Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

Everybody dreams about flying through the air like their favourite action hero at some point in their life...and now it's possible with the new Jetlev-Flyer - a futuristic jet pack. Canadian engineer Raymond Li designed the water-powered machine so that it can hover up to 30 metres in the air and reach speeds of up to 22mph as you make your way across the water. And now fans of Superman or even James Bond can get their hands on this high-tech device for just £110,000. The device was being tested out on the beaches of Miami, Florida, and onlookers were able to watch the pilot as he propelled into the air and flew across the water. The Jetlev-Flyer...

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China launches satellite

China on early Sunday morning launched its eighth orbiter which will form part of its indigenous satellite-navigation and positioning network. A Long March-3A carrier rocket carrying the "Beidou" or Compass, navigation satellite took off at 4.47 a.m. Sunday from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, news paper reported. It will join seven other satellites already in the orbit to form a network which will eventually consist of over 30 satellites. The launching of the satellite marks the establishment of a basic system for the navigation and positioning network, said an unidentified spokesperson for the Xichang...

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ResourceSat-2 launch scheduled for April 20

The launch of remote-sensing satellite the ResourceSat-2 has been tentatively scheduled for 10.12 a.m., April 20, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said on Saturday. 1,206 kg satellite The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C16) will launch the 1,206-kg satellite along with two other satellites — YouthSat and X-Sat — from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. ResourceSat-2, built by ISRO, is an advanced remote sensing satellite and designed for the study and management of natural resources. YouthSat, weighing 92 kg, is a joint Indo-Russian satellite for stellar and atmospheric studies. X-Sat is a microsatellite for imaging...

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Google: Inside the world's weirdest company

THE wacky workplace secrets of Google have been exposed in a searching new book. Boffins at the web giant, worth £118BILLION, enjoy free trapeze lessons, gourmet food, massages, car washes and even chocolate truffle making classes. So-called 'Googlers' cycle from building to building on company bikes at the sprawling 'Googleplex' HQ campus in Mountain View, California. Luxury, wi-fi equipped, biodiesel buses take them to and from work. And there are gyms staffed with personal trainers as well as hairdressers and dry cleaners. They can even exercise at 'swim in place' pools by pushing against a current in a short stretch of water. The gardens...

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It's Time to Play-Hands on With the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play

I’ve been a fan of the PSP for a long time and although I’ve been following the latest developments in that arena - considering the NGP - I’ve been looking forward to the PSP phone aka the Xperia Play a lot more. I’ve been covering this device since it was but a rumour so naturally, I just had to be there when Sony Ericsson launched both the Xperia Play and the Arc into the Indian market. Since I had already reviewed the Xperia Arc I was eager to see just what the Xperia Play had to offer. Grabbing the opportunity to ‘play’ around with the device here’s what I thought. Form Factor It’s a bit of a bulky handset which is in stark contrast to the...

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Scientists settle centuries-old debate on perception

Imagine, William Molyneux wrote to the great British thinker, that a man blind from birth who has learned to identify objects -- a sphere and a cube, for example -- only through his sense of touch is suddenly able to see. The puzzle, he continued, is "Whether he Could, by his Sight, and before he touch them, know which is the Globe and which the Cube?" For philosophers of the time, answering "Molyneux's question," as it was known ever after, would resolve a fundamental uncertainty about the human mind. Empiricists believed that we are born blank slates, and become the sum total of our accumulated experience. So-called "nativists" countered...

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Madhya Pradesh govt pays Rs 1,000 cr to wheat growers

The Madhya Pradesh government has claimed to have parked an amount of Rs 1,000 crore to state wheat growers’ accounts against payments for wheat procurement and additional bonus. State government sources said this ahead of the Union government’s Budget announcement for making minimum support price and bonus or subsidy payments through bank accounts. The state has also announced a bonus of Rs 100 per quintal for wheat. “This year, we have adopted a system to protect farmers from any delay in payment or middlemen. The money against bonus and procurement has been transferred directly to their accounts,” said a senior government official. The...

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Mawana Sugars eyes 80% growth

MUMBAI: Mawana Sugars is eyeing about 80% growth in revenue by FY 13 at around Rs.1,800cr following its foray into the branded sweetener segment. "We are targeting a revenue growth of 70-80% at Rs.1,700-1,800cr in FY 13 by focusing more in our branded segment and strengthening our product portfolio," Mawana Sugars managing director Sunil Kakria said. Mawana Sugars' revenue for 2009-10 stood at over Rs.1,000cr. The company, which has a crushing capacity of 29,000tn per day, is planning to focus on increasing its specialised sugar segment, which is used in making baby food, food, beverage and pharmaceutical. "We are producing 300,000tn sugar...

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India's insurance industry to touch $400 bn by 2020: Study

New Delhi: India's insurance industry is expected to touch the USD 400 billion mark by 2020, with scope for further penetration, but the sector players need to adopt a customer centric operating model a study has said. At present, the insurance industry comprising 23 life and 24 non-life companies, is valued at over USD 66 billion. "The insurance industry will be USD 350?400 billion (about Rs 18 lakh crore) in premium income by 2020, making India a top 3 life insurance market and a top 15 non-life insurance market by 2020," according to a study jointly done by Ficci and the Boston Consulting Group. Besides, there has been a massive increase...

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Vadivelu threatened

Vadivelu, who is campaigning in support of the ruling party, the DMK, met the Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and complained that his manager has been receiving phone calls threatening to blow him down while on the campaign trail. The comedian said that his manager had lodged a complaint with the police and met the DGP and Chennai Police Commissioner seeking protection to his residences in Chennai and Madurai and his office in Chennai. Vadivelu briefed the CM about the phone calls that his manager had been receiving ever since he began campaigning for DMK to which the CM assured that no harm will befall h...

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All eyes on STR!

STR’s much awaited Vaanam is likely to be released on April 29th. The producer, Ganesh (of VTV fame) and Cloud 9 movies believe the timing is right for their film to scorch the screens this summer.  Vaanam is a remake of Vedam which had Allu Arjun in the lead and which won him a lot of critical as well as popular acclaim. Insiders swear that STR has done a superb job. Krish who directed the Telugu version has done even better with Vaanam, sources claim.  The film is a multi – starrer with Bharath, Anushka and Sonia Agarwal. The music by Yuvan is already a hit.  Simbhu’s last release, VTV was a super- hit and if Vaanam can also...

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Vishal follows Karthi!

Director Siva’s Siruthai with Karthi has been declared a blockbuster. Following the stupendous commercial success of the film, Siva is very much in demand. The top actors and production houses want to work with him. But the director is taking his time before committing himself. He went to Kerela for some holistic therapy to rejuvenate himself as he was exhausted both physically and mentally due to rigorous shooting. The up and coming director is back in the city. Apparently he had a meeting with Vishal who is currently the toast of tinsel town for trying his hand at playing a squint eyed man in Avan Ivan. All went well and Vishal has been finalized...

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Simple way to ensure a healthy pregnancy

Exercise a good way to ensure a healthy pregnancy even before you get pregnant. It will help in increasing your stamina, controlling your weight gain and making labour easy and less painful. If you have a habit of exercising, choose the right exercise after consulting your healthcare provider. Nowadays tapes are available and you can exercise daily watching them in any kind of weather. But before doing that you should     * Consult your physician about your past pregnancy and the current situation whether it is favourable for any kind of exercise     * Avoid risky sports like jumping, horse riding or skiing    ...

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First aid for burns while using crackers.

Diwali - a festival of lights can easily turn into a nightmare for people who take it easy. The festival celebrated across India irrespective of any caste or creed involves crackers and burning of candles and lamps. Apart from the crackers being a hazard for the environment it can be even more hazardous to human lives if care is not taken. Here are a few tips you must keep in mind in case of an accident involving burns. First of all, it is important for you to keep calm. If you panic, you will not be able to help the victim. It is recommended to seek medical advice, specially when you are unsure of the seriousness of the injury. It is important...

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Yes, this is where a woman likes to be touched

Apart from the areas where men love to touch their women, she has sensitive points all across her body. Here are four parts of her body that we men commonly ignore. Backside of the Knee Behind the knee is one of the very sensitive areas for woman’s sexuality. Most men are not even aware that this area can stimulate their woman and lead to better sex. Hair Women love to have someone caress their hair. It works as an amazing stress reliever. The one other thing it surely does to women is to fire her passion. She loves to be pampered. Be cautious not to spoil her hair-do while you are at a party. Earlobes Kissing and even gentle biting on...

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AP Photographer Located In Libya

New York  :  An award-winning Associated Press photographer covering the conflict in Libya was located today after being missing for more than a day, the news agency said. Altaf Qadri was safe and unhurt, and was on his way back to the AP offices in Benghazi, according to John Daniszewski, the agency’s senior managing editor for international news and photos. Qadri became separated from his colleagues near the eastern Libyan city of Ajdabiya while on assignment Saturday, according to the AP. “We’re very pleased that he has emerged unharmed while covering the violence in the area,” Daniszewski said. “We thank all the people around...

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Shariah Police In Indonesia Gives 9 Lashes To Woman For Extramarital Affair

Jakarta : The Shariah (religious) police in Indonesia gave nine lashes to a 34-year-old woman Irdayanti Mukhtar on charge of extra-marital relationship, Daily Mail reported.The woman flinched and later fell unconscious after she was given nine lashes. Irdayanti Mukhtar, 34, received nine lashes by Sharia Police for having a relationship with another man, even though she is said to be in the process of divorcing her husband.The harsh punishment was meted out in front of a crowd of 200 people outside the Al Munawwarah Mosque in Jantho, Indonesia. Brutal: An Indonesian official prepares to whip Irdavanti Mukhtar as another announces to the crowd...

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NATO Intercepts Libya Rebel Fighter Jet: Official

Brussels : NATO warplanes intercepted a MiG-23 fighter jet operated by a Libyan rebel pilot today and forced him to land after he violated a UN-mandated no-fly zone, a NATO official told AFP. The jet had taken off from a rebel-controlled airfield near the eastern city of Benghazi in the morning and was intercepted within minutes, the official said on condition of anonymity. No weapons were fired by either side."No aggressive action was displayed by the MiG-23 and the NATO fighters proceeded to force it to land back at the Benina airfield," the official said. The official added that the rebels had not warned NATO that one of their jets was going...

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Courage: 14 Year Old Gurgaon Boy Fights Kidnappers, Escapes

Gurgaon : 14-year-old schoolboy Awaz Mangla from Gurgaon's Sadar Bazar area was abducted by three kidnappers in a Maruti van on Saturday evening and was taken to Delhi, but the brave boy showed tremendous presence of mind and escaped from their clucthes, reports India TV correspondent Parveen Dahiya. According to the boy's father, Ajay Mangla, Awaz had gone to a shop to buy something, when he was forcibly abducted by three persons in a Maruti van.  The  abductors tried to render him unconscious inside the van  but failed. Meanwhile, Awaz stole a ballpoint pen from the pocket of one of the kidnappers and slashed it at his face....

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Anna Overruled Objection Over Father-Son Inclusion: Shanti

New Delhi : In the backdrop of the controversy over the father-son duo being part of the Lokpal drafting committee, noted lawyer Shanti Bhushan today said his son Prashant had raised the issue of their inclusion with Anna Hazare but the Gandhian overruled the objection. "Prashant had himself raised the issue with Anna Hazare as to why you are keeping both of us in that committee.  You, instead of myself, include others and he (Prashant) had suggested two or three names," he said. He was clearing the air in the wake of Baba Ramdev's criticism of the two being part of the same panel, alleging it showed nepotism. "But Anna Hazare did not...

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BJP Says It Will Give Suggestions On Lokpal Bill In Parliament

New Delhi  :  Asserting that it considers Lok Pal Bill an effective medium to fight corruption in the country, the BJP today said it would give its suggestions and views on the proposed legislation when it comes up in Parliament. "The BJP will have its suggestions and recommendations when the Lok Pal Bill is in Parliament. We see it as an effective medium to fight corruption in the country," party spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters here. Hussain stressed that BJP has always raised the issue of corruption and that it had pressurised the government to form a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the 2G spectrum allocation...

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