shameen

Scientists make “sugar bug” drug for bowel disease

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London, August 21: A genetically modified bacterium that turns into a drug-delivery vehicle in the presence of a type of sugar may offer a new way to treat bowel disease, British scientists said on Friday.

The new approach uses an engineered form of Bacteroides ovatus to deliver a human growth factor called KGF-2 directly to damaged cells in the gut — but the process is only activated in the presence of xylan, a sugar that is rare in normal diet.

India to give Nepal Rs.20 bn for infrastructure projects

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New Delhi, August 21: India has pledged assistance of Rs.20 billion to Nepal for infrastructure projects, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told visiting Nepali Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.

The Nepali prime minister arrived Monday on a five-day visit to India – his first to the country since assuming office three months ago. He met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday and held detailed discussions with him.

Thursday morning, Finance Minister Mukherjee called on Nepal at his suite in Delhi’s Oberoi Hotel.

Ministry’s Directives for Dealing With Infection Soon

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Sharjah, August 21: The Ministry of Health (MoH) has assured the private sector to issue national protocol and medical guidelines for dealing with suspected and confirmed cases of H1N1 infection in a week’s time.

Senior MoH officials announced this at a meeting with representatives of private healthcare institutions held at University of Sharjah on Thursday, where officials called on the private sector to share the responsibility of countering the spread of the pandemic disease and urged them to help control panic and fear among the public.

Dubai Customs Blocks e-Cigarette Consignment

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Dubai, August 21: A shipment of e-cigarettes, which arrived at the Dubai International Airport last week, was blocked by Dubai Customs following a ban enforced by the Ministry of Health.

The ministry had banned the battery-powered product last week after tests revealed that it could be hazardous to people’s health.

Iran no longer fears sanctions over nuclear row

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Tehran, August 21: Iran was no longer afraid of any financial sanctions being imposed in its row with the West over Iran’s nuclear programmes, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday.

The president was referring to reports that Iran could face renewed sanctions if the country failed to meet a September deadline set by US President Barack Obama and approved by the European Union for resuming talks over the country’s nuclear programmes.

Iran lawmakers warn of clash over new govt

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Tehran, August 21: Lawmakers criticized President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s nominees for his new government as inexperienced cronies and threatened to reject some of them.

Thus setting the stage for a new fight between the hard-line leader and rivals with his conservative camp.

14 Arab countries to start fasting month on Saturday

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Amman, August 21: Fourteen Arab countries Thursday night declared that the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan would start on Saturday after their legal moon sighting panels failed to prove the beginning of the holy month on Friday.

They are Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, Algeria, the Palestinian territories and the Sunni Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq.

–Agencies

Iran parliament to reject Ahmadinejad ministers

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Tehran, August 21: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad faces a tough battle to win parliament’s approval for his new cabinet after some deputies signalled they were likely to reject several nominees.

“Those nominated by the president for government posts must have sufficient expertise and experience, otherwise a great deal of the country’s energy would be wasted,” state broadcaster IRIB quoted parliament speaker Ali Larijani as saying on Thursday.

NKorean condolence delegation to arrive in South

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Seoul, August 21: A high-level North Korean delegation was set to arrive for a rare visit Friday in South Korea to pay respects to late former President Kim Dae-jung.

The trip may provide a valuable opportunity for dialogue between the two Koreas, whose relations have deteriorated since the inauguration last year of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, a conservative who has linked aid to North Korea to its commitments on nuclear disarmament.

Putin vows $1b support for Russian diamond miners

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Mirny, August 21: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin pledged on Friday $1 billion in state support for diamond miner Alrosa to help it weather a steep global decline in demand for gemstones.

“The overall level of support for the sector should total 30-35 billion roubles ($949.4-$1.11 billion) this year,” Putin told a meeting of senior officials in Mirny, Eastern Siberia.

“It is difficult to do with the background of the financial-economic crisis, but we shall do it,” Putin said.

UN urged to tell all on Iran atomic work

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United Nations, August 21: Western powers are urging the U.N. nuclear watchdog to reveal all the information it has that suggests Tehran is pursuing atomic weapons, diplomats said.

The United States, Britain, France and Germany are planning to hold high-level talks on Iran’s nuclear program with Russia and China on Sept. 2, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said.

Western diplomats said there would probably be another meeting on Iran in New York on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly later in the month.

Obama vows to finish job after Afghan vote

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Washington, August 21: President Barack Obama said the U.S.-led forces must ‘focus on finishing the job’ in Afghanistan after what he said appeared to have been a successful election in the country.

Millions of Afghans went to the polls on Thursday, defying Taliban threats of violence and sporadic attacks to choose a president in the midst of a worsening war.

Lockerbie bomber home in Libya amid US anger

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Tripoli, August 21: The terminally ill Libyan convicted over the 1988 Lockerbie bombing flew home from Scotland to a joyous reception after being freed on compassionate grounds.

Ignoring a US warning against a “hero’s welcome,” hundreds of young people waving Libyan and Scottish flags greeted the aircraft carrying Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi as it landed in Tripoli amid heavy security.

He emerged from the plane wearing a dark suit, his hand held by Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi’s son Seif al-Islam, who was in the delegation that flew to Scotland to bring him home.

U.N. council congratulates Afghanistan on election

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United Nations, August 21: The U.N. Security Council congratulated the Afghan people for participating in nationwide elections on Thursday and condemned the Taliban and al Qaeda for their “violence” and “terrorist” activities.

“The members of the Security Council welcome the holding of the presidential and provincial council elections in Afghanistan,” the council said in a statement, adding that they “congratulate the people of Afghanistan on their participation.”

WHO predicts ‘explosion’ of swine flu cases

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Beijing, August 21: The global spread of swine flu will endanger more lives as it speeds up in coming months and governments must step preparations for a swift response, the World Health Organization said Friday.

There will soon be a period of further global spread of the virus, and most countries may see swine flu cases double every three to four days for several months until peak transmission is reached, said WHO’s Western Pacific director, Shin Young-soo.

Japan opposition headed for decisive victory: reports

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Tokyo, August 21: Japan’s opposition Democratic Party may score a runaway victory in the August 30 general election, seizing power from Prime Minister Taro Aso’s conservative party which has ruled for most of the past 54 years, newspapers said on Friday.

The Democrats could win more than 300 of the 480 seats in parliament’s lower house, although the number could change because about 20 percent of voters had not yet decided how they would vote, the Yomiuri and Nikkei newspapers said based on telephone surveys.

Suspected US missile strike kills nine in Pakistan

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Islamabad, August 21: A suspected US missile strike early Friday killed at least nine people in a border tribal area of northwest Pakistan known as a Taliban hideout, officials said.

“A missile hit a house at 3:50 am (2150 GMT Thursday). It was a drone attack. The missile targeted a house in Dandey Darpa Khel,” a Pakistani security official told AFP.

The house was badly damaged and so far nine bodies have been recovered, a security official said.

Residents said the militants surrounded the compound and a tractor was used to remove the debris.

Kareena and Saif’s Secret love nest

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Mumbai, August 18: Nothing stops Kareena from being a loving girlfriend to Saif, not even her packed schedule.

She took off with Saif to an undisclosed location near Chicago for a secret vacation, as a birthday present to Saif (his birthday was on August 16).

They took off after completing their professional commitments and spending some time with close friends.

Karan Johar Foxed by the deal!

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Mumbai, August 18: You’ve apparently inked a deal with 20th Century Fox for an astronomical never-heard-of amount of money?
Let me tell you the amount mentioned is nowhere near being a realistic amount.

The deal among Star Fox studios, my company and Red Chillies is an internal matter and can’t be discussed in public. What makes this deal so historic is not the money involved, but the attempt to cross the disapora with a Hindi-language film My Name Is Khan. We’ll reach out in places where Hindi-language films have not gone before.
I am foxed by the deal.

Two Die, 33 Hurt in Sharjah Road Mishap

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Sharjah, August 18: Two persons died and 33 were injured on Sunday night in a road accident in which four vehicles caught fire on the Sharjah Ring Road towards Ajman. The accident took place late night and held up traffic for more than three hours.

The Anjad patrol diverted the traffic from the scene where the two buses carrying construction workers and two cars were involved.

Service Permit to Replace Education Institute Licence

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Dubai, August 18: Education institutions in the emirate will be required to have a service permit that will be issued by the education regulatory authority if they want to operate from this year, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) said on Monday.

The permit will replace the annual licence that education institutions operate on at the moment. Institutions that do not have this permit will be unable to operate, said an official of KHDA. The KHDA has already begun issuing these permits to providers.

Private Sector Work Timings in Ramadan

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Dubai, August 18: Workers in the private sector will work 2 hours less each day during the holy month of Ramadan, as per an order issued by
Minister of Labour Saqr Ghobash Saeed Ghobash.

“The order should be observed and implemented by all companies to avoid legal action,” he pointed out.

“All private companies and establishments across the country, whatever their work system is, should reduce the work period by two hours during Ramadan, regardless of the six- or five-day week,” Mahir Al Obad, acting director-general in the Ministry of Labour told Khaleej Times.

Hazardous e-cigarette Smoked out of Market

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Abu Dhabi, August 18: Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) can be hazardous to people’s health as it contains carcinogens and toxic materials, according to a senior official at the Ministry of Health (MoH).

The e-cigarette cannot be recognised or marketed as a ‘quit smoking’ therapy in the Gulf Cooperation Council region, Dr Wedad Al Maidoor, head of Tobacco Control Team at the MoH told Khaleej Times.

H1N1 Committee Reviews Response Plans

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Dubai, August 18: The Technical Health Committee for Combating H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) held a meeting on Monday with technical directors of hospitals and directors of primary health care departments to review response plans to the virus and the hospitals’ technical and administrative preparedness to handle a virus outbreak.