SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY NEWS PORTAL

Scitechdaily.com, a space in the internet which covers all topics related to the science and technology is one of the most reliable sources of information is the online portal. In this modern age where world is being ruled by scientific & technological events, one has to keep track of latest science and technology news for the sake of the knowledge and its practical usages. People of all ages and different categories should have access to updated news to lead a quality life with the progressing career. News portal like Scitechdaily.com will make this work simpler and easier for you. The way they have conveyed the information is mind blowing and I am sure everyone will be impressed with its contents and presentation.

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CRICKET – Still a Gentlemen Game?

Cricket – a game considered to be a religion among the people from Asian countries. It is the only sport that brings abundant economy to the country every time especially in African and Asian countries, though once it was said as English men game. But now lot of dirt emerging from it in the form of match fixing and the shocking news is the young talents being involved in it just for money. The recent spot-fixing scam involving Asif, Aameer, Butt brings the question about the gentility of game. Initially seven pakistan players were said to be involved in match fixing against Australia and as of now only the action has been taken against the players involving this dirty activity against England. The three cricketers (Asif, Aameer, Butt) became the first players to be suspended under new ICC rules intended to protect the integrity of the game. ICC chief executive, Lorgat said “We will not tolerate corruption in cricket - simple as that. We must be decisive with such matters and if proven, these offences carry serious penalties up to a life ban. The ICC will do everything possible to keep such conduct out of the game and we will stop at nothing to protect the sport’s integrity.” The anti-corruption unit was set up in 2001, in response to the Hansie Cronje match-fixing scandal, as a means of establishing and publicizing very specific anti-corruption and security measures for players, support staff and administrators and the players will be enquired by this team.

The money is believed to have been part of 150,000 pounds handed over by an undercover reporter to the alleged fixer Mazhar Majeed. The cash, given to Majeed for fixing three no-balls of the Lord's Test between Pakistan and Engalnd, is understood to have been secretly marked so that it could be later identified by police. Early indications suggest the money found in possession of Butt originated from the sting. There are good reasons to believe this was the case. Master blaster, Sachin Tendulkar expressed that ICC should take action against guilty players. He also added that if the allegations are true, they will certainly bring disrepute to the game. As latest information, Salman Butt, Mohammed Aamir and Mohammed Asif have told the investigators that they took money from alleged bookie Mazhar Majeed but denied any wrongdoing. Let’s wait and watch what’s more happened and who else involved in it. However it hurt millions of hearts of cricket freaks.

YOUTUBE - “NO MORE” IN PAKISTAN

                              

Pakistan has blocked the popular video sharing website YouTube for 'blasphemy'. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) directed Internet service providers to stop access to social network Facebook indefinitely because of an online competition to draw the Prophet Mohammad. CEO of an Internet service provider said, PTA issued an order seeking an ‘immediate’ blockade of YouTube. It was a serious instruction as they wanted us to do it quickly.YouTube was also blocked in the Muslim country in 2007 for about a year for what it called un-Islamic videos. A PTA official said, the action was taken after the authority determined that some caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad were transferred from Facebook to YouTube. Any representation of the Prophet Mohammad is deemed un-Islamic and blasphemous by Muslims.Publications of similar cartoons in Danish newspapers in 2005 sparked deadly protests in Muslim countries in which 50 people were killed during violent protests. Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on Denmark's embassy in Islamabad in 2008, killing six people, saying it was in revenge for publication of the caricatures.

99 YEAR ERROR ENDS

Dr Stephen Hughes, a physicist from Queensland University of Technology, Sydney has discovered an error in the Oxford Dictionary that went unnoticed for 99 years. He claims that he has discovered the dictionary's definition of the word "siphon" has been incorrect since 1911. While the dictionary mentions that a siphon works due to atmospheric pressure, the actual force that works behind it is gravitational force. He added that "It is gravity that moved the fluid in a siphon, with the water in the longer downward arm pulling the water up the shorter arm”. He has informed this error to the respective people working over it and it is believed to have the correct meaning in the forthcoming edition of Oxford Dictionary.

PayPal suspends payment transaction in India

PayPal is an online payment and money-transfer service that allows you to send money via email, phone, text message or Skype. PayPal Inc has suddenly started blocking personal transactions to and from India. PayPal, in a weekend blog post on the company website, said the operations were on hold "while we work with our business partners and other stakeholders to address questions they have about the service." Strangely, it has offered no justification for this decision. Funds requested through PayPal India are being reversed to their senders, and users have no access to them. It added that customers can still make commercial payments to India but merchants cannot withdraw funds in rupees to local Indian banks. Payments to and from PayPal to its account users in India may also involve the foreign exchange maintenance act (FEMA) that has been under a cloud over the black money issue. Although PayPal provides money transfer service to and from India, neither the company nor its account holders pay any tax on the transaction. RBI is not responding to it saying ‘We have no idea why this is happening. PayPal doesn’t come under RBI’s purview’. The question is then how can the country receive money, in foreign currencies, without any accountability and supervision? Some sources say as the Indian government is aggravated at some perceived revenue loss; it might have put pressure on PayPal to stop the payments either directly or indirectly.” However this move from PayPal has left thousands of its Indian users high and dry and they are forced to search for an alternative payment service.

GOOGLE's Street View – Permissible ?

There has been lots of talks regarding Google's Street View effort, as some people feel it is violating individual’s privacy and some people supporting it. Usually the photos that are uploaded online in charging people with crimes are not taken into account by police. Recently, a property owner in Canada was caught red handed with illegal removal of trees after Google's Street View images appear to catch the tree choppers. The Google camera just happened to be passing through the neighborhood when the axing occurred and caught a truck on the site, as well as workmen and a row of fresh tree stumps. It’s not yet clear whether those images will be taken as valid evidence whereas the policemen don’t have any other option. The city’s tree law requires a permit to remove any tree above a certain size. Out of 23 trees, the owner had obtained a permit to remove only two. If this crime is proved it is said that the culprit has to pay the fine for illegal removal ranges between $500 and $20,000 per tree. Whatever may be the result, I am sure that there would be some argument prevailing among the people not about the punishment but about the presence of Google cameras. As per the survey, Canadian authorities have been some of the most resistant to the presence of Google’s controversial cameras in streets. The company launched its Street View service in parts of the U.S. and Canada in 2007 and has since expanded to 12 other countries.

SOLAR ECLIPSE WITNESSED FROM VARANASI

Solar eclipse starts at 5.31am in Varanasi which is being witnessed despite cloud cover. At 6am a lot of action Assi Ghat, Varanasi. The eclipse is at 60% at the moment. Thousands of bathers streaming in, chanting Hare Ram, Hare Ram. Meanwhile, Varanasi seems to be one of the only sites in the totality zone where the cloud cover is only partial, giving us breathtaking views of the sun through the naked eye as it passes through thin clouds. Sharply at 6.20am it's 4 minutes to totality. The sunshine has turned a pale yellow, it's suddenly gone dark and the noise from the bathers is reaching a crescendo and the air has suddenly turned cool.

At 6.26am, it was pure magic. Seconds before totality, a diamond ring formed in the sky sparkling with stunning beauty. Seconds later, all went dark. The sun was totally eclipsed. It's the end of the eclipse at 7.2am. From the position at the rooftop of a hotel at Assi ghat, i can see hundreds of bathers still swarming in for a dip in the Ganga. The most expected areas Taregana, Patna, Sasaram  all missed the totality to clouds, except for Sasaram where it was visible for 10 seconds. I guess, I am incredibly lucky to have seen the sight of century. I've attached some of its images...enjoy

MARUTHANAYAGAM - THRILLING TRAILER

Hi friends.. This is the trailer video of a legendary film-Maruthanayagam which was conceived by Kamal Haasan after his vivid research from the pages of ancient history. The film was launched by Queen Elizabeth before few years and Kamal Haasan was on seventh cloud with extreme happiness. But due to financial constraints, producers of the film backed off and the project got shelved. After many many years now, Kamal Haasan gets new hopes with India-UK Film Corporation getting collaborated. The agreement was signed between British Government and various Countries where talented filmmakers are unable to produce their works. This treaty will not alone turn dream projects into reality but get them sold internationally by making western countries aware about those projects. So, when ‘Marmayogi’ dropped off, it’s ‘Maruthanayagam’ brimming him up with more hopes.

HIKE IN FUEL PRICE

The government on Wednesday jacked up fuel prices by Rs 4 a litre for petrol and Rs 2 for diesel. This is the first fuel price increase effected by UPA-2. Petrol and diesel prices were last raised by Rs 5 and Rs 3 a litre, respectively, in June 2008. They were reduced by Rs 10 for petrol and Rs 4 for diesel in two equal instalments in December and January. Oil minister Murli Deora announced it without consulting the Cabinet or Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs comprising UPA partners. He said "The hike has been necessitated because of rising international crude oil prices which have doubled to $70 a barrel since December”

Why it should impact food and other items. When the fuel prices went down, prices of other products were not reduced. It should be noted that when the fuel price was decreased by rs.10/- last year, none of the basic commodity prices had gone down. Prices of essential goods only go up when the fuel price is increased and when it is brought down the result is not the same. Only the middle class people are worst affected by this. The state govts have very happily announced very healthy schemes for the poor people & have won elections, that burden is put on the middle class people.

Surely they will continue to hike the prices for the best reason - next year ministers have to install more statues, conduct more lavish marriages, make donations for gods, etc. all from our pockets. Poor people go back to your village, live without light, water as nothing is going to change. If it continues, dream project of INDIA-2020 will definitely be a dream till the end. Jai Hind

YEMENIA AIRWAYS FLIGHT CRASH

A young child is the first survivor to be hauled from the Indian Ocean following the crash of a Yemenia Airways flight in the Comoros earlier today.Captain Abdulkhalek al-Kadi, chairman of Yemenia Airways said, “one child is alive and we hope to find more. The child was found in the waters and was taken to a hospital". A reconnaissance plane had earlier spotted traces of the Airbus A310-300 in the sea near the town of Mitsamiouli.Prior to the child being found there are a few bodies floating and there is a lot of debris floating around.The ill-fated flight had crashed as the plane approached the Hahaya airport in Moroni. The plane tried but failed to land and then performed a U-turn before it crashed.Yemenia Air officials said the plane had 142 passengers, including three infants, and 11 crew members on board.

Ibrahim Kassim, an official with the Agency for Aviation Security and Navigation in Africa (Asecna), the regional air security body, said, search and rescue planes had spotted debris and bodies at the crash site, 5-10km (3-6miles) from the coast along its landing approach.The deputy general manager said, “the weather conditions were rough… strong wind and high seas. The wind speed recorded on land at the airport was 61 kilometres (38miles) an hour. There could be other factors.” It is the second Airbus to plunge into the sea this month.On June 1, an Air France Airbus A330-200 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean killing all 228 people on board.

FIRST WIRE SUSPENDED BRIDGE IN INDIA

India’s the first wire suspended bridge built on the sea at Mumbai is ready for inauguration. The Bandra Worli Sea Link will be inaugurated by Congress party Chief Mrs.Sonia Gandhi, today. The 5.6 km long bridge, built at a cost of Rs.1600 crores on the sea connects Bandra in south Mumbai with Worli in North Mumbai, stands as a fine example of the Indian Engineers skills.The engineering marvel that felicitate the people of Mumbai and make them enjoy their journey to their work places. The new sea link drastically cuts down the time of journey by 40 minutes, and allows them to reach their destinations between the two cities in just 20 minutes. More over the new sea link will reduce the load on the road traffic and allow the public of other destinations move with an ease now.

King of Pop - MICHAEL JACKSON DIED

It is a tragic day for the world of music as King of Pop Michael Jackson died of cardiac arrest at 3 am (IST) in Los Angeles.Paramedics were called to the his home around midday local time after he suffered a suspected cardiac arrest. He was rushed by an ambulance to a medical centre, while several US media outlets started saying that the 50-year-old star has died.He has had a history of health problems because of which he could not do any concert in 12 years.Crowds had begun to gather outside the hospital. Really it’s a sad for his fans. Jackson began his career as a child in his family group The Jackson 5. He then went on to achieve global fame as a solo artist with smash hits such as Thriller and Bad. But the singer had been dogged by controversy and money trouble in recent years, becoming a virtual recluse. Known as the "King of Pop," for hits that includedThriller and Billie Jean, Jackson's dramatic, one-gloved stage presence and innovative dance moves were imitated by legions of fans around the world.His lifetime record sales tally was believed to be around 750 million, and with his 13 Grammy Awards and boundary-breaking music videos he was one of the most successful entertainers of all time. He is still living thru his music in everyone's heart.Long live his legacy.He's been true inspiration to the world, who carried music on his shoulder. Will surely miss his moonwalks.

RACIAL ATTACK ON INDIANS IN AUSTRALIA

We were hearing that Indians are being attacked in America for the last few months. Now its the turn of Australia. In a fresh incident of racial attack on Indians in Australia, a 25-year old student was stabbed here, even as another youth from Andhra Pradesh was battling for life after an assault by local teenagers. There is an another incident of beaten up of Indian student, 20-year-old Amrit Pal Singh from Haryana by a group of youths today. He is the 10th victim to be assaulted within a space of a month. Still this count goes on increasing. The assurances of Govt of Australia are not adhere by the local youth and they were continuously attacking the Indian students. The Govt of India has to take stern action and should send serious threatens to Australia against these attacks, failing which all the Indian who are abroad have to return their mother land.No one wish to die and beaten up by other countrymen in abroad.The Govt have to show what Indians means and what will happen if any Indian attacked. Another wise no Indian will survive at abroad. One of the victim of the attack said that they believed that the city was a safe place to live, but was now convinced that Indian nationals are being targeted as easy prey. Definitely there should be an end to such type of attacks on Indians. Why Indian were targeting everywhere ? What is the reason behind it ?

As far as my knowledge is concerned that Indians are spreading all over the world and they are being recognized everywhere with their skill, talent and knowledge. Its causing jealously to co-workers or students who unable to beat the Indian with their talent. Whats ur opinion, plz post ur comments here..

HONOURARY AWARD FOR KALAM

India's former President A P J Abdul Kalam was conferred with honorary Doctorate of Laws by Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland. Dr Kalam, known as India's 'missile man', received the honour from Vice Chancellor of the University Professor Peter Gregson for "distinction in public service. Through Dr Kalam's outstanding abilities as a world statesman, scientist, educator and visionary, he has inspired millions in his native India and around the world. Dr Kalam's visit is a tangible example of the educational, research, business and cultural links between India and Northern Ireland.This university has produced the world's first low-cost technology to provide arsenic-free water to people in India and has been selected by the British Council to provide groundwater management trainngs in regions polluted by arsenic.

Dr Kalam is also an award-winning aerospace engineer who played a leading role in many of India's most recent technological breakthroughs, including the landing of India's first unmanned lunar spacecraft in November last year.In 2007, he was awarded the prestigious King Charles II medal of the Royal Society and in April this year he became the first Asian to receive the Hoover Medal, America's top engineering prize.

Google launches search tool 'Google Squared'

Google, already the king of Internet search, has rolled out an experimental new search product called "Google Squared." Google Squared does not provide a list of links to Web pages, like with a traditional Google search, but presents information derived from a query in a spreadsheet-like grid called a "square." Users of google.com/squared can then build, modify and refine their "square" through further Web searches. "Unlike a normal search engine, Google Squared doesn't find webpages about your topic -- instead, it automatically fetches and organizes facts from across the Internet," Google said in a preview of the product last month.Google Squared could be useful when a user needs to make multiple searches to find the information they want.It essentially searches the Web to find the types of facts you might be interested in, extracts them and presents them in a meaningful way.The Mountain View, California-based Internet search giant cautioned that Google Squared remains experimental and the technology behind it "is by no means perfect."

AIR FRANCE FLIGHT - MYSTERY

Air France flight AF 447 carrying 228 people disappeared early Monday four hours into its 11-hour flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris after the Airbus A330 encountered severe turbulence over the Atlantic and reported technical failures. The search continued through the night for the missing plane that disappeared over the Atlantic, but little hope of the 228 people on board would be found alive. Recently the search aircraft on Tuesday found a seat and other debris from a plane in a remote stretch of the Atlantic where the flight carrying 228 people disappeared.The "small remains" were discovered around 1,100 kilometres (680 miles) off northeastern Brazil, some 650 kilometers northeast of Brazil's Atlantic island of Fernando do Noronha.The items included a seat from a plane, bits of white material, an orange buoy, a barrel and some oil and kerosene slicks, grouped in two floating patches 60 kilometers apart, according to an air force statement. But they are not sure that the debris was from Air France flight AF 447 and there were no signs of survivors.The officials needed a piece that might have a serial number, some sort of identification to be sure that it came from the missing airliner. However the items were found near where the Air France plane sent its final message: an automatic data signal telling of multiple electric and pressurization failures.A Brazilian air force statement said the debris was discovered at 0300 GMT Tuesday by an Embraer R-99 AWAC plane fitted with onboard radar that detected metallic and non-metallic items floating in the ocean. So still the mystery of the missing flight continuing and may god give strength and courage to the families to bear this sadful disaster.

Was it a fault or natural calamity? Bermuda triangle all again? And what do you mean "Missing"? Is our technology so weak not to find out the plane location even after the crash? comment on this...

TENDULKAR IN SOCIAL SERVICE

Till now we have seen SACHIN only as the batting maestro.But having taken inspiration from his late father (RameshTendulkar) on social responsibilities, he said he will sponsor the education of 200 children, who are part of a Non-Governmental Organisation. He is already looking after welfare of 200 children from the same NGO Apnalaya. So, now Tendulkar to double the educational charity He said he always looked up to his father in trying to understand his social responsibilities. What a dad he had!!! He said that his dad is his inspiration. He mentioned in a press conference that "Whoever turned up at our house, be it the watchman or the postman, would not be allowed to leave without having a cup of tea, which my father served," he said, adding "These incidents taught me all about caring for others. I have learnt from my father and I'm proud of it". Really its good to follow him in these activities rather than sports and am his great fan of these works.