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After dreadful quake, devastating annual floods stare Sichuan province of China
03.07.2008 11:24
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After the dreadful earthquake on May 12 which killed more than 60,000 people, the Sichuan province of China is facing a yet another “critical situation” as the annual floods are approaching, said a senior official from the Ministry of Water Resources, in Beijing. Jiao Yong, the country’s Deputy Water Minister, reportedly told reporters that some parts of China had experienced up to 50 percent more rain this year than usual. Sichuan is also due to get a lot wetter during its flood season, which is expected to run through this month and next, the China Daily quoted him as saying. The problem is that the earthquake did considerable damage to the province's reservoirs and dams, which will reduce its ability to prevent floods, he said and added: “We have had to be well prepared, considering all the uncertainty we have faced this year. Repairing the reservoirs is our priority. Most of them will operate with low water levels, or even be emptied during the flood season.” Emergency plans for all 1803 water reservoirs damaged by the quake have already been drawn up, he said, adding that the ministry will closely monitor the weather situation. According to him, 37 specialist teams comprising 3280 experts and technicians from across the country have also been working to inspect damaged reservoirs and dams. (ANI)
India
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11 militants killed in Kashmir near LoC in Tanghdar sector
03.07.2008 09:36
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The Army today claimed to have killed 11 militants in an encounter near Nasthachun pass in Karnah tehsil of Kupwara district. A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army was also killed. General Officer Commanding Chief of the 28 Infantry Division Major General J. S. Bajwa said that the Pakistani army is giving full support to the infiltrators and there are about 500 militants ready to infiltrate to the Indian side. He also stated that the main purpose of this group was to disturb the coming Assembly elections. The Army's 20 Rashtriya Rifles and 16 JAT were involved in the gunfight, which is still going on. In today’s encounter the highest number of people have been killed in a single encounter between militants and Indian troops in the state this year. According to the Army officers these militants belong to the Pakistan-based Lashkar e Toiba and Al Badr groups. Heavy arms and ammunition have been recovered from the militants, which include 11 AK 47 rifles, IEDs and other explosives. (ANI)
India
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BJP sponsors nationwide strike over Kashmir land transfer issue
03.07.2008 09:36
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Several cities and towns in India were hit by the nationwide shutdown called by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against the revocation of land transfer to the Sri Amarnath Shrine Board by Jammu and Kashmir Government. The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad are exploiting the issue to serve their political objectives and have taken out rallies in the country. In Madhya Pradesh, the protesters resorted to stone pelting, which forced police to take action against them while the protesters in eastern Ranchi exhibited their anger by burning tyres on city streets and raising anti-government slogans. They attacked vehicles blocked the traffic. Various protesters on bikes and autorickshaws staged rallies on roads and declared countrywide shutdown. "People have supported the shutdown across the country. It gives out a strong message to the central government and state government of Jammu and Kashmir that disrespect to the emotions of the people will not be tolerated. And so the forest land should be transferred to shrine board as soon as possible," said former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Arjun Munda. Shops, schools and business establishments have remained closed since morning and the traffic on the streets was weak. Normal life was paralyzed in other cities like Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Dhanbad and Daltonganj where the vehicular traffic has been severely affected. Demonstrations were also organized in New Delhi where protesters of Vishwa Hindu Parishad walked on streets shouting slogans, forced the shop owners to close down the shops. Vishwa Hindu Parishad General Secretary Praveen Togadiya, protesting with his party members in New Delhi, said that the Hindus of the country would not tolerate disrespect to their religious sentiments. "Today citizens of India have demonstrated that they will not tolerate any disrespect to their religious institutions. We pledge to get back the allotted land to the Amarnath Shrine Board. The subsidies allotted for the Haj should be cancelled. And the Haj Houses should be taken back," he added. In Agra, the protesters stopped the trains in protest and resorted to sloganeering at Agra cantonment railway station. The Amarnath Shrine Board helped to organise the annual trek undertaken by thousands of pilgrims to the Amarnath cave shrine deep inside the Himalayas. But while canceling the land transfer, the state government has given the responsibility of facilitating the pilgrimage to the tourism department. The order of transfer of land was revoked after large-scale demonstrations in Kashmir valley for more than a week in which at least five people were killed in police firing and over 500 were injured. (ANI)
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Management Institute in Shillong
03.07.2008 09:36
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The first academic session of the country's seventh Indian Institute of Management (IIM), the Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management (RGIIM) in Shillong, will begin tomorrow. The institute's Director professor Ashoke K. Dutta disclosed that Meghalaya Chief Minister Donkupar Roy will inaugurate the first batch of Post Graduate Diploma in Management in the presence of Chairman, Board of Governors, RGIIM, profesor R N Dutta, Chairman Headstrong Inc USA and founder member of HCL Arjun Malhotra and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister T K Nair. The institute will commence its first academic session in Nongthymmai in Shillong, which previously housed the North Eastern Hill University. Work will soon commence on a 120 acre site for construction of the permanent campus. The institute will conduct courses in Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Management, fellowship programme in management, management development programmes, tourism and hospitality management, tele-services and telemedicine, information systems and technology and subjects of local relevance such as tourism, horticulture and hydel power. For its flagship programme, Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDBM), the Institute envisages an annual student intake capacity of 60 in the first year, which would be increased to 120 in the third year and 180 in the sixth year. (ANI)
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Drugs worth 50 million rupees seized in Chennai
03.07.2008 09:35
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Custom officials today arrested one person named David and seized contraband Ketamine Hydrochloride worth 50 million rupees in Chennai while smugglers were trying to smuggle the drug in a Malaysia bound consignment. The officers of the docks intelligence unit seized the contraband when they intercepted a consignment packed in four wooden crates for export to Malaysia by sea. The custom officials said that the steel drum was cut open at one side of the hollow portion in which one black coloured cylinder made up of aluminum was found securely kept. It contained white coloured powdery substance ascertained to be Ketamine Hydrochloride commonly known as club drug. "Our officers found that the drug Ketamine was kept concealed in the compressor. Each of the cylinders had 12 kilograms of Ketamine. The total weight of the drug recovered is about 50 kilograms. The value of the consignment in the international market is around 5 crores (50 million Rupees). Our officers have arrested one person and we are conducting further investigation," said Customs Commissioner of Chennai C. Rajan. The medical practitioners often use Ketamine Hydrochloride for anesthetic purpose. However, it is notorious for being used by the sexual predators for its easier availability. Consumption of Ketamine causes delirium, hallucinations along with delayed reaction time and amnesia. (ANI)
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25 injured in separate incidents of violence in Jammu
03.07.2008 09:35
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At least 25 people were injured today in separate incidents of violence in Jammu over the revocation of the transfer of land to the Amarnath Shrine Board even as the curfew was imposed in the city on the third day. Protesters halted trains, set afire vehicles and fought pitched battles with police. The police arrested 17 BJP leaders, including its former Jammu and Kashmir President Nirmal Singh, on charges of provoking violence. Five Amarnath pilgrims, returning from Amarnath shrine in south Kashmir, were injured when some unidentified persons stoned their vehicle at Banihal, official sources said. At least 15 protesters were injured in clashes with police at Bantalab, Tallab Tillo, Gangyal and Nanak Nagar. Protesters blocked traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway in Udhampur and stopped two Srinagar-bound vehicles. Police fired teargas shells to clear the highway in which five protesters were injured. Some residents stepped out of their houses and burnt tyres in Muthi, Gangyal, Bakshi Nagar, Vijaypur and Samba areas. (ANI)
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Coronary arterial calcium scans may predict death risk in elderly
03.07.2008 09:35
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Assessing the calcium deposits in the heart's arteries can help predict overall death risk in older people, says a new study. Lead researcher Matthew J. Budoff at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Centre (LA BioMed), said that previous studies had found measuring coronary arterial calcium with computed tomography (CT) heart scans could predict overall death risks in most American adults. The new study shows that extensive examination of coronary arterial scans can also help predict death risk in elderly also. "This study indicates calcium scans can be the best predictor currently available to detect who is likely to suffer a heart attack and who is not," said Dr. Budoff. "Previous studies found coronary arterial calcium scans were effective tools for determining the overall death risk in young adults, diabetics, smokers and those suffering from renal failure. “This study indicates coronary arterial scans are effective in measuring overall death risk in the elderly," he added. A calcium scan looks for calcification – or a hardening of the arteries caused by high blood fats and calcium deposits – in the arteries leading to and from the heart. These calcifications can block blood vessels and cause heart attacks, strokes or other health issues. During the study, the researchers analysed 35,383 adults, aged 40 to 80, in for an average of 5.8 years after having a coronary artery calcium scan. Among these research volunteers, 3,570 were age 70 or older. In total, 838 deaths were recorded, 320 in women and 518 in men. The study found the overall death risk was higher among those with higher coronary arterial calcium scores. "This study provides additional validation of coronary calcium studies," said Dr. Budoff. "Coronary arterial calcium scans can be very useful tools in assessing a patient's overall death risk. With this information, physicians can advise patients on diet, medications, exercise and other lifestyle changes that will help them avoid the risk of heart attack, strokes and other health problems," he added. The new study is published in the July issue of Journal of the American College of Cardiology. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
WHO report says sanitation crucial for tackling water-borne disease
03.07.2008 09:35
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A WHO (World Health Organization) report has determined that effective and affordable interventions that provide the global population with access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation are needed if water-borne diseases are ever to be controlled. According to a report in ENN (Environmental News Network), the WHO report is entitled ‘Safe Water, Better Health’. The report provides for the first time country-by-country estimates of disease caused by poor water quality, sanitation and hygiene. It finds that children, particularly in developing countries, suffer a disproportionate share of the disease burden caused by unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation. The WHO estimates that almost ten per cent of the global disease burden is caused by unsafe water and sanitation and that the economic return of investing in improved access to safe drinking water was ten-fold. The WHO’s findings are similar to a study by researchers from the University of Michigan, who published a paper on the challenges of achieving global sanitation coverage in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. They analyzed barriers to global sanitation coverage such as inadequate investment, water availability, poor or nonexistent policies, governance, poor resources and gender disparities, and looked at the impact on water resources of various sanitation technology choices. The researchers found that water availability was not a huge barrier at a global scale. Appropriate technological innovation is most needed to provide adequate toilets for the world’s population, especially in water-scarce areas. According to Dave Watkins, a researcher at the University of Michigan and one of the authors of the report, while universal safe drinking water and sanitation access seems achievable, their study shows that lack of financial resources is the greatest impediment to sanitation coverage. “Just a fraction of a per cent of wealthy countries’ gross domestic product would be sufficient to meet global funding needs,” he said. “Use of appropriate technology, and local capacity building to ensure project sustainability are also necessary. Missing one or more of these key ingredients can easily lead to failed projects, which discourages investment,” he said. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
Parkinsons treatment Deep Brain Stimulation also effective for psychiatric conditions
03.07.2008 09:35
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After being approved for Parkinson’s disease, a treatment called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is now showing some promise to benefit people suffering from some psychiatric conditions too. Dr. Douglas Anderson, a professor of neurological surgery at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine who first used DBS to treat a middle-aged woman confined to a wheelchair due to her Parkinson’s, says that he has used the technique to treat patients for obsessive-compulsive disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, and debilitating headaches also. Deep brain stimulation involves implantation of an electrode that delivers mild electrical signals deep in the brain, which in turn help reorganise the organ’s electrical impulses. "DBS can quell or eliminate tremors. It increases the percentage of time that a patient is functional. It also improves a patient's ability to move arms and legs in a more coordinated fashion. And there is a lessoning of bradykinesia," said Dr. Anderson. Describing DBS as a "pacemaker for the brain", Dr. Anderson said that though it did not stop the disease from progressing, the treatment might significantly improve symptoms in the right patients, especially tremors. Dr. Anderson also said that although patients' response to treatment might vary, overall he was pleased with the results. "Patients are more mobile and can move more freely. Occasionally their medications can be reduced," he said. He, however, strongly believes that collaboration with neurologists is vitatl to the overall successful treatment plans for patients with movement disorders. "This treatment is an adjunct, not a substitute, for medications," he cautioned. While making a presentation at the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Dr. Anderson revealed how DBS was used to treat body dysmorphic disorder in one patient, and debilitating headaches in another. “The benefits of DBS for intractable psychiatric conditions outweigh the risks," Dr. Anderson said. "The great advantage of DBS over earlier surgical treatments is that it's reversible. If there are side effects, we can turn the device off and reverse them," he added. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
Sensex rises above 700 points
03.07.2008 05:28
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The Bombay Stock Exchange's Sensex rose above 700 points to 13,664.62 level bringing a respite to the investors who had been shying away from investing due to gloomy market conditions. The markets bounced back with benchmark Sensex notching up a massive over 700-point gain, the fifth biggest rise this year with an aggressive buying across-the-board. Realty and bank stocks made a strong comeback and their sectoral indices closed higher by 12.22 per cent and 6.02 per cent, respectively. Metal, consumer goods and IT indices were the other top gainers in the range of 5-6 per cent. The 50-share S and P CNX Nifty on the National Stock Exchange also scored an impressive gain of 196.60 points, or 5.05 per cent, to close at 4,093.35 level. Global oil prices traded above US 141 dollar per barrel in Asian trade today. A strong surge to sudden entry of Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs), which were believed to be heavy buyers in equity in the latter part of day, was responsible for today’s rally according to experts. Analysts termed today's upswing as a technical bounce. (ANI)
India
Economics & Finance
Sensex rises above 700 points
03.07.2008 05:28
b4uindia.com
The Bombay Stock Exchange's Sensex rose above 700 points to 13,664.62 level bringing a respite to the investors who had been shying away from investing due to gloomy market conditions. The markets bounced back with benchmark Sensex notching up a massive over 700-point gain, the fifth biggest rise this year with an aggressive buying across-the-board. Realty and bank stocks made a strong comeback and their sectoral indices closed higher by 12.22 per cent and 6.02 per cent, respectively. Metal, consumer goods and IT indices were the other top gainers in the range of 5-6 per cent. The 50-share S and P CNX Nifty on the National Stock Exchange also scored an impressive gain of 196.60 points, or 5.05 per cent, to close at 4,093.35 level. Global oil prices traded above US 141 dollar per barrel in Asian trade today. A strong surge to sudden entry of Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs), which were believed to be heavy buyers in equity in the latter part of day, was responsible for today’s rally according to experts. Analysts termed today's upswing as a technical bounce. (ANI)
India
Economics & Finance
BJP calls for nationwide strike today over Amarnath Shrine land row
03.07.2008 05:28
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The BJP has called for a nationwide shutdown today to protest against the revocation of order of transferring land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board. Calling the revocation of land to Amarnath Shrine Board as a 'non-secular' move, BJP president Rajnath Singh had urged the State Government to re-allot the land to Shrine Board. After hue and cry and nearly two weeks of the row over the 40-acre land allotted to the Amarnath shrine, the Jammu and Kashmir Government had two days ago revoked the allotted land and had passed on the land to the State Tourism Department. Blaming both the Congress and the UPA Government for the revocation move, he said that the BJP will also take out protest rallies in all the major centers of the country from July 4-11. (ANI)
India
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Crucial UNPA meet today over Indo-US nuclear deal
03.07.2008 05:28
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Leaders of the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) will meet here today to decide the future of the third front, and also which way the Samajwadi Party (SP) would go in the event of voting in the Parliament over the Indo-US nuclear deal. National Security Adviser MK Narayanan had met SP leader Amar Singh yesterday to brief him on the technicalities of the Indo-US nuclear deal. Singh said that a final decision (about the future of the third front) would be taken only after today’s UNPA meet. He said that BJP leader Jaswant Singh, who called on him yesterday, suggested that the Left parties, SP and BSP should along with BJP form a block and vote against the Government on the deal. He quoted the BJP leader as saying that the line of Left parties and the BJP was one and the same, but, he added, the SP's line was different as it felt that communalism was a bigger danger. The standoff over the nuclear deal between the Congress-led UPA government and the Left parties continues amid speculations that the UPA Government might go in for voting over the nuclear deal in the parliament. The developments over the past few days have given enough hints that the UPA is on the lookout for a replacement of its Left allies, who have been threatening to withdraw support if it moves ahead with the deal. The Communists are opposing the deal, saying it "compromises India's sovereignty and security" and have threatened to withdraw vital support from the ruling coalition if the government moved ahead with it. (ANI)
India
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BJP calls for nationwide strike today over Amarnath Shrine land row
03.07.2008 05:28
b4uindia.com
The BJP has called for a nationwide shutdown today to protest against the revocation of order of transferring land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board. Calling the revocation of land to Amarnath Shrine Board as a 'non-secular' move, BJP president Rajnath Singh had urged the State Government to re-allot the land to Shrine Board. After hue and cry and nearly two weeks of the row over the 40-acre land allotted to the Amarnath shrine, the Jammu and Kashmir Government had two days ago revoked the allotted land and had passed on the land to the State Tourism Department. Blaming both the Congress and the UPA Government for the revocation move, he said that the BJP will also take out protest rallies in all the major centers of the country from July 4-11. (ANI)
India
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Arjun Singh to inaugurate HUNUR project today
03.07.2008 05:28
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Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh will today inaugurate a new project ‘HUNUR’ for providing vocational training to Muslim girls in Bihar. HUNUR is a collaborative project of the Union Human Resource Development Ministry and the Government of Bihar. Under it, the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) will provide free skill training to about 12,000 girls studying in different schools in Bihar. The seven courses, which have prepared for the training, include gram sakhi, jute production, cutting and tailoring, early childhood care and education, basic technology and beauty culture. This scheme will be implemented through Maktabs, Madarsas and Darul-uloom, Under this scheme, NIOS has made provisions for providing concessions related to infrastructure, fee as well as number of students at study centres. The most significant aspect of this scheme is the provision of relaxation of norms for accreditation for traditional educationally backward institutions especially Madarsas and Maktabs. It is envisaged that the skill training of the girls will help them in their future areas of work. NIOS will provide them free course material under this programme. The scheme for providing free education to Scheduled Castes (SC)/Scheduled Tribes (ST) learners through NIOS will also be inaugurated. NIOS as per government policy has been giving fee concession to SC/ST learners. Now, the Government of Bihar has taken the decision to give total freeship to SC/ST learners of Bihar, both girls and boys. The funds of Government of India (Under SSA through NGEPEL), Government of Bihar, Bihar Education Project will be utilized for this purpose. This initiative will vastly improve their access to school level education being provided by NIOS and will open the path for all other governments also to take up this initiative with NIOS. The Minister will also inaugurate the extended facility for on line admissions are being conducted through the Ni-on project of NIOS from this academic session. Students from far-flung areas of the country will be able to have greater education access through this scheme. It is hoped that these programmes will help the traditional backward communities to take benefit of the programmes of NIOS. The ceremony will be presided over by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Several dignitaries including M.A.A. Fatmi, Minister of State (SEL), Hari Narayan Singh, Education Minister Government of Bihar as well as representatives from grass root level organizations such as Imarat-e-Sharia and Rahmani Foundation are expected to participate. (ANI)
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