Egyptians voting in a referendum on draft constitution today

Dec 15

Posted by sagarmedia

Dec 15
Egyptians are voting in a referendum on a draft constitution that has divided the country and sparked deadly unrest. Voters were allowed to cast “yes” or “no” ballots from 8 a.m. 7 p.m. local time, but the deadline could be extended depending on turnout.
Television images showed some queues in Cairo and else where polling stations opened. President Mohammed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood have campaigned heavily in favour of the constitution.
Opponents say it is poorly drafted and too Islamist. This round of voting takes place in Cairo, Alexandria and eight other provinces, a week before the rest of the country. Some 250,000 security personnel have been deployed.
More than 51 million people are registered to vote. Polling had to be spread out because few judges were willing to supervise the referendum. Human Rights groups have expressed fears that results from the first round could sway the opinion of those voting in the second.

Beware of winter depression

New Delhi: Saturday, 15 December 2012: SAD or seasonal affective disorder is defined as recurring depression with seasonal onset and remission. Fall-onset (winter) SAD is more common than spring-onset SAD said Padma Shri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal President Heart Care Foundation of India.

Fall-onset SAD is characterized primarily by atypical symptoms of depression, while spring-onset SAD is associated with the more typical features.

Fall-onset SAD is characterized by the following symptoms of depression:

·         Increased rather than decreased sleep (inability to get up in the morning)

·         Increased rather than decreased appetite with carbohydrate craving (craving for sweet sour and salt)

·         Marked increase in weight

·         Irritability

·         Interpersonal difficulties (especially rejection sensitivity)

·         Leaden paralysis (heavy, leaden feelings in arms or legs)  

The cause is imbalance of serotonin to melatonin ratio. And the treatment involves enough light exposure, artificial light exposure, sun therapy and drugs if needed.

Light therapy has proven effective. It may take 4 to 6 weeks to see a response, although some patients improve within days. Therapy is continued until sufficient daily light exposure is available through other sources, typically from springtime sun.

  MAJOR NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO BE PLANNED AGAINST FDI IN RETAIL

    TWO DAYS TRADE LEADERS NATIONAL CONVENTION TO BEGIN AT JAIPUR FROM TOMORROW

                                   

 

The controversial issue of FDI in Retail will be at the centrestage of two days “National Conference” of trade leaders of the Country to be held at Jaipur on16-17 December,2012 to decide the strategy of their aggresive national movement against FDI in Retail and role of the different political parties for and against the issue. The meet is being held under the umbrella of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), an apex body of trading community of the Country. More than 100 trade leaders from different states shall be participating in the conference-said Shri B. C. Bhartia, National President, CAIT and Secretary General Mr. Praveen Khandelwal in a joint press statement released here today. The meet will also finalise the strategy to convert the trading community across the Country in a vote bank to play a decisive role in forthcoming Assembly elections in 2013 and Lok Sabha Polls in 2014. The traders leaders are also likely to rake up recent Wallmart Lobbying disclosure report episode  and adopting aggresive tactics to highlight the business module of MNCs across the Country. More than 5 crore business enterprises are carrying their trade in unorganised sector of the Country.

Both Mr. Bhartia and Mr. Khandelwal said that trade leaders of leading trade organizations of different states shall be participating in the conference. They further told that leaders of credible organizations of farmers, hawkers, small industries, consumers, transporters, laborers, cooperatives and self employed groups have also been specially invited to the conference beside the research team of CAIT.

 

CAIT leaders lambasted the Government for manufacturing and engineering a 'manipulative majority" in Parliament on a debate held on FDI in Retail and by propogating " Opposing and Absenting from vote" as a new definition of Indian democracy which amounts to cheating the electorates." There are many issues which goes from Road to Parliament and also several issues which goes from Parliament to Road" and FDI in Retail is such an issue on which the incorrect facts and figures quoted by the Government, major deviations in Govt. notification of 20th September,2012 providing large extra ordinary benefits to MNCs and 11 questions raised by CAIT will be the major issues of national campaign of trading community.

 

Both Mr. Bhartia and Mr. Khandelwal further informed that besides holding discussion on FDI in Retail several important issues like GST, Food Safety and Standards Act, Direct Tax Code, a National Trade Policy for retailers, formation of a separate Ministry of Internal Trade both at Centre and States,  review of laws, acts and rules governing domestic trade by a Commission, status of tax collector to traders, pension to traders attaining the age of 60 years and other issues will be discussed at depth in the two days conference and a strategy will be finalized for future course of action.