27 killed in Afghan coal mine collapse

Kabul: At least 27 people were killed and 20 others injured in a coal mine collapse in Afghanistan, officials said Sunday.  The incident occurred Saturday at the Abkhorak mine in Ro-e-Dohab district in the northern province of Samangan, provincial government spokesman Mohammad Seddiq Azizi told Xinhua. 

Hundreds of locals joined police and rescue personnel to help save many lives in the incident. The province with Aybak as its capital is around 200 km from Kabul.

27 killed in Afghan coal mine collapse

Kabul: At least 27 people were killed and 20 others injured in a coal mine collapse in Afghanistan, officials said Sunday.  The incident occurred Saturday at the Abkhorak mine in Ro-e-Dohab district in the northern province of Samangan, provincial government spokesman Mohammad Seddiq Azizi told Xinhua. 

Hundreds of locals joined police and rescue personnel to help save many lives in the incident. The province with Aybak as its capital is around 200 km from Kabul.

KSRTC says no special buses; Malayalees seeking alternate ways

Bangalore: Putting Malayalees in a spot, KSRTC has declared that no more special buses will ply for this onam season other than the allotted 10 services. The South western railway has allotted only one special train. In the last three days, 10  special services were announced by Kerala RTC and among them, three are to Thiruvananthapuram. Only one special train was allotted and that is to Kochuveli. With only one more day for Onam, Malayalees are facing difficulties to reach Kerala. They are seeking alternate ways and hiring a car is the most sought after method, with four or five sharing it. For years, many hire cars mostly during Onam and Vishu season. When four or five people hire a car, the cost is less and they return in the same car. As there are groups and friends in Facebook, there is no dearth for travelers and there are plenty of people who opt this way.

KSRTC says no special buses; Malayalees seeking alternate ways

Bangalore: Putting Malayalees in a spot, KSRTC has declared that no more special buses will ply for this onam season other than the allotted 10 services. The South western railway has allotted only one special train. In the last three days, 10  special services were announced by Kerala RTC and among them, three are to Thiruvananthapuram. Only one special train was allotted and that is to Kochuveli. With only one more day for Onam, Malayalees are facing difficulties to reach Kerala. They are seeking alternate ways and hiring a car is the most sought after method, with four or five sharing it. For years, many hire cars mostly during Onam and Vishu season. When four or five people hire a car, the cost is less and they return in the same car. As there are groups and friends in Facebook, there is no dearth for travelers and there are plenty of people who opt this way.

US, Russia reach agreement on framework for securing Syria's chemical weapons

GENEVA: US secretary of state John Kerry and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov say they have reached an agreement on a framework for securing Syria's chemical weapons after the third day of intense negotiations in Geneva They say some elements of the deal include a timetable and how Syria must comply — and that if Syria fails, they will seek a Security Council resolution that could authorize military action. At a news conference on Saturday, Kerry said the pair and their teams of experts had reached "a shared assessment'' of the existing stockpile and that Syria must destroy all of its weapons.

Kerry said "we have committed to a standard that says, verify and verify.'' The negotiations between the United States and Russia on securing Syria's chemical weapons also are considered key to a resumption of peace talks to end the 2-year Syrian civil war.

US, Russia reach agreement on framework for securing Syria's chemical weapons

GENEVA: US secretary of state John Kerry and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov say they have reached an agreement on a framework for securing Syria's chemical weapons after the third day of intense negotiations in Geneva They say some elements of the deal include a timetable and how Syria must comply — and that if Syria fails, they will seek a Security Council resolution that could authorize military action. At a news conference on Saturday, Kerry said the pair and their teams of experts had reached "a shared assessment'' of the existing stockpile and that Syria must destroy all of its weapons.

Kerry said "we have committed to a standard that says, verify and verify.'' The negotiations between the United States and Russia on securing Syria's chemical weapons also are considered key to a resumption of peace talks to end the 2-year Syrian civil war.

Stay positive for a healthy heart

Copenhagen: Having a positive attitude encourages heart disease patients to exercise more which in turn increases longevity, says a study. Researchers used a questionnaire to assess the moods of 600 heart disease patients in a Denmark hospital. Five years later, researchers found the most positive patients exercised more and had a 42 percent less chance of dying for any reason during the follow-up period. Deaths were less than 10 percent.

Among patients with less positive attitudes, 50 deaths occurred (16.5 percent). 

Positive mood and exercise also cut the risk of heart-related hospitalizations, reports Science Daily. Coronary artery disease is caused by narrowed arteries that don't provide enough blood and oxygen to the heart.

'We should focus not only on increasing positive attitude in cardiac rehabilitation, but also make sure that patients perform exercise on a regular basis, as exercise is associated with both increased levels of optimism and better health,' said Susanne S. Pedersen, one of the study authors and professor of cardiac psychology, the Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, the Netherlands, and adjunct professor of cardiac psychology, the University of Southern Denmark and Odense University Hospital, Denmark. The new research has been published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

Stay positive for a healthy heart

Copenhagen: Having a positive attitude encourages heart disease patients to exercise more which in turn increases longevity, says a study. Researchers used a questionnaire to assess the moods of 600 heart disease patients in a Denmark hospital. Five years later, researchers found the most positive patients exercised more and had a 42 percent less chance of dying for any reason during the follow-up period. Deaths were less than 10 percent.

Among patients with less positive attitudes, 50 deaths occurred (16.5 percent). 

Positive mood and exercise also cut the risk of heart-related hospitalizations, reports Science Daily. Coronary artery disease is caused by narrowed arteries that don't provide enough blood and oxygen to the heart.

'We should focus not only on increasing positive attitude in cardiac rehabilitation, but also make sure that patients perform exercise on a regular basis, as exercise is associated with both increased levels of optimism and better health,' said Susanne S. Pedersen, one of the study authors and professor of cardiac psychology, the Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, the Netherlands, and adjunct professor of cardiac psychology, the University of Southern Denmark and Odense University Hospital, Denmark. The new research has been published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

180 children fall sick after having meal at school in China

BEIJING: At least 180 students fell ill after having milk and cookies at an elementary school in central China's Hunan Province. Students from a school in Xinhua County were hospitalised after they reported having headaches, stomachache and vomiting in the last four days, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today.

They have been sent to local hospitals for treatment. So far 168 students had been discharged from hospital, while 12 remain for further observation, the report quoted county government as saying.

The milk and cookies supplied to the students have been sealed and samples have been sent to the provincial disease control and prevention centre for investigation, it said. According to the county government, preliminary investigation shows that milk might have caused the incident. Further investigation into the matter is underway.

180 children fall sick after having meal at school in China

BEIJING: At least 180 students fell ill after having milk and cookies at an elementary school in central China's Hunan Province. Students from a school in Xinhua County were hospitalised after they reported having headaches, stomachache and vomiting in the last four days, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today.

They have been sent to local hospitals for treatment. So far 168 students had been discharged from hospital, while 12 remain for further observation, the report quoted county government as saying.

The milk and cookies supplied to the students have been sealed and samples have been sent to the provincial disease control and prevention centre for investigation, it said. According to the county government, preliminary investigation shows that milk might have caused the incident. Further investigation into the matter is underway.