Month: September 2013

Moderate coffee consumption doesn’t increase heart disease risk

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A new research has suggested that moderate coffee consumption is not associated with increased cardiovascular Disease (CVD) risk

Recently, a new review paper1 had suggested that for most healthy people, moderate coffee consumption is unlikely to adversely affect cardiovascular health.

Furthermore a new paper2 concluded that higher green tea and coffee consumption is inversely associated with risk of CVD and stroke in the general population.

Bollywood has become unimaginative when it comes to music, says Irrfan Khan

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Irrfan Khan has slammed Bollywood for being unimaginative and lacking creativity, while making songs for films.

During an interview with BBC’s Asian Network, ‘ The Lunchbox’ star said that earlier in the 50s and 60s, the industry had its own unique language and the songs were used in a very imaginative way.

The 46-year-old actor asserted that songs were the strength of the film at the time.

Khan insisted that now the universal audiences from the West cannot connect with the songs because Bollywood has become complacent and the songs have become a burden.

New 3D printed toothbrush helps you clean mouth in 6 secs

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Engineers have invented a new kind of toothbrush that is tailor-made to fit into a person’s mouth.

According to Blizzident’s makers, the toothbrush cleans teeth completely within six seconds, though independent studies are yet to verify the claims.

To make the brush, the dentists take teeth’s digital scan then the makers use it to find out the optimal placement of 600 bristles by simulating biting and chewing movements.

The bristles look like normal bristles but are much finer and have been tapered to reach under the gumline better.

Iran unveils ‘most sophisticated’ attack drone till date

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Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has reportedly unveiled an attack drone, touted as the ‘most sophisticated’ weapon, which has a 24-hour non-stop flight capability, can carry eight bombs or missiles, and hit both fixed and moving targets.

General Mohammad Ali Jafari, who unveiled the drone, said that all-Iranian-made drone is a strategic asset in protecting the nation’s borders.

According to News24, the Guard’s website said that the drone, dubbed Shahed-129, or Witness-129, can fly up to a distance of 1 700km, which puts much of the Middle East within its range.

US, India ink first nuke deal commercial pact

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The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) and American firm Westinghouse Electric Company have inked the first India-United States commercial pact.

President Barack Obama announced the historic agreement after his meeting with visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the Oval Office of the White House.

The agreement is expected to ensure progress towards licensing of an AP-1000 nuclear reactor technology in India, a fact sheet released by the White House said.

Al-Shahab hired shop in Westgate mall to store weapons weeks before weekend massacre

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Kenyan security forces have claimed that al-Shahab, the militant group which led the attack on Nairobi shopping mall over the weekend, hired a shop in the mall itself to stockpile weapons and ammunition weeks before the siege.

According to the BBC, hiring a shop inside the mall helped the militants to pre-position weapons, access service lifts of the mall and re-arm quickly to repel the security forces.

The investigations revealed that 67 people have died in the four-day siege, while 61 others were still missing, the report added.

‘Funny’ Nadal almost missed flight to Asia!

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Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal almost missed a flight he was boarding for his Asia tour, according to reports.

On a fan website, several tennis enthusiasts said the star should fly privately and the problem happened partly because of the demand on him when he comes to the airports and likes to please all his fans.

A few days ago, Nadal declined an offer for a special plane to fly him for Spain’s Davis Cup fixtures.

Ansari calls for greater involvement of youngsters in science and technology

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Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari has called for introspection and change of mindset to address the issue of India lagging behind China in the field of science and technology.

Releasing the Observer Research Foundation’s new book, “Science and Technology in China: Implications and Lessons for India”, Ansari said that till around 1985, India had almost the same number of PhDs in sciences, but by 1995, China went ahead.

Sonia Gandhi, Rahul reassure Manmohan Singh after lawmakers’ ordinance criticism

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Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi have reassured Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the party’s support for him and the government in the wake of Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of a Union Cabinet ordinance that allows MPs and MLAs to attend Parliament and state assemblies despite having criminal cases against them.

Indian actors lack bandwidth to succeed internationally : R. Madhavan

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Bollywood’s big names Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor and Irrfan have tasted the Hollywood flavour. But R. Madhavan, who has finally crossed over with international project “Night Of The Living Dead: Origins”, says Indian actors lack the capacity to establish themselves in an international set-up.

“We have a long way to go before actors in India can establish themselves (internationally) in a big way,” Madhavan, who has delivered noteworthy performances in Hindi films like “Rang De Basanti”, “3 Idiots” and “Tanu Weds Manu”, told IANS.

Anushka, Parineeti pay tribute to Nargis, Madhubala

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Actress Anushka Sharma and Parineeti Chopra paid a tribute to yesteryear actresses Nargis and Madhubala at a fashion show organised for the birth anniversary of the late filmmaker Yash Chopra.

Dressed in their traditional best, Bollywood leading ladies Rekha, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit, Rani Mukherji, Juhi Chawla, Preity Zinta, Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma, Parineeti Chopra walked the ramp for a fashion show in memory of late filmmaker Yash Chopra on his birth anniversary this evening at YRF studio.

India, US seal first commercial deal on civil nuclear power

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India and the US have reached the first commercial agreement on civilian nuclear power, five years after a landmark deal between the two countries was clinched.

Addressing a joint media interaction after talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, President Barack Obama disclosed that the two countries have sealed the agreement.

“We’ve made enormous progress on the issue of civilian nuclear power, and in fact, have been able to achieve just in the last few days an agreement on the first commercial agreement between a US company and India on civilian nuclear power,” Obama said.

Bombings and shootings kill 10 in Iraq

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Bombs exploded near two Sunni mosques on Saturday in Baghdad as a series of attacks nationwide killed 10 people, Iraqi officials said.

The deadliest attacks were bombings targeting worshippers as they were leaving weekly Muslim services in mainly Sunni areas in the Iraqi capital.

At least five people were killed and 21 wounded in a bombing targeting the Sunni al-Tawheed mosque in the southern Dora neighbourhood, and two Sunni worshippers were killed and 11 others wounded in a similar attack in western Baghdad, police officials said.

India, US agree to identify joint defence projects in a year

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President Barack Obama have announced formation of a joint working group to enhance bilateral cooperation on addressing global issue of climate change.

The announcement to establish India-US Climate Change Working Group came through a joint statement issued after Obama-Singh meeting at the Oval Office yesterday.

The move is aimed toward developing and advancing action oriented cooperation, as well as to begin an enhanced dialogue focusing on working closely in developing an ambitious climate change agreement for the post-2020 period, it said.

Gujarat needs a full time Chief Minister:CPI

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Taking a dig at BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, the Communist Party of India (CPI) on Friday asked Governor Kamla Beniwal and the ruling party to appoint “a full-time” Chief Minister in Gujarat.

“As the Constitutional head of the state, we demand that Governor Kamla Beniwal and the BJP, if at all they are concerned about the people of Gujarat, should appoint a full-time Chief Minister in the larger public interest,” CPI said in a press statement in Ahmedabad.

Bengal IPS officer moves court against Mamata Banerjee

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Alleging police inaction, senior IPS officer Nazrul Islam on Friday filed a petition before a city court seeking investigations against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and three government officials on a complaint he filed last month.

Six labourers buried alive as soil caves in at under-construction complex

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Six labourers, including a woman, were buried alive after soil caved in an under-construction basement of a commercial complex in Jaipur on Friday, police said. The accident occurred on Sahakar Marg around 4 pm, a police officer told IANS.

“A 40-feet deep basement of a commercial complex was being constructed. About 70 labourers were working there. They were digging up the basement when the soil caved in,” he said.

Mr. Jalaluddin Akbar, IFS is nominated as member of Wakf Board

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Govt. of A.P. nominated Mr. Mohammed Jalaluddin Akbar, IFS, Conservator of Forests as member of A.P. State Wakf Board. Mr. Ahmed Nadeem, IAS, Secretary of the Dept. of Minorities Welfare issued GoMs. No. 87 yesterday. Mr. Nadeem who is holding additional responsibility of the Secretary of the Department was nominated as ex-officio member of A.P. State Wakf Board on 26 June. However Mr. Akbar has been nominated as the member of the Wakf Board. As per Wakf act 1995, Govt. nominates a Muslim officer as member of the State Wakf Board. Under this provision Mr.

Don’t collect SSC exam fees before notification-Dy. DEO

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Mr. Nehru Babu, Dy. DEO of Bhadurpura Mandal has informed the correspondents of private schools and the headmasters of Govt. schools to keep the schools closed during Dasara vacation and not to collect examination fees of SSC before the notification is issued by Commissioner of Govt. examinations and Secretary of Board of Secondary Education, Govt. of A.P.

–Siasat News

Joke telling session at Siasat tomorrow

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Siasat Urdu Daily is organizing a joke telling session at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday 29th September at Mahboob Hussain Jigar Hall, Siasat compound, Abids. Mr. Zahid Ali Khan Editor of Siasat Urdu Daily will preside over the session. Dr. Majeed Bedar, Mr. Bhanwarlal, Mr. Aslam Farshori, Dr. Abid Moiz, Dr. Ram Prasad, Dr. Abbas Muttaqui, Dr. S.A. Majeed, Dr. Javeed Kamal, Dr. M.Q. Saleem, Mr. Hameed Adil, Mr. Hamid Kamal and others will narrate their jokes. Mr. Mohammed Qamaruddin, Engineer-in-Chief (Rtd) and Mr. Sultan Ahmed former MLC will be the Guests of Honour. Mr.

Lok Adalat of A.P. Transco today

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Lok Adalat of A.P. Transco will be held at 2:15 p.m. today at Mint Compound behind Secretariat. Mr. Justice Vaman Roa (Rtd), Mir Kamal uddin Ali Khan, and Shrimati E. Urmila will attend Lok Adalath. They would hear the complaints of the consumers and decide their cases.

–Siasat News

DGP’s retirement, Chief Secretary issues GO

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Dr. P.K. Mohanty, Chief Secretary of A.P. issued G.O. Rt. No 4201 yesterday for the superannuation of IPC Officers belonging to the A.P. State. DGP of A.P. Mr. V. Dinesh Reddy, who belongs to 1977 batch of IPS, would retire on 30th September 2013 whereas Mr. Sriram Tiwari of 1982 batch would retire on 31st December 2013.