'Minecraft' finally has a free girl character

Lots of girls play Minecraft, but you wouldn't know it from the default character options. Unless you've been willing to pay up or install a mod, your only real choice so far has been Steve, the game's male mascot. At last, though, things are opening up -- Mojang is giving builders the choice of a free girl character, Alex. 

She's been around before as a randomly assigned character in the computer version, but the move will help female players on all platforms sculpt their dream worlds using a character they can identify with. PlayStation and Xbox gamers will get Alex as of April 29th, while mobile users playing the Pocket Edition should see her this summer. -  Engadget

Facebook brings video calling to Messenger

You can now make video calls with Messenger. Facebook’s messaging app added a video calling feature today in the US, UK, Canada, and a variety of other countries.

The feature, announced Monday, differs from other video services like Skype and FaceTime because it allows users to quickly upgrade conversations to video from texting within the app, said Stan Chudnovsky, Messenger’s head of product.

Starting a call is simple – you just need to tap the video icon in the top right corner of your chat screen and a video call with start from within the conversation in Messenger.

Facebook first introduced desktop video calling in partnership with Skype in 2011, but eventually built its own video call infrastructure.

The practice is no longer the novel feature it once was, what with Microsoft-owned Skype, Apple's FaceTime, Google's Hangout and other video calling options having been in place now for a number of years.

The growth of calling and texting features from tech companies including Facebook and Google has the potential to disrupt traditional telephone carriers, by reducing the volume of calls – and revenue – through their networks.

Mark Zuckerberg said on last week’s Facebook earnings call that Messenger already accounts for 10% of global mobile VOIP calls.

Facebook has also been beefing up its Messenger app to make it the go-to service for every and all kinds of communication -- from dialing calls and sending money between friends to customer support.

Messenger has accumulated a growing set of tools to stave off competitive from a growing list of competitors, particularly the ephemeral chat service Snapchat.

Video calling in Messenger will become available today for iOS and Android users in Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, France, Greece, Ireland, Laos, Lithuania, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, the United Kingdom, the U.S. and Uruguay. - demanjo

Only 22 percent of Apple Watches delivered to US customers this weekend, report says

Apple CEO Tim Cook introduces the Apple Watch during an Apple event in San Francisco, California March 9, 2015. (REUTERS/Robert Galbraith)

Only 22 percent of the 1.7 million Apple Watches ordered by U.S. customers were delivered this weekend, according to digital commerce specialist Slice Intelligence.

“Most people who pre-ordered an Apple Watch did not receive one in the first wave of shipments,” wrote Slice Intelligence, in a blog post on Sunday. Only 376,000 of the 1.7 million Apple Watches ordered were delivered to U.S. consumers this weekend, it added.

Another 547,000 watches are expected to ship between April 27 and June 11, the research found. However, 38 percent of orders still don’t have a projected shipping date, according to Slice Intelligence, which based its report on shipping notifications sent to a panel of 2 million online consumers.

Apple’s first wave of Apple Watch customer orders were slated for April 24, although reports have circulated about production bottlenecks impacting the device’s rollout. Specifically, supply shortages related to the watch’s haptic vibrator and OLED screen have been cited.

Analysts will be closely monitoring Apple’s fiscal second-quarter results after market close on Monday for insight into the Apple Watch rollout. Cantor Fitzgerald Analyst Brian White expects Apple to ramp up sales of its Apple Watch, and projected third-quarter shipments of 2.77 million devices in a note released on Monday.

The analyst has already touted the device as Apple’s bestselling new product in its first 12 months on the market. In his Monday note, White projected Apple Watch shipments of 7.65 million during the company’s current 2015 fiscal year, a figure which will leap to 27.24 million in Apple’s fiscal 2016.

Launched amid much fanfare last month, Apple Watch is the company’s first new product category since it unveiled the iPad in 2010. Skeptics, however, have questioned whether Apple Watch will be the latest in a long line of Apple successes, citing the device’s aesthetics and battery life as potential consumer turn-offs.

Apple Watch comes in three versions – the entry level Apple Watch Sport, the mid-tier Apple Watch, and Apple Watch Edition, a high-end version of the technology built using 18-karat rose or yellow gold. The watch, which offers 11 different faces, is available in two sizes – 38 mm and 42 mm.

Pricing for the device starts at $349 for a 38 mm Apple Watch Sport. Apple Watch Edition is priced from $10,000.

Apple has not yet responded to a request for comment on this story.

LIVE: Over 100 killed in Nepal earthquake; Modi speaks to Nepali PM, assures assistance

New Delhi: A strong earthquake of magnitude 7.9 on Richter scale and a series of aftershocks struck Nepal on Saturday. The quakes also jolted parts of North and Northeast India. Widespread damage has been reported from Nepal.

Here are the live updates:

• 36 bodies have been counted in Kathmandu civil hospital, reports Reuters.
• PM Modi is in contact with us, have assured that his government will provide full support in this moment of crisis - Deep K Upadhyay
• From reports of social media and other sources, around 100 people have lost their lives, numbers may increase, says Nepal's envoy to India Deep K Upadhyay.
• CNN quotes Nepal's Ministry of Home Affairs as saying that 150 people have been killed in the earthquake disaster.
• CNN says 150 people have been killed in Nepal.
• AFP is quoting a Nepali diplomat as saying that 'possibly hundreds are dead' in the massive Nepal earthquake.
• Deep Kumar Upadhyay, Nepal's envoy to India, says his government has requested the Indian government for assistance.
• Tremors were also felt in Bhutan's capital Thimphu; however, there are no reports of any major damage or casualties.
• Home Minister Rajnath Singh and MoS Home have met PM Narendra Modi and briefed him on the situation.
• Reports say as many as 10 people were killed in Nepal's picturesque Pokhara area following the huge earthquake.
• All flights from India to Nepal have been cancelled as the Kathmandu airport is shut in the wake of a series of earthquakes.
• IANS reports that a total of five people, including two children, were killed when buildings collapsed in different parts of Bihar following the earthquake. The two children of the same family died in a wall collapse in Bhagalpur. One person each were killed in Sitamarhi, Darbhanga and Vaishali.
• The Ministry of Defence said that the Indian Army, Air Force and Border Roads Organisation have been put on high alert following the massive earthquake that shook Nepal and northern India.

                                            The tremor was also felt in Manipur today.       

• Tremors were also felt in several parts of Odisha triggering panic among the people.
• The north coastal Andhra Pradesh experienced mild tremors following the powerful earthquake that struck Nepal and parts of north and northeast India. However, no casualty or damage to property were reported.
• Nepal's information minister has told BBC that there has been massive damage in Gorkha, Lamjung and Bhaktapur.
• Helpline numbers to contact Indian Embassy in Nepal's Kathmandu are: 00977-9851107021; 00977-9851135141
• Relief and rescue operations are underway in Nepal where scores have been killed in a series of earthquake on Saturday.
• Many mountaineers are reported to be missing on Mount Everest which has been hit be several avalanches in the wake of the quake.
• As per USGS, there have been eight aftershocks so far ranging from magnitude 4.5 to 6.6.  
• There are also reports of houses collapsing in Tibet.
• Houses have collapsed in UP's Kushinagar due to the quake.
• Two people have died in Jalpaiguri due to a wall collapse; one person has died in Bihar's Bettiah also due to a wall collapse, reports ANI.
• The PM is out of the country, expect him to return, don't know how many dead or extent of damage - Lokendra Bahadur
• Lot of damage in Kathmandu according to reports. Mobile network isn't working properly so communication has been affected, says former Nepal PM Lokendra Bahadur Chand.
• Two people have died in Sitamarhi, Bihar - RP Rudy
• Power has been switched off in North Bihar for safety reasons - RP Rudy
• PM Modi has put disaster management teams on standby, he is monitoring the situation, says BJP leader RP Rudy.
• Nepali media reports that around 50 people are trapped in the rubble of the collapsed Dharahara Tower, and not 400 as reported earlier.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has, meanwhile, spoken to Nepali President Ram Baran Yadav and discussed the situation in the wake of the quakes.

• Scores have died in Nepal due to the quake, Nepali media has reported with TV visuals showing bodies lying on the roads.
• West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says she is monitoring situation in the state.
• Two death are also being reported from Bihar Dharbhanga.
• Two people have reportedly died in UP's Barabanki due to earthquake-related events, while one person has also been killed in Jalpaiguri in West Bengal.
• An emergency meeting of National Crisis Management committee headed by the Indian Cabinet Secretary has been called.
• There is no preliminary report of damage anywhere in India due to the quake. Government has placed its disaster response agencies on full alert, says Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
• There are reports that the quakes have triggered avalanches in Mount Everest region. Base camp of mountaineers is also reported to have been hit.
• Many historic temples have also been reduced to rubble in Nepal, say reports.
• Kathmandu airport has been shut post the earthquake; all flights have been diverted to India
• Earthquake in Delhi. I appeal to people to maintain calm. Officials out in the field to assess the situation – Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tweets
• A part of building has collapsed in Siliguri, West Bengal, due to the quake, reports ANI.
• Nepal's Lamjung, the epicentre of the quake, has reportedly flattened and only few buildings there are believed to be standing.
• There are reports of cracks developing at the airport in Kathmandu.
• Dharahara Tower / Bhimsen Tower, a 19th century nine-storey tall tower in Kathmandu, has collapsed, say reports. Nearly 400 people are believed to be trapped.
• Reuters is reporting at least two deaths in the Nepal quake so far.

The PMO has also spoken to the Indian Embassy in Bhutan in the wake of the earthquake. Embassy is in touch with top Bhutan officials as well – PMO tweet

PMO has tweeted that PM Modi has convened a high-level meeting with ministers and top officials at 3 pm today in the wake of the situation arising due to the earthquake.

PM Modi has instructed Rajiv Pratap Rudy to take stock of situation in Bihar/UP districts along Nepal border.

PMO India ✔@PMOIndia

PM is trying to reach Nepal PM Shri Sushil Koirala, who is abroad. He has spoken to President of Nepal Shri Ram Baran Yadav.

12:48 PM - 25 Apr 2015

• On instructions of PM Modi, all disaster management mechanisms have been activated in districts of Bihar/UP along Nepal border.
• News agency IANS has reported that at least one person was killed when an old building collapsed in the premises of the Indian consulate in Kathmandu. The dead person was a Nepalese national, according to a Nepal-based journalist.

The USGS has upgraded the magnitude of the first Nepal earthquake to 7.9 with a depth of 15 kilometres.

• Dozens of people with injuries are being rushed to the main hospital in central Kathmandu. There are however no immediate estimate on fatalities.
• News agency Associated Press is reporting that walls have toppled and buildings have collapsed in Kathmandu.
• Authorities are not ruling out more aftershocks.
• Sources say major damage is expected at the epicentre of the quake.
• Information is being collected from all districts, everyone is on the field - Nitish Kumar
• Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has asked the state administration to asses the situation following tremors.  
• The quakes were also felt in parts of Nepal, say reports.
• Stampede has been reported from Kutchery in Varanasi following the earthquake. More details are awaited.
• Tremors were also felt in North India, in cities like Delhi and Jaipur - Rathore
• The aftershock was of 6.6 magnitude and epicentre was at around the same place at Lamjung in Nepal - Rathore
• The intensity of the initial quake was 5 in Delhi - Rathore
• Earthquake of magnitude 7.5 was felt in north-west of Kathmandu, intense tremors felt in Bihar and West Bengal - LS Rathore, DG, Met department
• The BBC reports some buildings have been damaged in the quake in Nepal but there has been no initial word on any casualties.
• Earthquake of magnitude 7.5 occurred today at 11.41 am between latitude 28.1 North and Longitude 84.6 East. The epicentre was located in Nepal, an IMD statement said.
• A major aftershock is being experienced in North India.
• Mobile phone services affected across Nepal.
• Delhi Metro services were briefly suspended after the quake.

                                          There are reports of widespread damage in Nepal.

• People were seen rushing out of their homes and offices.
• The tremors in Delhi were felt for over a minute.
• In India, tremors were felt in Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim.

        The magnitude of the quake in Nepal was recorded at 7.5 on the Richter scale, as per the USGS.

• As per the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicentre of the quake was Lamjung in Nepal, 77 kilometres north-west of capital Kathmandu. The depth of the quake was 10 kilometres.
• A major earthquake has struck the North and Northeast India just before noon. - zeenews

Hackers 'could cause train crashes on UK's rail network by hijacking new signal upgrade'

A new digital system aimed to make lines safer, could be exposed to malicious software, or malware, used to cause a "nasty accident," an expert has warned.

Network Rail, in charge of the upgrade which is expected be operational by the 2020s, said it acknowledged the threat Photo: PA

Hackers could hijack a rail signal system being tried out in the UK to cause train crashes, an expert has warned.

A new railway signalling system being trialled in the UK could be vulnerable to a cyber attack which could cause a train crash, a government adviser has warned.

Professor David Stupples told the BBC the European Rail Traffic Management System, a new digital system aimed to make lines safer, could be exposed to malicious software, or malware, used to cause a "nasty accident".

The internet security expert at City University said government ministers feared the possible threat of hacking and the biggest could come from an insider.

He told the broadcaster: "It's the clever malware that actually alters the way the train will respond. So, it will perhaps tell the system the train is slowing down, when it's speeding up."

"Governments aren't complacent. Certain ministers know this is absolutely possible and they are worried about it. Safeguards are going in, in secret, but it's always possible to get around them.

                                         Trains: Britain's rail network needs upgrading

"The weakness is getting malware into the system by employees. Either because they are dissatisfied or being bribed or coerced."

Network Rail, in charge of the upgrade which is expected be operational by the 2020s, said it acknowledged the threat.

"We know that the risk (of a cyber attack) will increase as we continue to roll out digital technology across the network," a spokesman told the BBC.

"We work closely with government, the security services, our partners and suppliers in the rail industry and external cyber-security specialists to understand the threat to our systems and make sure we have the right controls in place."

Scientists Seem To Have Found The Elixir To Cure Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer often has a poor prognosis, even when diagnosed early. It spreads rapidly and is seldom detected in its early stages, which is a major reason why it's a leading cause of cancer death. But now, there is a ray of hope. A new research has shown that pancreatic cancer cells can be coaxed to revert back toward normal cells by introducing a protein called E47.

According the researchers, the E47 binds to specific DNA sequences and controls genes involved in growth and differentiation. The research provides hope for a new treatment approach for the more than 40,000 people who die from the disease each year in the United States.

Pamela Itkin-Ansari, Ph.D., adjunct professor in the Development, Aging, and Regeneration Program at Sanford-Burnham and lead author, said, "For the first time, we have shown that overexpression of a single gene can reduce the tumor-promoting potential of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells and reprogram them toward their original cell type. Thus, pancreatic cancer cells retain a genetic memory which we hope to exploit."

Andrew M Lowy, M.D., professor of surgery at the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center and co-chair of the National Cancer Institute's Pancreatic Cancer Task Force, said, "Presently, pancreatic adenocarcinoma is treated with cytotoxic agents, yet the average survival for patients post-diagnosis is merely six months, and the improvements in therapies are measured in days. 

The finding that we can differentiate these cancer cells back to a non-threatening phenotype is encouraging. Indeed, there is a precedent for cell differentiation therapy in that the approach has been used to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and some neuroblastomas successfully."

This study was published today in the journal Pancreas. - gizmodo

Sony's Touchless Shutter App Takes A Photo Without Touching The Camera

If you're the owner of a Sony camera with an electronic viewfinder, Sony just released a nifty little app that'll let you take a photo without touching your camera - just wave your hand over the EVF instead.

The Touchless Shutter app (free download, still in beta) uses the viewfinder's eye sensor to detect the passing of your hand, and trigger the shutter. If you're the proud owner of a A7S or A7II, you can also control bulb shooting: one wave to open the shutter, and a second to close.

It's a neat and cheap alternative to a shutter release cable, and should help with capturing shake-free tripod exposures. Most of the compatible Sony cams already offer remote control from a smartphone over Wi-Fi, but that takes actual time and effort to set up.

The full list of compatible cameras is over on the Sony website, but it includes almost every camera with an in-built or optional EVF. (Sorry, NEX 5R owners, it doesn't just work by magic. I tried already.) [Sony via PetaPixel]

Contact the author at chris@gizmodo.com.

Philips' new LED bulb costs just $5

                     The new Philips 8.5-W LED bulb is equivalent to a 60-W incandescent bulb

If you've previously been put off LED bulbs by the price, now may be the time to reconsider. Philips, in partnership with The Home Depot, has announced that it will sell an A19 60-W LED equivalent bulb for just US$4.97. The firm says it's the most affordable LED bulb on the market.

Philips says that its new 60-W LED bulb will cost $62 less over its lifetime to run than a traditional incandescent bulb. If used in different light fittings throughout the home, the annual saving could therefore be significant.

The bulb uses just 8.5 W of power and is available in a warm white color temperature of 2,700 K outputting 800 lumens of light. A daylight version of the bulb with a color temperature of 5,000 K will also be available, as will 100-W A19 LED equivalent.

The bulb will be available at The Home Depot stores from the beginning of May in a two-for-one pack for the first 90 days, but is available now online.  Source: Philips

Environment experts call for zero-carbon world by 2050

A group of top international experts urged governments to stick to their promises to combat climate change and said the aim should be to create a "zero-carbon society" by 2050

London: A group of top international experts on Wednesday urged governments to stick to their promises to combat climate change and said the aim should be to create a “zero-carbon society” by 2050.

To coincide with Earth Day, research institute The Earth League, published a statement warning that 2015 would be “a critical year for humanity” ahead of a global warming summit in Paris in December.

“Our civilisation has never faced such existential risks as those associated with global warming, biodiversity erosion and resource depletion,” said the statement, unveiled in London by Earth League chairman Johan Rockstrom and climate scientist Brian Hoskins.

Rockstrom said the window of opportunity for keeping warming below the 2.0 degrees celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) target agreed by politicians was "still open, but barely"

.

He stressed that nature's capacity to dampen the warming effects of carbon dioxide were unknown, and that "critical thresholds" could be exceeded even before two degrees.

According to the group's calculations, there is a one in 10 chance that temperatures could rise by six degrees by 2100 unless emissions are reduced.

The statement called on world leaders to agree a carbon budget—the limit of what can still be released into the atmosphere—which would be around half of what has already been emitted.

It also called for the complete phasing out of greenhouse gases by 2050, a wave of climate-led innovation, measures to build up resilience and the safeguarding of carbon absorbers such as forests.

Rockstrom said carbon dioxide emissions from the world's major energy producers levelled out in 2014, partly fuelled by the US bonanza in shale gas, which produces fewer emissions that coal and oil.

Rich countries would shoulder the burden, the experts said, leading the way in subsidising research of low-emission technologies and financing developing countries in order that they can "leapfrog" the carbon-intensive phase of their evolution.

Jeffrey Sachs, US economist and one of the authors, called Paris conference "the moment of truth" and the last chance to stay within the two degrees upper limit.

"Our studies show this can be accomplished, at modest cost, and with a significant improvement in the quality of life," he wrote.

Celebrating Earth Day, Nasa has released some magnificent images and a stunning video of planet Earth as captured from the International Space Station (ISS).

As part of its Earth Day program, the US space agency asked people for videos, messages, Instagram pictures celebrating our world, with the hashtag #NoPlaceLikeHome.

The Nasa video features dramatic visual comparisons of parts of the Earth most severely impacted by climate change, including the Aral Sea visibly shrinking between 2000 and 2014.

The clip was released on “Earth Day” as Nasa plans to focus attention on “exploring” our home planet — the most “complex” of the 1,800 planets discovered in our cosmos so far, challenging the scientists as they seek to figure out how the whole planet works as a system.

Women in Ireland are being urged to start taking folic acid

Studies of women attending the Coombe women’s hospital have shown that as few as 25% have taken folic acid before conception. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien

Doctors have made the appeal in light of a rise in neural tube defects among babies

Call for public information campaign after study reveals 27% rise in neural tube defects

Women in Ireland are being urged to start taking folic acid.

Doctors have made the appeal in light of a rise in neural tube defects among babies born in this country.

The call has been made in response to research which shows a rise in the incidence of neural tube defects such as spina bifida, which are largely preventable through the intake of folic acid before and after conception.

Studies at the Coombe Hospital in Dublin show just one in four mothers were taking folic acid - which can prevent the problems - before they conceived.

A third of pregnancies in Ireland are unplanned, so experts say anyone who could potentially get pregnant, needs to be taking the supplement.

UCD Professor of Obstetrics Michael Turner spoke to Pat Kenny today about the issue and he says it's clear that folic acid is vital in the early days of pregnancy.

Another recently published study has revealed a decline in the number of food products fortified with folic acid. This means women are less likely to consume the vitamin passively in their diet.

“The message for women is that you shouldn’t wait until you are pregnant to take folic acid. Any woman who could get pregnant should be taking it.”

Prof Turner said austerity might be partly to blame, as people had less money for discretionary spending on higher-quality food products fortified with folic acid. The incidence of birth defects has also been found to be higher outside Dublin, as it is thought people in the capital spend more money on food.

UCD research fellow and obstetrician Aoife McKeating said low levels of folic acid supplementation were often found with unplanned pregnancies. “The risk of unplanned pregnancy is highest among women under the age of 20, who are unemployed or have a history of depression or domestic violence.”

Obese women, who are more likely to have an unplanned pregnancy, are advised to take a higher dose of folic acid. Just 2 per cent of obese patients in the Coombe were doing so.

Prof Turner’s advice is that all women who could potentially become pregnant, whether trying to conceive or not, should consider taking a folic acid supplement. One in three pregnancies was unplanned, he said. - irishtimes

India seizes 200 kg heroin shipment on Pakistani boat

Joint navy and coastguard operation intercepted the vessel apparently headed for Gujarat

New Delhi: India seized 200kg of heroin from Pakistani drug traffickers aboard a boat on the Arabian Sea, a defence official said on Tuesday, in a $15 million (Dh55 million) haul that is one of the country’s largest and comes as narcotic flows escalate from Afghanistan.

A joint navy and coastguard operation intercepted the vessel in Indian waters on Monday, apparently headed for the western state of Gujarat, Indian navy spokesman D. K. Sharma said.

“Using fishing boats to smuggle heroin is a new strategy by Pakistani smugglers,” said Sharma, adding that the smugglers were using phones and GPS systems to allow trans-shipment to another boat.

Eight crew members from Pakistan were detained and were in police custody in Gujarat, he said.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), a specialised police force, said the confiscation of heroin on Tuesday was one of India’s biggest recorded heroin seizures.

The NCB this year sought cooperation from the Indian military to fight the rise in heroin smuggled from Afghanistan via Pakistan through India’s disputed state of Kashmir in the north and coastal border areas in the west.

UN officials in Kabul recorded a sharp spike this year in the amount of heroin seized from passengers trying to fly from Afghanistan to India.

Pakistani and Indian fishermen are frequently arrested by both countries because their Arabian Sea maritime border is poorly defined and fishing boats often lack the technology to know their precise location.

In January, Indian authorities intercepted a Pakistani fishing boat said to be carrying explosives off the western coast after a chase.

The boat was destroyed in a fire India said was started by its Pakistani crew, but a senior coast guard official later claimed that he ordered the destruction of the vessel.

India upgraded coastal security after ten Pakistani gunmen arrived on a rubber boat in Mumbai in 2008 for a commando-style assault on two luxury hotels, a train station and a Jewish centre that killed 166 people.  - REUTERS

Protesting Indian farmers stand in chest-deep water for 11 days

In this April 20, 2015 photo, Indian villagers eat food as they stand in water during a protest in the village of Khandwa some 300kms south-west of Bhopal. (AFP)

NEW DELHI: Farmers in central India continued Tuesday to stand in murky, chest-deep water for the 11th straight day in an unconventional protest over a land dispute.

Around 30 farmers have vowed to keep up their protest by standing in their fields, which have been inundated with water by a nearby dam in Madhya Pradesh state, despite concerns over their health.

“I will not move out of the water even if I die. I am standing on my land, which has been turned into a lake. The government has cheated us,” Raja Ram, one of the farmers said.

“We want the water level to be decreased immediately and the return of our land,” Ram said in Khandwa district, 300 km from state capital Bhopal.

Television footage showed the group of men and sari-clad women looking miserable as they held up banners against the state government’s decision to buy their land on the Narmada River for a dam.

Some of the protesters have developed skin infections and a few are running high fevers, according to an activist involved in the protest.

“Their skin is peeling off and wounds have appeared on their body parts,” Chittaroopa Palit said.

The government bought thousands of hectares of fertile land from mostly tribal communities to build a dam in 2007. But hundreds of farmers have since returned to their fields, which have become a catchment area for the dam, saying compensation packages were inadequate.

So-called water protests are not uncommon in the world’s largest democracy along with hunger strikes and other forms of agitation for a myriad of causes including land disputes. - AFP

Solar jet starts next round-the-world leg in China

A solar-powered plane takes off from Jiangbei International Airport in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, on Tuesday. (AP)

BEIJING: A pioneering plane attempting to circumnavigate the globe powered only by the sun took off in China early Tuesday for the next stage of its journey, organizers said.

The Solar Impulse 2’s departure from Chongqing came after repeated meteorological delays and one of its copilots returned to Europe to be treated for migraine.

With pilot Bertrand Piccard at the controls, the plane took off at 6:08 a.m. (2208 GMT Monday), heading for the eastern city of Nanjing, organizers said in a statement. The 1,190 kilometer flight was expected to take 20 hours.

The Solar Impulse 2 arrived at Chongqing airport from Myanmar on March 31. It had been due to make a brief stop in the southwestern Chinese city and quickly travel on to Nanjing, but was held up by weather and safety concerns.

Chongqing, on the Yangtze river, is notoriously foggy but Solar Impulse 2 spokesman Marc Baumgarten said the initial delay was due to “cross winds which are covering the entire country.”

Another departure attempt on April 16 was foiled “due to a narrow window for the landing in Nanjing,” according to an update last week on the solar plane’s Twitter account.

One of the copilots, Andre Borschberg, is also being treated in Switzerland for migraine problems.

“It was necessary for me to achieve detachment, to take a break in order to ensure the future of the project,” Borschberg wrote in a Twitter update Monday.

The team behind Solar Impulse 2, which has more than 17,000 solar cells built into its wings, hopes to promote green energy with its round the world attempt. The plane is the successor of Solar Impulse, which notched up a 26-hour flight in 2010, proving its ability to store enough power in lithium batteries during the day to keep flying at night.

On a previous circumnavigation, Piccard passed over China in a specially designed balloon, but only after he personally negotiated conditions requiring the craft to avoid large swathes of the country.

Ridiculed by the aviation industry when it was first unveiled, the Solar Impulse venture has since been hailed around the world, including by UN chief Ban Ki-moon.

The plane’s maiden global circumnavigation began in Abu Dhabi and is scheduled to take in 12 stops, with a total flight time of around 25 days spread over five months. - AFP

WhatsApp's voice calls arrive on iOS

When its calling feature hit Android gadgets a couple weeks ago, WhatsApp founder Brian Acton said the tool would make its way to iOS soon enough. Well, today's the day. 

WhatsApp calling is rolling out to folks wielding Apple devices, allowing you to chat with friends and family around the world. If you'll recall, the feature uses WiFi rather a data connection, so you won't have to worry about international rate hikes. 

While the new version of the app is already available at iTunes, the release notes warn that the calling feature is rolling out slowly, so it may not be available for you immediately. - SOURCE: iTunes

Microsoft and Yahoo can end their search deal after October 1st

Yahoo's renewed search deal with Microsoft is even more laissez-faire than it looks at first glance. A filing from the internet pioneer reveals that either company can call it quits from October 1st onward -- all they have to do is send a breakup letter and sit tight for four months. There's no sign that the companies are eager to end their pact, but the clause shows that the two tech firms aren't as dependent on each other as they were back when they forged the original deal in 2009. Microsoft has forged a number of other deals to use Bing (such as in Apple's Siri and Spotlight), while Yahoo is confident that it can build up its own ad platform -- and maybe, just maybe, revitalize its own search tech. -  engadget

SOURCE: SEC 

An Apple A Day Keeps Doctor Away, And Mushroom Everyday To Boost Immunity

A new study has revealed that eating cooked shiitake mushrooms everyday can boost the immunity.

A new University of Florida study showed that eating one, 4-ounce serving of mushrooms each day helped in better-functioning gamma delta T-cells and reductions in inflammatory proteins.

To be eligible for the study, participants could not be vegans or vegetarians. They also could not drink tea, take antioxidant supplements or probiotics before the study.They also could not consume more than 14 glasses of alcoholic beverages per week or eat more than seven servings of fruits and vegetables per day during the experiment.

UF Food Science and Human Nutrition Professor Sue Percival explained that the dietary restrictions as follows: Fiber, tea and probiotics help the body's immune system, so researchers didn't wanted to start with people who already had a strong immune system. Additionally, that much alcohol could suppress immunity.

The study is published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition. (ANI)

Toyota's Making Airline Seats That Can Adjust To Any Body Type

It's a really good question: Why can't airline seats be as comfortable, durable and adjustable as the ones in cars? In a partnership with All Nippon Airways, Toyota has come up with a new seat design it claims can make a "wide range of body sizes" comfortable. In economy, no less.

By forcing us to sit so upright, airline seats force all of our weight onto our hips, giving us that hunched-over feeling. If seats can better support the pelvis, passengers don't fatigue those muscles. So the adjusted height and length of the seat and backrest is all about distributing pressure throughout the seat, which allows you to have a more relaxed posture and enjoy the flight. Also notable are the rounded edges and softer materials you don't feel crammed into a hard plastic jail.

 

These seats certainly don't look that much different, so I suppose you'll have to sit in them to truly experience the change. ANA will have the new seats on domestic (Japanese) flights this year and on six 767-300s by next year. [ANA via FarEastGizmos]

China's Xi Jinping agrees $46bn superhighway to Pakista

The Chinese president, Xi Jinping, is received by Pakistani president Mamnoon Hussain and prime minister Nawaz Sharif on his arrival in Rawalpindi yesterday. Mr Xi postponed a visit to Islamabad last year because of anti-government protests. AFP

ISLAMABAD:  The Chinese president, Xi Jinping, inaugurated a US$46 billion (£30.7bn) investment plan in Pakistan on Monday at the start of his two-day visit.

Pakistan’s prime minister Nawaz Sharif and the country’s top civilian and military leadership received the visiting president at an air force base near the capital, Islamabad. Islamabad and Beijing hope the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will transform Pakistan into a regional economic hub and bring growth to the restive western Chinese region of Xinjiang.

The corridor scheme is part of Beijing’s plan to expand its trade and transport footprint across Central and South Asia, while countering US and Indian influence.

The projected investments – $28bn of which is due to be signed during Mr Xi’s visit – dwarf a US assistance package to Pakistan of $5bn that began in 2010 but has made less impact than hoped.

They foresee the creation of road, rail and pipeline links that will connect China to the Arabian Sea, cutting several thousand kilometres off the route that transports oil from the Middle East.

Ahsan Iqbal, the minister overseeing the projects, said $11bn had been set aside for infrastructure work, while the remaining $35bn would go on energy projects. Much of the investment would be in the form of discounted loans.

After the airport reception and talks, Mr Xi and Mr Sharif symbolically broke ground on five renewable energy projects around the country via video link before overseeing the signing of more than 50 agreements.

Mr Xi said China was ready to “support Pakistan’s economic and social development”, while Mr Sharif said the corridor would make Pakistan a “regional hub and a pivot for commerce and investment”.

China and Pakistan have long maintained close political and military relations, based partly on mutual antipathy towards neighbour India.

However, stronger China-India ties have challenged that perception and Mr Xi’s visit seems intended to reassure Pakistan that relations remain robust.

Mr Xi postponed a visit to Islamabad last year because of anti-government protests and went ahead with a visit to India. China is also eager to boost trade and investment with New Delhi, and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Beijing in the coming weeks. China is a leading arms supplier to Pakistan and has sought its help in combating anti-Chinese separatists reportedly hiding in the country’s lawless tribal areas. China is also eager to enlist Pakistan’s help in stabilising Afghanistan. - AFP

Ban intermarriages?

A Saudi scholarship student in Britain has discovered a new genetic mutation that leads to muscle atrophy, weakened limbs and total paralysis in some cases. (“Saudi finds ‘disease gene’ linked to intermarriage,” April 18)

The report suggests that this “heritage paralysis,” as this disease is known in medical terms, is a significant leap forward in the world of genetic disease research. However, she says that 70 percent of hereditary diseases in Saudi Arabia occur due to people marrying and subsequently producing children with their bloodline relatives.

This particular discovery might be new, but the general concept in relation to other diseases, has been around for a long time. And this may be one reason why Saudi Arabia promotes medical screening for potential marriage candidates.

However, the disease was known to advanced countries too in the past and hence it is an open knowledge that marriage among family members was found to be the root cause of physical or mental abnormalities to the newly born babies. This may be the reason some countries strongly discourage or oppose marriages among family members or close relatives. In any case, since it would take a few generations to eliminate this problem so why not stop such marriages now? — Rashid Hasan, Jeddah

US President Barack Obama offers 'chadar' at Ajmer Sharif

The 803rd Urs (annual feast) celebrations of the revered saint Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin Hasan Chisty of Ajmer, starting Monday, will be momentous affair this year - thanks to US President Barack Obama.

A red coloured, richly embroidered 'chadar' (holy cloth) will be offered on Mr Obama's behalf at the mausoleum of the Garib Nawaz on the inaugural day of the weeklong Urs, Haji Syed Salman Chishty, director of Ajmer's Chishty Foundation, told IANS.

The 'chadar' was solemnly handed over to Haji Chishty "on behalf of the US government and Mr Obama by US ambassador Richard Verma, deputy chief of mission Micheal Pelletier and other officials on Friday morning, with a request to present it at the Ajmer Dargah Sharif.

"It's a historic day and a welcome moment. It's the first gesture of extending spiritual greetings of peace to the Ajmer Dargah Sharif from a non-South Asian country's head of state," a pleased Haji Chishty, the 27th descendant of the saint, said while on a visit here for a function.

He explained that such 'chadars' and offerings are received with much respect and grace from presidents or prime ministers and other top leaders of several South Asian countries, including regulars like Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

"This is the first time that any non-South Asian country's head has sent a 'chadar' to the Ajmer Dargah Sharif. It will set a new trend for global peace among communities," Haji Chishty said, adding the 'chadar' from the US President will be offered at the mausoleum at 11 am on Monday.

The 32-year old Haji Chishty, who is engaged in practical research on Sufi traditions and their impact on different cultures and traditions, has lectured around the world on the topic and recently went on a journey of exploration of Iran which he has preserved in the form of a photo-feature exhibited in Mumbai last month.

Haji Chishty arrived from the US where he attended an international Sufi conference and spoke at the United Nations as well as visited Washington and Harvard Univeristy in Boston, earlier this month.

"The underlying message is to promote spiritualism through harmony, peace and love for all, which was represented by the 11th century saint, Sultan-ul-Hind, Gharib Nawaz Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishty of Ajmer Sharif," Haji Chishty said.

The annual Urs were launched Wednesday with the flag hoisting on the Ajmer Dargah Sharif after the evening prayers, with the entire Dargah complex decorated and glittering in colourful lights.

On Monday, which coincides with the 1st day of Rajab, the seventh month of the Islamic calendar, the Urs officially starts with the 'mehfil-e-sama' in the Dargah Sharif.

There are various events lined up during the period with April 25 the main day of the urs and April 28 the concluding day, when the entire Dargah Sharif will be washed by devotees.

Moinuddin Chishty (1141-1236), who hailed from Sistan region of eastern Iran, travelled to India and introduced and established the 'Chishti' Order of Sufism at Ajmer.

It was mainly after emperor Akbar, who undertook a journey on foot from Agra to Ajmer during his reign that the Dargah emerged as one of the most important pilgrimage centres in India, which is revered by people of all religions.

Over the past eight centuries, it has been a favourite of several rulers, kings, emperors and in recent years, several leaders from Pakistan and other countries have visited the Ajmer Dargah Sharif to pay their respects. - IANS

Japan’s Maglev Train Hits World Record 590 Kilometers Per Hour

A maglev train runs on the test course in Yamanashi prefecture in this file photo taken in 2007. Associated Press

Central Japan Railway Co. said its magnetic levitation bullet train hit 590 kilometers per hour (366 miles per hour) on Thursday and broke the previous speed record set 12 years ago by the company.

The train was operated on a test course constructed in Yamanashi prefecture in central Japan. The previous record of 581 kilometers per hour was set in December 2003. A spokeswoman at the company, known as JR Central, said the new record is likely to be short-lived, since the next test ride on Tuesday might see the train break 600 kilometers per hour.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to talk up Japan’s train prowess on a visit to the U.S. starting April 26. Mr. Abe’s trip includes a stop in California, which is planning a high-speed rail line.

JR Central has said it wants to export the maglev technology to the U.S. for a Washington-New York train link—a project Mr. Abe has said Japan would help finance.

According to JR Central, the test run was conducted to check the performance of the cars and had 29 technicians aboard. Passengers won’t experience the record-breaking speed even after the line opens for business, which is supposed to happen in 2027. The company has projected that the trains will operate at a maximum speed of 505 kilometers per hour.

The Japanese government in October approved the construction of what will be the world’s fastest train line, which will connect Tokyo and Nagoya in about 40 minutes, less than half the time that the shinkansen bullet trains require today.

Maglev trains are a “contactless transportation system,” which uses magnetic charge to lift and move the train cars above a guideway. - AP

Iran needs ‘up to 500 airliners’ in next decade

TEHRAN:(AFP) Iran will need to acquire 400-500 airliners over the coming decade to renew its aging fleet, suffering from years of US sanctions over its controversial nuclear program, the country’s aviation chief says.

Those sanctions ban manufacturers from selling new aircraft or parts to Iranian companies, which has grounded much of the fleet.

Under an interim nuclear deal reached in November 2013, the sanctions were eased to allow the sale of parts and for making safety-related repairs.

The fleet consists of only 140 functioning aircraft, Ali Reza Jahangirian, head of the Iran Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), was quoted by state news agency IRNA as saying.

“That is lower than the average international norms in terms of international indexes of population and area,” he said, adding that an eventual nuclear deal with world powers would ease the way toward solving the problem.

“We will need 400 to 500 airplanes over the next 10 years,” he said, without spelling out the types of aircraft involved or giving any indication of a possible budget.

Since the signature of the interim accord, Jahangirian said a number of airplane manufacturers have visited Iran to assess the market and to discuss possible agreements.

“Aircraft manufacturers are seriously working to forge interaction with Iran and not fall behind the race once the situation changes,” he said.

The United States has allowed aircraft maker Boeing Co. and leading engine manufacturer General Electric Co. to sell parts.

Over the years, Iran has developed a domestic manufacturing capacity for airplanes to fly domestic routes, based on the Ukrainian Antonov 140 turboprop regional airliner.  It has also been able to buy or lease used aircraft, notably from Airbus Industries. 

Saudi finds ‘disease gene’ linked to intermarriage

JEDDAH: ARAB NEWS: A Saudi scholarship student in Britain, Nuha Al-Rayess, has discovered a new genetic mutation that leads to muscle atrophy, weakened limbs and, finally, total paralysis in some cases. The tests she conducted showed that the principal cause for this condition is intermarriage and reproduction among family members.

Al-Rayess noted that this disease is known in medical terms as "heritage paralysis." However, its genetic causes were previously unknown. As such, her new discovery is a significant leap forward in the world of genetic disease research.

Al-Rayess said that 70 percent of hereditary diseases in Saudi Arabia occur due to people marrying and subsequently producing children with their blood-line relatives. Indeed, the Kingdom has some of the highest rates in the world for familial marriages, making it easier for the disease to continue in future generations.

The disease occurs in children because the child's mother and the father carry the same gene of the disease on some level, which is then transferred to their children. 

Al-Rayess added that this ailment is much more prominent in villages and rural areas than in cities, as these kind of marriages are the norm in these areas.

She said that the Kingdom is in need of greater awareness about the issue, as many tribes continue to force their sons and daughters to marry their cousins — a practise that Al-Rayess feels is fed by their lack of knowledge and ignorance of the risks associated with such an action.

She observed that many families do continue this practice despite knowing the risks. "The family then becomes more accepting of having a sick child among them merely to preserve beliefs and customs about intermarriage," she said.

Al-Rayess said that during her studies in Britain, it seemed that most doctors and researchers turn immediately to Saudi Arabia when they require samples for such relationships and phenomena, as they see it as a fertile environment to study genetic diseases in our societies.