National:
National Biodiversity Museum to come
up in Hyderabad
The State capital will soon get another important landmark
with the Government of India deciding to set up a first-of-its kind National
Biodiversity Museum (NBM). The museum is expected to be built in a six-acre
site near the 15-acre Bio-diversity Park at Raidurg on the hilly landscape of
the Mehdipatnam-Gachibowli stretch at an estimated cost of Rs. 200 crore. The
Telangana Government has already agreed to provide land for the prestigious
museum and the allotment process is in the final stages, senior officials of
the Biodiversity Board, who preferred to remain anonymous. The idea was
conceived during the Convention on Biodiversity (CoP-II) held in Hyderabad in
2012.
INS Vikrant fades into history
Despite last ditch attempts by activists and former navy servicemen
to save it, INS Vikrant — the county’s first aircraft carrier — has finally
faded away into history. In March, the Indian Navy sold Vikrant to a
Mumbai-based ship breaking company for Rs. 63 crore.
International:
Georgia O’Keeffe painting fetches
$44.4 million
A painting by late American artist Georgia O’Keeffe, titled
‘Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1’ has sold for more than $44.4 million in New
York, which Sotheby’s called a new auction world record for any female artist.
The previous auction record for a work by a female artist was $11.9 million,
set by U.S. abstract painter Joan Mitchell’s Untitled at Christie’s in New York
in May 2014. O'Keeffe is considered one of the most significant artists of the
20th century and was a prominent avant-garde artist in New York. She spent much
of her life in New Mexico and died in 1986.
Now, e-cigarettes can harm your
computer
E-cigarettes may be better for your health than normal ones,
but spare a thought for your poor computer — electronic cigarettes have become
the latest vector for malicious software, according to online reports. Many
e-cigarettes can be charged over USB, either with a special cable, or by
plugging the cigarette itself directly into a USB port. That might be a USB
port plugged into a wall socket or the port on a computer. But, if so, that
means that a cheap e-cigarette from an untrustworthy supplier gains physical
access to a device. The made in China e-cigarette had malware hardcoded into
the charger, and when plugged into a computer’s USB port the malware phoned
home and infected the system.
Gitmo Saudi prisoner released
A Saudi citizen who has spent the past 12 years detained at
Guantanamo Bay has been released, amid a push to whittle down the prison
population at the U.S. base in Cuba. Muhammad al-Zahrani was sent to his
homeland based on the conclusion of a U.S. government board that has been
re-evaluating the need to continue holding some of the men as prisoners, the
Pentagon said in a statement. He will take part in a Saudi program to
rehabilitate militants. Al-Zahrani is the 13th prisoner to leave Guantanamo Bay
in 2014.
Bahrain holds first post-uprising
polls
Voters in Bahrain cast ballots in the island kingdom’s first
full parliamentary election since Arab Spring-inspired protests erupted four years
ago, but a boycott called by the country’s opposition threatens to overshadow
the poll. A total of 419 candidates were running for municipal and
parliamentary seats. The elections will determine the makeup of the lower house
of Parliament, which has limited direct powers. Members of the upper house are
appointed by King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, whose family controls most senior
government posts, including that of the unelected Prime Minister.
Sports:
Rosberg edges Hamilton to pole for
title decider
Nico Rosberg survived intense pressure and several nervous
errors to claim what may be a vital pole position for the title-deciding Abu
Dhabi Grand Prix, edging out his Mercedes teammate and arch-rival Lewis
Hamilton. Rosberg — who secured his 11th pole of the season — has to come first
and hope that Hamilton, who leads him by 17 points in the drivers’
championship, finishes outside the top two to overtake the Briton and take the
Formula One drivers’ title. It was also the Mercedes team’s record-equalling
18th pole of the year and its 12th front row lockout and eighth in succession.
Mercedes Benz also became the first engine supplier to take every pole position
in a season since Ford in 1969.
Zidane wins appeal against coaching
ban
A Spanish sports court on Friday backed Zinedine Zidane's
appeal against a three month ban from coaching Real Madrid's reserve team over
his disputed qualifications. Spain's football federation imposed the ban at the
end of October, arguing the former France midfielder did not have the right
licence to coach in Spain. Real appealed and the three-time World Footballer of
the Year was allowed to continue coaching while the Court of Arbitration for
Sport considered the case. Zidane's assistant Santiago Sanchez, who was also
sanctioned by the Spanish federation, the RFEF, was also cleared to continue
his duties while the case was considered.
Perez to continue with Force India
Sahara Force India has made it official that Mexican driver
Sergio Perez will continue racing with the team in 2015 and beyond.
