The effort, which Google calls Project Wing, marks the company's latest expansion beyond its Web-based origins and could help Google break into lucrative markets such as commerce and package delivery, ratcheting up the competition with AmazonInc.

Google, the world's largest Internet search engine, said it will take years of development to create a service with multiple vehicles flying multiple deliveries per day.

An early version of the drone, which Google showcased in a video on its website, has a 1.5 meter-(yard-)wide wingspan and is capable of flying pre-programmed routes.

"These planes have much more in common with the Google self-driving car than the remote-controlled airplanes people fly in parks on weekends," Google said on its website, referring to the company's test fleet of automobiles that use sensors and radars to navigate city streets and freeways on their own.

The drone Google showed in the video Thursday was equipped with rotors to allow for vertical takeoff and landing, as well as a fixed wing for plane-like flying. The drone flew about 40 meters above the treeline, Google said, and dropped a package of chocolate bars to a farmer in Queensland, Australia.

Google spokesman Ray Gobberg said it was too soon to discuss specific business plans for the delivery drones, but the company said on its website that self-flying vehicles could offer a cheaper, faster and less wasteful way to move goods.

Google rival Amazon.com Inc announced plans last year to use aerial delivery drones for a service called "Prime Air."

"Local delivery of products is the next battlefront," said Sameet Sinha, an analyst with B. Riley & Co. "Google has had its eyes on e-commerce, basically trying to get around Amazon."

Google has partnered with local retailers in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York for its Shopping Express service, which allows consumers to order goods online and have them delivered to their doorstep on the same day.

While Google has been quietly developing its aerial drone project since late 2011, the company will now focus on teaching the vehicles to safely navigate around each other, to reduce the noise of the vehicles and to refine the delivery capability such that a package can be delivered to a spot the size of a doorstep.

Google's Gobberg said the company has briefed the Federal Aviation Administration on the project and has been updating the agency. Gobberg said Google has done some "small scale research flights" in the United States but hoped to talk more with the agency to determine specific locations for testing.

In 2012, Congress required the FAA to establish a road map for the broader use of drones. The FAA has allowed limited use of drones in the United States for surveillance, law enforcement, atmospheric research and other applications.

Video: Click Here

The Ministry of Defence and Urban Development says the Floating Market Complex at Bastian Mawatha in Colombo, will be declared open on Monday August 25 .

Director of the Media Unit of the Ministry, Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya said that the event will be held under the auspices of the Minister of Health, Maithripala Sirisena.

“You want ‘Monster’ Nicki in Sri Lanka/I told ‘em meet me at the Trump/Ivanka” Nicki Minaj raps in Beyoncé’s new “Flawless” remix.

RollingStone quoted Minaj as saying she jumped at the chance to work with the singer: “[Manager] Gee [Roberson] called me when I was on my way to Vegas, and he said, ‘Beyoncé wants you to remix ‘Flawless,’” she says. “And after I got proper medical help and started breathing again, I was like, ‘What?’”

Minaj says Beyoncé was hands-on with the collaboration. After sending Minaj a version of the track, she showed up at a New York studio to help hype up the rapper as she recorded her intense verse, telling her, “I want you to be you—I don’t want you to hold back.” Minaj says they went “back and forth about mixes and single art” and adds that Beyoncé was “such a sweetheart.” When asked why it took so long for a collaboration to happen, Minaj says that “the stars just aligned in the right way.”

The remix, which dropped on Beyoncé’s website, features a horn sample from Outkast’s “Spottieottiedopaliscious” and finds Minaj spitting, “Winning is my motherfucking protocol/ Because I score before I ever throw the ball.” Beyoncé even addresses the infamous elevator incident involving her husband Jay Z and sister Solange, singing, “Of course sometimes shit goes down when there’s a billion dollars on an elevator.”

Minaj also expressed her desire to work with Bronx rapper Remy Ma, who was recently released from prison after serving a six-year sentence for assault. “I was a fan of hers before she went to jail, and nothing has changed,” Minaj says.

Meanwhile, Remy Ma expressed her admiration for Minaj in a recent interview with New York radio station Power 105. “Nicki has always been a supporter and vice versa,” she said. “I like what she does. She’s done wonderful things for females, but I just wish there was more of them. I don’t know what they’re doing; they’re letting these guys take over.” (Colombo Gazette)

The complete range of lingerie, varying from plunge bras to thongs, shares its name with the extremist group otherwise known as Islamic State, formerly known as Isis (the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria).

The Islamic terrorist group were formed in early 2004 and have made significant gains in the Syrian civil war, declaring the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in April 2013 and the caliphate in June.

However, Ann Summers’ head office chose the name Isis after the ancient Egyptian goddess of love, before the Islamic group were widely known.

"We thought up the name over six months ago," an Ann Summer's employee told The Independent, wishing to remain anonymous. “It wasn’t until all the PR was done for the portfolio when the name meant something else. It was too late to change it.”

Ann Summers apologised for any misunderstanding and said they did not intend cause offence.

A spokesperson for Ann Summers said: “Range names for our products are chosen far in advance of the collections landing in-stores and online. In this instance, the inspiration behind this range name was taken from the Ancient Egyptian goddess Isis.

"We acknowledge the unfortunate timing of this product launch in our store windows, however we in no way support or condone any act of terrorism or violence. We apologise for any offence caused.”

The line comes just days after the execution of American photojournalist, James Foley, by Isis members.

An attack by suspected Shia militiamen on a Sunni mosque in Iraq’s Diyala province has killed at least 68 people.

Officials say a bomber blew himself up in the mosque during Friday prayers and gunmen fired on fleeing worshippers.

Diyala province has seen heavy fighting in recent weeks between IS and Iraqi troops backed by Shia militiamen.

The attack is seen as a blow to government efforts to secure backing from Sunni groups in its battle against Islamic State (IS) jihadists.

Prime Minister designate Haider al-Abadi, a moderate Shia, is trying to form a more inclusive government – following international criticism of outgoing PM Nouri Maliki, who was widely seen as a divisive figure.

But two influential Sunni politicians, Parliamentary Speaker Salim al-Jabouri and Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlak, have suspended participation in talks on a new cabinet in protest at Friday’s massacre.

It took place in a village mosque south of the city of Baquba, about 120km (75 miles) from Baghdad.

A security official told AFP news agency that Shia fighters allied with the government had carried out the assault as a reprisal for a bombing that had targeted their fighters.

Meet Lolita Richi, the youngest ‘Human Barbie’ yet to emerge, who claims to be the most doll-like beauty yet.

Lolita, 16, from Kiev, Ukraine, boasts the same improbable body proportions and blank facial features as a Barbie. She has a tiny 20-inch waist, a 32F bra size and wears contact lenses that give her a wide-eyed, doll-like stare.

Lolita maintains that her striking looks were achieved without plastic surgery, dieting or Photoshop.

The outspoken high-school student, who is now temporarily living in Turkmenistan, says: ‘I think I’ve achieved this image better than anyone else. I’m the ultimate vamp woman. I haven’t even heard of Valeria Lukyanov.

‘People have openly told me that they’re jealous of me and how good I look. All of the boys at school fancy me as well but I don’t like any of them. They are not to my taste.’

Growing up, Lolita was a playful tomboy who showed no interest in her appearance.

She says: ‘I never thought about playing with dolls when I was younger. I was always outside playing with the boys.’

It was only a year ago that super-confident Lolita first adopted the doll look. She has since gained a devoted band of followers on Russian social network VK.

Lolita explains: ‘I started dressing up like this because I want to look perfect. I think that all women should be well-kept and immaculate. I wanted to be my own inspiration.

‘If a girl doesn’t have beautiful eyes then they should wear contact lenses to sort it out. If they have a crooked nose, then she must do something about it, whether that’s plastic surgery or not.

‘I had great features to start with and I just improved on them. My big breasts are natural although I sometimes wear a push-up bra to enhance them.

‘I have a gorgeous figure so I don’t even have to diet. I just eat whatever’s available in the fridge whether that’s sausages or fruit.

‘I started wearing affordable contact lenses and make-up. My mother used to be an actress so I borrow her wigs.

‘I feel comfortable and confident in my appearance. There are many women who want to look like this.’

However Lolita confesses that she does receive a fair share of negative criticism online.

She says: ‘People make good and bad comments about me online. I’ve blocked a few users who have been particularly mean about my appearance.

‘But I do get nice compliments too, I like when men admire my hands.’

One person who is wholly supportive of her eccentric look is Lolita’s mother, Anya Richi, 33. Anya is her photographer and captures all of the snaps that Lolita uploads online.

She says:’My mum doesn’t say anything about my appearance. She allows me to dress however I want. My mum’s proud of how I look.’

Lolita says there is no man out there at the moment who is a worthy candidate for her affections.

‘I’m not attracted to any of the boys at school, although they all like me. They aren’t good enough for me and they have an immature mentality.

‘I did have one serious boyfriend in the past but I dumped him because we kept having little disagreements. In the end, we were incompatible.

‘I want to be with a really manly man who is polite, sensible and who doesn’t run away from problems. He also needs to have a full head of hair. I don’t like bald men.’

Lolita wants to become a psychologist after she finishes school but would love to achieve fame for her look.

She says, ‘I’m only 5ft 4in tall so I can’t become a model unfortunately. But if I can become famous for my appearance in some other way, I will be extremely happy.’

It was a photo shoot that caught India’s attention.
Five courageous survivors of acid attacks posed for portraits.

In a country where victims of such attacks do not dare to come out of hiding, or show their disfigured faces in public, this was a “ground breaking” photo shoot, participants said.

“After the acid attack I never took photos,” Rupa, one of the models and a survivor said.

“When the photos got circulated in the media, people started calling to inquire about me, I felt so good. After the photo shoot I want to go out meet more people.”

Rupa, now 22, was 15 years old when she was attacked by her stepmother following a dispute about money.

“That night, after acid was poured on my face, I could not see anything. I could not open my eyes, I was screaming,” she said. “But no one came to help me. My stepmother watched me suffering.”

After that night, everything changed.

“My studies stopped, I stopped playing.”

It was only three years after the acid attack that Rupa gathered enough courage to look at her face in the mirror.

It was her childhood dream, to be a designer and Rupa designed the outfits for all the models featured on the photo shoot including herself.

The photos were first published on Facebook page run by Stop Acid Attacks, an organization raising awareness about the plight of acid attack victims but have since been featured extensively across the world.

Her next step is to open a boutique. Currently she is living in Chhanv, a rehabilitation center for acid attack victims opened by the charity.
In 2013, the Indian Supreme Court passed laws aiming to control over-the-counter sales of acid.
But the implementation has been poor though, said Alok Dixit, founder of Stop Acid Attacks.

“Yes, the law is on paper, but you can find acid easily in local markets,” he said.

According to the group, more than 200 acid attack cases have been reported since January 2013.

But activists including Alok believe the real number is much higher.

Lacking support from family and society, many victims do not report attacks to the police.
Fearing social stigma, many do not even show their face in public.

And that is what the group wanted the photo shoot to change.

“We want the acid attack survivors to come out of hiding and tell their stories. It is okay to show your face,” Alok said.

Rahul Saharan, a professional photographer, was the man behind the camera.

He wanted to showcase Rupa’s designs and help her motivate other fellow acid attack survivors across the world.

His second goal: make the victims feel beautiful and change the way people define “beauty” in general.

“In our society, there are lots of things said to the girls — you are not beautiful, you won’t get married because your skin is not white and fair,” Rahul said.

“I want to change the perception of beauty — tell people that the real beauty is not about having a fair skin.

“When you see pictures used in commercials, you just see and forget them after sometime, but when you see these pictures, you feel in love with them. You want to look at them again and again.”

Ritu, another acid attack victim and a participant of the photo shoot, was 17 when acid was thrown at her face. She is 19 now and going through treatment. She cannot see with her left eye.

“Every acid attack survivor says they do not want to meet the attackers,” she said.

“But I want to meet the guy (who did this to me) and ask: ‘was it worth it?’”

Source: CNN

A jilted lover killed himself by standing in front of a train driven by his ex-girlfriend, it emerged last night.

Gary Wells, 36, was said to be distraught after splitting from Diane MacDonald three weeks ago.

MacDonald, 29, was powerless to prevent a collision after he stepped on to the track in front of the train she was driving on one of Britain’s most scenic rail routes.

Wells died instantly as he was hit by the train.

MacDonald, the first woman train driver on the West Highland Line in Scotland, was left so distressed that she required sedation after the tragedy, which happened at Inverlochy, near Fort William, on Tuesday morning.

Wells had been in a long-term relationship with MacDonald but friends said their relationship ended around three weeks ago.

Sources said the break-up had left Wells struggling to cope.

Wells is thought to have been working at a local engineering company and had previously worked some evenings and weekends as a pub bouncer.

His family was too distressed yesterday to talk about what happened. In a statement,  MacDonald said last night: ‘The circumstances are extremely upsetting for everyone involved. We would ask the media to please respect our privacy while we come to terms with what has happened.’

British Transport Police confirmed they are investigating the incident. 

The Ministry of Health says that the rest of the staff at the cosmetic surgery clinic in Bambalapitiya, where a doctor died after receiving treatment, will be interrogated on Thursday.

The Director of the Cosmetics Devices and Drugs Regulatory Authority, Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva said that statements will be taken from the nurses and the rest of the staff at the cosmetic surgery clinic.

Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva said investigations will be carried out to ascertain whether the staff has obtained the required qualifications. The Cosmetics Devices and Drugs Regulatory Authority states that it is questionable as to whether the doctor was prepared to treat the patient in case of an allergic reaction to the given injection.

Meanwhile, the doctor of the cosmetic surgical clinic in question has been remanded until September 18.

A hit song performed by Colombian pop star Shakira was indirectly copied from another songwriter’s work, a federal judge in New York has found.

Judge Alvin Hellerstein said Shakira’s Spanish-language version of Loca in 2010 had infringed on a song by Dominican singer Ramon Arias Vazquez.

Her English language version of Loca – which featured Dizzee Rascal – was “not offered into evidence” at the trial.Neither version of Loca was released as a single in the UK.

However, the Spanish language version – a collaboration with Dominican rapper Eduard Edwin Bello Pou, better known as El Cata – was widely released as a single around the world. It went on to sell more than five million copies and topped Billboard Magazine’s Latin charts.

It was also included on her 2010 album Sale el Sol. For English language markets, the album was titled The Sun Comes Out and both versions of the song were included.

In a ruling on Tuesday, Judge Hellerstein said that while the hit single had been based on an earlier version of a song recorded by Bello [El Cata], that itself had been copied from Arias Vasquez’s original song.

“There is no dispute that Shakira’s version of the song was based on Bello’s version,” wrote the judge in his ruling.

“Accordingly, I find that, since Bello had copied Arias, whoever wrote Shakira’s version of the song also indirectly copied Arias,” he concluded.

Ramon Arias Vazquez penned his song Loca con su Tiguere in the 1990s, but Bello has denied copying it.

The case has yet to determine damages for the plaintiff, Mayimba Music, which holds the rights to Arias’ work.

Shakira’s song was distributed by Sony in both Spanish and English, but the copyright lawsuit mainly focused on the Spanish version.

On 13 July, the Colombian singer performed at the World Cup closing ceremony in Rio de Janeiro.

Source: BBC

Australia’s highest court has set a date for a full hearing into how a group of purportedly Sri Lankan asylum seekers were detained at sea, a case that will test the Australian government’s authority to pursue its immigration policies.

Reuters quotes a lawyer for the group of asylum seekers as saying it was likely the United Nations would seek to join the case, a highly unusual step, they said showed the level of international concern over Australia’s “Operation Sovereign Borders”.

Justice Kenneth Hayne, who has said the case appeared to be unique in the world and raised serious questions about how far Australian power extends, set an expedited two-day hearing before a full bench of the High Court for October 14 and 15.

The boat carrying the 157 asylum seekers was intercepted in late June and held by Australian authorities at sea for weeks. The group’s lawyers argue that the their detention and the government’s plan to send them to Sri Lanka or back to India, from where they had left, were illegal.

The fate of the group has highlighted Australia’s immigration policy, in which boats carrying would-be asylum seekers are intercepted at sea and turned back.

Reuters reports that the U.N. would not be a direct party to the case but could offer legal opinion, testimony and text evidence.

The bodies of 20 Malaysian victims of Flight MH17 that crashed in Ukraine in July are due to arrive in Kuala Lumpur, as the nation holds a day of mourning.

A specially chartered plane took off from Amsterdam and is expected to land at about 10:00 local time (02:00 GMT).

National flags will be flying at half-mast across the country and a minute of silence will be observed.

Flight MH17 is believed to have been shot down by a missile fired by pro-Russian rebels. They deny the claim.

All 298 passengers and crew on board the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 died on 17 July.

At Kuala Lumpur airport, the plane from the Netherlands is expected to be met by senior Malaysian government officials.

The caskets will be unloaded and put in hearses by military personnel. The bodies will then be given to the victims’ relatives to be laid to rest.

This is the first time Malaysia is holding a national day of mourning for civilian victims.

The honour has traditionally been accorded only to the royal family and heads of government.

Of those on board Flight MH17, 43 were Malaysian nationals.

So far 28 Malaysian victims have been identified in the Netherlands, which is leading an international investigation into the crash in eastern Ukraine.

More than 200 coffins with remains of the victims have so far been taken to the Netherlands.

But the inquiry is being hampered by continuing fighting between Ukrainian government troops and pro-Russian rebels near the crash site.

-BBC

The Health Ministry has begun investigations into a possible case of the Ebola virus entering Sri Lanka.

A casualty at the Rikillagaskada Base Hospital was reported to have several symptoms of the disease including a high fever, diarrhea and vomiting. However, a communique issued by the State Media Department said that the symptoms could also mean that the man had Rat Fever and that further blood samples had been sent for testing to verify the cause of death.

But due to the individuals recent travel history where he spent some time in India, the Director of the Ministry of Health has instructed Divisional Health Officers to take all precautions.

There have been no reported cases of Ebola in India so far but a Nigerian woman on route to India has died in the UAE after exhibiting symptoms of the disease. Symptoms of the virus take between two days to three weeks to become apparent. The virus spreads through contact with infected individuals body fluid.

An Ohio county where a man admitted to having sex with corpses while employed at the morgue can be held liable for his actions, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Kenneth Douglas, who worked night shifts at the Hamilton County morgue from 1976 until 1992, said in a deposition he had sex with up to 100 dead bodies, often while drunk or high on drugs, WCPO Cincinnati reports. “I would just get on top of them and pull my pants down,” Douglas said.

Families of the victims sued the county in 2012, after Douglas was charged and convicted in three cases of gross abuse of a corpse. Douglas’ DNA was discovered in 2008 on the body of Karen Range, who was 19 when she died in 1992. Douglas reportedly had sex with Range, and other victims, while the bodies were awaiting autopsy.

The county maintains it can’t be held accountable for the actions of its employees. But on Friday, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled a jury could find the county’s former coroner and morgue “recklessly and wantonly” neglected to supervise Douglas, WCPO reports. This is the fourth lawsuit Hamilton County has faced for allegedly improperly handling corpses.

A key piece of evidence was Douglas’ wife’s testimony that when she called to report her husband coming home from work smelling like sex and alcohol, she was told “whatever happens on county property, in county time, is county business.”