Cong, RJD pounce on Paswan for joining hands with BJP

Congress and RJD today launched attack on Ramvilas Paswan for “ditching” them and joining hands with BJP, forgetting his hard-hitting comments on Narendra Modi over 2002 riots.

Bihar Congress President Ashok Chaudhary said in a statement here that it reflected “opportunistic” thinking of the dalit leader who has “sacrificed principles for the sake of family interest.”

“He has not only lost his credibility but proved that family interest is more supreme for him than principles and commitment towards welfare of dalit samaj,” Chaudhary, who himself hails from weaker section, said.

Azam seeks apologies from BJP

Days after BJP made overtures to Muslims, Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan said the community can think of extending support to the party if it vows to rebuild Babri mosque at the same venue, and apologise for Gujarat riots.

“If pardon is granted in heinous crime like demolition of Babri mosque just by uttering the word ‘mafi’, then Constitution, law, courts and police stations would become useless entities,” Khan said yesterday.

He was addressing reporters at university campus here.

California man sues McDonald’s for $1.5mln after being offered just one napkin with meal

A California man is suing McDonald’s for 1.5 million dollars, claiming that he only got one napkin with his meal. Webster Lucas said that he was stiffed on napkins at the Mickey D’s in Pacoima, CA on January 29th after ordering a Quarter Pounder Deluxe.

And when he went up to the counter to ask for more, he was rudely rebuffed by the manager who insisted he already got some, TMZ.com reported. According to his lawsuit, Lucas, who is black, then retorted.

New wristband uses your pulse as password

A new hi-tech wristband reportedly uses the wearer”s pulse as a password to authenticate a number of devices and applications. Startup Bionym has developed Nymi, a wristband that uses wearer”s pulse to authenticate devices and applications that require iron-clad security.

Apple reveals algorithm behind `encrypted` iMessages

Apple has reportedly revealed exactly how secure its iMessage service is. The iMessage service uses cryptography, which is nothing but a set of distinct codes assigned as specific keys for each message sent and received. According to Tech Crunch, Apple uses public-key cryptography, which is based on a principle that each message has two keys, one for input and other for pickup, and unless someone finds a copy of the pickup key, or find a weakness in the system, there is no way intercept.

UAE/Bangla to partly host IPL if counting ends by May 15

The BCCI Working Committee today devised a strategy by which they can at least hold a substantial part of the seventh edition of IPL in India as per the wishes of the franchises if the countings of the general elections end by May 15.

As per the discussions at the meeting, the IPL will only be held in South Africa if the T20 event is organised there in its entirety. Or else, Bangladesh or United Arab Emirates will hold three to five rounds till the end of the entire election process.

Now, Geographical Indication rights for ‘Tirupati laddu’

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which runs the affairs of the richest Hindu temple, is enforcing Geographical Indication (GI) rights for its famous ‘Tirupati laddu’.

The Office of the Registrar of Patents, Trademarks and Geographical Indications, India has already awarded the status to Tirupati laddu, the famed sweet given to millions of pilgrims as ‘prasadam’ or sacred offering by Tirumala temple.

Oral contraceptives up women’s chances of developing multiple sclerosis

A new study has revealed that women who take oral contraceptives are at higher risk of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, researchers said that the findings do not mean women should stop using birth control, Fox News reported.

The researchers, who utilized membership data from Kaiser Permanente Southern California, analyzed the health records of 305 women aged 14 to 48 who were diagnosed with MS or its precursor, clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), between 2008 and 2011.

Fare collection equipment for Hyderabad Metro arrives

The proto-type equipment for Metro Rail Hyderabad’s Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system, manufactured by Samsung SDS, Korea, has arrived here.

L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited has adopted state of the art automatic fare collection system for the 72-km elevated metro project.

`Struggling mum` Kate set to hire full-time nanny for Prince George

Kate Middleton is reportedly looking for a nanny o look after Prince George while she tends to royal visits and duties. Kate, 32, and Prince William, 31, who vowed to look after Prince George by themselves, are said to be scouting for a full-time nanny, the Daily Star reported.

London company Nannies of St James are said to be among the firms Kensington Palace has approached. (ANI)

Pak Taliban not serious about peace talks: Sartaj Aziz

The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is not serious about peace talks with the Pak govt., Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif”s National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz has said.

Speaking to media representatives in Islamabad, Aziz added that the targeted action in Waziristan was beneficial in the long run, as the Taliban was not interested in the peace process.

India to test space crew module, heavy rocket

The Indian space agency will take its first step towards a manned space mission by testing its third generation heavy rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and also the crew module this year, said a top official.

K. Radhakrishnan, chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), said end of May or beginning of June would see the experimental flight of GSLV-Mark III rocket that would be carrying a crew module.

He was the chief guest at the SRM University’s Research Day function near here.

Corruption practised with impunity in India, says US report

Corruption is present at all levels of the government in India and officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity, says a US report, providing fresh fodder to the opposition in an election year.

“Corruption was widespread,” said the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013 Secretary of State John Kerry submitted to Congress Thursday.

Imran Khan”s PTI ends blockade of Nato supplies to Afghanistan

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has announced to end its sit-ins to block NATO supply to Afghanistan in protest against US drone strikes in the country.

The decision of the PTI, headed by Imran Khan, came after a local court ruled on Tuesday that no private individual has a right to block or check vehicles on roads. In a statement the party said that it was ending blockade of Nato supplies following its commitment to rule of law and respect for the senior judiciary.

PCB accepts Miandad”s resignation from director-general post

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly accepted the resignation of former captain Javed Miandad from the post of director general to the board. The decision was taken at a meeting of the management committee, which was chaired by reinstated chairman Najam Sethi despite Miandad, who cited ineffectiveness of job as the reason behind his resignation, suggested that he may withdraw from resigning if Sethi ensures an effective role for him in the future.

India set 265-run target for Sri Lanka

India made 264 for nine in 50 overs against Sri Lanka in the fourth ODI of the Asia Cup cricket tournament at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium here Friday.

Shikhar Dhawan made 94 while skipper Virat Kohli struck 48.

Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis bagged four wickets for 60 runs while Sachithra Senanayake picked up three for 41.

Andhra to be under Prez rule; sops announced for Seemandhra

A week after Kiran Kumar Reddy resigned as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, the Centre today decided to impose President’s Rule in the state while announcing a few sops for the Seemandhra region which has been opposing creation of Telangana state.

The Union Cabinet also decided to place under suspended animation the Andhra Pradesh Assembly whose term is slated to end on June two.

Pakistan denies reports it was planning to arm Syrian rebels

Pakistan has denied reports it had plans to send weapons to Syrian rebels. The claim from Pakistan came following reports that Saudi Arabia was holding talks with it about arming the opposition.

According to Dawn News, Pakistani foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam said at a regular briefing that Islamabad did not supply arms to ”entities”, meaning rebel groups. She said Pakistan respected Syria”s sovereignty, adding that Pakistan recognized the right of all states to protect their security and wanted an end to the bloodshed in Syria, the report added. (ANI)
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13 killed in Yemen clashes

Clashes erupted Friday between the Yemeni army and Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen’s northeastern province of al-Jawf, leaving at least 13 people dead and several others wounded, tribal sources said.

The fighting took place after the Shia rebels tried to seize the government’s main facilities in al-Hazm, the capital city of al-Jawf province, a local tribal source told Xinhua.

“Three soldiers and more than 10 Shia rebels were killed in the fighting,” the source said.

Congress will be wiped out in polls for its ‘sins’: Modi

Sharpening his attack against Congress, Narendra Modi today said an anti-Congress storm was brewing in the country and it would intensify into a ‘tsunami’ which the party would not be able to survive in the Lok Sabha elections.

“Elections have not been announced yet but there is already a storm brewing (against Congress). Once the elections are announced the storm will become a tsunami and Congress won’t be able to survive it,” the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate said while addressing a public rally here.

Kiran Reddy likely to drop plans to float new party

Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy, who will be listed in history as the last Chief Minister of an “undivided” Andhra Pradesh, is likely to drop his plans to float a new political party.

“Since there has been no official word about the possible launch of the new party, there will not be any official announcement about shelving his plans,” an expelled Congress MP in Kiran’s camp said here today.

Claudia Schiffer once `turned down Arab prince’s 1-mln-dollar dinner date`

Supermodel Claudia Schiffer has revealed that she once turned down a 1million dinner date which was offered to her by a super-rich Arab prince.

The 43-year-old German star, who refused to name the prince, told chat show host Jonathan Ross that the bizarre invitation was accepted by another model after she turned it down, the Daily Express reported. She asserted that she had loads of weird offers during her reign as one of the original supermodels. (ANI)

Pollution linked to soaring obesity rates

A team of researchers has found a link between a type of pollutants and certain metabolic complications of obesity. A study by the team of researchers at the IRCM in Montreal led by Remi Rabasa-Lhoret, in collaboration with Jerome Ruzzin from the University of Bergen in Norway, could eventually help improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiometabolic risk associated with obesity, such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.