Five preventive measures from Swine Flu

Swine Influenza (H1N1) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus. It is commonly known as Swine Flu and Pig Flu. This disease is dangerous for pigs as well as humans.

The influenza virus in pigs causes them high level of illness and symptoms like runny nose, cough, decreased appetite and lethargy. The virus spreads from pig to pig.

However, it can also be directly transmitted to the humans as well by direct contact with the infected pigs.

The disease is contagious and dangerous leading to deaths among the human beings. It can also be transmitted from person to person. The virus of this disease spreads by just sneezing, coughing or coming in direct contact with the infected person.

History of Swine Flu:

During 1918 Flu Pandemic, Swine Flu was proposed to be a disease related to Human flu, when human beings and pigs fell ill at the same time. But later on in the year 1930, the first influenza virus was identified as the cause of deaths among the pigs and the humans.

Symptoms in humans: 

H1N1 causes a person undergo fever, headache, body ache, cold, cough, sore throat, runny nose, vomiting or diarrhea etc. It is recommended to visit the doctor as soon as a person suffers any of these symptoms.

The Government of India has provided with 'Tamiflu' as an anti viral drug for the prevention or the treatment from/for the disease. The drug is available at 10,000 medical stores across the nation.

Here are the five effective steps you should take to keep Swine Flu away:

1. The best way to prevent yourself from Swine Flu is to get flu vaccination or flu shot on annual basis. This protects your body from getting infected by the disease;
2. Wash your hands properly using soap or sanitiser. This prevents the germs to get into the body and infect us. It is very important to wash hands before intake of any meal;
3. One of the most important preventive measure is to avoid contact with people suffering from swine flu. Coming in contact with the infected person may lead you to catch the virus;
4. Although, the flu does not spread through food. But it is important to have properly handled cooked food. The raw food must be properly washed and cooked;
5. People who are prone to diseases are recommended to wear masks on mouth and nose so that they do not intake the virus from the environment.

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Badlapur Review: Badlapur is a dark, unflinching, fantastic film - Rediff.com Movies

STORY: Raghu's (Varun Dhawan) indefectible life is devastated, when a robbery episode kills his wife and son. The culprit Liak (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) refuses to let out the truth and is imprisoned for 20 years. Refusing to move on, Raghu harbours in him the tryst for truth. Can he avenge the deaths of people who meant the world to him? And, is being devoured by the feeling of revenge as gratifying as his volcanic rage had promised?

REVIEW: Badlapur is a gobsmacking movie that suffuses on screen - a deftly written story, spectacular performances and an intelligently layered screenplay. What works best here is the film's unpredictability. From the minute it begins, you're latched to your seat with your heart throbbing in your mouth and your throat frequently choking up. For the sheer impact the movie conjures up, writer-director Sriram Raghavan deserves a bow!

Mixing grit and suspense in the right measure, Sriram allows his film to take the risky path in keeping you invested, ably playing his motley bunch of characters. While the layers smoothly unfold in this vendetta affair, Raghavan's clarity of vision keeps the narrative seamless. The wicked humour sprinkled abruptly in the sequences draws one further into this movie. The excessive gore might be considered superfluous but is vital for the impact it has.

The driving force here are the actors who evolve the story. Varun's measured acting and sincere eyes draw empathy. With each scene, the intense hues he brings to Raghu, unravel. Nawaz is superlative as Liak, bringing a sinful streak of twisted comedy, teaming it with unabashed swagger. The ladies deliver adequately, but it's Huma Qureshi who brings more to her role than what it holds.

Though the film's second hour meanders and is a tad long, the compelling climax and memorable scenes, like the one where Liak reveals the truth that Raghu had desperately been seeking, trivializes these flaws. Added to it, Sachin-Jigar's haunting music adds a piercing quality.

Brisk and absorbing, concluding differently than expected, Badlapur is an inspired film that dangerously attempts to change the landscape of the thriller genre in Bollywood.

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In-depth Analysis

Our overall critic’s rating is not an average of the sub scores below.

Direction

3.5/5

Story

4/5

Music

4/5

Action

3.5/5

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Arvind Kejriwal declined Mallika Sherawat starrer movie?

New Delhi: With Mallika Sherawat's `Dirty Politics` release date just round the corner, the makers are creating enough of substance to make people talk about it.

The latest we hear is that Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, who rose to power as Chief Minister of Delhi form the grass-root level had rejected the offer from the director to star in the film.

Reports suggest that KC Bokadia had approached Kejriwal way back in 2012 to play the role of a journalist but the latter had turned down the offer.

Remember the story of Anil Kapoor's `Nayak`? Kejriwal's success in politics has often been The filmmakers have claimed approaching Kejriwal, but the man in question has not commented on it as yet.

`Dirty Polics` also stars Jackie Shroff, Om Puri and Anupam Kher in key roles.

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Printing of Budget document begins with 'Halwa' ceremony

The process of printing documents for the Budget 2015-16 began today with the ritual 'halwa ceremony', which was attended by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the North Block office.

It has been a tradition which has continued for long. As part of the ritual, 'halwa' is prepared in a big 'kadhai' (vessel) and served to the entire staff in the ministry.

The significance of the sweet dish is that after it is served, a large number of officials and support staff, who are directly associated with the Budget making and printing process, are required to stay in the ministry and remain cut off from their families till the presentation of the Budget by the minister in the Lok Sabha.

They are not even allowed to contact their near and dear ones through phone or any other form of communication, like e-mail. Only very senior officials in the Finance Ministry are permitted to go home.

The Budget, which will be the first full-fledged Budget of the present NDA government, is scheduled to be unveiled in Parliament on February 28.

Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha, Finance Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, Revenue Secretary Shaktikanta Das, Joint Secretary (Budget) Rajat Bhargava and other officers and staff of the ministry involved with Budget preparation were also present at the halwa ceremony.

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Now, Rs 1.41 crore bid for PM Modi's pinstripe suit

SURAT: The bid for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pinstripe suit soared to Rs 1.41 crore on Thursday, the second day of the auction. The bid was made by Komalkant Sharma.

Earlier in the day, one Mukesh Patel made a bid of Rs 1.39 crore.

The bid on Thursday started at Rs 1.25 crore.

The three-day auction for the suit was opened on Wednesday with an opening bid of Rs 11 lakh.

As the day progressed, the price continued to go up.

Finally at 3.30pm, textile trader Rajesh Juneja quoted Rs 1.21 crore to be the day's top claimant.

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दक्षिण अफ्रीकी टीम को गैरी कर्स्टन ने बताई टीम इंडिया की कमजोरियां

मेलबर्न : भारतीय टीम ने जहां रविवार को दक्षिण अफ्रीका के खिलाफ होने वाले विश्व कप के कठिन मुकाबले के लिये आज नेट पर पसीना बहाया , वहीं दक्षिण अफ्रीका टीम इंडिया के पूर्व कोच गैरी कर्स्टन के मार्गदर्शन में तैयारी में जुटी है ।

कर्स्टन 2008 से 2011 तक भारत के कोच रहे और उनके मार्गदर्शन में भारत ने विश्व कप जीता था । उन्हें क्रिकेट दक्षिण अफ्रीका ने विश्व कप के लिये आस्ट्रेलिया के पूर्व बल्लेबाज माइकल हस्सी और तेज गेंदबाज एलेन डोनाल्ड के साथ सलाहकार नियुक्त किया है ।

कर्स्टन और हस्सी ने मिलकर 26845 अंतरराष्ट्रीय रन बनाये हैं जबकि एलेन डोनाल्ड 12 साल के अपने कैरियर में 602 विकेट ले चुके हैं । तीनों यहां सेंट किल्डास ओवल जंक्शन मैदान पर टीम के अभ्यास सत्र के दौरान मौजूद थे । चेन्नई सुपर किंग्स के साथ आईपीएल का आठवां सत्र खेलने जा रहे हस्सी बल्लेबाजों खासकर जेपी डुमिनी और किंटोन डिकाक पर पैनी नजर रखे हुए थे ।

उधर पहले मैच में पाकिस्तान को हराने वाली भारतीय टीम के लिये भुवनेश्वर कुमार की फिटनेस चिंता का सबब बनी हुई है क्योंकि यहां आज नेट अभ्यास के दौरान यह तेज गेंदबाज सहज नजर नहीं आया । भुवनेश्वर को आस्ट्रेलिया के खिलाफ टेस्ट श्रृंखला की शुरूआत से पहले टखने में चोट लगी थी । वह सिर्फ सिडनी में आखिरी टेस्ट खेल सके लेकिन लय हासिल करने के लिये जूझते नजर आये ।

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How to quit smoking without having to give it up altogether

How to quit smoking without having to give it up altogether

A study of more than 1,500 cigarette reported the effects of the prescription medication varenicline (Chantix) for increasing smoking abstinence rates among smokers who wanted to reduce the number of cigarettes they smoked before trying to quit completely.

Jon Ebbert, M.D., associate director for research in the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center, and lead author on the study, said that this opened the door to treatment for approximately 14 million smokers who have no intention of quitting in the next 30 days but are willing to reduce their smoking rate while working toward a quit attempt.

The study enrolled smokers who did not want to quit smoking in the next 30 days, but who were willing to work toward the goal of quitting in the next three months. Smokers were randomized to either six months of varenicline or placebo and their continuous smoking abstinence rates were evaluated at six and 12 months.

The researchers found that 760 participants receiving varenicline were greater than four times more likely to quit than the 750 participants receiving placebo at six months (32.1 % vs. 6.9 %) and over two times more likely to quit than participants receiving a placebo at 12 months (27.0 % vs. 9.9 %).

Dr. Ebbert said that smokers should know that varenicline could help in quitting smoking if they want to reduce their smoking prior to completely stopping. It's an effective and safe way to increase long-term smoking cessation.

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Coast Guard officer's boast on Pakistani boat to be probed

Coast Guard officer's boast on Pakistani boat to be probed

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said he will enquire into a Coast Guard officer's statement - captured on video - that he ordered a Pakistani boat allegedly trying to sneak into Indian waters be blown up. The officer Wednesday did a volte-face and denied making the statement.

"I will enquire," said Parrikar who is in Bengaluru for the Aero India.

"I will go through the video," he added referring to a video on the Indian Express website which shows Coast Guard Deputy Inspector General (DIG) B.K. Loshali saying he ordered the blowing up of a suspected Pakistani boat on the intervening night of Dec 31 and Jan 1 off Porbandar in Gujarat.

Parrikar told reporters here that he will take a look at the controversial video and then "take action if required".

The suspicious boat was intercepted by the Coast Guard based on an intelligence input Dec 31, and it was traced in the Arabian Sea, 365 km off Porbandar in Gujarat.

The dramatic incident was a reminder of the manner Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai in 2008.

The vessel, which had set off from near Karachi on New Year's Eve, turned into a ball of fire and sank after its occupants, believed to be four in number, apparently set fire to it early Jan 1.

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Reliance Communications partners with Twitter for cricketing action

Reliance Communications partners with Twitter for cricketing action

Reliance Communications (RCom), part of the Anil Ambani-led group, which is the global telecom sponsor of the ICC World Cup 2015, has partnered with Twitter to provide its customers with a platform to follow the global commentary as the world’s 14 best cricketing nations compete for the tag of the champion team, with no data charges.

Customers who do not have a Twitter account can also access cricket-related Tweets by logging on to www.rcom.co.in/cricket on their mobile phones throughout the duration of this global event - from February 13 to March 31, 2015, a company statement said on Tuesday.

“Here, RCOM customers can engage with players, commentators and celebrities, watch exclusive pictures and videos and of course remain updated with all the latest scores without incurring any data charges,” it said.

“Cricket is best enjoyed with friends and the fun doubles when you can share exchange with all friends instantly. It is with this thought that Reliance has made Twitter free and inclusive, so that our customers can get the most of this World Cup,” Gurdeep Singh, chief executive officer, consumer business, Reliance Communications said.

“As a platform for live, public conversations, Twitter has changed the way people connect with sporting and global events including cricket tournaments. All the exciting action on and off the pitch as well as the roar of the Indian cricket fans from Jamnagar to Itanagar, and Srinagar to Coimbatore, will be heard on Twitter,” said Arvinder Gujral, director of Business Development, India and SE Asia, Twitter.

“Through this partnership, Reliance Communications will enable millions of subscribers across the country to join this cricket party for free and in real-time via Twitter,” he added.

The company said customers will also be able to follow their favourite accounts and get updates without any data charges from Team India, @BCCI and its players, including skipper M.S. Dhoni (@msdhoni) or Vice Captain Virat Kohli (imvkohli), the voice of Indian cricket Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha), as well as international legends like Viv Richards (@vivrichards56) and Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne), among many others.

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Maha Shivratri celebrated with religious fervour

Maha Shivratri celebrated with religious fervour

New Delhi: Hundreds of thousands of devotees across the country celebrated Maha ShivratriTuesday with zeal and religious fervour by observing fast and offering prayers.

Brijesh Chaturvedi, a civil service aspirant, said this is the first time he has kept a fast for Lord Shiva.

"As my friends told me that the queue in the popular Shiva temples in Delhi will be crowded, so I went to a temple near my home and prayed at 6.30 a.m. today. I will only eat fruits. I feel good after offering prayers."

Among some of the prominent Lord Shiva temples in the national capital are the 800-year-old Gauri Shankar temple and the Sri Shiv Mandir. Both the temples witnessed long queues from 4 a.m.

Sheila Mehrotra, a devotee, said that every year on Maha Shivratri, her day begins a little earlier than usual as she observes a fast on the occasion.

"I do not even remember for how long I have been keeping a fast on Shivratri. I read the 'Shiv Chalisa' and offer milk, Bel leaves and flowers to the Shivling," said 57-year-old Mehrotra.

"It marks the day Shiv and Parvati got married. Women fast to ensure a good life for their husbands, and young girls observe a fast in the hope of a good life partner, much like Shiva himself," Mehrotra added.

The festival falls on the 13th or 14th day of the Hindu month of 'Phalgun' (February-March).

Guwahati-based Abantika Borthakur, a political science lecturer at Guwahati University, said that all through the day devotees keep a fast and chant the sacred mantras.

"As part of Maha Shivratri devotees keep fast, chant the sacred Panchakshara mantra 'Om Namah Shivaya', make offerings of flowers and incense to the Lord amidst ringing of temple bells," Borthakur told IANS over the phone while she along with her husband were on their way to the nearby Lord Shiva temple.

Mumbai-based Priyakshi Kakodhar, who works with a fashion store, said, "I visited the temple in the morning and was dressed traditionally. I also give a litre of milk to the needy on this day every year."

As part of the festival many devotees take bhang, considered to be Lord Shiva's prasad. Temples are lit up and decorated and functions are hosted in the evening.

Suchi Raina, a Kashmiri Pandit, told IANS that Kashmiris celebrate Maha Shivratri a day earlier.

"The way we celebrate Maha Shivratri is completely different from others. We offer food and flowers to the brass and copper deities whom we refer to Lord Shiva and his family. These utensils are only used for this festivity," she said.

Raina, who started observing fast on Maha Shivratri from last year, said she did not have in-depth knowledge about Lord Shiva earlier, and that several books on Lord Shiva drew her towards the celebration.

"This is the prime reason for me to keep the fast," Raina said.

Agrees Naresh Lakhani from Valsad in Gujarat. He will not be observing a fast, but will actively participate in the programmes dedicated to Lord Shiva.

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