Month: April 2015

Critics say Obama ‘screwed up’ US’ bid to head off Asian Infrastructure Bank

by

United States’ bid to head off the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), proposed by China for the rapidly growing Asian region, ended in abject failure as organizers announced that about 46 countries, including some of U.S.’ closest Asian and European allies, had applied to become founding members of the bank.

The news has elicited widespread criticism of how the Obama administration handled the entire episode, reported The Washington Times.

Andhra complains to Governor over Telangana tax

by

With Telangana levying motor vehicle (MV) tax on all vehicles entering the state from Andhra Pradesh, the latter on Thursday lodged a complaint with ESL Narasimhan, the Governor for both the states.

Andhra Pradesh’s Transport Minister Sidda Raghava Rao met the Governor and explained to him the difficulties being faced by the transporters in the state.

The Governor told the minister that he would get back on the issue after discussing the matter with the Telangana government.

These are some ‘bizarre’ rituals astronauts follow before going to space

by

Astronauts follow some “bizarre” rituals like getting slapped in the face with a cross before going to space .

American astronauts, Russian cosmonauts, and even rockets all go through the official blessing dished out by a priest from the Russian Orthodox Church, the Verge reported.

Photos from NASA’s official photographer showed that the same bearded and gowned official has been carrying out the ritual with gusto for a few years now.

Global consortium, NEC begin construction of USD 250 m SEA-US cable system

by

A global consortium of telecommunications companies, formed to build and operate the South-East Asia – United States (SEA-US) submarine cable system, officially announced the start of the construction of the landmark project, the first to directly connect Indonesia with the United States.

NEC Corporation and NEC Corporation of America are the system suppliers for the US $250 million project that is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2016.

These ancient stars may not be as lonely as previously believed

by

A new study has revealed that the ancient RR Lyrae stars may not be as lonely as previously thought.

Many, perhaps most, stars in the Universe live their lives with companions by their sides, in so-called binary systems. Until recently, however, the ancient RR Lyrae stars appeared, for mysterious reasons, to live their lives all alone. But a recent study led by Chilean astronomers refuted the theory.

Woman who posed as IAS claims senior official had issued her fake identity card

by

A woman named Ruby Chaudhry, accused of posing as a trainee IAS officer and illegally staying at the prestigious Lal Bahadur Shastri Administrative Academy in Mussoorie, on Thursday claimed that an official had issued her a fake identity card to assist her in securing accommodation at the facility.

Ruby alleged that academy’s deputy director Saurabh Jain had helped her in getting the fake identity card. Ruby further claimed that she had paid a bribe of Rs 5 lakh to Jain for securing the job of librarian at the institute.

Giuliana Rancic reveals she was called ‘ugly’ her entire life

by

Giuliana Rancic has revealed that she was called ” ugly” her entire life because of a spine curvature disorder called scoliosis.

The 40-year old television personality, who was diagnosed with scoliosis when she was just 13, shared in her new book, ‘Going off script,’ that because scoliosis is very hard to camouflage, she thought about it every minute of the day, People magazine reported.

‘He will be back soon,’ says Sonia on Rahul

by

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said her son and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi would be back soon from his sabbatical.

“Rahul Gandhi will be back soon….,” she said in Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh, while interacting with media on the sidelines of a meeting with farmers who have suffered crop-related losses because of unseasonal rains.

Earlier this week, BJP leader Giriraj Singh suggested that Rahul Gandhi’s absence from national politics was similar to a Malaysian plane that had recently gone missing.

BJP’s National Executive meeting begins in Bengaluru

by

A meeting of the national executive of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) began here on Thursday.

BJP president Amit Shah presided over the meeting of party office bearers, union ministers, state chief ministers and deputy chief ministers.

The BJP is holding the three-day meeting in the Karnataka capital with a focus on ways to strengthen its base in the southern states, Assam, West Bengal and Odisha.

Meet the paralyzed beauty who made her catwalk debut in a wheelchair

by

A paralyzed air hostess has recently made her modelling debut in a wheelchair after rare illness left her unable to walk or talk.

Gemma Flanagan, had just returned from a stopover in Las Vegas when she suddenly collapsed and became unable to move, speak or even swallow, the Daily Star reported.

The 31-year-old said that people think sexy and disability don’t go together, that it was not possible to look sexy and glamorous in a wheelchair but she wanted to show that it was possible, all it takes was a fair chance.

One-fifth of American adults use smartphones as only source of internet

by

According to new data from the Pew Research Center, one-fifth of adults in the United States use smartphones as their only access point to the internet.

According to the Verge, in the survey, analysts asked adults in the US in 2014 if they did not have high-speed internet service at home and if they did not have many options other than their phones for getting online.

Around 19 percent of respondents met at least one of those conditions while seven percent said that they lacked broadband internet connection and had limited option to get online outside of their smartphones.

Iraq’s former war planners urge US to keep forces in country after IS’ defeat

by

Iraq’s former war planners have urged the US to keep military forces in the country once Islamic State (IS) militants are defeated.

According to Washington Times, US sent military trainers and advisers to Baghdad in mid-2014 to fight IS militants in northern and western Iraq.

Washington launched an air war was with hundreds of jet fighters and drones in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

Retired Army Gen. Jack Keane, an architect of the 2007 troop surge credited with defeating al Qaeda in Iraq said that Iraq needs a force to continue to train, assist and advise the Iraqi army.

ONGC Energy Centre gets patent for hydrogen production

by

United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent to ONGC Energy Centre (OEC) Trust and Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) in Mumbai for the innovative research work on hydrogen production method by multi-step copper-chlorine thermo- chemical cycle.

Hydrogen is considered as one of the most efficient and clean emerging sources of energy for transport and power generation applications.

Meet the ‘miracle’ Alabama baby who was born without a nose

by

A “miracle” baby in Alabama was born without a nose, it has been reported.

Eli Thompson came into this world perfectly healthy on March 4, but with one distinction that he didn’t have a nose, ABC News revealed.

Although her baby showed no signs of additional abnormalities, Brandi McGlathery said she was at first shocked and upset to hear the news from her doctor.

Dr. R. Craig Brown, McGlathery’s obstetrician, said his own research has revealed only 38 cases of “absolutely nothing being wrong other than no nose.”

China investing heavily in cyberwarfare programs to compete with US

by

US intelligence officials have said that China’s sharp increase in its investment in cyberwarfare programs is a major attempt to compete with superior U.S. military cyber capabilities.

According to Washington Times, US officials described the new spending priority as a large-scale reallocation of resources by the Chinese which considered among the most capable cyberwarfare nations.

A U.S. official familiar with details of the Chinese effort said that the country has spent 20 to 30 percent more funding to cyberwarfare than they have earlier.

7-foot-5 Sim Bhullar set to become first Indian origin NBA player

by

Canadian Basketball professional Sim Bhullar is reportedly set to become the first player of Indian origin to play in the National Basketball Association ( NBA), as the Sacramento Kings are planning to sign the 7-foot-5 player to a 10-day contract on Thursday.

A source revealed that Bhullar would be on the roster Friday when the Kings host the New Orleans Pelicans as the expiry of David Wear’s 10-day contract would pave way for a roster spot, News.com.au reported.

Saina’s ascent to top of badminton ranking official

by

Indian ace Saina Nehwal’s ascent to the top of women’s badminton was officially confirmed today with the release of the latest rankings by the game’s international governing body.

In becoming the first Indian woman shuttler to attain the number one spot in world rankings, Saina took over the reins from China’s Li Xuerui, who slipped to third with Spain’s Carolina Marin claiming the second position.

Saina, who had clinched the India Open Super Series title on March 29, was already assured of the top spot after her closest challenger for the position, Carolina, lost in the semi-finals.

Baked Beans

by

Ingredients

1 pound: dry navy or soldier beans

1/3cup: molasses

1/3 cup: apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon: dry mustard

1/2 cup: dark brown sugar, firmly packed

1/4 teaspoon: freshly ground black pepper

1 large: white onion, quartered

1/4 pound: salt pork or slab bacon, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks

Directions

Protein concentrate can reduce spinal cord damage: Study

by

The protein concentrate apoptotic secretome (APOSEC) extracted from white blood cells is capable of reducing damage that occurs as a result of spinal cord injuries, the Medical University of Vienna has said in a press release.

Tests conducted on animals showed that if an injection of the APOSEC agent was administered in the abdominal cavity 40 minutes after the spinal injury occurred, “severe consequential paralysis” could be avoided, according to the results from a new study by the university.

Older employees bring valuable skills to the job

by

When companies the world over are looking to hire fresh, young employees brimming with ideas, a new study reveals that older employees bring valuable knowledge to the job.

They have higher “crystallised intelligence,” which includes verbal ability and knowledge born of experience, the findings showed.

But compared with their younger counterparts, older executives show marked declines in “fluid intelligence,” which involves the ability to reason, the researchers found.

Husbands beware: Wife’s sandal lands Saudi man in hospital

by

A man in Saudi Arabia was admitted to a hospital with the lacy black stiletto of a high heel lodged in his dome peace (head).

According to local media reports, Saudi man got into a fight with his wife, and it must have gotten pretty heated which led her to hit him in the head with the heel of her shoe.

The doctors admitted that it’s a first of its kind of chapter in medical textbooks that they’ve never encountered such a thing before, and can’t imagine there’s a “Heel In Head”

SC conference on Good Friday unfortunate: Congress MP

by

The Supreme Court should not have organised a judicial conference on Good Friday, which is a solemn occasion for Christians, Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Goa Shantaram Naik said on Thursday.

Naik also asked if the apex court would have attempted to organise such an event on Diwali. The state’s lone Rajya Sabha MP was speaking to reporters at the Congress state headquarters in Panaji.