Dhoni's hands are sore, says Paul Nixon

Indian Cricket Team Caption - Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Aug 29 (ANI): Former England wicketkeeper Paul Nixon has said that looking at Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's current form behind the stumps, it can be said that he could be suffering from sore hands.

"M. S. Dhoni is a world class player. He is a great leader of men. He is the strongest character of men in the game. He had not had his best of series so far and that's cricket and that's life. I am looking forward to chat to him over the next few days because it looks to me as he is keeping wickets I look at his hand position and foot placement as we all do with each other and it looks like for me he has got sore hands," said Nixon.

Nixon said that in order to get rid of such injuries, elite players needed rest, and added that this could be done by preparing other talents and giving them an opportunity when seniors are rested.

"Manchester United has a squad rotation. The management has to be very clever on who they do. Sometimes it's not letting, sometimes it's the press dictate and picks teams but the management sees these guys day and out and those guys they know. England has done very well over the last few weeks. They pick players in form.... They have all made a difference and they pick players at the right time when they are ready and that's what India have got to do," he added.

He also said that the only way to get rid of soreness was to give your hands complete rest.

Praising star Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, Nixon said that he was lucky to play with him when the batting maestro played for Yorkshire in early 90s.

He said sharing the same dressing room with Rahul Dravid in 2000 when he played for Kent was also great experience. By Praful Kumar Singh (ANI)

Full coverage: Anna breaks fast after 288 hours, nation relieved

Anna Hazare ended his 12-day fast Sunday morning before tens of thousands of cheering supporters at Ramlila Maidan by sipping a glass of coconut water with honey offered to him by two girls.

The nation, particularly the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, heaved a collective sigh of relief at the resolution of a major national crisis as the 74-year-old activist ended his fast at around 10.20 a.m. He began his fast Aug 16 morning and completed 288 hours of fasting.

Anna Hazare ended his 12-day fast Sunday morning before tens of thousands of cheering supporters at Ramlila Maidan

9: 30 pm: Anna's village rejoices, prepares for his homecoming

Anna's village of Ralegaon Siddhi in Maharashtra is celebrating his victory as their own. It's almost like the Maharashtrian new year of gudi padva for the family of this 74-year-old gandhian.

However concerns over his health still remain even as they prepare for a grand homecoming for Anna.

Kaushalya, a member of Anna's family, said that they thank the people of India without whom his fast would not have reached a victorious end.

9: 00 pm: Agnivesh web clips spark row

Activist Swami Agnivesh, who was a key member of Team Anna till the ninth day of Anna Hazare's 12-day fast, has courted controversy with video clippings appearing on social network sites allegedly showing him criticising the anti-corruption campaign. Agnivesh has dismissed the footage as doctored. Read More...

5 Rising Health Care Careers

See what it takes to pursue one of these hot health care careers.

"Grey's Anatomy", "Nurse Jackie", "Combat Hospital"? these dramas make working in health care seem so - well - hot.

The fact is: Health care is hot and could be a wise trend for job seekers to follow.

Did you know, for example, that health care is one of the fastest-growing fields in the country?

It's true. The U.S. Department of Labor projects 22.5 percent job growth for the industry through 2018.

What's more, a June 2011 government jobs report shows an increase in health care hiring of 140,000 jobs.

With its growing employment opportunities, industry expansion, and the wide variety of career options, health care has become one of the smartest career trends to follow.

Check out these hot health care career options and the education you might need to help break into the business.

Health Care Option #1 - Health Care Administrator

Are you interested in health care, but prefer to work behind-the-scenes? Consider health care administration as an option. In this position, you might manage operations such as billing, insurance, scheduling, admissions, and purchasing.

Growth: The U.S. Department of Labor projects 16 percent growth for jobs in health care administration from 2008-2018.

Follow the trend: For some entry-level positions in smaller facilities and departments, a bachelor's degree could be sufficient. However, a master's degree in health care administration is common for this position, says the Department.

Average earning potential: $93,670**

Health Care Option #2 - Medical Assistant

If you'd like to get started in a career that has enormous employment potential, consider medical assisting. Medical assistants could perform a variety of tasks from scheduling appointments to performing diagnostic tests.

Growth: The U.S. Department of Labor deems medical assisting one of the fastest-growing careers between 2008 and 2018, with growth projected to exceed 30 percent.

Follow the trend: By enrolling in a medical assisting associate's degree program, you could qualify to pursue opportunities in this field in approximately two years.*

Average earning potential: $29,760**

Health Care Option #3 - Registered Nurse

Interested in a hands-on career in the health care industry? Look into registered nursing. Registered nurses play a big part in delivering patient care, often providing support, advice, and treatment.

Growth: The U.S. Department of Labor projects opportunities for registered nurses to grow 22 percent from 2008-2018.

Follow the trend: There are three ways to prepare for registered nursing opportunities: a bachelor's degree in nursing, an associate's degree in nursing, and a nursing diploma from an approved program.*

Average earning potential: $67,720**

Health Care Option #4 - Medical Records and Health InformationTechnician

Medical records and health information technicians assemble, record, and manage information related to patients and procedures. If you know your way around a spreadsheet, or are willing to learn, you may be able to parlay that into career opportunities in this field.

Growth: The U.S. Department of Labor projects 20 percent growth for medical records and health information technicians between 2008 and 2018.

Follow the trend: Entry-level medical records and health information technicians usually have an associate's degree in health information technology, according to the Department of Labor.

Average earning potential: $35,010**

Health Care Option #5 - Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

If you enjoy working closely with people, an LPN career could be a great option for you. LPNs are largely responsible for monitoring patient status and reporting as needed to physicians.

Growth: Employment for LPNs is expected to grow by 21 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Follow the trend: To pursue this career, consider enrolling in an LPN program, which generally takes one year to complete, according to the Department of Labor.*

Average earning potential: $41,360**

‘Star Wars’ Gets New Tweaks for Blu-ray Release

Star Wars

George Lucas has been making changes to "Star Wars" for nearly as long as it's been in existence.  When the original film was re-released in 1981, the opening text was revised to include "Episode IV: A New Hope" as a subtitle.  And he's continued to update the picture and sound in new versions of the movies, from 1997's "Special Editions" to the DVD release in 2004.

So it shouldn't come as a surprise that when Lucas prepped both the original trilogy and the prequels for their debut on Blu-ray, he'd make some more adjustments to the films.  And while fans have been upset about some of the changes made in earlier revisions -- most notoriously making Greedo shoot at Han Solo first -- the new editions actually address some things true "Star Wars" geeks have complained about for years.

Watch the trailer for 'Star Wars' on Blu-ray >>

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One fix in the new Blu-ray is a quick but embarrassing mistake in "The Empire Strikes Back."  In a scene early in the movie, Luke Skywalker is out patrolling on the ice planet Hoth when he's attacked by a giant monster called a Wampa.  In one shot, the monster's arm sweeps in and hits Luke, but the puppeteer working the arm pushed it too far into frame.  The fake arm was attached to a pole which managed to sneak into the picture, and it's been visible in the movie for 30 years.  Digital effects artists at ILM extended the Wampa's arm, and on the Blu-ray the pole is no longer visible.

New Tweaks for Blu-ray Release

The Blu-rays also correct some issues from when the movies were converted to DVD.  Fans were upset at the time that colors and brightness on the lightsabers were duller than they were in the theatrical releases.  On Blu-ray, the saber blades have been restored to their vibrant colors with bright, white-hot cores, like in this shot from "Return of the Jedi."

Probably the most visible change in the Blu-rays is actually in one of the newer films.  When "Episode I: The Phantom Menace" hit theaters in 1999, many fans complained about Yoda's physical appearance.  A new puppet was created for the film with the intention of making Yoda look younger than he did in the original trilogy.  But fans complained that the new Yoda just didn't look right, and apparently George Lucas agreed.  In the following two prequels, Yoda was entirely a digital creation that more closely resembled the original character.  And in the Blu-ray, the puppet in "Episode I" has been removed completely and replaced by a computer-generated Jedi.  Here's a side-by-side comparison of the two.

In addition to the changes to the films, "Star Wars: The Complete Saga" is stuffed with extras for fanatics.  There are two discs of archives featuring deleted and alternate scenes, concept art, and prop close-ups.  Plus, there is an additional disc of documentaries showcasing the making of the films, the global network of fans, and spoofs of the saga from other shows and movies.  All told, the set has over forty hours of bonus materials.

U.S Stock Futures Retreat After Biggest S&P 500 Gain in a Week

U.S Stock Status - For This Week

Aug.24 (Bloom berg) -- U.S. stock futures fell, indicating the Standard & Poor's 500 Index will pare gains after yesterday's biggest advance in a week, ahead of an economic report that may show companies are ordering less equipment as growth slows.

S&P 500 futures expiring in September declined 0.7 percent to 1,150.10 at 11 a.m. in Tokyo. The U.S. equity benchmark rallied 3.4 percent to 1,162.35 yesterday, the most since Aug. 11, on optimism the Federal Reserve will act to boost the world's biggest economy. Contracts on the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.7 percent to 11,064.

Asian equities also declined, pushing the MSCI Asia Pacific Index down 0.5 percent. The Commerce Department said yesterday that sales of new homes in the U.S. hit a five-month low. That's adding to growing speculation that the Fed will move to shore up the economy.

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"There may be some disappointment with QE3 expectations," Anthony Crescenzi, executive vice president and strategist at Pacific Investment Management Co. said on Bloomberg Television's "First Up" with Susan Li. Pimco oversees $1.34 trillion in Newport Beach, California. "The Fed doesn't have a lot of ammunition left. It could announce some options that are on the table, but to expect implementation of it to occur quickly probably is the wrong bet."

Bookings for durable goods excluding transportation fell 0.5 percent in July after rising 0.4 percent in June, according to the median forecast of 38 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News ahead of a Commerce Department report today. The same agency may also say on Aug. 26 that the economy grew even less in the second quarter than previously estimated. Read More...

Live updates: Anna Hazare agrees for two weeks of fasting

Confrontation between Team Anna and Delhi police ends as Anna Hazare gets permission for two weeks of fasting.

5: 30 pm: What is the Jan Lokpal Bill, why it's important

The Jan Lokpal Bill (Citizen's ombudsman Bill) is a draft anti-corruption bill drawn up by prominent civil society activists seeking the appointment of a Jan Lokpal, an independent body that would investigate corruption cases, complete the investigation within a year and envisages trial in the case getting over in the next one year.

Drafted by Justice Santosh Hegde (former Supreme Court Judge and former Lokayukta of Karnataka), Prashant Bhushan (Supreme Court Lawyer) and Arvind Kejriwal (RTI activist), the draft Bill envisages a system where a corrupt person found guilty would go to jail within two years of the complaint being made and his ill-gotten wealth being confiscated. It also seeks power to the Jan Lokpal to prosecute politicians and bureaucrats without government permission.

5: 00 pm: Anna Hazare to fast till his health permits: Kiran Bedi

Anna Hazare will continue his fast till his health permits and there is no perceived threat to his life, his associate Kiran Bedi said on Thursday, stressing that his protest is an indefinite hunger strike and "not a fast-unto-death". While indicating that there will be no confrontation with government over the issue of providing medical attention to the Gandhian, Bedi said they do not view the agreement over Hazare's agitation as a victory for one side and defeat for the other.

4: 30 pm: Case against Hazare for insult to tricolour

A case was filed in a Bihar court Thursday against social activists Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly insulting the national flag during a reality television show, officials said.

The case was filed in the court of chief judicial magistrate in Muzaffarpur by lawyer Sudhir Kumar Ojha.

4: 00 pm: UPA Govt. owes apology to Anna Hazare: Subramanian Swamy

Stating that the treatment meted out to Anna Hazare was totally wrong, Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy on Thursday said the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre should apologise to the anti-graft crusader for putting him and his supporters behind bars.

"This kind of treatment was totally wrong. Our name internationally is being spoilt. There is no use blaming other countries for making allegations that Anna Hazare is supported by America and all that," Swamy told mediapersons in Chennai. Read More...

Surprise Underwater Volcanic Eruption Discovered

Underwater Volcanic

An undersea volcano has erupted off the coast of Oregon, spewing forth a layer of lava  more than 12 feet (4 meters) thick in some places, and opening up deep vents that belch forth a cloudy stew of hot water and microbes from deep inside the Earth.

Scientists uncovered evidence of the early April eruption on a routine expedition in late July to the Axial Seamount, an underwater volcano that stands 250 miles (400 kilometers) off the Oregon coast.

 The discovery came as a surprise, as researchers attempted to recover instruments they'd left behind to monitor the peak a year earlier. When the researchers hefted a seafaring robotic vehicle overboard to fetch the instruments, the feed from the onboard camera sent back images of an alien seafloor landscape.

"At first we were really confused, and thought we were in the wrong place," said Bill Chadwick, a geologist with Oregon State University. "Finally we figured out we were in the right place but the whole seafloor had changed, and that's why we couldn't recognize anything. All of a sudden it hit us that, wow, there had been an eruption. So it was very exciting."

In addition to producing hardened lakes of blobby lava, in places more than a mile (1.6 km) across, the eruption changed the architecture of the region's seafloor hot springs. Read More...

England vs India 3rd Test: Preview

India Vs England 3rd Test Preview: Indian Caption Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Birmingham, Aug 10: England must be goaded on with an insurmountable 2-0 lead in the kitty, while reveling in the state of souring anticipation to win the the third Test. Victory at Edgbaston will secure them the coveted place on top of the globe. A beleaguered Indian side meanwhile, will be looking to rejuvenate themselves and drag the hosts down to the grassy-earth of Edgbaston for some retaliatory action.

India that has been whipped and crushed in two emphatic losses must back themselves with the belief that the 4-match Test series is still far from over and that the time is nigh for them to show their mettle. The tourists should hence take solace and courage from the fact that they have one of the world's best opening combinations - in Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir back in the ranks, not to mention an in-form top-orderman Rahul Dravid. Together these three epitomise fortitude and class.

With middle order stalwarts in Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman just about finding their footing, they should now lead the hounding English pace trio a dance. The Indian fan would like to see more brazen back-foot punches from the Little Master and more confidently-executed repertoires from VVS, while Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina will be expected to put their best foot forward after a hitherto unsteady summer.

In the English camp, with rookie Test man Ravi Bopara playing understudy to a convalescing-from-shoulder-injury Jonathan Trott, India might just sense a glitch to work on. But England's middle order is looking as robust and ominous as ever and the Indian pace trio with a leg-spinning Amit Mishra on the side will have to find a way around the destructive batting stints of Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen and Matt Prior, not to mention the latter-order stings of Tim Bresnan and Stuart Broad.

Indian speedsters Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma and Sreeshanth would do well to pick out a leaf from the books of five-for heroes Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan. Ishant's straight bouncer will have to surface a lot more, while Sreesanth and Praveen's swing would have to burst through the defences of the batsman. Meanwhile, a recalled R P Singh will have to shrug off his rustiness and glisten quickly.

There is a famous lyrics by Bob Dylan which goes, "When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose". This indeed is the scenario facing India as even though the visitors have already lost the chance to win the series, they can still pull one back for now...

98-year-old woman becomes first woman ever to earn Judo's highest-degree black belt

Sensei Keiko Fukuda has  become the first woman to achieve a tenth-degree black belt

Is earning a black belt on your life list? Then this elderly woman in San Francisco just might be your ultimate hero.

Just two years before her 100th birthday, Sensei Keiko Fukuda has  become the first woman to achieve a tenth-degree black belt—the highest rank in the martial art and combat sport Judo. Fukuda is now one of only four living people who've earned the tenth-degree (or dan) black belt. To put the accomplishment into better perspective, throughout history, only sixteen people have ever achieved this honor.

Fukuda began practicing Judo in 1935 and is the sole surviving student of its founder, Kano Jiguro. At her teacher's urging, she learned English to help spread Judo internationally.

During a time when getting married, building a family, and becoming a housewife was the norm, Fukudo bucked tradition, opting out of marriage to pursue the martial art.

"All I did was Judo...this was my marriage," Fukudo reflected tearfully to the San Francisco Chronicle. "This is when my life destiny was set. I just never imagined how long this road would be."

She described the Jiguro’s school, known as the Kodokan, as "old-fashioned and sexist about belts and ranks." In fact, an edict that prevented women from achieving any higher than a fifth-degree black belt kept Fukuda at that level for thirty years. She was finally elevated to sixth dan in 1972 when a woman's division was created.

Fukodo said she approached Judo and her life with the intent to "be gentle, kind and beautiful, yet firm and strong, both mentally and physically." Fukuda says this kind of beauty is decidedly not external. "A compassionate soul is inner beauty," she explained to the paper. "I believe this is true beauty...All my life this has been my dream."

India's Rahul Gandhi steps closer to power

Rahul Gandhi is clearly the most important in the party after Sonia

NEW DELHI - The decision by an ailing Sonia Gandhi to ask her son Rahul to help steer India’s ruling party in her absence could fast-track his long-anticipated succession to power, analysts say.

The scion of India’s Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty was named Thursday to a four-member panel tasked with running the party’s daily affairs while his mother recovers from surgery for an undisclosed medical condition.

Although long billed as a premier-in-waiting, Rahul, 41, has hitherto shunned high-profile cabinet berths in favour of grassroots activism and building up the party’s youth wing.

But his nomination to the temporary panel — despite not even being in the country — coupled with uncertainty over the seriousness of Sonia’s condition has led many to believe his rise to the top has now begun in earnest.

‘The whole plan of Sonia has always been that the sceptre must be handed to the son,’ political analyst Inder Malhotra told AFP. ‘This regency could well be the beginning of transition.’

Rahul steps into the fray as the Congress party battles its gravest crisis since taking power in 2004 after a string of corruption scandals and soaring inflation. Read More...

Obama signs debt bill after final Senate vote

President Barack Obama delivers a statement in the Rose Garden of the White House

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate emphatically passed emergency legislation Tuesday to avoid a first-ever government default, rushing the legislation to President Barack Obama for his signature just hours before the deadline. The vote was 74-26.

Obama signed the bill little more than an hour later.

Tuesday's vote capped an extraordinarily difficult Washington battle pitting tea party Republican forces in the House against Obama and Democrats controlling the Senate. The resulting compromise paired an essential increase in the government's borrowing cap with promises of more than $2 trillion of budget cuts over the next decade.

"It's an important first step to ensuring that as a nation we live within our means," Obama said after the vote. "This is, however, just the first step. This compromise requires that both parties work together on a larger plan to cut the deficit."

Much of the measure, which the House passed Monday night, was negotiated on terms set by House Speaker John Boehner, including a demand that any increase in the nation's borrowing cap be matched by spending cuts. Read More....

DMK men hit streets against 'false' land grabbing cases

DMK party men staging demonstration in connection with land grabbing charges near the Collectorate in Kancheepuram on Monday.

Around 40,000 members of DMK, including its treasurer MK Stalin and several other senior leaders, were today arrested across Tamil Nadu for staging a protest against "foisting" of land grabbing cases against partymen.

Police said the arrests were made when they staging demonstrations at the district headquarters, including Chennai, without permission.

Besides Stalin, son of DMK chief M Karunanidhi, party stalwarts like Lok Sabha member TKS Elangovan, Chennai mayor M Subramanian, Madurai deputy mayor Mannan, former ministers M Palanichamy, MP Saminathan, A Tamilarasi and scores of district secretaries were held.

The arrested, including Stalin, were released later.

The DMK's first major protest since AIADMK came to power comes in the backdrop of the crackdown on land grabbing in which several functionaries of the Karunanidhi-led party have been arrested.

The agitating DMK men raised slogans condemning "police atrocities".

Stalin alleged that the Jayalalithaa regime was indulging in "political vendetta" against the DMK, a charge repeatedly levelled by Karunanidhi since the state government set up special police cells to act on complaints of land grabbing.

Jayalalithaa has denied the charge of vendetta politics saying the special police cells were acting on "genuine" complaints by "affected" persons with no political links.

DMK leaders, including its Salem strongman and former minister Veerapandi S Arumugam, Chepauk (Chennai) MLA J Anbazhagan, close aides of Union minister MK Alagiri and others have already been arrested on landgrab charges.