Sunita Williams to be back tomorrow.

Space travel by Indians is achieving new standards. Sunita Williams, an Indian women astronaut has set up record for being the first woman staying in space for such a long time. You see standard of breaking records is becoming tougher by the day. First, it used to be a record to reach space, then it was a record of a women reaching space followed by record of time spent in space. Boarded on Atlantis, space shuttle launched by NASA, Sunita is a space engineer of Indian origin born and brought up in the US. Due to some problem in the thermal blanket of the space shuttle, her return has been delayed by a few days. Bad weather conditions in Florida where the shuttle will be back on Earth mat further delay her arrival.
Day is not far away when space tourism will become a common thing and there will be different space stations and launchpads like airports or railway stations.

Three digit highway helpline number soon

Taking note of the high road accident deaths on the country's expanding highway network, two union ministries have decided to operate a common three-digit emergency number across the country that people in need can call from any phone.
The Ministry of Health, collaborating on the project with the ministry of of Road Transport and Highways, is said to have already written to the telecom department for allocation of the number. To be modelled on the American emergency services system, the plan comes soon after the two ministries started close collaboration earlier this year on an integrated trauma care system.
The proposed line will apply to road accidents, suicides, snake bites, injuries and even theft on the highways. An ambulance fleet working with the help of geographic information system (GIS) will operate through the project corridors and enable quicker access to the accident site.

Formula I - To be started in India soon

Formula - 1 has been always a passion for speed enthusiasts. But the Indian scenario before Narayan Karthikeyan was not very encouraging. With time, this hi-tech game which showcases use of latest automobile technology has gained popularity in India,too. The track on which these hi-speed, hi-power cars run, require a lot of engineering and technique to build. F-1 lovers of India now have a reason to celebrate because race of their dream cars will be organised in India soon. The venue for this multi-million dollar project has not been finalised yet.

Who will be the next President of India?

Term of the present President Sri A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is finishing next month. Nomination procedures of the next president of India are going on. Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat is the NDA favourite. Pratibha Patil, a rather unheard name in the political circles is forwarded by the ruling UPA alliance supported by the Mayawati led BSP. The Third Front which comprises parties apart from the two main alliances such as Mulayam Singh's SP, Jayalaitha's AIADMK, Naidu's TDP and some smaller regional parties are supporting existing Prez Kalam to continue for the next term.

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Pranab Mukerjee, senior Congree member, was one of the strong names coming up for Presidential nomination but being a very active member holding many important portfolios, his candidature could effect the party's working.

Lets see who presides on the highest post this time.

Rain Water Harvesting - Growing awareness towards saving environment

Rain Water Harvesting has been in practice in the developed world from a decade. India, though a slow starter always, is catching up fast with this concept.
With a diversified climate due to large geographical extents, a big part of India (specially Northern states which are away from sea) is always short of water due to scanty and uncertain rains. Agriculture is the worst hit sector due to this. Level of ground water which used to be a reliable source of water for irrigation and for urban use also, is decreasing alarmingly.
Rain Water Harvesting provides one of the solutions to this threat. Excess rain water is collected in a big tank and fed to the ground through bore-well pipes. Yes, its as simple as that. Just a little change in planning and architecture of a new or a existing house can do wonders. Water clogging due to excess rain water is prevented.
You can visit rainwaterharvesting.org
for more information on planning and economics of rain water harvesting.

Saree - Changing patterns of the traditional Indian apparel

Charles Darwin's theory of Evolution which says everything in this universe undergoes constant changes and gets evolved in a new form with passing time, is applicable to sarees too. The dress has evolved rapidly with market trends and maintaining its grace, still occupies the same space in the hearts and almirahs of the Indian women despite being hit by so much competition by its western alternates. It has always been the first choice of great fashion designers to try their skills and innovations upon. This six and a half metre piece of cloth has so many stories associated with it. Every state of India makes a unique style of saree which depicts the art and tradition of the state. Fabrics, colours, motifs, patterns, styles of weaving or embroidery, everything change with state. Commercially, this small scale manufaturing of hand made apparel provides employment and earnings to a large part of the Indian population.

Vote for Taj

Results for voting of the new 7 wonders of the world are going to be declared on 07-07-07 in Lisbon, Portugal. Please do vote for the Taj Mahal in Agra, India among your seven choices. This magnificent piece of art should get the status it deserves. Being a resident of Agra is not the only reason for my campaign but this treat for the eyes leaves me literally speechless whenever I visit the place.

You can vote by logging onto new7wonders.com. Till today, it has secured 8.4% votes. To secure a safe place among the new seven wonders it should have atleast 18% votes. Though it has defeated above the Great Wall Of China, its nearest competitor, the huge Chinese population and its strategic campaign may show unexpected result just before the voting ends. It is surprising that Macchu Pichu monument in Peru with population less than UP is on top of the voting list with 18% votes.

Will Burrows may succeed Harry Potter

J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series based on adventures of a boy magician has been a great hit with children all over the world. After the latest version, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", which may be the last version of the Potter series, publishers are on a prowl to find another adventure story line.

'Tunnels' written by a writer duo might prove to be the end of their search. 'Tunnels' has it all - merciless villains, a lost world and an extraordinary journey to the centre of the earth. The unknown authors of the tales of whom one is an investment banker and another is an artist have amassed advances of over 5 million pounds and pre-publication rights in 15 languages. The publisher who first signed up J.K. Rowling has signed the pair up for a series of fantasy tales seen through the eyes of Will Burrows and set in a hidden world below London.

Jatropha - Fuel for the future

Petrol, diesel and gas are by far the most widely used fuels but the reserves of these fossil fuels are declining at much faster pace than they are recreated by mother nature. Scientists have been researching on alternate fuels like bio-fuel, hydrogen fuel and nuclear fuels continuosly to make them commercially viable, cost effective and easily procurable so that a solid alternate to fossil fuels comes up.

Jatropha - a plant used for making bio-fuel, is widely accepted as an alternate fuel for the future. Ease of growing this plant on large scale in Asian temperatures, less processing and refining needed to extract fuel from the plant makes it commercially viable especially in Asian countries. India has become a large hub of growing and exporting this plant not just because of the fuel factor but also its medicinal utilities.

The Jatropha Institute provides the economics of growing the plant commercially to make it lucrative for Indian farmers and land owners who want to be a part of the booming Environment Business story.

Hydrothermal Cooling- Latest technique to save power

Toronto, one of the largest business hubs in Canada is saving 61 MW of electric power by a novel product of technology - Hydrothermal cooling. The technique uses water of Lake Ontario to run air-conditioning systems. Three large pipes have been run into Lake Ontario, to a depth of 83 metres. The water is piped to a filtration plant and then to a heat transfer station on the mainland. Here, the 'chill' is transferred to another closed loop consisting of smaller pipes that supply the towers of the city's financial district.

As many as 36 buildings in Ontario are using this technique to run their air-conditioning systems. Not only does it save power, space of cooling towers which used to placed on roofs is also saved.

These kind of innovations not only mark the utmost in technological skills mankind has achieved but also its increasing concern towards a greener world.

Cheeni Kum- Sweetener for the 60 plus

Latest Bollywood flick "Cheeni Kum" by R. Balki is surely going to be a hit among the 60 plus Indian single male population. The movie revolves around romance of a sixty four years old chef "Buddha" ( portrayed by Amitabh Bachhan) and a thirty four year old lady, played by Tabu, whose father is younger than her boyfriend. The plot of the movie may not sound very new, but unlike previous versions, "Cheeni Kum" has a happy ending with the hero satisfying his would-be father-in-law who is younger to him (played by Paresh Rawal) and is ready to die before this unusual union happens. The age defying act of Mr. Bachhan is surely going to please the males of his age who can think again about romance in their lives. With smart dialogues on a satirical note, the film shows the change of tastes of urban India and also the changing face of Bollywood. Good work Mr. Balki.

Carbon Credits- Latest buzz among industry circles

A logical step in the direction of reducing emissions of Green House Gases(GHG) in the environment by industries is trading of Carbon Credits(CCs). The policy follows the Kyoto Protocol treaty which is excepted internationally. A industry producing a tonne of carbon-di-oxide is given 1 carbon credit. Carbon quotas are assigned to industries by the government. For instance, a industry with a quota of 20000/year will have to purchase additional carbon credits if its emissions exceed 20000 tonnes of GHG. On the other hand if it saves credits by reducing its emissions it can sell the remaining to another industry. Planting trees will enrich the industry with CCs. As of now,CCs are openly traded in Chicago Climate Exchange and European Climate Exchange. The climate exchange works in the same way as a stock or commodity exchange. Policy-makers in India are planning to open an climate exchange in India as it is one of the top ten countries of the world contaminating the environment by its emissions and thus can prove to be a huge market for carbon credits, which in turn will produce revenues for the government.

Nude bicyclists promote cycling as environment friendly mode of transport

With strategically placed helmets and slogans painted on bare skin, scores of people shed their clothes and rode through the seaside resort on their bicycles Saturday to promote cycling as a environment frindly mode of transport. More than 200 bicyclists in various stages of undress took part in the World Naked Bike Ride in Brighton and Hove, sister cities on the southern coast of England, to promote cycling.

Courtesy: ET

Rat bites girl at McDonald's, girl given compensation

US fast food giant McDonald's was forced to pay compenation to a student who was bitten by a rat at one of its outlets in northeast China. She was awarded 2216 yuan by a local court. She had initially sought 20000 yuans, but McDonald's argued there was a lack of proof.

Courtesy: FE

Sonia Gandhi in Netherlands

On a personal visit to The Nederlands, Congress supremo Mrs. Sonia Gandhi attended the Nexus lecture at Tillburg university. She said, "India has taught me that politics is not just the art of the possible, but the art of the impossible. The plain fact is that power itself has never held any attraction for me". Is it Mrs. Gandhi?

Iphone - The Revolutionary mono-button multi-touch mobile

Long wait of gadget enthusiasts is going to end as iPhone, the latest product from the Apple stable is going to hit the markets on June 29. The iPhone is loaded with the revolutionary multi-touch technology which allows the user to call by pointing finger to the desired number or person's name. It has a single button which shows Apple's commitment to its USP-simplicity. Steve Jobs, CEO, Apple expects 10 million sets of iPhone to be sold till the end of next year. As mobile phones are rapidly becoming music-players and thus rivals to the iPod, it was a defensive 'imperative' for Apple to get into the handset industry.