Month: May 2015

Now human-like robots that read your expressions

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Scientists have developed ultra-sensitive, wearable sensors that help human-like robots to read people’s expressions.

Nae-Eung Lee and colleagues note that one way to make interactions between people and robots more intuitive would be to endow machines with the ability to read their users’ emotions and respond with a computer version of empathy. Most current efforts toward this goal analyze a person’s feelings using visual sensors that can tell a smile from a frown, for example.

Antarctic ice sheet melting ever faster

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Using gravitational satellite data, researchers have found that during the past decade, Antarctica’s massive ice sheet lost twice its mass in its western portion compared to what it accumulated in the east.

The southern continent’s ice cap is melting ever faster, the researchers determined.

The researchers “weighed” Antarctica’s ice sheet and found that from 2003 to 2014, the ice sheet lost 92 billion tonnes per year.

BJP demands AAP legislator Jarnail Singh’s arrest, stages protest

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Hundreds of BJP supporters led by its Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay staged a protest here on Friday demanding the arrest of AAP legislator Jarnail Singh for allegedly assaulting a civic engineer.

During the protest in the heart of the capital, the BJP workers also demanded the resignation of the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for not taking any concrete action against Law Minister Jitender Singh Tomar for having a fake law degree.

Gravity data reveals Antarctic ice sheet is melting at ever faster rate

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A team of researchers has found that Antarctica’s massive ice sheet lost twice the amount of ice in its western portion compared with what it accumulated in the east, suggesting that the southern continent’s ice cap is melting ever faster.

The Princeton University researchers, who weighed Antarctica’s ice sheet using gravitational satellite data, found that from 2003 to 2014, the ice sheet lost 92 billion tons of ice per year, adding that if stacked on the island of Manhattan, that amount of ice would be more than a mile high, more than five times the height of the Empire State Building.

Israel airlifts children born to Nepali surrogate mothers

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hree premature babies born to Nepali surrogate mothers and Israeli couples were on Thursday evacuated from quake-ravaged Nepal, which in recent years has become a popular surrogacy hub for same-sex Israeli couples.

The infants, along with some wounded Israelis, were flown in a small military aircraft after it delivered aid and a team of doctors to Nepal.

Key driver of human ageing discovered

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A team of scientists for the first time have created a key class of versatile stem cells that carry the genetic defect that causes premature aging.

The study conducted at Salk Institute found that the genetic mutations underlying Werner syndrome, a disorder that leads to premature aging and death, resulted in the deterioration of bundles of DNA known as heterochromatin.

George Clooney has runway installed at home

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Actor George Clooney has reportedly had a runway installed at his home here so that he can help select outfits for his wife Amal to wear.

“George is very involved in selecting her looks. He’ll watch her try on clothes and will say, ‘I like that. You should get it,’ or ‘No, not that.’

“He installed a runway, floor-to-ceiling mirrors, and a crazy light system in their closet. Amal can see every single angle and tell if her outfit is see-through,” a source said.

Here’s how extra 2-minutes walk every hour can add years to your life

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A new study has revealed that walking an extra two minutes each hour may offset hazards of sitting too long.

The University Of Utah Health Sciences study suggests that engaging in low intensity activities such as standing may not be enough to offset the health hazards of sitting for long periods of time. On the bright side, adding two minutes of walking each hour to your routine just might do the trick.

It’s difficult being a celebrity: Demi Lovato

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Singer Demi Lovato has admitted she finds it “difficult” being famous because of the huge pressures on women to look a certain way.

When asked for her opinion on celebrities photoshopping their images, the “Neon lights” hitmaker said: “It’s not something I wish people would do, but for the celebrities that do it, I don’t blame them. And I don’t blame people for getting plastic surgery either if they are in the public eye.

Shabana remembers Balraj Sahni on his birth anniversary

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Remembering actor Balraj Sahni on his 102th birthday anniversary on Friday, veteran actress-social activist Shabana Azmi appreciated his performance in film “Garm Hawa”.

“1 of India’s finest actors Balraj Sahni wud hve been 102 2day. Remember him with utmost respect. His performance in Garm Hawa is pitch perfect,” Shabana tweeted on Friday.

Starring Dinanath Zutshi and Farooque Sheikh, “Garm Hawa” is the story of the Mirza family at the time of partition in 1947.

AP govt to spend Rs 1,500 crore for Godavari Pushakaram

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Andhra Pradesh Advisor (Communications) Parakala Prabhaka said the state government will spend Rs 1,500 crore for the upcoming Godavari Pushakaram festival in July.

The AP government is spending Rs 1,500 crore for Godavari Pushkaram and 85 per cent of the works is completed while the remaining would be completed before the festival commences on July 14, Prabhaka told reporters here yesterday.

Nepal workers head home with hope in their heart

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A group of Nepalese who make their living in India were on Friday headed home in the hope of meeting their loved ones with whom they have not been able to establish contact since the devastating eartquake rattled Nepal on April 25.

“We have not been able to speak to our families back home,” Thaelin Tamang, 39, told this IANS correspondent at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.

Blood from single donor lowers risk of illness

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Using fresh whole blood from a single donor is better than using component blood from multiple donors in pediatric heart surgery, a new study shows.

Fresh whole blood reduces the number of individual blood donors that pediatric heart patients are exposed to, which reduces the risk of acquiring transfusion-related illness.

BJP to AAP: Sack Law Minister Tomar

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers staged a protest against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government in Delhi here on Friday to reiterate their demand for the resignation of Law Minister Jitender Singh Tomar for having an alleged fake degree from a university in Bihar.

Led by Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay, BJP activists were stopped by police near the Times of India building in ITO, as they attempted to march towards the Delhi Police Headquarters.

Facebook glitch makes outside links disappear

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Facebook has reported that a glitch had caused users posts to disappear and new links are apparently being blocked when posting is attempted.

According to the Verge, the bug only affected posts containing links to content outside of Facebook. The bug has caused major problems for users.

The problem seems to have begun with issues in Facebook’s image-scraping system, which automatically pulls pictures from posted links.

Spiritually-inclined yoga now increasingly linked with ‘medicine, fitness’ in US

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A new research on the yoga market from 1980 to the present has shown how meanings and practice of yoga changed as it was adapted by the US market.

Chapman University’s results show that yoga became decreasingly associated with spirituality and increasingly associated with medicine and fitness, arguing that the shift in the meanings are due to the changes in how yoga gurus are trained, market contests amongst different meanings and the distinct branding practices of small and big players in the market.

Raghubar Das announces reward for minor girl for marriage refusal

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Chief Minister Raghubar Das today announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for a class IV girl student for her refusal to succumb to family pressures for marriage.

“Girls should emulate her by coming forward to fight for their rights,” Das said while praising 13-year-old Birasmuni Kumari at a function in Gumla district organised under the “School Chalen Chalayan Abhiyan”.

Das also announced that the government would provide free education and marriage expenses after her studies, an official release said.

We are hoping for a granddaughter, says Prince Charles

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Prince Charles of Wales hopes that Kate Middleton, Prince William’s second royal baby is a girl.

The 66-year-old royal said during his visit to Windsor Castle to celebrate the 1st Batallion Welsh Guards’ centennial that he is hoping for a granddaughter, Us Magazine reported.

Speaking to military veterans in the English countryside of Berkshire, the Duke of Cornwall joked with a 100-year-old vet about raising daughters.

No Andhra demand for CBI probe into woodcutters’ killing: Rajnath Singh

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Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said the central government cannot ask the CBI to probe the killing of woodcutters in Andhra Pradesh as the state has not asked for it.

“CBI inquiry can be set up only after the state government asks for it. We are helpless because the state government has not asked the centre to set up an inquiry,” Rajnath Singh said in the Rajya Sabha.

The home minister said some public interest litigations (PILs) have been admitted in court.

“There is a PIL, if the court gives an order, state will be bound to constitute a probe,” he said.

Govt. to host Jashn-e-Urdu on first Telangana formation day

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Government has decided to host Jashn-e-Urdu on the occasion of first formation day of Telangana State. The first formation day celebration will be held on June 2. Government has directed the departments to celebrate the formation day on large scale and organise various programme.

Besides cultural programmes in Telugu several programmes will be held in Urdu as well. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao directed officials of Minority Welfare Department to organise various programmes on the theme Jashn-e-Urdu or Jashn-e-Telangana.

Siasat news

Saudi troops repulse ‘major border attack’ by Houthi rebels

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Saudi forces have reportedly repulsed a major attack launched by Shia Houthi rebels on their southern border, Saudi state media said.

An air campaign led by a Saudi-led coalition had targeted Houthi rebels in Yemen since late March, reported the BBC.

However, Thursday’s attack, near the Saudi town of Najran, was the major assault on Saudi territory since air strikes began. Saudi reports said that “dozens” of rebels were killed.

As clashes continued, aid groups said that a lack of fuel was severely impeding their operations in Yemen.

Nirbhaya Centre for women safety launched at Nalgonda

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Speaking at the launch of Nirbhaya Centre (One Stop Crisis Centre) in the premises of government district hospital in Nalgonda, on Thursday, Energy Minister G Jagadish Reddy said that “women safety is the top priority of the state government”.

Thougyh stringent laws were in force, the incidents of violence against women are on rise from different parts of the country. The women should raise their voice against the incidents of violence, he added.

Swap one daily sugary drink for water to cut type 2 diabetes risks

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If you want to stay away from type 2 diabetes, choose water instead of sugary drink everyday, as per a new study.

The research indicated that for each 5 percent increase of a person’s total energy intake provided by sweet drinks including soft drinks, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes may increase by 18 percent.

However, the study also estimates that replacing the daily consumption of one serving of a sugary drink with either water or unsweetened tea or coffee can lower the risk of developing diabetes by between 14percent and 25 percent.

Brooklyn Beckham proud of mom Posh’s cool lecture at school

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Brooklyn Beckham is proud of her mother Victoria Beckham after she gave a cool lecture to students during her visit to his school.

David Beckham’s wife reps informed E! Online of her school visit that the former Spice Girl member loves giving talks to students of all ages interested in various aspects of a career in fashion.

The 16-year-old took to Instagram to share his mother’s pic and captioned it as “My mum did a really cool talk at my school today haha @victoriabeckham”.