Month: February 2014

Reports on LJP joining NDA purely speculative: Tewari

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”If at all there is anything that is playing out in the public space, my instant reaction would be that it is completely and purely speculative,” Union Minister Manish Tewari said. PTI

Congress today termed as “purely speculative” reports that LJP could ally with BJP for the Lok Sabha polls, noting that Ram Vilas Paswan was the first one to quit the NDA on the issue of Gujarat riots.

“If at all there is anything that is playing out in the public space, my instant reaction would be that it is completely and purely speculative,” Union Minister Manish Tewari said.

Spleen cells key to design vaccines against deadly bacteria

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A new, promising technique has cleared the path to develop more efficient vaccines against meningitis and pneumonia, responsible for the death of millions of children every year worldwide.

Innate lymphoid cells represent the first line of immunological defence on our body surfaces, which are constantly exposed to bacteria, such as intestine or skin.

Researchers have now discovered the presence of a novel subtype of innate lymphoid cells in human spleen essential for the production of antibodies.

Lenovo unveils Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ with improved display, faster processor

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Lenovo has announced updates to its Yoga range of tablets, including improved speeds and displays.

The company’s earlier Yoga 8 and Yoga 10 Android tablets have been a miss due to their slow performance and poor displays.

However, the updated Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ version offers a greatly improved screen and a faster processor, The Verge reports.

According to the report, the Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ comprises of a full 1920 x 1200 HD panel, with greatly improved viewing angles and better pixel density.

Imtiaz finds mixed response to ‘Highway’ positive

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Director Imtiaz Ali is not affected by the mixed response that his latest film “Highway” is fetching in theatres. In fact, he believes it just shows that his film is making people think.

“I had to make this film and I made it, and put in my best. Mixed reactions mean that people are thinking,” the 42-year-old said here Saturday at a PVR Cinemas hall.

Sounding nonchalant, the director said: “I have no problem with it. It’s good that there are mixed reactions. At least there are opinions. It is actually dangerous when people just say, ‘It’s good’,” he added.

E-commerce firm Myntra raises $50 mn

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Premji Invest of Wipro chairman Azim Premji is among the private investors from whom leading e-commerce portal Myntra has recently raised an additional $50 million (Rs.310 crore), a statement said here Monday.

“The fresh round of funding will enable us expand our operations to spur further growth with better infrastructure and proactive user-based technology,” Myntra co-founder and chief executive Mukesh Bansal said.

Volcanic eruptions credited for ‘global warming pause’

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Researchers have claimed that volcanoes have offered “temporary respite” from rising temperatures in recent years.

The impact of volcanic eruptions on global warming could provide a new explanation for the so-called “pause” used by sceptics to deny climate change is happening, scientists have said.

According to a study in the US, models for predicting the rate at which temperatures around the world would rise from 1998 onwards did not take into consideration the measurable impact volcanoes can have.

Fire in IIT Delhi campus

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A fire broke out Monday within the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus here, a fire official said.

The fire broke out inside a room on the the third floor of a building. The room was unoccupied.

“We received a call around 11.25 a.m. We have sent five fire tenders to the spot. No injuries have been reported so far,” the official said.

“The rescue operations are on, and the fire is under control,” the official said at 12.45 p.m.

According to eyewitnesses, two to three loud blasts were heard at the time of the fire.

LPG distributors to go on strike from February 25

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LPG distribution will be affected from February 25 as distributors across the country have make up their mind to launch an indefinite strike urging the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the oil marketing companies to concede to their demands.

However, consumers would be able to make their bookings through IVRS; but there will be no delivery service. This consists of supply of both commercial and domestic cylinders including that of hotels and hospitals. Pulling out of service for one day is likely to cause a backlog for seven days.

Bring it on! Sex does boost intelligence

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Sex not only helps decrease stress levels and burn away calories, but boosts your intelligence too!

Love-making proved to greatly increase the creation of new neurons located within the hippocampus – an area of the brain that is responsible for the formation of long-term memory, say researchers.

UP Assembly drowns in din over Muzaffarnagar riots

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BJP and BSP members on Monday tried to corner Uttar Pradesh government over the number of riots in the state and rehabilitation of Muzaffarnagar riot victims leading to a din and adjournment of the state Assembly.

The matter was raised during Question Hour by Congress member Anugrah Narain Singh, who sought to know from the government about the number of riots and those killed and injured in it in the state since 2009.

In his reply, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Azam Khan told the House that since 2009 four riots had taken place in which 57 persons were killed and 136 injured.

Late ‘bullied’ model Charlotte Dawson’s pals lobbying for anti-bully law

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Friends of model Charlotte Dawson, who was involved in a much publicized battle with Twitter trolls before she committed suicide in her New South Wales home on February 22nd 2014, have launched an online petition against online bullying.

Em Mastronardi, former Australia’s Next Top Model judge’s pal, wants the creation of ‘Charlotte’s Law’ through the petition that has been launched on the Change.org website, Stuff.co.nz reported.

The petition has already received over 15,000 signatures.

Didn’t know Alia could sing: Mahesh Bhatt

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Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, whose daughter Alia Bhatt has crooned a song in her second film “Highway,” says he had no idea she could sing as well.

“It was a surprise for me! I had no idea that she also sings so well. When she become versatile and goddess Saraswati blessed her, we have no idea,” the 65-year-old said here at an event here.

Alia has crooned “Sooha saha” for the movie, which released Feb 21.The 20-year-old is getting a good response for her performance in “Highway”, a road film directed by Imtiaz Ali.

New solar-induced hybrid fuel cell directly converts biomass to electricity

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A team of researchers has developed a new type of low-temperature fuel cell that directly converts biomass to electricity with assistance from a catalyst activated by solar or thermal energy.

Although low temperature fuel cells powered by methanol or hydrogen have been well studied, existing low temperature fuel cell technologies cannot directly use biomass as a fuel because of the lack of an effective catalyst system for polymeric materials.

SC seeks Centre’s reply on AAP plea against Prez rule in Delhi

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The Supreme Court today sought response from the Centre on a petition filed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) challenging imposition of President’s rule in Delhi.

A bench comprising justices R M Lodha and Dipak Misra issued notice to the Centre asking it to respond within 10 days on the issue raised by the AAP.

The bench, which posted the matter for hearing on March 7, refrained from issuing notice to BJP and Congress which were made party in the petition, saying it only wants to deal with the constitutional issue and does not want to have a political contest.

Modi flags off ‘night marathon’ in Surat

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday flagged off ‘Night Marathon’ in Surat.

Modi congratulated the participants and said it was not only for prizes or fun but also about society.

“The event has been organised to raise funds to install CCTV network in the city and to help cancer patients. Your joining this marathon contributes to the social welfare,” Modi said.

Ace athlete Milkha Singh also graced the occasion.

Key protein essential for malaria parasite transmission to mosquitoes found

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Researchers have found that a single regulatory protein acts as the master genetic switch that triggers the development of male and female sexual forms (termed gametocytes) of the malaria parasite.

The protein, AP2-G, is necessary for activating a set of genes that initiate the development of gametocytes-the only forms that are infectious to mosquitos.

The research also gives important clues for identifying the underlying mechanisms that control this developmental fate, determining whether or not a malaria parasite will be able to transmit the disease.

F1 racer Nico Rosberg feels ‘too early’ to call Mercedes 2014 World Champions

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Mercedes’ Formula one driver Nico Rosberg has said it was ‘too early’ to call Mercedes team favourite for the 2014 World Championship, despite setting two fastest times of the pre-season test in Bahrain with teammate Lewis Hamilton.

The German racer was reportedly 1.627 seconds quicker than the first non-Mercedes driver but added that it was impossible to compare lap times during testing because every team run different programmes at different times.

Beanstalk-like ‘space elevator’ could soon be a reality

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Researchers suggest that a space elevator consisting of an Earth-anchored tether that extends 62,000 miles (100,000 kilometers) into space could eventually provide routine, safe, inexpensive and quiet access to orbit.

A new assessment of the concept has been pulled together titled “Space Elevators: An Assessment of the Technological Feasibility and the Way Forward.” The study was conducted by a diverse collection of experts from around the world under the auspices of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA).

Susan Rice says Russia’s interference in Ukraine will be ‘grave mistake’

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U.S. National security adviser Susan Rice has said Russian troops’ intervention in Ukraine would be a ‘grave mistake’.

Rice argued that a return to a Cold War posture would not reflect modern realities.

According to the Washington Post, during a wide-ranging interview on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press,’ Rice said this was not about the US and Russia, but about whether the people of Ukraine.

She added that Ukrainians have the opportunity to fulfil their aspirations and be democratic and be part of Europe, which they choose to be.

The three Cs of Kejriwal — Corruption, Clean governance and Crony capitalism

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The election is not going to be decided on “Chai Pe Charcha” but on “Chai Ka Daam”.

Arvind Kejriwal in his CII speech narrated an incidence to draw attention to the level of corruption in the country.Eearlier one chaiwala in Delhi used to sell the chai at Rs. 8. When AAP government came to power, the chaiwala r cut down the price tag of chai to Rs.6. The reason is simple, that is he doesn’t need to bribe the police and other powers that be.

Parrikar accuses media of biased reporting

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Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar criticised media for biased news coverage and alleged that many journalists were doing opposition-sponsored paid news reporting.

Questioning the journalists’ education, at a public function here Sunday, he said: “What is a reporter’s salary…How much does a news reader earn? Maybe 25,000 (rupees). They are mostly graduates. They are not great thinkers…intellectuals. They write news how they understand it.”

Parrikar also said that there was prevalence of paid news in Goa, where “people take money to write”.

Match-fixing in UP’s political battle?

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Be it Congress party, BJP, SP or BSP all have played the game with aplomb
Regardless of the intense rivalries and foul language used against each other, opponents reach an understanding for safe re-election of each other. Be it Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi, BSP chief Mayawati or Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav they have all done this.

Four members of a family found dead in Delhi

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Four members of a family were found dead Monday morning in west Delhi’s Dwarka area, police said.

Ravinder Kanojia (34) was found hanging from a ceiling fan, while the bodies of his wife Chanda Kanojia and two daughters, eight-years-old and sixs-year-old, were lying on the bed.

Police said prima facie it appeared that Ravinder Kanojia, after killing his family, had committed suicide.

—IANS

UN chief condemns violence in Thailand

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UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for an immediate end to escalating violence in Thailand, and urged authorities to bring those responsible to justice.

In a statement issued Sunday, Ban condemned the attacks last weekend against anti-government protestors, which killed at least two people.

“The Secretary General believes strongly that there should be no place for violence by any side in resolving political differences and disputes,” said the statement, adding Ban would provide assistance in any possible way.