Sunita Williams makes history on her second space visit:
New Delhi: Indian-born NASA astronaut Sunita Williams took off on her second space visit at around 8.10 am on Sunday morning. With this expedition, Sunita Williams has become the first woman in history to head a space mission.
Wishes and prayers began to pour in for Sunita as she got ready for her second space odyssey. The 46-year-old took off aboard the Soyuz spacecraft that lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Sunita Williams is accompanied by two flight engineers from Russia and Japan and she will be making two space walks during the mission.
The trio will be reaching the International Space Station on Tuesday, joining the Expedition-32 crew who are already present there.
Former president APJ Abdul Kalam wished the astronaut the best. "I want to say 'all the best' (to Sunita Williams)."
On her last flight six years ago, the Indian American astronaut spent a record breaking 195 days in space, the only woman in history to do so. This time, she will be flying up in a Russian Soyuz capsule.
The Indian Institutes of Technology ( IIT) Council on Wednesday struck a compromise with the human resource development ministry on the new pattern of entrance examinations. Here are its salient features:
* There will be two exams, the joint entrance examination (JEE) "main" followed by the JEE "advanced".
* These combine the All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) and the IIT-JEE, with the "main" exam being equivalent to AIEEE, and "advanced" being equivalent to the IIT-JEE.
* There will be a "suitable" time gap between the two exams, though it was not clarified how much.
* Only top 150,000 candidates (including all categories) from the JEE "main" will be qualified to appear in the JEE "advanced" examination.
* Admission to IITs will be based on the rank in the "advanced" exam.
* However, only students who come in among the top 20 percent scorers in their respective board will be considered eligible for the IITs.
* The "advanced" exam will be held by the IITs, just like the IIT- JEE. It will be conducted by a Joint Admission Board (JAB) and Joint Implementation Committee of the IITs, the same which so far conducted the JEE.
* The JEE "main" will be conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education ( CBSE), and it will coordinate with the IITs. It will be implemented from 2013.
* Admission to the National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) will be based on the "main" exam score. A final decision on methodology of admission is pending. A meeting of representatives from the NITs is scheduled for July 4.
* Admission to several deemed universities will also be on the basis of scores in the "main" exam, which earlier took students on basis of AIEEE scores. A minimum percentage criteria will be fixed for these too.
The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is a United Nations International Day against drug abuse and the illegal drug trade. It has been held annually since 1988 on 26 June.
Drug abuse (addiction) involves compulsively seeking to use a substance, regardless of the potentially negative social, psychological and physical consequences. Certain drugs, such as narcotics and cocaine, are more physically addicting than some other drugs. One may have an emotional, psychological or a physical dependence. One has control over the choice to start using drugs, but once addicted, the pleasurable effect of drugs makes one want to keep using them.
There are lots of reasons why people take illegal drugs. Some take them to escape their problems while others are bored, curious or just want to feel good. People may be pressured into taking drugs to “fit in” with a particular crowd or they may take drugs to rebel or get attention.
An addiction is not just measured by how many times a person uses a drug. Some drugs are so addictive that they may only be used once or twice before the user loses control. A person crosses the line between abuse and addiction when one is no longer trying the drug to have fun but because one comes to depend on it. One’s whole life centres around the need for the drug.
People can become addicted to illegal drugs as well as drugs prescribed by doctors. These include:
Cannabis compounds: Contained in marijuana and hashish
Opioids: Narcotic, painkilling drugs produced naturally from opium or made synthetically. These include heroin, morphine, codeine and methadone. Getting over a drug addiction may involve support from the doctor, family, friends and others who have an addiction. This involves inpatient as well as outpatient treatment.
Central nervous system depressants: Barbiturates and benzodiazepines Benzodiazepines include tranquillisers such as diazepam, alprazolam, oxazepam, lorazepam, clonazepam and chlordiazepoxide
Central nervous system stimulants: Amphetamines and cocaine
Designer drugs: Synthetic compounds such as Ecstasy, which has both amphetamine like and hallucinogenic effects Hallucinogens: LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) and phencyclidine (PCP)
Inhalants: Glue, paint, solvents, nitrous oxide
When prescription drugs are taken the right way, they are safe and there is usually little chance of addiction. However, prescription drugs can be dangerous if they are abused (for example, taking too much or taking them when they are not needed). Some of the most commonly abused prescription drugs are painkillers and anti-anxiety drugs. Breaking the addiction is the only way to stop the problems drugs are causing in one’s life. It may not be easy to quit. But the efforts will be rewarded by better health, better relationships with the people in one’s life and a sense of accomplishment that only living drug-free can give.
Principles of de-addiction treatment: No single treatment is appropriate for all individuals. Matching treatment settings, interventions, and services to each patient's problems and needs is critical. Treatment needs to be readily available. The addicts are lost to follow-up if treatment is not immediately available or readily accessible. Effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just one’s drug use. Treatment must address the individual's drug use and associated medical, psychological, social, vocational, and legal problems. At different times during treatment, a patient may develop a need for medical services, family therapy, vocational rehabilitation, and social and legal services. Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical for treatment effectiveness. The time depends on an individual's needs. For most patients, the threshold of significant improvement is reached after about 3 months in treatment. Additional treatment can produce further progress. Programmes should include strategies to prevent patients from leaving treatment prematurely. Individual and/or group counselling and other behavioural therapies are critical components of effective treatment for addiction. In therapy, patients address motivation, build skills to resist drug use, replace drug-using activities with constructive and rewarding nondrug-using activities, and improve problem-solving abilities. Behavioural therapy also facilitates interpersonal relationships. Medications are an important element of treatment for many patients, especially when combined with counselling and other behavioural therapies. Methadone and levo-alpha-acetylmethodol (LAAM) help persons addicted to opiates stabilize their lives and reduce their drug use. Naltrexone is effective for some opiate addicts and some patients with co-existing alcohol dependence. Nicotine patches or gum, or an oral medication, such as buproprion, can help persons addicted to nicotine. Addicted or drug-abusing individuals with coexisting mental disorders should have both disorders treated in an integrated way. Medical detoxification is only the first stage of addiction treatment and by itself does little to change long-term drug use. Medical detoxification manages the acute physical symptoms of withdrawal. For some individuals it is a precursor to effective drug addiction treatment. Possible drug use during treatment must be monitored continuously. Monitoring a patient's drug and alcohol use during treatment, such as through urinalysis, can help the patient withstand urges to use drugs. Such monitoring also can provide early evidence of drug use so that treatment can be adjusted. Treatment programmes should provide assessment for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, and counselling to help patients modify or change behaviours that place them or others at risk of infection. Counselling can help patients avoid high-risk behaviour and help people who are already infected manage their illness. Recovery from drug addiction can be a long-term process and frequently requires multiple episodes of treatment. As with other chronic illnesses, relapses to drug use can occur during or after successful treatment episodes. Participation in self-help support programmes, during and following treatment, often helps maintain abstinence.
And if so, under what conditions? Those are the questions bloggers and Twitter users are batting around the Internet on Monday following a news report saying Facebook is looking into ways it could let kids under the age of 13 use the site with parental consent. Currently, Facebook bans children younger than 13. Data from Microsoft Research and Consumer Reports, however, show that many kids use the site anyway, often with their parents' knowledge. A 2011 Consumer Reports survey found 7.5 million people younger than 13 use the site; nearly a third of 11-year-olds and more than half of 12-year-olds use Facebook with their parents' knowledge, according to a 1,007-person survey supported by Microsoft Research. Facebook: Is now the right time to buy? Facebook leading to 'digital narcissism' Facebook's history remains unwritten Mark Zuckerberg: The Musical Proponents of lifting Facebook's under-13 ban say letting young kids on Facebook with the help of adults would allow them to use the social network more safely. "Whether we like it or not, millions of children are using Facebook, and since there doesn't seem to be a universally effective way to get them off the service, the best and safest strategy would be to provide younger children with a safe, secure and private experience that allows them to interact with verified friends and family members without having to lie about their age," Larry Magid writes at Forbes.com. Magid says Facebook for kids should not have ads and there need to be "extra privacy protections" that would involve parents helping their kids to use the social network safely. Others say Facebook is trying to profit from the under-13 crowd. Common Sense Media, an advocacy group, compared Facebook to "Big Tobacco." Poll: Should kids younger than 13 be allowed to use Facebook? "With the growing concerns and pressure around Facebook's business model, the company appears to be doing whatever it takes to identify new revenue streams and short-term corporate profits to impress spooked shareholders," the group's CEO, James Steyer, said in a statement. "But here's the most important issue: There is absolutely no proof of any meaningful social or educational value of Facebook for children under 13. Indeed, there are very legitimate concerns about privacy as well as the impact on the social, emotional and cognitive development of children. What Facebook is proposing is similar to the strategies used by Big Tobacco in appealing to young people -- try to hook kids early, build your brand, and you have a customer for life. "What's next? Facebook for toddlers?" The Wall Street Journal on Monday published a front-page report saying Facebook is looking into ways to give younger children access to the social-networking site, which has more than 900 million users around the world and which made its lackluster stock market debut last month. "Mechanisms being tested include connecting children's accounts to their parents' and controls that would allow parents to decide whom their kids can 'friend' and what applications they can use," the newspaper said, citing anonymous sources who are familiar with the dealings. "The under-13 features could enable Facebook and its partners to charge parents for games and other entertainment accessed by their children, the people said." In a statement issued to CNN and other news outlets, Facebook did not deny looking into the issue but said it does not have anything formal to announce: "Many recent reports have highlighted just how difficult it is to enforce age restrictions on the Internet, especially when parents want their children to access online content and services. We are in continuous dialogue with stakeholders, regulators and other policymakers about how best to help parents keep their kids safe in an evolving online environment." What do you think? Let us know in the comments below
Sachin Tendulkar says cricket remains his top priority. Photograph: Hindustan Times Via Getty Images The prolific test batsman Sachin Tendulkar has become India's first cricketer to enter parliament while still playing for his country.
Tendulkar's nomination was confirmed in April, and he was sworn in by Hamid Ansari, who is chairman of the upper house and vice-president of India.
The upper house, or Rajya Sabha, has 250 members with six-year tenures, most of whom are elected. Tendulkar, 39, is among 12 nominated members chosen for their expertise in specific fields.
Notable personalities from literature, art and social services have been nominated before, but Tendulkar is the first sportsman to enter the upper house via a nominated seat.
"I believe cricket has given me many things in life," Tendulkar told reporters after being sworn in. "I always had a dream of giving something back to cricket in the latter half. Today, as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, I am in a position to help not only cricket but other sports in the country."
Tendulkar said as a member of parliament he would have a chance to create a legacy for all sports in India.
"I believe there will be obstacles, challenges along the way. I will need help from fellow parliamentarians, media and countrymen," he said. "I hope to be remembered as having helped all sports persons and not just for my cricket statistics."
Tendulkar, who holds several major cricket records including most runs and most centuries in both tests and one-day internationals, could not take his oath earlier because he was busy playing for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.
He became the first cricketer to post 100 international centuries earlier this year against Bangladesh during the Asia Cup tournament in Dhaka.
Tendulkar dismissed speculation he will retire from any format of cricket now he is a parliamentarian.
"Cricket comes first for me," he said when asked about his priorities in the coming years.
Tendulkar joins the former India cricketers Mohammad Azharuddin, Navjot Sidhu and Kirti Azad in parliament.
Hyderabad, May 31 : Jailed Member of Parliament Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy received a shot in the arm Thursday with another legislator resigning from the ruling Congress party and two more showing solidarity with him.
A day after Krishna Ranga Rao resigned from the Congress party to join YSR Congress, another legislator Alla Nani announced that he too was quitting the ruling party.
Nani, who represents Eluru constituency, made the announcement after he called on Jagan in Chanchalguda Central Jail. He said he would actively campaign for YSR Party from Friday in the by-elections.
The Central Bureau of Investigation last Sunday arrested Jagan in a disproportionate assets case. The next day, he was sent to judicial custody till June 11 by a special CBI court.
The disciplinary committee of the state unit of the Congress party had issued show cause notices to both Nani and Ranga Rao for moving closer to Jagan.
Meanwhile, two more legislators called on Jagan's mother and YSR Party honorary president Vijayamma and expressed their solidarity.
Congress legislator from Kakinada D. Chandrasekhar Reddy and another legislator, Jayamani from Parvathipuram called on Vijayamma in Visakhapatnam, where she is campaigning for the party.
Chandrasekhara Reddy had told reporters that he would stand by the family of YSR in the crisis time.
Reddy said he would consult his followers over the next two days before taking a decision on resigning from Congress party.
According to Jayamani, she too would decide her future course of action after consulting her followers.
Political observers feel the switching of loyalties by Congress legislators would strengthen YSR Party in the run up to June 12 by-elections to one Lok Sabha and 18 assembly seats.
The by-elections were caused by the legislators crossing over to Jagan's camp during the voting on no-confidence motion against the Congress government in the state assembly in December last year. (IANS)
Hyderabad, May 31: Jailed Member of Parliament Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy's mother Vijayamma and sister Sharmila have taken by storm the by-elections scene in Andhra Pradesh.
They drew huge crowds Thursday, the second day of their campaigning, in north coastal Andhra.
Campaigning in the absence of Jagan, who was sent to jail May 28 in a disproportionate assets case, the mother-daughter duo has proved to be a big hit with the people who are turning out in large numbers to hear them speak.
After launching the campaign in Narsannepta assembly constituency in Srikakulam district Wednesday, Vijayamma and Sharmila Thursday addressed meetings in Payakaropeta in Visakhapatnam district and in Ramchandrapuram in East Godavari district.
Braving intense heat, hundreds stood along the roads and on rooftops to hear Vijayamma, the honorary president of YSR Congress Party, speak.
Raking up memories of late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and alleging that Jagan was a victim of political vendetta, they went all out to arouse public sympathy.
The ruling Congress party and main opposition party Telugu Desam Party (TDP), who were hoping to take advantage of Jagan's absence from the poll scene, are rattled by the massive public response to YSR Party's meetings.
Vijayamma is also mounting an attack on the Congress at every meeting by voicing her doubts over the helicopter crash that killed her state chief minister husband in 2009.
She wants to continue what Jagan has been doing for over two years -- to keep Reddy's memories alive among the people.
Vijayamma, who was only a housewife when her husband was active in politics, is reminding people of the pro-poor schemes launched by him between 2004 and 2009 and appealing them to bring back a similar rule in the state by supporting YSR Congress Party.
By-elections to Nellore Lok Sabha and 18 assembly seats in the state are scheduled June 12.
Despite their political inexperience, the mother-daughter duo are doing their best to draw political mileage from Jagan's arrest.
At every meeting, they are telling people that Jagan had been arrested to deliberately keep him away from the campaigning.
Sharmila, who unlike her mother speaks fluently, has managed to strike an instant chord with the people. The wife of evangelist Anil Kumar is the centre of attraction at the election meetings.
"I'm Rajanna's (Y.S.R Reddy's) daughter, Jagan's sister Sharmila," is how the young woman begins her speech.
"Me and my mother have come here to tell you about the injustice being meted out to Rajanna's family," she said at a meeting amid cheers from the crowd.
She asks if sending a gentleman to jail and crashing a helicopter is good politics.
She is also accusing Congress and TDP of joining hands to target Y.S.R. Reddy's family.
Vijayamma, who is also a member of state assembly, is trying to give a new twist to helicopter crash by alleging that a helicopter which was not used for three months flew her husband Sep 2, 2009.
The Congress, however, is condemning her attempts to politicise the crash.
"It is unfortunate that she is making baseless allegations to drive political mileage from the tragedy," said Congress leader G. Venkatramna Reddy.
Former president of state unit of Congress party D. Srinivas said since Vijayamma was campaigning for the first time, people were coming to see and hear her.
He did not agree that the huge turnout at the meetings meant people were supporting YSR Congress Party. (IANS)
NEW DELHI: Congress rebel Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, who was arrested by the CBI on 27-5-2012 sunday after days of questioning in a DA case, is likely to be quizzed this week by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the probe against him and others in an alleged money laundering and foreign exchange violations case. The ED, which has registered separate cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) against the Kadapa MP, his associates and some civil servants, is expected to question Reddy in the Andhra Pradesh capital after notices were issued to him recently for questioning.
Sources said, ED will move court to question the YSR Congress chief. Reddy, who has been questioned over the last three days by the CBI, will have to face questions regarding his financial dealings in various business arms run by him and other investments he and his firms allegedly made overseas.
A joint team of ED officials from Delhi and Hyderabad may question Reddy, sources said. During the questioning, the ED is likely to record his statement under PMLA laws and also confront him with documents gathered by the agency during their probe till now, they said.
ED has already accessed copies and related documents of the first charge sheet filed by CBI in connection with the alleged disproportionate assets case?it registered against Reddy after it moved the court in this regard. The CBI had filed its first charge sheet against Jagan and 12 others accusing him of getting investments worth several crores from various business firms into his businesses as part of quid-pro-quo when his father (late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy) was the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. The CBI has filed three charge sheets in the case till now.
Jagan Reddy held discussions with his mother and party's honorary president and MLA, Y S Vijayamma, on the eve of her embarking on a poll campaign.Jagan Reddy never cooperated in the investigation during the three-day questioning period in true sense," the CBI counsel alleged, asking for longer custody.
Jagan Mohan Reddy has been sent to judicial remand till June 11 by a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court near Hyderabad.Related StoriesIndia test fires Akash missile twiceAkhilesh smiles serenely amid chaotic protests by Mayawati's partyAir India pilots' strike enters day 21, airline losses mount to Rs 300 crore13/7 accused had eye surgery to dodge ATSLieutenant General Tejinder Singh in fresh row over purchase of phone-tapping machines.
Jagan Mohan Reddy's party, the YSR Congress, has called for a three-day bandh in Andhra Pradesh in protest against his arrest last evening by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The arrest came after three days of interrogation at Hyderabad's Dilkusha Guest House, where Mr Reddy was held overnight.
Jagan Reddy never cooperated in the investigation during the three-day questioning period in true sense," the CBI alleged while asking for longer custody.
mani krishna
On her last flight six years ago, the Indian American astronaut spent a record breaking 195 days in space, the only woman in history to do so. This time, she will be flying up in a Russian Soyuz capsule.
On her last flight six years ago, the Indian American astronaut spent a record breaking 195 days in space, the only woman in history to do so. This time, she will be flying up in a Russian Soyuz capsule.
