Month: March 2014

Lalu vows to stop communal forces from coming to power

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Taking a dig at BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Rashtriya Janata Dal ( RJD ) chief Lalu Prasad has exhorted secular parties to fight in solidarity against communal forces coming to power.

Lalu pointed out that if communal forces come to power, following the upcoming general elections, there would not be any peace in the country.

Lalu further claimed though he had tried to cobble up a broad secular alliance, he did not want it to be like the left and with the Third Front move.

Women’s brains more resilient to defects than men: Study

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Researchers have said that women are able to carry higher levels of genetic defects without getting any brain development disorders like autism, supporting the possibility of a “female protective effect.”

The study has provided clues as to why 50 percent more males typically have an intellectual disability than females and why boys are four times likelier to suffer from autism than girls, Discovery News reported.

‘Kaaviya…’ gave me freedom to innovate with folk music: Rahman

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Double Oscar-winning composer A.R Rahman says he agreed to compose music for upcoming Tamil period-drama “Kaaviya Thalaivan” because it gave him the scope to innovate with folk music like never before.

“I haven’t got the opportunity to compose folk music for films very often. This project gave me the freedom to innovate with that genre of music. I had to forego a Hollywood project to take out time for this film to compose twenty songs,” Rahman told IANS.

Woman kidnap, creates tension

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On Sunday, a married woman was abducted from her house at LIG quarters in the temple town of Srisailam in Kurnool district.

The woman was identified as Kavitha who was kidnapped by some unidentified persons, who reportedly came in a car. Kavitha was married to Srinu two months back.

However, the identity of the kidnappers is not known, it is suspected that the relatives of the woman kidnapped her as she tie the knot with Srinu without the consent of her family.

Police registered a case. The event created mild tension in the town as it took place in broad daylight.

Pub manager detained for serving liquor after stipulated time

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On Saturday night, Madhapur police raided a pub near Hi-Tec City and arrested its managers for supplying liquor beyond the stipulated time.

Madhapur police acting on a tip-off raided Shamrock -The Irish Bar, a pub sited opposite Cyber Gateway near Hi-Tec City, on Saturday night.

Though cops were forewarned about obscene activities, they could not find any customers indulging in such activities and registered cases against the pub management under the Cyberabad Police Act for serving liquor beyond the permitted time of 11.30 pm.

5 tolas of gold stolen, inmates injured

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On Sunday, six members of a farmer’s family were injured after an attack by three robbers who stole five tolas of gold from their house at Fatehpur in Shankarpally.

At around 1.30 am on Sunday, three robbers carrying weapons broke the main door of farmer, Ramulu’s house with a granite boulder. After entering the house, the robbers attacked Ramulu, his wife Susheela, their son Mallesh, and other family members, Laxmamma Laxmi, and Satyamma with chilli powder.

BFF holds review meetings to monitor implementation of Sachar report

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Bangalore Friday Forum (BFF), a non-profit organization, conducted a talk on “A Karnataka perspective of Sachar Committee Recommendations & the role of advocacy” by Mr. M. A. Basith, member Sachar Committee, here on February 23.

Union Minister for Minority Affairs, K. Rahman Khan, speaking on the occasion claimed that his Ministry was holding periodic review meetings with other Ministries and Departments concerned to monitor the progress in the implementation of the Sachar Committee report.

Gene mutation behind type 2 diabetes identified

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Researchers have identified mutations in a gene that can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, even in people who have risk factors such as obesity and old age.

The current study breaks new ground in type 2 diabetes research and guides future therapeutic development in this disease. In the new study, researchers describe the genetic analysis of 150,000 patients showing that rare mutations in a gene called SLC30A8 reduce risk of type 2 diabetes by 65 percent.

Pistorius could face homicide conviction even if cleared of murder

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Some experts, who are not involved in the case, reportedly said that Oscar Pistorius could still be vulnerable to a homicide conviction even if he is acquitted of murdering his girlfriend as he had violated the basic principles of gun handling.

The experts said that Pistorius, who goes on trial for murdering his girlfriend on 03 March, could be vulnerable because he shot into a closed door without knowing who was behind it according to his account.

Shun snacks that affect a good night’s sleep

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Do some bedtime snacks help you sleep better? Perhaps not.

Several studies suggest that eating a small snack a few hours before bedtime may help you sleep by preventing hunger from waking you.

But are there snacks that guarantee you sleep?

Some people say that cereal with milk, peanut butter on toast, and cheese with crackers are good bedtime snacks because they combine carbohydrates with protein.

The theory is based on the fact that tryptophan, an amino acid, makes you sleepy.

Never struggled for anything in my life: Madhuri Dixit

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Artists often talk about the hardships they have had to face in finding their first big break in filmdom, but 1990s diva Madhuri Dixit says she never had to struggle and the offer came to her door step.

She entered filmdom with the 1984 film “Abodh”, which was made under the banner of Rajshri Productions.

UBI faces probe on audit, corp governance

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The crisis-hit United Bank of India, which has run into losses amid suspiciously high bad loans, now faces fresh probes for possible lapses related to auditing and corporate governance norms.

Capital market regulator Sebi has received complaints about possible violations to its corporate governance norms at the bank, while it may also look into potential lapses with regard to its other regulations including those about related party transactions and insider trading, sources said.

73% of direct tax target collected till February

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With over 73 per cent of its revenue target collected by February, the Income Tax department is hopeful of achieving a full kitty of direct tax collection of Rs 6.36 lakh crore by the end of this financial year on March 31.

The department, according to official data, has made a gross collection of Rs 5,44,891 crore which, after refunds, comes to a net collection of Rs 4,65,998 crore. The latter figure represents 73.23 per cent of the total budget target of Rs 6,36,318 crore.

China closes 5,000 illegal clinics

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In the wake of a crackdown on illicit medical practices, China has shut down 5,088 illegal clinics within three months, health authorities said.

According to a National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) statement, a year-long campaign was started in October, targeting unlicensed clinics and unqualified doctors.

In the first three months, the authorities received 7,316 reports and complaints from the public, out of which 6,538 have been settled, Xinhua reported.

Microsoft ‘overestimated willingness of customers in dumping Windows XP,’ says expert

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Microsoft appealed to its customers to dump the soon-to-retire Windows XP operating system and also ask their friends or family members to switch to the latest 8.1 OS, however, an expert has reportedly pointed out that the software maker grossly overestimated the loyalty of its customers.

Executive Vice President at Levick, an American firm that specializes in crisis public relations and corporate reputation messaging, Gene Grabowski, said that although, there is nothing wrong with asking customers for help, one needs to establish loyalty before asking them.

Doctors aim to extract stem cells from fat to grow ears, noses

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Doctors are aiming to reconstruct people’s faces with stem cells taken from their fat in order to treat conditions like microtia.

The team of doctors from Great Ormond Street Hospital have grown cartilage in the laboratory and believe it could be used to rebuild ears and noses according to the technique published in the journal Nanomedicine, which has the potential to be “transformative”, the BBC reported.

According to the technique, which could revolutionize care, a tiny sample of fat would be taken from the patient to extract stem cells and rebuild ears and noses from it. (ANI)

16 Afghan militants killed in security operations

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At least 16 Taliban militants were killed in two military operations carried out by Afghan security forces, officials said Sunday.

Nine militants were killed and five wounded when Afghan army commandos launched an operation in Dar-e-Sangara area of Laghman province early Sunday, Xinhua quoted local authorities as saying.

Four militants were also detained, the statement said, adding a Taliban local leader named Abdul Jabbar was among the dead.

29 Chinese judges, court staff punished for corruption

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China investigated and punished 829 judges and other court staff for corruption in 2013, the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) said Sunday.

The latest statistics show 42.3 per cent rise.

Among the 829 court officials, 157 were transferred to judicial organs for prosecution, 294 punished for violation of Party disciplines, and 531 punished for breaching government disciplines, Xinhua quoted the SPC saying in a statement.

PM leaves for Myanmar to attend BIMSTEC Summit – India Today

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will on Monday leave for Myanmar, which is likely to be his last foreign visit as PM. Dr Singh will head to Myanmar’s capital Nay Pyi Taw for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit on Tuesday.

At the summit, the Prime Minister is expected to make a strong pitch for giving a fillip to India’s Look East policy and explore ways to enhance connectivity, transport, trade, tourism and other linkages to all the northeastern states.

TRS meet today to decide on merger or alliance with Congress

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Top leaders of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) will meet here on Monday to take a call on whether the party should merge with Congress or forge an alliance with the latter.

According to reports, today’s meeting will be attended by TRS politburo, lawmakers and state executive.

The meeting was earlier scheduled to be held on March 1, however, it was postponed for today. During today’s meet, the TRS leaders will discuss the post-bifurcation scenario in Telangana region.

BJP never investigates scams involving their ministers: Rajeev Shukla

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Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary affairs Rajeev Shukla slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday for not cooperating with any investigation for the scams they were involved in. Shukla was speaking at a news conference in Nagpur. “The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government did not conduct any investigation in any scam during its regime. The CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) had charged ruling Congress party of scam of 1,800 billion rupees. That wasn”t even proved. Now, when the inspection was done, is there any sign of that money?

Mahinder Reddy MLA Tandoor assures to solve Minorities problems

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Construction of boundary wall for Eidgah in Tandoor started yesterday. Dr. P. Mahinder Reddy MLA of Tandoor attended the function as the Chief Guest. Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Reddy assured that he would extend his cooperation in resolving issues pertaining to Minorities. Mr. Khurshed Husain of Muslim Welfare Association Tandoor, Mr. Nayeem Afroz, President of Congress Committee Tandoor, Mr. Ravi Goud, former corporator, Mr. Abdul Raoof, former Vice Chairman of Municipality and others address the gathering. Mr.

Muslim mass marriages in Warangal

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Sadia Welfare Society of Warangal organized Muslim Mass Marriages function yesterday. Maulana Khusro Pasha, former Chairman of Wakf Board attended as Chief Guest. He advised the Muslims to avoid unnecessary expenditure and trivial rituals. He also told them to struggle against dowry system. Marriage should be performed without taking any dowry money from the bride’s family. He applauded the efforts of Sadia Welfare Society for arranging mass marriages of Muslim destitute girls.

–Siasat News

Muslims neglected in Govt. schemes – Congress should be taught a lesson

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Noted Educationist and Social Activists Mr. Zahoor Khalid has published a pamphlet to create awareness among the Muslims about the next General Election in which a review of the functioning of Congress in the Center and State has been made. He asked the question to the Congress as to why it failed to fulfill its election promises made in respect of Muslims. Congress formed the Govt. in 2004 and 2009 with the help of the Muslims but during these 10 years, it forget its promises.