government only to keep “communal forces” at bay.

‘India to open bids for choppers, tankers shortly’

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India will shortly open bids for procuring 15 heavy-lift helicopters, and six air-to-air tankers, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne said on Thursday.

“We are going to shortly open the bids for the heavy-lift helicopters….”, he told reporters, noting that contenders for the contract are Boeing’s Chinook and Mi-26 of Russia

By next month, IAF would also be opening bids for six air-to-air tanker tender, for which Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) and the Russian Ilyushin-78 air-to-air tanker are competing, the Air Chief said.

Sahai denies any link with coal block of SKS Ispat

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Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai has denied having any links to a coal block of SKS Ispat and Power that the government has decided to cancel.

Sahai’s media adviser in a statement said the minister had never made any recommendation to anyone for allocation of the Rawanbhara coal block in Madhya Pradesh to SKS Ispat. The block was allocated to the firm, in which neither Sahai or his brother held any stake, on May 29, 2007.

TMC set to formally break ties with UPA tomorrow

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Trinamool Congress is all set to break its ties with the UPA by withdrawing its ministers and the support on Friday but the government remained unfazed over its stability even as outside ally Mulayam Singh Yadav sent mixed signals.

With the Centre not in a mood to yield to her demands for withdrawing the decisions on diesel, LPG cylinders and FDI, Trinamool Congress Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday said in Kolkata that her party’s six ministers will submit their resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tomorrow.

Haven’t thought of bringing no-trust motion: BJP

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The BJP on Thursday said it has not thought of bringing a no-confidence motion against the UPA government following withdrawal of support by Trinamool Congress.

BJP president Nitin Gadkari said “we have not thought of bringing any no confidence motion”.

He told reporters here that BJP will not be responsible for bringing down the government and it “may fall in natural course due to its own deeds”.

Shinde denies Mamata’s phone was tapped

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Continuing her tirade against the Congress over economic reforms, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday hinted at the Central government resorting to tapping of her phones. Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde denied the charge.

“If you have the central government in your hand, you can get the phones tapped. It has happened with me before. My number had three copies. When I would go to Nandigram or Midnapore, I could not use my number as it was being used in Kolkata,” said Banerjee in Kolkata.

Party drug damaging to memory?

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A euphoric high delivered by party drug mephedrone not only makes it extremely addictive but also prompts users to quaff massive doses to maintain the kick, says a study.

“Combined with the fact mephedrone is skyrocketing in popularity worldwide, our finding that high doses can cause ongoing cognitive impairment spells a significant risk for users,” said Craig Motbey, doctoral candidate at the The University of Sydney School of Psychology, who led the study.

IVF gaining popularity among villagers: Expert

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With a success rate of nearly 40 percent, in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) has been steadily gaining popularity among rural couples suffering from infertility, an expert said here Wednesday.

“On an average, one out of every 14 couples suffers from infertility in the country. With a success rate of nearly 40 percent, IVF has been a boon for infertile couples and the treatment has been steadily gaining popularity among the rural population,” said gynecologist and IVF expert Gautam Khastgir.

Yogurt can cut risk of high blood pressure: Study

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Adding more yogurt to your diet may help lower risk of high blood pressure, according to a new research.

A study presented at the American Heart Association`s High Blood Pressure Research 2012 Scientific Sessions found the long-term yogurt-eaters were less likely to develop high blood pressure and on average had lower systolic blood pressure than those who didn`t eat yogurt.

Systolic blood pressure is the top number in a blood pressure reading. It measures the force of blood against the walls of arteries when the heart is beating.

‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ The first trailer of Shah Rukh Khan’s

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Directed by Yash Chopra, Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma play the lead roles in ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’. The film will hit the screens on November 13, 2012. The first trailer of the film is out now and it looks quite impressive.

The trailer opens with the picturesque Ladakh in the background and SRK dressed in an army overall riding a bullet in the midst of beauty. The trailer is devoid of any song but has Shah Rukh reciting beautiful poetry interspersed with AR Rahman’s music.

Aung San Suu Kyi receives top US honour

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Visiting Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has received prestigious Congressional Gold Medal, a rare honour bestowed to any foreign leader by the US administration.

The National League for Democracy leader also met President Barack Obama on a day when the US lifted additional sanctions on Myanmar.

“This is one of the most moving days of my life, to be here in a house undivided, a house joined together to welcome a stranger from a distant land. This is a moment for which I have been waiting for many years,” Suu Kyi said moments after receiving the honour.

Breakthrough in asthma research

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Scientists may have hit upon an effective way to block asthma attacks by identifying the two most significant biological triggers that bring them on.

Researchers from the Universities of California-San Francisco (UCSF), Johns Hopkins and Duke universities demonstrate that these two triggers for asthma are tied to a specific calcium-activated chloride channel, called TMEM16A.

They regulate airway secretions and smooth muscle contraction, the two major factors linked with asthma attacks, according to the journal “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences”.

China launches 2 satellites to enlarge its own GPS

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China today successfully launched two satellites into space to enlarge its indigenous global navigation network being built to rival United States global positioning system. The 14th and 15th satellites for the Beidou, or Compass, system being built by China were launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest Sichuan province, by a Long March-3B carrier rocket.

ICC T20 World Cup 2012: Sri Lanka outclass Zimbabwe

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Ajantha Mendis bettered his own T20 record by taking six wickets for just eight runs as Sri Lanka walloped minnows Zimbabwe by 82 runs in the opening match of the World Twenty20 cricket tournament, here on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka recovered from a slow start to post a huge 182 for four and then bundled out Zimbabwe for 100 in 17.3 overs in the Group C match at the Mahinda Rajapakse stadium.

The Zimbabweans struggled to handle spin and were bamboozled by Ajantha (6/8) and Jeevan Mendis (3/24), who shared nine wickets between them.

Champions League: Cristiano Ronaldo’s late strike takes Real Madrid past Man City

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Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winning goal in the 90th minute as Real Madrid secured a 3-2 victory against Manchester City after an incredible second half at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Edin Dzeko came off the bench to give the visitors the lead after a surging run from midfield from Yaya Toure but Marcelo quickly replied with a curling shot.

The home supporters were left stunned when Aleksandar Kolarov`s free kick drifted untouched into the bottom corner of Iker Casillas` goal but Karim Benzema again pulled Madrid back with a sublime turn and finish.

Travel curbs for Americans in Pak over anti-Islam film

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The US has imposed travel restrictions for its employees in Pakistan following huge protests against a US-made anti-Islam film.

The restrictions have been introduced as anti-US demonstrations continued in Pakistan Tuesday and more are planned in the coming days, Xinhua reported Tuesday.

“The US government has instituted travel restrictions for its employees throughout the country,” the US embassy said on its website.

The alert says that the US government staff can now undertake essential travel only in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar where it has consulates, besides Islamabad.

Pak: Seven killed in twin blasts in Karachi

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At least seven persons were killed and 15 more injured when two improvised explosive devices went off in a crowded commercial area in the Pakistani financial hub of Karachi Tuesday evening, officials and witnesses said.

The explosions took place near a shopping mall just outside the bustling Hyderi market and the number of casualties could increase.

Senior Superintendent of Police Asim Qaimkhani told a news agency that the explosions appeared to have been caused by remote controlled devices fixed in motorcycles in the parking lot of a shopping mall, Dolmen Mall.

Banks to provide 1% interest sop for home loan upto Rs 15 lakh

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Reserve Bank Tuesday asked banks to provide one percent interest subsidy to home loans of up to Rs 15 lakh as announced by the government.

The interest subvention scheme has been liberalised with effect from 2011-12 by extending it to housing loans up to Rs 15 lakh where the cost of the house does not exceed Rs 25 lakh, RBI said in a notification.

The scheme has since been extended by Government of India and will remain in force up to March 31, 2013, it said.

A Budgetary provision of Rs 400 crore has been made under the scheme for the year 2012-13 by Government of India, it said.

Bihar to offset diesel price hike by modifying VAT

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The Bihar government has decided on principle to modify VAT on diesel, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Tuesday.

“There will be reduction in the price of diesel in Bihar as the state government has decided on principle to modify the VAT rate on the fuel product,” he told reporters.

A decision on modification of VAT rate on diesel will be taken in a day or two, Kumar said.

No actionable input prior to Benghazi attack: US

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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said there was no actionable intelligence prior to the attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi last week that resulted in the death of its envoy to Libya.

“With all of our missions overseas, in advance of September 11, as is done every year, we did an evaluation on threat streams. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has said we had no actionable intelligence that an attack on our post in Benghazi was planned or imminent,” Clinton said in a press conference yesterday.

US Prez Obama now leads Mitt Romney nationally: Poll

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Amid a political row caused by Mitt Romney’s controversial remarks that 47 percent of Americans looked themselves as victims, a new poll showed President Barack Obama leading his Republican challenger nationally by 5 points.

While a NBC/WSJ survey released Tuesday showed Obama leading Romney by 50 percent to 45 percent among Americans judged “likely” to vote nationally, a Washington Post poll indicated he had an eight point lead over Romney in the crucial battleground state of Virginia.