Month: April 2015

Time kids spend playing video games matters more than game content

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A new study has linked poor behavior in children to time spent playing video games, not the games played.

Children who play video games for more than three hours a day are more likely to be hyperactive, get involved in fights and not be interested in school, says the University of Oxford study.

It examined the effects of different types of games and time spent playing on children’s social and academic behaviour. The researchers found that the time spent playing games could be linked with problem behaviour and this was the significant factor rather than the types of games played.

Climate pledges: Deadline sees slow but promising start

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A rough deadline for today saw only 32 out of 195 countries submit pledges for tackling greenhouse gases under UN climate talks scheduled to conclude just over eight months from now.

Analysts, though, said the commitments were generally encouraging, even if the UN’s aim to curb warming to two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) remained worryingly distant.

Among major carbon emitters, the United States and the European Union put their positions on the table as expected, along with Mexico, the first emerging country to do so.

ECB chief calls for four-day Test matches to revive ‘dwindling’ game

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In a bid to revive dwindling interest in Test cricket, England and Wales Cricket Board ( ECB) incoming chairman Colin Graves has proposed the idea of four-day Test matches.

Grave, who will assume charge as the chairman on 15 May, said that they should look at four-day Test cricket and play 105 overs a day starting at 10.30 in the morning.

Graves further said that every Test match would start on a Thursday, with Thursday and Friday being corporate days and then Saturday and Sunday the family days.

46 countries apply to become founding members of AsianInfrastructure Bank

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Forty-six nations across the globe have applied to become founding members of the AsianInfrastructure Investment Bank, proposed by China, when the deadline closed on Tuesday, a report said.

Jin Liqun, secretary general of the AIIB’s multilateral interim secretariat, said that “productive” negotiations were held among the potential founders of the bank at a working conference on the bank’s preparatory work in Almaty, Kazakhstan, reported China Daily.

J-K flood: Situation is under control, says Rijiju

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Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said the flood situation in Jammu and Kashmir is under control and added that the Centre has sent teams for both relief and rescue work.

“Hue and cry about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is not necessary. Situation is in control and we are prepared to handle it,” he said.

“The Centre has send teams there. If necessary we will send more teams. The state government is also engaged in the work,” he added.

Thousands celebrate as Nigeria opposition claims vote win

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Thousands of people spilled into the streets in northern Nigeria in celebration today after opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari claimed victory in the presidential election.

A cavalcade of motorbikes and cars with their headlights on and horns blaring paraded through the streets of Kano, northern Nigeria’s biggest city and an ancient seat of learning.

Drivers performed stunts, filling the air with thick smoke, as veiled women and the crowds shouted “Sai Buhari” (Only Buhari) in celebration.

In Odisha, PM Modi dedicates 4.5 MT expansion of Rourkela steel plant to nation

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Dedicating the 4.5 MT expansion of the Rourkela Steel Plant to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called upon states to work together with the Centre to pave the way for prosperity of future generations.

“The nation will not progress if there is inconsistent development, development needs to happen in the entire nation. It’s not enough for rest of the country to progress while the eastern region lags behind, all states in step now,” he said at a public meeting at Rourkela, after dedicating the 4.5 MT expansion of Rourkela Steel Plant to the nation.

Raje govt to provide 40,000 new agricultural power connections

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Amid walkout by the Opposition Congress and a few Indpendents from Rajasthan Assembly, ruling BJP tonight announced 40,000 new connections to farmers and rural people in Rajasthan this year.

Replying a debate on Power and non-conventional energy sources which lasted for over five hours, the Minister of State for Energy Pushpendra Singh said 10000 Dhani (helmet) with a population of 100 people would also be provided power connections in the current year.

Putin offers to extend gas deal with Ukraine for 3 months

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Russian President Vladimir Putin on today said Russia would extend the current gas deal with Ukraine by another three months, hours before it was due to expire.

In a meeting with Putin, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Kiev has asked to extend the deal signed in October which expires at midnight. “Let’s do it,” Putin responded.

He said the deal “would be active for another three months” after which Russia will review it taking into account the “volatile oil prices on global markets.”

Nigeria opposition claims historic election win

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Nigeria’s former military leader Muhammadu Buhari claimed a historic election victory in Africa’s most populous country today, sending thousands of jubilant supporters into the streets chanting “change, change”.

Buhari’s campaign spokesman said incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan had called the retired general to concede defeat in the most closely fought election in Nigeria’s history.

If confirmed, this would be the first ever democratic change of power in Nigeria and cap a remarkable comeback for the 72-year-old, who headed a short-lived military regime in the 1980s.

350 Indian nationals evacuated from Aden will be home tonight: MEA

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The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday said that a total number of 350 Indian nationals, who have been evacuated from strife-torn Yemen’s Aden city to Djibouti, will be home tonight.

“Braving the weather with high spirits. Indian nationals evacuated from Aden now in Djibouti. Will be home tonight,” MEA official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted.

Minister of State for External Affairs General (Retd.) V.K. Singh, who was in Djibouti to oversee the evacuation process, assured the evacuated people that they were safe now.

BSF convoy attacked, 3 injured

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A BSF convoy came under IED attack laid by militants today while travelling on National Highway-51 in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya causing minor injuries to three personnel.

The incident took place in the afternoon when the BSF convoy, with the mortal remains of a jawan who died in a fight elsewhere, was passing by Kherapara, 25 km from Tura, the district headquarters, a top BSF official said.

Assembly ransack issue: FIR against Congress MLAs withdrawn

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In a dramatic turn in the Gujarat Assembly ‘ransacking issue’, Speaker Ganpat Vasava ordered an FIR filed against 19 Congress MLAs for rioting and damaging public property to be withdrawn after they agreed to compensate for the damage.

“I want to make an important announcement. The violent incident which took place in the assembly premises led to an unharmonious situation between the ruling party and the opposition party.

‘Aahar’ scheme launched in Odisha

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The much-hyped ‘Aahar’ cheap meal scheme was today launched by Odisha government for providing subsidised food to urban poor.

The populist programme aimed at providing meal at Rs five to the urban poor was launched by Chief minister Naveen Patnaik at the Capital Hospital here amid criticism by opposition parties which slammed the state government for asking corporate houses to fund the scheme.

PM Modi dedicates to nation Rs 12K-cr project at RSP

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today dedicated to the nation an expansion and modernisation project worth Rs 12,000 crore at Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) here.

Modi happens to be the second Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to visit the plant, one of the five integrated plants of public sector steel giant SAIL.

Prime Minister Modi also saw the functioning of the new plate mill that has been installed as part of the Rs 12,000 crore modernisation and expansion programme.

Green leafy vegetables keep your brain sharp

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Eating one to two servings per day of spinach could make your brain 11 years younger, a new study on older adults has found.

Adding more spinach, kale, collards and mustard greens to the diet could help slow cognitive decline, researchers have found.

The study examined the nutrients responsible for the effect, linking vitamin K consumption to slower cognitive decline for the first time.

How to make skin summer friendly with basic tips

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Summer season brings along various skin related problems including rashes, tanning and sunburn. From following the essential routine of cleansing, toning and moisturizing to maintaing a healthy diet, expert suggests various tips of taking care of yourself in the hot and humid weather.

Doctor Sangeeta Velaskar, vice president and head, Medical Services and R&D, Kaya Skin Clinic, recommends a few tips for a carefree and skin friendly summer:

Tata Sons appoints Ronen Sen, Farida Khambata as Directors

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Tata Sons, the promoter of major operating firms of over USD 100 billion diversified Tata Group, today announced appointments of former Ambassador of India to the US, Ronen Sen as an independent director on its Board along with Farida Khambata, former member of IFC’s Management Group.

Both Sen and Khambata will be Non-Executive Independent Directors of Tata Sons Limited, the company said in a statement.

Sen was India’s Ambassador to the US from 2004 to 2009.

Abhishek to do cameo in Aishwarya’s comeback film

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Sanjay Gupta’s action film “Jazbaa” is special in many ways. It not only marks the comeback of actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, but also features her husband and actor Abhishek Bachchan in a special role.

The film’s director took to micro-blogging site Twitter to share the news.

“Big excitement at the shoot today as Abhishek Bachchan shoots his special appearance in JAZBAA,” Gupta tweeted.

The duo showed their chemistry in the film “Guru”, which garnered plaudits. And in Mani Ratnam’s “Raavan”, which failed to sizzle at the box office.

‘Udta Punjab’ made Alia fly off social media

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The young and versatile Alia Bhatt was missing from the virtual platform for quite sometime. The chirpy actress says she had to go off the radar to focus on her work, but she is now back with the first schedule of her film “Udta Punjab” ending.

“And the first sched for #UdtaPunjab ends for me! Apologies for going MIA…But had to had to focus;) and now I’m backkkkk 😉 sweet home,” Alia tweeted on Wednesday.

Abhishek Chaubey’s film that addresses prevalent drug menace in Punjab also stars Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan among others.

Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewage Board Officials to target consumer assest

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Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewage Board (HMWSSB) officials have adopted a new method of harassing consumers by invoking the Revenue Recovery Act to seize their moveable and immoevable assets, if a consumer fails to pay the water bill.

The water board officials are bulldozing into the common man’s house and creating a scene in the name of invoking Revenue Recovery Act against defaulters.

Swift flaunts legs in tiny white skirt

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Singer Taylor Swift showed off her world famous legs once again as she partied in Hollywood with her best friend Camila Cabello.

The “Blank Space” hitmaker wore a tiny white pleated skirt and matching black and white crop top, adding black stilettos and a red heart handbag to complete the look, reports mirror.co.uk.

Despite enjoying a Japanese sushi meal in Katsuya, the star was as confident as ever in the tiny outfit, showing off the result of her gruelling fitness regime.

Banks discriminative towards Muslim minority

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Banks behave discriminatively towards Muslim minority while providing loans. Although central and state governments seemingly allocate thousands of rupees of budget for minorities but it seems that minorities especially Muslims are deprived of its benefits under planned conspiracy. Banks show no hesitation in providing loan to other minorities including Jain, Parsis and Sikhs but when it comes to Muslims they start dilly dallying the matter. It seems that like communal elements, bank officials too discriminate against Muslims and Christians.

Maruti sales decline 1.6% in March

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Country’s largest car-maker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) on Wednesday reported a marginal 1.6 per cent decline in its total sales for March at 1,11,555 units as against 1,13,350 units in the same month a year ago.

The company said its domestic sales increased by 1.4 per cent during the month to 1,03,719 units as against 1,02,269 units in March 2014.

Sales of mini segment cars, including, Alto and WagonR, rose marginally to 40,159 units as compared to 40,085 units in the year-ago month, MSI said in a statement.

Now, an apartment comes with Rs 100-cr price tag!

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With a price tag of Rs 100 crore, a developer is selling a penthouse in Gurgaon near here as “India’s most expensive apartment”, while promising a private swimming pool and access to a roof-top helipad.

The 10,000-square feet top-floor apartment is being sold by Raheja Developers in its Gurgaon’s Revanta project, where the company already claims to have sold over 90 percent of units to “NRIs and big names in business”.

The developer is also projecting the project as ‘tallest building in North India’ with 60 floors, while the Rs 100-crore single penthouse is on the top two floors.