Science
News This Week:
1) Skulls
reveal Neandertal’s hodge-podge genealogy:
Fossil
treasure trove shows nuances in hominid family tree. The Neandertal branch of
the hominid family tree just got a lot more shrublike. Ancient skulls from a
desolate Spanish cave have a hodge-podge of Neandertal and non-Neandertal
features, suggesting the species underwent a long period of evolutionary fits
and starts before emerging as full-fledged Neandertals some 200,000 years ago.
A battery
of dating techniques indicates that the 17 skulls, seven of which were analyzed
for the first time, are roughly 430,000 years old. The age means the fossils
are the oldest reliable evidence of recognizable Neandertal features, says
paleontologist Juan Luis Arsuaga of Complutense University of Madrid, who led
the new analysis. The ancient age also suggests that the Neandertals’
evolutionary roots reach much farther back in time than that of humans, whose
characteristic features don’t appear in the fossil record until some 200,000
years ago in Africa.
2) Ovarian
cancer treatment discovered by researchers:
A new
treatment for ovarian cancer can improve response rates (increase the rate of
tumor shrinkage) and prolong the time until cancers recur, research shows. In
addition, this breakthrough showed a trend in improving survival although these
data are not yet mature. "This is an exciting new targeted medication in
treating recurrent ovarian cancer. Recurrent ovarian cancer is almost always
fatal and new treatments are desperately needed," said one researcher.
Doctors
at the University of Arizona Cancer Center at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical
Center in Phoenix reported today in Lancet Oncology that a new treatment for
ovarian cancer can improve response rates (increase the rate of tumor
shrinkage) and prolong the time until cancers recur. In addition, this
breakthrough showed a trend in improving survival although these data are not
yet mature.
Trebananib
(formally known as AMG 386; Amgen) is a first-in-class peptide-Fc fusion
protein (or peptibody) that targets angiogenesis (the growth of new blood
vessels into cancerous tumors) by inhibiting the binding of both angiopoietin 1
and 2 to the Tie2 receptor. This is very different mechanism of action than
other agents that also effect angiogenesis by inhibiting vascular endothelial
growth factor (VEGF) such as bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech).
Trebananib
does not increase the risks of hypertension (high blood pressure) and bowel
perforation like bevaciuzmab, but still has a similar impact on tumor shrinkage
and delaying cancer progression.
Neither
agent has shown a definitive increase in survival at this point. TRINOVA-1 was
a randomized prospective phase III clinical trial that added trebananib or
placebo to standard chemotherapy (weekly paclitaxel) among 919 women with
recurrent ovarian cancer patient from 179 sites in 32 countries.
The trial
was run by Professor Bradley J. Monk MD who directs the Division of Gynecologic
Oncology at the University of Arizona Cancer Center at St. Joseph's in Phoenix
and sponsored by Amgen. Dr. Monk's site also was the largest enrolling site in
Arizona.
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"This
is an exciting new targeted medication in treating recurrent ovarian cancer.
Recurrent ovarian cancer is almost always fatal and new treatments are
desperately needed," said Dr. Monk. "TRINOVA-1 also showed that
angiogenesis is a complex process in oncology and many new targets like
angiopoietin 1/2 will allow us to more effectively inhibit the growth of new blood
vessels that are necessary for cancer growth, metastases and progression. If we
can stop cancers from growing by choking off their blood supply, we can help
our patients feel better and live longer."
Amgen,
the manufacturer of trebananib has not yet filed this agent with the US Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) but has also enrolled two other ovarian cancer
phase III trials that have not yet had reported results (TRINOVA-2
[NCT01281254], and TRINOVA-3 [NCT01493505]).
TRINOVA-2
is evaluating pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in combination with either
placebo or trebananib in previously treated patients with ovarian cancer while
TRINOVA-3, also known as ENGOT -Ov2 and Gynecologic Oncology Group -- 3001, is
studying the use of trebananib in front-line treatment adding it to
carboplatin/paclitaxel. The results of these two additional trials are expected
within a year and will hopefully add to a successful FDA application for
approval making this agent available to American women with ovarian cancer.
3) New
horned dinosaur reveals unique wing-shaped headgear:
Scientists
have named a new species of horned dinosaur (ceratopsian) based on fossils
collected from Montana in the United States and Alberta, Canada.
Mercuriceratops (mer-cure-E-sare-ah-tops) gemini was approximately 6 meters (20
feet) long and weighed more than 2 tons. It lived about 77 million years ago
during the Late Cretaceous Period. Research describing the new species is
published online in the journal Naturwissenschaften. Mercuriceratops (Mercuri +
ceratops) means "Mercury horned-face," referring to the wing-like
ornamentation on its head that resembles the wings on the helmet of the Roman
god, Mercury. The name "gemini" refers to the almost identical twin
specimens found in north central Montana and the UNESCO World Heritage Site,
Dinosaur Provincial Park, in Alberta, Canada. Mercuriceratops had a parrot-like
beak and probably had two long brow horns above its eyes. It was a plant-eating
dinosaur.
4)
Supercooled liquid water hits record low:
Ultrafast
laser records droplet temperature at –46° Celsius. Using a miniature water gun
and a powerful laser, researchers have probed tiny water droplets at –46°
Celsius, the lowest temperature that ordinary water has ever been detected in
the liquid phase.
“It’s a
world record, and it’s hard to imagine it will ever fall,” says H. Eugene
Stanley, a physicist at Boston University.
The
study, published in the June 19 Nature, marks the first time that scientists
have observed liquid water in the low-temperature region where water’s already
unusual properties are expected to become even weirder. By studying such cold
conditions, researchers hope to understand water’s quirks at all temperatures
and how life takes advantage of them.
"Mercuriceratops
took a unique evolutionary path that shaped the large frill on the back of its
skull into protruding wings like the decorative fins on classic 1950s cars. It
definitively would have stood out from the herd during the Late Cretaceous,"
said lead author Dr. Michael Ryan, curator of vertebrate paleontology at The
Cleveland Museum of Natural History. "Horned dinosaurs in North America
used their elaborate skull ornamentation to identify each other and to attract
mates -- not just for protection from predators. The wing-like protrusions on
the sides of its frill may have offered male Mercuriceratops a competitive
advantage in attracting mates."
"The
butterfly-shaped frill, or neck shield, of Mercuriceratops is unlike anything
we have seen before," said co-author Dr. David Evans, curator of
vertebrate palaeontology at the Royal Ontario Museum. "Mercuriceratops
shows that evolution gave rise to much greater variation in horned dinosaur
headgear than we had previously suspected."
The new
dinosaur is described from skull fragments from two individuals collected from
the Judith River Formation of Montana and the Dinosaur Park Formation of
Alberta. The Montana specimen was originally collected on private land and
acquired by the Royal Ontario Museum. The Alberta specimen was collected by
Susan Owen-Kagen, a preparator in Dr. Philip Currie's lab at the University of
Alberta. "Susan showed me her specimen during one of my trips to
Alberta," said Ryan. "I instantly recognized it as being from the
same type of dinosaur that the Royal Ontario Museum had from Montana."
The
Alberta specimen confirmed that the fossil from Montana was not a pathological
specimen, nor had it somehow been distorted during the process of
fossilization," said Dr. Philip Currie, professor and Canada research
chair in dinosaur paleobiology at the University of Alberta. "The two
fossils -- squamosal bones from the side of the frill -- have all the features
you would expect, just presented in a unique shape."
"This
discovery of a previously unknown species in relatively well-studied rocks
underscores that we still have many more new species of dinosaurs to left to
find," said co-author Dr. Mark Loewen, research associate at the Natural
History Museum of Utah.
This
dinosaur is just the latest in a series of new finds being made by Ryan and
Evans as part of their Southern Alberta Dinosaur Project, which is designed to
fill in gaps in our knowledge of Late Cretaceous dinosaurs and study their
evolution. This project focuses on the paleontology of some of oldest
dinosaur-bearing rocks in Alberta and the neighbouring rocks of northern
Montana that are of the same age.
5) Neurons
get their neighbors to take out their trash:
Biologists
have long considered cells to function like self-cleaning ovens, chewing up and
recycling their own worn out parts as needed. But a new study shows that some
nerve cells found in the eye pass off their old energy-producing factories to
neighboring support cells to be 'eaten.' The find, which may bear on the roots
of glaucoma, also has implications for Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis and other diseases that involve a buildup of 'garbage' in
brain cells.
Biologists
have long considered cells to function like self-cleaning ovens, chewing up and
recycling their own worn out parts as needed. But a new study challenges that
basic principle, showing that some nerve cells found in the eye pass off their
old energy-producing factories to neighboring support cells to be
"eaten." The find, which may bear on the roots of glaucoma, also has
implications for Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
and other diseases that involve a buildup of "garbage" in brain cells.
The study
was led by Nicholas Marsh-Armstrong, Ph.D., a research scientist at the Kennedy
Krieger Institute and an associate professor in the Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine's Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, together
with Mark H. Ellisman, Ph.D., a neuroscience professor at the University of
California, San Diego. In a previous study, the two had seen hints that retinal
ganglion cells, which transmit visual information from the eye to the brain,
might be handing off bits of themselves to astrocytes, cells that surround and
support the eye's signal-transmitting neurons. They appeared to pass them to
astrocytes at the optic nerve head, the beginning of the long tendril that
connects retinal ganglion cells from the eye to the brain. Specifically, they
suspected that the neuronal bits being passed on were mitochondria, which are
known as the powerhouses of the cell.
To find
out whether this was really the case, Marsh-Armstrong's research group
genetically modified mice so that they produced indicators that glowed in the
presence of chewed up mitochondria. Ellisman's group then used cutting-edge
electron microscopy to reconstruct 3-D images of what was happening at the
optic nerve head. The researchers saw that astrocytes were, indeed, breaking
down large numbers of mitochondria from neighboring retinal ganglion cells.
"This
was a very surprising study for us, because the findings go against the common
understanding that each cell takes care of its own trash," says
Marsh-Armstrong. It is particularly interesting that the newly discovered
process occurs at the optic nerve head, he notes, as that is the site thought
to be at fault in glaucoma. He plans to investigate whether the mitochondria
disposal process is relevant to this disease, the second leading cause of
blindness worldwide.
But the
implications of the results go beyond the optic nerve head, Marsh-Armstrong
says, as a buildup of "garbage" inside cells causes neurodegenerative
diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and ALS. "By showing that this
type of alternative disposal happens, we've opened up the door for others to
investigate whether similar processes might be happening with other cell types
and cellular parts other than mitochondria," he says.
Movie
Release This Week:
Set in a
world ten years following the collapse of the western economic system, where
Australia’s mineral resources have drawn the desperados and dangerous to its
shores. With society in decline, the rule of law has disintegrated and life is
cheap. The film follows hardened loner Eric (Pearce), who travels the desolate
towns and roads of the Australian outback. When a gang of thieves steals his
car they leave behind the wounded Rey (Pattinson) in their wake. Forcing Rey to
help track the gang, Eric will go to any lengths to take back the one thing
that matters to him.
Clint
Eastwood’s big screen version of the Tony Award-winning musical tells the story
of the four young men from the wrong side of the tracks in New Jersey who came
together to form the iconic `60s rock group The Four Seasons. Their trials and
triumphs are accompanied by the hit songs that influenced a generation, and are
now being embraced by a new generation of fans through the stage musical.
Code
Black follows a team of young, idealistic and energetic ER doctors during the
transition from the old to the new L.A. County as they try to avoid burnout and
improve patient care. Why do they persist, despite being under siege by rules,
regulations and paperwork?
Third
Person wends its way through three cities and three tales. The various stories,
situated in Paris, Rome, and New York, are, at first glance, all separate, but
Haggis effortlessly makes connections among them as the film unwinds,
concentrating on three men and their romantic entanglements. Gradually, each
one of these stories unveils its secrets, testifying to the whims and
complexities of life. Surfaces are deceptive in the Haggis universe, but as
each story is explored we discover untold pleasures and pains. Life is never
easy: it can be deceptive, inhabited by anger and jealousy, but it can also be
surprisingly joyous.
Renowned
journalist Torgny Segerstedt declares war against Hitler as he criticizes
Swedish politicians who tried to look away from the tyranny of the Nazis with
the good excuse of “neutralism”. His only weapon is his pen and his life is
full of gossip such as an affair with his boss’ wife, a love scandal with a
secretary younger than his daughter, and the suicide of his wife. However, he
continues to fight a one man battle against Hitler and the Nazi regime until
his death, throwing the question “Can one person really change history?” to the
audience.
Political
News This Week:
1) PM
Modi's rail shocker: Passenger fare, freight rates hiked:
In a
pre-budget move, cash-strapped railways on Tuesday effected a steep
across-the-board hike of 14.2 per cent in passenger fares in all classes and a
6.5 per cent increase in freight rates to garner Rs.8000 crore a year.The
decision, which will come into effect from June 25, marks implementation of an
announcement of May 16, the day Lok Sabha election results came, when the hike
was announced but put on hold immediately.
In a
flip-flop, the Ministry first announced that today's hike will be implemented
with immediate effect but later changed it to June 25, saying the officials
needed time to execute it.Announcing the decision, less than a month after the
NDA government took over, Railway Minister Sadanand Gowda said, "I was
forced to implement the order that was done by my predecessor. I am only
withdrawing the withholding order."He said the interim budget presented by
the previous government had assumed certain revenues on the basis of the
proposed hike that was announced on May 16.
"Meeting
the annual expenditure would not be possible unless the revised rates as
finalised by previous government is implemented, hence order of withdrawing implementation
of revised fare and freight has been withdrawn," said the Railway
Ministry, which is incurring a loss of about Rs.900 crore per month in
passenger segment."Accordingly, the revised passenger fare and freight
rates and freight structure rationalization will come into effect from June 25,
2014," it said in a statement.
The hike
was announced nearly a week after Modi said the country should be ready for
"tough decisions" required to improve the financial health.The
Railway Budget will be presented in Parliament in the first week of next month.
Two days
back, Gowda had said he would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi before
announcing the hike.While a flat 10 per cent has been announced in all classes,
an additional 4.2 per cent increase under fuel adjustment component
(FAC)-linked revision scheme will be effected on passenger fares, taking the
upper revision of fares to 14.2 per cent, an official said.The Railways had
earlier issued a notification on May 16 effecting hike in passenger fare by 14.2
per cent across the board and freight charges by 6.5 per cent from May 20. This
was followed up with an official press release.The May 16 fare hike decision,
which had raised eyebrows as it came in the midst of Lok Sabha election
results, led to a scurry of activities in Rail Bhawan on that day and the
Railway Board went into a huddle to discuss its fallout.Soon after, the
red-faced Railway Ministry had put the decision on hold, saying the matter
related to the revision will be left to the next government.The then Railway
Minister Mallikarjun Kharge came out with a statement directing the Board to
leave the decision on the hike to the new government.
"It
is now informed that under the directions of the Minister of Railways
Mallikarjun Kharge, the decision on the proposed hike in the freight charges
and passenger fares have been kept pended till further advice for placing this
proposal before the new government," the statement said.A fresh
notification was issued later, stating that the "revision of fares with
effect from May 20 should be pended till further advice."The Railway
Minister had on Wednesday met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and said that he
would discuss the fare issue with the Prime Minister.Seeking a significant
increase in gross budgetary support, Gowda, along with Minister of State for
Railways Manoj Sinha and senior railway officials, had met Jaitley as part of
the pre-budget discussion.About the discussion with Jaitley, the Railway
Minister had said "it was a fruitful meeting with the Finance Minister who
suggested some measures which will be reflected in the rail budget."Gowda
said "we have sought more budgetary support. There is a need for more
funds for national projects."
2) Campa
Cola residents deny entry to civic officials for second day:
Holding
their ground, defiant Campa Cola residents denied entry to Mumbai civic
officials to cut off water and power supply to illegal flats for the second day
on Saturday even as the authorities filed a police complaint against the
occupants for obstructing them in discharge of their duties.In a repeat of
Saturday's failed exercise, officials from Municipal Corporation of Greater
Mumbai descended upon the housing complex in plush Worli area of south Mumbai
amid heavy security presence and made futile attempts to convince the residents
to let them in.
Women and
girls with folded hands were seen pleading with MCGM officials from behind the
grilled gates, locked and secured with bamboo poles, to understand the
"humanitarian crisis" and go away.A crowd of residents milled around
within the compound where a havan was performed as chants of hymns and scent of
burning joss sticks filled the air.The civic authorities, armed with the
Supreme Court order for demolishing 96 illegally constructed flats in the housing
complex, repeatedly pleaded with the residents to allow them to enter to cut
off power, water and piped gas supplies to those units, but in vain.
The
Supreme Court had on June 3 dismissed the plea of the residents of illegal
flats against an earlier order asking them to vacate their premises by May
31.Following the SC order, MCGM had given notices to the owners of the illegal
units to hand over the keys so that demolition could be carried out, but none
did. The MCGM deadline for vacating the flats expired yesterday and, as part of
their plan to force the occupants to vacate, the civic authorities have decided
to cut off essential supplies like water and power to them."We have been
requesting the residents to let us perform our duty but they are unrelenting.
We are leaving for the day but will come back tomorrow and continue our efforts
to convince them to let us do our job," Deputy Municipal Commissioner
Anand Waghralkar told reporters.
Waghralkar
said no force will be used against the residents and the civic body will
approach the Supreme Court with a contempt petition if they refuse to
cooperate."The residents are performing havans inside the compound and
have taken an emotional approach to this operation. They should understand that
all this will not work with government officials who have to perform their
duty," he said.
MCGM had
on Friday night filed a complaint against the residents accusing them of
obstructing the authorities in discharge of their duties. They had submitted
video recordings of Friday's exercise when the occupants had thwarted their
attempts to enter the compound to cut off essential supplies.A case under IPC
sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge
of his duty) and various others related to wrongful restraint and unlawful
assembly was registered against Campa Cola residents."Once we have
examined the footage provided to us by the authorities, we will take
action," an officer at Worli police station said.
Maharashtra
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had Friday ruled out enacting a law to bail
out the owners of illegal flats at Campa Cola housing society, saying, "If
illegal constructions are to be spared by a law, it would imply that other such
irregular works too can be saved in a similar way."
3)
Protests in Delhi against rail fare hike:
Congress
and the Communist Party of India-Marxist workers on Saturday took to the
streets in the national capital protesting the "massive" rail fare
hike and demanding its immediate rollback, saying that the government's
decision will lead to rise in prices of essential commodities.Scores of
Congress workers led by party's Delhi unit chief Arvinder Singh Lovely held a
demonstration in Janakpuri area of West Delhi and clashed with police.Police
had to use water canon when the protesters tried to break barricades.
"It
is a massive hike. How can they increase the fair just couple of weeks before
the Budget Session of Parliament. People who used to talk about 'achche din'
(good days) before the elections today are talking about bitter
medicines," Lovely said.He said, "BJP had promised to curb inflation
before elections but I doubt if it will happen. If they continue to take steps
like this, then I am sure people of the country will punish the government. The
government is failing at all fronts."Demanding that the government take
back its decision, Lovely said besides hitting hard the passengers, the hike will
lead to higher inflation as the freight rates have been increased by 6.5 per
cent.He threatened that the party will launch a 'rail roko' agitation if the
decision is not rescinded.Separately, the Delhi unit of CPI(M) also staged a
protest outside the Rail Bhawan."Before coming to power, BJP criticised
plans and policies of other parties and won the trust of the citizens by
promising to provide relief to people from price hike. But now they are doing
the same," said Anurag Saxena, member of CPI(M) Delhi.
He said
that BJP did not give a chance to other parties to keep forth their views and
declared the hike before the Budget Session."They are using UPA only as an
excuse. The previous government has gone now, BJP needs to fulfil the promises
they had made rather than making UPA a scapegoat," said Saxena. The
protests resulted in major traffic jams in Central Delhi. Lovely said Congress
was not holding the protest, considering the possibility of Assembly polls in
Delhi as suggested by some BJP leaders."We do not even know whether
assembly elections in Delhi will be held soon or not," he said, replying
to a question.In one of the biggest hikes, railways on Friday raised passenger
fares by 14.2 per cent for all classes and increased freight rates by 6.5 per
cent to garner Rs 8000 crore annually.
4)
Hundreds of Indians stranded in Najaf; 39 abducted workers 'unharmed':
Efforts
continued on Saturday to secure the release of the 39 kidnapped Indians in
Mosul town of strife-torn Iraq with the government remaining in touch with the
countries in the region to resolve the crisis after identity of the captors
were known.
Government
said all the Indians in captivity were "unharmed" and it was
"fully engaged" and "every possible effort" was being made
to ensure their release.As efforts were on to rescue all the Indians from the
troubled areas in Iraq, Amnesty International claimed that hundreds of Indian
nationals may be stranded in Najaf province.The human rights watchdog claimed
it had spoken over the phone with some Indian workers working for an
infrastructure and construction company who said they were in danger as their
employers had "refused to return their passports", thus rendering
them unable to leave the Gulf country"Evidence has emerged which suggests
that several hundred Indian nationals may be stranded in Najaf province of
Iraq, unable to return home because their employer refuses to return their
passports," Amnesty International India said in a statement.
Official
sources here said the Indian mission in Baghdad has already contacted the
company concerned and the matter is likely to be resolved soon."We have
contacted the company concerned. The companies are already responsive. We are
already working with them. They will have these people come across. There will
be somebody from embassy who goes there, will sit down with the company and all
the employees and decide on this," they said.They also said India remained
in contact with a number of countries in the region besides Iraqi authorities
to resolve the crisis.The sources further said government has indication about
the identity of the captors and it was in touch with International Red Crescent
in Iraq."All the 39 Indians in captivity are unharmed as of today,"
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.
40 Indian
construction workers were kidnapped from Mosul, Iraq's second largest city
which was seized by Sunni militants, and one of them fled from the captors.When
asked about identity of the captors, the sources refused to divulge details
citing operational issues and safety of the kidnapped Indians but added that
they were kept with people from other nationalities.The Indian who fled from
the captivity was undergoing debriefing and was said to be in complete
safety.He is learnt to be in "friendly location" and no ransom demand
has been received so far.The sources said 16 Indians who were evacuated from
violence-affected areas of Iraq have returned to India.
The
government is in constant touch with the 46 nurses stranded in Tikrit town,
which was also taken over by Sunni militants. Areas like Basra, Najaf and
Kurdish-dominated areas are not witnessing violence.Meanwhile, around 28
Indians working in a company in Najaf, which is not affected by violence, have
also expressed their desire to return to India and government was helping them.
A total of 1,000 Indians are working in the company.Another lot of 49 Indian
employees of a power sector company in Northern Iraq conveyed to Indian mission
that they want to return to India and government was also in touch with the
company.The Indian mission is looking into issues like possible contractual
disputes between Indians and their employers and sort out such disputes to
ensure their return.On Friday night, six persons from Punjab's Gurdaspur
district who were stranded in Iraq, returned home safely.With nearly 200 people
from Punjab stranded in that country, the state government has decided to bear
the expenses for bringing them back safely and also reimburse the expenses
incurred by distressed families for making phone calls to Iraq, an official
spokesman said in Chandigarh.
Amnesty
International India claimed that some of the Indians stranded in Najaf province
were "awaiting a response from the Indian embassy in Baghdad" after
they texted their passport details to them on June 19."The employer holds
all our passports and refuses to return them. We have been restricting
ourselves to the company premises since the conflict began as we are scared. We
just want to go home," one of the workers reportedly told Amnesty
International India.The government was also in touch with various humanitarian
agencies, the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq and Iraqi government to gather more
information about its citizens.Iraq is witnessing serious strife with Sunni
militants, backed by Al Qaeda, capturing two key cities and marching towards
Baghdad. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been displaced in the fighting
that broke out on June 10.The government has also decided to provide financial
assistance through Indian Community Welfare Fund to those Indians who are
indigent and want to return to India.India has also requested Iraq to lift
restriction on the visa norm that if a person comes to the country through a port
of entry then he will have to go back though the same port of entry.The issue
has been taken up with Iraqi authorities so that trapped Indians can cross
Iraqi border to neighbouring countries through nearest land boundary.
Instructions
have also been issued to Indian missions in countries around Iraq to take up
the matter with their host governments to facilitate movement by those who wish
to cross the land boundary from nearest place of their stay. PTIThe kidnapped
Indian, who had managed to flee from captivity, is from Punjab, sources
said.The person has given some information about the abductors to the Indian
authorities, they added.
5) Advani
deserves to be President of India: Gadkari:
Union
minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nitin Gadkari has said party
patriarch L K Advani deserves to be the President of India, a post commensurate
with his stature.Appearing on Rajat Sharma's show 'Aap ki Adalat' on India TV,
the Union road transport minister said it would not have been proper had he
(Advani) been made the Lok Sabha Speaker as the party veteran has already been
deputy prime minister."Advaniji was deputy prime minister and it would not
have been proper had he been made the Speaker. Advaniji deserves to become the
nation's President," Gadkari said, according to a press release issued by
the channel.
"All
of us respect Advaniji and we want that he should get a post commensurate with
his stature," he said.Gadkari said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken
a conscious decision not to induct ministers above the age of 75 years due to
which some senior party leaders like Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi did not
find a place in the Union Cabinet.Comparing the party seniors with Bollywood
megastar Amitabh Bachchan who cannot play the role of a hero now as the
generation has changed, the former BJP president said even he may be replaced
ten years from now to make way for new people.He dismissed as media speculation
reports that Joshi wanted to become deputy chairperson of Planning Commission."Joshiji
is our think tank, our senior leader. Our party will surely utilise his vast
knowledge and experience," he told the channel.
Gadkari
praised the prime minister's style of working and said he listens to ministers'
views and accepts some of them but himself has an understanding of issues and
knowledge about departments."It is not true that ministers are afraid of
the PM. It's an issue of image versus reality and ground reality versus
perception...The PM goes into the knitty-gritty of each issue. That's why
departmental secretaries fear him," he told the channel.Giving indications
of things to come, he said while asking for funds from Finance Minister Arun
Jaitley he is told that there are no funds even for existing schemes."The
economy needs bitter medicine and only bitter medicine can restore one's
health. It will take time," he said.
6) UPA
governors wanted to quit, but Congress refused:
While the
political storm over the removal of governors continues to rage on, it has come
to light that a number of Congress-appointed governors had actually wanted to
step down after the new government came to power but were stopped from doing so
by the party leadership.According to top Congress sources, Punjab Governor
Shivraj Patil was the first who expressed his desire to put in his papers even
before the National Democratic Alliance government led by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi took charge, but he was told not to do so as it would then put
pressure on the others to do the same.
Patil, it
is learnt, was not comfortable about continuing since he had sought the
resignation of NDA-appointed governors in 2004 when he was the Union home
minister in the United Progressive Alliance government. Patil had then said
that the governors were being removed because they were not ideologically
aligned with the Congress-led UPA government.A senior Congress leader disclosed
that Patil felt that under these circumstances, he had no moral right to stay
on.
Several
Congress-appointed governors have been sent feelers by the BJP-led government
that they should put in their papers.Among those who have been asked to quit
include M K Narayanan (West Bengal), Sheila Dikshit (Kerala), Margaret Alva
(Rajasthan), Kamla Beniwal (Gujarat), BL Joshi (Uttar Pradesh), K
Sankaranarayanan (Maharashtra) and Devendra Konwar (Tripura).While Uttar
Pradesh governor B L Joshi and Chhattisgarh governor Shekhar Dutt rendered
their resignations, the others have decided to stay put.Although the Congress
had removed NDA-appointed governors when it came to power ten years ago, it
took a considered view this time to challenge and embarrass the new government
on this issue. Consequently, it advised its appointees not to resign.
The
Congress believes it has strong case as it is armed with a 2010 Supreme Court
order which had said the removal of the governors was untenable. Moreover, the
matter landed in court after it was challenged by B P Singhal, known for his
proximity to the BJP.A five-judge constitution bench of the apex court had
said, “The governor cannot be removed on the ground that he is out of sync with
the policies and ideologies of the Union government or the party in power at
the Centre. Nor can he be removed on the ground that the Union government has
lost confidence in him”.The court further said that if the reasons for removal
were irrelevant, mala fide or whimsical, they could invite judicial
intervention.
The
Congress is well aware that the NDA government’s hands are tied in the light of
this court order. The Centre cannot officially ask the governors to resign as
it can lead to a long-drawn legal battle. It has, therefore, asked Union home
secretary Anil Goswami to call up the governors and suggest to them that they
step down.The NDA government is clearly in a bind on this issue. It wants the
Congress-appointed governors to go so that it can accommodate its own party
nominees. But it cannot ask them to do so in writing.Realising that the ruling
alliance is on a weak wicket, one governor is stated to have rejected the
suggestion and has instead put the ball in the Centre’s court, stating that the
government should write to her if it wants her resignation before the expiry of
her five-year-term, sources said.
Enjoying
the Centre’s discomfiture, senior Congress leader and leader of opposition in
the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad went as far as to describe the ruling
alliance’s move as “dictatorial and political vendetta” and warned of serious
repercussions. The NDA government, he said, does not have the brief to dismiss
governors in an arbitrary and capricious manner with the change of power.Former
finance minister P Chidambaram maintained the Centre should leave it to the
governors to decide whether to continue in their posts or resign. "There
is a case of intervention only where there is proven misconduct," he
added.The NDA government has, therefore, been at pains to state that they have
not asked any governor to resign but it also made it clear that it expects them
to go on their own.“We have not sought resignation of state governors”,
Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar clarified, adding that
the government will follow the Constitution on change of state governors, but
governors should ‘follow their conscience.’
While
this tug-a-war between the Congress and the NDA government is set to continue,
there are several governors who are not on the ruling alliance’s radar for
various reasons. For instance, Sikkim governor Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil from
the Nationalist Congress Party is unlikely to be touched after party chief
Sharad Pawar put in a word for him with the BJP leadership.Similarly, Meghalaya
governor K K Paul is unlikely to be asked to go. His wife Omita Paul is
secretary to President Pranab Mukherjee and the BJP would obviously like to
keep the President on its right side.
Sports News
This Week:
1) India
vs Bangladesh 3rd ODI: India take series 2-0 after third ODI called off:
Bangladesh
spinner Shakib Al Hasan grabbed three quick wickets before the third and final
one-day international against India was called off due to persistent rain.
Shakib, 27, unravelled India's middle order after the fast bowlers had the
visitors reeling at 13-3 in the day-night clash at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in
Dhaka.
But rain
had the final say in the game which was abandoned with India 119-9 off 34.2
overs after electing to bat.
India
pocketed the series 2-0, having won the first two games by seven wickets and 47
runs respectively. The match was initially reduced to 40-overs-a-side but
frequent rain interruptions left the umpires with no option but to call off the
game.
The
Indians were off to a shaky start with both the openers being sent back cheaply
by fast bowlers Al-Amin Hossain (2-23) and Mashrafe Mortaza (1-25). Teenage
paceman Taskin Ahmed, who picked 5-28 on debut in the second ODI on Tuesday,
took a wicket off his first ball to send back Ambati Rayudu for one.
Rayudu
failed to read the extra bounce in the delivery and edged it straight to
Mushfiqur Rahim behind the stumps. Taskin, 19, also dismissed Akshar Patel to
finish with figures of 2-15.
Indian
captain Suresh Raina appeared in fine form, hitting Al-Amin for three fours in
an over to race to a run-a-ball 25 before he was caught behind off left-arm
spinner Shakib.
Shakib
would have picked a fourth wicket but his appeal for leg before wicket against
Cheteshwar Pujara was turned down despite TV replays suggesting the ball would
have hit stumps.
Raina
added 41 runs for the fifth wicket with Pujara (27), the highest of the
innings.
All-rounder
Stuart Binny, coming into the game on the back of a sterling show with the ball
in the previous game, wrapping up the series 2-0, impressed during his short
stint with the bat, making an unbeaten 25 with four boundaries. Binny took 6-4
to help India win the second match by 47 rains despite defending a paltry 105.
Bangladesh
also made one change to their side, replacing paceman Ziaur Rahman with Sohag
Gazi.
Brazil Football World Cup 2014 This Week:
Book of
This Week:
The
Mammoth Book of the World Cup : Nick Holt (Author)
A truly
comprehensive and definitive guide to the FIFA World Cup, from Uruguay in 1930
to today. An all-encompassing, chronological guide to football's World Cup, one
of the world's few truly international events, in good time for the June 2014
kick-off in Rio de Janeiro. From its beginnings in 1930 to the modern
all-singing, all-dancing self-styled 'greatest show on Earth', every tournament
is covered with features on major stars and great games, as well as stories
about some less celebrated names and quirky stats and intriguing essays. Holt's
focus is very much on what takes place on the field, rather than how football
is a mirror for economic corruption or how a nation's style of play represents
a profound statement about its people or how a passion for football can lift
underpaid, socially marginalized people out of poverty. From the best World
Cups, in 1958 and 1970, to the worst, in 1962 and 2010, he looks behind the
facts and the technical observations to the stories - the mysterious sins of
omission, critical injuries to key players and coaching U-turns. He explains
how England's World Cup achievements under Sven-Göran Eriksson, far from being
a national disgrace, were actually quite impressive and looks at why Alf Ramsey
didn't take Bobby Charlton off in 1970, but this is no parochial, jingoistic
account.
The book
also asks why Brazil did not contribute in 1966, despite having won the
previous two tournaments and going on to win the next one? Why the greatest
players of their day did not always shine at the World Cup - George Best and
Alfredo Di Stefano, for example, never even made it to the Finals. Why did
Johann Cruyff not go to the 1978 World Cup? Why did one of Germany's greatest
players never play in the World Cup? There are lots of tables, some filled with
obvious, but necessary information, but others with more quirky observations.
Alongside accounts of epic games, there are also brief biographies of all the
great heroes of the World Cup.
Nature Magazine
National Geographic
Cartoon Games
History Channel
Online Movies
Scientific American
Filmfare Mag
Online Britannica
Time Mag
Unexplained Mysteries
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