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Cannabis does not reduce pain, it makes pain more bearable: Study

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New Delhi (NVI): Cannabis does not reduce pain but makes it more bearable, according to a study.

The findings were reported by researchers from Oxford University’s Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain (FMRIB) in the journal Pain.

The authors added that people in pain act differently to cannabis, according to their brain imaging study.

In the research it was found that an element called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) present in cannabis reduces the activation of the parts of the brain responsible for feeling pain. This increases the ability of patients to fight and tolerate it.

When volunteers took oral tablets of THC, they tended to find the experience of pain more tolerable. There was no evidence that THC reduced pain intensity.

Using the ‘brain imaging’ technique, researchers found that cannabis contains some elements that reduce the activation of a particular part of the brain. Researchers say that this is the part of the brain that is related to the emotional aspect of pain.

Lead researcher, Dr Michael Lee, said, “We know little about cannabis and what aspects of pain it affects, or which people might see benefits over the side-effects or potential harms in the long term. We carried out this study to try and get at what is happening when someone experiences pain relief using cannabis.”

“Our small-scale study, in a controlled setting, involved 12 healthy men and only one of many compounds that can be derived from cannabis. That’s quite different from doing a study with patients. My view is the findings are of interest scientifically but it remains to see how they impact the debate about use of cannabis-based medicines. Understanding cannabis’ effects on clinical outcomes, or the quality of life of those suffering chronic pain, would need research in patients over long time periods.”

For a number of patients who have not responded adequately to drugs, cannabis or cannabis-based medications are an effective way of controlling their pain. Many, however, report no benefits from cannabis and some undesirable side effects.

In the medical language, cannabis, called Sativa, is used a lot in Ayurvedic treatment. Cannabis is used differently in Ayurveda depending on the symptoms and causes of the disease.

It is used in the treatment of pain, nausea and vomiting. It is also used in the treatment of loss of weight due to diabetes and nervous system diseases. If taken in the right amount, it can help treat fever and dysentery, prompt digestion and increase appetite.

Cannabis can also be used to treat arthritis, depression and anxiety, while it is also beneficial in the treatment of skin diseases. Many people complain of dry and rough skin and it has been found that by applying a paste of fresh hemp leaves, the skin heals.

Strong public support for quarantine, travel ban to contain coronavirus: Survey

New Delhi (NVI): Amid concerns over the spread of coronavirus, a new global survey has found that there is strong public support for quarantine and travel ban to contain the outbreak and more than 80% of respondents are in favour of mandatory screening of people travelling from infected countries.

Researchers have found high levels of concern about the dangers posed by the respiratory virus, which has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization and is officially named COVID-19.

In the survey by IPSOS, a global research specialist, it was found that more than half of respondents in Japan, Australia and the US feel the outbreak represents a high or very high threat to the world. In France and Germany this drops to just below half, and concern levels fall further in Canada, Russia and the UK.

For a third of people surveyed, the threat level remains moderate. While almost 60% of people surveyed think the virus poses a low threat.

Whereas, on an average, a fifth of people think the outbreak has been contained and the danger will soon be over.

But more than twice as many people disagree, expressing concerns that the threat from the virus is ongoing. This viewpoint was expressed by more than half of respondents in Canada, UK and Australia.

Regardless of differing opinions about the virus, the majority of respondents were united in their desire to stay informed about its spread. More than 80% of people contacted by the survey had seen, read or heard a great deal or a fair amount about the outbreak.

There is widespread support for significant actions to control the virus. More than 80% of respondents are in favour of mandatory screening of people travelling from infected countries, and there is similar support for mandatory quarantine of those suspected of contracting the disease.

Other measures garnering support include airline restrictions on flights to China and travel bans to and from affected countries.

Meanwhile, China on Friday reported 121 more deaths from the coronavirus outbreak, 116 of which are from the epicentre of the infection in Hubei Province alone, bringing to at least 1,488 the total number of deaths across the country.

Rise in smuggling cases worldwide, business, govts suffer revenue loss: Minister

Ramesh Chand Meena addressing the seminar in Jaipur.

New Delhi (NVI):Smuggling related crimes have increased across the world resulting in loss of revenue to government and business, Rajasthan Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Ramesh Chand Meena said today .

He made this observation at FICCI CASCADE (Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy) seminar organised in Rajasthan.

“Smuggling related crimes have increased manifold in the global market resulting in revenue loss to government and businesses and adversely impacting the health and safety of the consumers,” Meena said.

The seminar discussed the importance of increased awareness on the hazards of counterfeiting and smuggling, and need for effective enforcement to enhance India’s economic development.

Member of FICCI Rajasthan State Council & Honorary Secretary General, KL Jain, said that illicit trade has a serious decelerating effect on growth which must be curbed substantially. Consumers must be encouraged to take a bill on every purchase for making India a tax compliant nation and encouraging citizens to be a part of progressive nation building.

FICCI CASCADE’s recent study titled ‘Invisible Enemy: Impact of Smuggling on Indian Economy and Employment’ quantitatively estimates both revenue and employment opportunity lost due to smuggling in five specific industries.

As per the report, total loss to the industry on account of illicit markets in just seven manufacturing sectors is about Rs 1,05,381 crore and the loss to the government is Rs 39,239 crore.

Another FICCI report titled ‘Illicit trade: Fueling Terror Financing and Organized Crime’, highlights that the total employment losses globally due to counterfeit and piracy stood at 2 to 2.6 million jobs in 2013 and is expected to rise to 4.2 to 5.4 million jobs in 2022, suggesting an approximate increase of 110 per cent.

As per the reports, seizures of highly smuggled goods such as gold, cigarettes etc. have been carried out in Rajasthan. Smuggled cigarettes are widely available in major cities such as Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, etc, apart from other small towns.

Nation remembers Pulwama bravehearts

A year of Pulwama terror attack

New Delhi (NVI): President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today payed homage to the 40 CRPF personnel killed in the Pulwama attack in Jammu and Kashmir last year, saying India will never forget their martyrdom.

“A grateful nation salutes the supreme sacrifice of our brave soldiers who lost their lives in the dastardly attack by terrorists in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir on this day last year,” the President said.

The Prime Minister described the martyred personnel as exceptional individuals who devoted their lives to serving and protecting the nation.

As many as 40 CRPF personnel were killed when their convoy was targeted by a suicide bomber of Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Mohammad in Pulwama district.

Temperature soars in north India

New Delhi (NVI): Winter is on its way out in North Indian plains, with mercury rising substantially across the country.

Amritsar in Punjab is the coldest city in the plains where the minimum temperature was recorded at 8.4 degrees  Celsius, according to Skymet weather.

In Rajasthan’s Churu and Pilani, the minimum temperature was recorded at 9.8 and 10.0 degrees Celsius respectively.

Rewa in Madhya Pradesh and Sikar in Rajasthan both recorded minimum temperature at 10 degree Celsius.

Bhilwara in Rajasthan and Hisar in Haryana recorded minimum temperature at 10.2 and 10.3 degrees Celsius.

The minimum in Chittorgarh in Rajasthan and Raisen in Madhya Pradesh was 10.5 degrees Celsius.

Karnal in Haryana recorded a minimum temperature of 10.8 degrees Celsius.

According to the Skymet weather, temperatures were significantly above normal by 4-5 degrees, which is little too early for the season. However, wind speed has picked up pace and is blowing at 25-30 kmph.

“Although day temperatures have risen sharply with bright sunshine,high velocity winds are keeping cold factor alive,” it added.

Delhi and NCR region also saw a slight increase in minimum temperature to 13.7 degrees Celsius from 12.3 degrees Celsius recorded yesterday.

The maximum temperature today is expected to be around 26 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The overall air quality in the national capital today is in “moderate” category.

According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital stood at 142 which falls in the “moderate” category.

The IMD said that some isolated rain and snow is expected in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, Nagaland,Manipur and Sikkim during next few days.

The weatherman has forecast that in Northwest India there will be a fall in temperature by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius in next 24 hours and in East India there will be a gradual rise in temperature by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius during next two to three days.

“In northern parts of Maharashtra there will be a fall in minimum temperature by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius during the next two to three days,” weatherman said.

“No significant change temperature is expected in rest of the country,” it added.

Industry should use waterways for transportation: Gadkari

New Delhi (NVI): Industry should use waterways as a mode of transportation for reduced cost of goods and become competitive in the export market, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin  Gadkari today emphasised today.
Speaking at a conference on ‘Developing A Roadmap for Low Carbon & Sustainable Mobility in India’, Gadkari said, “this is the appropriate time. We have the best technology, economic viability and we need public private investments. To support these, we have government policies.”
He said the government has already started the process of introducing broad gauge metro in railways using the already existing railway network.
He also invited the private sector to explore and invest in this sector.
“This model can be given to private sector to run these metros,” he said.
“The most economically viable transport is water transport and public transport on electricity,” he added.
Gadkari said the Delhi-Mumbai express highway, part of the 22 green highway projects, will be completed in next 3 years and will reduce travel distance by 280 kms.
“In long term, LNG should be used in trucks which will reduce the cost by 40 percent as compared to diesel and CNG for city buses,” he added.
He also invited the private sector to come forward to invest in conversion of CNG from stubble and solid waste.
“Government is also working on adopting bio-aviation fuel as fuel option which will be cheaper than petroleum aviation fuel,” he said.
He urged FICCI to develop a policy for next 25 years focusing on cost-effective, pollution free, best technology options, ecology and environment.
Highlighting the potential of E-vehicles in India,  Gadkari said the government is planning to introduce 10,000 electric buses and government will support the e-vehicle sector.
“By using the world’s best technology, we can see a reduction of 10 percent in the logistics cost and will also help in reducing pollution, creation of new jobs and overall development of the economy,”he added.
He also emphasised on different options such as conversion of waste and sewage into biofuels, utilisation of wasteland for Jatropha, promotion hydrogen fuel cells, alternative fuels in rural sector to contribute towards livelihood generation and waterways as a long-term solution.

4 OGWs arrested in south Kashmir

J-K Police
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Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar(NVI): Jammu and Kashmir police on Thursday claimed to have arrested four over ground workers (OGWs) from south Kashmir.

Police in an official statement said that, in Anantnag district they have arrested three militant associates linked to HM.

They have been identified as Adil Ahmad Dar alias Adil Gadhanji, Aqib Fayaz Makroo residents of Arwani Bijbehara and Ajaz Ahmad Sofi resident of Gund Chahal.

“As per police records they were involved in assisting the active militants of proscribed outfit HM operating in the areas of Anantnag. As per the investigations, they were providing logistic support and shelter to the active terrorists of HM. They were also involved in motivating and instigating the youth of area to join militancy,” police said in a statement.

Besides in Awantipora, Police have arrested an OGW linked to proscribed outfit JeM. He has been identified as Tawfeeq Ahmad Bhat resident of Mongahama, Tral.

“As per police records he was involved in assisting the active militants of proscribed outfit JeM operating in the areas of Tral. As per the investigations, he was providing logistic support and shelter to the active militants of JeM operating in the areas of Tral,” police said.

They said that they have recovered incriminating materials from their possession. “Cases under relevant sections of law have been registered and further investigation is in progress,” police said.

India keen to promote capacity building in Vietnam: President

New Delhi (NVI): Vice President of Vietnam Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, who is on a three-day visit in India, today called on President Ram Nath Kovind who spoke about India’s keenness to promote greater capacity building in Vietnam through its flagship Technical and Economic Cooperation programme.”

The President said India and Vietnam are bound by a rich history of civilizational and cultural links.

Today, India-Vietnam relations are characterized as Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, he noted.

“India is privileged to share a strong development cooperation partnership with Vietnam,” Kovind said.

The President also said that Vietnam is pivotal to India’s Act East Policy and its Indo-Pacific vision.  Vietnam is also an invaluable link in India’s engagement with ASEAN.

He congratulated Vietnam for assuming the Chairmanship of ASEAN as well as for becoming a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Coronavirus threat: South Kashmir youth quarantined at SKIMS

Representational image

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar(NVI) : A south Kashmir youth who has returned from virus-affected China was Thursday quarantined at SKIMS Soura in wake of outbreak of Coronavirus across the world.

The youth as per the doctors examining him, has been pursuing his Phd in China and stayed in the country during the period when coronavirus outbroke in China.

Medical Superintendent SKIMS, Dr Farooq Jan said that the youth has been “immediately” quarantined as a precautionary measure.

“He has not been detected with virus infection and investigations are still on. There is nothing to worry about as he is stable,” he said.

Dr Jan said the south Kashmir boy who is in his late 20’s, will be discharged only after his investigation are over. “We will wait still examining him and he will be discharged in two to three days,” he said.

Sources said a girl who was pursuing engineering in China was also taken to SKIMS for diagnosis. “They were brought here in an ambulance. The girl’s tests were negative and she was discharged later,” they said.

The news regarding quarantining of china-returned south Kashmir youth in SKIMS created panic within the hospital especially after he tried to escape from there.

Sources said Director Health also arrived at SKIMS with a team of officials to look into the matter.

“The ambulance in which the alleged patient was brought into the hospital has been seized by the hospital authorities as a precautionary measure,” they said.

Sources said that the south Kashmir youth had arrived in Kokatta airport where he was also investigated and declared as “unaffected”.

Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Sameer Matoo said that they have sent the samples of the youth to All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi.

“He is stables and we are sure that he is safe. As a precautionary measure we collected his samples and sent to AIIMS New Delhi since we don’t have such facilities here,” he said.

The Government of India has issued an advisory for people returning from China who are being tested at various airports of India.

India has zero tolerance policy towards narcotics: Shah 

New Delhi (NVI): India has adopted zero tolerance policy towards narcotics and the government will not allow any drugs to enter the country from the world nor will allow it to go out of the country, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said today.

Speaking while inaugurating the two-day conference on ‘Combating Drug Trafficking’ for Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) partner nations here, Shah said India would not allow illicit narcotics and psychotropic substances trade to happen within its boundaries.

He called illicit drug trade a global menace and said that it is a burning global issue that plagues every nation, especially the Bay of Bengal littoral States.

“It is very important for all countries to engage with each other to exchange ideas, policies and best practices in order to combat drug trafficking,” he said.

The Home Minister talked about Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s vision to end the global drug menace and recalled the 2018 Kathmandu BIMSTEC conference where PM invited the partner nations to India, while announcing the current conference on drug trafficking.

Shah quoted the PM and said that there is no nation in the world that is not affected by global terrorism, transnational crimes and illicit drug trafficking.

He expressed confidence and hope that this conference would open new avenues and generate new solutions to combat the menace of drug trafficking in the region.

“Government has devised a well laid out strategy to ensure inter agency coordination and revamp the prosecution mechanism to end the menace of drug trafficking,” he said.

Talking about the zero tolerance policy followed by India against narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances trade, Shah talked about various steps taken by India on national as well as international levels, including those at UN, INTERPOL, to combat this menace.

“India taking the lead in organising this BIMSTEC conference would act as the harbinger of new avenues within the region that will help bringing other Nations on such similar platforms to find solutions to tackle drug trafficking,” he said.

He also termed the Bay of Bengal littoral States as the focus of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ and ‘Act East’ policies and India being the largest country in the region will not shy away from its responsibilities in fighting drug trafficking and terrorism.

Talking about the seriousness of the drug trafficking issue, Shah quoted the UN’s World Drug Report and said that over 5% of the global population between 15-64 years of age is addicted to narcotics and use of illicit drugs.

The Home Minister expressed concern that the rate of addiction is showing a fast increase i.e. a 30% rise in the last 10 years.

He termed drug addiction as a curse for mankind as it not only kills the addict but also destroys families as well as the society, besides fuelling the evil of global terrorism and transnational crimes through its dirty money.

He cited an estimate of over $ 400 billion of yearly illicit drug trade happening globally, giving an idea of the size of the mammoth issue facing humanity.

The Home Minister laid emphasis on the need for all Nations to join hands and supplement each other’s efforts in fighting this menace, as this global scourge cannot be fought by any country individually.

He also laid emphasis that Nations of the BIMSTEC are especially affected by illicit drug trade, transnational crimes and terrorism, making it all the more important to use platforms like this conference to devise coordinated strategies in ending the evil from its roots.

He described how Indian security agencies have worked brilliantly to cease over 2 metric tonnes of illicit heroine till September 2019 as compared to 1.2 metric tonnes in 2018.

“Manipur and Mizoram having borders with Myanmar and other coastal States are sensitive and may become a gateway for illicit drugs entering India, which needs to be prevented,” he added.

Talking about the steps taken by government in combating the drug trafficking Shah said that the union government has laid down a well thought out strategy to increase coordination among the agencies of the Centre as well as States and the Home Ministry has established a joint coordination committee to increase surveillance over drug trafficking.

“The Ministry has also started an e-portal for digitalisation of drug data that may be utilized by various drug enforcement agencies,” he said.

“In the last 5 years, Over 1.89 lakh Narcotics cases have been registered in India, in which over 2.31 lakh drug smugglers have been arrested by the agencies including over 1500 foreign nationals,” he added.

He also informed that the ministry is about to establish a training centre for NCB officials regarding enforcement of drug laws, at Bhopal.

“To fight this global menace, India has so far signed 26 bilateral agreements, 15 MoUs and 2 security pacts with other countries. India has devised a strategy to increase awareness to dissuade the use of internet and social media in illicit drug trade,” he said.

“Government has issued notification regarding the registration of B2B companies in order to prevent the online sale of narcotics and illicit drugs,” he added.

Home Minister also released the administrative and operational manuals of NCB on this occasion.

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