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Sunday, November 23, 2008
NRI sailor rescued after 3 days
A Briton of Indian origin has been saved after drifting on a raft for three days after his boat sank off Balearic Islands in Spain.Forty-three-year-old Jayesh Patel was sailing on his yacht Umbalika with a Belgian friend when it sank. The two of them managed to escape on an inflatable life raft and spent the next four days and three nights being tossed on the sea and survived on emergency rations of dry biscuits and drinking water. Mr Patel’s wife Louise raised an alarm from their home in north London after she didn’t recieve any news of her husband for 24 hours. "It was a very frightening experience," Mr Patel said.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Bill concedes for Hillary
Amid continued media frenzy over the possibility of Senator Hillary Clinton becoming the next secretary of state, Mr Bill Clinton is reported to have made several concessions to help move his wife’s vetting process along. Among other things, the former President has agreed to make public all donors to his foundation and clearing all of his future speeches and charitable activities with Obama administration officials, media reports said citing Democratic sources.
But there continued to be some dispute about whether President-elect Barack Obama had formally offered the job to Hillary Clinton. However, aides to Mr Obama were on Wednesday quoted as saying that it would be difficult for her to now walk away from the position. Mr Obama’s staff has gone down the path of thoroughly vetting her and her husband with the understanding that, if he should make an official job offer, she would accept it, the Washington Post cited the aides as saying.
Another candidate for the post, New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, emerged from his meeting with Mr Obama last Friday under the impression that the job had not been filled, it said. The 2004 Democratic presidential candidate Senator John F. Kerry is also said to be on Mr Obama’s shortlist for the position.
Two Obama transition officials cited by CNN didn’t say how fast financial information is being turned over, but they did shoot down a report suggesting that transition officials are annoyed by slow cooperation from the Clintons. Ms Clinton is mulling whether to take the post with her husband and close advisers, the Post said.
But there continued to be some dispute about whether President-elect Barack Obama had formally offered the job to Hillary Clinton. However, aides to Mr Obama were on Wednesday quoted as saying that it would be difficult for her to now walk away from the position. Mr Obama’s staff has gone down the path of thoroughly vetting her and her husband with the understanding that, if he should make an official job offer, she would accept it, the Washington Post cited the aides as saying.
Another candidate for the post, New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, emerged from his meeting with Mr Obama last Friday under the impression that the job had not been filled, it said. The 2004 Democratic presidential candidate Senator John F. Kerry is also said to be on Mr Obama’s shortlist for the position.
Two Obama transition officials cited by CNN didn’t say how fast financial information is being turned over, but they did shoot down a report suggesting that transition officials are annoyed by slow cooperation from the Clintons. Ms Clinton is mulling whether to take the post with her husband and close advisers, the Post said.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Test not enough
If breast cancer runs in the family, women can be at high risk even if they test free of the disease’s most common gene mutations, new research shows. The genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 are linked with particularly aggressive hereditary breast cancer, and an increased risk of ovarian cancer, too.
When a breast cancer patient is found to carry one of those gene mutations, her relatives tend to breathe a sigh of relief if they test gene-free. But those headline-grabbing genes account for only about 15 per cent of all breast cancer cases. Even in families riddled with breast cancer, a BRCA gene is the culprit only in roughly one family of every five that gets tested, said University of Toronto cancer specialist Dr Steven Narod.
So clearly members of those families remain at risk from other yet-to-be-found genes, but how much risk? Dr Narod tracked nearly 1,500 women from 365 breast cancer-prone families, who tested negative for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. After five years, those women had a fourfold higher risk than average women of developing breast cancer, Dr Narod reported at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.
When a breast cancer patient is found to carry one of those gene mutations, her relatives tend to breathe a sigh of relief if they test gene-free. But those headline-grabbing genes account for only about 15 per cent of all breast cancer cases. Even in families riddled with breast cancer, a BRCA gene is the culprit only in roughly one family of every five that gets tested, said University of Toronto cancer specialist Dr Steven Narod.
So clearly members of those families remain at risk from other yet-to-be-found genes, but how much risk? Dr Narod tracked nearly 1,500 women from 365 breast cancer-prone families, who tested negative for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. After five years, those women had a fourfold higher risk than average women of developing breast cancer, Dr Narod reported at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Obama warned of assault
Top security officials in the United States and Britain fear a "spectacular" assault from terrorists linked to the Al-Qaeda during the presidential transition in Washington, a news report said on Saturday. The US President-elect, Mr Barack Obama, is being given ominous advice from leaders on both sides of the Atlantic to brace himself for an early assault from terrorists, the Times newspaper said.
The Bush administration has been defined largely by the 9/11 attacks, which came within a year of his taking office. General Michael Hayden, director of the CIA, on Thursday acknowledged that there were dangers during a presidential transition when new officials were coming in and getting accustomed to the challenges. The UK daily reported that in Britain security officials say there is genuine concern that Al-Qaeda will attempt a "spectacular" in the transition period.
The Bush administration has been defined largely by the 9/11 attacks, which came within a year of his taking office. General Michael Hayden, director of the CIA, on Thursday acknowledged that there were dangers during a presidential transition when new officials were coming in and getting accustomed to the challenges. The UK daily reported that in Britain security officials say there is genuine concern that Al-Qaeda will attempt a "spectacular" in the transition period.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Bush may resist probe after exit
When a Congressional committee subpoenaed Harry S. Truman in 1953, nearly a year after he left office, he made a startling claim: Even though he was no longer President, the Constitution still empowered him to block subpoenas. “If the doctrine of separation of powers and the independence of the presidency is to have any validity at all, it must be equally applicable to a president after his term of office has expired,” Truman wrote to the committee.
Congress backed down, establishing a precedent suggesting that former presidents wield lingering powers to keep matters from their administration secret. Now, as Congressional Democrats prepare to move forward with investigations of the Bush administration, they wonder whether that claim may be invoked again. “The Bush administration overstepped in its exertion of executive privilege, and may very well try to continue to shield information from the American people after it leaves office,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island.
Congress backed down, establishing a precedent suggesting that former presidents wield lingering powers to keep matters from their administration secret. Now, as Congressional Democrats prepare to move forward with investigations of the Bush administration, they wonder whether that claim may be invoked again. “The Bush administration overstepped in its exertion of executive privilege, and may very well try to continue to shield information from the American people after it leaves office,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
UK teen wins right to die
A terminally ill British teenager has won a legal battle with her hospital to spend her last days at home with family and friends without any more treatment. Hannah Jones, 13, who is suffering from a rare type of leukaemia, went to court when her local hospital drafted child protection officers to remove her from her parents’ custody to force her to undergo a heart transplant. The High Court decided that she was old enough to make the decision for herself and the hospital dropped the case.
Doctors at the hospital in Hereford, England, suggested she undergo a heart transplant, though they were not sure if the borrowed heart would survive for long. Prolonged treatment since she was five caused a hole in Hannah’s heart. The heart may give up any day as her immune system is quite weak. Hannah had stopped all treatment to prevent further damage to her heart. And that’s when the drama began.
Her parents, Andrew and Kirsty Jones received a call from the child protection officer of the Herefordshire Primary Care Trust warning that they were applying for a High Court order to forcibly remove their daughter because they were "preventing her treatment". It would remove their decision-making rights as parents and give the authorities the power to decide what action to take.
"It was hurtful to be accused of preventing her from doing anything, when everything we do is geared towards her happiness," Andrew Jones said. Child protection officers interviewed Hannah at her home and she managed to convince them she did not need a transplant. The hospital’s case ended there. Her father said: "It is an incredible thing for a young person like her, who has been through such a lot, to have the presence of mind and bravery to stand up for her rights. We’re so very proud of our little girl."
Doctors at the hospital in Hereford, England, suggested she undergo a heart transplant, though they were not sure if the borrowed heart would survive for long. Prolonged treatment since she was five caused a hole in Hannah’s heart. The heart may give up any day as her immune system is quite weak. Hannah had stopped all treatment to prevent further damage to her heart. And that’s when the drama began.
Her parents, Andrew and Kirsty Jones received a call from the child protection officer of the Herefordshire Primary Care Trust warning that they were applying for a High Court order to forcibly remove their daughter because they were "preventing her treatment". It would remove their decision-making rights as parents and give the authorities the power to decide what action to take.
"It was hurtful to be accused of preventing her from doing anything, when everything we do is geared towards her happiness," Andrew Jones said. Child protection officers interviewed Hannah at her home and she managed to convince them she did not need a transplant. The hospital’s case ended there. Her father said: "It is an incredible thing for a young person like her, who has been through such a lot, to have the presence of mind and bravery to stand up for her rights. We’re so very proud of our little girl."
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Head hunting on world-wide web
The US President-elect, Mr Barack Obama, is inviting online applications from across the world to fill various positions in the new regime, reaffirming his tech-savvy nature. Mr Obama along with his deputy, Mr Joe Biden, is looking for people for "non-career positions" in the White House or any federal body.
"Applicants for any of these non-career positions, whether in the White House or in any federal department agency or commission, should use this website, as applying online is the fastest and most accurate way to get your information to us," reads a notification on the official website of the President-elect.
The website "www.Change.Gov’, of the office of the President-elect says Mr Obama would make appointments throug- hout the federal government. The site asserts that there would not be any discrimination in the selection process. "The Obama-Biden Transition Project does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other discrimination prohibited by law," it points out. Once you make your application for a position now, there is no need to apply again after January 20, 2009.
"Applicants for any of these non-career positions, whether in the White House or in any federal department agency or commission, should use this website, as applying online is the fastest and most accurate way to get your information to us," reads a notification on the official website of the President-elect.
The website "www.Change.Gov’, of the office of the President-elect says Mr Obama would make appointments throug- hout the federal government. The site asserts that there would not be any discrimination in the selection process. "The Obama-Biden Transition Project does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other discrimination prohibited by law," it points out. Once you make your application for a position now, there is no need to apply again after January 20, 2009.
Palin blamed for Obama death threats
Agents of the United States Security Service have squarely blamed Republican vice-presidential candidate, Ms Sarah Palin, for the death threats against the US President-elect, Mr Barack Obama. According to the agents, Ms Palin’s repeated questioning of Mr Obama’s patriotism sparked off the death threats from white supremacists. According to the Telegraph, Ms Palin attracted criticism for accusing Mr Obama of "palling around with terrorists", citing his association with the sixties radical, Mr William Ayers.
The attacks provoked a near lynch mob atmosphere at her rallies, with supporters yelling "terrorist" and "kill him" until the McCain campaign ordered her to tone down the rhetoric. But it has now emerged that her demagogic tone may have unintentionally encouraged white supremacists to go even further. The Secret Service warned the Obama family in mid-October that they had seen a dramatic increase in the number of threats against the Democratic candidate, coinciding with Ms Palin’s attacks.
Ms Michelle Obama, the future First Lady, was so upset that she turned to her friend and campaign adviser Valerie Jarrett and said: "Why would they try to make people hate us?" The revelations, contained in a Newsweek history of the campaign, are likely to further damage Ms Palin’s credentials as a future presidential candidate. She is already a frontrunner, with Louisia- na governor Bobby Jindal, to take on Mr Obama in four years time. Intelligence analysts Stratfor has already warned that Mr Obama is a high risk target for racist gunmen.
"Two plots to assassinate Mr Obama were broken up during the campaign season. We would expect federal autho- rities to uncover many more plots to attack the President that have been hatched by white supremacist ideologues," it said. Aides to Republican presidential candidate, Mr John McCain, blame Ms Palin for losing the election, branding her a "diva" and a "whack job".
The attacks provoked a near lynch mob atmosphere at her rallies, with supporters yelling "terrorist" and "kill him" until the McCain campaign ordered her to tone down the rhetoric. But it has now emerged that her demagogic tone may have unintentionally encouraged white supremacists to go even further. The Secret Service warned the Obama family in mid-October that they had seen a dramatic increase in the number of threats against the Democratic candidate, coinciding with Ms Palin’s attacks.
Ms Michelle Obama, the future First Lady, was so upset that she turned to her friend and campaign adviser Valerie Jarrett and said: "Why would they try to make people hate us?" The revelations, contained in a Newsweek history of the campaign, are likely to further damage Ms Palin’s credentials as a future presidential candidate. She is already a frontrunner, with Louisia- na governor Bobby Jindal, to take on Mr Obama in four years time. Intelligence analysts Stratfor has already warned that Mr Obama is a high risk target for racist gunmen.
"Two plots to assassinate Mr Obama were broken up during the campaign season. We would expect federal autho- rities to uncover many more plots to attack the President that have been hatched by white supremacist ideologues," it said. Aides to Republican presidential candidate, Mr John McCain, blame Ms Palin for losing the election, branding her a "diva" and a "whack job".
Friday, November 7, 2008
Obama apologizes to Nancy Reagan for seance remark
President-elect Barack Obama called the late President Ronald Reagan's widow, Nancy Reagan, on Friday to apologize for joking that
she had held seances in the White House.
At a news conference in Chicago, Illinois, Obama said he had spoken with all living former presidents as he prepares to take office in January. Then he smiled and said, 'I didn't want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about doing any seances.'
The 87-year-old former first lady had consulted with astrologers during her husband's presidency, but she did not hold conversations with the dead.
Obama spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said the president-elect later called Mrs. Reagan 'to apologize for the careless and offhanded remark.' She said Obama expressed his admiration and affection for Mrs. Reagan that so many Americans share, and they had a warm conversation.
One first lady was linked to conversations with the dead in the White House: Obama's top Democratic challenger for the presidency, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
In either case, use of the word 'seance' might be overstated. Nancy Reagan consulted an astrologer to help set her husband's schedule, wrote former White House chief of staff Donald T. Regan. The revelation created a furor and President Reagan even broke with his policy of not commenting on books by former White House staffers.
``No policy or decision in my mind has ever been influenced by astrology,'' Reagan said.
In his book ``The Choice,'' Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward described how Clinton consulted with a spiritual adviser who led her through imaginary conversations with Clinton's personal heroine, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's wife, Eleanor. Newsweek magazine, which was promoting the book, characterized the visits as ``seances,'' and Clinton White House officials quickly tried to squelch the term.
``These were people who were helping her laugh, helping her think,'' said Neel Lattimore, Clinton's spokeswoman. ``These were not seances.''
she had held seances in the White House.
At a news conference in Chicago, Illinois, Obama said he had spoken with all living former presidents as he prepares to take office in January. Then he smiled and said, 'I didn't want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about doing any seances.'
The 87-year-old former first lady had consulted with astrologers during her husband's presidency, but she did not hold conversations with the dead.
Obama spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said the president-elect later called Mrs. Reagan 'to apologize for the careless and offhanded remark.' She said Obama expressed his admiration and affection for Mrs. Reagan that so many Americans share, and they had a warm conversation.
One first lady was linked to conversations with the dead in the White House: Obama's top Democratic challenger for the presidency, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
In either case, use of the word 'seance' might be overstated. Nancy Reagan consulted an astrologer to help set her husband's schedule, wrote former White House chief of staff Donald T. Regan. The revelation created a furor and President Reagan even broke with his policy of not commenting on books by former White House staffers.
``No policy or decision in my mind has ever been influenced by astrology,'' Reagan said.
In his book ``The Choice,'' Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward described how Clinton consulted with a spiritual adviser who led her through imaginary conversations with Clinton's personal heroine, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's wife, Eleanor. Newsweek magazine, which was promoting the book, characterized the visits as ``seances,'' and Clinton White House officials quickly tried to squelch the term.
``These were people who were helping her laugh, helping her think,'' said Neel Lattimore, Clinton's spokeswoman. ``These were not seances.''
Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons 'unacceptable': Obama
US President-elect Barack Obama said on Friday that Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons was "unacceptable" and the Islamic Republic must
stop supporting "terrorist organizations."
Obama, speaking at his first press conference since winning Tuesday's presidential election, also confirmed he had been sent a letter from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad following his victory.
"I am aware that the letter was sent," he said. "I will be reviewing the letter from President Ahmadinejad and we will respond appropriately."
stop supporting "terrorist organizations."
Obama, speaking at his first press conference since winning Tuesday's presidential election, also confirmed he had been sent a letter from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad following his victory.
"I am aware that the letter was sent," he said. "I will be reviewing the letter from President Ahmadinejad and we will respond appropriately."
Obama apologizes to Nancy Reagan for seance remark
President-elect Barack Obama called the late President Ronald Reagan's widow, Nancy Reagan, on Friday to apologize for joking that she had held seances in the White House.
At a news conference in Chicago, Illinois, Obama said he had spoken with all living former presidents as he prepares to take office in January. Then he smiled and said, 'I didn't want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about doing any seances.'
The 87-year-old former first lady had consulted with astrologers during her husband's presidency, but she did not hold conversations with the dead.
Obama spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said the president-elect later called Mrs. Reagan 'to apologize for the careless and offhanded remark.' She said Obama expressed his admiration and affection for Mrs. Reagan that so many Americans share, and they had a warm conversation.
One first lady was linked to conversations with the dead in the White House: Obama's top Democratic challenger for the presidency, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
In either case, use of the word 'seance' might be overstated. Nancy Reagan consulted an astrologer to help set her husband's schedule, wrote former White House chief of staff Donald T. Regan. The revelation created a furor and President Reagan even broke with his policy of not commenting on books by former White House staffers.
``No policy or decision in my mind has ever been influenced by astrology,'' Reagan said.
In his book ``The Choice,'' Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward described how Clinton consulted with a spiritual adviser who led her through imaginary conversations with Clinton's personal heroine, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's wife, Eleanor. Newsweek magazine, which was promoting the book, characterized the visits as ``seances,'' and Clinton White House officials quickly tried to squelch the term.
``These were people who were helping her laugh, helping her think,'' said Neel Lattimore, Clinton's spokeswoman. ``These were not seances.''
At a news conference in Chicago, Illinois, Obama said he had spoken with all living former presidents as he prepares to take office in January. Then he smiled and said, 'I didn't want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about doing any seances.'
The 87-year-old former first lady had consulted with astrologers during her husband's presidency, but she did not hold conversations with the dead.
Obama spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said the president-elect later called Mrs. Reagan 'to apologize for the careless and offhanded remark.' She said Obama expressed his admiration and affection for Mrs. Reagan that so many Americans share, and they had a warm conversation.
One first lady was linked to conversations with the dead in the White House: Obama's top Democratic challenger for the presidency, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
In either case, use of the word 'seance' might be overstated. Nancy Reagan consulted an astrologer to help set her husband's schedule, wrote former White House chief of staff Donald T. Regan. The revelation created a furor and President Reagan even broke with his policy of not commenting on books by former White House staffers.
``No policy or decision in my mind has ever been influenced by astrology,'' Reagan said.
In his book ``The Choice,'' Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward described how Clinton consulted with a spiritual adviser who led her through imaginary conversations with Clinton's personal heroine, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's wife, Eleanor. Newsweek magazine, which was promoting the book, characterized the visits as ``seances,'' and Clinton White House officials quickly tried to squelch the term.
``These were people who were helping her laugh, helping her think,'' said Neel Lattimore, Clinton's spokeswoman. ``These were not seances.''
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Get your new Music Player at offer price
iPod is one of the best among present generation MP3 players that made a revolutionary sale. They offer wide range of MP3 players like ipod nano, iPod nano Video, ipod touch and so on. And with a history sale of Ipod NANOs they have got yet another production of theirs in the market called NANO CHROMATIC. The major difference between the ipod NANO and NANO CHROMATIC is the memory and also the name suggest NANO CHROMATIC is available in variety of colours. And i don't ahve to explain the audio quality of an iPod its just aweome. iPod Touch is the best invention of this planet with portable media player and Wi-Fi mobile platform with 8, 16, or 32 GB of flash memory. And there yet another music player in market which steals your heart, creative zen mp3 player. You can get it all in at the best price in http://www.savebuckets.co.uk. Visit the site soon.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Obama wins key battleground state of Ohio
Democrat Barack Obama defeated Republican rival John McCain in the Ohio presidential vote on Tuesday, carrying a key battleground
state that has backed the winning White House candidate since 1964, Fox News projected.
Most opinion polls before the election showed Obama with a narrow lead in Ohio, but the state, which provided a critical win for President George W. Bush in 2004, was considered a tossup. No Republican has won the White House without carrying Ohio.
The victory gave Obama all of Ohio's 20 electoral votes, providing a big boost toward the 270 needed to win the presidency in the United States' indirect system of choosing a leader.
state that has backed the winning White House candidate since 1964, Fox News projected.
Most opinion polls before the election showed Obama with a narrow lead in Ohio, but the state, which provided a critical win for President George W. Bush in 2004, was considered a tossup. No Republican has won the White House without carrying Ohio.
The victory gave Obama all of Ohio's 20 electoral votes, providing a big boost toward the 270 needed to win the presidency in the United States' indirect system of choosing a leader.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Obama is hit by 'Auntiegate'
With the White House seemingly within grasp, Barack Obama was rocked on Saturday by news that he has an African aunt living "illegally" in the United States and that she may have made a small but unlawful contribution to his presidential campaign.
The story doesn't appear to be a major roadblock to Obama's drive to the White House, but the conservative media broke into a feeding frenzy over the weekend after the 'scoop' was first reported in the Rupert Murdoch-owned Times of London and latched on to by other right-wing properties such as Fox and other media outlets. Obama quickly issued a statement on Saturday morning following a flurry of stories saying he did not know that one of his relatives was living in the US illegally.
According to the story, Zeituni Onyango, who is referred to as ''Aunti Zeituni'' in Obama's memoir, is his Kenyan father's half-sister who has been living in Boston for several years now. She reportedly was instructed to leave four years ago by a immigration judge who denied her asylum request.
The story doesn't appear to be a major roadblock to Obama's drive to the White House, but the conservative media broke into a feeding frenzy over the weekend after the 'scoop' was first reported in the Rupert Murdoch-owned Times of London and latched on to by other right-wing properties such as Fox and other media outlets. Obama quickly issued a statement on Saturday morning following a flurry of stories saying he did not know that one of his relatives was living in the US illegally.
According to the story, Zeituni Onyango, who is referred to as ''Aunti Zeituni'' in Obama's memoir, is his Kenyan father's half-sister who has been living in Boston for several years now. She reportedly was instructed to leave four years ago by a immigration judge who denied her asylum request.
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