Month: May 2015

‘Quasars’ dining on more cosmic matter than first thought at excessive rates

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A new study using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has suggested that a group of unusual giant black holes may be consuming excessive amounts of matter.

Astronomers have known for some time that supermassive black holes can gobble up huge quantities of gas and dust that have fallen into their gravitational pull. As the matter falls towards these black holes, it glows with such brilliance that they can be seen billions of light years away. Astronomers call these extremely ravenous black holes “quasars.”

MTNL introduces unlimited free local calling at night

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State-run telecom operator MTNL today said it is introducing unlimited free local calling at night for its landline and broadband customers to any network, effective from today.

“MTNL has decided to introduce unlimited free local calling for its landline and broadband customers (Combo) between 2200 HRS to 0700 HRS to any network. The free unlimited calling facility is also available for Delhi MTNL landline customers to any network to Mumbai and vice versa during the same hours,” it said in a statement.

Aamir Khan, Javed Akhtar, other film personalities meet Arun Jaitley

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Bollywood star Aamir Khan and lyricist Javed Akhtar along with several other leading film personalities on Thursday met I&B Minister Arun Jaitley to discuss issues related to the film industry such as taxation and certification of movies.

According to sources, the meeting took place this evening and was attended by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Rajyavardhan Rathore and I&B secretary Bimal Julka, apart from film personalities.

Filmmaker Mukesh Bhatt, who is president of ‘The Film and Television Producers Guild of India’, was also present.

‘Putrajeevak Beej’ controversy: Baba Ramdev to hold Press Conference today

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Baba ramdev will today hold a press conference to clarify the allegations of selling drug that promised the delivery of a male child.

A demand to ban a purported ayurveda product by yoga guru Ramdev’s Divya Pharmacy that promises a male child was made in Rajya Sabha on Thursday, with Opposition members terming it as illegal and unconstitutional and seeking stringent action against the manufacturers.

‘Beef masala’ row: Pak says Indian media trying to inject ‘controversy’

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Seeking to downplay the controversy over beef masala packets sent as relief to quake hit Nepal, Pakistan on Wednesday accused the Indian media of trying to inject unnecessary controversy into the issue.

“Yesterday, we were asked by the Indian media regarding the inclusion of beef in the food packets that have been sent. It is unfortunate that Indian media has not even spared a humanitarian mission and has, unnecessarily, tried to inject controversy into it,” said Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson, Tasnim Aslam.

Fake degree scandal: Will resign if Kejriwal asks, says Tomar

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Under attack over his alleged fake degree, Delhi Law Minister Jitender Singh Tomar today said he would tender his resignation immediately if Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal indicates to him to do so, even as he maintained that a conspiracy has been hatched to defame him.

“My party and my leader (Kejriwal) know that I am correct that’s why I am a minister today. If my leader asks me to tender resignation…I am even ready to sacrifice my life within one minute, resignation is a very small thing for me.

Fuel price hike: Digvijaya Singh taunts govt., says ‘achhe din aa gaye’

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Taking a jibe at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over its tall promises of bringing ‘ache din’ during the campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Friday taunted the Centre over the hike in fuel prices and wondered whether Finance Minister Arun Jaitley would reduce the Central Excise Duty to absorb the international price hike.

“Petrol and Diesel prices hiked. Would Arun Jaitley reduce the Central Excise Duty to absorb the International Price Hike? Achhe Din aa gaye !” Singh tweeted.

Foreign Secretary, NSA arrive in Kathmandu as India intensifies relief efforts

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Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval arrived here on Friday to oversee the relief operations being carried out in earthquake-hit Nepal by India.

The duo will assess the rescue and relief efforts launched under ‘Operation Maitri’ to aid Nepal.

The Indian Army is on a war footing in Nepal. Personnel of the Indian Army and NDRF, who have stepped up their efforts to reach the far-flung areas devastated by the quake, are constantly providing all relief materials besides giving medical aid to those injured.

Strong earthquake overdue in India, but not any time soon

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Amid reports that a massive earthquake is overdue in some parts of the Himalayas, a section of Indian scientists say no unusual seismic activity or abnormal increase in changes in the earth’s surface have been detected in India’s northeast.

In addition, they pointed out that no two strong earthquakes have come in the Himalayas immediately after one another.

Saturday’s strong earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter Scale has killed thousands and caused widespread destruction in Nepal. The tremors also caused deaths and damages in India besides Tibet.

BJP membership touches 10.5 cr, largest party in world: Amit Shah

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has claimed that the party’s membership has touched around 10.5 crore and it has emerged as the largest party in the world.

“I feel pride in saying that BJP with around 10.5 crore members has become the largest party in the world. We are happy about it,” BJP president Amit Shah said on Thursday.

Shah credited the hard work of party workers for achieving the target.

Nepal earthquake: Teenager, cousin have miraculous escape

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A young woman and her cousin who had an unbelievable escape in Nepal’s killer earthquake are thanking god for what they say is their second life.

Menuka, 19, and her cousin Vikey were enjoying a television show just before Saturday noon at their home in Patan area here when the earth shook violently.

When they realised to their horror that it was a major earthquake, both dashed under a bed. The quick thinking saved their life.

In no time, the four-storey house collapsed like a pack of cards, bringing down tonnes of cement, bricks, wood and beams.

US body slams Modi government over religious intolerance, India fumes

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India today strongly reacted to a report by a US Congress-established panel claiming that minorities in the country have been subjected to “violent attacks” and “forced conversions” after the Modi government assumed power in 2014, saying it does not take cognisance of such reports.

External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, “Our attention has been drawn to a report of the USCIRF which has passed judgement on religious freedom in India.

“The report appears to be based on limited understanding of India, its Constitution and its society.”

Coffee can act as an antioxidant: Study

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Under certain conditions coffee can act as an antioxidant, according to a new study that may lead to a deeper understanding of the brewing process, as well as its potential health benefits.

Melbourne based researchers in Monash University in collaboration with Italian coffee roasting company Illycaff, have conducted the most comprehensive study to date on how free radicals and antioxidants behave during every stage of the coffee brewing process, from intact bean to coffee brew.

Urine can predict obesity and metabolic diseases: Study

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Scientists have identified chemical markers in urine associated with body mass that can help predict which people could be at risk of developing obesity and metabolic diseases.

The new study, led by Imperial College London, shows that obesity has a ‘metabolic signature’ detectable in urine samples, pointing to processes that could be targeted to mitigate its effects on health.

Urine contains a variety of chemicals known as metabolites, from a vast range of biochemical processes in the body.

Human like brain process found in bats too: Study

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Just like humans, bats also use the left and right sides of their brains to process different aspects of sounds, a new study has found.

Aside from humans, no other animal that has been studied, not even monkeys or apes, has proved to use such hemispheric specialisation for sound processing – meaning that the left brain is better at processing fast sounds, and the right processing slow ones.

The study opens a pathway to studying bat brains in order to understand certain human language disorders and potentially even improving computer speech recognition, researchers said.

Indian men hockey team set to face Japan in upcoming Test series

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The Indian men’s hockey team is gearing up for the upcoming Test series against Japan, which will be held between May 3-9 in Bhubaneswar.

Practicing hard at the MDC National Stadium in the ongoing preparation camp, both players and coaching staff are working on various team-combinations and strategies to bring maximum performance out of them.

Taipei Open: Yuki Bhambri reaches quarters

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Indian Davis Cupper Yuki Bhambri overwhelmed higher-ranked Jimmy Wang in straight sets to progress to the singles quarterfinals of the USD 75000 ATP Challenger event, here today.

Unseeded Yuki tamed the eighth seed local player 6-3 6-1 in the second round of the Indoor tournament, being played on carpet.

After a difficult start, Yuki dominated the 64-minute contest in which he saved all three breakpoints in the opening set. He broke his rival, ranked 132 on ATP charts, twice in each set.

Afridi to quit international cricket after T20 WC next year

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Flamboyant Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi today announced that he will retire from international cricket after the T20 World Cup to be held in India next year.

Talking to the media at a function today, Afridi said his last remaining ambition was to lead Pakistan to the T20 World Cup title next year.

“I want to not only play but also captain the Pakistan team to the T20 World Cup title,” he said. Afridi, 35, has appeared in 78 T20 Internationals, besides 27 Tests and 398 One-day Internationals.

Uthappa, Russell steer Kolkata to beat Chennai

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Robin Uthappa and Andre Russell struck belligerent fifties after veteran Brad Hogg’s four-wicket haul to help Kolkata Knight Riders return to winning ways with a seven-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in a thriling Indian Premier League match here today.

Playing the formidable CSK for a second time in two days, KKR, who lost by two runs chasing 135 in the first leg clash, had a stiffer target of 166 to chase at the Eden Gardens after skipper Gautam Gambhir won the toss and once again opted to field.

Obama calls Nepalese PM; offers support for quake victims

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US President Barack Obama today called Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala to convey his deep condolences for the victims of the devastating quake and extended his full support for the rescue and relief mission.

“The President earlier today spoke with Prime Minister Sushil Koirala of Nepal to convey the deep condolences of the American people for the loss of life and massive destruction caused by the April 25th earthquake in Nepal,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters.

Nepal earthquake: Anger mounts among people over slow pace of relief efforts

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Frustration mounted among people in quake-hit Nepal over the slow pace of relief efforts as international aid struggled to find its way to the needy in remote areas today due to bad weather and lack of coordination.

Nearly five days after the quake shook the Himalayan nation, international aid workers are still stuck in Kathmandu, even as urgent help is required in remote villages yet to be reached.

Saturday’s quake killed more nearly 6,00 people, and injured at least 11,000. The UN says more than eight million people have been affected by the quake.

Changing demography of Kashmir against UN resolutions: Pakistan

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Pakistan today said that any effort to establish dedicated townships to change the demography of Jammu and Kashmir would be in violation of UN resolutions.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said at a news briefing that India cannot change the population mix by settling outsiders in the Kashmir valley.

“Any effort to establish dedicated townships or special zones to change the demographic makeup of the territory will be in violation of UN resolutions,” she said.

Black money: Govt amends FEMA for stricter punishment

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Tightening the noose on Indians holding black money abroad, the government today provided for confiscation of domestic property of offenders and punishment of up to five years under the Foreign Exchange Management Act.

The changes to this affect have been made by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Finance Bill, 2015 passed by Lok Sabha today. It will now be taken up by the Rajya Sabha.