Month: May 2013

What it takes to live up to 100 years

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What’s the secret to living long enough to blow out at least 110 candles on your birthday cake?

Dr. Tom Perls, the director of the New England Centenarian Study at Boston University Medical Center, estimates there are approximately 200-300 of these “supercentenarians” in the world.

“People who live to that age are incredibly heterogeneous, as if they have some key genetic features in common that get them to an incredibly old age,” Perls told ABC News.

One commonality Perls’ studies have found – Approximately 90 percent of superagers are women.

Petition filed in Pak SC calling for halt in talks with Taliban

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A petition has been moved in the Supreme Court of Pakistan calling for the issuance of a declaration that no person, civil or military, should engage in any contact or negotiation with the Taliban.

Freelance journalist Shahid Orakzai filed the petition under Article 184(3) of the constitution, nominating as respondents the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee through its chairman and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general, reports the Daily Times.

Nawaz Sharif says no immediate relief in power crisis in Pakistan

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Pakistan’s prime minister-in-waiting Nawaz Sharif has said that no immediate relief could be expected in power crisis, but said he was confident that he would be able to improve the situation “within days”.

The Daily Times quoted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Sharif, as saying that the masses should not expect an immediate resolution of the load-shedding problem and presume that it would end when his government takes charge.

New H7N9 bird flu resistant to drugs

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With the new bird flu that has emerged in China, drug resistance has been detected in patients infected.

The H7N9 virus became resistant to Tamiflu in three out of 14 patients treated with antiviral drugs at Shanghai Public Health Clinical Centre, the BBC reported.

The researchers, writing in the Lancet, said resistance emerged with “apparent ease” and was “concerning”.

There have been no new cases of the infection for more than two weeks.

Doctors analysed the virus in 14 patients. All had pneumonia and half needed ventilation to keep them alive.

JIH wants HRC to take note of Khalid Mujahid’s death

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It has been stated in a press note of Jamat-e-Islami Hind, Hyderabad, that Khalid Mujahid’s death in police custody indicates that history of atrocities against Muslim youth has repeated itself. Although chief minister has announced probe into the incident it is not difficult to conceal the truth in the corruption-hit country.

It further stated that if the government is really serious over the matter, it should take serious note of the incident and punish the guilty.

‘Rate Your Shag’ Facebook pages spark uproar

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Facebook pages that encourage students to rate the performance of their partners in bed have been slammed by University campuses.

‘Rate Your Shag ‘ pages have swiftly spread to UK universities and users are urged to “name them, shame them and if you must, praise them.”

Sexual partners are given a rating out of 10; while some postings are funny, others include the names of people unaware that their performances in bed are being publicly rated, the Independent reported.

In about 3 days, the pages have garnered ‘likes’ by almost 20,000 users.

Now, dolphin-assisted childbirth trending among expectant couples

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Dolphin-assisted childbirth is an option that some expectant parents are embracing, claiming it is a more natural, relaxing way to deliver a baby.

Adam and Heather Barrington, a North Carolina couple expecting their baby to be delivered in July, have traveled to Hawaii to plan a dolphin-assisted birth at the Sirius Institute.

“It is about reconnecting as humans with the dolphins so we can coexist in this world together and learn from one another,” Heather Barrington told the Charlotte Observer.

Food prices spiraling out of control

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Except for price of rice at fair price shops, high prices in black market takes food items out of reach of common people. Soaring prices of rice, pulses, oil and vegetables have hit poor people hard. According to market sources rice prices have soared by 40 to 50 percent, tomato is sold at Rs. 60 per kg, beans at Rs 82 to 92 per kg; but the government is least bothered about it.

TDP serious about economic and educational development of Muslims

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Telugu Desam party is serious about uniform development of all sections. Party has issued Muslim declaration to provide equal status to Muslims in the society along with their economic and educational development. Similarly TDP has also presented sub plan for development of backward classes and women. Addressing 32nd Mahanadu of TDP, filmstar and TDP leader Mr. N Balakrishna told this.

STEADFASTNESS IN DEEN

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Hadith:
Abu Hurairah (RadiyAllahu Anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Sallellahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:

“Shall I not tell you something by which Allah effaces the sins and elevates ranks (in Jannah)?”
The Companions said: “Certainly, O Messenger of Allah.”
He (S.A.W.S.) said: “Performing the Wudu’ thoroughly in spite of difficult circumstances, walking with more paces to the mosque, and waiting for the next As-Salat (the prayer) after observing Salat; and that is Ar-Ribat, and that is Ar-Ribat.”
[Muslim]

COMMENTARY:

CM assures appointment of principal secretary for Minority Welfare

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Chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy discussed minority issues with minority welfare minister Mohammed Ahmedullah on the second day of his visit to Chittoor district.

Minority welfare minister who is accompanying chief minister in his visit, made chief minister aware of the problems in implementation of minority schemes due to key posts being vacant, on which chief minister promised that he will review the files regarding appointment of a permanent principal secretary for minority welfare after he returns to Hyderabad.

YSR Congress protests ‘unlawful’ detention of Jaganmohan Reddy

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YSR Congress leaders and workers on Tuesday held rallies across Andhra Pradesh against the “unlawful” detention of their party chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy for the past one year.

Leading the protest, party honorary president Vijayamma and Jagan’s wife Y S Bharati sat on a day-long protest at Indira Park here.

Party leaders and activists accused the ruling Congress and main opposition TDP of hatching a political conspiracy against Jagan. They also decried the CBI’s “intentional delay” in completing the probe.

AP fire service dept to deploy GPS to increase efficiency

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Fire tenders in Andhra Pradesh will soon be equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) and video cameras, a measure aimed at quick response during emergencies.

The initiative, touted as the first-of-its-kind in the country, will not only allow the fire-fighters reach the location of fire mishaps quickly, but also provide them with guidance in the fire fighting operation, a senior Fire Department official said.

Rain brings mercury down in Meerut, Varanasi

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Heat wave conditions continued at certain places in Uttar Pradesh even as rainfall in the last 24 hours brought relief in the Meerut and Varanasi divisions.

According to the MeT department, the highest temperature was 46.2 degrees Celsius recorded at Etawah with state capital Lucknow sweating it out at 40.6 degrees.

But day temperatures fell in Meerut, which recorded 4-cm rainfall, and at Budhana (2-cm), MeT officials added.

Anupsahar and Sardana each received 1-cm rain while heat wave conditions prevailed over one or two places in the Kanpur, Allahabad and Jhansi divisions.

Obama explains lipstick mark on his collar

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US President Barack Obama joked about a lipstick stain on his collar during a White House event, saying that he is explaining the red mark on his shirt to avoid trouble with the First Lady.

Obama was speaking during a reception he had hosted for the Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAP), which among others was attended by a number of eminent Indian-Americans.

After greeting the almost 300 in the audience with “Aloha,” Obama praised the warmth of their welcome.

Another hot day for Delhi

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It was yet another hot day for the national capital on Wednesday with the minimum temperature settling at 27.8 degrees Celsius, a notch above average for this time of year. The weather office has forecast a clear day ahead.

“The day will see clear skies and the maximum temperature will hover around 43 degrees Celsius,” he added.

Humidity at 8.30 am was 31 percent.

Tuesday’s maximum temperature was 43 degrees Celsius, three notches above average, while the minimum settled at 29 degrees Celsius, two notches above average.

–IANS

I’ve stopped working as PCB chief after IHC order: Ashraf

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Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf had stopped working as the PCB chief following the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) order to suspend him.

As a result of the IHC order yesterday, the Board of Governors (BoG) decided to postpone the Annual General Meeting of PCB that Ashraf was to chair in Karachi as well as a scheduled Board of Governors meeting until further notice.

Ashraf confirmed that he had distanced himself from PCB affairs as the court has set the next date of hearing for June 13.

14 dead, 36 injured in bus-tanker collision in Thane

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At least 14 people were killed and 36 others injured in a collision between a private bus and a tanker at Medvan Khind on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway on Wednesday.

The collision between the private luxury bus and the tanker took place around 7 am, police said.

Resident Deputy Collector Manoj Gohad said rescue operations have already been launched.

“The disaster management machinery has been pressed into service and medical teams have been dispatched to the accident site,” he said.

Jethmalani still believes Narendra Modi is the best PM candidate

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Noted lawyer and Rajya Sabha MP Ram Jethmalani has threatened to “expose” the “undesirable elements” within BJP and suggested that his expulsion from the party’s primary membership was done because of his campaign against black money.

At the same time, Jethmalani refused to find fault with Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, who is also part of the BJP’s Parliamentary Board that took the decision to expel him for six years on charges of “breach of discipline”.

2G case: Niira Radia to appear in Delhi court today

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Former corporate lobbyist Niira Radia, a key prosecution witness in the 2G spectrum allocation scam, is likely to appear before a Delhi court on Tuesday to record her statement in the case.

Radia, who was scheduled to appear in court on December 5 last year to testify as a CBI witness, had sought three months’ time on grounds that she had undergone a surgery for a neurological ailment.

Digital village – Government at people’s doorsteps

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Thirty-eight-year-old Abinash Das is excited. From his doorstep he will soon be able to get any government certificate and permit within an hour and will also be able to file a police complaint – thanks to the government’s Rs.20,000 crore “digital village” project that will eventually cover all the 250,000 gram panchayats.

Russia, NATO to hold joint Black Sea drills

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Russia and NATO will conduct a joint naval exercise in the Black Sea this coming fall (September to November), Russia’s envoy to NATO has said.

The exercise, to be held under the aegis of the NATO-Russia Council, is part of the cooperative airspace initiative, Russia’s NATO envoy Alexander Grushko said Tuesday.

The drills will rehearse operations to deal with a terrorist threat from the air, he said, adding that Turkey, Poland and Norway will be among the countries taking part.

–IANS

12 die as bus falls into Maharashtra river

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At least 12 people were killed and 15 injured early Wednesday when a luxury tourist bus rammed into a truck and plunged into a river in Maharashtra’s Thane district, police said.

The accident occurred around 7 a.m. when the Ahmedabad-Mumbai tourist bus and a truck collided near Kasa village, around 110 km north of Mumbai, an official from Palghar police said.

Due to the impact of the collision, the luxury bus veered off the road and plunged into a river, trapping passengers.

The toll is likely to increase as some passengers remain trapped inside the bus.

Delhi police bring Dawood angle in spot-fixing scandal

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Delhi Police today brought the angle of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in the Indian Premier League (IPL) spot-fixing scandal in a Delhi court which sent suspended cricketer S Sreesanth to Tihar jail, rejecting police’s plea for his remand for two more days.

“We are missing the link of the whole episode which will be proved very soon. Some big names are also involved, which I cannot disclose at this stage and they were in regular contact with the D company,” senior public prosecutor Rajiv Mohan said during the course of arguments in remand proceedings.