BSF, Police Bust Fake Currency Racket in Barak Valley

Silchar, Apr 16 : In a special joint-operation, BSF and Assam Police recovered fake currency notes worth Rs 2,35,510 and fake currency printing equipment in Cachar and Karimganj districts of Assam over the past couple of days.

An official of BSF Mizoram and Cachar Frontier today said on a specific tip-off from BSF Intelligence wing, the police first raided village Nagatilla locality near Silchar town and arrested three people.

They also recovered Rs 2,20,000 from the possession of the arrested, identified as Manikuddin (30), a residence of Kanakpur village in Karimganj district, Nabendu Das (28) and Taz Uddin (30), both are residents of village Alamkhani in Karimganj.

Based on the information provided by the Assam Police, subsequent raids and search operations were also conducted by BSF and Karimganj police on the intervening night of Thursday at the house of Amaduddin (22) in Ilyaspur locality near Patharkandi in Karimganj.

They apprehended Amaduddin with fake currency notes amounting to Rs 1,500 in denomination of Rs 500, printing equipment, including a monitor, a CPU, a UPS, and a scanner-cum-printer with cartridge and ink.

Raid and search operations were continued further on the same intervening night by BSF and police party at the house of Mohd Abu Bakar (25), a kingpin of fake currency racket in village Badezama, and his computer shop at village Baregram Bazar in Karimganj district, but Bakar managed to flee. However, during search of his house and shop, fake currency notes amounting to Rs 14,010, some illegal stamp papers and fake currency note printing equipment were seized.

An FIR was lodged with Karimganj police station, the official said, adding all the arrested people and the seized items had been handed over to Karimganj police for further investigation.

How a Hotel in Copenhagen is Taking Green to the Next Level

The pedal-powered hotel

A green hotel in Copenhagen is claiming a world first by using guests on exercise bikes to generate electricity

By Tom Robbins

Bright idea ... an iPhone attached to the handlebars shows how much power is being fed into the hotel's system

Forget solar panels and wind turbines, a hotel that bills itself as one of the "greenest" in the world has found a new source of renewable energy – its guests.

From next Monday, those staying at the 366-room Crown Plaza Copenhagen Towers will be encouraged to head down to the gym to spend time on its new fleet of electricity-generating exercise bikes. The bikes have iPhones mounted on the handlebars which monitor how much power is being produced and fed into the mains supply of the hotel. Any guest producing 10 watt hours or more will be rewarded with a free meal.

The scheme is a pilot project that will run for a year, and if successful, could be rolled out to all 21 Crowne Plaza hotels in the UK.

"The electric bikes offer our guests the chance to get fit and help power the hotel at the same time," said Allan Agerholm, the hotel's general manager. "It will be interesting to see how many guests take part and how much electricity we generate."

Getting the free meal is surprisingly easy. The hotel's calculations suggest one guest cycling at 30kmph for an hour will produce around 100 watt hours of electricity, meaning that reaching the threshold for the meal should take only six minutes.

Critics might argue that even those who cycle for a full hour will be making a rather token contribution to the energy use of a huge city hotel – 100 watt hours of energy is only enough to light a single 100 watt bulb for one hour. However the hotel counters that it wanted the target to be "achievable" so as many people as possible take part.

The hotel, which opened in November last year, is attempting to become carbon neutral. It has EU Green Building and Green Key certification and uses a groundwater-based cooling and heating system, low energy lighting and hand dryers, and is covered in solar panels on its south-facing aspects. So will its latest scheme catch on at other hotels around the world?

"Realistically, this isn't a practical way of generating a useful amount of energy, but I certainly wouldn't criticise it," said Alex Randall, a spokesman for the Centre for Alternative Technology. "As a lesson, and a means of public engagement, it's excellent – if you sit someone on a bike, pedalling hard, and show them they are only generating enough to power one lightbulb or TV, is makes them appreciate how difficult energy is to produce, and therefore why we should be careful not to waste it."

[ via Guardian ]

One Crazy Ride

It's always been a dream of mine to go on a road trip with a few of my good friends, although after seeing "One Crazy Ride," my "exciting" trip across the States definitely can't compete with traveling through Northeast India via motorcycles on roads that aren't meant for anything with wheels.

Director Gaurav Jani and a few of his friends from the 60 KPH motorcycle club in Mumbai traveled a potentially dangerous route throughout the Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh in a whirlwind two-part journey in 2005 and 2007.

The object was to find a route that would eliminate the need to cross back into Assam while traveling through Northeast India.

Throughout their journey, the group experienced multiple obstacles, including motorcycle breakdowns, dilapidated bridges, and the occasional leech or snake. Most of the roads were littered with broken tree branches, or were almost impassible due to flooding and mudslides.

But these weary travelers remained in amazingly high spirits, stopping in local villages to celebrate a wedding and joking around with village kids. After about a month on the road, Gaurav was left to complete the ride, as everyone else headed back home for work and family commitments.

It was at this point where Gaurav's dedication to his mission really became obvious, as he set up his Panasonic camera on hillsides to document the rough terrain and capture the beauty of the landscape.

The passion for this project is really what made "One Crazy Ride" so entertaining. The concept of the project, traveling on motorcycles on roads that even the locals don't believe really exist, is interesting and yes, crazy, enough to draw you into the film. However, once the group starts their journey, the beautiful Himalayan mountains and the lively antics of the crew provide an engaging experience for the audience.

Only a group of people who really were dedicated to this project would withstand the multiple catastrophes and potentially hazardous conditions to complete a film.

Screenwriter Nikki and Gaurav Jani were available for a post-screening Q & A, and their recollections of their trip provided excellent commentary as the audience asked about memorable scenes in the film. Jani's next project starts filming in July, and while he didn't reveal exactly what his plans are, anyone who enjoyed "One Crazy Ride" will surely be anticipating any film he releases in the future.

[ via dane101 ]

Handicrafts Output Methods Need to be Upgraded – Designer

Kohima, Apr 17 : Couple of days back, DC (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, Kohima, conducted a workshop on ‘Prospect of designing in the development of handicrafts’ in Nagaland.

During the workshop, Kos Zhasa, fashion and textile designer said that, traditional Naga handicrafts of Nagaland have been popular since ages. But, with the changing era, these handicrafts also need modification. Therefore, in order to make these handicrafts more competitive in the potential market of handicrafts and design, their production methods need to be upgraded.

Since, Naga art is popular in both Indian and foreign markets, Zhasa informed that, proper guidance to develop this art would help provide world-class production. She said, “Currently, the state fails to fulfill their market demand due to limited production and lack of good designs. The designs produced so far are restricted only for local consumption as they are very traditional in nature.

Naga lacks designers who can formulate new design concepts to launch handicrafts that can create an impression in markets other than their local or state markets. Moreover, owing to the ancient techniques of production, which are slow and tedious, clubbed with financial restrains, the production rate of these handicraft items is limited. This soars up the production cost and ultimately affects its sale.”

Handicraft products could get a fillip with qualified designers who understand the market. Also, marketing agencies would then buy these products if they are available at an appropriate price, stated Zhasa. She further informed that, a number of design workshop schemes were available under the DC (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles.

Handicrafts in the region that, are carved of wood work, bamboo or textiles would witness a good market demand if designed by qualified designers. The industry requires designers, who can formulate concepts that can help sell traditional art work in a new package. This will help boost the sale of Naga handicrafts, emphasized Zhasa.

Product modification, with the help of modern designing methods, meeting the requirements of the current market trends, is the only way for Naga handicrafts to find a potential market.

[ via fibre2fashion ]

Manipur Government Employees’ Strike Enters 4th Month

Imphal, Apr 17 : An indefinite strike by government employees in Manipur that has crippled the administration entered the fourth month Friday.

The employees launched the strike Jan 16 demanding the full implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations. They have threatened to intensify the protest if their demands are not met soon.

The Joint Administrative Council of Employees Organizations (JACEO), the apex body of the government employees, is spearheading the strike that has affected even essential services.

More than 800 employees of the Manipur Secretariat Services (MSS) also took mass casual leave Friday.

“From Saturday, we will also start indefinite cease-work,” said MSS employees association general secretary L. Purujit. The MSS employees run the offices of chief minister, ministers and top officials.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has on several occasions appealed to the employees to end the strike.

JACEO secretary general Chandramani Singh told reporters: “There is no question of withdrawing the agitation. We shall intensify it soon till the government meets our demands.”

The chief minister has expressed his government’s inability to hike the salaries with retrospective effect from 2006 due to paucity of funds.

“The government cannot think only of the 60,000 government employees, but also of the 2.4 million people in the state,” he said.

The government employees have been agitating occasionally since November 2008 seeking a hike in salaries.

Their protest was called off October last year after Ibobi Singh promised to consider the demand after receiving grant from the 13th Finance Commission.

The functioning of the administration and government works were paralyzed for over three months after the employees went on a similar strike Nov 27, 2008.

Aizawl Ready For Talks With Hmar Rebels

Aizawl, Apr 16 : Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla said here yesterday that his government is ready to discuss the Hmar problems across the table.

In response to the proposals of representatives of Hmar community in northeastern parts of Mizoram bordering Manipur, Lal Thanhawla said, ''My government is ready for peace talks with the Hmar People's Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) to find long lasting solution to their problems.''

Representatives of the Hmar community, coordination committee of village councils under Sinlung Hills Development Council, met the chief minister urging him to initiate peace talks with the Manipur-based underground HPC-D to solve the Hmar insurgency problems.

The committee said the Hmar community living in the areas adjoining Manipur border have been facing extreme hardships due to insurgency for years. The state government would talk to the rebels if and only the rebels themselves come forward.

The Chief Minister reportedly said the government does not find it necessary to make the first move. HPC-D is an offshoot of the Hmar People's Convention (HPC), which came into existence in 1986, as a political party spearheading a movement for self-government in the north and northeast of Mizoram.

The HPC and the government of Mizoram signed a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) on July 27, 1994, for establishing the 'Sinlung Development Council' and subsequently, 308 HPC militants surrendered along with their arms.

Dissatisfied with the implementation process, a section of the cadres parted ways with the over ground HPC and formed the HPC-D in 1995.

Hmars Urges Mizo Govt to Hold Talks With HPC-D

File Photos of Interview with HPC-D President Lalhmingthang

Aizawl, Apr 16 : The Hmar community, living in the Mizoram-Manipur border areas today asked Mizoram government to initiate peace talks with the Manipur-based underground Hmar People's Convention-Democrat (HPC-D) for a lasting solution to Hmar insurgency problem.

A press statement issued by the Sinlung Hills Area Village Council Co-ordination Committee said the Hmar community living in the area adjoining Manipur border have been facing extreme hardships due to insurgency for years.

HPC-D was formed in the wake of the surrender of Hmar People's Convention (HPC) cadre along with arms to the state government in 1997 by Lalhmingthang Sinate, the then Assistant General Secretary of the outfit.

The HPC started an armed insurrection in 1989 demanding a separate autonomous district council for the Hmar community by slicing the north-eastern part of Mizoram.

Robot Wok Whips Up 600 Classic Chinese Dishes

Cooking Robot Students from China's Yangzhou University display a dish whipped up by their automatic cooking robot. Xinhua/Zhao Jun

Here at PopSci we're always looking for the best and baddest in robotics news. But this week -- National Robotics Week -- we'll be ratcheting up our coverage, highlighting some of the most thought-provoking, future-driven concepts in robo-tech each day.

Haters of cooking and lovers of cashew chicken rejoice: a joint effort by students at Yangzhou University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, and a business in Shenzhen have created a fully-automated robot that can cook 600 classic Chinese dishes with a simple touch-screen selection.

Although details of the invention process have yet to be released, sources report that one only needs to dispense the ingredients into the machine, program it, and await a delicious meal.

There's no demonstration video yet either, but in the meantime, an earlier version at 2009's Chinese Industry Fair here whips up an order of kung pao chicken. Skip ahead to 0:30 to see the mechanical chef in action.

Between the Chinese cooking robot and the German kebab-slicing robot, perhaps it's only a matter of time before human cooks become a quaint anachronism.

[via Sina]