A new analysis of space dust has revealed that the cosmic particles, wich are likely to have originated from beyond our solar system, are more complex in composition and structure than previously imagined.
The dust analysis was carried out after a special collector onboard NASA’s Stardust mission sent it back to earth for study in 2006.
The analysis tapped a variety of microscopy techniques including those that rely on synchrotron radiation.
Tripura saw a surge in the arrival of foreign tourists in the 2013-14 financial year, registering a record growth of 97 percent over the 2012-13 fiscal, a minister said here Saturday.
“During 2012-13 and 2011-12 financial years, 7,817 and 6,550 foreign tourists (respectively) had visited Tripura. In the last financial year (2013-14), number of foreign tourists visiting Tripura mounted to 15,376,” Tripura Tourism Minister Ratan Bhowmik said.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today raised a question in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly asking ways to solve issues with Pakistan other than talks.
Expressing discontent over being called anti-national, Abdullah said, “If we ask for talks then we are anti-national? What other way is there to solve issues than to have talks? If we ask for war then it will be termed as national but if we call for talks then it is called anti-national”.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Saturday said the sit-in and protests hindered the progress of the country and he accepted the legitimate demands of the protesters, Geo News reported.
In an interview, Sharif said the people’s mandate cannot be sabotaged by a few thousand people and expressed surprise over Pakistan Awami Tehreek leader Tahir-ul Qadri’s stand as most of his demands had been accepted by the government.
The prime minister said the National Assembly has already approved a resolution to protect democracy and will not let any anti-democracy scheme flourish.
A brief spell of rain accompanied by strong winds turned Delhi’s weather pleasant Saturday though the city recorded the maximum temperature at 34.8 degree Celsius, a notch above the season’s average.
The Met office has forecast more rain with thunderstorm Sunday.
“Delhi will receive more rain Sunday along with thunderstorm. Temperature is also likely to fall down,” said an official of the India Meteorological Department.
The maximum and the minimum temperatures are likely to hover around 33 and 24 degrees Celsius.
Delhi received 1.6 mm rainfall till 5.30 p.m. Saturday.
Two people died Saturday as the flood situation in Assam remained unchanged with over 16 lakh people being affected in 18 districts, officials with the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) said.
A total of 16,26,304 people have been affected due to the floods while 2,29,290 of them are still taking shelter in 512 relief camps set up by the district administrations, they said.
With two deaths in Barpeta and Sivasagar districts Saturday, the death toll in the floods since Aug 18 reached 20, the officials said.
England pace spearhead James Anderson, who had an ugly spat with Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in the first Test, was today booed by the Indian fans at Trent Bridge during the third ODI.
Anderson was received with huge boos from the Indian supporters the moment he stepped out at the crease to bat after the dismissal of number nine batsman James Tredwell in the last over.
Interestingly, Jadeja too had faced the ire of the local fans during the second cricket Test when he had come out to bat at Lord’s in July.
A Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus driver was found dead in mysterious circumstances inside the city’s largest bus depot Saturday morning, police said.
Ashok Kumar Sharma, 35, resident of Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh, was found apparently unconscious around 6 a.m. inside the Millennium Bus Depot, spread across 50 acres on the fragile Yamuna river bed, in Sunlight Colony area of Delhi.
He was taken to Safdarjung hospital where doctors declared him dead.
Industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Saturday welcomed Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s address on the occasion of the government completing 100 days in office.
“Investor and industry sentiments are already up and it is reflected in the performance of the markets and the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) figures for first quarter,” said Chandrajit Banerjee, director general, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
“We believe that the worst is over for the economy and a recovery is underway. Industry results and government data, both corroborate that belief.”
Students of Delhi University’s Lady Irwin College Saturday protested against the hike in hostel fees.
The students have to pay almost Rs.40,000 more than the earlier amount for staying in the hostel for a year.
The college students used to pay a total of Rs.40,250 in two instalments for a year, now it has been increased to Rs.79,100 in two instalments. The students have to pay Rs. 41,700 as the first instalment and then Rs.37,400 as the second.
“This is so unfair, such a huge increase. We have no option left than to protest against the authorities,” a college student told IANS.
Himachal Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir Saturday said motor accident claim petitions should be decided expeditiously and the minimum compensation would be awarded on the first date of hearing.
Addressing district and additional district judges at a workshop organised by the Himachal Pradesh Judicial Academy here, he emphasized upon the need to observe the provisions of Motor Vehicle Act as these are meant to ameliorate distress of the hapless dependants of victims.
Five years after the death of medical student Aman Kachroo due to ragging in Himachal Pradesh, police Saturday registered a suicide case after the death of a student of a private polytechnic college allegedly due to harassment by seniors.
The victim was a first year civil engineering diploma student of Gautam Polytechnic College in Hamirpur town, who allegedly committed suicide after being harassed by two of his seniors.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Shamsher Singh told IANS that a case was registered against the college authorities and two students.
England squandered away a good start as the Indian spinners restricted the hosts to 227 all out in 50 overs against India in the third one-day International, here today.
Put into bat, England started on a brisk note courtesy an 82-run opening partnership between Alastair Cook (44) and Alex Hales (42) but the spinners checked their surge by picking up wickets at regular intervals.
Hales, playing his first ODI in front of his home crowd, was caught behind off part-time spinner Suresh Raina (1-37) while Cook was stumped off the bowling of Ambati Rayudu (1-8).
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today asked people of the state to use their right to vote for getting their day-to-day problems redressed.
“Whether the bigger political issues get resolved or not, we come here (Assembly) every day to address your problems,” Omar said on the final day of last session of the 11th Legislative Assembly.
Omar said he would not ask the people to vote for one party or the other but only urge them to come out to vote.The Chief Minister thanked the people for reposing faith in him and giving the chance to serve them.
Actress turned director Divya Khosla Kumar has received the Rajiv Gandhi Award for excellence for her 2014 movie “Yaariyaan”.
“It’s a great honour and definitely my journey and growth as a creative person doesn’t stop here. I am proud to be a woman and making my foray in a field absolutely dominated by men. Cheers to Indian women managing their families,” Divya told IANS.
Divya could not be in Delhi Friday to receive the honour. Her parents received it on her behalf.
(IANS)
Petrol price was today cut by Rs 1.82 a litre, the third reduction in rates this month, but diesel rates were hiked by 50 paise per litre.
The revised rates are effective from midnight tonight, oil companies announced today.
With international oil rates on the decline, petrol price was cut by Rs 1.51 a litre, which after including local sales tax or VAT translated into a reduction of Rs 1.82 a litre in Delhi.
Petrol in Delhi will now cost Rs 68.51 a litre from tomorrow as against Rs 70.33 currently.
City Police Commissioner M Mahender Reddy has extended the prohibitory orders around the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly till September 7.
The Commissioner has prohibited every kind of assembly or public meeting or procession that has the potential to cause disturbance to the public peace and safety within a radius of two kilometres of the AP Assembly/Council building. The order would remain in force with effect from 6 AM on August 31 to 6 AM on September 7. (INN)
There was an increase of over 80 percent in the number of student visas New Zealand issued to Indians between January and July, 2014 compared to 2013, an Education New Zealand (ENZ) official said here Saturday.
The ENZ, an agency of the New Zealand government for international education, said visas issued to Indians, who sought to study in New Zealand for the first time increased by 80 percent in 2014 compared to the same period in 2013.
The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) executive board Friday expressed support for Managing Director Christine Lagarde in carrying out her duties in the light of her being put under investigation for showing negligence in a scandal.
Lagarde has been put under investigation in France for “negligence” in her handling of a scandal involving tycoon Bernard Tapie in 2008 after being questioned for hours in a corruption case, judicial sources said Wednesday. She has denied wrongdoing.
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley Saturday termed as “provocative” the ceasefire violations by Pakistan and said the Indian Army was “alert” and responding to every situation.
“Incursions at the border, both at the LoC (Line of Control) and the international border, are extremely serious and provocative,” Jaitley told the media here.
“The army is fully alert and responding to every situation.”
Jaitley said these developments were creating an environment not conducive to bilateral ties.
The last session of 11th Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today ended on a cordial note as treasury benches and opposition thanked each other for cooperation and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s remark about becoming old drew laughter from legislators.
Omar, who is the leader of the house, while speaking at the conclusion of the 12th session of the current Assembly said his hair had greyed considerably in the past six years since he became the chief minister.
TRS Politburo member Y Srinivas on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of insulting the people of entire Telangana by fielding T Jayaprakash Reddy alias Jagga Reddy as its candidate for Medak Lok Sabha by-elections.
Important decisions concerning the government were cleared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi but there was a great deal of decentralisation enjoyed by the ministers, said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Saturday.
Answering queries from mediapersons here over centralisation of authority by Modi, Jaitley said that he had been asked questions on the issue over the past two days and the debate was not about over-centralisation.
President Pranab Mukherjee has extended his greetings and felicitations to the Trinidad and Tobago government and its people, on the eve of its National Day to be celebrated tomorrow.
In his message to the President of Trinidad and Tobago, Anthony Carmona, the President has said, “On behalf of the Government and the people of India and on my own behalf, it gives me great pleasure to convey to Your Excellency warm greetings and felicitations on the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.”
Appreciating the various reforms that have been initiated by the NDA government in the first 100 days that it has been in office, CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee has said that the worst is over for the economy and a recovery is underway.
Commenting on Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s address today, Banerjee said, “CII is most appreciative of the various reforms that have been initiated by the Government in the first 100 days that it has been in office.