News and Events - September/October/November/December- 2009

NSG_Blackcats

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7,000 slums in Dharavi sold for Rs 700 cr​

MUMBAI: While tony Cuffe Parade recently witnessed the country’s second highest apartment deal at Rs 93,000 a sq ft, a real estate goldmine is quietly developing at the other end of the island city. Slum enclave Dharavi, on the verge of an Rs 15,000-crore redevelopment project, has speculators running amuck to buy up its minuscule shanties. The trend was discovered by Pune-based NGO, Mashal, soon after it completed an exhaustive 18-month-long survey of the 590-acre sprawl. The NGO says that 6,000 to 7,000 slum dwellings have been sold in Dharavi over the past four months—possibly to individual investors who expect the Dharavi Redevelopment Project to kick off shortly. The total value of slums sold so far comes to a staggering Rs 700 crore. During the survey, Mashal used a sophisticated software called the Geographical Information System to map each and every structure and household in the shanty town. The NGO was appointed by the Slum Redevelopment Authority following protests and criticism that the project was being implemented without anyone knowing the ground realities.

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NSG_Blackcats

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Rajiv Gandhi 'killer' to get MCA degree soon​

CHENNAI: With no relief from their prolonged incarceration in sight, three convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, including Nalini, her husband Murugan, and AG Perarivalan, have been busy brushing up their academic skills in classrooms inside the jail premises. All three are pursuing their Masters in Computer Applications. While Nalini, serving a life sentence in the Vellore prison, is closer to reaching her goal, the other two -- awaiting the gallows and doing their final year in an integrated course -- will also be proud post-graduates soon. "Nalini's home assignment is in the final stage of consolidation. She will soon get her degree,'' said Dr K Panneerselvam, regional director, IGNOU. "She has performed very well and will be getting a first class. She could well be the first convict to get a post-graduate degree in computer applications,'' he said.

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RPK

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Baby born in Australia at 9.09am on 09/09/09

Baby born in Australia at 9.09am on 09/09/09 - Rest of World - World - NEWS - The Times of India

SYDNEY: Dhara and Sudish Patel would have no difficulty in remembering the date and time of birth of their daughter who was born in the Australian
city of Canberra at 9.09am.on the ninth day of the ninth month of 2009.

The new parents said the delivery time of their baby girl was a surprise.

"Her due date was Sep 12," the baby's mother was quoted as saying by ABC News.

She said the number nine would become part of her baby's life.

"We think it will be her lucky number," she said.
 

I-G

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Hindu students take to madrassa education

Hindu students take to madrassa education
Faizan Ahmad, TNN 11 September 2009, 03:31am IST


PATNA: Are madrassas meant only for Muslim students? Far from it, if results of Bihar State Madrassa Examination Board are anything to go by. Pooja
Kumari, Preetam Kumari, Priyanka Kumari and Surya Narayan Sah all students of Madrassa Islamia, Sandalpur in Araria district are among 100 Hindu girls and boys who have passed different grade exams conducted by BSMEB this year.

The results of the madrassa board for Maulvi, Fauqania and Wastania grade exams, declared on Monday, showed that about a hundred non-Muslim students have passed these exams.

Board authorities, who could provide list of non-Muslim candidates of only Fauqania exam, said 37 of them have passed. They include Sanjay Kumar of Madrassa Islamia, Khardaur, Sanam Kumari and Sandhya Kumari of Madrassa Rahmania, Joktia (both in West Champaran), Rupa Bharti of Madrassa Munamia, Balia (Begusarai) and Anita Kumari of Madrassa Faiyazul Uloom (Chhapra).

"All non-Muslim examinees were regular students of madrassas,'' board chairman Maulana Ejaz Ahmad told TOI on Wednesday. He said he spoke to parents of many such students who said education at madrassas was better and their wards were more disciplined. In fact, the second generation of a former legislator is getting madrassa education, he added.

This year Muslim girls both outnumbered and outshone boys in madrassa exam in Fauqania (equivalent to matric) and Wastania (equivalent to middle). "That more girls are joining madrassa and persuing education is an encouraging trend,'' Ahmad said. He said enrolment of Muslim girls in all districts, including Muslim-dominated Kishangunj district which has the lowest literacy among women, has increased.

Hindu students take to madrassa education - India - NEWS - The Times of India


There are hundreds of Madrassas which are giving education to Non Muslims all over India but there is one thing in these madrassas there is no conversion traps nor forcing students to sign in the praise of Allah nor stopping others to follow thier religions .
 

I-G

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Beard row: SC finds student's removal 'ridiculous'

Beard row: SC finds student's removal 'ridiculous'
PTI 11 September 2009, 12:30pm IST


NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday issued a fresh notice to a convent school in Madhya Pradesh on a Muslim student's right to sport a beard.


A Bench of Justices B N Agrawal and G S Singhvi termed as "ridiculous" the school's decision to remove the student, Mohd Salim, after he refused to shave his beard on religious grounds.

The apex court notice to Nirmala Convent High School, Madhya Pradesh comes after another Bench recused itself from hearing the matter.

The earlier Bench of Justices R V Raveendran and Markandey Katju had initially dismissed the student's plea.

However, Justice Katju at that time made certain controversial observations that the country cannot be Talibanised by insistence on sporting a beard.

Justice Katju, subsequently in a review petition filed by the student, tendered an apology and recalled the dismissal order, and recommended that the matter be posted for a fresh hearing.

The matter was thus posted before another Bench, which while issuing notice to the school, directed that the student shall be allowed to pursue his studies further until the matter is decided.

Beard row: SC finds student's removal 'ridiculous' - India - NEWS - The Times of India


This guy was in XI class when this issue started and now he is already in XII . I was even upset with the remarks made by Justice Katju about Talibanisation of Schools , Beard is part of Islam .
 

I-G

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Church near Bangalore vandalised

Church near Bangalore vandalised

2009-09-10 22:19:18

Bangalore: A mob Thursday attacked a church at Hebbagudi near here and damaged the statues of Mother Mary and Infant Jesus in the premises, police said, adding that a hunt was on to nab the vandals.

"The St Francis de Sales Church was attacked by about 20-25 miscreants after they forced their entry into the premises in the early hours, breaking the statues of Mary and Jesus, besides smashing window-panes of the building," Hebbagudi circle inspector A. Yelagaiah said.

Police have registered a case under various sections of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the miscreants for religious provocation, damage to religious premises and unlawful entry into a private place.

"No arrests have been made so far, as we are yet to trace the culprits. Investigation is on to identify the suspects. We have posted policemen to guard the church," Yelagaiah said.

The attack led to tension at Hebbagudi near Anekal in Bangalore Rural district, about 30 km from the city, as hundreds of people gathered at the church, seeking action against the attackers and protection to the church.

"The situation is peaceful. No untoward incident has been reported. We have appealed to people to maintain peace and order. We have assured church authorities of stringent action against the vandals," Yelagaiah pointed out.

Chief priest Father Aronnis, who filed a complaint with police, said the miscreants vandalised the place and broke the statues of Holy Mary and Jesus from the pedestal within the compound.

"We want the government to ensure freedom to practise one's religion and live securely and peacefully. We have no idea why our church has been attacked without any provocation. Police should protect our places of worship," Aronnis said.

The church has no night watchmen or security guards. The incident came to light when a boy who lives on the premises told police that the miscreants had locked the adjacent room in which he was sleeping and escaped after damaging the premises.

The incident created a pandemonium in the state legislative assembly later in the day, with the opposition Congress and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) members disrupting the proceedings and calling for an immediate discussion on the issue.

"Ever since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government was formed in May 2008, there have been a series of attacks on churches, mosques and other religious places in the state. Social and religious harmony is disturbed in the state," opposition leader Siddaramaiah told reporters later.

Karnataka Congress president R.V. Deshpande criticised the state government for failing to protect the minority community and its places of worship. He also sought an inquiry by the state Corps of Detectives (CoD) into the incident.

State Home Minister V.S. Acharya, however, sought to play down the church attack, terming it as "a minor incident".

The state had witnessed similar attacks on churches in Bangalore and coastal areas last year.

Church near Bangalore vandalised

Be it any religious places , no one should vandalise it ..
 

RPK

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Maths prodigy claims breaking of Dominic's world record

Maths prodigy claims breaking of Dominic`s world record

Maths Hyderabad: Nischal Narayanam, a mathematics prodigy from the city, on Sunday memorised 132 numbers in a minute and claimed to have broken the world record set by Dominic B of Indonesia in the category of 'Most Numbers memorised in a Minute'.

Nischal, displayed his skills in front of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah, Chief Election Officer I V Subba Rao, Additional DGP (Law & Order) A K Khan and retired AP High Court Judge Justice P Ramakrishnam Raju, who acted as judges.


The previous record was set up by Dominic B of Indonesia who memorised 76 numbers, Nischal's brother Nikhil said here.

"We will send the video footage of Nischal's performance along with the reports of all the judges to the Guinness World Records office in London for confirming his feat as the new world record," Nikhil said.

After the performance, Nischal said, "I would like to dedicate this achievement to late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy."

The 13-year Nischal has several records to his credit in the area of mathematics and memory, including a Guinness record. He was one among the four selected by the National Geographic Channel for its 'My Brilliant Brain' series, which explored the different aspects of human brain and genius.

He earlier broke the world record in the category of 'most random objects memorised' by remembering the names of 225 objects. Previous to him the record was held by Squadron Leader Jayasimha, a city-based mind power trainer, who was also the coach of Nischal, his brother added
 

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Three Indians attacked in Australia

After a brief lull in attacks on Indians in Australia, two students and their uncle were "brutally bashed" by a group of around 70 youth while playing here.

26-year-old Sukhdip Singh, his brother Gurdeep Singh and uncle Mukhtair Singh were attacked by the group when they were playing pool in the eastern suburb of Epping on Saturday.

"At around 11'o clock my brother-in-law Sukhdip was playing pool along with few family members when they were attacked by around 70 locals who were attending a party," the victim's relative Onkar Singh told PTI.

"They were quitely playing and were trying to avoid trouble even after these locals were trying to provoke them by passing comments," he said.

The group started telling them to go back to their country. "When they reached the car park to leave the place a huge crowd attacked them and started bashing. The attackers were in their teens and around twenties," he said.

Onkar claimed police have informed him that six of the 70 attackers have been arrested.

The attacks come a month after Australian government assured External Affairs Minister SM Krishna, during his visit here, that Indian students will be protected. Around 30 Indian students were attacked in various cities from June to August.
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Midnight race turns violent, 3 injured, 50 vehicles damaged Major Clash Averted

Beach Road turned into a battlefield in the early hours of Thursday as two groups clashed, injuring at least three persons and damaging several vehicles. Police rushed to the spot to defuse the situation which threatened to deteriorate into full-fledged violence.
Seven two-wheelers were burnt and at least 50 vehicles, including cars and autos, were damaged as a group of youngsters on bikes and residents of Ayodhyakuppam clashed. Three persons, including two youths, were injured. Two separate cases were registered, but no arrests have been made.
According to the police, trouble began after midnight on Thursday. A group of youngsters marking the 27th day of Ramzan, were denied permission to race their bikes on the beach. They turned towards the service lanes and the Ayodhyakuppam area. The noise created by the bikes woke up residents of the area. Soon, several came out of their houses and objected to the youths racing along the streets where several people, mostly elderly persons and children, were sleeping.
A Jayapaul of the Ayodhyanagar fisherfolk association was walking towards the beach when he saw three young men on a bike coming towards him at high speed. When they came close, the bike skidded and they fell. “I approached them and asked them why they were driving so fast. Some of their friends, who were following them, informed several others on the beach that their friends were assaulted by Ayodhyanagar residents for rash riding. Then they came towards us with stones, bricks and pieces of marble dumped along Kamarajar Salai for renovation of the pavement,” Jayapaul said. The two groups then went on the rampage and damaged vehicles parked on the roadside.
Commissioner Rajendran told TOI: “We averted a major clash. Thanks to all my subordinate officers who arrived at the place and cordoned it off. We received at least 40 vehicle missing complaints after the incident. We recovered 34 vehicles and handed them over to the owners.”
On Wednesday, the youngsters gathered to conduct bike races from Pulianthope, Washermanpet and Royapuram. Prize money varied from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000. Police said about 500 youths were at the beach. On learning that some of their friends were attacked, they gathered to retaliate. Two youths and Jayapaul were injured and were admitted to the Government General Hospital.

DETERRENT: Armed policemen near Kamarajar Salai after the mob violence during the early hours of Thursday; (below) A bike that was set on fire

source
racing in public road itself illegal and i wonder why police is mute on such issue,this kind of breaking rules in masses on rise shows people misuse of democracy and secularism:((
 

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Man gives away daughter in game of cards

MALDA: In a shocking near-rerun of Mahabharata, a habitual gambler staked his 18-year-old daughter as Yudhisthir had done with his wife Draupadi in
the epic after losing everything in a game of cards. If that wasn't bad enough, Ismail Sk ended up losing his daughter to his opponent.

The incident occurred in Satgharia village under Englishbazar police station on Wednesday. Locals said Ismail, who is in his late 30s, lost all his money to Mustafa Sk, who is from a neighbouring village. Desperate, Ismail said he would continue playing, and staked his daughter. As luck would have it, Mustafa beat him again and walked away with the girl, against her wish.

Some onlookers informed other villagers and the panchayat. The next day, a group of people went to their neighbouring village, Sultanpur, and rescued the girl. Mustafa was not at home.

An angry Naimuddin Sk, father of Ismail, drove his son away from home after hearing about the gambling episode. Ismail's wife said she was concerned about her daughter's future. The girl had secured a first division in Madhyamik and was studying in Class XI.

Md Saidur Rahaman, member of the Narhatta gram panchayat, said: "Ismail is a known gambler. We had warned him earlier too. But this time he crossed all limits." He pointed out that hooch addiction and gambling had been a perennial problem in the local villages. "We informed police, too, but to no avail. We have to do something about it now."

Malda superintendent of police Satyajit Bandyopadhyay said they came to know about the incident from

media personnel. "Although no complaint has been lodged with police, a team was sent to the village." A probe is on, said police sources.


Man gives away daughter in game of cards - Kolkata - City - NEWS - The Times of India
 

NSG_Blackcats

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Teenage girl murder parents, five relatives​

Rohtak: Facing opposition to her relationship with a neighbourhood boy, a 19-year-old girl murdered seven of her family members, including her parents and brother, in connivance with him, police said Saturday. Both have been arrested. Seven members of a retired teacher's family including his son and two daughters-in-law were found murdered in their house in Kabulpura village near this Haryana town, some 70 km from New Delhi, Tuesday morning. The village is about 20 km from here. The victims had strangulation marks on their necks. "Sonam mixed some intoxicant in the flour before the dinner Monday night. After eating the chapatis made from it, all the family members fell unconscious," Rohtak Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar Rao told IANS.

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6.3 magnitude quake rocks Assam; no reports of casualties- Hindustan Times

6.3 magnitude quake rocks Assam; no reports of casualties

Indo-Asian News Service
Guwahati, September 21, 2009

First Published: 14:46 IST(21/9/2009)
Last Updated: 16:26 IST(21/9/2009)

An earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale rocked parts of Assam and other northeastern states of India on Monday afternoon.

The tremors were felt at 2.26 pm. No casualties were reported immediately.

The epicentre was plotted along the India-Bhutan border, 125 km northwest of Guwahati.

Preliminary reports say cracks developed in apartments and concrete structures in Guwahati.

This is the fifth and the highest intensity earthquake to have rocked the northeast since Aug 13, according to the Regional Seismological Centre of Shillong.
 

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IIT faculty to go on hunger strike on Sep 24- Hindustan Times

IIT faculty to go on hunger strike on Sep 24

Press Trust Of India
New Delhi, September 21, 2009

First Published: 18:39 IST(21/9/2009)
Last Updated: 19:40 IST(21/9/2009)

In a rare protest action, around 1,500 faculty members including professors at the coveted IITs across the country will go on a hunger strike on Thursday agitated over "anomalies" in pay structure but there will be no disruption in classes.

The decision putting the Faculty on a collision course with the Government was taken at a meeting of its Federation at IIT Kharagpur. The structure put restriction on promotions and lacked performance-based incentives, the Federation said.

The action by the IITs came even as the IIM-Ahmedabad Board decided to meet on September 25 to deal with the situation arising out the faculty members rejecting the Union HRD ministry's latest order on pay structure for Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTI).

The IIT Faculty Federation assured that classes at the 13 IITs will, however, not be affected during the strike. In all there are 800 professors in the IITs.

"We will observe strike on September 24. But we will not boycott work. The classes will go on. We will protest the pay structure that puts a number of curbs on the IIT system," Prof M Thenmozhi, president of the federation, told PTI after the meeting.

Thenmozhi said the federation will seek an appointment with HRD Minister Kapil Sibal on the issue and submit a fresh memorandum on their demands.

A faculty spokesperson said the pay-scales had been made in a manner which would destroy the excellent status of the institutes and not attract the best of talent in future.

The HRD Ministry had notified the pay structure for Central Funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs), including IITs and IIMs, on August 18. However, the IIT faculty opposed certain provisions, including 40 per cent cap on promotion of professors to senior grade.
 

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http://www.ptinews.com/news/293525_IIT-Faculty-federation-gives-10-day-ultimatum-to-HRD

IIT Faculty federation gives 10 day ultimatum to HRD

STAFF WRITER 20:4 HRS IST

New Delhi, Sep 21 (PTI) Unhappy over the current pay structure, the IIT faculties today gave an ultimatum to the government till October one to sort out the issue.

The IIT Faculty Federation took a decision at its meeting on the issue at the institute's Kharagpur campus today.

"We wanted an amicable solution which did not happen.

We are compelled to go on hunger strike on Thursday. We want the government to sort out the issue by October one," Prof M Thenmozhi, president of the federation, told PTI after the meeting.

She said that the federation will submit a detailed memorandum to the HRD Ministry on the issue tomorrow.

"In the memorandum, we will demand setting up a joint working group comprising representatives from the ministry, IIT Directors and faculty representatives. Since it is already late, we are giving them time till October one to find a solution to the issue," she said.
 

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http://www.ptinews.com/news/293229_IIT-Bomaby-joins-the-nationwide-faculty-fast

IIT Bomaby joins the nationwide faculty fast


STAFF WRITER 19:10 HRS IST

Mumbai, Sep 21 (PTI) Fearing a move by the Ministry of Human Resource Development to push IITs to the University Grants Commission (UGC) category, IIT Mumbai will join other faculty members across the country for a day-long fast.

The strike is to protest against the recent notifications of the Ministry, especially on the 40 per cent cap on the promotion of professors among other discrepancies.

"We are very much concerned on the notification of the MHRD on the 40 per cent cap on promotions of professors as it will be detrimental to the growth of IITs which so far was based purely on merit," Secretary, Faculty Forum of IIT Bombay Prof S Mukherjee told PTI.

"This is definitely detrimental to the IIT system which has been evolved over a period of 50 years. This really hurts the core of IITs," Mukherjee said.
 

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IIM-A seeks pay hike in a month- Education-Services-News By Industry-News-The Economic Times

IIM-A seeks pay hike in a month

21 Sep 2009, 0220 hrs IST, ET Bureau

NEW DELHI: A standoff between the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) and ministry of human resource development (HRD) appears to be brewing once again. This time around, the IIMs are unhappy with the new pay structure announced by the ministry last week. Taking the lead, IIM-Ahmedabad has given the ministry an one-month ultimatum to accept its demand for world-class pay for faculty members.

IIM-A had submitted a memorandum seeking a pay hike. However, the ministry’s September 16 directive detailing pay revision, changes in promotion and qualifications norms has not been to the IIMs expectation. Professors at the government funded management school argue that the pay revision for faculty at Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs) outlined in the September 16 order would not lead to a higher pay for the IIM teaching staff.

IIM-A’s ultimatum comes close on the heels of another HRD ministry directive, this one asking institutes to increase tuition fees and levy user charges on students to meet the cut ion resources on account of the austerity drive.

The austerity directive has while indicating areas of non-plan expenditure where the belt needs to tightened, protected the largest component of non-plan expenditure that it salaries.

IIM -Ahmedabad is now rallying other IIMs and the Indian Institutes of Technology for a stand off with the ministry on the issue of salary structure. A face off between the IIMs and the ministry now appear to have become a regular feature. During Murli manohar Joshi’s tenure they had opposed the ministry’s proposal to reduce student fees, then again in the Arjun Singh period the clash was over setting up a foreign campus.

IIM professors argue that the changes in the salary paid to assistant professors at IIMs after three years of service is already in place. This provision would benefit the IIT professors.
 

NSG_Blackcats

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20 killed in power plant mishap​

At least 20 laborers were killed, 15 injured and nearly 70 feared trapped under the debris when a chimney at the under-construction thermal power plant of BALCO caved in at Chhattisgarh' Korba town on Wednesday. Around 300 laborers were working when the chimney, being set up by CEFCO Company, at the under-construction thermal power plant of Bharat Aluminium Company Limited collapsed, District Collector Ashok Agarwal said. At least 20 were killed and 15 were injured in the accident, he said adding up to 70 were feared trapped under the debris. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident. Extra security personnel have been deployed at the spot to contain workers' anger and deal with any untoward situation, a senior police official said. (With PTI inputs)

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Finally, AIDS vaccine shows success in trials

NEW DELHI: For the first time ever, a trial vaccine has successfully cut the risk of HIV infection by 31% in humans. :113:


In the largest human trial of an AIDS vaccine till date, involving more than 16,000 volunteers in Thailand, scientists found that HIV infections were prevented in over a third of the 8,000 people who received the vaccine.

For the past 20 years, scientists have been testing experimental vaccines against HIV on human subjects. But all of them, including two large trials in 2007, failed. Not only did those candidate vaccines fail to stop infection but in some cases it actually helped the virus to infect.

However, this latest vaccine - a combination of two genetically engineered vaccines ALVAC-HIV and AIDSVAX B/E, neither of which had worked before in humans ^ is the first to have even partly succeeded in a human trial.

This has given hope that the global dream of an effective vaccine against HIV - the virus known to be a master in evading and fooling the human immune system - could end up being a reality in the near future.

This is how the Thai Phase III HIV vaccine clinical trial, also known as RV 144 took place - 16,402 non-infected volunteers (18-30 years old) at average risk of HIV infection were enrolled for the study.

While half of them received six doses of the vaccine combo made from the virus that commonly circulates in southeast Asia, the other half received a placebo or a dud. Vaccinations ended in July 2006 and volunteers underwent an HIV test every six months for three years.

An international Data and Safety Monitoring Board met eight times since trial initiation and did not report any safety concerns. The study vaccines did not cause HIV infection because they were not made from and did not contain the entire virus, either live or killed.

Of those who got placebos, 74 became infected, while only 51 of those who got the vaccines did. Although the difference was small, the team said it was statistically significant and meant the vaccine was 31.2% effective.
Details of the $105 million study will be given at an HIV vaccine conference in Paris in October.

Scientists say RV 144 - conducted jointly by the United States Army, the Thai ministry of public health and the patent-holders of the vaccines Sanofi-Pasteur - was designed to test the vaccine strategy's ability to prevent HIV infection, as well as its ability to reduce the amount of HIV in the blood (viral load) of those who became infected after they enrolled in the study.

"There's no doubt that this is a very important result. Conceptually, we now know a vaccine is possible," said Dr Anthony S Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

The most confusing aspect of the trial, according to Dr Fauci, is that everyone who did become infected developed roughly the same amount of virus in their blood whether they got the vaccine or a placebo.

Normally, any vaccine that gives only partial protection lowers the viral load. "If we knew what immune response protected these people in the trials, we'd be able to be a lot more efficient in targeting it," scientists said.

Meanwhile, the road to an effective vaccine continues to be a long one. An HIV vaccine would get licensing approval only when it has an efficacy level of 80% and above. The scientists will therefore have to build on the findings and further develop this vaccine to produce a stronger response.

The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) greeted with excitement this new development. "The outcome is very exciting and a significant scientific achievement. It is the first demonstration that a candidate AIDS vaccine provides benefit in humans," said IAVI president Seth Berkley.

The World Health Organisation and UNAIDS said the results "instilled new hope" in the fight against HIV.

Finally, AIDS vaccine shows success in trials - India - NEWS - The Times of India
 

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AFP: Indian city cracks down on spitting

Indian city cracks down on spitting


(AFP) – 4 hours ago

NEW DELHI — A city in western India hit hard by swine flu has cracked down on spitting in public in a bid to stop the spread of the virus that causes the disease, a report said Saturday.

The Pune Municipal Corporation had increased the fine for the offence to 1,000 rupees (21 dollars) from 25 rupees in an emergency measure against the spread of the H1N1 virus, which causes swine flu, the Times of India reported.

"Any person found spitting in public will be fined 1,000 rupees starting September 26 till further orders," Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Zagade was quoted as saying.

"The measure is being taken because the H1N1 virus can remain alive in sputum for eight to nine hours," Zagade said.

A 1,000-rupee fine is hefty in India, where more than 250 million people live in "extreme poverty," earning less than a dollar a day, according to World Bank figures.

Spitting is a frequent habit in India and public bans, accompanied by token fines, have had little effect.

Pune, in Maharashtra state, has been the worst hit by swine flu in India, recording 61 deaths out of 286 countrywide. The first Indian death from swine flu was recorded in August.

So far 9,284 cases have been reported across the country. Of new cases, New Delhi has the most with 154.
 

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Peeved IIT faculty send fresh memo to Kapil Sibal- Economy-The Sunday ET-Features-The Economic Times

Peeved IIT faculty send fresh memo to Kapil Sibal
27 Sep 2009, 0121 hrs IST, ET Bureau

KOLKATA: Days after it submitted a fresh memorandum to the MHRD and even observed a token hunger strike across the country on Thursday, the All India IIT Faculty Federation is yet to receive any official communication from the ministry about its demands for pay hike and more autonomy.

Faculty members across the seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT)s who were requesting a working meeting with the ministry and their respective directors are still in the dark. IIT faculty circles ET spoke to are peeved with the fact that so far all reactions or statements from union HRD minister Kapil Sibal have been via media.

Federation president M Thenmozhi of IIT Madras said: “We have received no intimation whatsoever about the date of a possible working meeting. Hence, we are again sending a reminder to the ministry.”

IIT faculty members have been voicing their disagreement with the MHRD’s recent revised pay notification, even though the ministry has taken a strong stand on their demands.

On Thursday, IIT Madras faculty member Professor Ashok Jhunjhunwala cited his disapproval of the hunger strike in an open letter to M Thenmozhi stating that IIT faculty members were reduced to the level of others, who with their unions, go on fast and strike.
 

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