Month: April 2015

WhatsApp allows all Android users to make ‘app-to-app’ voice calls

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A major update introduced by WhatsApp will now allow android users to make voice calls on the application.

The feature, which had been teased for months, was introduced to select users earlier when the last update was rolled out a few weeks ago. However, it can now be availed by all, reported The Verge.

The latest version of WhatsApp offers a cleaner layout with three tabs for Calls, Chats, and Contacts. Users have to just click the Calls tab and select a contact to chart talking.

Nikon announces new J5 camera with 20.8MP and 4K video shooting

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Japanese electronics company Nikon has introduced a new camera J5, which is a part of its 1 J ensemble.

According to Engadget, J5 is a compact, powerful camera which is part of its 1 series of mirror-less hardware. The J5 comes with a 20.8-megapixel, VFI CMOS sensor (DC format), an XP5A image processor, ISO range of 1600 to 12,800 and support for NFC and WiFi.

Tata Steel’s Canadian JV acquires Howse iron ore deposit

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Tata Steel said its joint venture Tata Steel Minerals Canada has acquired the remaining 49 per cent stake in the Howse iron ore deposit in Canada for close to Rs 25 crore.

Tata Steel Minerals Canada Limited (TSMC), through its subsidiary Howse Minerals Limited today acquired the remaining 49 per cent stake in the Howse iron ore deposit, the company said in a filing to the London Stock Exchange.

Howse Minerals Ltd holds 51% stake in the Howse deposit hand bought the remaining stake for 5 million Canadian Dollar, the firm said.

‘No link between tobacco and cancer,’ says BJP MP & beedi baron Shyam Charan Gupta

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A controversy broke out on Thursday over remarks by ‘beedi’ baron and a parliamentary committee member from BJP Shyam Charan Gupta suggesting “nil” effect of smoking, evoking sharp reaction from Opposition parties which sought his removal from the panel.

“I can produce a lot of people in front of you who are chain smokers of beedi and till date they have had no disease, no cancer… You get diabetes due to eating sugar, rice, potatoes. Why don’t you write warnings for all these things as well,” said Gupta, a Lok Sabha MP from Allahabad.

Oil price falls as Iran nuclear framework reached

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Crude-oil prices fell today after six world powers and Iran announced they had agreed on a framework to curb Iran’s nuclear drive.

With the tentative deal, if confirmed, likely to allow Iran crude exports back on the markets, Brent North Sea crude for delivery in May, the global benchmark contract, slumped USD 2.15, settling at USD 54.95 a barrel in London trade. The US benchmark, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for May delivery, shed 95 cents to close at $49.14 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Men are potential rapists, says Nandita Das

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After Deepika Padukone’s women empowerment video ‘My Choice’, it’s now actress Nandita Das who seems to have irked the Twitteratis.

In a one-to-one with Times of India, actress Nandita Das had stated that men are potential rapists.
Her statement has now grabbed the attention of the Twitteratis and they have taken to the social networking platform to share their views.

“@meenabg: Every man is a potential rapist says Nandita Das…. #NanditaDasQuotes http://t.co/zv7HXIsPab” Ms Das Seems not to be in Society?

Flipkart gears up for competition with senior management changes

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Online marketplace Flipkart announced a slew of appointments to its senior leadership team.

The firm appointed Hari Vasudev as Senior Vice President (Engineering, IT & Analytics) for Supply Chain vertical.

Vasudev will spearhead the charter to build innovative supply chain products and services enabled by technology, focusing on key areas such as robotics, mobile, IOT and data sciences, the firm said in a statement.

EDMC to clear all garbage by today

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All striking sanitation workers of the cash-strapped East Delhi Municipal Corporation have resumed work and all garbage left piled up in its area will be cleaned up by Friday.

Chairman of EDMC’s Standing Committee BB Tyagi on Thursday said civic life in east Delhi is trudging back to normal as safai karmacharis after returning to work are busy clearing the streets of waste dumped in the last few days.

Division of Minority Finance Corporation between Telangana and Andhra complete

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The process of split of Minority Finance Corporation between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh has been completed. Formal orders were issued in this connection on Thursday. Special Secretary Minority Welfare Syed Omer Jaleel issued G.O. Ms. No. 18. Division of corporation was approved through mutual consultation of both the states. Besides division of staff and assets has also been approved.

AAP govt developing ‘sting app’ to fight corruption

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In a move to equip common man in fighting corruption, Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government is developing a mobile application for smartphone users which can secretly record a sting video/ audio and transfer the data into secured server.

According to a senior official, government is developing a mobile application which will enable a user to secretly record video and audio without letting the person being filmed know about the recording.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels seize presidential palace in Aden

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Yemeni rebels stormed President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi’s palace in his former southern stronghold Aden today, dealing a symbolic blow to the self-exiled leader despite a week of Saudi-led air strikes.

As the war-torn country descended deeper into chaos, Al-Qaeda militants freed hundreds of inmates in a jailbreak.

The advance by Iran-backed rebels deep into Aden, the last bastion of Hadi supporters, appeared to further douse prospects of his returning any time soon from neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

AAP going slow on appointment of Lokayukta: BJP

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BJP on Thursday accused Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government of going slow on appointment of Lokayukta and his/her deputy, “fearing” action against AAP’s four MLAs including Law Minister Jitendra Tomar.

Tomar was alleged to have submitted fake educational qualification documents while filing nomination for the Assembly election held in February 2015.

The BJP also demanded Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung to direct the state government to expedite process to fill the post of Lokayukta, lying vacant since November 2013.

BJP national office-bearers meet to draft agenda for 2-day meet

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The national office-bearers of BJP Thursday got together here to draw up the agenda for the first meeting of the party’s national executive after it came to power at the Centre.

The meeting started with BJP chief Amit Shah addressing the office-bearers and discussing the agenda for the two-day conclave of the national executive on April 3 and 4.

Shah told the party leaders about BJP having become the largest party in the world after enrolling nearly 10 crore members.

Mass prayers held to mark occasion of Good Friday

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Good Friday, the day on which Jesus Christ was crucified, is being observed today across the country.

Mass prayers are being held in Kochi to mark the occasion.

In Goa, prayers and masses have been also organised in the Churches and Chapels.

The priests narrate the sufferings that Jesus Christ took upon himself for the sake of humanity. (ANI)

BJP National Executive meeting to be held in Bengaluru today

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The two-day Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) National Executive Committee will begin in Bengaluru today.

Party President Amit Shah will preside over the meeting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers, several State Chief Ministers, and deputy Chief Ministers of the party are to attend it.

Resolutions on political, social, economic and the foreign affairs will be taken-up for discussion.

Later in the evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public rally. (ANI)

BCCI in safe hands with Dalmiya at helm: Ganguly

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In the aftermath of the IPL spot-fixing scandal the BCCI may have been shrouded by controversy but with Jagmohan Dalmiya back as president the Indian cricket board is in “safe hands”, former India captain Sourav Ganguly said today.

Dalmiya was unanimously chosen for the BCCI top post to make a dramatic comeback nine years after he was booted out in Jaipur on charges of misappropriation of funds.

KCR Working for the Rich – TDP

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TDP polit bureau member Ravula Chandrasekhar Rao today alleged that the TRS government is not bothering about the poor people and it is working in the interests of the rich.
Speaking to media at NTR trust bhavan here, he said the government is purchasing fortune cars and lands for rich people whereas it is fleecing the poor people by increasing power tariff, toll gate fee and VAT on petrol and diesel. The TDP leader wanted to know for whom the TRS government is working.

Hanuman Jayanthi procession on Apr 4

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In view of the Hanuman Jayanthi Shobha Yatra on April 4, being conducted by Hindu organizations, traffic diversions will be done based on the necessity and as and when the procession approaches the particular junction, police officials said here today.

Watching TV increases risk of diabetes by 3.4 percent every hour

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A new study has indicated that every hour spent watching television means increasing the risk of developing diabetes by 3.4 per cent.

The research was conducted by Dr Bonny Rockette-Wagner, lead author and Dr Andrea Kriska, senior author from the University of Pittsburgh , PA, USA, and colleagues, with the aim to study the effects of sedentary or ‘sitting’ time on diabetes risk.

Ban order on Togadia: Court orders stay on clamping Section 144 at meeting

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A local court on Thursday put an interim stay on promulgation of CrPC Section 144 for a public meeting in North Dinajpur district where Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Pravin Togadia was to speak on April 5.

VHP district vice-president Tejendra Narayan Bose had moved the court seeking a stay on the promulgation of CrPC Section 144 for the meeting.

“Today there was the hearing of revision petition of the stay order of a rally of Vishva Hindu Parishad by the Sub-Divisional Officer. The judge was pleased to listen to our appeal and gave the stay order,” said Tapan Majumdar, the lawyer.

306 Indians leave Yemen as evacuation continues

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Another batch of 306 Indian nationals left the shores of strife-torn Yemen for Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa, from where they would be brought to India. Separately, a batch of 35 Indians made it to Djibouti on their own on a cargo vessel, the government said on Thursday.

In the wee hours of the morning, 358 Indians arrived from the Gulf country in two airplanes — one landed in Kochi, and another in Mumbai.

When will Rahul return, asks BJP; Soon, says Sonia

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The BJP on Thursday took a dig at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi wondering when he will return but Congress chief Sonia Gandhi asserted that he will soon be back among the people.

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain on Thursday took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi, wondering if he was really set to return and attend the April 19 rally of his party against the new land acquisition law.

“We do not know if reports about the date are true…Is his vacation finally over,” asked Hussain.

Sonia Gandhi however asserted that Rahul Gandhi will come back soon.

Obama reassures Israel over Iran n-deal

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US President Barack Obama on Thursday reassured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one of the main sceptics of the Iran nuclear talks, that the US is committed to depriving Iran of any ability to make nuclear weapons, the White House said.