Month: March 2015

Diabetes drugs may increase risk of heart failure

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A new study has examined that glucose or sugar-lowering medications prescribed to patients with diabetes may pose an increased risk for the development of heart failure in these patients.

The study conducted at American College of Cardiology examined clinical trials of more than 95,000 patients and found that for every one kilogram of weight gain attributed to a sugar-lowering diabetes medication or strategy, there was an associated seven per cent increased risk of heart failure directly linked to that medication or strategy.

Egyptian President supports unified Arab force in Yemen intervention

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Egypt’s president, Sharm el-Sheikh has said that military intervention in Yemen by a Saudi Arabia led 10-nation coalition was ‘inevitable’, giving thin references to Iran.

Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, soldier turned politician, also approved the creation of a joint Arab military force, because of the ‘unprecedented’ threats being faced by the Arab world and indirectly accused Shi’ite, non-Arab Iran, of interfering in Arab matters, News24 reported.

Josh Duhamel’s sweet birthday message to ‘his girl’ Fergie

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Josh Duhamel has shared an Instagram photo of his wife Fergie to send her sweet b-day message honoring her special day.

The 42-year-old actor posted a gorgeous photo while celebrating the singer’s birthday on Friday, March 27, captioning it with “Happy birthday to my girl. 40 never looked so good!,” Us Magazine reported.

In the snap, the ‘Glamorous’ singer looks glamorous in a silver one-shoulder dress and a bold red lipstick, as she is seen blowing out her birthday candles at her bash.

Kim K denied club Soho House membership despite trying several times

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Kim Kardashian is now one of the many celebrities who have been denied membership of Los Angeles’ Soho House.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Tim Geary, the former membership director revealed that they had denied membership to every “Real housewife” who applied including rapper Kanye West’s wife, who has tried “numerous times” for the membership,

Britney Spears and Kobe Bryant are among the celebrities who have been denied membership of the club which has turned five year old this year.

Uber to reportedly pay 100 to 200 Euros as govt fees for driver’s license in Germany

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Uber will reportedly pay the government fees of 100 to 200 Euros in Germany to obtain a commercial driver’s license, said Uber’s German chief, Fabien Nestmann.

According to the Verge, Nestmann said that they will also pay the 150 to 200 Euros it would cost their partners to have the “Chamber of Commerce license them as taxi companies”.

Uber’s drivers were required to obtain commercial licenses, as per German law, the court ruled.

1,500 troops patrolling Tunisian ‘Star Wars’ sets amid Islamic State fears

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It has been reported that the famous ‘Star Wars’ film sets in Tunisia are facing potential threat from Islamic State (Isis) militants and so they are being patrolled by 1,500 troops.

The move of heavily guarding town of Tataouine, which inspired sci-fi director George Lucas to name the planet Tatooine from the Star Wars series, comes amid fears the film locations in North Africa are under threat from jihadists travelling to Libya, the Daily Star reported.

MeT predicts heavy rainfall in hilly regions in coming weeks

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The director of Meteorological Department, B.P. Yadav, on Sunday said that Jammu and Kashmir will witness heavy rainfall in the next six days, adding that the hilly regions in north India would be under a wet spell next week as well.

“There will be rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir for the next six days. Heavy rainfall may also occur tomorrow. There will be a wet spell for hilly regions next week. We have already given warnings through our weather forecast department,” said Yadav.

Heavy rainfall in Srinagar earlier today led to water logging in several areas of the city.

Australian envoy says cricket ‘fundamental part’ of relation with India

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Australian High Commissioner Patrick Suckling on Sunday said cricket is a fundamental part of the close relationship between India and Australia, adding that the sport forges closeness, understanding and enthusiasm for one another.

“Cricket is a fundamental part of a very close relationship between India and Australia…I have written before that cricket is a wonderful way of bringing our two countries together, there is a real connection between our people through cricket,” Suckling said.

Why comfort foods are attractive when we are feeling down

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A new study has demonstrated that people’s attraction to comfort foods was based on the relationship they had with the one who had first prepared the dish for them and would eat it when they felt low or sad.

The research conducted by University at Buffalo found that social factors influenced a person’s choices and eating behavior and some of the participants defined comfort food as a healthy food choice, whereas for the others it was starchy and fatty.

Boko Haram beheads 23 people, kills 7 in separate attacks

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Suspected Boko Haram militants have beheaded 23 people in Buratai , northeast Nigeria and killed seven people in a separate attack in the country’s north-eastern Gombe state and at polling stations.

The beheading took place a day before the elections, according to a federal politician.

Mohammed Adamu, representative of the town, had claimed that the gunmen were suspected to be insurgents and burnt at least half of the village, News.com.au reported.

AAP to form new Lokpal Committee, National Disciplinary Committee

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The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which yesterday sacked founder members Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav from the national executive, today decided to form a new Lokpal Committee and a National Disciplinary Committee to oversee the party’s affairs.

Briefing the media about the decisions taken in today’s national executive, AAP leader Pankaj Gupta said that a new Lokpal Committee of three members would be constituted.

Prashant Bhushan dropped from AAP disciplinary Committee

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The Aam Aadmi Party has dropped founding member Prashant Bhushan from its Disciplinary Committee, a day after he and Yogendra Yadav were ousted from the party’s national executive.
As per reports, Admiral Ramdas has also been removed from the post of the party’s internal Lokpal.

The AAP had earlier today held a National Executive meet at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence, where the decision to forge a new Lokpal committee was taken.

The new Lokpal committee will include former IPS officer N D Kumar, former DIG Rakesh Sinha and educationist Dr. SP Verma.

‘Opportunists’ AAP gathered for sake of power: Congress

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The Congress on Sunday criticised the Arvind Kejriwal led-Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), saying it is an inevitable fall of a group of opportunists who gathered together for the sake of power.

“This is an inevitable fall of a group of opportunists who gathered together for the sake of power…..When AAP didn’t get the majority, they should have gone back to the people and said that they didn’t get the majority, instead they took a shortcut and took the Congress’ support,” said Congress leader P.C. Chacko.

Dia Mirza showstopper at Gaurang Shah’s fundraiser

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Popular celebrities such as Dia Mirza, Lakshmi Manchu, Regina Cassandra, Adah Sharma and Pranitha Subhash graced the fundraiser event of award winning textile and fashion designer Gaurang Shah’s exclusive new collection Noor.

The show on Saturday was a fundraiser in support of improvement of literacy in government schools for a not-for-profit organisation in south of India.

Salma Hayek hates exercise

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Actress Salma Hayek doesn’t like working out. She credits her slim figure in her 2014 film “Everly” to running around after her seven-year-old daughter Valentina.

“I don’t like to work out, but I’ve tried to get into the best shape I’ve ever been in. When you’re running around looking after your daughter you’re also doing a lot of work so I was able to manage pretty well on the set,” Total Film magazine quoted the 48-year-old as saying, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Angelina Jolie named top feminist icon

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Actress-director Angelina Jolie has been named Britain’s top feminist icon.

The 39-year-old actress topped the poll for her campaigning against rape as a weapon of war in her role as United Nations Special Envoy, beating off competition from iconic women’s rights activist Germaine Greer, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

“We are driven by the empowerment of women and celebration of their femininity, which Angelina Jolie embodies perfectly,” said Heidy Rehman, founder of feminist fashion house www.roseandwillard.com – which conducted the nation wide poll.

Mizo govt yet to decide on Tripathi’s swearing in

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Mizoram government is yet to decide when the West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, appointed by the President to take additional charge of Mizoram, will be sworn-in here.

State Protocol Officer David L Pachuau said that the state government was likely to take up the matter by tomorrow.

State Governor Dr Aziz Qureshi was sacked by the Centre yesterday and Tripathi appointed to take additional charge of the governor until further appointment of another governor for the state, a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique said.

US on pathway to become India’s best partner: Envoy

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With two back-to-back historic visits by the Indian and American leadership in less than six months, the US is on “pathway” to become India’s “best partner” as the two countries have agreed on a robust agenda to strengthen their strategic ties.

It is rare to have the top leadership of two countries to come together in a five-month period and agree on a “robust agenda”, US Ambassador to India Richard Rahul Verma has said.

Saudi Arabia’s influence on oil price volatility to decline

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With Saudi Arabia moving beyond its long-held role as a simple exporter of crude oil and reshaping itself as a supplier of refined petroleum products, the kingdom will be less able to influence prices and balance global oil markets, a study says.

The paper, published in the journal Energy Policy, examined the growth of Saudi refining, the country’s increased domestic demand for crude oil and the geopolitical effects of this development.

JD(U) digs in heels, says won’t support land Bill in present form

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Amidst efforts by the NDA government to reach out to regional parties for securing their support for the controversial land Bill, JD(U) today said that no member of the Janata Parivar would support the proposed law in its present form.
The party also questioned the government’s intention behind proroguing the session of Rajya Sabha and wondered what was the “tearing hurry” for doing so.

Apple boss to donate millions to charity

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American multinational Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook has announced that he will donate millions of dollars of his wealth to charity before he dies, a media report said on Saturday.

Cook said he would leave his wealth, worth over $800 million, to philanthropic causes after paying for his 10-year-old nephew’s college education, BBC reported citing a Fortune magazine interview.

With the commitment, Cook has become part of a growing trend among wealthy individuals like Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg who are giving away their fortunes to charity.

AAP removes Ramdas as Lokpal, Bhushan from disciplinary panel

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The Aam Aadmi Party today removed party’s internal Lokpal Admiral L Ramdas and Prashant Bhushan as the chief of National Disciplinary Committee, a day after the latter and senior leader Yogendra Yadav were expelled from the National Executive (NE).

At an “emergency” NE meeting here, the party removed former navy chief Ramdas from the internal Lokpal and set up a new Lokpal panel, comprising former IPS officers N Dilip Kumar and Rakesh Sinha and educationist S P Verma.

Thousands bid farewell to Lee amid heavy rains in Singapore

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Undeterred by heavy rains, tens of thousands of people today lined a 15 kilometer route in Singapore to bid farewell to the founding leader Lee Kuan Yew, who will receive a state funeral in presence of a galaxy of dignitaries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

91-year-old Lee, the city-state’s prime minister for 31 years and widely respected as the architect of Singapore’s prosperity, died of severe pneumonia on March 23.

India deeply valued Lee’s friendship and his support: Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today lauded Singapore’s founder and first premier Lee Kuan Yew as a “global thinker” and said India deeply valued his friendship and his support for its economic progress.

Modi, who arrived here this morning to attend the State Funeral Services of Lee, said the former Singapore Prime Minister was “among the tallest leaders of our times”.
91-year-old Lee died of severe pneumonia on March 23.

AAP to form new Lokpal, disciplinary committee

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A day after it acted against dissident leaders Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav, the AAP on Sunday decided to form a new internal Lokpal and a disciplinary committee.

The decision was taken at a meeting held at Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal’s residence.

“We have taken four decisions. A new internal Lokpal consisting of 16 members and a disciplinary committee will be formed,” party leader Pankaj Gupta told reporters.

The decisions came a day after four party leaders, including Bhushan and Yadav, were expelled from its National Executive.