Karnataka will soon amend the Transplant Act to encourage organ donation, medical education minister Ramachandra Gowda said on Friday. Speaking after inaugurating the Liver, Pancreatic Disorders and Multi-Organ Transplantation Unit and a liver ICU at BGS Global Hospitals, he said: "We want to be on par with Tamil Nadu, which is one of the leading states in transplantation. The amendments will facilitate and encourage voluntary donation and cadaver transplantation." Global Hospitals Group MD and chairman Dr K Ravindranath said: "This is our third transplant centre after Chennai and Hyderabad. Surgeon Dr Mohammed Rela said: "Liver transplantation is coming up in a major way. Last year, 58 liver transplantations were conducted, almost half the total transplantations in India." `Lack of awareness is main problem' Dr Mohamed Rela, hepatobilary, pancreatic and liver transplant surgeon, has done over 1,300 liver transplants, including Guiness record -- a successful one on a five-day-old baby. Excerpts from an interview: What is main hurdle in organ transplantation? In India, there are no organs for transplantation because there are very few cadaver donors. In the UK, 12 out of every 1 million persons donate. They perform 650-700 liver transplantations a year. In India, less than 0.1% of the population participates in cadaver donation.
For Further: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Govt-will-encourage-organ-donations/articleshow/5514912.cms
People who go for knee replacement surgery tend to gain weight after the operation, according to a University of Weight gain after knee replacement surgery (Getty Images) Delaware Weight gain after knee replacement surgery study. Researchers Joseph Zeni and Lynn Snyder-Mackler found that patients typically drop weight in the first few weeks after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). But later, the number on the scale starts creeping upward, with an average weight gain of 14 pounds in two years. The research involved 106 individuals with end-stage osteoarthritis who had knee replacement surgery, and an age-matched, healthy control group of 31 subjects who did not have surgery. Height, weight, quadriceps strength, and self-perceived functional ability were measured during an initial visit to UD's Physical Therapy Clinic, and at a follow-up visit two years later. “We saw a significant increase in body mass index (BMI) over two years for the surgical group, but not the control group. Sixty-six percent of the people n the surgical group gained weight over the two years, the average weight gain was 14 pounds” said Zeni. Those who had the knee replacement surgery started out heavier and ended heavier than the control group. Zeni noted that the weaker the surgery patients were, as measured by the strength of the quadriceps, the more weight they gained. “These findings are making us re-think the component after total knee surgery and of patients not being in a routine of moving around,” said Snyder-Mackler. She noted that it's critical that people not wait too long to have a knee replaced because their functional level going into surgery typically dictates their functional level after surgery. Gaining weight after one knee replacement is worrisome because it could jeopardize the patient's other knee. Between 35-50 percent will have surgery on the other side within 10 years, said Snyder-Mackler. The researchers noted that weight gain after a knee replacement needs to be treated as a separate concern and integrated into post -operative care through a combination of approaches, including nutritional counselling to help patients with portion control, and more emphasis on retraining patients with new knees to walk normally.
for further: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life/health-fitness/health/Weight-gain-after-knee-replacement-surgery/articleshow/5517288.cms
Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, has said Taliban fighters should drop their demand that US and Nato forces must leave Afghanistan before reconciliation talks can be held. Karzai said on Sunday that talks would make it easier for troops to leave, adding that he was hoping to launch a peace initiative this year. At a conference on Afghanistan in London last week, Karzai called on tribal and ethnic leaders to take part in a "loya jirga" - or assembly of elders - as a start to peace talks and announced an international fund to reward Taliban fighters who disarmed. However, Taliban commanders dismissed the initiative, saying that they were only willing to hold talks only if the more than 110,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan withdraw. Karzai said the Taliban's insistence on a withdrawal of Western troops before any talks was "not a meaningful gesture". "The international community is here for success in defeat of terrorism, success in the defeat of extremism," Karzai told a news conference."Therefore, they have to be satisfied that they have achieved their objective before they can leave."
For further: english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/01/2010131171559186728.html
Governments from the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitters have met a Copenhagen summit deadline to submit their plans for cutting emissions by the year 2020. The European Union has set an unconditional target to cut emissions by 20 per cent compared to 1990 levels and is willing to raise that to 30 per cent if other countries make an equal effort. Australia will have a 5 per cent reduction target with no conditions applying and will only lift its target to 15 per cent or 25 per cent if countries like China, India and the United States agree to verifiable reductions. It has been just over a month since the climate talks ended without a legally-binding treaty. Instead they came up with what is known as the Copenhagen Accord, a deal negotiated by the United States and China and signed by more than 25 countries, including Australia. But even if all countries implement the target, it will still leave the world well short of the mark scientists estimate is needed to contain global warming.
The search for a man who allegedly stabbed and killed Auckland taxi driver Hiren Mohini in what police describe as a frenzied attack has been stepped up with 30 investigators now hunting the killer and the weapon used. Mr Mohini, 39, crashed his cab into a tree in View Road Mount Eden at about 1.20am on Sunday after allegedly being stabbed by a passenger. Officer in charge of the investigation Detective Senior Sergeant Hywel Jones said Mr Mohini died at the scene as the result of multiple stab wounds. "It was a frenzied attack." Investigators were back at the scene today carrying out an area canvass, talking to residents and others in the locality. "There are a large number of witnesses to interview not only from the street where the murder happened but also other locations such as the CBD where a male suspect is believed to have hired the cab driven by the deceased," Mr Jones said. "We are accessing security surveillance footage from a number of locations and working on some strong leads that will assist us to locate the killer. This is a complex murder investigation," he added. Tansport Minister Steven Joyce and Prime Minister John Key said today the Government would review taxi safety and consider mandatory safety measures.
For further: www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10623454
People with epilepsy should be warned that using a popular herbal remedy may increase the risk of seizures, researchers say. German scientists, writing in the Journal of Natural Products, said they had found 10 written reports of seizures linked to ginkgo biloba. They said they were convinced the herb could have a "detrimental effect". A leading UK epilepsy charity said the evidence was not yet compelling, although it said care was needed. University of Bonn researchers Ginkgo biloba remedies - made from the leaves of the tree of the same name - is used by many thousands of people in the UK as a remedy for health problems ranging from depression and memory loss, to headaches and dizziness. The team from the University of Bonn focused on a particular chemical compound in the herb called ginkgotoxin. They said that evidence suggested that it might alter a chemical-signalling pathway in the body linked to epileptic seizures, and potentially interfere with the effectiveness of anti-seizure medications. In addition to any benefits, which still remained unproven, they wrote, there was a "clear potential for adverse effects", particularly in susceptible patients Even though there was no definitive proof that the herb had been the cause of the increase in seizures in the reported cases, patients should be warned about the possibility, and manufacturers asked to test their ginkgo products for levels of the toxin.
For Further: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8485609.stm
After conducting a study on rats, a new research has confirmed that magnesium plays an important part in Magnesium is good for your memory improving our Magnesium is good for your memory (Getty Images) memory. The research by Canadian, Chinese, American and Israeli universities shows that an increase in magnesium levels in brain can boost learning and memory. After their study on old and young rats which were administered higher levels of brain magnesium, the researchers said they have come to the conclusion that increasing magnesium intake can play be vital for those complaining of fading memory. On the other hand, inadequate levels of magnesium impair memory, the researchers said in a statement released here by the University of Toronto - one of the research participants. Tsinghua University in China, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US and Tel Aviv University in Israel were other participants. Since it is difficult to boost brain magnesium levels with oral supplements, the researchers used a new magnesium compound called magnesium-L-threonate (MgT) to increase magnesium in rats of different ages. After administering the compound, they studied changes in their memory. "We found that increased brain magnesium enhanced many different forms of learning and memory in both young and aged rats,'' said Prof Guosong Liu of Tsinghua University in Beijing. Raised magnesium levels in rats' brains showed enhanced short- and long-term cellular processes that are crucial for learning and memory, he said. "Magnesium is essential for the proper functioning of many tissues in the body, including the brain and, in an earlier study, we demonstrated that magnesium promoted synaptic plasticity in cultured brain cells. "Therefore it was tempting to take our studies a step further and investigate whether an increase in brain magnesium levels enhanced cognitive function in animals.''
For further: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life/health-fitness/health/Magnesium-is-good-for-your-memory-/articleshow/5512278.cms
Pointing to stark inequalities in Indian healthcare, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Friday called for an urgent need to redesign and reform the sector. “There is a paradoxical situation in India. On one side, we have super specialty medical centres which cater to the needs of patients requiring specialised and speedy treatment and on the other hand, a very large number of our population remains deprived of basic medical facilities and healthcare,” said NHRC member P.C. Sharma. The NHRC on Friday held a consultation meeting of health secretaries of states on illegal medical practices and healthcare facilities in tribal areas. “Professionals and stakeholders have to minimise these poignant inequalities in healthcare and make it accessible to one and all. There is a need to promote health as a human right by launching a primary healthcare movement,” he said. Experts at the meet opined that key aspects of the right to health are not just access to healthcare and building hospitals. “It extends further and includes a wide range of factors like freedom from non-consensual medical treatment, safe food, safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, health related education and gender equality,” said NHRC’s acting chairperson G.P. Mathur. The human rights body emphasised the need for preparing a national database of medical practitioners. “Non-availability of national data of registered medical practitioners is another issue, which needs attention from the concerned authorities,” said Mathur. Production and distribution of spurious drugs in the country was another area of concern for members participating in the meet.
The Army Chief, General Deepak Kapoor, on Friday accepted the advice of Defence Minister A. K. Antony by ordering court martial proceedings against Military Secretary Lieutenant General Avadesh Prakash for his alleged involvement in a land scam in the Darjeeling area of West Bengal. He would be the first three-star general to face such action. General Kapoor was overruled by Mr. Antony, who felt that the alleged misdemeanours of General Prakash were serious enough to merit a court martial and not just disciplinary proceedings preferred by the Army Chief.As Military Secretary, General Prakash is one of the closest aides to the Army Chief in dealing with daily matters and policy planning. The general is due to retire in a couple of days. General Prakash was indicted in an internal probe at the command level along with the then 33 Corps Commander, Lieutenant General P.K. Rath, his Chief of Staff at that time, Lieutenant General Ramesh Halgali and the then Brigadier Administration, Major General P.C. Sen. Following a court of inquiry, Eastern Army Commander Lieutenant General V.K. Singh, who will be the next Army Chief, recommended termination of services of General Prakash and administrative action against the other officers. The controversy arose after General Kapoor recommended court martial proceedings against Lieutenant General Rath and issued a show-cause notice to others for administrative action. It was felt by many in the Army that General Kapoor was being unfair as the same punishment ought to have been meted out to all four officers. Mr. Antony overruled the Army Chief.
For Further: www.hindu.com/2010/01/30/stories/2010013061070100.htm
Some of the ashes of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi are to be scattered at sea off South Africa's coast on Saturday. Gandhi's grand-daughter, Ela Gandhi, told the BBC that a family friend had kept the ashes for decades. They were handed over to the family last year. After Gandhi was assassinated 62 years ago, his ashes were distributed among family, friends and followers. Ashes are customarily scattered over a body of water shortly after cremation. These ashes will be scattered at sea exactly 62 years after his death. Boats carrying about 200 family members and friends will be joined by South African navy vessels in the sea near Durban for the ceremony, Ms Gandhi, who lives in Durban, said. Correspondents say it is difficult to estimate how many people received a portion of Gandhi's ashes after he was cremated in 1948. The majority would probably have been scattered in a river or at sea shortly afterwards, according to Hindu custom.
For Further: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8486549.stm
India discovered water on the moon and won international acclaim. It was easily India's most impressive scientific feat last year. But scientists and engineers of the prestigious Rs 386 crore Chandrayaan-1 mission which located water molecules on the lunar surface remain unrecognised as they find no mention in the list of Padma awardees. The reason for their work being overlooked is a rule framed by the government a few years ago stipulating that those attached to government organisations like Isro and department of atomic energy (DAE) will not be entitled to any "government-backed" awards, like the prestigious Padmas. Well-placed sources said the matter had been taken up and efforts are on to change this discriminatory rule. Government now wants to revise this decision keeping in view the obvious fact that it will be counter productive in terms of morale of those who labour in official agencies at salaries that are much less than in the private sector and where national pride is a big motivator. The co troversial decision comes at a time when government wants to stem brain drain of scientists and engineers to foreign organisations like Nasa and woo them back to India with better terms than before and by rewarding good performance. Yet, if official recognition is itself banned while Padmas are awarded to achievers of Indian origin in foreign countries, Indian establishments are bound to feel rather left out. In 2009, G Madhavan Nair and Anil Kakodkar, who were then chairpersons of Isro and DAE respectively, were given Padma Vibhushans. "This was a real exception because of the moon mission and the Indo-US nuke deal. This year, none of the 10 scientists or engineers who have been given Padma awards are part of any government organisation," said a senior scientist familiar with the system. Nair was given the award three months after the launch of Chandrayaan-1 when majority of the 11 scientific experiments on board the spacecraft had only just started operating. On Monday evening, when the names of Padma award winners were announced, Isro officials started to look if any one from the Chandrayaan team had been honoured as an exception as was done with Nair last year. They were shocked to find that none had figured in the list.
For Further: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Moon-team-ignored-for-Padma-awards/articleshow/5510549.cms
If the findings of a new study are anything to go by, merely being thin is just not good enough to thwart the risks of being obese. The study established that scores of people had excess of body fat even though they were slim and trim. The upshot of the study is that being merely slim outwardly does not render one healthy. Normal weight obesity Researchers aver that such a condition is termed as ‘normal weight obesity’ in medical parlance. "Women with normal weight obesity, meaning those who have high fat and a normal weight have a two times increased risk for death or dying from heart problems or a stroke," said Dr. Francisco Lopez Jimenez, lead author of the study. Visceral fat: the culprit For the purpose of the study, researchers at the Mayo Clinic examined over 6,000 subjects over a nine year period. The analysis revealed that 20 to 30 percent of these participants had body fat levels that could be termed as dangerous. This excess fat made these individuals more susceptible to diseases of the heart. Such individuals were more prone to high blood pressure and diabetes that are invariably triggered by obesity. "You cannot confuse being slim with being healthy. In fact, what this Mayo Clinic study found is that you can have internal fat -- we call it visceral fat -- that actually surrounds your internal organs, even if externally your body looks slim," said CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton while confirming that a person could look slim, but still be obese. Experts opine that, in generally, females should possess a fat to muscle ratio below 30 percent. On the other hand, males should have a body fat percentage of less than 25 percent.
For Further: www.themedguru.com/20100128/newsfeature/looking-slim-not-equal-not-being-obese-study-86131995.html
Supportive parents seem to encourage their children's physical activities more, says a Supportive parents encourage kids' physical activities new study. In other words, parents who think their children have some sort of athletic ability were much more likely than other parents to provide instrumental and emotional support for their children to be physically active. The study by Oregon State University (OSU) researchers Stewart Trost and Paul Loprinzi studied 268 children aged two to five years in Queensland, Australia. Also, 156 parents or caregivers of these children were surveyed on their parental practices, behaviours related to physical activity and demographic information. What they found is that parents' level of physical activity is not directly associated with their children, but instead that the direct link was between parental support and a child's level of physical activity. "Active parents may be more likely to have active children because they encourage that behaviour through the use of support systems and opportunities for physical activity," Trost said. "But there is no statistical evidence that a child is active simply because they see that their parents exercise," he added. Trost, who is director of the Obesity Prevention Research Core at the new Hallie Ford Centre for Healthy Children and Families at OSU, is an international expert on the issue of childhood obesity, said an OSU release. "I think this underscores the need for parents to provide emotional support, as well as opportunities for activity," Trost said. "Regardless of whether a child is athletic or is perceived to be physically gifted, all children need opportunities and encouragement of physical activity," he added. The report was published in Preventive Medicine .
The incident happened in the remote mountainous area of Kishtwar, about 240km (150 miles) north-east of Jammu. The troops had cordoned off an area after a tip off about the presence of militants when they came under fire. Violence in Indian-administered Kashmir has declined dramatically in recent years, officials say. About 30,000 troops have been withdrawn as rebel attacks decreased. After the incident on Thursday night, the exchange of fire continued for some time, the army said. Senior official Brig Gurdeep Singh said security forces were carrying out searches in the area. Indian officials say there have been several attempts by militants to cross the border since the beginning of 2010. On Tuesday, security forces said they had foiled one such attempt. They said there was an exchange of fire in the Jammu region and the intruders returned to Pakistani-controlled territory.
With no let-up in assaults against Indians in Australia, four more youths were attacked in Brisbane even as a couple was arrested on Thursday for the killing of Ranjodh Singh, whose partially-burnt body was found last month. “Four more attacks on Indians in Brisbane, Queensland, took place,” Sky News reported, without identifying victims. “Three of them were directed at cab drivers, one who told how he was punched and dragged from his taxi,” it said. The fourth victim was a 23-year-old pizza delivery boy. He was bashed up with a cricket bat and robbed while making a delivery. Brisbane-based Indian consul S.D. Singh said police informed him about the attacks and the arrest of one person involved in one of the incidents. “Indian High Commissioner Sujatha Singh will reach Brisbane shortly and meet community leaders and members of the Queensland police to discuss the recent spate of attacks,” he said. A 23-year-old man and his 20-year-old wife were arrested at two addresses in Sans Souci in Sydney’s south in connection with 25-year-old Ranjodh Singh’s murder, police said adding one more person is expected to be charged in the case.
For Further: www.hindu.com/2010/01/29/stories/2010012960051000.htm
The all-party Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Telangana has decided to wait till February 7 for the central government to constitute the committee with a time-bound programme for carving a separate Telangana state out of Andhra Pradesh. In a meeting on Thursday night, the JAC also extended by 10 days the deadline for all legislators to quit over the demand for the formation of the separate state. Union home minister P Chidambaram on Thursday announced that the central government would announce next week a committee on Telangana. The announcement came as the deadline set by JAC ended. The central government's latest statement, however, failed to satisfy Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and other pro-Telangana parties. At the marathon JAC meeting, leaders of the ruling Congress party managed to convince the JAC to extend the deadline. "The Congress leaders have clarified that the proposed committee is meant for formation of Telangana state and that it will have a time-bound programme," JAC convenor M. Kodandaram told reporters. "If the centre failed to announce the committee with a clear time-frame, the MLAs (legislators) will press the assembly speaker to accept their resignations," he said. The JAC, however, decided to intensify the agitation to mount further pressure on the central government. The meeting witnessed heated arguments as non-political organisations in the JAC opposed the idea of extending the deadline. Their allegation that the Congress government was once again trying to mislead people with an ambiguous statement evoked sharp reaction from ruling party leaders, who claimed that they were sincere in efforts to carve out a separate state.
For Further: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Government-gets-10-more-days-to-declare-Telangana-formation-plan/articleshow/5512267.cms
Just over 48 million Americans tuned in to the telecast of his State of the Union speech on Wednesday, about 4 million fewer than watched his first address to Congress a month after taking office last year, Nielsen figures showed on Thursday.Yet, Obama's latest speech, seeking to reconnect with Americans angry about a weak economy and high unemployment, surpassed the numbers that either of his immediate predecessors -- George W. Bush or Bill Clinton -- averaged with their State of the Union addresses. Both Clinton and Bush averaged fewer than 46 million viewers in their respective eight annual messages to Congress.While a president's TV audience can reflect his standing in public opinion polls -- Obama's approval level has declined since his inauguration -- Nielsen ratings also ebb and flow according to events. Bush, for example, failed to crack 40 million viewers with either his first address to Congress or his last. But his January 2003 speech, a couple of months before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, was watched by 62 million Americans, the biggest audience on record for an official State of the Union. Clinton scored higher, 66.9 million viewers, with his first address to Congress in 1993. But that speech, like all first presidential addresses to Congress, was not considered an official State of the Union.
For Further: www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60S02M20100129
Women who thoroughly dust their house increase their chances of becoming pregnant, says a new study. Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, say flame-retardant chemicals in items like lounge suites, electronics, fabrics, carpets, and plastics cause delays in conception. The chemicals called PBDEs leech out through dust on surfaces. They can be inhaled and then stored in human fat cells. The study found that women with higher blood levels of PBDEs took longer to become pregnant compared with women who have lower PBDE levels. The study found each 10-fold increase in the blood concentration of four PBDE chemicals was linked to a 30% decrease in the odds of becoming pregnant each month. "There have been numerous animal studies that have found a range of health effects from exposure to PBDEs, but very little research has been done in humans. This latest paper is the first to address the impact on human fertility, and the results are surprisingly strong," said the study's lead author, Kim Harley, associate director of the Center for Children's Environmental Health Research at UC Berkeley's School of Public Health.
Blood pressure control in infants of smoking mothers is abnormal compared to that of infants from non-smoking BP control abnormal in newborns of smokers (Getty Images) parents, a new study BP control abnormal in newborns of smokers (Getty Images) has found. Swedish researchers reported in Hypertension, Journal of the American Heart Association that newborns of women who smoked during pregnancy show signs of circulatory dysfunction in the first few weeks of life that get worse throughout the first year. The blood pressure response to tilting the infants upright during sleep, a test of how the body copes with repositioning, was dramatically different in infants born to smoking mothers compared to those born to nonsmoking parents, the study found. Infants not exposed to tobacco experienced only a 2 percent increase in blood pressure when they were tilted upright at one week of age and later a 10 percent increase in blood pressure at one year. Infants of smoking mothers had the reverse, a 10 percent increase in blood pressure during a tilt at one week and only a 4 percent increase at one year. At three months and one year, the heart rate response to tilting in the tobacco-exposed infants was abnormal and highly exaggerated, researchers reported. “Babies of smokers have evidence of persistent problems in blood pressure regulation that start at birth and get worse over time,” said Gary Cohen, Ph.D., lead author of the study and senior research scientist in the Department of Women and Child Health at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. “This study reveals for the first time that early life exposure to tobacco can lead to long-lasting reprogramming of infant blood pressure control mechanisms.”
Women need more sleep than men around 20 minutes of more sleep on an average owing to their busy and multi-tasking brain, according to a new research by a British sleep expert. “Women need 20 minutes more shut-eye than the average man. This is because women’s brains are wired differently from men’s and are more complex, so their sleep need is slightly greater,” said Professor Jim Horne, director of the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University in UK. Pointing out that one of the major functions of sleep is to allow the brain to recover and repair itself, Horne said, “During deep sleep, the cortex — part of the brain responsible for thought memory, language and so on — disengages from the senses and goes into recovery mode. The more a person uses his brain during the day, the more sleep he needs at night to recover, Horne said adding, “Women tend to multi-task — they do lots at once and are flexible — and so they use more of their actual brain than men do. Because of that, their sleep need is greater.” “A man who has a complex job that involves a lot of decision-making and lateral thinking may also need more sleep than the average male — though probably still not as much as a woman,” he told the Daily Mail.
Estranged Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh has refused to resign from the Rajya Sabha. On Wednesday party's newly appointed general secretary and spokesperson Mohan Singh was quick in demanding resignation of Amar Singh from the Upper House. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Mohan Singh said Amar Singh should resign as SP's Rajya Sabha member on moral grounds as he has already detached himself from the party by resigning from the key posts. Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav appointed three new party General Secretaries in place of Amar Singh, Obaidullah Azmi and Sanjay Dutt who have all resigned from their posts.Besides Mohan Singh, the two other General Secretaries are Vishambhar Prasad Nishad and Ramasare Kushwaha.
Pakistan has admitted for the first time since the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that all terrorists involved in the carnage belonged to the Lashkar-e-Toiba. After denial, delay and circumlocution Pakistan seems to be finally moving forward on the 26/11 case. Prosecutors have prepared a 61-page report which confirms that all the terrorists involved in the Mumbai attack belonged to the Lashkar-e-Toiba.They have corroborated the statements of the surviving terrorist Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab, whom is facing trial in Mumbai, and say there is sufficient evidence to prosecute them.The report prepared by the Federal Investigative Agency provides a complete list and pictures of the arrested suspects and those who are still at large. The photos of many of the terrorists have never been made public.The list includes Hammad Amin Sadiq, who provided funds and hideouts for the Mumbai attackers and attack mastermind and Lashkar commander Zaik-ur Rehman Lakhvi.The other terrorists whose photos have been released include Mazhar Iqbal alias Abul Al Qama, who is accused of being a handler, computer network expert Abdul Wajid, crew member of the boat used during the journey from Karachi to the Indian waters Shahid Jamil Riaz, and two financiers Jamil Ahmed and Muhammad Younas Anjum.
For further: ibnlive.in.com/news/pak-report-says-all-2611-attackers-belonged-to-let/109293-2.html
Smarting from the row over Padma Bhushan to US hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal, government on Wednesday went overboard defending the controversial decision raising many eyebrows in Congress and elsewhere in the process. In an unusually long and detailed response after Congress's disapproval of giving Padma awards to "tainted", the ministry of home affairs came out with a full-throated endorsement of the US hotelier, pointing out that Chatwal was given the Rajiv Gandhi Award in 2005. The MHA said that three of the five cases registered by CBI against Chatwal for allegedly defrauding banks were closed by the agency, while in the other two he was dischraged by the court. The ministry described Chatwal, whose name along with other Persons of Indian Origin was recommended by PMO in keeping with the procedure, as "a tireless advocate of India's interests in USA", who has been working relentlessly for "strengthening bilateral relationships between India and the United States". The ministry called Chatwal a prominent member of the Indian-American community who "has distinguished himself in the hospitality sector and been an active member of the NRI community in the US in securing support for the nuclear deal among members of the US Congress." As part of its "good conduct" testimonial, the ministry's statement went on to say: "He (Chatwal) is trustee of William J Clinton Foundation which focuses on critical global issues such as health care, climate change and economic empowerment of the underprivileged in the world community."
For Further: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Padma-for-Chatwal-recommended-by-PMO/articleshow/5506543.cms
In a bid to curb a spate of attacks on Indian students in Australia, Canberra has set up a high level group to check such assaults, External Affairs Minister SM Krishna said on Wednesday. Speaking to the press after holding talks with his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith in London, Krishna said, “Australia has established the "working group" between its central government and the administration of the state of Victoria. They will comprehensively study the incidents and their implications.” India has been of the view that the assaults were racially-motivated. Australian authorities have, however, been cautious to toe this line. According to Krishna, there have been 12 episodes in the past four weeks. Smith also assured Krishna that community policing has been stepped up and patrolling by regular police increased at night. "I am hoping these unprovoked attacks will be checkmated," Krishna said, adding that Canberra has taken New Delhi seriously. "A high-level group has been set up…A number of students who have gone there have taken up part-time jobs and they work in the late hours. The community policing and patrolling has been increased to give them protection," the minister said. The first meeting of the high-level group is scheduled to take place by the end of this week. "As soon as the group comes out with its assessment they would advise the government of India," Krishna added.
Mohammad Kaif showed once again why he is such a dangerous batsman if given an opportunity to settle down. The Central Zone skipper scored his second consecutive century (112, 17x4) in Duleep Trophy — this time against South Zone in the semifinal — to help his team reach 300 for 7 at the Usha Raje Stadium on Tuesday. Piyush Chawla, on the other hand, earned applause for his quickfire 50, which he scored with the help of seven boundaries and two sixes.Central Zone should thank the two batsmen for bailing them out. Reduced to 31 for 2, Kaif and Tanmay Srivastava steadied the innings with a 55-run partnership. But once Srivastava departed, a middle-order collapse saw Central tottering on 154 for 6. Just when it seemed it would be curtains for Central, Chawla and Kaif came together and ran riot, stroking a 118-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Earlier, the first three-and-a-half hours of the match belonged to Abhimanyu Mithun, as he removed Central's top-order and left them reeling at 86 for 3 at lunch. R. Vinay Kumar and C. Ganapathy gave him able support, keeping up the pressure at the other end. Mithun has been the talk of the season, and on Tuesday, he showed why he is rated so highly. Even before openers Sanjay Bangar (4) and Jalaj Saxena (7) could settle down, they fall prey to Mithun.
For Further: www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/cricketnews/Kaif-Chawla-combine-to-rescue-Central/Article1-502091.aspx
West Zone dominated the opening day of the Duleep Trophy semifinal against North Zone scoring 425/5 at the Madhaovrao Scindia ground on Tuesday. The highlight of the day's play was an impressive unbeaten 102 by Abhishek Nayar. Batting at number six, the Mumbai batsmen started off aggressively to complete his fifty in 70 balls. Nayar continued to slam North bowlers, who could not extract any movement from the pitch. Earlier, after winning the toss West decided to bat first on a wicket which didn't offer much help to the bowlers. Skipper Wasim Jaffer (12) and Ajinkya Rahane (34) started off positively but did not last long and both got out early with the score at 55. But the 97-run partnership between Parthiv Patel (55 runs, 62 balls, 9x4, 1x6) and Cheteshwar Pujara (77 runs, 95 balls, 10x4) steadied the ship. Later, Rohit Sharma also chipped in with a fifty in 77 balls to strengthen West. But at the stroke of tea, Sharma dragged one on to his stumps off leg-spinner Vikas Mishra. Scoreboard: W Jaffer lbw Malik 12, A Rahane c Kaul b Awana 34, P Patel lbw Gony 55, C Pujara b Bhatia 77, R Sharma b Mishra 63, A Nayar not out 102, R Jadeja not out 55. Extras: 27 (1lb, 21nb, 5w) Total: 425 for five in 90 overs. Fall of Wickets: 1-39, 2-55, 3-152, 4-221, 5-285 Bowling: Gony 18-2-85-1, Malik 14-2-71-1, Awana 14-0-73-1, Bhatia 10-2-36-1, Mishra 20-1-111-1, Inder Singh 8-1-30-0, Dewan 6-1-14-0.
Afghanistan's finance minister has raised the prospect of involving the Taliban across all strata of government, at both district and national level, as part of a plan for their reintegration and brokering peace. "Negotiations could begin as early as tomorrow if we have international backing," he said. Before tomorrow's opening of an international conference on Afghanistan in London that will address plans for an exit strategy for western forces, Omar Zakhilwal told the Financial Times he believed that the Taliban was ready to negotiate."Even at this moment they do sense that it will be impossible for them to return to power." A Taliban spokesperson, Zabiullah Mojahed, rejected claims that talks were under way. "There is no negotiation going on about reintegration plans or forming a political settlement," he said. "I don't think there will be any chance of negotiations until the foreign infidel troops leave our country."But the finance minister's comments did reflect a marked change of tack by commanders of western forces. General Stanley McChrystal, the Nato commander in Afghanistan, outlined this week how he envisaged the US-led military surge this year would lay the foundations for a negotiated peace with the Taliban and said he would urge his allies to renew their commitment to this strategy.
For Further: www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7b5794c4-0ae3-11df-8a26-00144feabdc0.html
Delhi experienced yet another day of dense fog on Tuesday after a short-lived respite on Monday. The day was comparatively colder than Monday with both the maximum and minimum temperatures going down by a notch. Republic Day celebrations were also dampened as the thick layer of fog enveloped the city depriving many spectators of a clear view of the Parade. The maximum temperature on Tuesday was 22.8 degree Celsius, two degrees lower than Monday, while the minimum was 9.4 degree Celsius, one degree lower than Monday. The humidity level was high and there was no possibility of rain. The Met office said the situation was likely to improve only from January 28 with another western disturbance expected around that time. "Delhi got relief from fog — which has been persistent since January 13 — only on Monday due to a westerly disturbance. But that WD was very weak and could not last more than a day. Now we are waiting for another WD expected on January 28. That should give the city relief from fog," said R K Jenamani, director of IGI Met. Driving, specially during night hours, has become a big problem in the capital. "I usually get late in office and can't leave before 10pm. But over the last couple of weeks I have been wrapping up work early, as thick fog makes driving almost impossible. So I try my best to be out of office by 7.30pm," said Rama Kapoor, who lives in Patparganj and has her office in Karol Bagh.
For further: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Foggy-morning-gives-way-to-sunny-afternoon/articleshow/5502837.cms
In the latest incident against Indians in Australia, two Indian students, aged 20 and 22, were assaulted by a group of people in Melbourne. Following the incident, the Australian police arrested nine persons and charged five of them for the assault. A police spokeswoman was quoted as saying that the two students said the nine men passed racially abusive comments before the assault. “Eight people were arrested this morning, with another man picked up later in the day. Of the nine arrested, five youths have been charged with affray, intentionally causing injury and summary assault offences,” a Victorian police statement said. One of the student suffered a wound on his left ear from while the other student was punched to the ground and suffered minor abrasions to the forearm. The attackers were 19 and 20 and were from mixed ethnic background, according to reports. Meanwhile, Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd’s nephew was part of a protest in Melbourne against the racist attacks on Indians. Reports said that Mr Rudd’s nephew, Van Thanh Rudd, protested outside the venue for the ongoing Australian Open tennis tournament.
For Further: economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Aussies-celebrate-R-Day-by-racially-assaulting-2-Indians/articleshow/5503186.cms
An under construction building in Bellary, Karnataka has collapsed leaving 5 people dead. The building Collapsed onto boy's hostel. The mishap took place in Gandhinagar area of the city last night. Bodies of students and workers are being pulled out of rubble. At least 30 people are feared trapped. The dead included a 22-year-old student of the hostel. An injured worker rescued from the debris told the police that at least 30 people were still trapped in the debris. Rescue operations are on. Minister for Health B Sreeramulu and Minister for Tourism G Janardhana Reddy visited the spot.According to reports, the engineer is being questioned and the police says sub-standard material could have been used in the construction of the building which led to the incident. National Disaster Task Force personnel are being rushed to the site.
Early results in Sri Lanka's first election since Tamil Tiger rebels were defeated after 25 years of civil war put the president in the lead. According to early counts, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has won over 60% of the popular vote. Armed troops have gathered around the hotel where his rival for the presidency, General Sarath Fonseka, is staying in central Colombo. A military spokesman said their presence was a "protective measure". Udaya Nanayakkara said that some 400 people had gathered near the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel in the capital. High turn-out "We don't know what is their motive and, as a protective measure, we have deployed troops around the hotel, and people who go in and come out are being checked," he said, according to Reuters. Gen Fonseka has said he fears the troops plan to arrest him if he wins the election, a claim denied by officials. Gen Fonseka is due to give a press conference from the hotel in the coming hours. Election officials said Mr Rajapaksa had garnered just over a million ballots in an election in which 9.85 million voted.
For further: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8482270.stm
The Chinese believe that each meal should contain a balance between fan, grains and starches, and fruits and vegetables. One of the grains they rely on to make this a harmonious balance diet is noodles.
Whether you slurp them, swallow them down, or twirl them on your fork, everyone seems to love noodles. Almost every culture has at least one loved noodle dish, from German Spaetzle (homemade noodles with egg) that Jewish Kreplachs - noodle cakes filled with beef, chicken and spices. But only the Italians rival China to the title of culture's most devoted noodles.
There is no discussion about who originally came up with the idea of mixing water and flour to create noodles. The Arabs claim to have been the first to use dried pasta, as a means of preserving flour during their raids across the desert. But whatever their origin, we know that the Chinese have been the celebration of noodles in about 2000 years since the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). Indeed, some experts believe that the Italian got their first taste of pasta when Marco Polo returned from his long trip around China with an abundance of exotic foods, including noodles.
Like Italian pasta, Asian noodles vary in width - they can be thick as coffee stir sticks or thin as toothpicks. When it comes to length, but they are usually served long and uncut. This is because long noodles symbolize longevity in Chinese tradition. Noodles are usually served during birthday and fresh noodles are regularly placed on the gravesite.
Types of Noodles
Chinese noodles, known collectively as mien, fall into three main categories. The most common are wheat flour noodles, which can happen with or without eggs. While the days of wheat flour noodles are enjoyed throughout China, they originated in the north, where wheat is the staple crop. Depending on the remaining ingredients, wheat noodles can be white or yellow, thin as spaghetti or thick as fettuccine, rigid or highly elastic.
Made from rice flour, water and salt, can rice noodles also be thick or very thin, the latter almost look like long strings of coconut. The same goes for rice sticks. There are also rice paper wrappers which come in either round or triangular shape. Finally, cellophane noodles are clear noodles made from ground Mung bean paste.
In China, that preferred to do "hand" noodles is an art that involves stretching paste in both hands and swirls it around several times. So pasta is posted on a board and folded and refolded repeatedly. Eventually the paste is transformed into long, thin noodles. While in China it is still possible to see vendors make hand-pulled noodles, today most noodles are made by machine.
How to Enjoy Noodles
Noodles are eaten hot or cold, steamed, stir-fried, steamed, boiled, or served in a soup. For nutritionally-inclined, noodles are an excellent source of protein. Besides being low in calories, they are extremely high in complex carbohydrates.
Frequently Asked explanation is the difference between lo Mien and Chow Mein noodles. Actually the difference between the two lies not in the type of noodles, but in the way the two dishes are prepared. In the case of Chow Mein are the ingredients, stir-fried and then served over noodles, prepared separately. Contrast, mein noodles tossed cooked in work out and mixes them with other ingredients during the final stages of cooking. This will allow noodles to get more of the sauce flavor.
There are no fixed rules about what type of noodles to use with either dish. (In fact you will often find Chow Mein recipes as a substitute for rice. In the west it is common to use crunchy noodles when preparing chow mein, while in China, chow mein is made with soft noodles. Meantime Italian pastas such as fettuccine or SPAGHETTI work quite well in Mein recipes. But in theory, you could use the same noodles to prepare one.
Here is an excellent noodle recipe for you:
This recipe is so easy to do and it will quickly become a favorite in your family. It is a great deal, goes well with meat or a salad, and many people like me can eat as snacks.
Need:
½ bag Great Egg Noodles
½ stick butter or margarine
1 egg
Sweet taste
Regular or Golden Raisins
Optional: chopped apples
Nice pot, you can put in the oven
Instructions:
1. Cook the pasta in salted water until done.
2. Drain the noodles then run hot water over them and brain good again.
3. Melt butter or margarine in a shallow pan. I prefer much more than butter, I said to play with. You really like buttery, too.
4. Put all the pasta in a bowl and add half the melted butter or margarine.
5. Beat the eggs and pour mixture over noodles, mix well.
6. Add sugar and raisins to taste, if desired, add some sliced apples.
7. Stir well, taste again and adjust the flavor for your taste, if necessary.
8. Pour into a shallow pan easily lubricated with oil or butter.
9. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 / 2 hour until golden and crispy. If it is not hard enough, will be put back in the oven a little longer and check regularly, until the crust is the way you want.
Make cuts with a sharp knife in the chest and leg pieces of chicken. Bring a mixture of red chilli powder, lemon juice and salt to the chicken and set aside half an hour. Hang yogurt in a muslin cloth for 15 to 20 minutes to remove extra water. Add red chilli powder, salt, ginger-garlic paste, lemon juice, garam masala powder and mustard oil. Use this marinade with chicken pieces and refrigerate for three to four hours. Place chicken on a skewer and cook in a moderately hot Tandoor or a preheated oven (200 ° C) for ten to twelve minutes or until almost done. Brush with butter and fry for two minutes. Remove and destroy. Heat the butter in a saucepan. Add green cardamom, cloves, peppercorns and cinnamon. Saute for two minutes, add ginger-garlic paste and chopped green pepper. Boil for two minutes. Add tomato paste, red chilli powder, garam masala powder, salt and a cup of water. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat and boil for ten minutes. Add sugar or honey and powdered Methi kasoori. Add cooked tandoori chicken pieces. Simmer for five minutes and then add fresh cream. Serve hot with naan or parantha.
Ingredients
Chicken 800 grams
2 tablespoons butter
FOR marinade
1 cup yogurt
Salt to taste
Garlic paste 1 / 2 tsp
Garam masala powder 1 / 2 tsp
Kashmiri red chilli powder 1 tsp
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Kashmiri red chilli powder 1 tsp
Salt to taste
2 tablespoons ginger paste
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons mustard oil
Sauce Makhni
2 tablespoons honey
Cream 1 cup
Butter 50 grams
1 tablespoon ginger paste
Green pepper, chopped 4.5
Red chilli powder 1 tbsp
Salt to taste
Dry fenugreek leaves (Kasuri Methi) 1 / 2 tsp
Whole garam masala 1 tbsp
1 tablespoon garlic paste
400 grams tomato paste
Garam masala powder 1 / 2 tsp
Recipe Tip:
Heating kasoori Methi in the oven somewhere in a battle kasoori Methi Tawas / griddle to make fresh. It can easily be painted to powder by hand.
Fruit salad is a court composed primarily of fruit, and typically served as a dessert, although some fruit salads may be offered as appetizers. There are a variety of styles in fruit salads, ranging from simple mixtures of mixed fruit into complex structures that are enshrined in gelatin. Some markets and delis carry packed fruit salad for people to go home, and this right can also be made at home with ease.
The star attraction of fruit salad, of course, fruit. Typically, the fruit is peeled or otherwise prepared, and cut into bit-sized pieces to make it easier to eat. Arbitrary number of fruits and berries can be used in fruit salad, including apples, raspberries, bananas, mangoes, persimmons, kiwis, pineapples, blueberries, oranges, mandarins, and many others. Some cooks simply present fruit salad plain, sometimes with a theme, as tropical fruit salad or Mediterranean fruit salad.
In other cases, fruit salad can be prepared with a simple tart dressing, which is designed to keep fruit from browning. Lime juice, for example, can be used on a tropical fruit salad, or Saba can be mixed in with a Mediterranean fruit salad. Vinaigrette can also be used, or the fruit may simply be dipped in acidulated water to prevent browning. Other fruit salads are made with cream dressing, ranging from tangy dressings with blue cheese or sour cream for a sweet dressing with whipped cream or mascarpone cheese.
Fruit salad can be quite complex, with additions like grilled fruit or savory dressings. In the 1950s and 1960s, gelatin salads made with sweet flavored gelatin and fruit inclusions were very popular. Sometimes the vegetables can be added to a fruit salad, give it a more savory bent, and a fruit salad can also be associated with vegetables, nuts, breads and other savory ingredients. Any number of ingredients can be added to dressings, including yogurt, honey, mustard, hot peppers, sesame oil, soy sauce and so on, with chefs preparing a bandage that best mix with the ingredients in the salad.
Nutritional value of fruit salad varies, depending on fruit and dressings. Many fruits are high in fiber and several vitamins, especially if their skin is back on, as in the case of apples, grapes, kumquat, and other fruits with edible crusts or shells. Fruit Salad typically tastes best when fresh, although it can be refrigerated for up to a day and if throwing with a tart dressing, the risk of bacterial contamination is typically quite low.
The biggest problem for this type of salad is lack of access to seasonal fruits. It is very nutritious and good for overall health costs, especially for children.
Fruit Salad Recipes:
Ingredients for a fruit salad recipe:
Banana: 3 (mature)
Orange: 1
Cherries: In options
Guava: 1
Apple: 1
Mango: 1
Grapes: 15-20
Pomegranate seeds: Half
Sugar: 1 / 2 cup (if necessary)
Lemon juice: 3 tsp
Method for making fruit salad recipe:
Peel and slice fruit. Try to get round cuts. Remember to pour lemon juice on the fruit pieces with the same. Add sugar in a little water and mix it so the sugar melts pieces well. Pour the fruit pieces. Cool it and serve chilled.
Drain the chicken and flakes with a fork in medium bowl. Tear lettuce into small pieces and add to bowl. Add ranch dressing and Parmesan cheese. Mix gently but well. With a fork instead onto bread chicken salad. Add pinch of salt and pepper seasoning for each sandwich.
2) Grilled Nutella and Banana Sandwich
2 slices bread
nutella (chocolate hazelnut)
1 banana, sliced
butter
Butter only on one side of each slice of bread. Spread Nutella on the other side of bread slices. The next installment of the banana slices and place in other sandwiches. Put them together and barbecue, as a cheese sandwich on the grill.
3) Ned's PBJ Sandwich
peanut butter
grape jelly
2 slices bread
Mix peanut butter and jelly in a bowl until completely blended (should be gray repulsive). Brush sliced bread. It seems that a lot, but it sure tastes great (trust me).
4) Avocado Sandwich
1 avocado
Juice of 1 / 2 lemon
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp garlic salt
Salt 1 / 2 tsp
Pepper 1 / 8 teaspoon
1 slice American cheese
2 slices bread
Avocado puree into a bowl. Add lemon juice, oil, garlic, salt, salt and pepper. Stir together. Spread over loaf and top with a slice of American cheese.
5) Bacon, Lettuce, Caesar (BLC) Sandwich
Multi-grain bread, sandwich slices
Lettuce, grated
Slices of cheese (American, Swiss, or your favorite)
Caesar salad dressing
Pepper
Strips of bacon
The toast. Top cheese with slices of cheese and melt in the Toaster Oven. In a small bowl and add dressing to salad and toss. Smother cheese, lettuce and pepper a little. Cook the bacon in the oven or skillet and place the strips over salad. Add some pickles and olives, if desired. Place toasted bread on top to make a delicious lunch that kids will enjoy!
6) ham and cheese sandwich :
1 slice ham sandwich
mustard and mayonnaise
1 slice American cheese
1 slice bread
Place ham on white bread. Spread with mustard and mayonnaise. Take a slice of American cheese and cut a simple shape like a heart or a star. Slice of cheese over the ham slice. Children love this simple sandwich.
7) Cucumber & Toasted ham sandwich :
1 bagel
1 cucumber
3 slices ham
Mustard
Salt
Butter
Cheese
Carefully cut the bagel in half. Then cut the cucumber into slices of four or more (as many as you want). Toast the bagel. Spread the butter baking rural add cucumber slices. Then add salt and a slice of ham. So add the mustard. Put a piece of ham. Then add the cheese.
Karnataka will soon amend the Transplant Act to encourage organ donation, medical education minister Ramachandra Gowda said on Friday. Speaking after inaugurating the Liver, Pancreatic Disorders and Multi-Organ Transplantation Unit and a liver ICU at BGS Global Hospitals, he said: "We want to be on par with Tamil Nadu, which is one of the leading states in transplantation. The amendments will facilitate and encourage voluntary donation and cadaver transplantation." Global Hospitals Group MD and chairman Dr K Ravindranath said: "This is our third transplant centre after Chennai and Hyderabad. Surgeon Dr Mohammed Rela said: "Liver transplantation is coming up in a major way. Last year, 58 liver transplantations were conducted, almost half the total transplantations in India." `Lack of awareness is main problem' Dr Mohamed Rela, hepatobilary, pancreatic and liver transplant surgeon, has done over 1,300 liver transplants, including Guiness record -- a successful one on a five-day-old baby. Excerpts from an interview: What is main hurdle in organ transplantation? In India, there are no organs for transplantation because there are very few cadaver donors. In the UK, 12 out of every 1 million persons donate. They perform 650-700 liver transplantations a year. In India, less than 0.1% of the population participates in cadaver donation.
