SRINAGAR: National Conference’s working president Omar Abdullah today asked the Centre to operate additional flights between Jammu and Srinagar to allow people to return home in Kashmir in view of closure of the only road link between the Valley and rest of the country.

“Request Govt Of India @PMOIndia @narendramodi to operate some additional flights between Jammu & Srinagar tomorrow for people stuck,” Omar wrote on twitter.

The 294-km Srinagar-Jammu National Highway has been closed due to landslides caused by heavy rains since yesterday. In the valley, the downpour has led to sudden surge in water level of Jhelum river, causing panic among the residents.

“The highway is closed & flights are totally sold out. With this flood like situation people need/want to fly home but can’t. @PMOIndia,” Omar added.

The former chief minister of the state said he had a “Bloody sense of déjà vu & I hate it”.

Earlier, Omar said in view of the apprehensions of the people, the government should reach out to them and reassure them.

“Now is the time for the CM to use Radio Kashmir & FM to address people to reassure them of the factual position & dispel rumours.

“The poor residents of Srinagar must be absolutely terrified. Time for the authorities to reassure them,” he added. (Agencies)

JAMMU : Jammu and Kashmir government today said that 1811 stone pelters have been granted amnesty in the state.
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said this in a written reply to a question of National Conference member Ali Mohammad Sagar in the Legislative Assembly.
“1811 persons involved in stone pelting incidents have been granted amnesty under amnesty scheme 2011”, he said.
Sayeed further said that as on March 2015, 37 persons are detained under Public Safety Act (PSA) in various jails.
Out of these, 17 are locals and 20 foreigners, he said, adding, of the 17 locals, two are local militants, four over- ground workers, three stone-pelters, five timber smugglers, two habitual criminals and one separatist.
Eleven foreigners are in jails outside the state, he said, adding, it will not be feasible to disclose the particulars of prisoners alongwith other details keeping in view their security and security of their families.
He further said that no prisoner from J&K has been deputed for lodgement under PSA in jails outside the state. (AGENCIES)

WASHINGTON : Researchers are developing new kind of light bulbs that are less attractive to specific insect species, including disease-spreading mosquitoes.
Many insect species are attracted to light, which means that the type of bulb you use can actually increase the risk of catching vector-borne diseases.
Six million people worldwide, mostly in Latin America, are infected with Chagas disease, which is transmitted by a bug that is attracted to lights.
Sand flies, also attracted to light, infect people with a protozoan parasite responsible for 20,000 deaths annually. Mosquitoes, which carry malaria, are documented to be attracted to light.
A new study by the University of Southern California researchers found that what matters most is not just how bright the bulb is, but what colour wavelengths it gives off.
Future LED bulb designs could be customised to be less attractive to specific insect species, said Travis Longcore, associate professor of spatial sciences at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
The white light given off by bulbs is attractive to all insects, but ‘white’ is not actually a colour – it’s a combination of light of all colours.
Different insects are sensitive to particular combinations of these wavelengths.
Blue, violet and ultraviolet wavelengths are especially attractive to moths and many other insect groups; additionally, they are also disruptive to human circadian rhythms, meaning they can actually interfere with sleep patterns.
Longcore and a team of his former students from University of California, Los Angeles tested to see if they could mitigate these effects as part of a research project with Philips Research in the Netherlands.
Their primary goal was reducing the number of insects an LED bulb can attract while still maintaining white light for indoor use.
Collaborator Andre Barroso, a senior scientist at Philips, provided the bulbs.
“For the purpose of this study, we created unique and one-off LED lamp designs that can be customised to emit different colour wavelengths to reduce the attraction of insects,” Barroso said.
Longcore and his team fixed each bulb over soapy pan traps in several Los Angeles County sites: two locations in the Santa Monica Mountains represented rural conditions, while UCLA’s Mildred E Mathias Botanical Garden stood in as an urban test site.
In just over a month, they collected 5,579 insects in the traps. The order Diptera, which mosquitoes belong to, represented 67.5 per cent of all the insects caught.
The housing of the customised lamps actually allowed more light through than the housing for the commercial, off-the-shelf LED bulbs. But despite the customised bulbs being brighter, they attracted about 20 per cent fewer insects, researchers said. (AGENCIES)

MELBOURNE : Global cricket fraternity today lavished rich praise on the Australian team for winning a record fifth World Cup title here today, saying they were “clinical and superior” in the knockout stages of the tournament.
In front of a packed house at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Australia clinched the coveted ICC World Cup, thrashing New Zealand by seven wickets to provide a perfect sendoff to skipper Michael Clarke, who played a key role with a 74-run knock in his final ODI appearance.
“Well played Australia you were the best team by far and your wins from the quarterfinals onwards were clinical and showed your superiority!,” West Indies batting legend Brian Lara wrote on his twitter handle.
Former pace spearhead Glenn McGrath, who was part of an unprecedented three World Cup triumphs, called it a well-deserved win.
“Congratulations to @MClarke23 & @CricketAus on winning the @cricketworldcup Great win boys, very well deserved #CWC15,” McGrath tweeted.
After the bowlers produced a clinical performance, skittling out New Zealand for 183, the stage was set for the Australian captain, who used the platform to the fullest with a stylish 72-ball innings as the hosts regained the trophy by winning the match in 33.1 overs to end an eight-year wait.
West Indies star batsman Chris Gayle said, “Congrats @MClarke23 & team Australia on winning the #WorldCup2015 ?? #FullJoy #CWC15 #63NotOut #Champions-well done NZ! Great finish pups ??
Man of the Tournament in the 2011 edition, Yuvraj Singh wrote, “Of producing world class cricketers every generation ex teammate @mstarc56 for taking man of the series with some exceptional bowling spells.”
Former Indian batsman VVS Laxman thanked the Black Caps for providing entertainment.
“Bad luck NZ but thank u for entertaining all of us by playing aggressive&positive brand of cricket throughout the WC.Keep it up. #CWC15, the former Hyderabadi batsman tweeted.
South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis also congratulated the newly crowned world champions.
“Congrats to Australia. Well deserved Champions. NZ can be proud their campaign too. End of a fabulous WC that has enhanced ODIs reputation.” (AGENCIES)

WASHINGTON : An important bacterial protein called UmuD may help prevent antibiotic resistance, scientists say.
Penny Beuning from Northeastern University’s college of science and colleagues are studying UmuD that regulates mutagenesis and may provide important clues about how to stop the process that eventually results in antimicrobial resistance.
Using the bacterium E coli as a model, she has learned that UmuD interacts with the machinery that replicates DNA, and, when altered, may provide the switch that triggers mutation.
UmuD exists in two forms, a full length version when first expressed, and later, if DNA is damaged, a much shorter form. It is this shorter version that allows bacteria to mutate.
Once there is DNA damage, “there is an SOS response, and the levels of some specific proteins go up. There is a massive stress response, and UmuD responds by cutting its arms off,” Beuning said.
In cells where only the full-length version of the protein is present, the bacteria cannot mutate.
“But when it forms its shorter self, the cells are mutable,” she said.
The fact that UmuD is not present outside bacteria makes it a viable antibiotic target.
“The hope would be to find something that targets UmuD together with an existing antibiotic to prevent bacteria from mutating and developing a resistance to that particular drug,” Beuning said.
“Among the things we have been looking at: how does UmuD work, and what controls the cleavage of the arms?” she said.
Beuning specifically is looking at the cleavage process of UmuD using gel electrophoresis, which separates proteins according to size.
“UmuD is a small protein – 139 amino acids – which loses 24 amino acids from the arm. So it goes from 139 to 115,” she said.
“We can observe this difference with electrophoresis, allowing us to determine how different conditions or other proteins might affect UmuD cleavage,” said Beuning.
The team is studying different UmuD protein interactions in the lab, using biochemistry to see when and how different proteins bind to one another. (AGENCIES)

MUMBAI : Bollywood celebrities including Abhishek Bachchan, Arjun Rampal and Preity Zinta today congratulated Australia for their easy win in the ICC Cricket World Cup final against New Zealand.
Australia clinched the coveted ICC Cricket World Cup for the fifth time after the bowlers produced a clinical performance scuttling out New Zealand for 183.
“Congratulations to Australia for winning the Cricket World Cup 2015,” tweeted Bachchan.
His “Happy New Year” co-star Boman Irani wrote, “Outstanding Australia! While being interviewed, they seem like boys. On the field, they turn into giant men! #CWC15Final #AUSvNZ.”
“Congratulations Australia for your 5th World Cup Victory… And Well played through the tournament NZ… #CWC15 #AUSvNZ,” Zinta tweeted.
The win was a perfect farewell gift to skipper Michael Clarke, who played a key role with a 74-run knock in his final ODI appearance.
“Goodbye Michael Clarke what an outstanding career. Congratulations the new World Champions. You all deserved it for sure. #austruechampions,” Rampal tweeted
Riteish Deshmukh said, “Michael Clarke & team Australia -Congratulations- World Champs.”
Saqib Saleem said, “Well done Aussies!! But I expected a better final #CWC15Final.”
“Well played, New Zealand. Fantastic performance, Australia. A long, but fairly satisfying tournament. #CWC15,” wrote Rahul Bose. (AGENCIES)

JAMMU : Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh today assured there was no need to panic in the wake of heavy rains in the Kashmir, as the government was on full alert.
“The state administration is on full alert in the wake of heavy rains in the Valley. The situation is being monitored continuously,” Singh informed the Assembly here after members from different parties raised the issue of the flood threat.
“People should not panic and assured that all precautionary measures have been put in place,” he said.
“The Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is on way to Srinagar to personally monitor the situation arising due to incessant rains in the Valley,” an official spokesman said.
The Deputy Chief Minister informed that the water level at 11 am at Sangam stood at 12 ft against danger level of 18 ft.
At Ram Munshibagh, the water level was at 12.6 ft against alarm level of 16 ft, while at Asham it was 8.5 ft against alarm level of 30 feet, he said.
The water levels are being relayed to the control room on regular basis and right now there is no need for panic.
Also a team of ministers comprising Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, Imran Raza Ansari, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, and Asiya Naqash are monitoring the situation on an hourly basis at Srinagar.
The Minister for Flood Control Sukhnandan Kumar is also on his way to Srinagar to take stock of the situation.
A team comprising Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, and IGP, Kashmir, has been visiting various flood prone areas to ascertain the situation and precautionary measures taken at Divisional and District levels.
Meanwhile, a special control room has been established at Srinagar police headquarters to monitor the situation.
The helpline numbers of the control room are 2452138, 2474040.
The Divisional Commissioner has also asked all Deputy Commissioners to remain vigilant, establish control rooms at their respective district headquarters and inform people to remain alert.
Over 200 people died in Jammu and Kashmir in the floods that wreaked havoc in the state after incessant rains in September 2014, leaving thousands homeless. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI : President of India Pranab Mukherjee today congratulated Australian cricket team for winning the World Cup for a record fifth time at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, here today.
Australia clinched the coveted ICC Cricket World Cup for the fifth time, thrashing New Zealand by seven wickets to provide a perfect farewell gift to skipper Michael Clarke, who played a key role with a 74-run knock in his final ODI appearance.
“President of India ?@RashtrapatiBhvn now3 seconds ago Congratulations to Australia on its fifth World Cup win #PresidentMukherjee,” Mukherjee wrote in his twitter page.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated the Aussies for their remarkable achievement.
“I congratulate the Australian cricket team for yet another World Cup victory. A very good performance: PM @narendramodi,” he tweeted. (AGENCIES)

SRINAGAR : Heavy rains pounded several areas of Kashmir damaging many houses and led to closure of Srinagar-Jammu national highway because of landslides with water level in Jhelum river also rising fast.
Heavy rains since yesterday has resulted in damage to at least 44 structures, including 18 houses, due to landslides in Chrar-e-Sharief area of Kashmir, officials said.
The rainfall has forced closure of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway due to landslides at some places, an official of the Traffic department said.
He said the road was closed yesterday for repairs but fresh downpour has resulted in the arterial road remaining closed for the second day today.
Although the water level in Jhelum was still four feet below the danger mark of 18 feet at Ram Munshi Bagh in the city, the rise of two feet in the past five hours has resulted in panic among the residents, the officials said.
At Sangam in south Kashmir, Jhelum was flowing at 14.25 feet, nearly seven feet below the danger mark.
Many shopkeepers in commercial hub of Lal Chowk and surrounding areas were seen taking out their merchandise to safer places in view of rising water level.
Some shops in low lying areas of the city have been submerged due to waterlogging of roads due to congested drains.
Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed flew in here from the winter capital Jammu to take stock of the situation and monitor the steps taken to counter the situation.
“The chief minister reached Srinagar to personally monitor the situation arising due to incessant rains in the Valley,” an official spokesman said.
Three ministers – Altaf Bukhari, Imran Raza Ansari and Asiya Naqash – have been travelling through the city since this morning, asking people not to panic and assuring of all possible help.
A dedicated desk has been set up in the Police Control Room for the assistance of the people in waterlogged areas of the Valley.
Sayeed is expected to review the situation at a meeting of the officials concerned later in the day.
Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh informed the Assembly in Jammu that administration is on “full alert” in the wake of heavy rains in the Valley and the situation is being monitored continuously.
Singh assured that all precautionary measures have been put in place. (AGENCIES)

MELBOURNE : The Associate cricket nations might be fuming at the prospect of a 10-team World Cup in 2019, but ICC Chairman N Srinivasan today said they had no reason to feel left out as the format gives them a good chance at qualifying for the mega-event.
The ICC’s decision to reduce the number of teams from 14 to 10 in the next World in England has been lambasted by the associate nations.
The world body has also drawn criticism from some of the most prominent voices in international cricket, including Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar, who has gone to the extent of saying that the idea is detrimental to the goal of making cricket a global game.
But Srinivasan said there is not much to be concerned about.
“If you look at the next World Cup, the top eight will qualify while for the ninth and 10th team, there will be competition between six associates. So, the Associates will have a reasonably good chance at playing the World Cup. The success of the Associates is actually because of the ICC’s development program,” Srinivasan told ‘STAR Sports’ here.
As per the new qualifying system while hosts England and the top seven teams will be assured of a place in the World Cup, the Associates will have to fight it out against the sides outside the top-eight of ICC rankings in the qualifiers.
This could well mean that not a single associate nation would make the showpiece event.
The decision has expectedly not gone down well with well-performing Associates like Ireland, who enthralled one and all with some terrific performances in this World Cup, missing the quarterfinal berth by a whisker.
Irish captain William Porterfield has hardly minced words in expressing his displeasure towards the move.
“Everyone wants to know what their (ICC) vision for the game is, because if they cut the teams in world competitions, why not just have 10 teams playing cricket and every other country in the world doesn’t bother?” he had asked. (AGENCIES)