President, PM pay tributes to Kalam

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New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid floral tributes to former president A.P.J Abdul Kalam after his body arrived in the capital.

'Kalam was a national treasure first and a president later. Kalam's personality was special, his life inspires us, it inspires the youth,' the prime minister said.

Among others present at the Indira Gandhi International Airport's technical wing were Vice President Hamid Ansari, Delhi Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

The first to lay a wreath was Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi, followed by Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, Admiral R.K. Dhowan and Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag.

A special Indian Air Force plane carrying Kalam's mortal remains reached here from Shillong at around 12.30 p.m.

A ceremonial guard of honour was accorded to the former president by the army, navy and air force personnel.

Kalam's body will be kept at 10 Rajaji Marg for people to pay respects.

IANS

Midlife high blood pressure negatively impacts brain later

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Having high blood pressure in your 50’s can affect cognition many years later, scientists say.
Several studies have demonstrated that high cardiovascular risk at midlife, particularly hypertension, is linked to subsequent increased risk of dementia.
However, there is a lack of studies that examine the impact of midlife cardiovascular risk on early cognitive impairment in individuals in their later decades.
Using data from the Framingham Heart Study (FHS), Boston University School of Medicine researchers measured blood pressure from 378 FHS participants when they were between 50-60 years old, and then tested their cognitive performance approximately 30 years later when they were 80 years or older.
Participants with high blood pressure at midlife scored more poorly on tests of attention and executive function later in life.
“Decline in cognition is often considered an inevitable consequence of ageing, and age is the single biggest risk factor for dementia, but perhaps managing factors that impact brain ageing, such as blood pressure, will help increase brain health and reduce the risk for dementia,” said corresponding author Rhoda Au, professor of neurology at BUSM.
According to the researchers, if your blood pressure is not within normal range when you are younger, you should speak to your doctor and develop a plan to reduce it to normal levels and sustain it, which might include exercise, weight loss and medication.
“Midlife health matters. The pathway to one’s older years is through the younger years and taking care of your health while you are younger may help you better preserve your cognitive health when you are older,” added Au.
The study is published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
PTI

Scientists discover the taste of fat

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Washington:Scientists claim to have discovered a sixth flavour – the taste of fat – and say it could hold the key to fighting obesity and heart disease.
According to researchers, fat, which now joins sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami, has a “unique and unpleasant taste”, which they have named oleogustus.
This finding could lead to new ways of fighting obesity and heart disease, and to the creation of improved fat replacements, researchers said.
“Our experiments provide a missing element in the evidence that fat has a taste sensation, and that it is different from other tastes,” Professor Richard Mattes, from the Purdue University in US, said.
Researchers investigated the taste sensation of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), or free fatty acids, which are fat’s basic building blocks.
Results showed that the men and women identified fat as having a taste, different from all the other samples, ‘The Independent’ reported.
Identifying the taste of fat has a range of important health implications. At high concentrations, the signal it generates would dissuade the eating of rancid foods, researchers said.
At low levels, it may enhance the appeal of some foods by adding to the overall sensory profile, they said.
The study was published in the journal Chemical Senses.
PTI

Teen in remission from HIV 12 yrs after stopping meds

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Vancouver: A French teenager born with HIV has been in remission for 12 years after stopping her medication, a world-first that renews hope for the prospect of early treatment, researchers said today.
The young woman, now 18, is not considered cured, but is doing perfectly well off treatment, said the research led by Asier Saez-Cirion of the HIV, Inflammation and Persistence Unit at the Institut Pasteur in Paris.
Never before have scientists known of a case in which an HIV-infected child goes into long-term remission, said the research presented at the International AIDS Society meeting in this western Canadian city.
“We can detect HIV in the cells, but what we cannot detect is viral replication in the plasma,” Saez-Cirion told AFP in an interview.
“We don’t know yet why this girl was able to control the infection,” he added.
The girl does not have the genetic factors associated with natural control of infection, which has been seen in a rare group of patients.
“Most likely she has been in virological remission for so long because she received a combination of antiretrovirals very soon after infection,” said the report.
The young woman, whose identity was not revealed, was infected with HIV either in utero or during childbirth.
When she was five, her family dropped out of the treatment program for unknown reasons. When they returned her to medical care one year later, she “was found to have an undetectable viral load,” said the report.
Doctors decided not to resume antiretroviral treatment for the child, but monitored her.
Researchers said the unconventional case bolsters growing evidence in adults that starting treatment is essential immediately after HIV infection.
Her case “suggests that long-term remission after early treatment is possible in children infected by HIV,” said the report.

Suicide bomber kills 31 in Turkey attack blamed on IS

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Ankara: A suspected Islamic State suicide bomber killed at least 31 people today in an attack on a Turkish cultural centre where activists had gathered to prepare for an aid mission in the nearby Syrian town of Kobane.
The blast ripped through the centre in Suruc — a town just across the border from Kobane, which was itself later hit by a suicide car bombing — blowing out the windows and starting a fire, witnesses said.
Most of the dead were university students who were planning to enter Syria to help rebuild Kobane, which was occupied by Islamic State for months before being recaptured by Kurdish forces in January.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on a visit to northern Cyprus, condemned the attack as an “act of terror”.
“On behalf of my people, I curse and condemn the perpetrators of this brutality,” he said. “Terror must be condemned no matter where it comes from.”
Television footage showed several people lying on the ground covered in blood and ambulances rushing to the scene.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu pointed the finger of blame for what was “clearly a terrorist attack” at Islamic State.
“Preliminary findings point to it being a suicide attack carried out by Daesh,” Davutoglu said in Ankara, using an Arabic acronym for IS. “But we are not at a point to make a final judgement.”
If confirmed, it would be the first such attack by IS fighters against Turkey, a regional military power and NATO member.
Local resident Mehmet Celik told AFP the town was “in chaos”.
Alp Altinors from the pro-Kurdish HDP party said the group of around 300 activists who gathered in Suruc from across the country were from the Federation of Socialist Youth Associations and that most were students.
“They were planning to build parks in Kobane, hand out toys for children and paint school walls,” he told AFP.
Social media images showed the group relaxing over breakfast in the garden a few hours before the noon blast.
A video circulated by the private Dogan news agency showed a spokesman for the activists saying into a microphone: “We, the youth, are here. We have defended Kobane together and now we are setting out to rebuild it together.”
Davutoglu said the blast aimed to undermine Turkish democracy.
“This attack targets us all,” he said, dispatching three ministers to the southeastern region.
“Daesh threatens not only Syrian people but also Turkey,” he added.

Airstrikes on IS-held town in northern Syria kill 20

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Baghdad: More than 20 people have been killed, many of them children, and dozens of others wounded today in airstrikes that targeted a town in northern Syria held by the Islamic State group, activists and the IS group said.
The airstrikes that targeted the town of Manbej in Aleppo province were most likely carried out by Syrian army warplanes, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. It said the death toll was likely to rise because many of the wounded suffered critical injuries.
Twitter and Facebook accounts affiliated with the Islamic State group said 26 people were killed and around 100 others wounded in the attacks.
Syrian warplanes often target IS-held towns and cities across northern Syria. The airstrikes often result in civilian casualties.
A US-led coalition also bombs IS targets in Syria on a daily basis, but the two sides say their overflights and strikes are not coordinated.
In Iraq, militants from the Islamic State group blew up a sports stadium in the western Anbar province that in recent months had been used as a military base, officials said today.
There may have been fighters with the country’s Popular Mobilization Forces inside the 30,000-capacity stadium when it was destroyed yesterday, military and security officials in Anbar said, but they were unable to provide a specific estimate and officials with the PMF were not aware of casualties.
The Turkey-funded stadium, near the militant-held city of Ramadi, had never been used for sports. In recent months, it was used as a military base for Iraqi security forces and allied militia groups.
The officials spoke anonymously as they are not authorized to brief journalists.
The Iraqi Defense Ministry said last week that security forces were able to “cleanse” the stadium from militants taking refuge inside. It did not elaborate.
The militants seized control of Ramadi in May in what was a major blow to Iraqi security forces on the heels of a victory in Saddam Hussein’s hometown of Tikrit.
A US-led coalition has been conducting intense airstrikes in Anbar in an effort to help the Iraqi government regain control of the long-volatile province.
Iraqi security forces last week announced the launch of a large-scale operation to retake Anbar province from the militants. However, little progress has been reported so far.
The Islamic State group controls about a third of Iraq and Syria, ruling a self-styled “caliphate” where it enforces its radical interpretation of Sunni Islam. It regularly carries out attacks on Iraqi security forces in an effort to destabilize the Shiite-led government in Baghdad.

Hajj pilgrims to get free food in Makkah Rubaths

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Hyderabad: Such of the Hajj pilgrims who have been selected under Azizia category will get free food in Makkah Rubaths. This was communicated to Prof. S.A. Shukoor, Special Officer of Hajj Committee by Mr. Husain Shareef, in-charge of Makkah Rubaths. He informed Prof. Shukoor that arrangements have been made for accommodating 597 Hajj pilgrims for which two buildings, one in Misfala and other in Ashshisa have been acquired. In addition to free food and accommodation, the Hajj pilgrims will get the facility of laundry. He has requested the Hajj pilgrims not to carry any articles for cocking. Central Hajj Committee is arranging free food to the Hajj pilgrims in Madina. Allotment letters for accommodation would be issued soon.  This will result in saving Rs. 46100 to the Hajj pilgrims. Prof. Shukoor told that accommodation permits would be issued by Nizam’s Wakf Committee from today. All the Hajj pilgrims who have been allotted accommodation may contact Nizam’s Wakf Committee at Cherian Palace, Banjara Hills. Prof. Shukoor also informed that suitcases would be supplied to 1650 Hajj pilgrims belonging to Hyderabad city whereas centers would be setup in districts to supply these suitcases to the Hajj pilgrims of the districts. Rs. 5100 was collected from each pilgrim for the supply suitcase. Since there is no separate Hajj Committee for A.P. State, Telangana Hajj Committee has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with A.P. Govt. for making arrangements for the Hajj pilgrims of A.P. Vaccination for Hajj pilgrim would start soon.

Confused consumers losing subsidy by pressing zero

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A new option in the interactive voice response system (for refill booking) that consumers to give up their LPG subsidy is causing a lot of problems. Consumers say it is very inconvenient with many saying that they have given up their subsidies by mistake while trying to book refills.
LPG distributors said they were receiving complaints from consumers whose children pressed the number by mistake.
But many alleged the recorded message through IVRS is leading to an automatic cancellation of their LPG subsidy.
“I usually press 1 for a refill booking but this time it said zero first and so I pressed it and later I found that I had given up my subsidy,” said N. Kumar, a senior citizen.
While booking cooking gas through mobile phones, they get an automated Interactive voice response (IVRS) message saying: “if you are capable then give up your subsidy so that the same could be given to poor brethren, if you wish to surrender subsidy press 0, if you want refill press 1 ”
“Those who are not educated or those not familiar with interactive voice response system are finding it difficult,” said a distributor.
Sources in the oil industry said that in the State, so far, 32,000 persons had opted out of LPG subsidies and over 672 persons, who reportedly “gave up” their subsidy, have opted in again.
This is IVRS message system and consumers should be careful when pushing buttons. Nevertheless, in such cases they should visit their respective area offices and their subsidy will be restored,” said a source.

Delhi building collapse: 5 dead, 13 seriously injured

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Police suspect collapsed building in a narrow lane in Vishnu Garden area was illegally built

New Delhi: Rescue work is being carried out in the Saturday night's five-storey building collapse in west Delhi in which five people have died and 13 seriously injured, a police official said on Sunday.

"Five people have died in the Saturday night building collapse and 13 are seriously injured. Rescue work is being carried out jointly by the fire department, police and the residents," a police official said.

A four-storey building collapsed in the Vishnu Garden area of West Delhi on Saturday night. Picture: PTI

Police suspect the building, located in a narrow lane in Vishnu Garden area, was illegally built.

Eight fire tenders, teams of the National Disaster Relief Force, police and officials from district administration started the rescue operation after the Delhi Fire Service received the call at 9.10pm.

A.K. Sharma, chief of Delhi Fire Services, said rescuers were looking for one more person in the debris.

"We are not winding up our rescue operation right now, as people believe there might be one more casualty, so we are looking for that," said Sharma.

He said the rescue teams were facing a few challenges as the building is located in very congested and narrow lanes.

Man conducts his own last rites for a berth in heaven

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Believes it will free him from the recurring cycles of life and death

Image Credit: Lata Rani/Gulf news

Patna: A septuagenarian man has conducted his own last rites in Bihar in the hope that it will free him from the recurring cycles of life and death and get him a berth in heaven.

Banke Bihari, a resident from world-famous Taj city of Agra in Uttar Pradesh, conducted his last rites on the dry sand beds of legendry Falgu river in southern Bihar’s Gaya district yesterday with the help of local Gayawal priests who are known to be ensuring salvation to the departed souls. During the occasion, the desperate man, himself lit the funeral pyre of his effigy made of straw and threw a feast to the priests.

Gaya is a city where millions of Hindus descend every year during fortnight-long Pitripaksh Mela held shortly before the Durga Puja (nine-day worship to deity Durga) to conduct rites so that the departed souls of their ancestors rest in peace permanently.

In Hindu tradition, such rites are normally conducted by the persons who have no children. Here in the case, however, the Agra resident conducted his last rites himself to get a berth in the heaven in advance although he has a full family of grand children and daughter. Normally, such rites are conducted by the children after their parents are dead.

“Such rites are rare since the persons have to stay away from his family, sleep on the floor, cook food himself and not participate in any auspicious function after they have conducted it,” said a local priest Nishikant Pathak who conducted the rituals. According to him, the persons concerned turn into a live ghost after they have conducted such rites.

Earlier a rich 80-year-old widow from Vaishali district of Bihar had spent thousands of dollars on a feast for 100,000 people with the similar hope that it would please the gods and open the doors of heaven for her. The widow who had no family members or relatives had reportedly spent around Rs2 million to feed different varieties of tasty dishes to the local villagers over the two consecutive days. She spent lavishly on the meal because she had no one to whom she could bequeath her property, as per the report.