Tuesday, May 31, 2016

WWII bomb in London bound Eurosar in Paris creates panic


It was a panic situation when a WWII vintage was bomb in the Eurostar traveling from Paris to London. This lewd to hundreds of Eurostar passengers getting stranded in Paris overnight. All because a holidaymaker wanted to board a London-bound train with a WWII souvenir - it was an artillery shell and it sparked a bomb scare.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 31 May 2016.
The man had got hold of the war relic from a site in Northern France but he did not declare it to customs officials when he passed through checkpoints at Gare du Nord station and that led to the security scare. As a result, the station was evacuated as a precautionary measure. Therefore, Britons who were trying to get home after the Bank Holiday weekend faced hours-long delays. Alternately, they had to wait till morning due to a knock-on effect and planned engineering work last night.
A Eurostar spokesman has explained that people do bring in memorabilia from the war sites in Northern France. This is relatively common, and there are lots of signs at check-in where passengers are advised to declare this to customs. Because that had not been done, hence there was an evacuation whilst this was checked.
With the first match of Euro 2016 less than two weeks away and with fears that the tournament could be a target for terrorists, France is under a heightened state of security. A state of emergency has been in effect in the country since last November's terror attacks in and around Paris.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014

Ecotourism gets a push in Balasore forest division


In order to focus on ecotourism, the Balasore forest division has developed a project at Gohirabholo in the buffer region of the Kuldiha wildlife sanctuary - the intention is to attract more visitors and also promote tourism in the area. An amount of nearly Rs 96 lakh is proposed to be spent on the project. So far, four tents have been erected and other facilities such as washrooms and kitchens are ready. Each tent can accommodate two persons. A watchtower has also been erected for tourists to get a better view of the sanctuary area.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 31 May 2016.
Fir ensuring safety of tourists against animal attacks, trenches have been dug around the project area and, solar fencing has also been installed for additional security. There is a provision for round-the-clock water supply through borewells and, solar panels are meeting the demand for electricity. The forest department offers night-stay facilities at four tents set up inside the core area of the sanctuary, located about 8-Km away from the entry gate.
However, the night-stay facilities in the core area of the sanctuary could be shut down to keep wildlife free from the disturbance caused by human movement and activities.
The charges are Rs 1,000 for a bed and another Rs 500 for food. The facility will be open to tourists throughout the year, unlike the one in the core area of the sanctuary. The sanctuary is home to leopards, elephants, deer and other threatened species including porcupines, bisons, pythons and pangolins and is spread over an area of 272.4 acres.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014

Alastair Cook eclipses record of Tendulkar - becomes youngest batsman to score10,000 test runs


Records are meant to be broken and Alastair Cook, the captain of England's test team has done just that - he has become the youngest batsman to score 10,000 Test runs. It happened on Day 4 of the second Test match vs Sri Lanka when Cook hit pacer Nuwan Pradeep for a boundary to reach the milestone.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 31 May 2016.
Alastair Cook is 31 years 157 days today and he has now broken the record set by master blaster Sachin Tendulkar - he was 31 years, 10 months and 20 days old when he scored his 10,000th run in 2005.
With the century, Cook also became the 12th man to join the most exclusive club in Test cricket. Others in this exclusive club are Brian Lara, Kumar Sangakkara, Ricky Ponting, Rahul Dravid, Mahela Jayawardene, Sunil Gavaskar, Jacques Kallis, Allan Border, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Steve Waugh.
It may be noted that before the series, he needed just 36 runs to achieve the milestone. But, he had to wait. He scored only 16 runs in the first Test and followed it up with a 15-run knock in the first innings of the second Test.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014

Monday, May 30, 2016

Dead fish surface in the Hebbal Lake in Bengaluru


Bengaluru is known as the Garden City and the Silicon Valley of India but, it is also the city where dead fish surface in hundreds in lakes like the Hebbal Lake and, earlier, in Ulsoor lake. The Hebbal Lake is spread over an area of 150-odd acres in north Bengaluru and is quite popular with bird watchers. But, now it is the sight of dead fish.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 31 May 2016.
In the opinion of an environmentalist who visited the spot, the incident is the result of direct flow of sewage into the waterbody. These polluted water bodies have resulted in several instances of fish being killed in recent months. It seems residents who live in the vicinity of Hebbal Lake have repeatedly complained about a stormwater drain that is polluting the water body but, the civic authorities have ignored them. There is an unbearable stench in the area and the flow of sewage into the lake is also there for all to see.
Bengaluru is the city where a sizeable population have settled down after being in the USA for years pursuing their careers - they need to raise their voices in protest to the apathy of the authorities.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014

IPL9 - Cutting helps Hyderabad lift the trophy for the first time, Bangalore outplayed


It was a glorious T20 match for Hyderabad when they lifted the IPL Trophy for the first time. It was a battle among equals and Bangalore finally faltered and lost by 8 runs. Ben Cutting was declared the Man of he Match for his blistering knock of 39 not out off just 15 balls and his capturing of 3 wickets. He had hit four huge sixes and three fours.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 30 May 2016.
David Warner, the captain of Sun Risers Hyderabad won the toss and decided to bat first. He, along with Shikhar Dhawan, put up 63 runs by the seventh over when Dhawan fell at an individual score of 28 off 25 balls with the help of a six and three fours. Warner raced to his ninth fifty of the season in the ninth over in just 24 balls hitting three sixes and five fours and fell when his score was 69 off 38 balls (three sixes and eight boundaries). SRH finally posted 208 runs on the board for the loss of 7 wickets.
In reply, Chris Gayle and Virat went all out to score the necessary runs and the duo added 114 for the opening wicket to set a perfect platform to chase down the big target. But, Cutting cut into Kohli's dreams - he got the prized wicket of the Gayle in the 11th over. Gayle had hit eight sixes and four boundaries in his quick-fire 76 off 38 balls. Kohli also did not last long - he fell victim to Barinder Sran. Kohli had smashed two sixes and five fours for his 35-ball 54. Then wickets fell in heaps - RCB were reduced to 148/3 in 13.5 overs and finally folded up for 200 runs.
For RCB, it was their third defeat in as many finals of IPL.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Torrential rains in Texas and Kansas leave at least two dead


Torrential rains in Texas and Kansas have taken at least two lives and five others are believed to be missing. Officials have said that though the threat of severe weather had lessened in Texas over the long holiday weekend, the problem now would be on swollen rivers and waterways that are slowly rising and could, in turn, flood homes.
This has been reported in foxnews.com dated 28 May 2016.
Other parts of the U.S. also got drenched including Kansas. Moreover, Tropical Storm Bonnie has formed in the Atlantic Ocean and has brought rain and wind to the coast of South Carolina. Considering the rising water levels in several Houston-area rivers and creeks, officials of Harris County has asked about 750 families in the Northwood Pines subdivision to voluntarily evacuate their homes and apartments.
Tropical Storm Bonnie has formed about 125 miles off the coast from Charleston, South Carolina, and, as per forecasters, was moving northwest near 10 mph with top sustained winds of 40 mph. Bonnie is the season's second-named tropical storm and it is emerging just four days before the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season as per the National Hurricane Center in Miami.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014

Foreign tourists give Puri a miss - drop in arrivals a matter of concern


Odisha is faced with a problem of drop in arrival of foreign tourists. Apparently, big-ticket events such as Nabakalebar of the Trinity in Puri is unable to attract foreign tourists to the state in expected numbers. It seems the foreign tourist footfall has declined in 2015, when the Nabakalebar was held, as compared to the previous year.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 29 May 2016.
As per statistics, a total of 71,426 foreigners visited the state in 2014 and it came down to 66,971 the next year when Nabakalebar was organised with great fanfare. The festival was witnessed by around 23,000 foreigners - this is around 35 per cent of the total foreign tourist footfall of the year. This is in spite of tall claims made by the state government that they had showcased the event in a manner that it created a global appeal.
Last year, only 0.83 per cent of foreigners, who visited the country, came to Odisha and this does not paint a happy picture. There are accusations that the state lacked in setting up foreigner-friendly tourist amenities. Moreover, the government's imposition of restriction on the visit of foreigners and researchers to the state's tribal areas have also had a negative effect and have played spoilsport.
Many tour operators felt that the foreigners are keen on exploring areas beyond the Puri-Konark-Bhubaneswar triangle. Obviously, the tourism policy needs to be modified since the state has only been highlighting these three places. Tourists would want to explore other areas like the handloom clusters and tribal zones. But, there are no government packages for tourism in such areas.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Dreamworks of Hollywood plans to set up a theme park in Hyderabad


IT minister KT Rama Rao of Hyderabad is on a tour of various cities in the USA with the intention of gathering support for investments in the state and, 'Dreamworks', the famous Hollywood studio has indicated its willingness to set up Dreamplay, a small-scale theme park here in the city. Dreamworks has given hit films like 'Shrek', 'Madagascar', 'How to Tame Your Dragon' and 'Transformers' apart from live action films like 'Saving Private Ryan'.
From indications, it appears the studio and the Telangana government have agreed to collaborate on the project at a meeting in Los Angeles between the CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg and IT minister KT Rama Rao.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 29 May 2016.
Dreamworks wants to expand its production facilities in India and would like to have a partnership with the Telangana government. The studio is also looking at creating a high-end theater ecosystem to promote their movies and would like the government to help out in creating a conducive environment.
Dreamworks also has plans to cater to the Indian market and is of the opinion that Hyderabad is an ideal location for its operations because of its talent pool and vibrant film industry.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014

Water aplenty in Thar Desert - could be gift of River Saraswati, now extinct


Water is usually a scarce commodity in any desert but the Thar Desert appears to be an exception because, even as many parts of India are reeling under acute crisis of drinking water, this precious commodity is available aplenty at just 2 to 3 feet underground. Coming across water by digging just 2 to 3 feet in Thar Desert is not less than a miracle. There is an oasis amid the sand dunes in Shahgarh Bulge in Jaisalmer district and it boasts of wells and ponds. Sources attribute this to the long extinct Saraswati River.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 28 May 2016.
These water bodies are the source of water for BSF jawans positioned at India-Pakistan border. These sources never dry up and water that is drawn during the daytime gets replenished automatically at night. The quality and purity of the water is unquestionable - its quality is superior to mineral water.
Incidentally, the sand dunes in Shahgarh Bulge area has good vegetation and the trees and plants in this part never die. This leads one to conclude that there is a possibility that some there is some source of water flowing below ground level that feeds this oasis with fresh water. There are many wells in BSF outposts at Khara, Khajuria, Nalka, Jhalaria, Rohtosh, Veerhill, Kirarwali, Somgam and others that never go dry.
Another point to note is that consumption of water is very minimal in these areas and hence water level is very high. In the opinion of a historian, the water stems from the now extinct Saraswati river.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014

Friday, May 27, 2016

Health tourism in Bengalaru - 88,000 plus patients came here for treatment in last two years


The city of Bengalaru is fast turning to be a haven for foreigners who want good and cheap healthcare facilities. The comparatively cheaper and better healthcare have reinforced the reputation of the city as a global medical destination. As per statistics, more than 88,000 foreign patients have come to Bengalaru since January 2014 for treatment.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 27 May 2016.
Most of the foreign patients land up in Bengaluru for cancer care, organ transplants, cardiac care, nephrology, urology, neurosurgery and orthopaedics. The patients hail from Bangladesh, Iraq, Yemen, Maldives, Oman, Mauritius, Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria and Indonesia - these are the top 10 countries from which the city hospitals receive maximum number of patients.
Incidentally, the cost of treatment in Bengaluru is almost 10% lesser than in Singapore, Europe and the US. Moreover, the quality of care is superior because of modern healthcare infrastructure and highly trained doctors. Many of the super specialists who have been trained in the west have returned to India. Another positive factor is better international air connectivity, presence of large number of foreign students and also the pleasant weather. These are a few factors that have helped the city become a global healthcare hub.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014

Donald Trump wins 1238 delegates to get the Republican nomination


Donald Trump has won 1238 delegates and the number to win the Republican nomination for US president is 1237 - hence, he is confident of becoming the official nominee of the Republicans. With another 303 delegates at stake in five state primaries on June 7, he will easily avoid a contested convention in Cleveland in July.
This has been reported in nzherald.co.nz dated 27 May 2016.
However, whether he finally enters the White House or not is a matter of debate because many foreign leaders are apparently worried about the future of the United States with the reins in his hands. President Barack Obama, while speaking on the sidelines of the Group of Seven advanced economies summit in Japan has commented that Donald Trump was ignorant of world affairs.
In the words of President Obama, many foreign leaders at the conference were "surprised by the Republican nominee" and were not too sure of how seriously to take his pronouncements. This is attributed to several of his proposals tend to display either ignorance of world affairs, or a cavalier attitude, or an interest in getting tweets and headlines. He has suggested that what is required is to keep the US safe and prosperous and, also, the world on an even keel.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014

Thursday, May 26, 2016

100000 grey headed flying foxes invade Batemans Bay in New South Wales


The Australian town of Batemans Bay in New South Wales is in a "state of emergency" - it has been invaded by a huge swarming mass of nearly 100,000 bats. These grey-headed flying foxes have occupied every possible empty space and practically on every tree.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 24 May 2016.
The lives of people have been thrown out of gear and peole cannot open the windows or use the clotheslines and he noise is such that no one can concentrate. The Flying Fox Task Force has surrendered to the inevitable as the townspeople feel isolated, powerless, and living as prisoners in their own homes.
Officially, the grey-headed flying foxes are listed as a vulnerable species and, hence, cannot be killed. They can use deterring methods like using smoke and noise. Another is to consider clearing of all the local vegetation - officials have already started chopping down trees. However, animal rights groups feel that patience is the only thing that will work because the bats will move out of their own accord when they are ready to do so.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014

Gang of ATM thieves nabbed - they had looted 14 ATMs in 18 days


It was a gang of daring ATM thieves who had robbed 14 ATMS within a period of just 18 days and siphoned way nearly one crore of rupees. The 30-year-old young man who is suspected to be the kingpin of the gang was arrested in Dhanbad, 269-Km from Calcutta as he was boarding the Rajdhani Express.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 26 May 2016.
The thefts were carried out between May 1 and May 18 in Calcutta, Barrackpore, Howrah and North 24-Parganas. It was the assembly elections when the police had been diverted to take care of poll related activities. All but two of the ATMs that had been targeted belonged to nationalised banks and none of them had guards.
Their modus operandi was to move from one location to another in a hired four-wheeler. They carried with them an oxygen cylinder, a small stove and steel-cutting equipment. One member of the gang would get off the car and pull the shutter of the ATM half down - that was to mislead anyone watching by giving an impression that the ATM was being refilled. Once inside, the man would switch off the CCTV camera. By then, the others would join him and they would split open the ATM vault with a gas cutter.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014

High speed Spanish trains - trials of Talgo to commence on May 28


India wants bullet trains and, while Japan is already into this and while China waits in the sidelines, Spain is trying to make an entry. Talgo, a leading Spanish firm that is into manufacturing high speed trains is right here in India. It plans to conduct trials between Bareilly and Moradabad at speeds of 115 kmph on May 28. The trials will be held over a number of days before the second phase is conducted on the Mathura-Palwal line.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 25 May 2016.
The schedule drawn up for the first phase of the speed trials envisages at least four trips in total each day, depending on availability of space between the two stations. A team of 11 Spanish engineers are working in the workshop of Indian Railways - there are modifying the Talgo coaches to make them suitable for Indian tracks in time for the trials.
The testing of the coaches will be in three phases. It will begin with the Bareilly-Moradabad section at speeds of 115kmph. The track length between the two stations is approximately 90_km. In the second phase, speeds will be of about 180 kmph and it will be held between Mathura and Palwal. The final phase will be at full speed of up to 220 kmph between New Delhi and Mumbai.
The coaches are nearly 30 years old and have been brought on rent from Renfe for speed trails in India. and speed trails of these coaches had been successful in a number of countries including Kazakhstan. The final decision on whether Tslgo wins the race will depend on the results of the trials.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

McDonald's comes up with Angry Birds burgers


On the occasion of release of 'Angry Birds' movie in China, the global food franchise McDonald's has launched its 'Angry Birds' brand of burgers in its restaurants. The burgers feature either red or green food coloring in the buns and, reportedly, look weirdly inedible. It has had mixed reactions on McDonald's fans.
This has been reported in nzherald.co.nz dated 26 May 2016.
It seems the colorful sandwiches include the "Naughty Green Pork Burger" with a pork patty, fried egg, lettuce, jalapenos, and "mystery sauce". Then there is the "Super Red Burger" - this features a double chicken sandwich with Louisiana-style hot sauce, a fried egg, and cheese.
These innovations are the latest in a long list of freakish food that has been put on trial overseas. Examples are KFC's edible nail polish, a black burger that had been launched by McDonald's Japan, and a 'pizza bomb' - a creation of a South Korean restaurant.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014

Thailand bans tourists from three islands in order to preserve the coral reefs


In order to preserve its corals, Thailand has taken a decision to ban tourism on three of its islands - accordingly, shops and restaurants on these islands have been dismantled so that the ban can be imposed effectively. These bans are for the islands of Koh Khai Nok, Koh Khai Nui and Koh Khai Nai. The country's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) have issued the ban orders and it was enforced on May 24.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 25 May 2016.
As a result of the ban, all tourist activity has been banned around the coral reefs near the three islands located off the east coast of Phuket. Facilities and structures built for tourists have been removed, including beach chairs and parasols, and shops and restaurants on the islands have been shut down. Tour operators and guides have been given necessary instructions about the locations of the banned areas.
Moreover, around 40 buoys have been set up to mark these out in the waters and there is a proposal that the local government will police the waters to ensure the bans are fully enforced. Notices will also be posted in several languages to alert visitors of the ban.
On an average, there were at least 60 speedboats that visited the sites daily before the ban. Groups of tourists would spend at least three hours swimming, feeding fish and snorkeling in the water and these activities damages the marine ecosystem, especially on coral reefs.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014

All it needs to wash away sins is Rs 11 and a holy dip in the Mandakini Kund of Shiva temple


Wash away sins with Rs 11 and a holy dip in the Mandakini Kund of Shiva temple A temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in Rajasthan is unique because one can become clean and wash away all his sins by just taking a holy dip in the Mandakini Kund of Gautameshwar Mahadev Paapmochan Teertha. Apart of the holy dip, one has to shell out Rs 11 and, in exchange, he will get a certificate declaring him as pap mukt - or free from sins. This temple is in Pratapgarh district. Hindus traditionally believe that bathing in holy waters will wash away their sins. This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 25 May 2016.
The temple claims to have maintained a record since Independence of all those who have taken the holy dip and have got the certificate. This certificate is issued by a body of priests called Aminat Kachhari. They charge Re 1 for each certificate and the balance Rs 10 is for `dosh-nivaran' (removal of obstacles). It seems people who are ostracised in their villages come here to take a dip and return with `paap-mukti' certificates. Incidentally, this shrine has been popular for centuries and is referred to as the `Haridwar of tribals.' Lakhs of devotees come to the place for Gautameshwar fair held in May and the number of visitors has increased in recent years. However, not very many seek the certificate. During the eight-day fair held this May, there were more than two lakh devotees who bathed in the `kund', but the number of certificates issued was only three.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

EgyptAir crash affects tourism - hotel rooms in Sharm el-Sheikh available for as little as £18 a night


The crash of EgyptAir flight MS804 has had an adverse effect on tourism in Egypt and, coming as it does after last year's Metrojet disaster, the resort Sharm el-Sheikh is literally 'on its knees' with rates in five star hotel rooms slashed from hundreds to as little as £18 a night.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 24 May 2016.
In the opinion of a travel expert tourism in Sharm el-Sheikh is now close to collapsing altogether. Prices for hotels are have gone down drastically and there is no Russian market into the area - they used to be one of the biggest. Moreover, all direct flights from the UK are also off. Hence, the glut. Following the Russian plane bombing in October 2015, British and Russian airlines have suspended flights to Sharm el-Sheikh till such time they are satisfied with improvements to airport security.
Germany has, of course, recently announced that flights can start again but the resorts in the area are empty, occupancy levels are very low and workers being laid off. The net result is that the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh is on its knees.
In order to come out of the doldrums, Egypt needs to ensure that it communicates in such a way with the industry, media and public that it can rebuild the trust, and, simultaneously, the much needed to build market confidence.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014

Government announces another 13 Smart Cities with Lucknow on top


The government has announced 13 winners of Fast track Smart City competition and Lucknow topped the list. Others are Warangal, Dharamsala, Chandigarh, Raipur, New Town Kolkata, Bhagalpur, Panaji, Port Blair, Imphal, Ranchi, Agartala and Faridabad - in that order.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 24 May 2016.
Various criteria for being labeled as a Smart City are - assured water and power supply, sanitation and solid waste management systems, efficient urban mobility and public transportation, IT connectivity, e-governance and citizen participation. Under the Smart City Mission, a total of 100 cities across the country will be identified and developed as smart cities by 2019-20. The Union government will provide financial support to the extent of Rs 48,000 crore over five years.
Already 20 smart cities were selected during 2015-16 as per the Mission guidelines. Another 40 would be selected during 2016-17 and the remaining 40 during the next financial year. Each city that will be selected in different rounds of competition will be given central assistance of Rs 200 crore in the first year and Rs 100 crore each during the subsequent three financial years. State governments and respective urban local bodies will be expected to provide matching funds of the same amount to the cause.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014

Fire in Thailand school kills at least 17 girls in their sleep


A deadly fire in a school in Thailand killed at least 17 girls who were sleeping in the dormitory. The fire swept through the school for girls from poor hill-tribe families. It was the Pitakiatwittaya School in the Wiang Pa Pao district of Chiang Rai. There were only charred remains metal bed frames and wooden school chairs left behind.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 23 May 2016.
The fire broke out late on Sunday night as the girls, aged five to 12, were sleeping at the Christian school in the northern province of Chiang Rai. The cause of fire is not known but it is believed to have been due to some electrical fault and the possibility of faulty lighting.
Forensic experts have examined the debris and ashes inside the concrete shell of the building and preliminary indications would tend to suggest a faulty fluorescent light on the ground floor. It broke up and a hot fragment might have fallen on to a pile of clothes that started the fire. The children most probably died from smoke inhalation.
A total of 36 children of the 142 that attend the school were in the dormitory when the fire started and the alarm was sounded by a school cleaner.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014

Monday, May 23, 2016

Drones in civilian applications are risky - at least 49 near misses reported since April 2014


Drones are fine for military applications and have proved their usefulness in eliminating terrorists and their bases but, when it comes to applications in the civilian areas, there are dangers looming round every corner. Fears of collision between drones and planes are on the rise. As many as 49 proximity reports have been filed by pilots since April 2014 - these include 16 incidents where there was a serious risk of collision and 12 where the safety of the aircraft may have been compromised.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 23 May 2016.
Freedom of Information requests reveal that in the first four months of 2016, there were 15 reported near-misses - more than half of a total of 29 in the previous 12 months. In addition, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data has revealed 13 near-miss incidents reported by pilots - these are under investigation. Six of these were near London Heathrow and others at airports like Gatwick and Glasgow.
Certain rules have already been formulated - for instance drone users must be able to see the craft at all times and must not fly above 400ft (122m). Drones installed with cameras must not be flown within 50m (164ft) of people, vehicles or buildings, or over congested areas or large gatherings like concerts and sports events. Of course, high-end drones can fly up to and beyond 6,000ft, travel at speeds of up to 50mph and remain airborne for 25 minutes. (These can come for anything between £25 and £20,000 - as per reports, more than 15,000 such units have been sold in the UK last year.)


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014

Study shows that there is no link between obesity and intake of fat


If the latest study is to be believed, it is now high time that we change our age-old concept that intake of fats leads to obesity. That is what we have been told for years - namely, we should cut down on the amount of fat we eat. That, in turn, has inspired many people to go in for low-fat diets.
However, the concept is undergoing changes because, a report indicates that such eating patterns are having "disastrous health consequences". The National Obesity Forum and the Public Health Collaboration have called for a "major overhaul" of dietary guidelines and have accused major public health bodies of colluding with the food industry.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 23 May 2016.
The report wants a return to "whole foods" like dairy, fish and meat, as well as high fat healthy foods like avocados - their message is "eating fat does not make you fat". The logic is saturated fats do not cause heart disease and full fat dairy foods - including milk, yoghurt and cheese - can, in fact, protect the heart. In their opinion, low-fat diets and snacking between meals are responsible for Britain's growing obesity crisis and their suggestion is to avoid processed foods labelled "low fat", "lite" or "low cholesterol".
They also suggest that people should stay away from sugar, stop counting calories and those with type two diabetes should eat a fat-rich diet instead of one dominated by carbohydrates. In the opinion of the authors, food science has been "corrupted by commercial influences" in a way that represents a "significant threat to public health".


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014

Tourists can expect more and better facilities at tiger reserve and wildlife sanctuary


Tourists at Valmiki Tiger Reserve and Pant Wildlife Sanctuary in Bihar can look forward to enjoying better accommodation and allied services like transport and security facilities by virtue of an eco-tourism plan of the tourism and forests departments. VTR offers jungle safari and trekking.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 23 May 2016.
The forests department will draw up comprehensive plans to provide visitors facilities such as online booking, transport, lodging, food, sight-seeing and security at VTR, and also at other eco-tourism destinations in the state. The procedure at present is that hotels or guesthouses have to be booked through the divisional forests officer or the BSTDC office. However, tourists do not know about the travel options and other arrangements.
Under the modified plan, tourists can book accommodation at most eco-tourism destinations either by visiting the office of the divisional forests officer or contacting the BSTDC offices. These facilities will be available at VTR and the other destinations such as Pant Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajgir, Kakolat waterfalls in Nawada, Rajgir and others and will be introduced from the next tourist season (October-February).
There are a number of options for tourists like the forest guesthouses at Madanpur, Manguraha, Ganauli, and Govardhana ranges. Two eco-huts had been inaugurated at Kotraha and Madanpur ranges in November 2012. Moreover, there are six eco-huts at Govardhana and Naurangia Don ranges. In addition to these, several old and dilapidated wooden watchtowers and guesthouses have also been renovated recently.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

World's smallest porpoise of Mexico is on the verge of extinction

Coca-Cola to stop production of its beverage in Venezuela because of sugar shortage

Melting of Totten Glacier due to global warming could raise sea levels by three meters


Moody’s mind flits from Black Money to White House (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)


Daniel Craig is through with James Bond - turns down £68 million offer from MGM

Snoop Dogg and Lucy Liu will be seen together in thriller 'Future World'

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


Was the EgyptAir crash an act of terrorism by the ISIS?

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

One more Chibok girl rescued - she was kidnapped along with 275 others in April 2014