Month: July 2013

Putin meets powerful Saudi spy chief: Kremlin

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Russian President Vladimir Putin today held a rare and previously unannounced meeting with Saudi intelligence chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan to discuss the situation in the Middle East, the Kremlin said.

A wide number of questions regarding Saudi-Russia relations were discussed as well as the situation in North
Africa and the Middle East,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies.

Peskov gave no further details about the talks in the Russian capital, which come amid strained relations between
Moscow and Riyadh over the conflict in Syria.

Bank of England helped Nazis sell plundered gold

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The Bank of England (BoE) played an important in moving and selling gold looted by the Nazis after their invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1938, which has been revealed in a previously unpublished file. A record from the bank’s archive shows it transferred 5.6 million pounds of gold from Czechoslovakia on behalf of Germany”s Reichsbank, following the Nazi invasion.

Chappell slams `crazy` Clarke for refusing to bat at `first drop` in third Test

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Former Australian Test captain Ian Chappell has called for current captain Michael Clarke to bat at first drop in the third Ashes Test, and slammed his refusal to promote himself to No.3 for the Test as ”crazy”. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, however, the move would not happen as Clarke is happier at No.5, despite the inexperience of his top six batsmen.

How long it takes to move on after divorce

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Experts have said that it takes about two years to move on from emotional trauma like divorce, or a breakup.

‘Bonds’ columnist Elizabeth Bernstein revealed in a Wall Street Journal online video segment why the healing process took so long, the Huffington Post reported.

Bernstein said that people have a huge loss, so they have to get over that.

She said that however, restructuring life takes more time.

Bernstein explained that these events take a lot away of their safety net and so much of their structure that restructuring takes a lot of time. (ANI)

Swings in blood pressure associated with impaired cognitive function

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Higher variability in blood pressure readings, could be related to impaired cognitive function in old age in those already at high risk of cardiovascular disease, a new study suggests.

There is increasing evidence that vascular factors contribute in development and progression of dementia.

This is of special interest as cardiovascular factors may be amendable and thus potential targets to reduce cognitive decline and the incidence of dementia.

Myths about introverts busted

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Stereotypes believe that introverts are socially awkward loners, who abhor large gatherings and don’t like people very much.

Susan Cain, who is the author of ‘Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking’ has shed some light on introverts, who live in a culture that tends to value extroverted qualities like assertiveness and outspokenness over solitude and quiet contemplation.

ECB calls match-fixing allegations during Pak-Windies ODI series `baseless`

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The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has reportedly assured the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that the match-fixing allegations over the recently concluded one-day series between Pakistan and West Indies are ”baseless”. According to the Express Tribune, a British newspaper had raised concerns regarding the nature in which the series was played, claiming that the ICC”s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) was set to investigate alleged ”wrong doings”.

India lags in addressing cyber security concerns: EC-Council

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India is unlikely to meet the target of creating a workforce of 500,000 cyber security professionals in next five years due to lack of infrastructure and investment, an official of security firm EC-Council said.

The country is lagging behind in its fight in cyber warfare which has adopted innovative ways to attack
governments and organisations causing huge financial losses, Jay Bavisi, the President of EC-Council, which is a major global certification and training organisation in information security domain, said.

Now, system for windows that may save energy and cut cooling costs

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Researchers have developed a bioinspired microfluidic circulatory system for windows that could help save energy and cut cooling costs dramatically, while letting in just as much sunlight.

The same circulatory system could also cool rooftop solar panels, allowing them to generate electricity more efficiently.

The new window-cooling system contains an extensive network of ultrathin channels near the “skin” of the window — the pane — through which water can be pumped when the window is hot.

Princess Diana `wished to get married again` to Hasnath Khan

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Princess Diana was deeply in love with Pakistani surgeon Hasnat Khan and wanted to marry him, her close friend Jemima Khan has revealed.

Khan who was previously the wife of Hasnat’s distant cousin legendary cricketer Imran Khan, told Vanity Fair that she was so interested in getting married that she was ready to live in Pakistan, ABC News reported.

Jemima said that Diana twice visited Pakistan to fundraise for Imran’s hospital; but she was also there to secretly discuss marriage to Hasnat.

`Porn different from real sex`

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Onset of Internet ha made porn available everywhere, which has set many of us up for some unrealistic expectations.

New York film production company Kornhaber Brown has made comparison between porn stars and regular Joes, side by side, the Huffington Post reported.

The video quotes that in real life 3 out of 4 men ejaculate within 3 minutes.

Another quote in the video is that 71 percent of all women can’t orgasm through penetration.

The company said that the statistics were based on credible sources, like Jon Millward’s ‘Deep Inside study.’ (ANI)

Home

Artificial ear built from living tissues

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Scientists have created an artificial human ear by combining living tissues extracted from cows and sheep.

The scientists allowed them to grow around a flexible wire frame, which retains the correct anatomical shape of the ear.

The researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston said that a key feature of the artificial organ is a cartilage scaffold which has an embedded titanium wire that retains the shape of the structure as well as maintain its flexibility, the Independent reported.

New iPhone 5S rumoured to be coming with fingerprint sensor for security

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Software manufacturer Apple’s much awaited flagship product, iPhone 5S, surrounded with a round of rumours is now speculated to have a fingerprint reader and along with it the company is also expected to release a cheaper and plastic version of the mobile phone.

According to ABC News, Apple has released a new version of the iOS 7 beta software, which has a radically different design and some new features including new Siri voices and a control center with easy access to settings menus and it also contains some clues about a fingerprint sensor in the device.

Telangana impact: Housing prices to rise in Hyderabad

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After remaining stagnant since 2009, housing prices in Hyderabad are set to rise as the market sentiment is likely to improve following Congress party’s decision to create Telangana state out of Andhra Pradesh, rating agency Crisil said today.

After a four-year hiatus, residential real estate prices are set to rise at a relatively faster pace in Hyderabad with the likely resolution of the Telangana issue (the announcement of the creation of a separate Telangana state and giving the city a special status for 10 years),” Crisil said in a statement.

Snowden’s father says son’s case different from WikiLeaks accused Manning

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NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden’s father Lon Snowden has reportedly said that his son’s case is different from that of WikiLeaks accused Bradley Manning.

According to the Politico, Snowden’s father said that people want to compare both cases of Edward and Manning but they are completely different because he thinks his son has exercised discretion in the information that he has shared.

The report added Snowden’s father saying that Edward certainly admires Manning whom he calls ‘a classic whistleblower inspired by the public good’.

Rediff.Com announces 2013 first quarter results

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Rediff.com, one of the premier online providers of news, information, communication, entertainment and shopping services to Indians worldwide, today announced results for its first quarter ended June 30, 2013.

The company reported overall revenues for the 2013 first fiscal quarter of 4.11 million dollars, a 12 per cent increase, as compared to 3.67 million dollars reported in the 2012 first fiscal quarter.

Complaint against KBC for `defaming’ legal profession

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A private complaint was filed today in a court here, alleging promos of the upcoming season of TV quiz-show `Kaun Banega Crorepati’ present the legal profession in a derogatory manner.

It names actor Amitabh Bachchan, the show’s host, as one of the respondents.

The complaint was filed in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Sanjay Pande by Nasir Ali, legal cell coordinator of `Gondwana Gantantra Party’.

The court has fixed a hearing on August 23 to record the statement of the complainant to decide whether any case can be registered against the respondents.

Social activist files PIL, challenges suspension of UP IAS officer

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A social activist filed a public interest litigation (PIL) plea before the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday, questioning the suspension of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and Greater NOIDA Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Durga Shakti Nagpal.

The petition was filed by social activist Nutan Thakur and is likely to come up for hearing on August 1.

‘Liberal-minded’ Saudi Arabian website developer sentenced to jail term and 600 lashes

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A liberal-minded website developer in Saudi Arabia had been reportedly sentenced to a jail term of seven years and 600 lashes for his website which urged people to share their opinion about the role of religion in the country.

Raif Badawi’s website Free Saudi Liberals angered the Islamic authorities in the ultraconservative country which follows a strict form of Islam that includes harsh punishments for challenging customs, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Breast reduction surgery improves physical and mental well-being

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Breast reduction surgery produces measurable improvements in several important areas of health and quality of life, a new study has revealed.

The study used the BREAST-Q questionnaire, a well-validated survey instrument, to document the physical and psychosocial health benefits of breast reduction surgery.

“The improvement in physical well-being is important for justification of insurance coverage,” according to the paper by Dr. Michelle Coriddi and colleagues of Wexner Medical Center at the Ohio State University, Columbus.

Mushtaq’s reverse-swing tips to England bowlers

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He himself played as a specialist spinner in the Pakistan team but Mushtaq Ahmed, England’s spin-bowling coach, today said he has passed on the art of reverse swing to the English bowlers which they have been using to the good effect in the ongoing Ashes series.

I am not taking any credit because the English bowlers deserve it all for working hard on perfecting this art. But yes, I did discuss reverse swing with them and passed on tips about how to reverse swing,” said the former leg-spinner.

Exercise reduces Alzheimer’s risk

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A new has found that exercise may improve cognitive function in those at risk for Alzheimer’s by improving the efficiency of brain activity associated with memory.

Memory loss leading to Alzheimer’s disease is one of the greatest fears among older Americans.

While some memory loss is normal and to be expected as we age, a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, signals more substantial memory loss and a greater risk for Alzheimer’s, for which there currently is no cure.