Meet The Huawei-Discovery Expedition

Discovery Communications has partnered with Huawei Technologies to come up with the ‘Huawei-Discovery Expedition’ phone. The partnership and the launch of the handset is a part of the expanding Discovery Expedition line, the official lifestyle brand of Discovery Channel.

The Discovery Expedition handset is quite a rugged phone (water-resistant, dustproof and anti-shock, includes a GPS, torch, compass, G-sensor) suitable for the outdoorsy kinds. Yes, it will come with native SNS apps like Facebook and Twitter to allow you to share your adventures online with your buddies.

We do wish that we had some more specifications to talk about but judging just by the looks of it, we can say its a fairly sturdy and strong. No don’t expect any ridiculously frail touchscreen display as this one is meant for the adventurous kind.

The handset is expected to hit various markets anytime in the next three months.

Sara Underwood Modeling the Playboy Store's Lingerie and Bikini (NSFW)

Sara Underwood has never been shy of her amazing figure, and considering that she has already done a spread for Playboy proper, a substantially less risque photoshoot of herself in Lingerie and various Bikinis is nothing shocking.

Sara Underwood's photoshoot for Playboy's Lingerie line and Bikini line are nothing short of mouth watering. I have always been a huge fan of Sarah's, so seeing this just brings that extra bit of joy to my life. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do ...

Disasters Claim 71 Lives in Mizoram in 8 Years

Aizawl, Sep 29 : Natural disasters have claimed the lives of altogether 71 persons and injured 82 others during the last eight years, Disaster Management and Rehabilitation officials said here today.

Landslides and land sinking claimed the highest number of lives, killing 31 persons, followed by house fire (15 persons), forest fire (11 lives), flash flood/flood (10 lives) and cyclone (4 lives).

Altogether 82 persons were injured by disasters during this period.

As many as 42,523 houses were damaged by disasters, with cyclone, which damaged 20279 houses, topping the list.

It was followed by landslides which damaged 6621 houses. Hailstorm damaged 10895 houses, household fire and forest fire gutted 1498 houses and 749 houses respectively while floods destroyed 2481 houses.

Disasters, mainly forest fire, destroyed 249947 bighas of land.

Landslides caused damage to 82187 bighas of land, cyclone 10826 bighas, flood 48856 bighas and hailstorm 6746 bighas of land.

The most disastrous incident was recorded in 1992 when a rock slide at South Hlimen near Aizawl killed 67 people and destroyed 16 houses.

Fortunately, no major earthquake has occurred in Mizoram despite the fact that the state, with the rest of the northeastern India, falls within seismic zone five, which seismologists said is the highest vulnerable zone.

In 2006, Mizoram adopted the Disaster Management Act, 2005, passed by the Parliament and set up state disaster management authority under the chairmanship of the chief minister. Under this, there is district disaster management authority in each district, chaired by the deputy commissioner concerned.

''As Mizoram lies within the seismic zone V, the Central government has taken initiatives under UNDP-DRM programme with the state government to aware the public for prevention/mitigation of earthquake disaster in a form of training and preparedness to face possible earthquake disaster,'' said head faculty, ATI (DMC) Dr Lalrokima Chenkual.

Hazard safety cell has been set up under the state PWD. The cell has chalked out programmes on assessment of buildings and other structures on their vulnerability to strong earthquake and has started operations with life-line buildings.

School teachers are taught formulation of school safety plan and safety tips while disaster management is being introduced in the school syllabus for Class V, VIII, IX and X in the state.

Extensive awareness campaign was being conducted at all levels, the officials said.

Football Fans in India Deprived Of Watching The Game by ESPN

By Ashim Sunam

Football fans across the nation were very disappointed as they were not able to watch some important EPL clashes, as ESPN had decided to broadcast the cash rich Champions League. At the end, it was the football fans, who lost out on the EPL action.

DAVID HAOKIP, a Liverpool fan never misses out watching his favourite team, Liverpool, play during the English Premier league. He makes sure that there is no disturbance during the game. But it was a frustrating and gloomy day for Haokip last Saturday, as he could not watch Liverpool play against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Feeling helpless, Haokip thought he was one of those few thousands of football fans who grew in the wrong part of the world, where every second person is an ardent cricket fan, in the cricket-obssessed nation of India.

The official broadcasters, ESPN and Star, were busy covering the cash rich Champions League T20, 2011. As a result, Star Sports showed only Manchester City’s game Vs Everton, and United’s game later on - and due to some reason missed showing the Liverpool vs Wolverhampton Wanderers game - leading to Haokip losing his cool. Football fans across the country were not able to see what they love - a solid game of fast-paced European league precission football. Considering that during the weekend, EPL witnesses around 10 matches - it was a huge let down for football lovers.

For football fans across the country, it is on Saturdays and Sundays that they get together and enjoy watching the beautiful game on their plasma screens. But, last week was different for these groups of football fans, as they could not watch the beautiful game. They will have to cope with absence of live football footage for the coming two weeks or so as the Champions League 2011 is scheduled to conclude only on October 9, 2011. So football fans across the country must have some arrangements ready for the future matches. The best bet would be watching it online, provided the internet speed is good.

Kipgen Mangboi from Manipur, who has been following football from a very small age, was angry when he switched on to ESPN to watch football, only to realize that the channel was broadcasting cricket. In an angry voice, Kipgen says, “why are two channels showing the same T20 game?” The T20 game was shown in both ESPN and Star cricket. He was so frustrated, as he could not watch EPL, so he even thought of writing to ESPN, but he gave up the idea. He added, “For a cricket match score, you can go and ask any paan wala, but what about the football score, it is not so easy”. The only option that is left for the football fans of the country is to log on to the internet and Google for live scores. It has to be remembered that not everyone has internet service at their disposal.

As a result of a "semi-football blackout', football fans posted numerous comments on social networking sites asking questions such as, ‘why is ESPN showing cricket, when they are the official broadcasters of the EPL?’ Another football fan Philip, who has been born and brought up in Delhi went to the extent of commenting on the Facebook page of espnstar.com, “In India why did you guys not show the live telecast of the other matches except for Stoke Vs Manchester United and Man City vs Everton? Is the copycat cricket glitter more important for you, who can’t you even come up with a name for their own tournament and copy it from the prestigious UEFA Champions league”. Fans like Philip always make sure that their voices are heard far and wide. He openly states that he hates cricket. No wonder, with unwarranted situation like these, football fans will always look down upon cricket. But, how much will this turn of events matter to cricket fans, which outnumber football fans in India?

Almost 90-95 per cent of the Indian population are cricket fans and the rest of the country may follow other sports such as Football, Hockey, and Lawn tennis. But, Football is said to be growing in many parts of the country, which is sure to increase the number of fans present in India. North eastern states of India, along with Kolkata, and Kerala have a large number of football fans. The numbers are increasing gradually. But, it would never be able to surpass the number of cricket fans - that's for sure - at least, not in the near future.

Cricket brings in so much of revenue to broadcasters, so it is understandable that ESPN shows cricket, and not football, which in India, can't generate the kind of revenue that cricket does. Parag Ekka, who is both an ardent cricket and a football fan, comes up with a balanced view and says, “It is no surprise, that cricket is being aired in ESPN. After all it is India, where cricket is religion. We are not in Brazil.” If we bring into the TRP factor here, cricket would win all hands down, as there is a very small section of Indian populace who follow football regularly.

Some football fans across the nation cannot even think of going a weekend going by without watching EPL matches. One such fan from Darjeeling, Nalanda Moktan, realizing he did not have any alternative, decided to log on to the internet and read the text commentary on various websites. The feeling of watching the game live is always better than scrolling over the internet for text commentary or watching it online, which is very irritating as it buffers, and following live-action depends on the speed of the internet. “In spite of reading live text commentary, I will make sure that I watch the highlights of the game, which is a visual treat.”

One hopes that sports channels in India realize that football fans of India have to feel satisfied with whatever little air time that is given to football, which is not exactly the most smartest situation if sponsors and broadcasters are trying to build momentum for the growth of football in a country that has lakhs of people who want to kick a footbal than hit a cricket ball given half a chance.

About The Author

Ashim is a citizen journalist and a sports enthusiast. He loves to delve deep inside the background of every sporting event and analyse the happenings around the arena

Bnei Menashe of Northeast India Celebrate Rosh Hashana

Children from the Bnei Menashe community prepare to celebrate Rosh Hashana in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur.

The Bnei Menashe are descendants of one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel who were exiled by the Assyrian empire more than 27 centuries ago.

Several months ago, an Israeli government committee approved in principle a request made by the Shavei Israel organization to bring on aliyah the 7,200 Bnei Menashe still in India.

photo courtesy Yochanan Phaltual

2 Months of Manipur Blockade: An LPG Cylinder for Rs 2,000, Rice at Rs70 a kg!

By Prasanta Mazumdar

Guwahati, Sep 29 : Manipur has been literally held to ransom by two tribal organisations who have enforced ‘economic blockades’ on the two national highways in the state on the issue of the demand for the creation of a new district.

Fifty-eight days into the blockades, the prices of essential commodities have spiraled like never before. According to locals, petrol is being sold at Rs120 to Rs140 and diesel Rs70 a litre in the black market in Manipur capital Imphal.

“An LPG cylinder is being sold at Rs1,600 to Rs2,000 in the black market. We are buying mustard oil at Rs 120 a litre and we presume the one we are buying is also not pure,” said Abdul Haque, leader of All Manipur Students’ Union.
He said the situation wouldn’t have come to such a pass had the government allegedly not connived with the traders. Haque alleged the government remained silent as it was getting its share from the traders.

The situation is said to be worse in the four hill districts where the Nagas are in majority. “Can one imagine how difficult living could be when rice is sold at Rs70 a kg?” asked Julie Singlai, leader of an Ukhrul-based students’ organisation. Ukhrul is one of the four hill districts in Manipur.

Julie said potatoes and onions were being sold at Rs50 to Rs60 per kg. LPG is out of market at many places in the hill districts. “We get everything from Imphal. However, in the wake of the blockades, there is an acute shortage of the essential items now,” she added.

The government denied there had been any shortage of the essential items. “The situation has improved in the last few days though the prices have gone up to some extent,” minister and government spokesman N Biren told DNA. He said vehicles carrying essential commodities were being escorted into the state through national highway 53.

“We’re doing everything possible to check the prices,” he added. Around a dozen vehicles have been torched by the protestors on national highway 39 ever since the blockades.

It all began on August 1 when the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee imposed economic blockades on NH 39 and 53 demanding the creation of Sadar Hills district. Soon after, the United Naga Council, the apex Naga organisation of Manipur, enforced similar blockades on the same routes in protest against the government’s alleged attempts to bifurcate Naga-dominated areas to create the new district. The tribal Kukis are in majority in Sadar Hills and their demand for the creation of the new district exists since the 70s.

“We’re closely monitoring the situation,” the Manipur government spokesman said. Scores of people had died in ethnic clashes between the Kukis and the Nagas in 1992.

Anna Hazare To Travel To Manipur, Wants Sharmila To End her 10-Year-Old Fast

By Partha Sarathi Biswas

Pune, Sep 29 : Veteran Gandhian Anna Hazare is likely to travel to Manipur to personally urge human rights activist Irom Sharmila to end her 10-year-old hunger strike.

Sharmila has been fasting since November 2000, demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958, (AFSPA) in Northeast India.

After the success of the Jan Lokpal movement, Team Anna was flooded with requests from activists from different parts of the country to lend support to their causes. The team had promised to give their decision after consideration.

Sources close to the anti-graft activist told DNA that Hazare had expressed concern about the condition of Sharmila and wants an early end to her marathon fast. The Manipuri activist is being force-fed at the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital close to her home in Imphal.

During the Jan Lokpal movement, Sharmila had expressed her support for the cause through a letter.

In continuation of Team Anna's decision, two members of the team will be leaving for Imphal soon, possibly Manish Sissodiya and Supreme Court advocate Prashant Bhushan.

Sharmila's demand for repealing the AFSPA will also be studied in detail as Team Anna has expressed concern about the possible implications in other sensitive parts of the country.

Sources close to Hazare told DNA that other than urging Sharmila to end her hunger strike, the Gandhian is keen to visit the North-East for other reasons.

"There exists a mental block in various parts of the country, which has caused a divide between the North-East and the rest of the country. Given the iconic stature of Anna, his visit would go a long way in bridging the divide and to integrate those parts into the greater psyche of the nation," the source said.

Source: DNA

15 Fuel Tankers On Fire

1 person scorched to death in field

MEHEDI HEDAYTULLAH

Chanabana (Bihar), Sep 29 : Fifteen tankers loaded with fuel were gutted and more than 10 lakh litres of diesel burnt when a goods train carrying them jumped tracks in Chanabana on the Bihar-Bengal border this morning.

Chanabana is 5km from North Dinajpur’s Islampur or Aluabari Road station and 65km from New Jalpaiguri, the railway’s gateway to the Northeast.

The inferno caused the tracks to melt, leading to disruption in train services on the Aluabari-NJP route. At least three Up trains from Calcutta — the Darjeeling Mail, Padatik and Kanchankanya — were held up for more than four to five hours along the route.

The heat from the burning fuel also scorched to death a villager, whose body was found after the flames were doused. Paddy on 500 acres along the tracks have been burnt.

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) said the goods train, with 51 tankers and each of them filled with 70,000 litres of diesel from the Numaligarh Refineries Limited, was on its way to Jamshedpur from Maligaon in Assam.

Around 7am, when the train was crossing Chanabana village, two tankers jumped tracks, sparking a fire that almost enveloped the train. The NFR suspects that friction between the tankers that jumped tracks might have led to the fire.

When the driver realised that two wagons had derailed and were on fire, he and the on-duty guard immediately severed most of the tankers from the front and rear of the train, thus saving 36 containers.

Soon, three tankers, which were on flames, jumped fell into a stream. The train had stopped on a culvert over a stream.

Twelve fire engines from Islampur, Matigara, Siliguri, NJP and Bihar’s Kishanganj were pressed into service within half an hour. But the flames seemed to rise up high with the spraying of water. At the same time, water acted as a coolant for the soil near the tankers, preventing the spreading of the flames. Finally, foam brought from NJP helped douse the blaze around 3.30pm. Udaynarayan Adhikari, the deputy director of the state fire services of north Bengal, said: “Foam helps largely in cutting off oxygen. If water is used, it only acts as a coolant but does not douse the flames as it floats over oil.”

Rafiq Alam, whose house is near the tracks, said when the tankers blew up, he thought there was a train accident.

“There was a deafening sound and we thought there was a train accident. But soon, there was a huge ball of fire, which turned out to be a devastating one,” said Rafiq. “We ran out of our huts. We have never seen this sort of fire before and didn’t know what to do. The paddy fields along the tracks have been damaged.”

Senior railway officials from Katihar and NJP visited the spot. “Based on preliminary investigation, we can say that the fire occurred because of friction after the derailment. The incident led to disruption in rail movement across parts of north Bengal and the entire Northeast,” said B.L. Patil, the divisional railway manager of Katihar. The Chanabana area comes under the Katihar division of the NFR. “A good number of tankers could be saved because of the promptness of the driver and guard.”

The engine of the goods train took away some of the tankers to Aluabari Road. Tankers severed from the rear were taken to NJP by another engine that had arrived.

S. Pahan, the superintendent of railway police of Katihar, however, said sabotage was not being ruled out. “We will initiate investigation and cannot comment on the cause of the incident now. Whether it is an incident of sabotage or an accident because of technical faults, is subject to investigation,” he said.

The NFR authorities said though there are two tracks at Chanabana, both have bent and melted because of the heat over a 500-metre stretch and needed to be replaced. “It would take at least a day to repair the tracks and make the service normal,” an official said.

The villagers had been worried about Motiur Rehman, whose body was found later in the day, since the fire started. They said the 44-year-old, who was working in his field along the tracks, was missing since the tankers caught fire. After the flames were doused, Motiur’s charred body was found in the paddy field. The body was sent for post-mortem.