Month: February 2014

eBay makes $133.7 mln investment in Indian shopping site Snapdeal

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eBay has invested 133.77 million dollars in Snapdeal, one of the larger online marketplaces in India.

The move follows a previous investment made by eBay in the company last year.

According to TechCrunch, in a statement, eBay Senior Vice President and APAC Managing Director Jay Lee said accelerating growth in India and other emerging markets continues to be a core strategy for driving eBay’s global e-commerce leadership.

They said eBay was excited about the prospects ahead for both Snapdeal and the eBay India business.

‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ sales touch 100 mln copies mark

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Sales of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ trilogy copies have touched the 100 million mark, according to Vintage Books.

The erotic novels, authored by E.L.James, have also successfully spent 100 weeks on ‘The New York Times’ best-seller list, CBS news reported.

The 50-year-old British author thanked her fans on Twitter after reaching the milestone.

The sexually explicit novels have been translated into 51 languages, including Hebrew, Icelandic and Korean, and a film adaptation of the novel, with Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson in the lead, is slated to hit theatres in 2015. (ANI)

Sprouting garlic has more heart-healthy antioxidants than fresher counterparts

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Researchers have found that old garlic bulbs with bright green shoots have even more heart-healthy antioxidant activity than its fresher counterparts and are therefore goof for heart health.

Eating garlic or taking garlic supplements is touted as a natural way to reduce cholesterol levels, blood pressure and heart disease risk. It even may boost the immune system and help fight cancer.

But those benefits are for fresh, raw garlic. Sprouted garlic has received much less attention.

Microsoft again urges XP, Office 2003 users to switch

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Microsoft has reportedly again reminded its customers, who are still not ready to part with Windows XP operating system and Office 2003 suite, about the security consequences once the company ends support in April.

The software giant has reiterated that customers and businesses using the products would face severe security risks and be unable to take advantage of technical advances.

Microsoft to cut Windows Phone licensing fees by 70% to target low-end Androids

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Microsoft is reportedly said to soon cut down on the licensing fee for its Windows Phone by up to 70 percent in a bid to target the low-end of the smartphone market and compete with budget Androids.

Sources have said that once Microsoft takes control of Nokia’s hardware division, a licensing fee cut is imminent, as the company aims to compete with Android devices.

According to Tech Crunch, the intended purpose of the price cut is to make it possible for OEMs to build affordable Microsoft hardware that can compete with its budget Android devices.

‘Sad about whole development’: Antony on Admiral Joshi’s resignation

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A day after Indian Navy Chief Admiral DK Joshi resigned taking moral responsibility of the accident involving the submarine INS Sindhuratna , Defence Minister AK Antony today said he was sad about the whole development.

“I am sad about the whole development. Yesterday, Admiral Joshi met me and handed over his resignation letter,” Antony told media here.

“Vice Admiral Robin Dhowan is now officiating as the new navy chief,” he added.

Series against England crucial for T20 title defence: Gibson

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Head Coach Ottis Gibson has described the limited overs series against England starting this weekend as important to the West Indies preparations for the defence of the ICC T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in March-April.

The West Indies cricketers arrived in Antigua Monday and have had full training sessions at the match venue, the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, reports CMC.

“We’re building toward the ICC T20 World Cup in Bangladesh and that’s important for us, but this series is also very important for us,” Gibson told reporters.

Navy chief wanted to quit so resignation accepted: Antony

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Former Indian Navy chief Admiral D.K. Joshi had personally requested that his resignation be accepted and “I consented”, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said Thursday.

Admiral Joshi resigned Wednesday in the wake of a fire aboard a submarine that injured seven personnel and left two missing, taking moral responsibility for a series of accidents that have hit naval vessels over the past few months.

SC stays release of four convicts in Rajiv killing

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The Supreme Court Thursday stayed the release of four convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, ordering the status quo on a plea by the centre challenging the Tamil Nadu government’s proposal to release them.

An apex court bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam directed that the central government’s plea would be heard March 6.

–Indo-Asian news service

Shabana Azmi lauds Alia Bhatt’s work in ‘Highway’

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Immediately after seeing her performance in Imtiaz Ali’s “Highway” Shabana Azmi rushed to the Bhatts’ residence to congratulate the parents and their daughter Alia for the 20-year-old’s extraordinary performance.

The multiple National award winning actress, acknowledged by many cineastes as among India’s finest, sees Alia as the true inheritor of her talent. Interestingly, Alia’s father Mahesh Bhatt has compared her performance in “Highway to” Shabana’s sterling career-defining performance in 1982 film “Arth”.

Soon, full-body scan at airports not to violate privacy

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Here comes a new laser technology that can make you feel a lot better while at a queue for full-body scan at airports.

Researchers have invented a more precise and direct method for using that ‘terahertz’ (THz) technology to detect explosives from greater distances.

The method could ultimately lead to detectors that survey a wider area of an airport without the need for full-body scanners.

R. Kosloff and colleagues from Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel aimed to use THz directly to eventually develop even better remote sensors.

Israel tests anti-missile system for passenger planes

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Israel has successfully tested a missile defence system to protect commercial planes from possible terror attacks by missiles, the defence ministry has said.

The Israeli defence ministry and Elbit Systems announced the successful completion of a trial programme of the C-Music system designed to protect passenger aircraft from the threat of shoulder-launched missiles.

The system, after detecting incoming missiles with an infrared sensor, fires a laser that disrupts the missile’s navigation system and throws it off course away from its intended target.

Met PM before accepting Navy Chief’s resignation: Antony

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Defence Minister A K Antony today said he had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and consulted “everybody” before accepting the resignation of an “upset” Admiral D K Joshi as Navy Chief in the wake of yesterday’s submarine mishap.

Antony, who came under criticism from former top navy officials for promptly accepting Joshi’s resignation, said, “I consulted everybody. I met the Prime Minister also. Ultimately, we took a decision to accept the resignation.”

Online activists threaten to target `official websites` during 2014 World Cup

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Online activists from Brazil have reportedly threatened to target official websites to protest against ‘overly extravagant display’ in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which will start on June 12. The tournament which would expectedly cost about 8.4 billion pounds has highlighted the inequalities present in Brazil and last year’s protests during Confederations Cup drew more than a million people on to the streets.

GO regarding budget for hostels and schools for minorities cancelled

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The government has cancelled GO regarding release of budget for 10 minority pre-matric hostels, 20 post matric hostels, 6 residential schools and working women hostel in Hyderabad. Apprehension prevailed among minorities regarding implementation of minority schemes with this unexpected decision of government.

On February 20, Minority Welfare Department had issued GO RT 66 however on February 22 Minority Welfare Department issued orders cancelling the previous orders but the reasons were not stated.

Siasat news

Bangla win will give us momentum ahead: Rahane

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India began their Asia Cup campaign with a comfortable win over hosts Bangladesh here and talented batsman Ajinkya Rahane said the victory would give his side the momentum in the tournament ahead.

“Obviously it’s very important for us. Great momentum at the start of the series, and we’re just looking forward to the coming matches now. I’m really happy that we played really well overall,” Rahane said after India’s six-wicket win over Bangladesh here yesterday which also snapped their eight-ODI winless streak.

Soldier shoots five colleagues dead, kills self

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A trooper shot dead five of his colleagues and then turned the gun on himself in north’s Kashmir Ganderbal district, sources said Thursday. An inquiry into the incident has been ordered.

Police sources told IANS that an angry trooper of the Rashtriya Rifles went berserk inside the Safapora (Manasbal) camp in the district, 35 km from here, following a heated argument with his colleagues.

“He resorted to indiscriminate firing resulting in the death of five Rashtriya Rifles troopers.”After the firing, the irate trooper shot and killed himself,” police said.

Deccani comedy mushaira at Siasat office

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Siasat daily presents various kinds of entertainment programmes which enthral the audience. These programmes help in promoting Urdu language and introducing the charm of Deccani language to younger generation.

As part of this endeavour a Deccani comedy mushaira will be held on Saturday, March 1, at 7 pm, at Mahboob Husain Jigar Hall, Abids. Shadab Bedharak, Narendar Rai, Waheed Pasha Quadri, Ameer Nusrati, Osman Ali Arshi, Rubina Naz, Shabbir Khan, Shabban Khan, K B Jani and Munawwar Ali will present mizahia poetry. Mr. Zahed Ali Khan will preside over the Mushaira.

Siasat news

Round table conference of Muslim parties and T district leaders

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Round table conference of Muslim parties and Telangana district leaders will be held on February 27, at 10:30 am, MP Garden opposite Mehdipatnam bus depot. Mr. Mohammed Mushtaq Malik president Tahreek Muslim Shabban and president Telangana Muslim Joint Action Committee will preside over.

Kids born to older fathers have higher risk of psychiatric and academic problems

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A new study by a team of researchers has found that advancing paternal age at childbearing can lead to higher rates of psychiatric and academic problems in offspring than previously estimated.

Examining an immense data set- everyone born in Sweden from 1973 until 2001- the researchers documented a compelling association between advancing paternal age at childbearing and numerous psychiatric disorders and educational problems in their children, including autism, ADHD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, suicide attempts and substance abuse problems.

MBT’s community awareness meeting on March 1

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Majlis Bachao Tahreek is going to organise community awareness meeting under the presidentship of Dr. Qayam Khan president Majlis Bachao Tahreek on Saturday, March 1, after Maghrib at Azampura Park.

MBTs chief leaders including Maulana Syed Taher, Majeedullah Khan Farhat engineer, Ajmaluddin Farooqui, Rashed Hashmi, Mohsin Mama, Mustafa Mahmood, Amjadullah Khan Khalid, Azam Khan, Altaf Naseeb Khan and others will address community awareness meeting.

Siasat news

Pregnant women who think that they are ‘eating for two’ gain excessive weight

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A new study has found that overweight or obese women, who think that they are “eating for two”, are more likely to experience excessive weight gain while pregnant.

Cynthia Chuang from Penn State College of Medicine studied the attitudes and habits of women who gained appropriate weight and those who exceeded guidelines.

Participants in the study were asked about their diet habits, experience with morning sickness and physical activity habits during pregnancy.

Cashew Nut Barfi

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Ingredients

200 ml(4/5 cups) of Milk

250 grams of Sugar

250 grams of Cashew nuts

Procedure

In a blender finely meld or mix together cashew nuts and milk.

Transfer this paste into a cooking vessel.

Add sugar into it and cook it over a low flame till the sugar dissolves, and bring it to a boil.

Keep stirring till this mixture accumulates together and becomes dough like (shape).

Remove from flame, cool enough a bit and then roll on to a greased surface with a greased rolling pin to ¼ cm/1/8″ thickness.

Allow it to cool.

Ready to serve.

Kadapa collector assures magisterial probe into RIMS student suicide

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Students of the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here agreed to withdraw their stir over the alleged suicide by a fellow student after an assurance this morning from the district collector that a magisterial inquiry would be held into the incident.

Third year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) student Krishna Mohan had committed suicide in his hostel room yesterday over alleged harassment by one professor Lavanya and doctor Kishore.