The Indian Panorama

Month: January 2013

  • President Urges Overseas Indians To Invest In India

    President Urges Overseas Indians To Invest In India

    KOCHI (TIP): President of India, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee expressed confidence that the Indian economy would bounce back to an 8-9% GDP growth due to its strong economic fundamentals and the reforms driven policy initiatives of government of India.

    Addressing the valedictory session of the 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas here on January 9, Mr. Mukherjee said, “To achieve this order of growth over a sustained period of time, would need large doses of investment. The overseas Indians could help by investing in Indian companies and in the capital market and earn higher dividends as the yield of the equity markets in India was much higher than elsewhere.”

    India, he said, was a “land of immense opportunity; the second fastest growing economy after China. But for a brief period of economic deceleration, six of the nine years that have gone by witnessed a GDP growth of around 8%.”

    The President said that he wished to see the Indian Diaspora as a strong partner in India’s development, not just in economic growth but in the knowledge economy. “Knowledge and experience you have gained can ply decisive role in the growth story of India”, he said. “Together, we will keep our tryst with destiny,” he said, amid huge applause an added “we are proud of your services to India”. Earlier, the President gave away the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards to 15 eminent persons of Indian origin for their outstanding contribution for enhancing India’s prestige in a tangible way.

    The award winners for 2013 included Mr. Rajkeswur Purryag President of Mauritius, who was “recognized for his outstanding contributions in public service and fostering friendly relations between India and Mauritius; Australia-India Society of Victoria (award received by Mr. Gurdip Singh Arora) “recognized for its role in protecting the rights of Indian migrants and establishing a network of welfare activities”;

    Mr. Ashok Shambhomal Vaswani, Guinea “recognized for his efforts in building strong bridges between India and the people of the Republic of Guinea”; Indian Doctors Forum, Kuwait (award received by Dr. Narayan Namboori) “recognized for its contribution to the field of healthcare facilities for Indians and Kuwaitis”; Tan Sri Ravindran Menon, Malaysia “honored for his contribution in fostering better understanding of Indian community in Malaysia, and for his philanthropic works”; Dr. Rasik Vihari Joshi, Mexico “honored for eminence in his field of work, for enhancing India’s image and for promoting better understanding of India abroad”;

    Dr. Satendra Kumar Singh, Fiji “honored for his immense contribution to promotion of Indian culture and heritage in New Zealand, Fiji and South Pacific”; Mr. Gilbert Canabady Moutien, Reunion Islands “recognized for his immense contribution to strengthening and fostering business ties between India and Reunion Island and his efforts in promoting Indian culture and heritage”;

    Mr.Mohammed Rabeeh Karuvanthodi, Saudi Arabia “honored for his efforts and contribution in promoting healthcare facilities in GCC countries and his philanthropic activities”; Mr. Ismail Ebrahim Ebrahim, South Africa “recognized for his commitment to the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity, his outstanding contribution to public service and fostering closer ties between India and South Africa”; Mr. Bava Pandalingal, Abu Dhabi, UAE “honored for his efforts and dedication in the service of Indian communities in UAE”; Ms. Patricia Maria Rozario, UK “recognized for her outstanding contribution to the Western Classical Music and her eminence in skills which have enhanced India’s prestige abroad”; Dr. Narendra Ramkrishna Kumar, USA “honored for his contribution in the healthcare sector and promoting India and Indians abroad”; Mr. Subash Razdan, Chairman and Co- Founder of Gandhi Peace Foundation, USA “recognized for enhancing the prestige of India through his contribution to public and the Indian community”; and Prof. Dr. Gurcharan Singh Chatwal, Germany, “honored for fostering closer scientific relations between India and Germany, and for enhancing India’s prestige abroad”. Dr. Chatwal, however, could not arrive to receive the award due to “unavoidable reasons”.

  • 37-Year-Old Woman Is AIIMS First Full Body Donor

    37-Year-Old Woman Is AIIMS First Full Body Donor

    NEW DELHI (TIP): A 37-year-old woman from Uttarakhand who suffered irreversible brain damage in a haemorrhagic attack has become the first whole body donor at All India Institute of Medical Sciences this year. While her heart, liver and two kidneys have been used for transplant into needy patients, other organs like the cornea and bones are preserved for future use, Arti Vij, chief of the Organ Retrieval and Banking Organisation at the institute, said. She added, “Chandrakanta Rawat was admitted to AIIMS on January 2. She was declared brain dead by a team of doctors two days later. Her husband gave the consent for retrieval of the organs.” Vij said while the deceased’s heart was used for transplant at the institute itself, her two kidneys were sent to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and the liver was used for transplant at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences in Vasant Kunj.

  • Justify Separate Laws For Mps, Citizens, SC Asks Centre

    Justify Separate Laws For Mps, Citizens, SC Asks Centre

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The Supreme Court on January 10 directed the Centre to justify the existence of two different laws – one for ordinary citizens involved in criminal cases and another for the similarly placed elected representatives. “How did you carve out separate laws for the ordinary citizens and MPs? Can Parliament make one law for its own members and another for the citizens,” a Bench comprising Justices AK Patnaik and Gyan Sudha Misra wanted to know while hearing a PIL on decriminalisation of politics. When Additional Solicitor General Paras Kuhad tried to explain, the Bench said it would not accept any oral submissions on the issue. “Please put it in an affidavit,” the court said. On the other hand, other provisions in the same section debarred people from contesting any Assembly or Parliamentary election if they had been convicted for a serious crime.

    This distinction between the candidates aspiring to contest an election and sitting members was against the fundamental right to equality guaranteed under Article 14 of the Constitution, senior counsel Fali S Nariman contended while arguing for the PIL petitioner, Lily Thomas. The petition has prayed for declaring the provision which was very lenient against convicted representatives of the people. The Bench noted that criminalisation of politics was the root cause of most of the problems being faced by the country. “We are quite aware of that. You don’t have to strive hard to convince us on this aspect,” the Bench told retired IAS officer SN Shukla, whose NGO was an intervener in the case. The Bench made the remark when Shukla contended that criminals in politics were responsible for almost all problems in governance.

  • India Wastes 21 Million Tonnes Of Wheat Every Year: Report

    India Wastes 21 Million Tonnes Of Wheat Every Year: Report

    NEW DELHI (TIP): India stands out for its glaring lack of infrastructure and food storage facilities, in a new study that says 21 million tonnes of wheat — equivalent to the entire production of Australia — goes waste in the country. The report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IME) on global food wastage found that as much as 50 per cent of all food produced around the world never reaches a human mouth. “Considerably greater levels of tonnage loss exist in larger developing nations, such as India for example, where about 21 million tones of wheat annually perishes due to inadequate storage and distribution, equivalent to the entire production of Australia,” said the ‘Global Food Waste Not Want Not’ report, released here on Thursday.

    “In neighboring Pakistan, losses amount to about 16 per cent of production, or 3.2 million tones annually, where inadequate storage infrastructure leads to widespread rodent infestation problems,” it said. Overall, wastage rates in vegetables and fruit are even higher than for grains. At least 40 per cent of all fruit and vegetable is lost in India between the grower and consumer due to lack of refrigerated transport, poor roads, inclement weather and corruption. According to the latest survey, wastage tends to move up the distribution chain as the standard of development improves and regional and national transport, storage and distribution facilities fail to match the improvements made at the farm level.

    This is a particular issue in India, which requires massive investments in the food logistics chain. “Controlling and reducing the level of wastage is frequently beyond the capability of the individual farmer, distributor or consumer, since it depends on market philosophies, security of power supply, quality of roads and the presence or absence of transport hubs. “These are all related more to societal, political and economic norms, as well as engineered infrastructure, rather than to agriculture,” the authors of the report said, calling on governments in the developing world to introduce better technology and food storage facilities. The Indian government has maintained that the recent reforms in the retail sector approved by Parliament, allowing 51 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail and 100 per cent FDI in the single-brand segment, will lead to increased investments in infrastructure and improve the logistics chain.

  • Anti-Ageing Tips For Oily Skin

    Anti-Ageing Tips For Oily Skin

    Oily skinned women have typically less lines and wrinkles visible as compared to women with normal and dry skin. Though there are a few benefits of having oily skin, here’s how you can prevent your skin from ageing faster
    Apply sunscreen regularly
    Whatever the skin type, using sunscreen is a must. If protecting your skin from damage caused due to sun was never your priority, start now. Sunscreen will protect your skin from sun and you’ll look younger. Most importantly, go for sunscreens for oily skin to avoid clogged pores.

    Don’t wash your face too often
     Don’t over cleanse your face even though your oily skin texture may tempt you into washing your face again and again. Yes you may want your skin to look fresh, clean and oil-free but washing your face several times in a day actually leads to increase in oil production. Also, over-cleansing may make your skin dry. You can wash your face twice a day and use blotting papers during the day to keep oil away.

    Nourish your skin
    Antioxidants help prevent oxidising and help your skin stay supple. So antioxidants is certainly something that you need to incorporate in your skin-care routine. Opt for oil-free moisturisers that contain antioxidants. Also follow a diet that includes berries, beans and veggies to feed your skin

    Get adequate sleep
     Sleep is extremely important not only for your skin but your overall health. This doesn’t mean you sleep all day, just get adequate sleep of around 8 to 9 hours. Also, sleep on your back as sleeping on your face can wrinkle the skin and age skin at a faster rate.

    Consume Omega-3 fatty acids
    Omega-3 fatty acids revitalises your skin and repairs it from inside. Eat foods rich on omega-3 fatty acids like salmon, halibut, eggs, soy milk and yogurt. They are not only delicious but also do a lot of benefit to your skin.

    Avoid sugar, smoke and alcohol
    Quitting smoking is the best thing you can give yourself as it not only damages your health but also your skin. And if you have a sweet tooth and indulge in too many sweets, cut down on them. Studies have shown that consuming lots of sugar over long periods can cause skin to age and dull due to a process in our body called glycation.

  • Muslim Panchayat Bans Use Of Cellphones By Girls

    Muslim Panchayat Bans Use Of Cellphones By Girls

    JAIPUR (TIP): After the khaps in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, a Muslim community panchayat in Rajasthan on banned girls from using cellphones and also from dancing and singing at weddings, ostensibly in an effort to prevent incidents like Delhi gang rape. Boys and girls have also been prohibited from marrying someone against the wish of their family members or someone from a different community, panchayat members said on Thursday. The restrictions have been imposed on the Muslim community members at Salumbar town in Udaipur district, some 400 km from Jaipur, by the Anjuman Muslim Panchayat, a minority community council.

    “We have decided to ban the girls from carrying and using cellphones. The decision was taken with a view that cellphones are spoiling girls,” panchayat secretary Habibur Rahman told reporters. He said that a slew of measures has been taken to ensure safety of girls belonging to the community in the area. “The girls would not be allowed to dance and sing during wedding functions. A couple cannot get married against the wishes of their family members,” said the panchayat secretary. He added that punitive action will be taken against girls who are found ignoring the panchayat edicts. “If a couple runs away from house to get married, they will be ostracized and a cash fine of Rs 51,000 will be imposed on them. Fine of Rs 51,000 has also been decided for those who marry someone from a different community,” said the secretary. He added that panchayat decisions have been communicated to all members of the community in the town.

  • Focus On ‘Indian’ Innovation For The Benefit Of The Poor: Sam Pitroda

    Focus On ‘Indian’ Innovation For The Benefit Of The Poor: Sam Pitroda

    KOCHI (TIP): The Government of India declared the decade 2010-20, the ‘Decade of Innovation’ to mark the importance of innovation. India is in a phase of redesigning the nation with innovation and Internet is today driving the innovation agenda. For innovation to spread in all walks of life, domain experts would be required, said Mr. Sam Pitroda, Advisor to PM on Public Information, Infrastructure and Innovation on Day III of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas at the plenary on Innovation and Technology. Mr. Pitroda said that the Government is already in the process of setting up state-level innovation councils and sectoral innovation councils. Under this initiative, each state and sector can devise its own roadmap to encourage innovation in sectors, which are of utmost importance.

    India needs to create durable products and not disposable ones. The country requires its own set of innovative ideas because we cannot adapt the Western set-up as the environment differs completely. Also, the focus should be on the people who are at the bottom of the pyramid and we need to increase their earnings and employment opportunities, he added. Mr. Jagathrakshakan S, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Government of India, said, “Innovation is all about translating an idea into a product or service which can lead to value creation. We need to encourage women scientists and create an environment where private sector can become a part of this innovation drive. Also, we need to collaborate with foreign investors and experts.”

    He stated that research and development is an integral part of innovation. At present, India lags far behind in R&D, hence it is the aim of the Government that by the end of 12th Plan, the share of R&D must reach 2% of GDP. Mr. Kodikunnil Suresh, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Government of India, said, “I strongly recommend that India should have an Innovation Technology Commission as a driving force to our initiatives to become a world-class, knowledgebased economy. It can support applied research and development, technology transfer and application; to nurture an innovation and technology culture in the country; upholds technological entrepreneurship; provides technological infrastructure; facilitates the developmental of human capital to support innovation and technology; and promotes internationally accepted standards and conformity assessment services.”

    “The country has major challenges to address in health, food, energy and environment and these can be met by doing quality science research, showing greater inventiveness and achieving quality in product innovation,” added Mr. Suresh. Lord Karan Billimoria, UK, pointed out that innovation is the essence of entrepreneurship. Creativity is the most important for businesses to grow. Innovation is an attitude that every organization must possess today. Quoting the success story of Apple, Lord Billimoria said that innovation and creativity is all about doing a thing differently and in a better way, and then upgrade to remain competitive. Dr. A Didar Singh, Secretary General, FICCI, said that innovation is the key for economic growth. He pointed out that creativity and innovation is within us and it needs to be nurtured. Among other who spoke at the session were: Mr. P NandaKumaran, MD, State Bank of Travancore; DR. Abdool Magid Karim Vakil, President, EDISA Bank and Dr. M Anirudhan of USA.

  • Your Mattress Can Affect Your Health

    Your Mattress Can Affect Your Health

    Amattress has to be cosy and comfortable when we lie on it. Comfort is undoubtedly a critical aspect when it comes to buying mattresses but what about health. Now-a-days, Indians are increasingly becoming health conscious when it comes to food and exercise. But how many of us would have given a thought to the impact of mattresses on our health. To put things in perspective, we usually spend about 7-8 hours (1/3rd of our day) sleeping on the mattress.

    When we sleep, our spinal discs rehydrate, recuperate from the strain of the day and regain their elasticity. That’s why it is so important to get a full night’s sleep. While back pain impacts all areas of a person’s life, it will dramatically impact sleep quality. In fact, our sleep can intensify back pain and more back pain decreases sleep quality.

    Lack of sleep impacts our concentration levels and can even leave us feeling depressed. Serious sleep deprivation can trigger more accidents at work and on the roads. And for those worried about their weight, a good mattress and quality beds could help as scientists have found poor sleep can leave us piling on the pounds.

    We use a mattress in many different body positions. We sleep on our sides, backs, and in between. Some parts of the body are bearing more weight than other parts of the body. A good mattress must be orthopedically sensitive regardless of where you sleep on the mattress surface or your sleep position. Good quality pure foam mattresses, especially which are made of memory foam distribute body weight evenly, giving complete cushioning and support we require during sleep. Pressure points on the body because of sagged mattress, the leading cause of a poor night’s sleep, are completely reduced. Pure foam mattresses allow air circulation inside have a lot of breathability which reduces sweating in nights, hence, our sleep is comfortable and undisturbed.

    Another highlight of a good mattress is the Outlast fabric, originally developed for NASA astronauts and top athletes for keeping their body micro-climate constant, the outlast fabric utilizes materials that absorbs and releases heat for optimal thermal comfort thus regulating the body temperature. In short it acts like a thermostat which ensures that in whatever climate you are, your sleep is undisturbed.

    Choosing the type of mattress is a personal choice, broadly comfort can be classified into three types, viz-a-viz soft, medium and firm. Indians mostly prefer firmer mattress, but ideally you can go for the medium variety as these give optimal cushioning and support to your back and other parts of the body. It is, therefore, necessary to buy a mattress with both optimal cushioning and support. The mattress should not sag within few years of usage.

    Though comfort and support is personal, it generally defines one’s lifestyle and body weight. The mattress, in order to be proportionate to our body and to offer 100 per cent comfort, must be 20 cm longer than our body length and at least 160 cm wide if two people are sleeping on it.

    For those with impaired immune systems with symptoms ranging from a common headache or joint ache, to unexplained rashes, eczema, nosebleeds, dizziness ,even severe migraines, arthritis, ringing in the ears, nausea and more, should opt for a hypoallergenic mattress in which the materials and constant transpiration of the mattress ensure its suitability even for those who suffer from allergies.

    A good quality mattress is not just important for good sleep but also positively affects our health. International brands like Magniflex have done extensive research to tailormake mattresses for Indian backs. These mattresses are hypoallergenic, eco-friendly, internationally certified and therefore right choice for our well being.

  • Mushrooms Good For Diabetics

    Mushrooms Good For Diabetics

    Mushrooms are good for diabetics since they contain little or no sugar, says an expert. “Cultivated and wild species of mushrooms are consumed because of their nutritional value. They are rich in essential nutritional constituents and are good for people with diabetes as they have little or no sugar,” said T.N. Lakhanpal from the department of bioscience at Himachal Pradesh University.

    Lakhanpal was among the delegates at the 100th Indian Science Congress, which ended here Sunday. According to the scientist, mushrooms, being almost fat-free, benefit the obese too.

    On the emerging importance of mushroom biology, Lakhanpal said: “The potential of mushrooms as neutraceuticals has emerged as an important aspect of mushroom biology in the last 20 years”.

    “Also, all the mushrooms investigated so far have been found to have curative properties against cancer, HIV and other dreaded diseases,” he said. Besides medicinal benefits, mushroom cultivation provides economic benefits, he said.
    “Mushroom cultivation is a cottage and commercial industry and is finding favour among the rural people.”

  • Obama Criticized For White Male Cabinet

    Obama Criticized For White Male Cabinet

    WASHINGTON (TIP): The first black US president is coming under fire from some of his own Democratic Party for naming a stream of white men to key cabinet and leadership posts in his second administration. President Barack Obama on Thursday named Jack Lew as his Treasury secretary, the fourth white male he has named to the most prized cabinet posts in recent weeks. Lew’s nomination follows Obama’s pick of Senator John Kerry to replace Hillary Clinton as secretary of state. He has also named former Senator Chuck Hagel to be defense Secretary and John Brennan to head the Central Intelligence Agency. Against this, he lost the first Hispanic woman in the cabinet when Labor Secretary Hilda Solis announced her resignation on Wednesday.

    And last month Lisa Jackson, who is black, announced she was stepping down as head of the Environmental Protection Agency. “It’s embarrassing as hell,” New York Democrat Charles Rangel, one of the most senior black members of Congress, said of the Obama appointments. New Hampshire Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, whose state has the only all-female delegation in Congress, described the appointments as “disappointing.” “We need a government that looks like America so we can address the concerns that we hear from across the spectrum,” she said. Republicans joined in the criticism with former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee accusing Obama of waging a “war on women,” using the same words Democrats coined to criticize Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney during the election campaign last year. “Now a lot of those females who supported Barack Obama are scratching their heads, and they’re saying, ‘Whoa! How come there is so much testosterone in the Obama Cabinet and so little estrogen?’” the former Arkansas governor said on his radio show. Obama beat Romney 55 percent to 43 percent among women, according to Reuters/Ipsos exit polling on Election Day. He also won large majorities of the African-American and Hispanic vote.

    DIVERSITY AND DEMOGRAPHICS
    Diversity in the United States is usually defined as including women and racial minorities, especially Hispanics and African-Americans. U.S. political pundits parse polling data of women, Hispanics, African Americans and other groups for signs of voting patterns. They track the “gender gap,” which is the percentage difference between Democratic and Republican support among women. Since Obama’s reelection in November, many analysts have noted the rising percentage of U.S. ethnic minorities and described his victory as a reflection of changing demography. The criticism of Obama is surprising because Republicans usually are the party accused of insensitivity to diversity. Former President George W. Bush deflected this by pointing to the two secretaries of state during his eight years in office — African-Americans Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice.

    They were followed by Hillary Clinton. If confirmed by the Senate, Kerry will be the first white male to hold the top US diplomatic post in more than a decade. Almost overlooked in the criticism is that the White House announced this week that Attorney General Eric Holder, who is black, will stay on as the nation’s senior legal officer. Obama also was widely reported to be considering an African-American woman, United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice as Secretary of State. She pulled her name from consideration because of Republican objections to her statements about the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya. White House spokesman Jay Carney urged critics on Wednesday to make their judgments only after Obama had completed his team.

    “Women are well represented in the president’s senior staff,” he told reporters, noting that his team included Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Debbie Walsh, director of Rutgers University’s Center for American Women in Politics, which tracks women in elective office, said Obama’s choices were a missed opportunity to put women into powerful jobs such as heading the Pentagon. “A case could be made that Barack Obama won on the strength of the support that he had with women, given the gender gap,” she told Reuters. With women filling 36 percent of Cabinet posts in his first term, Obama had the highest percentage of women in top jobs of any president other than fellow Democrat Bill Clinton, she said.a

  • Pollen Exposure May Harm Baby In Womb

    Pollen Exposure May Harm Baby In Womb

    Exposure to high pollen levels in late pregnancy significantly increases the risk of early asthma in the child, Swedish researchers have warned. A number of studies have previously shown that there is an association with being born during a pollen season and an increased risk of allergies.

    Although the pollen season is a regular annual event, there are large variations between years in pollen levels. Few studies have closely examined the significance of actual pollen content in different time periods before and after birth, but now, researchers at the Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Umea University have conducted such a study involving 110,000 pregnancies in the Stockholm area.

    The researchers note that high levels of pollen exposure during the last 12 weeks of pregnancy resulted in a significantly increased risk of hospitalization for asthma symptoms in the first year of life for a child. The analysis was adjusted for factors such as maternal smoking and pollen season.

    There may be several reasons for the association. High pollen exposure of pregnant with pollen allergies can have allergic reactions and asthma symptoms that may also affect the unborn child’s environment and affect immune system development. It is also possible that pregnant women with severe reactions to pollen suffer complications and sometimes give birth earlier than they otherwise would have done, which in itself increases the risk of respiratory problems in the child.

  • India, China Rise Set To Shake Global Order: US Think Tank

    India, China Rise Set To Shake Global Order: US Think Tank

    WASHINGTON (TIP): The rise of China and India as major world powers and how they view their relationship with the West promises to test the established global order, according to a US think tank. In the coming decades, “as the two powers grow, they are bound to change the current international system-with profound implications for themselves, the US, and the world,” says a new publication of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “And whether they agree on the changes to be made, especially when it comes to their relationship with the West, will influence the system’s future character,” says the publication, “Crux of Asia: China, India, and the Emerging Global Order”.

    A close examination of Chinese and Indian perspectives on the fundamentals of the emerging international order reveals that India-China differences on many issues of both bilateral and global significance are stark, it says. “China and India’s sustained economic growth fuels their increasing geopolitical and military influence,” says the publication edited by Ashley J. Tellis, a senior associate, and Sean Mirski, a junior fellow respectively in the Carnegie South Asia Programme. Despite their developmental similarities, China and India’s bilateral strategic rivalry means that they have competing priorities on most major global issues, the publication says. Sino-Indian differences are considerable on issues relating to the nonproliferation system, Asian security, regional stability in Southern Asia, and security in the maritime commons, space, and cyberspace, it says. But the two rising powers broadly agree on matters relating to the international economic system, energy security, and the environment.

    “Because of its ongoing shift to the Asia-Pacific and status as the only global superpower, the US must manage a complex set of relationships with China and India, which are at times working at crosspurposes,” the publication says. Both China and India want a stable Asia-Pacific that will allow them to sustain their economic prosperity, but they perceive threats very differently and have divergent priorities. “Importantly, India seeks a resolute American presence in the region to hedge against possible Chinese excesses, while China sees the US as significantly complicating its pursuit of its regional goals and worries about American containment attempts,” the publication says.

  • Easy way to protect heart: Sip black tea

    Easy way to protect heart: Sip black tea

    Quercetin, a flavonoid abundant in black tea, has shown promise in protecting blood vessels against oxidative damage and lowering cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, said researchers who based their studies on mice. Flavonoids are common plant pigment compounds that act as antioxidants, enhance the effects of vitamin C, and protect connective tissue around capillaries (blood vessels).

    Natalie Ward, research fellow from the University of Western Australia (UWA) School of Medicine, and pharmacology professorial fellow Kevin Croft said although their preliminary study is based on cells and isolated mouse vessels, “our findings have suggested that quercetin is able to protect vessels against oxidant-induced damage.”

    The supervisors say there is evidence to suggest that other dietary flavonoids may reduce blood pressure as well as bring down the development of atherosclerosis (plaque build-up in arteries), the journal Biochemical Pharmacology reports. “Future studies looking at the effect of flavonoids on CVD should consider using combinations of flavonoids, as well as dietary sources of flavonoids, rather than supplementation with pure flavonoids,” said Ward and Croft, according to an UWA statement.

  • Rare Snowstorm Paralyses Jerusalem Area, North Israel

    Rare Snowstorm Paralyses Jerusalem Area, North Israel

    JERUSALEM (TIP): The worst snowstorm in 20 years shut government offices, public transport and schools in Jerusalem and along the northern Israeli region bordering on Lebanon on January 10. Many Palestinians in the hilly occupied West Bank were also snowed in and dozens were forced to flee flooded homes. Elisha Peleg, an official in charge of emergencies with Israel’s municipality for Jerusalem, urged residents to remain at home and stay off the streets, telling Israel Army Radio the area had overnight seen its greatest snowfall since 1992. He said 10 to 15 centimetres (4 to 6 inches) of snow had piled up in the city centre and more than that in outlying areas. “The downtown area is bathed in white,” Peleg said.

    “The elders of Jerusalem don’t remember such a snowstorm in years,” Peleg also said. Public transport ground to a halt for several hours. Many vehicles that ventured onto roads were stuck and citizens were urged to remain at home. Government offices also remained closed for the day. “Make it a family day. In the afternoon, the temperatures are supposed to rise and you will be able to head out for some shopping,” Peleg said. Israel Radio said a highway linking Jerusalem to Tel Aviv was blocked, and much of the northern Galilee region was paralysed by heavy snowfalls. Some traffic arteries opened later in the afternoon as temperatures rose and some snow melted. Public bus services partially resumed and were free of charge in Jerusalem, as an incentive to keep private vehicles off the slushy roads.

    In the occupied West Bank, city streets were largely abandoned, with few residents chancing the hilly and widely rutted roads and schools kept shut because of the weather. A general strike by government employees also kept Palestinians in their homes, as the Palestinian Authority has been unable to fully pay salaries following Israeli economic sanctions announced last month in anger at a campaign that won de facto United Nations recognition of Palestinian statehood. The Palestinian meteorological institute said that snow levels in the Ramallah, East Jerusalem and Bethlehem areas had reached 10-20cm and as much as 30cm in Hebron. Flooding was reported in the northern West Bank, where water “inundated dozens of houses and widely damaged agricultural areas local farmers depend on for their livelihoods,” Jenin governor Talal Dweikat told Palestinian Radio. “Dozens of families have been forced to flee their homes, but thank God there have been no deaths, and the Authority is dealing with the problem aggressively despite its financial problems,” Dweikat said.

  • Two Separate Bombs Kill 32, Hurt 100 In Pakistan Cities

    Two Separate Bombs Kill 32, Hurt 100 In Pakistan Cities

    PESHAWAR (TIP): Bomb blasts in two Pakistani cities killed 32 people and injured more than 100, police and hospital officials said. A bomb in Quetta, the capital of the eastern province of Balochistan, killed 11 people and injured more than 40, police officer Zubair Mehmood said. A local militant group claimed responsibility. Another 21 were killed and more than 60 injured in a bombing where people had gathered to hear a religious leader speak in Mingora, the largest city in the northwestern province of Swat, police and officials at the Saidu Sharif hospital said. “The death toll may rise as some of the injured are in critical condition and we are receiving more and more injured people,” said Dr. Niaz Mohammad.

    Police initially said the Swat blast was caused by an exploding gas cylinder but later police chief Akhtar Hayat said it was a bomb. It has been more than two years since a militant attack has claimed that many lives in Swat. The mountainous region, formerly a tourist destination, has been administered by the Pakistani army since their 2009 offensive drove out Taliban militants who had taken control. But the Taliban retain their ability to mount attacks in Swat and shot schoolgirl campaigner Malala Yousufzai in Mingora last October. The bomb in a market in Quetta targeted a police patrol and mostly killed sellers of vegetable and second-hand clothes, officer Mehmood said. Three police officers nearby were injured and a child was among the dead, he said. The United Baloch Army claimed responsibility for the blast.

    The group is one of several who are fighting for independence for Balochistan, an arid and impoverished region with substantial gas, copper and gold reserves. It constitutes just under half of Pakistan’s territory and is home to about 8 million of the country’s population of 180 million. Human rights groups say hundreds of bodies have been recovered in the region since 2011. Many have broken limbs, cigarette burns or other signs of torture. Local activists blame the security services. The state denies the accusations and says that insurgents sometimes put on military uniforms before kidnapping people. Sectarian attacks are also on the rise, and militant groups frequently bomb or shoot Shia passengers on buses traveling to neighboring Iran.

  • Hyderabad The City Of Smiles, Of Lights, Of A Thousand Faces

    Hyderabad The City Of Smiles, Of Lights, Of A Thousand Faces

    A perfect destination for an astute traveler, Hyderabad provides an enriching experience with a blend of enthralling structural masterpieces and rich cultural heritage. Explore the striking museums, temples, shimmering lakes, gardens, zoos and monuments and carry beautiful memories back home.
    Listed below are some of the famous Hyderabad Tourism places:

    Charminar
    This historical masterpiece was erected by Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah in the year 1591. It was build to celebrate the purge of plague from the city and was said to be the centre of Hyderabad.

    Mecca Masjid
    It is well-known as the biggest mosques in India with the accommodation capacity of around 10,000 worshippers. Mecca Masjib was built by Sultan Muhammad Qutub Shah and its construction went on during the supremacy of Abul Hassan Tana Shah and Abdullah Qutub Shah. It finally came into its final shape in the year 1694 during the reign the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

    Birla Planetarium
     It was built on the mound of Naubat Pahad as an acknowledgement to the developments made in the field of science and technology. Birla Planetarium was launched on 8th September 1985 by the Late Mr. N.T. Rama Rao and boasts of its striking dome-shaped structural design.

    High Court
    Designed by the well-known British architect Vincent Esch, this beautiful Mughal-style edifice was constructed in the year 1916. With an estimated cost of 2 million rupees, this structure boasts of its local pink colored granite and red sandstone shaped panels.

    Falaknuma Palace
     Also known as Star of Heaven, Falaknuma Fort was constructed by Nawab Vikar-ul-Umra Bahadur. It is one of the splendid Indian monuments which stand on top of a 650 m high hill.

    Golconda Fort
    The grand Golconda fort is situated on the outskirts of Hyderabad city and showcases the 400 years old great cultural legacy.

    Salar Jung Museum
    This museum showcases its various collections of antiques from all over the world. Collected by a single man, the 35,000 antiques comprise Chinese Porcelain, stilettos and other belongings of Queen Noor Jehan, Emperor Jahangir and Shah Jahan, Sword of Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb, statuettes, Indian canvases and Persian carpets. Veiled Rebecca, the ammunition section, Bezzoni’s semitransparent white marble statue, the Jade section and the Oriental Section are some of the eye catching masterpieces.

    Hussain Sagar Lake
    The Lake was constructed by Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah to acknowledge the role of Hussain Shah Wali in his life. Hussain Sagar Lake or Tank Bund connects the cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

    Birla Mandir
    Located on the picturesque coasts of Hussain Sagar Lake, Birla Mandir is a modern Hindu temple in Hyderabad. It is constructed on the knoll of ‘Kala Pahad’ and offers a scenic sight of the city from the pinnacle. The marble used in constructing the structure was transported from Rajasthan and the main temple is devoted to Lord Venkateshwara.

    Jama Masjid
    Build in 1597 by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah and located near the Charminar, Jama Masjid is the oldest mosque in Hyderabad.

    Chote Hazrat Ki Dargah
    Chote Hazrat ki Dargah was constructed during the reigns of Asif Jahis in the honor of the son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad, Hazrat Ali. It is located inside the Devan Devadi and the row of 400 stairs guides you up to the Dargah with a magnificent view.

    Nehru Zoological Park
    Nehru Zoological Park comprise of around 250 species of fauna making it the largest zoo in the whole of Asia. Explore the prehistorical animal’s park, history museum, children and bird’s park, etc in the zoo.

    Raymond’s Tomb
     The tomb was built in the memory of Michel Raymond, a Frenchman and a good friend of the reigning Nizam. The 7 m high black granite Raymond’s tomb is located in Saroornagar in east Hyderabad and is facilitated by annual tribute.

    Qutub Shahi Tombs
    The tombs of the Qutub Shahi emperors are arched compositions constructed on a square base enclosed by erected domes. In the middle of each tomb lies the chest covering the actual burial chamber underneath. Previously, these domes were covered with green and blue floors.

    Paigah Tombs
    These are 200 years old tombs which are located at Santoshnagar in Hyderabad. Paigah tombs are the crypts of Paigah nobles better known as relatives of Nizams. They exhibit striking lime and mortar architecture which is magnificently shaped, demonstrating marble engraved work on them.

  • One In 25 US Teens Has Attempted Suicide: Study

    One In 25 US Teens Has Attempted Suicide: Study

    NEW YORK (TIP): About one in 25 US teens has attempted suicide, and one in eight has thought about it, according to a national study based on interviews with thousands of teens. Researchers, whose findings appeared in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, said those numbers are similar to the prevalence of lifetime suicidal thinking and attempts reported by adults, suggesting that the teenage years are an especially vulnerable time. “What adults say is, the highest risk time for first starting to think about suicide is in adolescence,” said Matthew Nock, a psychologist who worked on the study at Harvard University.

    The results are based on in-person interviews of close to 6,500 teens in the United States and questionnaires filled out by their parents. Along with asking youth about their suicidal thinking, plans and attempts, interviewers also determined which teens fit the bill for a range of mental disorders. Just over 12 percent of the youth had thought about suicide. Four percent had made a suicide plan and four percent had attempted suicide. Nock and his colleagues found that almost all teens who thought about or attempted suicide had a mental disorder, including depression, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or problems with drug or alcohol abuse. More than half of the youth were already in treatment when they reported suicidal behavior, which Nock said was both encouraging and disturbing.

    “We know that a lot of the kids who are at risk and thinking about suicide are getting (treatment),” he told Reuters Health. However, “We don’t know how to stop them – we don’t have any evidence-based treatments for suicidal behavior.” The findings leave many questions unanswered. Because most youth who think about suicide never go on to make an actual plan or attempt, doctors need to get better at figuring out which ones are most at risk of putting themselves in danger, according to Nock. Once those youth are identified, researchers will also have to determine the best way to treat them, since it’s clear a lot of current methods aren’t preventing suicidal behavior, he said. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the third leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10 and 24, killing about 4,6000 young people annually. Although girls are more likely to attempt suicide – a patter confirmed by Nock’s study – boys have higher rates of death by suicide because they typically choose more deadly methods, such as guns.

  • Anti-Muslim Ads Go Up In New York City Subways

    Anti-Muslim Ads Go Up In New York City Subways

    NEW YORK (TIP): The group that equated Muslim radicals with savages in advertisements last year has put up another set of provocative ads in dozens of New York City subway stations. The American Freedom Defense Initiative purchased space next to 228 clocks in 39 stations for ads with an image of the burning World Trade Center and a quote attributed to the Quran saying: “Soon shall we cast terror into the hearts of the unbelievers.” The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said the ads went up on Monday and will run for a month. The same group paid for ads to be displayed in 10 stations in September. Those ads implied enemies of Israel are “savages.” The MTA also sold space last year to competing advertisements that urged tolerance.

  • Accused Colorado Theatre Massacre Shooter Posed With Weapons

    Accused Colorado Theatre Massacre Shooter Posed With Weapons

    CENTENNIAL (TIP): Self-portraits of accused Colorado movie house gunman James Holmes posing with firearms and body armor ended prosecutors’ pretrial case against the former graduate student on January 9, but defense lawyers declined to present evidence or witnesses of their own. The pictures, which police said Holmes took of himself with an iPhone before his shooting rampage at a midnight showing of a “Batman” film last summer, capped three days of hearings in which prosecutors laid out their case for putting him on trial. The onetime neuroscience doctoral student is charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder and attempted murder for the 12 people who were slain and dozens of others wounded at the opening of ” The Dark Knight Rises” in the Denver suburb of Aurora.

    Prosecutor Karen Pearson said in her closing arguments that Holmes would have killed more people had his rifle not jammed, adding, “He certainly had the ammo to do so.” The July attack marked one of the most lethal mass shootings in U.S. history and one of a string of mass shootings last year capped by the massacre of 20 children and six adults in December at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. Wrapping up the prosecution’s case against Holmes on Wednesday, Aurora police sergeant Matthew Fyles ran through pictures Holmes took roughly six hours before the deadly assault on the Century 16 multiplex near his home. In one picture, Holmes grinned while holding the muzzle of a handgun near his face. He stuck his tongue out in another photo. His brightly dyed red hair was visible in both pictures, and he wore black contact lenses that made his pupils appear abnormally large. In another picture taken the same evening, his bed was strewn with guns, ammunition magazines, body armor, a gas mask and other gear.

    Booby-trapped apartment
    In a self-portrait taken on July 5, Holmes posed with a semi-automatic rifle and wore the tactical body armor he was wearing when he was arrested. A separate photo taken on July 16 showed the booby-trapped explosives Holmes is accused of rigging up inside his apartment, which according to police he had intended as a diversion to draw authorities away from the theater the night of the assault. The explosives were safely dismantled after the shooting. Holmes’ lawyers, seen by legal experts as preparing for an insanity defense, had been planning to call two witnesses to testify this week about their client’s state of mind around the time of the shootings. But in a surprise twist to the proceedings after the prosecution rested its case on Wednesday, public defender Daniel King told the judge his team had decided not to present its own evidence or testimony. “This is a preliminary hearing and not the proper venue or time to put on a show or truncated defense,” King said. The defense also declined to make a closing statement before the hearing was adjourned. Arapahoe county district judge William Sylvester said he was taking evidence presented this week under advisement and scheduled a new court hearing for Friday that he said would serve as a “status hearing and/or arraignment.” If the judge orders the case to proceed to trial, Holmes, 25, is widely expected to enter a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. Authorities have offered no motive for the slayings. Holmes’ lawyers have said he suffers from mental illness, but they have not been more specific.

  • India Says Contract On French Rafale Jets Being Fine-Tuned

    India Says Contract On French Rafale Jets Being Fine-Tuned

    PARIS (TIP): India is fine-tuning a contract to buy 126 French-made Rafale fighter jets, foreign minister Salman Khurshid said, adding that Paris would have to “wait a little” to pop the bubbly. India last year selected Dassault Aviation as its preferred bidder in a USD 10 billion (7.6 billion euro) contract to equip its air force with new fighter jets. “We know good French wine takes time to mature and so do good contracts,” Khurshid said after a meeting with French foreign minister Laurent Fabius. “The contract details are being worked out,” he said. “A decision has already been taken, just wait a little for the cork to pop and you’ll have some good wine to taste.” France is keen to make its first foreign sale of the Rafale, which has struggled to find buyers to support a project that has cost tens of billions of euros. If the contract is finalized, the first 18 aircraft will be supplied directly by Dassault and the remainder will be produced under license by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, a state-run Indian firm, in Bangalore. Fabius also struck an upbeat note saying that while the final choice was up to New Delhi, Khurshid had assured him that “things are proceeding well”.

  • Out Of Wife’s Love, Pak Man Tears Up Passport To Get Off Plane

    Out Of Wife’s Love, Pak Man Tears Up Passport To Get Off Plane

    LAHORE (TIP): A Pakistani man tore up his passport in a bid to get off an Italy-bound flight after getting a phone call from his distressed wife who was upset about his decision to go abroad, officials said. Faisal Ali, a resident of Gujarat district of Punjab province, tore up the passport minutes before the Pakistan International Airlines flight was to take off from Lahore airport yesterday. Ali got his boarding card and entered the plane. However, he disembarked minutes later and informed immigration authorities that he had lost his passport, officials said. When he was interrogated by officials, Ali revealed he had acted out of “love for his wife”. He told officials that his wife was “very upset” about his decision to go abroad. Ali said he decided not to travel after his wife telephoned him while he was in the plane and began crying. “I decided to leave the aircraft after hearing my wife crying on the phone. I tore up my passport so that I can never even think of leaving my beloved wife,” Ali was quoted as saying by an official. Authorities released Ali after recovering his torn passport.

  • Floating Ice On Saturn’s Moon Titan May Harbour ‘Exotic Life’

    Floating Ice On Saturn’s Moon Titan May Harbour ‘Exotic Life’

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Nasa scientists have discovered blocks of hydrocarbon ice in seas and lakes on Saturn’s moon Titan that may host exotic forms of life.

    A new study by scientists on Nasa’s Cassini mission found that blocks of hydrocarbon ice might decorate the surface of existing lakes and seas of liquid hydrocarbon on Titan. “One of the most intriguing questions about these lakes and seas is whether they might host an exotic form of life,” said Jonathan Lunine of Cornell University, coauthor of the study. “And the formation of floating hydrocarbon ice will provide an opportunity for interesting chemistry along the boundary between liquid and solid, a boundary that may have been important in the origin of terrestrial life,” Lunine said in a statement.

    Titan is the only other body besides Earth in our solar system with stable bodies of liquid on its surface. While our planet’s cycle of precipitation and evaporation involves water, Titan’s cycle involves hydrocarbons like ethane and methane . Ethane and methane are organic molecules, which scientists think can be building blocks for the more complex chemistry from which life arose. Up to this point, Cassini scientists assumed that Titan lakes would not have floating ice, because solid methane is denser than liquid methane and would sink.

    Aliens living on moons like Avatar’s Pandora?
    Moons similar to the one depicted in Hollywood flick ‘Avatar’ may be among the most common places to find alien life, scientists believe. Astronomers came to the conclusion after identifying up to 15 new planets orbiting the life-friendly ‘habitable zones’ of stars. All are giant gaseous worlds similar in size to Jupiter or Neptune. While such planets would not themselves be suitable for Earth-like life, they could be circled by moons on which there are forests, oceans and living creatures, researchers now believe, the ‘Daily Mail’ reported. Pandora, the fictional moon in James Cameron’s movie ‘Avatar’ , is just such a world. So far only one of the 15 newly discovered objects has been confirmed as an exoplanet with 99.9% certainty. The rest still fall into the category of ‘candidate’ planets while further evidence is collected. The confirmed planet, known as PH2 b, orbits a sunlike star in the constellation Cygnus several hundred light years away.

  • A Platinum Solution To U.S. Fiscal Woes: $1 Trillion Coin

    A Platinum Solution To U.S. Fiscal Woes: $1 Trillion Coin

    WASHINGTON (TIP): If you had to flip a coin over whether Congress will raise the debt ceiling, here’s the ultimate one – a freshly minted trillion-dollar platinum coin. A formal petition has been started asking the White House to create such a coin in order to avoid another high-stakes fiscal battle to raise the debt ceiling. The Treasury secretary has the authority to mint platinum coins in the denomination of his choosing, but likely would run into stiff opposition from lawmakers who have been trying to reduce the budget deficits. Creating the cash would also completely override the independence of monetary policy, something the Obama administration has been very careful not to do in the past.

    The coin petition is one of many wacky requests to alight on the White House’s website. People have petitioned the President to nationalize the Twinkie industry, deport British CNN talk show host Piers Morgan for gun control comments he made on air, and give Vice President Joe Biden his own TV show. About 4,000 signatures have been collected for the coin petition, which was created two days after lawmakers passed a bill to avert austerity measures of higher taxes and spending cuts. Shown are the petitioner’s first name, first initial of surname, and in most cases, the city. In order to get a formal response from the White House, 25,000 signatures must be collected by early February.

    “While this may seem like an unnecessarily extreme measure, it is no more absurd than playing political football with the US — and global — economy at stake,” the petition said. The U.S. Treasury began shuffling funds in order to pay government bills after the country hit the $16.4 trillion legal limit on its debt Dec. 31. However, the Treasury’s accounting maneuvers will last only until around the end of February, giving Congress two months to raise the debt limit before the U.S. defaults on its debt. Last week’s deal forced Republicans to forgo their anti-tax pledges and give in to Democratic demands to raise taxes on the wealthiest. Now Republicans want to use the debt limit increase to win spending cuts from Democrats as well as major changes to Social Security retirement and Medicare health care programs.

  • Syria’s Rebels Form Their Own Secret Police

    Syria’s Rebels Form Their Own Secret Police

    BEIRUT (TIP): Just the mention of the word would send shivers down the spine of Syrians: “mukhabarat”, or secret police. Abuses by President Bashar al- Assad’s feared security units were among the reasons Syrians took to the streets in March 2011, leading to an uprising that has become a civil war. But now some of the rebels fighting Assad say they have set up a mukhabarat of their own to “protect the revolution”, monitor sensitive military sites and gather military information to help rebels plan attacks against government forces. “We formally formed the unit in November. It provides all kind of information to (opposition) politicians and fighters. We are independent and just serve the revolution,” said a rebel intelligence officer who goes under the name Haji.

    Rebel commanders had put Reuters in touch with Haji, who is based in Syria, via Skype on condition he not be identified. Haji said most of the rebel mukhabarat’s members were army defectors and former intelligence officers, and that the information they gathered was distributed to all anti-Assad factions and rebel brigades without discrimination. However, the organisation appears to operate independently from the main opposition Syrian National Coalition and the Free Syrian Army, effectively answering to itself.

    Haji was careful to distinguish between its methods and those of the secret police under Assad, saying he was aware of the feared reputation of the government’s internal spy services. “Our work is organised, we have an internal law and we are committed to international laws and human rights,” he said, speaking briefly over Skype. Assad’s mukhabarat – a blanket term for an array of sometimes overlapping and mutually mistrustful security services – that has helped keep his father before him in power for more than four decades, stamping out dissent and insulating Syria from the frequent military coups that had plagued it previously.

    Clandestine activity
    The new rebel body has operated secretly for months, Haji said, helping fighters carry out attacks on government targets. He did not specifically claim credit for a bomb attack on a security headquarters in Damascus in July that killed five of Assad’s top security officials, including his defence minister and his brother-inlaw, who was an intelligence chief. Haji declined to disclose details of the rebel agency, but said it operated across Syria, including in Aleppo and Idlib in the north, Deir al-Zor in the east and the capital Damascus, adding: “We have our spies among the regime who are providing us with information that we need, including military information.” Syrians have long exchanged horror stories of the dungeons of the intelligence branches where dissidents were incarcerated, often tortured and sometimes killed. Opposition activists insist their own mukhabarat will be nothing like those Assad inherited from his father, the late President Hafez al- Assad.

    “The word security should mean the security of the people,” said an opposition activist using the name Abu Hisham in Aleppo. “Unfortunately, Assad’s security bodies changed it to mean preserving the security of the government against the people,” he said. “Having this agency is important right now to track down the shabbiha (pro-Assad militia) and regime forces. We hope they remain up to the responsibility after toppling Assad.” The rebel mukhabarat is keeping a close eye on the movements of Assad’s family, his army generals and senior officials who until now remain out of the insurgents’ reach, Haji said. He denied widespread rumors that Assad’s brother Maher, a military commander, had also been killed in the July bombing, adding that his wife had given birth to twin boys last month. Haji also said Assad, who gave a speech in the Damascus Opera House on Sunday, remains in the capital, but that morale of government officials was low and that many were secretly helping the rebels as an insurance policy in case they won. “They approach us and they give us the information. We do not pay them. They say all they want is protection for their families later on,” he said, alluding to a post- Assad Syria.

    Sectarian tool
    In the Arab world’s many past or present police states, Syria’s mukhabarat has long had a reputation as one of the most ruthless. It consists of at least five powerful agencies who spy on each other, tap phones of dissidents and vie for power. Created under French Mandate rule of Syria from 1923-43, the secret police became ever more powerful under Hafez al-Assad, who ruled with an iron fist from 1971 until his death in 2000. Corruption, personal interests and a lack of communication among its branches might appear to offer avenues for rebels to infiltrate Assad’s mukhabarat, but the security services are dominated by the Syrian leader’s tight-knit Alawite minority. The Alawites, who make up about 12 percent of Syria’s 23 million people, have rallied behind Assad, fearing revenge by the mostly Sunni Muslim rebels if he is toppled. Other minorities, which include Druze, Christians and Shi’ites, fear for their freedoms if the armed revolt brings Sunni Islamist hardliners to power.

    Such fears deepened after documented abuses by some rebels accused of torturing and summarily executing their opponents, as well as of looting state and private property during nearly 22 months of conflict that has cost at least 60,000 lives. Haji said his intelligence agents were documenting such violations so that the perpetrators could be held to account. “We are watching everybody. We have gathered information about every violation that happened in the revolt,” he said. “Those we cannot punish now will be punished after toppling Assad. Nothing will be ignored. We have our members among all the working brigades. They are not known to be intelligence and they operate quietly.” His agents, Haji said, worked under cover as activists, citizen journalists or fighters.

    While welcoming the formation of the rebel intelligence service, one insurgent commander voiced concern it might change its agenda to serve a group or a political party later on, just as Assad’s mukhabarat had focused on protecting his rule. “After toppling Assad all of this will be reshaped – it is a temporary unit but there is fear that this unit will remain secretive the way it is now and starts executing unwanted agendas,” said the commander, known as Obeida. “We fear that later it will become political and serve a political agenda as if all our sacrifices never happened.”

  • Here’s A Drug To Reverse Permanent Deafness

    Here’s A Drug To Reverse Permanent Deafness

    LONDON (TIP):Harvard scientists have developed a drug which they claim can cure permanent deafness by stimulating the inner ear. The drug, codenamed LY411575, works by triggering the regeneration of sensory hair cells. Until now it has not been possible to restore the cells once they have been lost due to factors such as loud noise exposure, infection and toxic drugs, the Daily Mail said. This type of deafness, often suffered by rock musicians and DJs, is generally assumed to be irreversible. Scientists succeeded in partially restoring hearing to mice that had been deafened by loud noise and believe the research could lead to effective treatments for in humans. The new approach involves reprogramming inner ear cells by inhibiting a protein, Notch. Previous research shows Notch signals help prevent stem cells in the cochlea transforming themselves into new sensory hair cells.