TIGblogs - Habeeb Ibrahim's TIGBlog

Satyam: A Big Lie!

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:30:00 EST

Satyam chief Ramalinga Raju resigns and admits to the financial wrong doings.The 7000cr fraud by Raju and company has left thousands of employees and investors in tizzy.

To read all the stories, do click http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/specialcoverage/3950047.cms

Happy Ne wYear!

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:31:00 EST

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

- Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1850

Wishes for a very happy and prosperous 2009!

Arab world condemn Israel's blind militiary attack

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 07:24:00 EST

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081228/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_mideast_israel_palestinians

The Arab world reacted with outrage at Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip on Saturday, launching scattered protests and calls for retaliation against Israel.

The Arab League announced a gathering of foreign ministers Wednesday would focus on the attack, said the organization's chairman Amr Moussa.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit extended his condolences to the Palestinians killed in the attacks and said Egypt, which brokered a six-month long truce between Hamas and Israel that expired a little over a week ago, has been trying to avoid such an escalation.

"Today everybody has to stand by the side of the Palestinian people and stop this blind military action," the foreign minister said.

Egypt also came under attack by many in the Arab world for its role, along with Israel, in closing the Gaza Strip after the militant group Hamas came to power in June 2007. The closure is often seen as abetting Israel's siege of the crowded strip of land home to 1.5 million people.

A few hundred protesters gathered in Cairo Saturday calling for an end to the strikes.

In Lebanon, about 4,000 protesters marched through a refugee camp in the southern part of the country, condemning the attacks in general, and Egypt in particular.

"Hosni Mubarak, you agent of the Americans, you traitor!" they shouted. They also called on the militant group Hezbollah to attack Israel.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Fuad Saniora described the Israeli attacks as a "criminal operation" and "new massacres to be added to its full record of massacres."

The militant group Hezbollah in a statement Saturday called the attacks "a war crime and a genocide," and criticized what it described as the "shameful" Arab silence.

The Libyan foreign ministry issued a statement calling on Arabs to take solid action in "responding to the Israeli brutality against Gaza," and urged the international community to stop Israel's attacks.

Saudi Arabia, which has put forward a plan calling for a comprehensive peace between Israel and the Arab world, in a statement Saturday condemned the Israeli attacks. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who met with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah on Saturday in Riyadh, said the Saudi leader promised to call U.S. President George W. Bush and other leaders to ask them to push Israel to halt its operations.

Hundreds of protesters in the Jordanian capital of Amman demonstrated, waving Hamas banners and condemning Israel's strikes. There were similar demonstrations in other Jordanian towns and Palestinian refugee camps.

The Jordanian ruler, King Abdullah II, called for an immediate halt to "all military actions" in a statement. He also met Saturday with Abbas after the Palestinian returned from Saudi Arabia. In a statement, the two leaders called on the international community to pressure Israel to end its military operations.

In Syria's al-Yarmouk camp, outside Damascus, hundreds of Palestinians also protested, vowing to continue fighting Israel.

"It's a Zionist holocaust, but it won't dissuade us from going on with our struggle to achieve our goals," said Ali Barakah, 42, one of the protesters.

The Sudanese foreign ministry issued a statement calling for an end to the Israeli attacks that it described as "brutal raids" and saying Arab states should take a unified stand to protect the Palestinians.

Even Turkey, with ties to Israel, expressed dismay as about 2,000 people protested in Istanbul, burning an Israeli flag.

Tsunami...

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:08:00 EST

Artists spray water on sand sculptures made to mark the fourth anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami at Marina beach in the southern Indian city of Chennai, Dec. 26, 2008

Green partnership

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 00:22:00 EST

To sensitise the youth with impending hazards of climate change, the British Council in partnership with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), launched the second edition of the 'The International Climate Champions' programme. As part of this programme, 60 Indians and five Sri Lankan students will be selected as ambassadors to communicate the message of climate change and work towards mitigating its effects in India. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed recently between the British Council and TERI to implement this programme.

"The International Climate Champions programme is one of the four facets of the 'Low Carbon Futures Project' that has been initiated by the British Council to reduce the scale of carbon emissions across key cities of South East Asian countries," explains Les Dangerfield, acting director, British Council, India. The other strands of this project include establishing global networks of low carbon scientists, initiating workshops where experts can exchange ideas in terms of constructing green buildings and sensitising writers, journalists and film makers so that they can effectively comprehend and communicate issues related to greenhouse/carbon emissions.

According to Dangerfield, this project mirrors the UK government's commitment to reduce green house emissions by 30%in the coming decade. Incidentally the UK became the first country in the world to introduce a legally binding framework to cut greenhouse gas emissions with three major pieces of legislation - the climate change, energy and planning bills receiving Royal assent on November 26 this year.

RK Pachauri, director general, TERI and chair Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says, "Controlling green house emissions is one of the key challenges for combating global warming and all countries have to adopt eco-friendly and sustainable energy
alternatives. However, in doing so there are a different set of challenges that developed countries and developing/emerging countries have to contend with."

Explaining this in the context of India and UK, Pachauri says, "In UK, most of the infrastructure in terms of public amenities is already in place and is technologically advanced. Hence the challenge there is assessing the eco-friendly quotient of existing technologies and going through a phase of transition and replacement where required. However, in India, a considerable amount of infrastructure building is still in process. The challenge here is developing and implementing technology in infrastructure that is eco-friendly." Pachauri added that partnerships with developed countries would help in transferring technology to the developing world.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Education/Green_partnership/articleshow/3815094.cms

Cholera introduced by West, says Zimbabwe

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 23:44:00 EST

Zimbabwe has accused the West of waging biological warfare to deliberately start a cholera epidemic that has killed hundreds of people
and sickened thousands.

The spread of the disease has focused the world's attention on the southern African nation's spectacular collapse.

The claims in state media on Saturday came the same day the government issued an official announcement detailing the constitutional amendment creating the post of prime minister. The announcement also set out other changes necessary to go forward with a power-sharing agreement that has been stalled since September.

Saturday's unilateral step by President Robert Mugabe's government could raise political tensions in the battered southern African country

The state-run Herald newspaper said comments by the U.S. ambassador that the United States had been preparing for the cholera outbreak raised suspicions. Zimbabwean officials often blame their country's troubles on the West.

The government's stranglehold on most sources of news makes such rhetoric an important tool for a regime struggling to hold onto power.

After the first cholera cases, U.S. and other aid workers braced for the waterborne disease to spread quickly in an economically ravaged country where the sewage system and medical care have fallen apart. Zimbabwe also faces a hunger crisis, the world's highest inflation and shortages of both the most basic necessities and the cash to buy them.

The Herald quoted the information minister, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, as blaming cholera on ``serious biological chemical war ... a genocidal onslaught on the people of Zimbabwe by the British.''

``Cholera is a calculated racist terrorist attack on Zimbabwe by the unrepentant former colonial power which has enlisted support from its American and Western allies so that they invade the country,'' Ndlovu was quoted as saying.

Experts blame the epidemic on Zimbabwe's economic collapse. The World Health Organization said on Friday the death toll was 792 and that the number of cholera cases that have been reported since the outbreak began in August was 16,700. The epidemic has reached a fatality rate of 4.7 percent. To be under control it would have to be less than 1 percent, WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said on Friday.

Aid agencies have warned that the outbreak could worsen with the onset of the rainy season and that the disease has already spread to Zimbabwe's neighbors.

Mugabe claimed Thursday that his government, with the help of international agencies, had contained the epidemic. That sparked accusations he was out of touch with his people's suffering.

Zimbabwe's decline began in 2000, when Mugabe began an often violent campaign to seize white-owned farms and give them to blacks; most of the land ended up in the hands of his cronies, and production has dropped. Hungry Zimbabweans scrounge for corn kernels spilled from trucks carrying the harvest to market in a nation that once exported food.

Zimbabwe once had among the best health care systems in sub-Saharan Africa. Now most hospitals have been forced to close as they can no longer afford drugs, equipment or wages for their staff. Officials are also unable to afford spare parts and chemicals for water systems.

Mugabe has ruled his country since its 1980 independence from Britain. He refused to leave office following disputed elections in March. U.S. President George W. Bush, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have called recently for the 84-year-old leader to step down.

Power sharing has been agreed to as a solution to the election dispute. But a bitter disagreement over which party gets key Cabinet posts has kept the agreement from becoming reality. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is supposed to be prime minister in the unity government, with Mugabe continuing as president.

Tsvangirai's spokesman, Nelson Chamisa, said his party had not seen the constitutional announcement issued Saturday, and that there could be no power sharing without agreement on Cabinet posts. The opposition accuses Mugabe of trying to keep too many of the most powerful posts, including those overseeing the security forces.

With the so-called gazetting of the amendment, parliament, which is dominated by the opposition, would have to vote on it after 30 days.

``If these (Cabinet) issues are not resolved, we cannot guarantee the amendment will have safe passage in parliament,'' Chamisa said. ``It is our wish to have this matter behind us. What has caused these months of suffering ... is the lack of adequate political will by ZANU-PF.''

Repeated attempts to reach Mugabe's spokesman Saturday were not successful.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cholera_introduced_by_the_West_says_Zimbabwe/articleshow/3834731.cms?TOI_latestnews

Taj Mahal now at Bangladesh also...

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 10:27:00 EST

A life-size replica of the Taj Mahal, often described as the world's most beautiful building, is due to open for visitors in Bangladesh.

The replica has been built by a Bangladeshi filmmaker.

Ahsanullah Moni said he wanted his countrymen to experience the beauty of the Indian monument even if they were too poor to travel to see the original.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7772579.stm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_mahal_bangladesh
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_311603.html

Frustration at climate change summit...

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 10:23:00 EST

POZNAN (POLAND): As the U.N. climate talks wound down here on Friday evening, developing countries are celebrating the small success of operationalising an Adaptation Fund, even while expressing frustration about the progress toward a post-2012 treaty to fight climate change. “It seems to be one small step for mankind, but it’s not a giant achievement for anyone,” said Pradipto Ghosh of The Energy and Resources Institute, a senior member of the Indian delegation speaking in the final hours of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change summit.

The Adaptation Fund was created last year to help the developing countries cope with the devastating impact of climate change – rising seas, melting glaciers and spreading deserts. Until now, the Fund’s board could not operate since it had no legal status and was blocked from directly disbursing money to developing countries.

However, the developing countries are still disappointed by the lack of dependable funding for the Fund, which currently contains 30 million carbon credits and is expected to be worth $300 million per year by 2012.

Adaptation needs are estimated at $86 billion per year, according to the United Nations Development Programme. The Developing countries want the Fund’s resources extended beyond the existing two per cent levy on the offset investments that rich countries make on green projects in the developing world through the Clean Development Mechanism(CDM), and the unpredictable route of aid and donations.

“We must get out of this ‘aid mindset’ for climate action. It’s not about aid. It’s about multilateral action,” said Mr. Ghosh calling for an expansion of funding through a levy on other Kyoto Protocol financial mechanisms including the emission trading schemes of developed nations.

Despite such unfulfilled demands, the Adaptation Fund has become one of the few concrete results here at Poznan, where delegates from 189 nations are halfway through negotiating a post-2012 climate change pact to cut greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change through mitigation, adaptation, technology and financial efforts.

A final deal must be reached next December in Copenhagen. A work agenda in the run-up to Copenhagen has been prepared, with draft negotiating texts expected by June. However, the developing countries and NGOs have accused rich nations of stalling all other proposals here . “Developed countries need to walk the talk. Taking commitments is fine, but they are not delivering on them. We want an ambitious but equitable agenda … Instead, they are looking for escape routes,” said an angry senior Indian delegate.

For example, the developed nations have blocked all efforts to include numbers, including the scientifically accepted figure of a 25 to 40 per cent cut in emissions from the 1990 levels by 2012. Instead, the language on emission reduction is a non-committal “cut and paste” of last year’s summit text, say delegates. The Developing countries were also frustrated at the postponement of solid decisions on financing green technologies, reforms to the CDM and establishing methodologies for reducing deforestation under the Convention. Meanwhile, star climate campaigner Al Gore brought an assurance to Poznan from U.S. President-elect Barack Obama that the U.S. would re-engage with the international community on climate change.

He also called for an even higher standard for emission reductions from the existing goal of 450 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 ppm. He received standing ovation as he invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s slogan of satyagraha and ended with Mr. Obama’s slogan: “Yes, we can.” The slow progress in Poznan has been blamed partly on the U.S. transition, and on the uncertainty of the European Union’s internal climate negotiations which ended on Friday with huge concessions for European industry.

Source: The Hindu, 13 Dec 2008,
http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/13/stories/2008121360681800.htm

No real decisions on climate change at Poznan

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 10:12:00 EST

POZNAN: The mood at the United Nations climate change talks here seem to reflect the weather.

At the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change meet in Bali last year, the sweltering weather was a convenient motif both for global warming and the heat of arguments as negotiators scrambled to produce the Bali roadmap. At this year’s edition in this chilly Polish city, the plunging mercury seems to signal a cooling off among negotiators.

Many seem willing to put off the real decisions on a post-2012 roadmap to fight climate change at the global level to next year. “Nobody is taking it seriously. Nobody seriously expects anything from here,” says K. Srinivas, a policy advisor for Greenpeace India.

“It’s hard to find the spirit of Bali here. Countries seem to want to see procedural decisions here at Poznan, and leave the substance for later,” said Richard Worthington of the World Wildlife Fund, analysing the first week’s discussions at the meet. “People are trying to manage expectations, rein in ambitions.”

India is no different. “We are staking out our positions,” said Prodipto Ghosh of The Energy Research Institute and member of the Indian delegation. He points out that at Poznan, countries are only discussing the inputs to go into the negotiating text for Copenhagen. “Every party is staking out maximalist positions. The real negotiations, the real compromises won’t start until March,” he says.

Several developed nations are also using the economic crisis as an excuse to play down commitments to cut their greenhouse gas emissions, say NGOs. “The EU is in retreat mode … Canada, Japan and Australia are the worst offenders,” says Mr. Worthington.

Developing countries are not impressed by that argument. “They are saying, ‘You have trillions to pay bankers [in bailouts], so why can’t you spend money on this’,” says Mr. Srinivas.

“The economic crisis should be seized as an opportunity to shift to new energy pathways and wean the world off fossil fuel dependence,” says David Waskow of Oxfam America.
Adaptation Fund

One area which should see action at Poznan is the Adaptation Fund. Set up last year to fund countries and communities vulnerable to the devastating impact of climate change — rising sea level, melting glaciers, floods and desertification, among others — the Fund is still to start collecting or disbursing money. In fact, the Fund is cash-strapped, barely meeting its own operational costs, according to Mr. Waskow.

It needs decisions here at Poznan to operationalise it fully. According to Oxfam’s assessment, global adaptation needs will cost $50 billion by 2015.

“The [summit] president will need something to sell as a success from Poznan,” says Sven Harmeling of Germanwatch. “So everyone knows we need an agreement on the Adaptation Fund here.” It is with such lowered expectations that the summit enters its second week on Monday.

Source: The Hindu, 08 Dec 2008 http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/08/stories/2008120855871100.htm

Abhinav against 'smoking'

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 10:03:00 EST

Olympic gold medalist and ace shooter Abhinav Bhindra has extended his “wholehearted support” to the anti-tobacco campaign spearheaded by the former Acting Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, K. Narayana Kurup.

In a statement released here during a visit to Kerala, he described the campaign as “inspiring, lively, and determined” and wished it all success.

The shooter recalled that the Kerala Division Bench verdict penned by Mr. Justice Kurup banning smoking in public places “has served as a grim reminder of the impending doom which tobacco holds for humanity, which in turn catalysed Parliament… and the comity of nations into swift action by enacting legislation and other measures, saving millions from the scourge of the insidious tobacco vapour.”

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/13/stories/2008121357011800.htm

Online Course on Pharmacogenomics

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:12:00 EST

Just noticed at the accp website, a cool course on pharmacogenomics. Interested guys can check that out at http://www.accp1.org/~user/index_new.html

nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;

Pop PK Course @ ACCP Website

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:12:00 EST

Pharmacometrics website

http://www.accp1.org/pharmacometrics/

Click Online learning lounge).

As you know, the website is designed to be an online resource to aid in learning the concepts, tools and techniques of pharmacometrics. The website is intended to be a public domain resource for anyone who wishes to improve modeling skills, especially graduate students. Now we have added an introductory course in population pharmacokinetics. The course was offered in four sessions to graduate students at the Virginia Commonwealth University. Drs. Joga Gobburu, Chris Tornoe and Yaning Wang were instructors for each session. Direct link to the course is

http://www.accp1.org/pharmacometrics/PopPKCourse.html

I would also like to remind that users can

-Learn modeling and simulation concepts from the Theory section.

-Go through a step by step tutorial for selected case studies provided using NONMEM and R-Language

-Subsequently download model codes and datasets from the code library for self-practice (answer keys provided for reference).

-Contribute novel models and sample datasets to this library.

Regards

Pravin

Pravin Jadhav

Pharmacometrics

OCP/OTS/CDER/FDA

Cross-postedfrom PharmPK

nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;

Ahmedhabad to host 61st IPC

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 01:12:00 EST

The 61st Indian Pharmaceutical Congress (IPC) will be held in December 2009 at Ahmedabad in Gujarat. It will be hosted by All India Drugs Control Officersrsquo; Confederation (AIDCOC).

The Indian Pharmaceutical Congress Association (IPCA) officials announced that the next IPC edition, which is hosted by each of its five member-associations in rotation in consecutive years, will be organized by AIDCOC next year. S W Deshpande, director general of AIDCOC has been elected as the president for IPC 2008.

Gujarat, a fast growing pharma hub in the country, will be hosting the event after a long period since 1986. The state government has extended its full support to the organizers and the industry has welcomed the decision, according to Ravi Uday Bhaskar, general secretary, AIDCOC.

ldquo;The Gujarat government is proactive on the idea to conduct the next IPC at Gujarat. We have also received very good response from the state Food and Drug Control Administration and the pharmaceutical industry including the domestic majors,rdquo; he added.

The confederation is arranging an executive committee meeting in the middle of January to make a detailed plan for the next IPC. ldquo;Right now, only the announcement on the next IPC is made. We have decided to conduct it in next December in Ahmedabad. The rest of the details will only be decided in our executive committee,rdquo; said S W Deshpande.

For Gujarat pharmaceutical sector, the year 2009 will be the busiest one when compared to the recent past. The state will host the annual investment meet, Vibrant Gujarat, in January, Informex in March and now, IPC in December. The fast growing industry and the pharmaceutical sector as a whole are eager to host such events and they can leverage the outcomes of conferences and exhibitions for a better growth, said H G Koshia, joint commissioner, Gujarat FDCA.

Source: Chronicle Pharmabiz, 13 Dec 2008

nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;

IPC: Diamond Jubilee event kicked offhellip;

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 01:12:00 EST

IPC 2008 at New Delhi with lsquo;Pharma Vision 2020: Better Regulation for Better Healthcarersquo; as the theme, hosted by the Indian Pharmacy Graduates Association (IPGA) has recorded more than 6000 delegates in the first day, 12 Dec 2008.

With online only submissions to abstracts, this yearrsquo;s event marks the 60th year of inception. For the updated programme schedule, visit www.ipcdelhi.com

nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;

Demand to restore original Indian HIV/AIDS Bill

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:59:00 EST

Source: Chronicle Pharmabiz
Dec 11, 2008
http://pharmabiz.com/article/detnews.asp?articleid=47368

NGOs, public interest groups demand restoration of original HIV/AIDS Bill

Several NGOs and other public interest groups working in the health sector have decried the substantial changes and deletion of several crucial chapters made in the HIV/AIDS Bill 2006 by the Union law ministry. Pleading that the changes will defeat the very purpose of the Bill, these groups have demanded restoration and tabling of the original HIV/AIDS Bill 2006 in the upcoming Parliament session which commenced on December 10.

According to sources, the HIV/AIDS Bill sent to law ministry in September 2007 has been returned to the health ministry with substantial changes. The law ministry has deleted important chapters of strategies of risk reduction, access to treatment, information, education and communication and health ombudsman and truncated several other provisions like prohibition of discrimination, informed consent and disclosure of information.

In the name of 'surveillance and rehabilitation' the law ministry has allowed mandatory testing, identification and tracing of HIV positive persons; measures those infringe rights of HIV positive persons and drive the epidemic underground. The original Bill sought to protect rights of people living with HIV and affected by HIV and promotes evidence-based interventions to halt the epidemic. Drafted after extensive consultations, the Bill was submitted to the health ministry in August 2006. However, the law ministry changes defeats the very purpose of the HIV/AIDS Bill, NGOs said.

Those who are on the warpath against the law ministry's move to truncate the Bill included Network of People Living HIV/AIDS, Lawyers Collective, HIV Positive People, Soudamini Network for Positive Women and Children of Pune, Sankalp Rehabilitation Trust of Mumbai, Sanmitra Trust of Mumbai and Humsafar Trust of Mumbai. Several other NGOs are also set to join the chorus demanding restoration and tabling of the original HIV/AIDS Bill 2006 in the upcoming Parliament session.

The Bill, drafted by Lawyers Collective, aims to prevent and control the spread of HIV/AIDS and also to protect the rights of those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. It seeks to address discrimination in employment, education, healthcare, travel, residence, accommodation, insurance, etc.

The Bill, which has been pending with the government since August 2006, also addresses the issues such as requirement of informed consent, guarantee of confidentiality, right to access to treatment and work, protection strategies, creation of mechanisms like institutional grievance redressal machinery, health ombudspersons and HIV/AIDS commissions.

The Bill also seeks to guarantee confidentiality of HIV-related information (including HIV+ status) and exceptions to it. It seeks to make the right to access treatment related to HIV/AIDS as part of the right to health recognized under the Indian Constitution and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights to which India is a signatory. It provides for access to comprehensive HIV-related treatment including diagnostics, ARVs, nutritional supplements etc.

ICAAP9 - Call for abstracts

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:17:00 EST

Friends,

The website of the International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Public (ICAAP) is open. Visit http://icaap9.org/ for abstract submission and scholarship details.

Last date for abstracts: 15 Mar 2009
Last date for scholarship application: 31 Jan 2009

All the best!

Member of PHSC - IPSF

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:03:00 EST

Happy to share with you that I have been appointed as a Member of the Public Health Sub-Committee of the INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL STUDENTS' FEDERATION (IPSF) for the year 2008 - 2009 (all praise to the Almighty).

IPSF (www.ipsf.org) is the leading international advocacy organization of pharmacy students promoting improved public health through provision of information, education, networking, and a range of publication and professional activities. IPSF represents more than 350,000 pharmacy students and recent graduates in over 70 countries worldwide.

Thanks,
Habeeb

Muslims to avoid cow slaughter

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 10:23:00 EST

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Leading Islamic seminary Dar-ul-Uloom has suggested to Muslims in the country that they avoid slaughtering cows on Eid-ul-Azha as a
mark of respect to the religious beliefs of Hindus.

The appeal has been supported by the All India Organisation of Imams of Mosques (AIOIM), which had earlier asked Muslims to put black ribbons on their shoulders as a symbol of their solidarity and grief for the victims of the Mumbai terror attacks.

In a booklet detailing the concept of 'qurbani' or sacrifice on the occasion of Bakri-Eid, brought out by Deoband-based Dar-ul-Uloom, the seminary has advised Muslims to refrain from sacrificing cows to avoid hurting sentiments of the Hindus.

"They (Muslims) may slaughter other animals that are approved by the Shariah," the booklet said, asking Muslims to respect the sentiments of other Indians.

Established in 1866, Dar-ul-Uloom is the most respected school of Islamic teaching in the subcontinent.

AIOIM President Hazrat Moulana Jameel Ahmed Ilyasi said slaughtering cows hurts the sentiments of Hindus and "we should not do anything that will disturb communal harmony in the country".

Ilyasi also asked Imams all around the country to pray for the victims of the Mumbai terror attacks during Eid prayers and express solidarity with Mumbaikars.

"They should pray to the Almighty during Eid prayers for restoring peace in the country," Ilyasi said

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3797689.cms?TOI_mostcommented

Hyd 10k Run - A quite, little participant

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 07:31:00 EST

Against Mumbai Attacks -Hyd 10k Run (3)

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 07:30:00 EST

Banner against 'Sexual Slavery' - Hyd 10k Run

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 07:29:00 EST

Against Mumbai Attacks -Hyd 10k Run (2)

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 07:26:00 EST

Hyderabadi young girls showing their support to the Mumbai terror victims.

Check more photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/habeebibrahim/

Against Mumbai Attacks -Hyd 10k Run (1)

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 07:23:00 EST

Hyd 10k Run held on the early hours of 30 Nov 2008 has witnessed a huge and healthy protests against the Mumbai terror attacks.

Check more photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/habeebibrahim/

Hyderabad 10k Run - A right event at the right time

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 07:13:00 EST

The Hyderabad 10K Run being held on November 30th, 2008 offers a unique platform to celebrate the spirit and camaraderie of Hyderabadis and usher in a sense of bonding, sportsmanship and unity amongst all those who participate in it

The Run has emerged as a brand in its own right and has fueled a sense of ‘oneness’ amongst the citizens of the city. People from all walks of life, across age groups and professions participate in this event displaying an admirable spirit of togetherness and unity. The event also has the active participation of the city’s leading celebrities and personalities.

The Run also has the vision of promoting fitness, health and fun and placing Hyderabad as one of the ‘ideal cities with a quality lifestyle’ on the global map.

After the shocking terrorist attacks in Mumbai, the entire nation is mourning the deads and victims. Being the very first public event soon after this massive murders, the Hyderabad 10k run has been great successful. This second edition of the event has witnessed many a number of public centered protests against terrorism.

Check http://hyderabad10k.com/index.php for details.

ATVB Call for Papers

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:56:00 EST

Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology: Call for Papers
in recognition of National Cholesterol Month (September 2009) Deadline: May 8, 2009

The editors of ATVB are soliciting the submission of original manuscripts addressing a broad spectrum of topics addressing cholesterol metabolism and atherosclerosis from bench, clinical or population work. This call for papers is in recognition of National Cholesterol Month.

The editors encourage submission of original articles that deal with basic, clinical, and population studies of cholesterol metabolism. Papers addressing clinical and experimental studies are sought. Examples of interest areas include:

1. Lipid lowering drugs
2. Statins – pleitrophic effects
3. Side effects of lipid lowering drugs
4. Development of new drugs that modulate cholesterol metabolism
5. Development of non-drug approaches to lipid lowering therapy
6. The use of pharmacogenomics to detect hypo-responders to drug therapy of lipid disorders and the potential for personalized medicine
7. Novel animal models of atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, and cholesterol metabolism
8. Cellular studies on cholesterol efflux

Responding authors should indicate in their cover letter that the submitted manuscript is in response to this call for papers when submitting manuscripts via the online system at submit-atvb.ahajournals.org. The manuscript will undergo normal peer review. If accepted, the article will be published together with other studies appearing in response to this call and the issue will be highlighted in the September 2009 issue in recognition of "National Cholesterol Month."

The submission deadline for this topic is May 8, 2009. If you have any questions or already have a manuscript in this area submitted to ATVB and would like to have it included for this series, please contact the ATVB editorial office at atvb@atvb.org.

SOURCE: American Heart Association