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Indian-American teen invents device that can charge phone in 20 seconds

An 18-year-old Indian-American girl has invented a super-capacitor device that could potentially charge a cellphone in less than 20 seconds.

Eesha Khare from Saratoga in California was awarded the Young Scientist Award by the Intel Foundation after developing the tiny device that fits inside mobile phone batteries that could allow them to charge within 20-30 seconds.

The so-called super-capacitor, a gizmo that can pack a lot of energy into a tiny space, charges quickly and holds its charge for a long time.

Ms Khare has been awarded USD 50,000 for developing the tiny device. She has also attracted the attention of tech giant Google for her potentially revolutionary invention.

According to the teenager, her device can last for 10,000 charge-recharge cycles, compared to 1,000 cycles for conventional rechargeable batteries.

"My cellphone battery always dies," she said, when asked about what inspired her to work on the energy-storage technology.

Super-capacitors allowed her to focus on her interest in nanochemistry - "really working at the nanoscale to make significant advances in many different fields."

The gadget has, so far, only been tested on an LED light, but the good news is that it has a good chance of working successfully in other devices, like mobile phones, the report said.

Ms Khare sees it fitting inside cellphones and the other portable electronic devices proliferating in today's world.

"It is also flexible, so it can be used in rollup displays and clothing and fabric. It has a lot of different applications and advantages over batteries in that sense," she added.

Ford apologises over 'distasteful, offensive scantily clad women' India car ad

Ford Motors India has apologized for an ad campaign that showed scantily-clad, voluptuous women gagged, bound and stuffed in the trunk of the car maker's Figo model.

One of the ads showed a caricature of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in the driver's seat flashing a peace sign while three scantily clad women sit gagged and bound in the trunk.

Another version shows Paris Hilton -similarly kidnapping a trio of Kardashians, while a third, has Michael Schumacher toting Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, and Lewis Hamilton, the Huffington Post reports.

In a statement, advertising firm expressed regret over the publication of the ads and said they should never have been created in the first place.

It said the firm 'deeply regrets the publishing of posters that were distasteful and contrary to the standards of professionalism and decency within WPP Group.'

As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Ford also said in a statement that it 'deeply regrets this incident and agree with our agency partners that it should have never happened.'

source - yahoo

Sanjay Dutt: Bollywood actor sent back to jail for 1993 Mumbai blasts

India's Supreme Court has ruled that Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt must return to prison for his role in the 1993 Mumbai blasts.

The actor has been on bail since 2007 when he appealed against his original sentence of six years. On Thursday, the Supreme Court reduced it to five years.

Dutt was convicted in 2006 of buying weapons from bombers who attacked Mumbai. He spent 18 months in jail.

The serial bombings killed 257 people and wounded 713 others.

In 2006, a special anti-terror court had convicted 100 people for the blasts - 12 of the convicts were given death penalty and 20 others were given life sentence.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of Yakub Memon, one of the main convicts, while death sentences of 10 others were commuted to life.

The judges ordered Dutt to surrender in four weeks.

The son of a Hindu father and Muslim mother, Dutt said the weapons were necessary in order to defend his family during the Hindu-Muslim rioting of 1993 which had followed the destruction by Hindu zealots of the Babri mosque in the northern town of Ayodhya.

The Mumbai blasts were allegedly carried out by the city's Muslim-dominated underworld in retaliation for the riots, in which most of those killed were Muslims.

Dutt, one of Bollywood's most bankable stars, is hugely popular for his role of a loveable gangster in Munnabhai movies.

source - bbc

Bus going from Goa to Mumbai falls into a river, 37 dead

Mumbai: At least 37 people were killed when a bus on its way from Goa to Mumbai fell into a river near the Khed junction in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra on Tuesday morning. There were six Russian nationals, too, in the bus and one of them also died in the accident.

At least 17 passengers have also been injured with five of them stated to be in critical condition.

Initial reports suggest the bus driver lost control on the Jagudi bridge. The bus fell into the Jagbudi river near Khed at around 3.30 am.

Additional Superintendent of Police Nand Kumar said that police are trying to identify the victims and contact their family members. "The passengers are admitted in different hospitals and we are trying to coordinate with the travel agency and we are trying to identify the people. The incident took place at around 3:30 early morning. The bus was travelling on the bridge of Jagudi river. Suddenly the bus crossed to the right side and fell down the bridge. The driver has been in our custody. He is injured but not out of danger," said Kumar.

Officials say that the rescue operation is over and traffic has been cleared on the route.

source: ibnlive

7 Health Benefits of Drinking Red Wine

Don't feel guilty the next time your order a bottle of a Shiraz or a Pinot Noir for your dinner date. It may actually prove to be good for your health.

For years, researchers have puzzled over the 'French Paradox'. The French have relatively low levels of cholesterol and less cases of heart disease, despite of the fact that their cuisine has high levels of saturated fat. Many studies suggest that that the French are healthy due to the presence of red wine in their diet. So, now that the secret is out, why not use it to the fullest? Here are some of the health benefits of enjoying an occasional glass of red wine.

Prevents tooth decay
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For a perfect set of pearly whites, you should drink red wine. It hardens your enamel which in turn prevents tooth decay and the growth of bacteria. Polyphenols, something which is found in red wine, can reduce gum inflammation and prevent gum diseases.

For your forty winks
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Is that presentation at work giving you a sleepless night? Then ditch milk and drink up some red wine. Red wine contains melatonin which can help you sleep peacefully. Remember, you should drink it just once in a while. If you are facing sleeplessness regularly, you must consult a doctor.

To protect your heart
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Resveratrol is one of the most powerful antioxidant compounds which can help reduce the saturated fat accumulated in the arteries. Red wine also contains flavonoids and saponins which protect you against cardiovascular diseases. But this does not mean you go on a drinking spree. Red wine, when drunk in moderation, works best and also raises your HDL cholesterol, which in simple terms is 'good cholesterol'.

To breathe easy
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Don't you just hate it when you are down with cold and you can't breathe easy because of a blocked nose? Well, if you drank red wine regularly, you wouldn't have to face this problem. A report in American Journal of Epidemiology claims that those who drank red wine had forty four percent fewer colds than those who did not.

For beautiful, healthy skin
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Red wine also contains antioxidants which are essential for our body. They can slow aging as well as help you reduce your fine lines and wrinkles. They can also help prevent type 2 diabetes and also keep your bones strong.

To prevent cancer
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Consumption of red wine in moderation can greatly lower the risk of breast cancer in women. Red wine also contains guercetin which prevents lung cancer. Besides this, resveratrol in addition to preventing heart disease can also prevent the growth of cancerous cells.

For a long, happy life
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Scientists believe that red wine can elongate your life span to a certain extent. It also protects you from dementia and Alzheimer's disease. So drink up this glass of red elixir once in a while and enjoy its health benefits.

A word of caution

These are the benefits of red wine but here is a word of caution. You should drink red wine in moderation; about 150 ml of red wine is an ideal serving. It should be consumed by healthy people only. If you are suffering from any disease, you must consult a doctor before you start consuming red wine.

10 Things You Didn't Know About Valentine's Day

Romance, love, and conversation candy hearts...that's what Valentine's Day is all about, right? Not exactly. Keep reading for ten things you never knew about Valentine's Day:

1. There are a few theories about the origins of Valentine's Day, but one popular one dates back as far as the Roman Empire. Claudius II believed single men made better soldiers and forbid men to marry during wartime. Bishop Valentine went against his wishes, secretly performing wedding ceremonies for soldiers. His thank you? Getting jailed and executed-but not before he wrote a love note to the jailor's daughter... signing it, "From your Valentine."

2. Thinking of popping the question? February is the second most popular month (after December) to propose.

3. And don't be afraid to go against tradition. According to a study by the Robbins Brothers, 30% of women and 40% of men think it's okay for women to pop the question. And two-thirds of men are open to wearing an engagement ring.

4. Money can't buy love, but it's buying a whole lot of Valentine's Day gifts this year. RetailMeNot reports that the average guy spends about $287 on a Valentine's Day gift. Women spend an average of $164.

5. Don't stress out too much about the gift-a recent survey found that about half of the 750 couples surveyed said they didn't approve of the gift they got from their partner, but accepted it as a token of love. Socks it is!

6. The most disappointing gift? For men, it's flowers. For women, a gym membership or exercise equipment. But you guys know better than that...right?

7. The romantic dinner will set us back too, to the tune of $139.

8. And we're not forgetting our fluffier loved ones-20 percent of people plan to buy a Valentine's Day gift for their pets this year. Heart-shaped kibble?

9. What was the Middle Ages equivalent of posting "Happy Valentine's Day!" on your Valentine's Facebook wall? Back then, men and women wore the names of their sweethearts pinned to their sleeves-in fact, that's where the expression "wearing your heart on your sleeve" comes from!

10. What's better than getting a sweet handmade Valentine's Day card in the shape of a heart? In the 1920's, it was a card shaped like a... tomato? Yep, back in the day, tomatoes were also known as "love apples."

Another round of hike in Railway passenger fares on the cards

Railway fares could see another round of increase soon. Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal hinted on Thursday that fares could be hiked for the second time in 2013 as the organisation has not been not able to complete several projects due to lack of funds.

The new hike will come after railway tickets became more expensive across board in January after more than a decade. Sources say the second round of hike could be part of the Railway Budget document to be presented on February 26.

Bansal had on January 9, 2013 announced a hike in railway fares, the first in the last 10 years. The new fares became effective from midnight of January 21, 2013. Bansal said that he expected to get Rs 6,600 crore from the hike, keeping into account the incremental traffic volume as well.

The proposals will rake in an additional Rs 1200 crore between January 21 and March 31 2013, the minister said announcing the decision and did not rule out a hike in the freight tariff.

The fare hike also covered services like Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto type trains. However, it exempted platform tickets from any hike. Bansal also proposed to do away with the practice of levying development charge on passenger tickets and all the chargeable fares in future would be in multiples of five.

As a result of the proposed hike, ordinary Second Class suburban fares for a distance of 35 km has gone up by Rs 2 from Rs 8 to Rs 10, while in the non-suburban trains it has gone up by Rs 5 for an average distance of 135 km.

In Sleeper Class, the increase is of Rs 50 for a distance of 770 km from Rs 270 to Rs 320. In the case of AC Chair Car, for a distance of 387 km, the increase is Rs 40 from Rs 345 to Rs 385. In the case of AC Three Tier, for a distance of 717 km, the fare have gone up from Rs 724 to Rs 800, an increase of Rs 76.

Similarly, in the case of AC Two Tier, the increase means a hike of Rs 48 for a distance of 721 km, while for AC First Class it has been Rs 56 for a distance of 547 km.

source: ibnlive

Samsung to launch 'Android-powered fridge, internet-connected washing machine'

South Korean electronic maker Samsung has now planned to launch a fridge with a built-in Android tablet and an internet-connected washing machine by the end of the year.

The Samsung refrigerator with Android tablets will help people keep track of ingredients, order groceries and act as baby monitors using built-in cameras.

The company's flagship washing machines can be controlled remotely using mobile apps, the Telegraph reports.

Russell Owens, Samsung's head of sales for digital appliances, said the T9000 refrigerator and the 12kg washing machine would be available in Britain later in the year.

Samsung's flagship web-connected home appliances have previously been available in North America and Asia, but have not been available in Europe.

The T9000 refrigerator was launched at CES in Las Vegas in January.
According to the paper, Samsung suggested that the built-in Evernote application could allow busy couples to share shopping lists as soon as they ran out of something.

source: yahoo news

Agra: Man arrested for posting cartoons of PM, Sibal and Mulayam on Facebook

Lucknow: A man in Agra has been arrested for "communal and inflammatory" posts on social networking site Facebook targeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, union Communications Minister Kapil Sibal and Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, police said Tuesday. Sanjay Chowdhary, a resident of the Dayalbagh suburb of Agra, was arrested late Monday and his laptop, sim card and data card impounded.

Police in Agra said the arrest, which some see as an attempt to muzzle freedom of speech and expression on social networking sites, that the arrest was made on "specific information" about certain "communal and inflammatory" posts by Chowdhary. However, officials here admitted that the "case became hypersensitive after some remarks were made on the SP chief".

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Agra, Subhash Chandra Dubey said police had acted "purely on law and order basis" in the matter. "We are not involved in the political angle of the whole issue, our concern were the inflammatory comments and posts on the Facebook wall of this man and we acted to prevent any communal flare up," Dubey said.

Some officials, however, said the case was "fast tracked" once cartoons lampooning the three leaders were posted on his Facebook wall. Soon after his arrest, the inflammatory posts were deleted from his Facebook profile and later his account was deactivated.

Chowdhury, a civil engineer and chairman of a public school, was booked under sections 153 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 66 A of the Information Technology (IT) Act. "We have arrested him and he is being sent to jail under the due process of law," a police official said.

Two people were arrested on similar grounds in Hyderabad January 11 at Bhainsa town of Adilabad district for allegedly posting a hateful statement against a community on networking site Facebook. In 2012, the arrest of two girls from Mumbai had created a stir for commenting on late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, with Maharashtra Police being criticised in many quarters for its hasty decision. A sessions court in Palghar, Maharashtra, had later dropped the cases against the girls after the police filed a closure report.

source: ibnlive

Tips to decide it's right time to quit a job

If you're considering quitting your job, you may be indecisive about whether it's the right decision or not. On the one hand, you're pretty miserable. On the other hand, if you wait it out, you might make that promotion next year. While quitting or staying at your job is a personal decision, let's look at a few key situations and what you should consider.

Situation 1: You don't make enough money
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If the sole reason you want to quit is the money you're not making, consider the alternatives. Quitting over a lack of money is rarely the best decision. If there are other factors to consider, include those in the decision. But if it's all about the Benjamins, find another way to get what you want:

Ask for a raise
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Research comparable positions at other companies on sites like Salary.com to see what you should be making. Assess whether you truly meet the background and experience requirements to make that much (be honest with yourself: if you could make $20K more but need a master's degree, you're not qualified for that big of an increase). If you do qualify, present it to your boss, along with a list of accomplishments you've achieved. You always want to back up your request for a raise with what you've done to deserve it.

Look for another position in the same company
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If your position doesn't offer upward mobility, consider staying at your company in a different role. If there are no promotions opening up in your department, look at others, and check the intranet job board to see what's available. Tap your internal contacts to see where there may be an opening on the horizon.

Get a part-time job
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If getting more money isn't an option at your current company, but you're still strapped for cash, consider getting a second job to provide more income. This way, you don't have to quit your job and you still earn additional income.

Situation 2: Your boss is verbally abusive
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If your supervisor calls you ugly names and screams at you, it may be time to find another job. You shouldn't tolerate this kind of behavior, but understandably: you need your job. Still, the constant berating is likely wearing you down, and can even threaten your health, so in this situation, your best bet is likely to start looking for another position elsewhere as soon as possible.

Try to be calm when your boss attacks you, and don't feed the fire. Do your work and stay out of sight until you can resign.

Situation 3: You are dating a co-worker
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Depending on what your workplace relationship policy is, you may be jeopardizing your job by getting involved with a co-worker. You might be fired if you're found out to be violating your company's policy ... or not. Sometimes companies have strict (seeming) policies in place, but they might be willing to turn a blind eye, especially if you're both hard-working and don't let your office romance interfere with your jobs.

Check with your employee handbook to see what it says about relationships
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Then go to your human resources manager together and explain the situation. Get the HR recommendation on what to do. You may find you're able to keep your job and enjoy your new-found love.

Situation 4: You haven't been paid in weeks
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If your company is late in paying you by several weeks and keeps promising you the "check is on the way," you should see red flags. This won't likely end well and you shouldn't have to suffer personally for the financial instability of your company. Insist on getting paid for the time you work and start looking for a new job.

(Source: U.S.News & World Report LP)