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Taseer laid to rest in Lahore
Sherry Rehman’s security tightened
Was doctor to blame for Jacko’s death?
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584 women end up pregnant despite contraceptive use! London, January 5 Hundreds of women have become pregnant after a long-term contraceptive implant failed to be properly inserted, the government's drugs and medical devices watchdog said today.
Male balding due to stem cell
inactivation
Puri is UNSC counter-terror panel chief
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Taseer laid to rest in Lahore
Slain Punjab governor Salman Taseer was laid to rest on Wednesday in Lahore amid tight security after several hundred clerics issued edicts against offering funeral prayers for a man, who they said had blasphemed the Prophet. The imam of Lahore’s historical Badshahi Masjid declined to lead the funeral prayers, which were later led by a PPP activist. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, political leaders and several thousand people from different walks of life braved the edicts and offered prayers at Governor House lawns. Wrapped in national flag, his coffin was later lifted to Cavalry Ground for burial in the graveyard reserved for military martyrs. President Asif Zardari was represented by sister Faryal Talpur. He described Salman’s death as a political murder aimed at ‘frightening democratic forces”. Meanwhile, Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, who gunned down Taseer, was not on the duty roster of policemen assigned to guard the Governor till Monday night. His name was included in the roster at his own request yesterday morning, Interior Minister Rehman Malik told the media. Following these revelations, the joint investigation team probing Taseer’s killing arrested two officials, who had assigned Qadri to the Governor’s security detail and eight more personnel of the Elite Force. Investigators also plan to question the officials who recruited Qadri in the Elite Force. Qadri joined the Punjab Constabulary in 2003 and was deputed to an Elite Force platoon in 2008.
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Sherry Rehman’s security tightened
Authorities have enhanced the security of former information minister and PPP MP Sherry Rehman who had tabled the bill to amend the blasphemy law. Sherry has been target of furious attacks by religious lobbies for her liberal views. Her security has been enhanced in the aftermath of assassination of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer by religious fanatic and member of his security detail. The number of police officials assigned at Sherry Rehman’s Karachi residence was also increased. In November 2010, Sherry had submitted a private member bill in the National Assembly Secretariat seeking amendments to soften the blasphemy law. The move incurred the wrath of the country’s religious circles. No legislator had earlier submitted a similar bill due to the matter’s sensitive nature.
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Was doctor to blame for Jacko’s death?
The curtain rose on Tuesday on the opening round of the legal battle to determine whether Michael Jackson died in a sad accident, or if he was instead the unwitting victim of a criminally negligent doctor. At a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles, prosecutors began outlining details of their manslaughter case against Dr Conrad Murray, who had been hired to attend to the 50-year-old singer during a series of comeback gigs at the O2 Arena in London. Jackson died on June 25, 2009, after suffering a cardiac arrest at a rented home in Holmby Hills. At least six different drugs, most of them sedatives and painkillers which should not usually be mixed, were later found in his bloodstream. They had apparently been prescribed to help him overcome chronic insomnia. According to the coroner, the fatal dose was a 20ml shot of Propofol, an anaesthetic which can be highly-addictive and is known as "milk of amnesia". Dr Murray, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, denies administering the drug in dangerous quantities. THE CASE
This is not an actual homicide trial. Not yet, at least. Instead, the court is holding a "preliminary hearing" at which prosecutors hope to convince the judge that they have sufficient evidence to justify a jury trial. Normally, a preliminary hearing lasts only a few hours and features perfunctory evidence from a couple of witnesses. But very little about Michael Jackson is ever normal and the current hearing is scheduled to see almost thirty people called by prosecutors, over almost a fortnight. This has surprised legal experts. THE DEFENDANT
Conrad Murray, 57, was paid $150,000 a month as Jackson's personal doctor. He is accused of acting as an "enabler", who was paid an outrageously-large salary to recklessly feed his wealthy client's addiction to prescription medication. Although Murray claims to have carefully monitored Jackson, in the hours before his death, mobile phone records reveal him to have actually been speaking with three separate callers, including his girlfriend, between 11.18am and 12.05pm on June 25, which is roughly the time of the fatal heart attack. The prosecution will argue that this adds up to criminal negligence. The defence, for its part, hopes to convince a jury that Jackson killed himself, claiming the singer used a syringe left by his bed to take an oversized dose of Propofol while Murray was in the bathroom. THE WITNESSES
Don't expect the fireworks to start quite yet. This being a preliminary hearing, prosecutors will keep the biggest stars up their sleeve. The defence won't call anyone at all: they will merely sit and listen, looking for holes to pick when the case reaches a full trial. The biggest name to speak in yesterday's game of legal poker, was Kenny Ortega, who was due to direct Jackson's 02 shows, entitled This Is It. THE FAMILY
The opening day was attended by Jackson's mother, Katherine, along with his brother Jackie, and sister, La Toya. Other relatives are expected to appear throughout proceedings. Jackson Kremlinologists will perhaps be most fascinated to see whether father Joe, who was cut off from his will, puts in an appearance. THE CIRCUS
Fifty satellite trucks, hundreds of reporters, and a smattering of fans descended on LA Superior Court yesterday, and are likely to keep up their vigil for as long as the case lasts. There are only 15 spaces in court for journalists, but an overflow room, with a video link-up, will house the rest of the media circus. — The Independent
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584 women end up pregnant despite
London, January 5 Since Implanon, a hormone-filled tube inserted in the arm, was first authorised in 1999, a total of 584 women have reported unwanted pregnancies, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), said. In all, 1,607 women have complained about the device, largely concerning adverse reactions such as scarring and other problems. NHS Trusts have paid nine women a total of nearly 120,000 pounds in damages, with a further 80,000 pounds in costs, the Department of Health said. Implanon, which is the size of a matchstick and inserted in the inside upper arm, contains synthetic progestogen and should offer three years of protection, if administered properly. But the plastic tube, which can be inserted by doctors and nurses, were implanted too deeply or became dislodged in some cases. Implanon has since been replaced by Nexplanon, which has a pre-loaded applicator for easier insertion. It has not been removed from the market and will continue to be administered until stocks run out, the MHRA said. Implanon, manufactured by MSD, a subsidiary of pharmaceutical giant Merck, was reported to be particularly popular among young women, who are more liable to forget to take daily contraceptives. If administered correctly, Implanon is more than 99 per cent effective, the same rate as the pill. About 1.4 million women have used Implanon during the past 12 years. — Reuters
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Male balding due to stem cell inactivation
Washington, January 5 Using cell samples from men undergoing hair transplant, the researchers compared follicles from bald scalp and non-bald scalp, and found that bald areas had the same number of stem cells as normal scalp in the same person. However,
they did find that another, more mature cell type called a progenitor cell was
markedly depleted in the follicles of bald scalp. — PTI
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Puri is UNSC counter-terror panel chief
Washington, January 5 “Given its experience in the fight against menace of terrorism over more than two decades, India, during its chairmanship of the CTC, will work to further strengthen the international legal framework for counter-terror,” Puri said. — PTI
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The curtain rose on Tuesday on the opening round of the legal battle to determine whether Michael Jackson died in a sad accident, or if he was instead the unwitting victim of a criminally negligent doctor. At a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles, prosecutors began outlining details of their manslaughter case against Dr Conrad Murray, who had been hired to attend to the 50-year-old singer during a series of comeback gigs at the O2 Arena in London.
Jackson died on June 25, 2009, after suffering a cardiac arrest at a rented home in Holmby Hills.
