Meat, egg and dairy nutrient vital for brain development

An amino acid, found in foods such as meat, eggs and dairy products, is essential for normal brain development, scientists have found.

Asparagine was until now considered non-essential because it is produced naturally by the body.

Researchers at the University of Montreal and its affiliated CHU Sainte-Justine Hospital found that brain cells depend on the local synthesis of asparagine to function properly.

"The cells of the body can do without it because they use asparagine provided through diet. Asparagine, however, is not well transported to the brain via the blood-brain barrier," said senior co-author of the study Dr Jacques Michaud.

In April 2009, a Quebec family lost their son, before the age of one, to a rare genetic disease causing congenital microcephaly, intellectual disability, cerebral atrophy, and refractory seizures. It was the third infant to die in this family from the disease.

This led Michaud to discover the genetic abnormality responsible for this developmental disorder.

The team identified the gene affected by the mutation code for asparagine synthetase, the enzyme responsible for synthesising the amino acid asparagine.

The study is the first to associate a specific genetic variant with a deficiency of this enzyme.

"In healthy subjects, it seems that the level of asparagine synthetase in the brain is sufficient to supply neurons," Michaud said.

"In individuals with the disability, the enzyme is not produced in sufficient quantity, and the resulting asparagine depletion affects the proliferation and survival of cells during brain development," Michaud said.

More: http://zeenews.india.com/news/health/healthy-eating/meat-egg-and-dairy-nutrient-vital-for-brain-development_25260.html

CNR Rao: This scientist loves experimenting in the kitchen too

It's not often that those who inhabit the rarified world surrounding the prime minister keep their phones switched off. But Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao is a class apart. When the PMO's office was trying to get in touch with Rao to convey to him that he had won the Bharat Ratna, the scientist, who was at the Thiruvananthapuram airport with his wife, couldn't be reached.

"My mobile phone is only for my wife; it's only to receive her calls. As she was beside me, there was no need to keep it on," he says rather nonchalantly. Finally, "an airhostess told me that the PM was trying to reach me. I switched on the phone and Manmohan Singh said I had won the Bharat Ratna," he adds matter-of-factly. with a 'Why should this surprise you?' kind of look.


TALKING SCIENCE

From giving early-morning reminders to science and technology ministers about the state of pure sciences, to telling the Centre that China has overtaken India in research, Rao calls a spade a spade. "I'm very blunt. That's because I am a very simple and ordinary man. Sometimes I wonder if this is the way to be. To tell things the way they are. But then, I don't know what else is the way," he says.

The 79-year-old who has been a professor for 54 years breathes science. When he isn't researching in his lab at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Scientific and Advanced Research (JNCSAR) off Jakkur, Rao is either reading or writing letters to the prime minister to revive pure sciences. "India cannot afford to be so lackadaisical about the way science is progressing. We ought to put in all our efforts to ensure that we do not lose out to other countries. And time is running out. Our research labs are getting empty and youngsters are not pursuing science. It's dangerous," he warns.

The doyen of science who has 1,500 research papers to his credit and honorary doctorates from over 60 universities across the world, has authored 45 books and is a member of almost all scientific organizations across the globe.

Rao's love for science began at the early age of 17. The love for science was sown when he was 17 years old.

Born in Bangalore, he is the only child of Hanumantha Nagesa Rao and Nagamma Nagesa Rao. "Whatever I am today, I owe it to my parents. They allowed me to do what I wanted. The love for Chemistry began in Acharya Patashala High School. When I told them I want to go to Benaras (Varanasi) to pursue my interests, they allowed me to do so. But it was in the United States that I blossomed. At 20, I published papers. It's so encouraging at that age. You want to do more."

OF LIFE AND WIFE

Even today he wakes up at 4.30am everyday. A 40-minute walk on the plush IISc campus where he lives is followed by a 15 minute yoga session. "Music for me is therapautic. I listen to Devaranama. Work starts at 8am and I finish at 4pm. Once I'm home, I get down with writing or reading. I enjoy cooking too. I prepare Thai, Hawaiian, Chinese and Italian food when I am bored of eating South Indian staples."

From drawing a salary of Rs 720 in 1959 to winning the million-dollar Dan David Prize in 2005, it's been a rather illustrious journey for the Solid State Chemistry and Material Science professor. "When I asked my wife Indumathi what she wants from the prize money, she told me to contribute it towards science. We have instituted science awards to promote the subject among youth. She is from a literature background, and helps me bring out books for children. We go around the country telling students about the importance of science. To me science is what happens in small laboratories. Big ideas come from small labs where little discoveries take place," he says.

More: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-11-25/bangalore/44449250_1_chintamani-nagesa-ramachandra-rao-cnr-rao-pure-sciences

Link Between Allergies and Blood Cancers in Women

A study published in the online December edition of the American Journal of Hematology says that there is a link between a history of airborne allergies, specifically those to grass, trees and other plants (sometimes called hay fever), and blood cancers. What is really odd about these findings is that, according to researchers, the link was present only in women. In other words, the study did not find an increased risk of hematologic cancers in men who suffer from these types of allergies. This finding, researchers say, is an important step in revealing gender differences in immune function and how dysregulation of the immune system can lead to cancer.

The study followed 66,000 men and women for approximately 8 years. Participants were aged 50-76 years and all lived in western Washington. Study participants were required to fill out an extensive 24 page questionnaire about their lifestyle and health history, specifically their history of any allergies or malignancies. You can read more about this study in Newswise.

Modern humans inherited 'immune gene' from Neanderthals

Early modern humans inherited an 'immune gene' from Neanderthals that greatly improved our immune systems, scientists say.

A research group at Bonn University and international collaborators discovered a novel receptor, which allows the immune system of modern humans to recognise dangerous invaders, and subsequently elicits an immune response.

The blueprint for this advantageous structure was in addition identified in the genome of Neanderthals, hinting at its origin. The receptor provided these early humans with immunity against local diseases.


The presence of this receptor in Europeans but its absence in early men suggests that it was inherited from Neanderthals, scientists say.

The human immune system breaks down the invaders proteins into peptides and subsequently scans a proportion of the peptides for their amino acid sequences.

Up until now, a total of three different peptide receptors of more than 1000 different manifestations were known, which in humans can read the telltale letter combinations.

"This variety is needed so that the immune system can rate the entire spectrum of pathogens relevant for humans," said Dr Norbert Koch from the Institute for Genetics, department of Immunobiology at Bonn.

A fourth receptor, or another "spy", has now been found by an international team of scientists from the University of Dusseldorf, the Technical University of Munich, Jacobs University Bremen and Cambridge University.

This receptor, which is abbreviated as "HLA-DRaDPb", consists of the combination of subunits of already known receptors.

Scientists compared the gene sequence, which encodes the discovered receptor, with data bases and determined that an estimated two-thirds of Europeans carry this important structure.

Koch himself carries the blueprint for this "spy", as one of his students found out by sequencing his DNA.

Scientists were nonetheless surprised to learn that the gene sequence required for this receptor is rare in people in southern Africa, the region known as the cradle of mankind.

Scientists examined whether Neanderthals as an example of early men had the key gene sequence which contains the blueprint for the receptor.

"The identified Neanderthal gene sequence is almost identical with that of modern humans," said Koch.

The study was published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

More: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-11-24/science/44412278_1_modern-humans-neanderthals-receptor

Shane Warne says James Anderson 'threatened' to punch Bailey in face during first Ashes Test

The sledging row created in the first Ashes Test in Brisbane has taken another twist as Shane Warne accused James Anderson of threatening to punch George Bailey in the face.

According to Stuff.co.nz, as the fallout continued after the dramatic and controversial finish to the first Test, it emerged on Monday that Anderson's treatment of Bailey sparked the fiery exchange between Clarke and the England pace spearhead.

David Warner weighed into the drama, describing Anderson as arrogant, the report said.

In developments late on Monday, Warne claimed in a series of tweets that Anderson had told Bailey, who was fielding in close, that he wanted to punch the Tasmanian in the face, the report added.

Warne said that on another note, it was a disgrace that Clarke had been fined because what Anderson said to Bailey was not heard.

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report-shane-warne-says-james-anderson-threatened-to-punch-bailey-in-face-during-first-ashes-test-1925002

Bigg Boss 7: Armaan calls Sofia mentally unstable, inmates survive on 9 bananas

After Elli's exit, the Bigg Boss housemates, especially Sangram, have been missing her a lot. In fact, the do-gooder seems to have entirely lost interest in the game. Andy, Tanisha and Armaan are spotted having an early morning discussion where Andy tells Armaan about Kamya's strategy to stay in the game. He mentions that Kamya is a person who uses everybody as 'a weapon' to support her in her game plan. Ajaz and Sofia are found planning the nominations and mention that they want Tanisha and Kushal out of the game.

Kamya is found crying in the washroom over a spoilt wedding anniversary. She ends up sharing her concerns with Sangram who gives her a shoulder to cry on. Kamya tells Sangram that she was a very different person 10 years ago and that she wants to relive those happy times. Sangram advises her to patch up with her husband. After a heart-to-heart conversation with Sangram, Kamya goes back inside the house with a smile on her face.

Later in the day, Bigg Boss calls the housemates to the living area and makes an announcement about the punishment that they have to undergo for violating the house rules. Even after repeated warnings, the housemates, including the captain, have been making the same mistakes and are often found speaking in English and discussing nominations. As a result, Bigg Boss punishes the contestants by closing the kitchen for 24 hours with absolutely zero access and a sorry bunch of 9 bananas to survive the day.

What's worse is that it's nomination day today. The inmates need to plot and attack on a half empty stomach. Apart from Sofia and Andy who are safe from nominations and Sangram who is already nominated after losing the task, the housemates have to openly nominate two other people.

Sofia and Armaan are caught fighting over petty issues later in the evening. Armaan gets irritated and screams at Sofia for misbehaving with him. Sofia gets annoyed and asks him to lower his voice. Further agitated, Armaan tells Bigg Boss that Sofia is mentally unstable and does not deserve to continue living in the Bigg Boss house.

As the day begins to close, the housemates are seen famished and please Bigg Boss to end their punishment. Armaan takes the lead and tells Bigg Boss that he will monitor everyone and ensure that no rules are broken henceforth. In order to distract themselves from thinking of food, Armaan and Ajaz are seen plotting a secret task to trouble the housemates. Sofia overhears their devious plan and shares the information with everyone before Armaan and Ajaz can execute their task.

With the limitations on the amount of food that the housemates can consume, will the housemates be able to survive in the house and complete their punishment or will Bigg Boss give them another chance yet again? - 

See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/television/bigg-boss-7-armaan-calls-sofia-mentally-unstable-inmates-survive-on-9-bananas/article1-1155590.aspx#sthash.MvctO4ip.dpuf

'Singh Saab The Great' fares better than 'Gori Tere Pyaar Mein' in opening weekend

Last Friday saw the release of two different films, 'Gori Tere Pyaar Mein' and 'Singh Saab The Great'. While both films got off to a lesser than expected start, the business at the BO over the weekend wasn't impressive at all.

Surprisingly as it may sound, Sunny Deol starrer 'Singh Saab The Great' did way better business at the Box Office over the weekend collecting Rs. 18.5 crores. On the other hand, 'Gori Tere Pyaar Mein' had a disastrous Opening Weekend barely managing to collect Rs. 9.50 crores.

With such a vast difference in the collections, one will have to just wait and watch how much 'Gori Tere Pyaar Mein' ends up making by the end of its first week. While it'll be interesting to see if Sunny Deol manages to pull more audiences to the theatres with his action hero image in 'Singh Saab The Great'.

More: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/-singh-saab-the-great--fares-better-than--gori-tere-pyaar-mein--in-opening-weekend/1199364/?ent_top

Bigg Boss 7: Sangram Singh a do-gooder, says ladylove Payal Rohatgi

Actress Payal Rohatgi, whose wrestler-boyfriend Sangram Singh is a contestant in reality show Bigg Boss Saath-7,says he is a good-hearted person and she hopes he wins the show.

"He (Sangram) is a very simple person. He believes in god and he thinks that whatever happens, happens for good," Payal said here.

"I hope whatever is good for him, happens. His intention on the show is to do good for everyone. To stay, win or lose is not in anybody's hands. I just hope the audience understands him," she added.

Payal, who participated in the second season of the show in 2008, will be happy if Sangram wins the ongoing season of Bigg Boss.

"He is my boyfriend and obviously I would like to see him as the winner. I just want him to stay nicely in the home," Payal said.

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-bigg-boss-7-sangram-singh-a-do-gooder-says-ladylove-payal-rohatgi-1924741

Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 launched with an HD display

Samsung continues its legacy with the new Galaxy Grand 2 with an essential 720 HD display and powered by a 1.2 GHz quad core mobile processor.

Last year Samsung tried to tap the spiking trend of affordable large screen smartphones with the Galaxy Grand. This smartphone packed a large screen display, decent mobile processor and battery to deliver top smartphone like performance at an affordable price. Samsung goes ahead with its strategy to launch iterations of the smartphone and introduces the new Galaxy Grand 2.

Samsung Galaxy Grand, which was offered mostly in dual SIM version for India, got quite popular in the first couple of months. Later there were complaints about the phone being slow when it has too many apps due to its limited RAM.



With the Galaxy Grand 2, Samsung has tried to cover all the bases and offer the best the market can give. Galaxy Grand 2 features a 5.25 inch TFT LCD display that features 1280 x 720 pixel resolution. Samsung has powered this smartphone with a quad core 1.2 GHz mobile processor, 1.5 GB RAM, and 8 GB internal memory with a memory card slot. Galaxy Grand 2 runs Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update packed in NatureUX.

Samsung has installed an 8 megapixel camera at the back with auto focus and LED Flash. In the front is a 1.9 megapixel camera for chat and for clicking self portraits. Samsung indeed has had to bumper the display resolution, processor and RAM for this smartphone to match consumer expectations Not only that, Galaxy Grand 2 comes with a 2600 mAh battery for longer run time.
Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 will come pre-loaded with the Samsung specific features Story Album, S Translator, S Travel, Group Play, Samsung Link etc. The price of the smartphone was not announced.

The Galaxy Grand 2 confirms that large screen phablets are here to stay as a separate sub-category that offers decent performance on a fairly large screen but at an affordable price.

More: http://www.themobileindian.com/new-launches/3057_Samsung-Galaxy-Grand-2-launched-with-an-HD-display

Google's Schmidt Pens Guide For iPhone Switchers

With consumers primed to begin their holiday shopping in earnest this week, Google's chairman, Eric Schmidt sat down and wrote a post Sunday on Google+ explaining why and how iPhone users should put down their iDevices in favor of smartphones running Android. Eric's Guide offers step-by-step instructions -- in just 15 short bulleted points -- outlining how easy it is to make the switch.

"Many of my iPhone friends are converting to Android," said Schmidt. "The latest high-end [Android] phones have better screens, are faster, and have a much more intuitive interface. They are a great Christmas present to an iPhone user! Like the people who moved from PCs to Macs and never switched back, you will switch from iPhone to Android and never switch back as everything will be in the cloud, backed up, and there are so many choices for you."

Schmidt's not wrong. Choice abounds in the Android ecosystem. Devices range from small to large, from cheap to pricey, and from manufacturers near and far. At last check, analyst firms pegged worldwide adoption of Android at about 80%. iOS's share of the market is closer to 12%.

Android can thank the diversity of hardware and software experiences for its success around the globe. There are only three iPhones available, the new iPhone 5s and 5c, and the outdated iPhone 4S. All three feature the exact same user interface and software, meaning the experience is homogenous no matter which device you pick. That can be either a weakness or an advantage, depending on your point of view.



There's no shortage of irony in Schmidt's guide on how to switch, however. According to him, setting up a new Android device requires at least 15 steps (four major steps, with a handful of substeps) to get Gmail, contacts, and calendar synced, as well as set up music accounts and transfer photos. His entire post is more than 900 words long.

At one point, Schmidt wrote, "If [your] old [iPhone] photos are important, send them to Gmail [from your Mac] and download into the Android phone or upload them to Google+." Because that's so intuitive. (It's interesting that Schmidt assumes all iPhone users have Macs, as he doesn't offer any advice to help PC owners on how best to switch.) Schmidt doesn't say anything about switching from an iPad to a Nexus 7 or Nexus 10. Perhaps that post is scheduled for Tuesday?

More: http://www.informationweek.com/mobile/mobile-business/googles-schmidt-pens-guide-for-iphone-switchers-/d/d-id/1112781

Jet Airways, SpiceJet to partly clear AAI dues by weekend

Prodded by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to pay off their dues, Jet Airways and SpiceJet on Monday promised the state-run airports body to make part payments by this weekend, official sources said.

While SpiceJet would pay up Rs 25 crore by November 29 to clear its outstanding dues, Jet Airways has agreed to pay Rs 80 crore by November 29 and another Rs 12 crore of its dues by December 10, official sources said here.

Jet owes AAI a total of Rs 165 crore and SpiceJet Rs 119 crore, they said.

The two airlines informed the AAI about their readiness to settle part of their outstandings at a meeting today, as the airports body threatened to put them on a cash-and-carry arrangement if dues were not settled by month-end.

The sources said SpiceJet has paid another another Rs 15-18 crore which was not accounted for earlier.

As per official figures three months ago, five private airlines, including Kingfisher Airlines which has closed down, have over Rs 350 crore as dues pending towards AAI. The Vijay Mallya-owned airlines owes Rs 186.26 crore.

AAI has taken the litigation route against Kingfisher and Paramount Airways, which has also closed down, for realising its pending dues.

The dues of private carriers are monitored on regular basis and in case of delay, the AAI issues notices to the airlines for their settlement. The AAI also charges penal interest on delays.

More: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Jet-Airways--SpiceJet-to-partly-clear-AAI-dues-by-weekend/1199567/

IDBI Bank falls on S&P downgrade to below investment grade

Shares in IDBI Bank Ltd fell as much as 2 per cent on Tuesday after ratings agency Standard and Poor's downgraded the lender's rating to below investment grade citing expectations for weaker asset quality.

S&P lowered IDBI's foreign currency issuer credit rating to "BB-plus/B" from "BBB-minus/A-3." The outlook is "negative."

"We downgraded IDBI because we expect the bank's asset quality to remain weak over the next 12-18 months," said Standard and Poor's in a report on Monday.

More: http://profit.ndtv.com/news/market/article-idbi-bank-falls-on-s-p-downgrade-to-below-investment-grade-373230

State Bank of India executive in bribery probe put on leave

State Bank of India (SBI.NS_0">SBI.NS) said it had asked a deputy managing director of the bank, Shyamal Acharya, who is under investigation by the CBI in an alleged bribery case, to go on leave.

The police said they had put the deputy managing director under investigation in the case, in which he is alleged to have received Rolex and Omega watches after approving a loan to Worlds Window Group, a metals trading company.

"Incriminating documents recovered during searches are being scrutinised for further investigation," the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said in a statement on Monday.

State-run SBI, the country's biggest bank, said that a committee of two managing directors would investigate the matter internally.

A spokeswoman for Worlds Window Group denied the company paid a bribe to anybody and said it was seeking legal advice.

Reuters was not able to reach Acharya on his mobile phone.

SBI said it is cooperating with the CBI. The bank also said: "We stand committed to probity in our dealings and assure that SBI will continue to hold highest standards of honesty and transparency in its operations."

Indian officials have said the CBI has been scrutinising the 30 biggest defaults at Indian banks for any evidence that borrowers colluded with bankers for personal gain. CBI spokeswoman Kanchan Prasad said the SBI case announced on Monday was not part of that probe.

More: http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/11/25/sbi-investigation-idINDEE9AO0DP20131125

British media names Indian-origin 'slave owner' and wife

An elderly Indian-origin man and his wife, both former Maoist activists who were arrested for allegedly holding three women as slaves here for 30 years, have been named by the British media.

The alleged suspects have been named as 73-year-old Aravindan Balakrishnan and his 67-year-old wife Chanda.

According to Marxist archives, they were leading figures at the Mao Zedong Memorial Centre based in Acre Lane, Brixton, south London, in the 1970s, a BBC report said.

The centre was raided by police and five people, including the pair, were held.

The couple has been linked to 13 addresses across London, the Metropolitan police has confirmed. The force, however, would not confirm or deny their names, the report said.

Police carried out house-to-house inquiries in and around Peckford Place, Brixton, where the women were rescued, over the weekend, it said.

Officers said the women had suffered years of "physical and mental abuse". They lived together as a "collective" after two of the women met the man through a "shared political ideology".

The three alleged victims, a 30-year-old Briton, a 57-year-old Irish woman and a 69-year-old Malaysian, are now in the care of a non-governmental organisation following their rescue last month, the report said.

The couple were arrested on Thursday on suspicion of being involved in forced labour and slavery. They have also been arrested for immigration offences. They have been released on bail until January.

Police said they were of Indian and Tanzanian origin and came to the UK in the 1960s.

They were previously arrested in the 1970s, but it is not known if they were charged.

Thirty-seven officers from the Metropolitan police' human trafficking unit are working on the case.

More: http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/british-media-names-indian-origin-slave-owner-and-wife_892439.html

Thailand protests: Demonstrators target government buildings

Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters are marching for a second day in the Thai capital, Bangkok.

The protests have been triggered by a controversial political amnesty bill which, despite failing to pass in the Senate, has reignited simmering political divisions in the country.

Campaign leader Suthep Thaugsuban had said the protest would be peaceful but hundreds of people forced their way into the compound of the finance ministry.

Jonathan Head reports from Bangkok.

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25086720

UN- Syria peace talks to take place January 22

A long-awaited international conference to resolve the Syrian crisis will be held in Geneva on January 22, bringing diplomacy into sharper focus as a means to resolve some of the most intractable problems besetting the region.

The United Nations (U.N.) announced the date of the conference on Monday, a day after Iran and six global powers successfully negotiated a landmark nuclear deal in the Swiss city.

“We will go to Geneva with a mission of hope,” said the U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon through his spokesperson, Martin Nesirky. The conference, billed as Geneva-2, will be held within the framework of the Geneva Communiqué that was issued in June 2012 following a meeting of the global and regional heavyweights with Kofi Annan, the former special envoy on Syria of the United Nations and the Arab League. The conference had then yielded an agreement for the establishment, based on mutual consent, of a transitional governing body in Syria that would be armed with full executive powers, covering all government institutions, including the military and security agencies.

The Geneva-2 conference would be the result of herculean, mostly behind- the- scenes efforts of Russia, the United States and Lakhdar Brahimi, the veteran Algerian diplomat, who replaced Mr. Annan as the joint special envoy on Syria.

Persuaded mainly by Russia, the Syrian government, led by President Bashar al-Assad had agreed to the talks even earlier. But getting the opposition on board proved to be a tall order. However, there are now signs that a single delegation will represent the Syrian opposition under the umbrella of the National Coalition of Opposition and Revolutionary Forces. The coalition’s vice-president Suheir al-Attasi cited the removal of all obstacles by the Syrian government that were allegedly hampering the flow of international humanitarian aid, including food and medicines, to Syrian areas that government troops controlled, as a precondition.

As the U.N. announced the date of the conference, hectic diplomacy was under way in Geneva, from where the Iranians and most of their interlocutors had just departed after successful nuclear talks, to smoothen the path of the crucial upcoming conference. Russian diplomats, Mikhail Bogdanov and Gennady Gatilov, began a two-day meeting with various groups of the Syrian opposition, RIA Novosti reported.

In Parallel, talks among Russia, the U.S., and the U.N. were also slated during these days. On its part, the U.N. with diplomacy promising to take root, rival parties would set the tone for reconciliation by taking specific steps to help it succeed “to help the Geneva conference succeed, including toward the cessation of violence, humanitarian access, release of detainees and return of Syrian refugees and internally displaced to their homes”.

Riding the wave of diplomacy in West Asia, the Palestinians have also now begun to call for an international conference to resolve their dispute with Israel. “We believe that after the Geneva conference on Syria and future Geneva-2 and probably Geneva-3 may be held,” Itar-Tass quoted Fayed Mustafa, the Palestinian ambassador to Russia. “Perhaps, one more Geneva conference — the third one or the fourth one may be convened… to resolve the Palestinian problem,” he observed.

More: http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/world/un-syria-peace-talks-to-take-place-january-22/article5390066.ece

‘56 women killed in 2013 for giving birth to girls’

“A country where mothers are killed for giving birth to baby girls can’t be called an ethical society,” Rehman said at the symposium, titled ‘Youth emerging as a force for positive change’, meant to mark the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women. The event was arranged by the All Pakistan Women’s Association (APWA).

From January 2012 to September 2013, there were also 90 acid attacks on women, 72 cases of burning caused by other means, 491 cases of domestic violence, 344 cases of gang rape and 835 cases of violence, he said. “Young girls are being raped in Pakistan and all we do is shout rather that do anything practical,” he said.

Rehman said that giving girls and boys equal access to education and introducing a uniform education system for the rich and the poor would bring about positive changes in Pakistan. “It has taken us 62 years to say that education is a basic right,” he said.

Supreme Court Advocate Shamsa Ali said a third of seats in local government should be reserved for women. This would make local bodies a nursery for young female politicians, she said.

She added that there should be a zero tolerance policy towards violence against women. She said that Pakistan had ratified the UN Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, but had not fully implemented it.

MPA Hina Pervez Butt, who was one of the chief guests, said that the Punjab Assembly would soon pass the Punjab Protection of Family Members from Violence Bill. “The bill is a welcome indication of the Government of Punjab’s commitment to supporting women in distress and to addressing issues of violence,” she said.

Butt said that the PML N leadership had encouraged young people like her to come forward and work for the betterment of society.

Minister for Population and Family Welfare Begum Zakia Shahnawaz said that the high population growth rate was also one of the causes of violence against women.

APWA Chairwoman Ruhi Sayid said that the association had taken many initiatives to help victims of violence.

More: http://tribune.com.pk/story/636971/56-women-killed-in-2013-for-giving-birth-to-girls/

Poll reforms: SC wants EC, govt to work together

The Supreme Court Monday urged the government to come clear on the issue of barring those charged with serious offences for contesting polls, while maintaining there should not be any "irritant" if the government wanted purity in electoral process and was willing to "strengthen democracy".

A Bench led by Justice R M Lodha turned down a contention by the Centre that the government will have to wait till a consensus was formed among all political parties on the subject, particularly after a Parliamentary Standing Committee has also opined against barring candidates from running for political offices at the stage of charges.

"The first question is whether the executive has accepted the view of the Standing Committee or not. The committee's view is not Parliament's view. The government does not always accept Standing Committee's view so we need to know how has the government reacted to the committee's opinion," the Bench asked Additional Solicitor General Paras Kuhad.

Kuhad had informed the court that the Standing Committee had already examined the matter and the government had referred the issue to the Law Commission for a further scrutiny after the Law and Home Ministries' views were different. While the Law Ministry contemplates a proposal to bar persons from contesting polls if charges have been framed against them for heinous crimes carrying a sentence of at least seven years, Home Ministry opposes any restrain before conviction. Election Commission, in its latest affidavit, has told SC it favoured banning candidates if charges can fetch at least five years' jail term.

"Why cannot there be a collaborative effort by the EC and Union of India? If everyone wants purity in election, what is the irritant? Ultimately the whole idea is to strengthen the democracy and if it can be strengthened by taking some steps, all the stakeholders should cooperate," said the Bench.

The court then asked the ASG to adduce the terms of reference sent to the Law Commission within two weeks, saying it would like to see what have been sent to the commission and if the Bench could ask it to speed up its examination of the matter so as to propose the recommendation expeditiously.

It told the ASG that the court was open to issue necessary directions but it would prefer government taking a proactive role after taking a "firm" view of the issue and not merely relying on the Standing Committee's opinion or waiting for the Law Commission to propose recommendations.

More: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/poll-reforms-sc-wants-ec-govt-to-work-together/1199505/0

PM race: Modi has upper hand, but Nitish is not giving up yet

He kicked off a debate on who should hold the country’s top job at a time when there was almost no talk of the NDA’s prime ministerial candidate. He rattled off what qualities such a candidate must have, explained in detail who is fit for the job and sought declaration of the NDA’s leader well in advance, shrewdly recommending his name for this post, but when it came to formal declaration of the leader, Nitish Kumar lost out to arch rival and his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi. Surely, Nitish hates Modi for that, but he has accepted defeat yet. Nitish Kumar: 

Still in the race. AFP “There was a wave against corruption, scams and high inflation in the current government, and these could have been factors unifying all opposition parties. But BJP spoilt this chance by putting a controversial figure as a PM candidate. Now the country is headed toward a hung parliament, and only BJP will be responsible for this,” Nitish said in an interview with Bloomberg on November 13. Of course, what he left unsaid is he still has a chance to stake his claim for the top job and that he is trying hard at it. “He (Nitish Kumar) is definitely in the race for the prime ministership. He has the ambition, and this is one of the reasons why he broke alliance with the BJP, risking his government. His main motive, in my opinion, is to be the rallying point of anti-BJP outfits in case no party gets the majority after the elections,” explained Prof Nawal Kishore Chaudhary, a senior professor of Patna University.

 Nitish’s recent moves reinforce this perception. He is competing with Modi in just about every matter. There are at least five areas where this competition is visible. He unveiled a model of the world’s tallest Hindu temple last week in the presence of the Shankaracharya of Dwarka, Swaroopanand Saraswati Maharaj. The unveiling of the temple – Virat Ramayan Mandir – dedicated to Lord Ram comes barely a fortnight after a grandiose project to build the world’s tallest statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel by Modi in his home state. While the statue, to be called the ‘State of Unity’, would be 697-feet tall, the temple in Bihar would be 405-feet high. On completion, it would be twice the size of the Hindu temple complex at Angkor Wat in Cambodia. But the BJP says there is just no comparison between the two projects.

 “There should not be any comparison between the two projects. While the construction of Ramayan temple has nothing to do with the Bihar government, Patel’s statue in Gujarat is the brainchild of Narendra Modi and is sponsored by the Gujarat government,” said senior BJP leader and former Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi. On 30 October, Nitish had joined the anti-communalism rally organized by Left parties in New Delhi, revealing his national ambition to lead a conglomerate of regional parties by exhorting them to work together to promoting communal harmony in the country. A total of 14 parties, including some constituents of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, had taken part in the rally. It was widely described as the preliminary building block of the Third Front. A clear hint about a possible Third Front was given by Nitish who said that his Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and other parties should ponder how to mobilise “democratic forces” to defeat “communal forces”.

 “There is no new front here but we will have to think how the democratic forces can be united based on issues,” he had told the rally. After Modi gave the slogan of “toilets first, temples later”, Nitish went a step forward, declaring that persons not having toilets would be debarred from contesting the panchayat and urban body polls in future. In order to implement this idea, Nitish has announced bringing amendment in the existing laws soon. Both leaders have been involved in a competition over respective development models. While Nitish claims his ‘development model’ is the best suited to the entire country, Modi goes on publicising his ‘Gujarat model’ which he claims will push up the economic growth. 

“Nitish’s economy model is as good and as bad as the model of Narendra Modi and Manmohan Singh. All the three models are corporate-centric, based on neo-liberal economic policy,” opines Chaudhary, also an economist. Yet another area where Nitish is competing with Modi is the social media. The former has revived his blog, two years after he had completely stopped blogging. “I am glad to be back here again. It feels great to share my thoughts with people living in different parts of the world,” Nitish wrote in his blog.

Read more at: http://www.firstpost.com/politics/pm-race-modi-has-upper-hand-but-nitish-is-not-giving-up-yet-1249317.html?utm_source=ref_article

Congress, Opposition both hopeful of victory in Mizoram

Both the ruling Congress and the opposition alliance have said they were optimistic of forming the next government in Mizoram after Monday's polling saw a huge turnout of around 82 per cent.

"We shall win in more seats this time compared to the last assembly elections in 2008 and our vote share certainly would increase significantly," said Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla.

Lal Thanhawla, also the state Congress chief, is contesting from two constituencies - Serchhip, his home turf, and neighbouring Hrangturzo - both in central Mizoram.

"I am more than confident of Congress retaining power in the state," Mr Thanhawla said after casting his vote.

"Congress will certainly retain power with a thumping majority by bagging the same number of seats it got last time (32) if not more as the government has done well for the development of the state and welfare of the people," said the 71-year-old Congress leader.

"The people of Mizoram want Congress to be in power for its pro-people work and running a clean government," he claimed.

Opposition coalition Mizoram Democratic Alliance (MDA), comprising Mizo National Front (MNF), Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) and Maraland Democratic Front (MDF), all regional and local parties, is also confident of forming government in Mizoram.

"People become disgusted by the misrule of Congress government. More over the votes would be divided in three major factions and it would electorally gain the MDA," an MNF leader told reporters.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, which has a very little base in the state, Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) and the Nationalist Congress Party are also separately contesting the state elections, fielding candidates in many seats.

During the last assembly elections in December 2008, the Congress won 32 seats, the MNF three and the MDF one. The MPC and ZNP got two seats each.

The MNF, led by former chief minister Zoramthanga, which ruled the state for 10 years till 2008, is the principal opposition party.

More: http://www.ndtv.com/elections/article/assembly-polls/congress-opposition-both-hopeful-of-victory-in-mizoram-450842

Five years after 26/11 attacks, coastal security remains vulnerable

It has been five years since the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, the most daring terror attack ever to have taken place on the Indian soil. But even today the Indian coastline remains vulnerable to threats as recommendations to bolster security still remain on paper.

Five years ago on November 26, terror gripped Mumbai like never before. A rattled government ordered sophisticated fire power, modern combat vehicles and raised Force One commandos to ensure a swift response to future fidayeen attacks.

But importantly, the question is whether half a decade after 26/11, the country is really better prepared to avert another sea-borne fidayeen attack. Confidential government documents filled with unimplemented recommendations show how the country's vast coastline is still vulnerable.

The fishing vessel 'Kuber' was hijacked by terrorists to enter Mumbai, but even today over 2 lakh fishing boats ply un-regulated. A majority of them haven't been registered and fishermen carry bogus identity cards.

The recommendation to provide biometric ID cards and fitting identification equipment on fishing trawlers is years away from completion.

The ambitious project for a coastal surveillance chain is only partially implemented. CNN-IBN has learnt that the Rs 600 crore project has failed to give desired results on the ground.

The sophisticated cameras fitted on lighthouses can't capture images beyond 2 nautical miles while they were originally expected to pinpoint suspect fishing boats in deep sea. THe question is as to who is to be blamed for this mess.

Almost every decision on coastal security has to go through a dozen government ministries and security agencies. In this process, departmental turf wars often cloud the main objective.

"We are trying to fight terror with fragmented tools and patchwork of the state police rather than a cohesive central approach," said Pradhan Panel Member V Balachandran.

The marine police stations are literally at sea as half of the speed boats don't function. With numerous recommendations stuck in red tape, a concrete coastal security architecture still eludes the country.

More: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/five-years-after-2611-attacks-coastal-security-remains-vulnerable/436152-3-237.html

Stalk-Gate: Gujarat government forms two-member Commission of Inquiry

The Gujarat government has formed a Commission of Inquiry to look into the allegations of snooping and stalking of a woman architect by senior police officials of the state in 2009.

The two-member panel, comprising of retired High Court judge Sugna Bhatt and senior bureaucrat KC Kapoor, has been asked to submit its report to the state government within three months.

Earlier this month, two news websites, cobrapost.com and Gulail, said that the Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI has audio tapes that allegedly reveal then Home Minister Amit Shah instructing police officers to tail the woman at all times, as insisted upon by "saheb" or boss.

The Congress alleges that the "saheb" reference is to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

The Congress today took the controversy over the alleged stalking of the woman to the President, alleging that the expansive surveillance was ordered by the BJP's candidate for Prime Minister in 2014 elections.

"93,000 calls were intercepted. The situation has revealed that it was a reign of terror and Gujarat was a police state," said a senior Congress leader.

Last week, former Gujarat IAS officer Pradeep Sharma, who was allegedly snooped upon by the Modi government, approached the Supreme Court seeking an inquiry into the scandal.

Mr Sharma, in his affidavit, alleged that he was victimised by the Modi government as he was in the know of the relationship between the architect and the Chief Minister.

Mr Modi feared that he was in possession of a CD which could have damaged the Chief Minister's reputation and hence corruption cases were framed against him, Mr Sharma alleged in his affidavit.

More: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/stalk-gate-gujarat-government-forms-two-member-commission-of-inquiry-450761

Yale University ends four-hour lockdown

Yale University went on a four-hour lockdown on Monday after an anonymous caller said his roommate was planning to shoot people at one of the most prestigious universities in the United States.

The university put out a series of alerts after 10.00am (1500 GMT) ultimately ordering staff and students to "shelter in place," as teams of police scoured the sprawling campus in New Haven, Connecticut.

But as the day wore on, there were no reports of shots being fired, nor of any injuries. Nor was the presumed gunman found.

New Haven police announced later that they believed the call was a hoax, US media reported. The university is on recess for the Thanksgiving holiday until next Monday.

Officers said the tip off was made by an anonymous male caller from a pay phone, claiming that his roommate was en route to campus with the intention of shooting people.

At 1.45pm, Yale announced on its website that police would be conducting room-to-room searches, before partially lifting the closure at 3.10pm and fully ending it at 4.40pm.

Yale has more than 14,000 students and a teaching staff of more than 9,000. It was established in the early 18th century and is one of the top universities in the prestigious US Ivy League.

More: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Yale-University-ends-four-hour-lockdown/articleshow/26391711.cms

Aarushi murder case: Death or life sentence for Talwars?

A day after holding them guilty of Aarushi-Hemraj's murder, a special CBI court, Tuesday, likely pronounce the sentence to be handed over to the parents - Rajesh and Nupur Talwar. The maximum punishment is death.

Saying the Talwars were “freaks” who “became the killer of their own progeny", the court on Monday finally brought the curtains down on over five years of dramatic twists and turns in the sensational Aarushi Talwar whodunit, a crime that had the nation riveted for its intriguing logic.

The couple - who were well known doctors with a thriving practice - were also convicted for the murder of their domestic help Hemraj.

Delivering the much-awaited verdict at 3.25 pm on Monday, Special CBI Judge Shyam Lal said that both the accused (Talwars) have "flouted the ferocious penal law of the land" and therefore are liable to be convicted in the double murder case.

"Now is the time to say omega in this case. To perorate, it is proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused are perpetrators of the crime in the question. The parents are the best protectors of their own child that is in order of human nature but they have been freaks in the history of mankind where the father and mother became the killer of their own progeny," the judge said in a 204-page judgment.

It added: "They have extirpated their own daughter who had hardly seen 14 summers of her life and the servant without compunction from terrestrial terrain in the breach of commandment "Thou shalt not kill".

Immediately after the judgment, the Talwars broke down. In a statement released by their lawyer, they said they were "deeply disappointed" and vowed to fight for justice to higher courts, including, if need be, to the Supreme Court, where the curtains might rise for another prolonged bout of legal drama and emotional theatre.

The dentist couple have been convicted of killing their 14-year-old daughter Aarushi and 45-year-old domestic help on the intervening night of May 15 and 16, 2008. The Class 9 student was found with her throat slit and head battered in her plush Noida residence.

The next day, police recovered the body of their domestic help Hemraj from the terrace.

The Talwars were booked under Sections 302 (murder), 201 (destruction of evidence) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

The court also charged Rajesh under Section 203 (misleading the probe).

The couple was whisked away by police to Dasna Jail in Ghaziabad.

The Talwars maintain they did not kill their daughter or domestic help and that the CBI conclusions were based on presumptions, conjectures and surmises.

More: http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/aarushi-murder-case-death-or-life-sentence-for-talwars_892434.html

United Spirits stock plunges in early trade

United Spirits on Tuesday informed the exchanges that its board will meet to consider the concerns raised by the Office of Fair Trading, UK, (Competition regulatory body) after the acquisition by Diageo plc of its stake. The company, however, has not mentioned the date of board meeting.

Britain’s Office of Fair Trading (OFT) had found that a merger could lead to “substantial lessening of competition in the supply of blended whisky to retailers”.

“The parties are major suppliers of bottled blended whisky to retailers with Whyte & Mackay also being an important supplier of own-label blended whisky,” the OFT said in a statement.

“The OFT’s investigation found that there is substantial competition in the retail sector between Bell’s whisky, a Diageo label, and Whyte & Mackay’s own label and branded blended whisky,” it added.

Following these observations, Diageo offered to sell most of Whyte & Mackay, with the exception of two malt distilleries.

Shares of United Spirits tumbled to as low as Rs 2,400 in early trade on Tuesday, but has recovered to trade at Rs 2,569.75, still down about 2 per cent over the previous day' close.

“The board of directors will consider OFT announcement and determine further course of action,” the company informed the exchanges.

More: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/markets/stock-markets/united-spirits-stock-plunges-in-early-trade/article5392786.ece

Narendra Modi shortlisted by Time for Person of the Year title, competes with Miley Cyrus

BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is among Time magazine's shortlisted candidates for its 'Person of the Year' title and has emerged as an early favourite among the readers in an online poll. Time has shortlisted 42 global leaders, entrepreneurs and celebrities for its 'Person of the Year 2013' and will announce the winner next month.

Other candidates in fray are Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, US President Barack Obama, Pakistani teenage education activist Malala Yousafzai, American artist Miley Cyrus, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden and even the new heir to the British throne Prince George.

On Modi, Time said "the controversial Hindu nationalist and Chief Minister of the Indian state of Gujarat is the most likely candidate to unseat India's ruling Congress party in the world s largest democracy." Modi is the only Indian in the shortlist.


Time has shortlisted 42 global leaders, entrepreneurs and celebrities for its 'Person of the Year 2013'.

While Time's editors will choose the winner, it has asked readers to cast their votes for the person they think "most influenced the news this year for better or worse".

So far Modi has got over 2,650 votes and with about 25 per cent, is leading the online readers' poll. Modi is way ahead with Snowden, who garnered the second highest number of votes at about 7 per cent as on November 20.

Obama, who has twice been named 'Person of the Year', is in the shortlist with the US magazine saying the President's "second term started with a slew of self-inflicted wounds and unfulfilled promise(s), from an IRS scandal and stalled immigration reform to the bungled Obamacare launch".

Syrian President Bashar Assad is also among the contenders. Among the other candidates are New Jersey governor Chris Christie, Twitter CEO Dick Costolo, JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, Pope Francis, Oscar winner Angelina Jolie.

International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, Germany's re-elected Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin are other contenders. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Chinese President Xi Jinping are also among those shortlisted.

Chechen brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the suspects in the Boston Marathon terror bombings, are in the shortlist too.

More: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/narendra-modi-shortlisted-by-time-for-person-of-the-year-title/436158-2.html

Urvashi Butalia refuses to head Tehelka panel to probe sexual assault charge against Tejpal

On Monday, the young Tehelka journalist, who accused her Tejpal of sexually assaulting her earlier this month at a Goa hotel, resigned saying she was "deeply traumatized by the lack of support offered by the organization".

Tehelka's photo editor Ishan Tankha, one of the people the young woman confided in immediately after the alleged assaults, also resigned.

In her resignation letter, emailed to Chaudhury and a handful of senior editors, the young woman reiterated that she is not satisfied with the measures taken by Chaudhury to address her trauma.

"Given the sequence of events since the 7th of November, it is not just Mr Tejpal who has failed me as an employer - but Tehelka that has failed women, employees, journalists and feminists collectively," the journalist wrote. Chaudhury refused to respond to calls and text messages asking if the young woman's resignation has been accepted.

Expressing hurt at the way Chaudhury let her down despite promising to do the "right thing", the young woman says in her letter: "His (Tejpal's) public acknowledgement of the apology did not include any reference to his grievous sexual misconduct, and you had still failed to set up an anti-sexual harassment cell as per Vishaka guidelines. This could, in no way, have left me satisfied… You continued to ignore my rebuttals to these emails, while insisting, in public, that I was satisfied."

The young woman further writes: "Over the past years, we have collectively defended the rights of women, written about custodial rape and sexual molestation at the workplace."

"We have spoken out harshly against the culture of victim blame and the tactical emotional intimidation and character assassination of those who dare to speak out against sexual violence… at a time when I find myself victim to such a crime, I am shattered to find the editor in chief of Tehelka, and you - in your capacity as managing editor- resorting to precisely these tactics of intimidation, character assassination and slander," she wrote.

The Goa Police that is investigating the case said that it will take the young woman to Panjim on Tuesday to record her statement.

More: http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/urvashi-butalia-refuses-to-head-tehelka-panel-to-probe-sexual-assault-charge-against-tejpal/article1-1155719.aspx