Australia on brink of Ashes whitewash

Sydney: Australia were closing in on a 5-0 Ashes sweep after demolishing England's batting and pushing their lead to 311 runs after just two days of the final Sydney Ashes Test on Saturday. The relentless Australians blasted out the hapless tourists for 155 --  the fifth time England had been dismissed for less than 200 in the series -- and set their sights on batting them out of the game with three days to play. At second day stumps Australia were 140 for four with Chris Rogers compiling his fourth half-century in five innings on 73 and George Bailey not out 20.

The home side in the process lost the wickets of David Warner (16), Shane Watson (9), skipper Michael Clarke (6) and Steve Smith (7) as England tried to restrict Australia's mushrooming lead on a flattening Sydney Cricket Ground pitch. "Day two, 300 plus lead's a pretty good position to be in," Australia paceman Ryan Harris said. "It's obviously not a done thing yet, we've got to make sure we bat well in the morning and get some more (runs) and bowl like we did today to bowl them out again."

"We figure they are going to fire at some stage, we hope they don't but they're going to have to." "I don't think the wicket's getting any easier. If we bowl like we did today, I think we'll go alright." Australia's pace trio of Harris, Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle earlier took three wickets apiece as England narrowly avoided the follow-on in response to Australia's first innings score of 326. The tourists never recovered from a disastrous morning session when they crashed to 23 for five despite the efforts of young guns Ben Stokes, Gary Ballance and Jonny Bairstow to repel the hostile home attack.

"It was pretty disappointing today, but 326 is way over par on this pitch in my opinion," England batting coach Graham Gooch said. "So once that score's on the board it's always going to be difficult and once we lost those early wickets (it's) going to be tough from this position." Stokes eked out a dogged 47 off 101 balls after his six-wicket haul in the Australian first innings.

But he showed an error of judgement that cost his wicket when he offered no shot and was bowled off-stump by Siddle just three short of his half-century. It was Siddle's second wicket of his 12th over after having wicketkeeper Bairstow caught by Bailey, purposefully positioned at short mid-on, for 18, ending a 49-run stand with Stokes. Debutant Ballance earlier went in the second over after lunch for 18, caught behind off spinner Nathan  yon. Ballance showed plenty of fight coming to wicket with his team in dire trouble at 17-4. He took a Mitchell Johnson bouncer flush on the helmet and needed replacement headgear.

Stuart Broad finished with an unbeaten 30 off 22 balls. England suffered yet another demoralising top-order collapse in the morning session against the dominant Australians. At one stage the beleaguered tourists looked in danger of falling short of their record low score of 45 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, set in 1887, but Zimbabwe-born Ballance and Stokes helped stop the rot to leave England 61-5 at lunch. Alastair Cook (7) was out to the second ball of the day when the skipper was trapped leg before wicket by Harris without offering a shot. Ian Bell was dropped by Watson off the next ball but nightwatchman Anderson, who needed treatment after taking a jarring blow on his right bowling hand fending off a rearing Johnson delivery, did not last long.

He edged Johnson to Clarke at second slip for seven, leaving the tourists 14-3 in the 10th over. Johnson now has 34 wickets for the series as he bids to become only the fourth Australian bowler to take 40 wickets or more in an Ashes series along with Terry Alderman (twice), Rodney Hogg and Shane Warne. The Australians, looking to claim only the third 5-0 series whitewash in Ashes history, followed up with the wicket of Kevin Pietersen (3), snapped up in the slips by Watson off Harris, to leave the tourists 17-4. Bell was then out for two, caught behind by Brad Haddin off Siddle to make it 23-5.

AFP

Australia on brink of Ashes whitewash

Sydney: Australia were closing in on a 5-0 Ashes sweep after demolishing England's batting and pushing their lead to 311 runs after just two days of the final Sydney Ashes Test on Saturday. The relentless Australians blasted out the hapless tourists for 155 --  the fifth time England had been dismissed for less than 200 in the series -- and set their sights on batting them out of the game with three days to play. At second day stumps Australia were 140 for four with Chris Rogers compiling his fourth half-century in five innings on 73 and George Bailey not out 20.

The home side in the process lost the wickets of David Warner (16), Shane Watson (9), skipper Michael Clarke (6) and Steve Smith (7) as England tried to restrict Australia's mushrooming lead on a flattening Sydney Cricket Ground pitch. "Day two, 300 plus lead's a pretty good position to be in," Australia paceman Ryan Harris said. "It's obviously not a done thing yet, we've got to make sure we bat well in the morning and get some more (runs) and bowl like we did today to bowl them out again."

"We figure they are going to fire at some stage, we hope they don't but they're going to have to." "I don't think the wicket's getting any easier. If we bowl like we did today, I think we'll go alright." Australia's pace trio of Harris, Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle earlier took three wickets apiece as England narrowly avoided the follow-on in response to Australia's first innings score of 326. The tourists never recovered from a disastrous morning session when they crashed to 23 for five despite the efforts of young guns Ben Stokes, Gary Ballance and Jonny Bairstow to repel the hostile home attack.

"It was pretty disappointing today, but 326 is way over par on this pitch in my opinion," England batting coach Graham Gooch said. "So once that score's on the board it's always going to be difficult and once we lost those early wickets (it's) going to be tough from this position." Stokes eked out a dogged 47 off 101 balls after his six-wicket haul in the Australian first innings.

But he showed an error of judgement that cost his wicket when he offered no shot and was bowled off-stump by Siddle just three short of his half-century. It was Siddle's second wicket of his 12th over after having wicketkeeper Bairstow caught by Bailey, purposefully positioned at short mid-on, for 18, ending a 49-run stand with Stokes. Debutant Ballance earlier went in the second over after lunch for 18, caught behind off spinner Nathan  yon. Ballance showed plenty of fight coming to wicket with his team in dire trouble at 17-4. He took a Mitchell Johnson bouncer flush on the helmet and needed replacement headgear.

Stuart Broad finished with an unbeaten 30 off 22 balls. England suffered yet another demoralising top-order collapse in the morning session against the dominant Australians. At one stage the beleaguered tourists looked in danger of falling short of their record low score of 45 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, set in 1887, but Zimbabwe-born Ballance and Stokes helped stop the rot to leave England 61-5 at lunch. Alastair Cook (7) was out to the second ball of the day when the skipper was trapped leg before wicket by Harris without offering a shot. Ian Bell was dropped by Watson off the next ball but nightwatchman Anderson, who needed treatment after taking a jarring blow on his right bowling hand fending off a rearing Johnson delivery, did not last long.

He edged Johnson to Clarke at second slip for seven, leaving the tourists 14-3 in the 10th over. Johnson now has 34 wickets for the series as he bids to become only the fourth Australian bowler to take 40 wickets or more in an Ashes series along with Terry Alderman (twice), Rodney Hogg and Shane Warne. The Australians, looking to claim only the third 5-0 series whitewash in Ashes history, followed up with the wicket of Kevin Pietersen (3), snapped up in the slips by Watson off Harris, to leave the tourists 17-4. Bell was then out for two, caught behind by Brad Haddin off Siddle to make it 23-5.

AFP

AAP's first list of Lok Sabha candidates within two weeks

NEW DELHI: After its success in the Delhi assembly polls, the AAP national executive was meeting in New Delhi on Saturday to decide on its strategy for the Lok Sabha elections with a senior leader saying his dream would be to see Arvind Kejriwal as the Prime Minister. Another AAP leader said the first list of AAP candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections should be out in 10 to 15 days.

Before going into the meeting, AAP leader and Delhi chief minister Kejriwal said the party is meeting to plan the strategy for Lok Sabha polls and all the issues that are before the party. However, there will be no discussions with regard to the names of the candidates for the polls, he said. Speaking to reporters, senior AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said the country must have better options than Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi for the Prime Minister's post.

Asked if he would like to see Kejriwal as the Prime Minister he said, "We have again and again said that Rahul and Modi's fight (for the post) is unfortunate. The country must have better options than this. "But are we in the position to (say that Kejriwal should occupy the post). We will have to discuss that. My dream is to see Kejriwal as Prime Minister. He is capable of it but in politics one has to see ....strength and where we stand," he said.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh said the first list of party candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections should be out in 10 to 15 days.

The 23-member AAP national executive is meeting at the Constitution Club to discuss plans and strategies for the general elections. AAP had bagged 28 out of 70 seats in the just-held Delhi assembly elections, riding on its main plank of fighting against corruption and price rise.Yadav said, "It is the first meeting of the national executive which is our highest decision-making body of the party so the idea would be to review what we did in Delhi and to plan for the Lok Sabha elections, to have a national perspective."There are also some organisation matters to be settled," Yadav said.

AP has already decided to fight all the seats in Gujarat and will also contest in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Apart from Delhi, key party functionaries from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana and Tamil Nadu are present at the meeting.Other than Kejriwal, his ministerial colleague Manish Sisodia and senior party members Yadav, Anjali Damania and Mayank Gandhi are attending the meeting.

AAP's first list of Lok Sabha candidates within two weeks

NEW DELHI: After its success in the Delhi assembly polls, the AAP national executive was meeting in New Delhi on Saturday to decide on its strategy for the Lok Sabha elections with a senior leader saying his dream would be to see Arvind Kejriwal as the Prime Minister. Another AAP leader said the first list of AAP candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections should be out in 10 to 15 days.

Before going into the meeting, AAP leader and Delhi chief minister Kejriwal said the party is meeting to plan the strategy for Lok Sabha polls and all the issues that are before the party. However, there will be no discussions with regard to the names of the candidates for the polls, he said. Speaking to reporters, senior AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said the country must have better options than Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi for the Prime Minister's post.

Asked if he would like to see Kejriwal as the Prime Minister he said, "We have again and again said that Rahul and Modi's fight (for the post) is unfortunate. The country must have better options than this. "But are we in the position to (say that Kejriwal should occupy the post). We will have to discuss that. My dream is to see Kejriwal as Prime Minister. He is capable of it but in politics one has to see ....strength and where we stand," he said.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh said the first list of party candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections should be out in 10 to 15 days.

The 23-member AAP national executive is meeting at the Constitution Club to discuss plans and strategies for the general elections. AAP had bagged 28 out of 70 seats in the just-held Delhi assembly elections, riding on its main plank of fighting against corruption and price rise.Yadav said, "It is the first meeting of the national executive which is our highest decision-making body of the party so the idea would be to review what we did in Delhi and to plan for the Lok Sabha elections, to have a national perspective."There are also some organisation matters to be settled," Yadav said.

AP has already decided to fight all the seats in Gujarat and will also contest in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Apart from Delhi, key party functionaries from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana and Tamil Nadu are present at the meeting.Other than Kejriwal, his ministerial colleague Manish Sisodia and senior party members Yadav, Anjali Damania and Mayank Gandhi are attending the meeting.

No proposal to increase number of subsidised LPG cylinders: Moily

KOCHI: Union Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily on Saturday said there was no proposal before the government to increase the number of subsidised LPG cylinders from the present nine a year to 12. "We don't have such a proposal before us", Moily, who arrived here in connection with the formal commissioning of the Petronet LNG terminal at nearby Puthyvype by Prime Minister Manmohan, told reporters here.

"Nine subsidised cylinders a year covers 90 per cent of the consumers. Only 10 per cent are left without subsidy", he said. People will appreciate the government stand, he said. On Thursday, Finance Minister P Chidambaram had said in Delhi that the government will "take a look" at the demand to raise the quota of subsidised LPG cylinders to 12 per household in a year from the current limit of nine.

No proposal to increase number of subsidised LPG cylinders: Moily

KOCHI: Union Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily on Saturday said there was no proposal before the government to increase the number of subsidised LPG cylinders from the present nine a year to 12. "We don't have such a proposal before us", Moily, who arrived here in connection with the formal commissioning of the Petronet LNG terminal at nearby Puthyvype by Prime Minister Manmohan, told reporters here.

"Nine subsidised cylinders a year covers 90 per cent of the consumers. Only 10 per cent are left without subsidy", he said. People will appreciate the government stand, he said. On Thursday, Finance Minister P Chidambaram had said in Delhi that the government will "take a look" at the demand to raise the quota of subsidised LPG cylinders to 12 per household in a year from the current limit of nine.

Video footage of Devyani Khobragade strip search is hoax: US

WASHINGTON: A video currently in circulation on the social media, which claims to be allegedly showing the CCTV footage of the strip search of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade after her arrest in New York is a hoax, dangerous and provocative fabrication, the United States has said.

"This video, which we are aware of, is absolutely not footage of Ms.Khobragade. We would call it a dangerous and provocative fabrication," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf said yesterday.

A 1999-batch IFS officer, Khobragade, India's Deputy Consul General in New York, was arrested on charges of making false declarations in a visa application for her maid Sangeeta Richard. She was released on a USD 250,000 bond.

The 39-year-old diplomat was strip searched and held with criminals, triggering a row between the two sides with India retaliating by downgrading privileges of certain category of US diplomats among other steps last month.

The alleged video shows law enforcement officials strip searching a woman in custody. The woman is seen screaming, while she is being searched by police.

"This hoax video, which I think has appeared on some news websites without obviously confirming its authenticity, because it's not, we find it deeply troubling, irresponsible and reckless and condemn, again, this dangerous fabrication. I want to make very clear this is not video of her," Harf said. Harf said the State Department spoke with the US Marshals Service on this issue.

"They confirm that the footage in question does not depict US marshal employees, obviously that the search methods depicted in the video are not US marshals' policy. I haven't watched the video myself. But I want to be very clear in saying this is not how we do things here," she said.

Video footage of Devyani Khobragade strip search is hoax: US

WASHINGTON: A video currently in circulation on the social media, which claims to be allegedly showing the CCTV footage of the strip search of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade after her arrest in New York is a hoax, dangerous and provocative fabrication, the United States has said.

"This video, which we are aware of, is absolutely not footage of Ms.Khobragade. We would call it a dangerous and provocative fabrication," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf said yesterday.

A 1999-batch IFS officer, Khobragade, India's Deputy Consul General in New York, was arrested on charges of making false declarations in a visa application for her maid Sangeeta Richard. She was released on a USD 250,000 bond.

The 39-year-old diplomat was strip searched and held with criminals, triggering a row between the two sides with India retaliating by downgrading privileges of certain category of US diplomats among other steps last month.

The alleged video shows law enforcement officials strip searching a woman in custody. The woman is seen screaming, while she is being searched by police.

"This hoax video, which I think has appeared on some news websites without obviously confirming its authenticity, because it's not, we find it deeply troubling, irresponsible and reckless and condemn, again, this dangerous fabrication. I want to make very clear this is not video of her," Harf said. Harf said the State Department spoke with the US Marshals Service on this issue.

"They confirm that the footage in question does not depict US marshal employees, obviously that the search methods depicted in the video are not US marshals' policy. I haven't watched the video myself. But I want to be very clear in saying this is not how we do things here," she said.

U.S spy agency developing computer to crack privacy codes

Washington: It has been reported that the U.S. National Security Agency is trying to develop a computer that could ultimately break most encryption programs. These includes programs that are used to protect other nations' spying programs or  even consumers' bank accounts.

The report by The Washington Post was based on documents  leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, comes amid  continuing controversy over the spy agency's program to collect  the phone records Internet communications of private citizens.

It is said that the NSA is trying to develop a so-called "quantum computer" that  could be used to break encryption codes used to cloak sensitive  information.

The computer would be able to perform several calculations at once instead of in a single stream. It could take  years to develop. In addition to being able  to break through the cloaks meant to protect private data, such  a computer would have implications for such fields as medicine. 

The research is part of a $79.7 million research program  called "Penetrating Hard Targets." Other,  non-governmental researchers are also trying to develop quantum  computers, and it is not clear whether the NSA program lags the  private efforts or is ahead of them.

Snowden, living in Russia with temporary asylum, last year  leaked documents he collected while working for the NSA. The  United States has charged him with espionage, and more charges  could follow. 

His disclosures have sparked a debate over how much leeway  to give the U.S. government in gathering information to protect  Americans from terrorism, and have prompted numerous lawsuits.Last week, a federal judge ruled that the NSA's collection  of phone call records is lawful, while another judge earlier in  December questioned the program's constitutionality.  
The issue  is now more likely to move before the U.S. Supreme Court.

(Reuters)

U.S spy agency developing computer to crack privacy codes

Washington: It has been reported that the U.S. National Security Agency is trying to develop a computer that could ultimately break most encryption programs. These includes programs that are used to protect other nations' spying programs or  even consumers' bank accounts.

The report by The Washington Post was based on documents  leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, comes amid  continuing controversy over the spy agency's program to collect  the phone records Internet communications of private citizens.

It is said that the NSA is trying to develop a so-called "quantum computer" that  could be used to break encryption codes used to cloak sensitive  information.

The computer would be able to perform several calculations at once instead of in a single stream. It could take  years to develop. In addition to being able  to break through the cloaks meant to protect private data, such  a computer would have implications for such fields as medicine. 

The research is part of a $79.7 million research program  called "Penetrating Hard Targets." Other,  non-governmental researchers are also trying to develop quantum  computers, and it is not clear whether the NSA program lags the  private efforts or is ahead of them.

Snowden, living in Russia with temporary asylum, last year  leaked documents he collected while working for the NSA. The  United States has charged him with espionage, and more charges  could follow. 

His disclosures have sparked a debate over how much leeway  to give the U.S. government in gathering information to protect  Americans from terrorism, and have prompted numerous lawsuits.Last week, a federal judge ruled that the NSA's collection  of phone call records is lawful, while another judge earlier in  December questioned the program's constitutionality.  
The issue  is now more likely to move before the U.S. Supreme Court.

(Reuters)

Storm forces some 1,000 flight cancellations at US airports

Washington : Some 1,000 flights were cancelled at all three airports in the New York area Friday morning due to a strong winter storm that has dumped several inches of snow in the region.

By 5:30 Friday afternoon, 559 flights scheduled to depart from and 452 flights heading for the three New York airports were cancelled, according to statistics from flight aware website, Xinhua reported.

Since 6 a.m., 192 cancellations have been reported at the John F. Kennedy International (JFK) Airport, 285 at Newark Liberty International Airport, and 271 at LaGuardia Airport, according to figures released earlier by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Port authority staff have been working in adverse weather conditions to get JFK's runway 13L-31R back in service. Flight operations have resumed at JFK after zero visibility and high winds forced the suspension of operations Friday morning. Crews continue to work to get the airport's three other runways back in operation as quickly as possible.

AirTrain JFK is operating with limited service. Although both Newark and LaGuardia airports are open, service on AirTrain Newark is suspended and bus service is being provided at both airports. Travellers are strongly urged to confirm flight times, departures and arrivals with the airline carriers before travelling to the airports.

Storm forces some 1,000 flight cancellations at US airports

Washington : Some 1,000 flights were cancelled at all three airports in the New York area Friday morning due to a strong winter storm that has dumped several inches of snow in the region.

By 5:30 Friday afternoon, 559 flights scheduled to depart from and 452 flights heading for the three New York airports were cancelled, according to statistics from flight aware website, Xinhua reported.

Since 6 a.m., 192 cancellations have been reported at the John F. Kennedy International (JFK) Airport, 285 at Newark Liberty International Airport, and 271 at LaGuardia Airport, according to figures released earlier by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Port authority staff have been working in adverse weather conditions to get JFK's runway 13L-31R back in service. Flight operations have resumed at JFK after zero visibility and high winds forced the suspension of operations Friday morning. Crews continue to work to get the airport's three other runways back in operation as quickly as possible.

AirTrain JFK is operating with limited service. Although both Newark and LaGuardia airports are open, service on AirTrain Newark is suspended and bus service is being provided at both airports. Travellers are strongly urged to confirm flight times, departures and arrivals with the airline carriers before travelling to the airports.

New York declares state of emergency

New York: Governor Andrew Cuomo has declared a state of emergency across New York as a major winter storm has already started to bring heavy snow, sub-zero temperatures, and high winds across the state, an official statement said.

A state of emergency mobilises resources to local governments that otherwise are restricted to state use only, and allows the governor to suspend laws and regulations that would impede rapid response, Xinhua reported Thursday citing the statement.

The governor urged New Yorkers to avoid travelling and stay inside their homes until the worst of the storm has passed.

'As this winter storm unfolds, bringing heavy snow and high winds to many parts of the state, I strongly urge all New Yorkers to exercise caution, avoid travel, and stay indoors,' Cuomo said.

The four New York City airports are open, but airlines are operating on a significantly reduced schedule, with more than 412 flights cancelled as of mid-afternoon.

Crews are applying anti-icing chemicals to runways and taxiways to keep them free of ice, said the governor's Office.

In the event that some travellers become stranded, airport personnel are preparing cots, blankets and other essentials to assist customers.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority advises customers that cold temperatures and blowing snow may require suspension of some portions of the region's bus and commuter train operations, in order to protect customers and employees.

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and New York State Thruway Authority said ploughs are available state-wide to clear snow and treat roads with salt.

New York declares state of emergency

New York: Governor Andrew Cuomo has declared a state of emergency across New York as a major winter storm has already started to bring heavy snow, sub-zero temperatures, and high winds across the state, an official statement said.

A state of emergency mobilises resources to local governments that otherwise are restricted to state use only, and allows the governor to suspend laws and regulations that would impede rapid response, Xinhua reported Thursday citing the statement.

The governor urged New Yorkers to avoid travelling and stay inside their homes until the worst of the storm has passed.

'As this winter storm unfolds, bringing heavy snow and high winds to many parts of the state, I strongly urge all New Yorkers to exercise caution, avoid travel, and stay indoors,' Cuomo said.

The four New York City airports are open, but airlines are operating on a significantly reduced schedule, with more than 412 flights cancelled as of mid-afternoon.

Crews are applying anti-icing chemicals to runways and taxiways to keep them free of ice, said the governor's Office.

In the event that some travellers become stranded, airport personnel are preparing cots, blankets and other essentials to assist customers.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority advises customers that cold temperatures and blowing snow may require suspension of some portions of the region's bus and commuter train operations, in order to protect customers and employees.

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and New York State Thruway Authority said ploughs are available state-wide to clear snow and treat roads with salt.

823 migrants rescued by Italian Navy

Rome: A total of 823 North African and Asian migrants were rescued by Italian Navy Friday in the Sicilian Channel when attempting the island of Lampedusa, Italian Navy said in a statement. The migrants, including 23 women and 46 minors, were picked up from four rickety boats in the 'Mare Nostrum' (Latin for Our Sea) operation, Xinhua reported.

Military vessels and helicopters were involved in the search and rescue mission. A Maltese aircraft also reportedly helped orient two of the boats. The migrants, which will be transported to the Sicilian port of Augusta, mainly hailed from Egypt, Pakistan, Iraq and Tunisia, according to the statement. Another 233 migrants were rescued Thursday morning in the same area.

The 'Mare Nostrum' began in October of last year, after some 400 people were killed in two shipwrecks crossing Mediterranean and attempting landing on Lampedusa, a small island under 115 km away from Afr-ica.

823 migrants rescued by Italian Navy

Rome: A total of 823 North African and Asian migrants were rescued by Italian Navy Friday in the Sicilian Channel when attempting the island of Lampedusa, Italian Navy said in a statement. The migrants, including 23 women and 46 minors, were picked up from four rickety boats in the 'Mare Nostrum' (Latin for Our Sea) operation, Xinhua reported.

Military vessels and helicopters were involved in the search and rescue mission. A Maltese aircraft also reportedly helped orient two of the boats. The migrants, which will be transported to the Sicilian port of Augusta, mainly hailed from Egypt, Pakistan, Iraq and Tunisia, according to the statement. Another 233 migrants were rescued Thursday morning in the same area.

The 'Mare Nostrum' began in October of last year, after some 400 people were killed in two shipwrecks crossing Mediterranean and attempting landing on Lampedusa, a small island under 115 km away from Afr-ica.

PARAM Supercomputer among the most power efficient systems in world

New Delhi: India's supercomputer PARAM Yuva II, developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), has been ranked first in India, ninth in the Asia Pacific Region and 44th in the world among the most power efficient computer systems as per the Green500 List announced at the Supercomputing Conference (SC 2013) in Denver, Colorado, in the US, an official release said here Wednesday.

Supercomputers, in general, consume a lot of electrical power and produce much heat that necessitates elaborate cooling facilities to ensure proper operation. This adds to increase in the total cost of ownership (TCO) of a supercomputer. To draw focus towards development of energy efficient supercomputers, Green500 ranks computer systems in the world according to compute performance per watt, thus providing a world ranking based on energy efficiency.

Kapil Sibal, minister for communications and information technology, said supercomputing is very important for all-round advancement in the country, and the government is planning a big impetus for capacity-building and advanced research and development in this area.

He said he would expect many more contributions from C-DAC, as a key player in this endeavour.

PARAM Supercomputer among the most power efficient systems in world

New Delhi: India's supercomputer PARAM Yuva II, developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), has been ranked first in India, ninth in the Asia Pacific Region and 44th in the world among the most power efficient computer systems as per the Green500 List announced at the Supercomputing Conference (SC 2013) in Denver, Colorado, in the US, an official release said here Wednesday.

Supercomputers, in general, consume a lot of electrical power and produce much heat that necessitates elaborate cooling facilities to ensure proper operation. This adds to increase in the total cost of ownership (TCO) of a supercomputer. To draw focus towards development of energy efficient supercomputers, Green500 ranks computer systems in the world according to compute performance per watt, thus providing a world ranking based on energy efficiency.

Kapil Sibal, minister for communications and information technology, said supercomputing is very important for all-round advancement in the country, and the government is planning a big impetus for capacity-building and advanced research and development in this area.

He said he would expect many more contributions from C-DAC, as a key player in this endeavour.

Petrol price hiked by 75 paisa a litre, diesel by 50 paisa

New Delhi: Petrol and diesel prices will go up by 75 paise and 50 paise a litre, excluding taxes, from midnight Friday, state-run oil marketing company Indian Oil Corporation said.

Petrol price hiked by 75 paisa a litre, diesel by 50 paisa

New Delhi: Petrol and diesel prices will go up by 75 paise and 50 paise a litre, excluding taxes, from midnight Friday, state-run oil marketing company Indian Oil Corporation said.

High BP more dangerous in women than men

New York: Doctors may need to treat high blood pressure in women more fiercely than they do in men. 
In a study, the researchers for the first time found significant differences in the mechanisms that cause high blood pressure in women as compared to men.

"The medical community thought that high blood pressure was the same for both sexes and treatment was based on that premise," said Carlos Ferrario, professor of surgery at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Centre and lead author of the study.

“This is the first study to consider sex as an element in the selection of anti-hypertensive agents or base the choice of a specific drug on the various factors accounting for the elevation in blood pressure,” added Ferrario.

“In fact, heart disease has become the leading cause of death in women in the United States, accounting for approximately a third of all deaths. So why the discrepancy if men and women have been treated in the same way for the same condition?” asked scientists.

In the comparative study, 100 men and women age 53 and older with untreated high blood pressure and no other major diseases were evaluated using an array of specialised tests that indicated whether the heart or the blood vessels were primarily involved in elevating the blood pressure.

The tests measured hemodynamic - the forces involved in the circulation of blood - and hormonal characteristics of the mechanisms involved in the development of high blood pressure in men and women, said the study published in the journal Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease.

The researchers found 30 to 40 percent more vascular disease in the women compared to the men for the same level of elevated blood pressure.

“We need to evaluate new protocols - what drugs, in what combination and in what dosage - to treat women with high blood pressure,” the study concluded.

IANS

High BP more dangerous in women than men

New York: Doctors may need to treat high blood pressure in women more fiercely than they do in men. 
In a study, the researchers for the first time found significant differences in the mechanisms that cause high blood pressure in women as compared to men.

"The medical community thought that high blood pressure was the same for both sexes and treatment was based on that premise," said Carlos Ferrario, professor of surgery at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Centre and lead author of the study.

“This is the first study to consider sex as an element in the selection of anti-hypertensive agents or base the choice of a specific drug on the various factors accounting for the elevation in blood pressure,” added Ferrario.

“In fact, heart disease has become the leading cause of death in women in the United States, accounting for approximately a third of all deaths. So why the discrepancy if men and women have been treated in the same way for the same condition?” asked scientists.

In the comparative study, 100 men and women age 53 and older with untreated high blood pressure and no other major diseases were evaluated using an array of specialised tests that indicated whether the heart or the blood vessels were primarily involved in elevating the blood pressure.

The tests measured hemodynamic - the forces involved in the circulation of blood - and hormonal characteristics of the mechanisms involved in the development of high blood pressure in men and women, said the study published in the journal Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease.

The researchers found 30 to 40 percent more vascular disease in the women compared to the men for the same level of elevated blood pressure.

“We need to evaluate new protocols - what drugs, in what combination and in what dosage - to treat women with high blood pressure,” the study concluded.

IANS

'Junk DNA' in brain may cause schizophrenia

Tokyo: Often dubbed 'junk DNA', retrotransposons - short sequences of DNA that autonomously amplify and move around the genome - may play a key role in developing schizophrenia.

A team of researchers in Japan found that a class of retrotransposons named Long Interspersed Nuclear Elements (LINE-1) in the schizophrenia brain modify the expression of genes related to schizophrenia during brain development and may be one of the causes of the disease.

The team led by Kazuya Iwamoto from the University of Tokyo and Tadafumi Kato from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute demonstrated that the number of LINE-1 copies is elevated in the post-mortem brains of patients with schizophrenia.

The results showed that exposure to environmental risk factors during development, as well as the presence of genetic risk factors for schizophrenia, can lead to increased levels of LINE-1 in neurons, said the study published in the journal Neuron.

“Our findings strongly suggest that abnormal, enhanced retrotransposition of LINE-1 in neurons, triggered by environmental factors and/or combined with a genetic risk factor, plays a defining role in schizophrenia," concluded the authors.

"Previously, schizophrenia was regarded as a disease caused by gene-environment interactions, but our study shows that the environment can alter the genome and may contribute to the disease," explained Kato.

LINE-1 have been shown to be more abundant in brain cells than in other cells in the body in adults, providing evidence for enhanced activity of LINE-1 in the human brain. However, the role played by LINE-1 in mental disorders, and in particular schizophrenia, has remained unclear till date.

LINE-1 retrotransposons make up a large part of the eukaryotic genome and it is believed that they may contribute to a number of disorders and diseases such as cancer.

IANS

'Junk DNA' in brain may cause schizophrenia

Tokyo: Often dubbed 'junk DNA', retrotransposons - short sequences of DNA that autonomously amplify and move around the genome - may play a key role in developing schizophrenia.

A team of researchers in Japan found that a class of retrotransposons named Long Interspersed Nuclear Elements (LINE-1) in the schizophrenia brain modify the expression of genes related to schizophrenia during brain development and may be one of the causes of the disease.

The team led by Kazuya Iwamoto from the University of Tokyo and Tadafumi Kato from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute demonstrated that the number of LINE-1 copies is elevated in the post-mortem brains of patients with schizophrenia.

The results showed that exposure to environmental risk factors during development, as well as the presence of genetic risk factors for schizophrenia, can lead to increased levels of LINE-1 in neurons, said the study published in the journal Neuron.

“Our findings strongly suggest that abnormal, enhanced retrotransposition of LINE-1 in neurons, triggered by environmental factors and/or combined with a genetic risk factor, plays a defining role in schizophrenia," concluded the authors.

"Previously, schizophrenia was regarded as a disease caused by gene-environment interactions, but our study shows that the environment can alter the genome and may contribute to the disease," explained Kato.

LINE-1 have been shown to be more abundant in brain cells than in other cells in the body in adults, providing evidence for enhanced activity of LINE-1 in the human brain. However, the role played by LINE-1 in mental disorders, and in particular schizophrenia, has remained unclear till date.

LINE-1 retrotransposons make up a large part of the eukaryotic genome and it is believed that they may contribute to a number of disorders and diseases such as cancer.

IANS

Public hearing by foreigners division of MHA to be organized in Kozhikode

Thiruvananthapuram: The Home Ministry is organising a day-long interactive session in Kerala to hear grievances of people and make them aware of issues related to overseas citizenship of India, grant of citizenship to foreign nationals and extension of visa for staying in the country.

The session, organised by the Home Ministry's foreigners division, will be held at Vadakara in Kozhikode District of Kerala on January 23, an official release said.

"With a view to make the applicants aware of the various procedures for approval of various facilities and also to advise individual applicants on the status of their pending applications, this public hearing has been organised," the release said.

PTI

Public hearing by foreigners division of MHA to be organized in Kozhikode

Thiruvananthapuram: The Home Ministry is organising a day-long interactive session in Kerala to hear grievances of people and make them aware of issues related to overseas citizenship of India, grant of citizenship to foreign nationals and extension of visa for staying in the country.

The session, organised by the Home Ministry's foreigners division, will be held at Vadakara in Kozhikode District of Kerala on January 23, an official release said.

"With a view to make the applicants aware of the various procedures for approval of various facilities and also to advise individual applicants on the status of their pending applications, this public hearing has been organised," the release said.

PTI

India, Saudi Arabia ink landmark accord on domestic workers

New Delhi: India and Saudi Arabia Thursday inked a 'landmark' agreement on protection of the rights of domestic Indian workers in the kingdom and agreed to work out another accord to streamline ties between employers and the 2.8 million Indian workers in that country.

The Agreement on Labour Cooperation for Domestic Service Workers Recruitment was signed by Indian Overseas Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi and visiting Saudi Arabian Labour Minister Adel bin Mohammed Fakeih here.

Ravi said the agreement on domestic workers' protection would help streamline the labour market. 'This will go a long way in protecting the interests of workers..., and for that the Standard Employment Contract should also be finalised at the earliest,' he said.

The Standard Employment Contract would seek to govern the relations between the employer and the employee by ensuring agreed wage, proper working hours, paid holidays, dispute settlement mechanism, the minister said earlier.

Ravi said he wanted to thank the Saudi minister and the kingdom for hosting Indian workers 'who have contributed to the economic development of Saudi Arabia and continue to be one of the most disciplined, law abiding, and hard working community'.

He also thanked the Saudi government for 'its humanitarian approach while adopting the Nitaqat programme', and said most of the Indians have corrected their work status.

Fakeih, terming India 'an important and active partner in more than one level', said the agreement was 'in the context of the protection of the rights and regulating the labour relations between employers and employees in consonance with international regulations and treaties'.

'This important agreement is the result of the excellent relations between the two countries,' he said, adding that in case of any possible difficulties arising, the two sides have agreed to set up a joint committee of senior officials who would meet periodically and alternatively in either country. The agreement was conceptualised in April last year during Ravi's visit to the kingdom.

Some of the main features of the agreement, according to an official statement, are: It protects the rights of both the employers and domestic workers and regulates the contractual relation between them, ensures authenticity and implementation of the employment contract, takes measures against recruitment agencies who violate laws, and establishes a mechanism to provide 24-hour assistance to the domestic sector workers.

A standard employment contract to be finalised would provide minimum wages, working hours, paid holidays and dispute settlement mechanism. Ravi, answering queries, said the agreement was a 'landmark agreement for protection of worker's interests'.

Of the around 500,000 indian domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, mostly working as maids, helpers, drivers and cleaners, around 10 percent are women. There are 2.8 million Indian workers in Saudi Arabia, and Indians form the largest expatriate community in the kingdom.

While India has inked labour MoUs with various countries in the Gulf, this is the first time that India has entered into an agreement on labour cooperation with Saudi Arabia.

'This is also the first step towards a Comprehensive Agreement on Labour Cooperation covering the entire spectrum of Indian workers in Saudi Arabia,' said the statement.

India, Saudi Arabia ink landmark accord on domestic workers

New Delhi: India and Saudi Arabia Thursday inked a 'landmark' agreement on protection of the rights of domestic Indian workers in the kingdom and agreed to work out another accord to streamline ties between employers and the 2.8 million Indian workers in that country.

The Agreement on Labour Cooperation for Domestic Service Workers Recruitment was signed by Indian Overseas Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi and visiting Saudi Arabian Labour Minister Adel bin Mohammed Fakeih here.

Ravi said the agreement on domestic workers' protection would help streamline the labour market. 'This will go a long way in protecting the interests of workers..., and for that the Standard Employment Contract should also be finalised at the earliest,' he said.

The Standard Employment Contract would seek to govern the relations between the employer and the employee by ensuring agreed wage, proper working hours, paid holidays, dispute settlement mechanism, the minister said earlier.

Ravi said he wanted to thank the Saudi minister and the kingdom for hosting Indian workers 'who have contributed to the economic development of Saudi Arabia and continue to be one of the most disciplined, law abiding, and hard working community'.

He also thanked the Saudi government for 'its humanitarian approach while adopting the Nitaqat programme', and said most of the Indians have corrected their work status.

Fakeih, terming India 'an important and active partner in more than one level', said the agreement was 'in the context of the protection of the rights and regulating the labour relations between employers and employees in consonance with international regulations and treaties'.

'This important agreement is the result of the excellent relations between the two countries,' he said, adding that in case of any possible difficulties arising, the two sides have agreed to set up a joint committee of senior officials who would meet periodically and alternatively in either country. The agreement was conceptualised in April last year during Ravi's visit to the kingdom.

Some of the main features of the agreement, according to an official statement, are: It protects the rights of both the employers and domestic workers and regulates the contractual relation between them, ensures authenticity and implementation of the employment contract, takes measures against recruitment agencies who violate laws, and establishes a mechanism to provide 24-hour assistance to the domestic sector workers.

A standard employment contract to be finalised would provide minimum wages, working hours, paid holidays and dispute settlement mechanism. Ravi, answering queries, said the agreement was a 'landmark agreement for protection of worker's interests'.

Of the around 500,000 indian domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, mostly working as maids, helpers, drivers and cleaners, around 10 percent are women. There are 2.8 million Indian workers in Saudi Arabia, and Indians form the largest expatriate community in the kingdom.

While India has inked labour MoUs with various countries in the Gulf, this is the first time that India has entered into an agreement on labour cooperation with Saudi Arabia.

'This is also the first step towards a Comprehensive Agreement on Labour Cooperation covering the entire spectrum of Indian workers in Saudi Arabia,' said the statement.