'Best Teacher Award' To Karnataka Principal Withheld Over "Anti-Hijab" Stand

The Karnataka government has withheld its decision to give the best teacher award to a principal of a government college over his alleged anti-hijab stand during the headscarf row in the state two years ago, sources in the Education Department said on Thursday.

Ramakrishna BG, principal of Government Pre-University College at Kundapura in Udupi district, was supposed to receive the honour on Teachers' Day, but the decision was kept on hold after the Congress government drew criticism from some activists of the Muslim community, the sources said.

"The reason behind the anger against the teacher is his alleged stand during the hijab row," a department official said. "The government had earlier announced his name but now it has been withheld," a source said.

Ramakrishna was not available for comment.

Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa clarified that the award is only withheld and not cancelled.

"There was a government order regarding the issues those days it had happened. At that time the behaviour of the teacher was in question. That is the information I got after announcing the award. So I have told the department to check that and get back to me. So, till that it is only withheld. It has not been cancelled," the minister told PTI.

On whether the decision was taken based on the allegations, he said people will say allegation and controversy, but his department does not look at it that way.

"... But it's my duty to check that and take the next step," Bangarappa said.

Explaining further, the minister said, "If he was wrong I would have immediately cancelled. If he is right then I would have already given. When something is in question it is my duty to check that, which I am going to do. That is what I have told my officers to do." He asked people not to politicise this issue.

BJP MLA from Mangalore City North constituency Y Bharath Shetty slammed the government, saying that it insulted a teacher by succumbing to the "pressure created by jihadi elements".

"The Congress government in Karnataka has done a very shameful thing by withdrawing the best state level teacher award to Ramakrishna BG. The state government had announced the award after following the checklist and found him eligible for the award," Shetty said.

"The main reason behind withdrawing the award is that the jihadi elements, organisations like SDPI and PFI tweeted that this teacher should not be given this award because during the hijab issue he had stopped the students wearing hijab from entering the college," he said.

The MLA said Ramakrishna had only followed the then official order, being a government employee. "It is very insulting for the teaching community that you announce an award, and then you take it back because some jihadi elements are forcing you to do so."

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/JWx5HRG
via IFTTT

This Navy SEAL, Mathematician, Harvard Doctor Will Now Be A NASA Astronaut

Lieutenant Commander Jonny Kim has a resume that would make Asian parents swell with pride. At 40, he is already a decorated Navy SEAL, a Harvard-trained physician, and now, a NASA astronaut preparing for his next great adventure – space. 

The Los Angeles native joined NASA in 2017 and will be launched into space aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft in March 2025. On his mission, accompanied by two Russian cosmonauts, he will spend nearly eight months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), conducting critical scientific investigations and preparing the station for future missions.

Mr Kim's journey to the stars is as impressive as his other accomplishments. He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of San Diego before graduating from Harvard Medical School. He served as an emergency room intern at Massachusetts General Hospital. 

But his medical career came after a decade of service as a Navy SEAL. He is also a dual-designated naval aviator and flight surgeon. 

In NASA, Mr Kim has played several roles, including that of lead operations officer for Expedition 65 and the T-38 operations liaison, within the organisation. Now, he is set to take on his most challenging role yet – living and working in space.

Mr Kim's mission comes when NASA is grappling with unforeseen challenges. Two other astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, remain stranded on the ISS due to malfunctions in the Boeing Starliner spacecraft.

The issues, caused by helium leaks that were more extensive than previously believed, have forced NASA to delay their return to Earth until a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule can bring them home in February next year. 

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/KoA0E7W
via IFTTT

113/1 In 6 Overs: Australia Shatter World Record En Route To Massive Win

113 in just 6 overs - If it is Australia, anything is possible. On Wednesday, in a T20I against Scotland, Australia launched an all-out attacks to chase down a 155-run target in just 9.4 overs. Australia scored 113/1 in the Powerplay - most by a team in T20I. Travis Head scored 73 in the Powerplay - highest by a batter in the Powerplay. "It has been a nice period for the last couple of years, really enjoying the environment and a few of us that have been around for a while and also loving the atmosphere with quite a few youngsters coming in," Head said after the win. 

Highest PowerPlay score in T20Is

1) Australia 113/1 vs Scotland, 2024

2) South Africa 102/0 vs West Indies, 2023

3) West Indies 98/4 vs Sri Lanka, 2021

4) West Indies 93/0 vs Ireland, 2020

Travis Head smashed 80 off 25 balls as Australia chased down Scotland's 154 to win Wednesday's T20 international in Edinburgh inside 10 overs. Opener Head blitzed five sixes and 12 fours as Australia set the highest-ever T20 international first powerplay score of 113/1 for the opening six overs. The tourists had lost a wicket without a run on the board as Jake Fraser-McGurk fell to a three-ball duck.

But Head and captain Mitchell Marsh bludgeoned the Scotland attack. Marsh smashed 30 off one over from Jack Jarvis, while Head reached his half century from just 17 balls. Both fell to Mark Watt in the seventh over but by then the damage had already been done.

Wicketkeeper Josh Inglis was able to pick up the baton as his quick-fire unbeaten 27 helped earn Australia a seven-wicket victory with 62 balls to spare.

Earlier, George Munsey top scored for Scotland with 28. Sean Abbott was the pick of the Australia bowlers with three for 39.

Scotland 154/9 in 20 overs (George Munsey 28; Sean Abbott 3-39) v Australia 156/3 in 9.4 overs (Travis Head 80, Mitchell Marsh 39; Mark Watt 2-13)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/x1yzfj3
via IFTTT

Oceanographers Discover Undersea Mountain Taller Than Mount Olympus

Imagine stacking four skyscrapers the height of Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, on top of each other. That's almost the height of an underwater mountain recently discovered and mapped by oceanographers from the Schmidt Ocean Institute in California, the New York Post reported.

This massive seamount, located in the Pacific Ocean about 1,448 kilometres off the coast of Chile, rises 3,109 meters from the ocean floor. It's part of an underwater mountain range teeming with life, including sponge gardens, ancient corals, and rare marine species such as a previously unfilmed species of squid.

The discovery was made during a 28-day expedition led by the Schmidt Ocean Institute aboard the research vessel R/V Falkor (too). The team used a sonar system beneath the ship's hull to map the mountain in detail.

"Sound waves travel down, bounce off the surface, and return. By measuring the time it takes for the sound to return, we can create a detailed map of the seabed," explained Jyotika Virmani, the institute's executive director.

This discovery is significant because only about 26% of the seafloor has been mapped at this level of detail, even though the seafloor covers 71% of the Earth's surface.

Oceanographers estimate there are at least 100,000 seamounts around the world that are taller than 1,000 meters (3,280 feet). These underwater mountains provide crucial habitats for a wide range of species. The newly mapped seamount, which is taller than Mount Olympus in Greece (2,917 meters or 9,570 feet), but shorter than Japan's Mount Fuji (3,776 meters or 12,388 feet), is nearly four times the height of Burj Khalifa (830 meters or 2,723 feet).

Using an underwater robot, the team explored one of the mountain's ridges and discovered an area rich in marine biodiversity. Among their finds was a ghostly white octopus, nicknamed "Casper," marking the first time this deep-sea creature has been observed in the southern Pacific. The team also spotted two rare Bathyphysa siphonophores, which are sometimes referred to as "flying spaghetti monsters" due to their string-like appearance.

"The Casper octopus has never been captured, so it doesn't yet have a scientific name," Virmani noted.

Additionally, the team recorded the first-ever footage of a live Promachoteuthis squid, a species previously known only from a few collected specimens.

These discoveries were among the highlights of the research vessel's third expedition this year to the Nazca Ridge, an area in international waters. According to Virmani, this region could potentially become the world's first high seas marine protected area under a new UN treaty adopted in 2023.

"Across the three expeditions, we mapped and explored 25 seamounts, which is quite a number," Virmani said. "We've gathered significant data that could help make the case for protecting this region."

The previous expeditions in January and February led to the identification of 150 previously unknown species. During this latest expedition, an additional 20 potential new species were discovered.

Details of these newly discovered species will be shared with the Ocean Census, a global initiative aiming to identify 100,000 unknown species over the next decade. This effort is crucial for better understanding and protecting the deep-sea ecosystem.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/1GjKJzs
via IFTTT

Saturn's Rings To 'Disappear' In 2025. Will They Return? Read About It

Saturn, the sixth planet from the Sun in our Solar system, is celebrated for its breathtaking ring system, a marvel of celestial wonder. Comprising billions of icy particles and small rock fragments, these iconic rings have captivated astronomers and space enthusiasts for centuries, inspiring awe and fascination with their sheer scale and beauty. However, these rings will seemingly disappear from view in 2025. According to Earth.com, Saturn won't actually lose its rings in 2025, but they will become invisible to us. 

Why Won't Saturn's Rings Be Visible?

It all has to do with planetary alignment. The phenomenon happens because the planet rotates on an axis tilted by 26.7 degrees, and the view of its rings from Earth changes with time. As the planet's axis tilts in its unique way, the rings will slenderly align, edge-on to our viewpoint, hiding them from our sight. 

To understand it better, think of Saturn's rings like a sheet of paper that is viewed edge-on from a distance. Just as the paper's surface is nearly invisible when seen from the side, the rings will be significantly less visible during this alignment, although not completely disappearing from view. 

Fortunately, this change is temporary, recurring every 29.5 years as Saturn orbits the Sun. The rings will reappear after March 2025, only to disappear again in November 2025, due to Saturn's axial tilt. Its rings will come back into full view by 2032.

''Every 13 to 15 years, Earth sees Saturn's rings edge-on, meaning they reflect very little light and are very difficult to see, making them essentially invisible,", Vahe Peroomian, professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Southern California, told CBS News.

The rings last went edge-on in 2009 and they will be precisely edge-on on March 23, 2025, he said. 

What are Saturm's rings made of?

The origin of Saturn's rings remains a topic of debate among astronomers, with theories ranging from the remnants of a destroyed moon or comet torn apart by Saturn's gravity to material leftover from the planet's formation over 4 billion years ago.

Composed primarily of ice particles, rocky debris, and cosmic dust, the rings present a breathtaking spectacle visible from Earth with a telescope. The ring particles vary greatly in size, from tiny sand-like grains to massive chunks as large as houses or school buses. Notably, Saturn's ring system is not a single, solid entity but rather a collection of distinct sections, including the prominent A, B, and C rings, accompanied by the fainter D, E, F, and G rings. These sections are separated by gaps, such as the notable Cassini Division, which stretches approximately 4,800 kilometers wide.

The shapes and configurations of the rings are largely influenced by gravitational interactions with Saturn's numerous moons, including "shepherd moons" that orbit near the ring edges and maintain order by exerting gravitational forces on the ring particles.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/svgCx4d
via IFTTT

Watch: Tennis Star Booed At US Open For "Humiliating" Ball Girl

Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva found herself in hot water after a viral video captured her mistreating a ball girl during her US Open match against Jasmine Paolini. The 29-year-old tennis player's actions drew widespread criticism and condemnation.

The incident occurred during the second set when Ms Putintseva, clearly frustrated with her performance, failed to acknowledge or respond to the ball girl's attempts to provide her with balls. The ball girl's visible shock and the crowd's subsequent boos underscored the severity of Putintseva's behaviour.

Former world No. 1 Boris Becker was among those who condemned Putintseva's actions, calling her behaviour "terrible." While some argued that Putintseva might not have been paying attention due to her frustration or a conversation with someone in the stands, her actions were undeniably rude and disrespectful.

"Who does Putintseva think she is ... Terrible behaviour towards the ball girl !!!" Becker wrote on X, including a video of the moment.

Who does Putintseva think she is …
Terrible behaviour towards the ball girl !!! https://t.co/Uz8gH7Rx0g

— Boris Becker (@TheBorisBecker) September 1, 2024

Some said Ms Putintseva appeared to be talking with someone in the stands and that she didn't seem to notice the first or second balls being tossed to her.

Ms Putintseva later issued an apology, admitting that her emotions had gotten the better of her and that she was not intentionally targeting the ball girl. However, the damage was already done, and her actions will likely have lasting consequences.

"I want to apologize to the ball girl for the way I was, when she was giving me balls," Putintseva wrote on her Instagram Story in a since-expired post. "Honestly speaking it was not about her.

"I was really pissed at myself by not winning the game from the break point and then got empty with my emotions and deep in my thoughts, that I was not even focusing on what's going on and who gives me the ball... All the ball kids was doing amazing as always at the Open."

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/BJ3CnSy
via IFTTT

Wearing Garland Of "Ignored" Complaints, Man Rolls Into Collector's Office

His complaints against corruption allegedly ignored for years, a man from Madhya Pradesh assembled a garland out of the documents and made an entrance into a district collector's office that left everyone stunned. Crawling on the road and then rolling on it, the man dragged several other documents containing what he claimed was "evidence" behind him, finally getting the attention that he was so desperately seeking. 

Like every Tuesday, a public hearing was being conducted in the office of the Neemuch district collector to address people's grievances when Mukesh Prajapati was spotted crawling on his elbows - a garland of documents around him and several others sewn together on a rope trailing him. As he switched to rolling on the road and made his way to the entrance, it emerged that Mr Prajapat had been complaining against the alleged corrupt acts carried out by the sarpanch of his village, Kankariya, and claimed he had not been heard for over six years. 

His shirt off and keeping a slipper on his head, Mr Prajapati said, "I have been complaining about the corrupt sarpanch for six to seven years, but no action has been taken. This is not out of self-interest. I am shining a light on corruption in the interest of the country."

Sub-Divisional Magistrate Mamta Khede told news agency PTI that Mr Prajapati had complained against a sarpanch, and the Panchayat and Rural Development had already conducted a probe into the allegations levelled by him.

District Collector Himanshu Chandra said he has ordered a fresh investigation into the complaints and asked for a report within three days.

"A team has been asked to go to the village and look into the complaints of corruption made by the man. I have asked for a report to be submitted within three days and action will be taken based on that," said Mr Chandra. 

Videos of the unique protest were shared widely on social media and one of them was also picked up by the handle of the Madhya Pradesh Congress. 

"This person, crawling and dragging documents of complaints and evidence, depicts the helplessness of the Mohan Yadav government. His name is Mukesh Prajapati and he has reached the collector's office seeking justice," the post on the Madhya Pradesh Congress handle said in Hindi. 

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/Aw2tNKR
via IFTTT