Flash flood warnings in Texas after Hurricane Patricia

Following the Hurricane Patricia striking Mexico and heading towards Huston, heavy rains are triggering flash flood warnings and tornado watches in the US state of Texas. The hurricane, the most powerful one ever measured, was downgraded to a tropical depression. But, it could still dump up to 8 to 12 inches of rain.
This has been reported in ibnlive.com dated 25 October 2015.

A voluntary evacuation call for the Bolivar Peninsula and the closure of underwater roadways in Houston because Houston leaders have warned that the area's bayous can take care of about five additional inches and the situation was not favorable.
Houston Mayor Annise Parker has indicated that there could be localized flooding in Houston, primarily street flooding in Houston and Harris County, because of the terrain.
This rainfall was the second time in five months that severe weather has pounded Texas. In May, a series of storms had triggered floods and led to 21 deaths. That prompted President Barack Obama to declare parts of the state as disaster areas.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)


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Man flying drone in Lafayette Park near White House – man arrested, drone seized

It was a man and a machine that sent the Secret Service staff climbing up a wall because the man was flying a drone at an altitude of around 100-ft in Lafayette Park in the vicinity of the White House, say US officials. This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 15 May 2015.
The Secret Service first asked the individual to land the small, remote-controlled aircraft. Then the park was evacuated and the White House was placed on temporary lockdown as the Secret Service investigated.
The man was handed over to the US Park Police.

The drone is a Parrot BeBop drone, which is equipped with a camera and costs up to $900. Washington DC's Metropolitan Police Department have checked the drone and declared it safe.
At the time of the incident, President Barack Obama was meeting Gulf leaders at his rural Camp David retreat in Maryland. Because of security concerns, the airspace around the capital is more restricted than any other part of the country and it is illegal to fly drones in the area without specific approval. The no-drone policy applies to a 15-mile radius of Ronald Reagan National Airport.
(Image curtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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Chewing betel nuts can lead to oral cancer

#betelnut #arecanut #oralcancer #taiwan #supari The betel nut popularly known as supari in India is consumed by nearly a tenth of the world's population because it is supposed to give people a buzz that is equivalent to six cups of coffee. The betel nut is also used as a symbol of love, marriage and a cure for indigestion and impotence and is also responsible to send tens of thousands to an early grave.
This has been reported in bbc.com dated 22 March 2015.
This nut is found all across Asia and are harvested from the Areca palm and chewed for their warming glow and stimulating properties. It seems it is bracketed with nicotine, alcohol and caffeine and many believe it to be one of the most popular mind-altering substances in the world. These nuts are popular among working-age men – they chew it to remain awake through long hours of driving, fishing or working on construction sites.
Regular chewing of betel nuts can lead to oral cancer and in Taiwan the government is taking steps to curb this habit. In Taiwan, betel nuts are known as 'Taiwan's chewing gum'.
It is well known that the betel nut is a key part of many Asian cultures and people take it in its dry form or take it wrapped up in a package known as a quid. In India, it is used with betel leaves and called paan – it is a craze in many parts of north India, especially Beneras which is known for its Benarasi paan. It was even offered to President Obama during his visit to India in January.
This paan is a mixture of several items placed inside a betel leaf on which is applied a thin layer of slaked lime – the ingredients include flavorings like cardamom, cinnamon and rose petals.
However, the worry for the International Agency for Research on Cancer is that each ingredient, with the exception of cardamom and cinnamon, as known carcinogen - or cancer-causing agent. This is especially true for the slaked lime. The abrasions caused inside the mouth are possible entry points for cancer-causing chemicals.

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Religious intolerance in India – Obama says, Gandhi would have been shocked

#NationalPrayerBreakfast #religiousintolerance #gharwapsi In the course of a 25-miniute address to the National Prayer Breakfast, attended by a number of international leaders including the Dalai Lama, the US President Barack Obama made a plea for religious freedom and said that such freedom encourages people to do good and also what is right as reported in ndtv.com dated 6 February 2015. But, that same faith can also be twisted and made use as a weapon.
President Barack Obama was in India last month with First Lady Michelle and described India as "an incredible, beautiful country, full of magnificent diversity". However, he also added that the religious intolerance that is being seen in India the last few years would have shocked Gandhiji, the person who helped to liberate that nation.
Obama has observed that India was a place where, in past years, religious faiths of all types have, on occasion, been targeted by other peoples of faith, simply due to their heritage and their beliefs. And – these are not wanted.
Obama has also clarified that the religious intolerance was not something unique to any one particular group or one specific religion.
He has added that there is a tendency in us, a sinful tendency that can pervert and distort our faith. Faith divides people, and when twisted and distorted or used as a wedge, it becomes a weapon.
In this connection, he made a mention of violence and terror from a school in Pakistan to the streets of Paris and said that those who profess to stand up for faith are actually, betraying it.
In India, religious intolerance is raising its head and, with the ‘ghar wapsi’ program, the attacks on churches and threats on Valentine’s Day, a sort of instability is visible. It has been reported in abcnews.go.com dated 5 February 2015 about a protest that came after a mysterious fire gutted a church in New Delhi and several other churches were vandalized over the past two months. The protesters lay the blame at the doorsteps of Hindu hardliners.
The situation aggravates when leaders make statements in the media that are later retracted due to pressure from some quarters. It is important that those in power take positive steps to eliminate the fear psychosis among the people.