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Archives for May 2018

Fake baba, a mysterious murder, love and heartbreak

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In the times of stories about fake ashrams, flick through an interesting book about a so-called guru and his blinded followers, among whom is one who eventually discovers the truth about criminal charges against him; read a mysterious tale that revolves around a woman who searches for evidence to know the truth about her sister’s death; wade through a story of heartbreak and things left unsaid; and get an access to mouth-watering recipes of traditional dishes from the subcontinent that make for a delightful read.

The IANS bookshelf has a varied interest for readers this weekend.

1. Book: The Guru Who Came Down from the Mountain; Author: Roshen Dalal; Publisher: Tiger; Price: Rs 399; Pages: 286

Dev, charismatic and powerful, a guru with thousands of followers around the world, and a string of ashrams fuelled by a flourishing business in drugs and gun-running. Ashrams that bring him the power and wealth, he craves and fulfils his desire for women.

But of all the women, he knows, there are three who play a pivotal role in his life — his wife, Gita, whose death is shrouded in mystery, and Cynthia and Madge, who unwittingly launch him into his career as a guru.

Nitya is Dev’s complete antithesis — pure of heart and deeply spiritual. He comes to Dev as a disciple, and for years his devotion to his guru makes him blind to his failings. But when the truth can no longer be ignored, he is disillusioned.

Though he escapes charges of rape and murder, Dev does finally receive a death sentence — he is fatally afflicted with AIDS.

As he lies on his deathbed in Rishikesh, Nitya comes to see him, unable to turn away from him completely. Dev tells him his story, and what compelled him to make the choices he did. Nitya also uncovers the truth about Gita’s death.

When the end finally comes, Nitya has a deeper understanding of the man he once loved so blindly, and realizes how, ultimately, the quest for perfection can be marred by human frailty.

2. Book: My Sister’s Grave; Author: Robert Dugoni; Publisher: Thomas and Mercer; Price: Rs 399; Pages: 410

Tracy Crosswhite has spent 20 years questioning the facts surrounding her sister Sarah’s disappearance and the murder trial that followed. She doesn’t believe that Edmund House, a convicted rapist and the man condemned for Sarah’s murder, is the guilty party.

Motivated by the opportunity to obtain real justice, Tracy becomes a homicide detective with the Seattle PD and dedicates her life to tracking down the killers.

When Sarah’s remains are finally discovered near their hometown in the northern Cascade mountains of Washington State, Tracy is determined to get the answers she’s been seeking.

As she searches for the real killer, she unearths dark, long-kept secrets that will forever change her relationship to her past — and open the door to deadly danger.

3. Book: Letters to My Ex; Author: Nikita Singh; Publisher: Harper Collins; Price: Rs 199; Pages: 137

“It feels like I’m on autopilot. I have no control over anything. The pain of losing you is so crippling that I can barely hold pieces of myself together. The slightest nudge could break me. But somehow, my possessed brain knows what I need. It’s telling me to stick to my choice, to stay away from you, to open a word document and bleed on paper, try to throw up all my jumbled thoughts in form of words, collect all disconnected facts, try to make sense of it all.”

From the author of “Like a Love Song” and “Every Time It Rains”, a story of heartbreak and things left unsaid…

4. Book: Feast With a Taste of Amir Khusro; Author: Bisma Tirmizi; Publisher: Rupa; Price: Rs 295; Pages: 208

“Stories and food remain the same, only faces change and those too only vaguely. The same faces keep coming back every few generations to eat the same food and live out the same stories.”

When Ayesha understands that her relationship with food has made her obese, she embarks upon a journey of self discovery which leads her to discovering the fascinating journey of regional cuisine — the food she loves.

Interestingly told, the narrative shifts from present to an imagined past and back again, erasing lines that define time and space.

Laced with mouth watering recipes from the subcontinent and details of traditional preparations, this book is as much for the gastronome as it is for one who loves a tale well told.

North Korea ‘demolishes’ nuclear test facility

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Apparent move seen as bid to set a positive tone ahead of talks with US President Donald Trump in June.

North Korea’s Punggye-ri nuclear test facility is shown in this DigitalGlobe satellite image [DigitalGlobe/Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

North Korea has carried out what it says is the demolition of its nuclear test site in the presence of foreign journalists.

The demolition happened on Thursday at the Punggye-ri site deep in the mountains of the North’s sparsely populated northeast.

The dismantling of the nuclear test site was previously announced by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ahead of his planned summit with US President Donald Trump next month.

Pompeo: ‘Bad deal’ with North Korea ‘not an option’ for US
The North’s decision to close the site has generally been seen as a welcome gesture by Kim to set a positive tone ahead of the summit.

Even so, it is not an irreversible move and would need to be followed by many more significant measures to meet Trump’s demands for denuclearisation.

The Korean Peninsula has seen a period of seemingly warming relations since an historic inter-Korea summit in April, when the two Koreas pledged to sign peace deal and pursue ‘complete’ denuclearisation.

The announcement comes shortly after North Korea threatened to walk away from the proposed summit with Trump, if Washington continues to do what it described as “unlawful and outrageous acts” that could damage Pyongyang’s “goodwill”.

North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui said on Thursday that her country “will neither beg the US for dialogue, nor take the trouble to persuade them if they do not want to sit together with us”, according to the Korean Central News Agency.

Trump has also expressed doubts as to whether the summit will go ahead. He told reporters that he will know by “next week” if the talks will proceed or not.

Karnataka Dy CM Parameshwara claims BJP manipulated EVMs

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Newly elected Karnataka deputy chief minister G Parameshwara on Thursday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party had manipulated Electronic Voting Machines in the recently concluded state assembly elections.

Addressing reporters a day after taking oath of office, Parameshwara said: “Some of our leaders and I personally feel EVMs have been manipulated by BJP. Many Congress leaders lost at places even where Congress had a stronghold. We will complain to EC. We urge them to move back to ballot paper.”

On election in the Rajarajeshwari Nagar assembly seat, Parameshwara announced that the JD (S) will support the Congress candidate. The Election Commission had deferred the election in RR Nagar after nearly 10,000 voter cards were discovered in a flat in the area. The BJP demanded the EC to countermand the election, claiming that the Congress was behind the scandal. A police case was filed against Congress candidate and sitting MLA Munirathna. The election for Jayanagar seat was also postponed after the death of BJP candidate BN Vijaya Kumar. Elections to the two assembly seats will be held on May 28.

In reply to a question on how he landed the deputy chief minister post, Parameshwara said his caste has nothing to do with it. “I don’t think I got the post of deputy chief minister because I am a Dalit. It is by chance that I am a Dalit,” he said.

Before results for the Karnataka Assembly was announced, then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he wouldn’t mind making way for a Dalit chief minister.

Civilian injured in Pakistan shelling on LoC

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A civilian was critically injured in overnight Pakistani shelling on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, police said on Thursday.

The incident took place on Wednesday night in Lam area. Muhammad Mishri received a bullet injury.

“He was shifted to a local hospital where doctors referred him to Jammu for specialised treatment,” a police official said.

In the past one week, seven people, including a seven-month-old infant, have been killed and over 50 others injured in unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistan on the LoC.

Tuticorin Sterlite issue updates

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These are some of the developments in the fast changing scenario in the case of the Sterlite copper smelter plant located on the Southern tip of Tamil Nadu, Tuticorin.
On the advice of the TN Pollution Control Board, the TN Electricity Board has disconnected the power supply to the plant. This amounts to closing down the plant.
The TN Govt. has replaced the District Collector and the SP of Tuticorin and the replacement officials have reached the town and are assuming charge.
Following the order of the Madras HC, the bodies of the dead have been preserved for the time being.
The number of dead has increased to 13. 11 died on Tuesday’s firing; 1 more died yesterday in firing by the police again and one of the seriously injured breathed his last this morning failing to respond to treatment.
The state government has ordered the suspension of internet services in three districts including Tuticorin to prevent spread of falsehood to instigate violence.
Police have registered FIRs against political leaders who made a beeline to the affected town to visit the injured in the hospital, for defying Sec. 144.
The state government has appointed a one-woman judicial commission to enquire into the whole sequence of events on Tuesday at Tuticorin.
Aruna Jagadeesan, a retired judge of the Madras High Court will enquire into the violence and police firing.
The company continues to defend its plant and claims the opposition to its continuance is instigated by outsiders.
Opposition criticizing the Edapadi govt for being insensitive and none of the senior ministers or the CM/Dy CM have visited Tuticorin so far.
Hindusthan Samachar/S. Mahadevan/Shri Ram Shaw\

Sonia and Rahul succeed in pacifying aggrieved Shivakumar

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D K Shivakumar, who has emerged as a saviour during critical situations for Congress party on several occasions, had put forth his claim for the post of the deputy chief minister. However, permutations and combinations as well as the pressing need to keep leaders of various communities satisfied, forced the party leaders against giving this post to Shivakumar, who was disgruntled at this denial. All India Congress Committee president, Rahul Gandhi, and senior leader, Sonia Gandhi, spoke to Shivakumar and succeeded in convincing him about the predicament the party has been facing. Shivakumar seems to have got his composure back after having a dialogue with the duo.

On their arrival from New Delhi, both Sonia and Rahul directly headed for the hotel where the Congress MLAs have been put up, and advised the legislators to stay united. They then met Shivakumar separately and talked him into understanding the issues they are concerned with and things which have made it impossible to offer him the post of the deputy chief minister. They reportedly appreciated the Vokkaliga leader for invaluable contributions made by him to the party and promised to reward him for his service suitably in future. It is learnt that Shivakumar also got the assurance that he would be made the next president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.

Reportedly, Shivakumar’s brother, D K Suresh, who is a MP, had got angry at the party’s decision against making Shivakumar the deputy chief minister, and had left the hotel where the Congress MLAs are residing, on Tuesday night. It is said that Suresh laid bare his sense of despair in the presence of several legislators at the fact that services provided by his brother to the party had not been suitably rewarded and they seemed to be required to do hard work without any reward. He is said to have expressed anger at the fact that they were the ones who kept the flock of legislators together, and helped the party to win several seats by touring the state, whereas the post of the deputy chief minister has been given to a person who just had done work in his own constituency.

Reports said that after Sonia and Rahul talked to him, Shivakumar cooled down and seemed to have been convinced about stand taken by them.

Diabetic Retinopathy – An Overview

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Diabetic Retinopathy – An Overview

Diabetic retinopathy usually starts as a mild disease. It affects light-sensitive tissue blood vessels in the retina that lines the back of the eye. This happens among the working-age adults the common cause of vision loss in diabetics leading to vision impairment and blindness. Diabetic macular edema (DME) causes blurred vision which has no symptoms in the early stages. The disease often progresses unnoticed until it affects vision.
During the initial stages, the blood vessels in the retina become weak and small bulges are developed called microaneurysms. These may burst causing tiny blood hemorrhages on the retina. Normally they do not cause symptoms affecting the vision. Diabetics don’t develop diabetic retinopathy if the disease is less than 10 years however, it is better not to delay an eye test.

Diabetic retinopathy is caused mainly due to high blood sugar levels damaging the network of tiny blood vessels that supply blood to the retina. Abnormal retinal blood vessels bleeding causes the appearance of wavy vision and color changes “floating” spots are the other symptoms of macular edema. When blood vessels leak into the center of your eye it is Proliferative retinopathy. Blurry vision is one of the signs along with spots or floaters, or having trouble with night vision.
Usually, Vision returns to normal with glucose levels streamlined. If blurriness doesn’t go away when glucose levels are close to normal. An ophthalmologist can detect vision loss and other problems by a dilated eye exam and Visual acuity testing.
The lens of the eye swells during High blood sugar which will change the ability to see. People with diabetes may develop three major eye problems like cataracts, glaucoma, and retinopathy. Macula edema is a condition where the macula swells with fluid blurring the vision. Non-proliferative retinopathy does not require treatment, macular edema must be treated, fortunately, treatment is effective sometimes even reverses the loss of vision.
Diabetic retinopathypatients are generally asymptomatic initially, however in advanced stages the patients experience floaters, distortion or blurred vision. The earliest clinical sign of diabetic retinopathy are Micro aneurysms.
Four stages of Diabetic retinopathy:
Mild Nonproliferative Retinopathy – balloon-like swelling in small areas of the retina’s tiny blood vessels called microaneurysms occur.
Moderate Nonproliferative Retinopathy. blood vessels nourishing the retina are blocked.
Severe Nonproliferative Retinopathy. Blockage in the blood vessel increasesthereby depriving parts of the retina with blood supply which further signals the bodya need for nourishment by growth of new blood vessels.
Proliferative Retinopathy. The new abnormal and fragile blood vessels grow along the retina that fills the inside of the eye. they do not cause symptoms or vision loss. However, blood vesselshave thin, fragile walls which could leak blood leading to vision loss and even blindness.
There is no cure for diabetic retinopathy. Laser treatment (photocoagulation) is used largely for preventing vision loss before the retina gets severely damaged. Surgically removing the vitreous gel (vitrectomy) also helps vision improvement, provided the retina is not severely damaged.
It is possible to live a normal life with diabetesif sufferers eat healthily and take exercise and manage medication (if needed) well. … Left untreated, diabetes can cause blindness, heart disease, stroke, nerve damage (sometimes leading to ulcers and even amputation of limbs), and kidney failure.
Diagnosis
In the early stages, diabetic retinopathy does not cause any noticeable symptoms. Therefore, it tends to be diagnosed as a result of a diabetic eye screening test. This would include a comprehensive eye exam including a slit lamp examination, a dilated retinal check,and measure of your intraocular pressure. Thereafter additional tests like a Fundus Fluorescein Angiography (FFA), Ultrasound B-Scan or an Optical Coherence Tomography to study the structure of the eye may be done.
Treatment
• Laser Treatment: Lasers are widely used in treating diabetic retinopathy and is performed as an out-patient procedure. In this treatment, an intense beam of light is focused on the area to be treated with the aid of the slit lamp and a special contact lens. This will reduce the retinal thickening and stops bleeding. Additional treatment may be required depending on the patient’s condition.
• Surgical Treatment: In some patients, the vitreous may pull on the retina reducing vision severely. In such cases, a surgical procedure called vitrectomy is performed. This surgery is done for advanced stage of Diabetic Retinopathy.
• Intravitreal injections: This may be recommended in selected conditions. The drug injected would depend on your condition and your doctor would discuss the same with you.

American in China injured in ‘sonic attack’ similar to Cuba

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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said a brain injury sustained by an American official in a “sonic attack” in China was similar to those that affected US and Canadian diplomats in Cuba.

Pompeo’s remarks on Wednesday came hours after the US embassy in China issued a health warning to Americans living in the country an “unusual” auditory or sensory phenomena.

The embassy said a US government employee in the southern city of Guangzhou reported experiencing a “subtle and vague, but abnormal, sensations of sound and pressure”, which led to a mild brain injury.

Pompeo told the House Foreign Affairs Committee the “sonic attack” in China was similar to the incidents in Cuba last year.

“The medical indications are very similar and entirely consistent with the medical indications that have taken place to Americans working in Cuba,” he said.

The US was moving medical teams to the area to work on the case, he said.

“We are working to figure out what took place both in Havana and now in China as well,” Pompeo said.

In Washington for talks with Pompeo, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the US should avoid politicising the case.

“We don’t want to see that this individual case would be magnified, complicated or even politicised,” Wang told reporters.

“China has been investigating this matter in a very responsible manner. We haven’t found that any organisation or individual has carried out such a sonic influence.”

He suggested the US carry out an “internal” probe into the case.

‘Variety of symptoms’

Washington expels 15 Cuban diplomats over ‘sonic attacks’ (2:50)
Heather Nauert, the state department spokeswoman, said the US embassy learned on Friday that the Guangzhou employee showed concussion symptoms after medical testing.

That is the same clinical finding doctors treating the Cuba patients at the University of Philadelphia found.

The Guangzhou worker started experiencing “a variety of symptoms” starting in late 2017 that lasted through April this year, Nauert said.

The worker was sent to the US for further evaluation, she added.

In Cuba last year, 24 diplomats and their family members were left with mysterious injuries resembling brain trauma, which were suspected of being caused by a “sonic attack”.

Ten Canadian diplomats and their relatives also suffered similar illnesses.

The still-unexplained incidents sparked a rift in US-Cuban relations, while investigators have chased theories including a sonic attack, an electromagnetic weapon, or a flawed spying device.

Symptoms, sounds and sensations reportedly varied dramatically from person to person, according to The Associated Press.

Some have permanent hearing loss or concussions, while others suffered nausea, headaches and ear-ringing. Some struggle with concentration or common word recall.

In Washington for talks with Pompeo, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the US should avoid politicising the case.

“We don’t want to see that this individual case would be magnified, complicated or even politicised,” Wang told reporters.

“China has been investigating this matter in a very responsible manner. We haven’t found that any organisation or individual has carried out such a sonic influence.”

He suggested the US carry out an “internal” probe into the case.

Aljazeera

One more suspected Nipah virus case in Gadag district

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One more person has been reported to have been infected with Nipah virus infection in Gadag district in Mumbai Karnataka region of North Karnataka and is being treated in the special care unit of the district hospital.

The person from Ron taluk was admitted following complaints of severe fever and since then is undergoing treatment in the specially formed care unit for the purpose.His blood sample has been sent to Pune research laboratory to ascertain the virus infection he’s been suffering from.

It’s said that the person was working as a laborer in Kerala and had returned to his native village a few days back and developed high fever following which he was admitted to the district government hospital.

Dr AB Patil,Gadag district health officer has stated:It has been suspected that the person now being treated may be suffering from Nipah virus related infections.However the doubt can only be cleared after the report from the Pune based laboratory.

One 74 years old person who was being treated in Mangaluru suspecting to be infected with Nipah virus related infections has been now confirmed to be suffering from Pneumonia.While another 20 year old lady from Kasargodu from Kerala continues to be treated in Mangaluru hospital on suspicion of being infected with Nipah virus.

The health department officials have appealed to the people of the state not to visit four districts of North Kerala in view of the Nipah virus scare.These districts are Kannur,Vyanad,Kallikote and Mallapuram.

Hindusthan Samachar/Manohar Yadavatti

Needed someone to bat through the chase, Rahane : IPL

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Stressing that they needed one of the top four batsmen to stay at the crease till the end, skipper Ajinkya Rahane said with so many wickets in hand, Rajasthan Royals should have won against the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Eliminator here.

Chasing 170 for a place in the Qualifier 2, the Royals on Wednesday were 87/1 after 10 overs with Rahane and Sanju Samson looking good for a match-winning partnership.

But then they–particularly Rahane–got stuck against spin and left their weak middle order with too much to do, eventually losing by 25 runs as they managed 144/4 in 20 overs.

While Samson (50 off 38) was removed by Piyush Chawla, chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav got rid of Rahane (46 off 41).

“We thought 170 was chaseable. We needed partnerships and we got those partnerships initially with (Rahul) Tripathi and then me and Sanju Samson. We needed one batsman to bat throughout those 19-20 overs and we did not do that,” Rahane told reporters at the post-match press conference.

“Unfortunately Sanju got out in the 17th over and that was the reason I felt…when you are chasing 170 in a pressure game you need one batsman from top 4 to bat through the innings,” Rahane added.

Rahane said Andre Russell–who hit an unbeaten 25-ball 49 to propel KKR to 169/7 after a disastrous start–played fearless cricket.

“We had the self-belief I felt. Initially, the way we started with the ball. Our fast bowlers, the spinners…getting those 4-5 initial wickets was crucial,” said Rahane.

“But credit goes to (Andre) Russell..the way he batted, played fearless cricket. But again we started off really well. First six overs, we were 50/1 then after second timeout (14th over), we needed seven overs and 60 odd runs. When you have eight to nine wickets in hand you generally end up getting those runs,” Rahane added.

Dinesk Karthik (52) and Shubman Gill (28) stemmed rot for the purple brigade after they were reduced to 51/4 at one stage.

Rahane revealed he had asked Samson during the second strategic timeout in the 14th over to play till the end while he would look to up the ante.

Rahane fell to Kuldeep in the first ball after the break when they still required 61 off 36 balls. Two overs later, Samson departed.

“I think our plan was to go deep. I just told Sanju after second timeout that I will play some positive shots and if you are still there, you bat deep,” said Rahane.

“Credit goes to KKR bowlers. Especially the way they bowled the last 4-5 overs. If you see, last 36 balls we got 30 odd runs. So when opponents bowl like that, credit goes to them. We need to learn for next season. We batted well in patches and were not that good enough throughout the season,” he added.

Asked the reason for sending Heinrich Klaasen and Stuart Binny ahead of K Gowtham who can score at a brisk pace, Rahane said, “If you see Klaasen is a very good batsman. He did well in the last game and it is difficult when you don’t get those runs and try and think what if Gowtham was sent to bat.”

“But we backed Klaasen. He tried his best. KKR spinners were really good. With our batting line-up, we wanted to go deep and if Klaasen can come, they have 7-8 overs left, that was a perfect opportunity for him. Unfortunately, we didn’t cross the line,” he said.

“I don’t think the strategy was wrong there. Gowtham’s batting position..he batted well at No.6 and 7…credit goes to KKR bowlers,” Rahane added.

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