| Total
solar eclipse in India on July 22 New
Delhi: India will witness a total solar eclipse on July 22, the last
of the kind to be visible in the country for the next 105 years. A total solar
eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the sun and the earth, blocking out
the sun from the areas in the moon's shadow. Without the sun's light, the sky
darkens enough for stars to be seen and the corona makes a spectacular halo around
the moon. The upcoming solar eclipse has roused interest in astronomy leading
to a heavy rush in planetariums across the country. In
Kolkata, people flocked to the MP Birla Planetarium to watch a special show on
solar eclipse. "I have come here to see a special show on solar eclipse," said
Manjunath, a visitor. Temples in Bhopal are also witnessing a heavy rush of devotees,
as most of them believe that offering prayers and rituals can ward off the possible
ill effects of the eclipse. "We are all informed about the solar eclipse that
will take place on July 22 morning. If we pray to God, we are sure we will get
rid of all obstacles and ill effects," said Bhagwandas Sabnani, an organiser.
After the solar eclipse on July 22, the next one will be visible in the Indian
sub-continent only 105 years later, on June 3, 2114. The total duration of the
eclipse will be six minutes thirty-nine seconds, visible over the Pacific Ocean.
G Madhavan Nair, Chairman of
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has said that India plans to study
in detail the effects of total solar eclipse on July 22. "We are trying to see
the effect on the ionosphere and the atmosphere when the solar eclipse takes place.
So, we have to collect the data during this period and then one has to go through
the details," Nair said in Thiruvananthapuram. Kanwarias
damage vehicles after accident in Delhi Top New
Delhi: Scores of Kanwaria pilgrims on their way to the holy city of Haridwar
went on the rampage, damaging several vehicles and obstructed normal traffic at
Madhipura in the national capital on Sunday. Reportedly, two Kanwarias were hit
by a car, which infuriated fellow Kanwarias and led to mob violence. The enraged
Kanwarias tried to set a bus on fire after damaging a few buses passing through
Madhipura. “I was coming from Rampura. A car came towards from behind. The man
in the car saw my Kanwar (carrier of holy water). He had already applied brake
but I think he pressed the accelerator again because of which I fell down,” said
Monu, an injured Kanwaria pilgrim. Monu also expressed dissatisfaction at the
facilities that the Kanwarias were being provided in New Delhi , saying: “The
Delhi government has not done anything for us. The Uttar Pradesh government is
much better.” Every year, the Kanwarias travel hundreds of kilometres on foot
to reach the holy town of Haridwar to collect water from River Ganges and return
to their hometowns, where the water is offered at the local Shiva temple. And
often, incidents of violence are reported whenever these Kanwaria pilgrims are
knocked down or hit by vehicles enroute. Jyoti
Basu discharged from hospital Top Kolkata:
Communist Party of India (Marxist) patriarch and former West Bengal Chief Minister
Jyoti Basu on Sunday was discharged from hospital following improvement in his
condition. The 96-year-old was admitted to the Intensive Cardiac Care Unit (ICCU)
of AMRI hospital, where a panel of doctors had been attending to him for breathing
problem and old age related complications. “Basu is progressing well. The medical
board constituted for his treatment met this morning and reviewed his condition
and decided to discharge him today,” a medical statement issued by AMRI hospital
said. “The panel of doctors will continue to monitor his progress at his residence
from time to time,” the statement added. A team of specialised doctors would now
administer Basu’s further treatment at his residence. Tata
threatens to scrap UK electric cars project Top London:
Tata Motors executives will warn Business Secretary Lord Mandelson that they will
scrap plans to build electric cars in the UK if it does not receive a 10 million
pound loan soon. The company is furious after being told by officials from Mandelson's
Business Department last week that it needed more time to find out if the venture
will be considered for the loan, taking the total waiting time to six months.
Recently, Mandelson launched the UK's "low carbon industrial strategy" with great
fanfare, aimed at helping manufacturers of technologies like electric cars, The
Guardian reports. In April, Tata Motors registered its expression of interest
to apply for the 10 million pound loan to help launch the new Vista electric vehicle,
which was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show this year, and build an assembly line
for it in the UK. But last Tuesday, the company was told that it would take another
eight weeks for the Business Department to decide whether it had met the necessary
criteria and can be considered for the loan. One Tata Motors executive wrote to
colleagues complaining of having to "jump through hoops" to make sure the company
could repay the loan, the paper reports. Executives will meet Ian Lucas MP, who
oversees the 2.3 billion pound car assistance package, and deliver a petition
signed by senior managers from Tata Motors' R&D centre, TMETC, based at Warwick
University, which helped design the car. Tata Motors' Norwegian subsidiary, Miljo,
has already been awarded a six million pound loan and a one million pound grant
from the Norwegian Government for electric cars. Tata Motors also remains in deadlock
in talks with the department over securing support for Jaguar Land Rover. The
firm secured 292 million pound loan from the European Investment Bank in April,
but this needs to be guaranteed by the British Government and the two sides still
cannot reach agreement on the conditions, the paper reports. Electricity
disconnected at Musharraf's farmhouse as he fails to clear dues Top Lahore:
The Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) has disconnected the power supply
to former President Pervez Musharraf's Chak Shahzad farm house, after he failed
to pay outstanding bills. PEPCO's Managing Director Tahir Basharat said notices
have been issued to Musharraf along with 34 other residents of Chak Shahzad over
'misuse' of electricity. Musharraf was given an electric connection for his farmhouse
on agricultural rates, which are much lower than the domestic tariff. He, however,
regularized the connection after much media interference. The Islamabad Electric
Supply Company (Iesco), in its enquiry, had also found that Musharraf has been
illegally using the agriculture tariff, and has sought recovery of about 400,000
rupees from him. |
