Author Archives: Gunjan Priya

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Opposition lures Democrat senators to support health care repeal

Tea party and a few opposition group leaders are trying to pull some Democrats toward themselves to get votes on repeal law. Dick Armey’s group FreedomWorks is urging Democrat senators to support repeal health care law.

It is believed that Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Jon Tester of Montana and Ben Nelson of Nebraska are among those Democrats who have been targeted for this purpose and the group is also luring them with offers for reelection in 2012.

There is a strong belief among the Republicans about the shortcomings of the Health Care law and its hefty budget. Even if they fail to pass the repeal bill, the opposition would definitely try to obstruct its funding.

Republican senators appealed to the mass on Tuesday to support their opposition to health care law. The House of Representatives is dominated by the Republicans after the midterm polls in November. However in the senate, Democrats still have control and there is a strong possibility that the repeal bill may not process further due to Democrats’ insistence. The repeal bill needs 60 votes to cancel Obama’s Health care Law. The repeal bill will deprive more than 300 million people of those medical facilities which they enjoy right now.

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Winter Storm Braces Midwest, Plains in US

More than 100 million people are praying for their lives amidst a massive winter storm in the United States. Plains and Midwest part of the country.

The deadly storm has hit the country on Monday with heavy snow and ice brought down from the Rockies Mountains leading to severe cold.

St. Louis, Milwaukee and Kansas City would be covered with 2 feet snowfall or a pile of snow up to  10 feet.

The areas with less cold are also not considered safe according to the weather experts as it may lead to tornados in southern part of the United States.

The Northeast region recorded highest snowfall in the region. A meteorologist Tim Ballisty estimated that around 100 million people are expected to be affected by the winter storm.

Thousands of flights were cancelled in Chicago and several other cities fearing snowfall. Road transportation authorities have already prepared clearing equipment to avoid problems.

Northwest Indiana, Southern Wisconsin, and northern Illinois experienced a blizzard for two days till Wednesday that speeded up to 60mph.

St. Louis had an inch of ice after snowfall whereas west Columbia had a predicted snow cover around 12 inches.

Jay Nixon, governor of Missouri announced a state of emergency in the state for the safety of people and also put 600 National Guards on duty in advance.

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US Agrees Upon Egyptian President’s ‘Orderly’ Exit

The Egyptian government bans social network Twitter following mass outrage and demonstrations against President Hosni Mubarak.

The United States has finally settled down with a hope that Egyptian president will step down. Seeing the large scale of demonstrations and public protests the US administration has realized it had underestimated Egyptians’ discontent with Hosni Mubarak’s 30 years’ rule.

The US showed its displeasure over Mubarak’s reactions against public demonstrations asking for his exit.

The US authorities also communicated with Cairo government regarding a transitional course of action for conduction free polls after Hosni Mubarak’s exit from president ship.

A former US diplomat Frank Wisner was sent to Cairo on Monday to convey US message to the Egypt Government.

US has so far played no role in Cairo’s politics. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has completely blocked the use of the internet and cell phones—two effective modes of communication through which the United States could affect any movement in the country.

Moreover, the United States also does not seem to be interested in showcasing its sympathy toward Hosni Mubarak against whom entire Egypt has began a campaign and his ouster has become quite evitable.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs called Mubarak’s attempt to include new members in his cabinet as futile and stressed on real action like- freedom of speech, and association, communications and assembly – and most importantly removing emergency laws, freeing political prisoners and modifying the Egyptian Constitution as they are important key issues.

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Study shows smoking can cause genetic damages

A recent Finding on the effects of smoking indicates that smoking tobacco can be harmful to DNA and cause permanent genetic damages in few minutes.

Inhaling Cigarettes also increases immediate risk for lung cancer.

Stephen S. Hecht, the author of the research stated that the findings would serve as an alarm to those who are tempted to smoke cigarettes. Hecht works at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis in Masonic Cancer Center and department of pharmacology. His statement published in American Chemical Society’s new edition.

During research, cancer-causing factors were found in cigarette smoke that is known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs.

PAHs cause a permanent harm on DNA raising chances of lung cancer. More than 3,000 people die every day all over the world due to lung cancer. It is yet not confirmed in the research how PAH factor damages the DNA molecules.

The researchers based their observations by tracking a PAH in 12 smokers’ bodies. All of them were already habituated of smoking.

The objective behind this research was to see the impact of PAH on human metabolism with an assumption that the PAH have been inhaled only by smoking and not by any other means, air pollution or consumption of any food item. The research showed that the particular PAH under observation—phenanthrene converted into toxin very fast and started affecting DNA within 15 to 30 minutes in an adverse manner.

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Victim of Tucson shooting arrested over allegation of threatening

James Eric Fuller, a victim of Arizona shooting rampage was found threatening a tea party activist during a meeting.  He was shot in knee during the shooting last week.

The victims and eyewitnesses of Tucson shooting were present in the town hall when James Eric Fuller, a Democratic activist allegedly started shouting “You’re dead!” at Trent Humphries, Tucson Tea Party spokesman. Fuller was injured when shot in the knee when a gunman started firing and killed six and injured many others. Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was also severely wounded in the shooting rampage.

Fuller, a 63 year-old activist, who had earlier worked for Giffords as a campaign volunteer has been accused of threatening and misbehaving and also for committing an act that invited psychiatric evaluation.

Fuller faulted Republican Party leaders for the rampage especially those associated with the tea party– Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Fox News commentator and Sharron Angle, Nevada Senate candidate.

Jim Kolbe, an ex- Republican congressman, however accepted that Fuller had become emotional and it was the outburst of his sentiments that made him react in such way. The situation worsened when he picked up a gun.. Trent Humphries has opposed laws of gun-control and was answering some queries over this issue, when Fuller attacked him. Humphries was later moved out of the place safely with security officials.

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Severe floods, mudslides cause 610 deaths in Brazil

Heavy downpour has submerged all hopes for people of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. More than 610 people have lost their lives so far and authorities are searching for missing people. There have been around 274 deaths in Nova Friburgo city whereas the figure is 263 in Teresopolis, 18 in Sumidouro and 55 in Petropolis.

The state government has declared official mourning week from Saturday in the memory of flood victims who lost their lives. Emergency assistance works are being carried in areas where people are stuck or buried under heap of mud and stones. There was no electricity in the entire region particularly in Teresopolis, Petropolis and Sumidouro and this hampered the risk operations on Friday.

Sergio Cabral, governor of Rio de Janeiro Governor declared a 7-day mourning for people who died in the floods. It is estimated that more than 6000 people became homeless while thousand of people were forced to evacuate their houses in order to save their lives.

The state has still not been able to resume electricity supply, telephone services and water in the affected area.

President Dilma Rousseff observed areas affected by floods and mudslides and assured to provide an aid of $59 million to rehabilitate the victims.

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Israel tested Stuxnet virus with consent of US administration

Israel tested the notorious computer virus Stuxnet authorized by the US administration reportedly. Israel used centrifuges to test out the computer worm  taking Teheran’s nuclear program as its target to destroy. Everything was executed in a planned way with the authority of Bush administration, the report revealed.

The virus was first tested in Dimona, reported English daily from the United States. The centrifuges used by Israel for testing Stuxnet were very similar to those used Iranian nuclear sites.

In 2008, Siemens allowed the Idaho National Laboratory, to rectify problems in its computer controllers. The same computer controllers were present in the Iranian nuclear plants. Idaho National Laboratory is part of the American Energy Department that provides nuclear equipment and weapons to the United States. Testing of Stuxnet was based on the problems in the computer controllers of nuclear programs found in 2008.

The virus destroyed control over the Iranian nuclear centrifuges and recorded all activities going at the nuclear plant. When checked by the operators, the virus showed a normal routine of the plant and this confused the operators.  They stayed unaware till all the centrifuges were destroyed.

The Stuxnet virus entered the nuclear plant’s computer network through some external drives or probably through the internet. The virus was partially successful as it delayed Iran’s nuclear development, however could not completely destroy their sites.

George W. Bush, former president of the United States had allowed dissemination of this worm in 2009 reportedly and Barack Obama too nodded to develop the virus further.

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Somali pirates seize South Korean ship

Pirates of Somaliland waters have captured a South Korean freighter with 21 members of crew in the Arabian Sea, revealed the Seoul Government.

The ship carried 8 South Koreans, 2 Indonesians and 11 people from Myanmar. Weighting approximately 11,500-ton the ship was hijacked by sea robbers on Saturday. The chemical carrier named as Samho Jewelry started its journey from the United Arab Emirates to reach Sri Lanka.

South Korean foreign ministry stated that their officials were trying to negotiate with the pirates.

A Danish cargo ship, the MV Leopard, was also was attacked by the Somali hijackers recently in the Arabian Sea. They abandoned the ship later but all the passengers on board and crew members were missing. Among the missing people4 were from Philippines and two were Danish crew members.

Somali pirates had hijacked another South Korean ship also in November namely–the Samho Dream. It was a supertanker, and carried 24 crew members out of which — five were South Koreans and 19 from Philippines. However, all of them were set free after seven months.

Officials were trying to all people on board on Samho Ship but got no answer on Saturday.

Somalia has been notorious for its crime and pirates have dominated over the Somalia water and its territories. There is no functional government in the country since 1991.

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Obama adds Clinton-era policy adviser Bruce Reed in team

US Vice President Biden recommended Clinton era policy adviser Bruce Reed  as the new head for his team. This is an addition all veteran members of Clinton’s administration, who had been given key responsibilities in Obama administration.

Democrat leader Reed replaces Ron Klain as domestic policy adviser whereas Klain will now work for former AOL chairman Steve Case in his business and charity works.

The reshuffle of staffs in the White House indicates the changing political scenario in US post-Nov elections. Reed had played a key role during Clinton’s rule in promoting free trade and minimize deficit. Moderates are happy for the return of Clinton’s right wings and hope their experiences would manage the US economy in more efficient way.

Reed has also served in Obama’s deficit reduction panel as executive director. He is considered as an expert to handle issues of budget deal and social security.

Bruce Reed is going to play a crucial role in the deficit commission, stated a white House official. He would be carving out strategies to set priorities for the budget and social security deals.

However, William Galston, Clinton’s ex-policy adviser has termed this reshuffle a blunder citing Reed’s past work against the liberal views.

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US administration toughens rules for coal mining

US environmental agency repealed permit granted to the largest surface mine, that producing 10 percent of the total coal for US.

Spruce No. 1 coal mine, which is owned by Mingo Logan Coal Co.in West Virginia. The 2300 acre- mine has been in disputes since 1998.

The Environmental Protection Agency or EPA’s new decision to revoke grant from coal mine is likely to hamper many other projects too as they come under  ‘mountaintop removal’ a concept, unacceptable under agency’s new law.

The US administration had granted permit to coal mining projects during Clinton and Bush era, however the new guidelines have been implemented in April and therefore all previous permits are under revision.

Peter S. Silva, an official from the EPA stated that Spruce No. 1 coal mine, has been engaged in destructive mining practices that had affected the health of communities living nearby in Appalachian mountain region.

Spruce No. 1 coal mine has a capacity of employing250 workers and it could produce 44 million tons of coal in next 15 years had it’s permit not been taken. But theSection 404 of the Clean Water Act – implemented by the EPA has put a barrier on it. Experts call it a hard decision of the Obama administration that is likely to hamper future investment in mining.