Apple’s new iPad today to kick off tablet war

With 2011 touted as the year of the tablet, the tablet war begins this week with Apple unveiling its new iPad Wednesday and BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM) following soon with its PlayBook.

Extending its tradition of updating its products every year, Apple is all set to unveil the iPad2 at an event in San Francisco.

In fact, the new tablet comes less than a year after its money-spinning iPad which has sold more than 15 million units so far and accounts for 15 percent of the revenue of the world’s most valuable technology company.

Though Apple’s stock was slightly down Tuesday in line with the day’s bearish trend on Wall Street, the fortunes of the cash-rich giant may see a big jump after the unveiling of the new iPad.

When Apple took wraps off the iPad last April, its stock zoomed more than 10 percent.

Analysts say Apple has smartly pre-empted the BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) by launching the new iPad, ahead of the rival’s PlayBook. RIM had unveiled the PlayBook in September to announce its entry into the new arena.

But by hitting the market with its new iPad ahead of its competitors, Apple has made its intentions clear to stay as the dominant player in the tablet market that is estimated to grow up to 70 million this year and 100 million in 2012, say analysts.

A survey last week said tablets are set to sweep corporate offices.

Because of their business apps, tablets will become the first choice of about 50 percent major companies in the next two years, said the survey by Menlo Park, California-based, Robert Half Technology.

With RIM’s PlayBook, Motorola’s Xoom, Google Chrome OS tablet, the Cisco Cius, Dell Streak, and the Hewlett Packard PalmPad too hitting the market, analysts will be watching Apple’s price tag on the new iPad Wednesday.

The BlackBerry maker (RIM) had no inkling of the new iPad when it announced to sell its Playbook for $500 to undercut iPad sales.

But since the PlayBook is likely to be the major challenger to the iPad, it remains to be seen how the BlackBerry maker ramps up its app store – which at just 20,000 apps compares poorly with Apple’s apps store which boasts 200,000 apps.

In fact, RIM’s app store compares equally poorly with Google’s Android operating system which boasts 150,000 apps.

Since all other brand tablets – barring Apple’s iPad – will operate on Google’s Android operating system, RIM’s PlayBook faces a distinct disadvantage in terms of app store, say analysts.

But the PlayBook will have one big advantage over the iPad due to its ability to integrate with the company’s BlackBerry smart phones.

Since the corporate world still swears by the BlackBerry smart phone, the PlayBook will be their first-choice tablet ahead of the iPad because of its integration with the BlackBerry, according to analysts.

Further, the PlayBook is much smaller (seven inches) than the iPad (10 inches) to fit neatly into the pockets of corporate honchos.

Turmeric can fight colon cancer

Curcumin, an active ingredient of turmeric, can fight colon cancer when used in combination with a popular anti-inflammatory drug, say researchers.

A treatment based on this finding has had promising results in human clinical trials, the journal Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology reports.

Several lines of evidence demonstrate that chronic inflammation in the stomach can cause gastric cancer and that inflammation in the liver from hepatitis can lead to liver cancer, according to a Tel Aviv statement.

“Although more testing will be needed before a possible new drug treatment is developed. One could combine curcumin with a lower dose of a cancer anti-inflammatory drug, to better fight colon cancer,” says Shahar Lev-Ari from Tel Aviv University, Israel.

Lev-Ari found that Celecoxib, a popular drug commonly used to treat arthritis, also inhibits proliferation of colon cancer in lab settings.

Curcumin increases the anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects of Celecoxib while reducing its dose, thus reducing its toxic side-effects, including the rate of heart attack and stroke.

Antioxidant in apple extends lifespan

Apples contain an antioxidant, nutrients which slowdown process of ageing and some ailments, that extends average lifespan by 10 percent, a study says.

The results, obtained with fruit flies in place of humans in hundreds of research projects each year, bolster similar findings on apple antioxidants in other animal tests.

Zhen-Yu Chen and colleagues from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, note that free radicals, harmful substances in the body, cause undesirable changes related to ageing and some diseases, reports the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Chen and colleagues note that the results support those from other studies, including one in which women who often ate apples had a 13-22 percent decrease in the risk of heart disease.

Fruits and vegetables, especially brightly coloured foods like tomatoes, broccoli, blueberries and apples, are excellent sources of antioxidants which can combat this damage, according to a Chinese University statement.

A previous study with other test animals hinted that an apple antioxidant could extend average lifespan. In this report, researchers studied whether different apple antioxidants, known as polyphenols, could do the same thing in fruit flies.

The researchers found that apple polyphenols not only prolonged the average lifespan of fruit flies but helped preserve their ability to walk, climb and move about.

Besides, apple polyphenols reversed the levels of various biochemical substances found in older fruit flies and used as markers for age-related deterioration and approaching death.

‘Control computer by sight’ technology is here

A laptop prototype has been unveiled with a device that allows a user to control the computer by sight.The eye-tracking technology monitors the user’s gaze and works out where they’re looking on the computer screen and means, among other things, that users can play a game where they defeat enemies because the game’s lasers hit where they look.

It can also scroll text on the screen in response to eye movements, sensing when the reader has reached the end of the visible text.

In the future, such a laptop could make the mouse cursor appear where the user is looking, or make a game character maintain eye contact, according to Tobii Technology Inc, the Swedish firm behind the tracking technology, the Daily Mail reports.

Now planned for commercial use, the eye tracker works by shining two invisible infrared lights at the user.

Two hidden cameras then look for the glints from eyeballs and reflections from each retina. It needs to be calibrated for each person, and works for those with or without glasses.

Barbara Barclay, general manager of Tobii’s analysis solutions business, said rather than a replacement for the traditional mouse and keyboard or the touch screen, the eye-tracking could be complementary, making a computer faster and more efficient to use.

Tobii has been making eye-tracking devices for researchers and the disabled for nearly a decade. The laptop is its way of showing that eye-tracking could expand beyond those uses, Barclay said

The laptop is made by Lenovo Corp, and incorporates Tobii’s eye-tracking cameras in a hump on the cover, making the entire package about twice as thick as a normal laptop.

Very Good Article on Late sitting

Mail sent by Narayan Murthy to all Infosys staff:

It's half past 8 in the office but the lights are still on...
PCs still running, coffee machines still buzzing...
And who's at work? Most of them ??? Take a closer look...

All or most specimens are ??
Something male species of the human race...

Look closer... again all or most of them are bachelors...

And why are they sitting late? Working hard? No way!!!
Any guesses???
Let's ask one of them...
Here's what he says... 'What's there 2 do after going home...Here we get to surf, AC, phone, food, coffee that is why I am working late...Importantly no bossssssss!!!!!!!!!!!'

This is the scene in most research centers and software companies and other off-shore offices.

Bachelors 'Passing-Time' during late hours in the office just bcoz they say they've nothing else to do...
Now what r the consequences...

'Working' (for the record only) late hours soon becomes part of the institute or company culture.

With bosses more than eager to provide support to those 'working' late in the form of taxi vouchers, food vouchers and of course good feedback, (oh, he's a hard worker... goes home only to change..!!).
They aren't helping things too...

To hell with bosses who don't understand the difference between 'sitting' late and 'working' late!!!

Very soon, the boss start expecting all employees to put in extra working hours.

So, My dear Bachelors let me tell you, life changes when u get married and start having a family... office is no longer a priority, family is... and
That's when the problem starts... b'coz u start having commitments at home too.

For your boss, the earlier 'hardworking' guy suddenly seems to become a 'early leaver' even if u leave an hour after regular time... after doing the same amount of work.

People leaving on time after doing their tasks for the day are labelled as work-shirkers...

Girls who thankfully always (its changing nowadays... though) leave on time are labelled as 'not up to it'. All the while, the bachelors pat their own backs and carry on 'working' not realizing that they r spoiling the work culture at their own place and never realize that they would have to regret at one point of time.

So what's the moral of the story??
* Very clear, LEAVE ON TIME!!!
* Never put in extra time ' unless really needed '
* Don't stay back unnecessarily and spoil your company work culture which will in turn cause inconvenience to you and your colleagues.

There are hundred other things to do in the evening..

Learn music...

Learn a foreign language...

Try a sport... TT, cricket.........

Importantly,get a girl friend or boy friend, take him/her around town...

* And for heaven's sake, net cafe rates have dropped to an all-time low (plus, no fire-walls) and try cooking for a change.

Take a tip from the Smirnoff ad: *'Life's calling, where are you??'*

Please pass on this message to all those colleagues and please do it before leaving time, don't stay back till midnight to forward this!!!

IT'S A TYPICAL INDIAN MENTALITY THAT WORKING FOR LONG HOURS MEANS VERY HARD WORKING & 100% COMMITMENT ETC.

PEOPLE WHO REGULARLY SIT LATE IN THE OFFICE DON'T KNOW TO MANAGE THEIR TIME. SIMPLE !  

Regards,
NARAYAN MURTHY.

FIVE WORDS

A boy was born to a couple after seven years of marriage. They were a loving
couple and the boy was the gem of their eyes. When the boy was around two
years old, one morning the husband saw a medicine bottle open. He was late
for office so he asked his wife to cap the bottle and keep it in the
cupboard. His wife, preoccupied in the kitchen totally forgot the matter.

The boy saw the bottle and playfully went to the bottle fascinated by its
color and drank it all. It happened to be a poisonous medicine meant for
adults in small dosages. When the child collapsed the mother hurried him to
the hospital. The mother was stunned. She was terrified how she was going to
face her husband. When the distraught father came to the hospital and saw
the child in ICU, he looked at his wife and uttered just five words.

QUESTIONS :

1. What were the five words ?

2. What is the implication of this story?

ANSWER :

The husband just said "I am with you Darling". The husband's totally
unexpected reaction is a proactive behavior. The child is in ICU. There is
no point in finding fault with the mother. Besides, if only he had taken
time to keep the bottle away, this would not have happened. No one is to be
blamed. She also feels guilty for her child. What she needed at that moment
was consolation and sympathy from the husband.

*“Sometimes we spend lot of time in asking who is responsible or whom to
blame, whether in a relationship, in a job or with the people we know”*

*If everyone can look at life with this kind of perspective, there would be
much fewer problems in the world. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with
a single step." Take off all your envies, jealousies, un-forgiveness,
selfishness, and fears. And you will find things are actually not as
difficult as you think.*

A boy and a girl were in love.

 A boy and a girl were in love.

When the girl's father came to know
about their love, he did not like it at
all, and so began to protest about it.

Now it happened that the two lovers
decided to leave their homes for a happy
future.
 
The girl's father started searching for
the two lovers but could not find
them .

At last, he accepted their love and
asked them to come back home thru a

local newspaper. Her father said "If
you both come back I will allow you to marry the
guy you love, I accept that you loved
each other truly."

So in this way, their love won and they
returned home.

The couple next day went to town to shop
for the wedding dress. He was dressed
in a white shirt that day. While he was
crossing the road to the other side to
get some drinks for his wife, a car
came and hit him and he died on the spot..

The girl was devastated and lost her 
senses. It was only after sometime that
she recovered from her shock.

The funeral and cremation was the very
next day because he had died horribly.

Two nights later, the girl's mother had
a dream in which she saw an old lady.
The old lady asked her mother to wash the blood stains of the guy from her daughter's
dress as soon as possible. But her
mother ignored the dream.

The next night her father had the same
dream , he also ignored it. Then the
girl had the same dream the next night, she
woke up in fear and told her mother
about the dream. Her mother asked her
to wash the clothes with the blood
stains immediately.

She washed the stains but some remained.
Next night she again had the same
dream. She again washed the stains but some still remained. But again the next
night she had the same dream and this
time the old lady gave her a last
warning to wash the blood stain, or
else something terrible would happen.

This time the girl tried her best to
wash the stains, and the clothes
nearly tore, but some stains still remained.

She was very tired.

In the late evening the same day while
she was alone at home, someone knocked
on the door. When she opened the door
she saw the same old lady of her dream
standing at her door. She got very
scared and fainted.

The old lady woke her up... and gave her
a blue object, which shocked the girl.

She asked "What is this...?" The old
lady replied...

..

.. .

..

..

..

..

..

"This is Nirma Washing Powder"

"Washing powder nirma,Washing powder
nirma
Doodh si safedi nirma se aaye,
Rangeen kapde bhi khil khil jaye,
sabki pasand hai nirma
Washing powder nirma,Washing powder
nirma.Nirma"
10 ka 1, do pe ek free


I know how you all are feeling now...

I have been through this too.

I'm also hunting for the idiot who mailed this to me

" Valuable information "

Dear Friends,

Kindly, Share This Valuable information Wherever Possible.

1. If You See Children Begging Anywhere in TAMIL NADU,Please Contact: "RED SOCIETY" At 9940217816. They will Help The Children For Their Studies.


2. Where You Can Search For Any BLOOD GROUP, You Will Get Thousand's
Of Donor Address. www.friendstosupport.org

3. Engineering Students Can Register in www.campuscouncil.comto
Attend Off Campus For 40 Companies.

4. Free Education And Free Hostel For
Handicapped / Physically Challenged Children. Contact:- 9842062501 &
9894067506.

5. If Anyone Met With Fire Accident Or People Born With Problems in Their Ear, Nose And Mouth Can Get Free PLASTIC SURGERY Done By Kodaikanal PASAM Hospital.

From 23rd March to 4th April by
German Doctors. Everything is free. Contact:
045420240668,245732

" Helping Hands Are Better Than Praying Lips "

6. If You Find Any important Documents Like Driving License, Ration Card, Passport, Bank Pass Book, Etc., Missed By Someone, Simply Put Them into Any Near By Post Boxes. They will Automatically Reach The Owner And Fine Will Be Collected From Them.

7. By The Mext 10 months, Our Earth Will Become 4 Degrees Hotter Than What it is Now.Our Himalayan Glaciers Are Melting At
Rapid Rate.So Let All Of Us Lend Our Hands To Fight GLOBAL WARMING.
- Plant More Trees.
- Don't Waste Water & Electricity.
- Don't Use Or Burn Plastics

8. It Costs 38 Trillion Dollars To Create OXYGEN For 6 Months For All Human Beings On Earth.

" TREES DO IT FOR FREE "

" Respect Them And Save Them "

9.Special Phone Number For Eye Bank And Eye Donation:04428281919 And 04428271616 (Sankara Nethralaya Eye Bank).

For More information About How To Donate Eyes Plz Visit These Sites: http://ruraleye.org/

10. Heart Surgery Free Of Cost For Children (0-10 yr) Sri Valli Baba
Institute Banglore. Contact : 991673471

11. Medicine For Blood Cancer !!!!

'Imitinef Mercilet'

isA Medicine Which Cures Blood Cancer.It is Available Free Of Cost At

"Adyar Cancer Institute in Chennai"

Create Awareness.It might help someone.
Cancer Institute in Adyar, Chennai
Category: Cancer
Address:East Canal Bank Road, Gandhi Nagar Adyar, Chennai
-600020
Landmark: Near Michael School
Phone:
044-24910754, 044-24911526, 044-22350241.

12. Please CHECK WASTAGE OF FOOD.
If You HaveA Function / Party At Your Home in India And Food Gets Wasted,

Don't Hesitate To Call 1098 (only in India )

- Its NotA Joke,

This is The Number Of Child Helpline.

They Will Come And Collect Fhe food.

Please Circulate This Message Which Can Help Feed Many Children.

AND LETS TRY TO HELP INDIA BE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN.

Please Save Our Mother Nature For

" OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS "

SERVICE TO HUMANITY IS SERVICE TO DIVINITY

Hi  friends...

There is an important thing to share with u all for ur help.
Devnar school has kids who are blind. Can't write their exams on their physical efforts. They want Someone kind hearted like you to help them to write their exams, while they are dictating .

Devnar School For The Blind,
1-10-1235, Mayur Marg
Mayur Marg, Begumpet, Hyderabad, Andhra pradesh 500016
Ph: 040 27767931

Website : http://www.devnarfoundationfortheblind.org/

Exams Schedule : Febrauary 28 - March 11 ( 2011 )
Exam Timings : 9 am - 12 am ( Morning )

So we need your help... Please try to help them if u r free to help... Or Atleast Pass this information to ur friends or put this in ur status... So that by noticing this anyone may help the Little Children who cant see this world like us.

 

 

Many hearts are awaiting for u.

GOD BLESS U ALL.

Job Opening For Software Testing Engineer In ORB Media Private Limited

Experience:0 - 5 Years
Job Title:Software Testing Engineer
Location:Chennai
Education:UG - B.Tech, B.E. - Computers, PG - Any Specialization
Compensation:Rupees 1,25,000 - 5,00,000
Name Of Company:ORB Media Private Limited
Job Description:
Understanding Test Plan, Writing Test Cases & Scripts according to the Functional Specifications.
Execution of the Test Cases using Manual Testing.
Validation and Verification based on Unit & Functional testing, report generation.
Carry out assigned manual test cases within the planned milestones.
Provide full description of defects in the agreed format to the offshore single point of contact. Defects should be fully reproducible from the information provided.
Desired Profile:
B.E/B.Tech Freshers with Software Testing Course Completion Certificate from reputed institutes can also apply.
Requirements:
Experience in QA methodology and thorough knowledge of QA best practices
Very detail-oriented individual with excellent technical and writing skills
Flexibility and ability to take initiatives to adjust QA activities on an ongoing basis to meet the challenging demands of a very fast-paced development environment.
Good to Have:
Experience in QA of Web/ Mobile applications.
Experience in QA Mgmt tools (bugzilla to be specific).
Prefer some of them with experience in writing automated test scripts (utilizing tools such as Http Test, Http Unit and JUnit framework and/or any of the open source tools such as OpenSTA, Web Test etc.).
Good understanding of audio/video streaming & knowledge of LAN and WAN networking (Note: a 'good understanding' of audio and video streaming & knowledge of LAN and WAN networking are sufficient and QA experience in this field is not necessary)
When you apply, please attach your most recent resume and  also provide the following information:
Immediate Availability:Yes/No
Notice Period with present company:
Reason for change:
Current Salary:
Expected Salary:
Willing to Relocate to Chennai:
Your Contact No (Mobile / Land line):
Preferable Time for interview:
Company Profile:
Orb Networks, Inc. is the leader in web application services, software and embedded solutions for content virtualization and distributed computing.
Orb has developed an award winning service that combines the use of an internet media portal and a proprietary software application. Orb leverages the best in already available technology (hi-speed broadband, Wi-Fi, wireless internet access and sophisticated portable devices) to provide a brand new way for people to connect with their digital media in the manner "how, when and where" they most desire. In short, Orb provides the ability to "My Cast". My Casting gives the user instant access to photos, music, videos, live television, and other digital content on their home PC at anytime and from any internet-connected device, such as a mobile phone, PDA or laptop. My Casting is media anywhere.
Contact Details:
Executive Name:JP Jayasankar
Address:
Orb India Ltd
No: 780 Anna Salai,2nd Floor,Nandanam
CHENNAI,Tamilnadu,India 600035
Telephone:91 44-43150001 
Email Address:jp@orb.com
Reference ID:ORB QA ENGINEER/TEST ENGINEER 

Job Opening For Trainee Executive In NTPC Ltd

Experience:0Years
Job Title:Trainee Executive
Location:All Over India
Education:Graduate - B.Tech, B.E - Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Control&Instrumentation; CA,ICWA
Compensation:Basic pay of Rs. 24900/-
Name Of Company:NTPC Ltd
No. Of Openings:Electrical-145, Mechanical-175,Civil-60, Control & Instrumentation-100, Finance-40.
Job Description:
COMPENSATION PACKAGE:
NTPC Ltd. offers one of the best pay packages in the industry. Selected candidates will be placed in the pay scale of Rs. 24900-3%-50500 at the basic pay of Rs. 24900/- during one-year training.
These candidates will be absorbed after successful completion of training asEngineer / Officer in the pay scale of Rs. 24900-3%-50500 at a basic pay of Rs. 25650/-.
Besides basic pay candidates will also be paid Dearness Allowance and will also be entitled for other perquisites & allowances under cafeteria approach. Benefits such as leave, medical treatment, Provident Fund, Gratuity, etc will be admissible as per company rules in force from time to time during training / after absorption.
PLACEMENT:
The selected candidates shall undergo one year training at various places. The final place of posting will be allocated after successful completion of training based on the performance during the training and requirement at each location. Candidates can be placed, across the country, in any of the functions at projects/ stations or offices including joint ventures & subsidiary companies of NTPC. No request for change in place of posting will be entertained in the initial 10 years of joining the company.
SERVICE AGREEMENT BOND:
The selected candidates who belong to General and OBC categories will be required to execute a service agreement bond of Rs. 2,50,000/- to serve the company for at least 3 years after successful completion of the training. This amount is Rs. 1,25,000/- for SC/ST Category candidates and PWDs.
Desired Profile:
QUALIFICATION:
Engineering Executive Trainees (EETs):
Full time Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Technology/AMIE with not less than 65% marks, taking average of all the Semesters/Years, irrespective of the weightage given to any particular semester/year by the Institute/University. Final year/semester students who expect their result by 01.08.2011 may also apply however they have to obtain at least 65% marks in their engineering degree. A candidate with the prescribed degree identified for the discipline as given below can only apply for the post of EETs in the respective disciplines.
Electrical:Electrical/Electrical & Electronics/Electrical, Instrumentation & Control/Power Systems & High Voltage/Power Electronics/Power
Mechanical:Mechanical/Production/Industrial Engg/Production & Industrial
Civil:Civil Engineering/Thermal/Mechanical & Automation/Power Engineering
Control&Instrumentation:Electronics/Electronics & Telecommunication/Electronics & Power/Power Electronics/Electronics & Communication/ Electrical & Electronics/Electronics & Instrumentation/ Instrumentation & Control Engineering.
Executive Trainees - Finance (ET-Fin):CA/ICWA qualified candidates are eligible to apply. Candidates who expect their final CA/ICWA results by 01.08.2011 may also apply.
AGE LIMIT:
EETs: Upper Age limit is 27 years as on 01.01.2011 i.e. candidates born before 01.01.84 need not apply. Upper age is relaxed by two years for the candidates who have acquired Post graduation degree.
ET-Finance: Upper Age limit is 29 years as on 01.01.2011 i.e. candidates born before 01.01.82 need not apply.
ABOUT TEST:
The All India Test is scheduled on 17.04.2011 (Sunday). The test will be in Hindi or English. Candidates will have to choose their medium for test at the time of applying for the post, which cannot be changed subsequently. The test will be in two parts. Part-I will consist of multiple-choice questions of the relevant discipline as advertised. Part-II will consist of multiple-choice questions on Executive Aptitude. 1/4th mark will be deducted for each wrong / multiple answered questions.
The selection test will be held in cities as mentioned in the online Application system. Candidates have to choose any two cities as preference-1 and preference-2, as Test Center and no request for change will be considered subsequently. However, NTPC reserves the right to cancel or add any center depending on the response for that area / center.
SELECTION PROCESS:
Eligible candidates will have to undergo an all India Selection Test. Based on merit and requirement, the list of successful candidates will be made available at [www.ntpccareers.net]. All short listed candidates will have to appear for Group Discussion and Personal Interview before the Company's Central Selection Board. Candidates have to secure minimum qualifying marks in GD & interview.
Company Profile:
India’s largest power company, NTPC was set up in 1975 to accelerate power development in India. NTPC is emerging as a diversified power major with presence in the entire value chain of the power generation business. Apart from power generation, which is the mainstay of the company, NTPC has already ventured into consultancy, power trading, ash utilisation and coal mining. NTPC ranked 317th in the ‘2009, Forbes Global 2000’ ranking of the World’s biggest companies. NTPC became a Maharatna company in May, 2010, one of the only four companies to be awarded this status. With a current generating capacity of 33,194 MW, NTPC has embarked on plans to become a 75,000 MW company by 2017.
How To Apply:
Eligible candidates have to apply through online registration system of NTPC only. To apply visit: www.ntpccareers.net with your valid E-mail ID. The site is functional from 1300 hours of 15.02.2011 to midnight of 07.03.2011.
State Bank of India has been authorized to collect the registration fee, in a specially opened account (No. 30987919993) at CAG branch, New Delhi, on behalf of NTPC. Candidate has to approach the nearby SBI branch with a printout of the “pay-in-slip” which is available on the application registration portal.
Important Dates:
Commencement of online Registration of application:15.02.2011 (Tuesday) 1300 Hours
Last date for online registration of application:07.03.2011 (Monday) Midnight
Last date of accepting registration slips with required documents by post:12.03.2011 (Saturday) 1700 Hours
All India Selection Test:17.04.2011 (Sunday)
Contact Details:
NTPC Ltd,
NTPC Bhawan, Scope Complex, Core-7,
Institutional Area, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi-110003.
 

NASA delays Glory launch

NASA announced Wednesday that it has postponed the launch of its earth-orbiting Glory Mission spacecraft due to technical problems, Xinhua reported.

During the final 15 minutes before Wednesday’s scheduled launch at 5.09 a.m. from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base, the vehicle interface control console, a ground interface with Orbital Sciences’ Taurus XL rocket, gave an unexpected reading, NASA said in a press release.

The cause and potential effect of the reading was not fully understood, the release said.

With a 48-second available launch window, there was insufficient time to analyze the issue causing the launch to be postponed, NASA said.

It said members of the Taurus team are troubleshooting the issue. The next launch attempt is no earlier than Thursday, Feb 24, at 5.09 a.m., it said.

Glory will send back data to help scientists improve their ability to predict Earth’s future environment and to distinguish human-induced climate change from natural climate variability, NASA scientists said.

The $434-million mission is managed by the NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.

Complete shutdown in Telangana for second day

The Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh remained shut for the second day Wednesday over the demand for a bill in parliament for the formation of a separate Telangana state, with a 48-hour shutdown call evoking a total response.

Normal life was at a standstill in Hyderabad and nine other districts of the region as part of the shutdown called by the Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC).

Buses remained off the roads, shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed across the region. Banks, ATMs, petrol bunks and cinema theatres were also shut.

With a section of auto-rickshaw drivers here also joining the strike, railway passengers arriving in the city had a harrowing time.

Buses of state-owned Road Transport Corporation (RTC) remained inside the depots as thousands of RTC employees joined the protests for a separate state. RTC suffered a loss of Rs.6 crore on the first day of the strike.

Police and paramilitary forces in Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana were on alert though the shutdown on the first day had largely remained peaceful.

More violent protests are likely in Osmania University, where pro-Telangana students clashed with police Monday and Tuesday.

Almost all the towns across the region are deserted as people voluntarily shut down businesses and joined the protests for Telangana state.

The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other pro-Telangana parties and groups are participating in the strike while the Communist Party of India (CPI) is backing it.

Police arrested about 2,000 protestors, including JAC leader M. Kodandaram and TRS legislator Harish Rao on the first day.

Coal production in state-owned Singareni Collieries Company remained affected for the second day. About 70,000 employees in 38 underground and 140 open cast mines spread over districts of Adilabad, Khammam, Karimnagar and Warangal went off work.

The shutdown has affected daily production of 1.8 lakh tonnes of coal worth Rs.28 crore.

Kudhirithe Kappu Coffee earns U, releasing on 25th Feb

Varun Sandesh starrer Kudhirithe Kappu Coffee is gearing up to hit the silver screens on 25^th February with approximately around 100 screens. KKC has completed its censor formalities and was awarded with clean U. The movie is touted as a youthful romantic entertainer.

While Suma Bhattacharya is debuting as a heroine, Yogeshwar Sharma, son of Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry is marking his debut as a music director with this film. Seetharama Sastry is said to have given his voice-over for the film. Ramana Selva is the director of the film and Shiva and Mahi are the producers. Kudhirithe Kappu Coffee is made under Shiva Productions and Moon Water Pictures banners jointly.

It’s for centre to take decision on Telangana: Reddy

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and leader of opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu Tuesday said it was for the central government to take a decision on the demand for separate statehood to Telangana.

The chief minister told the state assembly that the state government would abide by whatever decision the central government takes on the issue after seeking opinion of all parties on Srikrishna committee’s report.

He said this amid furore in the house by Telangana legislators demanding a resolution for carving out Telangana state.

Amid slogan-shouting by members of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and Telangana legislators of Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Kiran Kumar spoke on the motion of thanks to the governor for his address.

In an unprecedented development, the house passed the motion without any debate as the opposition tried to stall the proceedings for the third consecutive day.

“The Telangana issue is not a new issue. It is there for 50 years but the state government can’t take any decision on this,” he said and appealed to the opposition parties to cooperate with the government in continuing the development and welfare programmes.

The chief minister said the governor was an individual but an institution and an attack on him amounts to attack on democracy.

He was referring to the ruckus created by Telangana legislators during Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan’s address to the joint session of the state legislature Feb 17.

Interestingly, leader of opposition and TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu agreed with Kiran Kumar on the Telangana issue when he told reporters that the central government should immediately take a decision.

“It is for the central government to take a decision on the report of Srikrishna committee,” he said and blamed the delay on part of the central government for the current situation in the state.

Both Kiran Kumar and Naidu come from Rayalaseema region and are under pressure from Telangana cadres of their parties to back the demand for separate state.

Naidu said his party would respect the sentiments of the people of both Telangana and Seemaandhra (Rayalaseema and Andhra regions). He advised party leaders in both the regions not to do anything which damages the party.

Prema Kavali premiere at Cinemax on 24th Feb

It is well aware that Sai Kumar’s son Aadi is making his debut in Tollywood with Prema Kavali. Since it is the debut flick to Aadi, the film-makers have planned for a grand premiere at Cinemax multiplex theatre on 24^th February. Several Tollywood celebrities are expected to attend the screening.

Isha Chawala, a debutant is playing the female lead in this youthful love entertainer. Prema Kavali is directed by Vijaya Bhaskar and produced by K Achi Reddy on the banner of Max India Productions.
Being a son of famous actor, Prema Kavali would be a test for Aadi’s acting skills and talent. Well, let’s wish him the luck…

Telangana issue rocks Andhra assembly again, 12 members suspended

The Telangana issue rocked the Andhra Pradesh assembly for the fourth consecutive day Wednesday as 12 Telangana legislators were suspended from the house for one day for stalling the proceedings, demanding that the house pass a resolution for the formation of a separate state.

Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar announced the suspension of eight legislators of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and four of the Communist Party of India (CPI) after Legislative Affairs Minister Sridhar Babu moved a resolution to this effect.

The TRS legislators, including floor leader E. Rajender and Tarakarama Rao, son of party chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao, were suspended as they refused to leave the podium of the house.

The suspended legislators refused to leave the house despite appeals by the deputy speaker, and continued raising slogans of “Jai Telangana”, disrupting the budget speech of Finance Minister Anam Ramnarayan Reddy.

The legislators of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) from Telangana region boycotted the state budget and staged a sit-in at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the assembly premises, demanding the Telangana bill in parliament.

Police arrested them as they tried to take out a rally after paying tributes to Telangana martyrs at Gun Park, in front of the assembly building.

Earlier, the house was adjourned thrice as the pro-Telangana legislators stalled the proceedings, demanding a resolution on Telangana and release of protesters arrested during the ongoing 48-hour Telangana shutdown.

For the fourth consecutive day, Telangana legislators tried to stall the house. After the budget speech, the deputy speaker adjourned the house till Friday.

The deputy speaker Feb 18 had suspended three TRS legislators and two of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for one week for their unruly behaviour during Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan’s address to the joint session of both houses a day earlier.

NASA to launch shuttle Discovery Feb 24

The space shuttle Discovery is scheduled to begin its final flight to the International Space Station Feb 24. It will carry a human-like robot to the permanent station, NASA said.

The Discovery’s 11-day mission will start at 2050 GMT, the US space agency said Friday.

Discovery’s launch date was announced at the conclusion of a flight readiness review at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Xinhua reported.

The six astronauts for the mission will deliver the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) to ISS. The PMM was converted from the multipurpose logistics module Leonardo and will provide additional storage for the station crew.

The PMM also carries Robonaut 2, the first human-like robot in space, which will become a permanent resident of the station

Aircel targets 2G client base for 3G service

Mobile telephony provider Aircel, which plans to roll out its 3G services across 13 circles by March, expects a sizeable chunk of its existing client base to opt for the new service, a top company official said.

Launching the service here Tuesday, Chief Operating Officer Gurdeep Singh told reporters: “The company is targeting the youth segment for its new service. The aim is to bring high speed internet and video calls within the common man’s reach.”

Aircel – a 74:26 joint venture between Maxis Communications of Malaysia and Apollo Hospitals group – said it would cumulatively invest Rs.45,000 crore to beef up its presence across the 13 circles in the country.

Speaking about the prospects for the company’s 3G service, Singh hoped nearly 35 percent of its 2G – voice calls – subscribers to migrate to the 3G service that offers video calls and other add-ons.

Aircel’s subscriber base crossed 50 million last year.

The company won the 3G spectrum in 13 cricles for around Rs.6,499 crore.

Kasab to appeal to Supreme Court against death verdict

Ajmal Amir Kasab, the Pakistani terrorist convicted for the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai, will appeal to the Supreme Court against the death sentence awarded to him, his lawyer said here Wednesday.

The Bombay High Court Monday upheld the death sentence the trial court awarded to Kasab for his role in the 26/11 attack.

“In my brief meeting with Kasab, I told him that he can file appeal to the Supreme Court challenging the death sentence awarded to him,” Kasab’s lawyer Farhana Shah said.

“‘Hum appeal karenge’ (I will appeal), Kasab told me,” Shah added.

Shah, however, mentioned that she is yet to receive the copy of the order of the Bombay High Court.

“The process of filing an appeal in the Supreme Court can be started only after we receive an order copy,” she said.

A division bench of the Bombay High Court comprising Justice Ranjana Desai and Justice R.V. More dismissed Kasab’s appeal challenging the death sentence given to him by Special Judge M.L. Tahaliyani in May 2010.

A total of 166 people were killed in the mayhem let loose by Kasab and nine other Pakistani gunmen during the 60-hour Mumbai terror attacks. While he was caught alive, the nine other terrorists were kileld in gun battles with the security forces.