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Food from US that are banned in Rest of the World

2013-11-27T11:50:00.000+05:30

Americans are slowly realizing that food sold in the US doesn't just taste different than foods sold in other countries, but it’s created differently. Sadly, many U.S. foods are BANNED in Europe — and for good reason. Take a look at the plummeting health of Americans; what role might toxic foods play in our sky rocketing disease rates? Below are 10 American foods that are banned elsewhere.

Farm-Raised Salmon

Where it’s banned: Australia and New Zealand

Farm-raised fish is usually fed an unnatural diet of genetically engineered (GE) grains, antibiotics and chemicals unsafe for humans. To mask the resulting grayish flesh, they’re given toxic and potentially eyesight-damaging synthetic astaxanthin.
To determine wild from farm-raised salmon (sold in most restaurants), wild sockeye gets its red color from natural astaxanthin and carotenoids. The white “fat strips” are thin, meaning it’s lean. Pale pink fish and wide fat marks are a sign of farmed salmon. Avoid “Atlantic Salmon.” Look for “Alaskan” or “sockeye,” which is illegal to farm and has very high astaxanthin concentrations.

Genetically Engineered Papaya

Where it’s banned: The European Union

Most Hawaiian papaya is genetically engineered to be ringspot virus-resistant. But research shows animals fed GE foods like corn and soy suffer intestinal damage, multiple-organ damage, massive tumors, birth defects, premature death and/or nearly complete sterility by the third generation. Dangers to humans are unknown.

Ractopamine-Tainted Meat

Where it’s banned: 160 countries across Europe, Russia, mainland China and Republic of China (Taiwan).

About 45 percent of US pigs, 30 percent of cattle and an unknown percentage of turkeys are plumped with the asthma drug ractopamine before slaughter. Up to 20 percent of ractopamine is still there when you buy it.
Since 1998, more than 1,700 US pork lovers have been “poisoned” this way. For this very health threat, ractopamine-laced meats are banned in 160 different countries! Russia issued a ban on US meat imports, effective February 11, 2013, until it’s certified ractopamine-free. In animals, it’s linked to reducedreproductive function, increased mastitis and increased death. It damages the human cardiovascular system and may cause hyperactivity, chromosomal abnormalities and behavioral changes. Currently, US meats aren’t even tested for it.

Flame Retardant Drinks

Where it’s banned: Europe and Japan

Mountain Dew and other drinks in the US contain the synthetic chemical brominated vegetable oil (BVO), originally patented as a flame retardant.
BVO bioaccumulates in human tissue and breast milk; animal studies report reproductive and behavioral problems. Bromine alters the central nervous and endocrine systems and promotes iodine deficiency, causing skin rashes, acne, loss of appetite, fatigue and cardiac arrhythmias. The featured article explains: “The FDA has flip-flopped on BVO’s safety, originally classifying it as ‘generally recognized as safe,’ but reversing that call, now defining it as an ‘interim food additive,’ a category reserved for possibly questionable substances used in food.”

Processed Foods and Artificial Food Dyes

Where it’s banned: Norway and Austria. Britain advised companies against using food dyes by the end of 2009. The European Union requires a warning notice on most foods containing dyes.

More than 3,000 preservatives, flavorings and colors are added to US foods, many of which are banned in other countries. The featured article noted:
“Boxed Mac & Cheese, cheddar flavored crackers, Jell-O and many kids’ cereals contain red 40, yellow 5, yellow 6 and/or blue 2 … (which) can cause behavioral problems as well as cancer, birth defects and other health problems in laboratory animals. Red 40 and yellow 6 are also suspected of causing an allergy-like hypersensitivity reaction in children. The Center for Science in the Public Interest reports that some dyes are also “contaminated with known carcinogens.”
In countries where these food dyes are banned, companies like Kraft employ natural colorants like paprika extract and beetroot.

Arsenic-Laced Chicken

Where it’s banned: The European Union

Arsenic-based drugs are approved in US-produced animal feed because they cause animals to grow quicker and meats products to look pinker and “fresher.” The FDA says arsenic-based drugs are safe safe because they contain organic arsenic … But organic arsenic can turn into inorganic arsenic, run through contaminated manure and leach into drinking water.
The European Union has never approved using arsenic in animal feed; US environmental groups have sued the FDA to remove them.

Bread with Potassium Bromate

Where it’s banned: Canada, China and the EU

Bread, hamburger and hotdog buns are “enriched” with potassium bromate, or bromide, linked to kidney and nervous system damage, thyroid problems, gastrointestinal discomfort and cancer.
While commercial baking companies claim it renders dough more tolerable to bread hooks, Pepperidge Farm and others use only unbromated flour without experiencing “structural problems.”

Olestra/Olean

Where it’s banned: The UK and Canada

Olestra, or Olean, created by Procter & Gamble, is a calorie- and cholesterol-free fat substitute in fat-free snacks like chips and french fries. Three years ago, Time Magazine named it one of the worst 50 inventions ever. MSN noted: “Not only did a 2011 study from Purdue University conclude rats fed potato chips made with Olean gained weight … several reports of adverse intestinal reactions to the fake fat include diarrhea, cramps and leaky bowels. And because it interferes with the absorption of fat soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K, the FDA requires these vitamins be added to any product made with Olean or olestra.”

Preservatives BHA and BHT

Where it’s banned: Both are banned in parts of the European Union and Japan; the UK doesn’t allow BHA in infant foods.

BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) are common preservatives in foods like cereal, nut mixes, chewing gum, butter spread, meat and beer. The National Toxicology Program’s 2011 Report on Carcinogens says BHA may trigger allergic reactions and hyperactivity and “is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.”

Milk and Dairy Products Made with rBGH

Where it’s banned: Australia, New Zealand, Israel, EU and Canada

Recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH), a synthetic version of natural bovine hormone is injected into cows to increase milk production. Monsanto developed it from genetically engineered E. coli bacteria, marketed as “Posilac.”
But it’s banned in at least 30 other nations. Why? It converts normal tissue cells into cancerous ones, increasing colorectal, prostate and breast cancer risks. Among other diseases, injected cows suffer exorbitant rates of mastitis, contaminating milk with pus and antibiotics.
In 1997, two Fox-affiliate investigative journalists, Jane Akre and Steve Wilson attempted to expose thedangers of rBGH, but lawyers for Monsanto – a major advertiser with the Florida network – sent letters promising “dire consequences” if the story aired.
In 1999, the United Nations Safety Agency ruled unanimously not to endorse rBGH milk, resulting in an international ban on US milk.
The Cancer Prevention Coalition, trying for years to affect a dairy industry ban of rBGH, resubmitting apetition to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg in January 2010, but the FDA sticks to its false position that rBGH-treated milk is no different than milk from untreated cows.
Action: Look for products labeled “rBGH-free” or “No rBGH.”

Take Control of Your Health with REAL Food
If you value your health, avoid foods containing harmful ingredients and ditch processed foods entirely – even if they are permitted in the US. Opt for fresh whole foods, organic, grass-fed/pasture-raised beef and poultry, dairy products and eggs.

Note: Post is the version of similar post already posted in my website http://www.jailive.in

7 ways to improve infrastructure in Indian cities

2010-07-12T10:30:00.002+05:30

The challenge for India is to write a new chapter in low-cost urban development, the way it has done in wireless telephony and automobiles, says Subir Roy.

Most of the additional 250 million Indians who will look for an urban habitat in the next 20 years will do so in existing towns and cities whose healthy and orderly growth will define the quality of Indian urban life.

McKinsey & Co has estimated that this will cost a colossal $1.2 trillion in capital expenditure alone (about India's current GDP).

Booz & Co has estimated that the government will have to spend $1 trillion in capital expenditure, not in 20 but 10 years! Plus a sharp improvement will be needed in urban governance.

While the latter is not negotiable, the former is, and the challenge for India is to write a new chapter in low-cost urban development, the way it has done in wireless telephony and automobiles (Nano).

Conventional urban solutions put in place so far are high-cost - metro rail, elevated expressways, flyovers and bringing drinking water to cities over large distances - and also ineffective. Traffic congestion keeps getting worse, water remains scarce and slums, despite some redevelopment, keep growing.

The first pillar on which low-cost urban development can be built is to look not at the top cities but the bottom ones.

The hierarchy of cities in terms of size - from metros at the top to say tier III cities at the bottom - also holds in terms of costs. McKinsey estimates that Mumbai will need more than twice the per capita investment than Patna will in the next 20 years. So, strengthen smaller cities first. Precisely the opposite is being done today with enormous Central government help for metro rail in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai.

Linked to this is the second pillar - make mass bus transit, not metro rail transit (the latter costs ten times more), the cornerstone of the solution to traffic and transportation, the number one problem afflicting Indian cities today.

With an efficient public transport system, the need for cars will go down, reducing the pressure on roads and need for flyovers, etc.

More and more Indian cities over time will have to get their drinking water from faraway places via costly water transportation systems (pipelines plus pumping stations), something in which Bangalore is the unfortunate leader today.

So, the third pillar is an affordable water solution based on extensive rainwater harvesting and recycling of waste water.

The fourth pillar is a different solid-waste disposal system. The compostable part of it has to be turned into energy and the rest incinerated to the extent possible. This will truncate the huge problem of locating adequate dumping grounds for waste.

The solution has to begin with waste segregation at the household level. Commercially successful, simple, off-the-shelf solutions are available for households to use their biodegradable waste to make compost at home.

So, tomorrow's affordable city will be relatively small, where the roads will be full of buses, bicycles and walkers and relatively fewer cars, with every building having a rainwater harvesting system, most with solar power panels on the roof and streets made bright with LED lighting.

Its leitmotif will be a Ginger hotel, not a Taj or Oberoi property. Booz outlines a range of "intelligent" IT-enabled, cost-effective solutions across sectors for Indian cities which are city-size neutral. But the big plus of a small city is that it is softer - less built up - and, therefore, cheaper to rebuild. It is cheaper to widen a road or build a bus terminus in a small city than a big one because land prices are lower in the former.

Incremental urban growth implies notifying over time more and more peripheral areas of existing urban bodies for inclusion in them. Currently, as a city spills over into a non-urban area beyond its limits and gets built up (de facto urbanised), its boundary is extended to include the new reality.

Solution (fifth pillar): keep notifying swathes of non-urban land beyond a city before these get built up, that is while they are still soft, so that there can be some planned development. This is cheaper than trying to reshape a hard area.

The sixth pillar is for city planners, in both mega and smaller cities, to promote as much of mixed-use development as possible. Incentivise developments which have both office and residential spaces, so that some of those who work in the new offices can live next door and not have to make long commutes. This is easier done in urban peripheral areas and smaller cities as developing residential space in large cities and central business districts is prohibitively costly.

The seventh pillar and perhaps the most critical is promoting low-cost housing within cities. This is easier said than done. The first step is to redo inner city slums (install sewerage, sanitation, water supply, etc.) and then build living units of maybe 300 sq ft carpet area which those with records of residence there can own by paying the construction cost through housing loans.

EMIs will be paid with what was paid earlier as rent. Success will hinge on keeping builders out and getting contractors to deliver to specifications on a cost-plus basis.

The new owners will sell off and go to newer slums? No matter, develop them too. Public expenditure will be manageable as slums are usually on public land or owned by slumlords who hold either fake titles or none at all.

The key is to trigger development with little public investment and city dwellers, there for jobs, largely paying for their electricity, health care, education and the like.

Spiced fish omelette

2010-07-06T12:28:00.001+05:30

Preparation time: less than 30 mins

Cooking time: 10 to 30 mins

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 tsp black mustard seeds
1 tbsp vegetable oil
½ onion, peeled, grated
5 curry leaves
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 tbsp grated ginger
1 garlic clove, peeled, crushed
1 birds' eye chilli, finely chopped
1 tsp garam masala
200g/7oz cooked salmon, flaked
100g coconut cream, grated
6 free-range eggs, beaten
1 tbsp double cream
1 tsp turmeric

Preparation method

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
Heat the mustard seeds in an ovenproof frying pan over a medium heat until they begin to pop. (CAUTION: Keep the pan well away from eyes and face.) Add the vegetable oil, onion and curry leaves and fry for 4-5 minutes.
Add the tomatoes, ginger, garlic, chilli and garam masala and continue to cook for 3-4 minutes, then add the flaked salmon and coconut cream.
Meanwhile, beat the egg, double cream and turmeric together in a bowl until well combined and pour into the frying pan, stirring a little. Continue to cook for 3-4 minutes, then transfer to the oven to bake for 4-5 minutes, or until the egg is cooked through.

Spanish-style tortilla

2010-07-06T12:24:00.000+05:30

Preparation time: less than 30 mins

Cooking time: 10 to 30 mins

Serves 6-8

Ingredients
25g/1oz butter

1 tbsp olive oil

2 large onions, finely sliced

750g/1½lb Pink Fir Apple potatoes, peeled, parboiled and sliced into 1cm/½in pieces

250g/8oz handful fresh spinach, cooked and roughly chopped

10 free-range eggs, lightly beaten

salt and freshly ground pepper

Preparation method
In a large, heavy-based frying pan, heat the butter and oil. Cook the onions slowly until transparent and soft.

Add the potato slices and fry gently for two minutes.

Stir in the spinach.

Season the eggs with salt and freshly ground black pepper and pour onto the contents of the frying pan.

Cook over a low to medium heat: it may take up to ten minutes until the egg is set enough to turn the tortilla over, and if the heat is too high, the bottom will burn before the middle is set.

Once the bottom is nicely browned and the centre has set, it is time to turn it over. This is done with a double flip: place a plate (or the bottom of a tart tin) over the pan and flip it over once, so that the cooked surface of the tortilla is on the bottom. Take another plate, and flip it again so the cooked surface is on the top. Then place the frying pan back over the tortilla plate and flip one more time, so the uncooked bit is now in contact with the base of the pan.

Replace the pan over low heat until the tortilla is cooked through.

Serve hot, warm or cold, cut into slices or cubes.

Top 10 dead websites X

2010-07-06T10:34:00.000+05:30

Yahoo Photos: While Yahoo is known to buy out promising startups, it also is notorious for closing down services. Another in the list of Yahoo's discontinued websites is Yahoo Photos.

Yahoo shut down the website in 2007 in favour of Flickr, the photo sharing service that it purchased in 2005.

Top 10 dead websites IX

2010-07-06T10:33:00.002+05:30

Jumpcut.com: The online video editing and hosting service jumpcut.com was launched in April 2006 and was acquired by Yahoo a few months later. Yahoo closed down the website in June 2009 and the domain now redirects to the Yahoo home page.

Top 10 dead websites VIII

2010-07-06T10:32:00.002+05:30

BBC Jam: BBC launched an online educational service in 2006. The service went on to have about 170,000 registered users. But in the face of criticism that BBC was damaging the interests of commercial producers of interactive educational products by providing free content, the service was suspended in March 2007.

Top 10 dead websites VII

2010-07-06T10:30:00.002+05:30

Encarta: Microsoft closed its digital encyclopedia Encarta in late 2009. Only the Encarta online dictionary is still available online. Many believe that it was the popularity of Wikipedia that led Microsoft to kill off Encarta.

Top 10 dead websites VI

2010-07-06T10:29:00.003+05:30

GeoCities: Before the Facebook pages, before the blogs, there was GeoCities. Today, if you are not in Japan, GeoCities is as good as dead.

Founded way back in 1994, GeoCities was brought over by Yahoo in 1999, and in tune with Yahoo's long history of discontinuing services, GeoCities shut shop on October 26, 2009. Though some websites attempted to mirror GeoCities huge archive of personal webpages, a rich history of the Internet could be lost for ever.

Top 10 dead websites V

2010-07-06T10:29:00.000+05:30

Google Answers: With Facebook venturing into the question and answer business, Google might do a rethink on its now closed Google Answers service. A client could post a question on Google Answers and offer a price for an answer and the Google Answers Researchers answered them.

The service launched in April 2002 and was shut down by end 2006.

Top 10 dead websites IV

2010-07-06T10:28:00.002+05:30

Tr.im: Soon after Twitter anointed Bit.ly as the default URL shortening service, tr.im announced that it is shutting down its service, only to be followed by a resurrection a few days later. Then there was some buzz about bit.ly offering to buy out tr.im and also tr.im going open source. And now the tr.im website says "tr.im is a totally pointless service" and puts the blame on abuse by spammers.

ti.im has also put up a list of alternative URL shortening services, that, interestingly, doesn't include bit.ly.

Top 10 dead websites III

2010-07-06T10:27:00.002+05:30

Stage6: DivX Inc, the company behind the popular DivX codec, launched a video sharing website Stage6 in 2006. The popularity of Stage6 actually the reason it being closed down. The website, due to its ability to stream high quality video, became very popular with users sharing pirated videos. The costs of maintaining the website skyrocketed and DivX finally pulled the plug on Stage6 on February 9, 2008.

Top 10 dead websites II

2010-07-06T10:26:00.002+05:30

imeem: imeem, a popular social media service, was bought out by MySpace in December 2009. MySpace immediately shut down the website and redirected users to MySpace Music. MySpace later restored some features for imeem users on MySpace Music, but the Internet entity imeem.com no longer exists.

Top 10 dead websites I

2010-07-06T10:25:00.002+05:30

DesiPundit: It was in the mid-2000s that the popularity of the blog accelerated in India and DesiPundit, a collaborative filter blog, took up the task of showcasing the best that the Indian blogosphere had on offer. DesiPundit went through two shutdowns, the first in 2006 and then again in 2010. This time, they say, it is for good.

Economic loss due to bandh: Rs 13,000 crore

2010-07-06T10:24:00.000+05:30

Bharat Bandh on Monday partially disrupted economic activities with commodity markets and the transport sector taking a hit in many parts of the country, and the industry pegged losses at up to Rs 13,000 crore.

While Mumbai, the financial capital of the country, and several industrialised states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, were affected, the impact was partial in many other states like Tamil Nadu and in the national capital Delhi.Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G, 6" Display, White, 3G Works Globally - Latest Generation

The 12-hour strike was called by the Opposition parties to protest the fuel price hike and rising inflation.

"The bandh is estimated to have cost the nation close to Rs 13,000 crore in terms of GDP loss," industry chamber FICCI said in a statement. Another industry body Assocham put the losses at Rs 10,000 crore, while CII pegged it at Rs 3,000 crore.

Wholesale commodity markets remained shut in most of the cities, while several flights from key airports like Mumbai were cancelled. According to the All-India Motor Transport Congress, 6 lakh vehicles were off the road.

Though the screen-based stock market remained open, the trading volume at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) was down 52 per cent to Rs 2,857 crore against a daily average of nearly Rs 6,000 crore.

According to reports by industry chambers like Ficci and Assocham, thin attendance was witnessed in commercial establishments in several states, while the economic activity came to a complete halt in states like West Bengal, Gujarat and Kerala. Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G, 6" Display, White, 3G Works Globally - Latest Generation

FICCI said most of the industrial activities remained shut in Bangalore and majority of MNCs and IT firms preferred to give a holiday to their employees. In Mumbai, transport services were "completely affected" and traders were mostly off the market.

The PHD Chamber catering mainly to the northern states, said the impact was felt in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and UP.

Banking services were completely paralysed in Left governed West Bengal and Kerala while some disruptions were noticed in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Mumbai.

The industry leaders including Rahul Bajaj and Adi Godrej have opposed the bandh and termed the protest as "odd and absurd".

The disrupted rail movement also contributed to the industry loss.

Uruguay-Netherlands preview

2010-07-06T10:20:00.002+05:30

The prospect of a Uruguay versus Netherlands semi-final was scarcely mentioned in the long build-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, yet these are the teams who meet in the last four on Tuesday evening in Cape Town. Both are there on merit too, as they have performed consistently well from the first day, defended resolutely, and taken their chances efficiently at the other end. The winners go forward to the Final, while the consolation prize for the losers is the third-place play-off.

The game
Uruguay-Netherlands, semi-final, Cape Town, Tuesday 6 July, 20.30 (local time)

After the drama and tension of their penalty shoot-out victory over Ghana in the quarter-finals, Uruguay are in the last four at the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 40 years. La Celeste fell 3-1 to eventual winners Brazil at Mexico 1970, and went on to finish fourth. The Netherlands, who staged a remarkable second-half comeback to defeat five-time winners Brazil in the last eight, previously fought through to the semis in 1974, 1978 and 1998.

The teams’ solitary previous meeting at the FIFA World Cup came in the 1974 tournament. Johnny Rep fired a brace as the celebrated Dutch ensemble spearheaded by the great Johan Cruyff won the group stage encounter 2-0. The Uruguay squad that day included defender Pablo Forlan, father of current La Celeste marksman Diego Forlan.

Ahead of Tuesday’s clash, Uruguay boss Oscar Tabarez and Netherlands supremo Bert van Marwijk are both mulling over enforced changes to their winning teams. For the South Americans, Jorge Fucile and Luis Suarez are suspended, and captain Diego Lugano is rated very doubtful with bruising and a stretched knee ligament. Young Nicolas Lodeiro will play no further part in South Africa after breaking a foot. For the Dutch, Van Marwijk is without suspended pair Gregory van der Wiel and Nigel de Jong.

Players to watch
Diego Forlan (URU) v Wesley Sneijder (NED)

Our two players to watch may not cross paths that often on the field of play, but the spotlight still falls on the respective teams’ leading scorers. Forlan shares top spot in the Celeste goalscoring list with Suarez, but the latter can only watch from the stands after his red card against Ghana. The task of piercing the Dutch defence thus falls fairly and squarely to Forlan, now up to 27 goals for his country, and whose three strikes at the current tournament have all come against African sides.

His Netherlands counterpart Sneijder also has four goals, and rates as an equally creative orchestrator of the Oranjes’ versatile forward line. The world already knew all about Sneijder’s flawless technique and visionary passing, but his lethal finishing has taken many people by surprise.

The stat
100 – No-one can fail to be impressed by the Netherlands’ current run of form. Since the start of 2010, Van Marwijk’s men boast a 100 per cent record, with nine wins in nine matches, extending their unbeaten run to 24 games. Uruguay are themselves unbeaten in nine, winning five and drawing two of their seven games in 2010, giving them a win ratio of 77.7 per cent.

What they said
"It will be a very dangerous match. The euphoria at home is massive at the moment and maybe it's good that we're so far away and can't witness it. We really need to concentrate on Uruguay and that won’t be easy. They didn't reach the semi final for nothing, so we have to really focus again and not think that we're already there," Bert Van Marwijk, Netherlands coach.

"Holland are tough opponents. They’ve not lost for almost two years. This generation is a little different to the traditional Holland - they are a very balanced side. At the back they give nothing away, they link well in midfield, and up front, they have hard-running, technically capable players like Van Bommel, Sneijder and Robben. They’re always on the front foot, looking to attack. It’ll be very difficult - but not impossible," Oscar Tabarez, Uruguay coach.

Voice of the fans
"Bert van Marwijk’s analysis is spot on. Euro 2008 showed us the biggest danger for Oranje, which is thinking the World Cup is already won. In fact, they have to win twice more before getting their hands on the cup. Holland need to concentrate totally on their next two games, and then maybe they’ll earn their first star," FIFA.com-User Saitou (Germany)

The major goof-up in Sholay

2010-07-06T10:19:00.002+05:30

In the movie Sholay, there is a water tank situated in the middle of the village from where Dharmendra tries to commit suicide.

But if you recall, Jaya Bachchan is seen lighting the lamps every night which means there is no electricity in the village. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

So how is the water pumped into this tank? Or was the tank there only for suicides?

Brazil sack Dunga as coach

2010-07-05T14:05:00.001+05:30

Brazil [ Images ] coach Dunga and his entire coaching staff have been sacked after the team's quarter-final exit from theWorld Cup.

The Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) released a statement on Sunday confirming the dismissals.

"With the closing of the work cycle that started in August 2006 and ended with the elimination of Brazil from the World Cup in South Africa [ Images ], the CBF announces the dismissal of the Technical Commission of the Brazilian team," the statement read.

Dunga, 46, had already indicated after his team's surprise 2-1 quarter-final loss to the Netherlands that he would be stepping down after four years in the job.

Dunga replaced Carlos Alberto Parreira in July 2006, immediately after the last World Cup.

A hard-tackling midfielder in his playing days, Dunga captained the Brazil team that won the 1994 World Cup and finished runners-up four years later, but was a surprise choice as coach, having had no previous coaching experience.

Despite that, he led Brazil to the Copa America in 2007, the Confederations Cup in 2009 and top of the South American World Cup qualifying group before it all came crashing down with the loss to the Dutch in Port Elizabeth.

The CBF said in their statement that a new coach would be installed by the end of the month.

Brazil are due to play the United States at the new Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey in August and have a busy schedule over the next few years, including hosting the Confederations Cup in 2013 and the World Cup in 2014.

SLA obliterates Tiger Heroes' Cemeteries, erects military bases

2010-07-04T11:11:00.000+05:30

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) which has been systematically razing to the ground without any traces the Thamizh Eezham Heroes War Cemeteries (Thamizh Eezha Maaveerar Thuyilum Illam) in several places of North and East, has in recent weeks obliterated the Thuyilum Illam at Kodikaaman in Thenmaraadchi, Jaffna, and is erecting a big SLA base in its place. Ellangku’lam Heroes Cemetery in Udupiddi in Vadamaraadchi had been already destroyed without any trace and the premises converted into an SLA base. The obliterated Thuyilum Illam is now enclosed by barbed wire fence and hidden by coconut cadjans where a large number of SLA soldiers are hurriedly constructing a base. Tamil circles view the systematic destruction of Tamil war heroes' cemeteries and the symbols of the Tamil struggle in north and East as part of a large-scale genocide programme on Tamils by the Sri Lankan state.

All the Heroes Cemeteries maintained by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Vanni had been completely razed to the ground and all the graves, memorial plaques and the dais where the Common Flame is lit on Heroes Day have been totally destroyed.

Bulldozed grounds of LTTE War Hereoes Cemetery in Visuvamadu, destroyed by the SLA.

The SLA is very particular in erecting its bases on the grounds where Tamil Hereos cemeteries had stood so that nothing remains to remind the fighters who had sacrificed their lives for the cause.

LTTE war heroes' memorials in Jaffna peninsula at Koappaay were bulldozed by the Sri Lanka Army in 1995. The other cemeteries destroyed in Jaffna were: Chaaddi in Veala'nai (1995), Kodikaamam in Thenmaraadchi (1996) and Ellangku'lam in Vadamaraadchi (1996). These war cemeteries were re-built following the February 2002 Ceasefire Agreement.

The war heroes cemeteries located at Kagnchikudichcha'ru in Ampaa'rai district, Thaa'ndiyadi, Tharavai, Ka'ndaladi and Maavadi Munmaari in Batticaloa district and Aalangku'lam, Iththikku'lam, Verukal, Uppaa'ru and Paalampoaddaa'ru Trincomalee district were destroyed after the SLA occupied LTTE held areas in the East in 2006 and 2007.

In Vanni, there were at least ten War Heroes Cemeteries. The cemeteries were located in Aa'ndaangku’lam and Pa’ndivirichchaan in Mannaar, Kanakapuram and Muzhangkaavil in Ki’linochchi district, Uduththu’rai in Vadamaraadchi East of Jaffna district, Eachchangku’lam in Vavuniyaa and four at Vanni-vizhaangku’lam, Visuvamadu, A’lampil, and Mu’l’liyava’lai of Mullaiththeevu district.

During the last battles of Eezham War IV, when genocidal attacks were launched from all fronts by the Sri Lankan military, the Tiger fighters killed in the war were buried at Ira’naippaalai and at Iraddaivaaykkaal in Mullaiththeevu.

The Sri Lanka Army bulldozed the Heroes Cemetery at Visuvamadu between March and April 2009. The SLA captured Tamil civilians of Vanni, who were made to pass through Visuvamadu on 21st of April 2009, before reaching internment camps in Vavuniyaa, had witnessed the complete destruction of the largest Maaveerar Thuyilum illam in Visuvamadu, where more than 4,000 war dead Tamil fighters had been buried by the Tigers.

My best in next 10 years: Kamal Haasan

2010-07-04T11:04:00.000+05:30

Kamal Haasan on Friday said his best innings in films would come over the next 10 years. "I am proud of my film industry", he said and added: "I'll keep doing films, as I know nothing else".

The 'Ulaga Nayagan' was speaking at the inauguration of a three-day retrospective of his films, organised by the Directorate of Film Festivals at the Siri Fort Auditorium in New Delhi, to mark his 50 years in Indian cinema.

"I am not going to dwell on what has been done, but rather focus on what is to be done," the actor said at the function attended by Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni.

"This journey seems very short because I felt I had lot of time. I think I've been very lucky with my teachers or gurus. Literally, they've been my gurus; it's not about working under somebody hence calling him guru instead of your boss. They were gurus," he said.

In her address, Ambika Soni said, "Kamal Haasan as an artist over a period of time, balanced cinema with realism. His portrayal of different characters, created a pan India phenomenon, breaking the barriers of age groups, language and commercial interest.

Some of the character portrayals left a deep imprint across all generations. His multilingual cinematic versatility ensured a fan following reiterating his mass appeal and acceptance of his cinema as a unique artistic expression."

Acknowledging the contribution of Kamal Haasan to cinema, the Minister said each of the films being screened during the festival had a strong social message.

Films such as, 'Anbe Sivam, Virumaandi, Thevar Magan, Sagara Sangamam, Dasavatharam' and 'Nayagan' would be screened during the three day festival. Garmin nüvi 285W/285WT & nüMaps Lifetime Map Update Collection

2000 prints for ‘Endhiran’

2010-07-04T11:03:00.000+05:30

The budget size of ‘Endhiran’ is getting bigger and bigger as it is nearing the D-day. The magnum opus of Shankar was touted to be a 100 crore project when it was launched in 2008. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Then it was said to be 120 cores and when Sun Pictures took over the film ‘Endhiran’ was billed as a 150 crore production. Now the new buzz is the cost of ‘Endhiran’ has touched around 200 crores.

The other news is that ‘Endhiran’ will be a mammoth worldwide release and the Rajinikanth starrer will also be released in China where the super star has a fan following just as in Japan. So to cater to all the markets ‘Endhiran’ will be out in more than 2000 pints so that there is no place in the world which is not touched by the magnetism of the super star.

We had already reported that the music launch of ‘Endhiran’ will happen in Malaysia. There will also be a music release function for the Tamil Nadu fans during the first week of August our sources say.

TRS MP Vijayashanti held, released on bail

2010-07-04T11:01:00.000+05:30

Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) leader and MP Vijayashanti was released from jail on bail on Saturday evening, a few hours after she was arrested for making inflammatory remarks ahead of the July 27 by-elections in Telangana and sent to judicial custody.

A city court granted bail to the actress-turned-politician, who alleged that police misbehaved with her and said she had decided to take up the issue with the prime minister and Lok Sabha speaker.

After her release from Chanchalguda jail on Saturday evening, she told reporters that the way a woman MP was treated by the police was shameful. "My only crime is that I gave a slogan," she said referring to the allegedly provocative remark she made a few days ago.

Vijayashanti, who had earlier refused to move a bail petition, said as a disciplined solder of the party and also in view of the law and order situation, she agreed to the party decision to apply for bail.

The bail was granted a few hours after a court sent her to 14 days judicial custody. Police arrested her from Road Number 3 Banjara Hills near her residence and brought her before the third additional chief metropolitan magistrate at the Nampally criminal court.

The Medak MP was on Friday booked for promoting animosity and hatred among people.

The TRS leader, while addressing party workers a few days ago, had called upon people in Telangana to "slay" anyone who opposed formation of a Telangana state.

Earlier, tension prevailed near her residence in Banjara Hills as police used force to disperse TRS workers who gathered there to resist her arrest.

Vijayashanti, who went into hiding on Friday after police filed a case against her on the directions of the Election Commission, was taken into custody by police while leaving for Siddipet in Medak.

The actress, known as Lady Amitabh for her roles in Telugu movies, had heated arguments with policeofficials.

"I was in my house throughout the night and even this morning but you did not come. Now you are arresting me on the road," the MP told them. TRS workers raised slogans against the police, who had a tough time controlling the crowd.

Congress legislator T Jayaprakash Reddy was also arrested for making provocative remarks. He represents Siddipet assembly, a part of Medak Lok Sabha constituency.

Reddy, arrested in Sangareddy, will be brought before a magistrate, police said.

Spain edge past resolute Paraguay

2010-07-04T10:39:00.000+05:30

Spain set up a potentially thrilling semi-final meeting with Germany but the European champions had to do it the hard way, requiring a lone second-half strike from David Villa to claim a 1-0 win over a resilient Paraguay 1-0 at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park. The goal saw Villa take an outright lead in the race for the adidas Golden Boot with five goals but the match was as much a tale of two failed spot-kicks, one for each side.

Vicente del Bosque fielded an unchanged Spanish line-up to that which defeated neighbours Portugal 1-0 four days ago. Conversely, Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino made six changes to the team which squeezed past Japan on penalties. Left out were his trio of misfiring strikers, with Roque Santa Cruz, Edgar Benitez and Lucas Barrios all consigned to the bench.

Both sides went into the match aiming for new heights. Spain clinched a top-four finish in 1950 in a round-robin final stage but they have never competed in a FIFA World Cup™ semi-final, while Paraguay had already achieved a first by progressing past the Round of 16.

If Spain were feeling complacent, then one of the new faces in La Albirroja’s forward line, Jonathan Santana, provided an early wake-up call by forcing Iker Casillas into a save in the opening minute. Paraguay didn’t allow Spain to settle and successfully disrupted their normally crisp passing game during the first half. The in-form Villa only rarely found space on the left flank in the early stages, while at the other end Nelson Valdez looked dangerous whenever Paraguay made forays forward.

Spain midfielder Xavi took matters into his own hands on the half-hour mark with a wonderful snap-shot; the dipping volley from 25 yards clearing the crossbar with goalkeeper Justo Villar scrambling. Minutes later at the other end, Santana narrowly failed to connect with a diving header from a Claudio Morel cross. Valdez then had the ball in the net four minutes before the break only to see his effort disallowed for offside as Paraguay finished the first half in a positive frame of mind.

The second half commenced in similar fashion to the first period, with neither goalkeeper under threat until a remarkable period around the hour-mark. The drama began when Gerard Pique wrestled Oscar Cardozo to the ground as a corner, Paraguay’s first of the night, was played in from the left. Cardozo looked set to give La Albirroja a stunning lead from the penalty spot against the European champions only for skipper Casillas to rescue his side with a superb diving save to his left. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Within 60 seconds, Antolin Alcaraz was deemed to have bundled over Villa in the penalty area and Spain had their own chance from the spot. Xabi Alonso buried his spot-kick but Spanish joy was shortlived, with a retake ordered for encroachment. This time Villar dived low to his left and parried Alonso’s effort, and Paraguay scrambled the rebound to safety. Dark Hope

Minutes later, Andres Iniesta hit a curling effort that was well blocked by Villar, and it was indeed to be the Barcelona midfielder who proved the difference in the decisive moment of the match seven minutes from time. Budweiser Man of the Match Iniesta made a driving run from midfield, teeing up Pedro, whose shot hit Villar’s right-hand post before rebounding to Villa. The Spain No7 accepted the gift, placing his effort against the left-hand post but eventually nestling into the net, but only after rebounding off the opposite post.

In the final minute, Casillas saved his side with a double block from Santa Cruz and Barrios, while Villa was similarly denied by the impressive Villar in a lighting counter-attack.

Rampant Germany oust Argentina

2010-07-03T23:25:00.000+05:30

Germany are through to the semi-finals after producing another masterful performance to beat Argentina 4-0 at Cape Town’s Green Point Stadium. Diego Maradona’s Albiceleste came into this match with high hopes of avenging their quarter-final defeat in 2006 but they ultimately had no answer to a slick, powerful German side who will now face either Spain or Paraguay in the last four.

Games as eagerly-anticipated as this one often disappoint, but this particular encounter took just three minutes to catch fire as Joachim Low's side snatched an early advantage. Bastian Schweinsteiger provided the assist with a superbly judged inswinging free-kick, and with Sergio Romero caught in no man’s land, Thomas Muller applied the slightest of headed touches to flick the ball into the net. It was Germany’s 200th FIFA World Cup™ goal, their fastest in 32 years and the quickest so far at South Africa 2010. The only downside for Low’s side was that it left Argentina with 87 minutes to respond. BlackBerry Bold 9700 Phone (AT&T)

However, it was the Germans who continued to carve out the better chances, with Miroslav Klose - winning his 100th cap – firing wastefully over from the edge of the box after some outstanding, unselfish set-up play from Muller. Argentina attempted to grab a foothold, with Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain creating decent shooting positions, but on each occasion Manuel Neuer proved equal to their goal-bound efforts.

Nevertheless, as the match wore on, La Albiceleste relied increasingly on speculative long-range efforts, with the subdued Lionel Messi firing over just before the break and Di Maria missing the left-hand post by a matter of inches with a ferociously-struck 25-yard drive. Germany also remained a constant threat on the break, and Podolski – who had earlier come close to scoring himself – was to lead the counter-attack that provided Low’s team with their all-important second goal. HTC Hero Android Phone (Sprint)

With the second half reaching its midway point, the Cologne forward broke clear on the left and, from a position where he would have been forgiven for shooting, he instead squared intelligently for Klose to tap home from inside the six yard box. The goal left Argentina with little option but to throw men forward, and with Diego Maradona’s side over-committed, Germany proceeded to pick them off on the break. HTC EVO 4G Android Phone (Sprint)

Within six minutes of Klose making it two, Arne Friedrich removed any lingering doubts over the outcome with another close-range finish, profiting on this occasion from a dazzling solo run from the excellent Schweinsteiger. There was even time for Klose to rub salt into Argentinian wounds, side-footing home Mesut Ozil's measured cross with a minute remaining to round off a memorable German win.