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Breaking News
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WOMEN'S BILL A GIANT STEP TOWARDS WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT
NITISH MAY BREAK AWAY FROM JD(U)
ALL IS WELL, CLAIMS GOVT; NOT QUITE, SAYS OPPN
LALU WITHDRAWS SUPPORT TO UPA GOVERNMENT
CONG, RULING ALLIANCE LOCK HORNS OVER PAST
PUNJAB ''MISLEADING'' ON VARIOUS ISSUES: HOODA
NO NOMINATIONS ON FIRST DAY FOR 5 RAJYA SABHA SEATS IN PUNJAB
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Punjab News
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Chandigarh March 10:
Who was responsible for terrorism and unrest in the state that led to killing of innocent thousands? In a sharp trading of charges, Congress and ruling alliance of SAD-BJP, blamed each other, in Punjab Vidhan Sabha, for loss of human life and public property in times which led to the carnage at Golden Temple.
Lawlessness in the state, which witnessed damage of public property worth crores, in recent clashes, over murder charges against Dera Sacha Sauda head, left the ruling alliance on their back foot, during the discussion on Governor's address, when Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira took the government to task over deteriorating law and order situation during the clashes between various sections of the society, whether it was dera Sacha Sauda imbroglio or Ravidassia dera issue or the recent Christian-Hindu clashes.
The Opposition, led by Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, came down heavily on SAD over their failure to maintain peace in the state. Discussing the Governor's address, the Congress dismissed Shivraj Patil's address as a 'pack of lies' and 'absolutely devoid of substance.' The Opposition demanded fixing the accountability of state police officers who remained mute spectators to handful of party workers who went on a rampage and destroyed public property worth crores in the past fortnight.
Sukhpal Khaira pointed out at the government's failure to procure black list of Punjabi's, when he, as a first time MLA, had managed to procure it and get names of two people deleted from it. "Take it from me, if you can't get it yourself," he took a dig at deputy CM Sukhbir Badal. Badal had to clarify the point, "The black list is updated every month and Khaira has a black list dating back to 2005." However, Khaira was not to be outdone, he remarked, "At least begin with what you have, make a start."
Talking about expelled women sarpanch members, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal demanded reinstating of four women sarpanch members in Mullanpur Garibdas, who were expelled because they failed to attend a meeting. However, she had to be contented with Ranjit Singh Brahampura, the panchayat minister, ordering an inquiry into it and refused to accede to Bhattal's demand of reinstating the women sarpanches.
The issue of fast depleting water resources was highlighted in the question hour with Janmeja Singh Sekhon, irrigation minister, pointing that out of 137 blocks in the state, 103 blocks have been declared over-exploited, 5 'critical, 4 'semi-critical and only 25 safe. "A project worth Rs 3,500 crore to recharge groundwater has been sent to the Centre for clearance," said Sekhon.
The Opposition protested against the recent cancelling of election of NRI sabha, on grounds of unrest in the state, despite the fact that nearly 2,000 NRIs had landed in the state to participate in the election. Both, Sukhpal Khaira and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, came down heavily upon the ruling alliance for failing to win the trust of NRIs and spurning their attempts to invest in the state.
In a sharp rebuttal to the SAD leader Bikramjit Singh Majithia's charges against the ruling UPA at the Centre over poor share in Central funds, Bhattal rattled off at least 17 centrally funded schemes, where funds worth several thousand crores have flowed into the state. She cornered the ruling alliance demanding that a list should be submitted regarding the several crores funds which the state had received from the Centre but had not been able to utilize.
"These funds have been misused, mismanaged, diverted and left unutilized," she said, adding that the FM should bring a white paper on the way these funds have been "either used, misused, allowed to lapse or diverted".
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 10,2
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Chandigarh March 10:
All is well, or is it? It all depends on which side of the well you are seated in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. The ruling dispensation, which will miss the presence of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who is not well, is giving an “all is well” signal even as the Congress is trying to rub in the opposite.
There is also speculation on Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal’s future with Congressmen terming his sitting on the Chief Minister’s chair as a dress rehearsal for the final takeover. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has been advised at least two weeks’ rest after he was detected to be suffering from herpes and acute back and leg pain.
Sukhbir, on his part, tried to fit into his father’s boots by reacting with sagacity on all issues even when provoked. He effectively detailed his role when it was alleged that he had not spoken out against the accused in the 1984 riots during his 10-year stint in Parliament. He will speak on the the Governor’s Address tomorrow.
The ruling dispensation relied on Bikramjit Majithia to present the points raised in the Governor’s Address yesterday and he made a long case in favour of the SAD-BJP combine. However, Sunil Jakhar from the Congress punched enough holes in the argument to make out a case of “all is not well”. Using the theme song of Aamir Khan starrer “Three Idiots” effectively, Jakhar said nothing seemed to be moving in the state and that the state was virtually dependent on central grants for all development work.
The effects of the “all is well” claim were felt in the proceedings today also with Congress members needling the ruling dispensation on this score by talking about the lack of power and the deteriorating law and order situation. They also took on Bikramjit who fell to the bait and let out an outburst against Sukhpal Khaira, which was expunged by the Speaker. Khaira also demanded a CBI inquiry into the allocation of the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences project in Jalandhar to a consortium headed by an Akali leader.
Independent legislator Ajit Singh Shant also targeted Bikramjit’s couplet saying “nazaren badlo, sitara badal jayenge”, saying it was applicable to the SAD legislators who were now speaking about the implementation of the Rajiv-Longowal accord even though they had opposed it earlier. Similarly, he said, the SAD-BJP government now wanted nuclear plants in the state even though they had opposed the nuclear deal. Earlier the SAD’s Virsa Singh Valtoha said a case was registered against Sajjan Kumar only after his party raised the issue in Parliament, adding nothing was done to assuage the hurt feelings of the Sikh community.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 10,2
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Patiala March 10:
Dreaming is a good thing and governments in Punjab, be it the Akalis or the Congress, have been generously indulgent.
A "world-class airport" here, an "international-level" high- way there, the plans are always grandiose, the project descrip- tion even more so. The reality stinks. Should sting too, hopefully. Growth rate targets set by the Planning Commission for Punjab during the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12) are the lowest among the 17 other states falling under the non-special catego- ry.
Against the national target of 9 per cent, Punjab's is 5.9 -- based on the proposals sent by the state on income generation and expenditure plans. Eleven special category states are given special benefits by the Union government. At present, Punjab's per capita income is Rs 44,000 and it is sixth in the list of 17 non-spe- cial states.
"After the end of the current Five Year Plan, it would be pushed to the eighth rank," feels Punjabi University economist Dr Sucha Singh Gill. "Growth rate is directly proportional to per capita income, development, infrastructure, service indus- try and agriculture sector," he adds.
Up to 1980-81, Punjab's per capita income and growth rate were the highest. It touched the national average by 1992-93, after which it slowed down. "Till the early 1980s, its growth rate was double the national average. From the mid- Sixties to Nineties, Punjab was growing at a rate of 6 per cent whereas the national average hovered around 3.5," says Dr Gill.
Economists feel the growth rate does not seem a priority for the Punjab government and the Centre too is focusing on other states. Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Haryana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and West Bengal are way ahead of Punjab with growth rate targets above 9 per cent. Goa tops with 12.
Experts say Punjab is also unable to mobilise funds to pool in different Central sector schemes such as the Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewable Scheme. Many other states are availing huge benefits from these schemes.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 10,2
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Chandigarh March 10:
No nomination was received on the first day of filing of nominations to the five seats of the Rajya Sabha from Punjab which fell vacant on April nine.
The filing of nominations commenced here today with the issuing of the notification by the Commission of India (ECI), an official spokesman said here. The ECI had yesterday announced the programme for two biennial elections to be held to fill up the five vacancies arising from Punjab.
While one biennial election is to fill three vacancies caused after the term of former Union Minister Ashwani Kumar (Cong), Mr Naresh Gujral (SAD), son of former Prime Minister I K Gujral and Mr Dharam Pal Sabharwal (Cong) comes to an end, The other biennial election is for filling up the two vacancies of Union Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Manohar Singh Gill (Cong) and Varinder Singh Bajwa of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
The last date of nominations is March 16 and scrutiny would take place on the following day. The last date for withdrawal of candidatures is March 19. The date of polling is March 26 and the results will be declared on the same day. Date before which the election process shall be completed is March 29.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 10,2
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Chandigarh March 10:
Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal urged Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar to relax the parameters of converting paddy to rice as nearly 40 lakh tonnes of paddy was rotting in Punjab.
"The out-turn-ratio of paddy to rice should be converted from 67 to 62 percent, as 40 lakh tones of paddy is currently rotting in the state," said Harsimrat Kaur, who is also the wife of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. She also told Pawar that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) was not lifting the PAU 201 variety of rice, claiming that it is not good.
"PAU 201 is higher in yield and is less water consuming variety of rice and is duly certified by many competent authorities," she said. "We are facing a tough situation regarding storage with the failure of FCI to lift 40 lakh tonnes of paddy, at the time when thousands of poor people in the country go hungry every day. Despite 65 per cent less rainfall in Punjab during last summer, farmers and state government had put in all their resources to ensure the food security of nation," she said
Despite fighting the worst ever drought of the century, Punjab managed to produce 168.35 lakh tons of paddy whereas there was shortage of paddy in the rest of the country, she said.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 10,2
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India News
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New Delhi March 10:
Differences in the JD(U) over women's quota bill widened with five of the party members in the Rajya Sabha endorsing Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's line to support the legislation. It's a development that can potentially split the party in the lead up to the assembly elections in the state.
The support of Shivanand Tiwari, N K Singh, Ali Anwar, Mahendra Prasad and Bhagwan Sahni defied Sharad Yadav's opposition to the bill, and even as the party chief was mopping up the support of MPs nursing grudges of different hues against Nitish Kumar. Interestingly, some of the MPs who have aligned themselves with the Sharad Yadav's stand to oppose the women's quota on the ground that it would tilt the electoral field against the OBCs, had earlier accused the chief minister of ignoring the interests of upper castes.
With Sharad Yadav group all set to get a whip issued to get the members vote against the bill, differences are set to evolve into a full-blown division when the Bill is brought to the Lok Sabha. The division over women's quota bill has only brought to surface that have bubbled under the surface, with a section of the party resenting Nitish Kumar's stature and his increasing willingness to have his way on policy issues.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 10,2
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New Delhi March 10:
Describing the Women's Reservation Bill as a "giant step" towards the empowerment of women, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in the Rajya Sabha that the measure is not anti-minority and anti-Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe.
Singh also expressed "profound apology" to Chairman Hamid Ansari for disrespect shown to the Chair by members in the House over the past two days. "On behalf of the government I owe you a profound apology," Singh said to Ansari while intervening in the debate over the landmark Constitution amendment Bill that provides for 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
He also stressed the need to "reflect" how to ensure that such incidents do not recur and the House functions smoothly. Seven members of the House, mostly from SP and RJD were suspended and had to be marshalled out for their unruly behaviour while opposing the Bill.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 10,2
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New Delhi March 10:
Angry with the Congress for ignoring their objections and having its way on the passage of the women’s reservation Bill in Rajya Sabha, the SP and RJD moved to carry out their threat of withdrawing support to the UPA by moving a no-confidence motion against the government in Lok Sabha.
SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and RJD chief Lalu Prasad held meetings with their MPs and decided to move a no-confidence motion as early as today. “We will do so... just keep a watch,” said Lalu Prasad and Mulayam Singh when they were asked about their next move. Lalu Prasad later said he would write to the President on withdrawal of support to the UPA government.
Asked about the RJD-SP move, CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said “let us see what they do” while BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad said his party’s “opposition on price rise and other issues is well-known and the BJP parliamentary party will take a call on any no-trust motion”. Lalu Prasad and Mulayam Singh were said to have disclosed to Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee their plan of moving a no-confidence motion who later said she would apprise the Prime Minister about her meeting with the two leaders.
Both RJD and SP want to force a division of votes, making the BSP and JD(U) spell out their stand. Since their combined strength of 25 in Lok Sabha is way short of 50 required to move the no-confidence motion, the two parties have started working to cobble up the required minimum. Lalu Prasad is learnt to have spoken to RLD leader Ajit Singh, whose party has five members in Lok Sabha, for backing a no-confidence motion. Given the division within the JD(U), both RJD and SP are counting on the support of at least 15 MPs from JD(U).
They hope to rope in Deve Gowda’s JD(S) and are also looking at support from some Muslim MPs, prominent among them Asaduddin Owaisi of AIMIM, Badruddin Ajmal of AUDF, and single-party MPs like Bodoland People’s Front.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 10,2
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Islamabad March 10:
In a significant ruling that could affect the trial of seven suspects charged with involvement in the Mumbai attacks in Pakistan, a bench of the Lahore High Court ruled that the confessional statement of Ajmal Amir Kasab could not be used against the accused.
Kasab is the lone surviving gunman in the Mumbai terror attack and is being tried in a special court in the financial capital of India. The Rawalpindi-based bench of the Lahore High Court gave its order in response to a petition filed by LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and other accused who are being tried by an anti-terrorism court for planning and help execute the 2008 attacks in Mumbai. However, the High Court bench dismissed the plea by Lakhvi and the other accused for their acquittal.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 10,2
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New Delhi March 9:
The Women’s Reservation Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Amidst a lot furore created by RJD, JD(U) and BSP MPs, 186 members voted in favour while 1 voted against the motion.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said, “Women's Reservation Bill is not anti-Scheduled Caste. It is a historic and giant step towards empowering women and a celebration of their rights. It is a celebration of our regard and respect for our culture.”
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 9,20
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Sports News
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New Delhi March 10:
Defending champions Germany outclassed New Zealand 5-2 to join England and Australia in the semi-finals of the men's field hockey World Cup.
The Germans led 2-0 at half-time through goals by Christophe Menke in the 15th minute and Florian Fuchs in the 28th. Philip Witte made it 3-0 soon after the interval, but New Zealand hit back with two goals in four minutes from Shea McAleese and Nicholas Wilson.
The powerful Germans sealed their supremacy over the Black Sticks when Moritz Furste and Matthias Witthaus scored twice in as many minutes, both goals coming from rebounds off penalty corners. Germany, looking for a hat-trick of World Cup titles to add to the Beijing Olympic gold medal, ended the league stage unbeaten in group A with three wins and two draws.
The second semi-final spot from the group will be decided after the match between the Netherlands and South Korea later. The Dutch, who have 10 points against Germany's 11, need a draw to advance to the knock-out rounds. The Koreans, Asia's lone survivor after India and Pakistan crashed out early, need a big win to move to 10 points and better the Dutch on goal difference. Favourites Australia and European champions England have already qualified for the semi-finals from group B. New Zealand finished with two wins and three losses.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 10,2
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New Delhi March 9:
After India failed yet again to finish in the top bracket at the Hockey World Cup, the experts have a simple panacea: Raise fitness levels or perish. They feel only a fit side that can play total hockey can survive internationally.
Master coaches Horst Wein, Roelant Oltmans and March Lammers and Olympian Ashok Kumar agree that the eight-time Olympic champions have a long way to go before they can match top teams Australia, Germany and the Netherlands. They all accept that Indians are skillful, but to play on synthetic turf, they feel, the players need more than skills to succeed.
India's chief hockey coach Jose Brasa, who led the Spanish women's team to gold in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, has conceded that India are not in the league of of world's top teams yet. "We are not yet ready to take on world's top teams. For us to rise to their level, we need to raise our fitness and then play them frequently," said Brasa.
Since taking over as chief coach last May, Brasa has tried to make the team adapt to the European style of play and to do that, Dutch drag-flicker Taeke Taekema feels, fitness is the key as only a fit team can play total hockey. "Today European hockey means total hockey, there is no positional play there. A defender should also be able to go up and score goals. That is how the European teams have been confusing the Asians," said the Dutch star.
"If fitness levels are high, it is easy to swap positions quickly. When we play India or Pakistan, we know their positions and it is easy for us," he said. Dutch legend Oltmans says a European coach with an Indian to assist can work wonders for Indian hockey. "Brasa is a good coach and he should stay here till the next Olympics with a competent Indian assisting him. Brasa is well aware of how things work in the European structure and given time, I am confident that he can surely improve the fitness levels of his players," he said.
German hockey and football guru Wein wants India to concentrate on a system that develops the youngsters mentally at the grassroots level. "Modern hockey is no more a physical game. Today teams have different plans for a given situation. Hockey is now a thinking game," he added. Ashok, son of legendary Dhyan Chand, thinks that Indian players should practice 8-10 hours daily on synthetic turf to improve their fitness. "We need more synthetic turfs in the country, if Indian hockey has to develop to be truly international," he said.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 9,20
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Kuala Lumpur March 9:
Aiming to make a second successive appearance at the British Open, young Indian golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar will join 72 players vying for four tickets to the prestigious event in the two-day International Final Qualifying (Asia) starting here tomorrow.
The winner of the season-opening Asian Tour International in Bangkok, made his Major debut last July and subsequently won his first Asian Tour title in Indonesia in the following week.
"The British Open is one of the most prestigious Majors in the history of golf and I definitely want to play in it again. I won the IFQ last year (in Singapore), so I have a lot of good memories and I'm very hopeful this week," he said.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 9,20
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New Delhi March 9:
A posse of gun-wielding policemen kept a tight vigil outside while over 40 pugilists exchanged blows inside.
This was the scene at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium where Indian boxers began the final stage of their preparation for the Commonwealth Championships starting March 12. In a session lasting over two hours, the 10 chosen boxers along with their sparring partners sweated it out at the newly-built dome-shaped arena, which will also be the main boxing venue for the Commonwealth Games this October.
Olympic and World Championship bronze medallist Vijender Singh (75kg) exercised a while before slugging it out inside the ring for an extended sparring session. "I am maintaining weight for now. Have to be in shape. Did some light exercises and some sparring," the world number one, in his category, said.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 9,20
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New Delhi March 8:
Olympic silver medallist Spain continued their domination over England in the Hockey World Cup, defeating the European Champions 2-0 in their last pool match at the 12th edition of the mega-event here on Monday.
With this win, Spain registered their fifth victory over England out of seven World Cup matches the two teams have played so far. The Englishmen finished on the winning side only once while one game ended without result.
Pau Quemada (35th minute) and Eduard Tubau (64th) scored the goals for Spain at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium and almost sealed their third position in the Pool B with nine points. The victory, however, came too late for Spain as it did very little to brighten their semi-final hopes.
England were already through to the last-four stage of the tournament prior to the match with four wins out of their five matches. Favourites Australia will join them as they have a better goal average than the Spaniards and also a game in hand. The victory, however, assured Spain a place in the fifth-sixth play-off match on Friday unless Pakistan beat Australia by a margin of 13 goals, which is highly unlikely.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 8,20
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Cricket Special
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Jaipur March 10:
Rajasthan Royals would miss key performer Ravindra Jadeja in third edition of the Indian Premier League, but the team has enough resources to lift the title, according to skipper Shane Warne.
"Jadeja had performed very well in the first edition and even for the country he was doing well. Yes, he will be missed but we have others like Abhishek Jhunjhunwala who can stand up and perform," Warne said.
Jadeja's hope of playing in the event went up in smoke after the IPL governing council turned down his appeal against a one-year ban, which was imposed for negotiating a contract without informing his side. The Australian spin legend said they would start the season as underdogs and that would work to their advantage. "Nobody gave us chance in the first IPL and despite that we emerged the champions.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 10,2
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Mumbai March 10:
After performing below par in the first two editions, Kolkata Knight Riders are hoping a change in attitude would do the trick in the third season of the Indian Premier League that commences on March 12.
"We have made many changes and one of those is the change in attitude. You will see that when we play in the IPL," said team owner and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan at a promotional event for the team. KKR commence their campaign in the 45-day event on the opening night with a clash against defending champions Deccan Chargers at the D Y Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
Team skipper and former India captain Sourav Ganguly also echoed Shah Rukh's views, saying that the T20 format of the game called for a different outlook. "We want to play this format freely. This is what this format demands. We should all enjoy what we do. We will keep it simple. Whoever hits the white ball better will win," he remarked when the new team purple-coloured jersey was also unveiled.
Shah Rukh conceded the team did not have a good run in the first two editions. "We have had the nicest of runs as far as the economics of the team are concerned. Yes, we had not performed (on the field) to the extent that we can. We would put our best foot forward. We will gauge our success from the way we play the game. It would be nice if we could win the IPL," he said. Shah Rukh was stumped for an answer when asked about the continued stand-off between television news channels and the IPL authorities over covering the event.
"I don't understand it, it's too complicated and convoluted. NBA (National Broadcasters Association) is a fantastic unit. Lalit Modi (IPL chief) and his team are also a fantastic unit. I hope the issue will be resolved," he said. New chief coach Dav Whatmore and bowling coach Wasim Akram conceded they were new to the job in the IPL.
"It's a new experience for me. It's a challenge for us to get act together in six weeks. We will do everything possible we can," Australia-born Whatmore said. Former Pakistan captain Akram said, "It's a new experience to me too. The team is very talented. The boys are working hard and I have the belief we will do well."
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 10,2
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New Delhi March 10:
While the BCCI and Sunil Gavaskar himself honoured the 1983 World Cup winners, making them richer by Rs. 35 lakh each, and Ajit Wadekar's 1971 Warriors were honoured privately, the team that triumphed in 1985 in Australia, winning the World Championships Of Cricket, hasn't yet heard of any felicitations.
The protagonist of that triumph, skipper Sunil Gavaskar, cast a fleeting look at that triumph when he switched on the TV late on Monday night to overcome jetlag after his return from London on Sunday. "I was watching the India-England match and was delighted to see how well spinners Ravi Shastri and Sivaramakrishnan bowled and beat the batsmen in the air," Gavaskar told reporters.
Shastri became the man of the tournament and drove home the Audi car. Siva's wicket of Javed Miandad, stumped by Sadanand Vishwanath, turned the final on its head and was responsible for India's target staying below 200 (176). Mention Vishwanath to Gavaskar and he is fulsome in his praise. "He brought tremendous energy to the side. His competitiveness rubbed off on the rest of us."
So what are Gavaskar's thoughts on the 1985 triumph? "Twenty-five years down the line my thoughts are about how far the Indian team has come as a one-day unit. It's a terrific team now. If they had a couple of all-rounders of the calibre of our 1985 side, the current Indian team would be virtually unbeatable."
Gavaskar said the triumph was founded by the few experienced players in the side pulling their weight - Mohinder Amarnath, Madan Lal, Vengsarkar, Ravi Shastri, Roger Binny. "No one gave us a chance. Before we left for the series we had lost the Test series to England 1-2 at home and also lost the One-Day series."
In fact, the banner at the MCG dubbed the two finalists "tram Drivers vs bus conductors"! But the Indian team became such a compact unit that it played unchanged for the four games and the change effected for the final was forced: Roger Binny was sick on the day of the final and Chetan Sharma took his place.
Gavaskar paid tribute to Kapil Dev's bowling. "He varied his length according to the batsmen and was impossible to score off. Most of the runs that were scored off him were through edges." Gavaskar believes West Indies would have been tougher opponents than Pakistan in the final. Luckily, India never met them as they were in the other group and Pakistan beat them in the semis.
Gavaskar said the Shastri-Srikkanth opening partnership had been forged during the series against England. "Srikkanth was a destroyer. We continued with it and it allowed us to have experienced batsmen in the middle order like Mohinder, Vengsarkar besides myself with Kapil being the floater as per the situation. Mohd Azharuddin had burst on the scene with three hundreds in a row against England. People in Australia were eager to see him."
Gavaskar also remembered some funny moments of the final. "We pulled the legs of the Channel 9 crew. Javed and I pretended to do the toss before commentator Ian Chappell came. He had to do it, but was late. We had been waiting for him in the centre and we could see how worried he was when he saw us flicking the coin. He was literally jogging to the centre. Imagine his relief when he was told we had pulled a fast one on him."
Beating Pakistan was a matter of India outwitting them. Gavaskar recalled: "Pakistan were nine down some 30 minutes before the interval. I just ensured we didn't have to bat the twenty minutes or so in case they were all out half an hour before lunch by first calling on Ravi Shastri to bowl and then pretending to change my mind and call Chetan over from deep square-leg, so that two minutes before the half hour to lunch would be consumed and we didn't have to bat an awkward few minutes before supper."
And the dressing room atmosphere after the triumph? "Everyone was jumping, champagne was bubbling, it was all over my head. The win was as fantastic a gift one could expect on one's last day as captain. And of course, the Audi. We had planned to drive off in it leaving Ravi Shastri with the mike and the interviewer! But that failed. Imagine Ravi running after us and the car he had won! He had not driven an automatic gear car and I had to show him how and also be his navigator as the players sitting on the bonnet blocked his view.
He almost ran over the lensmen who were right in our tracks." Gavaskar says above all there was relief as the Indian team's self-belief had been restored. "We had won the World cup in England in 1983 and had won in Australia. We knew we could beat any team anywhere." That's the legacy that Mahendra Singh Dhoni's team has inherited catapulting them to the top echelons of the ICC rankings.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 10,2
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New Delhi March 9:
Two new franchises are set to be added next season but despite the increased number of matches, the Indian Premier League will not run beyond seven weeks as extending it would "hurt other forms of cricket", says IPL chairman Lalit Modi.
"We are going to have the current limitation (in the IPL's duration), and we are happy to live with that. Then (if we make it a longer tournament) you are going to starting to hurt the other forms of the game," Modi said.
"We chose the window specifically to be off-season in India, April-May are typically off season in India ... I don't think we are going to be able to change that," he added. The IPL will have 94 matches in the 2011 season but Modi said the tournament will only be 51 days long.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 9,20
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Dubai March 9:
Legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev, who led India to their only ODI World Cup triumph in 1983, was today inducted into the International Cricket Council's Hall of Fame here.
A commemorative cap was presented to Kapil by ICC President David Morgan, in front of fellow Hall of Famer Clive Lloyd, as well as an audience of ICC officials and other invited guests at the governing body's headquarters here.
The Hall of Fame, run in association with the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA), recognises some of the legends of the game. "I am proud and happy to have been inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame and it's amazing to think that I have been picked as one of the greats of Indian cricket," Kapil said.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 9,20
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New Delhi March 10:
Kolkata-based pen manufacturer Linc Pen & Plastics said it has inked a sponsorship deal with Rajasthan Royals for the Indian Premier League 2010.
Under the agreement Linc Pen would be an associate sponsor and the official pen of the Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2010, Linc Pens said in a statement. "We are extremely proud to be associated with Rajasthan Royals, the winners of the inaugural IPL tournament," Linc Pen Managing Director Deepak Jalan said.
The Jaipur IPL franchise team Rajasthan Royals is owned by a consortium of international investors comprising of Suresh Chellaram, Manoj Badale, Lachlan Murdoch, Raj Kundra and bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty. "We are working with Linc Pens on an activation programme involving schools, which will help grow our brands and we look forward to a fruitful relationship with them," Rajasthan Royals Chief Marketing Officer Raghu Iyer said.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 10,2
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New Delhi March 8:
The government on Monday sought parliamentary approval to cut its stake in the country’s largest lender State Bank of India to 51 percent from 55 percent, seeking to raise $1.2 billion at current market prices from the key reform move.
The government had earlier said it would move to cut its holdings in state-run banks while retaining majority control, but has faced political and union opposition. The government owns 59.41 percent of State Bank of India (SBI) and already has lawmakers' approval to trim it to 55 percent.
On Monday, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee introduced in parliament a bill seeking approval for SBI to raise capital by a public issue or private placement of shares or through a rights issue. SBI shares were up 2.5 percent at 2,096 rupees by 1:12 p.m. (0742 GMT), outpacing the 1 percent rise in the broader market and the 1.25 percent rise in the bank index.
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Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 8,20
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Mumbai March 8:
A benchmark index for Indian equities closed 108 points higher on Monday, shedding some of its intra-day gains.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,034.92 points, closed at 17,102.6 points - 108.11 points or 0.64% higher than its previous close at 16,994.49 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling at 5,124 points against the previous close at 5,088.7 points, a gain of 0.69% or 35.3 points. Broader markets also saw gains with the BSE midcap index closing 0.71% higher and the BSE small cap index 1.09% up.
Auto and banking stocks generated buying interest, while realty stocks came under selling pressure. The market breadth was positive, with 1,761 stocks advancing, compared to 1,097 scrips on the decline, while 88 remained unchanged. Among the gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex were M&M, up 4.33% at Rs.1,122.40; Hero Honda, up 3.09% at Rs.1,913.45; ITC, up 2.43% at Rs.250.50; and ICICI Bank, up 2.32% at Rs.922.75.
Top losers included Bharti Airtel, down 2.13% at Rs.292.20; Hindustan Unilever, down 1.59% at Rs.238.80; Reliance Infra, down 1.52% at Rs.1,019.25; and Hindalco, down 1.1% at Rs.166.30. According to data available with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), foreign institutional investors bought scrips worth $410.46 million. Most other Asian markets did better than their Indian peers.
The benchmark Japanese index, Nikkei, ended 2.09% higher at 10,585.92 points, while the South Korean Kospi moved up 1.56% at 1,660.04 points. Hong Kong's Hang Seng closed in the green too at 21,196.87 points, up 1.97%, while the Chinese Shanghai composite index gained 0.73% at 3,053.23 points. European markets were slack around closing bell here.
The FTSE 100, the benchmark index of the London Stock Exchange, was ruling 0.28% lower at 5,584.17 points, while its German peer DAX was trading flat at 5,873.38 points, down 0.07%. The French CAC 40 index was also in a slump at 3,906.92, down 0.09%.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 8,20
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New Delhi March 8:
The Planning Commission today said food prices will come down in the next two months easing the overall inflation, which is currently at over 8.5 per cent.
"The trend is that food price will come down in the next two months. I am sure that the trend down on food prices will bring down the overall inflation in the next two months," Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia told reporters.
The wholesale price inflation (WPI) rose to 8.56 per cent in January, the highest in over 13 months, shooting past the RBI's forecast of 8.5 per cent for this fiscal end. The WPI hike was mainly because of a surge in prices of food items such as sugar, potatoes and pulses. Overall inflation in December was 7.31 per cent. In January, sugar prices rose by 58.96 per cent year-on-year while potatoes turned costlier by 53.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 8,20
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New Delhi March 8:
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has asked states to set up separate departments for the sector to help develop it, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.
"MFPI, with the intention to make concerted efforts for development and growth of food processing sector, has requested the states to set up dedicated departments for food processing in their respective states," Food Processing Industries Minister Subodh Kant Sahai said in a written reply.
This will help the states to create congenial environment for strengthening rural infrastructure, raise level of processing and generate farm-level employment keeping in view distinct agro-climatic scenario of the respective states, Sahai said.
Answering a separate question, the minister said, formulation of food processing policy is the subject matter of the state and the ministry has urged to frame suitable policies for their specific needs.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 8,20
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London March 9:
We all know that egg is one of the most nutrient-dense foods, but now a new study claims eating one egg daily can help fight obesity.
The British study, which analysed 71 research papers on the nutritional composition of eggs and their role in diet, found that eggs are packed with vitamin D, vitamin B12, selenium and choline that could also play a significant role in dieting and weight loss.
According to the researchers, a medium-sized egg has fewer than 80 calories and provides more than 20 per cent of the recommended daily allowance. Dr Carrie Ruxton, an independent dietitian and lead author of the report, said: "There are clear nutritional benefits to eating eggs on a regular basis. Emerging evidence suggests that eggs may be beneficial for satiety, weight control and eye health.
"With previous limits on egg consumption lifted, most people would benefit from a return to the days of going to work on an egg." The study confirmed that eggs contain the richest mix of essential amino acids -- crucial for children, adolescents and young adults since a balance of them is required for proper growth and repair, the Daily Mail reported. It also claimed that the high levels of antioxidants found in eggs could even help prevent age-related muscular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness.
The research team highlighted data from studies in the US which found that people who ate eggs had higher intakes of nearly all nutrients compared with non-egg eaters. Low levels of vitamin D have been linked with a host of medical conditions including poor bone health, cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, immune disorders and mental health problems.
The study, which will appear in the June issue of journal Nutrition and Food Science, identified specific groups which could benefit from eating more eggs, including the young, heavy meat-eaters and those who shun milk. Dr Ruxton added: "The health benefits of eggs would appear to be so great that it's perhaps no exaggeration to call them a superfood -- they are one of the most nutrient-dense foods available.
"Eggs are not only low in calories but are packed with nutrients that are essential to healthy living. They are an ideal food at every stage of life, as well as being easy to cook and enjoyable to eat."
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 9,20
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London March 9:
Women who drink a couple of glasses of red wine, beer or spirits a day are better at keeping the pounds off than tea-total women, according to a study.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston asked more than 19,000, normal-weight US women aged 39 or older how many alcoholic beverages they typically drank in a day, and then tracked the women for around 13 years.
The largest single group – 7,346 women or just over 38 per cent – said they didn't drink a drop, the study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine , a publication of the American Medical Association, shows. The second biggest group – 6,312 women or nearly a third of those surveyed – reported drinking the equivalent of around a third of a five-ounce glass of wine or a third of a 12-ounce beer. They did not explain how they managed to do so.
Twenty per cent of the women said they drank the equivalent of up to a glass of wine, a 12-ounce beer, or a single-shot drink made with 80-proof spirits, while six per cent said they had up to two drinks a day and three per cent had more than two. Over the 13-year follow-up period, the women who did not drink at all gained the most weight, and the women who had the equivalent of two drinks a day were the least likely to pack on pounds.
The best drink for keeping the pounds off was red wine, but all four types of tipple included in the study – red or white wine, beer and spirits – showed the same "inverse association between alcohol intake and risk of becoming overweight or obese," the study found. The authors cautioned, however, against making recommendations on alcohol use as a tool against obesity, given the potential medical and psycho-social problems associated with drinking.
The women's alcohol intake was recorded in grams of alcohol. A five-ounce (150 ml) glass of wine, 12-ounce beer or one mixed drink made with a single, 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof alcohol all contain around 14 grams of pure alcohol and are considered "standard drink sizes" in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 9,20
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London March 9:
The British Lung Foundation (BLF) has come up with tips for those having breathing problems to help them boost their sex lives.
Dr Noemi Eiser, the BLF's medical director, said people suffering from lung conditions did not have to “compromise on intimacy”. "It is important that you talk to your partner about any worries and are open-minded and understanding. Creating a comfortable and trusting environment will prevent stress and shortness of breath," The Telegraph quoted her as saying.
The leaflet Sex and Breathlessness recommended the following advice on sexual positions. "Have sex when you feel rested and your breathing is at its best." "Try coughing up phlegm before sex or avoid having sex in the morning when it's likely you will be producing more phlegm." "Avoid sex after a heavy meal or alcohol. Your breathing may be more difficult if you have a full stomach and feel bloated."
"If you become very short of breath during intercourse, try pausing to take a few slow, deep breaths from your diaphragm rather than stopping altogether." "Don't forget that all intimacy should be for fun and your enjoyment. Laugh and talk over any difficulties." It continued: "This is the same for everyone, but for those living with lung conditions it can stop them from enjoying the experience. Enjoying a fulfilling sex life should not be comprised if people are living with a lung condition."
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 9,20
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Toronto March 8:
Vitamin D deficiency could be an unwitting invitation to obesity, weight gain or stunted growth among girls, says a new study.
The ground-breaking research by McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) found an astonishing 59 percent of those who were studied had too little Vitamin D in their blood. Nearly a quarter had more serious deficiencies of the vitamin.
"Vitamin D insufficiency is a risk factor for other diseases," explained principal investigator and study author Richard Kremer, co-director of the Musculoskeletal Axis of the Research Institute of MUHC. "Because it is linked to increased body fat, it may affect many different parts of the body. Abnormal levels of Vitamin D are associated with cancer, osteoporosis and diabetes as well as cardiovascular and autoimmune disorders."
The study by Kremer and co-investigator Vincente Gilsanz, head of musculoskeletal imaging at the Children's Hospital in Los Angeles, is the first to show a clear link between Vitamin D levels and the accumulation of fat in muscle tissue - a factor in muscle strength and overall health.
The study results are especially surprising because study subjects - all healthy young women living in California - could logically be expected to benefit from a good diet, outdoor activities and ample exposure to sunshine - the trigger that causes the body to produce Vitamin D. The results extend those of an earlier study by Kremer and Gilsanz, which linked low levels of Vitamin D to increased visceral fat in a young population, said an MUHC release.
"In the present study, we found an inverse relationship between Vitamin D and muscle fat," Kremer says. "The lower the levels of Vitamin D the more fat in subjects' muscles." These findings were published in the March Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 8,20
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Boston March 8:
Want to shed your baby fat? Wait, don't do it just yet, for a new study has revealed that such a fat is good - as long as it is calorie-burning ''brown fat''.
Brown fat burns off calories and generates heat in babies and small mammals. Most of the body fat is white fat, which also provides insulation but stores calories. It becomes "bad" fat when an individual have too much. The "good" fat-brown fat-was considered essentially nonexistent in human adults. The new study has found that adults have much more of this type of fat than previously believed.
"We now know that it is present and functional in adults," said the study's lead author, Dr Aaron Cypess, MMSc, of the Joslin Diabetes Centre in Boston. "Three ounces of brown fat can burn several hundred calories a day," he added. In the new study involving 1,970 study participants, researchers measured the patches of brown adipose tissue-brown fat-in people with the help of high-tech imaging method that combines positron emission tomography and computed tomography, called PET/CT.
By evaluating biopsy tissue of what appeared to be brown fat, the authors confirmed that they were, indeed, looking at stores of brown fat. The researchers found that brown fat was located in an area extending from the front of the neck to the chest. Of the subjects who had detectable brown fat, about 6 percent had 3 ounces or more of the fat.
"We believe that this percentage greatly underestimates the number of adults in the population who have a large amount of brown fat," said Cypess. They also discovered that brown fat is most abundant in young women and least frequent in older, overweight men. In fact, women were more than twice as likely as men to have substantial amounts of brown fat.
"One theory for this is that women may have less muscle mass overall, so they need more brown fat to generate heat and keep warm," Cypess said. The study appears in New England Journal of Medicine.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
March 8,20
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