Massachusetts: A new study reveals that half of the falls at home by elderly members are caused by infection, not due to poor eyesight or failing mental capacity. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital found that minor ailments, such as urinary tract infection can cause low blood pressure and dizziness, which can account for up to 45% of painful falls. However, they also suggest that family members, care givers and health care providers shouldn't rush to conclusion regarding the cause of a fall.
The benefit of carrots
Massachusetts: A study led by Harvard University has found that carrots are indeed beneficial for the eyes. Carotenoids, which gives spinach, peppers and carrots their colour, can slow the commencement of age-related macular degeneration. The study involved data tracking 100,000 over-50s for 25 years. The team found that those who consumed the most carotenoids had a 40% less risk of developing the condition.
British mother grieves over radicalised son
London: Mother of a British man who converted to Islam and was killed fighting for a terror group, has expressed grief. Thomas Evans, who was fighting on behalf of Al Shabaab, was killed during a gun battle with Kenyan troops in June. His mother said he is “burning in hell” for his crimes. The former Manchester United fan from High Wycombe, Bucks, was radicalised in Britain and had changed his name to Abdul Hakim before travelling to east Africa in 2011.
Airstrikes kill 100 militants in Afghanistan
Islamabad: Airstrikes in Afghanistan's Kandahar province has killed at least 100 Taliban militants last week. Kandahar police officials said, “The militants were gathered in Shurabak and had planned to capture the district but the airstrikes carried out by Afghan army killed 100 insurgents and injured 50 others.” The insurgents arrived in the district from bordering areas. No civilians were injured or killed in the strike, the officials said. Shurabak borders Pakistan where insurgents are known to be active and frequently target local security forces.
Bangladeshi pastor falls victim to Islamic group
Dhaka: Hard line Islamic group in Bangladesh has now attacked a pastor trying to slit his throat. Three men walked into his home, pretending to want to learn about Christianity, but tried to kill him, he however managed to survive. The attempt comes after the killings of two foreigners last week in the predominantly Muslim country. Pastor Luke Sarkar, 52, suffered minor injuries when the men attacked him with a knife at his home in the northwestern district of Pabna. He said the men had phoned him two weeks ago saying they wanted to visit him to learn about the religion, and after they arrived, they suddenly attacked him and tried to slit his throat. However, when he shouted, his wife came to his rescue and they fled.
Two Indians detained in Saudi Arabia, Dubai
Dubai: Two Indian nationals have been detained in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates in terror cases and are expected to be deported soon. Abu Sufiyan alias Asadullah Khan has been detained in Saudi Arabia and Zainul Abideen alias Zahid Sheikh nabbed in Dubai in the UAE. Originally from Hyderabad, Sufiyan, 50, allegedly participated in terror conspiracy meetings in Riyadh in 2011-12 with a few youths from Karnataka and Maharashtra who were arrested for alleged links with Lashkar-e-Toiba. The Interpol recognises Sufiyan as Mohammed Asad Khan in a red corner notice, and as Asadullah Khan alias Asad Khan alias Abu Sufiyan in a November 2012 NIA chargesheet.
Pilot dies during flight
New York: An American Airlines captain died during a flight from Phoenix to Boston, prompting his co-pilot to make an emergency landing in Syracuse, New York. Captain Michael Johnston, 57, was piloting the Airbus A320 plane with 147 passengers and 5 crew members on board, when he fell gravely ill and eventually died. The co-pilot then took control of the plane and landed the jet safely. Crew members “took extraordinary care of Mike, each other and our customers,” American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said in a statement sent to employees. “We couldn't be more proud of the teamwork this crew showed during an extremely difficult time.”
Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet wins Nobel Peace Prize, 2015
Oslo: The Norwegian Nobel committee announced that the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet has been awarded the peace prize for its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia during the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011. The peace prize worth $ 972,000 will be presented in Oslo on December 10. “The Quartet was formed in the summer of 2013 when the democratization process was in danger of collapsing as a result of political assassinations and widespread social unrest. It established an alternative, peaceful political process at a time when the country was on the brink of civil war. It was thus instrumental in enabling Tunisia, in the space of a few years, to establish a constitutional system of government guaranteeing fundamental rights for the entire population, irrespective of gender, political conviction or religious belief,” the Nobel Committee said in its press release.
`Pak most dangerous country'
Washington: A retired CIA official has said that Pakistan is probably the most dangerous country for the world as it is ripe with threats of terrorism, a failing economy and the is the fastest growing nuclear arsenal. “While Pakistan is not the most dangerous country in the world, it is probably the most dangerous country for the world, and as such, a serious case for close and continued US engagement with Pakistan can be made,“ Kevin Hulbert, a former top intelligence officer who retired in June 2014, wrote in an op-ed in The Cipher Brief. “Rather than risk it, and as much as we might like to move on, we really should increase the level of engagement with Pakistan, not decrease it,“ he said.
Teenaged Indian boy becomes world’s youngest ACCA
Dubai: An 18 year old Indian boy in the UAE has become the youngest affiliate with a global body for professional accountants. Ramkumar Raman, a graduate from the Indian High School, Dubai, has to complete three years of qualified work experience in order to attain the Association of Chartered Accountants membership. “As of now, Raman holds the record for the youngest ACCA affiliate among our records,” Herriot Fitgerald, the ACCA Academic Advisor Middle East said. “I began coaching for examinations in September 2012 and I wrote the final exam in June 2015,” Raman said. “As far as my earlier previous exams are concerned, I don’t think I performed that well. When it comes to marks, I scored a 8.6 CGPA in grade 10 and an 87% in 12th,” said Raman.
Man Survives on Ants for Six Days
Laverton: A man who went missing for six days in a remote Australian desert was found alive, surviving on black ants. Reg Foggerdy, 62, disappeared on October 7 while on his way to a hunting trip. When he failed to return, family members called for a search by police trackers, who finally found him 15 kilometers from where he went missing. Goldfields Police Superintendent Andy Greatwood said Foggerdy had been sitting under the same tree for the last two days, with now water. “He was eating black ants, that's how he survived, so fantastic survival skills by him, and fantastic skills by our trackers who found him in an extremely remote location,” he quoted.
Myanmar rejects proposed election delay
Yangon: Myanmar election authorities have confirmed that the landmark polls scheduled for November 8, will go as per plans after Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition rejected official suggestion that the vote be postponed because of flooding. In an announcement read out on state media the Union Election Commission said it had decided to go ahead as planned with elections, after floating the idea of a delay at a meeting with major parties in the capital Napyidaw. “Following a review of the possible pros and cons of postponing the election date, the commission's decision is that the general elections will be held on November 8 2015, as previously stated.”
China's largest dam in Tibet operational
Beijing: China has said its largest hydropower station in Tibet, located on the Yarlung Zangbo river had been fully operationalised. All six units of the Zam hydropower station on the middle reaches of the river began to churn on October 13, as quoted by an official from the China Gezhouba Group based in Wuhan, Central China. The Yarlung Zangbo is a major river which flows into India before flowing into Bangladesh. “All six of the station’s units were incorporated into the power grid on Tuesday,” state media reported. The massive project is expected to produce 2.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity a year.
