GOES-13 satellite eyeing system with a high risk of severe storms

A low pressure area currently over northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin has created conditions that call for a forecast of severe weather in the eastern third of the U.S. today and one area is even labeled "high risk." The GOES-13 Satellite captured a visible image of the system today as daytime heating was boiling up strong and severe thunderstorms. What's unusual about the system is that there are a handful of days where a "high risk" for severe weather is noted by NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL). Today, April 26, 2011 is one of them. The high risk area includes southern Arkansas, extreme northwest Louisiana and extreme...

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Water molecules characterize the structure of DNA genetic material

Water molecules surround the genetic material DNA in a very specific way. Scientists at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) have discovered that, on the one hand, the texture of this hydration shell depends on the water content and, on the other hand, actually influences the structure of the genetic substance itself. These findings are not only important in understanding the biological function of DNA; they could also be used for the construction of new DNA-based materials. The DNA's double helix never occurs in isolation; instead, its entire surface is always covered by water molecules which attach themselves with the help of hydrogen...

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Campaign aims to boost uptake in infant jabs

HSE concerned over parents not finishing child immunisation programmes, writes EITHNE DONNELLAN Health Correspondent PARENTS NEED to ensure their children are seen five times by a GP for immunisation in the first 13 months of life to ensure they are fully protected against a range of life-threatening conditions including meningitis C, the HSE has said. While overall immunisation uptake rates are improving in the Republic, there is concern about a drop in the number of children receiving their Hib booster which protects against Haemophilus influenzae type B, as well as their third doses of PCV (pneumococcal vaccine) and meningitis C vaccines,...

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Spurt in Demand of Botox Treatment in India

It seems that the well known lunchtime procedures are on the run. As per reports, a significant rise in non-invasive surgical procedures has been observed in middle–aged men to look good and to deal with the ageing factor. If statistics of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons are to be believed, the non-invasive procedures have gone up by 2% in 2010, especially in baby boomers. Though the number of male surgical operations remained stagnant at 1.1 million between 2007 and 2009, the number went up to 2.1 million in 2010. Moreover, many cosmetic consultants have revealed that number of Botox treatment has notched up in the past few years...

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Fighting HIV in South Africa should focus on couples

HIV-positive people in South Africa take almost as much risk in their behavior when they know their partner is HIV-negative or don't know their status, as when they know their partner is already infected. At the same time, HIV-positive partners who are on antiretroviral therapy and in intensive counseling do engage in less risky behavior. The Brown University researchers who led the study say both findings suggest that more couples-based HIV counseling is needed in South Africa where about 18 percent of adults carry the virus. "This paper clearly points to the urgent need to intervene among people already infected with HIV and especially...

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Saif Ali Khan pops the question to Kareena finally

Mumbai: Is it wedding season in B-Town? Former Miss World Lara Dutta tied the nuptial with tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi early this year. And filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and his ladylove Kalki are all set to enter into matrimony this month end. It seems star couple Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor too is headed towards the altar. Rumours have it that Saif has already popped the question to Kareena. Sources close to the couple have stated that an official announcement is on the anvil after the release of Saif’s home production ‘Agent Vinod’ which stars the two in the lead. Saif, is waiting for Kareena’s answer. Now we all know what Bebo’s answer is...

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Kate's organic flowers to be best of British

An avenue of trees lining the aisle and leading to the altar will be the main feature of the display, which is based around growing, rather than cut plants, in line with the bride-to-be's desire that it should be sustainable. London-based florist Shane Connolly, 47, who is in charge of the displays, said he had been in regular touch with Middleton and that the flowers would not give a message of "wow, what an extravagance," but "how beautiful." "I suggested right from the beginning that we would use things from the royal estates because her whole ethos has been that it had to be British ... and that it had to be seasonal and as organic to...

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SRK keeps a safe distance

Wonder what’s stopping Shah Rukh Khan from promoting a 76-minute film under his banner. Call it the pressure of wrapping up his most ambitious project ever (Ra. One), getting plans in place for his home production (Always Kabhi Kabhi) or sheer aversion to the latest production from his company, Shah Rukh seems to have distanced himself from Men Will Be Men. King Khan, who is known for his marketing strategies and having a sharp business acumen, has shockingly stayed away from any promotions for this film. Men Will Be Men is a 76-minute film under SRK’s banner which is due for release this Friday. Considering all the hype he generates around...

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The typewriter’s day is nearly done

Who knew that typewriters were still being manufactured? Somehow word processing’s precursor had managed to endure in India for decades after the fickle keyboard crowd moved on. But now the 19th-century machine’s last gasp is that much closer with the announcement that Godrej & Boyce will close its Mumbai plant, which used to produce 50,000 typewriters a year. Defence agencies, courts and government offices were the last customers of the cumbersome device as sales plummeted to less than 1,000 per annum. Now, finally, even the tradition-minded Indian bureaucracy will have to face up to the efficiencies of the modern world. They linger...

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Sony Playstation suffers massive data breach

Sony said it learned of the breach in its popular PlayStation Network on April 19, prompting it to shut down the network immediately. Sony did not tell the public about the stolen data until Tuesday, hours after it launched its new tablet computers in Japan. An "illegal and unauthorized person" obtained names, addresses, email addresses, birth dates, usernames, passwords, logins, security questions and more, Sony said on its U.S. PlayStation blog on Tuesday. A Sony spokesman said it took "several days of forensic investigation" after learning of the breach before the company knew consumers' data had been compromised. The news sparked fury...

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Sony to challenge Apple with two tablet computers

Kunimasa Suzuki, Sony’s deputy president, said the company’s new tablets, codenamed S1 and S2, would use Google’s Android operating system and will go on sale this autumn. The S1 is a 9.4-inch tablet computer with a tapered design that is thick on one end and thin on the other. The S2 is a clamshell style tablet that opens to reveal two 5.5-inch touchscreens. Sony said the two tablets might not launch at the same time. Both tablets will have WiFi connectivity and 3G mobile internet, as well as 4G where it is available. Mr Suzuki said: “We’ve tried to expand the possibilities of a tablet.” The tablet market is currently dominated by Apple,...

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Petronet plans to buy 10 spot LNG cargoes in FY12

India's Petronet LNG plans to import 10 spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes this fiscal on top of its deals with Spain's Gas Natural and Qatar's Rasgas, its Chief Executive said on Tuesday, to meet growing energy demand in Asia's third largest economy. "There is a lot of discussion that domestic gas may not be able to match projections made earlier. So the logical solution is LNG and we should be able to pitch in," AK Balyan told reporters. India's upstream regulator SK Srivastava last week said Reliance Industries, which has partnered with BP on field development, was pumping 28 percent less-than-expected gas from the D6 block, India's...

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Wipro Q4 net up 13.7 pct; in line with forecast

Bangalore-based Wipro said net profit for the fiscal fourth quarter rose to 13.75 billion rupees ($309 million) under international accounting standards from 12.09 billion a year ago. This compares with a Reuters poll forecast of 13.79 billion rupees for Mumbai and New York-listed Wipro, which counts Citigroup, Cisco and Credit Suisse among its clients. Earlier this month, larger rival Tata Consultancy Services beat profit estimates but said wage hikes and currency moves could threaten its full-year margins. No. 2 Infosys forecast lower-than-expected annual sales growth on slower client spending, prompting a series of downgrades and share...

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March inflation rises to 8.98% vs 8.31% in Feb

The wholesale price index (WPI) for the year rose to 8.98% in March as against 8.31% in February on higher fuel and manufactured product prices. A CNBC-TV18 poll forecasted a 8.38% rise in the figure for the said month. The reading for January was upwardly revised to 9.35% from 8.23%. The food price index rose 8.28% and the fuel price index climbed 12.97% in the year to April 2. In the previous week, annual food and fuel inflation stood at 9.18% and 13.13%, respectively. The primary articles price index was up 11.40%, compared with an annual rise of 12.97% a week earlier. The picture doesn't look too bright to Sonal Varma India economist...

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Medvedev Sends N-Safety Proposals To G-8, BRICS Leaders

Moscow,   :  Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has sent a set of proposals to the leaders of G-8 and BRICS, grouping of the most industrialised nations and the fastest emerging economies, including India to further improve international nuclear safety regulations. According to the Kremlin, the proposals are the result of analysis of events at the Fukushima-1 NPP in Japan and are a response to the rapid growth of civil nuclear power facilities around the world. Medvedev has proposed to supplement existing conventions and the UN nuclear watchdog, International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) statute with several provisions stipulating...

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William, Kate May Kiss On The Balcony

London  : Until July 29, 1981, no newly-wed royal couple had kissed in public, but after Prince Charles and Lady Diana responded to a chorus from an ecstatic public and kissed on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on that heady day, they started a whole new royal tradition. Prince William and Kate can be expected to dutifully follow suit on Friday. The young couple will not only bear the weight of traditions going back centuries, but also reflect the ethos of modern times. For centuries, royal weddings were private events that took place in palaces and castles like Windsor. But the weddings of Queen Elizabeth’s children - Princess Anne...

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3 Killed In Twin Bomb Attacks Near Pak Naval Bases

Karach : Two roadside bomb blasts targeted buses carrying Pakistani navy employees here today, killing at least three persons, including a woman, and injuring over 30 others, officials said. The first blast hit a bus carrying about 50 people in the upmarket Defence area of Karachi at about 7.40 am local time.  A lady doctor and a sub-lieutenant of the navy were killed in the attack, a naval spokesman told the media.  Over 15 people were injured in the attack.  Another bus carrying naval employees to work was hit by the second blast in Baldia Town area about 10 minutes later. TV news channels reported that at least one person...

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Section Of Air India Pilots On Strike, 4 Flights Cancelled, 16 Delayed

New Delhi  : Four Air India flights were cancelled and 16 pilots were delayed from Mumbai on Wednesday morning, as a section of pilots went on a flash strike. Earlier, in a latter sent to the Prime Minister, the Indian Commercial Pilots Association blamed the Air India management as responsible for the mismanagement and losses. The striking pilots sought the Prime Minister’s intervention and a CBI probe into the matter. The Indian Commercial Pilot’s Association (ICPA), which is spearheading the strike that has affected the flight operations, shot up a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh early today urging him to review the appointment...

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Sachin Sits Under Sai Tree In Jaipur

Jaipur : Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar again became emotional on Tuesday when he went near the tree where Sathya Sai Baba had given his discourse 38 years ago, the year Sachin was born. As Sachin went near the tree, he became silent and quietly sat  near the tree for a long time, deeply engrossed in thoughts. The tree is located in Kothari House premises here and Sachin had come for an ad shoot. On Monday, Sachin broke down as he watched Baba's mortal remains inside a glass case in his ashram at Puttaparthi. Sachin is an avowed disciple of Sathya Sai Baba, who had blessed him to attain heights of  excellence and populari...

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Kalmadi Sacked, Malhotra Named IOA Acting President

New Delhi : A day after his arrest on corruption charges, Suresh Kalmadi’s 15-year tenure as the IOA president came to an abrupt end after he was sacked from the post and veteran sports administrator VK Malhotra was ‘unanimously’ named as the acting president. The swift action to end Kalmadi’s reign as the supremo was taken by the IOA officials in a meeting chaired by Malhotra himself, citing clause 13B of the constitution which empowers the vice-president to take interim charge in the absence of the president. Malhotra said he will call a meeting of the IOA Executive Board at the earliest in consultation with the Secretary General Randhir...

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