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Guatemala volcano eruption toll reaches 109

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The death toll from the eruption of the Fuego volcano in Guatemala on June 3 has increased to 109 after another 10 bodies were found, according to authorities.

On Thursday, the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF) said that seven of the bodies found were transferred to the morgue of Hunahpu village, in the south of Escuintla Department, and the three others to the central morgue in the capital, reports Efe news.

Thursday morning the spokesperson of the Coordinating Agency for Disaster Reduction, David De Leon, announced the temporary suspension of the rescue operation due to bad weather conditions.

The INACIF said that two more casualties were identified on Thursday, an eight-year-old boy and a woman whose age is unknown.

So far, a total of 28 victims have been identified.

The strong eruption of the volcano and the constant volcanic activity has affected some 1.7 million people, 12,407 were evacuated, 7,393 transferred to hospitals, 4,137 are living in shelters, 197 are reported missing and 58 were injured, according to data from the relief agencies.

A state of disaster has been declared for the southern departments of Escuintla, Sacatepequez, and Chimaltenango, which suffered the most.

According to volcanologists, eruption records of Fuego volcano, one of the country’s most active volcanoes, dates back to 1542.

At its fiercest, the volcano could spray ash all the way to Guatemala’s southern neighbours of El Salvador and Honduras.

RBI rate hike upsets Narendra Modi’s election year budget maths

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The central bank’s first interest rate rise since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power could not have come at a worse time for a government grappling with spending constraints, voter discontent in the rural heartlands and rising oil prices. The rate increase, the first in more than four years, is likely to be followed by one or two more this year, economists predict, pushing up overall borrowing costs for the government and companies alike.

Higher interest rates are likely to make it tougher for the government to borrow from the market and hurt a recent pick-up in the economy while dampening revenue collection and burning a bigger hole in the government’s fiscal deficit than the budgeted target of 3.3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

For Modi that represents a double whammy, as he looks to step up spending to woo disgruntled voters ahead of a general election next year without spooking skittish foreign investors. The fiscal maths are getting challenging on rising fuel prices, a weakening rupee, and subdued investments.

“This could be the worst year for us, as budget calculations are under stress,” a senior finance ministry official, who declined to be named, told Reuters, adding there was a worry of at least one more rate hike by December.

“The rising crude oil prices are already giving sleepless nights as the government may have to cut the tax on fuel products sooner rather than later,” the official added.

India’s economy grew at 7.7 percent in the first three months of the year, the fastest pace in nearly two years. That would be an impressive clip for most countries, but more is needed to create enough new jobs for the 1 million young people entering the country’s workforce each month.

Feeling the pressure

The government’s spending plans have already been threatened by setbacks to flagship reforms.

An estimated $1.2 billion-$1.5 billion Air India privatization plan flopped when the stake it was selling in the flag carrier failed to attract a single bid by last week’s deadline, putting at risk its Rs 800 billion ($11.93 billion) divestment target.

Meanwhile, the sovereign 10-year bond yield has risen by 60 basis points since the start of the fiscal year in April, and is near a three-year high due to a lack of investors. Similarly, top-rated corporates, including National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Small Industries Development Bank of India and National Housing Bank, have deferred their bond issuance plans due to a lack of buyers.

To top this, foreign holders have sold a net $4.3 billion of Indian debt so far this year as investors have grown wary of emerging economies facing twin fiscal and current account deficits and higher inflation that could pose overheating risks.

The stock market has held up so far, but some analysts caution that concerns over a loosening of fiscal discipline ahead of the election could trigger equity outflows as well.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised its key repo rate on Wednesday by 25 basis points to 6.25 percent — the first change since a cut of the same size in August last year — as higher oil prices, a sharp fall in the rupee and potential stronger consumer spending threatened to spur inflation beyond its 4 percent medium-term target.

“The rate hike will push up the government’s interest financing cost and add to the fiscal deficit pressure on one hand,” said Soumya Kanti Ghosh, chief economist at State Bank of India. “And on the other hand, the nascent recovery in growth on the back of consumption demand will also slow down as retail lending rates will go up sooner than later.”

Modi’s election bugle

After a setback at a by-election in Uttar Pradesh last week showed Modi’s waning popularity in the countryside, where most Indians still live, the government has stepped up its so-called populist spending to please the voters.

Already the government has unveiled a support package for sugar farmers to put a floor under prices that could cost about Rs 40 billion ($597 million) outside the budget.

Further measures, including loan waivers to farmers by regional governments, higher minimum purchase prices for grains, fuel subsidies to prevent pump prices from rising sharply and higher than budgeted rural wage payouts could blow a big hole in the fiscal deficit.

That could set up the RBI for a face-off with the government and also prompt further rate increases after it warned in its monetary policy statement that moving away from the fiscal deficit roadmap could push up inflation risks.

“India’s combined fiscal deficit is already quite high and since this is an election year, both state and central governments are coming up with populist spending steps which will push up the fiscal deficit and add to inflation pressures,” said A Prasanna, chief economist at ICICI Securities Primary Dealership. “This increases the probability of further rate hikes.”

Terror attack on army patrol party in Kupwara

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Terrorists has once again attacked an army patrol party in Haril area of Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday morning, but no injuries or casualties have been reported as yet.
This comes a day after two soldiers were injured after terrorists attacked an army patrol party near Line of Control fence in Kashmir’s Keran sector on Thursday, However, one of the soldier succumbed to injuries later in the hospital.
Sepoy Sukhwinder Singh (26) and another jawan sustained bullet injuries during an attack by militants along the LoC in Keran while they were patrolling forward areas ahead of the fence.
While the injured were provided immediate first aid, Singh was later evacuated to Army’s 92 Base Hospital here, where he succumbed to injuries on Thursday night, an official said.
His mortal remains would be flown for last rites to his native place, where he would be laid to rest with full military honours.
Hindusthan Samachar/Ranjit/Balwan/Shri Ram\

‘Kaala’: Realistic guide to dirty side of slum redevelopment

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Film ; Director: Pa.Ranjith; Cast: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar, Pankaj Tripathi and Anjali Patil; Rating: ***

Pa. Rajani’s “Kaala”, showcased in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, is a captivating socio-drama. It is a family-friendly tale with all the trappings of a South Indian fare. It is a superhero film of a different variety.

The film begins on a weak, unimpressive note that represents comic book graphics, but soon, it builds the momentum that is expected of a Rajinikanth film. It is a pot-boiler packed with Rajinikanth antics, albeit in diminishing proportion.

Nevertheless, it would appeal not only to his ardent fans and skeptical viewers but also to every “urban-poor” living in the slums of the city.

A fiction, set in Dharavi — Asia’s largest slum in Mumbai — the film cheerfully exposes the anguish of the “urban-poor” migrants living in the slums of the city.

It is their struggle against the land grabbers who are trying to exploit them in the garb of government schemes and city redevelopment.

The film is uncomfortable but convincing, illuminating the inconvenient sides of the development.

Haridada (Nana Patekar), a goon who has been elevated to the post of a Union Minister, along with his cronies is hell-bent on usurping Dharavi. With the help of his supporter Vishubhai (Sampath Raj) he tries to evacuate the people from there. How, Karikaalan (Rajinikanth) aka Kaala, a migrant from Tirunelveli, becomes a spike in Haridada’s plans, forms the crux of the tale.

The narrative keeps you hooked – wondering how far Kaala will go or how he will get out of his troubles.

The plot has its graph chalked to perfection, despite major edit jump-cuts. There is never a moment that drags. The dialogues are peppy with the right amount of humour, emotions and melodrama.

With age, Rajinikanth has mellowed, he plays his age and perfectly portrays the comical aspects of a petty gangster with all pride but no substance.

His action scenes definitely seem laboured. But fortunately for him since the director focused his energies on the tale and not on him, he was spared the embarrassment of performance.

Nana Patekar as the uncompromising and ambitious Haridada stands tall as he matches Rajinikanth in stature and demeanour. But then, this is not his story about his bumpy quest for more power and money.

Huma Qureshi as Zarina, the head of an NGO interested in uplifting the slum, Easwari Rao as Kaala’s wife Selvi, Anjali Patil as Charumati aka Toofani as an aggressive resident of the area and the girlfriend of Kaala’s son Lenin, are earnest.

The trio balance the gender scale with each one of them having their moments of on-screen glory.

Mounted with grand production values, the set showcasing Dharavi appears to be a synthetic and antiseptic place.

It is difficult to identify with it, minus the squalor.

The music that accompanies the action sequences is loud and adrenaline inducing. The songs, especially the rap numbers along with the hip-hop dance, mesh well into the narrative.

Overall, the film with the title which is used as a double entendre, is entertaining as a realistic guide to the dirty side of slum redevelopment.

Gauri Lankesh was ‘anti-Hindu’, had to be killed – confesses arrested man

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Almost nine months after the murder of journalist and social activist Gauri Lankesh, the first accused arrested in the case – K T Naveen Kumar has confessed to killing Lankesh. Kumar also informed the police that he supplied bullets to a rightwing activist who told him they were for “Gauri Lankesh as she was anti-Hindu,” according to the report.

Earlier, Kumar and another accused Praveen, had confessed to issuing life threat letter to Mysuru-based rationalist writer Prof K S Bhagwan on September 9, 2015.

Kumar’s 12-page confession statement is part of the first charge sheet that was filed by the Special Investigation Team in May 2018. The charge sheet running into 650 pages was filed before a session court and includes 131 statements.

K T Naveen Kumar has confession statement also includes a detailed route map leading to Gauri Lankesh’s house. Prepared by the killers, the map mentions different angles of the house that were taken into account before carrying out the attack.

However, Naveen Kumar alias Hotte Manja has denied killing Lankesh. His family, too, has maintained throughout that he is innocent.

According to the police, Naveen Kumar is a member of a pro-Hindu outfit and founded the Hindu Yuva Sene in 2014. A student of commerce, he dropped out of college in Mysore reportedly after being influenced by right-wing ideology. He is also an alleged illegal arms dealer,

In the confession statement submitted by the SIT, Naveen Kumar mentions that Praveen had told him he needed bullets. However, Praveen tested the bullets and found them “useless”. He then reached out to Kumar and said that he needed to buy good bullets.

He also told Kumar that these bullets were meant to kill Gauri Lankesh as she was “anti-Hindu”, according to the confession statement.

As per Kumar’s statement to the police, he claims that he tried to buy new bullets but couldn’t get his hands on them and couldn’t communicate with Praveen as he wasn’t using a mobile phone.

It was only on September 5, the day Gauri Lankesh was murdered, Naveen Kumar claims he went to Mangalore and learnt from the newspapers that the journalist was killed.

The charge sheet reportedly includes phone call records of Kumar discussing the professor’s murder.

Gauri Lankesh, 55, was shot down with a 7.65 mm country made pistol in the driveway of her home in west Bengaluru on the evening of September 5, 2017.

MLC Elections Polling Begins For Six Teachers, Graduate seats

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Elections to six legislative council seats, three each from graduates and teachers constituencies began across the state on Friday June 8.

Polling began at 7 am and will go on till 5 pm. The results will be announced on June 12.

The three major parties Congress, JD(S) and the BJP have fielded candidates in all six seats.

Mangaluru teachers’ constituency candidate of the BJP Ganesh Karnik cast his vote at University College in Hampankatta.

Former deputy chairman of legislative council Maritibbegowda is seeking re-election from south teachers’ constituency, while former Hebbal MLA YA Narayanaswamy is in the fray from southeast teachers segment. Senior BJP leader Ganesh Karnik is seeking re-election from southwest teachers’ constituency and former MP from Shivamogga Ayanur Manjunath is contesting from southwest graduates’ constituency. Kannada activist and former MLA Vatal Nagaraj is in the fray from northeast graduates’ constituency.

Overall, 35 candidates, including 18 from the three parties, are in the fray for the six seats, which will see 2.14 lac voters in the graduates’ constituency and 60,561 in the teachers’ constituency.

Kannada Actor Absconding In “Masti Gudi” Tragedy Case Arrested in Tamil Nadu

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Kannada actor Duniya Vijay has been arrested by Channammanakere Achhukattu police near Coimbatore here on June 8.

Duniya Vijay has arrested on charges of obstructing the police in their duty in connection with two sandalwood actor’s deaths during a film shoot.

Channammanakere Achhukattu police on Thursday registered a criminal case against Kannada film actor Duniya Vijay for allegedly obstructing police officials from carrying out their duty.

Police officials from the Taverekere station in Ramanagara had arrived at the house of film producer Sundar P Gowda and served him a non-bailable warrant from a Ramanagara court. Sundar was one of the accused in a case where two budding actors had drowned in Tippagondanahalli reservoir, during a movie shoot in November 2016. He had failed to appear before the court during the trial hearings. Taking his absence seriously, the court had issued an NBW warrant, directing cops to arrest him.

“Duniya Vijay was with Sundar when police arrived at the latter’s residence. On learning about the purpose of their visit, Vijay wasted time conversing with the police, and taking advantage of it, Sundar escaped from the house. Vijay promised police that he would produce Sundar before the jurisdictional police on Thursday morning. When Sundar failed to turn up at the station, the cops filed a complaint under sections IPC 353 (Obstructing government official from carrying out duty) and 225 (Resistance or obstruction to lawful apprehension of another person),” police said.

Anil Kumar and Uday had drowned after jumping from a helicopter during the shooting of ‘Masti Gudi’, which had Vijay in the lead and was produced by Sundar. The chargesheet submitted by police lists among the accused, director Naga Shekhar, producer Sundar P Gowda, stunt director Ravi Varma, assistant director Siddharth, unit manager Bharath and helicopter pilot Prakash Biradar. Interestingly, actor Vijay’s name has been not been listed among the accused and he has been named prime witness.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to arrive in Jammu today

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On the second leg of his ongoing two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will arrive in Jammu this afternoon (Friday, June 08).

Singh will visit R.S. Pura Sector along the Indo-Pak International Border to take stock of the prevailing security situation in wake of escalated tension along the border and subsequent shelling during ceasefire violations.

The Home Minister is also scheduled to interact with the people displaced due to shelling along the border and review the condition of the border people. Before leaving for New Delhi, Singh is scheduled to address media persons in Jammu this evening.

Hindusthan Samachar/Shri Ram Shaw

Karnataka gets a Cabinet, Congress, JD(S) rebellions

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Two weeks after H D Kumaraswamy was sworn in with great fanfare as CM of Karnataka, he finally got a 25-member cabinet + with 15 from Congress and 10 from JD(S) taking oath as ministers on Wednesday. But almost immediately, challenges facing the JD(S)-Congress combine became apparent as dissidence reared its ugly head in both the parties.
Congress high command’s imprint was all over the party’s list as many heavyweights of the previous Siddaramiah government were given the boot. H K Patil, RamalingaReddy, R Roshan Baig, M B Patil and Tanveer Sait were dropped leading to protests from their followers.
mysuru
M B Patil, who spearheaded the ill-fated move to give Lingayats a separate religion status, took exception to his omission and threatened to quit the party. Congressmen Krishna Byregowda and Vinay Kulkarni were deputed to pacify him. In Mysuru, Sait’s protestors took to streets with one pouring kerosene on himself. In Gadag, supporters of H K Patil announced they would resign from their posts.
Sources said by dropping the heavyweights, the high command meant to communicate its unhappiness with the local leadership’s wrong reading of the election which eventually force Congress to become a junior partner in the coalition government.

The JD(S) leadership also had to bear the brunt of its workers’ anger. Supporters of M C Manuguli laid siege to former PM H D Deve Gowda’s home and left for Raj Bhavan after they were told that his name had made it to the list.

Kumaraswamy is an anti-Hindu pro-Muslim leader. Kumarswamy’s integrity towards Islamic terrorism can never be questioned. He won 36 seats with Muslim terrorist organization PFI.

Of the 15 Congress ministers, seven are new faces. Six JD(S) legislators have become ministers for the first time.
To keep dissidence on the low burner both parties had decided to keep a few berths open. JD(S) with 12 portfolios had to make last-minute inclusions and its plan to keep at least three berths in reserve went awry and the party ended with just one in the bank. Congress has six berths to fill.

Most Women with Breast Cancer Can Skip Chemo

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Nearly 70 percent of women with a common type of early-stage breast cancer can undergo hormone therapy alone.
A MAJORITY OF WOMEN with early stages of a common type of breast cancer may safely be able to forego postoperative chemotherapy.

According to a long-awaited study presented Sunday at the American Society of Clinical Oncology, about 70 percent of women with early stages of the most common type of breast cancer can avoid chemotherapy and its debilitating side effects after surgery.

The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and show that patients with an intermediate risk of cancer recurrence, which affects about 65,000 women a year in America, can avoid the post-op treatment and receive only hormone therapy, which has less severe side effects.

The study examined how well a vastly used genetic test assessed cancer risk based on 21 genes linked with breast cancer recurrence. It concluded that using this test to evaluate the risk of recurrence “can spare women unnecessary treatment if the test indicates that chemotherapy is not likely to provide benefit,” lead author Dr. Joseph Sparano said in a press release.

Sparano is the associate director for clinical research at the Albert Einstein Cancer Center and Montefiore Health System and vice chair of the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group. He said the results of the study, designed and led by the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, “give clinicians high-quality data to inform personalized treatment recommendations for women.”

The study examined 10,273 women beginning in 2006 with hormone-receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative, axillary node-negative breast cancer. Participants’ tumors were analyzed using the 21-gene expression tests and given a risk score from zero to 100 for cancer recurrence. Women with scores of zero to 10 (low risk) received only hormone therapy. Women with scores of 26 and above (high risk) were treated with both hormone and chemotherapy. Women with scores between 11 and 25 (intermediate risk) were randomly assigned to receive solely hormone therapy or a mix of the therapies.

At the end of the study, which was the largest of its kind, researchers found the number of women who had survived, developed a recurrence or a second primary cancer was very similar in both the hormone therapy-only group and the chemotherapy group. At five years, the overall survival rate was 98 percent for women who only received hormone therapy and 98.1 percent for women who received both therapies.

Can We Develop a Vaccine for Breast Cancer?

Women with a score of zero to 10 also had very low recurrence rates – 3 percent – with a hormone-only treatment at nine years.

According to the press release, these results suggest that “chemotherapy is not beneficial for most women in the intermediate-risk group,” which was uncertain before the study.

“Before TAILORx, there was uncertainty about the best treatment for women with a mid-range score of 11–25 on the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test. The trial was designed to address this question and provides a very definitive answer,” Sparano said. “Any woman with early-stage breast cancer age 75 or younger should have the 21-gene expression test and discuss the results with her doctor to guide her decision to the right therapy.”

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