Principal Correspondent
Becomes first Indian woman to win two GP singles titles
— File Photo: AFP
DREAM COME TRUE: Saina Nehwal’s title win in Taiwan, close on the heels of her quarterfinal appearance at the Beijing Games, is further proof of her talent and augurs well for her future.
HYDERABAD: Saina Nehwal, ranked World No. 14, became the first-ever Indian woman shuttler to win two Grand Prix singles titles when she won the $1,70,000 Yonex Chinese Taipei Grand Prix Gold badminton championship in Taiwan on Sunday, according to information received here.
“It was one of my most memorable days. It is a dream come true for me. Coming so close to the quarterfinal appearance in the recent Beijing Olympics, it gives me extra pleasure,” said a delighted Saina in a chat with The Hindu from Taiwan immediately after recording a 21-8, 21-19 win in the final against Li Ya Lydia Cheah of Malaysia.
For someone who after winning the 2006 Phillipines Open had a lacklustre showing in the international circuit till the creditable performance at the Beijing Olympics, Saina believes that this title should prove to her critics that her Olympics performance was no flash in the pan.
Simple strategy
Reflecting on her win on Sunday the 18-year-old said that she had a simple strategy for the final. “I was not too worried about the occasion. My strategy was to play to my potential and let things happen,” she said. “The first game was much easier. But, in the second game the familiar problem of drift because of blowers inside the stadium was there. That was the reason I had to struggle a bit and trailed 5-11, 10-15,” she added.
“But importantly I moved into top gear when it mattered the most and that is most satisfying. The doubts over my ability to come up with big points should have been put to rest with this victory,” said Saina.
The two-time National champion, having come of age thanks to the recent exposure trips and training stints abroad, feels that her quarterfinal win against Thai Porntip Buranaprasertsuk was decisive. “Though I was up against a player ranked World No. 42, given her potential to get the better of the best in the business, that victory lifted my confidence level and made me believe that I can win the title here,” said Saina.
Great feeling
“It is always a great feeling to be the first to win a title of this magnitude. And, I hope this will just be the beginning in my long pursuit to win an Olympic medal,” she said. She will now leave for Tokyo for the Japanese Open and then from there for the China Open championships.
Pullela Gopi Chand said that it was a tough final and gave full credit to Saina. “This should be a major morale booster for her,” he said. “There is no doubt that she really playing in a different level. Maybe, the best phase of her career so far. All that she needs now is to remain focussed and just go out there and play her normal game.”
A delighted Harvir Singh, who spoke to his daughter Saina immediately after her victory, felt vindicated about his belief in her.
“I know how much struggle we had to undergo over the years. But, thankfully the results are coming in now which should only spur Saina to aim higher,” he said.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Indian Mujahideen threatens to target Mumbai
Indo-Asian News Service
Sunday, September 14, 2008, (New Delhi)
The Indian Mujahideen, which has claimed the responsibility for the serial terror blasts in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Jaipur, which killed at least 130 people in a span of four months, has now threatened to carry out attacks in India's financial capital - Mumbai.
Accusing Mumbai Police's Anti-Terrorism Squad of harassing Muslims, the Indian Mujahideen, believed to be a front strike unit of the banned Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), said in its email that it was closely watching the ATS.
"You should know that your acts are not at all left unnoticed; rather we are closely keeping an eye on you and just waiting for the proper time to execute your bloodshed. We are aware of your recent night raids at Ansarnagar, Mograpada in Andheri and the harassment and trouble you created there for the Muslims," the group said in the email.
The email was sent to various media houses on Saturday evening when five synchronised explosions at popular markets and business hubs in New Delhi claimed 21 lives.
"You threatened to murder them and your mischief went to such an extent that you even dared to abuse and insult Maulana Mahmood-ul-Hasan Qasmi and even misbehaved with the Muslim women and children there.
"If this is the degree to which your arrogance has reached, and if you think that by these stunts you can scare us, then let the Indian Mujahideen warn all the people of Mumbai that whatever deadly attacks you will face in future, the only responsible elements for it will be the Mumbai ATS and their guardians: Vilasrao Deshmukh and RR Patil.
"You are already on our hit-list and this time very very seriously," the email said.
The terror outfit also threatened to target a senior Rajasthan police official.
"Let us notify you, as we did to the Gujarat Police that all the Mujahideen who shook Jaipur are absolutely safe and secure, and are heavily preparing for our next targets, one of which is AK Jain, DIG (Deputy Inspector General) of Rajasthan.
Jain has been instrumental in arresting several SIMI members in Rajasthan in connection with the May 13 serial blasts in Jaipur.
The mail bears two signatures at the end, GuruAlhindi and Al-Arbi.
Sunday, September 14, 2008, (New Delhi)
The Indian Mujahideen, which has claimed the responsibility for the serial terror blasts in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Jaipur, which killed at least 130 people in a span of four months, has now threatened to carry out attacks in India's financial capital - Mumbai.
Accusing Mumbai Police's Anti-Terrorism Squad of harassing Muslims, the Indian Mujahideen, believed to be a front strike unit of the banned Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), said in its email that it was closely watching the ATS.
"You should know that your acts are not at all left unnoticed; rather we are closely keeping an eye on you and just waiting for the proper time to execute your bloodshed. We are aware of your recent night raids at Ansarnagar, Mograpada in Andheri and the harassment and trouble you created there for the Muslims," the group said in the email.
The email was sent to various media houses on Saturday evening when five synchronised explosions at popular markets and business hubs in New Delhi claimed 21 lives.
"You threatened to murder them and your mischief went to such an extent that you even dared to abuse and insult Maulana Mahmood-ul-Hasan Qasmi and even misbehaved with the Muslim women and children there.
"If this is the degree to which your arrogance has reached, and if you think that by these stunts you can scare us, then let the Indian Mujahideen warn all the people of Mumbai that whatever deadly attacks you will face in future, the only responsible elements for it will be the Mumbai ATS and their guardians: Vilasrao Deshmukh and RR Patil.
"You are already on our hit-list and this time very very seriously," the email said.
The terror outfit also threatened to target a senior Rajasthan police official.
"Let us notify you, as we did to the Gujarat Police that all the Mujahideen who shook Jaipur are absolutely safe and secure, and are heavily preparing for our next targets, one of which is AK Jain, DIG (Deputy Inspector General) of Rajasthan.
Jain has been instrumental in arresting several SIMI members in Rajasthan in connection with the May 13 serial blasts in Jaipur.
The mail bears two signatures at the end, GuruAlhindi and Al-Arbi.
Terror mail threatens to “stop India’s heartbeat”
Praveen Swami
Author believed to be top Students Islamic Movement of India bomb-maker Abdul Subhan Qureshi
More terror attacks will follow, says the e-mail
Bombings “a tribute to our brethren martyrs
in Kashmir”
WHEN THE CAPITAL CAME TO A HALT: The blast site on Barakhamba Road in Connaught Place in New Delhi on Saturday. (Right) People help an injured woman after a blast. A boy considered a key witness to one of the bomb blasts in New Delhi being led away by the police. - PHOTOS: V.V. KRISHNAN, AP, AFP
NEW DELHI: In the fifth in a series of manifestos issued by the Indian Mujahideen since it began a series of nationwide urban bombings in 2007, the terrorist group has said Saturday’s serial bombings were intended to “stop the heart of India from beating.”
“We the Indian Mujahideen, ask Allah, the Almighty, to accept from us these nine explosions which were planned to be executed in the holy month of Ramadan,” states a 13-page manifesto and video slide-show e-mailed by the Indian Mujahideen to media in the midst of the bombings.
Charging Indians with harbouring “never ending hostile hatred in your hearts against Islam and its people,” the manifesto says that the bombings are intended to “prove to you the ability and potential of [the] Indian Mujahideen to assault any city of India at any time.” It promises that more terror attacks fill follow “to punish you even before your earlier wounds have healed.”
Much of the manifesto is devoted to holding out threats to the police and media. It states: “Be it the ATS [Anti-Terrorism Squad] of Maharashtra, the ATS and ACB of Gujarat, the OCTOPUS [Organisation for Countering Terrorists] of Andhra Pradesh, or be it a psychological propaganda war by the biased media, none shall be spared when it comes to vengeance – the Qisas.”
For the first time, the Indian Mujahideen makes reference to the conflict in Jammu and Kashmir. “The injustice and pain inflicted on Kashmiri Muslims during the Amarnath crisis has once again landed you in great trouble,” it warns.
Describing the Delhi bombings as “a tribute to all our brethren martyrs in Kashmir,” the Indian Mujahideen says, “We announce that from now on, Inshallah, the Muslims won’t cry alone, our women won’t be widowed alone, our children won’t balone [sic., be alone] and scores will be settled evenly.”
Interestingly, in an evident response to anti-jihadist clerics who have in recent months attacked the Indian Mujahideen, the e-mail lays claim to the legacy of famous regional jihadists. “We have carried out this attack in the memory of two most eminent Mujahids of India, Sayyed Ahmed, Shaheed and Shah Ismail, Shaheed (may Allah bestow His Mercy upon them), who had raised the glorious banner of Jihad against the disbelievers in this very city of Delhi.”
Sayyid Ahmad of Rai Bareilly and Shah Ismail died at Balakote, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, in May 1831, in what is present-day Pakistan-administered Kashmir, while waging an unsuccessful jihad against Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s kingdom. Ahmad’s followers went on to set up the Jamaat Ahl-e-Hadis — a neo-fundamentalist order that has drawn million of mainly-peaceful followers, but has also inspired south Asia’s largest terrorist group, the Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Pakistan-based Lashkar units are thought to have trained several members of the proscribed Students Islamic Movement of India, from which the Indian Mujahideen has drawn its cadre.
Indian Mujahideen operatives had issued the first of five similar manifestos in November, 2007, minutes before the bombing of three trial court buildings in Uttar Pradesh.
Police in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan believe that this e-mail was drafted by Lucknow-based businessman Shahbaz Husain and cleric Abdul Bashir Qasmi, both of whom were arrested earlier this month. Both the address used to send the e-mail, guru_alHindi@yahoo.fr, and the pseudonym used to sign ‘Guru al-Hindi’ bore interesting similarities with Husain’s personal e-mail address, hahbaz_hindi@yahoo.com.
Sources involved in the investigation of the May serial bombings in Jaipur said they believe Husain, with some advice on theological issues from Qasmi, also drafted the e-mail issued by the Indian Mujahideen in the wake of the attacks. Like the court-complex e-mail, this document was also signed by ‘Guru al-Hindi’ and sent out from an e-mail address containing his name, guru_alhindi_jaipur@ yahoo.co.uk.
Later Indian Mujahideen manifestos are believed to have authored by Abdul Subhan Qureshi — a Mumbai-based software engineer-turned top Students Islamic Movement of India bomb-maker who was profiled in The Hindu on Saturday.
Qureshi, police sources say, designed the graphics-rich Portable Document Format manifesto attached to an Indian Mujahideen e-mail issued by its most ambitious terror operation so far, the attacks on Surat and Ahmedabad in July. This third e-mail manifesto bore the signatures of both ‘al-Hindi’ and ‘al-Arbi’, or ‘the Arab,’ and was sent out from alarbi_gujarat@yahoo.com. Forensic specialists have established that the handwriting used in the signature for ‘Arbi’ closely matches that of Qureshi.
Later, ‘al-Arbi’ sent out a fourth e-mail to decry the arrest of key suspects alleged to be involved in the Indian Mujahideen, including Qasmi. In this last e-mail, he promised to execute further attacks.
Saturday’s terror manifesto bears the signatures of both ‘al-Arbi’ and ‘al-Hindi,’ but the writing used for the second name is significantly different from that used in earlier Indian Mujahideen documents — a fact which could bear out police claims that the individual it refers to has been arrested.
Praveen Swami
Author believed to be top Students Islamic Movement of India bomb-maker Abdul Subhan Qureshi
More terror attacks will follow, says the e-mail
Bombings “a tribute to our brethren martyrs
in Kashmir”
WHEN THE CAPITAL CAME TO A HALT: The blast site on Barakhamba Road in Connaught Place in New Delhi on Saturday. (Right) People help an injured woman after a blast. A boy considered a key witness to one of the bomb blasts in New Delhi being led away by the police. - PHOTOS: V.V. KRISHNAN, AP, AFP
NEW DELHI: In the fifth in a series of manifestos issued by the Indian Mujahideen since it began a series of nationwide urban bombings in 2007, the terrorist group has said Saturday’s serial bombings were intended to “stop the heart of India from beating.”
“We the Indian Mujahideen, ask Allah, the Almighty, to accept from us these nine explosions which were planned to be executed in the holy month of Ramadan,” states a 13-page manifesto and video slide-show e-mailed by the Indian Mujahideen to media in the midst of the bombings.
Charging Indians with harbouring “never ending hostile hatred in your hearts against Islam and its people,” the manifesto says that the bombings are intended to “prove to you the ability and potential of [the] Indian Mujahideen to assault any city of India at any time.” It promises that more terror attacks fill follow “to punish you even before your earlier wounds have healed.”
Much of the manifesto is devoted to holding out threats to the police and media. It states: “Be it the ATS [Anti-Terrorism Squad] of Maharashtra, the ATS and ACB of Gujarat, the OCTOPUS [Organisation for Countering Terrorists] of Andhra Pradesh, or be it a psychological propaganda war by the biased media, none shall be spared when it comes to vengeance – the Qisas.”
For the first time, the Indian Mujahideen makes reference to the conflict in Jammu and Kashmir. “The injustice and pain inflicted on Kashmiri Muslims during the Amarnath crisis has once again landed you in great trouble,” it warns.
Describing the Delhi bombings as “a tribute to all our brethren martyrs in Kashmir,” the Indian Mujahideen says, “We announce that from now on, Inshallah, the Muslims won’t cry alone, our women won’t be widowed alone, our children won’t balone [sic., be alone] and scores will be settled evenly.”
Interestingly, in an evident response to anti-jihadist clerics who have in recent months attacked the Indian Mujahideen, the e-mail lays claim to the legacy of famous regional jihadists. “We have carried out this attack in the memory of two most eminent Mujahids of India, Sayyed Ahmed, Shaheed and Shah Ismail, Shaheed (may Allah bestow His Mercy upon them), who had raised the glorious banner of Jihad against the disbelievers in this very city of Delhi.”
Sayyid Ahmad of Rai Bareilly and Shah Ismail died at Balakote, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, in May 1831, in what is present-day Pakistan-administered Kashmir, while waging an unsuccessful jihad against Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s kingdom. Ahmad’s followers went on to set up the Jamaat Ahl-e-Hadis — a neo-fundamentalist order that has drawn million of mainly-peaceful followers, but has also inspired south Asia’s largest terrorist group, the Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Pakistan-based Lashkar units are thought to have trained several members of the proscribed Students Islamic Movement of India, from which the Indian Mujahideen has drawn its cadre.
Indian Mujahideen operatives had issued the first of five similar manifestos in November, 2007, minutes before the bombing of three trial court buildings in Uttar Pradesh.
Police in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan believe that this e-mail was drafted by Lucknow-based businessman Shahbaz Husain and cleric Abdul Bashir Qasmi, both of whom were arrested earlier this month. Both the address used to send the e-mail, guru_alHindi@yahoo.fr, and the pseudonym used to sign ‘Guru al-Hindi’ bore interesting similarities with Husain’s personal e-mail address, hahbaz_hindi@yahoo.com.
Sources involved in the investigation of the May serial bombings in Jaipur said they believe Husain, with some advice on theological issues from Qasmi, also drafted the e-mail issued by the Indian Mujahideen in the wake of the attacks. Like the court-complex e-mail, this document was also signed by ‘Guru al-Hindi’ and sent out from an e-mail address containing his name, guru_alhindi_jaipur@ yahoo.co.uk.
Later Indian Mujahideen manifestos are believed to have authored by Abdul Subhan Qureshi — a Mumbai-based software engineer-turned top Students Islamic Movement of India bomb-maker who was profiled in The Hindu on Saturday.
Qureshi, police sources say, designed the graphics-rich Portable Document Format manifesto attached to an Indian Mujahideen e-mail issued by its most ambitious terror operation so far, the attacks on Surat and Ahmedabad in July. This third e-mail manifesto bore the signatures of both ‘al-Hindi’ and ‘al-Arbi’, or ‘the Arab,’ and was sent out from alarbi_gujarat@yahoo.com. Forensic specialists have established that the handwriting used in the signature for ‘Arbi’ closely matches that of Qureshi.
Later, ‘al-Arbi’ sent out a fourth e-mail to decry the arrest of key suspects alleged to be involved in the Indian Mujahideen, including Qasmi. In this last e-mail, he promised to execute further attacks.
Saturday’s terror manifesto bears the signatures of both ‘al-Arbi’ and ‘al-Hindi,’ but the writing used for the second name is significantly different from that used in earlier Indian Mujahideen documents — a fact which could bear out police claims that the individual it refers to has been arrested.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Kashmir Reality: Letter to media by a patriot
(addressed to Burkha Dutt)
Dear Barkha,
Just so that your Research Team gives you proper info about J&K
budget. Nearly Rs.12,500 Cr spent per year, out of which State revenue
collection is ONLY Rs. 1,500 cr and balance about Rs. 11,000 cr. per
year comes from the Central Govt at Delhi as a grant! This money comes
from cash starved India, depriving millions of poor Indians in the 5
Bimaru States of India!
Since the last 20 years Ethenic cleansing has been taking place in
Kashmir, the rest of the country as well as the media is watching the
fun! Why?
Would China, Pakistan, Saudi or any other country in the world allow
Indian Flags to fly as freely as Pakistani flags are allowed to fly in
Kashmir? Not to mention the Anti-Indian slogans!
Kashmiris have bought property worth Billions of $ in India. If they
want 'Aazadi' will they forfeight these properties to other Indians?
Just like the Kashmri Pundits had to flee with just the clothes on
their backs, during 1989 -1996?
Have you seen poor people in Kashmir? Nearly 30%-35% of the Kashmiri
families live on 'State Govt salarys', about Rs Rs. 5,000 cr per
year!You will find some State Govt employees, who are Kashmiris, doing
business all over India, at and on Govt time! Where is the Media?
Where is the Governence?
When Anti-India mobs defy the curfew and try to intimidate the
security forces with stones, knives and try to snatch away the arms
from the CRPF, Police and Army; what do the people in
Delhi/India/ Kashmir and media want? Should they meekly hand over all
their firearms and ammunition?
The problem of the land for the Amarnath Yatris, would have been
solved a long time ago if your research had shown and presented to the
people of India the fact which have caused these issues to boil over a
long period of time...eg 1. That Muslims are granted Haj Subsidy
running into about Rs. 800 crores per year to visit Mecca/Medina. ..Why
should they get this special treatment? Why not also the Sikhs,
Buddists, Jains, Christians, Jews, Parsis and (the down trodden)
Hindus? have we forgotten that India is still not an Islamic State!
What about Natural Law and so called secular rights of the Citizens of
India? 2. That a large number of land, buildings, funds have been
handed over to the Haj Board, in different parts of India, over the
last 61 years...please ask your Research Dept to do some home work on
this.
We should never forget that Pakistan is really called 'The Islamic
republic of Pakistan'. It was created for Muslims to resettle from
India and live in an Islamic state. If any muslim is not comforatable
with the secular envoirnment of India he or she is free to migrate to
Pakistan!
Barkha, we in India, young and old, love you and respect you for the
good work you have done in the past, the good work you are doing today
and the good work which you will certainly do in the future.
Kindly do consider the first seven points and see that somehow some or
all are researched and then presented to 'We the People'.
Let the people decide.
May God Bless you and grant you the strength to tell all of us more
and more facts!.
Regards
,
--
Best Wishes
Prem K Gera
Resident Commissioner
Government of Gujarat
New Delhi
Dear Barkha,
Just so that your Research Team gives you proper info about J&K
budget. Nearly Rs.12,500 Cr spent per year, out of which State revenue
collection is ONLY Rs. 1,500 cr and balance about Rs. 11,000 cr. per
year comes from the Central Govt at Delhi as a grant! This money comes
from cash starved India, depriving millions of poor Indians in the 5
Bimaru States of India!
Since the last 20 years Ethenic cleansing has been taking place in
Kashmir, the rest of the country as well as the media is watching the
fun! Why?
Would China, Pakistan, Saudi or any other country in the world allow
Indian Flags to fly as freely as Pakistani flags are allowed to fly in
Kashmir? Not to mention the Anti-Indian slogans!
Kashmiris have bought property worth Billions of $ in India. If they
want 'Aazadi' will they forfeight these properties to other Indians?
Just like the Kashmri Pundits had to flee with just the clothes on
their backs, during 1989 -1996?
Have you seen poor people in Kashmir? Nearly 30%-35% of the Kashmiri
families live on 'State Govt salarys', about Rs Rs. 5,000 cr per
year!You will find some State Govt employees, who are Kashmiris, doing
business all over India, at and on Govt time! Where is the Media?
Where is the Governence?
When Anti-India mobs defy the curfew and try to intimidate the
security forces with stones, knives and try to snatch away the arms
from the CRPF, Police and Army; what do the people in
Delhi/India/ Kashmir and media want? Should they meekly hand over all
their firearms and ammunition?
The problem of the land for the Amarnath Yatris, would have been
solved a long time ago if your research had shown and presented to the
people of India the fact which have caused these issues to boil over a
long period of time...eg 1. That Muslims are granted Haj Subsidy
running into about Rs. 800 crores per year to visit Mecca/Medina. ..Why
should they get this special treatment? Why not also the Sikhs,
Buddists, Jains, Christians, Jews, Parsis and (the down trodden)
Hindus? have we forgotten that India is still not an Islamic State!
What about Natural Law and so called secular rights of the Citizens of
India? 2. That a large number of land, buildings, funds have been
handed over to the Haj Board, in different parts of India, over the
last 61 years...please ask your Research Dept to do some home work on
this.
We should never forget that Pakistan is really called 'The Islamic
republic of Pakistan'. It was created for Muslims to resettle from
India and live in an Islamic state. If any muslim is not comforatable
with the secular envoirnment of India he or she is free to migrate to
Pakistan!
Barkha, we in India, young and old, love you and respect you for the
good work you have done in the past, the good work you are doing today
and the good work which you will certainly do in the future.
Kindly do consider the first seven points and see that somehow some or
all are researched and then presented to 'We the People'.
Let the people decide.
May God Bless you and grant you the strength to tell all of us more
and more facts!.
Regards
,
--
Best Wishes
Prem K Gera
Resident Commissioner
Government of Gujarat
New Delhi
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Revealed: the secret of sexual attraction
by Rich Bowden - Sep 9 2008, 01:10
British researchers have revealed that good old-fashioned honesty can increase a person's physical attraction.
Scientists at the University of Aberdeen have shown that by maintaining eye contact with a person and saying "I like you" it's possible to trigger a response that leads to them finding you more attractive.
"Previous research on attraction has emphasized the importance of physical characteristics such as facial symmetry or voice pitch. However new findings show that attractiveness is not as straightforward as simply preferring flawless skin or symmetric features – it is a much more complex process," said Dr. Ben Jones, from the University of Aberdeen's Face Research Laboratory.
"Our latest research highlights how social cues, which signal the extent to which others are attracted to you, also play a crucial role in attraction," he said. "For example people show stronger preferences for attractive physical cues when judging the faces and voices of people who appear willing to reciprocate this attraction, either by making eye contact, smiling or even by simply stating that they 'really like you'."
"Combining information about others' physical beauty with information about how attracted they appear to be to you allows people to allocate their social effort efficiently and essentially avoid wasting effort on attractive individuals who appear unlikely to reciprocate," added Dr. Jones, meaning the research can be used by people to not waste time on those who are clearly not interested in a relationship.
As part of the research, Dr. Jones and his colleague Dr. Lisa DeBruine, showed a total of 230 men and women four flash cards showing a face with four different expressions. The face is shown making eye contact and not smiling; not making eye contact and not smiling; making eye contact and not smiling; and making eye contact and smiling.
Dr. Jones said: "What we found was that the preference for the attractive face was much stronger when people were judging those faces that were looking at them and smiling."
The findings are published in the journal Psychological Science.
British researchers have revealed that good old-fashioned honesty can increase a person's physical attraction.
Scientists at the University of Aberdeen have shown that by maintaining eye contact with a person and saying "I like you" it's possible to trigger a response that leads to them finding you more attractive.
"Previous research on attraction has emphasized the importance of physical characteristics such as facial symmetry or voice pitch. However new findings show that attractiveness is not as straightforward as simply preferring flawless skin or symmetric features – it is a much more complex process," said Dr. Ben Jones, from the University of Aberdeen's Face Research Laboratory.
"Our latest research highlights how social cues, which signal the extent to which others are attracted to you, also play a crucial role in attraction," he said. "For example people show stronger preferences for attractive physical cues when judging the faces and voices of people who appear willing to reciprocate this attraction, either by making eye contact, smiling or even by simply stating that they 'really like you'."
"Combining information about others' physical beauty with information about how attracted they appear to be to you allows people to allocate their social effort efficiently and essentially avoid wasting effort on attractive individuals who appear unlikely to reciprocate," added Dr. Jones, meaning the research can be used by people to not waste time on those who are clearly not interested in a relationship.
As part of the research, Dr. Jones and his colleague Dr. Lisa DeBruine, showed a total of 230 men and women four flash cards showing a face with four different expressions. The face is shown making eye contact and not smiling; not making eye contact and not smiling; making eye contact and not smiling; and making eye contact and smiling.
Dr. Jones said: "What we found was that the preference for the attractive face was much stronger when people were judging those faces that were looking at them and smiling."
The findings are published in the journal Psychological Science.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Sex: Brain more important than hormones
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Sexual satisfaction involves more than sex hormones -- what happens in the brain may be more important, U.S. researchers found.
Howard P. Greenwald of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and Ruth McCorkle of Yale University in New Haven, Conn., said surgical intervention for cervical cancer often involves removing the ovaries, which reduces or eliminates circulating testosterone -- a hormone that is a factor in both male and female sexual behavior.
"Our findings, which demonstrate the existence of widespread interest and satisfaction with sex in the absence of a crucial hormone underscore the importance of non-hormonal components of sexual interest and satisfaction," Greenwald said in a statement. "That may mean the key to sexual satisfaction is less about biology and more about psychology."
Following cervical cancer treatment, women often struggle with sex and identity, Greenwald said.
However, most studies tracked patients no more than five years after diagnosis but this study, published in the Journal of Women's Health, found that after six years most women's sexual desire and enjoyment rebounds
The researchers interviewed women six to 28 years after initial diagnosis of cervical cancer and found more than 80 percent reported being sexually active and 91 percent indicated they enjoyed sexual activity at least some of the time.
Howard P. Greenwald of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and Ruth McCorkle of Yale University in New Haven, Conn., said surgical intervention for cervical cancer often involves removing the ovaries, which reduces or eliminates circulating testosterone -- a hormone that is a factor in both male and female sexual behavior.
"Our findings, which demonstrate the existence of widespread interest and satisfaction with sex in the absence of a crucial hormone underscore the importance of non-hormonal components of sexual interest and satisfaction," Greenwald said in a statement. "That may mean the key to sexual satisfaction is less about biology and more about psychology."
Following cervical cancer treatment, women often struggle with sex and identity, Greenwald said.
However, most studies tracked patients no more than five years after diagnosis but this study, published in the Journal of Women's Health, found that after six years most women's sexual desire and enjoyment rebounds
The researchers interviewed women six to 28 years after initial diagnosis of cervical cancer and found more than 80 percent reported being sexually active and 91 percent indicated they enjoyed sexual activity at least some of the time.
Rs 100000cr carrot behind the waiver
R. SURYAMURTHY & JAYANTA ROY CHOWDHURY
New Delhi, Sept. 7: A sum of Rs 100,000 crore that is up for grabs in deals may have helped India bag the Nuclear Suppliers Group waiver.
New Delhi has drawn up plans under which the state-run Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) and National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd (NTPC) are to set up a string of nuclear power plants — 15 by 2020 that will add 20,000MW to the current 3,300MW.
Global nuclear power plant manufacturers and domestic engineering giants are expected to harvest the bounty of the nuclear commerce the Indo-US deal will offer.
Areva SA and Alstom of France, General Electric of the US, Toshiba Corp’s Westinghouse Electric Co (based in the US), and Russia’s atomic energy agency Rosatom are among the global firms likely to get most of the contracts. Diplomats of these nations were in the forefront of lobbying for the deal at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the NSG.
The Centre might make it mandatory for nuclear reactor suppliers to get at least 30 per cent of their equipment from India, analysts said.
“The volume of business to be generated in nuclear power plant construction is huge since the cost of construction per MW of nuclear power is about Rs 7 crore and we are talking of adding 20,000MW by 2020,” said Arvind Mahajan, executive director of KPMG, a financial services firm.
Planning Commission officials said the Atomic Energy Act might be amended to allow Indian private-sector players – such as the Tatas, Anil Ambani’s Reliance Energy, GMR and Essar – to enter the sector and global players to take up small stakes in these plants.
Indian law now allows only the state-run NPCIL to set up and run nuclear power plants. Amendments lying with the cabinet permit any public sector company to enter the sector. At the time these were drafted, the Left was an ally of the government and would not have been keen on private participation. That has changed now, especially with the Samajwadi Party on board.
Still, analysts said, it may not be feasible to open the sector completely to private companies given the stringent international safeguards.
NPCIL plans to set up four power plants and has selected sites in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Bengal.
The NTPC, which is into thermal power generation, is also planning to diversify into nuclear energy and plans to add 2,000MW of nuclear energy by 2012.
Other than the NTPC, the state-owned Bharat Heavy Electriclas Ltd (Bhel) and several private players could benefit from the spillover effect of nuclear commerce. Bhel plans to spend Rs 1,500 crore over the next two years building plants to supply components for 1,600MW-capacity reactors, sources said.
Engineering firm Larsen & Toubro, construction houses Gammon and Hindustan Construction Company and power equipment company ABB are expected to benefit.
Kuljit Singh, energy analyst with Ernst and Young, however, said: “There is very little for Indian firms to benefit at this juncture since the sector is not open to private players. Most of the equipment for the power plants would be supplied by global leaders.”
New Delhi, Sept. 7: A sum of Rs 100,000 crore that is up for grabs in deals may have helped India bag the Nuclear Suppliers Group waiver.
New Delhi has drawn up plans under which the state-run Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) and National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd (NTPC) are to set up a string of nuclear power plants — 15 by 2020 that will add 20,000MW to the current 3,300MW.
Global nuclear power plant manufacturers and domestic engineering giants are expected to harvest the bounty of the nuclear commerce the Indo-US deal will offer.
Areva SA and Alstom of France, General Electric of the US, Toshiba Corp’s Westinghouse Electric Co (based in the US), and Russia’s atomic energy agency Rosatom are among the global firms likely to get most of the contracts. Diplomats of these nations were in the forefront of lobbying for the deal at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the NSG.
The Centre might make it mandatory for nuclear reactor suppliers to get at least 30 per cent of their equipment from India, analysts said.
“The volume of business to be generated in nuclear power plant construction is huge since the cost of construction per MW of nuclear power is about Rs 7 crore and we are talking of adding 20,000MW by 2020,” said Arvind Mahajan, executive director of KPMG, a financial services firm.
Planning Commission officials said the Atomic Energy Act might be amended to allow Indian private-sector players – such as the Tatas, Anil Ambani’s Reliance Energy, GMR and Essar – to enter the sector and global players to take up small stakes in these plants.
Indian law now allows only the state-run NPCIL to set up and run nuclear power plants. Amendments lying with the cabinet permit any public sector company to enter the sector. At the time these were drafted, the Left was an ally of the government and would not have been keen on private participation. That has changed now, especially with the Samajwadi Party on board.
Still, analysts said, it may not be feasible to open the sector completely to private companies given the stringent international safeguards.
NPCIL plans to set up four power plants and has selected sites in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Bengal.
The NTPC, which is into thermal power generation, is also planning to diversify into nuclear energy and plans to add 2,000MW of nuclear energy by 2012.
Other than the NTPC, the state-owned Bharat Heavy Electriclas Ltd (Bhel) and several private players could benefit from the spillover effect of nuclear commerce. Bhel plans to spend Rs 1,500 crore over the next two years building plants to supply components for 1,600MW-capacity reactors, sources said.
Engineering firm Larsen & Toubro, construction houses Gammon and Hindustan Construction Company and power equipment company ABB are expected to benefit.
Kuljit Singh, energy analyst with Ernst and Young, however, said: “There is very little for Indian firms to benefit at this juncture since the sector is not open to private players. Most of the equipment for the power plants would be supplied by global leaders.”
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