Saudi Arabia bans import of Indian chili peppers

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia, the fifth-largest importer of fresh vegetables from India, has banned the import of Indian chili due to the presence of high pesticide residues in it, media reported Friday.

"We have been informed about the Saudi ministry of agriculture's decision to ban chili pepper beginning May 30," Arab News quoted Surinder Bhagat, second secretary of politics and commerce at the Indian embassy here, as saying.

"We are in touch with the Saudi authorities to resolve the issue," he added.

An agriculture ministry official said that the decision to ban the import of chili peppers was made after a sample testing of an Indian shipment found the presence of high level of pesticides, the report said.

"It has been brought to the attention of the authorities here that in recent vegetable consignments from India, there have been interceptions of higher than permissible levels of residues of pesticides," the ministry statement said.

"If the situation persists, the government of Saudi Arabia will take action in the near future," it added.

Following the Saudi government statement, Indian Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) advised exporters to adhere to the this Gulf nation's import requirements and sought the testing of products before they are exported.

"As a region, West Asia is very important to us. We, therefore, do not want to face repercussions from Saudi Arabia, or any other country in the region. Hence, we have advised our members to test export oriented goods carefully before shipping," an APEDA statement said.

The Indian Spices Board said chili peppers are one of India's largest foreign currency earners, and, in the period between April and November 2013, 181,500 tonnes of chili peppers were exported for $3 million.

The European Union (EU) has also temporarily banned the import of Alphonso mangoes and four other vegetables from India May 1.

The decision made by the EU's standing committee on plant health came after 207 consignments of fruits and vegetables imported from India in 2013 allegedly contained excessive pesticide residues.

IANS

Saudi Arabia bans import of Indian chili peppers

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia, the fifth-largest importer of fresh vegetables from India, has banned the import of Indian chili due to the presence of high pesticide residues in it, media reported Friday.

"We have been informed about the Saudi ministry of agriculture's decision to ban chili pepper beginning May 30," Arab News quoted Surinder Bhagat, second secretary of politics and commerce at the Indian embassy here, as saying.

"We are in touch with the Saudi authorities to resolve the issue," he added.

An agriculture ministry official said that the decision to ban the import of chili peppers was made after a sample testing of an Indian shipment found the presence of high level of pesticides, the report said.

"It has been brought to the attention of the authorities here that in recent vegetable consignments from India, there have been interceptions of higher than permissible levels of residues of pesticides," the ministry statement said.

"If the situation persists, the government of Saudi Arabia will take action in the near future," it added.

Following the Saudi government statement, Indian Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) advised exporters to adhere to the this Gulf nation's import requirements and sought the testing of products before they are exported.

"As a region, West Asia is very important to us. We, therefore, do not want to face repercussions from Saudi Arabia, or any other country in the region. Hence, we have advised our members to test export oriented goods carefully before shipping," an APEDA statement said.

The Indian Spices Board said chili peppers are one of India's largest foreign currency earners, and, in the period between April and November 2013, 181,500 tonnes of chili peppers were exported for $3 million.

The European Union (EU) has also temporarily banned the import of Alphonso mangoes and four other vegetables from India May 1.

The decision made by the EU's standing committee on plant health came after 207 consignments of fruits and vegetables imported from India in 2013 allegedly contained excessive pesticide residues.

IANS

Sexting common among modern day kids

Sydney: Have you caught your kid 'sexting' on his/her cell phone lately? There is no reason to panic, says researchers, as 'sexting' online and via mobile phone is so widespread that parents should accept it as a form of “modern day courtship”.

Despite fears that the increasing use of technology is encouraging early promiscuity, the latest survey of Australian high school students' sexual habits reveals the rate of intercourse is actually dropping as more teenagers choose to wait.

“Despite the advent of this technology, sexual activity has remained fairly stable over the past two decades,” professor Anne Mitchell from La Trobe University said.

It is a social, online world kids live in and sending these images and messages is part of their sexual relationships so it is really a new form of courtship, Mitchell added.

“It appears to be happening universally and, while we need to be aware of the harm that can come if those messages are sent out far and wide or misused, it does not appear to be doing harm for the majority of kids,” Mitchell said.

According to researchers, “Parents need to stop panicking about the use of technology and trust their kids - talk to them about their relationships, treating others well, having the kind of sex they want and being safe”.

(IANS)

Sexting common among modern day kids

Sydney: Have you caught your kid 'sexting' on his/her cell phone lately? There is no reason to panic, says researchers, as 'sexting' online and via mobile phone is so widespread that parents should accept it as a form of “modern day courtship”.

Despite fears that the increasing use of technology is encouraging early promiscuity, the latest survey of Australian high school students' sexual habits reveals the rate of intercourse is actually dropping as more teenagers choose to wait.

“Despite the advent of this technology, sexual activity has remained fairly stable over the past two decades,” professor Anne Mitchell from La Trobe University said.

It is a social, online world kids live in and sending these images and messages is part of their sexual relationships so it is really a new form of courtship, Mitchell added.

“It appears to be happening universally and, while we need to be aware of the harm that can come if those messages are sent out far and wide or misused, it does not appear to be doing harm for the majority of kids,” Mitchell said.

According to researchers, “Parents need to stop panicking about the use of technology and trust their kids - talk to them about their relationships, treating others well, having the kind of sex they want and being safe”.

(IANS)

High fibre diet could assure a healthy heart

Studies have shown those who had upped their fiber intake the most had the lowest risk of death after a heart attack. Photo: Wikipedia

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New York: In a large U.S. study of men and women with a heart attack in their past, those who had upped their fiber intake the most afterwards had the lowest risk of death.

The pattern held true even after researchers accounted for medications that lower cholesterol, suggesting it’s important not to rely just on drugs to cut future risks, the authors said.

“There are additional benefits that come from eating healthy,” said Shanshan Li, the study’s lead author and an epidemiologist at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

Diet plays an important role in the development of heart and artery disease, Li and her co-authors write in the journal BMJ, but little is known about the difference dietary fiber might make after a heart attack.

The researchers analyzed data from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, two long-term studies that follow the health and risk factors of women and men across the United States.

At the beginning of the study period the 2,258 women and 1,840 men included in the analysis had survived a first heart attack and had never had a stroke.

Before and after their heart attacks, all participants had filled out questionnaires about how often they ate common foods over the previous year, ranking them from “never” to “six or more times per day.”

Researchers used this information to calculate total fiber intake and kept track of whether each participant’s fiber came from grains, fruits or vegetables.

Participants were followed for a median of about nine years; in that time, 336 women and 451 men died from heart disease-related causes, such as a second heart attack, clogged arteries in the heart and stroke. A total of 682 women and 451 men died of any cause.

The study also took into account factors that could by themselves affect mortality, such as weight, exercise and taking medicines to lower cholesterol.

Li and her team found that for every 10-gram increase in total fiber intake, the risk of death from any cause dropped by 15 percent. The recommended daily fiber intake for women is 25 grams and 38 grams for men.

The authors point out that only fiber from grains, including cereals, was linked to lowered risk, and a high intake of this type of fiber was associated with a 28 percent lower risk of death compared to people who ate the least fiber.

Notably, the amount of fiber participants ate regularly before the first heart attack was not related to the odds of dying later. However, the more a person boosted fiber intake after the heart attack, the lower their risk of death.

The results line up with what was already known about fiber intake and heart disease, said Vivian Mo, a cardiologist and director of the Women's Cardiovascular Center at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

"A high-fiber diet has been linked to lower cholesterol levels, which is associated with a lower risk of heart disease," Mo said.

Still, the study goes beyond that by showing that eating more fiber is associated with a lower risk of death – although it doesn’t prove that it’s the fiber itself that makes the difference, she said.

For example, people who eat lots of fiber likely practice healthy habits and eat an overall healthy diet as compared to those who don’t eat much fiber, she said.

“There are so many differences between people who eat more or less fiber; it’s not just the fiber,” Mo told Reuters Health. But the fact that people who changed their diet the most after a heart attack had the lowest risk of death is encouraging.

“It’s never too late to make a change, such as starting to eat healthier,” Li said.

High fibre diet could assure a healthy heart

Studies have shown those who had upped their fiber intake the most had the lowest risk of death after a heart attack. Photo: Wikipedia

Share

New York: In a large U.S. study of men and women with a heart attack in their past, those who had upped their fiber intake the most afterwards had the lowest risk of death.

The pattern held true even after researchers accounted for medications that lower cholesterol, suggesting it’s important not to rely just on drugs to cut future risks, the authors said.

“There are additional benefits that come from eating healthy,” said Shanshan Li, the study’s lead author and an epidemiologist at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

Diet plays an important role in the development of heart and artery disease, Li and her co-authors write in the journal BMJ, but little is known about the difference dietary fiber might make after a heart attack.

The researchers analyzed data from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, two long-term studies that follow the health and risk factors of women and men across the United States.

At the beginning of the study period the 2,258 women and 1,840 men included in the analysis had survived a first heart attack and had never had a stroke.

Before and after their heart attacks, all participants had filled out questionnaires about how often they ate common foods over the previous year, ranking them from “never” to “six or more times per day.”

Researchers used this information to calculate total fiber intake and kept track of whether each participant’s fiber came from grains, fruits or vegetables.

Participants were followed for a median of about nine years; in that time, 336 women and 451 men died from heart disease-related causes, such as a second heart attack, clogged arteries in the heart and stroke. A total of 682 women and 451 men died of any cause.

The study also took into account factors that could by themselves affect mortality, such as weight, exercise and taking medicines to lower cholesterol.

Li and her team found that for every 10-gram increase in total fiber intake, the risk of death from any cause dropped by 15 percent. The recommended daily fiber intake for women is 25 grams and 38 grams for men.

The authors point out that only fiber from grains, including cereals, was linked to lowered risk, and a high intake of this type of fiber was associated with a 28 percent lower risk of death compared to people who ate the least fiber.

Notably, the amount of fiber participants ate regularly before the first heart attack was not related to the odds of dying later. However, the more a person boosted fiber intake after the heart attack, the lower their risk of death.

The results line up with what was already known about fiber intake and heart disease, said Vivian Mo, a cardiologist and director of the Women's Cardiovascular Center at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

"A high-fiber diet has been linked to lower cholesterol levels, which is associated with a lower risk of heart disease," Mo said.

Still, the study goes beyond that by showing that eating more fiber is associated with a lower risk of death – although it doesn’t prove that it’s the fiber itself that makes the difference, she said.

For example, people who eat lots of fiber likely practice healthy habits and eat an overall healthy diet as compared to those who don’t eat much fiber, she said.

“There are so many differences between people who eat more or less fiber; it’s not just the fiber,” Mo told Reuters Health. But the fact that people who changed their diet the most after a heart attack had the lowest risk of death is encouraging.

“It’s never too late to make a change, such as starting to eat healthier,” Li said.

Tihar jail inmate offered Rs 35,000 per month

NEW DELHI: As many as 66 Tihar inmates, who are on the verge of completing their sentences, were hired by private companies during a recruitment drive at the jail premises.

Vedanta group and IDEIM India Pvt Ltd offered the highest number of placements while Taj Mahal Group offered the highest package to Raju Parasnath, who has spent more than eight years in Tihar.

Parasnath, who earned the highest package, had completed Bachelor of social work from IGNOU during his stay in jail. He secured job at Tajmahal Group of Companies where he is going to be placed as assistant business development manager at a salary of Rs 35,000 per month.

"I came here when I was 18-years-old charged for murder. My sentence was reduced keeping in mind my good behaviour. I completed my graduation in Tihar and have now got a job. I hope I will do justice to myself and my employers," he said.

Most of the inmates who have landed jobs are on the verge of being released and will now join soon after the completion of their sentences, officials said.

Thirty one companies participated in the event. In all, 66 inmate students were selected to participate in this programme and the selection criteria was based on their good conduct.

They got jobs according to their skill and education, however, no women inmate participated in the placement drive.

Director general (Prisons) Vimla Mehra congratulated the candidates and also heard their complaints and grievances regarding the jail.

"I wish all of you a very successful life ahead and would like you to spread the message to your jail mates to maintain calm and keep good behaviour for their better reformation," she said.

Asked about the absence of women among the candidates, she said, "There should have been women too. There is no administrative clarity on the issue but I will check. I have no idea why they have not been involved but a special placement will be arranged for them."

"Thirty seven inmates got selected by various companies. Some of them got very good packages from People's Own Foundation, Tajmahal Group of Companies, Da Pizza hutt, Aziz Media, Vedanta Foundation and Universal Enterprises offered in between Rs 8000 to Rs 35,000 per month packages to inmates for the positions like driver, plumbers, Marketing Executive, Business Development Manager etc.," said Tihar spokesperson Sunil Gupta.

Talking about the remaining 29 inmates, Rajesh Chauhan, superintendent of central jail #3 said that they have also been placed in a shoe making unit.

"This was the seventh placement drive at Tihar and so far 400 inmates have been successfully placed by us in all these years," said Gupta.

Authorities said that the appointment letters will rest with the jail authorities and will be handed over to the inmates on their release.

Tihar jail inmate offered Rs 35,000 per month

NEW DELHI: As many as 66 Tihar inmates, who are on the verge of completing their sentences, were hired by private companies during a recruitment drive at the jail premises.

Vedanta group and IDEIM India Pvt Ltd offered the highest number of placements while Taj Mahal Group offered the highest package to Raju Parasnath, who has spent more than eight years in Tihar.

Parasnath, who earned the highest package, had completed Bachelor of social work from IGNOU during his stay in jail. He secured job at Tajmahal Group of Companies where he is going to be placed as assistant business development manager at a salary of Rs 35,000 per month.

"I came here when I was 18-years-old charged for murder. My sentence was reduced keeping in mind my good behaviour. I completed my graduation in Tihar and have now got a job. I hope I will do justice to myself and my employers," he said.

Most of the inmates who have landed jobs are on the verge of being released and will now join soon after the completion of their sentences, officials said.

Thirty one companies participated in the event. In all, 66 inmate students were selected to participate in this programme and the selection criteria was based on their good conduct.

They got jobs according to their skill and education, however, no women inmate participated in the placement drive.

Director general (Prisons) Vimla Mehra congratulated the candidates and also heard their complaints and grievances regarding the jail.

"I wish all of you a very successful life ahead and would like you to spread the message to your jail mates to maintain calm and keep good behaviour for their better reformation," she said.

Asked about the absence of women among the candidates, she said, "There should have been women too. There is no administrative clarity on the issue but I will check. I have no idea why they have not been involved but a special placement will be arranged for them."

"Thirty seven inmates got selected by various companies. Some of them got very good packages from People's Own Foundation, Tajmahal Group of Companies, Da Pizza hutt, Aziz Media, Vedanta Foundation and Universal Enterprises offered in between Rs 8000 to Rs 35,000 per month packages to inmates for the positions like driver, plumbers, Marketing Executive, Business Development Manager etc.," said Tihar spokesperson Sunil Gupta.

Talking about the remaining 29 inmates, Rajesh Chauhan, superintendent of central jail #3 said that they have also been placed in a shoe making unit.

"This was the seventh placement drive at Tihar and so far 400 inmates have been successfully placed by us in all these years," said Gupta.

Authorities said that the appointment letters will rest with the jail authorities and will be handed over to the inmates on their release.

SC orders to raise water level to 142 ft in Mullaperiyar dam

NEW DELHI: In a setback to the Kerala Government, the Supreme Court Wednesday struck down a law promulgated by it declaring Mullaperiyar dam as endangered, and restrained it from obstructing Tamil Nadu government to raise the water level.  The court ordered to raise the water level to 142 feet.

A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice R M Lodha directed the Kerala government not to implement the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2006.

It also appointed a three-member committee comprising representatives of the Centre and the governments of Tamil Nadu and Kerala to supervise the safety of the dam periodically.

It empowered the committee to issue directions for ensuring the safety of the dam.

The apex court had on August 21, last year, reserved its verdict on the legal battle between Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments over Mullaperiyar dam.

There had been differences between the two states over the safety of the dam. While Tamil Nadu contended the dam was safe and its water level had to be raised from 132 feet to 136 feet, Kerala maintained that the structure was weak and needed to be replaced.

As tension between the two states rose in December 2011, a two-member technical team of the apex court-appointed Empowered Committee had visited the site and concluded that recent tremors in that region did not have any impact on the dam and that it was safe.

  UDF hartal in Idukki tomorrow

THODUPUZHA: A dawn to dusk hartal will be observed by the UDF in the district in protest against Supreme Court’s verdict in the Mullaperiyar issue. Meantime, Mullaperiyar Agitation Council has called for a state wide hartal against the court’s verdict.

Govt failed to convince Centre, SC: VS

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan has said that the government had failed to convince the Supreme Court and the Centre of the seriousness of Mullaperiyar dam security.

He also demanded that the government urgently convene an Assembly meeting to discuss the issue. “The SC order is unfortunate. If some damages happen to Mullaperiyar dam, it would endanger the lives of about 35 lakh people living in Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Alappuzha and Ernakulam. Moreover, there will a total blackout in Kerala,” pointed out Achuthanandan.

SC orders to raise water level to 142 ft in Mullaperiyar dam

NEW DELHI: In a setback to the Kerala Government, the Supreme Court Wednesday struck down a law promulgated by it declaring Mullaperiyar dam as endangered, and restrained it from obstructing Tamil Nadu government to raise the water level.  The court ordered to raise the water level to 142 feet.

A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice R M Lodha directed the Kerala government not to implement the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2006.

It also appointed a three-member committee comprising representatives of the Centre and the governments of Tamil Nadu and Kerala to supervise the safety of the dam periodically.

It empowered the committee to issue directions for ensuring the safety of the dam.

The apex court had on August 21, last year, reserved its verdict on the legal battle between Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments over Mullaperiyar dam.

There had been differences between the two states over the safety of the dam. While Tamil Nadu contended the dam was safe and its water level had to be raised from 132 feet to 136 feet, Kerala maintained that the structure was weak and needed to be replaced.

As tension between the two states rose in December 2011, a two-member technical team of the apex court-appointed Empowered Committee had visited the site and concluded that recent tremors in that region did not have any impact on the dam and that it was safe.

  UDF hartal in Idukki tomorrow

THODUPUZHA: A dawn to dusk hartal will be observed by the UDF in the district in protest against Supreme Court’s verdict in the Mullaperiyar issue. Meantime, Mullaperiyar Agitation Council has called for a state wide hartal against the court’s verdict.

Govt failed to convince Centre, SC: VS

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan has said that the government had failed to convince the Supreme Court and the Centre of the seriousness of Mullaperiyar dam security.

He also demanded that the government urgently convene an Assembly meeting to discuss the issue. “The SC order is unfortunate. If some damages happen to Mullaperiyar dam, it would endanger the lives of about 35 lakh people living in Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Alappuzha and Ernakulam. Moreover, there will a total blackout in Kerala,” pointed out Achuthanandan.