New research questions hydroelectric emissions

GENVA: Scientist have found that some reservoirs formed by hydroelectric dams emit more greenhouse gases than expected, potentially upsetting the climate-friendly balance of hydroelectric power.

US parents want better privacy protections for kids: survey

WASHINGTON:When it comes to protecting the privacy of their children, US parents give social networks a failing grade.

PayPal lets people deposit checks using iPhones

SAN FRANCISCO: A PayPal application that lets people deposit checks by scanning them with cameras built into iPhones was considered a budding success on Friday.

NASA to launch new mission to Mars

WASHINGTON: The US space agency NASA announced it has given the green light to a mission to Mars aimed at investigating the mystery of how the "red planet" lost its atmosphere. NASA gave the approval Monday for "the development and 2013 launch of the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission," the agency said in a statement, noting that the project may also show Mars' history of supporting life.

Logitech unveils Google TV boxes

SAN FRANCISCO: Logitech has unveiled the first "Google TV" boxes touted as merging online content and traditional television offerings.

Logitech Revue boxes were priced at 300 dollars (US) each and will be available in the United States by the end of October, according to the Swiss company specializing in keyboards, webcams and other peripherals for computers.

Amazing ape can speak with humans

 NEW YORK: He has had countless articles written about him and has even been the subject of a book.
But now Kanzi the ‘talking’ ape has reached the pinnacle of his packed showbiz career – he has been the subject of a feature on Oprah Winfrey’s talkshow.
A 29-year-old bonobo, Kanzi is able to understand and communicate with humans and is believed to understand around 450 words – 30 to 40 of which he uses on a daily basis.

Japan's Panasonic develops robot hair-washer

 TOKYO: Japan's Panasonic on Thursday unveiled a robot that can scans a client's head using 3D technology, then shampoos their hair and massages the scalp with its rubbery "fingers".

The prototype machine was developed to help thinly-stretched staff at healthcare facilities, common problem in rapidly-ageing Japan, said the electronics maker.

In a three-minute media demonstration, the automated hair salon, which resembles a dentist's chair with a wash basin, moved a pair of "arms" with 16 finger-like massage nobs while squirting shampoo and water.

NO Mobile phone and Internet In NORTH KOREA

PYONGYANG: Stressed out by email overload and non-stop mobile calls? You might consider a vacation in North Korea, where your cell phone is seized at the airport and Internet is unavailable.

The communist country is one of the world's most tightly-controlled societies and bans unauthorised mobile phones as part of a crackdown on information from outside the country.