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Gayle, Smith spur West Indies to easy victory

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Chris Gayle and Dwayne Smith struck boundary-studded half centuries to spur West Indies to a nine-wicket victory over New Zealand in a rain-shortened first one-day cricket international today.

West Indies was well on its way to chasing down New Zealand`s total of 190-9 off 50 overs when rain halted their charge at 93-1 off 18 overs at Sabina Park.

But victory was sealed soon after resumption as they coasted to a revised target of 136 off 33 overs with 8.4 overs to spare.

Aliens may look like giant jellyfish

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Aliens may not actually resemble the little green creatures Hollywood loves to portray them as.

Rather, they are more likely to look like ‘giant jellyfish with orange bottoms’, if a leading British space scientist is to be believed. “My vision of aliens is an inhuman, silicon-based life form that looks much more like a jellyfish than sci-fi’s little green men. It is likely that there is extra-terrestrial life – it is just more alien than you’d imagine,” Maggie Aderin-Pocock, satellite expert and government adviser in UK, said.

`Gangs of Wasseypur` collection biggest of my life: Kashyap

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`Gangs of Wasseypur`, based on real-life story, has collected Rs.10 crore in the opening weekend. Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap is satisfied and says the crime thriller is his first film to earn so much at the box office.

“We thought that people were liking the film, but in the first three days, we didn`t collect so much. But even that collection has been the biggest of my life. The kind of film this is and the kind of actors there are, the collection was big,” Kashyap said at the success party of the film Thursday.

Kim Kardarshian: My romance with West will last

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Socialite Kim Kardashian says her relationship with rapper Kanye West will stand the test of time because they built a strong friendship before becoming romantically involved.

The socialite went public with her new love earlier this year following her split from sportsman husband Kris Humphries .

Kardashian has been friends with the rapper for several years, and she believes their strong connection provides a solid base for romance.

Fruits and vegetables can prevent heart disease

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Eating fruits and vegetables every day can reduce your risk of developing heart disease by 20 percent, a World Health Organization (WHO) study showed.

Death rates from heart disease are twice as high among people who eat diets high in saturated fat, trans fats and salt such as junk food, the study said.

More people around the world die from cardiovascular diseases than any other causes.

These diseases were responsible for 17.3 million deaths in 2008, representing 30 percent of all global deaths, WHO said Wednesday.

Japanese touch therapy eases pain in cancer patients

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Cancer patients experience easing of side-effects such as pain and nausea after a single session of Jin Shin Jyutsu, an ancient Japanese touch therapy, says a study.

The study by the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center included 159 current cancer patients. It found that in each session patients experienced significant improvement in the areas of pain, stress, and nausea with the first visit and in subsequent visits as well.

Premature birth linked to risk of mental problems

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One of the largest studies to investigate birth complications and later mental health has found that premature birth constitutes a single, independent risk factor for a range of severe psychiatric disorders.

Researchers at King`s College London and Karolinska Institute in Sweden suggest that neurodevelopmental differences in those born prematurely may be important in understanding the link, a statement from the college said.

Sensex rises for second day; highest closing in 2-1/2 months

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Led by metal and realty shares, the Sensex on Wednesday gained for the second straight day and ended 37 points higher at 17,462.81, its highest close in nearly 11 weeks, amid a weak trend in global markets.

The BSE benchmark index, which had gained 27 points in the previous session, added another 37.10 points, or 0.21 percent to end at 17,462.81. This is the highest closing after the index settled at 17,503.71 on April 19.

With PMO intervention, FSA deadlock may end in 15 days: Jaiswal

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The Coal Ministry has said that with the intervention of the PMO it hopes to resolve the deadlock over the fuel supply pacts with Power Ministry within a fortnight.

“Discussion with the Prime Minister’s Office is underway on fuel supply agreement (FSA). I am hopeful that the issue will be resolved in 15 days and remaining pacts will be signed,” Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said.

Once achieved, the breakthrough will pave the way for power major NTPC and others to sign pacts with Coal India Ltd (CIL).

Olympics 2012: Indian boxers are the ones to watch out for in London

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Four years ago, they were the Olympic surprise package that fascinated the country but cut to 2012 London, Indian boxers are the ones to watch out for as they seek to better the one bronze medal feat that Vijender Singh scaled in Beijing.

An unprecedented eight boxers — seven men and for the first time a woman — are headed to the British capital faced with sky-high expectations of over a billion-strong nation that is gradually beginning to realise its sporting potential.

Global warming spurs spread of toxic bugs: Study

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Global warming may be spurring the spread of Cyanobacteria, one of the most primitive of bugs, while causing them to produce greater amounts of toxins, which may affect liver, nervous system and eyes, according to a study.

“These toxins may affect the liver and other organs (hepatotoxins), the nervous system (neurotoxins), different cells (cytotoxins), the eyes and mucous membranes, as well as causing dermatitis and allergies,” explains Francisca F. del Campo, study co-author and researcher at the Autonomous University of Madrid.

Atom’s shadow clicked for first time

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Scientists have been able to click the shadow of a single atom for the very first time — an unprecedented feat crowning efforts lasting more than five years.

“We have reached the extreme limit of microscopy; you cannot see anything smaller than an atom using visible light,” said Dave Kielpinski, professor at the Griffith University’s Centre for Quantum Dynamics in Brisbane, Australia.

“We wanted to investigate how few atoms are required to cast a shadow and we proved it takes just one,” Kielpinski said, the journal Nature Communications reports.

Cheer up ladies, for your babies` sake

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Expectant mothers can benefit a lot by staying happy in their daily life. A British study has found expectant mothers suffering from stress are 60 percent more likely to have babies with health problems.

Stress during pregnancy leaves a baby more at risk of conditions such as the meconium aspiration breathing syndrome and being placed on a ventilator for the first half-hour of its life, Daily Mail reported.

Meconium aspiration – usually a sign of foetal distress – occurs after babies breathe in a mixture of meconium, or early faeces, and amniotic fluid around the time of delivery.

Indian plant extracts may help treat diabetes

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Scientists have isolated some Indian and Australian medicinal plant extracts that could potentially help manage diabetes.

Researchers from Australia`s Swinburne University of Technology have investigated 12 medicinal plant extracts to determine their potential in slowing down two key enzymes in carbohydrate metabolism which affect blood sugar and diabetes.

The extracts comprise seven Australian aboriginal medicinal plants and five Indian ayurvedic plants.

`Ibuprofen promotes bone healing post fracture`

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Ibuprofen, one of the most commonly prescribed pain killers worldwide, also promotes bone healing, after a fracture or bone surgery, a study has said and claimed the drug has no negative effects.

Researchers from the University of Granada have demonstrated that ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), has no negative effects on the proliferation and synthesis of osteoblast osteocalcin, hence promotes bone healing.

Akshay scared of dance, says Prabhu Deva

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Filmmaker Prabhu Deva, who directed Akshay Kumar in hit film “Rowdy Rathore”, says the latter is comfortable with action and acting, but he feels stressed out when it comes to dancing.

Prabhu Deva made the startling revelation about Akshay on UTV Stars’ “The Chosen One”.

He had to assign and judge a task for young contestants on the show, and in the meantime, he narrated interesting anecdotes straight out of the sets of “Rowdy Rathore”.

That’s when he told the contestants about Akshay’s apprehensions about dance.

Abhishek Bachchan’s ‘jalebi bhai’ moment!

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Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, a foodie, pampered his taste buds by gorging on Gujarati delicacy Jalebi Fafda on the sets of “Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma”.

The “Bol Bachchan” star was on the sets of the show to promote the forthcoming movie, and was treated to a variety of food items.

Lead actress Disha Vakani, who essays Daya Ben in the comedy, offered Abhishek some Jalebi Fafda, and he was enthusiastic about trying it.

I feel like I’m coming home: Sonali Bendre

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Actress Sonali Bendre is set for her comeback with Ekta Kapoor’s “Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai 2″, and says she is so comfortable with the team that she feels as though she’s returning home.

“It’s a great role. With the film it feels like I’m coming home since Shobha Kapoor has been (my husband) Goldie’s very close family friend,” Sonali, married to filmmaker Goldie Behl, said in a press statement.

Salman Khan didn’t hit Katrina Kaif!

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It’s certainly the hottest piece of goss to come out in recent times. The B-town is abuzz with talks of the alleged fight between Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif on the sets of Ek Tha Tiger. However, there seems to be more smoke than fire to such canards.

Former PM Rao was against Sonia as Cong chief: Arjun

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Why should the Congress party be hitched to the Nehru-Gandhi family like train compartments to the engine was how the late PV Narasimha Rao reacted to the suggestion that Sonia Gandhi be made the Congress chief after the assassination of her husband Rajiv Gandhi in May, 1991.

This has been stated by veteran Congressman Arjun Singh in his soon-to-be-released posthumous autobiography ‘A Grain of Sand in the Hourglass of Time’.

‘Vajpayee wanted to induct Kalam as minister’

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Former prime minister AB Vajpayee wanted to induct APJ Abdul Kalam as a minister in the NDA government in 1998, an offer Kalam declined, four years before he became the President in 2002.

The revelation was made by the former President in his recent book “Turning Points: A Journey Through Challenges”.

He said his decision to decline the Cabinet position enabled him to contribute to two major programmes that gave “spectacular” results to the nation.

Kalam, who was then the DRDO chief, recalls that he got a phone call on the midnight of 15th March, 1998 from Vajpayee.

Mexico declares bird flu emergency

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Mexico has activated a national emergency plan to contain a bird flu epidemic that has affected nearly 1.7 million poultry, the agriculture ministry said.

The plan was set in motion last week after authorities confirmed the existence of the H7N3 virus in the towns of Tepatitlan and Acatic in the western state of Jalisco, Xinhua quoted the ministry as saying Monday.

Although the outbreak is now concentrated in the two towns, the plan “will be activated throughout the country to prevent the spread of the disease”, it added.

It’s not business as usual with Pak: NATO

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NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said there has been a decline in cooperation activities and “it’s not business as usual with Pakistan”.

“No, it’s not business as usual. We have seen a decline in cooperation activities during recent months which I strongly regret,” the EuAsia News quoted Rasmussen as saying.

“I think it is of mutual interest to have a close cooperation between Pakistan and NATO,” he added.

“I still hope that we will see a reopening of the transit routes in not a too distant future,” he told a press conference here Monday.

Massive haul of LTTE weapons discovered in SL

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A major haul of weapons and ammunition belonging to the LTTE has been discovered by the Sri Lankan police in the terror group’s former stronghold of Kilinochchi in the north of the country.

Over 250,000 rounds of live T56 bullets, over 190,000 rounds of MPMP bullets, anti-aircraft gun bullets, 81 mm mortars and claymore bombs were among the cache found hidden in an abandoned water well, the Kilinochchi police said.

Kilinochchi was the seat of the LTTE’s parallel administration in their three decades old fight with the government troops.

TDSAT gives split verdict on 3G roaming

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Telecom tribunal TDSAT on Tuesday gave a split verdict in the 3G intra-circle roaming case with its Chairman allowing operators’ plea against the government order to stop the service, while its member dismissed it.

The two member bench comprising its Chairman Justice S B Sinha and Member P K Rastogi differed in theirs findings.

Justice Sinha allowed the telecom operators’ plea against the government’s directive to stop intra circle 3G roaming saying that it was violative of natural justice.

Rastogi, however, dismissed telecom operators plea saying they cannot provide roaming.