Hasan Ali, ED officers need protection: Report

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate has submitted to the Supreme Court a status report on the Hasan Ali Khan money laundering case. The Pune stud farm owner is currently in judicial custody.

According to the report, Khan and all ED officers, including the director, need protection. The ED also submitted that it is on the verge of a breakthrough in the case.

The apex court asked the government as to why it had not investigated the source of black money and its impact on national security. It asked the government to consider setting up of a multi-discipline task force to investigate black money.

'Onions, cow dung reduce radiation impact'

ALLAHABAD: The threat of nulcear radiation in Japan has raised widespread concerns across the world. India too, which has many nuclear plants, needs to be worried, specially for its population living near the nuke plants.

TOI spoke to associate professor in physics department, KN Uttam, about the nuclear radiation and ways to prevent it. He said some traditional Indian practices can help in minimising the effects of Gamma rays, the most harmful rays emitted in nuclear radiation.

"Traditional methods like keeping onions in pockets and applying a layer of Cow Dung on the outside walls of houses absorb the harmful gamma rays," Uttam said. "Cow dung, in fact, can absorb all the three rays -- alpha, beta and gamma. Among these,alpha rays cannot penetrate the layers of cloths whereas beta falls after hitting the same but the Gamma rays penetrate the body tissue and is the most harmful," he added. If the outer walls of houses are coated with thick layers of cow dung, it will absorb the gamma rays and in turn people would be safe, said Uttam who has worked in the ministry of science and technology and MHRD.

Similarly, research has shown that onions too absorb the Gamma rays. Besides, Indian practices based on herbal methods, including applying gram flour (besan) and mustard oil on the human skin, too minimise the effects of radiation, Uttam said.

"The leafy vegetables like spinach, basil, fenugreek leaves (methi ka saag), mustard leaves (sarson ka saag) etc., too have radiation but it's negligible and hence not harmful," he said.

These leafs have Sodium 23 and 24 along with Potassium which is infact essential for body growth. These isotopes has a short life as Potassium 42 half life time is 12 hours (after which the quantity of the same comes to half) whereas that of Sodium 22 is 2.5 years. Similarly, there are different Beta emitters like Sodium 22 and 24 Potassium 45, Iron 59 but are non-hazardous. There are many naturally occurring isotopes which are non-hazardous as they do not cross the natural limit, said Uttam.

India vs Pak semifinal: Companies pad up to let employees enjoy

NEW DELHI: Work will take a backseat at India Inc when the cricketing world's arch-rivals India and Pakistan face-off in the World Cup semi-final at Mohali on Wednesday.

While some companies are considering half- or full-day leave for employees on the day of the match, others have installed TV screens across office premises or made arrangements for special screening of the match to ensure employees get the pulse of the cricketing ties between the two nations that have fought three wars since independence.

FMCG company Dabur India is weighing an "off" on Wednesday. "The only constraint is that it is yearend closing, so work pressure is quite high at the moment," said Dabur India executive director A Sudhakar.

The company had declared a holiday on the day of the T20 final between India and Pakistan in 2007.

Food and beverages major PepsiCo India may allow half-day leave for employees if it doesn't impact the organisation's functioning, said Samik Basu, vice-president (HR) and chief people officer for India Region.

Some firms are also looking into work-from-home facility for that day. "If employees want to work from home or leave early to be able to watch the match, we are open to that," said Ashish Kumar, chief HR officer at multiplex chain operator PVR Ltd , which is screening the match at some of its multiplexes. The firm is also considering an exclusive screening for its employees.

Employees of the Future Group's Big Bazaar, the country's largest hypermarket retail chain, will be free to watch the match on large screens installed in stores, said its president, Rajan Malhotra.

"The idea is to let employees enjoy the match while at work, because they tend to take leave during such crucial matches," said S Varadarajan, executive vice-president (HR) at BPO firm Quatrro.

The company has in-house contests surrounding the World Cup to give employees a sense of involvement in the sporting event. Salil Kapoor, COO of the country's largest DTH service company Dish TV, said, "We would have special screening of the match in high definition feed for our employees in office and have also tied up with some pubs and clubs with special discounts for our employees."

Source- Times 0f India

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10 Simple Ways to Beat Stress

We all suffer from stress! In these days of demanding work and home schedules, it is tougher than ever to keep stress at bay. Here are some easy ways to beat stress and bring out the best in you

Change your scenery. When stress sets in, place yourself in a different environment for five to ten minutes. If you are reading at your desk, move to a bench outside. The new setting can arouse your senses and replace your stress with more pleasing stimuli.

Start exercising. Begin rhythmic exercises, such as jumping jacks or just roll your head in a relaxing circular motion. Physical activity can give you a feeling of control and work off your negative energy. Breathing slowly and deeply also helps prevent stress from overwhelming you.

Write it down. Start a journal where you can jot down some of your thoughts about what is bothering you and help yourself put stress into perspective. The act of writing down your concerns helps you adopt an outlook of healthy detachment.

Keep a good sense of humor. Laugh at least once a day, preferably aloud, as often as you can. Studies shows that chronic pain sufferers who belly laugh several times a day, complain less of their pain after a few weeks.

Take a walk. Walking just five minutes with your mind focused on your stride and rhythmic breathing does wonders to clear your mind. Step outside, swing your arms back and forth and breathe deeply for an energy boost. Exercise is the number one preventative of stress.

Stop everything. When you start feeling stressed, stop what you are doing and spend just a few minutes breathing deeply.

Say no, to what you do not have time to do. Lowering the demands you put on yourself actually relieves stress. Sometimes saying no is necessary in taking care of you.

Take care of taxing tasks in the morning to get them out of the way. Usually in the morning when you are fresh and rested is the best time to take care of projects that require concentration. Look at large projects as a series of steps to complete one by one

Devote three hours each week to you and you alone, and do not let anyone steal that time away. Take up a hobby or pick up a book that you have always wanted to read.

Live for today. Do not dwell in the past or worry about the future. Live in the moment.