Asus 6z review: Design, motorised flip camera, easy OS steal the show

The Asus 6z, globally known as the Zenfone 6, is a midrange offering from Taiwanese electronics maker Asus. The phone stands true to its tagline ‘defy ordinary’, at least in terms of design. Like most current-generation midrange smartphones, the phone boasts an obstruction-free front profile. However, it is not the display but its motorised flip-camera module accommodating the phone’s dual-camera set-up that adds novelty to the overall design language and makes it look different from others.

Besides boasting a unique design, the phone also has a segment-first 5,000 mAh battery with 18W fast-charge support. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 system-on-chip (SoC), the phone is a power-packed performer in its segment. Let’s take a look at how the phone fares on key parameters:

Design

The Asus 6z is big, heavy and bulky, yet it does not feel out of proportion. Though it has a regular glass-metal sandwich design with Gorilla Glass on the front and back, its flip-camera module adds to the aesthetics. The phone’s overall design resembles the ROG phone, albeit without the flashy elements like exhaust vents and LED insignia.

The phone’s front looks similar to most current-generation midrange phones with an obstruction-free profile. Its screen covers the entire front, leaving negligible bezels on the top and sides, and a moderate one at the bottom. The screen is covered with Gorilla Glass 6 for protection from accidental drops and scratches. The screen does not have a notch or punch-hole; the front-side hardware – earpiece, notifications LED and sensors – are all accommodated below the thin bezel area at the top.

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PM Narendra Modi starts pre-Budget meets to brainstorm on economy

In the run-up to the Union Budget, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lined up a string of meetings spread across days. He began the exercise on Tuesday with a meeting of top bureaucrats in finance and other key ministries to finalise the government’s priorities. The focus is clearly on reviving the economy and creating jobs, officials in the know said.

Next, the PM will interact with economists, bankers and sectoral experts through the week to brainstorm on pressing issues such as agriculture, reforms and effective implementation of signature schemes and projects.

Tuesday’s meeting at the PM’s residence, attended by all the five secretaries in the finance ministry besides top officials of other economic ministries and NITI Aayog, cleared a five-year vision plan for the government to make India a $5-trillion economy by 2024, it is learnt. Also, the future course of PM’s pet projects like doubling farmers’ income, PM-Kisan, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, piped water for all, and electricity for all came up for discussion.

The focal point of the interaction was drawing a road map for reforms across departments leading up to the ease of doing business and economic growth. GDP growth, which has been a controversial issue recently due to doubts raised over government data, was discussed too. Stepping up government revenues while carrying out reform to push GDP growth, which slipped to a five-year low of 6.8 per cent in 2018-19, also figured in the meeting, sources said.

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Please don’t use bad words: Pak players appeal public after loss to India

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir pleaded with fans to not use “bad words” for players, while senior all-rounder Shoaib Malik called for families to be kept out of criticism that has been pouring in after their World Cup loss to arch-rivals India here.

Pakistani players have been ridiculed on social media and lambasted by former cricketers after the 89-run defeat to India in the marquee World Cup clash here on Sunday.

Sarfaraz Ahmed’s captaincy was called “brainless” by former pacer Shoaib Akhtar, while Malik, who was out for a first-ball duck in the game, found himself in the eye of a storm after videos of a night-out with Indian tennis star wife Sania Mirza went viral on social media.

“On behalf of all athletes I would like to request media and people to maintain respect levels in regards to our families, who should not be dragged into petty discussions at will. It’s not a nice thing to do,” Malik tweeted.

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Eng vs Afg LIVE score ICC CWC 2019: England choose to bat; Ali, Vince in

In today’s match of ICC Cricket World Cup 2019(CWC), England cricket team would aim to build on its last victory while Afghanistan cricket team would look to register its first win when the two sides meet at Old Trafford in Manchester. England will enter their 5th world cup match with three wins and one loss from four games so far. Currently, the hosts sit on the fourth place with six points on 2019 CWC points table. On the other hand, Afghanistan are placed at the bottom of the table with four losses in as many games. Talking about the England playing 11, James Vince will replace injured Jason Roy at the top of the batting order.

Check 2019 cricket world cup points table here

ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: England vs Afghanistan LIVE score

“How about that package out of your sleeve? Get that?” is certainly not the most famous phrase uttered by a human while on the Moon. And the items nestled in a small packet that astronaut Buzz Aldrin had stowed in the pocket just below the shoulder of his extravehicular mobility unit were certainly not mission critical. They were sentimental objects, intended to be left on the Moon purely for symbolic and commemorative purposes.

Apollo 15 astronauts David R. Scott and James B. Irwin left a commemorative plaque on the Moon in memory of 14 NASA astronauts and USSR cosmonauts. The tiny, man-like object represents the figure of a fallen astronaut/cosmonaut. NASAMore than one hundred sites

You may be surprised to learn that a partial catalog of human-made objects on the Moon fills more than 20 single-spaced pages. There are more than a hundred sites on the Moon with evidence of human activity. The sites contain materials from the European Space Agency, Japan, India, Russia, China and the United States. Not only do these sites contain ongoing experiments, they hold invaluable data. For example, engineers are hoping to examine these materials to determine how they have fared after continuous exposure to the elevated radiation levels on the Moon. Along with scientific equipment, robotic landers and other objects left behind to lighten the load for the return home, there are a number of memorial and tributary items.

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Saif, Alaia start shooting for ‘Jawaani Jaaneman’

Actress Pooja Bedi’s daughter Alaia F and actor Saif Ali Khan have started shooting for “Jawaani Jaaneman” here.

Pooja on Monday tweeted a photograph of Saif and Alaia from India’s match against Pakistan at the ICC World Cup 2019 here on Sunday.

She captioned the image: “My daughter Alaia with Saif Ali Khan at the World Cup match in London. Perfect start to their shoot together for her Debut film #jawaanijaaneman. He plays her dad.. and this was shot on Father’s Day. Best of luck for beautiful new beginnings.”

“Jawaani Jaaneman” marks Alaia’s Bollywood debut. Directed by Nitin Kakkar, it is a romantic comedy drama, which also features Tabu.

Produced by Jackky Bhagnani’s Pooja Entertainment in association with Saif’s Black Knight Films and Jay Shewakramani’s Northern Lights Films, the movie will release on November 29.

Vicky Kaushal starrer ‘Sardar Udham Singh’ to release on this date

Mark your calendars as Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal‘s next outing ‘Sardar Udham Singh’, a biopic based on the legendary freedom fighter, will release on October 2, next year.

Indian film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared the update on his Twitter handle. He wrote, “Release date finalized: 2 Oct 2020..Vicky Kaushal in and as Sardar Udham Singh. Directed by Shoojit Sircar. Written by Ritesh Shah and Shubendu Bhattacharya. Produced by Ronnie Lahiri and Sheel Kumar.”

The first look of the film featuring the ‘Masaan’ actor came out on April 30, this year. In the first look pictures shared by Adarsh, Vicky is seen sporting a vintage look with a long coat and a hat in his hand. In another picture, director Shoojit Sircar is explaining a scene to the ‘Manmarziyan’ actor.

Helmed by Shoojit Sircar, Vicky will be seen essaying the role of Udham Singh in the film. Singh, a revolutionary belonging to the Ghadar Party, assassinated Michael Dwyer in revenge for Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar.

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Pakistan didn’t have a game plan, lacked unconventional thinking: Tendulkar

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkarfeels Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed was confused and didn’t have a set game plan against arch-rivals India resulting in the crushing 89-run defeat (DLS method) in the crucial World Cup fixture at the Old Trafford.

It was a commanding performance from the Men in Blue all the way as they first posted a mammoth 337-run target for Pakistan on Sunday and then defended it quite comfortably. With the win, India extended their unbeaten streak against Pakistan in World Cups, to 7-0.

Putting India to bat, Pakistan pacers, barring Mohammad Amir, didn’t seem to have control over their line and lengths and were guilty of bowling short to openers Rohit Sharma and K. L. Rahul. Both Wahab Riaz and Hassan Ali erred with their lengths and were not even consistent with their lines, allowing the Indian openers to get set and then unleash after the first 10 overs.

Even spinners Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan failed to apply pressure and were taken for plenty by the Indian batters, especially Rohit Sharma (140 off just 113 balls) who scored his second ton of the tournament.

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Planning a baby? Here’s why you should watch your weight

Excess weight and obesityin pre-pregnancy period bring changes in breast milk that can impact infant growth, a study claims.

The study was published in the journal ‘PLOS ONE’.

“The importance of this study is that it demonstrates that breast milk contents can vary depending on mother’s weight status at the time of conception and further impact the growth and development of breastfeeding infants,” said Henry Nuss, lead author of the study.

“Childhood obesity rates in the United States have increased significantly in recent decades,” noted Melinda Sothern, professor of Behavioral & Community Health Sciences at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.

“Although many studies have shown that breastfeeding may be protective against excessive weight gain during early life, we do not fully understand why,” Sothern added.

Breast milk contains pro-inflammatory proteins such as tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) and interleukin-six (IL-6), as well as hormones like insulin and leptin, and anti-inflammatory polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as omega-3 (DHA) and omega-6 (EPA). If and how their interaction may influence infant growth has been unknown.

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‘Game Over’ takes Tapsee to level next

Film: Game Over; Starring: Tapsee Pannu, Director: Ashwin Saravanan; Rating: ****(4 stars)

There is blood on the hands of all of us, who quietly watch women and children being brutally violated and then we move on saying, ‘It can’t be helped’

This theme of helplessness sows the seeds of Game Over, a splendid heart-in-the-mouth suspense thriller which turns the concept of women’s empowerment on its head, as the female hero Swapna (Tapsee Pannu) tackles the demons in her own head before training her guns on the satanic criminals who prowl outside her window on the streets waiting for their prey.

Game Over cuts its plot into to neat halves. In the first-half we see Tapsee, in her element from the word ‘go’, dealing with a trauma in her past that comes back to her every year on New Year’s eve. There is no escaping the vicious circle of crime and karma. Swapna learns about the inevitability of the destiny the hard way.

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