India can win Women's T20 World Cup: Mithali

CANTERBURY: Indian women's cricket captain Mithali Raj on Tuesday said that her side would look to emulate their male counterparts by winning the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in Sri Lanka in September-October.

"It would be great to win the ICC Women's World Twenty20, the closest we have got to the title is the semifinal stage and we know we have the ability to go further," she said before the India-England Twenty20 International match.

"The fact the tournament is being played in Sri Lanka will help us immensely as the sub-continent conditions are ones that we know and do well in as a team," she said.

Mithali said it would be great to take some ICC silverware home to mirror the trophies won by the men.

"Of course we would love to win the ICC Women's World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012, and make the whole of India proud.

"The men won the tournament in 2007 and then won the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 so hopefully this time around it will be both the India women and men bringing home the ICC World Twenty20 trophies," she said while posing in front of men's and women's Twenty20 World Cup trophies along with England captain Charlotte Edwards.

Edwards led the England women's team to victory in 2009 and said she wanted to reclaim the trophy the side failed to retain in the West Indies in 2010.

"We had a disappointing tournament in 2010 in the Caribbean and this year is about rectifying that and claiming back the trophy we won in front of our home supporters in 2009," Edwards, the 32-year-old top-order batter, said.

"We've got a new look side that has been working hard over the last year to ensure we've got a good amount of match practice and we're ready for Sri Lanka later this year. We want to be in that final on October 7 in Colombo and ultimately lifting the trophy once again."

Both the men's and women's competitions would be held simultaneously in Sri Lanka. The men's competition will be staged in Hambantota, Pallekelle and Colombo. The women's group stages will be held in Galle.

Sachin Tendulkar greatest batsman to have played cricket: Dennis Lillee

" He (Sachin)is the greatest player and batsman to have ever played. He just amazes me on many counts, his eye for the game, hunger for the game and continued success," said Dennis Lillee. (TOI Photo)

CHENNAI: Australian fast-bowling great Dennis Lillee has described Sachin Tendulkar as the greatest batsman to have ever played cricket while admiring the iconic Indian's hunger for the game despite achieving unparalleled success.

"Sachin is a very humble man. He is the greatest player and batsman to have ever played. He just amazes me on many counts, his eye for the game, hunger for the game and continued success," said the 62-year-old Lillee, who bids adieu to the MRF Pace Foundation after 25 years of service.

Lillee felt a bit embarrassed now in the thought that he had rejected Tendukar's ambition to become a fast bowler in the late 1980s but said he did the game of cricket a "big favour" by doing so.

"I actually feel very embarrassed because I rejected him as a fast bowler," Lillee said recalling his first meeting with Tendulkar when the batsman came to the MRF Pace Foundation with an ambition to become a fast bowler.

"I think I did him and the game of cricket a favour. I am just joking, but I will never forget (the incident)," he said.

Lillee, then the MRF Pace Foundation's coaching director, advised a young Tendulkar to focus on his batting instead of bowling.

"When he came back a year later he was just 15 years or so. I was there behind the nets. The first ball Sachin faced he hit it behind the bowler for a four. Sachin flicked the next ball for a four as well. The bowlers were not able to get Sachin and he was hitting them out of the park," said Lillee.

"When he was still batting with about 48 runs or so from 12 balls, I asked (the then head coach) TA Sekar who is this boy. Sekar laughed and replied you should know him, he is the boy whom you rejected when he wanted to become a fast bowler," he added.

Lillee said it was his fortune to have spotted Tendulkar before he made his foray into international cricket.

"I was fortunate enough to see him before he made it to Test cricket and lucky enough to recognise him as the world's best," he said.

Asked about the fast bowling talents he witnessed during his stint at the MRF Foundation, Lillee rated Zaheer Khan as the best, just ahead of cricketer-turned-match referee Javagal Srinath.

"To me number one is Zaheer Khan and number two is Srinath. As for Venkatesh Prasad I had always thought that he is going to be a Test player," he said.

"Irfan (Pathan), R P Singh and S Sreesanth were promising but sometimes I used to be disappointed with Munaf (Patel). Munaf is one bowler who used to bowl at 150 plus but someone had suggested him to slow down. To me he had some natural gifts. Not many people are bestowed with such attributes."

Lillee also said that he was never on the same page with the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI).

The Australian said that he loves to do things his way and that might be a reason why the BCCI never utilised his knowledge in the best possible manner.

"It was disappointing for me personally. Got to remember that I have the same relationship with the Cricket Australia too. I do not do anything unless I do them my way. I do not want other people pushing things on me," Lillee insisted.

Coca Cola to invest about Rs 28,000 crore in India by 2020

Coca-Cola today said it, along with its partners, will invest $5 billion (about Rs 28,000 crore) in India by 2020.

NEW DELHI: Beverages giant Coca-Cola on Tuesday said it, along with its partners, will invest about Rs 28,000 crore ($5 billion) in India by 2020 on various activities, including setting up of new bottling plants.

This investment is higher by $3 billion from the previous announcement made in November 2011 for a period of five years to enhance its operations in India.

"Coca Cola will invest $5 billion in India between now and 2020. This investment in India is a part of $30 billion globally planned by the company. India aims to be among top five countries in Coca Cola's markets. It is at present number seven," chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent told reporters here.

69% of India gets deficient rains, monsoon to miss Delhi date

Data released by the weather office today, 69% of the country has received deficient or scanty rains in terms of percentage of area of the country covered by rains.

NEW DELHI: Nearly two-thirds of the country have received deficient or scanty rains this season as monsoon appeared set to miss its date with Delhi.

According to data released by the weather office today, 69% of the country has received deficient or scanty rains in terms of percentage of area of the country covered by rains.

Weather scientists said they did not expect the south-west monsoon to make any significant advances towards the north and Delhi was likely to miss its June 29 date with seasonal rains.

They, however, said that next week could see good rains as some weather systems appeared to be organising in the West Arabian Sea.

The scientists said that first half of July was expected to see some good spells of monsoon.

This season the monsoon had a delayed onset over Kerala which got first seasonal showers on June 5 and made sputtering progress towards the north before being stopped in the tracks by atmospheric storm 'Talim' last week.

The monsoonal flows were yet to pick up steam but eastern and northeastern parts have been getting regular showers due to favourable weather conditions ranging from sub-Himalayan West Bengal to North Bay of Bengal.

IMD data showed one per cent area of the country - Sikkim and adjoining parts - getting excess rains, and 30% area receiving normal rains.

It showed 33% of the country — parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka - getting deficient rains and another 36% receiving scanty rains. Almost the entire northwest region, Gujarat and Kutch, Rayalseema and Tamil Nadu have got scanty rains.

I want to come back and play for India: Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj back in NCA, eyes T20 World Cup

BANGALORE: Eying a return to international cricket at the World Twenty20 to be held in Sri Lanka this September, cricketer Yuvraj Singh kick-started his fitness drills at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore on Monday.

Yuvraj is not in a rush but hopes to regain 100 percent fitness before resuming to cricket. "I will be in NCA for a while now. I want to come back and play for India, that's my goal. It's not very easy on the body. I have gone through a lot and my body has gone through lot of shock. People are expecting me to come back very quickly, but I don't want to rush. I will have to take my time and come back 100% fit," said the left-hander who single-handedly smashed six sixes in one over off England's Stuart Broad at the inaugural World T20 in South Africa in 2007.

Yuvraj said his body was regaining strength as his rehabilitation progressed. "Feeling good. My body will become stronger stage by stage. Twenty20 world cup is my target. Hopefully I can be ready little before that," said India's World Cup hero, who is recovering after undergoing treatment for cancer in the United States.

In an attempt to impress the national selectors, Yuvraj will be eying pre-season domestic cricket tournaments in the southern states to prove himself. "I have to see the schedule. May be in August, I should play a few tournaments down South. I am not sure about the dates so I have to check," said the 30-year-old who has not appeared in any form of the game since last November when he was diagnosed with lung cancer.

The Shafi Darashah Trophy in Bangalore, Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament in Chennai and Moin ud Dowla Gold Cup in Hyderabad are the three tournaments scheduled to be played in the next three months.

Could Stephen Hawking speak again? Device to 'hack' into his brain

Hawking has been working with scientists at Stanford University who are developing iBrain - a tool which picks up brain waves and communicates them via a computer.

LONDON: Scientists are working with Stephen Hawking to test a groundbreaking device to allow them to 'hack' into the brain of the world-famous British physicist, who has been unable to speak for the last 30 years.

70-year-old Hawking has been working with scientists at Stanford University of the US who are developing iBrain - a tool which picks up brain waves and communicates them via a computer, the Daily Mail reported.

Hawking has been unable to speak for the last 30 years due to the motor neurone disease which is ravaging his body and weakening his muscles.

He currently uses a computer to communicate with a robot-like voice, but is losing the ability as his condition is worsening by the day.

Hawking was fitted with a black headband which has a series of neurotransmitters inside it and was told to think about scrunching his right hand into a ball.

He was able to create a pattern which the researchers hope they can one day convert into letters, words and sentences, the report said.

The iBrain has been developed by Philip Low, a professor at the university.

It is about the size of a matchbox and is very light so does not weigh down Hawking's head.

Professor Low said he hopes that it will be able to monitor him in real time, regardless of what he is doing.

"We'd like to find a way to bypass his body, pretty much hack his brain. This is very exciting for us because it allows us to have a window into the brain," Low said.

"We're building technology that will allow humanity to have access to the human brain for the first time.

"The emergence of such biomarkers opens the possibility to link intended movements to a library of words and convert them into speech, thus providing motor neurone sufferers with communication tools more dependent on the brain than on the body," he said.

Low will unveil his latest findings next month at a conference in Cambridge, and Hawking may demonstrate the technology.

It could also be used to treat sleep disorders and possibly help to quickly diagnose autism, the

Mumbai 3 injured during Salman Khan's film shoot in Bandra

MUMBAI: Three unit members of the film Dabangg 2 were injured during the shooting of an action sequence at Bandra's Mehboob Studio on Saturday evening.

Actor Salman Khan, who was not shooting but was present on the sets, immediately picked up the injured and drove them to hospital. The actor, after admitting the injured, came out and told mediapersons, "Everything is fine. It is just that it took us time to reach the hospital because of a traffic jam between Mehboob Studio and Lilavati Hospital."

Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) general secretary Dinesh Chaturvedi, who visited the set after the incident, said, "A car jump was being filmed when the accident happened. The car was supposed to jump and land at a distance of 50 feet. Instead it went further and landed in front of the still photographer Ajay Thakur who has been seriously injured. Two other fighters Rupesh Mantri and Sudesh Kumar were also injured."

A source from the unit said, "All the injured persons are conscious and recuperating well and there is not much of a worry."

Chaturvedi said, "We are touched by Salman's gesture of taking the injured to hospital. Such acts do not happen in our industry. I have been told that Salman will be taking care of all medical expenses of the injured and will also pay compensation. A hospital spokesperson said three technicians were admitted to Lilavati Hospital's sixth floor ICU. Their condition is stable but they will be under observation for 72 hours under the care of Dr Abdul Ansari.

Mumbai Indians to get direct entry to CLT20?

Mumbai Indians won't be playing any qualifying matches and will get a direct entry into the richest cricket league. (TOI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Last year's Champions League Twenty20 champs and the fourth team in this year's IPL standings - Mumbai Indians - won't be playing any qualifying matches and will get a direct entry into the richest cricket league, which is likely to be played in South Africa.

The other from India, which will play in Champions League are 2012 IPL winners Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings & Delhi Daredevils.

Last year, CLT20 had top three IPL teams and the fourth team had to go through the qualifying stage before playing the main tournament. And, KKR had played the qualifying matches.

This year, sources said that champion teams from England and Pakistan (Sialkot Champions) might have to play the qualifying matches. "A discussion to this effect has taken place, now it's up to the council to take the final call," a source told TOI on Saturday.

It was also learnt that the Governing Council of the Champions League T20 will meet in Kuala Lumpur on Monday to decide on the host nation. According to a source, South Africa will inform the council on whether or not they are ready to host the Champions League.

"During the IPL final, South Africa was keen when they were offered to host the league. In all probability, they are ready to host the event," a source close to the development.

The council is also going discuss the budget of the league and the cost involved in hosting the event in India.

Earlier, India were supposed to host the event after it got some round of applause last year and there were sponsors who were happy to see more than two IPL teams taking part in the event.

However, the Indian board offered to shift the event to South Africa due to monsoon and Durga Puja. It was also learnt that the official broadcaster will discuss the cost involving the qualifying matches and logistic costs of the entire tournament.

Wimbledon begins amid tension in Indian tennis

Leander Paes, who is apparently unhappy at being paired with a lower-ranked Vishnu Vardhan for the Olympics, is not going into the big event in a good frame of mind. (TOI Photo)

LONDON: India's squabbling tennis players would be eager to prove a point amid a bitter selection row for next month's Olympics here when they take the court at the prestigious Wimbledon Championships starting on Monday at the All England Club.

Since the Olympics will be played at the same grass courts, it is an opportunity for players to get a hang of the conditions but more importantly for them, the event is also a chance to outdo each other and score a few brownie points after the bitter wrangling over who pairs up with whom for the Olympics.

Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna, after having their way in getting selected as a team for the Olympics, would look to do that extra bit in getting a good result here to convince the country that their fight was worth it.

They have done reasonably well since teaming up at the start of the season. They won an ATP title in Dubai and reached semifinals of five other tournaments, including the three elite Master events.

They have been seeded seventh here and have an easy opener against the unseeded pair of Marcel Felder of Uruguay and Malek Jaziri of Tunisia.

Leander Paes, who is apparently unhappy at being paired with a lower-ranked Vishnu Vardhan for the Olympics, is not going into the big event in a good frame of mind but he is expected to leave the bickering outside the court once he starts playing.

Sania's winning combination with Bhupathi has been broken for the Olympics by AITA to appease a sulking Paes but if Sania-Hesh combination yet again delivers a good result, it will put AITA under a lot of pressure and in an uncomfortable position.


AITA has made it clear that only Paes will partner Sania in the mixed doubles at Olympics but a good result in the Wimbledon by Sania and Bhupathi will create a situation where the decision of AITA's will become questionable.


The signing in for the mixed doubles at the Olympics is July 31 and rankings of July 23 will be considered for the seedings.


In the women's doubles, Sania will partner America's Bethanie Mattek-Sands. They have been seeded 13th and face Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia and Sloane Stephens of the USA in their opener.

Apple loses smartphone war to Google

A US judge on Friday ruled that Apple Inc cannot pursue an injunction against Google's Motorola Mobility unit, effectively ending a key case for the iPhone maker in the smartphone patent wars.

The ruling came from judge Richard Posner in Chicago federal court. He dismissed the litigation between Apple and Motorola Mobility with prejudice, meaning it can't be refiled.

The ruling is a blow for Apple, which had hoped a decisive ruling against Motorola would help it gain an upper hand in the smartphone market against Android.

"Apple is complaining that Motorola's phones as a whole ripped off the iPhone as a whole," Posner wrote. "But Motorola's desire to sell products that compete with the iPhone is a separate harm - and a perfectly legal one - from any harm caused by patent infringement."

Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet declined to comment on the ruling. Motorola Mobility spokeswoman Jennifer Erickson said the company was pleased that Posner dismissed Apple's case.

Both parties have the option to appeal Posner's ruling.

Motorola sued Apple in October 2010, a move that was widely seen as a pre-emptive strike against an imminent Apple lawsuit. Apple filed its own claims against Motorola the same month.

Kerala is country’s most crime-prone state, NCRB statistics show

Among states with significant population and area, Kerala has left most others far behind with Madhya Pradesh a distant second at 297.2 offences per lakh population, and Delhi ranks third with a rate of 279.8. UP, much reviled on the crime front, has a crime rate of only 87.5.

NEW DELHI: These are one set of statistics Kerala will not be proud to own up to: God's own country, and not the badlands of north India, is the most crime-prone state, ahead of Uttar Pradesh and even Delhi.

The latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) figures comparing incidents of crime with the population of a state, notes Kerala is most affected by crime and Kochi is the most dangerous city. Figures compiled till 2010 show that Kerala has a crime rate of 424.1, more than double the national average of 187.6.

Kochi's crime rate is even scarier at 1,879.8 compared to most cities, where the figure averages 341.9. NCRB's figures show that Kochi also saw an exponential rise of 193% in crime in 2010 compared to 2009. For a state that reaps praise for scoring high on literacy and health indicators, the crime stats are unwelcome news.

Crime rate - number of crimes committed per 1 lakh population — gives a more realistic and comparative picture of law and order than a total of offences registered in a state or city. A state with a larger population can report a higher number of offences as compared to a small state. But it is the crime rate that is an index of law and order.

Among states with significant population and area, Kerala has left most others far behind with Madhya Pradesh a distant second at 297.2 offences per lakh population, and Delhi ranks third with a rate of 279.8. UP, much reviled on the crime front, has a crime rate of only 87.5.

Kerala also ranks highest on incidents of rioting and arson with a rate of 26 compared to the national average of 6.4, although Bihar at 8,809 incidents accounts for almost 13% of all riots in the country.

To put these figures in perspective, NCRB has also compiled separate statistics for violent crimes that include murder, attempt to murder, rape, kidnapping and dowry death. On this count too, Kerala's figures are high, inspiring little confidence in the state's government machinery.

Of the 2,41,986 incidents of violent crime in the country, Kerala accounted for 11,756, more than much larger states like Rajasthan (10, 577) and comparable to its bigger neighbours such as Tamil Nadu (12,333) and Andhra Pradesh (12,491). UP accounts for highest number of violent crimes, recording 27,225 incidents.

Even women are not very safe in the coconut country. The state's rate of crime against women hovers at 27, higher than Delhi at 24.6, which is often called most unsafe place for females. Bihar, incidentally, is one the safest for women recording a crime rate against women of only 8.7 — second only to Goa with a rate of 8.

Mahi to be pulled out soon, rescue team reaches trapped girl in borewell

Rescuers on Sunday managed to reach four-year-old Mahi, 82 hours after she fell into a 70-feet-deep borewell near Manesar.

GURGAON: Rescuers on Sunday managed to reach four-year-old Mahi, 82 hours after she fell into a 70-feet-deep borewell near Manesar.


On Saturday night they had managed to pierce a hard rock-- a major hurdle which the rescuers had been struggling to break for the last two days.


Rescuers have managed to reach the girl and efforts are being made to take her out, an official said.


The girl Mahi fell into the borewell at Kho village near Manesar while playing with her friends on June 20, her fourth birthday.


Oxygen is being constantly supplied to Mahi since the rescue operation began. Over 100 officials drawn from army, fire, police, Gurgaon Rapid Metrorail, health and revenue departments, and locals have been involved in drilling a pit parallel to the borewell.

3.4 magnitude quake jolts Kozhikode, Malappuram

  Epicentre was 4 km north of Karipur

A earthquake measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale was experienced in different parts of Kozhikode district and bordering areas of Malappuram district around 2.15 p.m. on Wednesday, sending a wave of panic among the people.

No loss of life or large-scale destruction of property was reported from any part of the district. Though simultaneous caving in of wells was reported from a few places, including Pavangad in the city, there was no conclusive evidence to link it to the quake.

Rupee logs second worst closing at 56.15

The rupee continued its downslide for the third day in a row and declined by 19 paise to end at 56.15, its second lowest closing in history, against the U.S. currency as cautious importers bought dollars in late trade ahead of outcome from the key U.S. Federal Reserve meeting.

Diet and exercise - secret to well-defined abdominal muscles

Many people would love to have well-defined abdominal muscles, or “abs,” but they’re often hidden under a subcutaneous layer of body fat.

To acquire a “six-pack,” as well-defined abs are colloquially known, the body fat percentage must be below 10 to 12 per cent, according to Thomas Haab of the German University of Applied Sciences for Prevention and Health Management in Saarbruecken. An altered diet and intensive fitness training could bring the desired result, he said.

Fewer calories should be consumed than are burned, Mr. Haab pointed out. Carbohydrates — in the form of bread, noodles and rice, for example — should be eaten mainly in the morning and shortly before or after a workout. They should be avoided as much as possible in the evening.

But cutting calories by eating less protein can diminish muscle mass, warned Mr. Haab, who therefore recommended raising the proportion of protein in the diet, for example by eating more fish, dairy products and legumes such as beans. Fat intake should not be lowered excessively, he said, otherwise testosterone levels — and consequently muscle mass — will drop.

The best sources of fat, according to Mr. Haab, are monounsaturated fatty acids in foods like nuts, olive oil and rapeseed oil as well as polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are found, for example, in alpha-linolenic acid (a kind of omega-3 acid found in plants such as flaxseed oil, canola, soy, perilla and walnut oils) and fish oils.

The type of fitness training recommended for “six-packs” depends on the person’s workout experience, Mr. Haab said. Deep knee bends are more suitable for advanced trainers and leg presses for beginners.

Lasting weight loss via muscle-building and endurance training

For long-term reduction of body weight, low-intensity endurance training of 30-60 minutes - is the most effective form of activity. 

 

The standard advice on losing weight is simply to eat less. The body’s fat stores are, in fact, surplus energy that a person has accumulated by eating too many calories.

“So basically it’s not wrong to eat less, but starving down the body’s metabolism won’t bring lasting results,” according to Ingo Froboese, a professor at the Health Centre of the German Sport University in Cologne.

“Although the body loses weight within a few days, most of it is water.” Muscle-building and endurance training are a better way to lose weight. As Mr. Froboese explained, when a person goes on a diet, the body draws on its energy reserves to sustain itself. If calorie intake is increased again, the body remembers the shortage it has just withstood and stores additional reserves for future shortages — “the yo-yo effect occurs,” he said.

“A negative energy balance is the key to losing weight,” Mr. Froboese remarked. In other words, more calories must be burned than are taken in. This can be achieved with muscle-building training.

“Since muscles consume energy, muscle-building training — and consequently a higher proportion of muscle in the body — is one of the building blocks for a lasting increase in energy turnover,” he said.

For a long-term reduction of body weight, low-intensity endurance training of 30 to 60 minutes — depending on the person’s level of conditioning — is the most effective form of activity.

Shantha points to the diabetes-fast food link

V. Shanta, Chairperson, Cancer Institute, Adyar, handing over the M.V. Centre for Diabetes Senior Citizen Outpatient privilege card to P.V. Ramasamy, at a function in Chennai on Saturday. Vijay Viswanathan, managing director of M V Hospital for Diabetes, is in the picture.

 

Number of patients in India high compared to other nations

The consumption of high-fat, energy-dense, fast food leads to diabetes, said V. Shantha, Chairperson, Cancer Institute, here on Saturday.

Speaking after launching the M.V. Centre for Diabetes Senior Citizen Outpatient Privilege Card, she said that the number of people afflicted with diabetes in India was high compared to other countries. This was due to food habits and lack of exercise.

Thanks to advances in the medical field, many diseases could be cured. The medical fraternity had moved from cure to control. As far as the non-communicable diseases — cancer, diabetes and cardio-vascular diseases — were concerned, the thrust area should be prevention. Care, cure and control should be the motto to tackle these health problems.

Vijay Viswanathan, managing director, M.V. Hospital for Diabetes, said that annually 4.6 million people died around the world due to diabetes, of which 48 per cent of people were below the age of 60.

In the United States, diabetes patients could avail themselves of insurance polices whereas such patients in India were not included under the insurance cover and had to spend from their pocket.

His organisation had decided help senior citizens aged above 80 years for whom the hospital would provide treatment for diabetes at 50 per cent of the total cost.

The privilege card had been introduced for this purpose.

Ninety-nine-year-old patient P. V. Ramasamy of Sivaganga district, who is suffering from diabetes for more than 25 years, shared his views and said his restricted diet habit and regular intake of medicines on time without fail had helped him live longer.

On the occasion, the hospital honoured 25 octogenarians who survived with diabetes.

Dengue: prevention better than the bite, say doctors

With the monsoon season setting in, public health experts and doctors say the number of dengue cases will be on the rise.

“Intermittent rain that causes stagnation of water is the main cause for the disease,” says Sudha Menon, a physician at Fortis Hospital. Dengue is caused by the bite of a species of mosquito called Aedes aegypti. These mosquitoes normally breed in water and are responsible for the spread of the dengue virus.

Two types

Dengue can be of two kinds: dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever. While the former is mild and can be treated for symptoms, the latter is a severe form of the disease and can reduce the level of platelets in blood and may cause internal bleeding, which could later result in multiple organ failure.

Another condition called dengue shock syndrome can lead to extreme drop in blood pressure. Even though monsoon has not set in fully, Dr. Menon says, the hospital sees four to five cases of Dengue every day.

“There is no specific treatment or vaccine for the disease; the patient needs to be treated symptomatically, says public health expert Thriveni B.S.

Awareness needed

Doctors say that although there is no need to panic yet, people need to be sensitised on how to prevent the disease.

“Because most areas do not receive water every day, people store water. Link workers must remind the public to cover stored water and keep their surroundings clean,” says Dr. Thriveni.

Saina sets her sights on the Olympics

The HinduVatti Vasanth Kumar,state Minister of Sports, Tourism and Culture, congratulating Ace badminton star Saina Nehwal who returned to Hyderabad on Tuesday during a press conference in Hyderabad. 

 

India’s champion shuttler Saina Nehwal is pleased that she featured in some big matches in the Thailand and the Indonesian Opens which she won recently before the London Olympics.

“This is what I was really looking for ahead of the Olympics next month. To play in big, tough matches in the Thailand and the Indonesian Opens,” Saina said on her return home after winning the above two tournaments. She was also referring to the quarter-final clash in the Indonesian Open which lasted 105 minutes. “I think it was the longest women’s singles match in badminton history. Well, this was one of the finest matches I played and I am really happy that I could come out a winner,” she said.

Australia wants to partner Kerala in agro-based services

Thiruvananthapuram: Australia Monday welcomed the Kerala government's 'Emerging Kerala' 2012 Global Connect initiative and expressed its desire to partner the state in agri and agro-based services and other sectors. This was disclosed at a high-level meeting where an Australian diplomatic delegation led by High Commissioner Peter N. Varghese called on Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, senior ministers and officials to discuss the possibility of new trade and business partnerships.Another sector in which the Australian delegation expressed its desire to cooperate with the state is deep-sea fishing projects.

Gold price touches all-time record

Kochi: Gold touched a new record price on Tuesday, up Rs 160 at Rs 22,360 for a sovereign. A gram of gold has now touched Rs 2,795, up Rs 20 from the previous price. Thursday's rate of Rs 22,200 was the highest recorded  so far and it continued till Monday. It was on June 2 that gold prices first crossed Rs 22,000. Gold registered an increase in demand due to the safe investment option adopted by many during recession.

Couple held for killing three; Daughter discloses it to channel

Chennai: Following the revelations made by a 17-year-old girl that her father had killed three persons four years back, police on Wednesday held the couple. Bhargavi, daughter of Murugan from Nallapalayam, in a television  programme made the shocking revelation of the three murders. Bharagavi on May 28 in a TV programme `Solluvathellam Unmai' said her father had killed a woman, her husband and woman's father for money and gold. According to Bhargavi, she fell in love with a youth named Satheesh while studying for plus two and wanted to marry him. But Murugan, who was against their relation, threatened to kill her like he had killed the three in afamily four years back and dumped their body in the backyard of their house.

India name Wim Koevermans as new coach

NEW DELHI: India named former Dutch international Wim Koevermans as their new football coach on Friday on a two-year deal in a bid to improve their dismal fortunes.

The 51-year-old replaces local incumbent Savio Medeira, who served as an interim coach for six months following the resignation of Englishman Bob Houghton last year.

Brush your teeth to avoid cancer!

London: Failing to brush your teeth properly could increase the risk of dying prematurely from cancer, researchers claim. They found a link between high levels of dental plaque, or bacteria, and dying from cancer up to 13 years earlier than might otherwise be expected. Those with the most bacteria on the surface of their teeth and gums had an 80 percent increased risk of premature death, Daily Mail reported Monday.

India, US announce eight educational partnerships Washington: In a milestone in the educational partnership between India and the United States, eight institutional partnership projects, four each led by either country, were announced for the first Obama-Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative awards.

DSK launches new Hyosung superbike

Mumbai: DSK Motowheels Wednesday announced the launch of a 250 cc superbike, the 'Big Boy' Hyosung GT250R, in India at a price Rs.2,75,000. 'It gives us immense pleasure to launch this first product under the strategic alliance between DSK and Hyosung. We are confident that the GT250R will set a benchmark in the 250cc segment by taking super biking industry to the next level,' said Shirish Kulkarni, director, DSK Motowheels.

Karnataka mulls bullet trains for high-speed connectivity

Bangalore: Karnataka plans to operate 'bullet trains' across the state to provide high-speed connectivity between its tech hub Bangalore and Mysore, Belgaum and Gulbarga in the northern region of the state. 'We are in discussion with Japanese experts who have built and operate bullet trains in their country, especially between Tokyo and Osaka, to provide high-speed rail connectivity between Bangalore and Mysore (150 km), Bangalore and Belgaum (610 km) and Bangalore and Gulbarga (585 km).

Indian economy to grow at slower pace of 6.7 pc in 2012: UN

United Nations:India's economy will grow at a slower pace of 6.7 per cent in 2012 instead of a previous 7.7 per cent forecast, according to the United Nations, which warned that the euro area debt crisis will remain the biggest threat to world economy this year.In its World Economic Situation and Prospects mid-year update, the UN said the global economic situation continues to be challenging and global growth will likely remain tepid in 2012 following a marked slowdown in 2011. The global economy is projected to grow by 2.5 per cent in 2012 and 3.1 per cent in 2013, following a growth of 2.7 per cent in 2011, a slight downward revision from previous forecasts.

Saina wins Indonesia Super Series Premier event

Jakarta: India's Saina Nehwal won her third title in Indonesia, beating Xuerui Li of China 13-21, 22-20, 21-19 in the Super Series Premier event here Sunday.
Saina got the better of her gritty opponent for her second title in as many weeks. She had won the Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold in Bangkok last Sunday.

Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza win French Open mixed doubles crown

Paris: India's Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza won the mixed doubles title at the French Open on Thursday, defeating Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico and Klaudia Jans-Ignacik of Poland 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 in the final.

FIFA to start grassroots football school in Mizoram .

Guwahati: Football in the northeast is all set to receive a huge boost as world body FIFA, in association with the All India Football Federation (AIFF), has agreed to set up an academy for developing  the game at the grassroots level in the region. This grassroots school will be initially a one year project and it would be completely sponsored by FIFA. The international body will send their coaches and supporting staff as and when required to run the project. All the football enthusiasts between the age of 6 to 12 will be provided international level coaching during the training sessions.

Famous Quotes on India (by non-Indians)

• Albert Einstein said: We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made.
•  
• Mark Twain said: India is, the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grand mother of tradition. Our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only.
•  
• French scholar Romain Rolland said: If there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India.
•  
• Hu Shih, former Ambassador of China to USA said: India conquered and dominated China culturally for 20 centuries without ever having to send a single soldier across her border.

Amazing facts on India

1. India is the world's largest, oldest, continuous civilization.

2. India never invaded any country in her last 10000 years of history.

3.  India is the world's largest democracy.

4.  India invented the Number System. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta.

5.  Sanskrit is the mother of all the European languages. Sanskrit is the most suitable language for computer  software - a report in Forbes magazine, July 1987.

6.  Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans. Charaka, the father of medicine consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago. Today Ayurveda is fast regaining its rightful place in our civilization.

7.  Although modern images of India often show poverty and lack of development, India was the richest country on earth until the time of British invasion in the early 17th Century. Christopher Columbus was attracted by India's wealth.

8.  The art of Navigation was born in the river Sindhu 6000 years ago. The very word Navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word NAVGATIH. The word navy is also derived from Sanskrit 'Nou'.

9.  Bhaskaracharya calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart. Time taken by earth to orbit the sun: (5th century) 365.258756484 days.

10. The value of pi was first calculated by Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century long before the European mathematicians.

11.  Algebra, trigonometry and calculus came from India. Quadratic equations were by Sridharacharya in the 11th century. The largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Hindus used numbers as big as 10**53(10 to the power of 53) with specific names as early as 5000 BCE during the Vedic period. Even today, the largest used number is Tera 10**12(10 to the power of 12).

12.  IEEE has proved what has been a century old suspicion in the world scientific community that the pioneer of wireless communication was Prof. Jagdish Bose and not Marconi.

13.  The earliest reservoir and dam for irrigation was built in Saurashtra.

14.  Chess (Shataranja or AshtaPada) was invented in India.

15.  Sushruta is the father of surgery. 2600 years ago he and health scientists of his time conducted complicated surgeries like cesareans, cataract, artificial limbs, fractures, urinary stones and even plastic surgery and brain surgery. Usage of anesthesia was well known in ancient India. Over 125 surgical equipment were used. Deep knowledge of anatomy, physiology, etiology, embryology, digestion, metabolism, genetics and immunity is also found in many texts.

16.  The four religions born in India, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, are followed by 25% of the world's population.

17.  The place value system, the decimal system was developed in India in 100 BC.

18.  India is one of the few countries in the World, which gained independence without violence.

19.  India has the second largest pool of Scientists and Engineers in the World and also the only country other than US and Japan, to have built a super computer indigenously.

20.  India is the largest English speaking nation in the world.