Stage set for monsoon onset in Andaman, Kerala

The stage is set for a grand entry of south-west monsoon in Andamans and in quick succession in Kerala, raising hopes for a favourable season for millions of farmers across the country.“Conditions are favourable for setting in of the south-west monsoon over Andaman Sea during the next 24-48 hours,” the India Meteorological Department said this evening.

The Shrinking Universe: Who's the boss?

Probably the first thing that many people attempt to do when they get married is to either make sure that their partners don't dominate them or, as a pre-emptive measure, try and establish their dominance over the partner. “Who's the boss?”, often becomes a very emotive issue in the marriage because of the popular, though fallacious, belief that one partner should have the casting vote in any contentious marital situation. Also, there is a popular cultural belief that men should be the dominant partner in a marriage, and even if during the courtship, the man is actually relatively mild, he ends up becoming domineering soon after the knot is tied. Many young brides are mystified when their hitherto gentle, sensitive and romantic suitors suddenly turn into demanding, aggressive and insensitive husbands.

Slaving for their dowry

Girls. Dowry. The two go together. No matter what you do to separate them, they somehow get conjoined, like twins that have remained connected in one body. We are told this is one of the main reasons parents don't want girls. So avoid girls.But girls cannot, and should not, be avoided. So the government makes laws, NGOs campaign for the ‘girl child', there are special schemes and incentives for families to ensure that their daughters survive and prosper. It would be politically incorrect to do the contrary, to encourage killing girls, or to encourage dowry. At least, that is what you would conclude.

Evidence of water beneath Moon's stony face

It is not raining on the Moon, but it does seem to be getting wetter and wetter.For decades, the prevailing view of the Moon was that it was dry. Then, two years ago, a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) probe crashed into a deep crater near the Moon's south pole and confirmed large amounts of water ice within the shadows. Meanwhile, measurements by an orbiting Indian spacecraft suggested that a veneer of water, generated by the bombardment of solar wind particles, covered much of the Moon's surface. Now, scientists analysing tiny fragments of hardened lava from long-ago lunar eruptions report that the fragments contain about as much water as similar magmas on Earth, meaning there is plenty of water inside the Moon too.

Azad Clears New Pictorial Warnings for Tobacco Products Packages

The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad has cleared the new pictorial warnings for implementation for tobacco products packages. The new notification issued on 27.5.2011, provides for strong pictorial warnings for smoking (cigarettes, bidis, cigars etc) and smokeless or chewing forms of tobacco products (click here to see the details.). A set of four pictures each of lung and oral cancer have been notified and will come into effect from 1.12.2011. The warnings will be rotated every two years from then onwards.In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 7, sub-section (2) of section 8, section 10 and section 31 of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (34 of 2003), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Rules, 2008. These Rules may be called the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules, 2011.

Courtesy : PIB

Committee constituted under chairman, CBDT to examine ways to strengthen laws to curb the generation of black money in the country, its illegal transfer abroad and its recovery.

The Government has constituted a Committee under the Chairmanship of Chairman, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to examine ways to strengthen laws to curb the generation of black money in the country, its illegal transfer abroad and its recovery.

Let’s create a cooperation model: PM in Tanzania

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh left for home this afternoon at the end of his six-day two-nation tour of Ethiopia and Tanzania. During his visit Dr. Singh announced a number of plans to give a further boost to ties between India and resurgent Africa. Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete along with his senior colleagues gave a warm send-off to Dr Singh who described his visit very satisfactory and fruitful. During the tour, Dr Singh attended the second India-Africa summit at Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and interacted with a number of African leaders to cement India's ties the mineral-rich continent.

India, US coop must entail response to terror: HM

Citing the recent events in Pakistan, India has highlighted risks posed by the "epicentre of terrorism" based in that country and pushed the US for announcement of security cooperation that will entail pre-emptive steps and effective response to terror incidents.Launching the Homeland Security Dialogue in New Delhi on Friday, India and the US vowed to defeat the forces of terrorism through a series of steps like intelligence sharing and pressed Pakistan to move expeditiously in prosecuting those involved in Mumbai attacks.

Judges conduct should be exemplary both within and outside

Rejecting Sikkim Chief Justice P D Dinakaran's plea that he can't be impeached for alleged misconduct not connected with discharge of judicial duties, the Supreme Court on Friday said a judge's conduct "must be exemplary" both within and outside the court.A bench of justices G S Singhvi and C K Patnaik said a judge cannot walk into a shopping mall, pick up an article of his choice and simply walk away without footing the bill.

Nepal struggles to end political crisis

With only hours to go for the term of the Nepalese Constituent Assembly to end, senior leaders of the UCPN ( maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN-UML are holding crucial meeting to break the deadlock. The meeting is taking place in the Assembly premises , in Kathmandu.

Survey on AYUSH

For the first time, the Union government will carry out a survey on the use and acceptability of the alternative systems of medicine and employ the results for effective planning of a road map for Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH).The National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) has agreed to include some questions, in its Consumer Expenditure Schedule for the 68th annual round of socio-economic surveys, for collecting information on AYUSH.

Vested interests trying to discredit Lokpal Bill, says Kejriwal

Lokpal Bill joint draft committee member Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday alleged that vested interests seemed to have ganged up to discredit the proposed legislation by unleashing a sustained campaign to spread misconceptions and falsehood.He said vested interests first made an attack on the individual members of the committee and now they are attacking the bill per se questioning the provisions of the bill.

Medha Patkar ends hunger strike after government accepts demands

Social activist Medha Patkar ended her nine—day—fast after the Maharashtra government agreed to her demands related to slum—dwellers and rehabilitation projects.“Medha ended her fast at 1.45 pm. The government of Maharashtra issued a notification accepting all her demands.Mumbai Suburban District Collector Nirmal Deshmukh came up with the notification (to the fast site),” Madhuresh Kumar, Ms. Patkar’s associate, said.