shameen

‘Afghan commandos conduct first successful night operation’

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The Afghan Special Forces have conducted their first successful night operation, the Pentagon said, adding that this reflects the growing strength and independence of the war-ravaged nation’s security agencies.

“Last night in Afghanistan, US special operations joined Afghan commandos from the first special operations battalion in a full mission exercise demonstrating a night air assault. This was an Afghan plan, an Afghan-led mission,” Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters.

US for dialogue to resolve South China Sea row

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The US supports a collaborative diplomatic process to resolve the South China Sea dispute between China and its neighbours as it is against measures that are seen as potential threats to some in the region, a top American official has said.

“The US position is clear. We support a collaborative, diplomatic process by all claimants to resolve these disputes, and we are concerned about unilateral actions. There should be dialogue among the countries in the region,” Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Mike Hammer said.

‘Obama-Manmohan’s working relations fantastic’

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US President Barack Obama has developed a “fantastic working relationship” with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a senior administration official has said, asserting that the US recognises “importance” of India as a key regional and global power.

“President Obama developed a fantastic working relationship with Prime Minister Singh that you’re well aware of. We recognise importance of India as an important regional and global power, and this why we are keenly interested in continuing to grow that relationship,” Mike Hammer, Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, said on Thursday.

Indian Railways is world’s biggest open toilet: Ramesh

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Jairam Ramesh has called the Indian Railways as the world’s biggest open toilet. The Rural Development Minister has lashed out at Indian Railways considering its unhygienic conditions prevailing.

He made the statement while talking about the need for greater funding of bio-toilets.
“We are the world’s capital for open defecations. 60 per cent of all open defecations in the world are in India. This is a matter of great shame,” Ramesh was reported as saying.

Fasting a challenge under blazing sun

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With the hottest days of summer upon us, Ramadan is proving to be a challenge for some of those observing the daily fast from dawn to dusk.

Meanwhile, some are avoiding the heat altogether by staying indoors.

According to the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS), the mercury reached 49.3 degree Celsius in Sharjah on Wednesday and 47.4 degree Celsius in Dubai.

On Thursday, it was 46 degree Celsius in Dubai and 47.3 degree Celsius in Sharjah.

Water pollution: Par panel to summon officials of 6 ministries

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Terming water pollution as a “national crisis”, a Parliamentary committee has decided to summon officials of at least six central ministries to seek their views to find ways to check the problem.

“Since the subject of water is not restricted to only one ministry, we have decided to summon officials of Ministries of Water Resources, Agriculture, Urban Development, Panchayati Raj, Rural Development and Sanitation and Drinking Water to find a multi-agency approach to deal with the situation,” a member of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee said here.

Dried grapes as good as energy bars

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Raisins can help power the body when exercising just as well as expensive sports nutrient bars, a study suggests.

The dried grapes give athletes all they need during vigorous exercise, the Daily Mail reported quoting a study by researchers at the University of California-Davis.

The research team studied people running three miles, giving them either raisins, supplement bars or simply water.

Runners who ate raisins or bars ran the distance a minute faster on average than those who had only water.

Two apples a day keep heart diseases away

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Just two apples a day could help protect women against heart disease by cutting their cholesterol levels, according to study.

Scientists found that apples significantly lowered blood fat levels in postmenopausal women, the group most at risk of heart attacks and strokes, the Daily Mail reported Thursday.

Snacking on the fruit every day for six months slashed cholesterol by almost a quarter.

The biggest reduction was seen in low-density lipoprotein, the so-called “bad” cholesterol that furs up arteries and raises the risk of a life-threatening clot forming near the heart or brain.

John Abraham: Success lies in making the youth happy

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He scored a bull`s eye with his debut production ‘Vicky Donor’, but John Abraham says he hasn`t cracked any success formula. The success, he says, just lies in doing good work, and in knowing what makes the youth happy.

The 39-year-old cringed upon being asked how he managed to crack the “formula” in the first go.

“See… honestly, if something goes wrong tomorrow, you`ll say `What went wrong?` It`s normal! So rather than basking in the limelight and saying `Hey listen, everything is fine`, the important thing is to continue doing good work,” John told IANS.

Money-laundering: HSBC pays $27.5 mn penalty to Mexican regulators

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HSBC Holding Plc has paid a penalty of about USD 27.5 million (Rs 154 crore) to Mexican regulators as the banking giant’s unit there failed to comply with the money-laundering rules.

HSBC Mexico said it paid a “fine imposed by the National Banking and Securities Commission (CNBV), amounting to MXN 379 million (about USD 27.5 million), in connection with non- compliance with anti-money laundering systems and controls, including reporting requirements with regard to unusual transactions, as well as other prudential regulations.”

EGoM on drought to meet next week to review monsoon situation

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An Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on drought will meet on Tuesday to review the monsoon situation, as 22 percent deficit rains so far have affected sowing of Kharif crops, particularly coarse cereals.

“I have planned EGoM on drought on coming Tuesday,” Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who was recently made head of EGoM on drought, told reporters.

The EGoM is authorised to review the situation and take “quick and timely decisions” on policy and other matters for effective management of drought.

Canada unveils device for big space telescope

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The Canadian Space Agency has unveiled a precision equipment that will be used on the James Webb Space Telescope, the successor to the Hubble.

The Webb, billed as a powerful time machine capable of uncovering the origins of the universe, is scheduled for launch in 2018.

Canada’s contribution to the biggest space telescope ever made is a two-in-one instrument, reported Xinhua.

Former Nepalese minister sentenced to 1.5 year jail term

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A former Nepalese minister on Wednesday was sentenced to 1.5 years in jail on graft charges and was slapped a penalty of over Rs 21 million by a special court, a ruling reversing his earlier acquittal in 2006.

The Special Court sentenced Govinda Raj Joshi, a Nepali Congress leader, to 1.5 years in jail and slapped a penalty of Rs 21.614 million on graft charges.

The full bench of Special Court judges Gauri Bahadur Karki, Om Prakash Mishra and Kedar Prasad Chalise issued the final verdict on the graft case against Joshi.

India, Pak must work to promote peace: Zardari

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Congratulating his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee on his assuming the office, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari Wednesday underlined Islamabad’s desire to forge cooperative relations with India to promote peace and stability in the region.

“On behalf of the people of Pakistan and my own behalf, I wish to convey to you our heartfelt felicitations on your assumption of the office of the President of the Republic of India,” Zardari said in a message to Mukherjee who was sworn in as the 13th president of India Wednesday.

Pak PM gets time till Aug 8 to write to Swiss powers

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Pakistan Premier Raja Pervez Ashraf on Wednesday got a temporary reprieve as the Supreme Court extended till August 8 the deadline for him to approach Swiss authorities to revive graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, a case that had cost his predecessor his job.

The court had earlier directed the Premier to comply with its directive to reopen the corruption cases against the President by today.

Ammo train explodes, sets off Siberia wildfire

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A series of explosions on a military train, carrying ammunition, triggered a wildfire in central Siberia Wednesday.

The incident occurred when a train car carrying scrapped 30-mm artillery shells caught fire, detonating the ammunition and sending fragments flying up to 200 metres, threatening a nearby town in the Novosibirsk region.

The train car – one of 72 – was completely incinerated, setting ablaze the dry vegetation across a vast hard-to-access area.

The Defence Ministry provided six helicopters to dump water on the blaze, which threatened to wipe out Tikhomirovo town.

Japan, US hold talks on Osprey jet deployment

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Japan and the United States today held consultations on how to ensure the safe operation of the US Osprey military aircraft to be deployed at a base in Okinawa later this year.

The consultations under the framework of the Japan-US Joint Committee were held in Tokyo, amid lingering concerns over Washington’s plan to deploy MV-22 Ospreys to the Marines’ Futenma Air Station, located in a crowded residential area in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture.

US for more political reforms in China

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Political reforms in China have not kept pace with its economic advances, a senior Obama Administration official has said, expressing concern over the spate in self-immolations in Tibet and increase in human rights violations in the country.

Acknowledging that China’s “extraordinary” record of economic growth has helped scores of its citizens come out of poverty, Michael Posner, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, however held that political reforms there have “not kept pace” with the economic advances.

Army commemorates 13th anniversary of Kargil victory

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Senior Army officers, war veterans and widows of soldiers who were killed in the Kargil battle on Thursday offered floral tributes at the war memorial in Drass sub-sector here commemorating the 13th anniversary of victory in the 1999 war.

Wreaths were laid by General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command Lt Gen KT Parnaik, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Ladakh based 14 Corps Lt Gen Rajan Bakshi and GOC 8 Mountain Division Maj Gen Raymond Noronha.

Hillary Clinton congratulates Pranab Mukherjee

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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday congratulated Pranab Mukherjee on being sworn in as the 13th President of India, saying he has been a strong partner to American and the American people.

“I want to congratulate President Mukherjee on his swearing-in as the 13th President of India. President Mukherjee has been a strong partner to America and the American people, working throughout his career to deepen our cooperation on a wide range of issues,” Clinton said in a statement.

Ramadan Special Baghare Baigan Recipe

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Find out how to make baghare baigan hyderabadi style which has coconut, tamarind and tadka of curry leaves.

Ingredients:

500 grams Brinjals
4 medium Onions
5 grams Ginger
2 nos. Garlic cloves
12 grams Coriander seeds
40 grams Sesame seeds
70 grams Peanuts
5 grams Cumin seeds
3 grams Poppy seeds
20 grams Dessicated coconut
2 grams Fenugreek seeds
2 grams Turmeric powder
5 grams Red chilli powder
6 grams Jaggery
75 grams Tamarind
4 grams Curry leaves
As per taste Salt
120 ml Oil

How to make baghare baigan:

Obesity due to over-eating, not lack of exercise

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Obesity in modern lifestyle results from over-eating and not due to lack of exercise, according to a new study which found that modern man burns as many calories as his hunter-gatherer ancestors.

Researchers from US found that there was no difference between the energy expenditure of modern hunter-gatherers and Westerners which suggested that current rise in obesity is due to increased food consumption, not decreased energy expenditure.

Gene that spreads breast cancer discovered

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Scientists claimed to have discovered the gene that encourages the spread of breast cancer, paving way for new treatments for the deadly disease.

The discovery of the gene, RhoC, could lead to new ways to target the behaviour of these cancer cells and help treat them, scientists claimed.

Chemotherapy often stops working because it doesn`t kill cancer stem cells that fuel spread of tumours, a newspaper reported.

Gold futures regain 30K level on festive demand, global cues

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Gold futures prices Wednesday rose by Rs 135 to Rs 30,066 per 10 grams as speculators enlarged their positions on the back of a rise in demand in the spot market amid a firm global trend.

At the Multi Commodity Exchange, gold for delivery in October rose by Rs 135, or 0.45 percent to Rs 29,931 per 10 grams in a business turnover of 1,633 lots.

Similarly, the metal for delivery in August moved up by Rs 119, or 0.40 percent, to Rs 29,687 per 10 grams in 6,478 lots.

HCL Tech Q4 net up 67.3% at Rs 854.1 crore; stocks jump 7%

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HCL Technologies on Wednesday posted 67.3 percent jump in net profit at Rs 854.1 crore for the fourth quarter ended June 30, on the back of strong order pipeline.

The company’s scrip opened at Rs 504, then surged 6.64 percent to a high of Rs 513.60 on the BSE.

The IT services major had posted a net profit of Rs 510.5 crore in the same quarter last year.

The company follows a July-June financial year.