NEWS - Asteroid no more a threat for Earth in 2040: NASA

WASHINGTON, DEC 23:  As the ‘Mayan doomsday’ predictions failed to pan out, NASA has come up with more good news — an asteroid feared to be on a collision course with the Earth no longer poses a threat to the planet. Uncertainties about the orbit of the asteroid, known as 2011 AG5, previously allowed for a less than a 1 per cent chance it would hit the Earth in February 2040, NASA said. Previously, scientists estimated that the risk of this 140-meter-diameter, about the length of two football fields, asteroid colliding with the Earth was as high as one in 500. If this object were to collide with the Earth it would have released about 100 megatons of energy, several thousand times more powerful than the atomic bombs that ended...

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Posted in: NEWS

APPS - Facebook creates private posts that disappear after being read

It is said the new facility is similar to Snapchat, an app which is popular with younger age users, and which has gained a reputation as a tool for sending risque images. LONDON: Social networking site Facebook has launched a new app which erases pictures and messages within 10 seconds of being sent.It is an advanced version of one of the the social networking site's original apps, the 'poke'.The equivalent of a head nod or wink, the 'poke' in its old form is rarely used today as the site has become more advanced, the 'Daily Mail' reported.It has now been reinvented to be called 'Facebook Poke' and allows users to send fleeting messages, pokes, photos and 10-second videos to friends.The messages expire after a set...

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Posted in: APPS

BOLLYWOOD - Heroines rule hearts and box office

Even though 100 crore-earning, hero-centric films dominated the calendar, heroines too made a mark by taking on lead roles in many interesting films. The likes of Kareena Kapoor, Rani Mukherjee, Bipasha Basu, Vidya Balan and Sridevi chose offbeat roles to battle it out with their male counterparts at the box office. The year began with Vidya's Kahaani. The actress, who had already delivered a success with The Dirty Picture last year, broke many stereotypes with the thriller. The film explored themes of feminism and motherhood in a male-dominated Indian society. It had a seven-month pregnant heroine in the lead without any recognisable stars but managed to earn critical acclaim as well as audience's love. Word-of-mouth...

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Posted in: BOLLYWOOD

NEWS - Delhi gang rape: Police use teargas, water cannons as protests intensify

Teargas shells were lobbed and water cannons used at protesters at India Gate agitating against the gang rape of a young girl today as they marched towards Raisina Hill, hours after police evacuated demonstrators from there and Sonia Gandhi's residence.This was the second successive day that police resorted to lobbing teargas shells and use of waterjets besides using force to contain the protest demanding speedy justice and stringent punishment for the accused in last Sunday night's incident. Doctors said the condition of the victim continues to be critical.A group of protesters also met Sonia and Rahul Gandhi during which the Congress top leaders assured speedy action while refusing to give a time-frame for it.Some protesters indulged...

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TRAVEL - Flood Warnings Amid More Travel Misery

Travellers face further Christmas getaway disruption, with more than 500 flood alerts and warnings in place across the UK. Scores of flood warnings are in place across the country after days of heavy rainfall - and more is on the way. The Environment Agency has issued around 190 warnings, meaning flooding is expected and immediate action is required. There are also more than 300 alerts where flooding is possible, and one severe warning remains active at Helston in Cornwall - meaning there is a danger to life. Many residents in the South West face Christmas with floodwater in their homes, and communities across the UK are on alert. Cornwall has been particularly badly hit. The streets of Lostwithiel are under water and residents...

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Posted in: TRAVEL

HEALTH - IQ scores not accurate marker of intelligence, study shows

Could IQ scores be a false indicator of intelligence? Researchers have determined in the largest online study on the intelligence quotient (IQ) that results from the test may not exactly show how smart someone is. "When we looked at the data, the bottom line is the whole concept of IQ -- or of you having a higher IQ than me -- is a myth," Dr. Adrian Owen, the study's senior investigator and the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience and Imaging at the university's Brain and Mind Institute said to the Toronto Star. "There is no such thing as a single measure of IQ or a measure of general intelligence." More than 100,000 participants joined the study and completed 12 online cognitive tests that examined memory,...

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Posted in: HEALTH

HEALTH - Revealed: How to avoid weight gain this Christmas

Holiday season can bring a diet disaster for those who are struggling with their weight, as this is the time for special family meals, party buffets and free drinks. Navigating the holidays can be stressful, said Jeffrey Gersten, PsyD, Gottlieb Memorial Hospital. “Close family situations, the ready availability of trigger foods, such as cookies, kugels and candies, unhappy memories of past holidays – all add stress to make keeping your waistline in check a challenge,” he stated. Dr. Gersten counsels weight-conscious patients at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, where dozens have successfully lost, and are keeping off, as much as 100 pounds or more. Here are Dr. Gersten’s top five tips to keep you from going overboard. The Roadmap - You...

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Posted in: HEALTH

HEALTH - 10 Tips for guaranteed weight loss

(10 Tips for guaranteed weight…) With fad diets and fitness routines round every corner, it is quite difficult to keep a tab on whichweight loss tips really do work and which don't. Should you join that bhangra aerobics class, adopt that no-carb diet, or eat dinner at 6pm? Never mind all that loophole-ridden weight loss jargon, step over to the healthy side. Here are 10 tips for guaranteed weight loss that will set your weight straight, and help you adopt some really healthy, weight-friendly habits for life. Weight loss tip 1: Decide how much weight you need to lose - Most people start their weight loss journey by claiming to be xyz kilos overweight. This isn't a healthy way to project or aim for weight loss. Calculate...

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Posted in: HEALTH

HEALTH - Now reduce high BP through kidney therapy

(Now reduce high BP through…) A simple procedure that involves exposing the kidneys to radio waves can cure raised blood pressure, especially among hypertension patients A study conducted in Australia has shown that a new procedure can significantly reduce raised blood pressure. This quick and relatively painless procedure sees a catheter inserted into a vein, which then uses a short burst of radio waves to deactivate nerves in the kidneys. The researchers believe that this increases blood flow to the organs, reducing activity of the hormone renin, which has a link with raised blood pressure. This procedure of exposing the kidneys to radio waves shows that it is safe and effective in lowering blood pressure after...

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Posted in: HEALTH

SPORTS - CRICKET - Advertising rates hit through the roof for India-Pakistan series

New Delhi:  The much-anticipated limited overs cricket series between arch-rivals and India and Pakistan is likely to leave the official broadcasters ESPN STAR Sports richer by more than Rs 140 crore.ESPN STAR Sports will see huge increase in advertising revenue on the series. According to industry sources, the spot rates for the ODIs is Rs 7-7.5 lakh while the T20 between two countries is being sold at a mind boggling Rs 9 lakh per 10 second.The broadcaster, according to industry sources, will earn more than 140 crores of advertising revenue from this mini-series.Giving rationale for the premium attached to the series, Sanjay Kailash, Executive Vice President, ESPN Software India Pvt Ltd, said, "We are delighted with the response from...

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Posted in: SPORTS - CRICKET

SPORTS - Sania Mirza to spearhead Indian challenge in Fed Cup

New Delhi:  Sania Mirza will lead the four-member Indian side in the upcoming Asia/Oceania Group I tie of the Fed Cup tennis tournament.According to the team announced by the AITA on Friday, the other members are Kyra Shroff, Rutuja Bhosale and Rishika Sunkara.Ankita Raina and Prerna Bhambri have named as reserve players for the women's team event.India are back in the Group I after spending a year in Group II. India had beaten Hong Kong 2-1 in the promotional play-off in February 2012 to re-enter the Group I.This year's ties will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan from February 6-...

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Posted in: SPORTS - TENNIS

SPORTS - Mahesh Bhupathi-Daniel Nestor top seeded pair at Chennai Open

Chennai:  India's doubles star Mahesh Bhupathi and his new partner Daniel Nestor will be the top seeded pair at the ATP Chennai Open, starting December 31.Bhupathi has teamed up with the Canadian world number five for the 2013 season after playing with compatriot Rohan Bopanna in the 2012 season.Together Bhupathi and Bopanna compiled an impressive 34-22 match record and 2-3 in finals."Being an Indian and among the best doubles players in the world, Mahesh Bhupathi has a huge fan following in Chennai. Daniel Nestor is a top five ranked doubles player. We welcome Mahesh and Daniel to Aircel Chennai Open 2013 and look forward to seeing them play some excellent tennis in front of eager home crowds," said Karti P Chidambaram, Chairman of...

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Posted in: SPORTS - TENNIS

SPORTS - CRICKET - End of an era as Sachin Tendulkar calls it a day in ODIs

i New Delhi: A prodigal talent who went on to be revered as modern cricket's greatest batsman, Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday called time on his ODI career after over two decades of phenomenal feats which are unlikely to be replicated for years to come.A batsman who reminded the great Sir Donald Bradman of himself, Tendulkar bows out as international cricket's top run-scorer by quite a distance in ODIs. He will, however, continue to play Tests.At the end of his ODI journey, the 39-year-old right-hander stands on a mammoth mountain of runs -- a whopping 18,426 in 463 matches at an average of 44.83.The Mumbaikar, fondly called Little Master and Master Blaster by his legion of fans all over the world, however, went through a tormenting...

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Posted in: SPORTS

GADGETS - I PAD - Lenovo launches IdeaPad Yoga hybrids starting Rs. 61,790

Lenovo has launched the IdeaPad Yoga series of hybrid devices in India. The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga series features hybrid devices that double up as laptops as well as tablets. The two models launched are the IdeaPad Yoga 13 and IdeaPad Yoga 11.The Windows 8 running Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 features a 13.3-inch 1600x900 multi-touch display. It is powered by 3rd generation Intel Core processors alongside 4GB RAM (upgradable to 8GB) and integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000. The IdeaPad Yoga 13 sports 128GB SSD storage, webcam, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth, HDMI, 1 USB 2.0 port, 1 USB 3.0 port and a 2-in-1 card reader. Lenovo claims 8 hours of battery life on the IdeaPad Yoga 13 which is now available for Rs. 84,290. Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11...

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Posted in: GADGETS - I PAD

GADGETS - I PADGoogle Nexus 10 review

When I first turned on Google's new tablet computer, I immediately thought of it as a mere conduit to Google services.Besides giving you quick access to Gmail and YouTube, the Nexus 10 steers you to digital movies, books and other content available for sale through Google's online Play store. Because of that, I wasn't thinking of the Nexus 10 as an alternative to Apple's general-purpose iPad - even with a price tag that's $100 cheaper, starting at $399. It took more thought and time with the Nexus to change that perception. After all, apps available for Android smartphones work on the tablet as well. Still, the Nexus really shines when it comes to media - especially content bought through Google. For the past year, Google has been...

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Posted in: GADGETS - I PAD

APPS - Weight loss? There's an app for that - and it works

Mobile devices that let people track how much they eat and exercise may help them shed weight over and above the benefits of a typical weight-loss program, according to a U.S. study.Researchers writing in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that overweight and obese adults lost an average of over eight pounds (3.6 kilograms) more when they had personal digital assistants (PDAs) and occasional phone coaching to help them, in addition to a group program. There's no reason to think the same wouldn't hold true for smart phone apps that can log nutrition and activity information, and give real time feedback, they said. "The number one mechanism through which people lost weight is self-monitoring, just watching what you eat and keeping...

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Posted in: APPS

APPS - Facebook goes the native route with new Android app

Facebook has moved further away from HTML5 after releasing a native version of its Android app.Facebook for Android version 2.0 has been built from scratch leveraging native Android controls, as compared to previous versions of the app which were built using HTML5. While HTML5 offers cross-platform compatibility which means you can use the same code across various platforms like Android and iOS but its overall performance and integration cannot match that of apps using controls native to the platform. Speed - more than anything else - is the reason Facebook switched from the old HTML5 iOS app to a new native app back in August. Now it has done the same on the Android platform. Facebook claims the new app "is twice as fast when...

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Posted in: APPS - FB

APPS - App aims to keep up with Santa on Christmas Eve

Children eager to track Santa Claus on his annual yuletide journey to homes across the world can download a new mobile app from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).The new app for Windows 8, called NORAD Tracks Santa, is part of a 57-year-long holiday tradition at NORAD of tracking Santa. It will allow children to keep up with him on their mobile devices and joins similar apps for iOS, Android and web apps. "Every December 24th since 1955 we have been telling children exactly where Santa is so that children all over the world can make sure that they're in bed on time so that Santa will deliver their presents," explained Stacey Knott, a deputy chief at NORAD, U.S.-Canadian military organization based in Colorado. In...

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Posted in: APPS - SANTA

APPS - Google releases YouTube Capture app for iPhone

Google has released YouTube Capture app for iPhone in an attempt to plug a gaping hole in its existing YouTube app, which does not include the ability to upload videos.Google released the YouTube app for iPhone back in September with support for discovering and watching videos, months after Apple announced its decision to drop the iOS-bundled YouTube app. Google later updated the app to add a native interface for iPad, iPhone 5 and include other features like AirPlay. Strangely, the app didn't include an option to upload videos to YouTube. This is where YouTube Capture comes in.YouTube Capture is a pretty basic app that prompts users to sign-in upon launch. Users have the option to enable Camera Roll...

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Posted in: APPS - Google