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Showing posts from January, 2014

THIRD HAND SMOKING "DEAD"LY

Third-hand smoke - tobacco residue that persist in houses, apartments and hotel rooms after smokers move out - may be just as deadly as first-hand or second-hand smoke, a new study has claimed. "Do not smoke and do not allow yourself to be exposed to smoke because second-hand smoke and third-hand smoke are just as deadly as first-hand smoke," said a scientist from the University of California, Riverside who led the first animal study of the effects of third-hand smoke. While first-hand smoke refers to the smoke inhaled by a smoker and second-hand smoke to the exhaled smoke and other substances emanating from a burning cigarette that can get inhaled by others, third-hand smoke is the second-hand smoke that gets left on the surfaces of objects, ages over time and becomes progressively more toxic. "We studied, on mice, the effects of third-hand smoke on several organ systems under conditions that simulated third-hand smoke exposure of humans," said

ATLAST KIRAN WON INITIAL BATTLE

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy rose from his seat and flashed a thumbs-up sign, the moment Speaker Nadendla Manohar announced that the "Government resolution" moved by the former – rejecting the Telangana Bill - has been carried by voice vote this noon in the Assembly. Kiran's body language and a broad smile on his face denoted a certain "triumph" in what he feels has been a battle against both his Congress high command and also the UPA Government over the bifurcation of the state issue. It was a rather "face-saver" moment for Kiran as also his party colleagues from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions who have been collectively engaged in the battle for the past six months to keep the state united. Main Opposition TDP and YSR Congress MLAs from Seemandhra also got to share the moment of joy – at least on the floor of the Assembly – as they too had been fighting for the cause, though not on a common platform. All of them, how

AP ASSEMBLY REJECTED STATE BIFURCATION BILL

In an embarrassment for the Congress, the Andhra Pradesh Legislature today turned down the Centre's proposal to bifurcate the state with both Houses adopting separate resolutions by voice vote rejecting the AP Reorganisation Bill-2013. Though a "formality" under Article 3 of the Constitution has been completed, it will not have any bearing on the Centre's decision to create a separate state of Telangana by dividing Andhra Pradesh. On a day marked by high drama in the Legislative Assembly, Speaker Nadendla Manohar put the ‘government resolution' moved by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy – rejecting the Bill – for consideration of the House and it was carried by voice vote. The resolution said: "The House while rejecting the AP Reorganisation Bill, 2013, resolves to request the Honourable President of India not to recommend it for introduction in Parliament as the Bill seeks to bifurcate the state of Andhra Pradesh without any reason\

TENDULKAR's RS NOMINATION CHALLENGED

The Madras High Court today ordered issue of notice to Deputy Chairman and Secretary General of Rajya Sabha Secretariat on a petition challenging Sachin Tendulkar's nomination as a member of the Upper House. Petitioner A Benitto, an advocate, sought a direction to the Deputy Chairman and Secretary General to specify the authority on which Tendulkar's nomination was accepted by the Upper House Secretariat. He contended a criminal complaint was launched before the Commissioner of Police here against Tendulkar for offences committed under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 and Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950. Since police refused to register the case, he approached the bench here which directed the judicial magistrate at Melur to initiate proceedings under criminal law against Tendulkar and the same was pending adjudication. He alleged that the retired cricketer had cut a cake decorated with the colours of the trico

FROZEN WATER FALLS

The Polar Vortex that froze Niagara Falls in the United States and Canada made much news in the first week of January. It was a cold start to the year and brought some of the coldest winters to many parts of the northern hemisphere, even as the southern hemisphere experienced a blazing summer. While snow and ice are commonly seen on the Niagara Falls, it is not always that the waterfall completely freezes over. On the other hand, frozen waterfalls are a common feature of winter landscapes in Iceland, Scandinavia, Siberia and the northerly reaches of Zanskar in Ladakh. 

MY STORY ON MUMBAI AIRPORT

ANDHRA JYOTHY SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT Dt. 26 JANUARY 2014

నట చక్రవర్తికి నివాళిగా ఆంధ్రజ్యోతి కథనాలు

ఈ కింద ఎపి స్టార్ న్యూస్ సైట్ లో నా వ్యాసం లింక్   http://www.apstarnews.com/?p=16306 దామరాజు హృదయ స్పందన   ఇక సెలవ్ మరో జన్మ అంటూ ఉన్నదో లేదో గాని... ఉంటె మళ్లీ నటుడిగానే పుట్టి మీ ముందుకు వస్తా అక్కినేని నాగేశ్వర రావుగారు తుది శ్వాస వదిలి అప్పుడే ఒక రోజు గడిచిపోయింది... నేను అమితంగా అభిమానించే మహా నటుడు అక్కినేని. అయన అస్తమించారన్న విషయం నిన్న ఉదయం మా మేనల్లుడు జాగింగ్ నుంచి తిరిగి రాగానే చెప్పాడు... వెంటనే మా ఎబిఎన్ ఆంధ్ర జ్యోతి ఛానల్ ఆన్ చేశాను... ఈ లోగా నా  స్నేహితుడు ఒకాయన వచ్చి చానెల్ చూసి అరె అక్కినేని పోయారా అని దిగ్భ్రాంతి చెందారు... పక్కనే ఉన్న నా శ్రీమతి ఆయన పోయారు సరే... మా అయన ఏమవుతారో అనే నా బెంగ అంది... అలా అని తనకి బాధ లేదని కాదు... తను కూడా అయన అభిమానే... మా వివాహానికి ముందు మాటేమో గాని నాతో అనుబంధం ఏర్పడిన తర్వాత మాత్రం తను ఏఎన్నార్ అభిమానే...ఇది వేరే విషయం... ఒక సగటు గృహిణిగా ఆమె బాధ అది...ఆమెకు బదులిస్తూ పిచ్చిదానా...నాగేశ్వర రావుగారు అనారోగ్యంతో బాధ పడుతున్న విషయం మనకి తెలిసిందే కదా... అంత భయపడాల్సిందేమ

ON A SNOWY DAY IN SRINAGAR

మహా నటునికి ఒక అభిమాని మౌన నివాళి

అక్కినేని నాగేశ్వర రావుగారు తుది శ్వాస వదిలి అప్పుడే ఒక రోజు గడిచిపోయింది... నేను అమితంగా అభిమానించే మహా నటుడు అక్కినేని. అయన అస్తమించారన్న విషయం నిన్న ఉదయం మా మేనల్లుడు జాగింగ్ నుంచి తిరిగి రాగానే చెప్పాడు... వెంటనే మా ఎబిఎన్ ఆంధ్ర జ్యోతి ఛానల్ ఆన్ చేశాను... ఈ లోగా నా  స్నేహితుడు ఒకాయన వచ్చి చానెల్ చూసి అరె అక్కినేని పోయారా అని దిగ్భ్రాంతి చెందారు... పక్కనే ఉన్న నా శ్రీమతి ఆయన పోయారు సరే... మా అయన ఏమవుతారో అనే నా బెంగ అంది... అలా అని తనకి బాధ లేదని కాదు... తను కూడా అయన అభిమానే... మా వివాహానికి ముందు మాటేమో గాని నాతో అనుబంధం ఏర్పడిన తర్వాత మాత్రం తను ఏఎన్నార్ అభిమానే...ఇది వేరే విషయం... ఒక సగటు గృహిణిగా ఆమె బాధ అది...ఆమెకు బదులిస్తూ పిచ్చిదానా...నాగేశ్వర రావుగారు అనారోగ్యంతో బాధ పడుతున్న విషయం మనకి తెలిసిందే కదా... అంత భయపడాల్సిందేముంది అన్నాను...కాని ఆ తర్వాతే తెలిసింది ఆ వార్త ఎంత కలచి వేసిందో...ఎంత సేపటికి ఏ పని చేయలేక పోయాను...చాలా  సేపు టీవీ చూస్తూనే గడిపాను...మధ్యానం ప్రెస్ కాన్ఫరెన్స్ ఉంటె దానికి అటెండ్ అయి నా మిత్రుడు అమర్ తో కలిసి అక్కినేని భౌతిక కాయాన్ని సందర్

తెర మరుగైన సినీ దిగ్గజం

తెలుగు సినిమాకు ఒక దిశను కల్పించిన నట దిగ్గజం, నట విశ్వ విద్యాలయం, నడిచే సినీ నిఘంటువు అక్కినేని అస్తమించడం దిగ్భ్రాంతికరం... తెలుగు సినిమాల్లో నాట్యానికి ఆద్యుడు ఆయన...అక్కినేని వాసిలో ఎక్కువ...రాసిలో తక్కువ...సుమారు ఏడున్నర దశాబ్దాల పాటు నట జీవితం గడిపి తెలుగు, తమిళ, హిందీ భాషల్లో 270 కి పైగా చిత్రాల్లో నటించిన అక్కినేని ఇప్పుడు దివిలోదేవతలకు తన నాట్య విన్యాసాన్ని రుచి చూపించడానికి తరలి వెళ్లారు... అయన ఆత్మకు శాంతి కలగాలని భగవంతుని ప్రార్ధిస్తున్నాను... http://www.apstarnews.com/?p=16282

NORTH UNDER THE GRIP OF COLDWAVE

Cold claims six lives in North; barring Delhi region shivers New Delhi, Jan 16 (PTI) Unabated cold wave claimed six lives in Northern plains and temperature in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh hovered around freezing point throwing normal life out of gear. The mercury in Leh, in the frontier region of Ladakh, was recorded at a low of minus 13.6 degrees Celsius while Kargil town recorded minus 12.8 deg C. Six persons were killed in different parts of Uttar Pradesh during the last 24 hours. However, people of the national capital were relieved as the minimum temperature settled two notches above normal at 9 degree Celsius. The maximum temperature also rose by 1.2 deg C from yesterday's 16.5 deg C. The day temperature was recorded at 17.7 deg C which was three notches below normal. Kashmir Valley and Ladakh division were worst hit by the cold as the mercury in most parts stayed below freezing point. Srinagar recorded a low of 1 deg C, slightly lower than pr

ANOTHER BIZARE ACT..THIS TIME UNDER AAP GOVERNMENT

A 51-year-old Danish tourist was allegedly robbed and gangraped at knife-point near New Delhi railway station in the heart of the national capital by around six men, in another blot on the city's image. The victim, who had come to India on January 1, lost her way to her hotel in Paharganj yesterday following which she approached the group asking for directions. After recording her statement with police, the woman has flown back to Denmark this afternoon, promising to extend all cooperation in the case. She refused to undergo any medical examination. Police have detained several people, all vagabonds, in this connection. The investigators claimed they have got some "definitive leads" in the case and arrests will be made soon. According to the victim's statement to the police, she first went to Agra from where she returned on Monday and checked in a hotel in Paharganj area of central Delhi. "Yesterday, she had gone to visit a museum near Connaug

INDECISIVENESS...A PROBLEM ECONOMY FACING

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said the country's economy was in a bad shape because "nobody accepts responsibility", and there was a need to take "decisive decision" to come out of this gloom. Blaming the UPA government, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, speaking at an event organised by industry body FICCI here, said that "leadership matters" if the country was to come out of this situation. "When we talk about growth, infrastructure comes in and that is dependent on the energy sector. Industries are shut because of shortage of fuel. Someone has to take responsibility. The reason for disappointment is that nobody accepts responsibility in this country," he said, and questioned "do we need experts to correct this economic situation." Modi said one should not only be ready to receive accolades but also be ready to face the wrath. "This is the reason for disappointment in our country. If t

TITANIC II COMES IN 2017

Titanic II, a replica of the 1912 ill-fated ocean liner expected to set sail in 2017, will have almost the same design as the original including a third-class with shared bathrooms and even a symbolic "delousing". Billionaire Australian MP Clive Palmer, who announced his intention to build the Titanic II in 2012, has said he is determined to press ahead with the project. However, he faces a minor problem with how to lure paying passengers into the infamous steerage section of the famous liner. Turning it into a marketing strategy, Palmer has come up with "Roughing it on the Titanic" as his sales pitch ahead of the ship's maiden commercial voyage from Southampton to New York in 2017, Australian news portal news.com.au reported. He has to convince up to 1000 cruise ship passengers to live on stew and potatoes while dancing the Irish jig as he fine-tunes plans to relaunch the Titanic. Palmer's new role as federal member for Fairfax has not d

NEW DEVELOPER FRIENDLY PROCESSOR KAVERI FROM AMD

Chipmaker AMD today announced the launch of advanced and developer friendly 2014 AMD A-Series Accelerated Processing Units (APUs). The A-Series APUs with AMD Radeon R7 graphics, codenamed Kaveri, are designed with industry-changing new features that deliver superior compute and state-of-art gaming performance, AMD said in a release. The processor features Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA) that enables CPU and GPU to work in harmony by seamlessly streamlining right tasks to the most suitable processing element, resulting in performance and efficiency for consumers and developers, it added. It also sports AMD's acclaimed Mantle, an API that simplifies game optimisations for programmers and developers to raise gaming performance to unprecedented levels when unlocked, the firm said. The AMD A-Series APU processor-in-a-box (PIBs) for the AMD A10-7850K and AMD A10-7700K, which started shipping in Q4 2013, are available starting today and AMD A8-7600 will b

MICHELLE'S GOWN ON DISPLAY

In this Jan. 21, 2013 file photo, President Barack Obama bows as he and first lady Michelle Obama, wearing a ruby-colored chiffon and velvet Jason Wu gown, gets ready to dance at the Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington. Michelle Obama's fashion is making history again, at least for the next year, as her second inaugural gown will be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution. The ruby-colored chiffon gown made by designer Jason Wu is being lent to the National Museum of American History for a year to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Smithsonian's first ladies exhibition. It will be paired with Obama's shoes designed by Jimmy Choo and will go on display beginning Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014.

MODI MANIA

Kites with pictures of BJP Prime Minister candidate Narendra Modi on high demand during International Kite Festival, in Hyderabad. BJP's PM candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi flies a kite during the 26th International kite festival in Ahmedabad  

THAT's THE SPIRIT

CASRO's PUBLIC APPEARENCE

HAL KEY PROVIDER OF EQUIPMENT FOR GSLV

Hailing the Indian Space Research Organisation for the successful launch of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) D5, defence major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) today noted that its Aerospace Division had contributed in a significant way towards the project. "HAL's Aerospace Division contributed in a significant way towards the launch by supplying 13 types of riveted structural assemblies and seven types of welded propellant tankages and feed lines, which include three structures and two propellant tankages," HAL Chairman R K Tyagi said. From the spaceport at Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, ISRO today successfully launched the GSLV D5 with an indigenous cryogenic engine to enter a select club of nations. HAL had integrated and delivered all four L40 booster rockets, the company said in a release, adding that "it (had) provided the bare structure of the communication satellite (GSAT-14), an assembly of composite and metalli

GSLV LAUNCH SUCCESSFUL

India today successfully launched its heavy-duty rocket with indigenous cryogenic engine that placed a communication satellite into the orbit, with ISRO scientists finally taming the 'naughty boy' GSLV and propelling the country into an elite club of countries. The mission, which cost around Rs 360 crore, is a major milestone for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) after "toiling" for 20 years and ended the jinx plaguing the GSLV programme which suffered twin back-to-back failures in 2010 while its launch in August last year was aborted at the last minute. "This is another major achievement for the GSLV programme and I would say this is an important day for science and technology, for space technology in the country (as) 20 years of efforts in realising the cryogenic engine and stage has now fructified," a visibly relieved ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan said. In a textbook launch, the 49.13-metre tall GSLV D5 rocket with an indigenous

WHO IS SCRAP...HISTORY WILL DECIDE

NETIZENS COUNTER ATTACK  MONMOHAN Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's rare press conference today was trending on social media with some netizens countering his assessment that Narendra Modi will be "disastrous" for the country if he becomes premier, saying this applies to him. A significant event or quotes which are tagged or being followed by a large number of 'twitteratis' are said to be trending on Twitter. "Thank You PM Manmohan Singh for declaring your retirement officially... You have been "DISASTER" for the Country and Indians," said nanditathhakur, an user. Another user wrote "what you have done solo far after 10 years was it better than disaster.." Twitter user India_policy said "And today PM Manmohan Singh proved Arun Shourie right one again that MMS (Manmohan Singh) is the best poll campaigner for narendramodi". "It will be disastrous for the country to have Narendra Modi as P

SRIDEVI ROPED IN TO THE FILM HAWAA HAWAI

Bollywood star Sridevi might do a cameo in Amol Gupte's upcoming film 'Hawaa Hawaai', titled on one of her most famous dance number from yesteryear hit film 'Mr India'. The 50-year-old made a successful comeback on silver screen with 'English Vinglish' almost after a gap of 15 years in 2012. Recently Fox Star Studios sent feelers to Sridevi to make a special appearance in Gupte's upcoming film but her decision is pending. "The makers strongly feel that she should be a part of the film since its very name is derived from one of Sridevi's hit songs. Her shoot is being planned for January. She will be seen in a few scenes. However, she is yet to give her nod to the cameo," sources said. The popular song -- 'Kehte Hain Mujhko Hawa Hawai' -- from the 1987 film, earned Sridevi the tag of Miss Hawa Hawai. An out-and-out masala movie 'Hawaa Hawaai' stars Amole's son Partho Gupte and Saqib Saleem.

PLAY WITH SNOW

Locals make snow men on the banks of Dal Lake after heavy Snow fall, in Srinagar

TRIPPLING TOBACCO TAXES MAY RECUCE DEATHS BY 20 CRORE

Tripling tobacco tax globally would reduce smoking by a third and prevent 200 million premature deaths from lung cancer and other diseases this century, researchers, including an Indian-origin scientist, say. Such a large tax increase would double the street price of cigarettes in some countries and narrow the price gap between the cheapest and most expensive cigarettes, which would encourage people to stop smoking rather than switch to a cheaper brand and help young not to start, researchers said. This would be especially effective in low- and middle-income countries, where the cheapest cigarettes are relatively affordable and where smoking rates continue to rise, said Dr Prabhat Jha, director of the Centre for Global Health Research of St Michael's Hospital. But it would also be effective in rich countries, said Jha, who is also a professor in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. "A higher tax on tobacco is the single most e

NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS