If it detects an obstacle, it tries cleaning the corners of the obstacle and moves around it. The wet mop can be reused by a good cleaning, but the other two types need to be replaced with new ones as they cannot be cleaned. Once paired, you can add multiple robots for each room and name each one accordingly to identify them. The bumper has a sensor that informs the robot’s intelligence about an obstacle and which direction it can try move next. The robot has Bluetooth connectivity, which can be paired by the smartphone app only. The mops are pretty expensive and can cost you around Rs 690 for a new set of 10 cleaning pads, and washable wet pads are available for Rs 1,190 for a set of two pads. The robot also auto-shuts-off when not in use for a while, if it finishes cleaning, or if it is stuck in some area. If the robot cleaner gets stuck in unknown territory, it signals an audio tune informing the user about it. Bundled with the robot are a rechargeable battery, a charger and six mops, and the unit carries a 2-year warranty (1-year on the battery).The Braava Jet 240 is a simple, plastic-encased two-wheeler electric car with a built-in water tank and a mop in the front.. Stubborn stains will have to be taken care of manually. Apart from this, you can get crucial information about the errors, obstacle issues, battery and type of mops installed on the robot. The iRobot Braava Jet 240 is a smart, semi-intelligent floor mopping robot that can help you with your daily cleaning chores, at least as far as mopping is concerned.

For example, we found that it gets stuck under the sofa, which is just about the height of the robot. For larger dust and dirt cleaning, you will need something that has a built-in vacuum cleaning function. However, though the little one is pretty efficient, it still has a few shortcomings, but we can’t expect much at this point as smart devices and home robots are pretty much in a nascent stage.The rear panel houses a removable, chargeable battery that needs to be charged each time before you use the robot. All you can do is instruct the robot to start and stop clean or inform it about the virtual wall. However, with minor tweaks, you can replace them with pads (DIY) using microfiber cloth, which can be washed and reused. This is probably because the floor does not reflect the sensor light for efficient detection.The robot works well, and works in a programmed pattern — it starts moving ahead up to one metre, turns back and continues till it completes one area, in a progressive zig-zag pattern.The iRobot Braava Jet 240 is a smart, semi-intelligent floor mopping robot that can help you with your daily cleaning chores, at least as far as mopping is concerned. One reason for being silent — it does not feature a vacuum cleaning function.The robot works well on glass surfaces, on regular floors and also in bathrooms on glossy tiles.

However, we did notice that it does not have obstacle detection in place which can help it get under tight spaces. Sadly, you need to broom your floors for the robot to take over as the iRobot Braava Jet 240 can only tackle regular dust, fur and tiny sand. The iRobot does have a slight vibrating function which helps clean the spots and stains, but is not efficient enough as it cannot check the area if it is cleaned well — no sensor for that.Dry cleaning is very good. Around the button you will find three LEDs — two to indicate virtual walls on each side, and one for the battery power.The robot has three types of sensors — one for obstacle, one for the mops and one for the floor. The floor detector can sense gaps in the floor to avoid falling off a stair or an elevation. The dry mop is a usual felt mop, which efficiently picks up dirt and dust from the floor, making sure each and every sqft of the area it is cleaning is clear and ready for wet mopping.2kg.A basic floor cleaning and mopping robot with smartphone controls. The robot also works in pitch darkness, but there are some online user reviews stating that the robot does not work on black floors — they state that the robot gets confused and does not move around. The drive motors are efficient and silent too. It features a Bluetooth-controlled interface, and also works independently without a smartphone.This article was first published on Deccan Chronicle. The charge on the 1950mAh battery is good enough for just a few hours, depending on the type of cleaning mode it is being used in. For example, you can name them as kitchen, bathroom, hall, and so on.The robot can also be controlled by a smartphone app. Also we did find it gets stuck on carpet corners a few times, and twice it got stuck between a few wires.The damp sweeping and wet mopping are best for kitchen and bathroom floors.The robot features a simple fold-back handle that can be used to pick it and place it around the room, other than hiding two elements on the panel. Powered by a Custom Galvanized stainless steel letter Signs Manufacturers 1950mA battery, the device is very simple to operate and can help you clean and mop up small spaces — around 150 – 200sqft. Wet mode will take up more battery as it has to additionally pump out water for wet cleaning. The damp sweeping mop helps clean with minor effects, helping clean up liquid spills if any.

The battery takes around two hours for a topup, which is good enough too.The top panel consists of just one simple backlit button that performs two functions — power and clean. The tasks it can perform are limited to just wet mopping, damp sweeping, and dry sweeping. Each mop has a sensor pattern cutout, which informs the robot of the type of mop you are installing on it.The iRobot Braava Jet 240 is a wonderful appliance for homes, offices and alike. With a silent operation and efficient cleaning function, we would recommend this cleaner if you own a complete air conditioned house. The wet mopping is the best where it sprays a considerable amount of water on the area that needs to be mopped. However, this is not of any major concern. The internal water container is pretty small and good enough for a single use. Each robot can be individually controlled, but there’s nothing much to control from the smartphone.

If you have bad stains, you can also instruct the iRobot to do spot cleaning, where it cleans a 1 metre by 1 metre area continuously for a period of time. The intelligent little floor-roaming and cleaning box is aimed for small spaces and will help you take some load off your daily cleaning chores.On the front panel is a tiny rectangular hole that sprays water up ahead when used in wet mopping mode. A while ago, iRobot, a smart home appliances company, launched the Braava Jet, a floor mopping robot. The front panel also has a spring action movement that helps it move up and down, in and out to act as a bumper when it bumps into something up front. The wheels have soft rubber treads that keep a very good grip on the floor. It measures just 170x178x84mm, and weighs just 1.As for the performance, we loved the iRobot Braava Jet since it is extremely silent. There are three types of a total six mops that come bundled with the unit — two for wet, two for dry and two for damp. The audio indication tones are pretty somber and low and does not yell out loud about its actions. Dry can be used for other rooms around the house, and later followed by wet mopping. When cleaning around, the unit is very silent and you may not even know it is around you. You can also instruct the robot to do spot cleaning in a particular area, which is not possible from the robot’s own control panel. Below the handle is a mop eject button and an opening to fill water.Below the bumper is a placeholder for the three different mops. The mopper is available for an MRP of Rs 19,900, but is being sold for Rs 17,900 as a special launch price, for a limited period. The only time it turns a tad noisy is during wet mopping — the water jet spraying action is audible. It then continues to other parts of the room/floor accordingly. The pads are basically meant for single use, which is an expensive issue in the long run. If you have a place which gets too dusty, you will have to manually clean/sweep the place before handing over to the iRobot. This is beneficial if you want to clean a desk or table too. This helps clean the area well.One sad area we noticed that the robot cannot contain sufficient water within

Outspoken, opinionated and temperamental, Gen. Jacob had a fair share of detractors and a large body of admirers. News of the barbaric treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany prompted him to enlist for an emergency commission with the British Indian Army. Jagjit Singh Aurora in the Bangladesh War. Jacob. "I think the aim of the government was to take as much territory as possible in East Pakistan so as to establish a Bangladeshi government in their own territory," he had told me. Gen. The capture of the whole of East Pakistan was not even conceived. One only hopes the government will prepare one worthy of preserving a legend that was Lt.Pakistan’s Lt.R.

The United Nations was putting great pressure on us and also the Russians had indicated that they did not want to exercise their veto any more," Gen..K. The aim was to occupy only two areas of then East Pakistan — Chittagong and Khulna — so that an interim Bangladeshi government could be established. A. J.""We realised that any campaign to be successful had to be swift.The iconic photograph of the surrender has Gen.R. Gen. He saw some action in North Africa and later on the Burma front. Jacob joined the Indian Army in 1941 to fight Hitler’s Germany and he ultimately became one of the best known officers in Independent India’s Army for his pivotal role in the 1971 War that led to liberation of BangladeshLt.On the morning of December 16, 1971, Maj. The MiGs came screaming down and accurately fired salvos of rockets into the Darbar Hall.Maj.He will of course be remembered primarily as an officer and a gentleman. Niazi, in charge in Dhaka.

The governor was so traumatised that he resigned then and there, and rushed to Hotel Intercontinental to seek shelter under the UN flag. Aurora seated on his left. We therefore decided not attack any towns but bypass them using subsidiary tracks to get to our objective: Dhaka. J.The scion of an old Calcutta Jewish clan, Gen. Jacob had explained. He accepted Gen. Niazi signing the document with Gen. Gen. Gen. A. Jacob joined the British Indian Army in 1941 and ultimately became one of the best known officers in Independent India’s Army for his pivotal role in the 1971 India-Pakistan War. But we at Eastern Command felt differently. He also did stints as the governors of Goa and Punjab.Many years ago, during the infancy of the Internet in India, I had put up a website to commemorate the 1971 War for which I had interviewed a cross-section of people who had taken part in it."I’ve never experienced any anti-Semitism in India, none whatsoever. Jacob. Niazi (centre) signs the documents that enabled the surrender of the Pakistan armed forces in the Bangladesh Liberation War in Dhaka in 1971 with Lt.Gen. Gen.J.The scion of an old Jewish family of Calcutta, Gen. Among them was Gen. Surrendering to the Indian Army, on the other hand, would ensure the safety of more than 93,000 Pakistan Army soldiers, paramilitary personnel and civilians. J.R. Jacob flew into Dhaka to persuade Gen."Within six days of the war, Indian troops were deep inside East Pakistani territory and moving fast.K.F. Manekshaw, to the Eastern Command was very limited. After talking to him and others I got a fair idea of his real contribution to the war. Jacob will always be a part of it. Arora and Gen. Jacob. Jacob and others. When everyone asked me why I did not go to Israel I told them that I was born in India, India gave me everything, I will die in India," Lt. Niazi could not refuse. The Pakistanis still had about 24,000 troops to defend Dhaka and could have held on. Gen.Gen. Jacob had said in an interview.India has lost a great son and warrior. Jacob did not entirely agree with the Indian Army top brass. Gen. Jewish custom requires that a tombstone be prepared, so that the deceased will not be forgotten and the grave will not be desecrated.

The Eastern Army, headquartered in Calcutta’s Fort William, was commanded by Lt. Jacob had joined the BJP in the 1990s and served as a security adviser to the party for a while.In 1971, the brief given by the Indian Army chief, Gen.The general has left no legacy other than that of his role in shaping a decisive phase in India’s history. Gen.H. Four MiG-21s attacked the Governor’s House just as the puppet governor of then East Pakistan, along with his Cabinet and high officials, were in session. Gen Sagat Singh, Maj.After Independence he opted for India and never thought of emigrating to the newly-formed state of Israel.F.

This is a moment embossed on the nation’s collective consciousness, and Gen. Gen. Gen.After his retirement from the Army where he served for 37 long years, Gen. "Army Headquarters issued an operations instruction according to which our main objectives were to take Chittagong and Khulna ports, which were termed the entry ports. Jacob settled down in New Delhi to become a familiar figure in its political and social circles.A. Gen. Jacob will essentially be remembered as a war hero and to appreciate Custom Blade Signs his legacy we have to turn to the role he played in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. "We realised that Niazi (the Pakistani Army commander in East Pakistan) was going to fortify the towns and defend them in strength. Jagjit Singh Aurora, whose brilliant chief of staff was then Maj. Jacob standing behind them. Jacob’s terms, and later signed the unconditional surrender document at a public ceremony at the Ramna Race Course in Dhaka on December 16, 1971.He had his quirks and predilections. Gen. J. Jacob reminded him that defeat was inevitable and that the vengeful Mukti Bahini, left on its own, would slaughter the last standing Pakistani soldier. Tikka Khan, after killing a few million East Pakistanis, had fled to Rawalpindi, leaving a professional soldier Lt. Together these two men planned and executed the lightning operations of December 1971. Gen. He never married, has no successors and willed all his possessions to charity.A. Jacob-Farj-Rafael "JFR" Jacob of the Indian Army, who passed away on January 13 at the age of 92, was one of those rare men who become a legend in their lifetimes.Early on December 14, the IAF got a message that an important meeting was scheduled at the Governor’s House that morning. S. He was perhaps the only Indian officer who was critical of the role of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and Lt. This was an offer Gen. Gen. We felt that Dhaka was the geopolitical centre of Bangladesh and therefore any campaign to be successful had to capture Dhaka. Niazi to accept an unconditional surrender.F.F. Standing behind are Vice-Admiral Krishnan (from left), Air Marshal Dewan, Lt. He was drawn to the Army during the tumultuous early years of World War II.S

The writer, a policy analyst studying economic and security issues, held senior positions in government and industry.1 per cent. The inflation rate is reduced from nominal GDP growth rate to calculate the real GDP growth rate. So where is the money for investment going to come from The government needs to summon the political will to step up capital expenditure by trimming subsidies, more efficient, intelligent and diligent taxation, and by attracting more FDI, not only in industry but more so in infrastructure expansion and modernisation.9 per cent, instead of the dismal 4.7 per cent calculated then.1 per cent in 2008. The GDP growth rate was tweaked a bit in February to put India on a higher trajectory, giving it an added 2. This may even be a better way, but then even the years before would not look so bad.4 per cent in November, dropping to $20 billion.8 per cent in June 2014. But the GDP growth of 7. The past practice was to compute GDP growth on factor costs. This has now been changed to constant prices to take into account gross value addition in goods and services as well as indirect taxes.1 per cent.7 to 12.2 per cent as a bonus by resorting to some statistical legerdemain. You get real GDP growth after adjusting nominal GDP growth for inflation.1 to a negative 8.07 million.

But in 2015-16, we have a deflation of about 2. This added to the woes of the rural sector, which also saw the return exodus of construction labour from abandoned projects. He is comparing apples with oranges. Imports fell sharply by 30 per cent in November to $29. While we are on to green shoots, look what happened to credit to agriculture and allied activities. Indian exports fell 24. Since Indian inflation was in the range of 4-8 per cent in the past, the real GDP growth rate was in the 6-9 per cent range. The savings to GDP ratio has been stagnant at about 28 per cent, having fallen from a peak of 38.2 per cent and you have a more plausible growth of 5. The most obvious one is that the economy has slowed down considerably. He also specialises in the Chinese economy.If I were looking for green shoots, the first place to look at would be the growth of credit by scheduled commercial banks.2 per cent, which means the nominal GDP growth is 5.2 per cent, which is in line with the original International Monetary Fund forecast. Till then, green shoots will be just like shaven grass strewn on a doctored cricket pitch. India’s merchandise exports contracted for the 12th straight month in November on the back of a weak global recovery. For them it’s the financial year that matters. Something Union finance minister and Delhi cricket czar Arun Jaitley is very familiar with. For example, India’s nominal GDP growth used to be in the range of 12-15 per cent for the past several years and corporate profitability also used to be in that range. Construction sector offtake has slowed down from 27. Exports had also contracted by 17.60 million in 2015, motorcycles have only grown by 2.We must not forget that these gross domestic product (GDP) numbers have an inbuilt padding in them.4 to 4.

Things could get better or worsen by much in the last quarter.4 per cent that he is crowing about is the real GDP.5 per cent from its forecast of 8. But, the main trends are discernable. With a full quarter to go and no new credible government impetus possible, it looks like even 7 per cent may be a bridge too far. One other major man-made factor is that the present government, in its anxiety to tamp down inflation, did not continue with the trend of higher farm support prices established by the UPA. The stock broking firm Motilal Oswal Securities Ltd estimates corporate profit as a percentage of GDP in 2015-16 may drop to 3.Between 2004-05 and 2011-12, an estimated 37 million people left the farm sector.5 per cent to 1. Custom Three dimensional letter Signs Suppliers Only electricity credit offtake has just about held course by dropping from 13. This is possibly a good point in time for individuals, but not for companies and nations.

Besides, the base year was also shifted to 2011-12 from the earlier 2004-05.51 lakh last year.7 billion, led by a fall in both oil and non-oil imports.5 per cent in October.It is that time of the year again when we take stock of the year gone by. The government has now slashed its full-year economic growth forecast to 7-7. During the past year rural wages only grew by 6 per cent. We have had a surfeit of announcements and pronouncements by the Prime Minister, but this reminds me of a Spanish proverb — "the mountain laboured and brought forth a mouse.9 per cent, the lowest since 2003-04.3 per cent off target.A confluence of hostile weather that hurt agricultural output, high rural consumer inflation and fall in seasonal employment as farm and construction labour, has squeezed rural demand. This increased by just 11.In the Budget for 2015-16, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley set a nominal GDP growth target of 11. Mining credit offtake has fallen from 17. Most of us who keep looking at the economy can’t see any of the green shoots that Mr Jaitley seems to be looking at.3 lakh annually to 5.2 per cent.5 per cent made in February 2015. For the six critical sectors, namely, industries, manufacturing, mining, electricity, construction and other infrastructure, as compared to April-September 2014-15 and 2015-16 growth have perceptibly moved into the slow lane.Nominal GDP growth rates are measured at current market prices and corporate profitability also usually grows at that pace.The growth of motorcycle sales, considered a bellwether of the rural economy, has now become sluggish.2 per cent.1 per cent in June 2015 as compared with an increase of 18. December is a month when green shoots are hardly ever seen in nature.7 per cent.By this measure, growth in the last year of the United Progressive Alliance government would have been a good-looking 6.

After that he waits for nature to play its role and for green shoots to emerge. Industries’ credit offtake has also perceptibly slowed down from 9. Tractor sales have fallen from 6. The resultant labour shortages were reflected in rural wages, which grew by 15-20 per cent each year.6 to 5.1-8. Credit offtake growth for manufacturing has fallen from 21 to 7. While two wheeler sales rose by 8. Hence, data needed to judge performance is always incomplete in December.5 per cent. The aggregate profit of Indian firms is likely to be stagnant at around `4 lakh crore. Any farmer will tell you that the time for credit is when one is preparing the land, buying seed, pesticides and fertilisers and investing in equipment.5 per cent. Almost all categories of imported items, other than pulses, fruits and vegetables and electronic goods, saw a decline in November.Recently, Mr Jaitley optimistically said that he can now see "green shoots". Green shoots is a new-age term favoured by bullish merchant bankers and other flimflam people to describe signs of economic recovery or positive data during an economic downturn." Take out the bonus of 2. The current year-end projection means that two years after Manmohan Singh demitted office, the GDP has grown a mere 0.09 per cent to hit 1. Mr Jaitley, however, is hoping for green shoots without the credit offtake that goes before it.

has a small military presence.That may be an attempt to retain some credibility over its repeated evocations of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea signed between China and the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.N.S.""Given the stakes in oil, natural resources and strategic depth, I suspect the Chinese government is willing to pay that price," agreed Michael Desch, co-director of the International Security Program at the University of Notre Dame in the U.".That the panel is headed by a former diplomat from China's old nemesis, Japan, makes it even more worthy of derision, Chinese critics say.Seeking to win over global opinion, both China and chief Philippine ally the United States have been lining up friendly nations to back their positions. campaign to contain its rise to prominence, Beijing's officials see an American plot behind the case."We don't understand why the U."Its reference to the use of "friendly consultations and negotiations by sovereign states directly concerned," underscores China's insistence that bilateral negotiations are the only way forward, something critics call a transparent attempt to divide the disputants and keep the dispute off the agenda of multilateral mechanisms."

"The South China Sea arbitration unilaterally initiated by the Philippines is nothing but a political scheme for one party to insult the other and will be recorded as an infamous case in the history of international law," Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin told a group of visiting reporters in Beijing earlier this month.S.The case before The Hague tribunal, filed by the Philippines, centers on the applicability of China's vaguely drawn "nine-dash line" South China Sea boundary under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS.S.Based on his remarks so far, Duterte, who takes office on June 30, is unlikely to follow Aquino's hard line stance against China, said Jay Batongbacal, who heads the Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea at the state-run University of the Philippines.Along with China and the Philippines, four other governments, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim islands and reefs falling within the nine-dash line, while Indonesia has expressed concern about the Chinese boundary overlapping with its exclusive economic zone.Regardless of Duterte's approach, Philippine ambassador to Washington Jose Cuisia predicted a diplomatic standoff if China ignores a negative decision.S. has been so active in backing the arbitration behind the scene," said Liu, the vice foreign minister."The only way developing states have a stake in the system," Kraska said, "Is if it is governed by the rule of law in which the law binds the strong states as well as the weak.By its actions, China is demonstrating that countries can reject such measures whenever they conflict with their interests. By its actions, China is demonstrating that countries can reject such measures whenever they conflict with their interests."Whatever the result, this is a definite loss for China since we've been forced to assume a passive role," Wu said.China's noncompliance is also damaging to UNCLOS itself, since it could discourage compliance with other features of the convention, particularly its establishment of 200-nautical mile (370-kilometer) exclusive economic zones, said James Kraska, a professor of oceans law and policy at the U."Liu said Beijing remains committed to bilateral negotiations, giving no direct indication of a tougher response. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has warned that developing Scarborough would be seen as "destabilizing" because of its proximity to the Philippines' main islands, where the U.Even government-backed scholars such as Wu say that the case is a no-win situation for China.S.

"As time goes by, I believe the plot will eventually come to light.U.Regardless Custom Hanging light box Signs of China's arguments denying the panel's legality, it "will damage China's reputation and image," said Yun Sun, an expert on Chinese foreign policy at the U. Yet Beijing seems prepared to absorb the cost to its reputation, confident that in terms of territory and resources, it won't lose a thing."We will be pointing out that China is not following the rule of law," he said. "I don't think they want to be pictured as a rogue nation.

Despite its island-building efforts and military buildup in the South China Sea, China has shown some signs of restraint in not expanding its claims or vigorously seeking to eject other countries' militaries from islands it claims. arbitration tribunal over its South China Sea claims.Despite pressure from Washington and elsewhere, China appears determined to avoid granting any hint of legitimacy to a process that might challenge its claim to ownership of virtually the entire South China Sea, including its islands, reefs, fish stocks and potentially rich reserves of oil and gas.S.While it has barred the Philippines from disputed Scarborough Shoal ever since winning a 2013 maritime standoff, it has shown no recent signs of carrying out the sort of massive reclamation work there that it has on other coral reefs, including building ports and airstrips atop them.That document states that parties concerned "undertake to resolve their territorial and jurisdictional disputes by peaceful means, without resorting to the threat or use of force. Stimson Center think tank. So they will probably sit down with us and say, 'OK, can we settle this in a diplomatic manner '"Whatever the outcome, China's refusal to cooperate with the tribunal could harm efforts to promote international arbitration that have already been hamstrung by the occasional refusal of the United States and others to recognize the International Court of Justice and other institutions."The ruling can't be objective and fair, and we won't be giving up our historical rights simply to make China look good," said Wu Shicun, president of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies.For months, Chinese officials, state media outlets and high-ranking military officers have maintained a relentless stream of invective against the Philippines' pursuit of arbitration, calling it unlawful, illegitimate and a "political farce. Beijing: Even before a ruling, China may have lost by refusing to cooperate with a U. Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has shown indications of being more flexible on the issue than current President Benigno Aquino III. However, Sun said that's considered a relatively small price to pay to retain control over the "tangible real territory," far more important than any question of "face.The collateral cost, analysts say: harm to global efforts to resolve similar territorial disputes through legal means. Naval War College. Yet, with the exception of Russia, which has been expelled from the G7 and is under heavy international sanctions, those whose support Beijing's claims are mostly small states from outside the region with little influence over the dispute.S. A decision is expected sometime within the next several weeks, but since there is no enforcement mechanism, its potential impact is unclear.Within the context of what China perceives as a relentless U.China appears to be holding out the possibility of coaxing the Philippines into bilateral talks that have so far gone nowhere