63 killed in Iraq bombings

Baghdad: A wave of violence, including 17 car bombings in different parts of Iraq Monday killed at least 63 people while leaving 224 injured.

The violence made the UN envoy to Iraq to give a call for immediate government actions to stop the violence to avoid slipping the country back into sectarian strife.

The deadliest attacks occurred in Baghdad when a series of 12 car bombs ripped through the capital during the morning rush hours. It targetted the Shiite-dominated neighbourhoods of Sadr City, Hurriyah, Baiyaa, Habibiyah, Resalah, Shaab, Kadhmiyah, Tobchi, Shurta and abu Dsheer, Xinhua reported.

A total of 24 people were killed and 137 wounded, official sources said.

Meanwhile, two car bombs and a roadside bomb struck a crowded parking lot in the city of Kut, some 170 km from Baghdad, killing at least eight people and wounding some 40, a local police source said. Two policemen were shot dead by gunmen using silenced weapons in al-Tshash area, just northeast of Kut.

Two more car bombs exploded in Simawa city, about 270 km from Baghdad, killing five and wounding 21, a local police source said.

In the southern oil hub of Basra, two people were killed and eight injured when a car bomb went off in the city's north, a local police source said.

In Salahudin province, a roadside bomb exploded near the convoy of Lieutenant Colonel Hammad al-Dulaimi, a provincial police commando chief, near Baiji city, destroying the car and killing the police chief, his aide and two bodyguards aboard, a provincial police source.

Separately, Iraqi security forces killed 10 suspected gunmen, the source said.

Elsewhere, two suspected gunmen were killed in Yathrib town, some 80 km from Baghdad, while they were driving a car loaded with bombs which detonated prematurely, the source added.

In north Iraq, three soldiers were wounded when a suicide car bomber blew up his car near their patrol in the town of Rabia, some 100 km from Mosul city.

In a separate incident, a roadside bomb went off in the evening in the town of Madain, some 30 km from Baghdad, killing two and wounding six others, the police said.

Meanwhile, two people were killed when a bomb exploded at a perfume shop in Baghdad' s Waziriyah district.

In Anbar province in the west, an officer affiliated to Iraqi SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics) force was killed and two of his bodyguards were killed when a magnetic bomb attached to a car exploded, a provincial police source said.

In addition, a soldier was killed in a roadside bomb explosion near his patrol in Amriyat al-Fallujah town, near Fallujah city, some 50 km from Baghdad, the source said.

UN envoy to Iraq Gyorgy Busztin said in a statement that he was 'deeply concerned about the heightened level of violence which carries the danger that the country falls back into sectarian strife'.

Busztin called on Iraqi leaders to act quickly and decisively to tame the surge of violence.

63 killed in Iraq bombings

Baghdad: A wave of violence, including 17 car bombings in different parts of Iraq Monday killed at least 63 people while leaving 224 injured.

The violence made the UN envoy to Iraq to give a call for immediate government actions to stop the violence to avoid slipping the country back into sectarian strife.

The deadliest attacks occurred in Baghdad when a series of 12 car bombs ripped through the capital during the morning rush hours. It targetted the Shiite-dominated neighbourhoods of Sadr City, Hurriyah, Baiyaa, Habibiyah, Resalah, Shaab, Kadhmiyah, Tobchi, Shurta and abu Dsheer, Xinhua reported.

A total of 24 people were killed and 137 wounded, official sources said.

Meanwhile, two car bombs and a roadside bomb struck a crowded parking lot in the city of Kut, some 170 km from Baghdad, killing at least eight people and wounding some 40, a local police source said. Two policemen were shot dead by gunmen using silenced weapons in al-Tshash area, just northeast of Kut.

Two more car bombs exploded in Simawa city, about 270 km from Baghdad, killing five and wounding 21, a local police source said.

In the southern oil hub of Basra, two people were killed and eight injured when a car bomb went off in the city's north, a local police source said.

In Salahudin province, a roadside bomb exploded near the convoy of Lieutenant Colonel Hammad al-Dulaimi, a provincial police commando chief, near Baiji city, destroying the car and killing the police chief, his aide and two bodyguards aboard, a provincial police source.

Separately, Iraqi security forces killed 10 suspected gunmen, the source said.

Elsewhere, two suspected gunmen were killed in Yathrib town, some 80 km from Baghdad, while they were driving a car loaded with bombs which detonated prematurely, the source added.

In north Iraq, three soldiers were wounded when a suicide car bomber blew up his car near their patrol in the town of Rabia, some 100 km from Mosul city.

In a separate incident, a roadside bomb went off in the evening in the town of Madain, some 30 km from Baghdad, killing two and wounding six others, the police said.

Meanwhile, two people were killed when a bomb exploded at a perfume shop in Baghdad' s Waziriyah district.

In Anbar province in the west, an officer affiliated to Iraqi SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics) force was killed and two of his bodyguards were killed when a magnetic bomb attached to a car exploded, a provincial police source said.

In addition, a soldier was killed in a roadside bomb explosion near his patrol in Amriyat al-Fallujah town, near Fallujah city, some 50 km from Baghdad, the source said.

UN envoy to Iraq Gyorgy Busztin said in a statement that he was 'deeply concerned about the heightened level of violence which carries the danger that the country falls back into sectarian strife'.

Busztin called on Iraqi leaders to act quickly and decisively to tame the surge of violence.

Britain confirms nearly Rs. three lakh visa bond for Indians

Lagos, Nigeria: Britain's Home Office confirmed Monday it will demand a 3,000-pound ($4,630 or Rs. 2.75 lakh) refundable bond for visas for 'high-risk' visitors from six former colonies in Africa and Asia - a pilot scheme that has brought warnings at home and abroad that it will damage trade.

Britain said in a statement Monday that it will go ahead with the pilot scheme despite the outrage, charges of discrimination and warnings of retaliation.

The statement sent by email did not say when the pilot would start. But it said it could apply the scheme in the future for all visas and any country.

'The pilot will apply to visitor visas, but if the scheme is successful we'd like to be able to apply it on an intelligence-led basis on any visa route and any country,' it said.

For now, the targeted countries are Nigeria, Ghana, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Government data shows citizens of those countries applied for more than half a million visa applications last year.

Nigeria's government made a formal demand last month that Britain renounce the proposal as it was being discussed. Foreign Affairs Minister Olugbenga Ashiru called in the British high commissioner to express 'the strong displeasure of the government and people of Nigeria' over the 'discriminatory' policy.

Ashiru warned the move would 'definitely negate' the two country's commitment to double trade by 2014. Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation and a huge market with its more than 160 million people. British government figures indicate 101,000 Nigerians were issued visas in 2012.

There were protests in India last month when British Prime Minister David Cameron visited, causing him to declare that a final decision had not been taken on the policy.

The Home Office said it hopes the bond system deters overstaying of visas and recovers costs of foreign nationals using public services like hospitals and schools.

Immigration was a key issue in Cameron's election campaign for his Conservative Party. Cameron has pledged to cut net immigration from 252,000 a year in 2010 to 100,000 a year by 2015.

One move that has come under heavy criticism recently has been a government campaign targeting people who overstay their visas. Billboards were put on two vans for a week in six of London's boroughs. Their message said: 'In the UK illegally? Go home or face arrest.' Leaflets with the same message will be distributed for a month.

The Home Office statement said the visa bond 'is the next step in making sure our immigration system is more selective, bringing down net migration from the hundreds of thousands to the tens of thousands while still welcoming the brightest and the best to Britain.'AP

Britain confirms nearly Rs. three lakh visa bond for Indians

Lagos, Nigeria: Britain's Home Office confirmed Monday it will demand a 3,000-pound ($4,630 or Rs. 2.75 lakh) refundable bond for visas for 'high-risk' visitors from six former colonies in Africa and Asia - a pilot scheme that has brought warnings at home and abroad that it will damage trade.

Britain said in a statement Monday that it will go ahead with the pilot scheme despite the outrage, charges of discrimination and warnings of retaliation.

The statement sent by email did not say when the pilot would start. But it said it could apply the scheme in the future for all visas and any country.

'The pilot will apply to visitor visas, but if the scheme is successful we'd like to be able to apply it on an intelligence-led basis on any visa route and any country,' it said.

For now, the targeted countries are Nigeria, Ghana, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Government data shows citizens of those countries applied for more than half a million visa applications last year.

Nigeria's government made a formal demand last month that Britain renounce the proposal as it was being discussed. Foreign Affairs Minister Olugbenga Ashiru called in the British high commissioner to express 'the strong displeasure of the government and people of Nigeria' over the 'discriminatory' policy.

Ashiru warned the move would 'definitely negate' the two country's commitment to double trade by 2014. Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation and a huge market with its more than 160 million people. British government figures indicate 101,000 Nigerians were issued visas in 2012.

There were protests in India last month when British Prime Minister David Cameron visited, causing him to declare that a final decision had not been taken on the policy.

The Home Office said it hopes the bond system deters overstaying of visas and recovers costs of foreign nationals using public services like hospitals and schools.

Immigration was a key issue in Cameron's election campaign for his Conservative Party. Cameron has pledged to cut net immigration from 252,000 a year in 2010 to 100,000 a year by 2015.

One move that has come under heavy criticism recently has been a government campaign targeting people who overstay their visas. Billboards were put on two vans for a week in six of London's boroughs. Their message said: 'In the UK illegally? Go home or face arrest.' Leaflets with the same message will be distributed for a month.

The Home Office statement said the visa bond 'is the next step in making sure our immigration system is more selective, bringing down net migration from the hundreds of thousands to the tens of thousands while still welcoming the brightest and the best to Britain.'AP

Post-pregnancy health and diet tips

London: Post delivery, the new mothers need to take porper care of themselves. Experts advise them to have light and digestable food and go for oily massage.

There has been a baby fever last week with the Duchess of Cambridge giving birth to her first son, George Alexander Louis with Prince William, and other celebrities like Penelope Cruz and Nancy Juvonen also joining the run.

With the new-born, these mothers need a lot of attention and Anjum Anand, TV chef-food writer and mother of two, shares her top health and diet tips for the new mums.

'For Kate, eating well and looking after herself in the next few weeks and months will be really important,' femalefirst.co.uk quoted Anand as saying.

'After childbirth, the body is depleted and according to Ayurveda, the digestive system is weak as there is a vata imbalance which is aggravated with lack of sleep and erratic eating patterns. This needs to be rebalanced. As well as healing the body's tissues and balancing the energy levels, it is also important for new mums like Kate to eat the right foods for breastfeeding,' she added.

Here are some tips for an ideal post pregnancy routine by Anand:

1. Daily oil massages for both mum and baby are not only great for skin but are also good for bringing mum's energy back into balance and for strengthening the baby.

2. Cook with a little ghee instead of oil - this is good for restoring depleted energy and strengthening tissue.

3. Try eating really simple and easy to digest foods like soups, stews, porridges, rice and lentil dishes. What a mother eats when she breastfeeds is also what the baby has to digest, so keep it simple and light.

4. Drink a lot of fluids, ideally water. I would boil two litres of water with a table spoon of fennel seeds in the morning, leave to cool and strain into a bottle and sip throughout the day. Fennel seeds are known to help with breast milk production.

5. Rest is considered very important. Traditionally, it is thought that the body takes 40 days to heal properly.

6. Dairy products will help with breast milk and balancing the body.

7. Try adding turmeric to your food as it is very healing on so many levels.

8. Ginger is considered very good for the body post labour, so include lots of ginger in your food, soups and tea.

9. Try to avoid eating foods that are too spicy, especially if you are breastfeeding.

10. Nuts are great for nourishing the body and producing breast milk.

12. Also, dried fruits contain a good amount of iron and are good for breast milk production so add these into your diet.

13. Call in favours with supportive friends and family. Support is so important during the first few months for proper healing, both physical and mental.

Post-pregnancy health and diet tips

London: Post delivery, the new mothers need to take porper care of themselves. Experts advise them to have light and digestable food and go for oily massage.

There has been a baby fever last week with the Duchess of Cambridge giving birth to her first son, George Alexander Louis with Prince William, and other celebrities like Penelope Cruz and Nancy Juvonen also joining the run.

With the new-born, these mothers need a lot of attention and Anjum Anand, TV chef-food writer and mother of two, shares her top health and diet tips for the new mums.

'For Kate, eating well and looking after herself in the next few weeks and months will be really important,' femalefirst.co.uk quoted Anand as saying.

'After childbirth, the body is depleted and according to Ayurveda, the digestive system is weak as there is a vata imbalance which is aggravated with lack of sleep and erratic eating patterns. This needs to be rebalanced. As well as healing the body's tissues and balancing the energy levels, it is also important for new mums like Kate to eat the right foods for breastfeeding,' she added.

Here are some tips for an ideal post pregnancy routine by Anand:

1. Daily oil massages for both mum and baby are not only great for skin but are also good for bringing mum's energy back into balance and for strengthening the baby.

2. Cook with a little ghee instead of oil - this is good for restoring depleted energy and strengthening tissue.

3. Try eating really simple and easy to digest foods like soups, stews, porridges, rice and lentil dishes. What a mother eats when she breastfeeds is also what the baby has to digest, so keep it simple and light.

4. Drink a lot of fluids, ideally water. I would boil two litres of water with a table spoon of fennel seeds in the morning, leave to cool and strain into a bottle and sip throughout the day. Fennel seeds are known to help with breast milk production.

5. Rest is considered very important. Traditionally, it is thought that the body takes 40 days to heal properly.

6. Dairy products will help with breast milk and balancing the body.

7. Try adding turmeric to your food as it is very healing on so many levels.

8. Ginger is considered very good for the body post labour, so include lots of ginger in your food, soups and tea.

9. Try to avoid eating foods that are too spicy, especially if you are breastfeeding.

10. Nuts are great for nourishing the body and producing breast milk.

12. Also, dried fruits contain a good amount of iron and are good for breast milk production so add these into your diet.

13. Call in favours with supportive friends and family. Support is so important during the first few months for proper healing, both physical and mental.

Alcohol killing more British women in mid-30s

London: The number of British women in their mid-30s dying due to alcohol-related illnesses is rising, a new study says.

The death rate due to drinking among women born after 1970 has doubled in the last 20 years, while the number of men in the same age group has fallen slightly, although the overall death rates in the country are still predominantly male, Sky News reported.

The study by the Glasgow Centre for Population looked at trends in Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow.

'Although men have a higher level of alcohol-related deaths than women, because the rate of increase in females is greater than in men what you are seeing is a narrowing in the gap in this the youngest cohort,' Deborah Shipton, who wrote the report, told Sky News.

Since the 1970s, women have come to enjoy better career opportunities and higher earnings. The suggestion was that with improvements in equality, there has also been a cultural change, with more women drinking more regularly in social situations - and in some cases more heavily.

Shipton said increased affordability and availability of alcohol, combined with effective marketing by the drinks industry, especially campaigns targeting women, could also explain why female death rates have risen.

'What we need to tackle this, apart from raising greater health awareness about the dangers of excessive drinking, is legislation, be that through tighter government controls over licencing, broader debate about the health issues facing not just women but also men... and of course minimum pricing of alcohol,' she said.

Alcohol killing more British women in mid-30s

London: The number of British women in their mid-30s dying due to alcohol-related illnesses is rising, a new study says.

The death rate due to drinking among women born after 1970 has doubled in the last 20 years, while the number of men in the same age group has fallen slightly, although the overall death rates in the country are still predominantly male, Sky News reported.

The study by the Glasgow Centre for Population looked at trends in Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow.

'Although men have a higher level of alcohol-related deaths than women, because the rate of increase in females is greater than in men what you are seeing is a narrowing in the gap in this the youngest cohort,' Deborah Shipton, who wrote the report, told Sky News.

Since the 1970s, women have come to enjoy better career opportunities and higher earnings. The suggestion was that with improvements in equality, there has also been a cultural change, with more women drinking more regularly in social situations - and in some cases more heavily.

Shipton said increased affordability and availability of alcohol, combined with effective marketing by the drinks industry, especially campaigns targeting women, could also explain why female death rates have risen.

'What we need to tackle this, apart from raising greater health awareness about the dangers of excessive drinking, is legislation, be that through tighter government controls over licencing, broader debate about the health issues facing not just women but also men... and of course minimum pricing of alcohol,' she said.

Go beyond sci-fi, action; make romance, drama in 3D'

New Delhi:The impact of a drama or romantic tale told on celluloid can be enhanced many notches if presented in 3D in the sci-fi, fantasy and action genres, says an industry expert, citing the example of Baz Luhrmann's 'The Great Gatsby'.

The 3D technology, which creates an illusion of depth in a shot, is currently being exploited only by limited genres, says Merzin Tavaria, co-founder and chief creative director of Prime Focus, a visual effects and 3D conversion services provider.

'3D is being used (primarily) for big budget, sci-fi, action and superhero films because those are the ones that are exploiting it more. I'd like it to be used in romantic movies and drama-based movies because then, you can take the audiences into a more immersive experience,' Tavaria told IANS in an interview.

'Everything is not about gimmicks and something popping out of the screen, but also about taking the audiences into the world (of the film). That's just a different way of looking at it. Even 'The Great Gatsby' isn't an action film, but still is stereoscopic,' added Tavaria.

The 3D trend in India was said to be started by 1984 Malayalam movie 'My Dear Kuttichathan'. Fourteen years later, its dubbed Hindi version, 'Chhota Chetan', came out.

The investment in 3D films varies - if 'Ra.One' had an inflated budget of Rs.150 crore, the country's first stereoscopic 3D movie 'Haunted' was shot for a meagre Rs.13 crore. In comparison, the money spent of Hollywood's 3D extravaganza 'Avatar' was humongous - the makers splurged $224 million (Rs.1,100) crore on it.

The scope of creativity in 3D is immense.

'It is (thought to be) restricted maybe because there are only that many movies which are structured (around 3D). But it is not restricted or limited by anything. It's just that those (sci-fi and action) are the kind of films that have been going on...like 'Star Trek' and 'World War Z',' Tavaria added.

In the west, the 3D format is in a resurgence phase, courtesy movies like 'Journey to the Center of the Earth', 'TRON: Legacy' and 'Avatar'.

In India, too, it is only 'a matter of time' before the trend catches up, said Tavaria, whose earliest memory of watching a 3D movie is 'Chhota Chetan'.

The process has, however, already acquired pace with movies like 'Bhoot Returns', 'Dangerous Ishhq', 'Raaz 3D', 'Ra.One', 'Haunted - 3D' and 'ABCD: AnyBody Can Dance', even though 'it is not as much as one would've liked', the expert said.

'There's been a lot of interest and discussions with good filmmakers, but sometimes it is touch and go. 'Ra.One' came very close to not happening (in 3D)...,' he added.

What's impeding Indian filmmakers from wholeheartedly embracing 3D?

'Sometimes leaving the decision to later, or when it's not planned initially and there's not enough time, doubts whether audiences will go to watch a 3D film or not. But it is a matter of time... If it is adopted by two or three known filmmakers, everybody will just jump on to it,' said Tavaria.

Besides, there has to be ample allocation of time and budget to deliver a decent 3D project. Shooting a film in 3D can be more time- and focus-consuming as opposed to converting a project into the format.

'When you're converting a film in 3D, you have the luxury of sitting in an air-conditioned place and only focussing on the 3D - you're not focussing on your actor or making sure you're doing enough number of shots in a day and not focussing on if you get a shot wrong in 3D.

'There are too many things already while making a big budget film that it's just not worth to start diverting. So whatever you can do later, it is just better to leave it for later and that's where conversion comes in to help,' Tavaria added.

One of the upcoming 3D dramas is 'Kamasutra 3D'.

Go beyond sci-fi, action; make romance, drama in 3D'

New Delhi:The impact of a drama or romantic tale told on celluloid can be enhanced many notches if presented in 3D in the sci-fi, fantasy and action genres, says an industry expert, citing the example of Baz Luhrmann's 'The Great Gatsby'.

The 3D technology, which creates an illusion of depth in a shot, is currently being exploited only by limited genres, says Merzin Tavaria, co-founder and chief creative director of Prime Focus, a visual effects and 3D conversion services provider.

'3D is being used (primarily) for big budget, sci-fi, action and superhero films because those are the ones that are exploiting it more. I'd like it to be used in romantic movies and drama-based movies because then, you can take the audiences into a more immersive experience,' Tavaria told IANS in an interview.

'Everything is not about gimmicks and something popping out of the screen, but also about taking the audiences into the world (of the film). That's just a different way of looking at it. Even 'The Great Gatsby' isn't an action film, but still is stereoscopic,' added Tavaria.

The 3D trend in India was said to be started by 1984 Malayalam movie 'My Dear Kuttichathan'. Fourteen years later, its dubbed Hindi version, 'Chhota Chetan', came out.

The investment in 3D films varies - if 'Ra.One' had an inflated budget of Rs.150 crore, the country's first stereoscopic 3D movie 'Haunted' was shot for a meagre Rs.13 crore. In comparison, the money spent of Hollywood's 3D extravaganza 'Avatar' was humongous - the makers splurged $224 million (Rs.1,100) crore on it.

The scope of creativity in 3D is immense.

'It is (thought to be) restricted maybe because there are only that many movies which are structured (around 3D). But it is not restricted or limited by anything. It's just that those (sci-fi and action) are the kind of films that have been going on...like 'Star Trek' and 'World War Z',' Tavaria added.

In the west, the 3D format is in a resurgence phase, courtesy movies like 'Journey to the Center of the Earth', 'TRON: Legacy' and 'Avatar'.

In India, too, it is only 'a matter of time' before the trend catches up, said Tavaria, whose earliest memory of watching a 3D movie is 'Chhota Chetan'.

The process has, however, already acquired pace with movies like 'Bhoot Returns', 'Dangerous Ishhq', 'Raaz 3D', 'Ra.One', 'Haunted - 3D' and 'ABCD: AnyBody Can Dance', even though 'it is not as much as one would've liked', the expert said.

'There's been a lot of interest and discussions with good filmmakers, but sometimes it is touch and go. 'Ra.One' came very close to not happening (in 3D)...,' he added.

What's impeding Indian filmmakers from wholeheartedly embracing 3D?

'Sometimes leaving the decision to later, or when it's not planned initially and there's not enough time, doubts whether audiences will go to watch a 3D film or not. But it is a matter of time... If it is adopted by two or three known filmmakers, everybody will just jump on to it,' said Tavaria.

Besides, there has to be ample allocation of time and budget to deliver a decent 3D project. Shooting a film in 3D can be more time- and focus-consuming as opposed to converting a project into the format.

'When you're converting a film in 3D, you have the luxury of sitting in an air-conditioned place and only focussing on the 3D - you're not focussing on your actor or making sure you're doing enough number of shots in a day and not focussing on if you get a shot wrong in 3D.

'There are too many things already while making a big budget film that it's just not worth to start diverting. So whatever you can do later, it is just better to leave it for later and that's where conversion comes in to help,' Tavaria added.

One of the upcoming 3D dramas is 'Kamasutra 3D'.

Fruit peels can help water filtration: Research

Singapore: A research team in the National University of Singapore (NUS), led by an Indian-origin scientist, has found that fruit peels can be used for water purification, something that can help millions of people across the world without access to clean drinking water.

The team, led by Ramakrishna Mallampati, found that tomato and apple peels act like a sponge in polluted water and help in 'vastly reducing levels of heavy metals, pesticides and dyes', the Straits Times reported Thursday.

The two-year study showed that the peel of eight tomatoes can remove heavy metal ions such as lead from a litre of water within a period of one hour.

The findings can help nearly 800 million people without access to clean water to get safer drinking water at a low cost.

According to Mallampati, an alumnus of India's University of Pune, the results can help a vast number of people living in remote areas without access to water purification devices and people living in villages with groundwater contaminated by industrial pollution.

Mallampati, a researcher in material chemistry, is doing his Ph.D in the NUS on 'synthesis and characterisation of novel materials for potential applications including water treatment and catalysis'.

(Radhika Bhirani can be contacted at radhika.b@ians.in)

Fruit peels can help water filtration: Research

Singapore: A research team in the National University of Singapore (NUS), led by an Indian-origin scientist, has found that fruit peels can be used for water purification, something that can help millions of people across the world without access to clean drinking water.

The team, led by Ramakrishna Mallampati, found that tomato and apple peels act like a sponge in polluted water and help in 'vastly reducing levels of heavy metals, pesticides and dyes', the Straits Times reported Thursday.

The two-year study showed that the peel of eight tomatoes can remove heavy metal ions such as lead from a litre of water within a period of one hour.

The findings can help nearly 800 million people without access to clean water to get safer drinking water at a low cost.

According to Mallampati, an alumnus of India's University of Pune, the results can help a vast number of people living in remote areas without access to water purification devices and people living in villages with groundwater contaminated by industrial pollution.

Mallampati, a researcher in material chemistry, is doing his Ph.D in the NUS on 'synthesis and characterisation of novel materials for potential applications including water treatment and catalysis'.

(Radhika Bhirani can be contacted at radhika.b@ians.in)

Smart pen that vibrates when you make spelling error

Washington: German inventors have developed a new hi-tech pen that gently vibrates every time it senses a spelling mistake or sloppy handwriting. 

Lernstift is a regular pen with real ink, but inside is a special motion sensor and a small battery-powered Linux computer with a WiFi chip. 

Together those parts allow the pen to recognise specific movements, letter shapes and know a wide assortment of words. If it senses bad letter formation or messy handwriting, it will vibrate, 'ABC News' reported. 

Users can choose between two functions: Calligraphy Mode - pointing out flaws of form and legibility or Orthography Mode - recognising words and comparing the word to a language database. If the word isn't recognised it will vibrate, according to Daniel Kaesmacher, the 33-year-old co-founder of Lernstift from Munich. 

The other co-founder Falk Wolsky, 36, had the idea for the pen last year while his 10-year-old son was doing his homework. 

"His son had been struggling with his work and staying focused and Falk thought there should be a pen that gives him some sort of signal so he stays focused," Kaesmacher said. 

After a year and a half in development, the founders have now brought Lernstift to Kickstarter to begin raising money and gauging interest.

Smart pen that vibrates when you make spelling error

Washington: German inventors have developed a new hi-tech pen that gently vibrates every time it senses a spelling mistake or sloppy handwriting. 

Lernstift is a regular pen with real ink, but inside is a special motion sensor and a small battery-powered Linux computer with a WiFi chip. 

Together those parts allow the pen to recognise specific movements, letter shapes and know a wide assortment of words. If it senses bad letter formation or messy handwriting, it will vibrate, 'ABC News' reported. 

Users can choose between two functions: Calligraphy Mode - pointing out flaws of form and legibility or Orthography Mode - recognising words and comparing the word to a language database. If the word isn't recognised it will vibrate, according to Daniel Kaesmacher, the 33-year-old co-founder of Lernstift from Munich. 

The other co-founder Falk Wolsky, 36, had the idea for the pen last year while his 10-year-old son was doing his homework. 

"His son had been struggling with his work and staying focused and Falk thought there should be a pen that gives him some sort of signal so he stays focused," Kaesmacher said. 

After a year and a half in development, the founders have now brought Lernstift to Kickstarter to begin raising money and gauging interest.

Money arguments top predictor of divorce

Washington: Arguing with your spouse about money? You may be headed for a divorce. 

According to a new study by a University of Kansas researcher, couples who argue about finances early in their relationships are at a greater risk for divorce. 

"Arguments about money is by far the top predictor of divorce," said Sonya Britt, assistant professor of family studies and human services and programme director of personal financial planning. 

"It's not children, sex, in-laws or anything else. It's money - for both men and women," she said. 

Britt conducted the study using longitudinal data from more than 4,500 couples as part of the National Survey of Families and Households. 

"In the study, we controlled for income, debt and net worth. Results revealed it didn't matter how much you made or how much you were worth. Arguments about money are the top predictor for divorce because it happens at all levels," Britt said. 

It takes longer to recover from money arguments than any other kind of argument, according to Britt, and such arguments are more intense. Couples often use harsher language with each other, and the argument lasts longer. 

"You can measure people's money arguments when they are very first married," Britt said. 

"It doesn't matter how long ago it was, but when they were first together and already arguing about money, there is a good chance they are going to have poor relationship satisfaction," she said. 

By continuing to have financial arguments, couples decrease their relationship satisfaction, Britt said. Even if divorce is not a possibility because of low income, the low relationship satisfaction could make matters worse. 

Aside from a negative effect on children, increased stress leads to a further decrease in financial planning that could help better the situation. 
The study is published in the journal Family Relations.