European company develops mobile robots that are autonomous and multi-tasking

Madrid (Spain), September 19 (ANI): An European company has developed innovative robots which are mobile, multifunctional, collaborative, autonomous and polyvalent, suitable for a wide range of work from street cleaning and rubbish collection to accompanying elderly people.

According to a report carried out in www.basqueresearch.com, this new generation of robots have been developed by TECNALIA Technological Corporation, and are a part of the European DUSTBOT research project under the remit of the VI European Framework Programme and in which TECNALIA is participating.

These latest generation robots are suitable for the monitoring of large spaces (open and closed), as guides for persons in large shopping areas (indicating to them where a particular shop or product is within a shopping centre), for accompanying elderly people or those with certain disabilities (both at home and outside), thanks to their functions of orientation, navigation, communications with others or tele-assistance centres.

They can also be used as guides in teaching spaces (museums, visitor centres), and for transport, storage and transport and goods deliveries, besides the cleaning of both open and closed surfaces, which have either difficult or easy access.

DUSTBOT has collaborative, multifunctional and autonomous robots that are capable of operating in partially destructured environments/situations based on information provided by a map.

The robots can also facilitate working in large areas, stations, airports and other types of public buildings, without being any obstacle for the activity of these places, given its reduced size, and without being a danger for members of the public, thanks to the novel system for the detection and avoidance of obstacles.

The rail station of the Euskotren company in the Bilbao neighbourhood of Atxuri in Spain was chosen for the public presentation of these devices.

The demonstration of two robot models was undertaken: the DustCart and the DustClean.

The DustCart robot, measuring 1.45 metres high and 70 Kg in weight, has a humanoid form and is designed to interact with the user and for the collection of low demand waste.

The DustClean robot, in the form of a small vehicle and measuring 96 cm high and 250 Kg in weight, cleans streets of dirt and dust. Moreover, both control the quality of air in real time.

“These robots are the solution for cleaning areas of difficult access and for the collection of rubbish at the very front door of, above all, persons who have mobility problems when moving the rubbish to the communal waste containers,” said Inaki Inzunza, Director of the Business Unit at the Tecnalia Technological Corporation. (ANI)

Holiday Inn hotel made of key cards is world’s first

Melbourne, Sep 18 (ANI): A Holiday Inn hotel made entirely of key cards has been unveiled in New York.

The 37-square-metre hotel, built by world record-holding Cardstacker Bryan Berg, is made from more than 200,000 key cards and weighs 1814 kilograms.

It includes a guest bedroom, bathroom and lobby, with life-sized furniture.

The design was created by Holiday Inn, the world’s largest hotel group, to mark the relaunch of 1200 of its hotels around the world.

“The Key Card Hotel is a fun and interactive way to showcase the changes happening at our hotels and is the only structure of its kind to ever be created by a hotel brand,” News.com.au quoted Kevin Kowalski, Senior Vice President, Global Brand Management, Holiday Inn, as saying.

Berg, who will also build a freestanding three-metre replica of New York’s Empire State Building in the lobby of the Key Card Hotel using Holiday Inn playing cards, said constructing the hotel has been a great challenge.

“This is my largest cardstacking challenge to date and the only card creation I have ever made at full human scale,” Berg added about the hotel.

The first 250 guests who attended the Key Card Hotel grand opening received a free night stay at any Holiday Inn.

The company’s 1 billion dollar relaunch is one of the largest in the history of the hospitality industry. (ANI)

Avril Lavigne confirms split with Deryck Whibley

Washington, Sept 18 (ANI): Avril Lavigne has confirmed reports she and her husband Deryck Whibley have split.

However, she insists she’s “grateful” for her time with the rocker.

The pair’s 3-year marriage has been under the tabloid spotlight for a long time now, amid rumours the Canadian couple had parted ways, reports Contactmusic.

On her MySpace.com blog, Avril wrote, “Deryck and I have been together for 6 and a half years. We have been friends since I was 17, started dating when I was 19, and married when I was 21.

“I am grateful for our time together, and I am grateful and blessed for our remaining friendship.

“I admire Deryck and have a great amount of respect for him. He is the most amazing person I know and I love him with all my heart. Deryck and I are separating and moving forward on a positive note.” (ANI)

Simpson searching for lesbian pet dog snatched by coyote

London, Sep 16 (ANI): American singer Jessica Simpson has been tweeting for help in looking for her lesbian pet dog, which was snatched by a coyote.

Simpson, 29, posted a picture of her pooch Daisy on her Twitter.com page, and sent out an appeal for help in locating her pet dog.

“My heart is broken because a coyote took my precious Daisy right in front of our eyes,” the Sun quoted her as writing.HORROR! We are searching. Hoping. Please help!” she added.

The singer had last month claimed that she thought Daisy was gay. (ANI)

Coldplay, Satriani reach settlement over plagiarism row

Washington, September 16 (ANI): Coldplay has reportedly reached a legal settlement with guitarist Joe Satriani over a plagiarism lawsuit.

The band were served with a lawsuit by Satriani, who alleged the rockers lifted his 2004 instrumental, “I Just Wanna Fly,” for the basic melody of “Viva La Vida”.

Both the parties were said to have settled the matter, and copyright infringement lawsuit has been dismissed, reports Contactmusic.

According to Billboard.com, a confession of any wrongdoing will not be required from the group, who have always denied the claims.

A statement from the Brits said: “If there are any similarities between our two pieces of music, they are entirely coincidental, and just as surprising to us as to him.”

Both sides declined to comment about the settlement. (ANI)

Jolie takes adopted daughter Zahara on first visit to native Ethiopia

Washington, September 16 (ANI): Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie’s eldest daughter Zahara returned to her native Ethiopia for the first time since her adoption four years ago.

The four-year-old flew back home with her mother at the weekend.

It all happened when Jolie, currently in Kenya on a United Nations mission with partner Brad Pitt and their six children, broke away from the trip to cross the border into Ethiopia.

Zahara’s little sister Shiloh, 3, also accompanied them.

However, Pitt and the couple’s other four children stayed behind.

“On a trip to Kenya with their children, Angelina stopped in Dabaab Refugee Camp, and also flew to Ethiopia with Zahara and Shiloh for two days,” Contactmusic quoted a source as having told People.com.

“(It was) the first time Zahara had been back home since her adoption. The trip was about keeping up that culture for her,” the source added.

If reports are to be believed, Jolie is looking for a property to build a tuberculosis and AIDS clinic in Zahara’s name.

The Hollywood couple jointly founded a similar organisation to aid impoverished children-known as the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Project-after adopting their eight-year-old son Maddox from Cambodia in 2002. (ANI)

Top white lie to shun sex: I’m too tired

London, Sept 16 (ANI): The humble headache has had its day as far as excuses to avoid sex are concerned, for now the reigning white lie to snub a romp is ‘I’m too tired’, says a new survey.

“I’ve got a headache” has lost its lustre and fallen to number three in the list behind “I’m not in the mood”.

Other white lies to make the top five included “I’ve got to get up early in the morning” and “I’m pre-occupied with work”.he conclusion was made after studying 4,000 adults.

The not-so-kinky research also revealed that one in five Brits regularly make excuses to avoid having sex.

Seven out of 10 said they were often too exhausted to enjoy sex. And four out of 10 said the recession had played havoc with their sex life, the study found, reports The Telegraph.

A spokesman for www.OnePoll.com, which carried out the study, said: “The humble headache has had its day as far as excuses are concerned.

“Tiredness plays a much bigger part in our reasons not to climb between the sheets these days and enjoy some quality time together.

“And its hardly surprising when we are all working longer hours than ever before and have so many things to worry about.

“Fears over whether will be able to pay our mortgages or even whether we will have a job in a month’s time are bound to affect our bedroom performance.

“It was intriguing to see just how the recession has affected our passion levels too.”

The report also found men are more likely to make excuses than women with 27 per cent admitting they often avoided sex compared to 18 per cent of women.

Top Ten Sex Excuses

1. Too tired

2. I’m not in the mood

3. I’ve got a headache

4. I’ve got to get up in the morning

5. I’m pre-occupied with work

6. I’m angry with you

7. I can hear one of the children

8. You need a shower

9. I’ve got a bad back

10. Too soon in our relationship. (ANI)

Malaysian PM okays Tamil content for 1Malaysia website

Kuala Lumpur, Sep. 16 (ANI): The 1Malaysia website will include content in the Tamil language, as it celebrates its first anniversary today.

According to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak what made the anniversary even more special was that it coincides with Malaysia Day, which commemorates the day Sabah and Sarawak became part of the nation 46 years ago.

“In the past year, I have posted more than 70 blog entries, and more than 6,000 comments and e-mails have been received through the website,” The Star quoted him, as saying in his latest entry at www.1Malaysia.com.my yesterday.

In recognition of both anniversaries, Najib said the website would undergo a transformation to make it more engaging to the public.

“I would also welcome your comments here on what you would like to see more (or less) of on 1Malaysia.com.my as I continue to find ways to improve our interaction via this website,” he added.

The prime minister said he was convinced that the Internet was a key area in bringing the government and its citizens closer together. (ANI)

Facebook crosses 300m users mark, cites rapid growth in profits

London, September 16 (ANI): Facebook has announced that it has crossed a benchmark of 300 million active monthly users from across the world and also started raking in profits ahead of schedule.

Founder of the world’s largest social networking site Mark Zuckerberg said the company had not expected to begin reaping financial benefits until sometime next year.

“This is important to us because it sets Facebook up to be a strong independent service for the long term,” The BBC quoted Zuckerberg as saying in a blog post.

“We are succeeding at building Facebook in a sustainable way. We are just getting started on our goal of connecting everyone.

“We face a lot of fun and important challenges that require rethinking the current systems for enabling information flow across the web,” he added.

Mike Schroepfer, Facebook’s vice president of engineering, also said: “Passing these milestones to me means we can continue to fund our development and our innovation and be self sustaining as we grow this network.

“We think 300m is a just a step on the way to get as much of the entire world on the social network communicating with the friends and family and the people they want to communicate with.”

Nick O’Neill of AllFacebook.com added: “That Facebook is able to continue this growth and build a “cash flow positive” business is an impressive feat.

“If the company can cover the cost of scaling to 1 billion users and still manage to break even, there’s no doubt that the company will have a great opportunity to rake in billions.”

The news that the company had crossed the two benchmarks was made at TechCrunch 50 in San Francisco. (ANI)

Victoria Police deny Indian bashing cover-up

Melbourne, Sep.16 (ANI): Victoria Police has denied they had a plan to limit publicity about the bashing of four Indian men outside a Melbourne pub on Saturday night.

Four men were arrested in relation to assault and affray, but they were released pending further investigations.

Police believe a fifth man may also have been involved in the bashing outside a pub at Epping in Melbourne’s east.

Details of the incident only emerged publicly today, prompting an outraged Indian media to claim Victoria Police had been involved in a cover-up.

Police said the Indian media were made aware of the incident via “other channels”.

Acting Senior Sergeant Glenn Parker said there was no cover-up, although he did admit the police media department would have known about the incident in the early hours of Sunday morning.

“Unfortunately, this type of incident occurs regularly. This is really treated no differently to any other event of this type. There has been no deliberate attempt to suppress it. It’s just part of normal procedure. It’s attracted more media attention than anticipated,” news.com.au quoted him, as saying.

According to the police, the four men were playing pool on Saturday night at a bar in High St, Epping, when a female hurled a racist remark at them.

The men left not long after but were followed into a car park by up to four males who were part of a larger group celebrating a birthday in the bar’s function room.

It has been alleged the Indian men were set upon and seriously assaulted by the group of males.

Police were called and arrested four males, who were interviewed in relation to assault and affray. ll four were released pending further investigations.

While only four men were arrested, one of the alleged victims told ABC Radio today that more than 70 people could have been involved.

He said the attackers didn’t use weapons, but racism was behind the incident.

“Definitely racism,” he said.

Police say that when the arrests were made, a group of about 15 men and women, who had been celebrating a birthday, directed racist abuse at the Indian men.

As the victims were escorted away by police, officers allege the larger group continued its “threatening behaviour and racist remarks”. (ANI)

Oz speed-reader to demystify Dan Brown’s Lost Symbol 2hrs after release

Melbourne, September 14 (ANI): Publishers of Dan Brown’s much-anticipated book, ‘The Lost Symbol,’ will host speed reading competition during its launch in Australia.

The person who ends reading the book fastest will be provided with an opportunity to give its first review.

Speculations are high on the closely-guarded plot, which is believed to focus on the Freemasons.

Publisher Random House will provide a copy of the book at the State Library of NSW the moment it is released.

It is expected that the first person should complete reading in two hours.

After which the reader will give a review to public and press.

“Millions of Australians have enjoyed the pure adrenalin thrill of Dan Brown’s novels, coupled with their fascinating historical insights,” News.com.au quoted Margie Seale, managing director of Random House Australia, as saying in a statement.

The publishers anticipate that the book will match 81 million copies of The Da Vinci Code sold around the world. (ANI)

Oz gays want marriage as personal choice

Melbourne, Sep 14 (ANI): While homosexual marriages are not legal everywhere, most of the gays in Australia prefer marriage to other form of relationships, a survey has revealed.

Researchers at the University of Queensland (UQ) conducted a survey of those attracted to the same sex in Australia.

They also found that a huge majority of homosexuals felt marriage should be an option for same-sex couples in Australia.

The survey revealed that the majority (54.1 per cent) of same-sex attracted participants selected marriage as their personal choice and close to 80 per cent felt that same-sex couples in Australia should be allowed to marry if they want to.

Researcher Sharon Dane, from UQ’s School of Psychology, said marriage was still the personal choice of the majority irrespective of the current legal status of participants’ same-sex relationships.

“The findings work to dispel the myth that most same-sex people do not wish to marry or are content with de facto status,” News.com.au quoted Dane as saying.

“This majority preference for marriage may be a reflection of the fact that fewer same-sex couples feel the need to live their lives in secret.

“A generally less hostile environment means same-sex couples can live their lives more openly and honestly and in doing so wish to be treated like everyone else,” she added. (ANI)

Nicolas Cage ‘auctions off LA mansion’

London, Sept 14 (ANI): Actor Nicolas Cage is auctioning off his Los Angeles mansion, which once belonged to celebs like Tom Jones and Dean Martin.

The sources had said that Cage had sold the ‘Pink Palace’ to designer Christian Audigier’s for just over 9.3 million pounds, however, now reports suggest the Con Air star has decided to sell his home as part of a sealed bid sale, reports the Daily Express.

According to RealEstalker.com, Cage had put the property on the market in 2007 for 23.3 million pounds.

He had bought the home in 1998 for 4.3 million pounds.

The website said that all sealed bids for the home are scheduled to be reviewed on 24 September (09), with the minimum bid for the seven-bedroom spread set at 6.6 million pounds- 28 per cent of the original asking price. (ANI)

MJ’s sister set to lose Las Vegas home

London, September 12 (ANI): Michael Jackson’s sister La Toya is reportedly set to lose her home in Las Vegas over unpaid bills.

The singer purportedly owes 497,113 pounds in unpaid mortgage instalments on the posh estate at the LV International Country Club.

According to TMZ.com, the 53-year-old’s property will allegedly be placed under the hammer later in September if the outstanding tabs are not cleared, reports the Daily Star.

But the grieving star was said to be less concerned about losing the property.

Her rep told TMZ: “La Toya has an extensive real estate portfolio and her advisers directed her to the business decision to let this particular property to go to short sale where it is now.

“The property was also something she got during her divorce from Jack Gordon and she has no attachment to it.” (ANI)

Faster, simpler Facebook Lite site available in India, US

London, Sep 12 (ANI): Social networking site Facebook has launched a slimmed-down version of its site for people with slow or poor Internet connections, and it is currently available only in India and the US.

Facebook’s Lite site, which will be faster and simpler because it offers fewer services than the main site, had initially been meant to support users in developing countries, where bandwidth constraints make the current version too slow to use.

The company said around 70 percent of its more than 250 million users were from outside America, with countries in Southeast Asia and Europe seeing a massive increase in growth where fast Internet connections are more common.

News about Facebook testing the Lite site first leaked out in August, with its options said to be limited to letting users write on their wall, post photos and videos, view events and browse other people’s profiles.

“It appears, at a quick glance, to be a better site for Facebook newbies or for anyone who finds the current site overwhelming and noisy,” the BBC quoted Rafe Needleman at technology website Cnet as saying.

“The new layout feels almost Twitter-like,” he said.

Terence O’Brien at Switched.com gave the slimmed-down version of what he called “ol’ blue” the thumbs-up because it “strips away distractions”.

“The simple site loads noticeably faster, is easier to navigate, and is much easier on the eyes thanks to the lack of people sending you ‘virtual booze’ or asking you to join their ‘vampire fraternity’,” he said.

“The new layout seems like a direct challenge to Twitter, which can attribute much of its success to is simplicity and portability,” he stated.

Many industry watchers said they believed that even users with good Internet connections might well flock to Facebook Lite because of its new look and ease of use.

“That is what some US users are planning to do,” Eric Eldon of InsideFacebook.com said.

“Indeed the reaction from US users has prompted Facebook to release it intentionally for US users, something it hadn’t previously planned on doing,” he added.

Eldon also said he believed a “worldwide rollout doesn’t seem too far away”.

Facebook has acknowledged this is a possibility in a statement on the site, which said the firm was “working on translating Lite into other languages”.

Anyone who switches to Facebook Lite and does not like it can switch back to the fuller version of the site. (ANI)

Top Brit doc backs call to ban alcohol ads

London, September 11 (ANI): A leading British doctor is in full support of the BMA’s call to ban alcohol advertising, as he feels that such publicity campaigns do have damaging effects on young people.

“(It is) a logical recommendation to attempt to reverse the all embracing pro-alcohol culture that has grown up in a period of deregulation and liberalisation over the last quarter of a century,” says to Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians and Chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance.

Writing an editorial for bmj.com, he has even stressed the need for more public conversation about people’s attitudes to alcohol as a society.

“The problem is not just about drunk, misbehaving adolescents. We can no longer ignore the many millions of people in the UK who are quietly over-consuming cheap, readily available, and heavily promoted alcohol, storing up major problems for the future,” he concludes. (ANI)

Oz bosses bringing back 1950s style of management

Melbourne, Sep 10 (ANI): A survey has shown that bosses are cutting costs and dropping the collaborative management style of the early 2000s in favour of the 1950s-style.

Social researcher and leadership expert Avril Henry said that employers are doing everything from cutting out biscuits to banning hot food from the office.

They are also telling employees to snack on fruit outside in a bid to cut cleaning costs and cope with strained budgets, and are also micromanaging and bossing their staff around, rather than engaging with them.

“It sends a signal to employees that ‘I don’t trust you can do the job without being closely supervised’, it equates not seeking input from anybody below senior executive level,” News.com.au quoted Henry as saying.

The South African-born public speaker and author of Inspiring Tomorrow’s Leaders Today says examples of tight, bossy behaviour began emerging at the end of last year amid the deepening financial crisis.

“In the process of cutting costs we often do things that alienate the employees,” she said.

“You can cut the biscuits and you can tell people ‘we’re not providing tea and coffee, bring in your own’, but we still pay senior executives and CEOs huge bonuses,” she stated.

Henry says the leadership style is putting bosses on a direct collision course with Generation Y.

“Gen Y just go ‘I’m not working for a boss like that’,” she said of the generation born between 1980 and 1995.

“Gen Y will leave a job without another job to go to even in the current environment.

“They will do a job with less money, not necessarily in the same industry they were in, or equating to what they’re qualified to do, to work in environment where they are happy and they feel valued, not only as employees but as human beings,” she said.

Many generation X-ers (born 1965 to 1979), now in management roles, see this as “entitlement mentality”, but Henry thinks it’s a positive backlash to “toxic” workplace conditions.

“I think that (attitude is) what’s going to change workplace culture,” Henry, who is also a trained accountant, said.

“We have too many workplaces which are toxic, by toxic I mean people aren’t valued.

“Every organisation says ‘people are our greatest asset’ – my immediate response to that is then why do most organisations treat their employees like liabilities?” she stated.

“Bosses who cop a pay cut or ask their staff for thrifty suggestions show they’re ‘willing to share the pain’,” she added. (ANI)

Now, LiLo to play fashion adviser

London, Sept 10 (ANI): Lindsay Lohan has been appointed as the style consultant for French fashion house Emanuel Ungaro.

It is reported that bosses even fired the brand’s top designer, Esteban Cortazar, for opposing Lohan as the choice for the top job.

The Daily Express quoted Lohan as telling WWD.com: “To be in a position where I’m working with a fashion house in Paris sets it apart from every other celebrity brand.”

The Ungaro staff is also delighted to have the Mean Girls star with them.

CEO Mounir Moufarrige said: “Everything we’re going to get is going to be a plus. I think the noise level around Lindsay will be very, very big.”

The 23-year-old Lohan is no newcomer to fashion as she launched her leggings line 6126 in the U.S. last year. (ANI)

Pitt enjoys chicken and beer while flying mile high

Melbourne, Sep 10 (ANI): While meeting Hollywood’s hottest hunk remains a dream for some, a passenger on a United Airlines flight was able to not only meet actor Brad Pitt but also film him.

Justin Ross Lee was fortunate enough to be seated alongside Pitt on a recent flight from Los Angeles to New York and he was able to capture the moment on his mobile phone.e has since posted the clip, showing Pitt tucking into his in-flight meal of chicken, enjoying a beer and catching some shut-eye, on brightcove.

“If Brad was any more down to earth, the jet never would have left the ground,” News.com.au quoted Lee as telling Star Magazine.

The New Yorker also enjoyed having a photo taken with the actor in the Los Angeles International Airport’s United Airlines first-class lounge. (ANI)