SHAFAQNA

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – Google’s new patent filing indicates that the Google Glass may one day be used to control objects nearby. These objects may include copy machine, coffee maker, alarm system, garage door, TV or even the refrigerator. Glass will not only show information about that object, based on the technology described in this patent, it may also present a virtual control panel to interact with that object. The patent application is titled Wearable Computer with Superimposed Controls and Instructions for External Device and it gives us interesting view of what Google Glass might be able to do in the future.

This technology would also be able to work on its own. For example if the user approaches their garage door, Google Glass will automatically open it based on the user’s location. After the user leaves their garage, the door will automatically be closed. This technology certainly won’t work with every garage door or refrigerator. They’d have to be smart products that offer connectivity features such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or NFC. A feature that Glass can use to interact with it. This is reason enough to believe that it will take a lot of time before this technology makes it on to Google Glass. For all we know, it could just be another patented technology that would never see the light of day.-www.shafaqna.com/English

Source: Ubergizmo

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) — Apple has just started seeding its latest iOS 6 to iDevices around the globe. If you own a 4S, 4, 3GS or iPad 2, new iPad and iPod Touch you can expect to get the update in the following hours.

This is the first iOS release that's available over the air so you can check the Software update menu on your eligible device. You can also check for the update from your computer, but you'll need the latest iTunes (v10.7) installed.

The update might take a while depending on where you are. If you know your Apple stuff you should know that the main features in iOS 6 are the brand new Maps app with free voice-guided navigation, which replaces Google Maps, Facebook integration and a more functional Siri. Here's our iOS 6 preview if you want to check out what else has changed.—www.shafaqna.com/English

Source: Gsmarena

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) — Yemenis want to bring Saleh and his aides to justice over the killing of demonstrators during a year of anti-regime demonstration against his rule. The demonstrators also denounced the growing levels of violence in Yemen and accused Saleh of being behind deadly terrorists attacks in the country.

Saleh, who ruled Yemen for almost 33 years, resigned on November 23, 2011 in return for amnesty after months of street protests against his rule.

"Terrorism and al-Qaeda are Ali Saleh and his sons," Yemeni protesters chanted in Sana'a on Wednesday.

The protest rally comes a day after a failed attempt to assassinate Yemeni Defense Minister Mohammed Nasser Ahmed killed 12 people and wounded dozens in the capital.

The demonstrators also called on President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi to restructure the army.

Meanwhile, Yemeni president has replaced senior security officials and some ministers in response to calls for the removal of Saleh loyalists from power positions.

According to state news agency Saba, Hadi appointed Ahmed Dares as new oil and minerals minister and Hesham Sharaf as higher education minister late on Tuesday.

He also replaced the heads of military intelligence and national security, both seen as close to Saleh, and appointed two officials to key posts in the president's office.

Ahmed al-Yafie, who was formerly a senior defense ministry official, was appointed new military intelligence chief while the former governor of Shabwa province Ali Hassan al-Ahmadi was named as head of national security.—www.shafaqna.com/English

Source: Abna

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) — To mark the beginning of Eid and in accordance with the Sunnah, or practices of the Prophet Muhammad, many Muslims wake up early in the morning and pray Salat ul-Fajr, or the pre-dawn prayer. After brushing their teeth, taking a bath and wearing perfume, they have breakfast before heading off to perform special congregational prayers known as Salaat al-Eid. Many Muslims recite the takbir, a declaration of faith, on the way to the prayer ground and give special charitable contributions known as Zakat al-Fitr.

Eid al-Fitr is a day of great merriment and thanksgiving. Muslims celebrate by gathering with friends and family, preparing sweet delicacies, wearing new clothes, giving each other gifts and putting up lights and other decorations in their homes. A common greeting during this holiday is Eid Mubarak, which means, “Have a blessed Eid!”—www.shafaqna.com/english

Source: Huffingtonpost

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) — As prices rise, tempers fray. The US drought has pushed up global food prices and is likely to continue to do so. Some say riots and unrest may follow.

According to the Climate Prediction Center, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, El Niño conditions are likely to develop over the Pacific in August or September, which should affect global weather before the end of the year. This may drive food prices up further if it causes floods or further drought.

US farms are already crippled: the Department of Agriculture says the corn (maize) crop is likely to be the worst since 1995. As a result, the Food Price Index (FPI) of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization rose 6 per cent in July, to 213.

That is dangerously high, says Yaneer Bar-Yam of the New England Complex Systems Institute in Massachusetts. He has found that if the FPI goes above 210, riots and unrest become more likely around the world. Both the 2011 Arab Spring and the 2008 riots in places such as Mexico, India, Russia and Belgium may have been partly triggered by high food prices.

More unrest is likely in the next year, although we cannot predict where, says Bar-Yam. That depends on how governments respond.—www.shafaqna.com/english

Source: New Scientist

SHAFAQNA (Shia News Association) — If you were expecting kebabs and more kebabs, think again. Food served during the Islamic observance is as diverse as the Muslim world itself. Ramadan, which lasts one month and falls on July 20 this year, focuses on spirituality and inner reflection, with observers fasting from just before sunrise to sunset.

The structure of Ramadan (ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar) is fairly simple. Two main meals are eaten, often with the family and with friends -- “suhoor” before dawn, and “iftar” just after sundown. During the day, observers take in nothing -- no food or water -- although there are exceptions for people who can’t maintain the fast for health or other reasons.

The month ends with Eid-ul-Fitr (eed-ull-fitter), sometimes a big feast and other times a more humble affair, where friends and family often get together to share food and celebrate.

Observant Muslims are required to eat food that is “halal,” meaning it meets Islamic dietary guidelines for what is permissible. Other than that, the food served is dictated by culture and preference. And that can vary widely. In Morocco, one might eat lentil soups, in India, curry, and in Indonesia, kolak, a fruit dessert.

One thing just about every Ramadan meal has in common is dates. Most observers break their fast with dates because this is what the prophet Muhammad did. (According to Muslim beliefs, Ramadan is when the Qur’an, the Muslim scripture, was first revealed to Muhammad.) Observers usually are eager to offer each other dates to break the fast as a gesture of good will and to aid fellow worshippers in breaking the fast.

Another benefit to dates is they’re an excellent way to restore blood sugars.

“Whether you’re from Senegal or Detroit, you’ll try to break your fast with dates,” says Yvonne Maffei, a food writer and recipe developer who publishes the website www.myhalalkitchen.com. “It’s just something Muslims hold very dear.”

Meals often start with a crunchy appetizer, perhaps a samosa in Pakistan or an egg roll in China, then move on to soups; people don’t typically jump into meat dishes, though they likely will be served at some point during the meal.

“Whether you’re Chinese Muslim or American Muslim you’re going to have meat on the table because it’s considered important to feed and nourish your guests. This is a time to show exceptional hospitality to your fasting guests,” says Maffei.

In the United States, food choices are even broader, with traditions from different cultures often finding a place on the same buffet.

“It’s just becoming very interesting as these children of immigrants who’ve come from Muslim countries with different flavour profiles, different preferences -- have begun mixing and replacing many foods, doing a lot of fun things and that’s changing the landscape of our table during Ramadan,” says Maffei. “Buffets look very different than they did 10 years ago.”

For Maffei, who is of Italian and Puerto Rican heritage and is married to a man of Mexican and Italian descent, Ramadan means taking old family favourites, like pasta and meatballs, and reworking them.

Since halal, or what is permissible, dictates that no pork or alcohol be in the food, the ground pork in meatballs is replaced with veal and there’s no wine in the sauce

To someone who’s never tried it, the ritual of Ramadan may sound daunting. It’s hard to go all day without food, let alone water, and the hours are a challenge, too. But at the same time, bonds are formed as observers get on the same schedule of living for a month. “People embrace it, love it,” says Maffei. “Even though it may sound very difficult, I’ve never heard anyone say, ‘I don’t like Ramadan.”’

A sampling of foods that might be served during Ramadan around the world:

Pakistan: Samosas, chole (chickpea curry), rice with lamb, chicken or goat.

Morocco: Lentil soups, egg rolls

Senegal: Lamb stew

Somalia: Curry puffs, stuffed with meat and vegetables and deep fried

Ethiopia: Doro wat (chicken stew)

Indonesia: Ketupat (rice cooked in coconut leaves)

India: Haleem, a porridge of meat, wheat and lentils; biryanis, rice-based dishes with spices, meat, fish, eggs or vegetables. Also popular in Pakistan and other countries.— www.shafaqna.com/english/