Month: October 2009

Experts warns of second deadlier wave of swine flu

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New Delhi, October 01: Warning of a second wave of swine flu pandemic which might be highly pathogenic and have a high fatality rate, experts have asked the Government to be prepared to face any eventuality.

“A second wave of pandemic is likely to occur. The virus may acquire higher pathogenicity and increased case fatality,” scientists at the Christian Medical College Vellore have said in a report.

They added that the strain may also become resistant to antiviral drugs.

Boat tragedy toll rises to 43; Kumily pays homage to the victims

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Kerala, October 01: As the search operations were continuing at the accident spot at Thekkady, more bodies are being fished out by the rescue team. The toll has risen to 43 till the afternoon and the bodies are being moved to the Periyar Hospital here.

Shops and business establishments in this tourist town remained closed on Thursday to pay homage to the departed souls in the watery grave at Thekkady on Wednesday. Hotels were also closed and only medical shops are remaining open.

The boat tragedy has shocked the entire State.

Mulayam to campaign for daughter-in-law

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Mulayam to campaign for daughter-in-lawMulayam to campaign for daughter-in-lawMulayam to campaign for daughter-in-lawLucknow, October 01: Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav will launch his party’s campaign on October 4 for the Firozabad Lok Sabha by-election where his daughter-in-law Dimple will cross swords with Raj Babbar of Congress.

Yadav will address several election meetings to woo the voters in favour of dimple, wife of SP state president Akhilesh Yadav, who won the May Lok Sabha poll from two seats– Firozabad and Kannauj and decided to retain the latter.

Rice procurement at record 333 LT in 2008-09 season

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New Delhi, October 01: The total rice procurement for the 2008-09 season increased by over 15 per cent to touch a record 333 lakh tonnes, from last year’s purchase, according to the Food Corp of India (FCI).

In the corresponding period of the previous marketing season (October-September), the government had bought 288.38 lakh tonnes of rice, the FCI data showed.

Bumper crop output coupled with better support price resulted in higher procurement of rice during the season, said a senior government official.

Azhar, Sopori honoured with Bharat Shiromani award

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New Delhi, October 01: Cricketer-turned-politician Mohd Azharuddin, actress and MP Jayaprada and acclaimed Santoor player Abhay Rustum Sopori were conferred with Bharat Shiromani award for their exemplary contributions in various fields.

The awards, given to people of eminence in various categories like armed forces, journalism, art and culture and business, were presented by Orissa Governor M C Bhandare at a function organised by Shiromani Institute here.

Ekta Kapoor launches two new serials

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Mumbai, October 01: After her ‘Saas-Bahu’ sagas, television Czarina Ekta Kapoor is now coming up with a different genre of serial that has been inspired by the under belly of the city.

The serial, a poignant drama titled ‘Bayttab Dil Ki Tamanna’, was launched here last night and will be aired on Sony Entertainment Television.

“After creating a genre like ‘saas bahu’, we are coming up with a real-life story that depicts the harsh reality of this urban jungle,” Kapoor, the creative director of Balaji Telefilms, said at the launch.

Ban on western music: BJP unclear on what ‘obscenity’ is

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New Delhi, October 01: The Bharatiya Janata Party in Haryana promised to “ban western music and obscenity” in its manifesto for the State — released in Chandigarh amid much fanfare on Tuesday — but the party’s central leaders here are unable to answer questions on what obscene western music is.

RBI Reference rate for US dollar and euro

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Mumbai, October 01: The Reserve Bank of India today fixed the Reference rate for the US currency at Rs 47.86 per dollar and the single European unit at Rs 69.71 per euro from Rs 48.04 per dollar and Rs 70.24 per euro respectively on September 29. In a press note issued here by the apex bank, the exchange rates of Great Britain”s Pound and Japanese Yen against the Rupee have been given as Rs 76.3870 per pound and Rs 53.16 per 100 yen respectively, based on the Reference rate for US dollar and middle rates of the cross currency quotes at noon.

USAID trains local officials in Sri Lanka

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Colombo, October 01: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the development arm of the U.S. government, has taken up two programmes to strengthen the ability of local officials in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka to ensure an effective administration.

An announcement by the U.S. mission here said the two programmes reached over 90 per cent of local authorities in the Eastern Province, providing them with the skills to better plan, prioritise and budget local projects.

Gowda takes on BJP govt over BMIC project

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Bangalore, October 01: Former Prime Minister H D Devegowda today charged the BJP government in Karnataka with preparing to sanction absolute sale deed to a construction company for the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project. “If the government completes the process of issuing sale deed for 20,193 acres, it will lead to allowing Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) the rights to sale and re-sale or transfer of lands,” Gowda, who has been opposing the project, told a press conference here.

Israel war crimes report one-sided: Hillary

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United Nations, October 01: Describing the UN report on Gaza conflict which had found strong evidence of human rights violations by Israeli forces as “one-sided”, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that Tel Aviv can redress the violations domestically.

“We believe that the mandate for the Goldstone report was one-sided and that many of the recommendations are appropriately dealt with by the institutions within Israel,” Ms. Clinton told journalists.

Ishrat case: Govt for new probe

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Ahmedabad, October 01: In what is seen as a major blow to the customary Centre-State cooperation on issues to do with national security and a shot in the arm of the forces of disintegration in the country the UPA-led government has done a shameful about-turn in the Gujarat High Court on the famous Ishrat Jahan encounter case and said that it had no objection to the court ordering a CBI inquiry in the case, thus setting aside its earlier stand in the court that there was no ground for CBI probe in the case.

BJP will bounce back like Sensex, says Shatrughan

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Itanagar, October 01: The BJP is down but not out and it will certainly bounce back much like the Sensex does, Bollywood actor-turned-party leader Shatrughan Sinha has said.

“It is true the BJP has 116 Lok Sabha members — 90 behind the ruling Congress — but still it has a big national presence and occupies almost the entire opposition space. Plans are afoot to revitalise the party,” the former union minister said on Wednesday.

Mahatma’s dream lives on in Nepal

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Kathmandu, October 01: Sixty-one years after he died, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s dream of self-reliance lives on in Nepal.

The spinning wheel that became one of the integral symbols associated with the man known as the father of the nation in India has created one of Nepal’s best known handicraft centres, thronged by foreign tourists for its exquisite pottery, textiles and metal knickknacks.

However, few know that the busy Mahaguthi outlets in the prime tourist areas Patan and Lazimpat are inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings and vision.

Iraq’s al-Maliki joins with Sunnis in election bid

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Baghdad, October 01: Iraq’s prime minister is reaching across sectarian lines for January’s parliamentary election with alliances that include Sunni groups.

Nouri al-Maliki’s Shiite-led bloc is seeking a broad coalition with Sunni factions to turn back a challenge from Shiite religious parties. Earlier this year, voters strongly rejected Shiite religious parties in provincial balloting. Al-Maliki is hoping to again ride the trend toward secular-oriented politics.

US pushing Pakistan to punish Mumbai terror attackers

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Washington, October 01: Describing India and Pakistan as two very important countries, the United States says it is encouraging Islamabad to fully investigate and bring those responsible for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

“Well, we certainly have encouraged and continue to encourage Pakistan to fully investigate the Mumbai attacks, and even more importantly, bring those responsible before their judicial system,” a State Department spokesman told reporters Wednesday.

Afghan civilian deaths reported after airstrike

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Kabul, October 01: The U.S. military says civilian deaths — including women and children — have been reported after an airstrike on a compound in western Afghanistan.

A statement says international forces are meeting with village elders Thursday morning to determine the extent of the casualties in Helmand.

U.S. military spokeswoman Capt. Elizabeth Mathias said ground forces were coming under fire from inside the compound during a prolonged gunbattle before they called in the airstrike.

Smoking during pregnancy is risky for kids

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London, October 01: Mothers who smoke during pregnancy put their kids at greater risk of developing psychotic symptoms in their teens.

Researchers observed a ‘dose-response effect’, meaning that the risk of psychotic symptoms was highest in children whose mothers smoked the most heavily during pregnancy.

Stanley Zammit, psychiatrist at Cardiff University School of Medicine and lead study author, said: “In our cohort, approximately 19 percent of adolescents who were interviewed had mothers who smoked during pregnancy.

Kids gorging on chocolates grow into violent adults

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London, October 01: Children who gorge on chocolate and sweets daily are more likely to grow into violent adults, says a new research.

A study of almost 17,500 volunteers in the British Cohort Study (BCS) found that 10-year-olds who ate confectionary daily were significantly more likely to have been convicted for violence at the age of 34 years.

The study is the first to examine the long-term effects of childhood diet on adult violence.

Injured Murray pulls out of Tokyo tourney

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Tokyo, October 01: Andy Murray dealt a second blow to next week’s Japan Open tennis tournament as the Scot withdrew Thursday with a wrist injury.

His pullout came just days after Roger Federer also cancelled, citing the fatigue of a season where he reached all four Grand Slam finals, winning two.

Murray pulled the plug on his website the day before the tournament draw.

“Andy is disappointed not to be competing in Japan, but on the basis of medical advice, he has decided to give his left wrist further time to recover.

Dubai to mark International Day of Non-Violence

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Dubai, October 01: A special function will be held in this West Asian metropolis Oct 2 to mark the International Day of Non-Violence, observed around the world on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

The Indian consulate in Dubai, along with the Indian High School here, will jointly host the function at 5 p.m. in the school premises, a consulate statement said Thursday.

The programme will begin with recitations from the Koran, the Bible and the Bhagawad Gita, similar to the manner in which Gandhi — father of the Indian nation — used to hold his public meetings.

Molester jumps off second floor, lands in hospital

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Chandigarh, October 01: A 30-year-old man jumped from the second floor of a house to escape after molesting a woman but only landed in a hospital bed with paralysed legs, police said here Thursday.

According to police, Harpreet Singh, an engineer, had entered the woman’s home in Sector 56 late Tuesday night and allegedly attempted to molest her. She raised an alarm.

Singh ran and jumped from the second floor only to fall on a car.

Hasina to discuss transit issue with India during visit

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Dhaka, October 01: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to visit India later this month when the politically contentious issue of giving transit facility to India through Bangladesh territory will be discussed, a newspaper said Thursday.

Breastfeeding moms need more aerobic exercise

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Washington, October 01: New moms breastfeeding their babies may require more aerobic and resistance exercise to offset temporary bone loss caused by calcium depletion, says a recent study.

Cheryl Lovelady and her team from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) measured bone mineral density in 20 women four to 20 weeks post pregnancy.

They found that those who didn’t exercise lost around seven percent of their lower-spine bone density in that period.

IITians to the aid of their short-staffed alma mater

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Toronto, October 01: With IITs in India perpetually short of teaching staff, the seventh Pan-IIT Global Conference in Chicago next week will prepare a database of alumni ready to take up teaching assignments at their alma mater.

About 3,000 IITians from around the world will attend the three-day annual conference which will be addressed by former US president Bill Clinton. The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Entrepreneurship and Innovation in a Global Economy.’