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Ten ways to keep your mind sharp

Based on a new series of studies, scientists have come out with ten ways to sharpen your mind. Read on and try out these 10 commandments.

Do something

Scientists are starting to think that regular aerobic exercise may be the single most important thing you can do for the long-term health of your brain. For mental fitness, aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity every other day, reports Live Science.

Eat, eat, eat

A low glycaemic diet -- high fibre, with moderate amounts of fat and protein -- is broken down more slowly in the body than high glycaemic foods, such as sweets and white starches. A steady pace of digestion in the gut gives a more reliable flow of energy to the brain, likely optimising the organ's long-term health and performance.

Secrets to a healthy diet

It is environment-friendly, health friendly, and free of chemicals, but what makes best argument for switching to organic, wholesome ingredients is the pure taste that no non-organic can compete with.

'Organic food' is the buzz word these days when it comes to healthy diet. Talk about food benefits to chefs, dieticians and health experts; and pat comes the reply "switch to organic food. Then you obviously ask, "Why?" This is what the health experts have to say, "Organic foods are just the right solution to reduce an individual's toxin burden of pesticides and food additives, besides increasing their nutrient intake." But that's not all today, the health experts are also talking about holistic diet- a diet regime that takes into account your body's natural state. Holistic diet talks about food that is fresh, mild and triggers our taste buds for health benefits. Says Dr Vaidehi Nawathe, Chief Dietician, Bhaktivedanta Hospital, Mumbai about holistic diet, "Organic food increases nutrient intake, and alters consumption patterns away from less healthy choices. Organic food isn't a luxury. It's how food is supposed to be and a valuable part of any regimen intended to maintain, improve or restore health. Holistic diet is also about the way it is prepared, stored, consumed. Whatever may be the food choice, it should be practical, fresh at the same time healthy. Right method of cooking and eating with proper frame of mind with a balance between increasing life demands and adequate mental - physical exercises have a positive impact on health."

India to be world’s 3rd biggest car market by 2020

New Delhi: Market research firm JD Power on Tuesday said the Indian passenger car segment is expected to grow by over four-fold to 93 lakh units in 2020 to become the world’s third largest car market.

"According to our projections for 2020, the passenger car segment of the Indian automobile market is likely to reach a size of 93 lakh units and it will become the third largest global car market," JD Power Asia Pacific executive director Mohit Arora said.

The country's car market is estimated to be 21 lakh units in this calendar year, he added.

"India will possibly cross the Japanese car market by 2014. Only China and the US will be ahead of India in 2020," Arora said, adding China would be on the top with sales of almost 3.5 crore cars every year.

He said the growth in India will primarily be coming in from Tier II and III cities, where infrastructure at present is a big impediment compared to China.

JD Power believes that the current market leader Maruti Suzuki India will remain the numero uno in the country, but its market share will fall below 50% in the next decade.

Japan was warned over n-plants, reveal WikiLeaks cables

London: Japan was warned two years ago that its safety rules were not up to date and a strong earthquake would pose a serious problem to its nuclear power stations, reveals a cable leaked by WikiLeaks.

The country is now facing the prospect of a nuclear meltdown following a massive earthquake and tsunami. The Telegraph reported that an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) official had pointed out in December 2008 that safety rules were out of date and strong earthquakes would pose a "serious problem" for nuclear stations.

The Japanese government had then vowed that it would upgrade safety at all its nuclear plants and it built an emergency response centre at the now stricken Fukushima plant that was designed to withstand magnitude 7 temblor. The earthquake that rocked Japan Friday measured 9 on the Richter scale.

A US embassy cable cited by The Daily Telegraph said: "He (an IAEA official) explained that safety guides for seismic safety have only been revised three times in the last 35 years and that the IAEA is now re-examining them.

"Also, the presenter noted recent earthquakes in some cases have exceeded the design basis for some nuclear plants, and that this is a serious problem that is now driving seismic safety work."

The media report said safety warnings about nuclear power plants in Japan, which is one of the most seismologically active countries in the world, were raised during the 2008 meeting of the G8's Nuclear Safety and Security Group in Tokyo.

Supermoon may cause natural disasters next week

Supermoon may cause natural disasters next week

On March 19^th 2011, the moon will make its closest approach to Earth in almost 20 years, possibly triggering earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other disasters.

The phenomenon, called lunar perigee or Supermoon, happens when the moon reaches its absolute closest point to Earth. On March 19, the natural satellite will be only 221,567 miles away from our planet.

There were Supermoons in 1955, 1974, 1992 and 2005, and these years had their share of extreme weather conditions, too. Although there are scientific laws that say the moon affects the Earth, it's still ambiguous whether the lunar perigee and natural disasters is coincidence or not.

British freelance weatherman John Kettley was quoted as saying "A moon can't cause a geological event like an earthquake, but it will cause a difference to the tide. If that combines with certain weather conditions, then that could cause a few problems for coastal areas."

Neo Earth Close Approach Tables By NASA

While hoping for a non-disastrous ‘moon giant’, point your eyes and camera lenses toward the night sky on 19th. If the sky is clear, you’re gonna get an exceptional celestial treat.

Fresh blast, new radiation fears in Japan

A new explosion rocked Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power complex on Monday, sending a plume of smoke into the air.

Reuters reports from Tokyo: Japanese authorities have been working desperately to avert a meltdown, compounding a nuclear catastrophe caused by Friday's massive quake and tsunami.

The core container was intact, Jiji news agency said, quoting the plant operator,Tokyo Electric Power Co, but the local government warned those still in the 20-km (13-mile) evacuation zone to stay indoors. Kyodo news agency quoted TEPCO as saying workers were injured in latest explosion.






11.08am: Russia, China put diplomatic differences aside and offer all help to Japan

10.50am: According to a New York Times report a US warrior aircraft passed through the radiation clouds. The report says the crew was exposed to one month's worth of radiation in an hour..

10.49am: Toyota has decided to halt all production till Wednesday.

10.41am: According to Kyodo news agency reports, 11 people were injured in the nuclear reactor blast

10.35am: Over 2000 bodies were washed up on the shores of Miyagi

10:25am: Nuclear operator says radiation levels at unit that exploded "within legal limits".

10:22am: Woman isolated after fears of radiation hit Fukushima neighbourhood.

10:12am: Seven ways to help. Mashable offers tips on how you can harness the power of social media to help relief efforts in Japan.

10:05am: Japanese language helplines (missing persons): Iwate: 0120-801-471; Miyagi: 022-221-2000; Fukushima: 0120-510-186 / 090-8424-4207 / 090-8424-4208

9.59am: Japan's stocks plunge on first trade day after quake. Tokyo market's shakedown has caused a loss of billions of dollars.

9:55am: Rescuers dig for survivors, but the going is tough.

9:52am: Grief-stricken Japanese trying to pick up the pieces, The Guardian reports from Sendai and northern Japan.

Castleford Tigers 34 Catalan Dragons 24: Tigers maintain unbeaten league record

Castleford are back on the top of the table after overcoming stiff resistance to continue their 100 per cent start to the Super League season.

Terry Matterson’s young side made it four wins in a row but came from behind twice, Nick Youngquest’s brilliant 100-metre dash highlighting their second-half charge.

Matterson said: ‘Catalans caught us on the hop and we were a bit soft in defence, but I was pleased with the reaction after the break.

‘Our game is evolving and the young guys are making it difficult for me to leave any of them out.’

Conquest: Castleford's Nick Youngquest (left) avoids this tackle by Catalan's Scott Dureau before his memorable try

Castleford were 10 points down in as many minutes and, although they then nosed in front 12-10, they trailed 18-12 at the break.

Scott Dureau scored all but four of the Catalans’ 18 points in the first half, scoring two tries and landing three goals from four attempts as well as setting up a try for Damien Blanch.

Craig Huby and Stuart Jones scored first-half tries for Castleford, who won it with scores by Kirk Dixon, Chase, Youngquest and Joe Arundel

Hasan Ali, time to quit horsing around

He is India's largest tax defaulter with dues over Rs 50,000 crore. Presenting Hasan Ali Khan- the 'Nine-billion dollar man'

Name: Hasan Ali Khan
Age: 58

Occupation:
Khan's I-T records: Scrap dealer

The truth: Stud-farm owner

Worth:
Khan's I-T records: Rs 30 lakhs (annual income)

The truth: US$ 9 billion (in Swiss accounts)

Yes, nine billion dollars. 
In fact, going by this figure, Khan could well be India's fourth richest man. The only hitch, most of that 9 billion dollars is unaccounted, black money gained through hawala transactions.

To top it up, the Income Tax Department woke up one day to realise Khan had about Rs. 50000 crores dues he had conveniently forgotten to pay. And thus, Hasan Ali Khan, or H A Khan as he is known in racing circles, caught India's attention.

The media's obsession has now shifted from the 'life and times of Libyan dictator Gaddafi' to 'Who the heck is this Hasan Ali Khan?'

Mulayam Singh, son Akhilesh under house arrest in Lucknow

Lucknow, March 7 (IANS) Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son, party state president Akhilesh Yadav, were Monday put under house arrest ahead of the agitation against Uttar Pradesh's ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), party officials said.

'Both of them have been put under house arrest at the behest of the state government that wants to gag every voice against its misrule,' SP spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary told reporters here.

'Heavy police force has been deployed in the area and our leaders are even not allowed to leave their home...It's all being done to suppress our three-day, statewide agitation that has started today (Monday) to unmask the misdeeds of the BSP government,' he said.

Mulayam Singh has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar stating that in such circumstances he would face problems in attending the parliament session, Chaudhary said.

A large number of SP activists in different parts of the state also took to the streets carrying out demonstrations against the state government.

Sikhs in Singapore: Turbanators with rich tradition of donning uniform

Singapore: The appointment of Brigadier-General Ravinder Singh, a Sikh, as the next chief of the Singapore Army is the culmination of a long tradition of the community serving in uniform, both as policemen and in the armed forces, in the city-state.

Brigadier-General Singh (left) will take over from Major-General Chan (right) as Singapore's Chief of Army.

Their role in Singapore belies their small number: There are only an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 Sikhs in Singapore, a nation of five million people.

Their number is small even when compared to 100,000 Sikhs living in Malaysia. Sikhs came to this part of Southeast Asia as soldiers and policemen during the British era.

Brig. Gen. Singh will replace Major-General Chan Chun Sing as army chief March 25.

Singh, 46, currently deputy secretary (technology) in the defence ministry, was previously commanding officer, 3rd Signal Battalion; commander, 2nd Singapore Infantry Brigade and assistant chief of general staff (plans); head joint communications and information systems department.

He has also held the posts of head joint plans and transformation department; commander 6th Division and chief of staff - joint staff.

Singh holds a Master of Arts (Engineering Science) from the University of Oxford, Britain. He also holds a Master of Science (Management of Technology) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US.

He joined the Singapore Armed Forces in December 1982. Brig Gen Singh is also the first non-Chinese Chief of Army in nearly 30 years.

Colonel Mancharan Singh Gill was the first ever when he took up the post in 1982, the report said.

"i have a dream" by Martin Luther King

£10m bounty to nab Colonel Gaddafi — dead or alive

London: A whopping 10 million pounds bounty has been placed on the head of Libyan dictator Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi.

The reward is being offered by special agents to the Libyan who can deliver them Gaddafi -- dead or alive.

British and US spies are in Libya with bundles of cash to tempt Gaddafi's closest bodyguards and aides to turn hitman or hand him over.

"There is about 10 million pounds from the Brits and Americans to make it happen. They have infiltrated his closest body- guards. With the right people together it could happen in days," the Daily Star quoted a well-placed security source as saying.

"The important thing is this has to be done by Libyans. We cannot have British fingerprints on this. It's up to the Libyans and there is an open cheque book.