Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) made her first public appearance since being wounded in a tragic shooting in Tucson, Arizona earlier this year in which numerous victims were hurt or had their lives taken, ABC News reports.
According to the outlet, Giffords attended a ceremony at Space Center Houston in Texas at which her husband astronaut Mark Kelly -- who recently announced his retirement from NASA, effective October 1 -- was awarded the Spaceflight Medal, which is given to shuttle members upon safely returning home from their missions.
ABC News reports:
Her hair was much shorter than in previously published photos. She was wearing glasses, a beige scarf, a light shirt, jeans and sneakers. She smiled and waved to the crowd.
Giffords and Kelly held hands for most of the event. She appeared to chat with people sitting around her, and laughed when the crew of STS-134, the Space Shuttle Endeavour's last mission, was introduced. Kelly commanded the mission.
The Arizona congresswoman herself reportedly received a standing ovation at the event.
In announcing his plans to retire last week, Kelly said that he plans to spend more time by his wife's side.
"As life takes unexpected turns we frequently come to a crossroads," he wrote in a message posted on his Facebook page. "I am at this point today. Gabrielle is working hard every day on her mission of recovery. I want to be by her side. Stepping aside from my work in the Navy and at NASA will allow me to be with her and with my two daughters. I love them all very much and there is no doubt that we will move forward together. After some time off, I will look at new opportunities and am hopeful that one day I will again serve our country."
2011 Amarnath yatra is underway in the middle of tight security arrangements. The annual Amarnath yatra to the south Kashmir holy cave shrine kicks off amid 10,000 security military service have been moving into position.
Around 5,000 paramilitary CRPF have been positioned for security of the pilgrims along the old Pahalgam way and the shorter Baltal way, according to the officials. Security personnel have also been positioned all along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and between Khanabal and Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Srinagar and Baltal in Ganderbal district. The first batch of almost 2,000 pilgrims from Jammu will be travelling to the holy cave shrine from Pahalgam and Baltal from tomorrow. The yatra will concludes on August 13 2011 coinciding with Raksha Bandhan festival.
The temple is a popular yatra destination for Hindus – about 400,000 people visit during the 45-day season around the festival of Shravani Mela in July–August, coinciding with the Hindu holy month of Shraavana. The beginning of the annual pilgrimage, called Amarnath Yatra, to the Himalayan cave shrine is marked by ‘pratham pujan’ to invoke the blessings of Shri Amarnathji. Devotees generally take the 42 km (26 mi) pilgrimage on foot from the town of Pahalgam, about 96 km (60 mi) from Srinagar, and cover the journey in four to five days. There are two alternate routes to the temple: the longer and more traditional path from Srinagar, and the shorter route from the town of Baltal. Some devotees, particularly the elderly, also ride on horse-back to make the journey. Those who so wish and have the money can now make the journey by helicopter.
Anushka Sharma was detained by custom officials at the Mumbai international airport for carrying unaccounted gold, diamond-studded jewellery and other belongings. She was apparently interrogated for over nine hours and was finally let off after that.
The actress, who landed here yesterday at 2:30 pm from the IIFA award ceremony in Toronto was let off, past midnight after questioning for more than nine hours. Her statement has been recorded and she will be called for questioning again if required, customs commissioner, PM Govande told PTI.
Customs officials are also verifying the documents provided by her claiming that the belongings were taken from India, he said.
The 23-year-old Baand Baaja Baraat star claimed that while going abroad, she had taken the valuables from India and had declared the goods at that time and hence need not pay the duty.
She was stopped by the customs while passing through the green channel after she was found in possession of gold and diamond-studded jewellery and two watches collectively worth Rs 35 lakhs approximately, officials said.
The pretty actress seems to be having a rough time of it currently.
She said: 'The wedding’s on hold. I’m not ready. He needs to show me that he’s the one I want to be with. I don’t have to be with him. I know I’ll be OK. He’s not the be all and end all.'
