Woman arrested from Mangalore for funds transfer racket

Lakhisarai (Bihar): A woman "kingpin" of an illegal money transaction racket operating here with Pakistani link, has been arrested from Karnataka by Bihar Police.  A team of Bihar Police arrested Aysha Bano from Mangalore. Her husband, Zubair, who runs a bidi business was detained, Lakhisarai Superintendent of Police Rajiv Mishra told PTI. They were being brought to Bihar, he said.

Sources said Aysha Bano, mother of three children and referred to as "Pakistan boss", allegedly used to pass instruction to agents here to deposit money in designated bank accounts. Preliminary inquiry has revealed that she was handled from Pakistan, the police said. The woman was arrested on the basis of an FIR lodged at Lakhisarai, 70 km from here.

The racket was busted on the basis of an alert from NIA while investigating serial blasts at Patna and Bodh Gaya explosions. Four persons were arrested from outside a HDFC ATM on Friday last in this connection and send to Lakhisarai jail.  Police said the four persons allegedly used to lure poor people to open bank accounts by paying them Rs 2000 and on these accounts money used to come from unknowns destinations, mostly from abroad.

Later, instructions used to be sent through SMS from Pakistan numbers to withdraw cash from these accounts and deposit them in account numbers provided to them in the SMS. The Lakhisarai police had seized 25 ATM cards, 35 passbooks and cheques from the arrested.

Woman arrested from Mangalore for funds transfer racket

Lakhisarai (Bihar): A woman "kingpin" of an illegal money transaction racket operating here with Pakistani link, has been arrested from Karnataka by Bihar Police.  A team of Bihar Police arrested Aysha Bano from Mangalore. Her husband, Zubair, who runs a bidi business was detained, Lakhisarai Superintendent of Police Rajiv Mishra told PTI. They were being brought to Bihar, he said.

Sources said Aysha Bano, mother of three children and referred to as "Pakistan boss", allegedly used to pass instruction to agents here to deposit money in designated bank accounts. Preliminary inquiry has revealed that she was handled from Pakistan, the police said. The woman was arrested on the basis of an FIR lodged at Lakhisarai, 70 km from here.

The racket was busted on the basis of an alert from NIA while investigating serial blasts at Patna and Bodh Gaya explosions. Four persons were arrested from outside a HDFC ATM on Friday last in this connection and send to Lakhisarai jail.  Police said the four persons allegedly used to lure poor people to open bank accounts by paying them Rs 2000 and on these accounts money used to come from unknowns destinations, mostly from abroad.

Later, instructions used to be sent through SMS from Pakistan numbers to withdraw cash from these accounts and deposit them in account numbers provided to them in the SMS. The Lakhisarai police had seized 25 ATM cards, 35 passbooks and cheques from the arrested.

State Planning Board bats for privatization, foreign investment in edu sector

 Thiruvananthapuram: The State Planning Board has urged the government to allow private and foreign universities to invest in the higher-education sector. 'Kerala 2030', a documentary produced by the planning board, has been presented to the government with many recommendations for improving the state's education sector. The Planning Board said the government has to create a suitable environment to facilitate cooperation between industries and universities. The documentary also recommends an increase in the tuition and capitation fees in universities.

Key recommendations:

> Those who cannot afford fee must be given scholarships
> Knowledge cities must be set up in Kozhikode, Malappuram, Thrissur, Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram
> Special purpose vehicles must be introduced for Knowledge cities
> Industries must be allowed to start courses
> Introduce national and international accreditation schemes 

The documentary said these knowledge cities will become knowledge banks made up of domestic and foreign universities in the future. It said the state will become strong enough to compete with Singapore and Hong Kong in the education sector if the recommendations are followed.

Most of the recommendations promote privatization of the sector and increased foreign investment.

State Planning Board bats for privatization, foreign investment in edu sector

 Thiruvananthapuram: The State Planning Board has urged the government to allow private and foreign universities to invest in the higher-education sector. 'Kerala 2030', a documentary produced by the planning board, has been presented to the government with many recommendations for improving the state's education sector. The Planning Board said the government has to create a suitable environment to facilitate cooperation between industries and universities. The documentary also recommends an increase in the tuition and capitation fees in universities.

Key recommendations:

> Those who cannot afford fee must be given scholarships
> Knowledge cities must be set up in Kozhikode, Malappuram, Thrissur, Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram
> Special purpose vehicles must be introduced for Knowledge cities
> Industries must be allowed to start courses
> Introduce national and international accreditation schemes 

The documentary said these knowledge cities will become knowledge banks made up of domestic and foreign universities in the future. It said the state will become strong enough to compete with Singapore and Hong Kong in the education sector if the recommendations are followed.

Most of the recommendations promote privatization of the sector and increased foreign investment.

Miss Venezuela is Miss Universe 2013

Moscow: Miss Venezuela Gabriela Isler was crowned Miss Universe 2013 here Saturday. The second place went to Miss Spain Patricia Yurena Rodriguez and third to Miss Ecuador Constanza Baez. The 25-year-old defeated 86 contestants including Miss India Manasi Moghe, who could only make her way to top ten, to clinch the crown.

The 62nd edition of the beauty pageant was judged by prominent faces like American singer- songwriter Steven Tyler, Russian-born supermodel Anne Vyalitsyna, simply known as Anne V, American model and actress Carol Alt, chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, Farouk Shami- founder of the hair-care and spa products company, Farouk Systems and retired American figure skater Tara Lipinski.

Isler started taking flamenco dancing lessons when she was a child, but says that her 'real training' began when her niece was born. After finishing her thesis three years ago, Gabriela regularly helps her sister in taking care of her daughter, and even considers herself a second mother to the child.

She currently works as a talent on the Venevision TV Network, but considers motherhood as the hardest profession in life. Isler was crowned by Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo.

Miss Venezuela is Miss Universe 2013

Moscow: Miss Venezuela Gabriela Isler was crowned Miss Universe 2013 here Saturday. The second place went to Miss Spain Patricia Yurena Rodriguez and third to Miss Ecuador Constanza Baez. The 25-year-old defeated 86 contestants including Miss India Manasi Moghe, who could only make her way to top ten, to clinch the crown.

The 62nd edition of the beauty pageant was judged by prominent faces like American singer- songwriter Steven Tyler, Russian-born supermodel Anne Vyalitsyna, simply known as Anne V, American model and actress Carol Alt, chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, Farouk Shami- founder of the hair-care and spa products company, Farouk Systems and retired American figure skater Tara Lipinski.

Isler started taking flamenco dancing lessons when she was a child, but says that her 'real training' began when her niece was born. After finishing her thesis three years ago, Gabriela regularly helps her sister in taking care of her daughter, and even considers herself a second mother to the child.

She currently works as a talent on the Venevision TV Network, but considers motherhood as the hardest profession in life. Isler was crowned by Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo.

Coffee can increase physical, mental performance

Los Angeles : Caffeine found in coffee leads to an increased production of adrenaline which stimulates energy production and improves blood flow to the muscles and the heart, says an expert. According to John Stanley, lecturer in biochemistry, Trinity College, caffeine could modulate fatigue and influence ratings of exertion, perceived pain and energy levels, all of which are likely to lead to improvement in performance.

'The ability of caffeine in coffee to improve physical performance during aerobic exercise and to restore mental performance when it has been impaired by fatigue deserves wider recognition,' femalefirst.co.uk quoted Stanley as saying. Drinking a cup of coffee about 20-30 minutes before you exercise can allow you to exercise for up to 30 percent longer. The most notable impact of caffeine on performance is in sports such as swimming, cycling and tennis.

Moderate coffee intake can also help improve alertness and concentration due to its caffeine content. Caffeine is well known for its stimulating effects which have proven benefits for mental performance. In fact, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that there is sufficient evidence to support a cause and effect relationship for the effect of caffeine on alertness and attention.

Coffee can increase physical, mental performance

Los Angeles : Caffeine found in coffee leads to an increased production of adrenaline which stimulates energy production and improves blood flow to the muscles and the heart, says an expert. According to John Stanley, lecturer in biochemistry, Trinity College, caffeine could modulate fatigue and influence ratings of exertion, perceived pain and energy levels, all of which are likely to lead to improvement in performance.

'The ability of caffeine in coffee to improve physical performance during aerobic exercise and to restore mental performance when it has been impaired by fatigue deserves wider recognition,' femalefirst.co.uk quoted Stanley as saying. Drinking a cup of coffee about 20-30 minutes before you exercise can allow you to exercise for up to 30 percent longer. The most notable impact of caffeine on performance is in sports such as swimming, cycling and tennis.

Moderate coffee intake can also help improve alertness and concentration due to its caffeine content. Caffeine is well known for its stimulating effects which have proven benefits for mental performance. In fact, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that there is sufficient evidence to support a cause and effect relationship for the effect of caffeine on alertness and attention.

Typhoon Haiyan: Thousands feared dead in Philippines

Posted on: 10 Nov 2013

Police in the Philippines say they fear 10,000 people may have died in the devastation wreaked by Typhoon Haiyan.

The Philippine government has so far only confirmed the death of several hundred people after the storm struck.

But regional police chief Elmer Soria said he was told by the provincial governor of Leyte that there were about 10,000 deaths on the eastern island alone.

Hundreds of thousands of people are reported displaced from their homes.

The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports that the scene in the city of Tacloban on Leyte island is one of utter devastation.

Houses in Leyte's capital have been flattened by the massive storm surge that accompanied Typhoon Haiyan.

There's no clean water, no electricity and very little food.

City officials said they were struggling to distribute aid and that looting was widespread.

Our correspondent says hundreds of people are at the airport, itself badly damaged, trying to get on a flight out of Tacloban.
Humanitarian relief

Philippine Interior Secretary Mar Roxas says the scale of the relief operation that is now required is overwhelming, with some places described as a wasteland of mud and debris.

Tecson Lim, city administrator of Tacloban in north east of Leyte, told the Associated Press that the death toll in the city alone 'could go up to 10,000'.

Meanwhile police chief Elmer Soria told Reuters about 70% to 80% of the area in the path of the storm in Leyte province was destroyed.

He reportedly said most of the deaths were from drowning or collapsed buildings.

Typhoon Haiyan - one of the most powerful storms on record to make landfall - swept through six central Philippine islands on Friday, wiping away homes.

It brought sustained winds of 235km/h (147mph), with gusts of 275 km/h (170 mph), with waves as high as 15m (45ft), bringing up to 400mm (15.75 inches) of rain in places.

The Pentagon has announced it is providing the Philippines with naval and aviation resources to help with humanitarian relief efforts.

In a statement, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said the US was delivering helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and search and rescue equipment after a request from the Philippines government.

Capt John Andrews, deputy director general of the Civil Aviation Authority in the Philippines, told the BBC he had flown over the worst affected areas and seen 'utter destruction'.

'I have never seen such damage in my life,' he said.

'It would probably be similar to having a tornado run over a big open space. At the airport, there's actually no structure left standing except the walls.'

The typhoon is now bearing down on Vietnam, where tens of thousands are being evacuated.

The BBC Weather Centre says the typhoon is expected to make landfall south of Hanoi on Monday afternoon local time (between 03:00 and 09:00 GMT), although it will have decreased markedly in strength.BBC

Typhoon Haiyan: Thousands feared dead in Philippines

Posted on: 10 Nov 2013

Police in the Philippines say they fear 10,000 people may have died in the devastation wreaked by Typhoon Haiyan.

The Philippine government has so far only confirmed the death of several hundred people after the storm struck.

But regional police chief Elmer Soria said he was told by the provincial governor of Leyte that there were about 10,000 deaths on the eastern island alone.

Hundreds of thousands of people are reported displaced from their homes.

The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports that the scene in the city of Tacloban on Leyte island is one of utter devastation.

Houses in Leyte's capital have been flattened by the massive storm surge that accompanied Typhoon Haiyan.

There's no clean water, no electricity and very little food.

City officials said they were struggling to distribute aid and that looting was widespread.

Our correspondent says hundreds of people are at the airport, itself badly damaged, trying to get on a flight out of Tacloban.
Humanitarian relief

Philippine Interior Secretary Mar Roxas says the scale of the relief operation that is now required is overwhelming, with some places described as a wasteland of mud and debris.

Tecson Lim, city administrator of Tacloban in north east of Leyte, told the Associated Press that the death toll in the city alone 'could go up to 10,000'.

Meanwhile police chief Elmer Soria told Reuters about 70% to 80% of the area in the path of the storm in Leyte province was destroyed.

He reportedly said most of the deaths were from drowning or collapsed buildings.

Typhoon Haiyan - one of the most powerful storms on record to make landfall - swept through six central Philippine islands on Friday, wiping away homes.

It brought sustained winds of 235km/h (147mph), with gusts of 275 km/h (170 mph), with waves as high as 15m (45ft), bringing up to 400mm (15.75 inches) of rain in places.

The Pentagon has announced it is providing the Philippines with naval and aviation resources to help with humanitarian relief efforts.

In a statement, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said the US was delivering helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and search and rescue equipment after a request from the Philippines government.

Capt John Andrews, deputy director general of the Civil Aviation Authority in the Philippines, told the BBC he had flown over the worst affected areas and seen 'utter destruction'.

'I have never seen such damage in my life,' he said.

'It would probably be similar to having a tornado run over a big open space. At the airport, there's actually no structure left standing except the walls.'

The typhoon is now bearing down on Vietnam, where tens of thousands are being evacuated.

The BBC Weather Centre says the typhoon is expected to make landfall south of Hanoi on Monday afternoon local time (between 03:00 and 09:00 GMT), although it will have decreased markedly in strength.BBC