NEW DELHI: World number one Viswanathan Anand ended his seven-year wait for a second World chess championship crown by taking a short draw against Hungarian Peter Leko in the 14th and final round in Mexico City on Saturday.
Needing just a draw to claim the championship when the final round began, Anand and Leko reeled off 20 moves in quick time, as was anticipated, and shook hands. The draw gave Anand an unsurpassable tally of nine points and the title, worth $3,90,000.
Unlike Anand’s maiden title in Tehran in 2000, the latest conquest makes him the undisputed World champion.
“I am feeling the same way as I did seven years ago,” the 37-year-old champion told The Hindu on Sunday. “This is somewhat special in the sense the competition was very tough and to come out undefeated gives a great feeling.”
Dethroned champion Vladimir Kramnik holds a one-time right to challenge Anand next year over a stipulated number of games.
Anand is expected to come to India in mid-October to a fitting reception.
Friday, October 5, 2007
15 women die in stampede in Mughalsarai railway station
MUGHALSARAI: Fifteen women were killed and 48 people injured in a stampede on the staircase of an over-bridge at Mughalsarai railway station in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.
There was a sudden surge of people, who alighted from two trains which arrived almost simultaneously on platforms 5 and 6 around 1.45 p.m., on the staircase leading to the stampede, said Divisional Railway Manager H.K. Kala.
Nitin Ramesh Gokaran, Commissioner of Varanasi division, said the condition of seven of the 48 injured was serious and they were referred to Sir Sunder Lal Hospital in Varanasi.
The others are being treated at the railway hospital here.
The fasting women passengers were on their way to Varanasi, 20 km from here, for a dip in the Ganga on the occasion of a local festival. Compensation
Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has announced Rs.2 lakh compensation for the kin of those killed and Rs.1 lakh for the injured. He also announced a Railway job for one member each from the victims’ families.
A high-level three-member committee had been set up to probe the stampede, he said. — PTI
MUGHALSARAI: Fifteen women were killed and 48 people injured in a stampede on the staircase of an over-bridge at Mughalsarai railway station in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.
There was a sudden surge of people, who alighted from two trains which arrived almost simultaneously on platforms 5 and 6 around 1.45 p.m., on the staircase leading to the stampede, said Divisional Railway Manager H.K. Kala.
Nitin Ramesh Gokaran, Commissioner of Varanasi division, said the condition of seven of the 48 injured was serious and they were referred to Sir Sunder Lal Hospital in Varanasi.
The others are being treated at the railway hospital here.
The fasting women passengers were on their way to Varanasi, 20 km from here, for a dip in the Ganga on the occasion of a local festival. Compensation
Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has announced Rs.2 lakh compensation for the kin of those killed and Rs.1 lakh for the injured. He also announced a Railway job for one member each from the victims’ families.
A high-level three-member committee had been set up to probe the stampede, he said. — PTI
Space Age’ is 50 years old
Bangalore: Fifty years ago this week — on October 4, 1957, to be exact — a 100-tonne rocket blasted off from the steppes of Kazakhstan, then a part of the Soviet Union, and placed in orbit the first artificial satellite to girdle the globe. It weighed 83 kg, was roughly the size of a basketball and its beeps, as it circled the planet every 98 minutes, signalled the dawn of the Space Age.
Coming as it did, at the height of the Cold War, it also triggered off what was to be become a bitterly fought Space Race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, that ended only when the Soviet Union itself broke up, leading the new Russia as well as the U.S. to join hands with other nations to create an International Station.
The frenzy set off by that first satellite launch — and the desperate attempts of the U.S. to play “catch up” — led famed British novelist and disarmament advocate J.B. Priestley to deride the satellites as so many “tin footballs” knocking around in Space, as part of a disease he called “satellitis.”
But the Soviet Union was to launch a second Sputnik, this time carrying a dog, Laika (which sadly did not survive) before the Americans put their own first satellite — Explorer 1 — in orbit on January 31, 1958. The Soviets continued to lead in the Space Race with the first human in Space — Yuri Gagarin — in April 1961; and the first woman — Valentina Tereshkova — in June 1963. The U.S. had to wait till July 20, 1969, to edge past the Soviet Union, when Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon.
Only weeks later that same year on Independence Day, the Indian Space Research Organisation was set up, launching an ambitious programme that has remained rooted in a peaceful and bold mandate to exploit the technology of satellites and Space for earthy benefit.
When Arthur Clarke, the writer whose work first predicted many of the achievements of Man in Space, was asked in 1999, to look forward to 2057, the 100th anniversary of the first Sputnik, he said the centenary would be celebrated by humans on Earth, the Moon and Mars — and in orbit around Venus, Neptune and Pluto.
Half way down that road, such a prediction looks rather optimistic; but the fact remains that recent months have seen a renewed global interest in a renewed Moon mission as well as fresh explorations of Mars.
Bangalore: Fifty years ago this week — on October 4, 1957, to be exact — a 100-tonne rocket blasted off from the steppes of Kazakhstan, then a part of the Soviet Union, and placed in orbit the first artificial satellite to girdle the globe. It weighed 83 kg, was roughly the size of a basketball and its beeps, as it circled the planet every 98 minutes, signalled the dawn of the Space Age.
Coming as it did, at the height of the Cold War, it also triggered off what was to be become a bitterly fought Space Race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, that ended only when the Soviet Union itself broke up, leading the new Russia as well as the U.S. to join hands with other nations to create an International Station.
The frenzy set off by that first satellite launch — and the desperate attempts of the U.S. to play “catch up” — led famed British novelist and disarmament advocate J.B. Priestley to deride the satellites as so many “tin footballs” knocking around in Space, as part of a disease he called “satellitis.”
But the Soviet Union was to launch a second Sputnik, this time carrying a dog, Laika (which sadly did not survive) before the Americans put their own first satellite — Explorer 1 — in orbit on January 31, 1958. The Soviets continued to lead in the Space Race with the first human in Space — Yuri Gagarin — in April 1961; and the first woman — Valentina Tereshkova — in June 1963. The U.S. had to wait till July 20, 1969, to edge past the Soviet Union, when Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon.
Only weeks later that same year on Independence Day, the Indian Space Research Organisation was set up, launching an ambitious programme that has remained rooted in a peaceful and bold mandate to exploit the technology of satellites and Space for earthy benefit.
When Arthur Clarke, the writer whose work first predicted many of the achievements of Man in Space, was asked in 1999, to look forward to 2057, the 100th anniversary of the first Sputnik, he said the centenary would be celebrated by humans on Earth, the Moon and Mars — and in orbit around Venus, Neptune and Pluto.
Half way down that road, such a prediction looks rather optimistic; but the fact remains that recent months have seen a renewed global interest in a renewed Moon mission as well as fresh explorations of Mars.
Mahatma’s message more important today”
Manmohan Singh dwells on Gandhiji’s universal message on his 138th birth anniversary
Gandhi Jayanti observed as International Day of Non-Violence
Gandhiji was also a great political leader
NEW DELHI: “Mahatma Gandhi’s message is more important today than ever before because nations across the world are grappling with the threat of conflict, violence and terrorism. As long as there is the temptation to resort to violence, the Mahatma’s message of non-violence will tug at our hearts,” said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Vigyan Bhawan here on Tuesday.
Dr. Singh was speaking on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 138th birth anniversary, which is now celebrated across the world as the International Day of Non-Violence.
The Prime Minister said the Mahatma’s message was universal and timeless and held as much significance today as it did during his lifetime. The message of love and peace, of non-violence and satyagraha, of the equality of all people, of harmony between all religions was a universal message for all societies and peoples.
Dr. Singh said:
“We are proud and grateful that the international community has declared this day as the International Day of Non-Violence. This unanimous decision of the United Nation General Assembly originates in a declaration of the International Conference on Peace, Non-violence and Empowerment.
“The conference commemorating the centenary of the satyagraha movement launched by Gandhiji underscored the universal relevance of his message of non-violence and the fight for truth. We are grateful to all those who supported this idea at the United Nations.
“The ideas that Mahatma Gandhi is best remembered are based on universal ideals. You will agree with me that many ‘isms’ have battled for our minds over this past century but few have succeeded in touching our hearts. Many political ideologies, and movements based on them have come and gone but Gandhiji’s philosophy has stood the test of time, and I believe it will continue to do so as long as humankind seeks peace and equality of all people.”
Dr. Singh said whenever injustice was redressed and freedom won through peaceful means, Gandhiji would always be remembered. “Let us not forget that Gandhiji was not some lofty saint. He was also a great political leader. He was regarded as a Mahatma because he practised what he preached. Because he cared for the poorest of the poor and the weakest of the weak.” Gandhiji believed in Swami Vivekananda’s policy of “Narayana Seva,” service of God through the service of man. This enabled him to see God in all human beings and serve them as though he was serving the Almighty. He reminded the gathering of the words of Albert Einstein, who had said of Gandhiji: “Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.”
The Prime Minister released a set of commemorative postage stamps, ‘Satyagraha,’ at the function organised by the Ministry of Culture along with Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti. He administered a pledge ‘India of My Dreams’ as envisaged by Gandhiji to the gathering, which included senior Ministers, members of the diplomatic corps and children. Prior to this function, Dr. Singh flagged off an ‘Ahimsa Divas Yatra’ from the Congress party headquarters to Rajghat.
Lamenting the manner in which the country had forgotten Mahatma Gandhi’s message of non-violence, the Prime Minister sought to underline the power of non-violence and its relevance in today’s world.
At a function in the Central Hall of Parliament, floral tributes were paid to the Father of the Nation and the country’s second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri to mark their birth anniversaries.
Manmohan Singh dwells on Gandhiji’s universal message on his 138th birth anniversary
Gandhi Jayanti observed as International Day of Non-Violence
Gandhiji was also a great political leader
NEW DELHI: “Mahatma Gandhi’s message is more important today than ever before because nations across the world are grappling with the threat of conflict, violence and terrorism. As long as there is the temptation to resort to violence, the Mahatma’s message of non-violence will tug at our hearts,” said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Vigyan Bhawan here on Tuesday.
Dr. Singh was speaking on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 138th birth anniversary, which is now celebrated across the world as the International Day of Non-Violence.
The Prime Minister said the Mahatma’s message was universal and timeless and held as much significance today as it did during his lifetime. The message of love and peace, of non-violence and satyagraha, of the equality of all people, of harmony between all religions was a universal message for all societies and peoples.
Dr. Singh said:
“We are proud and grateful that the international community has declared this day as the International Day of Non-Violence. This unanimous decision of the United Nation General Assembly originates in a declaration of the International Conference on Peace, Non-violence and Empowerment.
“The conference commemorating the centenary of the satyagraha movement launched by Gandhiji underscored the universal relevance of his message of non-violence and the fight for truth. We are grateful to all those who supported this idea at the United Nations.
“The ideas that Mahatma Gandhi is best remembered are based on universal ideals. You will agree with me that many ‘isms’ have battled for our minds over this past century but few have succeeded in touching our hearts. Many political ideologies, and movements based on them have come and gone but Gandhiji’s philosophy has stood the test of time, and I believe it will continue to do so as long as humankind seeks peace and equality of all people.”
Dr. Singh said whenever injustice was redressed and freedom won through peaceful means, Gandhiji would always be remembered. “Let us not forget that Gandhiji was not some lofty saint. He was also a great political leader. He was regarded as a Mahatma because he practised what he preached. Because he cared for the poorest of the poor and the weakest of the weak.” Gandhiji believed in Swami Vivekananda’s policy of “Narayana Seva,” service of God through the service of man. This enabled him to see God in all human beings and serve them as though he was serving the Almighty. He reminded the gathering of the words of Albert Einstein, who had said of Gandhiji: “Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.”
The Prime Minister released a set of commemorative postage stamps, ‘Satyagraha,’ at the function organised by the Ministry of Culture along with Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti. He administered a pledge ‘India of My Dreams’ as envisaged by Gandhiji to the gathering, which included senior Ministers, members of the diplomatic corps and children. Prior to this function, Dr. Singh flagged off an ‘Ahimsa Divas Yatra’ from the Congress party headquarters to Rajghat.
Lamenting the manner in which the country had forgotten Mahatma Gandhi’s message of non-violence, the Prime Minister sought to underline the power of non-violence and its relevance in today’s world.
At a function in the Central Hall of Parliament, floral tributes were paid to the Father of the Nation and the country’s second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri to mark their birth anniversaries.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Judge’s outburst against DMK government
New Delhi:
A Supreme Court Judge on Monday orally observed that if it was found that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in Tamil Nadu had not implemented the September 30 orders to stop Monday’s bandh, the court would “recommend” its dismissal to the President of India.
Justice B.N. Agrawal made this observation after the counsel for the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) contended before the court that by not running the transport services on Monday and by keeping the shops shut, the government had failed to obey the directions issued on Sunday.
Oral observations made from the bench during the course of hearings have no relevance in law.
In its special sitting on Sunday, a Bench of Justice Agrawal and Justice P.P. Naolekar, acting on a special leave petition filed by the AIADMK, restrained the DMK, the Congress, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the CPI and the Pattali Makkal Katchi from proceeding with the call for the bandh and enforcing it.
On Monday, AIADMK counsel Guru Krishna Kumar alleged before Justice Agrawal (sitting with Justice Sathasivam) that a situation had arisen in Tamil Nadu where transport buses were not plying and shops and establishments were closed.
He alleged: “Your orders are not being implemented in letter and spirit.”
Justice Agrawal orally observed: “If what you say is true, then there is complete breakdown of the constitutional machinery in the State. We will recommend to the President to dismiss the DMK government in Tamil Nadu.”
Counsel submitted that the Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi was on a fast. Justice Agrawal commented: “Let him go on fast.
First let them implement our orders. You file a contempt; we will see. If you make out a case for contempt, we will not hesitate to call the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary to this court.”
V.G. Pragasam, counsel for the State, told the Bench that some unions were on strike but the government was trying to run the bus services. Justice Agrawal retorted: “What is the government doing? Don’t put the blame on the unions.
They will try to perpetuate the bandh to make it a success. We have not issued any direction to the unions. We gave directions only to you [State].”
Justice Agrawal observed further: “Is this the Tamil Nadu government? DMK is a strong ally of the UPA government at the Centre. If this is the attitude of the DMK government, then it [Centre] should not feel shy to dismiss the State government.”
When Mr. Krishnakumar submitted to the court that he would move a proper contempt application, the Bench said “do it.”
The strong observat
ions by Justice Agrawal were based on the contentions and allegations of the AIADMK counsel and there was no written order.
The AIADMK is filing the contempt application on Wednesday, according to its lawyers.
Justice B.N. Agrawal made this observation after the counsel for the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) contended before the court that by not running the transport services on Monday and by keeping the shops shut, the government had failed to obey the directions issued on Sunday.
Oral observations made from the bench during the course of hearings have no relevance in law.
In its special sitting on Sunday, a Bench of Justice Agrawal and Justice P.P. Naolekar, acting on a special leave petition filed by the AIADMK, restrained the DMK, the Congress, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the CPI and the Pattali Makkal Katchi from proceeding with the call for the bandh and enforcing it.
On Monday, AIADMK counsel Guru Krishna Kumar alleged before Justice Agrawal (sitting with Justice Sathasivam) that a situation had arisen in Tamil Nadu where transport buses were not plying and shops and establishments were closed.
He alleged: “Your orders are not being implemented in letter and spirit.”
Justice Agrawal orally observed: “If what you say is true, then there is complete breakdown of the constitutional machinery in the State. We will recommend to the President to dismiss the DMK government in Tamil Nadu.”
Counsel submitted that the Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi was on a fast. Justice Agrawal commented: “Let him go on fast.
First let them implement our orders. You file a contempt; we will see. If you make out a case for contempt, we will not hesitate to call the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary to this court.”
V.G. Pragasam, counsel for the State, told the Bench that some unions were on strike but the government was trying to run the bus services. Justice Agrawal retorted: “What is the government doing? Don’t put the blame on the unions.
They will try to perpetuate the bandh to make it a success. We have not issued any direction to the unions. We gave directions only to you [State].”
Justice Agrawal observed further: “Is this the Tamil Nadu government? DMK is a strong ally of the UPA government at the Centre. If this is the attitude of the DMK government, then it [Centre] should not feel shy to dismiss the State government.”
When Mr. Krishnakumar submitted to the court that he would move a proper contempt application, the Bench said “do it.”
The strong observat
ions by Justice Agrawal were based on the contentions and allegations of the AIADMK counsel and there was no written order.
The AIADMK is filing the contempt application on Wednesday, according to its lawyers.
Are sharks as dangerous as they are made out to be?
There are nearly 400 types of sharks known today. The largest — also one of the largest fish in the ocean — is the whale shark. It can grow to over 20 m in length! Some sharks are tiny, like the deepwater dogfish is one of the smallest — just about 20 cm long when full grown!
One of the fastest sharks is the shortfin mako clocking up to 32 km per hour! There are a lot of myths about shark attacks. First of all, of the over 375 species of sharks known to humans, only about 30 have ever been recorded to have attacked people. White sharks, tiger sharks and bull sharks are the only three species ever recorded to have made unprovoked attacks on humans. Humans vs sharks
Some shark attacks are provoked by humans. When encountered, some humans prod, poke, try to feed or capture the animal. Sometimes, sharks get caught in fishing nets, and bite fisherman trying to untangle them.
Often, in an unprovoked attack, the shark merely mistakes a human being for something else that it normally eats. It takes a bite and swims off, realising its mistake. These types of attacks take place in shallow water, most often, when the shark is confused. What precautions can you take to guard against this? Stay in groups and relatively close to the shore. If you are going to swim in the ocean, try and avoid dawn and twilight. Avoid wearing flashy jewellery when swimming. Don’t splash like an animal in distress — that will attract the shark. Most important if you do encounter a shark, do not panic. Instead, leave the water quietly. And don’t provoke it.
The latest issue of Current Science, the international science journal, reports the finding of the smallest known land vertebrate in India, a miniature frog, from Kurichiyarmala in Kerala’s Wayanad district on the Western Ghats of peninsular India. The finding was reported by Delhi University Systematics Biologist S.D. Biju and his colleagues. This new species of frog, measuring only between 10 and 14 millimetres in size in adult males, belongs to the Nyctibatrachidae family and they have named it Nyctibatrachus minimus.
Only 12 species
The frog compares in smallness to the smallest reported from any other part of the world, including Cuba, the Amazon and Borneo. There are only 12 recognised species currently in Nyctibatrachidae family. The scientists found the fro g in the Shola forests of Kurichiyarmala, at an altitude of 1,200 metres above mean sea level. The frog usually rests under leaf litter or rocks and turns active during the night, with the males starting their calls inflating their subgular external vocal sacs on either side of their neck immediately after sunset.
It is most vociferousduring the nights of the monsoon season, the best time for reproduction. Nyctibatrachus means night-frog.
Though other researchers might have found it in the recent past, it could have been mistaken for the juvenile specimen of Nyctibatrachus minor, another species slightly bigger in size first reported in 1984. Miniaturisation in Nyctibatrachus species seems to be associated with the absence of webbing on toes and fingers, which may have resulted from evolutionary specification to life in terrestrial habitats, according to Dr. Biju.
Western Ghats is considered one of the 18 biodiversity hotspots in the world, and the new finding is yet another indication of how incomplete the knowledge of its biotic wealth is at present, even at the higher taxonomic levels.
Dr. Biju has been working in the Western Ghats to find new species of frogs over the past several years, and his findings include the purple frog (Nasikabatrachus) and the first Indian canopy frog (Philautus nerostagona) from the region.
Only 12 species
The frog compares in smallness to the smallest reported from any other part of the world, including Cuba, the Amazon and Borneo. There are only 12 recognised species currently in Nyctibatrachidae family. The scientists found the fro g in the Shola forests of Kurichiyarmala, at an altitude of 1,200 metres above mean sea level. The frog usually rests under leaf litter or rocks and turns active during the night, with the males starting their calls inflating their subgular external vocal sacs on either side of their neck immediately after sunset.
It is most vociferousduring the nights of the monsoon season, the best time for reproduction. Nyctibatrachus means night-frog.
Though other researchers might have found it in the recent past, it could have been mistaken for the juvenile specimen of Nyctibatrachus minor, another species slightly bigger in size first reported in 1984. Miniaturisation in Nyctibatrachus species seems to be associated with the absence of webbing on toes and fingers, which may have resulted from evolutionary specification to life in terrestrial habitats, according to Dr. Biju.
Western Ghats is considered one of the 18 biodiversity hotspots in the world, and the new finding is yet another indication of how incomplete the knowledge of its biotic wealth is at present, even at the higher taxonomic levels.
Dr. Biju has been working in the Western Ghats to find new species of frogs over the past several years, and his findings include the purple frog (Nasikabatrachus) and the first Indian canopy frog (Philautus nerostagona) from the region.
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