Rs 297.75-crore push for Kochi Metro Rail Project

The implementation of the Kochi Metro Rail Project on Wednesday got a major push forward with the state government allocating Rs 297.75 crore for it. The major chunk of the amount will be utilised for land acquisition process which is the immediate requirement, said KMRL officials.
Of the Rs 297.75 crore, Rs 88.50 crore is the state government’s equity share and Rs 209.25 crore has been earmarked for land acquisition. The land acquisition procedures for the project will be carried out in five phases.
“We are hopeful that the land acquisition can be completed in five phases,  including the 20 acres of land for the Metro yard at Muttom. The remaining  work will be done in four phases. Since land acquisition procedures for Metro are being handled by the district-level purchase committee, it is  expected to be complete very soon. By May, we expect land acquisition to be over,” said KMRL MD Elias George. He added that land acquisition will not be a hindrance for the construction to begin as in the initial stage work, the rail line will pass through the middle of the national highway where not much acquisition is needed.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, which is undertaking the construction for Kochi Metro, has already floated four tenders for the same.
Once these are finalised, the construction will start by May-June, the officials said.

Source: http://newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/article1519701.ece

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Health Benefits of Jack fruit seeds

Most of us yet unknown about the valuable benefits of Jack fruit seeds. While we consume Jackfruits attracted to its taste and aroma, we normally throw away its seeds which are like gravels. Jackfruit seeds are indeed very rich in protein and nutritious. In general, the seeds are gathered from the ripe fruit, sun-dried and stored for use in rainy season in many parts of South Indian states. Different variety of recipes prepared in Southern India where they are eaten either by roasting as a snack or added to curries in place of lentils.

Jackfruit Seeds – Macronutrients

One portion of 100 g of edible fresh jackfruit seeds has approximately 98 calories, 0.4 g of fat, 6.6 g of protein, 38.4 g of carbohydrates and 1.5 g of fiber. The seeds contain 51.6 to 57.77 g of moisture per 100 g serving.

Jackfruit Seeds: Other Nutrients

One 100 g serving of jackfruit seeds contains 1.25 to 1.5 g of ash, 0.05 to 0.55 mg of calcium, 0.13 to 0.23 mg of phsphorus, 0.002 to 1.2 mg of iron, 2 mg of sodium, 407 g of potassium, 540 international units of vitamin A, 0.03 mg of thiamine, 4 mg of niacin, and 8 to 10 mg of ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C. According to Purdue University, the fresh seeds are considered to be a high starch, low calcium and iron food but a good source of both vitamin B1 and vitamin B12.
       
Here are some of health benefits known in general:

1. phytonutrients and their health benefits are wide-ranging from anti-cancer to antihypertensive, anti-ageing, antioxidant, anti-ulcer.
2. Helps prevent constipation.
3. Is revealed it to be a good source of protein having high solubility near neutral pH
4. May help prevent and treat tension and nervousness
5. It has low water and fat absorption capacities and helps prevent obesity
6. Has high potassium content and so lowers blood pressure

Jackfruit Health Benefits

Jackfruit, scientifically known as Artocarpus heterophyllus, belongs to the Moraceae family and is native to certain parts of Southeast and Southern Asia. Asian cuisine commonly uses this fruit as a condiment to various curries and other dishes. This fruit usually grows in abundance during the summer. Some of the nutritional information and facts about jackfruit are as under:

1. A cup of raw jackfruit contains approximately 155 calories where only 4 calories come from its fat content.
2. Jackfruit is low in sodium, cholesterol, and saturated fats.
3. It is a rich source of vitamins A, C, riboflavin, niacin, thiamine, and folate.
4. It also contains important minerals like magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorous, copper, zinc, manganese, and selenium.
5. It is a rich source of dietary fiber and provides almost 11% of the daily fiber requirement.
6. It does not contain any sugar, which makes it a good fruit for health conscious individuals.
7. The nutrients found in jackfruit have powerful anti-cancer, anti-aging, anti-ulcerative, and anti-hypersensitivity properties that are valuable in the treatment of a number of diseases.
8. Chinese medicine uses jackfruit as a treatment for fighting the effects of alcohol in the body.

Apart from being a tasty fruit, there are various health benefits of jackfruit.
Its high nutritional value is very beneficial in the treatment, cure, and prevention of a number of ailments and disorders. Some of the main health benefits of jackfruit concerning specific disorders are as under:

• Diabetes: Most doctors do not recommend eating jackfruit for patients of diabetes. However, consumption of jackfruit leaves may help in improving glucose tolerance in both type-2 and normal diabetes patients.
• Cancer: Jackfruit contains phytonutrients that have powerful anti-cancer properties. These phytonutrients help in eliminating free cancer causing radicals from the body and slow down the degeneration of cells in the body, which may lead to a number of degenerative disorders.
• Constipation: One of the medicinal uses of jackfruit is the treatment of problems like constipation. Jackfruits are rich in fiber and have powerful laxative properties that help in facilitating bowel movements, thereby preventing and treating constipation.
• Skin and eye care: Jackfruits contain powerful anti-aging properties that slow down the degeneration of skin cells and make the skin look younger. They are a rich source of vitamin A that is essential in maintaining healthy eyesight.

• High blood pressure: Being a rich source of potassium, jackfruits are very effective in lowering high blood pressure and controlling the heart rate.
• Bone health: Jackfruits are also effective in maintaining good bone health. They are a rich source of magnesium that helps in the absorption of calcium and strengthens the bones.
• Anemia: Jackfruits being a rich source of iron help in preventing anemia and improving blood circulation in the body.
• Asthma: Another one of the medicinal uses of jackfruit is the treatment of asthma and other upper respiratory tract problems. Experts believe that the root and extracts of jackfruit are effective in controlling asthma and alleviating the symptoms associated with this condition.
• Ulcers: Jackfruit contains strong anti-ulcerative properties that not only help cure ulcers but also prevent a number of other digestive system disorders.

Jackfruit For Pregnant Women

Most experts recommend not eating jackfruit during pregnancy, simply because of a lack of scientific evidence about its safety during pregnancy. The popular myth among pregnant women is that eating jackfruit during pregnancy may induce a miscarriage. This, however, is not true. It is always advisable to eat this fruit in limited quantities because it contains powerful laxative properties that may cause diarrhea in pregnant women and hamper the health of both the mother and the child. Jackfruit, like most fruits, is loaded with nutrients that may actually be beneficial during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Some of the advantages of eating this fruit during pregnancy are:

• It is a rich source of vitamin A that is crucial for proper cell production, eyesight, and fetal development during pregnancy.
• It is a rich source of niacin (vitamin B3) that helps regulate hormones, boosts immunity, and controls stress levels in pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Side Effects of Jackfruit

Although jackfruit has a number of health benefits, it is also important to consider some of its side effects on health. Some of the common side effects are as follows:

• Jackfruits may cause an allergic reaction in people suffering from birch pollen allergies.
• It may increase coagulation in people suffering from blood disorders.
• It may alter the tolerance levels of glucose in diabetes patients.
• The seeds of jackfruit may have an immunostimulative effect in patients undergoing immunosuppression therapy or patients with tissue transplants.  Do not take jack fruit with steroid medicines .
• Those trying to get pregnant should avoid jackfruit as it may inhibit sexual arousal, libido, performance, and vigor in men.

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Foreign minister quits amid Italy-India row over marines facing murder trial

The Italian foreign minister, Giulio Terzi, resigned on Tuesday over his government's decision to return two marines to India to face trial for the murder of fishermen while on anti-piracy duty.
Terzi told the lower house of parliament that he was stepping down to protect the "honour of the country, of the armed forces and Italian diplomacy".
"I can no longer be part of this government and I announce my resignation," he said. "My reservations about sending the marines back to India were not listened to."
The marines, Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre, are facing trial in India over the fatal shooting of two fishermen off the southern state of Kerala in February 2012 when they were assigned to protect an Italian commercial tanker. They said they fired warning shots at a boat they believed to be a pirate vessel.
Since the incident, India and Italy have been embroiled in an escalating row at a time when Rome is trying to secure a major deal to sell helicopters to the Indian government.
The marines were allowed home for Christmas and again to vote in February's Italian elections, on condition they returned to India.
On 11 March, the outgoing technocrat government of Mario Monti said it would not send the marines back because Indian courts did not have jurisdiction over the incident, which Rome said occurred in international waters.
But Italy reversed its position last week after India prevented the Italian ambassador from leaving the country.
Latorre and Girone returned to New Delhi on Friday.
The marines' anti-piracy duty was conducted under the umbrella of a UN resolution to safeguard shipping from repeated pirate attacks.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/26/giulio-terzi-italy-india-piracy-murder

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Driver lets neighbour know that he's home

A US man's car ended up on his neighbour's roof in a freak accident.
Californian police sergeant Sean Riley told City News Service that the driver lost control on Saturday afternoon on a driveway in an area where homes are built on a steep hill side.
The vehicle ended up on the roof of the next house down the hill.
Riley said the driver reported that his vehicle had suffered a mechanical failure.
The man, his wife and the resident of the neighbouring home were unharmed.
A crane was brought into lift the car from the roof, which had minor damage.

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Pepsi rolls out new shape for bottle

NEW YORK -- Pepsi is rolling out a new shape for its 20-ounce bottle for the first time in about 17 years.
The new bottle has a contoured bottom half that appears easier to grip, and the wraparound label is shorter so that more of the drink is exposed. The change follows a number of splashy moves in the past year by PepsiCo to improve results for its namesake soda, including a multiyear deal to sponsor the Super Bowl halftime show and a wide-ranging deal with pop star Beyonce.


Scroll Down To See New Bottle

PepsiCo Inc., based in Purchase, N.Y., has been working to revitalize the brand after losing market share to Coca-Cola Co. in recent years.
Andrea Foote, a PepsiCo spokeswoman, said the new 20-ounce bottle is part of the company's ongoing update of marketing and packaging materials for the cola. The single-serve bottles, which are widely sold in coolers at drugstores and other retailers, will begin rolling out in April. The new shape will also be used for the 16-ounce bottles, which aren't as common, as well as Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Max and Pepsi Next.
Foote said it will take a year or two before the new bottles entirely replace the current bottles, which she says were introduced in 1996.
"The engineers have to go to all the plants and convert the lines," Foote said. The new bottles will first appear in the New York area, then roll out to Chicago, parts of California and Florida.
Coca-Cola, based in Atlanta, says its current 20-ounce contour bottle made its U.S. debut in 1993. Small changes were made over the years, such as making the surface easier to grip and shortening the neck of the bottle.
Despite PepsiCo's stepped up efforts, its beverage volume in North America declined by 4 percent last year. That included a 4 percent declined in carbonated soft drinks and a 3 percent decline in non-carbonated drinks, according to a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
PepsiCo makes a wide range of products, including Frito-Lay chips, Gatorade, Quaker Oats and Tropicana. But it has long been defined by its namesake soda and its rivalry with Coca-Cola.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/22/pepsi-new-bottle-20-ounce_n_2927549.html

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Netanyahu To Present Seven Amazing Israeli Innovations To Obama

During American President Barack Obama’s historic visit to Israel this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will show the president a series of technological innovations by Israel’s high-tech industries in a special exhibit that will be set up in the president’s honor.

The innovations presented were chosen in five categories: renewable energy, the war on traffic accidents, medicine, search and rescue and robotics.

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At the “Israeli Technology – For a Better World” exhibit, which will be held at the Israel Museum on Thursday, 21 March 2013, Prime Minister Netanyahu will seven products that were chosen by a professional committee headed by National Economic Council Chairman Prof. Eugene Kandel.

The products were chosen from among proposals presented by Israel’s universities in keeping with their degree of innovation, impact on humanity and presentability.

National Information Directorate head Liran Dan said: “There are two principal messages that we would like to emphasize during the visit: First and foremost is the deep connection between Israel and the US. Alongside this, we would also like to present to the world the products of the future that originate in Israel and which will be used in many places around the world.”

The seven innovations presented to Obama will be:

Phinergy: The company has developed an aluminum-air battery designed for electric vehicles, which allows a significant increase in travel range (three times that of a regular electric vehicle). Phinergy‘s technology (based on development at Bar-Ilan University) will allow for a reduction in global oil consumption. The system is based on metal air technology, including aluminum air and zinc air. A metal-air battery features an air-electrode that breathes oxygen from ambient air, instead of the conventional cathode. That is, the battery consumes the required oxygen from the air, rather than having heavy materials that bound oxygen inside it. Metal-air batteries therefore have a huge potential for delivering high capacity with low weight. The technology also has the significant advantages of zero CO2 emissions, full recyclability, safety and low cost.

Mobileye: The goal of Mobileye, a global pioneer in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), is to develop and market vision-based systems that will help drivers keep passengers safe on the roads and decrease traffic accidents. It aims to do so by warning about dangerous situations and even hitting the brakes instead of the passenger when necessary. To date, Mobileye’s technology (developed in association with Hebrew University) has been implemented and launched by BMW, Volvo, GM and Ford in over one million vehicles. Beginning in 2014, the system will become standard for new vehicles as per the standards set by Euro-NCAP.

ElMindA: The company’s Brain Network Activation technology (BNA), developed in association with Bar Ilan University, provides a non-invasive tool for the visualization and quantification of BNAs of specific brain functionalities, disease development and rehabilitation from injuries, reactions to treatment, psychiatric and neurological problems and pain.

Robot Snake: The robot is designed to enter spaces in collapsed structures and assist in location and rescue operations. The robot, developed in association with the Technion, is unique in its manner of crawling and is very flexible thanks to its great number of segments. Each joint is motorized and has a computer, sensors, wireless communications and batteries. Its head carries a camera. Thanks to its flexible structure, the snake is able to crawl through wreckage without causing additional structural collapses and provide vital information about inaccessible areas, including the status of people who might be trapped, the location of hazardous materials, etc.

ReWalk: The ReWalk approach aims to give persons with lower limb disabilities, such as paraplegia, an experience that is as close to natural walking as possible. The ReWalk exoskeleton suit, developed by a Technion graduate, uses patented technology with motorized legs that power knee and hip movement. Battery-powered for all-day use, ReWalk is controlled by on-board computers and motion sensors, restoring self-initiated walking without needing tethers or switches to begin stepping. ReWalk controls movement using subtle changes in center of gravity, mimics natural gait and provides functional walking speed. A forward tilt of the upper body is sensed by the system, which triggers the first step. Repeated body shifting generates a sequence of steps, which allows natural and efficient walking. The ReWalk also sits, stands, turns and has the ability to climb and descend stairs.

MinDesktop: A headset that enables computers to be controlled by brainwaves or facial movements. The computer is controlled without a mouse or keyboard by means of a headset that images the user’s brainwaves from 14 separate points. The system, which was developed by three software engineering graduates from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, is designed to serve the physically handicapped who could not otherwise operate a computer or other devices.

The MinDesktop team (photo: BGU)

Robot Waiter: Following the exhibit, Prime Minister Netanyahu will introduce the president to young scientists  from Haifa, who won an international robotics competition that was held in the US last year.

The pupils from the Ironi Gimmel Middle School in Haifa won the competition with their “robot waiter” which was developed with guidance from Technion researchers. The product shows how a robot might serve a handicapped person in his/her home. The robot is 35 centimeters tall and uses sensors to orient itself in its surroundings and perform tasks that it has been programmed to do. The robot is capable of a variety of movements.

The Robo-Waiter team

Main photo by: Moshe Milner GPO, via Prime Minister of Israel

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Large asteroid heading to Earth. Pray, says NASA

(Reuters) - NASA chief Charles Bolden has advice on how to handle a large asteroid headed toward New York City: Pray.

That's about all the United States - or anyone for that matter - could do at this point about unknown asteroids and meteors that may be on a collision course with Earth, Bolden told lawmakers at a U.S. House of Representatives Science Committee hearing on Tuesday.


An asteroid estimated to be have been about 55 feet in diameter exploded on February 15 over Chelyabinsk, Russia, generating shock waves that shattered windows and damaged buildings. More than 1,500 people were injured.

Later that day, a larger, unrelated asteroid discovered last year passed about 17,200 miles from Earth, closer than the network of television and weather satellites that ring the planet.

The events "serve as evidence that we live in an active solar system with potentially hazardous objects passing through our neighborhood with surprising frequency," said Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, a Texas Democrat.

"We were fortunate that the events of last month were simply an interesting coincidence rather than a catastrophe," said Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, a Texas Republican, who called the hearing to learn what is being done and how much money is needed to better protect the planet.

NASA has found and is tracking about 95 percent of the largest objects flying near Earth, those that are .62 miles or larger in diameter.

"An asteroid of that size, a kilometer or bigger, could plausibly end civilization," White House science advisor John Holdren told legislators at the same hearing.


But only about 10 percent of an estimated 10,000 potential "city-killer" asteroids, those with a diameter of about 165 feet have been found, Holdren added.

On average, objects of that size are estimated to hit Earth about once every 1,000 years.

"From the information we have, we don't know of an asteroid that will threaten the population of the United States," Bolden said. "But if it's coming in three weeks, pray."

In addition to stepping up its monitoring efforts and building international partnerships, NASA is looking at developing technologies to divert an object that may be on a collision course with Earth.
"The odds of a near-Earth object strike causing massive casualties and destruction of infrastructure are very small, but the potential consequences of such an event are so large it makes sense to takes the risk seriously," Holdren said.

About 66 million years ago, an object 6 miles in diameter is believed to have smashed into what is now the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, leading to the demise of the dinosaurs, as well as most plant and animal life on Earth.

Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/03/20/us-space-astroids-idUKBRE92J02520130320

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Urban Seed Bombs: Next-Generation Green Ballistic Missiles

The term “seed bombing” has been used since the 1970s when the guerrilla gardening movement got its start. Since then, we’ve seen all sorts of inventive types of seed bombs. The original type was a condom filled with fertilizer, water and wildflower seeds, but most guerrilla gardeners use the entirely-natural kind made of simply mud, compost and seeds. Different recipes abound, but they’re all largely the same idea. So it’s kind of a big thing when someone comes along to redesign the seed bomb concept.

South Korean designer Jin-wook Hwang came up with this design for a completely new kind of seed bomb: one that could be used on a larger scale than the neighborhood-greening ones we’re used to. In his project portfolio, Hwang tells of the inspiration for his idea: “After The 2nd world war, Gale Halvorson, an American pilot, dropped candies in the name of hope for children in Berlin. The seedbomb is the bomb of hope like the candies of Gale Halvorson.” This new seedbomb isn’t meant to replace the neighborhood mud ball; rather, it’s intended for a larger scale.

Meant to be airdropped into arid environments, the seedbomb is actually a vessel carrying smaller seed capsules. When the bomb is released, it falls apart, scattering the seed capsules inside. Each capsule contains a small amount of soil and nutrients along with seeds. For the first stage of the plants’ lives, the seed capsules act as tiny greenhouses, protecting the fledgling plants.

As the plants grow, the seed capsules biodegrade. What’s left is a new crop of plants in an area that was once dry and void of vegetation. Hwang’s vision is to drop his seedbombs into areas where most humans would never think to start a garden. The idea is that by reforesting some of the world’s arid locations, we can improve not only the landscape, but the overall health of the planet.

Source: http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2010/01/30/urban-seed-bombs-next-generation-green-ballistic-missiles/

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YouTube reaches one billion monthly users

YouTube, the video sharing site owned by Google, has announced it has passed one billion regular users.

Announcing the milestone on its blog, the site said a recent growth in smartphones had helped boost the numbers visiting the site every month.

YouTube's popularity provides Google with a lucrative channel through which to sell advertising, alongside its core search business.

YouTube was launched in 2005 and bought by Google in 2006.

It paid $1.76bn (£1.16bn) for the site, which at the time had an estimated 30-40 million users world wide.
With one billion monthly users, it poses a challenge to Facebook as the internet's largest social network. Facebook reached a billion users in October last year.

"Nearly one out of every two people on the Internet visits YouTube," the company said in its statement.
It was keen to stress the business potential of such a large audience.

"Tens of thousands of partners have created channels that have found and built businesses for passionate, engaged audiences. Advertisers have taken notice," it said, saying that the top 100 brands listed by trade magazine Advertising Age were now running campaigns on YouTube.

The BBC also has a presence on YouTube, with a number of different channels. Some are run by BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the corporation.

The site was launched in California by three former PayPal employees.

The first video uploaded was by co-founder Jawed Karim and titled Me at the Zoo.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21874329

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Detroit Electric to introduce battery-powered sports car

US based electric vehicle manufacturer Detroit Electric is planning to introduce a new battery-powered sports car at the upcoming 2013 Shanghai Motor Show in China on 20 April 2013.
Additionally, Detroit Electric will reveal a major partnership with a global carmaker at the show.

The new limited-edition two-seater electric sports car, which is the first of the company's all electric lineup, will be assembled at a new manufacturing facility in Michigan, with production expected to commence in August 2013.

According to the carmaker, the facility will have a capacity of manufacturing 2,500 sports cars per year and the company is also planning to hire over 180 people for sales and manufacturing-related jobs over the following 12 months.

Detroit Electric will also launch two other high-performance models, following the new electric sports car, which are expected to enter production by end of 2014.

The carmaker's move comes after over 70 years of absence, upon the brand being revived in 2008 by Lotus Engineering Group former CEO, Lotus Cars of England executive director Albert Lam and it will have corporate offices in Detroit's Fisher Building.

Source: http://www.automotive-business-review.com/news/detroit-electric-to-introduce-battery-powered-sports-car-200313

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Twitter turns seven, releases greatest-hits video

On its seventh birthday, the social networking giant is celebrating surpassing 200 million active users, and 400 million daily tweets. Plus a long list of other accomplishments.

Twitter turns seven today, and to commemorate its birthday, the social networking service has released a video that highlights its many accomplishments, including surpassing 200 million active users. 

The service has come a very long way since co-founder (and now patent holder) Jack Dorsey posted the first-ever tweet on March 21, 2006: "Just setting up my twttr."

Of course, it turns out that that tweet was not unique to Dorsey. Many Twitter employees tweeted the very same words that day, evidence of automated language on that first day.

Since Dorsey posted that first tweet, Twitter has become one of the world's most important communications platforms, and people have sent tweets from the bottom of the ocean, from outer space, to note that a plane had just landed in the Hudson River, and for so many other reasons.

All told, there are now more than 400 million tweets sent every day.

So happy birthday, Twitter. It's hard to imagine a world without you. It's amazing that just seven years (and a day) ago, we never could have imagined a world with you.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57575505-93/twitter-turns-seven-releases-greatest-hits-video/



 

 

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Guantanamo hunger strike is growing, U.S. military says

MIAMI (Reuters) - More prisoners at Guantanamo Bay have joined a growing hunger strike that their lawyers say reflects hopelessness about their prospects of ever being freed from the U.S. detention center in Cuba.

Twenty-four captives were on a hunger strike as of Tuesday evening and eight of those had lost enough weight that doctors were force-feeding them liquid nutrients thorough tubes inserted into their noses and down into their stomachs, said Navy Captain Robert Durand, a spokesman for the detention operation.

The detention camp at the Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Base in eastern Cuba holds 166 men captured in counterterrorism operations. Nearly all have been held for 11 years without charge.

The number of hunger strikers has grown from 14 on Friday, Durand said. The military counts prisoners as hunger strikers if they have skipped at least nine consecutive meals.

Two hunger strikers were hospitalized with dehydration, he said.

The Obama administration has cleared more than half the Guantanamo prisoners for release or transfer, but Congress has blocked efforts to close the detention camp and made it increasingly difficult to resettle Guantanamo prisoners.

Many are Yemenis whom the United States will not repatriate at this time because of instability in that country.

Periodic hunger strikes have occurred since shortly after the prison opened in January 2002.

More than 50 lawyers representing Guantanamo prisoners sent a letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel last week urging him to help end the current hunger strike. They said the participants' health had deteriorated alarmingly, and that some had lost more than 20 or 30 pounds (9 to 14 kilograms).

The lawyers said hopes were dwindling that the Obama administration would keep its promise to close the camp. They said more than 100 detainees began a widescale hunger strike early last month to protest the confiscation of letters, photographs and legal mail, and the rough handling of Korans during searches of their cells.

Durand called the allegations "outright falsehoods and gross exaggerations."

"The claims of a mass hunger strike and an incident in which the Koran was mishandled are simply untrue," he said. "We take extraordinary care to respect the Koran and categorically deny any claims of abuse, desecration or mishandling."

(Reporting by Jane Sutton; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

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KFA employees demand Mallya’s prosecution; to disrupt IPL

New Delhi: Frustrated over not getting salary for last 10 months, Kingfisher Airlines employees today asked the government to prosecute promoter Vijay Mallya and threatened to disrupt IPL matches.

"If Gopal Kanda, promoter of MDLR airlines, can be prosecuted for suicide of an employee why can't the government prosecute Vijay Mallya for suicide of the family member of his employees," said Santosh Gautam, President of Kingfisher Airlines Maintenance Association.

They also threatened to disrupt IPL matches of the Royal Challenger Bangalore (RCB), the team owned by Mallya.

"Last time, when Formula 1 race was being organised here, afraid of our protests, KFA management paid our salary of one month and assured to pay the dues in instalments but they have failed to keep their promises. This time, we will protest outside the venue wherever RCB team plays their matches," said S C Mishra, another employee.

The protesting employees have urged RCB players to boycott Mallya's team. They have also asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) not to allow RCB to participate in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL).

The employees asked the government to amend labour laws making non-payment of salaries a criminal offence and said "the Supreme Court should take suo motu cognizance of our matter in specific and in general for overall reforms required for the benefit of working class."

Seeking an early intervention on the issue, the employees have written letters to the President, the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation Arun Mishra.

Questioning Mallya's intention to run the airlines, the employees said, "Enough is enough. We want a clear reply from him whether he wants to run the airlines or wants to close it down. If you want to close it, then please pay our dues."

"Our patience now has run out and we would go to any extent to get justice," said a Kingfisher employee, who did not want to be named.

The Vijay Mallya-owned cash-strapped airline is grounded since October last year following unrest by employees over non-payment of salaries and subsequent disruption in its flight schedules.

The Air Operator's Permit, or the flying licence, of the airline expired on December 31, 2012 and the civil aviation regulator DGCA had refused to renew it, saying they would have to first clear the dues of their employees and other stakeholders.

Kingfisher Airlines owes a loan of over Rs 7,000 crore to the consortium of 17 banks, led by the State Bank of India, which had on Monday said that it was taking all steps to recover the loan provided to the grounded carrier.

"We are blazing all guns and taking all steps to recover (of Kingfisher loans)," SBI Chairman Pratip Chaudhuri had said.

Also, Finance Minister P Chidambaram had asked the banks to take firm steps to recover loans saying that the country cannot afford to have "affluent promoters and sick companies".  

Source: http://english.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/mmonline.dll/portal/ep/contentView.do?channelId=&contentId=13682258&programId=1073750974&tabId=1&contentType=EDITORIAL&BV_ID=@@@

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Samsung working on 'smart watch' to rival Apple

SEOUL: Samsung Electronics is developing a wearable digital device similar to a wristwatch, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said, joining rival Apple Inc in creating new products as growth of smartphone sales slows.

The Samsung device will perform many of the tasks of a smartphone, the source said, without giving further details.

The source declined to be identified because Samsung did not want to reveal to the public any information about its new product line at this time.

Samsung would not discuss its detailed product pipeline. "We are constantly exploring new technologies and developing various form factors," said company spokeswoman Chenny Kim.

Last month, the New York Times reported that Apple was experimenting with the design of a device similar to a wristwatch that would operate on the same platform as the iPhone and would be made with curved glass.

Shares in both Samsung and Apple have taken a hit as the world's top two mobile device manufacturers keep underwhelming consumers with their latest smartphone models.

Samsung shares dropped nearly 5 per cent, or around $10 billion, in just two trading sessions after it launched its latest Galaxy S smartphone late on Thursday, partly hit by concerns that its flagship product lacks the 'wow factor' and may not live up to expectations.

The Galaxy S4, unwrapped to much fanfare in New York to challenge Apple's iPhone on its home turf, offered some incremental evolutionary improvements, but media reports have since suggested these features may not be sufficient to excite buyers in an industry that lives and dies by innovation. 

News Courtesy: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/hardware/Samsung-working-on-smart-watch-to-rival-Apple-Source/articleshow/19066843.cms

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