Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Many kinds of universes, and none require God

Many kinds of universes, and none require God

Many kinds of universes, and none require God

Posted:

Stephen Hawking, the most revered scientist since Einstein, is a formidable mathematician and a formidable salesman. "I want my books sold on airport bookstalls," he has impishly declared, and he's learned how to put them there.


For Tatas, Jaguar was a love at first sight

Posted:

Do you believe in love at first sight? Consider this: One look was about all it took when executives of Tata Motors, who in late 2007 were deciding whether to buy Jaguar from Ford Motor, saw sketches of what would become the 2011 XJ.


Hurd is now a president at Oracle, HP's rival

Posted:

In naming Mark V. Hurd, the former chief executive of Hewlett-Packard, as Oracle's new co-president, Lawrence J. Ellison, Oracle's chief executive and largest shareholder, has put his money where his controversial mouth is.


These Ganpatis have boarding passes

Posted:

In a narrow bylane of Central Mumbai, Vasant Waikar gives the finishing touches to a Ganpati idol. A yellow dhoti, filigree necklaces, this is not a Ganesha who is splendour-shy. There is no boarding pass, but the idol will soon fly to America, one of many that are being ordered by homesick Maharashtrians who miss the Ganpati Bappa Morya fervour that is a proud ritual for this time of year in Mumbai.


Computers as invisible as the air

Posted:

The personal computer is vanishing. Computers once filled entire rooms, then sat in the closet, moved to our desks, and now nestle in our pockets. Soon, the computer may become invisible to us, hiding away in everyday objects.


BJP stakes claim in Jharkhand, Governor recommends lifting of President’s Rule

Posted:

Jharkhand Governor M O H Farook on Tuesday night sent a report to the Centre recommending revocation of President's rule in the state, hours after BJP leader Arjun Munda staked claim to form a new government.


Strike hits normal life in Kerala, West Bengal

Posted:

The nationwide strike by trade unions against price rise paralysed the business and government establishments, but the worst affected were Left-ruled West Bengal and Kerala. Normal life was badly hit in West Bengal due to the strike, which virtually took the shape of a 'Bangla Bandh', with over 1,000 arrests being made.


Thomas sworn-in as CVC; BJP boycotts function

Posted:

Senior IAS officer P J Thomas was on Tuesday sworn-in as the new Central Vigilance Commissioner amid a boycott by main Opposition BJP which has been objecting to his appointment to the post in view of his alleged tainted background.


BJP takes CVC battle to President

Posted:

Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj met President Patil on Tuesday evening over the appointment of PJ Thomas as new Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC). BJP had opposed PJ Thomas' nomination as Central Vigilance Commissioner and also boycotted Central Vigilance Commissioner's swearing in.


Jharkhand's new government is largely same old

Posted:

Arjun Munda met the Governor of Jharkhand on Tuesday, presenting the BJP's new initiative to revive its fortunes in the state. Partnering with the BJP yet again will be the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). Five months ago, the two parties agreed to divorce. It turns out it was just a trial separation.


Rahul Gandhi charms students - and a cop - in Pune

Posted:

Rahul Gandhi spent an hour interacting with college students in Pune on Tuesday. Students asked him tough questions about farmer suicides in Maharashtra. The Congress' General Secretary invited them to brain storm on the "there are two Indias - one for the rich and the other for the poor" theme that he has referred to repeatedly in his recent speeches.


After Manmohan remarks, China seeks to reassure India

Posted:

China on Tuesday underlined its role in South Asia, saying that as an "important member" of Asia it is willing to work with India for peace and stability in the sub-continent. Seeking to downplay the purported remarks of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that Beijing "would like to have a foothold in South Asia," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Jiang Yu said China is committed to safeguarding peace and stability of Asia, including South Asia.


US father kept daughter locked up for a year

Posted:

A man in the US repeatedly raped one of his daughters, who was less than 13 years old, and locked up another in a room no bigger than a wardrobe for more than a year, it was reported here Tuesday. The case is similar to that of Josef Fritzl, an Austrian father who kept his daughter locked in a room for years and repeatedly raped her.


Muslim clerics from UP in demand in US, Europe, Gulf

Posted:

In the holy month of Ramzan, Muslim clerics -- both Shia and Sunni-- from Uttar Pradesh are busy abroad. Reason- they have been in great demand as devotees in Gulf countries want them for conducting religious discourses.


Mayawati in trouble with Supreme Court again

Posted:

Another memorial dream of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has hit a road block. The Supreme Court has questioned the scale of constructions at an upcoming ecology park dedicated to her mentor and Dalit Leader Kanshiram.


26/11 case: Pak prosecutors file plea for formation of commission

Posted:

Pakistani prosecutors have filed a petition in a Rawalpindi-based anti-terrorism court for the formation of a commission that would visit India to record the testimony of 24 key witnesses in the Mumbai attacks case.


Angelina Jolie in Pak to raise funds for flood relief

Posted:

Hollywood superstar Angelina Jolie who had earlier donated US $1 million to relief efforts in flood ravaged Pakistan, arrived in the country on Tuesday to provide some hands-on help. The Academy award winning actress jetted to Pakistan on a mercy mission for the millions left homeless because of the floods.


BMC to decide on barricades near Taj, Oberoi next week

Posted:

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is likely to take a decision next week on retaining barricades near the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels, the targets of the 26/11 terror attacks. "We need to consider the security issues and then take an appropriate decision. We will look into the recommendations made by the police and take a decision next week," Additional Municipal Commissioner A K Singh said.


Pak not satisfied with India's replies on Headley

Posted:

Pakistan is not satisfied with India's replies to its questions on Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) operative David Headley, detained in the US in connection with the Mumbai terror attacks, according to a media report. "The Indian response to our queries is hardly relevant," a senior official was quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper on Tuesday.


Obama to propose tax write-off for capital investment

Posted:

As part of his emerging program to jolt the economic recovery from its stall, President Obama will call this week for allowing businesses to deduct from their taxes through 2011 the full value of new equipment purchase, from computers to utility generators, to increase demand for goods and create jobs.


Office-goers' daydreaming 'peaks on Tuesdays'

Posted:

It's a Tuesday when most office workers daydream about their next holiday, a study has found. According to the study, online holiday searches peak at 9 pm on Tuesday as workers struggle with the start of the working week -- in fact, many can't wait until they get home and 1 pm to 4 pm at work is also a busy browsing time.


Mumbai: 250 surgeries on hold as hospital staff goes on strike

Posted:

The nationwide strike called by trade unions to protest against price rise, violation of labour laws and disinvestment of PSUs on Tuesday is expected to hit medical services in the state to an extent. Around 23 major state-run hospitals will be almost paralysed around the state, as 23,000 nurses and thousands of ward boys and other junior and administrative staff have decided to strike work.


Will Nuclear Liability law deter foreign

Posted:

Noting that the Indian " liability law also follows a dust-up between the US and India over flawed US legislation" she said: "Washington and New Delhi need to move past the recent irritants in the relationship caused by domestic politics in both countries so that this important bilateral partnership will continue to advance."


Delhi: 1200 Safdarjung doctors on strike

Posted:

Close to 1200 resident doctors at the Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi have gone on a strike after some nurses and female doctors, working with the gynaecology department, were roughed up when a patient died on Tuesday morning.


Man arrested for allegedly raping neighbour's daughter

Posted:

A 35-year-old man was arrested for allegedly raping a minor girl in Hasanganj locality in Lucknow, police said on Tuesday. Ramesh Valmiki, who held a six-year-old girl captive and later raped her in Ali Nagar locality, was arrested on Monday, they said.


Youth kidnapped, killed by Maoists

Posted:

Maoists kidnapped a youth and killed him near Sihauta in Bihar's Gaya district on Tuesday. Armed Maoists kidnapped the youth from Sihauta village on Monday evening and killed him before throwing his body on a road near the village on Tuesday morning, the police said. The ultras had earlier threatened to eliminate him for allegedly working as a police informant, the police added.


Partial auto rickshaw strike in Delhi

Posted:

More than half of Delhi's 55,000 auto rickshaws went off the roads Tuesday to protest a government directive on driver badges.


UK: Man loses job as he's too fat to work

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Many may find it a bit odd, but a Briton has lost his job simply because he's too fat to work. Fifty one-year-old Barry Fowers was offered redundancy by an insurance company which was worried that he could topple over on his colleagues and hurt them.


Pressure on WikiLeaks founder to step down: Report

Posted:

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is under pressure from within the whistleblower organisation to step down from the helm of the website he created.


Will Iranian woman be stoned to death after Ramzan?

Posted:

The son of an Iranian woman sentenced to be stoned to death for adultery said on Monday that he fears she will be executed shortly after this week's end to the Muslim holy month of Ramzan.


Posted by Harshad at 7:24 PM

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