Rock band Pink Floyd To Release New Album This year

Rock band Pink Floyd To Release New Album This year 

Rock band Pink Floyd will release a new studio album this year, according to guitarist-singer David Gilmour’s wife Polly Samson.

Samson broke the news on Twitter that the new LP will be titled ‘The Endless River’ and it will feature the final work of multi-instrumentalist Richard Wright, reported Digital Spy.

“By the way Pink Floyd album out in October is called The Endless River. Based on 1994 sessions is Rick Wright’s swansong and very beautiful,” Ms. Samson tweeted.

Wright passed away in September 2008 at his home following a lengthy battle with cancer.

Even Pink Floyd backing vocalist Durga McBroom confirmed about the album The Endless River’s impending release by sharing a photograph from a recording session on the micro-blogging site. 

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A DDLJ Twist In Bollywood

A DDLJ Twist In  Bollywood

The press conference of the Varun Dhawan-Alia Bhatt starrer, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya was different — with balloons, and the lead actors shaking a leg. Alia sang a few lines from a song from the movie.

Varun plays Humpty Sharma, a happy-go-lucky Punjabi says: “This is our tribute to Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. It a new version of the classic. The youth today react to authority differently than they did 20 years ago. My character has a touch of the boy-next-door. He is a regular guy you see in every colony — a college-going kid who knows how to enjoy life and finds happiness with his friends and loved ones.”

Talking about her character, Alia says, “This movie is a romance. It is not a romantic comedy. My character is a Punjabi girl, full of life and not afraid to take decisions. She is also moody. The character is similar to the person I am in real life. I had a lot of fun working in this movie.”

Varun chips in, “I did some research. I was born and grew up in Mumbai and did not have much of an idea about the mannerisms of Punjabi youngster. I went to Delhi and spent time at the university to understand my character.”

Alia adds, “Sometimes during the shoot, we would find it difficult to get out of our characters. Our language and the tone of our voices would also change. The workshops conducted by the director also helped in this.” Alia enjoyed singing the songs for the movie and says. “It is amazing that these songs have become so popular across the country including Punjab.”

Varun, who is working on a movie by Sriram Raghavan, says: “The movie is different from what I have done so far. I would like to do different roles and you may see me as an action hero soon.

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FIFA World Cup 2014

Brazil Ready To cope with Neymars Absence

Willian and Bernard, the two leading contenders to replace Neymar in Brazil's World Cup semifinal clash against Germany insisted on Sunday that the team can still win the competition without their star player.

"Neymar sets the standard for us. He is capable of deciding any game, so playing without him will be difficult," said Chelsea midfielder Willian. "We know the quality that we have. We are all very sad at losing him but we are now even stronger after what happened and we can continue to pursue our dream."

Neymar's tournament ended in tears on Friday when he suffered a fractured vertebrae in his back after a crunching challenge from Juan Zuniga in the 2-1 quarterfinal win against Colombia.

Willian, who has made all three of his appearances at this World Cup from the bench, picked up a knock in training on Saturday in a clash with Hernanes, but said that it will not prevent him from being ready against Germany.

However, he warned that fans should not expect him to act as a direct replacement for the Barcelona star.

"You can't compare Neymar with any other player. He has so much quality," he said. "I have a different style even if we have some similarities, like my pace. Neymar is a forward, while I am more of a midfielder, someone who creates chances for others."

Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari could opt to hand a first start in the competition to diminutive Shakhtar Donetsk winger Bernard.

"We were all very sad at the situation and also because Neymar was very sad. Of course the whole group has felt his loss," said the 21-year-old. "He is a big loss not just as a player but also as a person. He is always smiling and saying positive things."

The introducton of Willian or Bernard could see Oscar moving into a central role behind striker Fred, but Scolari has several options.

He could play with three central midfielders, maintaining Paulinho in the side while also welcoming back Luiz Gustavo after suspension.

'Special moment'

"All of those who are here have ability and are capable of coming in and doing a good job," added Bernard, who nevertheless has extra incentive to win a start.

He hails from Belo Horizonte, where Tuesday's match will be played, and made his name at local club Atletico Mineiro, playing alongside Ronaldinho in the side that won the Copa Libertadores last year.

Bernard had a positive impact when he replaced Hulk in the second half of last year's 2-1 Confederations Cup semifinal win against Uruguay.

"It is a World Cup semi-final, a special moment," Bernard said. "But if I am not chosen we will have to agree with the coach."

Brazil have played six games without Neymar since 2010, winning five. Their solitary defeat was a 1-0 friendly loss away to France. The victories came against lesser opposition in Iran, Ukraine, Gabon, Egypt and Denmark.

At times during the World Cup, the hosts have appeared to be too dependent on the genius of Neymar, who scored four goals to help them through the group stage.

However, Brazilians can draw hope from the events of the 1962 World Cup, when their star man Pele withdrew injured in the group stage.

Amarildo took his place and scored three goals to help the Selecao retain the title, including one in the final victory against Czechoslovakia.

"Nobody ever expected that we could come to a situation like this, without Neymar," said Bernard. "But there is still time. We will be able to adjust and find the best way to cope with the situation," he added.

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Game For A catch

                    Game For A catch

  The air is fresh, the soil is damp and there’s water everywhere. I’m in a picturesque locale, just 30km away from the bustle of the city. It’s 7 a.m. They’re alive and kicking, ready for breakfast. Down goes the float, there’s a pull on the line and the rod bends. It’s a fish at the other end, and everyone is excited. I’m with a group of high-spirited anglers that ritually frequents the East Coast Road, not for the seafood and beer at Mahabalipuram, but for a day of action-packed sport-fishing. And they are giving me an insight into the Real McCoy fisherman tales!

Anglers in Chennai have visited Muttukaadu and the surrounding areas on the East Coast Road for backwater fishing and sea fishing for nearly 40 years. “It’s an activity that gives peace of mind and provides wholesome entertainment. We use a catch-and-release mechanism, and don’t fish for food,” says Gangadharan, a septuagenarian. “However, in Chennai, this concept of sport-fishing is still primitive. Sadly, people kill even the smallest of fish to eat, which prevent the fish from growing,” he adds.

For many years, until early 2000, Chennai Port was the centre of fishing activity. The British ‘way’ of life resulted in a paradise for anglers, with a nominal fee and an angling license. However, this changed because of an increase in license fees and a subsequent ban on fishing permits. The enthusiasm towards the sport was re-kindled when the State Government proposed the idea of restoring the Chetpet Lake for sport-fishing last year. But the promises made have not been fulfilled, and anglers hope that the fishing scene recovers from dire straits. “It will be a progressive step towards developing the water bodies in the city to support sport fishing and outdoor entertainment,” says Gangadharan.

Still, there are many anglers in Chennai who reminisce about those ‘good old fishing days’. “It’s been a while since I last went fishing. We used to head to Ennore Port and North Madras then, or fish out at sea. I’ve caught barracudas and giant trevally,” says Cary Andrews, ex-VJ for Channel V. “Now the Government doesn’t allow private boats out that far,” he adds.

Looking at it from another dimension, the Chennai waters today no longer support the plethora of fish that they once boasted. “The constant coastal development from Pulicat to Marakkanam has destroyed the primary species of fish, and is driving them to extinction,” says Joe Lobo, a restaurant owner. He adds, “I’ve been fishing since I was a boy, and can see a constant reduction in the quantity of fish over the past 20 years.” Joe, like all other anglers, respects the art not only as a sport but also from the point of view of conservation, which go hand in hand.

However, the angler’s spirit never dies, and he never lets the line get slack. Michael Gagarin, 25, a young lover of the sport says, “It gives me an adrenaline rush. Spinning on the coast requires a lot of stamina and energy. It’s an exciting sport and we still catch some big fish.”

Sport-fishing in Chennai hasn’t still become a thing of the past as the anglers strive to keep their rods high.

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Japan scientists Find Ageing cure For Flowers

Japan scientists Find Ageing cure For Flowers

TOKYO: Japanese scientists say they have found a way to slow down the ageing process in flowers by up to a half, meaning bouquets could remain fresh for much longer.
Researchers at the National Agriculture and Food Research Organisation in Tsukuba, east of Tokyo, said they had found the gene believed to be responsible for the short shelf-life of flowers in one Japanese variety of morning glory.

"Morning glory" is the popular name for a hundreds of species of flowering plants whose short-lived blooms usually unfold early in the day and are gone by nightfall.
By suppressing the gene -- named "EPHEMERAL1" -- the lifespan of each flower was almost doubled, said Kenichi Shibuya, one of the lead researchers in a study carried out jointly with Kagoshima University in southern Japan.

"Unmodified flowers started withering 13 hours after they opened, but flowers that had been genetically modified stayed open for 24 hours," he said.
This means the plant has fresh purple flowers alongside the paler blooms from the previous day, he said.
"We have concluded that the gene is linked to petal ageing," Shibuya told AFP by telephone on Thursday.

The finding could lead to developing methods to extend the life of cut flowers, he added.
"It would be unrealistic to modify genes of all kinds of flowers but we can look for other ways to suppress the (target) gene... such as making cut flowers absorb a solution that prevents the gene from becoming active," Shibuya said.

For some flowers, such as carnations, florists currently use chemicals to inhibit ethylene, a plant hormone which sometimes causes blooms to ripen.
But ethylene is not involved in the ageing of some popular flowers, such as lilies, tulips and irises.

A gene similar to EPHEMERAL1 could be responsible for petal ageing in these plants, Shibuya said, meaning the ability to suppress it would extend their life.

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Solidarity Run To boost cycling Expedition

Solidarity Run To boost cycling Expedition

Hyderabad Bicycling Club (HBC) organised a ‘Solidarity Cycle Run’ at Necklace Road on Sunday in support of a cycling expedition between Manali and Khardung La, being taken up by differently-abled cyclist Aditya Mehta.

The solidarity cycle run, which was flagged-off by IT and Panchayat Raj Minister K.T. Rama Rao, also had large number of cyclists from Hyderabad who wanted to encourage Aditya. According to HBC, the cyclist is setting out on the gruelling journey to raise awareness about challenges faced by the differently-abled and also motivate them to aim higher.

The ride between Manali and Khardung La is challenging, as it is one of the highest motorable roads in the world at 18,379 ft. above sea level. “Differently-abled athletes in India have tremendous potential and can bring laurels to the country if given the right support. To emphasise this, I have taken up this journey,” Aditya said. HBC chairman D.V. Manohar said that Aditya’s efforts should motivate more youth in Hyderabad and elsewhere to take up bicycling. 

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High vegetable pricesshock Madurai Residents

High vegetable pricesshock Madurai Residents 

For many Madurai residents, vegetable shopping at the Central Vegetable Market near Mattuthavani on Sunday morning burnt a big hole in their pockets.

For the last one month, the prices of vegetables have been steadily rising. “Onions, potatoes and tomatoes are sold at Rs.30 a kg today,” said S. Shiva who owns a wholesale shop in the market. Selling at Rs.70 a kilo, beans proved to be one of the most expensive vegetables. Drumsticks are sold at Rs.65 a kg and ‘avarai’ (country beans) and beetroot at Rs.50.

“We are not expecting the rates of vegetables to come down anytime soon. There has been scanty rainfall everywhere and there haven’t been heavy arrivals,” said N. Eswaran, a vendor.

“Customers bargain hard but we are already not making much profit. People who used to buy in kilos buy only 250 grams to 300 grams of these vegetables,” he added.

Echoing his view, most vendors at the market also said that with the cost of transportation having gone up, they were hardly making money.

“It costs Rs.5 to transport one kilo. A train ticket to Tenkasi which used to cost us Rs.25 now costs Rs.35,” said T. Muthukumar.

G. Nagamani, a vendor who sells coriander, said they bought a kilo of the leaves at a whopping Rs.160. “Prices used to be so low that we used to give it for free in the past,” he said.

With vegetables such as radish, chow chow (chayote) and brinjal costing Rs.35 a kilo, customers have no choice but to go ahead and spend heavily on vegetables.

“We pack lunch for our children every day and they need some variety. With vegetables such as beans costing Rs.70 a kg, we have been forced to skip preparing extra meals such as evening snacks and tiffin,” said G. Balamurugan, a resident of Surya Nagar.

T. Bhuvaneshwari, a resident of Kadachanendhal, said the prices of vegetables were not the only ones to hurt, the prices of meat had also doubled. “While chicken cost Rs.170 a kilo, mutton costs Rs.500. Now, our household budget is in disarray,” she says. 

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TRS Against Special powers To Governor

TRS Against Special powers To Governor

 The ruling TRS has decided to oppose a proposal of the Union Home Ministry to give special powers to the Governor in matters related to the functioning of the police in Hyderabad by amending business rules of the State government.
The Ministry had recently circulated the draft rules and sought views of the State government on empowering the Governor to act in matters of the police in Hyderabad such as transfers of officers and scrutiny of files of crime investigation.
Threat to ties with Centre

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao felt that the move was a direct intervention in the affairs of the State government and a threat to Centre-State relations. It should be opposed in the House, he told the MPs at their meeting on the eve of the commencement of the budget session of Parliament from Monday.
Sources said Mr. Rao explained that the Centre’s move could become a precedent and extended to other States if not opposed. Maintenance of law and order was a State subject over which the Governors should not have a role. He asked the TRS MPs to take the support of other regional parties when they stage a protest on the floor of the House.

Mr. Rao also wanted the MPs to protest against the amendment Bill to the AP Reorganisation Act which will be moved by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh seeking transfer of seven mandals of Khammam to Andhra Pradesh. They should mount pressure on the Centre for more projects to the State in the railway budget.

Bogus ration cards

Addressing the newly elected zilla parishad and mandal parishad presidents earlier, Mr. Rao referred to his plan to weed out white ration cards as they were far in excess of the households in the State. He said there were only 84 lakh families but 90 lakh white cards and 15 lakh pink cards were in circulation. There were also irregularities in the weaker sections housing as all the families in some villages were sanctioned new houses. It meant that people who owned houses already got new units. They took money from the government but did not construct houses.

He asked the leaders not to show favouritism in extending government benefits and warned of action if it came to his notice. They should prepare an indent of requirements in every village and focus on development. It was only to ensure development of the State that he assumed Chief Ministership.

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New Delhi Railway station To Generate solar power

New Delhi Railway station To Generate solar power

The Railways is planning to generate 1 MW solar power at the New Delhi railway station by installing solar panels on the platform roofs. Officials said the power project that will be implemented on a public private partnership model is a part of the Railways’ initiative to convert some of its stations into ‘green buildings’.

“A consultant has been roped in to conduct the feasibility study. While we plan to install solar panels on roof tops of the platform and the station building, the consultant has been asked to identify the exact locations on the station premises where solar panels can be installed, apart from the cost of installation,” said Anurag Sachan, Divisional Railway Manager (Delhi).

“As per the initial plans, the private partner will install the solar panels and generate power and the Railways will buy power at a pre-determined rate,” he added.

According to railway officials, the New Delhi railway station is spread over an area of the 6,38,467 sq m, including the yard area. Around 4,21,388 sq m of the total is built-up area. The station has 16 platforms. Officials said with no major high rises located in the vicinity of the station premise, generating 1 MW solar power is achievable.

“Once operational, around 25 per cent of the energy requirements at the New Delhi station, which has an average daily demand of over 4 MW, can be met just by solar power,” a senior Northern Railway official said.

Apart from the New Delhi station, the public transporter is also working at converting more stations in the Delhi Division like Bahadurgarh, Deewana and Gurgaon into green buildings. Solar power plants will also be installed at other major stations in the city like Old Delhi, Nizamuddin, Anand Vihar and Bijwasan.

“Once the pilot project at the New Delhi station becomes successful, we will have a model that could be replicated at other stations in Delhi,” a senior Northern Railway official said.

With the Narendra Modi government emphasising on harnessing solar power and taking lessons from solar projects in Gujarat, sources said the initiatives in the field are likely to get priority and easy clearances from the Ministry.

Sources said after senior railway officials made a presentation before the Prime Minister, he instructed the department to “use solar energy more aggressively and install them on the roofs of station buildings and other areas, apart from considering installation of solar panels atop the train coaches”.

“Installation of solar panels on train coaches is possible. It can meet the general requirements like lighting bulbs and running fans in the trains. An experiment is also being done with a toy train running on the Shimla-Kalka route,” an official said. 

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Genelia DSouza Flaunts Her Baby Bump

Genelia DSouza Flaunts Her Baby Bump

Finally Genelia D’Souza could not avoid the shutterbugs from catching her off guard, flaunting her baby bump.

Mom to be Genelia D’Souza along with her husband Riteish Deshmukh was invited by good friend Dia Mirza for the special screening of her film Bobby Jasoos. Genelia D’Souza flaunted her baby bump and came clad in a knee length semi-fitted blue dress. Riteish, playing a doting hubby, was seen walking hand in hand, with Genelia.
A source close to both Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia stated that Ritesh is already planning a film for his wife Genelia post the maternity break. The film in question is expected to go on floor next year end and would star Genelia and Riteish.
Riteish Deshmukh who is riding high on the success of his latest hit Ek Villain is planning to even produce the film.

The pregnancy news first surfaced during the screening of Riteish’s Marathi film Yellow, where Genelia D’Souza was seen showing a tiny baby bump. Post this one saw Genelia D’Souza at the launch of Lai Bhari which happens to be Riteish’s acting debut in Marathi cinema.
This was Genelia’s first public appearance after the couple officially confirmed that they are indeed expecting their first child.

Here’s wishing this lovely couple all the best and their soon to be born baby a healthy life.

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