Asian News International

Asian News International. Multi-media news agency, content for information platforms: TV, Internet, broadband, newspapers, mobiles.

Exomoons may harbour life too!

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Move over exoplanets. Moons in close binary solar systems have a better chance of hosting life than those in single-star systems, a thrilling study has shown.

Binary stars dampen each other’s solar radiation and stellar winds, thereby creating a more hospitable environment for life and increasing the habitable zone around such solar systems, astronomers said.

“The two stars calm each other down in terms of activity,” Paul Mason, an astrophysicist at University of Texas, was quoted as saying.

Sensex gains 94 points; capital goods stocks rally

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A benchmark index of Indian equities markets gained 94.05 points or 0.42 percent Tuesday as capital goods and oil and gas sectors gained.

Good buying was observed in capital goods, banking and oil and gas sectors, while selling pressure was seen in IT sector.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 22,512.23 points, was trading at 22,539.17 points in the pre-noon session, up 94.05 points or 0.42 percent from the previous day’s close at 22,445.12 points.

Blast in Baramulla polling booth in Kashmir

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A blast took place inside a polling station in Watergam in Baramulla district of Kashmir on Tuesday, a day ahead of polling in the constituency.

The polling station is housed in a government school building.

No casualties have been reported from the blast site so far.

The police are still investigating the case.

Militants in the area had earlier threatened to attack voters and polling booths. (ANI)

Modi fears strong RTI Commissioner, Lokayukta may land him behind bars: Rahul

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Rahul Gandhi on Monday charged Narendra Modi with having balked at appointing a RTI Commissioner and Lokayukta in Gujarat for fear of being booked for alleged irregularities in providing benefits to his favourite industrial group.

“Modi tries to ensnare you with his claims of being an efficient chowkidar (watchman). You need to remember that many times it is the watchman himself who commits burglary. The risk becomes even higher when you have just one watchman with no one else to keep a watch on him,” the Congress vice president told an election rally here.

Using caste card won’t help Modi to get any political mileage , says Meem Afzal

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Congress leader Meem Afzal on Tuesday stated that Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has always tried to play the caste card in his favour but added that he cannot get any political mileage out of it.

“He has always tried to use the caste card, and he is trying to do it again. Even Baba Ramdev also hails from backward class but the way he used language against dalits led him to his downfall. It may be true that he (Modi) hails from backward community, but he cannot take any advantage out of it,” Afzal said.

Indian technology expert proposes greener data centres

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Indian data centre technologies expert Shekhar Dasgupta has presented a new set of measures that go well beyond raising efficiency of IT infrastructure paving the way for leaner and greener data centres.

These measures could improve performance and revenue besides reducing costs and environmental impact, he said speaking at the Data Centre World meet in Las Vegas last Friday.

Apex Court strikes down Karnataka govt order making Kannada medium of teaching in schools

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On Tuesday, the Supreme Court struck down a decision of the Karnataka government making it mandatory for all primary schools in the state to teach in Kannada language.

“The government can’t impose mother tongue on linguistic minority for imparting primary education,” the SC said.The schools had moved the Supreme court challenging the state government’s decision.

The government, schools alleged, had also threatened to withdraw their recognition if they failed to follow its order on making Kannada the medium of teaching.

Smiling can help fight memory loss

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A new study has revealed that humor and laughter can help lessen the damage that stress hormone cortisol has on memory and learning ability in the elderly.

According to the researchers at Loma Linda University, there was a significant decrease in cortisol concentrations among both groups who watched a funny video and showed greater improvement in all areas of the memory assessment when compared to controls.

Low testosterone levels linked to aggressive prostate cancer

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Low levels of testosterone can be associated with aggressive prostate cancer and indicate worsening of the disease in men who are afflicted by it, a significant study has said.

“These results suggest low levels of testosterone are associated with more aggressive prostate cancer,” said Ignacio San Francisco from Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.

“This contradicts long-held beliefs that high testosterone is risky for prostate cancer, and low testosterone is protective,” San Francisco added.

I keep an eye on what my kids watch: Kajol

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Actress Kajol, who has been named ‘Mighty Mother’ ahead of Mother’s Day, says she is careful about the content that her children watch on the small screen as these are “learning years” for them.

Green Gold Animation, the makers of children’s shows “Chhota Bheem” and “Mighty Raju” have decided to honour Kajol with a ‘Mighty Mother’ award ahead of Mother’s Day, which falls Sunday.

One to give foremost priority to her children – daughter Nysa, 11, and son Yug, three, Kajol tends to watch the two shows with her children once in a while.

Melting of small area of ice on East Antarctica shore could mean 10 foot sea-level rise

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Researchers have said that the if a small area of ice on East Antarctica shore melts it could lead to 10 foot rise in sea-levels.

According to researcher, an ice rim currently holds the largest region of marine ice on rocky ground in East Antarctica and warming oceans could lead to ice loss on the coast, while the air over Antarctica stays cold.

According to the researchers, if the rim is lost it can lead to sea-level rise of about 10-13 feet, Discovery News reported.

Amole Gupte dedicates ‘Hawaa Hawaai’ to father

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Amole Gupte says he is dedicating his forthcoming film “Hawaa Hawaai” to his father Sudhakar Laxman Gupte, who passed away earlier this month.

“My father was able to see the film before he was gone. That means the world to me. The film is dedicated to him. My life is dedicated to him,” said Amole.

If it wasn’t for Ajay Devgn, Amole would not have been able to meet his father for the last time.

Modi uses backward caste sentiment while replying to Priyanka

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Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, on Tuesday tweeted by claiming that he was targeted as he belonged to a backward class.

In reply to Congress president, Sonia Gandhi’s daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s barb aimed at him for practicing ‘low-level’ of politics yesterday, Modi has tweeted stating that he was targeted as he belonged to a backward caste, “I belong to lower caste of society, that is why they think my politics is ‘low-level’ politics.”

‘Pak Army wants dialogue with India but with all options open’

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As part of its change in strategy, a major section of Pakistan’s Army wants to give dialogue with India a chance, but wants to retain all other options including sub-conventional warfare, according to a new book.

“As one major general put it, ‘We should give talking to India a chance, but retail all options, including sub-conventional warfare, to deal with India’,” said Aqil Shah, author of the latest book ‘Democracy: Military Politics in Pakistan’.

Honda recalls 31,226 Amaze, Brio cars

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Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) on Monday recalled 31,226 units of select variants of the Amaze compact sedan and Brio hatchback to inspect them for a possible defect in the brake system.

The company will inspect the proportioning valve of non-ABS variants of both models manufactured between February 28, 2013, and January 16, 2014. The recall is for 15,623 Brio cars and 15,603 petrol Amaze cars, HCIL said in a statement. The proportioning valve is part of the system that adjusts brake distribution pressure to the wheels.

Phosphate-rich diet may lead to high BP, poor heart

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Do you know that phosphate-rich foods like processed cheese can increase blood pressure leading to heart attack risk? Read on.

According to a significant research, a high phosphate diet can increase blood pressure and promote vascular calcifications – leading to life-threatening cardiovascular disease.

The key is the hormone called FGF23 (Fibroblast Growth Factor 23).

When large quantities of phosphates are consumed, production of the FGF23 hormone is stimulated which has a negative effect on the cardiovascular system.

Gardening offers much needed health benefits to younger adults

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Researchers have said that gardening can not only enhance home and community landscapes and provide low-cost food sources, the level of physical activity required also offers a multitude of health benefits to young adults.

Studies have confirmed that engaging in gardening can lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and increase psychological well-being.

Researchers from Konkuk University and Hongik University in Seoul, South Korea, published a study in HortTechnology that evaluated the intensity of gardening activities for adults in their 20s.

60 children fall ill on London-bound flight

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More than 60 children were reported falling ill Monday morning aboard a London-bound flight after finishing their performance in South African.

According to the media, London Ambulance Service Monday morning was called to check over the group of children, whose flight was just landed at the Heathrow Airport, Xinhua reported.

Twelve of those children have been sent to Hillingdon Hospital in London for treatment and were said having recovered quickly.

Rupee recovers 11 paise against dollar in early trade

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The rupee appreciated by 11 paise to 60.10 against the dollar in early trade today at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market on selling of the US currency by exporters amid continued capital inflows.

Forex dealers said a higher opening in the domestic equity market and strengthening of other currencies against the US dollar overseas also supported the rupee.

The rupee ended lower by five paise at 60.21 against the dollar in yesterday’s trade on fag-end demand for the US currency from banks and importers.

Apple shares cross $600 mark for first time after 2012

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Apple’s shares have risen past the 600 dollar mark for the first time after 2012.

According to CNET, shares of Apple rose 1.4 percent (8.38 dollars) and reached 600.96 dollars on Monday.

However, Apple’s stocks had risen to 705.10 dollars in 2012.

Investor confidence seems to be up because of record sales numbers in Q4 of 2013 and strong earnings in the second fiscal quarter of 2014, which saw revenue of $45.6 billion and a profit of $10.2 billion, the report added. (ANI)

Queen Latifah not typical Hollwyood celebrity

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Singer-actress Queen Latifah insists she lives a normal life and spends most of her time caring for her mother, who has an incurable autoimmune disease.

The chat show host’s mother Rita Owen was diagnosed with scleroderma, an incurable autoimmune disease that may cause scar tissue to build up on the lungs, last year, reports contactmusic.com.

“There’s nothing Hollywood about me when it comes to my family. I didn’t hire people. I’m very involved with mom’s care. I talk to the doctors, I talk to the nurses, we discuss the findings, we discuss options,” she said.

Malaysia denies grilling al-Qaida-linked terror suspects over missing MH370

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Malaysia’s leading police officer has denied reports that it has questioned 11 terror suspects with links to al-Qaida in connection with the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

The suspects were arrested last week and are thought to be members of a violent terror cell plotting attacks in Islamic nations.

Both the FBI and MI6 asked the Malaysian security services to interrogate the militants aged between 22 and 55.

According to the Daily Star, the militants include students, odd-job workers and business professionals.

Lalit Modi elected as RCA president

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Former Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi on Tuesday was elected as the President of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA).

Earlier, the BCCI had asked the RCA to dissociate itself from Modi, or face action after the latter was banned for life from the BCCI last year for financial irregularities in the IPL.

Modi had taken the matter to the Supreme Court and won the right to take on Rampal Sharma for the post of president.

Gift your mom pearls this Mother’s Day

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This Mother’s Day, which is on May 11, gift your mom a classic piece of jewellery that not only adds to her beauty but also makes her feel really special.

Indian jewellery brand Mirari has come up with Pearl Perfection that boasts of eternal elegance inspired by beautiful oceans.

“It encompasses chic pieces that live forever and that any woman regardless of age can wear out to any glamorous occasion with sheer elan,” said a statement.