Third-generation' steel to develop fuel-efficient cars : latest technology

A "third-generation" steel being developed at a US university could help auto manufacturers roll out fuel-efficient vehicles that could meet future energy efficiency requirements, say researchers.

The development of this new steel, known as a "third-generation advanced high-strength steel", is under way at Missouri University of Science and Technology's Kent D. Peaslee Steel Manufacturing Research Centre.

"We are currently refining the steel design to achieve 'Gen 3' mechanical property goals while also maintaining manufacturability," said centre director Ronald O'Malley in a university statement.

"This is one of the most promising generation-three steels I have seen," O'Malley said.

Improvements in exhaust treatment systems, transmission efficiency and aerodynamics all contribute to better fuel efficiency but reducing vehicle weight is also important, O'Malley said.

"Automakers must make light-weight vehicles without sacrificing safety," O'Malley added.

What is called first-generation steel is most commonly used in today's cars and trucks.

A second-generation product has been developed and it is stronger and lighter weight than the first-generation material.

But it is too costly to produce and more difficult to manufacture.

"The third-generation steel should be lighter, easier to make and strong enough to address automakers' safety concerns," O'Malley concluded.

A committee of representatives from four steel manufacturers, including ArcelorMittal are overseeing the project.

Dry homemade face packs for the glowing skin : beauty tip

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Application Time : 30- 40 min


Ingredients :

Almond/Badam.
Walnut/Akhrot.
Pistachio/Pista.
Dairy Creamer/Milk powder.
Neem leaves.
Curd.


METHOD OF PREPRATION :


1. First of all, make a fine powder of almonds or you can finely grate it to use. Take half a teaspoon of grated almond in a bowl.

2. Separate walnut and pistachio from their shells and grate both of them separately and add half a teaspoon each and mix it with grated almonds.


3. Add half a teaspoon of milk powder in this mixture.

4. Now, take neem leaves and wash them thoroughly. You can use neem leaves as you wish, either you can add fresh paste of these leaves, or dry them under sunlight and use them in a powdered form or even use neem concoction as a face pack mixer. I prefer powder from dry leaves as it is easier to apply as well as convenient to use without any need of preparing it fresh every time.


5.  Now, add two teaspoons of curd in this mixture and whip it well to get a creamy consistency.

6. On a clean face, apply this face pack, leaving areas around eyes and lips.  Also, apply the pack on your neck, let it stand for good 30-35 minutes.

7.  Now, the pack is in semi-dry state.  Using gentle pressure, scrub this pack off your face and wash your face with lukewarm water.


8.  This face pack is for people with dry skin, those of you with oily skin may skip this pack as it can make your skin look oilier, and I promise I will soon share one face pack using dry fruits meant for oily skin.


Benefits of this face pack:

1. Almond: Almond oil is a natural moisturiser which gives relief to your dry skin. Almond also has great anti-ageing properties which makes it a great solution if you want a good anti-ageing skin care regimen.
2. Pistachi
o: Pista is a power pack ingredient with vitamin E and we all know how beneficial Vitamin E is for our skin. It helps in keeping our skin soft, supple and moisturized.
3. Walnut: Vitamin B present in walnut makes them a good exfoliating agent and a great ingredient to keep wrinkles and age spots at bay.
4. Milk Powder: It deeply cleanses the skin and keeps skin soft and glowing.
5. Neem: Neem treats dry patches and also helps in getting rid of skin infections or allergies if any.
6. Curd: Curd removes tan and also keeps your complexion even toned and flawless.

So, that’s it girls, this DIY pack not only sounds great, but has some great effects on the skin as well, some of which I have already mentioned. So, what are you waiting for? Use this pack for yourself and check out the wonderful effects on your skin.

1,900 jobs to be axed in Australia due to emails.

Sydney: The rapid decline of traditional letters due to emails has led the Australia Post to announce 1,900 job cuts over the next three years, authorities said on Friday.

The Australia Post said losses in its mail delivery business were approaching 500 million Australian dollars ($387 million) this financial year, reported Xinhua news agency.

The volume of ordinary mail is expected to fall by more than 10 percent, and the Australia Post has warned it will report its first company-wide financial loss in more than 30 years.

Australia Post managing director Ahmed Fahour said the decline in the mail deliveries is now critical.

"We have reached the tipping point that we have been warning about where without reform, the business becomes unsustainable," Fahour said.

Rupee weakens by 3 paise at 63.65 against US dollar

Mumbai: The rupee declined by 3 paise to 63.65 against the US dollar in early trade on Friday, extending weakness for the second day, at the Interbank Foreign Exchange due to appreciation of the American currency overseas.

Besides, month-end demand for the American currency from importers and a lower opening in the domestic equity market, weighed on the rupee, forex dealers said.

The rupee had shed 2 paise to close at 63.62 against the US currency in the previous session due to dollar demand from banks and importers.

Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex fell by 96.20 points or 0.34 per cent at 27,799.77 in early trade today.

Apple removes games featuring confederate flags from App Store

Apple Inc has removed several civil war games featuring Confederate flags from its App Store, some game developers said.

The flags and other symbols of the Confederacy have been at the centre of debate since a 21-year-old gunman, accused of killing nine black worshippers in last week`s South Carolina church shooting, posed with the flag in photos posted online.

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley on Monday called on lawmakers to take down the Confederate battle flag at the state capitol grounds.

Retailers such as Wal Mart Stores Inc and Sears Holdings Corp have stopped selling the flag.

"Apple has removed our game from AppStore because of usage of the Confederate Flag," Game-Labs, developer of `Ultimate General: Gettysburg` said.

To maintain historical accuracy, the company will not remove the flag from the game so that it can be accepted back, Game-Labs said.

Hunted Cow confirmed that `Civil War 1862`, `Civil War 1863`, `Civil War 1864` and `Civil War Gettysburg` were removed from the App Store.

"They (games) will be resubmitted with an earlier confederate flag," a Hunted Cow spokesperson told Reuters.

Apple was not immediately available for comment.

Google Inc , Amazon.com Inc and eBay Inc on Tuesday also pulled Confederate flag merchandise from their shopping sites.

Economic recovery more statistical than real: Yashwant Sinha

Questioning NDA government's claims of economic recovery since it came to power, senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha has said that growth is up "only statistically" and there are serious issues which still need to be addressed.

"We have recovered from the slowdown, at least statistically, if not really, because we have changed the norms," Sinha, a former Union Finance Minister, said at an industry meet here late last evening.

He said there is a need for debate on this and there should be comparable figures of economic growth from the previous years which can validate the claims of recovery.

"It cannot be that you prepare one year's figures and say that now you're doing 7.4 percent or 8 percent or 20 percent," said Sinha, whose son Jayant serves as a Minister of State for Finance in the Narendra Modi government.

"What are the new norms (of computation)? Even the Chief Economic Advisor of the Government of India does not understand this. And we've put the same culprits (who initiated the change) to sit in judgement over this change," Sinha remarked.

There are "serious issues" in the economy which need to be addressed and the government can never say that it has tackled all the pressing concerns, he added.

Earlier this year, the government adopted a change in the system of growth computation, which put the country's economic growth to be among the fastest in the world, even ahead of China. The country grew 7.4 percent in FY15 under the new system -- as against the 5 per cent levels under the older system in FY14 -- and is expected to close in on the 8 percent mark for FY16.

Sinha also criticised the stance of Reserve Bank of India in keeping interest rates high, blaming its "measly" cuts for the banks' reluctance to pass on the benefits of the cumulative 0.75 percent cut.

In an apparent reference to reports of lack of warmth between RBI and Finance Ministry, Sinha said there is a need for a "working alliance" between Mint Street and North Block, and they cannot be at cross purposes.

Sinha was quick to add that he shared a very good relationship with the then RBI governor Bimal Jalan when he was in the North Block.

Dropbox releases a redesigned app for Android

 Dropbox has released a redesign of its Android app to streamline the process of sharing files and uploading folders.

According to the Techcrunch.com, the new app is a redesign of user interface which is more faultless compared to the previous versions. The app also includes a new spot for the company's search function, based at the top of the app's interface. These kinds of features are important for frequent users that have to quickly browse through a number of large files.

Also, users can take photos directly from a folder that they are currently browsing with a new button on the bottom of the screen. The new app has also moved sharing controls and processes like moving files and adding them to favorites to a single spot on the user interface.

In addition, the app has been redesigned to be faster and look more in agreement with other new Android applications that Google has redesigned with its latest update to its Android operating system.

Shahid Kapoor wedding: Saif, Kareena invited; Ranveer Singh not on guest list?

Mumbai: Bollywood is abuzz with the news of Shahid Kapoor's wedding with Mira Rajput. Almost everyone associated with the industry and fans of the actor is certainly looking forward to this marriage.

According to a report published on Bollywoodlife.com, Shahid has invited his former ladylove – Kareena Kapoor and her husband Saif Ali Khan to his wedding. Apparently, they were the first ones to be invited! Interestingly, Shahid and Saif are on board Vishal Bhardwaj’s film ‘Rangoon’ which also stars Kangana Ranaut.

And another report published on the same website suggested that Shahid has no plans to invite Ranveer Singh to his wedding. Actually, it so happened that Ranveer and Arjun Kapoor, while hosting IIFA 2015 in Malaysia, took jibes at Shahid (of course in good humour). While the duo invited Shahid on stage to receive his award, Ranveer poked Shahid by asking him if he would get an invite to his wedding. To which the ‘Haider’ superstar instantly said “NO”.

Nonetheless, Shahid’s response doesn’t seem stern enough to be taken seriously. But it would certainly be interesting to see who all from the Tinsel Town attend this Big Fat Bollywood wedding.

Interesting riddles ( puzzles)

1. Question: What is Bruce Lee's favorite drink?
    Ans: Waa-taa! (Water)
2. Question: A monkey, a squirrel, and a bird are racing to the top of a coconut tree. Who will get the banana first, the monkey, the squirrel, or the bird?
     Ans: None of them, because you can’t get a banana from a coconut tree!
3. Question: We hurt without moving. We poison without touching. We bear the truth and the lies. We are not to be judged by our size.What are we?
    Ans: words
4. Question: What building has the most stories?
     Ans: liabrary
5. Question: When is homework not homework?
   Ans: When it's turned into the teacher.

Student from troubled Kashmir area cracks AIIMS test

New Delhi: A young man from a militancy-plagued region in Jammu and Kashmir has cracked the AIIMS medical entrance test and is itching to join the country's premier medical institute as a doctor.

Shahid Nabi, a resident of Tral, a town 60 km from Srinagar, has also secured the eighth rank in the Jammu and Kashmir Common Entrance Test (JKCET).

Naturally, there is elation in his village, Baragam. Tral is considered a hotbed of militancy and usually remains socially disturbed. Son of a farmer and a house-maker, Nabi, 19, said: "It was never too difficult for me to achieve this goal as I was focussed."

"The environment in my village is very sensitive, but I always stuck to my studies," Nabi told a news agency over phone. Nabi said he would be joining the All India Institute of Medical Sciences as it was always his first priority.

The JKCET result was declared on Saturday night by the Board of Professional Entrance Examinations. More than 28,000 students appeared in the JKCET held in Jammu and Kashmir in May.

This is not the first time students from violence-hit areas of Kashmir Valley have earned laurels. Over the past years, many Valley students have made it to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and other competitive examinations.

In 2009, Shah Faesal, hailing from border village Lolab in Kupwara district, topped the IAS and made the Valley proud. Haroon Rashid Bhat, from Konan-Poshpora village, also topped the JKCET in 2013.

Konan-Poshpora village in Kupwara district is where security forces allegedly committed a mass rape in 1991, triggering vocal protest.

 Sister Nirmala, who succeeded Mother Teresa, dies; PM, Rahul Gandhi, Mamata pay condolences​

Sister Nirmala Joshi, the former superior general of the Missionaries of Charity, died on Tuesday morning. She was 81.

Sister Nirmala had replaced Mother Teresa as the superior general in 1997.

A Missionaries of Charity official said Sister Nirmala was not keeping well for the past few days and her health was gradually deteriorating.

"She was sick for quite some time. She passed away at 12.05 am today (Tuesday) at the convent where she used to stay in Sealdah," a news agency quoted a source at the Mother House as saying.

Her body would be brought to Mother House on Wednesday morning and the funeral will be held at 4 pm.

"Any one who wants to pay respect can come to Mother House tomorrow", the official said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences to the Missionaries of Charity family on microblogging website Twitter.

Heatwave kills around 400 people in Karachi.

About 400 people, including women and children, have been killed in Pakistan's port city of Karachi due to the country's worst heatwave in more than a decade, as the government called in the army to deal with the crippling crisis.

The heatwave, sweeping across the Sindh province, has been going on since the start of Ramzan on Friday, wreaking havoc and triggering an emergency situation in major hospitals of the province.

Three major state-owned hospitals confirmed a combined death toll of 341 until yesterday. Hospitals reported deaths due to heat stroke, exhaustion and low blood pressure.

"We had until yesterday evening nearly 200 deaths from this heatwave," said Seemi Jamali, medical superintendent at Jinnah Hospital.

"These 200 include dead bodies we have got from the scorching heatwave and those who passed away in the hospital while under treatment for heatstroke and dehydration," she said.

Jamali said the hospital had in four days treated around 3,000 people suffering from illnesses related to the heatwave.

Doctors at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital said 71 people had died due to the heatwave until yesterday. Saeed Qureshi, a doctor at the Civil hospital, confirmed 70 deaths.

"There have been deaths from the heat wave at other hospitals also and the death toll is close to 400 now," Qureshi said.

The Sindh government has imposed a state of emergency at all hospitals, cancelling leave for doctors and other medical staff and is increasing stocks of medical supplies.

The Pakistan Army and paramilitary Rangers have also set up special centres for treatment of heat stroke victims and also supplied related medicines to government hospitals.

Most of the deaths have occurred due to heat and gastro-related problems, said Salma Kausar, spokesperson Karachi Medical Corporation.

She said 14 women and two children were among those who died yesterday.

Saqib Zeeshan, a spokesman for Indus Hospital, said 20 people had died of heat-related complications at the hospital till yesterday. The Sindh health minister said at least 15 deaths had been registered at Lyari General Hospital.

According to Liaquat National Hospital representative Anjum Rizvi 22 people lost their lives in the past 72 hours, while Khalid Masood, spokesman for Qatar Hospital, said 24 people were reported dead at the hospital.

Meet Korea's Peter Pan, the 26 year-old-man who looks like a boy!

A Korean 26-year-old man recently created a stir on Internet as he was captured drinking booze and getting in nightclubs even though he looks like a 12-year-old kid.

Shin Hyomyung, who is also known as Korea's Peter Pan, was recently approached by a TV network and was filmed going to a club wherein he showed his ID proof with his birth year 1989, but the guy hasn't yet hit puberty, the Mirror reported.

Hyomyung, who wishes to have a beautiful girlfriend, reportedly suffers from a rare disease called "Highlander Syndrome" that has caused him to age very slowly, but this condition hasn't yet been recognised medically.

He grew normally until he entered his teens, where his growth seems to have slowed to almost a halt and now possesses baby face with full cheeks and hairless soft skin.

Naturally Lower Your Uric Acid Levels

High levels of uric acid in the blood, also called hyperuricemia, can result from either increased production of uric acid in the body or decreased excretion of it through the kidneys. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, adding foods high in dietary fiber may help lower uric acid levels in your blood.

FOODS TO CONTROL URIC ACID LEVELS : 

 -Apple cider vinegar: It can help alleviate high uric acid levels by changing the pH values of your blood.

-Lemon Juice: Lemon juice produces an alkaline effect and helps neutralize uric acid. Also, the high vitamin C content helps lower uric acid levels.

-Cherries: Cherries and dark berries contain chemicals that help reduce uric acid levels.

-Water: Drinking plenty of water helps optimize uric acid filtering. It helps dilute the uric acid and stimulates the kidneys to eliminate excess amounts from the body through urine.

-Cold-pressed olive oil: Using cold-pressed olive oil can help manage high uric acid levels.

-Dairy Products: Low-fat milk and dairy products have been associated with lower plasma urate concentrations and reduced risk of gout.

-Wheatgrass Juice: Wheatgrass helps restore alkalinity in the blood and helps alleviate uric acid levels.

-Baking Soda: Baking soda, also called bicarbonate of soda, is highly beneficial for lowering uric acid levels and reducing gout pain.

-High-fiber foods: A diet rich in soluble fibers such as Oats, Spinach and Broccoli etc. is highly recommended to lower the uric acid levels.

5 foods to Avoid during Pregnancy.

As you might know that a baby’s health is directly related to the health of mother’s therefore well balanced diet and proper nutrition is very important during the times of pregnancy for better health of the baby as well as the mother.  You can experience indigestion, constipation, nausea and several other problems during certain times of pregnancy which can be offset by employing a change in eating patterns or having the right amount of natural foods. However, there are certain foods that you can definitely avoid for your betterment of your health as well as your baby’s. Here’s a short yet descriptive list of five of those foods which you must avoid during your pregnancy period:

1. Avoid big fishes:
 Avoid longer living big fish in your food which include shark, swordfish, King Mackerel and filefish etc. as they contain greater levels of Methyl Mercury which can prove to be harmful for the underdeveloped immature system of the unborn during pregnancy. On the contrary, small fishes such as sardines, albacore tuna and sardines provide high quality healthy fats & protein which are quite good for the mental development of the unborn.

2. Avoid caffeine:
medical professionals haven’t come to any consensus on what is the right or maximum amount of caffeine that should be intake during pregnancy; however, it is believed that having an intake quantity of more than 200 mg can increase the risk of miscarriages in women. Another study has revealed that more than 100 mg of caffeine enhances the possibilities of growth restriction. So, if possible, pregnant women should try to curb their daily intake of caffeine as much as possible and if that is difficult then they should try to limit the daily intake within 100 mg mark.

3. Under cooked eggs and meats:
Under cooked foods can develop food borne illness which can adversely affect the health of the woman as well as the baby. Try to cook them to an appropriate temperature before even thinking of eating meats and eggs. For eggs, you have to cook it till its white and yellow part becomes firm and nice.

4. Avoid fried foods:
  Fried foods are fun to eat but not so much if you are pregnant woman. The first thing that you must keep in mind is that as your baby grows; the stomach starts to shrink in and fried foods are quite hard to digest therefore with no extra space they can cause the problem of indigestion in the woman. So, it is better to avoid fried foods during pregnancy to avoid indigestion and other stomach related problems.

5. Avoid liver:
 Vitamin A is not recommended in times of pregnancy and liver contains that in abundance. Studies have shown that having high levels of vitamin A during pregnancy can cause some complications in the child therefore it is better to stay away from liver to avoid complications.

The above-mentioned food advice can really help you and your child stay healthy during pregnancy.

How Diabetes Affects Your Sex Life?

It is estimated that 75% of men and 35% of women with diabetes experience some sexual problems due to diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage) to the nerves that stimulate normal sexual response.

Almost as soon as men get diagnosed with diabetes, they begin hearing dire warnings about their high risk of erectile dysfunction (ED)- the inability to achieve or maintain a satisfactory erection for sexual intercourse. Diabetes may, indeed, impair erection but ED is by no means inevitable. There are two causes of erection impairment in diabetic men: cardiovascular complications (atherosclerosis) and nerve damage (neuropathy). Diabetes accelerates arterial clogging, which reduces erection-producing blood flow into the penis. And neuropathy damages the nerves involved in erection.

Despite the sexual problems you may be experiencing, keep communicating with your partner about your concerns or meet with a relationship counselor to learn how to communicate more effectively and resolve any issues that may be standing in the way of enjoying a healthy sexual relationship.

WHO urges India to be vigilant against deadly 'camel virus'

New Delhi: A new virus has shaken Seoul, the capital of South Korea, and is now creeping closer to India. A relatively new lethal 'camel virus' technically called the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus or MERS has taken a huge toll on the confidence of the South Koreans.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged India to be vigilant about a possible attack by the virus that is spreading fast.

Top WHO official Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director of WHO (South-East Asia Region), New Delhi urged India 'to enhance surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections, focus on early diagnosis, and step up infection prevention and control procedures in health-care facilities'.

She triggered an alarm by saying, "Strong health systems using strict infection control measures would be the key to prevent the spread of the virus and protect healthcare workers and others."

In South Korea the epidemic continues. Seoul's economy, considered the fourth largest in the world with an annual GDP of USD 845 billion, is taking a hit because of the tinniest creatures of the world. This new pathogen is very similar to the virus that causes the 'common cold' yet so deadly that almost a third of the patients infected with this new virus have died. No specific treatment or a vaccine is available against this new disease.

Many people on the streets of Seoul are wearing surgical masks, such was the demand that chemist shops ran out of supplies. When one lands at the airport, special screening procedures and a health quarantine facility screen all incoming passengers.

A high-level panel of the WHO convened to assess this current emergency pointed to several factors that could led to the outbreak, which included a lack of awareness among health care workers and the general public about MERS; a suboptimal infection prevention and control measures in hospitals; close and prolonged contact of infected MERS patients in crowded emergency rooms and hospital wards with many beds to a room; the custom of many visitors or family members staying with infected patients in the hospital rooms facilitated secondary spread of infections among contacts.

These conditions are all too familiar for us in India so it is a surprise that the virus has still not spread to India so far, since huge numbers of workers travel to the Middle Eastern countries. It is estimated that they send remittances of over USD 10 billion annually to India but thankfully none have brought home the deadly new vir

Not, unduly concerned, I decided to heed the advice of the WHO to proceed without fear since there was no spread of the virus within the wider community but was restricted specifically only to infected hospitals of Seoul.

In the 21st century, new viruses are popping up with impunity, from the SARS virus in 2002; Swine Flu in 2009; Bird Flu in 2013; and Ebola in 2014 and now the latest Asian outbreak of MERS in 2015. Globalisation is also helping the spread of viruses to new parts of the world at unforeseen speeds.

Fortunately, for India the deadly camel virus has not found its way into the country despite the huge population of over 6 million expatriate workers earning a living in the Gulf countries -- the epicentre of the MERS virus. There have been fears that the MERS virus could find its way to India through pilgrims returning after the Haj pilgrimage later.

This deadly virus was inadvertently imported into South Korea on May 20 and since then over 160 cases have been reported with at least 24 people losing their lives. The country's best known hospital -- the Samsung Medical Centre in Seoul with nearly 2000 beds and treating almost 8000 patients a day has almost been shut down as it became the epicentre of the Korean ME

Pakistan should rethink about its stance on Yoga: Ravi Shankar Prasad

Kolkata: Appealing to Pakistan to reconsider its stand about not observing the International Yoga Day celebrations, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today said yoga would have helped in "bringing peace" in their country.

"It is very important to know that 190 countries agreed that yoga is important for mankind and out of those 190 countries nearly 44 were Islamic countries. You can see that yoga is taking place in New York, China, London also," Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ravi Shankar Prasad said here.

"Pakistan too had said that it will talk about yoga in their country but it stopped it all of a sudden. I would request them to rethink as we feel that yoga would help them bring in peace there in their country too," Prasad said addressing the yoga participants during the celebrations of 'International Yoga day' at Sports Authority Of India (SAI) complex in Kolkata.

"Our government want good relations with Pakistan. They had not done it it is their matter but it would have been better if they had done it," he told reporters later.

"Yoga is not a symbol of any particular faith, it is not a symbol of any particular path. It is a symbol of mankind, peace and brotherhood. It is a symbol of the culture, heritage of our country. Yoga is for moral values and for the well being of the mankind regardless of its community, faith or nationality," he added.

Prasad also rubbished claims that yoga represents a particular religion and faith and said that yoga represents mankind and brotherhood and peace.

Prasad lauded how there has been a massive response on the proposal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his speech at the UNGA last year to declare June 21 as International Yoga Day.

Prasad further told reporters, "In Pakistan there was some initial initiative but it was cancelled at the last moment. It is fine embodiment of our creativity, heritage and what India can offer best to the world for brotherhood for peace. That's yoga is all about".

Hundreds of participants today took part in International Yoga Day celebrations in Kolkata, irrespective of gender and age-group.

Michael Phelps wins 200m fly at Santa Clara.

Olympic superstar Michael Phelps, who admitted this week he`s fed up with losing in a comeback aimed at the 2016 Olympics, won the 200m butterfly on Saturday at the Santa Clara Pro Swim.

Phelps, whose 18 Olympic gold medals include his perfect eight-gold campaign in Beijing in 2008, led from the start and held off hard-charging North Baltimore Aquatic Club teammate Chase Kalisz over the final 50 meters to win in 1min 57.62sec.

Kalisz was second in 1:58.06, with Friday`s 100m fly winner Tom Shields third in 1:58.28.

"I`m very pleased with tonight`s race," said Phelps, who was three seconds faster than he was at last month`s Charlotte Pro Swim meeting.

"I went out just the way I wanted to. If I continue to swim that race I need to focus on getting that second half under a minute," added the US star, who was slated to swim three events on Sunday before heading into high-altitude training in Colorado and the US championships in August.

Phelps will be swimming the national championships in Texas rather than the World Championships in Russia as part of his sanction by USA Swimming for a drunk-driving incident last year.

Among other winners on the penultimate night of the meeting, Hungary`s Katinka Hosszu notched an impressive double, winning the women`s 200m butterfly in 2:09.77 and the 100m backstroke in 59.69.

American Elizabeth Pelton was second in the backstroke in 1:00.31 with Missy Franklin -- swimming her first meet as a professional -- third in 1:00.65.

American Nathan Adrian, the 2012 Olympic 100m freestyle gold medalist, won the men`s 50m free in 21.97sec, eighth-fastest in the world this year.

American Giles Smith clocked a personal best 23.30 -- fourth-fastest in the world this year -- to win the men`s 50m butterfly.

2nd ODI: India vs Bangladesh – Live Score

New Delhi: Welcome to the live coverage of the second ODI between India and Bangladesh to be played at Mirpur.

Toss: India have won the toss and decided to bat first.

Umpires - Sharfuddoula and RJ Tucker
TV umpire - Anisur Rahman
Match referee - AJ Pycroft
Reserve umpire - Gazi Sohel

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Mominul Haque, Arafat Sunny, Rony Talukdar

India: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Axar Patel, Ambati Rayudu, Dhawal Kulkarni, Stuart Binny

Yoga tips for weight loss: Five ways to slim down your tummy and thighs!

Yoga is considered as one of the the best and simplest ways for weight loss. The best thing about yoga is that it can be practised by people of any age as it is equally good for any age group. Even pregnant women are recommended to do Yoga because it can be healthful during the period as long as they take certain precautions.

Stress has been linked to many health problems including gaining weight. Yoga, which is believed to be a good stress buster, will not only help you stay in shape, but will also reduce your risk of getting certain diseases. Losing weight and staying fit can help boost a person's self-esteem and decrease stress levels.

Below are a few yoga poses that will promote weight loss if one practices it regularly:

Bridge pose (Chakrasan): This is a powerful yoga pose for flattening your tummy by toning and strengthening the abdominal muscles along with the hip flexors and spine.

Lie down on your back, bend your knees and keep your feet flat on the floor hip distance apart.
Move your hands alongside the body with the palms facing down and make sure that your fingertips are lightly touching the heels.
You can clasp your hands together and now lift your body in the upward. Hold this pose for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Release and roll slowly back to the floor. Repeat 5 more times.
Cobra pose (Bhujangasan): This yoga pose is usually done to firm the buttocks and tone the abs. It is also a great exercise for people with back aches.

Lie face down on the floor.
Place your hands under your shoulders, palms flat and fingers spread apart.
Stretch your legs with the tops of your feet flat on the floor.
Press your palms into the floor and lifting your head and chest upward.
Push back your shoulders while keeping your hips, legs and feet planted on the floor.
Bow pose (Dhanurasan): This yoga pose may take more energy to do, but it really helps you burn fat and tone difficult parts of the body. Bow also helps relieve menstrual and constipation problems.

Lie down on your belly and reach your back with your hands to grab your feet as in bow pose.
Now, pull in your stomach and lift up your chest while squeezing your shoulders towards each other.
Your feet should be folded towards the hip region with the hands holding the toes.
Hold this pose for several breathes and then slowly release.
Seated forward bend pose (Paschimottanasana): This is one of the simplest yoga exercises to reduce the unwanted fat surrounding your belly while keeping you fit and healthy.

Sit down on the floor with both your legs keeping straight in front of you.
Bend your head and body forward and try to touch your toes without bending your knees.
Try to touch your knees with your nose or forehead.
Exhale and holding out your breath, try to stay in this posture for a few seconds and then slowly return to your starting position.
Repeat this for 4-5 times.
Grinding Pose (Chakki Chalanasana): This is a very effective asana to reduce belly fat.

Sit comfortably on the floor with your legs spreading straight in front of you.
Make sure that both your legs touch each other.
Now, clasp both your hands together and move it in a circular motion without bending your knees. Do it 10 times in clockwise position and you may pause for a few seconds before doing it another 10 times in anti-clockwise position.
Now, release slowly.

Sony Xperia M4 Aqua Dual review: Smartphone to take on stormy weather

Sony has beefed up its mid-segment M series of smartphones with features that were earlier available only on the flagship Z series. Sony’s Xperia M4 Aqua Dual is a phone that packs capability in a palm-friendly form factor. It is also one of the first smartphones outside of the Z series with a waterproof and dust-tight body.

As the country heads into its annual tryst with the Monsoon season, we had a chance to spend quality time with a smartphone that’s particularly adept at dealing with inclement weather.

This is a 5-inch phone--a screen size that the industry seems to be collectively veering towards these days--that feels both light and slim in the hand. Its rounded edges make for a very comfortable tactile experience, and its design stays true to the familiar Xperia design language: the classic round silver power button is about halfway down the right edge and is easy to reach, sitting immediately above the volume rocker.

There is also the dedicated shutter button, which plays to the Xperia line’s prowess in photography. On the right edge is a flush flap that conceals the microSD card slots, and the dual SIMs (both slots accept only nano SIMs) are at the top right.

The phone runs Android 5.0 Lollipop with minimal skinning, on a Snapdragon 615 chipset and the 2GB of RAM making for a visibly smooth user experience. While the entire Lollipop experience here is par for the course, there are a few areas that are amp’d up, primary among them being the camera app. Based on the capable Exmor RS imaging engine and a 13MP primary camera, the app adds numerous features that let you stretch its photography capabilities. For example, an AR mode that overlays all manner of digital creations onto a real scene (from dinosaurs to balloons) to morphing faces onto different bodies to the regular slew of ‘portrait beautification’ modes.

Like other phones based on the Exmor sensor, this one’s signature move is its particularly stellar response to low-light situations. In shooting various scenes--some in near pitch-black conditions--this is one of the few phones that picked up details where others recorded nothing but a black image.

But the title feature of this phone is its IP65/68 rating, meaning it is built to withstand fairly high levels of dirt, dust and water. The rating specifies that its internals are sealed against powder-sized grains of dust, and it can be submerged into water at a depth of greater than 1 meter. So it should be resilient to a everything from a drooling toddler to a splash in the pool with friends.

We threw several of the demanding real-world applications at it (a.k.a. games): the phone’s capable Snapdragon 615-based system more that sufficed with smooth gameplay at mid-level graphics settings. The Bravia engine has always done a good job with image color and clarity--in this phone, images were bright and rich (although appearing a tad saturated, as is wont to happen in most Sony phones). Even though it has a lower-than-HD resolution of 720x1280, its smaller-than-phablet screen size of 5-inches delivers sharper screen density. All in all, a very decent experience with gaming and watching videos.We did however note an issue--the phone tends to perceptibly warm up during intense and prolonged use (a bout of streaming video, gaming and the like). It’s something that is noticeable, but doesn’t necessarily hamper real-world use. We found battery life to be par for the course with the device regularly making it through a day of moderate use.

So should you buy this phone? If you’re looking for a snappy Android device with great photography chops, it goes up against several others that offer virtually identical screen-processor-ram specs, and at lower price points (the Mi 4i, Yu Yureka, Micromax Canvas Knight 2, ZTE, Nubia Z9 Mini, Phicomm Passion P660, for example.) But if you especially need one that’s built to take a beating while you’re on the road and are ready to pay a premium ranging from 30 to 45 percent on th

New HIV vaccine candidate may generate immune response:

Washington: An experimental vaccine candidate may have the potential to stimulate the immune system to block HIV infection, according to new research.

The findings may represent a leap forward in the effort to develop a vaccine against HIV, which has so far struggled to elicit antibodies that can effectively fight off different strains of the virus, according to three papers published on Thursday in the US journals Cell and Science.

"The results are pretty spectacular," said Dennis Burton of the Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), who led one of the studies, Xinhua reported.

Currently, many vaccines use a dead or inactive version of the disease-causing microbe itself to trigger antibody production, but immunisations with "native" HIV proteins are ineffective in triggering an effective immune response, due to HIV's ability to evade detection from the immune system and mutate rapidly into new strains.

This challenge has led many researchers to believe that a successful AIDS vaccine will need to consist of a series of related but slightly different proteins called immunogens to train the body to produce broadly neutralising antibodies, a special class of immune system molecules that can bind to and neutralise a wide range of globally occurring HIV variants.

In the new studies, the researchers tested one of these potential proteins, an immunogen called eOD-GT8 60mer, which would bind to and activate B cells needed to fight HIV.

Using a technique called B cell sorting, the researchers showed that immunisation with eOD-GT8 60mer caused two different mouse models to produce antibody "precursors", which have some of the traits necessary to recognise and block HIV infection.

This suggested that eOD-GT8 60mer could be a good candidate to serve as the first in a series of immunisations against HIV, the researchers said.

City hospital performs auxiliary liver transplant on 14-yr-old patient

A city hospital in Mumbai has successfully carried out an auxiliary liver transplant on a 14-yr-old patient, suffering from Crigler Najjar Syndrome (CNS) Type 1, a rare genetic disorder inherited by children from parents.
The auxiliary liver transplant, also known as auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplant(APOLT) of the young boy named Yash, was performed by an expert team of doctors at the Global Hospitals, Mumbai.

Patients suffering from CNS are unable to produce an enzyme called, UDP Glucuronyl Transferase, which helps in detoxification of bilirubin produced by the breakdown of RBCs. Bilirubin is a toxic metabolite, which can get accumulated in body and lead to jaundice and cause damage to the brain, muscles, nerves and loss of life in extreme conditions.

Till date 12 Auxiliary Liver Transplants have been done in the country; out of these 11 have been done in Southern India and Yash’s was the first one in Central, Western and Northern India.
Light treatment (photo therapy), blood transfusion and liver transplant are used for CNS treatment. Photo therapy, however, has a limitation beyond an age, as human skin thickens,its efficacy comes down.

Auxiliary liver transplant is an effective modality for treating CNS. The surgery entails attaching a part of donor liver to the failing liver in the recipient, where it supports the patient, clears toxins, and prevents brain injury during recovery.

Prof. Mohamed Rela, Group Director, Institute of Liver Diseases, HPB Surgery andTransplantation, Global Hospital said, “Auxiliary liver transplant is a complex and technically demanding procedure, unlike a normal liver transplant. It may be possible for an Auxiliary transplant patient to stop immunosuppression medicines that are generally given life-long after transplant and avoid long term consequences.”

Auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplant (APOLT) is technically more challenging because the blood flow preferentially goes towards native liver and the small sized artery for anastomosis, posses’ high risk of technical complications and very few centres in the country conduct it.

Dr. Ravi Mohanka - Chief Surgeon and HOD, HPB Surgery and Liver Transplantation Global Hospitals, Mumbai said, “Only 1-2% of liver tissue is sufficient to provide the required enzyme for bilirubin conjugation and auxiliary liver transplant is the best option for this. With the successful transplant, the patient has recovered quickly and has potential for gene therapy in the future.”

The expert team of doctors comprised Dr. Parijat Gupte, Dr. Samir Shah, Dr. Guruprasad Shetty, Dr. Somnath Chattopadhyay, Dr. Vishal Sachde, Dr. Akash Shukla and Dr. Vaishali Solao.

Yash’s parents are extremely thankful and relieved post the surgery and are very happy with their decision.
Around 1 in 100,000 children get affected with this disease. Children suffering from CNS are presented with progressive jaundice in first few weeks of life. And if treatment is not started promptly- it can lead to severe neurological disorders and death in childhood in extreme cases.

Micromax launches world's 'slimmest' phone in India.

New Delhi: Micromax, a home-bred phone manufacturer, on Thursday launched its flagship smartphone Canvas Sliver 5 here. The company says the device is the slimmest and lightest in the world.

The 97 gram device will ship with a 5.1 mm thick body.

The device, which has LTE support and a Sony Exmos CMOS chip-attached camera with Blue Filter, will come with an AMOLED display and will be available in two colours -- gold and black.

The phone will also sport a DiracHD audio suite that promises deeper sound and better bass.It will come with a Airtel double data package and will be backed by a DDR3 RAM and a 2,000 mAH battery for longer usage.
Micromax currently has the second largest market share in India with 18 percent following Samsung which has 22 percent according to analytics firm IDC.

15-year-old kills toddler in Delhi to avenge 'insult'

New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Wednesday apprehended a juvenile girl after she confessed to the murder of a two-year-old in Kalyan Puri.

The 15-year-old girl, a local resident, has confessed to strangulating the child to death, police said.

"The two-year-old girl was missing from her home since June 10. Based on the complaint made in this regard, we conducted inquiry into the matter leading to apprehension of the juvenile.
"During interrogation, she confessed that mother of the deceased had quarrelled with her five days before the incident and to avenge the insult, she killed the child," police said.

According to police, on finding the two-year-old playing alone on June 10, the accused took her home and "immediately" strangulated the child to death.

In the evening, she kept body in a plastic bag and dumped it in Sanjay Lake which falls under jurisdiction of Kalyan Puri police station.

"Three days after the incident, we received information regarding recovery of the child's body in a plastic bag. We immediately rushed to the spot and found the body of the child whose neck was wrapped with a cloth," police said.

Police further said that taking into account gravity and sensitivity of the case, a team of Special Task Force under the Operation Cell of East District along with the team of PS-Kalyan Puri was formed to probe the case.

"During investigation, it came to notice that the deceased was found missing within 10-15 minutes of the incident which led to suspicions on the neighbours. After interrogation, the juvenile remained the main suspect," police said.

Police said sustained interrogation of the 15-year-old was carried out in presence of lady police according to guidelines issued by Juvenile Act. Initially she tried to mislead cops to get benefit of her young age, but confessed to the crime later, police said.

Samsung Galaxy smartphones vulnerable to hacking attacks

 New Delhi: A flaw discovered in over 600 million Samsung smartphones from its Galaxy series has made the smartphones vulnerable that lets in hackers, according to various international media reports.
The vulnerability lives in the phones' keyboard software, which can't be deleted. The flaw potentially allows hackers to spy on anyone using a Samsung Galaxy phone.

The security bug revolves around the update mechanism of the built-in keyboard, which looks for language updates for trending phrases either daily or weekly.
According to researchers at NowSecure, a cybersecurity firm, they told Samsung (SSNLF) about the vulnerability in November last year. Seven months later, nothing has been fixed. That's why Now Secure made its findings public. 

USA, Australia advance to last 16 at Women`s World Cup.

Olympic champions the United States and Australia both advanced to the last 16 at the Women`s World Cup by taking the top two spots from Group D on Tuesday.

The United States, winners in 1991 and 1999, beat 10-woman Nigeria 1-0 in Vancouver, while a 1-1 draw was enough to see Australia through against Sweden in Edmonton.

Captain Abby Wambach scored her 183rd international goal for the `Stars and Stripes` to ensure the 2011 runners-up finish top of Group D in front of a capacity crowd of nearly 53,000 at BC Place Stadium.

Wambach`s 14th World Cup goal came just before half time off a Megan Rapinoe corner and leaves her just one shy of Brazil star Marta`s record 15, achieved earlier in the tournament.

Nigeria were playing without defender Ugo Njoku who was suspended for three games for elbowing Australian midfielder Sam Kerr in the face during their group clash last week.
And the African champions were a player down for the last 20 minutes after defender Sarah Nnodim was given her marching orders after a second yellow card following a challenge on Rapinoe.
The result means the USA advance to the knockout round as Group D leaders with seven points, with Australia on four and Sweden three.

Nigeria are eliminated with just one point.

As first in Group D the USA next meet the best third-placed finisher from Groups B, E and F in Edmonton next Monday.
A draw was good enough to see Australia through for their third consecutive tournament, and they next play Brazil in Moncton on Sunday.
Captain Lisa De Vanna scored after five minutes for the Matildas but ten minutes later 2003 runners-up Sweden were on level terms thanks to Sofia Jakobsson`s equaliser at Edmonton`s Commonwealth Stadium.

Militant nabbed after entering India from Nepal.

Poonch: The police have arrested a militant, who had crossed over into the country from Nepal, along with his family members.Identified as Abdul Gani, he had crossed over to Pakistan 15 years ago and was undergoing training with different militant organisations, the police said.

He had joined Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit in 2004, followed by Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) in 2009. He was allegedly involved in many militant operations with both the organisations.

Sub-divisional police officer S.H. Rafiq Tantrey said his force had received information about his activities and prepared a trap for him as he was crossing into Indian territory.

"Our security grid was in place to arrest them as we knew how they were coming. We then intercepted and arrested them," Tantrey said.

The militant, along with his family, has been kept under police custody, with cases registered under various sections. Further investigations are underway to determine the reasons for his return.

Fake currency worth over Rs 1 crore seized from HDFC Bank branch.

Gurgaon: In a major haul of fake Indian currency, notes worth Rs 1 crore 4 lakhs were seized from here, police said on Tuesday.
What's shocking is that the fake currency was recovered from the Sector 53 branch of HDFC Bank.
A case against unknown persons has been registered at the Sushant Lok Police Station here.

IBALL HAS LAUNCH NEW SMARTPHONE MSLR COBALT4 WITH DETACHABLE CAMERA LENS

OPERATING SYSTEM : Android 4.4 (Kitkat)

Display : 5 inches

Battery : 2000 mAh

Camera : 8 MP REAR /FRONT: 3.2 MP

Processor : 1.3 GHz, Quad Core

RAM : 1 GB ,ROM : 8 GB   

SPECIFICATIONS

Display specification

Screen Size Graph	5
Type	qHD IPS
Resolution	960 x 540 pixels
Screen Size	5 inches

Operating System and Processor specification

Operating System	Android 4.4, Kitkat
Processor	Quad Core 1.3 GHz
GPU	Yes

Dimension specification

Design

Bar

Camera specification

Rear Camera	8 MP
Front Camera	3.2 MP
Image Stablizer	No
Flash	Yes, LED
Video Recording	Yes

Memory specification

RAM	1 GB
Internal Memory	8 GB
Expandable	32 GB, micro sd card slot

Connectivity specification

SIM	Dual
Internet	GPRS EDGE
Network	2G, GSM 900/ 1800 3G
GPS	With A-GPS
GSM/CDMA	GSM
Bluetooth	Yes
WiFi	Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 bg
USB	Micro
HDMI	No
Headphone Connector	3.5 mm
NFC	No
DLNA	No

Battery specification

Capacity	2000 mAh
Type	Removable

Multimedia specification

Radio	Yes
Media Player	Yes, MP3
Video Player	Yes, MP4

Additional Feature specification

Sensors	Accelerometer
Built in Applications	Yes, HotKnot
Warranty	1 Year
Keypad	Touchscreen, Capacitive with multitouch

PRICE : Below 10000