Foxconn to pay Microsoft for every Android device it makes under new deal

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Washington, Apr 18 (ANI): Foxconn and Microsoft have signed a deal that will give the software giant a cut of every Android device that the electronics contract manufacturing company makes.

The terms of the deal weren”t disclosed, but Microsoft did say it would be getting royalties from Hon Hai, the parent company of Foxconn, under the agreement.

According to Mashable, it follows in the steps of other contract manufacturers, notably Pegatron, that also have deals with Microsoft to build devices that run Android and Chrome operating systems.

John Kerry says Israel, Palestine have two years left for peace ‘or it’s over’

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Washington, Apr. 18 (ANI): US Secretary of State John Kerry has said efforts to reach a two-state solution to bring about peace between Israel and the Palestinians is up to two years or the whole concept will become infeasible.

At a hearing at a House Foreign Affairs Committee, Kerry said that he was committed to this because he believed the window for a two-state solution is shutting.

He added that he thought they have some period of time: a year, a year and a half to two years—or it’s over.

China calls for dialogue on Korean Peninsula

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Beijing, April 18 (Xinhua-ANI): A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman on Thursday said China hopes relevant parties on the Korean Peninsula will improve their relations through dialogue.

“We hope relevant parties will improve their relations through dialogue and properly resolve relevant issues,” spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a press briefing.

Manish Tewari claims Congress has ”unified agenda” unlike BJP

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New Delhi, Apr. 18 (ANI): Taking on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the infighting within its fold with regard to the Prime Ministerial candidate, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari on Thursday said that different voices were emanating from the opposition camp as compared to one unified agenda of the ruling Congress Party.

Zebrafish may harbour human illness cure

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Washington, April 18 (ANI): A new study has highlighted the importance of zebrafish as a model organism for human disease research.

Researchers demonstrated that 70 per cent of protein-coding human genes are related to genes found in the zebrafish and that 84 per cent of genes known to be associated with human disease have a zebrafish counterpart.

Memory loss reversed in animal brain cells

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Washington, April 18 (ANI): Using sea snail nerve cells, neuroscientists at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) reversed memory loss by determining when the cells were primed for learning.

The scientists were able to help the cells compensate for memory loss by retraining them through the use of optimized training schedules.

With this they have taken a major step in their efforts to help people with memory loss tied to brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Now, `smart` fabrics that change color and shape in response to body movement

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Washington, April 18 (ANI): Imagine a dress that changes shape and colour on its own, or a shirt that can capture the energy from human movement and use it to charge an iPhone.

This could be the future of fashion, according to researchers from Concordia University.

Joanna Berzowska, professor and chair of the Department of Design and Computation Arts at Concordia, has developed interactive electronic fabrics that harness power directly from the human body, store that energy, and then use it to change the garments’ visual properties.

ICRC calls on warring sides in Afghanistan to protect civilians

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Kabul, April 18 (Xinhua-ANI):The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has called on the warring sides in Afghanistan to protect civilians and respect their rights during conflicts.

“We are maintaining our dialogue with the parties to the conflict, reminding them of their obligations under international humanitarian law to respect and protect civilians and their properties,” head of the ICRC delegation in Kabul, Gherardo Pontrandolfi told journalists at a press conference here on Thursday.

Former ICC chief slams PCB for rescheduling President’s Cup match for IPL coverage

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Karachi, Apr 18 (ANI): Former International Cricket Council (ICC) president Ehsan Mani has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for accommodating the coverage of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) by changing the schedule of its President’s Cup one-day tournament. The semi-final between Habib Bank Limited and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited was forced to start an hour earlier after the broadcaster’s directive to accommodate live coverage of the IPL match that was due to start later in the afternoon, the Express Tribune reports.

Manmohan Singh greets nation on Ram Navami

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New Delhi, Apr. 18 (ANI): The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has greeted the people on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami.

Dr. Singh in his message described the festival as a celebration of Lord Ram”s life of righteousness and truth.

“We should renew our commitment to these ideals on this occasion,” he added. (ANI)

Ram Navami falls on the ninth day of the Hindu lunar year (thus named Chaitra Masa Suklapaksha Navami). (ANI)

Union Cabinet approves Rs. 12,000 crore package for Bihar

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The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved Rs. 12,000 crore package for Bihar.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari, who made this announcement today, rubbished reports that it was an attempt on part of the Centre to woo the Janata Dal (United) presently ruling Bihar along with the BJP.

“The UPA has been ruling for the last nine years. It has been our endeavor not to mix politics and governance,” he said.

Aligarh violence: Govt. should sensitize police, says NCW chief

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New Delhi/Aligarh, Apr. 18 (ANI): National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Mamata Sharma on Thursday expressed serious concern over the police action on women protesters in Aligarh, and said that the government should do something to sensitize the men in uniform.

“New laws have been made, but they have not been implemented. There should be proper investigations and they (police personnel) should be suspended. The government should do something for sensitizing the police. The atrocities against women should be stopped,” she said.

Manmohan Singh to inaugurate Civil Services Day on Apr. 21

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The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, will inaugurate the eighth Civil Services Day being held in New Delhi on April 21.

Dr. Singh will also give away the PM”s awards for excellence in public administration for the year 2011-12 on the occasion.

The day is observed by Civil Services to rededicate and recommit themselves to the cause of the people.

It provides a unique opportunity for introspection as also working out future strategies to deal with the challenges being posed by the changing times. Eighth in a row, the day is being celebrated since 2006. (ANI)

Modi factor will not help BJP in 2014 polls: Mayawati

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Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Thursday said that the Modi factor would not work for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2014 general elections.

“Modi factor has not worked so far, will it work in the future?” Mayawati told reporters here when asked about BJP projecting Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi as its Prime Ministerial candidate for the next general elections.

Mayawati also said that she or her party could not comment on who the UPA’s prime ministerial candidate would be, as the BSP was only offering outside support to the ruling combine at the Centre.

Two Nigerians arrested with heroin worth Rs 1.25 cr

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Two Nigerian nationals have been arrested here allegedly with over one kg of heroine worth around Rs 1.25 crore meant to be couriered to China, police said today.

Christopher Chibuike (35) and Ifeya (22) were apprehended from Janakpuri two days ago with the contraband, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Yadav said.

“They were allegedly indulging in the export of heroin through cargo to various foreign countries by concealing it in auto spare parts.

–Agencies

TRS activists pelted stones on D K Aruna’s bus yatra

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TRS activists tried to stop state minister D K Aruna’s bus yatra at Mahboobnagar and protested against the ambiguous policy on Telangana issue. D K Aruna is taking out bus yatra in Mahboobnagar district to make people aware of Congress government’s welfare schemes. TRS activist tried to stop bus yatra and shouted slogans in favour of Telangana.

KCR condemns attack on Telangana supporters, students and advocates

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TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao strongly condemned attack on journalists, students and advocates by the police. Reacting strongly on the bid to stop protest staged by the Telangana supporters on the occasion of release ceremony of book written against Telangana formation organized by Vishal Andhra Mahasabha, Chandrasekhar Rao told that police attitude was unseemly.

Gujarat riots was backed by government, police and intelligence

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Headlines today exposed police control room messages and state intelligence bureau reports which revealed that the police was continuously receiving messages from their field officers that VHP leaders were delivering provocative speeches, crowd was being gathered and warning was issued regarding possibility of large scale riots. Despite fielder reports and forewarning regarding untoward incidents, curfew was not imposed in Ahmedabad till next afternoon.

6 ASP’s transferred

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The government on Wednesday issued orders for transfer of 6 additional superintendents of police. Principal Secretary home TP Das issued GO RT 947 in this connection.

Omar safe after helicopter makes emergency landing

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A helicopter carrying Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah made an emergency landing in Kishtwar district of the state on Thursday afternoon.

The helicopter made the landing shortly after take off due to a technical problem, but no one was injured. “The chopper carrying Omar Abdullah landed shortly after taking off from Kishtwar for Srinagar today. It had developed some technical problem,” a senior police officer told PTI.

However, no one suffered any injury, he said, adding the chief minister later left by road for Srinagar, which is nearly 200 km from Kishtwar.

Early abortion may have saved Savita’s life: Expert

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An expert witness, who appeared in an Irish court, has said that Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar would have survived if her pregnancy had been terminated days before she died of blood poisoning, last October.

“The real problem was the inability to terminate prior to Mrs Halappanavar developing a real or substantive risk to her life. By that time it was effectively too late to save her life,” Dr Peter Boylan, one of Ireland’s most eminent obstetricians, said in his statement during the inquest at Galway Courthouse on Wednesday.

Pak bowler Mohammed Asif career terminates

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Pakistan media has said fast-bowler Mohammed Asif”s international cricket career is all but over after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) declined his appeal to lift his seven-year ban for spot-fixing. According to the Daily Times, the pacer had failed several drug tests in 2006 and 2008, which provoked the sport legal authority to ban the pacer for a few years. The report said that Asif was found guilty for carrying a banned drug at Dubai Airport. He was then detained for 19 days.

Pune’s German Bakery blast convict to hang

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A Pune court Thursday sentenced German Bakery blast convict Himayat Baig to death for his role in the terror attack which left 17 people dead in February 2010.

Three days ago, Pune sessions court Special Judge N.P. Dhote had held Baig guilty in the case in which he was the lone accused arrested.

———ians

Afghan Taliban pledge to take revenge over Guantanamo shootings

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The Afghan Taliban has pledged to take revenge on US troops in Afghanistan after guards at Guantanamo prison fired non-lethal rounds at inmates to quell unrest. According to US military officials, guards at the US-run prison in Cuba fired the rounds last Saturday to halt unrest as they relocated inmates into individual cells, reports The Dawn. Officials met with resistance from some detainees as they moved inmates from communal housing to individual cells.

Kamal Nath overruled official to denotify Goa SEZs: Wikileaks

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Former union commerce minister Kamal Nath had overruled his ministry’s secretary and favoured denotification of three special economic zones (SEZ) in Goa in 2008, suggest recently unclassified diplomatic cables available on Wikileaks.

The cable from the US embassy dated Jan 4, 2008, titled “Centre appears to waffle on Goa SEZ ban”, also says that the decision to denotify the SEZs in Goa could have hit the central government’s plans for “foreign participation in SEZs”.