NASA delays launch of satellite to track carbon pollution

WASHINGTON: A water flow problem on Tuesday forced the US space agency to postpone the launch of a satellite to track atmospheric carbon dioxide, a leading greenhouse gas.

The Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 was due to take off atop a Delta 2 rocket at 2:56 am Pacific time (0956 GMT) from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. But the operation was halted 46 seconds before scheduled liftoff time due to an issue with water flow to the rocket, NASA said.

The launch window on Tuesday was quite short, just 30 seconds.

The timing had to be precise so that the satellite could join the A-Train, a constellation of five other international Earth-observing satellites.

More details on the nature of the problem and a time for the next launch attempt were expected later Tuesday, NASA commentator George Diller said.

NASA´s previous attempts to launch carbon satellites failed in 2009 and 2011. (AFP)

Elders fear government has decided to launch NWA operation

 

PESHAWAR: The recent talks between the government and North Waziristan tribal jirga in Peshawar proved a futile exercise as both sides had reportedly stuck to their demands that made the jirga members understand that the government was going to launch a full-scale military operation, said a senior member of the jirga, Hafiz Noorullah Shah.
“In our meetings with the corps commander and later with the government, the only thing we noted was the government has made up its mind to conduct a military operation in North Waziristan,” said Hafiz Noorullah Shah, a cleric who runs a madrassa in Miranshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan.

Earlier, another member of the jirga, Maulana Gul Ramazan had stated that the government had given them a two-week deadline to expel all foreign militants from North Waziristan and the government would not use force there.

However, Hafiz Noorullah Shah seemed quite disappointed and said they were going to Waziristan to bring their families and valuables out of the tribal region as, according to him, the government was preparing for the operation there.

Talking to this correspondent on phone while on his way to Miranshah, he said they demanded of the government to remove the recently installed five military observation posts in Mir Ali and Miranshah, which, according to him, had caused unrest among the local tribespeople and Taliban leadership.

Hafiz Noorullah Shah said that the government had agreed with them to remove the military observation posts but the jirga would need to expel all foreign and non-local Pakistani militants from the tribal region.

The jirga members had spent two days, Friday and Saturday, in hectic meetings mostly with senior military officials in Peshawar and tried their best to convince the military authorities and government to issue a statement that they would not launch a military operation so that the tribespeople could stop fleeing their houses and villages.

Tribal elder Haji Sher Mohammad Wazir, the grandson of late freedom fighter Mirza Ali Khan alias the Faqir of Ipi, and a religious leader Maulana Gul Ramazan, had led the tribal jirga that comprised tribal elders and clerics.On Saturday evening, the North Waziristan Taliban leader Hafiz Gul Bahadur called some of the jirga members and wanted to learn from them about the outcome of their meetings with the governor and corps commander.

“Obviously we didn’t have good news for the Taliban shura and the people of Waziristan. Hafiz Gul Bahadur agreed that foreign people had to leave the tribal region for the sake of the people but not at this time when the government had put a gun to his head,” Hafiz Noorullah Shah explained.

Fearing a military operation, the local Taliban had asked tribespeople to shift their families out of Waziristan before June 10. Also, they had asked the tribespeople to avoid taking shelter in the government-run camps meant for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and advised them to go to neighbouring Afghanistan, if fighting erupted.

Asked whether the Taliban would extend the deadline, Hafiz Noorullah Shah said the Taliban shura wasn’t satisfied with the meetings between the jirga and government, therefore they should extend the June 10 deadline.

According to sources, the military authorities and particularly the Corps Commander Peshawar Lt Gen Khalid Rabbani had made it clear to the jirga members that the time has come they should realise their responsibilities as elders after signing a peace accord with the government in 2006-7 and pledged that they would be responsible for maintaining order and would not allow foreigners to stay there.

In the past, the tribal elders after sensing military action would come to Peshawar and Islamabad and make promises of taking action against foreigners and under tribal traditions would succeed in avoiding the use of force there.

This time, the jirga members admitted that the tone of the government and military officials had changed.Malik Sher Mohammad Waziri however hoped they would avoid the use of force through negotiations.

“The task is no doubt difficult but we will talk to our elders in Waziristan to find a peaceful solution. We would tell the people that we don’t want to fight against our armed forces and if someone is willing to fight then we would vacate Waziristan and let them do their work. But I must say the people of Waziristan are peace loving Pakistanis. Mehsud tribespeople are our brothers and would convince them to leave their area,” Sher Mohammad Wazir said.

 

NASA approves space station supply launch

CAPE CANAVERAL: NASA is pressing ahead with Monday´s planned launch of a supply ship despite a critical computer outage at the International Space Station, determining the situation is safe.

Mission managers decided Sunday to proceed with the countdown for the SpaceX Dragon capsule, already a month late in delivering more than 2 tons of cargo.

"We´re good to go," said NASA space station program manager Mike Suffredini.

Suffredini noted the many important supplies aboard the Dragon, including a new spacesuit and repair parts for the older spacesuits already in orbit.

Much-needed food is also packed away."There´s a certain amount of urgency to go ahead and get these vehicles" at the space station, Suffredini told reporters.

These shipments have to fit around other space station operations, like crew comings and goings.

"Things start to bunch up," Suffredini said, "and so we´re just trying to fly as soon as we safely can, which is what we believe we´re doing.

"This backup computer, located on the outside of the space station, mysteriously failed to work when activated Friday.

The main computer kept operating perfectly, and the six-man crew was never in any danger.

NASA debated whether to delay the SpaceX mission and, on Sunday, determined the station has sufficient redundancy to safely support the visiting vessel.

A spacewalk will be required, meanwhile, to replace the bad computer. Engineers don´t know why it failed.

Suffredini said the spacewalk will be conducted by a pair of astronauts on April 22, using suits outfitted with new fan components to avoid the near-disaster that occurred last summer.

An Italian astronaut almost drowned when his helmet flooded with water from the suit´s cooling system.

An April 22 spacewalk will give SpaceX two chances to get its unmanned Dragon capsule flying.

Good weather is forecast for Monday´s 4:58 p.m. (2058 GMT) launch. If that doesn´t work, the next launch attempt for the California company´s Falcon rocket would come Friday.

Aishwarya Rai, Big B, Kajol at Rajinikanth’s ‘Kochadiiyaan’ first look launch

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan launched the first look of Tamil superstar and friend Rajinikanth’s much awaited film ‘Kochadaiiyaan’ in Mumbai on Sunday (March 30).

In Pics: Aishwarya Rai, Amitabh Bachchan launch Rajinikanth’s ‘Kochadaiiyaan’

Amitabh Bachchan was joined by his wife Jaya Bachchan and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Aishwarya, who has worked with Rajinikanth in blockbuster ‘Robot’, was also seen with her mother Brinda Rai at the event. However, film’s lead actress Deepika Padukone did a no show at the event.

Big B has earlier tweeted, “Launching first look of dear family friend, colleague and admirer of Rajnikanth, tonight, of his film Kochdiiyaan’.

Bollywood actress Kajol, actors Anupam Kher and Kunnal Roy Kapur along with filmmaker Subhash Ghai were among the attendees.

Earlier, Shah Rukh Khan had launched the music for the film in Chennai, where he was accompanied by the film’s lead actress Deepika Padukone and other celebs.

The film’s director and Rajinikanth’s daughter Soundarya initially wanted Amitabh Bachchan to the launch the film’s music however due to other commitments Big B could not make it.

  

Meanwhile, Amitabh Bachchan is busy promoting his upcoming film ‘Bhoothnath Returns’ and is also shooting for the television serial.

Nawaz, Shahbaz spend little time at Pindi Metro launch

ISLAMABAD: The auspicious day of March 23 was specifically chosen for the groundbreaking of the grand Metro Bus Service (MBS) project by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to give a message that the present government wants to realize the dreams of the forefathers of the homeland.

However, guests at the impressive ceremony held near Flashman’s Hotel, the starting point of the MBS, including the sitting federal and provincial legislators, the defeated candidates of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), members of the civil society and the elite of town were disappointed as neither the prime minister nor the chief minister spared even a few moments to mingle with them as they had been doing in the past. Several bureaucrats also waited in vain for at least a handshake by the prime minister to mark their recognition.

“It was on such occasions that we used to get an opportunity for a brief chat with the prime minister otherwise it is now almost impossible to have a one-on-one meeting with him,” a ruling party MP remarked to The News. “This policy needs to be reviewed.”

Both Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif were in a hurry. They came, saw a few minutes’ documentary on the MBS, deliveredSharif were in a hurry. They came, saw a few minutes’ documentary on the MBS, delivered their written and extempore speeches and quickly left the scene. It was clear from their arrival and departure that they were hard-pressed because of time and had a lot to do elsewhere. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was no different. He came with them and quickly left with them. He has become much preoccupied because of talks with the Taliban.

The prime minister had a very busy schedule on Sunday and could not manage to squeeze time to mix with the guests at the MBS ceremony.At 8 in the morning, he chaired a meeting on the forthcoming talks of the government committee with the advisory council of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), then attended the Pakistan Day function at the Presidency, and subsequently presided over the MBS function before going from here straight to the airport to fly abroad to attend a conference.

Those who have been attending such functions of Nawaz Sharif for years during his previous governments say that he was always easily accessible on these occasions. The security concerns now weigh heavily on every mind and are apparently a major hurdle in his mingling.

However, both the brothers delivered passionate speeches, bemoaning the wastage of time and resources by their predecessors. The prime minister also said that some small countries, which were far behind Pakistan a few decades, have now gone far ahead of our country because of development and progress due to the sincerity of the leadership.

Conversely, he stated, successive rulers pushed Pakistan into deep abyss. Terrorism is one such menace created by them, he said. In the last 65 years, Pakistan has not progressed much due to their wrong approaches and strategies.

Workaholic Shahbaz Sharif has publicly announced to complete gigantic MBS project in just ten months, which would be a sort of rare record. Though the project is presently estimated to cost Rs44.5 billion, it would certainly involve considerably more public money. Development work amounting to approximately Rs5 billion would have to be executed every month to meet the deadline.

The prime minister lauded the capability and capacity of Shahbaz Sharif and said the chief minister has proved his talent by completing the Lahore MBS in a record period.The chief minister conceded that he had not correctly estimated the share of the Punjab and federal governments in funding the MSB. It was early 50-50 formula. But he said he has now come to know that his government will have to spend increased funds, and therefore, he requested the prime minister to hike the federal share to which Nawaz Sharif agreed.

The officials of the federal and Punjab government, who would be supervising the project, would be required to be extra vigilant and watchful, and may have to spend sleepless night as the chief minister is expected to spend much of his time in looking after each and every stage and detail of the project with his physical presence here. If he did not do so, it can’t be completed in ten months.

It will be a great challenge for Shahbaz Sharif, whose government, however, surpasses all other provincial administrations due to its good governance and efficiency. The officials who have worked with him in Punjab know his style of work and had been coming up to his expectations, but no such culture exists at the federal level since long. Many heads may roll for inefficiency as work on the MBS project proceeds.

Kim Kardashian wants to launch a boys line

"We are hoping to in the future! Starting with a baby boys line," Kim said.

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian is keen to create a clothing line for boys in the future.
The 33-year-old and her sisters Kourtney and Khloe have just released a collection, KardashianKids, for baby girls, but they eventually would like to branch out and create stunning pieces for men, reported New York Daily News.
“We are hoping to in the future! Starting with a baby boys line,” Kim said.
Kim has been keen to create a line specifically for children after welcoming her daughter North into the world last June with her fiance Kanye West, who is also a designer.
Meanwhile, Kim, Kourtney and Khloe have been busy with their new Spring 2014 Kardashian Kollection for Lipsy, but would investigate the possibility of creating clothing for
mothers-to-be in the future.

SRK TO ATTEND THE MUSIC LAUNCH OF ‘KOCHADAIIYAAN’

We all know that Shah Rukh Khan is a big fan of megastar Rajinikanth. The actor had also dedicated a song to Rajinikanth in his movie ‘Chennai Express’ and now tomorrow SRK will be attending the trailer and the music launch of Rajinikanth's ‘Kochadaiiyaan’.

On Sunday morning, SRK will take a charter plane to Chennai, where he will join Deepika Padukone, A.R Rahman and others.

The director of ‘Kochadaiiyaan’, Soundarya Rajinikanth Ashwin, confirmed the news and said, "Yes, we are delighted that Shah Rukh Khan will be present on the occasion. He has always voiced his staunch support towards all of Mr Rajinikanth's work and has gone out of his way to be part of the launch."

SRK to Bond With Rajnikanth at Kochadaiyaan Launch

The much awaited audio launch of Rajnikanth's Kochadaiyaan is finally set for March 9. Interestingly, Shah Rukh Khan will also be part of the event to be held at Chennai this Sunday. We all know Shah Rukh has so much admiration for Rajinikanth that he immediately accepted the invitation for the event.

 

"I called him (Shah Rukh) to come for the function, and he instantly agreed. He told me, 'It's like my film' and that he'll surely be there," the film's director Soundarya Rajnikanth Ashwin said to a leading tabloid. However, the film's heroine Deepika shows no signs of coming for the event. We wonder if there is some trouble between the makers and Deepika.

 

The music scored by A R Rahman, has nine tracks and there is a special song Maattram Ondrudhaan Maaraadhadhu crooned by Rajnikanth himself along with Haricharan and lyrics penned by Vairamuthu. Directed by Soundarya R Ashwin, the film's cast consists of Rajnikanth, Deepika Padukone, Shobana, Sarath Kumar, Nassar, and Jackie Shroff.

Trailer Launch of Subhash Ghai's Kaanchi a Huge Success!

Subhash Ghai launched the trailer for his upcoming film Kaanchi in true Showman style. The event took place at Cinemax yesterday afternoon. Subhash Ghai was present with his two leading actors- Kartik Aaryan and debutante Mishti. Imtiaz Ali was also present and gave a speech, saying, "I have never seen a director as successful as Subhash Ghai."

 

Subhash Ghai said, "Main movies mein jiya hoon aur movies mein hi marunga." "Kaanchi is a commercial film which each one of you will love," he also said.

 

The trailer went live at 5 pm, immediately creating buzz on social media. Starring Rishi Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, Kartik Aaryan, Mishit, Chandan Roy Sanyal and Rishabh Sinha, Kaanchi is Ghai's first film in more than five years. Mishti plays the protagonist in the film. The film revolves around the story of a woman who fights against the injustice in country. Kaanchi is slated to release on 25th April, 201

Kurram hails launch of Diplomat Business Club for promoting business

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Commerce, Engneer Khurram Dastgir Khan on Friday welcomed the launch of Diplomat Business Club for promoting business and trade relations between Pakistan and other countries.
The Diplomate Business Club, Pakistan Chapter was launched here at an impressive ceremony, said a press release.
The ceremony was attended by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Syed Tariq Fatemi, Ambassador Javed Malik, President of the Diplomat Business Club (Global).
Ambassadors representing more than 30 countries were present along with Pakistani business leaders including Presidents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce as well as senior representatives of FPCCI and SAARC Chamber of Commerce.
A ten-member multinational business delegation that is visiting Pakistan to explore business, trade and investment opportunities was also present on the occasion which included delegates from United Arab Emirates, Canada, United Kingdom, Malaysia, Portugal, and United States.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Syed Tariq Fatemi also appreciated the formation of Diplomat Business Club's Pakistan chapter.
He expressed the confidence that this initiative led by Ambassador Javed Malik would open the doors for closer collaboration between businessmen and diplomats to explore further opportunities of mutual cooperation.
He congratulated Ambassador Javed Malik for taking this initiative, adding that it should be expanded in other major cities of the country.
In his keynote address,President of the Diplomat Business Club (Global) Ambassador Javed Malik,highlighted the significance of the trade and economic diplomacy in today's world.
Javid Malik said that Club provides a platform for diplomats and business leaders to work together in the common pursuit of expanding business and trade relations between their countries and also creates networking opportunities for businessmen from different countries to collaborate with each other.
He paid tribute to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's vision for economic development.
He said "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the government has clear road map to take Pakistan out of the challenges and put it on the road for progress and prosperity, and the world community appreciates the positive steps taken by the Prime Minister and his team".