Earthquake of 7.

8 Richter struck Iran and Pakistan

17/4/13

An Earthquake of 7.8 Richter Scale struck on April 16, 2013 that jolted Iran and Pakistan and killed more than 40 people and leaving several Injured.<br><br> The epicenter of the quake was near Pakistan- Iran Border in the south eastern city of Khash. According to Geological survey the epicenter of the quake was 82 Kilometers beneath the ground in a desert area. The effect of the quake was felt across India, Pakistan and Middle East. After the quake several aftershocks were also felt. <br><br> The quake left several buildings destroyed in Pakistan and also shook buildings in Mashkel area. This was the strongest earthquake that Iran has witnessed over a period of forty years. Although there were no casualties reported in Iran. <br><br> The tremors of the earthquake were also felt in India till Delhi NCR region where people came out of their multistory buildings following earthquake tremors. There were no casualties or collapse of building reported in India as well.

European Parliament approves stringent CRD 4 rules

April 17,2013

Following the European crises European parliament on April 17, 2013 approved new stringent rules on bankers bonuses and the amount of capital that banks must hold as a buffer by a big majority. <br><br> The new rules called a CRD 4 (Capital Requirements Directive) will come into effect from January 1, 2014. The objective behind the new rules is to curb high risk lending that lend to financial crash in 2008. CRD 4 brings the European Union into the line of Basel III norms on banking standards. <br><br> About Basel III norms: <br> 1. Basel III is a global, voluntary regulatory standard on bank capital adequacy, stress testing and market liquidity risk. <br> 2. The third installment of the Basel Accords was developed in response to the deficiencies in financial regulation revealed by the late-2000s financial crisis. <br> 3. Basel III has been criticized by banks, organized in the Institute of International Finance in Washington D.C. (large American and European banks, including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank) with the argument it would hurt them and economic growth.

Pakistan Election tribunal rejected Musharraf plea for contesting election

April 17, 2013

A Pakistan Election tribunal on April 16 2013 has rejected the nomination papers of the former military dictator Pervez Musharraf for the elections that are to be held on 11 May 2013. It was the only tribunal in which his nomination papers for the general elections had been accepted. <br><br> Previously his two nomination papers were rejected from Islamabad and Kasur constituencies in Punjab Province. Earlier court had held that the former president had violated the constitution by extending his rule and was also a suspect in the killing of Benazir Bhutto. He was contesting elections from Pakistan Muslim League party. <br><br> About Pervez Musharraf<br> 1. Commissioned from the Pakistan Army in 1964, Musharraf rose to national prominence after being appointed a four-star general in October 1998 by then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. <br><br> 2. Musharraf was the mastermind and strategic field commander behind the Kargil infiltration. <br><br> 3. After months of contentious relations with Prime Minister Sharif, Musharraf was brought to power through a military coup d'tat in 1999. <br><br> 4. With Aziz having completed his term, and the suspension of the Chief Justice in 2007, Musharraf dramatically fell from the power in 2008, tendering his resignation of the presidency after facing potential impeachment, led by the elected opposition parties.

UK scientist produces Pig 26 using gene editing technique

April 17,2013

Scientist from Edinburghs Roslin Institute laboratory who in 1996 created Dolly the cloned sheep have now produced a disease resistant piglet using a new technique which is said to be simpler than cloning, paving way for genetically modified meat. The new technique is called as genes editing and Pig-26 is the first animal formed by this technique. <br><br> The new technique is said to be more efficient than the existing techniques and alleviate the major concerns of Anti-GM campaign as it does not involve the use of antibiotic resistance genes. <br><br> About gene editing<br> 1. 2. 3. 4. Is simple and precise process. <br> Does not involve the use of Anti- Antibiotic resistance genes. <br> Has a success rate of 10-15 per cent than less than 1 per cent for existing members. <br> The method can be performed on fertilizing egg without the need for complicated cloning technique.

Pig 26 has been made to have gene that would immune it to African swine fever that would kill European pigs in 24 hours of infection.