How to kiss?

You may know how to kiss, you may even be an amazing kisser, but, how much do you really know when it comes to some kissing trivia? Here are some interesting facts about kissing that’ll teach you everything you need to know and more!

Around 50 percent of people have their first kiss before the age of fourteen. These pubescent kisses are often quite awkward and clumsy but, as they say, you live and you learn! The more you kiss the better you get at it. And, what’s even more important, if you tone down the nervousness and getting all stressed out about it – it all comes very naturally!

The science of kissing is called philematology and the most important muscle when it comes to kissing is called orbicularis oris. It is the same muscle you use to pucker your lips. However depending on the kiss up to 34 facial muscles can be used. That’s quite a workout you’d agree!

Passionately kissing for one full minute can burn around 26 calories. So, a little make-out session with your man should make up for that chocolate cake you had earlier!

Kissing customs vary around the world. It’s estimated that around 90 percent of the world population kisses – there are some cultures in Africa and Asia that do not seem to practice kissing.

Lips are a 100 times more sensitive than the fingertips. They hold even more sensitivity than the genitals!

Kissing can be healthy in many ways! Not only can it burn a few calories, it can also be good for the teeth, since the extra saliva it produces cleans them out and prevents teeth decay. It can also help reduce blemishes and even add a couple of years to your life span according to some studies.

No two lip impressions are the same.

Approximately two thirds of people tip their heads to the right side when they kiss.

It’s possible for a woman to reach an orgasm while kissing.

Kissing releases the same neurotransmitters in the brain as bungee jumping, parachuting and running so it can most definitely produce quite a rush!

The Kama Sutra doesn’t only contain countless sexual positions, but also 36 different kinds of kisses, such as ‘tongue fighting’ and many others. The ancient Romans, on the other hand recognized only three kinds of kisses: osculum – a kiss on the cheek, basium – a kiss on the lips, savolium – a deep kiss.

Kissing is considered by many to be an act even more intimate than sexual intercourse. Men are for example much pickier when it comes to choosing the women they wish to kiss, than when trying to get laid, as many studies have shown

Do you know anything about Blarney stone in Ireland? The legend says that the builder of Blarney castle was involved in a lawsuit, so he asked the Irish goddess Cliodna for help. What she told him is to kiss the first rock he came by on his way home. He then pleaded his case with great eloquence thanks to this and won it, so he took the lucky stone and built it into the parapet of the castle.

These days, many people come to this exact place looking to become more eloquent. The thing is – kissing the stone is way more difficult than it sounds. You’ll have to climb dozens of stairs to even get to it, and then comes the tricky part. Sitting, back turned to the stone while someone’s holding your feet and arching backwards to reach it while holding on to the handles placed there specifically for this purpose.

Ancient Romans also used a kiss to conclude any kind of a contract – so, kissing as the way to conclude the wedding ceremony can be traced all the way back to that time.

On average people spend around two weeks, or 336 hours, of their lives kissing.

Ranbir Kapoor to romance girlfriend Katrina Kaif in Jagga Jaasoos?

Bollywood's most talked about couple - Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif are likely to romance each other onscreen once again in Anurag Basu's Jagga Jaasoos.

Katrina and Ranbir have earlier worked together in Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahaani (2009) and Raajneeti (2010).

According to reports, the film was originally scheduled to be shot in 2014, efforts are now being made to start shooting the film this year itself so that it can release next year.

There were rumours that Priyanka Chopra and Alia Bhatt might romance Ranbir, but Priyanka has denied the reports when she was asked about the same.

The upcoming thriller Jagga Jaasoos is a joint venture of Ranbir Kapoor and Anurag Basu.

The film would long the lines of 'Sherlock Holmes-meets-James Bond-meets-Mission Impossible' in typical Bollywood entertainer with a complete dose of action, comedy and music to cater to popular taste.

Ranbir and Katrina, who have never come out in public about their relationship in public, were last spotted getting cosy in Spain on a beach.

Bikini-clad-Katrina-with-Ranbir pictures made headline all over when a leading magazine published those pictures.

Cricket legend Wasim Akram marries Australian girlfriend Shaniera Thompson

Famed Pakistan paceman Wasim Akram on Wednesday announced that he had married his Australian girlfriend, Shaniera Thompson, saying he has started a new life on a happy note.

"I married Shaniera in Lahore last week in a simple ceremony and this is the start of a new life for me, my wife and for my kids," Wasim told AFP.

The 47-year-old's first wife Huma died in 2009 after multiple organ failure.

Wasim proposed to the 30-year-old former public relations consultant on bended knee last month and they married on August 12.

Thompson came to Karachi earlier this month before going to Lahore to see Wasim's ailing father. There the marriage was solemnised in the presence of immediate family and a few close friends.

Wasim said Thompson had converted to Islam and is learning Urdu.

"She has embraced Islam and is learning our language. She has been close to my sons and they form a very good bond," said Wasim of his two sons from his first marriage.

He said his new wife was eager to settle quickly in Pakistan.

"I sincerely hope the people of Pakistan and our friends and supporters across the globe will give us their blessing and support," he said.

Wasim played 104 Tests and 356 one-day internationals for Pakistan in a career lasting from 1984 to 2003.

He was regarded as one of the best left-arm fast bowlers to have played the game and remains a major celebrity in Pakistan.

Wasim was player of the tournament in the country's only triumph in the World Cup, in Australia in 1992. He captained Pakistan to a runners-up finish in the 1999 World Cup in England.

Amitabh Bachchan in 'Krrish 3'

Like Midas Touch, the Shahenshah of B-town can do wonders to any kind of work he gets associated with. And the latest one is Rakesh Roshan's the much awaited superhero flick 'Krrish 3'. Yeah, you read it right!Amitabh Bachchan is indeed a part of the mega project; but in a very small way.

Big B has been got on board of 'Krrish 3' as a narrator and to explain some of the crucial parts of the film. The megastar has rendered his voice to introduce the villain, played by Vivek Oberoi in the upcoming Hrithik Roshan starrer. Besides introducing Vivek, the megastar also explains the sequence of events which connect the two films of the franchise 'Krrish 3'. Apparently it was the maker of 'Krrish 3', Rakesh Roshan who said to had approached the screen icon to be part of the film.

Confirmed the director-producer, "Amitabh Bachchan said yes to doing a voiceover of the film and his narration is important because it creates a connect between the three films and introduces the villain."

Also starring Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut in lead, 'Krrish 3' is slated to release this Diwali, on November 4th, worldwide.

Sonam Kapoor takes part in silent protest against Mumbai rape case

Whole country is boiling against the photo journalist rape case. Bollywood stars and Journalist staged a silent protest in the heart of Mumbai from Joggers Park to Amphi theatre carter road displaying banner and placards to express their anger following the rape of a 22-year-old woman in an abandoned textile mill in central Mumbai Thursday evening.

 Sonam Kapoor, veteran Dalip Tahil, singer Sona Mohapatra, Karanveer Bohra along with his wife Teejay Sidhu, Kushaal Punjabi, Aparnaa Bajpai, Satish Reddy, Reshma D'souza, and MLA Baba Siddique joined protest against rape in Mumbai. Said Sonam, "I am really shocked and taken aback with the recent shameful incident that took place in Mumbai. A sheer act of cowardice."

While Dilip Tahil said, "It is a shameful and extremely disturbing event which is very shocking. We want justice and punish them." Actor Karanveer Bohra feels very sad about the recent rape case in Mumbai he said, "Sad validation of the fact that NO city in India is safe for women. It is after all the same prevention/enforcement mechanism in use all over."

The woman who was raped was a photojournalist intern for an English-language magazine in Mumbai. She was on assignment with a male colleague shooting pictures of an abandoned mill in the Mahalaxmi area in the south of the city when five men tied up the man she was with and raped her for one-and-a-half hours, according to police. 

Journalists from all fraternity and media personalities were seen in full swing to support the cause.

Thanks –IndiaGlitz

Malolan stars with a six-wicket haul

Off-spinner Malolan Rangarajan’s six for 49 enabled TNCA President’s XI crush Hyderabad by 225 runs in a quarterfinal match of the Kalpathi Buchi Babu all-India tournament here on Sunday.

For the host, wicket-keeper R. Karthik Adithya excelled behind the stumps with a hand in five dismissals (four catches and a stumping). Apart from Amol Shinde’s 74 (93b, 12x4), there was little resistance for Hyderabad.

In the semifinals on August 27 and 28, TNCA President’s XI will meet TNCA XI while Uttar Pradesh CA will take on Kerala.

Skipper Ravichandran Ashwin led TNCA XI from the front following his crucial innings of 60 with five for 42 bowling off-spin. Pursuing 262, Andhra, despite a fighting 102 (187b, 13x4) from No. 3 D.B. Prasanth Kumar, was bowled out for 192.

Prasanth and Ricky Bhui (57, 128b, 5x4, 1x6) raised 111 runs in 38.2 overs for the sixth wicket but TNCA XI found the right answers.

In a laudable chase, Kerala surpassed Haryana’s 352 for the loss of only three wickets. Opener Niklesh Surendran made 134 (220b, 20x4), putting on 119 runs for the first wicket in 34.4 overs with Abhishek Hegde (42) and 131 with Robert Fernandez (85 not out, 141b, 6x4, 1x6) in 33.4 for the third wicket.

Then, Fernandez and the left-handed Sachin Baby (60 not out, 73b, 7x4) gathered 84 in 18.4 for the unbroken fourth wicket.

Riding on an unbeaten 104-run fifth wicket association in 17.3 overs between Umang Sharma (42) and Akshdeep Nath (61 not out, 61b, 5x4, 2x6) in a chase of 231, Uttar Pradesh defeated Karnataka by six wickets. Earlier, skipper Mohammed Kaif made a combative 60 (119b, 6x4, 1x6).

The scores: Quarterfinals (Innings restricted to 100 overs each side, Day two): Karnataka 230 lost to Uttar Pradesh CA 231 for four in 62 overs (Tanmay Srivatsava 54, Mohammed Kaif 60, Umang Sharma 42 not out, Akshdeep Nath 61 not out). Uttar Pradesh qualifies.

TNCA XI 261 beat Andhra 192 in 70.2 overs (D.B. Prasanth Kumar 102, Ricky Bhui 57, R. Ashwin five for 42). TNCA XI qualifies.

Haryana 352 for nine lost to Kerala 355 for three in 89.1 overs (Abhishek Hedge 42, Niklesh Surendran 134, Robert Fernandez 85 not out, Sachin Baby 60 not out). Kerala qualifies.

TNCA President’s XI 396 for nine bt Hyderabad 171 in 62.1 overs (Amol Shinde 74, Hanuma Vihari 30, Malolan Rangarajan six for 49). TNCA President’s XI qualifies.

Bindhu Madhavi happy in Tamil cinema

 

Actor Bindhu Madhavi has been flooded with congratulatory calls ever since her latest Tamil film, Desingu Raja, hit the screens on Friday. "A lot of my friends are surprised to see me play an elegant, ladylike character in the movie," says Bindhu, who is currently shooting for two Tamil films — Oru Kanniyum Moonu Kalavaanikalum (OKMK) and an untitled flick, starring actor Vishnu.

Food Security Bill in Lok Sabha on Monday

With the Lok Sabha now able to proceed with its normal functions after the suspension of the 12 protesting MPs, it is expected that Monday will be busy as the Food Security Bill would be taken up for discussion.

The ruling Congress is even learnt to have issued a three-line whip to all its party MPs to be present in the House as a host of key legislations like the Land Acquisition Bill, RTI Amendment bill, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, 2011 ,would be taken up during the week.

The government will also move amendments in the bill to get the support of the Opposition parties. The BJP is all set to counter the government on the bill. Though, the principal opposition party has expressed support for the bill, it seeks certain key amendments before the bill is passed.

The Lower House is also likely to witness clash of titans as key leaders from across the political spectrum are expected to speak on the ‘game-changer’ bill. While, Murli Manohar Joshi from the BJP is expected to initiate the discussion on the bill, leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj too will put in her party’s viewpoint.

From the Congress side, party president Sonia Gandhi is expected to speak, as she was often seen with a copy of her speech which she could not deliver as the house was repeatedly disrupted. This will be her first speech during this Lok Sabha term.

As of now, half of the session is already over owing to the disruptions which led to the suspension of 12 Andhra Pradesh MPs, who were persistently protesting on the issue of Telangana, by Speaker Meira Kumar. The Lok Sabha had its first uninterrupted sitting on Saturday where it even managed to pass three bills. So all eyes will be on Monday, when one hopes to see some spectacular debate on the Food Bill in the house. The government intends to pass the bill by evening and then send it to the Rajya Sabha for discussion.

Priyanka Chopra to host TV show

Bollywood actror Priyanka Chopra and her co-star from 'Zanjeer' Ram Charan will host an episode of a crime based TV show to promote their upcoming film.

'Savdhaan India - Mumbai Fights Back' is currently being anchored by actor Atul Kulkarni, who is also part of the remake of the 1973 Amitabh Bachchan starrer of the same name, alongwith Priyanka and Ram.

"We are shooting with them at Filmcity tonight from 10pm to 12 mid night. The case which they will anchor will be a women centric case," sources told PTI.

This particular episode is being produced by Flying Turtles and it will air on Life OK next week.

This is Priyanka's second stint as a host on the small screen. In the past, the 31-year-old actress has anchored 'Khatron Ke Khildadi'.

Big B gives voiceover for Krrish 3

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has lent his unique baritone for Hrithik Roshan-starrer "Krrish 3" at the behest of filmmaker Rakesh Roshan.

"Up at 7 a.m. to reach for a dub for 'Krissh 3'... Rakesh Roshan, father to Hrithik and the director and producer of eminence, asked me to do a voiceover for his film... I agreed and that was done," the 70-year-old posted on his blog srbachchan.tumblr.com in the wee hours of Saturday morning.

Hrithik plays a superhero in this third film of the franchise which began with "Koi Mil Gaya" in 2003, followed by "Krrish" in 2006. "Krrish 3" is slated for release Nov 4.

The film also stars Priyanka Chopra, Kangna Ranaut and Vivek Oberoi.
Meanwhile, Big B is also geared to launch the forthcoming season of his hugely popular reality game show "Kaun Banega Crorepati".

Photojournalist demands life term for the rapists, wants to get back to work

The 22-year-old magazine intern, who was gang-raped at an abandoned mill in Mumbai on Thursday, wants her attackers to be sentenced to life imprisonment.

According to the budding photojournalist's mother, her daughter said she did not want any other woman to go through such humiliation and no punishment short of a life term would take away her pain, reported a newspaper on Saturday.

It also quoted a hospital source saying the woman wanted to finish her photo shoot assignment at the mill and continue with her internship at the magazine.

The source said after spending a restless night, the woman had her first cup of tea on Friday evening and she also kept the news on TV which reported the police's attempt to catch the culprits and the public and political ire against the incident.

According to another newspaper report, the woman also spoke to a National Commission for Woman member.

She told Nirmala Samant Prabhawalkar that she was brave and "ready to fight it out" and said she wanted to go back to her job as soon as possible.

Realistic political cinema for the masses

A Tamil conflict in Sri Lanka. A former Indian Prime Minister on the campaign trail. A suicide bomber wearing thick-rimmed glasses, waiting in a small town in Tamil Nadu with a smile on her lips and a garland in her hands.

It's easy to predict what the high point of Madras Cafe will be once you know that it is, in the garb of fiction, the story of Rajiv Gandhi's assassination in Sriperumbudur on May 21, 1991. But despite the foreknowledge and the dampening power of expectation, watching the incident unfurl on the big screen somehow manages to give the film epic proportions. Not for being an outstanding piece for cinema, but simply for going where few Hindi movies have dared to go before.

A spy thriller at heart, Madras Cafe is presented from the point of view of an Indian army officer working for the government's covert Research & Analysis Wing (RAW). Played by a refreshingly understated John Abraham, this officer tries to uncover a plot against the "ex-PM" hatched by Indian political groups, Sri Lankan rebels and Western lobbyists who meet at various Madras Cafes in Singapore, Bangkok and London.

The film is tight, slick, and captures the mood of an early 90s India and a pristine but battle-torn Sri Lanka. The background score kicks in at just the right moments as we ride across the sea on noisy steamers and on rickety buses plying on coconut-lined streets. It does miss a few beats though while documenting the frustration that accompanies any meticulous investigation. You don't get a genuine sense of exasperation as the agent is trying to make sense of what the plot is, whom it is against, and how it will eventually play out.

But the last half hour of Madras Cafe, in which director Shoojit Sircar's meticulous research comes together to seamlessly tie in reality with fiction, is adequate reward for wading through those relatively dull moments. He chooses not to take a stand about right and wrong, or make a jingoistic comment on victory and defeat. At the bitter end, when the ex-PM's white sneakers lie streaked with blood, you just know you've watched something unprecedented, even if not unexpected- a trailblazer that may pave the way for realistic political cinema for the masses.

"Nation of shame"

The gang rape of a young photojournalist in Mumbai triggered an avalanche of outrage across the country on Friday and condemned as despicable and shameful stirring memories of a similar attack last December in New Delhi that led to nation-wide protests.

As people from all walks of life voiced their anguish, political parties, media associations and Bollywood were one in demanding harshest punishment to the perpetrators of the crime in a city which is seen as far safer for women than the national capital.

The attack also had its echo in Rajya Sabha which erupted in anger with agitated members expressing serious concern over increasing atrocities on women and the government assuring "harshest" action against the culprits.

Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal said sex assaults must be dealt with "in the severest manner".

"We cannot afford to let our women and children live in insecurity and must make sure that such attacks against women are dealt in the severest manner," he said.

Hundreds of people including members of several journalists' associations gathered in south Mumbai to stage a silent protest. Some wore black armbands, while others carried placards reading "Stop rape" and "City of shame."

Media associations in Chennai said the "horrifying incident" has shocked the entire country once again raising the issue of safety of women.

"Despicable! We are shamed! How long & God forbid, how many more before the criminals are punished? Wake up, India!," said BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman.

"Helpless to say the least...words like "devastated".."disgusted" mean nothing at a time like this! #gangerape in my city... I feel ashamed," lamented Producer-Director Karan Johar.

Some even sniped at the Union Ministry of Home affairs and its equivalent in Maharashtra for failing to enhance the safety of women in the country since the Delhi gang-rape incident last December and after enactment of new laws.

BJP's Smriti Irani while raising the issue during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha asked what steps had been initiated to prevent recurrence of such incidents even after repeated assurances of improving law and order condition in the aftermath of Delhi gangrape and targeted the Centre and the Maharashtra government.

Kiran Bedi, former IPS officer said, "Another shame!A photo journ gangraped by 5 men in Mumbai. No wonder India is considered most unsafe place for women amongst G-30 countries."

The Twitter was also abuzz with rage over the gangrape.

"... thousands of women arent safe in a country that demands of them patriotism, sacrifices and taxes," said one tweet. Some said legislations are merely not enough.

"If punishment is strict, rape incidents can be avoided," said a Jadavpur university student, while a Bhopal housewife said women and even shcool girls are not safe anymore.

Simbu, Hansika Fly to Japan

Think of a lovey-dovey couple and you're sure to have Simbu-Hansika popping up in your mind first. The couple have not had a release together yet, but has been working together in two projects, which seem to take a long time for completion. The cute couple play the lead roles in 'Vaalu' and 'Vettai Mannan', both of which have been in shooting phase for a long time.

Both films are produced by Nic Entertainment and now 'Vaalu' is said to have been finally wrapped up and pushed into post production. With only a half of 'Vettai Mannan' complete so far, the director of the film, Nelson is planning to rush through the remaining and complete the project at the earliest. The final portions of 'Vettai Mannan' is said to be shot in Japan and now Nelson and the producer have left to Japan to choose the appropriate location settings. Once they return, the entire crew, including Hansika and Simbu are to fly to Japan to shoot for the film. Nelson has plans of completing shooting in a single schedule, so that the film is wrapped up at the earliest. Japan seems to be the next big dream locale in every movie these days. How romantic is the country?

Manisha to Join Dhanush?

      

   Slow and steady, Manisha Yadav is making it big in the Kollywood industry. The actress debuted on silver screen in the critically acclaimed 'Vazhakku En 18/9' and made her way to the successfully running 'Aadhalaal Kadhal Seiveer'.

      Having impressed the big names in film making, with her acting forte, Manisha is now under the lens for being cast as Dhanush's pair in director Vetrimaaran's next. The director had already announced that Dhanush will be doing the lead role in his next project, for which, he is busy finalizing the script and casting. Meanwhile, Manisha is currently acting in Karu Palaniyappan's 'Jannal Oram' and Viddharth's 'Pattaya Kelapanum Pandiya' in the lead role. Is the dusky beauty, Kollywood's next big charm?

The great famine of Madras and the men who made it

The Madras famine of 1876-78, which covered most of the southern part of the country, occurred at a time when expenditure on wars was soaring

While we celebrate Chennai and its various facets such as the legacy of the British who practically founded the city, writer Jayamohan – through his yet-to-be released novel Vellai Yanai – reminds us of the dark and cruel aspects of the colonial era. He says that the famine of 1876-78 exterminated half the Dalit population, with millions dying. And, as has been documented by historians such as Amartya Sen, Jayamohan points out that the famine was man-made and a direct outcome of British rule and Indian inhumanity.

But the Dalits were not all submissive. In Vellai Yanai, Jayamohan records a protest action by 300 Dalit workers at Ice House, against the killing of a fellow worker and his wife. This short-lived labour unrest – a two-day sit in strike – has not been well documented in history books.

The book takes its name from blocks of naturally formed ice in the lakes of New England in the U.S. that were imported to India to add flavour to the evening drinks of British officials.

Ice blocks were cut into pieces at the factory and distributed throughout the country. But workers in the factory were kept in sub-human conditions. Jayamohan writes that the ice blocks would slide around like mad elephants when unpacked and could crush inexperienced hands handling them.

The protagonist of Vellai Yanai is not an Indian, but Aidan, an Irish police officer. Aidan records the condition of these workers: “Their [workers’] bodies look like small rocks covered by grey moss. Blisters adorn their necks and armpits. Blisters that gape open like mouths of small fishes.”

Aiden, while inspecting the migration of Dalits from Chengalpet to the city during the famine, is warned by Rev. Fr. Brennen, the parish priest of Royapuram, to resist the urge to throw a piece of bread to the “thin black hands” tapping his coach, crying “thora thora” (open, open).

Bodies lie on both sides of the road and the Scottish Missionaries bury them. Aidan sees children clutching one another, hiding themselves in a tree to escape from marauding dogs.  

Aiden resolves to help the workers, but is helpless when he confronts a corrupt British bureaucracy. Caste Hindus – traders – have no concern whatsoever, seeing in the workers an opportunity for profit. For his efforts, Aiden is rewarded with a promotion and transfer to Tenkasi.

Jayamohan says the apathy and indifference of fellow human beings towards these poor Dalits shocked him into writing the novel. “But again whenever there is a famine, people become selfish,” he adds.

“The British, who were waging wars all over the world, needed food and they rejected suggestions from officers like Aiden and allowed export of foods. Merchants sold the food for a premium while crores of people died here,” says Jayamohan. 

Thanks : the hindu

What’s the buzz

World Mosquito Day   But rather, it was a day in 1897 when British doctor Sir Ronald Ross discovered, while he was working in the Indian Medical Services in Kolkata, that it was the female mosquito that spread the deadly malaria parasite among human beings.

Shortly after his discovery, Sir Ronald Ross requested that the day be observed as World Mosquito Day thereafter. Sir Ross became the first British person to receive the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1902 for his extensive research on malaria.

Malaria has been buzzing around for thousands of years. Around 12,000 years ago when the humidity level rose in Africa creating pools of water and stagnation puddles, it became a favourable breeding ground for the parasites and their transmitters — mosquitoes.

The term Malaria comes from the Italian Mal or bad and Aria or air. Our ancestors thought that it was the foul air that rose in the late evenings from the puddles that gave them the chills and fever. So, all doors and windows were shut to keep out the bad air.

Now, we do the same with a little more inkling of what the bad air brings along with it from the stagnating puddles — the mosquitoes.

How it spreads

Malaria is spread by a type of microscopic parasite called Plasmodium which is transmitted mainly by the night-biting female Anopheles Mosquito.

There are a few varieties of Plasmodium parasites that cause malaria in humans.

Alphonse Laveran, a French military doctor discovered the protozoan parasite in 1880 for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1907.

Italian researchers Grassi and Filetti discovered Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium malariae parasites in 1890.

American researcher Welch discovered Plasmodium falciparum in 1897 and Stephens discovered the last parasite Plasmodium ovale in 1922.

It was Sir Ronald Ross who discovered that these parasites were lodged in the gastrointestinal tract of the female Anopheles mosquitoes. And that the disease was transmitted to humans by the bite of the mosquitoes which he initially called ‘Dapple wings’.

Malaria is found in most tropical countries including Africa and Asia, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Central and South America, Pacific Islands and some parts of Middle East.

According to the WHO, in 2010 there were 655,000 malarial deaths worldwide. At around 106 countries and territories, 3.3 billion people are at risk of getting malaria. The African region claimed 91 per cent of the deaths followed by South East Asia and Eastern Mediterranean Region. Children were found more vulnerable to the deadly parasite with 86 per cent getting affected by malaria. In poverty stricken African countries, reports say that a child dies of malaria every 30 seconds.

Thanks : the hindu

Sharapova withdraws from US Open

 Maria Sharapova pulled out of the U.S. Open on Wednesday because of a right shoulder injury.The U.S. Tennis Association announced the withdrawal of the 2006 champion, who has played only one match on tour since her second-round loss at Wimbledon in June.

Sharapova originally was seeded third at the U.S. Open. The USTA said 2012 Wimbledon runner-up Agnieszka Radwanksa would shift from No. 4 to No. 3, and all other seeded players below her would move up a spot, too.

“I just wanted to let you know that withdrawing from the U.S. Open has been a really tough decision to make. I have done everything I could since Wimbledon to get myself ready but it just wasn’t enough time,” read a message posted on Sharapova’s Facebook page Wednesday. “I have done many tests, received several opinions and it all comes down to taking the proper amount of time to heal my shoulder injury properly.”

The USTA said Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova would become the No. 32 seed. The draw for the year’s last Grand Slam tournament is Thursday. Play begins Monday.

Sharapova’s surprising exit caps a tumultuous couple of weeks for the four-time major winner and former No. 1—ranked player. She was sidelined by a hip injury after Wimbledon, then hired Jimmy Connors as her coach an arrangement that lasted all of one match, a loss.

Sharapova last skipped the U.S. Open in 2008, when she was off the tour for about 10 months because of surgery on her right shoulder. She won her first major title since that operation at last year’s French Open, completing a career Grand Slam.

Earlier Wednesday, former top-10 player Mardy Fish withdrew from the U.S. Open, citing personal reasons.

Thanks : the hindu

Title of Vijay AR Murugadoss Next

Finally the wait for Thalaivaa is over and the movie has opened to a decent opening around Tamil Nadu. Vijay can heave a sigh of relief and concentrate on his Jilla which is being filmed rapidly. Now the latest buzz is that the title of the next biggie of Vijay-ARM has been zeroed in. Though this is something not confirmed out officially, we hear from sources that it has been titled as 'Athiradi'.

The movie which was confirmed during the times of Thalaivaa is scheduled to take off once Vijay has completed Jilla and Murugadoss is done with the Hindi version of Thupakki. Music will be the young sensation of these days Anirudh and to be produced by Ayangaran International

‘Arrambam’ shoot starts again in Chennai

               Ajith's Arrambam directed by Vishnuvardhan and produced by Sri Satya Sai Movies has started another schedule in Chennai from today. The lead actors Ajith, Arya, Nayantara and Taapsee are taking part in this schedule .
               Arrambam has tremendous hype surrounding it after a teaser released without the title and became a popular video on YouTube. Taapsee had tweeted : " Back on the Arrambam sets today, finishing the last few days of work. Let the fun begin."

             Arrambam which has music by Yuvan Shankar Raja is planning an audio release shortly. The film is an all-out action thriller and is scheduled for release this Diwali.

Immune system boost 'fights cancer'

The immune system is delicately balanced so it attacks invaders but not the body's own tissues.

Animal studies suggested that shifting the balance could open up new treatments for cancer, the team from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia said.

The findings were published in Nature Medicine.

There are many diseases caused by the immune system turning on the body's own tissues - such as type 1 diabetes or multiple sclerosis.

'New cancer immunotherapy'

One popular area of research in both cancer and autoimmune diseases has been Treg cells.

They are a part of the immune system which normally calm everything down to prevent the immune system attacking the body.

The researchers were trying to disrupt Treg's function - effectively taking the brakes off the immune system - so it would attack cancer.

One of the researchers, Dr Wayne Hancock, said: "We needed to find a way to reduce Treg function in a way that permits antitumor activity without allowing autoimmune reactions."

The researchers bred mice which lacked a chemical needed for Tregs to work effectively. They then used a drug which produced the same effect in normal mice.

In both experiments, the shift in the immune system restricted the growth of a type of lung cancer.

"It really moves the field along towards a potentially major, new cancer immunotherapy," Dr Hancock said.

However, this is still a long way from any treatment for patients with cancer. Further tests will be needed to see if the same processes can be manipulated in the human immune system before it could even be tested in clinical trials.

Dr Emma Smith, from Cancer Research UK, said: "Turning the power of our immune system against cancer is a promising field of research and something scientists around the world, including our own, are studying.

"These findings go another step towards developing new treatments that act in this way, but the research is still at an early stage and we don't know yet whether this approach will be safe or effective in people."

Karunanidhi asks govt to probe charges against Madras Cafe

The DMK chief was responding to a query in party mouthpiece Murasoli on whether the film should be banned.

With some pro-Tamil groups in the state demanding a ban on John Abraham starerMadras Cafe for its depiction of the outlawed LTTE in negative light, DMK chief M Karunanidhi today urged the government to ascertain the truth behin

"I have not watched this film. It is being said the film has been produced (made) in a way (that is) insulting to the Eelam Tamil fighters (LTTE). It would be proper only if state government ascertains whether this information is true and then takes appropriate action," he said.d such charges and take "appropriate action."

The DMK chief was responding to a query in party mouthpiece Murasoli on whether the film should be banned. Pro-Tamil outfits including Vaiko's MDMK and Seeman's Naam Tamilar have sought a ban on the Hindi flick, slated for release this week.

Set in the late 80s and early 90s in India and Sri Lanka, Madras Cafe traces the political and military histories of the neighbours and covers the Research and Analysis Wing and Lankan rebel group LTTE's activities through the eye of an agent, played by Abraham, who has also produced the movie.

The film was shown to select activists of pro-Tamil outfits here on Sunday, after they demanded screening of the movie before release, as they suspected it showed the LTTE in bad light.

Court directs acid attack convict to read works of Gandhi, eat vegetarian food

Karaikal additional sessions judge N Vaithiyanathan on Tuesday directed a youth sentenced to life term for murdering a software engineer to read the works of Mahatma Gandhiand Arutprakasa Vallalar during his tenure in the prison. In addition, the judge directed him to practise yoga and meditation.

The judge made the observation while pointing out a recent research finding that revealed yoga could improve mood and mental well-being among the prisoners and affect the impulse behaviour. He directed the jail authorities to provide vegetarian food for R Suresh alias Appu who threw acid on J Vinodhini in November last year. She succumbed to the burn injuries on February 12 after undergoing treatments at various hospitals in Puducherry and Chennai.

"Imbalanced secretion of the hormones such as serotonin and melatonin and less production of neuropeptide, a chemical substance in the brain and stress caused by the energy blockages in the frontal lobe of the brain are the main physiological causes of his misbehaviour," he said.

Strongly condemning the dastardly act of the youth, the judge warned that if the attitude of 'such roadside Romeos is allowed to grow, the same will increase their tribe.'

"Ultimately they will prove to be not only a menace but also a cancerous growth to the society, especially against the young members of the weaker sex," he said.