Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 20India today gave a firm rebuttal to China on linking signing of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to membership of the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and took exception to its increased investment in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.Countering the Chinese argument, India cited the example of France, which was admitted to the NSG without first having signed the NPT. “I think there is some confusion here. Even the NPT allows civil nuclear cooperation with non-NPT countries. If there is a connection, it is between the NSG and IAEA safeguards and with export controls,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said today in a media interaction.“NSG members have to respect safeguards and export controls, nuclear supplies have to be in accordance with the NSG guidelines. The NSG is an ad-hoc export control regime and France, which was not an NPT member for some time, was a member of the NSG since it respected NSG’s objectives,” Swarup added.China has objected to India’s NSG membership on the grounds that isn’t the NPT signatory. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang had said all the multilateral non-proliferation export control regime, including the NSG have regarded NPT as an important standard for the expansion of the NSG.Chinese stand has irked India and it is one of the topics that will also be raised by President Pranab Mukherjee who is travelling to China next week.India also slammed China for its increased investments in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. “Chinese activities in PoK have been taken up with the Chinese side, including at the highest level. Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India… we have asked them to cease all activities (there),” Swarup said.

Lahore, May 20

Lashkar-e-Toiba operations commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and six others accused in the 2008 Mumbai attack case will be individually charged with abetment to murder of 166 people who died in the carnage, a Pakistan anti-terrorism court ruled today.A senior official said the court did not allow cross-examination of the suspects. The prosecution had filed an application in the anti-terrorism court, Islamabad, two months ago, requesting it to make an amendment to the charges against the suspects of abetment to murder of each individual in the carnage. The trial court had in March reserved the verdict. As many as 166 people, including six Americans, were killed and more than 300 injured in the attack in November 2008 by 10 Pakistan terrorists. — PTI

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Toronto

Researchers, including one of Indian-origin, have found three effective methods involving statins and antihypertensives, which may prevent heart attacks and stroke worldwide.

Scientists from Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) of McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences in Canada studied more than 12,000 patients from 21 countries to evaluate drugs that can prevent cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

These diseases lead to 18 million deaths and about 50 million heart attacks and strokes globally every year, researchers said.

“These are incredibly important findings with potential for significant global impact. If just 10 per cent of the world’s population at intermediate risk of CVD is impacted, we are talking about 20 to 30 million people who could be helped by these drugs,” said Salim Yusuf from PHRI.

The three methods examined included two forms of therapy – statins, a group of cholesterol-lowering drugs, and antihypertensives, a class of drugs used to treat high blood pressure. In addition, a combination of statins and antihypertensives was reviewed, researchers said.

The study involved 228 centres looking at the effects of the three treatments in people at intermediate risk of, but without, clinical heart disease.

Statins proved to significantly and safely reduce CVD events by 25 per cent in patients at intermediate risk without CVD, researchers said.

Antihypertensives did not reduce major CVD events overall in the population studied, but did reduce such events in the group of people with hypertension, but not in those without hypertension, they said.

When combined, statins and antihypertensives reduced CVD events by 30 per cent – with a 40 per cent benefit in those with hypertension, suggesting that patients with hypertension should not only lower their blood pressure but also consider taking a statin.

“Treatment with a statin was remarkably safe and beneficial in our study, regardless of cholesterol or blood pressure levels, age, gender or ethnicity. We are incredibly encouraged by the study’s results,” said Jackie Bosch from McMaster University.

“These simple methods can be used practically everywhere in the world, and the drugs will become even cheaper as more and more systems and people adopt these therapies,” said Yusuf.

The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. —PTI

Major Amit Deswal

Imphal, April 14

The body of Major Amit Deswal, who was killed in an encounter yesterday, was today recovered from a remote place in Tamenglong district in Manipur and being flown to Imphal, Army officials said.

The body will then be taken to Surheti in Jhajjar district of Haryana via New Delhi, Army officials said.

Major Deswal of 21 Para SF was killed in a gunbattle with ZUF militants in densely forested Nungba area during a combing operation undertaken by Rashtriya Rifles and Special Forces personnel.One militant was also killed in the encounter.Deswal is survived by wife and a three-and-a-half years old son.For the time being, the combing operation, which was going on for the last few days, has been called off by the Army, the officials said. — PTI

About Martyr

Maj Amit Deswal was commissioned on 10 Jun 2006 into Regt Of Arty. After his basic service he recognised that his calling is somewhere more adventurous.. He opted for Special Group at first but finally opted and was selected and marooned into the coveted Special Forces. .
He joined the elite unit in Jan 2011.He was physically robust which was reflected in his performance at the ‘Ghatak Course ‘, where he secured ‘ Commando Dagger – Best Student’   at 8 yrs of service .
He got inducted in Manipur for Op Hifazat II in Jan 2016.
After relentless hard work combined with a superior tactical acumen, the officer homed on to eliminate the leadership of NSCN K and ZNF cadres. With his Cdo spirit at helm he followed them and in an ensuing gunfight on 13 April 2016, he sustained two GSW in stomach. Despite grieviously injured the offr shot down the top militant Cadres at last Light in Tamenglong District. The Bravegeart breathed his last in the true traditions of a Warrior, a Commando , fighting till the End.

Paramilitary jawans patrol a curfew-bound area of Main Chowk, Handwara, on Thursday. — Tribune photo: Amin War

Srinagar, April 14

Curfew-like restrictions continued for the second day in parts of Kashmir and mobile Internet services were on Thursday suspended in some areas as tension prevailed in the Valley following the killing of four persons in action by security forces during violent protests since Tuesday.

Strict restrictions have been imposed in Kupwara town, Kralgund, Handwara, Magam and Langate areas in north Kashmir to maintain law and order, a police official said.

He said the restrictions were imposed following the death of three persons during protests against alleged molestation of a girl by a soldier in Handwara town on Tuesday. Another youth was killed in Drugmulla area of Kupwara during protests against the Handwara incident yesterday.

Restrictions also continue in six police station areas of Srinagar city, where sporadic incidents of stone-pelting were reported through the day yesterday, the official said.

He said the affected police station areas include Safakadal, Maharajgunj, Khanyar, Nowhatta, Rainawari and Maisuma.

Normal life remained affected in the Valley due to a strike call by separatist groups. Markets remained closed while public transport was off the roads due to the strike.

Authorities have suspended mobile Internet services in north Kashmir areas to curb the menace of rumour mongering, the official said.

Although the situation in most of the Valley has been peaceful so far, isolated cases of stone-pelting have been reported from some parts, including south Kashmir’s Kulgam town, he said.

A cab driver was injured in a stone-pelting incident in Kulgam, the official said. — PTI