2013, ഡിസംബർ 31, ചൊവ്വാഴ്ച

LPG prices touch a new high

Thiruvananthapuram: The government has given a New Year 'surprise' for the unsuspecting LPG customer by steeply increasing the price of LPG. The price of domestic LPG has been increased by Rs 230.16 to Rs 1293.50. Those with Aadhar cards would get a subsidy of Rs 714. Commercial cylinders would be dearer by Rs 385.95 and would cost Rs 2184.50. This is the first time that the price of LPG is crossing Rs 2000.


LPG prices touch a new high

Thiruvananthapuram: The government has given a New Year 'surprise' for the unsuspecting LPG customer by steeply increasing the price of LPG. The price of domestic LPG has been increased by Rs 230.16 to Rs 1293.50. Those with Aadhar cards would get a subsidy of Rs 714. Commercial cylinders would be dearer by Rs 385.95 and would cost Rs 2184.50. This is the first time that the price of LPG is crossing Rs 2000.


Indian diplomat’s UN application review still on, says US

Washington: The US is still reviewing the application for the transfer of senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade to UN and issue the necessary documents for full diplomatic immunity, a top official said here, giving no timeline for its decision.  "It is under review. We cannot predict when that review will be complete," said a State Department spokesperson yesterday in response to a question on the status of the UN request to grant full diplomatic status to Khobragade. 

The State Department had received her application from the United Nations in New York on December 20. Normally, the State Department takes a decision on this very quickly, but this time the US is taking an unusually long time.  "We cannot compare this to previous requests as each request is evaluated on its own merits," the spokesperson said. Khobragade was arrested on December 12 on charges of visa fraud and misrepresentation. At the time of her arrest, she was Deputy Consul General at the Indian Consulate in New York. The US says, in this capacity, she did not had full diplomatic immunity. 

Days after her arrest, the Indian government has transferred Khobragade to the permanent mission of India to the United Nations (UN), with the view that this would give her the necessary diplomatic immunity from arrest.  India has strongly objected to her arrest, and in protest has withdrawn many of the diplomatic privileges granted to the American diplomats in India.  As one enters the New Year, the Indian diplomat continues to remain in the US without diplomatic immunity. She is currently on bail bond of USD 250,000 and her passport is in possession of the court.

Indian diplomat’s UN application review still on, says US

Washington: The US is still reviewing the application for the transfer of senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade to UN and issue the necessary documents for full diplomatic immunity, a top official said here, giving no timeline for its decision.  "It is under review. We cannot predict when that review will be complete," said a State Department spokesperson yesterday in response to a question on the status of the UN request to grant full diplomatic status to Khobragade. 

The State Department had received her application from the United Nations in New York on December 20. Normally, the State Department takes a decision on this very quickly, but this time the US is taking an unusually long time.  "We cannot compare this to previous requests as each request is evaluated on its own merits," the spokesperson said. Khobragade was arrested on December 12 on charges of visa fraud and misrepresentation. At the time of her arrest, she was Deputy Consul General at the Indian Consulate in New York. The US says, in this capacity, she did not had full diplomatic immunity. 

Days after her arrest, the Indian government has transferred Khobragade to the permanent mission of India to the United Nations (UN), with the view that this would give her the necessary diplomatic immunity from arrest.  India has strongly objected to her arrest, and in protest has withdrawn many of the diplomatic privileges granted to the American diplomats in India.  As one enters the New Year, the Indian diplomat continues to remain in the US without diplomatic immunity. She is currently on bail bond of USD 250,000 and her passport is in possession of the court.

India, Saudi Arabia to ink labour cooperation agreement

New Delhi: Saudi Arabia and India are set to ink an important agreement on labour cooperation when the kingdom's Labour Minister Adel Fakieh arrives on a three-day visit on New Year. Saudi Arabia is one of the top destinations for Indian workers and the labour agreement is expected to standardise service conditions of Indian workers.
The agreement on Labour Cooperation for Domestic Service Workers Recruitment is to be inked on Thursday.The agreement is also expected to do away with the role of middlemen in employing Indian labour.The Saudi minister, who arrives Wednesday evening, will meet Vice President Hamid Ansari, who has served as Indian ambassador in Saudi Arabia, on Thursday. Fakieh would hold delegation level talks with the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi on Thursday after which the agreement is to be signed.
On Friday, the Saudi minister is to meet External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid before leaving.The 2.8 million plus strong Indian community in Saudi Arabia is the largest expatriate community in the Kingdom. 

IANS

India, Saudi Arabia to ink labour cooperation agreement

New Delhi: Saudi Arabia and India are set to ink an important agreement on labour cooperation when the kingdom's Labour Minister Adel Fakieh arrives on a three-day visit on New Year. Saudi Arabia is one of the top destinations for Indian workers and the labour agreement is expected to standardise service conditions of Indian workers.
The agreement on Labour Cooperation for Domestic Service Workers Recruitment is to be inked on Thursday.The agreement is also expected to do away with the role of middlemen in employing Indian labour.The Saudi minister, who arrives Wednesday evening, will meet Vice President Hamid Ansari, who has served as Indian ambassador in Saudi Arabia, on Thursday. Fakieh would hold delegation level talks with the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi on Thursday after which the agreement is to be signed.
On Friday, the Saudi minister is to meet External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid before leaving.The 2.8 million plus strong Indian community in Saudi Arabia is the largest expatriate community in the Kingdom. 

IANS

US ambassador 'regrets' Khobragade arrest

New Delhi: US ambassador Nancy J. Powell Tuesday expressed "regret" over the way Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade was arrested and jailed for alleged visa fraud and underpaying her child's nanny.
Powell said in a New Year message to India that the forward movement in Indo-US relations has been "jolted by the very different reactions to issues involving one of your consular officers and her domestic worker.
"I join Secretary (of State John) Kerry in expressing our regret for the circumstances of the consular officer's arrest," she said in a brief statement.
"But we believe that we can look forward to continuing to expand our bilateral relations," she added.
She said she looked forward to increasing trade and investment including civilian nuclear cooperation, continuing consultations on Afghanistan and other key issues, expanding counter-terrorism and law enforcement cooperation, and encouraging more travel in both directions by students, business representatives and citizens.

Powell added: "I look forward in 2014 to joining with you in celebrating the multiple ways our two great nations can continue to build both a stronger and broader partnership. Happy New Year!"
IANS

US ambassador 'regrets' Khobragade arrest

New Delhi: US ambassador Nancy J. Powell Tuesday expressed "regret" over the way Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade was arrested and jailed for alleged visa fraud and underpaying her child's nanny.
Powell said in a New Year message to India that the forward movement in Indo-US relations has been "jolted by the very different reactions to issues involving one of your consular officers and her domestic worker.
"I join Secretary (of State John) Kerry in expressing our regret for the circumstances of the consular officer's arrest," she said in a brief statement.
"But we believe that we can look forward to continuing to expand our bilateral relations," she added.
She said she looked forward to increasing trade and investment including civilian nuclear cooperation, continuing consultations on Afghanistan and other key issues, expanding counter-terrorism and law enforcement cooperation, and encouraging more travel in both directions by students, business representatives and citizens.

Powell added: "I look forward in 2014 to joining with you in celebrating the multiple ways our two great nations can continue to build both a stronger and broader partnership. Happy New Year!"
IANS

One arrested for attack on Indian student in Australia

Melbourne/New Delhi: The Indian consulate in Melbourne is in touch with police and kin of an Indian student who was attacked and is in coma in a hospital. One suspect has been arrested. The Indian ministry of external affairs said Tuesday in New Delhi that its consulate is in touch with the hospital, the police and the brother of the attacked student, Manriajwinder Singh, 20.

Singh was with two friends when he was assaulted by a group of eight men and one woman over the weekend at Princess Bridge in Birrarung Marr park in Melbourne. The Melbourne police have arrested one suspect who has been produced before a judicial magistrate for remand. Two more suspects have been identified, the ministry said.

Singh, a Bachelor of Commerce at a Melbourne university, was punched, kicked and thrown to the ground by the attackers. He was also allegedly beaten with a stick after he fell unconscious. He is under coma at the Alfred hospital, Melbourne. His brother Yadwinder Singh urged the Australian government for the perpetrators to be "caught and punished so innocent people like my brother and his friend don't get bashed like this". (IANS)

One arrested for attack on Indian student in Australia

Melbourne/New Delhi: The Indian consulate in Melbourne is in touch with police and kin of an Indian student who was attacked and is in coma in a hospital. One suspect has been arrested. The Indian ministry of external affairs said Tuesday in New Delhi that its consulate is in touch with the hospital, the police and the brother of the attacked student, Manriajwinder Singh, 20.

Singh was with two friends when he was assaulted by a group of eight men and one woman over the weekend at Princess Bridge in Birrarung Marr park in Melbourne. The Melbourne police have arrested one suspect who has been produced before a judicial magistrate for remand. Two more suspects have been identified, the ministry said.

Singh, a Bachelor of Commerce at a Melbourne university, was punched, kicked and thrown to the ground by the attackers. He was also allegedly beaten with a stick after he fell unconscious. He is under coma at the Alfred hospital, Melbourne. His brother Yadwinder Singh urged the Australian government for the perpetrators to be "caught and punished so innocent people like my brother and his friend don't get bashed like this". (IANS)

Five gizmos that rocked (2013 in Retrospect) (Special to IANS)

Have we really invented most of what there was to invent? Unlikely. But big new products have gotten fewer and far between. And in 2013, various big tech launches landed with varying thuds. Both hardware (HP's Chromebook 11, Nintendo's Wii U console, the Surface tablet) and software. BlackBerry's much-awaited BB10 operating system was launched in January, but fizzled out, crushed by unexciting, overpriced products. Windows 8, launched the previous year, flopped, and in an ever-so-unrelated move, Microsoft's Steve Ballmer announced that he would step down next year. Yet there were some great gadgets this year: Many new-and-improved ones, and a few all-new products. Here's a pick of five that rocked:

THE iPad Air

The Air shows us what 2013 was mostly about: improvements. If Apple's new iPhones were totally underwhelming, it made up with the iPad Air. This is an overhauled iPad that looks like a big iPad Mini. It's the lightest 10-inch tablet around. It's super-thin, though at 7.5 mm it's beaten by the FTV-model-like Sony Xperia Tablet Z (6.9 mm).

Sadly, the iPad Air is way overpriced, at Rs.51,900 in India for the 32 GB cellular model. And it retains its 5 Mp camera, instead of moving up to the iPhone 5's 8 Mp. But it's stunning (complete with Retina display), packs iWorks and other great software, and works superbly well - retaining its 8-10 hour charge despite the smaller battery.

THE SMARTWATCH

"Wearables" in the form of smartwatches were the rage in tech shows. The crowd-funded PEBBLE was first off the mark, backed by 69,000 people pledging $10 million. It sold about 100,000 smartwatches.

And then Samsung launched the GALAXY GEAR. This watch runs apps, handles voice calls and text messages, and takes pictures and videos, working as a companion to a few Galaxy smartphones. That's limiting, but it's still the first smartwatch from a big brand, and Samsung quickly claimed 800,000 shipments (many were returned).

It's very early days. This gear is expensive at Rs.23,000, has poor battery life, glitchy software, and very few apps. It's in many "flops of 2013" lists, but it's too early for that. Just wait for the Gear 2, expected next March, and many more.

NOKIA LUMIA 1020

Smartphone cameras have gotten very good over the past two years. There are impressive cameras in the iPhone 5 (8 Mp) and Samsung Galaxy S4 (13 Mp). To prove that it isn't about megapixels, the HTC One has a great 4 Mp, low-light camera. The big leap forward was the Nokia Lumia 1020. Its whopping 41 Mp camera could have set off another megapixel rat race, but it isn't about the megapixels behind that Carl Zeiss lens, but how well they're used. Even with low-resolution everyday photos.

Or you can take high-res photos and later crop and zoom digitally without decreasing image quality. And the 1020 now supports the uncompressed RAW digital format preferred by pro photographers. As smartphone, overall, the Lumia 1020 is far from the top. It runs Windows, which is still rather challenged on the apps front, even with Instagram and other popular apps added. But if you want a great camera with a phone, or if you're a photographer looking for a backup camera and a backup phone, this is it.

THE MACBOOK AIR

Apple's 2012 Air, which I'm writing this on, was already the sexiest notebook around. What the 2013 Air did was to take this stunning device and double its battery life to 12 hours for the 13-inch model, with higher performance and a lower price. Inside it, Intel's thrifty new Haswell chip helped a lot. At about Rs.62,000, the 11-inch Air is now great value. Especially with all the free software: Pages, Numbers and Keynote, included. No Microsoft Office required.

Sure, for that price you might squeeze in more specs into a Windows notebook, but that's missing the point. The Air makes a statement like no other on this side of the Rs.100,000-mark, and it works superbly (even with Windows, if you should choose to install that). It's fast, and uses solid-state storage. The MacBook Air is the benchmark other notebook vendors will still be looking to in 2014.

GOOGLE GLASS

This is the converged future: eyewear meets personal computing, Mission Impossible meets real life. 
You wear it like spectacles, and see a smartphone-like display in front of your eye. You can speak to it, telling it to do things. Next year, it should be integrated with regular glasses and sunglasses.

It's a product from Google X, the search giant's mystery division that's worked on other future tech such as driverless cars. Glass is not a mass-manufactured product yet, but a proof of concept-now being tested among selected buyers, in its Explorer Edition ($1,500). Glass should reach store shelves some time in 2014--changing the wearables market forever.

(INS)

Five gizmos that rocked (2013 in Retrospect) (Special to IANS)

Have we really invented most of what there was to invent? Unlikely. But big new products have gotten fewer and far between. And in 2013, various big tech launches landed with varying thuds. Both hardware (HP's Chromebook 11, Nintendo's Wii U console, the Surface tablet) and software. BlackBerry's much-awaited BB10 operating system was launched in January, but fizzled out, crushed by unexciting, overpriced products. Windows 8, launched the previous year, flopped, and in an ever-so-unrelated move, Microsoft's Steve Ballmer announced that he would step down next year. Yet there were some great gadgets this year: Many new-and-improved ones, and a few all-new products. Here's a pick of five that rocked:

THE iPad Air

The Air shows us what 2013 was mostly about: improvements. If Apple's new iPhones were totally underwhelming, it made up with the iPad Air. This is an overhauled iPad that looks like a big iPad Mini. It's the lightest 10-inch tablet around. It's super-thin, though at 7.5 mm it's beaten by the FTV-model-like Sony Xperia Tablet Z (6.9 mm).

Sadly, the iPad Air is way overpriced, at Rs.51,900 in India for the 32 GB cellular model. And it retains its 5 Mp camera, instead of moving up to the iPhone 5's 8 Mp. But it's stunning (complete with Retina display), packs iWorks and other great software, and works superbly well - retaining its 8-10 hour charge despite the smaller battery.

THE SMARTWATCH

"Wearables" in the form of smartwatches were the rage in tech shows. The crowd-funded PEBBLE was first off the mark, backed by 69,000 people pledging $10 million. It sold about 100,000 smartwatches.

And then Samsung launched the GALAXY GEAR. This watch runs apps, handles voice calls and text messages, and takes pictures and videos, working as a companion to a few Galaxy smartphones. That's limiting, but it's still the first smartwatch from a big brand, and Samsung quickly claimed 800,000 shipments (many were returned).

It's very early days. This gear is expensive at Rs.23,000, has poor battery life, glitchy software, and very few apps. It's in many "flops of 2013" lists, but it's too early for that. Just wait for the Gear 2, expected next March, and many more.

NOKIA LUMIA 1020

Smartphone cameras have gotten very good over the past two years. There are impressive cameras in the iPhone 5 (8 Mp) and Samsung Galaxy S4 (13 Mp). To prove that it isn't about megapixels, the HTC One has a great 4 Mp, low-light camera. The big leap forward was the Nokia Lumia 1020. Its whopping 41 Mp camera could have set off another megapixel rat race, but it isn't about the megapixels behind that Carl Zeiss lens, but how well they're used. Even with low-resolution everyday photos.

Or you can take high-res photos and later crop and zoom digitally without decreasing image quality. And the 1020 now supports the uncompressed RAW digital format preferred by pro photographers. As smartphone, overall, the Lumia 1020 is far from the top. It runs Windows, which is still rather challenged on the apps front, even with Instagram and other popular apps added. But if you want a great camera with a phone, or if you're a photographer looking for a backup camera and a backup phone, this is it.

THE MACBOOK AIR

Apple's 2012 Air, which I'm writing this on, was already the sexiest notebook around. What the 2013 Air did was to take this stunning device and double its battery life to 12 hours for the 13-inch model, with higher performance and a lower price. Inside it, Intel's thrifty new Haswell chip helped a lot. At about Rs.62,000, the 11-inch Air is now great value. Especially with all the free software: Pages, Numbers and Keynote, included. No Microsoft Office required.

Sure, for that price you might squeeze in more specs into a Windows notebook, but that's missing the point. The Air makes a statement like no other on this side of the Rs.100,000-mark, and it works superbly (even with Windows, if you should choose to install that). It's fast, and uses solid-state storage. The MacBook Air is the benchmark other notebook vendors will still be looking to in 2014.

GOOGLE GLASS

This is the converged future: eyewear meets personal computing, Mission Impossible meets real life. 
You wear it like spectacles, and see a smartphone-like display in front of your eye. You can speak to it, telling it to do things. Next year, it should be integrated with regular glasses and sunglasses.

It's a product from Google X, the search giant's mystery division that's worked on other future tech such as driverless cars. Glass is not a mass-manufactured product yet, but a proof of concept-now being tested among selected buyers, in its Explorer Edition ($1,500). Glass should reach store shelves some time in 2014--changing the wearables market forever.

(INS)

US to proceed with prosecution of Devyani, no question of apology

NEW YORK: US is proceeding with the prosecution of senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade and has no intention to withdraw the case of visa fraud against her.US sources here said today that more evidence was being gathered against the 39-year-old diplomat before the indictment is filed. The deadline for indictment is January 13.

There is no question of apology to India over the arrest of Khobragade, the then deputy consul general of India, in New York on December 12 which has led to strong protests by the Indian government and widespread indignation in India.
The Indian government has demanded withdrawal of the case and an apology for the treatment meted out to the diplomat.

The sources said that the US government intended to proceed with the prosecution of Khobragade. The indictment will be brought, they emphasised.
They said that everything with regard to the Indian diplomat had been done by the book and that there was no nefarious motive.

The sources replied in the negative when asked if Khobragade, who has been transferred from the Indian Consulate to the country's mission to the UN subsequent to her arrest, enjoyed full diplomatic immunity at present.

They conceded, though, that if she gets UN immunity the diplomat cannot be prosecuted or brought to court for the period of the immunity. The case will be in 'suspension' but will not be dismissed, they said. After getting the UN immunity if she went back to India and then again comes on a visit to the US, she could face arrest since the charges would stand, the sources added. PTI

US to proceed with prosecution of Devyani, no question of apology

NEW YORK: US is proceeding with the prosecution of senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade and has no intention to withdraw the case of visa fraud against her.US sources here said today that more evidence was being gathered against the 39-year-old diplomat before the indictment is filed. The deadline for indictment is January 13.

There is no question of apology to India over the arrest of Khobragade, the then deputy consul general of India, in New York on December 12 which has led to strong protests by the Indian government and widespread indignation in India.
The Indian government has demanded withdrawal of the case and an apology for the treatment meted out to the diplomat.

The sources said that the US government intended to proceed with the prosecution of Khobragade. The indictment will be brought, they emphasised.
They said that everything with regard to the Indian diplomat had been done by the book and that there was no nefarious motive.

The sources replied in the negative when asked if Khobragade, who has been transferred from the Indian Consulate to the country's mission to the UN subsequent to her arrest, enjoyed full diplomatic immunity at present.

They conceded, though, that if she gets UN immunity the diplomat cannot be prosecuted or brought to court for the period of the immunity. The case will be in 'suspension' but will not be dismissed, they said. After getting the UN immunity if she went back to India and then again comes on a visit to the US, she could face arrest since the charges would stand, the sources added. PTI

Goa bus owners to boycott Modi rally

Panaji: Goa's biggest bus owners association has decided to boycott BJP's prime ministerial hopeful Narendra Modi's rally here Jan 12 and has said their buses will not be used for ferrying people.

All Goa Bus Owners Association general secretary Sudip Tamankar told IANS Monday that the decision was taken at an executive body meeting of the association, which he claims controls 1,000 out of Goa's public carriers registered with the state transport department.

'The BJP's decisions have been harsh on us. The abolition of VAT on petrol last year by the Goa government means commuters use their two wheelers instead of buses. This decision is taken in protest of the decision,' Tamankar said. 
However, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said nearly 1.5 lakh people would attend Modi's meeting.

Tamankar also complained that transport department officials were harassing the bus owners and that constant appeals by the association to the government to probe corruption in the department had fallen on deaf ears.

Goa bus owners to boycott Modi rally

Panaji: Goa's biggest bus owners association has decided to boycott BJP's prime ministerial hopeful Narendra Modi's rally here Jan 12 and has said their buses will not be used for ferrying people.

All Goa Bus Owners Association general secretary Sudip Tamankar told IANS Monday that the decision was taken at an executive body meeting of the association, which he claims controls 1,000 out of Goa's public carriers registered with the state transport department.

'The BJP's decisions have been harsh on us. The abolition of VAT on petrol last year by the Goa government means commuters use their two wheelers instead of buses. This decision is taken in protest of the decision,' Tamankar said. 
However, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said nearly 1.5 lakh people would attend Modi's meeting.

Tamankar also complained that transport department officials were harassing the bus owners and that constant appeals by the association to the government to probe corruption in the department had fallen on deaf ears.

Pakistan Shariat court gets first woman judge

Islamabad: Chief Justice of the Federal Shariat Court of Pakistan Justice Agha Rafiq Ahmed Khan Monday administered the oath of office to Justice Ashraf Jehan, the first woman judge to be appointed to the Federal Shariat Court in the country. The ceremony was held at the Sindh High Court in Karachi, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

Among those present at the ceremony were Sindh High Court Chief Justice Maqbool Bakar, judges and senior lawyers, including the president of the Sindh High Court Bar Association, members of the Bar Council, Bar Association and deputy attorney generals. The Federal Shariat Court was established by a presidential order in 1980 and Justice Jehan is the first woman judge in the institution's 33-year existence.

Pakistan Shariat court gets first woman judge

Islamabad: Chief Justice of the Federal Shariat Court of Pakistan Justice Agha Rafiq Ahmed Khan Monday administered the oath of office to Justice Ashraf Jehan, the first woman judge to be appointed to the Federal Shariat Court in the country. The ceremony was held at the Sindh High Court in Karachi, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

Among those present at the ceremony were Sindh High Court Chief Justice Maqbool Bakar, judges and senior lawyers, including the president of the Sindh High Court Bar Association, members of the Bar Council, Bar Association and deputy attorney generals. The Federal Shariat Court was established by a presidential order in 1980 and Justice Jehan is the first woman judge in the institution's 33-year existence.

Healthy? Check heart rhythm to avoid stroke

. New York: It is no longer uncommon to see young and apparently healthy people getting a stroke -- and the cause may well be a heart rhythm disorder. 
So the next time you experience a rapid and irregular heart beat in carrying out not so stressful activities like climbing stairs, time may be ripe for you to visit the doctor to check for atrial fibrillation - a condition involving an irregular heart rhythm, known as arrhythmia.

People with symptomatic A-fib, as it is commonly called, may experience periodic palpitations, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, unusual fatigue or dizziness, said researchers at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

'People with a high rate of premature atrial contractions face a significantly increased risk of developing A-fib,' Gregory M. Marcus, senior author and director of clinical research at UCSF's cardiology division, was quoted as saying.

However, 'the condition is also becoming more prevalent at any age, experts say, because of a rise in three leading risk factors - high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity', added the study, published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Other risk factors include a prior heart attack, overactive thyroid, sleep apnea, excessive alcohol consumption, abnormal heart valves, lung disease and congenital heart defects.

Important steps in treating A-fib, said the study, are to include taking proper steps to reverse the risk factors and preventing 'blood clots from forming by treating patients with anticoagulant'. Here is a warning. 'Once a person has had A-fib, there is an increased risk of stroke even if their heart is in normal rhythm,' the study concluded. 

Healthy? Check heart rhythm to avoid stroke

. New York: It is no longer uncommon to see young and apparently healthy people getting a stroke -- and the cause may well be a heart rhythm disorder. 
So the next time you experience a rapid and irregular heart beat in carrying out not so stressful activities like climbing stairs, time may be ripe for you to visit the doctor to check for atrial fibrillation - a condition involving an irregular heart rhythm, known as arrhythmia.

People with symptomatic A-fib, as it is commonly called, may experience periodic palpitations, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, unusual fatigue or dizziness, said researchers at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

'People with a high rate of premature atrial contractions face a significantly increased risk of developing A-fib,' Gregory M. Marcus, senior author and director of clinical research at UCSF's cardiology division, was quoted as saying.

However, 'the condition is also becoming more prevalent at any age, experts say, because of a rise in three leading risk factors - high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity', added the study, published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Other risk factors include a prior heart attack, overactive thyroid, sleep apnea, excessive alcohol consumption, abnormal heart valves, lung disease and congenital heart defects.

Important steps in treating A-fib, said the study, are to include taking proper steps to reverse the risk factors and preventing 'blood clots from forming by treating patients with anticoagulant'. Here is a warning. 'Once a person has had A-fib, there is an increased risk of stroke even if their heart is in normal rhythm,' the study concluded. 

Indian student assaulted in Australia, brother seeks justice

Melbourne: A 20-year-old Indian student was seriously injured after he was brutally assaulted and robbed in Australia's Melbourne city, a media report said Monday. The student, Manriajwinder Singh of Reservoir, a suburb in Melbourne, was nearly beaten to death by a gang in a city park Sunday, The Age reported.

According to a CCTV footage released by police, Manriajwinder Singh, standing near the footpath with another friend at Birrarung Marr park, were approached by eight men of African appearance and one fair-skinned woman Sunday.

After a brief conversation between the group and the two victims, one of the attackers kicked Manriajwinder Singh in the jaw, causing him to fall unconscious, the report quoted police officer Adam Foley as saying. Meanwhile, the others 'set upon the other victim, punching and kicking him' before knocking him to the ground.

'While this was occurring, another man picked up a stick and beat the unconscious victim with it,' Foley said. The attackers, aged in their late teens to early 20s, then robbed the two victims of their phones and ran away, the daily's report said. A third man, a friend of Manriajwinder Singh, who was talking on the phone at the time of the attack, managed to run away and alert the police.

Manriajwinder Singh was taken to The Alfred hospital with life-threatening injuries, and has since been transferred to the intensive care unit after being placed in an induced coma, Foley said. His injuries are no longer life-threatening. 
The other victim suffered swelling and abrasions to his face. He was treated by paramedics at the scene.

Police have not been able to track down the stolen phones and are appealing to the public for information on the assault. 'Obviously, this was an opportunistic crime. They saw two vulnerable victims minding their own business, and targeted them. It's just disgusting what they did, they're just cowards,' Foley said.

Meanwhile, Manriajwinder Singh's brother Yadwinder Singh said he wants the attackers to be 'caught and punished so innocent people like my brother and his friend don't get bashed like this'. Yadwinder Singh said his brother was studying for a bachelor of commerce degree at a university in Melbourne, and had only been in Australia for a year.

'I didn't know how to react. I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to tell my mother, as she's not really strong of heart. I just couldn't believe it - it was really terrible,' he said. 'My brother is only 20 years old, and he's very innocent and doesn't speak much. He told me he wanted to go out that night, but I said no, not today, maybe another day. But he said he really wanted to see the city.'

Indian student assaulted in Australia, brother seeks justice

Melbourne: A 20-year-old Indian student was seriously injured after he was brutally assaulted and robbed in Australia's Melbourne city, a media report said Monday. The student, Manriajwinder Singh of Reservoir, a suburb in Melbourne, was nearly beaten to death by a gang in a city park Sunday, The Age reported.

According to a CCTV footage released by police, Manriajwinder Singh, standing near the footpath with another friend at Birrarung Marr park, were approached by eight men of African appearance and one fair-skinned woman Sunday.

After a brief conversation between the group and the two victims, one of the attackers kicked Manriajwinder Singh in the jaw, causing him to fall unconscious, the report quoted police officer Adam Foley as saying. Meanwhile, the others 'set upon the other victim, punching and kicking him' before knocking him to the ground.

'While this was occurring, another man picked up a stick and beat the unconscious victim with it,' Foley said. The attackers, aged in their late teens to early 20s, then robbed the two victims of their phones and ran away, the daily's report said. A third man, a friend of Manriajwinder Singh, who was talking on the phone at the time of the attack, managed to run away and alert the police.

Manriajwinder Singh was taken to The Alfred hospital with life-threatening injuries, and has since been transferred to the intensive care unit after being placed in an induced coma, Foley said. His injuries are no longer life-threatening. 
The other victim suffered swelling and abrasions to his face. He was treated by paramedics at the scene.

Police have not been able to track down the stolen phones and are appealing to the public for information on the assault. 'Obviously, this was an opportunistic crime. They saw two vulnerable victims minding their own business, and targeted them. It's just disgusting what they did, they're just cowards,' Foley said.

Meanwhile, Manriajwinder Singh's brother Yadwinder Singh said he wants the attackers to be 'caught and punished so innocent people like my brother and his friend don't get bashed like this'. Yadwinder Singh said his brother was studying for a bachelor of commerce degree at a university in Melbourne, and had only been in Australia for a year.

'I didn't know how to react. I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to tell my mother, as she's not really strong of heart. I just couldn't believe it - it was really terrible,' he said. 'My brother is only 20 years old, and he's very innocent and doesn't speak much. He told me he wanted to go out that night, but I said no, not today, maybe another day. But he said he really wanted to see the city.'

2013, ഡിസംബർ 28, ശനിയാഴ്‌ച

Indians threatened in Bahrain asked to approach authorities

Manama: Indian workers who face threats from their employers in Bahrain should immediately approach the authorities, India's ambassador to Bahrain Mohan Kumar has said. "If there is any explicit threat a person faces, they should visit the nearest police station and inform the embassy," the Gulf Daily News quoted the ambassador as saying.

"They should not accept any bodily threats," he said Friday during the monthly Open House. An Indian worker had complained about being threatened by his employer after asking for his passport. The envoy also urged the registered 28 Indian associations in Bahrain to play bigger roles in dealing with the community and labour problems.

He advised Indians not to sign blank documents, which could be misused by some employers to slap travel bans on them. "I would like to emphasise here that no one should sign blank papers or even documents in which they are not aware of the terms and conditions," he said.

Mohan Kumar said the embassy has also come across cases of misuse of identification cards of workers by telecommunication companies, which resulted in workers being banned from travelling.  He said they will write a letter to the companies highlighting the problem. The embassy also issued guidelines concerning labour rights in the middle-east country.

The guidelines will be distributed to ministries, expatriate associations and workers, the report said. 
The guidelines in English will be translated to Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam languages so that more Indians can be aware of their rights, the diplomat said. The document addresses several issues, including steps to file cases of non-payment of wages, passport confiscation, and expired visas among others.


Indians threatened in Bahrain asked to approach authorities

Manama: Indian workers who face threats from their employers in Bahrain should immediately approach the authorities, India's ambassador to Bahrain Mohan Kumar has said. "If there is any explicit threat a person faces, they should visit the nearest police station and inform the embassy," the Gulf Daily News quoted the ambassador as saying.

"They should not accept any bodily threats," he said Friday during the monthly Open House. An Indian worker had complained about being threatened by his employer after asking for his passport. The envoy also urged the registered 28 Indian associations in Bahrain to play bigger roles in dealing with the community and labour problems.

He advised Indians not to sign blank documents, which could be misused by some employers to slap travel bans on them. "I would like to emphasise here that no one should sign blank papers or even documents in which they are not aware of the terms and conditions," he said.

Mohan Kumar said the embassy has also come across cases of misuse of identification cards of workers by telecommunication companies, which resulted in workers being banned from travelling.  He said they will write a letter to the companies highlighting the problem. The embassy also issued guidelines concerning labour rights in the middle-east country.

The guidelines will be distributed to ministries, expatriate associations and workers, the report said. 
The guidelines in English will be translated to Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam languages so that more Indians can be aware of their rights, the diplomat said. The document addresses several issues, including steps to file cases of non-payment of wages, passport confiscation, and expired visas among others.


Ice storm leaves 500,000 without power in US, Canada; 24 dead

Augusta, Maine: Repair crews worked around the clock to restore power to nearly half a million customers who faced a cold and dark Christmas in parts of the central and northeastern United States and into eastern Canada after a weekend ice storm. At least 24 deaths have been linked to the storm.

It appears the bad weather isn't ready to take a break. The U.S. National Weather Service said more snow is forecast to roll into the Great Lakes and Midwest by Wednesday morning.

In Canada, five people were reported dead from apparent carbon monoxide poisoning. Police said two people in Ontario died after using a gas generator to heat their blacked-out home northeast of Toronto. Police in Quebec said carbon monoxide poisoning was believed to be the cause of three deaths in a chalet on the province's North Shore. Earlier, five people were killed in eastern Canada in highway crashes blamed on severe weather conditions.

In the U.S., the nationwide death toll from the storm reached at least 14 on Tuesday, when a 50-year-old man in Knox, Maine, was overcome by carbon monoxide fumes from a generator. It was the second reported death attributed to fumes from a generator during the storm. Police in Michigan also attributed two deaths in a traffic collision that happened Monday to the storm.

As temperatures plunged into the low single digits (below minus 15 Celsius) in Toronto - where nearly 80,000 customers remained without power late Tuesday - authorities reported a dramatic jump in calls for suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, responding to 110 calls in a 24-hour period. Officials said they typically see 20 such calls a day.

'We're looking at approximately six times as many calls,' Toronto Mayor Rob Ford said as the city issued an extreme cold weather alert. 'I understand they want to keep warm but you cannot do this. This is deadly.'

Fire officials warned residents not to use any appliance that burns inside a home, and even cautioned against using a lot of candles. In Toronto, where 300,000 customers lost power at the height of the storm, crews from Ottawa, Windsor, Manitoba and Michigan were helping local teams with their efforts.

Elsewhere in Ontario, more than 44,000 customers were still without power early Wednesday. In Quebec, some 28,000 customers remained without power. In New Brunswick, just over 29,000 customers were still in the dark, and about 300 were without power in Nova Scotia.

Canadian utility officials warned that some customers could be without power until Saturday.
Some U.S. states kept emergency shelters open for people without power. 
The number of customers in Maine without power spiked to more than 100,000 on Tuesday. Central Maine Power said its goal was to use more than 1,000 workers to restore power for all customers by Thursday night, while other utilities in Maine warned customers they could be without electricity until Friday.

That was the case, too, in Michigan, where Jackson-based Consumers Energy - the state's largest utility - said it hadn't had this many outages during any Christmas week since its founding 126 years ago. Close to 17 percent of its 1.8 million electric customers lost power during the storm that hit late Saturday; roughly 152,000 remained without it Tuesday.

At their home outside Flint, Michigan, John Potbury and his family of four lost electricity at 6 a.m. Sunday and since then they have been living in a single bedroom warmed by generator-powered space heaters.Lights on the Christmas tree were dark, of course, but there was no power to the freezer, either. 'Even though the house is freezing cold, the freezer items were starting to thaw out,' Potbury said.

That wasn't the greatest concern, however, for his kids, 8-year-old Jacob and 5-year-old Jackson. Potbury said he told them Tuesday, 'Santa runs on reindeer power, not electricity, so he should be OK.'
AP

Ice storm leaves 500,000 without power in US, Canada; 24 dead

Augusta, Maine: Repair crews worked around the clock to restore power to nearly half a million customers who faced a cold and dark Christmas in parts of the central and northeastern United States and into eastern Canada after a weekend ice storm. At least 24 deaths have been linked to the storm.

It appears the bad weather isn't ready to take a break. The U.S. National Weather Service said more snow is forecast to roll into the Great Lakes and Midwest by Wednesday morning.

In Canada, five people were reported dead from apparent carbon monoxide poisoning. Police said two people in Ontario died after using a gas generator to heat their blacked-out home northeast of Toronto. Police in Quebec said carbon monoxide poisoning was believed to be the cause of three deaths in a chalet on the province's North Shore. Earlier, five people were killed in eastern Canada in highway crashes blamed on severe weather conditions.

In the U.S., the nationwide death toll from the storm reached at least 14 on Tuesday, when a 50-year-old man in Knox, Maine, was overcome by carbon monoxide fumes from a generator. It was the second reported death attributed to fumes from a generator during the storm. Police in Michigan also attributed two deaths in a traffic collision that happened Monday to the storm.

As temperatures plunged into the low single digits (below minus 15 Celsius) in Toronto - where nearly 80,000 customers remained without power late Tuesday - authorities reported a dramatic jump in calls for suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, responding to 110 calls in a 24-hour period. Officials said they typically see 20 such calls a day.

'We're looking at approximately six times as many calls,' Toronto Mayor Rob Ford said as the city issued an extreme cold weather alert. 'I understand they want to keep warm but you cannot do this. This is deadly.'

Fire officials warned residents not to use any appliance that burns inside a home, and even cautioned against using a lot of candles. In Toronto, where 300,000 customers lost power at the height of the storm, crews from Ottawa, Windsor, Manitoba and Michigan were helping local teams with their efforts.

Elsewhere in Ontario, more than 44,000 customers were still without power early Wednesday. In Quebec, some 28,000 customers remained without power. In New Brunswick, just over 29,000 customers were still in the dark, and about 300 were without power in Nova Scotia.

Canadian utility officials warned that some customers could be without power until Saturday.
Some U.S. states kept emergency shelters open for people without power. 
The number of customers in Maine without power spiked to more than 100,000 on Tuesday. Central Maine Power said its goal was to use more than 1,000 workers to restore power for all customers by Thursday night, while other utilities in Maine warned customers they could be without electricity until Friday.

That was the case, too, in Michigan, where Jackson-based Consumers Energy - the state's largest utility - said it hadn't had this many outages during any Christmas week since its founding 126 years ago. Close to 17 percent of its 1.8 million electric customers lost power during the storm that hit late Saturday; roughly 152,000 remained without it Tuesday.

At their home outside Flint, Michigan, John Potbury and his family of four lost electricity at 6 a.m. Sunday and since then they have been living in a single bedroom warmed by generator-powered space heaters.Lights on the Christmas tree were dark, of course, but there was no power to the freezer, either. 'Even though the house is freezing cold, the freezer items were starting to thaw out,' Potbury said.

That wasn't the greatest concern, however, for his kids, 8-year-old Jacob and 5-year-old Jackson. Potbury said he told them Tuesday, 'Santa runs on reindeer power, not electricity, so he should be OK.'
AP

Gunmen open fire on anti-govt protesters in Thailand, one dead


Bangkok: An anti-government protester was killed and three others injured Saturday when unidentified gunmen opened fire at a rally site near Thailand's Government House here, raising fears of violence in deeply polarised country.
The pre-dawn attack follows weeks of protests demanding resignation of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, triggering bloody clashes between police and opposition demonstrators. "All of them were shot around 03.30 a.m. near the gate number 4 of Government House," the Bangkok Administration's Erawan Emergency Medical Services Centre said.
"The dead man is in his 30s. He was shot in the torso," a spokesman for the centre said. It was unclear who fired the shots. The attacks came a day after an injured anti-government protester succumbed to gunshot wounds yesterday. A police officer was killed and 143 people including protesters, journalists and policemen were injured after violence erupted at the Thai-Japanese Stadium on Thursday.
With one more death today, the toll has now risen to three in the latest bout of political violence in Thailand. The protesters have been demanding Yingluck's resignation since mid-October. The protests began after her government tried to introduce an amnesty bill that would have paved the way for the return of her brother, controversial former premier Thaksin Shinawatra currently in self-exile in Dubai.
A rattled Yingluck called the snap polls, scheduled for February 2, after weeks of protests. But the demonstrators have dismissed the election, and the official opposition has refused to field candidates. Protesters have further rejected another offer by Yingluck to form a national reform council intended to run alongside her government.
The Election Commission and the caretaker government are bracing for further violence during registration for constituency candidates which starts nationwide today. Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban last night urged EC officials in every province to listen to the people's demand for reform before the election.
He also told his supporters to prepare for a major rally after the New Year holiday when he warned the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) will shut down the capital. He said the PDRC will not leave "a square inch" of Bangkok for Thaksin supporters and told those who disagreed with this move to leave the capital for good.

Gunmen open fire on anti-govt protesters in Thailand, one dead


Bangkok: An anti-government protester was killed and three others injured Saturday when unidentified gunmen opened fire at a rally site near Thailand's Government House here, raising fears of violence in deeply polarised country.
The pre-dawn attack follows weeks of protests demanding resignation of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, triggering bloody clashes between police and opposition demonstrators. "All of them were shot around 03.30 a.m. near the gate number 4 of Government House," the Bangkok Administration's Erawan Emergency Medical Services Centre said.
"The dead man is in his 30s. He was shot in the torso," a spokesman for the centre said. It was unclear who fired the shots. The attacks came a day after an injured anti-government protester succumbed to gunshot wounds yesterday. A police officer was killed and 143 people including protesters, journalists and policemen were injured after violence erupted at the Thai-Japanese Stadium on Thursday.
With one more death today, the toll has now risen to three in the latest bout of political violence in Thailand. The protesters have been demanding Yingluck's resignation since mid-October. The protests began after her government tried to introduce an amnesty bill that would have paved the way for the return of her brother, controversial former premier Thaksin Shinawatra currently in self-exile in Dubai.
A rattled Yingluck called the snap polls, scheduled for February 2, after weeks of protests. But the demonstrators have dismissed the election, and the official opposition has refused to field candidates. Protesters have further rejected another offer by Yingluck to form a national reform council intended to run alongside her government.
The Election Commission and the caretaker government are bracing for further violence during registration for constituency candidates which starts nationwide today. Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban last night urged EC officials in every province to listen to the people's demand for reform before the election.
He also told his supporters to prepare for a major rally after the New Year holiday when he warned the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) will shut down the capital. He said the PDRC will not leave "a square inch" of Bangkok for Thaksin supporters and told those who disagreed with this move to leave the capital for good.