Gilgit-Baltistan part of J&K, Pakistan in illegal occupation: British Parliament

LONDON: A motion was passed in the British Parliament condemning Islamabad's announcement+ declaring Gilgit-Baltistan as its fifth frontier , saying the region is a legal and constitutional part of Jammu & Kashmir illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947.
The motion which was tabled on March 23 and sponsored by Conservative Party leader Bob Blackman, stated that Pakistan, by making such an announcement, is implying its attempt to annex the already disputed area.
"Gilgit-Baltistan is a legal and constitutional part of the state of Jammu & Kashmir, India, which is illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947, and where people are denied their fundamental rights including the right of freedom of expression," the motion read.
It was further noted that the attempts to change the demography of the region was in violation of State Subject Ordinance and the 'forced and illegal construction' of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor+ (CPEC) further aggravated and interfered with the disputed territory .
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign affairs ministry has said that Beijing was ready to work with Islamabad to take forward the CPEC to benefit the people of both countries.The economic corridor is a $51.5 billion project that aims to connect Kashgar, in China's western province of Xinjiang, with the port of Gwadar+ in the Pakistani province of Balochistan.

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'Harry Potter' creator JK Rowling dines with Obama in London

President Barack Obama went from Shakespeare to Harry Potter during his visit to London.

The boy wizard’s creator, J.K. Rowling, was among guests who were dining with Mr. Obama at the U.S. ambassador’s London residence on Saturday. Earlier the President visited Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre to mark the 400th anniversary of the playwright’s death.

Ms. Rowling spokeswoman Rebecca Salt confirmed on Sunday that the author attended a private dinner with Mr. Obama. British Prime Minister David Cameron was also among the guests.

If Shakespeare is Britain’s greatest-ever writer, Ms. Rowling is its most successful living one. Her Potter books have sold more than 400 million copies worldwide.

Ms. Rowling has met the President several times, and attended a banquet thrown by Mr. Obama and his wife for Queen Elizabeth II when the U.S. first couple visited Britain in 2011.

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Can you escape breast cancer?

Breast cancer is fast becoming the most common cancer in most cities of India and second most common in rural areas. It is also one of the leading causes of death in women.
Dr Geeta Kadayaprath, MS FRCS, head, Breast services (Surgical oncology), ex-fellow, Breast Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK, Max Cancer Centre, Max Healthcare, New Delhi shares, "Breast cancer accounts for 25% to 32% of all female cancers in all the cities. This implies, practically, one fourth (or even approaching one thirds) of all female cancer cases are breast cancers. However, the most worrisome trend is the rising incidence of breast cancer in women aged between 30 - 40 years."
In India, for every 2 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, one lady is dying of it. "Since more patients (in India) turn up in later stages, they do not survive long, irrespective of the best treatment they may get, and hence the mortality is fairly high," Dr Anuradha Kapur, Lead consultant and Head of Unit, Max Super Specialty hospital, Saket. There are lots of reasons for this delay including lack of awareness, shyness on part of patients, social stigma and sometimes even ignorance of doctors where patients present on time, but doctors are not aware and they delay treatment.

Common myths associated with breast cancer

You have breastfed so you are safe

If you breast feed your baby, it is surely protective but does not necessary mean that it will shield you from the risk of breast cancer. It is only one of the risk factors.

Men don't have breast cancer

Men do not have breast cancer is a myth. 1 percent of breast cancers in a year happen in men.

If you have a family history, you will have it

Only women with family history have breast cancer- only 5-10% of breast cancers are attributed to family history

Big breasted women have breast cancer

This is one of the most ridiculous myths related to breast cancer. Breast cancer can happen to anyone, irrespective of the breast size.

Signs to watch out for:

Usually a painless lump; Nipple discharge which is bloody or clear from a single duct; Skin changes, such as dimpling or orange peel appearance of the skin or nipple retraction

Can you evade breast cancer?

While some factors are beyond our control, Dr. Neelesh Reddy, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Columbia Asia Hospitals points out five healthy lifestyle habits that can help lower breast cancer risk.

Maintain a healthy weight:

Overweight or obese women are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer than leaner women. This is because fat cells release substances including estrogen, which can stimulate cell growth and breast cancer. Regular exercise can also go a long way in improving your body's metabolism and controlling weight.

Give up red meat:

Studies have found that the risk of developing breast cancer is more with the increasing amounts of red meat. According to statistics, for every additional daily serving of red meat, the risk of breast cancer increases by 13% and by 54% in women consuming oral contraceptive pills. Instead, one can opt for fish. The Omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients from fish help lower breast cancer risk.

Cut back on booze and avoid smoking:

Avoiding alcohol is as important as losing weight. It has been proven that more alcohol you drink, greater you are at a risk of developing breast cancer. However, if you choose to drink alcohol — including beer, wine or liquor — try to limit yourself to no more than one - two drink/week. It has also been proven that smoking leads to increase in breast cancer. Also, since smoking is an important risk factor for cancer in general, it only makes sense to avoid it. Women who drink an average of 2 alcoholic beverages per day increase their breast cancer risk by 21%.

Limit dose and duration of hormone therapy:

Combination hormone therapy for more than three to five years increases the risk of breast cancer. If you're taking hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms, ask your doctor about other options. You may be able to manage your symptoms with non-hormonal therapies, such as physical activity.

Eat healthy and include fibers in your diet:

Whether it comes from fruits, veggies or whole grains, fiber is good for breast health. Embrace a diet high in vegetables and fruit and low in sugared drinks, refined carbohydrates and fatty foods. Eat lean protein such as fish or chicken breast and eat red meat in moderation, if at all. Eat whole grains. Choose vegetable oils over animal fats. Studies have found as much as a 5% reduction in breast cancer risk per every 10 grams of fiber added to a woman's diet per day.

Avoid delaying motherhood:

Women who delay having their first child until later in life or who never have children are at a higher risk for breast cancer. In contrast, having children at a younger age and breastfeeding decrease the risk of developing breast cancer

Is your bra responsible for breast cancer?

According to the American Cancer Society, there is no evidence that compression of the lymph nodes by bras causes breast cancer. "In reality, body fluids travel up and into the underarm lymph nodes, not towards the underwire. It was believed by many that underwired bras cause compression of lymphnodes and increase chances of breast cancer. Similarly, there is no sufficient evidence that any type of bra cause breast cancer. If the lady is overweight with large breasts, then the weight is a cause which can increase her risk of breast cancer but not the underwired bra she is wearing. It would make sense that women with larger breasts are both more likely to wear underwire bras and more likely to develop breast cancer. But this doesn't mean that underwire bras cause breast cancer," opines Dr Anuradha Kapur, Lead consultant and Head of Unit, Max Super Specialty hospital, Saket.

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Lone-wolf attack increases climate of uncertainty in Britain

If the United Kingdom had the same gun laws as the United States, as observers in London were quick to point out, the attack on commuters in Leytonstone station on Saturday night by a knife-wielding man who reportedly shouted “This is for Syria” could have been carnage. As it turned out, the man knifed one person, who suffered serious but not life threatening injuries, and two others who fortunately sustained only minor injuries before the police overpowered the attacker.

The security forces are treating the incident on Saturday night as a “terrorist incident”, said Commander Richard Walton, head of Counter-Terrorism Command in the Metropolitan Police. “The threat from terrorism remains as severe, which means that a terrorist attack is highly likely.”

While the IS links of the attacker are under investigation – including if, like the San Bernardino killers, he was self-radicalised -- the UK mediascape on Sunday morning was alive with discussions on whether the incident was a consequence of the House of Commons vote last week in support of Britain bombing Syria. One of the issues why many MPs voted against airstrikes was precisely because it would further compromise the security scenario in Britain.

John Cryer, Labour MP for the east London constituency in which Leytonstone station falls, and who voted against airstrikes, does not draw that conclusion. He told BBC’s Sunday Politics that it would be “dangerous” to link the vote and its outcome to the attack. “We just don't know at the moment. But there doesn't seem to be immediate evidence that there is a direct link.”

“I am opposed to the airstrikes not because of its direct consequences, which seems to the primary basis of most of the opposition, but because I see it as displacement action from the real problem by western governments,” said Professor Bill Durodie, Professor and Chair of International Relations at the University of Bath, whose research focuses on risk, resilience, radicalisation and the politics of fear. “In many ways, the real crisis is the domestic crisis. I do think IS needs to be defeated, but more in terms of the battle of ideas,” he told The Hindu.

The uncertainties in the public mind appear to have only increased, with several opinion polls showing popular opposition in the UK to airstrikes only increasing after the vote.

British aircraft meanwhile completed a second and more deadly series of airstrikes. According to a Ministry of Defense statement eight strikes were conducted by Tornado GR4s and Typhoon FGR4s that used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit wellheads “thus cutting off the terrorists’ oil revenue at the very source.”

Both Prime Minister David Cameron and Defence Secretary Michael Fallon have warned that the involvement in Syria is going to be for the long haul. Reports suggest that Sirte in Libya, where the IS is reportedly regrouping may become the next target for the coalition. The Guardian reports that France flew its first reconnaissance missions over the town of Sirte, joining the drones of the US. “Sirte has been taken over by Isis, with the UN estimating that there are 1,500 fighters in the town, while reports suggest its airbase is being prepared by extremists to take suicide planes,” the paper reports.

A “crisis of belonging” is what engenders radicalization, says Professor Brodie pointing to the California killers as an example. “For a starting point we need to identify human values – and not necessarily western values -- and promote and celebrate them. Increasingly, my concern is that western politicians shy away from really engaging the public in principled political debate about values.”

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