Cell phone calls alter brain activity: study

Spending 50 minutes with a cell phone plastered to your ear is enough to change brain cell activity in the part of the brain closest to the antenna.

Spending 50 minutes with a cell phone is enough to
change brain cell activity: study. (Getty)

But whether that causes any harm is not clear, scientists at the National Institutes of Health said on Tuesday, adding that the study will likely not settle recurring concerns of a link between cell phones and brain cancer.
"What we showed is glucose metabolism (a sign of brain activity) increases in the brain in people who were exposed to a cell phone in the area closet to the antenna," said Dr. Nora Volkow of the NIH, whose study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The study was meant to examine how the brain reacts to electromagnetic fields caused by wireless phone signals.
Volkow said she was surprised that the weak electromagnetic radiation from cell phones could affect brain activity, but she said the findings do not shed any light on whether cell phones cause cancer.
"This study does not in any way indicate that. What the study does is to show the human brain is sensitive to electromagnetic radiation from cell phone exposures."
Use of the devices has increased dramatically since they were introduced in the early-to-mid 1980s, with about 5 billion mobile phones now in use worldwide.
Some studies have linked cell phone exposure to an increased risk of brain cancers, but a large study by the World Health Organization was inconclusive.
Volkow's team studied 47 people who had brain scans while a cell phone was turned on for 50 minutes and another while the phone was turned off.
While there was no overall change in brain metabolism, they found a 7 percent increase in brain metabolism in the region closest to the cell phone antenna when the phone was on.
Experts said the results were intriguing, but urged that they be interpreted with caution.
"Although the biological significance, if any, of increased glucose metabolism from acute cell phone exposure is unknown, the results warrant further investigation," Henry Lai of the University of Washington, Seattle, and Dr. Lennart Hardell of University Hospital in Orebro, Sweden, wrote in a commentary in JAMA.
"Much has to be done to further investigate and understand these effects," they wrote.
Professor Patrick Haggard of University College London said the results were interesting since the study suggests a direct effect of cell phone signals on brain function.
But he said much larger fluctuations in brain metabolic rate can occur naturally, such as when a person is thinking.
"If further studies confirm that mobile phone signals do have direct effects on brain metabolism, then it will be important to investigate whether such effects have implications for health," he said.
Volkow said the findings suggest the need for more study to see if cell phones have a negative effect on brain cells.
Meanwhile, Volkow isn't taking any chances. She now uses an ear phone instead of placing a cell phone next to her ear.
"I don't say there is any risk, but in case there is, why not?"

Miracle rescues offer hope for quake missing

Nearly 26 hours after becoming trapped in the rubble of her office building in earthquake-shattered Christchurch, Anne Vos emerged alive in a 'miracle' rescue.

Geelong-born Ms Vos is now in hospital after being reunited with her family, the Herald Sun reported.
Ms Vos has been rescued after spending hours in the ruins of the Pyne Gould Corporation building in Christchurch's CBD, where she made calls to her family and media outlets from her mobile phone while sheltering under her reception desk.
Earlier, hopes for the family had been raised and then dashed after the rescue of a woman with a similar name from the same building.
Ann Bodkin, who was lying under her desk, emerged wrapped in blankets to applause from rescue workers who have been poring through the mangled remains of Christchurch's four-storey Pyne Gould building.
Veteran rescue workers burst into applause at the end of their painstaking operation in the main city of New Zealand's South Island, relieved at their success and seeing hope more survivors will be found among 300 people still unaccounted for.
  
At least 75 people are known to have been killed and Christchurch mayor Bob Parker described Bodkin's rescue as "a miracle", saying it offered "hope and optimism" for those still missing following Tuesday's devastating 6.3 quake.
  
Bodkin's husband Graham was on hand to greet her and said "she giggled" as she was pulled clear of the ruins of the Pyne Gould Corporation building, wrapped in blankets and taken to hospital for a medical check up.
  
"She was very chirpy and in good health," said Grant Lord, the police officer overseeing the rescue operation.
  
"It would appear she has hidden under a desk and was able to move around while calling out to rescuers."
  
With tonnes of rubble above and below where Bodkin lay, urban search and rescue personnel from New Zealand and Australia worked in shifts to reach her without dislodging further masonry that would have destroyed the rescue.
  
Cries of "hush" and "quiet" rang out occasionally, producing an eerie silence as the rescuers listed to make sure Bodkin was still alive as they switched between drills and more delicate equipment to reach her.
  
When they first broke a small hole into the room where Bodkin was sheltering a small bottle of water was taped to a 1.5 metre (yard) pole and passed through to her.
  
It took another two hours before they were able to bring her out.
  
"I've never seen anything like that in New Zealand," opposition leader Phil Goff said as he watched the rescue.
  
"We're talking about first world buildings," he said, amazed at the level of destruction in the city where the ruins of historic stone buildings and modern glass-fronted edifices were scattered across the landscape.
  
In a city that prided itself on having strict building codes that meant no loss of life when a 7.0 quake hit six months ago, this latest tremor of magnitude 6.3 has had a much more lethal impact.
  
The landmark Christchurch Cathedral, symbolic heart of the city, is now a tomb, burying an estimated 20 people who were inside its imposing spire when it toppled to the ground on Tuesday.
  
The immediate search and rescue focus is on the central city where the streets were crowded with lunchtime shoppers when the quake struck.
  
The "Open" and "Welcome" signs outside the shops and restaurants are still there, surrounded by rubble and with no customers in sight.
  
Police Superintendent Russell Gibson said the city centre was ruined.
  
"Everywhere you look there is just absolute carnage," he said.
  
The situation is as bad in the outlying suburbs, where the rescue effort has yet to arrive.
  
People stood in the streets weeping and stared in disbelieve at their shattered homes and lives amid frequent aftershocks, some measuring magnitude 5.0 or higher.
  
Roads were again torn up and houses severely damaged in the suburb of Avonside, which suffered the most devastation in the September shake.
  
The port area of Lyttleton and affluent beach districts of Sumner and South Brighton were also been hard hit.
  
Liquifaction, a grey mud caused when the quake turns the earth into a fluid, spewed up from the ground in scattered pockets, burying cars to their windows.
  
Other cars and trucks toppled head first into sinkholes in the road, leaving their rear end and back wheels sticking up in the air.
  
The airport and roads leading out of the city were packed as people fled.
  
Moss Leauga said he wanted to drive his family to Nelson at the top of the South Island but progressed only a few hundred metres in 90 minutes on the clogged roads, so headed to the airport to fly to the North Island.
  
"It's good to be on solid ground that's not going to move," he told Stuff website.
  
"This one felt by far worse than the first one. It is one of the worst things I've been through.

Iraqi convicted over Arizona honour killing

An Iraqi immigrant was convicted of murder in Arizona for running over his daughter, in what the prosecution called an honour killing.

Faleh Hassan Almaleki (right) sits with his attorney during a trial. (AAP)

Faleh Hassan Almaleki, 50, was found guilty of second degree murder after killing his daughter, Noor Almaleki, 20, in a parking lot with a Jeep Grand Cherokee in October 2009.
  
A Maricopa County Superior Court jury also found him guilty of aggravated assault for leaving her boyfriend's mother injured, and two counts of leaving the scene of a crime, court spokesman Vincent Funari said.
  
Prosecutors said at the time that Almaleki admitted he had made an attempted "honour killing" because his daughter shamed him and his family.
  
The Iraqi national fled the United States after the attack, driving to Mexico before flying to London. British authorities detained him and extradited him back to the United States.
  
Relatives said Almaleki, who immigrated with his family to Illinois in the mid-1990s, became enraged when his daughter married a man in Iraq but returned to Arizona to live with her boyfriend and his mother. 

Spy chief under mounting pressure to quit over botched operation

By Shim Sun-ah
SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's spy agency has come under intensifying pressure to change over an allegation that its agents were involved in a botched operation to steal information from a visiting delegation of Indonesian envoys.

   Police have been investigating the allegation that three to four agents of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) unsuccessfully broke into a Seoul hotel room of the Indonesian delegation last Wednesday, in an attempt to steal classified arms trade information from their laptop computer. The agency neither confirmed nor denied the allegation.

   Rep. Hong Joon-pyo, a member of the Grand National Party (GNP) Supreme Council, harshly criticized the NIS, asking its chief to resign.

   "The NIS, which has been criticized for failing to cope with North Korea's attack on the navy ship Cheonan and Yeonpyeong Island, is now drawing jeers internationally due to the hotel intrusion incident," Hong said.

Won Sei-hoon, director of the National Intelligence Service. (Yonhap file photo)

He called for President Lee Myung-bak to sack Won Sei-hoon as director of the NIS. "The NIS must be reformed with the dismissal of the NIS chief as the starting point," Hong said.

   Rep. Suh Byung-soo, also a council member, agreed, saying Won should take responsibility "for damaging the country's national interest and dishonoring it."

   Rep. Chung Doo-un focused on the "normalization" of the intelligence agency.

   "The NIS uses enormous budget and manpower as a top organization in charge of national security, but its system is now out of order," the supreme council member said. "Now is the time to normalize the agency."

   But a ranking official at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said the NIS chief won't be replaced in connection with the suspicion surrounding the hotel intrusion incident.

   Criticism from the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) was even more bitter.

   Sohn Hak-kyu, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), urged Lee to normalize the spy agency, claiming that overheated competition among Lee's aides, including Won, to win the president's favor was the cause of the incident. Won worked as deputy mayor of Seoul when Lee was mayor.

   "I no longer want to limit my talk to merely demanding Won's resignation," Sohn said in a party leadership meeting."

   "I demand President Lee put all state organizations back to where they were and lay the grounds for democracy." he said.

A Vietnamese journalist's wife has been arrested 4 allegedly killed her husband by setting him on fire as he slept

In this photo taken on Jan. 19, 2011, the charred bed of Vietnamese journalist Le Hoang Hung is seen at his home in southern Long An province, Vietnam. Police said Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 Hung's wife confessed to dousing him in gasoline and torching him in his sleep, a killing his colleagues initially feared was revenge for his investigative reporting. (AP Photo/Minh Son) (Minh Son - AP)

HANOI, Vietnam -- The wife of a Vietnamese journalist has been arrested for allegedly murdering her husband by setting him on fire as he slept, police said Wednesday.
Tran Thi Thuy Lieu, 40, was taken into custody Tuesday, said Phan Van Tien, the chief police investigator of southern Long An province. Police previously said she confessed over the weekend to dousing Le Hoang Hung, 50, with gasoline before lighting him on fire as he slept in his bed last month.
Twenty percent of his body was covered in third-degree burns, and he died in a Ho Chi Minh City hospital 10 days later.
A rope was found hanging from a balcony near Hung's bedroom window, making it appear as though an intruder was to blame. Several of Hung's colleagues, along with international journalism rights groups, initially feared Hung may have been the target of revenge for his aggressive reporting on corruption and smuggling investigations at the state-controlled Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper where he covered Vietnam's southern Mekong Delta.
Police were still investigating to determine whether Lieu acted alone. Her sister's husband, who lives next door, has been summoned for testimony, Tien said.
State-controlled media have reported that Lieu lost over 1 billion dong ($47,000) during 22 gambling trips to neighboring Cambodia in December. She reportedly urged Hung to sell their house, but he did not agree.
Tuoi Tre newspaper quoted Tien as saying that Lieu told police she bought a liter of gasoline two days before the attack and hid it in a bedroom wardrobe in a plastic bag.
Around midnight Jan. 19, Lieu allegedly sprayed the gasoline on Hung while he was in his bed, it said. She then returned to a bedroom where she was sleeping with her children and pretended she didn't know what had happened, it said. 

message to All who makes fun of sardars / sikhs

Internet IP addresses will run out 'in the next 24 hours'

London, Feb 3 (ANI): Growth of Internet-enabled phones like the iPhone and web use in Asia has seen a rapid depletion of IP addresses, which are going to run out in the next 24 hours.
Every device, which connects to the Internet, is assigned a "number" but with millions of web enabled phones now online they are fast running out.
IP addresses act as "phone numbers" to ensure that surfers reach websites and e-mails find their destination.
The system, which had been set up in the 1980s, with a maximum of 4.1 billion addresses was supposed to never run out.
But it does not mean the Internet will come to a halt once the addresses have finished, as a system called Internet Protocol version 6, or IPv6 has been created to replace version 4.
"It will just be 'business as usual' if everyone gets their job done," the Daily Mail quoted John Curran, Chief Executive of the American Registry for Internet Numbers, one of five regional groups that dole out such addresses, as saying.
Curran said only about 2 percent of websites support the new Internet Protocol version 6.
The "end game", the distribution of the last five blocks, was triggered by the distribution of two of the last seven blocks on February 1.
They went to the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre, the regional registry for East Asia (including India), Australia and the Pacific islands. (ANI)

Do not buy Petrol on Feb 14.02.11

>
> Dear Friends
>
> Petrol in Pakistan Rs17 per litr
> Malaysia Rs 18 per litr
> In India it's Rs.65per litr
>
> Why is there a difference within India itself? World Market CRUDE Oil is
no=t
>
>
> the reason for this. It's all Gain for private owners? As we are the
> general public, or Common Man as R.K.Laxman wud hv said, we have to
> raise our voice, let's raise thru Emails.
>
> Forward this to all Indians who care.
>
>
> IT HAS BEEN CALCULATED THAT IF EVERYONE DID NOT PURCHASE A DROP OF
> PETROL FOR ONE DAY AND ALL AT THE SAME TIME, THE OIL COMPANIES WOULD
> CHOKE ON THEIR STOCKPILES.
>
> AT THE SAME TIME IT WOULD HIT THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY WITH A NET LOSS
> OVER 4.6 BILLION DOLLARS WHICH AFFECTS THE BOTTOM LINES OF THE OIL
> COMPANIES.
> THEREFORE "
> Feb.14 th" HAS BEEN FORMALLY DECLARED
>
> "STICK IT UP THEIR BEHIND " DAY AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION SHOULD
> NOT BUY A SINGLE DROP OF PETROL THAT DAY.
>
>
>
> THE ONLY WAY THIS CAN BE DONE IS IF YOU FORWARD THIS E-MAIL TO AS
> MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN AND AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN TO GET THE WORD
> OUT. WAITING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN AND CONTROL THE PRICES IS
> NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REDUCTION AND CONTROL
> IN PRICES THAT THE ARAB NATIONS PROMISED TWO WEEKS AGO?
>
> REMEMBER ONE THING, NOT ONLY IS THE PRICE OF PETROL GOING UP BUT
> AT THE SAME TIME AIRLINES ARE FORCED TO RAISE THEIR PRICES,
> TRUCKING COMPANIES ARE FORCED TO RAISE THEIR PRICES WHICH AFFECTS
> PRICES ON EVERYTHING THAT IS SHIPPED. THINGS LIKE FOOD, CLOTHING,
> BUILDING SUPPLIES MEDICAL SUPPLIES ETC. WHO PAYS IN THE END? WE
> DO!
>
>
> WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.IF THEY DON'T GET THE MESSAGE AFTER ONE
> DAY, WE WILL DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. SO DO YOUR PART AND SPREAD THE
> WORD. FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW. MARK YOUR
> CALENDARS AND MAKE* *
> *Feb.* 14 th
>
> A DAY THAT THE CITIZENS SAY
> "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH"
>
> We forward so many junk email to many of our friends, now let us do
> it for some useful cause to cut down the price of the petrol .. ....
>
> REMEMBER: *Feb * 14th*
> *[PLEASE CONSIDER THE IMPACT TO THE ENVIRONMENT BEFORE PRINTING THIS
> EMAIL...]*
> *Disclaimer : This message may contain confidential and/or privileged
> information. If you are not the addressee or authorized to receive this
for
> the*
> *addressee, you must not use, copy, disclose or take any action based on
> this message or any information herein. If you have received this*
> *message in error, please advise us immediately (e.g. by reply Email) and
> delete this message. Thank you for your cooperation.*
> *This e-mail message is intended for the above named recipient(s) only.
> It may contain confidential information that is privileged. If you are not
> the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination,
> distribution or copying of this e-mail and any attachment(s) is strictly
> prohibited. If you have received this e-mail by error, please
> immediately notify the sender by replying to this e-mail and deleting the
> message including any attachment(s) from your system. Thank you in
> advance for your cooperation and assistance.Although the company has taken
> reasonable precautions to ensure no viruses are present in this email, the
> company cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage arising from
----
>
>

Govt sends notices to 17 related to Swiss black money trail

Kolkata: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said the government has served notices to 17 persons related to the Swiss Banks black money trail, but it is not possible to reveal their names.

"We have received a few names and already served notices on 17 persons and prosecution has begun," he said.
He said the government cannot reveal the names of account holders who have stashed their money away in Swiss banks as the information can only be used for taxation purposes.

"The government, suo motu, cannot reveal the names because according to treaty we can only use the information for taxation purposes. We can only reveal the details in the open court when the matter comes up for hearing," Mukherjee said.

 

PTI

Mubarak moves to restart economy

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has held talks with ministers to try to revive an economy hit by a wave of anti-government protests.

Substantial numbers of protesters remain in Cairo's Tahrir Square

Banks will reopen on Sunday and the stock market on Monday, as Finance Minister Samir Radwan said the economic situation was "very serious".
Analysts say the uprising is costing the country at least $310m a day.
Protesters remain in Cairo's Tahrir Square following Friday's mass rally calling for Mr Mubarak to resign.
Separately on Saturday, there were also reports of an explosion at a pipeline that supplies gas to Israel and Jordan. The blast caused a fire near el-Arish, Egyptian state television reported.
'Solid base' Mr Mubarak has said he will not stand for re-election in September but insists he must stay until then to prevent chaos in the country. Protesters demand that he goes immediately.
On Saturday, the president met the prime minister, finance minister, oil minister and trade and industry minister, along with the central bank governor.

Banks and the stock exchange have been closed for days, and many factories in the major cities have shut.

The BBC's Kevin Connolly, in Cairo, says the paralysis induced by the protests is having a huge impact on the creaking economy. Tourists have been frightened away and the prices of basic goods like cigarettes and bread have been soaring.
He says many Egyptians are beginning to wonder aloud how quickly daily life will return to normal regardless of the outcome of the struggle for power.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Radwan admitted the economy faced a "very serious" situation and that he was in constant touch with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
But he also said the economy had a "solid base" and "so far, we are coping".
Economists at Credit Agricole say the uprising is costing the country at least $310m (£192m) a day and they have revised down their economic growth estimate for Egypt this year from 5.3% to 3.7%.
Mr Radwan also said there would be a meeting with opposition groups to try to end the 12 days of protests.
He said Vice-President Omar Suleiman and "almost certainly Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq" would attend, adding that they would have "sufficient authority to negotiate with the opposition".
He did not say which opposition groups would attend. Egyptian television said the al-Wafd and Al-Tajammu parties would be at the talks.

Continue reading the main story

• Egypt unrest: Protests map

Leading opposition politician Mohamed ElBaradei told Germany's Der Spiegel weekly he would like to hold talks "with army chiefs, preferably soon, to study how we can achieve a transition without bloodshed".

The biggest opposition group in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood, has said it will take part in discussions provided the government submits political reform within a specified time frame. But it also insists Mr Mubarak must leave office immediately.
Mr Radwan said the transition of power had already begun, with Mr Mubarak saying he would not run again for president.
"It is setting a process in place to ensure a smooth transition of power without falling into the trap of the chaos scenario," he said.
Saturday's pipeline explosion targeted supplies to Israel and Jordan from Egypt's Port Said.
Gas was shut off and the fire was brought under control by mid-morning, state television said.
It also reported that the curfew had now been shortened and would be in effect from 1900 to 0600 local time (1700-0400 GMT).
'Meaningful and serious' On Friday, US President Barack Obama again called for an "orderly transition" of power.

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Barack Obama: "We want to see this moment of turmoil turn into a moment of opportunity"

Mr Obama did not insist that Mr Mubarak step down immediately, but repeated his call for a "transition period that begins now".
"He needs to listen to what is voiced by the people and make a judgment about a pathway forward that is orderly, that is meaningful and serious," he said.
On Saturday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and UK PM David Cameron, at a conference in Munich, both stressed the need for stability.
Mrs Merkel added: "Early elections at the beginning of the democratisation process is probably the wrong approach."
On Friday huge crowds demonstrated across Egypt for an 11th day.
More than 100,000 people - including large numbers of women and children - gathered in Tahrir Square for what was being called the "day of departure".
There were also demonstrations in Egypt's second city, Alexandria, and in the towns of Suez, Port Said, Rafah, Ismailiya, Zagazig, al-Mahalla al-Kubra, Aswan and Asyut.
However, there were suggestions that the protesters would now reduce their presence in central Cairo.
One of their leaders, George Ishaq of the Kifaya (Enough) movement, told the BBC: "Protesters will remain in Tahrir Square on all days of the week. But each Friday, there will be a demonstration like today."
The UN believes more than 300 have died across Egypt since the protests began on 25 January, with about 4,000 hurt.

22,000 Pakistanis flee fighting near Afghan border

PESHAWAR: About 22,000 Pakistani villagers have fled military operations against militants in a tribal region near the Afghan border, FC officials said Friday.

The offensive, involving aerial bombing, artillery and ground troops, began Jan. 27 in Mohmand, the official said. He said nearly 70 insurgents had been killed so far.

Pakistan's military has carried out several military operation in the country's remote tribal regions bordering Afghanistan over the last three years.

He said an estimated 22,000 people had been displaced by the Mohmand operations. They were living in a government building, schools and three camps away from the fighting. He said the United Nations was providing food, water and medical assistance to the people.

Daily Mail and Sun accused of contempt over online photos

Attorney general argues pictures of murder trial defendant 'posing with a gun' created risk of prejudice in court case.

The attorney general today accused the Daily Mail and Sun of contempt of court over photographs published online showing a murder trial defendant "posing with a gun".
In what are believed to be the first cases of their kind relating to the internet, Dominic Grieve is asking the high court to punish the publishers of the Daily Mail and the Sun for displaying the pictures on their websites.
The cases arise out of the Sheffield crown court trial in 2009 of Ryan Ward, who was eventually convicted of murdering car mechanic Craig Wass by hitting him over the head with a brick.
Judge Michael Murphy QC, who presided at the trial, refused to discharge the jury after saying he was "quite satisfied" none had been influenced by the net.
However, today a QC for the attorney general argued publication of the pictures nevertheless created a substantial risk that the trial could have been "seriously impeded or prejudiced" by jurors seeing them.
Andrew McCullough QC said both newspapers had breached the strict liability rule under the 1981 Contempt of Court Act, which makes it clear that publishing an article or picture may be contempt, even though there is no actual "intent" to interfere with the course of justice.
Both newspapers argued there was no strict liability breach, and the risk of prejudice was "insubstantial", particularly as the trial judge had repeatedly warned jurors not to consult the internet.
High court judges Lord Justice Moses and Mr Justice Owen, sitting in London, reserved judgment after a day-long hearing and will give their decision in the near future.
They are expected to use today's proceedings to lay down guidelines on how the law of contempt should be applied in online cases.

Nasa scientists discover planetary system

Astronomers identify six planets orbiting a sun – the most similar system to our own yet discovered – 2,000 light-years away

An artist's impression of the Kepler-11 planetary system.

Astronomers have discovered a planetary system made up of six planets orbiting a Sun-like star that is more than 2,000 light years from Earth. It is the largest number of planets found so far around a single star.
More than 100 planets have been seen outside our solar system, but most are Jupiter-like gas giants, and almost all are in single-planet systems.
Jack Lissauer, a scientist at Nasa's Ames research centre in California and a lead author on a paper published tomorrow in the journal Nature, said that the Kepler-11 finding was "the biggest thing in exoplanets since the discovery of 51 Pegasi B, the first exoplanet, back in 1995".
The five inner planets of the Kepler-11 system are between 2.3 and 13.5 times the mass of the Earth, and make their orbits in less than 50 days. All of them are so close to their star that their orbits would fit within that of Mercury in our solar system. The sixth planet has an orbital period of 118 days and sits at a distance from its star that is half the Sun-Earth distance. Lissauer said it was unexpected to find a system where planets could be so close to one another and there could be so many of them on such a flat plane. "The Kepler-11 system is flatter than a CD," he said. "If placed within our solar system, Kepler-11's six planets would lie between those of the sun's innermost planets, Mercury and Venus."
Astronomers found the planets by analysing data from the Kepler space telescope. Every time a planet passes between its star and an observer, it is said to be transiting; by measuring how often and how much the star dimmed in brightness as planets crossed in front of it, they were able to measure the size and density of the planets.
To calculate masses, astronomers measured the slight variations in the orbital periods of the planets caused by gravitational interactions among them.
Most of the volume of the Kepler-11 plenats is made of light elements, according to Jonathan Fortey of the University of California, Santa Cruz. "It looks like the inner two could be mostly water, with possibly a thin skin of hydrogen-helium gas on top, like mini-Neptunes. The ones farther out have densities less than water, which seems to indicate significant hydrogen-helium atmospheres."
Though none of the six planets found resemble Earth, Lissauer did not discount the idea that there could be more planets orbiting the star, one of which could be more Earth-like. The sixth planet, for example, is at a temperature of around 120C-170C, so any planets further out could be cooler. "It's possible there could be an Earth-sized planet in the habitable zone, because we're not seeing any of these big planets out there," he said.

World News - Wikileaks nominated for Nobel Prize

A Norwegian politician has nominated internet site Wikileaks for the Nobel Peace prize in 2011 for the role that Wikileaks played in the freedom of speech.
The Norwegian member of Parliament, Snorre Valen, stated that Wikileaks is one of the most important contributor to the freedom of speech and transparancy and this justifies Wikileaks to be nominated.
Wikileaks was recently in the news when American diplomatical documents were posted on the site which caused world wide commotion around the behaviour of American diplomats and politicians and their view on their countertparts.
Mr. Valen mentioned that Wikileaks was also responsibel for leaking documents on the corruption of the former Tunesian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his family. Eventually the protests that followed on the Wikileaks postings were the reason that the Tunesian President ended up in exile.
Wikileaks has played a vital role in the publication of documents that proofed corruption of governements all over the world as well as in large companies. Wikileaks also published the evidence on war crimes, illegal surveiances and other crimes by various states.
The Nobel committee comprises of five people who advised to keep the nominees classified to avoid speculations before the eventual Nobel Prize winners are announced in October.
Banks Fear Wikileaks
Wikileaks boss, Julian Assange announced also that his website will soon publish documents that will cause massive commotion in the financial industry. Wikileaks will publish around tens of thousand documents of a large American bank and this is only the beginning. Assange expects that these new publications will trigger the American authorities to start undependent investigations.
Wikileaks is illegal but positive
The Russian President Dimitri Medvedev has told the press that Wikileaks is illegal, but also stated that the activities of Wikileaks could have a positive effect on international diplomacy. It is widely known that the Russian President is a gadget enthousiast and promotor of modern communication tools.

Volkswagen Formula XL1 burns 0.9 L/100 km!

At the dawn of the new millennium, Volkswagen and Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Piëch formulated the visionary goal of bringing to the market a production car that was practical for everyday use with a fuel consumption of 1.0 litre per 100 kilometres. Crazy, don't you think? But try to wrap your head around this: the VW Formula XL1 plug-in hybrid concept soon to be unveiled at the Qatar Motor Show burns as little as 0.9 L/100 km!

The car uses an ultra-lightweight unibody construction and carbon fibre add-ons to achieve a very low drag coefficient of 0.186. Under the hood are a 47-horsepower, two-cylinder TDI engine and a 19-horsepower electric motor along with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and a lithium-ion battery.

In addition to its phenomenal fuel efficiency, the new Volkswagen XL1 only emits 24 g/km CO2 and can also be driven for up to 35 kilometres in pure electric mode. Similar to most plug-in hybrids, regenerative technology is used to capture kinetic energy when braking or decelerating and charge the battery on the fly.

The XL1 incorporates side-by-side seating rather than the tandem arrangement seen in both the first 1-litre car presented in 2002 and the L1 presented in 2009. Wing doors also make it easier to enter and exit the car than having to lift the top.

According to Volkswagen, a viable limited production run of the XL1 is possible even though the car employs F1-style carbon fibre-reinforced polymer parts (CFRP). Together with suppliers, the company has developed and patented a new system for CFRP production that allows significant reductions in production costs.

http://www.auto123.com/en/multimedia/photos/gallery/volkswagen-formula-xl1-burns-09-l100-km?bid=127214&binding=3

Bharti Airtel net slumps 41 percent on spectrum cost, margins

Telecom giant Bharti Airtel Wednesday reported a 41 percent decline in its net income for the quarter ended December 2010 at Rs.1,303.3 crore owing to weaker margins from its African operations, currency fluctuations, spectrum charges and brand relaunch costs.

The operator had posted Rs.2,194.9 crore net income during the same period last fiscal.
“Adverse currency movements in Africa and India resulted in exchange fluctuations related losses of Rs.151 crore in the third quarter,” the company said in a statement.
The average revenue per user (ARPU) of the operator stood at Rs.198 in the quarter under review, as against Rs.202 during the previous quarter.
On a year-on-year basis, the income before taxes dropped on account of an increase of Rs.80 crore in spectrum charges in India, and increase in net interest outgo of Rs.471 crore, apart from a one-time brand relaunch cost of Rs.340 crore and restatement of losses of Rs.303 crore.
However, the total revenue of the company showed a significant growth of 53 percent at Rs.15,576 crore as against Rs.10,305.3 crore a year ago.
The company also repaid its debt of $415 million (over Rs.1,893 crore) taken for the third generation (3G) services during the quarterunder review, said Manik Jhangiani, group chief financial officer, Bharti Enterprises.
The company said it will launch its third generation (3G) services across all its 13 telecom circles in India by the end of March and that the premium offering would help stablise its ARPU.
The overall customer base of the company stands at 207.8 million across 19 countries.
The operator, which has 3G licences in 9 of the 16 African countries it operates in, said that it was expecting more licences in the next six months.
At the Bombay Stock Exchange, the shares of the company were trading up 2.11 percent at Rs.321.25.

A Gold Shop , Bappi Lahiri will make acting debut on TV

Composer Bappi Lahiri is excited about his acting debut on the small screen in Disney’s new show “Ishaan”. “I liked the idea, the script and also the fact that this was not just for singing but Disney offered me a chance to act as well. So I decided to take it up because I have never acted in a show,” Lahiri told IANS.
Lahiri will play a Disco King in the children’s show and has lent his voice for an original track titled “D.I.S.C.O.” for the show. The composer, has shot for two episodes that will be aired February end.
“Before this I have been judging reality shows on TV but that’s a different ball game altogether. Acting is different. It was a great experience and I was quite excited doing it,” he added. Lahiri has done a miniscule role in “Om Shanti Om” and a full-fledged role in “Main Aur Mrs Khanna”.
This is not it. The 58-year-old, known for his fetish for jewellery, specially gold ornaments and black glasses, will also be seen in a film called “It’s Rocking Dard-e-Disco”.
“The film is complete and will be out by April. I have a good role and it’s an out-and-out comedy,” he said.
Directed by Ashok Tyagi and produced by Dhumketu Punatar Films, the film also stars Rituparna Sengupta, Sneha Ullal and Aryaman.
In his almost four decade long career, the composer scored music for hits like “Chalte chalte mere yeh geet”, “Pyar manga hai tumhi se”, “Ke pag ghungroo baandh meera nachi thi”, “Bombai se aaya mera dost”, “Yaad aa raha hai”, “Raat baaki” and “Yaar bina chain kahan re” many others. They still find place on music lovers’ favourite list.
But today’s songs don’t have a shelf life, and pointing out the reason Lahiri said: “Nowadays most movies have old songs, that’s a trend because old songs had so much potential in them whether it was singing, melody, composition. Today’s songs today don’t have that punch.
“Today ‘Munni badnam hui’ is a big hit, but I have composed a similar song in ‘Phool Baney Angarey’ called ‘Gori kabse hui”. Tune is the same, wordings are different. My song came in 1991. So even ‘Munni.’ is not a new song in my eyes. So what people are primarily doing is tweaking old songs to make new hit numbers.
Among the current lot, his favourites are A.R. Rahman and composer duo Vishal-Shekhar.
“A.R. Rahman is a genius. Even though his style is not very Indian but he has a different style. Even though he doesn’t compose ‘Munni badnaam hui’, but he has a distinct style. I have always liked him. Even Vishal-Shekhar are very talented composers,” said Lahiri, who is getting back to composing as well.
This year three of his films are set to hit theatres.
“I’m composing music for ‘Its Rocking Dard-e-Disco. Then there is one K. C. Bokadia film titled ‘Ek Haseena, Ek Deewani’. Then there is another film where Mithun and his son Minoh will be acting together for the first time. The film is tentatively titled ‘Spaghetti’,” said Lahiri.

Shame on Syndicate Bank's Yamuna Vihar branch , Delhi

New Delhi:  He went to find out why his ATM card was not working. He came back insulted and abused. His fault? He was a Muslim. Khalid Ali Abbasi, an 18-year-old Political Science student of Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, had gone to Syndicate Bank's Yamuna Vihar branch on January 22 to inquire why his ATM card was not working.

An argument broke out with branch manager Mahesh Chand Sharma. Abbasi alleged Sharma hurled abuses and insulted him in front of a room full of people because of his religion. The manager reportedly passed anti-Muslim remarks and blocked Abbasi's account permanently.

"He was rude and said, 'tum Mullaon (Muslims) ko kuch pata nahi hota. Saare Mulle do number ka kaam karte hain aur bank mein paisa rakhte hain. Ruk, tera account abhi bandh karta hoon (You Muslims don't know anything. You people indulge in illegal businesses and then save money in the banks. Wait, I will block your account right now)," says Abbasi.

Reportedly, when the DU student had asked the bank manager why his ATM card was not working, he was told it takes 24 hours for the card to get activated. Dissatisfied with the reply, Abbasi pressed for further explanation following which the manager lost his temper and passed communal remarks.

The manager then called the security guard and ordered him to throw Abbasi out of the bank. "It was then that I called the police. After that Mukesh Sharma, the guard, said, "Mulle yahaan se bhaag ja" (Run away from here, you Muslim). When I didn't leave and told the manager that he could not treat me like this as I have the right to seek information about my account, the branch manager threatened to block my account," said Abbasi.

Abbasi had a savings account in Yamuna Vihar branch of Syndicate Bank.

When MiDDAY contacted branch manager Sharma, he refuted the allegations and said it was all concocted. "Abbasi had come complaining that his card hadn't been activated. I told him that it takes 24 hours for an ATM card to get activated. He started throwing tantrums. He said he was not keen on opening an account with Syndicate Bank in the first place.

Then he threw his passbook on my table and told me to close his account, saying he was not interested in banking with us. Since things were getting ugly, I had to call the security and then the police. As far as anti-Muslim remarks are concerned, I am a very secular and educated person and would never use such language in public or person," he said. Abbasi has lodged his complaint both with the Delhi Minorities Commission and the Reserve Bank of India.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/they-closed-my-account-as-i-am-a-muslim-82918?pfrom=home-Cities&cp

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/they-closed-my-account-as-i-am-a-muslim-82918?pfrom=home-Cities&cp

2G spectrum scam: Former Telecom Minister A Raja is in danger

New Delhi:  Former Telecom Minister A Raja has been arrested by the CBI after he was questioned this morning by the CBI for his alleged role in the 2G spectrum scam. 

He is still at the CBI headquarters, where his interrogation continues. Sources say he is being evasive on key matters.   He will have to be produced in a court within 24 hours.

Also arrested - two men who worked closely with Mr Raja - R K Chandolia, who served as his Personal Secretary, and Siddharth Behura, who was Telecom Secretary.(Read: Key Raja aides arrested) 

Mr Raja was interrogated this morning  for the second time this week.  Sources said he was evasive on key matters.   He will have to be produced in a court within 24 hours.

Though the spectrum scam had loomed over his ministry since the sale of 2G frequency to telecom operators in 2008, it was in November 2010 that Mr Raja finally exited the government.  What pushed him through the out-door was a report by the government's auditor which concluded that as Telecom Minister, Mr Raja under-valued spectrum and sold it to companies that he favoured even though they were largely ineligible for licenses to run mobile networks.

Mr Raja and the Congress have repeatedly argued in his defense that he followed the procedures introduced by his predecessors in the NDA government. Mr Raja has also said that by selling spectrum cheaply, he delivered high tele-density by making mobile connectivity affordable for the majority of Indians.

Mr Raja's homes and offices in New Delhi and Tamil Nadu have been raided by the CBI over the last few weeks.  Computers were reportedly seized as part of the evidence that the CBI plans to present against him.

The CBI's investigation into the 2G scam is being closely monitored by the Supreme Court on the basis of several petitions, including one filed by former Law Minister Subramanian Swamy.    On multiple occasions, the CBI has been accused by the court of mishandling the  inquiry.

The 2G scam has also turned into  one of India's biggest political battles.  The Opposition refused to let Parliament function during the winter session after the government refused to sanction a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).  The BJP has threatened that the Budget session scheduled to start soon will see the same forces at work, unless a JPC is set up.

The government has argued that in addition to the CBI and the Supreme Court, the 2G scam is being studied by parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which is headed by BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi.  Creating a JPC, it says, will only slow down the process of nailing who's to blame for the 2G scam.  The Prime Minister has offered to appear before the PAC - Mr Joshi has said the offer will be considered at a later stage.

21 Ways to Improve Your Resume

 Today's job market requires a highly effective resume to capture the employer's attention. Based on the national survey I conducted of 600 Hiring Managers, here are 21 ways to help you improve your online resume.

Content! Keywords!
Since most employers sort resumes electronically, keywords and specifics that demonstrate your abilities, your accomplishments, and your past experiences are crucial to getting their attention.

Market Yourself Well
Begin with a summary of qualifications section that encapsulates your most marketable skills and experience into four to six sentences.

Demonstrate Results
Employers like proof that you can do the job. Note the action performed and conclude with the achieved result, noting how your employer benefited. Use numbers and percentages to show how money or time was saved. Example: Coordinated the annual conference, adding new speakers and innovative programs, which resulted in a 17% increase in attendance and an 18% increase in revenues.

Be Brief and Concise
One page, short and to the point works best. Be a skillful editor, deleting the portions which are not relevant or least helpful to your securing a particular position. Emphasize your most recent experience, the last five to seven years. Cover in detail the major job duties performed.

Be Targeted
Focus every resume to the job title being applied for. It's much more effective to create a different resume for each job title (i.e., one resume for Trainer, another for Program Director) and incorporate only the information pertinent to doing that job.

Visually Appealing
The formatting of an online resume must be kept readable, sharp and professional. Make sure sentences are concise and that there is adequate white space between points. Eliminate italics, bold formatting, and fancy fonts. Stick to Times Roman or Arial fonts; use 12 - 14 point size. Use bullets to emphasize important points. 

Be Clear
No vague generalities. Say exactly what you mean, using the smallest number of words to make the point.

Be Accurate
State your skills, qualifications, and experience as positively as possible without exaggerating or misstating the truth. If your job responsibilities are not adequately described by your job title, indicate your abilities with appropriate terms (i.e. Events Coordinator, instead of Staff Coordinator) . List job titles, employers, and dates/years of employment.

Use Action Verbs
Start each sentence with a descriptive action verb - such as established, managed, organized. They add power to your sentences. And, never use "I" on the resume, only short impact sentences. Example: Designed the company's new marketing flyer.

Be Complete
Spell out names of schools, cities, abbreviations, and titles completely, since employers may not recognize abbreviations or acronyms.

Make Points Quickly
Complete sentences are not necessary in resume writing; it is better to use simple descriptive statements to make a point. Be sure any technical terms are understandable to non-technical personnel.

Justify Experience
In all your sentences, use past tense words since they imply that you "have done it" before. This reassures employers you can do it for them.

Be Perfect
The resume you send out must be flawless. No mistakes or typos, especially in emails. Typos are HR manager's chief complaint and they insist they won't hire offenders.

Proofread Carefully
Don't trust computer spell checkers. Read every word out loud to be sure it is correct.

Make it Readable
A crammed, cramped resume often goes unread. Make deletions wherever necessary to achieve a readable product. Use white space; bullets to highlight key points; and eliminate redundancies.

Avoid Graphics
Complex designs are distracting to the reader. Lines, boxes, shadings, fancy borders or clipart should be avoided as they cause major errors when sent electronically. 

Don't Include Personal Statistics
It is no longer considered professional or wise to include information about marital status, gender, height, weight, health, or to insert a picture on your resume.

No Tag Lines
Employers know you'll provide references if they request them, therefore it is not necessary to put "References upon request" at the end of your resume.

Don't Advertise Negative Information
The resume is the wrong place to advertise that you were laid off, fired, or had an extended illness. Never state why you left a position; simply list the dates of employment. Don't mention what salary you want to receive.

Be Current
Update information every six months. Keep a current resume on this website with email alert turned on to learn of promotions or new opportunities whenever you hear about them.

Final Test
Does your resume get results? Does your resume clearly and quickly communicate to employers that you can do the job? Do your strengths come across? Does everything support the job you are targeting? Should anything be removed? Are employers calling? If not, rework, get professional help or check out several resume books to help you improve yours. 

Authored by: Shveta Jairath