shameen

Grossman discusses Afghan situation with Pak FM Khar

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US Special Envoy Marc Grossman met Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Saturday and discussed the regional situation, especially the reconciliation process in Afghanistan that is crucial for the withdrawal of foreign troops from the war-torn country.

“The two sides exchanged views on the current status of bilateral relations, including developments in the region, particularly with respect to the political and reconciliation process in Afghanistan,” said a brief statement issued by the Foreign Office tonight.

US marines killed in revenge for anti-Muslim film: Taliban

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Killing of two US marines in Afghanistan’s NATO base on Saturday was in retaliation to the anti-Muslim film produced in US, Taliban said.

According to BBC, Taliban said that the attack on the military post in southern Afghanistan’s Hemland province was carried out “in revenge for a film mocking Islam”.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi told the BBC that US and UK soldiers were targeted in the attack that involved 10 insurgents.

Govt’s big ticket reforms: FDI in multi-brand retail, aviation; disinvestment allowed

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Opting for big-bang reforms, the government on Friday allowed politically-risky 51 percent FDI in multi-brand retail, 49 percent investment by foreign airlines in aviation sector and sale of equity in four PSUs.

Battling perceptions of policy paralysis, the government announced the surprise decisions after meetings of the Union Cabinet as well as the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), prompting angry reactions from its key ally TMC as well as BJP and Left parties.

Govt permits foreign investment in power trading exchanges

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The government on Friday approved foreign investment of up to 49 percent in the power trading exchanges in the country.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has decided to permit foreign investment up to 49 percent in Power Trading Exchanges in compliance with SEBI Regulations; Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Power Market) Regulations, 2010, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said after the Cabinet meeting here.

Corporate America, media hail India’s ‘big bang’ reforms

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Corporate America and the US media have hailed India’s big bang economic reforms as a welcome signal to investors and a dramatic push to reverse the nation’s economic decline.

New Delhi’s “courageous resolve to move on these complex reforms” opening the door to foreign investment in retail, aviation, broadcast and power exchanges “serves as an assurance to investors that its economic liberalisation agenda is back on track,’ said the US-India Business Council (USIBC).

Diesel price hike a step in right direction: PM

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Unfazed by large scale protests over diesel price hike, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday asserted it was a step in the right direction and expressed the hope that economy would rebound in the second half of the current fiscal.

“The recent increase in diesel prices is an important step in the right direction,” he said while addressing the meeting of the Full Planning Commission which was called to approve the 12th Five Year Plan document.

The Prime Minister also made a case for comprehensive review of energy policy saying it was vital for energy security of the country.

Rain delays start of India-NZ Davis Cup tie again

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Heavy showers have delayed the start of the Davis Cup tie between India and New Zealand on the second successive day at the CLTA Tennis stadium here on Saturday.

The unfinished second singles between Vishnu Vardhan and Jose Statham was scheduled to start at 10 am this morning but now it would not start before 11:30 am, according to the officials.

Vishnu was leading 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-4 when bad light had suspension play on Friday.

‘If Ronaldo is not happy at Real Madrid, he has to leave’

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Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon believes the club should sell Cristiano Ronaldo if he is unhappy.

The current administration took over from Calderon in 2009 with his successor Florentino Perez bringing in the Portuguese maestro for a world record transfer fee.

Calderon has been critical of the new regime since his departure and when asked about the Ronaldo situation he insisted the right course of action would be to let 27-year-old leave the club.

“If a player is unhappy, they must go,” he said in an interview.

BCCI justifies decision to terminate Deccan contract

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The BCCI on Saturday sought to justify the decision to terminate the IPL contract of debt-ridden Deccan Chargers, saying it was compelled to take action after the beleaguered franchise claimed that it had not committed any breaches and threatened to take legal recourse.

The BCCI said the decision to terminate the IPL contract of Deccan Chargers was taken after “careful deliberation” and only due to the absolute inability of the franchise to effectively run the team.

Special surface allows water to boil without producing bubbles

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A team of researchers including one of Indian-origin has engineered a special surface which produces no bubbles when the water is boiled.

Researchers from the Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science in US, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia and the University of Melbourne have developed the special surface which could help reduce damage to surfaces, prevent bubbling explosions and may someday be used to enhance heat transfer equipment, reduce drag on ships and lead to anti-frost technologies.

Why are killer whales momma’s boys?

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Scientists have cracked one of the most enduring marine mysteries – why adult male killer whales pretty much stay momma’s boys all their lives.

Researchers at the Universities of Exeter and York found that for a male over 30 years, the death of his mother meant an almost 14-fold-increase in likelihood of death the following year.

The female killer whale has the longest menopause in the mammalian species. The reason for the menopause remains one of nature’s enduring mysteries.

Yukta Mukhey accuses husband of abusing her

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Actress and former Miss World Yukta Mookhey has filed a complaint of domestic violence against her husband Prince Tulli at a police station here, an official said Thursday.

“Based on her claims, a non-cognizable offence has been registered. She claimed that her husband had abused her and beaten her up often,” said an official from Amboli Police Station in northwest Mumbai said.

Officials, however, refused to give further details and said that they have registered only an offence and there is no FIR registered in the case yet.

Genes which determine human facial expressions identified

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Scientists have identified five genes that determine the human facial expressions.

Researchers used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and portrait photographs to map facial features.

They argued that monozygotic twins have almost identical faces and siblings usually have more similar faces than unrelated people, implying that genes play a major role in the appearance of the human face.

However, almost nothing is known about the genes responsible for facial morphology in humans.

`Super` statins can help beat cancer

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Inexpensive statins that lower cholesterol could treat cancer after scientists discovered a new genetic link between high cholesterol levels and the fatal disease.

It means that statins, a cheap and effective drug already taken by millions every day to stave off heart attacks and strokes, could play a major role in slashing cancer risk.
Patients could be given the drugs both to protect against getting cancer and to help treat tumours if they develop, the `Daily Express` reported.

`Antidepressants may impair your ability to drive`

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Taking antidepressants prescribed for treating anxiety, depression and insomnia before driving can make you more prone to accidents, researchers claim.

Psychotropic drugs affect the way the brain functions and can impair a driver`s ability to control their vehicle. Research on the links between psychotropic medication and driving accidents has focused on benzodiazepines, which have been used to treat anxiety and insomnia.

Perhaps the best known of these drugs is diazepam. Newer Z-drugs, used to treat insomnia, have received less attention, as have antidepressants and antipsychotics.

A dose of `good` bacteria may help cure sinus infection

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Adding a dose of the `good` bacteria to the sinuses may help treat some chronic conditions of the disease, a new study has claimed.

In a study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, researchers discovered that some chronic sinus problems may be caused by a depletion of `good` bacteria and the presence of `bad` bacteria in the sinuses.

Adding back good bacteria to the sinuses will work to treat the condition analogous to the way probiotics may treat certain intestinal problems, MyHealthNewsDaily reported.

No plans of joining politics: Priyanka Gandhi

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Priyanka Gandhi, about whom there has been speculation that she will contest next Lok Sabha elections, says she has no plans of joining politics.

“I am not joining politics. I am looking after my mother’s constituency as I did from 1999 to 2004 without being in politics,” she has said in an SMS to a television channel.

Gandhi, daughter of Sonia Gandhi, has also said that there was nothing new in her interacting with workers in Rae Bareli and Amethi, the constituencies represented by her mother and brother Rahul, in the Lok Sabha.

Romney did not have his facts rights: Obama

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President Barack Obama has accused his Republican presidential rival Mitt Romney of not checking facts before slamming his foreign policy, in particular handling of the attack on US missions in Libya and Egypt.

“It appears that Governor Romney didn’t have his facts right,” Obama told the CBS news in an interview according to the excerpts released by the White House.

Afghan repeat of Libya attacks feared; Obama talks to Karzai

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President Barack Obama called his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai and discussed security situation in Afghanistan following the violent mob attacks on its missions in Libya and Egypt which killed American ambassador to Tripoli.

During their telephone call yesterday, the two leaders “discussed the importance of working together to help ensure that the circumstances that led to the violence in Libya and Egypt do not pose a threat to US forces or Afghans,” the White House said.

The two leaders took the opportunity to discuss the tragic events that took place in Benghazi.

N Korea changes bodyguards for leader Kim Jong Un

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North Korea has replaced the bodyguards of leader Kim Jong Un with ruling party officials, raising speculation that power in the North is shifting to the party away from the military, a Seoul daily reported on Thursday.

The South Korean government “assumes that the replacements were made before (former leader) Kim Jong Il’s death (in December),” the JoongAng Daily quoted a South Korean government official as saying.

Japan’s new envoy to China faints on Tokyo street

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Japan’s newly appointed Ambassador to China Shinichi Nishimiya fell unconscious Thursday morning on a street in Tokyo, police said, adding that the sudden fainting was caused by illness.

Nishimiya’s appointment was approved by the government Tuesday to replace current Japanese Ambassador Uichiro Niwa, at a time when the two countries are embroiled in a dispute over a group of islands in the East China Sea, media reports said.

A passerby saw the 60-year-old Nishimiya faint on a street in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward, reported Xinhua.

Nishimiya was taken to hospital, said police.

Centre to support Metro rail projects in 19 cities: PM

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Noting that an efficient transport system was ‘critical’ for orderly growth of cities, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said the government has decided to support preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for Metro rail in all 19 cities with a population of over two million.

Laying the foundation for the Rs 5,181 crore Kochi Metro project here, Singh said DPRs had already been prepared for 12 cities and Metro rail projects were being implemented in seven cities covering a total network of length 476 km at a cost of over Rs 1.15 lakh crore.

HSBC cuts India’s growth forecast to 5.7% for this fiscal

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HSBC has cut India’s growth forecast for this fiscal year to 5.7 percent from 6.2 percent projected earlier, citing lack of “reform traction” in the country and weak global economic backdrop.

HSBC said following the disappointing monsoon session in Parliament, there is less hope for a “meaningful” progress on structural reforms in the near term.

Besides, the below normal monsoon is likely to affect the GDP growth of October-December quarter, while weak global economic scenario is likely to impact the economy through trade, finance and confidence channels, it said.

UN panel’s visit: Khar says it’s not on fact-finding mission

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Amidst an uproar in Pakistan’s political circles over a visit by a UN Working Group on enforced disappearances, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Wednesday said the panel is not mandated to conduct any investigation or fact finding work.

“This group is mandated neither for fact-finding nor investigations,” she said, while making a policy statement regarding the visit of the UN Working Group in the National Assembly or lower house of Parliament.

Karachi fire inferno: Bodies were iron hot, say rescuers

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“The bodies were iron hot,” said a rescuer who himself got burnt while carrying the victims of a factory fire that left at least 289 people dead.

Ameen Memon, a rescuer, said that most of the rescue team members burnt their hands while trying to carry the smouldering bodies from the garments factory in Baldia Town.

The fire at the factory here was one of worst infernos the country has seen. The blaze broke out just a few hours after another fire at a factory in Lahore that left 25 people dead.