The Global Diabetic Foot Conference (DFcon 2014) concluded earlier this week in Los Angeles US. Citizen News Service (CNS) had an opportunity to interact with one of the key faculties and experts on Indian approach to saving the limb for people who are living with diabetes. Dr Ajith Kumar Varma is a

The first half of the 20th century was a very sensitive period in the history of the Indian subcontinent. It was a time when people began dreaming of an ideal society—being fed on romantic dreams and utopian schemes. Propagandists presented these fanciful ideas and visions through their writings and

What a coincidence that on the day the Governor of Punjab, Mohammad Sarwar, is assuring the world, and in particular the Sikh community, that religious minorities are free to worship according their beliefs, at the churches, Temples, Gurdwaras and other places of religious worship in Pakistan, a Hin

After three years, Asia’s children would be hoping to see her mother at home as her case was fixed for hearing before a division bench. Asia Bibi’s appeal was taken up at the Lahore High Court - LHC praying that the conviction for blasphemy was inconsistent with the evidence. The court may reduce he

There is no doubt that the ulema exercise considerable influence on Muslim society, although to claim, as some do, that Muslims are in the complete grip of the ulema is far from correct. Yet, it is true that no major change can take place in Muslim society by ignoring the ulema and their significanc

The government of India’s notification which came into effect on 1st March 2014 aims to arrest irrational sale and use of anti-tuberculosis drugs (and other 45 third and fourth generation antibiotics). “The Union Health Ministry has notified amendments to the Drugs and Cosmetic Act, 1940, in which a

Is there a cure for HIV? The success stories of Timothy Brown and the two Boston patients, who rid themselves of the HIV cells through bone marrow transplants, led to hopes that a cure had finally been found. This was further boosted by the fact that the transplants received by them were diametrical

Most often peace is taken to mean a period of time, when there is no war or fighting. No wonder then that most peace workers spring into action when there is threat of a war breaking out, or when it has already started.
But this is a very limited concept of peace. In fact, peace is very comprehensi

Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyyah popularly known as Hamas, the longtime frontrunner in the internal jockeying of organizations fighting Israel is in its struggling days, while the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) is gaining strength day by day. In recent years Hamas had a calming effect on the popu

My name is Lekshmi Bhai. I belong to a Brahmin Hindu family in India. My parent’s practiced me in idol worship. My family is well to do and so I do not experience poverty and suffering. My parents loved me so much, so everything I wanted them was given to me without any difficulties.
When I was stu

These days, fatwas are much-talked about in the media. Some recent fatwas have provided the ulema (Islamic scholars) and Islamic institutions much negative media attention, winning them the opprobrium of many.
The institution of fatwas is a very sensitive one. It is said that ulema are deputies of

European Union powers and America are currently lambasting the Russian Federation over actions taken in Crimea while people are dying daily in Afghanistan, Libya, Pakistan, Syria – and other nations – based on the destabilization policies of major Gulf and Western powers (Pakistan destabilized itsel

Prime Minister Nouri Maliki of Iraq denounces Qatar and Saudi Arabia for supporting terrorism and sectarianism against Iraq. Maliki made it abundantly clear that Qatar and Saudi Arabia are involved in the destabilization of Iraq based on Gulf petrodollars, their geopolitical ambitions, sectarian fac

The Quran stresses religious tolerance, this being an important Islamic principle. Religious tolerance necessarily means that people should be not be coerced into following a particular religion. This is entirely in consonance with Islam. The Quran (2:256) insists ‘There shall be no compulsion in re

I apologize for missing out on the celebrations of Women's Day this year as I was too engrossed with changing nappies of my 10 month old adorable granddaughter in London, despite her part time nanny - who is a graduate, and charges a frightful £10 an hour - that is over INR 1000 (the going rate for