Havoc | SilverScorpio.Com

Guwahati residents face monsoon hazards

June 4, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Guwahati (Assam), June 4 (ANI): Despite the monsoon bringing respite for the people of the country from the scorching heat of the sun, the incessant showers have forced poor residents here, as the rain waters have flooded Guwahati city forcing people to leave their homes in search for a safe shelter.

The heavy monsoon downpour for the last couple of days has caused havoc here, as the city has turned into a sea of muddy water with flash flood waters entering the residential areas forcing people to leave their homes for a safe shelter.

The Meteorological (MeT) Department has forcast more than average rainfall this monsoon.

The comment of Guwahati Development Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asking the
people to accustom themselves to live with the water has irked the people, who already are knee deep in troubled waters.

Incessant rain has also triggered several landsides in many parts of the state.

Though no lives have been lost, the landslide has made the lives of the people living in the seven hills in and around Guwahati vulnerable. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Assam, Average Rainfall, couple of days, development minister, downpour, flash flood, Flood Waters, havoc, Heat Of The Sun, Incessant Rain, landslide, muddy water, Poor Residents, Residential Areas, respite, sarma, scorching heat, seven hills, showers, Troubled Waters

World Cup viewing may wreak havoc on office computers across UK: Survey

May 20, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

London, May 20(ANI): A new survey has revealed that next month’s football World Cup in South Africa may wreak havoc on office computers across the UK, as millions of working Britons are planning to watch the event on their work machines.

According to a survey by Eclipse, an Internet service provider for small businesses and home users, 54 percent working Brits are planning to watch the World Cup on their work computer.

Eclipse claims that it might lead to office computer systems to slow down at the very least and, in some cases, crash entirely.

“UK workers clearly want to watch World Cup matches live on their PCs. However, we advise all businesses to be mindful about the impact this could have on their day-to-day business operations,” Sky News quoted Clodagh Murphy, from Eclipse, as saying.

“Streamed content uses a lot of bandwidth and this could seriously impact the performance of their business Internet connection. It could take much longer to download important files or use business-critical applications such as e-commerce sites, email or online backup,” she added.

Murphy further said there could be a potentially disruptive surge in broadband traffic, especially on June 23, when England plays against Slovenia.

“We expect huge interest in that match as it is England’s only group game that happens during the working day. It will be interesting to see how it impacts networks,” Murphy said.

“Companies need to be wary about a potential drain on employee productivity and the efficiency of their IT systems that the streaming of the World Cup could cause,” she added. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: britons, brits, Business Internet Connection, business operations, Critical Applications, eclipse, Employee Productivity, Football World Cup, Group Game, havoc, Home Users, internet service provider, new survey, Office Computer Systems, Office Computers, sky news, Small Businesses, uk survey, Work Computer, world cup matches

China lifts ban on Internet services of Xianjiang after ten months

May 14, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Urumqi (China), May 14 (ANI): Believe it or not, it took China ten months to restore Internet services in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The reason given by the authorities was the instability that prevailed in the area after a riot broke out.

Xinjiang dwellers now feel that this restoration of the Internet signals a reinstatement of the State’s confidence in the social stability of the region.

The move comes as a relief for the seven million Netizens inhabiting the region, as it will end their virtual isolation.

Authorities had banned the Internet after it was discovered that separatists and rabble-rousers had used the Internet, phone calls and text messages to spread havoc.

In a document released by its press office, Xinjiang”s regional government said Internet services were “fully resumed,” meaning netizens in Xinjiang were able to browse the web, chat online and put up postings again, Xinhua reports.

Resumption of Internet services was in line with maintaining stability and boosting social and economic development in Xinjiang, as well as the residents having access to information, the document said. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: authorities, confidence, economic development, havoc, Internet Phone Calls, Internet Services, netizens, postings, Rabble Rousers, regional government, reinstatement, resumption, riot, separatists, Social Stability, text messages, Virtual Isolation, web chat, xinhua, xinjiang uygur autonomous region

Thai police confront “red shirts” after blasts

April 23, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Hundreds of Thai riot police moved on Friday in front of a barricade erected by anti-government protesters in Bangkok’s Silom business district, a day after grenade attacks in the area killed three people.

Thai television said police asked the “red shirts” to dismantle the barrier. They made no move to do so, and TV pictures showed protesters pouring what a reporter said was fuel onto the barricade, which is made up largely of tyres.

The government said the grenades on Thursday, which also wounded 75 people, were fired from the red shirt protest area. Leaders of the red shirts, who have been demonstrating in Bangkok for six weeks seeking new elections, denied they were to blame.

The grenade blasts came 12 days after clashes between troops and protesters killed 25 people and wounded more than 800 in the country’s worst street violence in 18 years.

The protesters, supporters of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, have also been occupying an upmarket shopping area for three weeks.

Any attempt to disperse them risks heavy casualties and the prospect of clashes spilling into high-end residential areas.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said there would be no crackdown Thursday night because women and children were in the area.

Adding to the volatile mix, a new “multi-coloured” group is planning a demonstration of 50,000 people in Bangkok’s old quarter on Friday to demand the “red shirts” end their rally.

Demonstrations by this group have increased the tension in the Silom business district this week.

“There are now two conflicting groups and this kind of confrontation could create havoc and turmoil,” said Somjai Phagaphasvivat, politics and economics professor at Thammasat University.

Under growing pressure to restore order, the army warned the red shirts on Thursday their “days are numbered”.

Leaders of the red shirted supporters of twice-elected and now fugitive Thaksin say they will only leave when the military-backed government announces an early election.

They say the British-born, Oxford-educated Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva came to power illegitimately, heading a coalition the military cobbled together after courts dissolved a pro-Thaksin party that led the previous coalition government.

(Writing by Alan Raybould; Editing by Alex Richardson)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: barricade, blasts, Business District, clashes, crackdown, deputy prime minister, economics professor, former prime minister, Grenade Attacks, grenades, havoc, Protest Area, protesters, Residential Areas, riot police, Shopping Area, street violence, Thai Police, Thaksin Shinawatra, Volatile Mix

Cyclonic storm causes havoc in many parts of Manipur

April 20, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Imphal, April 19 (ANI): Over 100 houses in different parts of Manipur state were damaged following a cyclonic storm and heavy winds during the wee hours of Sunday.

The storm swept across the State and left a trail of destruction in many areas.

The gale, accompanied by hailstones, caused widespread damage in different parts of Bishnupur and Imphal West districts, however, there were no reports of human casualties.

“Yesterday, when all people were asleep at around 1.45 or 2.00 am, there were violent storms that occurred twice. The first one was a strong one and continued for a longer period. However, the second storm was stronger than the first one and continued for a short period,” said Chaoba Nameirakpam, a villager.

Some of the houses were totally razed while tin roofs of many houses were blown away. The storm also uprooted many trees and electric poles, and led to snapping of wires.

More than 50 houses were damaged in Oinam Assembly constituency of Bishnupur district.

The gale left a similar trail of destruction at Chajing Karam in Imphal West district as well.

Apart from the houses, the storm also razed down a school.

Local residents here are faced with a lot of inconvenience, as fallen electric poles are still lying across roads. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: 100 houses, April 19, blown away, constituency, electric poles, gale, havoc, Human Casualties, imphal, inconvenience, karam, led, lot, short period, Strong One, Tin Roofs, trees, villager, Violent Storms, wee hours

Microsoft acts to avoid Windows blue screen repeat

April 16, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Microsoft took steps Tuesday to avoid repeating the debacle two months ago that left Windows XP users staring at the notorious “Blue Screen of Death” error message after they applied a patch.

In February, a security update that fixed two flaws in the Windows kernel — the operating system’s most important component — wreaked havoc when it was applied by users, who almost immediately flooded Microsoft ‘s support forum with reports of crippled computers .

As the number of reports grew, Microsoft first stopped automatically serving the MS10-015 update, then confirmed that a rootkit caused the crashes . Only PCs that had been previously infected with the Alureon rootkit were incapacitated, Microsoft’s investigation found.

Microsoft restarted distribution of the update only after it had come up with a way to block rootkit-infected PCs from receiving the patches. “If detection logic included in Automatic Update discovers abnormal conditions in certain operating system file configurations, the update will fail and customers will be presented with an error message that offers alternative support options,” said Jerry Bryant, general manager with the Microsoft Security Response Team, in early March.

MS10-021 , one of the 11 updates issued yesterday as part of Microsoft’s monthly Patch Tuesday cycle , also fixed flaws in the Windows kernel. But Microsoft is hoping that this month’s update won’t trigger a repeat Blue Screen of Death.

“This security update includes package detection logic that prevents the installation of the security update if certain abnormal conditions exist on 32-bit systems,” stated the MS10-021 bulletin. “These abnormal conditions on a system could be the result of an infection with a computer virus that modifies some operating system files, which renders the infected computer incompatible with the kernel update.”

One security expert applauded the move.

“I give Microsoft a big tip of the hat for not taking [the February incident] as a one-off,” said Jason Miller, data and security team manager at network compliance and security vendor Shavlik Technologies. “The kernel is something that if something goes bad, that’s not good. Patching the kernel is not like patching a media player.”

Microsoft obviously learned a lesson. Even though the February update crashed a relatively small number of PCs, the problem actually affected many more, he argued. “It may have affected just a few people, but it scared almost everyone into not patching,” Miller said.

Although scattered reports of problems with Tuesday’s security updates have been posted on Microsoft’s support forum, Computerworld did not find any message threads describing Blue Screen of Death crashes after users applied yesterday’s MS10-021 kernel update.

Enterprises should still test the update before widely deploying it, Miller recommended. “With every kernel patch, you really have to test. We’re pretty adamant about that,” he said.

Microsoft also urged users to apply MS10-021 to protect themselves. Although attacks had not been found in the wild exploiting any of the eight vulnerabilities addressed by the update, the company noted that users would “likely…see reliable exploit code developed for one or more of these eight vulnerabilities” in the next 30 days.

This month’s security update, including MS10-021, can be downloaded and installed via the Windows Update and Microsoft Update services, as well as through Windows Server Update Services.

Gregg Keizer covers Microsoft, security issues, Apple, Web browsers and general technology breaking news for Computerworld . Follow Gregg on Twitter at @gkeizer or subscribe to Gregg’s RSS feed . His e-mail address is gkeizer@ix.netcom.com .

Read more about security in Computerworld’s Security Knowledge Center.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Abnormal Conditions, Bit Systems, Blue Screen Of Death, Computer Virus, Crashes, debacle, Error Message, havoc, infected computer, Jerry Bryant, Left Windows, microsoft security, Ms10, Operating System, Rootkit, security expert, Security Response Team, Support Options, Tip Of The Hat, Windows Kernel

REG-Hambledon Mining PLC Production Update

April 15, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

LONDON–(Business Wire)–

Hambledon Mining plc
(“Hambledon” or “the Company”)

PRODUCTION UPDATE

The Company reports its production for the three months from 1 January 2010 to
31 March 2010.

January February March Total
Milled tonnes (dry) 28,887 37,618 37,228 103,733
Gold grade (g/t) 1.01 0.75 1.14 0.96
Contained gold (gms) 29,147 28,213 42,440 99,800
Contained gold (oz) 937 907 1,364 3,209
Gold recovery % 80.6 % 80.7% 80.1% 80.4%
Recovered gold (oz) 755 732 1,092 2,579
Recovered silver (oz) 2,251 1,967 2,213 6,430

Investors will be aware that this winter period in Kazakhstan has been
particularly severe. Although temperatures below minus 20 are normal for this
time of year, in the first quarter of 2010 there were only 16 days when
temperatures were above minus 30. Even when temperatures did rise, snow storms
and blizzards made mining extremely hazardous. In these extreme conditions,
nothing works very well: mechanical equipment tends to break down and even
winter grade diesel freezes. It was often impossible for the workforce to
operate outdoors. We tried very hard to keep operations going, but there were
occasions when to have continued operating would have been dangerous and
uneconomic. A total of 31 full days mining were lost to weather in the quarter
plus 20 full days of crushing. The consequent stop-start nature of the operation
played havoc with output, and although the process plant worked well, it was
only able to process what was put into it. All in all it has been a very tough
quarter.

Towards the end March, however, weather conditions began to improve and the mine
and process plant have operated well. The many changes made to the plant over
the last 12 months now mean that when conditions are favourable, we are capable
of producing good amounts of gold at low cost. In fact, for the last 14 days, we
have treated 30,500 tonnes of ore, grading 1.2 g/t and with a recovery rate of
84.7%, producing 980 oz gold.

PURCHASE OF ORE

On 29th March Hambledon signed a contract to buy gold ore from the Beskempir
mine belonging to TOO Odak for treatment at the Sekisovskoye plant. The ore has
an average grade of 4.5 g/t and the contract provides for Hambledon to pay some
51% of the gold value (depending on grade) to the vendors, who must pay for
transport to our local railway station at Ust- Kamenogorsk. The first shipment
of 1,000 tonnes is due to be made very soon. The profitability of treating this
ore is expected to be greater than that obtained from treating our own ore. In
addition, it will help the Sekisovskoye mine to keep pace with the treatment
plant at this point in the pit where the stripping ratio is at its maximum. The
contract is for an initial quantity of 10,000 tonnes which should be made over a
period of two months but it is expected to continue with additional tonnages.
This in turn will further extend the life of the open pit mine.

UNDERGROUND

On the 9th of February, the contractors Kazinterethnos started the refurbishment
of an existing 150 m deep shaft. This shaft will serve as a ventilation shaft
and emergency egress during underground mining. It is being lined with steel
plates on a fixed metal frame, and will include a travel way. This work should
be completed by August 2010. As already mentioned, we have completed the
construction of the 4 KV power line from the sub-station, the road to the
decline portal, and the dewatering ponds. Once the shaft is re-established, we
intend to drill 12,000 metres of exploration holes between the 320 and 180
levels to obtain more information about the resource in this area of the mine,
to assist in mine planning and to further delineate the mining reserve.

ENQUIRIES:

HAMBLEDON MINING:

Telephone +44 (0)207 233 1462

Charles Zorab

FAIRFAX I.S. PLC:

(Nominated Adviser and Broker)

Telephone +44 (0)207 598 5368

Ewan Leggat

Hambledon Mining PLC

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: 12 months, 29th March, 579, blizzards, business wire, extreme conditions, First Quarter, Gold Recovery, Hambledon Mining, havoc, January February March, london business, Mechanical Equipment, Oz, Snow Storms, three months, time of year, weather conditions, winter period, workforce

Qld Health memo advised against new payroll system

April 15, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The State Opposition says Queensland Health (QH) bosses were advised two years ago not to use a new payroll system that has resulted in havoc.

Opposition deputy Leader Lawrence Springborg says QH staff are still going without.

“An allied health worker … has been eating white bread for lunch because she cannot get payment from Queensland Health,” he said.

Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek says a QH memo from 2008 shows a senior executive had misgivings.

“That Queensland Health should remove itself from the whole-of-government payroll initiative,” he quoted.

However Technology Minister Robert Schwarten says the problem has been caused by those using the system.

“Nothing that has come to light has suggested a breakdown in this system,” he said.

The 2008 memo also says $400 million had been burned up across Government on a new technology initiative.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Allied Health, deputy leader, Government Payroll, havoc, Health New, Health System, health worker, John Paul, lunch, Misgivings, new technology, opposition leader, Payroll System, Qh, queensland health, Robert Schwarten, state opposition, Technology Initiative, technology minister, white bread

Pak intelligence warns of terror attack in Karachi’s commercial hub

April 8, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Karachi, Apr.7 (ANI): Pakistani intelligence agencies have warned of possible terror strikes in Karachi’s commercial hub, the Bohri Bazaar area, in the month of April.

According to sources, agencies have received intelligence inputs regarding possible terror attacks by the Taliban within a week.

Sources said intelligence agencies in their communique to the concerned authorities have also warned that militants fighting in the law less tribal region have already sent suicide bombers to wreak havoc in the country’s financial capital.

A top Sindh government official, who refused to be named, confirmed receiving the intelligence warning, and said police officials have been asked to beef up security across the region.

“The inspector general of police and other concerned officials have been ordered to take precautionary measures. Terrorists could target any place at any time,” The Daily Times quoted the government official, as saying. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: authorities, bazaar, commercial hub, government official, havoc, Inspector General, karachi, Month Of April, pakistani intelligence agencies, police officials, precautionary measures, sindh government, suicide bombers, Taliban, terror attack, terror attacks, terror strikes, terrorists

Umpire referral system fails as wind plays havoc with cameras in Wellington test

March 22, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Wellington, Mar 22(ANI): The controversial ‘Umpire Decision Review System’ has been again exposed after it failed dismally due to strong winds in the ongoing Test match between Australia and New Zealand in Wellington.

In an embarrassing scenario for the International Cricket Council (ICC), the technology failed to provide useful information when Australian skipper Ricky Ponting called for a review for an lbw ruling on New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum on day four of the Test.

Pakistani third umpire Aleem Dar was unable to access footage of hawk-eye, used to rule on lbw decisions, as the wild winds had interfered with the technology’s ability to track the path of the ball, the Courier Mail reports.

To make matters worse, it later emerged that video referrals were only available at one end, where television cameras were protected from the wind. Rail cameras, crucial for functioning of the hawk-eye, were taken down due to the weather.

Australia was handed a failed referral, and following the technological breakdown, Ponting confronted on-field umpires Asad Rauf and Ian Gould.

He also left the field, but it is unknown if the skipper walked off to speak to match referee Javagal Srinath. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Asad, australia and new zealand, courier mail, Gould, havoc, hawk eye, international cricket council, Lbw Decisions, Mail Reports, mccullum, referral system, skipper, strong winds, television cameras, test match, umpire, umpires, Weather Australia, Wellington Test, Wild Winds

Pak intelligence agencies warns of attacks on US citizens, ex-intelligence officials

March 20, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Lahore, Mar.20 (ANI): Pakistani intelligence agencies have warned of terror attacks
on US citizens and former secret services officials.

According to intelligence reports, suicide bombers from Kohat region might use a black Honda city have entered the Punjab province to wreak havoc in the region targeting foreign nationals in particular.

The provincial Home Department has alerted all senior police officials of the region and has directed the concerned agencies to take immediate steps to prevent any untoward incident.

Punjab Police Inspector General (IG) Tariq Saleem Dogar has also been directed to provide foolproof security to US citizens and retired intelligence officials across the region, The Daily Times reports. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: citizens, Dogar, foolproof security, foreign nationals, havoc, Honda, honda city, ig, Inspector General, intelligence officials, intelligence reports, pakistani intelligence agencies, police inspector, police officials, punjab province, saleem, suicide bombers, tariq, terror attacks, untoward incident

Traders seek free camels from Australia

March 16, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The Australian Government says it has been swamped by overseas requests for camels since efforts to control feral camels in Central Australia attracted international media attention.

Camel industry representatives say they have been receiving an average of four inquiries a day from people in the Middle East and North Africa who think Australia is offering free camels.

There are more than 1 million camels roaming outback Australia causing havoc, prompting a cull of the feral animals.

News that camels were being shot in the Australian outback became big news overseas.

The Federal Government has signed a funding agreement with an Alice Springs-based company to cull camels, but calls have been made to further develop the live export industry.

The Government’s trade body Austrade says it has also noticed a spike in enquires seeking free camels.

It has been advising people that camels are difficult to trap and expensive to ship, and certainly will not be transported free.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: 1 million, Alice Springs, alice-springs-0870, animals, Austrade, australian government, australian outback, camel, camels, central Australia, Cull, Export Industry, federal government, Feral Animals, havoc, industry representatives, inquiries, International Media Attention, north africa, offbeat, Outback Australia, Overseas Requests, pests, spike

Buffalo fighting draws hundreds in Himachal Pradesh

September 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Mashobara (HP), Sep 18 (ANI): Raging he-buffaloes locked horns in Himachal Pradesh to add zest to a post-harvest fair.

Unlike Spain’s famed bullfights where a matador parades his skills against a bull, the Indian version sees a pair of enraged buffaloes pitted against each other.

Hundreds thronged the Sayar fair in Mashobara town to enjoy the spectacle.

The owners goaded the buffaloes as they gored each other and the mightier ones forced their opponents to run off to emerge victorious.

Hundreds of spectators cheered in anticipation as the specially reared animals were brought to the ring.

Notwithstanding opposition from wildlife activists, the fair is being held for years in honour of Hindu Goddess, Bhadarkali.

“The fair is being held here for ages in honour of Goddess Bhadarkali. People from 12 village councils get their buffaloes and make them fight at the fair,” said Balak Ram, organiser. Foreign tourists said they enjoyed the spectacle.

“I think it gives the local people a little joy and keep the animals under pretty good control. And I have heard that there is not too much trouble to the animals. A little natural bull fighting should not hurt the buffaloes and the people should be educated to keep the animals out of danger and harm,” said David, a tourist from Israel.

Legend has it that Goddess Bhadrakali, an incarnation of Durga killed a demonic buffalo, which had created havoc in the region.

To respect the Goddess’ feat, buffalo fights are organised in the region every year. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: activists, anticipation, buffalo, buffaloes, bull fighting, bullfights, havoc, Hindu Goddess, honour, horns, incarnation, little joy, Matador, opponents, sayar, spectacle, spectators, tourists, Village Councils, zest

Top white lie to shun sex: I’m too tired

September 17, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Sept 16 (ANI): The humble headache has had its day as far as excuses to avoid sex are concerned, for now the reigning white lie to snub a romp is ‘I’m too tired’, says a new survey.

“I’ve got a headache” has lost its lustre and fallen to number three in the list behind “I’m not in the mood”.

Other white lies to make the top five included “I’ve got to get up early in the morning” and “I’m pre-occupied with work”.he conclusion was made after studying 4,000 adults.

The not-so-kinky research also revealed that one in five Brits regularly make excuses to avoid having sex.

Seven out of 10 said they were often too exhausted to enjoy sex. And four out of 10 said the recession had played havoc with their sex life, the study found, reports The Telegraph.

A spokesman for www.OnePoll.com, which carried out the study, said: “The humble headache has had its day as far as excuses are concerned.

“Tiredness plays a much bigger part in our reasons not to climb between the sheets these days and enjoy some quality time together.

“And its hardly surprising when we are all working longer hours than ever before and have so many things to worry about.

“Fears over whether will be able to pay our mortgages or even whether we will have a job in a month’s time are bound to affect our bedroom performance.

“It was intriguing to see just how the recession has affected our passion levels too.”

The report also found men are more likely to make excuses than women with 27 per cent admitting they often avoided sex compared to 18 per cent of women.

Top Ten Sex Excuses

1. Too tired

2. I’m not in the mood

3. I’ve got a headache

4. I’ve got to get up in the morning

5. I’m pre-occupied with work

6. I’m angry with you

7. I can hear one of the children

8. You need a shower

9. I’ve got a bad back

10. Too soon in our relationship. (ANI)

Filed Under: Entertainment News Tagged With: adults, ANI, bedroom, brits, cent, com, conclusion, day, fears, having sex, havoc, headache, job, lie, life, list, London, Lustre, many things, month, mood, morning, mortgages, new survey, number, onepoll, part, passion, performance, quality, quality time, recession, relationship, report, Research, romp, Sept, Sex, sex life, sex london, snub, spokesman, study, survey, Telegraph, time, Tiredness, top, White Lie, work, www

Airborne laser to shoot ballistic missile as part of flight test

September 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, September 12 (ANI): Soon, the Airborne Laser (ABL), built into a customized Boeing 747, is ready for flight tests, in which it will try to shoot a ballistic missile.

According to a report in New Scientist, the US Department of Defense’s Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has developed the ABL.

The ABL aims to focus a beam of laser energy in the megawatt range for several seconds onto a missile at a “militarily significant distance” – more than 100 kilometres.

So far, the laser has only operated at near full power on the ground. On August 18, it was fired successfully from the air, but at reduced power.

That, however, was no mean feat, as aircraft vibrations play havoc with the precisely aligned optical components needed to generate a laser beam.

Firing at full power poses other challenges as well.

At powers high enough to destroy missiles, any surface contamination or tiny flaw in the laser optics can absorb so much heat that they crack or shatter.

High-power laser beams also heat the air they pass through, creating perturbations that can disperse or divert the beam.

To counteract those effects, the ABL uses an adaptive system that senses atmospheric changes along its path and makes optical adjustments to compensate.

To test that system, the MDA plans a series of increasingly powerful shots at modified ballistic missiles loaded with sensors to measure the distribution of laser power on the target.

Engineers will assess each shot’s performance and use the results to fine-tune the adaptive optics.

Once this is done, the MDA will test the laser again in varying conditions, and attempt to destroy actual missiles.

The first of these tests is planned to take place late this year, with two more to follow in early 2010, according to an MDA spokeswoman. (ANI)

Filed Under: Science News Tagged With: ABL, Adaptive Optics, Adaptive System, agency, air, airborne, Airborne Laser, aircraft, ANI, Atmospheric Changes, attempt, August, ballistic missile, ballistic missiles, beam, boeing, boeing 747, contamination, defense, department, disperse, distance, distribution, energy, feat, firing, flaw, flight, flight test, flight tests, ground, havoc, heat, High-power, laser, Laser Beam, laser energy, Laser Optics, Laser Power, London, MDA, megawatt, missile, Missile Defense Agency, New, New Scientist, optical components, part, path, performance, Perturbations, place, power, power laser, range, report, scientist, September, series, shatter, shot, spokeswoman, surface, Surface Contamination, system, target, test, Us Department Of Defense, year

Britain’s most famous UFO sighting was a pile of blazing dung!

September 6, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Sep 5 (ANI): After almost 30 years of one of Britain’s best-known UFO sightings, the true story behind the event has emerged- a truck load of dung is what caused all the mayhem.

The weird lights, strange marks on the ground, and odd noises in the night were caused by a burning lorry-load of dung.

US Air Force personnel claimed a UFO had landed in Rendlesham Forest, near Woodbridge, Suffolk, and the lurid descriptions given by them fuelled decades of fevered speculation, books, and bizarre theories.

In fact, the area was even proclaimed to be a portal for aliens visiting Earth.

However, Peter Turtill, 66, from Ipswich, has now come forward and has claimed that it was him who was to blame for the whole havoc.

He said that he had been on his way home after collecting a truck he had lent to a friend when it broke down near the USAF airbase at Rendlesham in December 1980.

“To my horror it was loaded with stolen fertiliser (often made at the time from guano bird dung) so we set light to it to destroy the evidence,” The Daily Express quoted Turtill as saying.

“The truck had an aluminium body and the fertiliser and metal made some very unusual coloured flames.

“Some airmen thought it was a multi-coloured cross from outer space, and with the truck tyres popping they were getting a bit edgy.

“I admit it probably looked spectacular rolling through the forest but it was hardly a spaceship,” he added.

While Turtill’s account may not necessarily lay the UFO story to rest, Rendlesham UFO enthusiast Brenda Butler said: “I don’t get what he is saying. Why has he waited 29 years to come forward?” (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: account, air, airbase, aluminium, ANI, area, bird, bit, body, Brenda Butler, Britain, burning, cross, daily, December, dung, Earth, emerged, enthusiast, event, evidence, Express, fact, fertiliser, force, forest, friend, ground, guano, havoc, home, horror, ipswich, load, London, Lurid, mayhem, metal, night, Peter Turtill, pile, Portal, Rendlesham, rolling, Sep, space, spaceship, speculation, story, Suffolk, time, Truck, UFO, USAF, way, woodbridge

Elephants wreak havoc in Jalpaiguri

August 28, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Jalpaiguri, Aug 28 (ANI): A herd of wild elephants wreaked havoc in a village in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal.

Around 50 elephants had strayed into the Diana forest region of the district from Assam and caused damage to the crops and the houses in the Angrabasha GP-1 and 2 region of Jalpaiguri.

Fed up with the plundering elephants, the villagers took it upon themselves to chase the animals back towards the forest.

“The animals plundered the whole area. They have damaged the crops and our houses as well,” said Ramesh Chettri, a villager.

Experts claim that massive deforestation, poaching and people encroaching upon forest corridors have forced elephants to move out of their natural habitats in search of food and water.

Home to 60 per cent of Asia’s elephants, India has the highest death rate from human-elephant conflict in the world, with 200-250 people and 100 elephants killed annually.

Habitat fragmentation, poaching of tusked males, and patchy forest law enforcement caused the decline in elephant population, but their numbers have slowly been increasing in the recent past. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Asia India, Assam, corridors, crops, death rate, decline, diana, elephant, elephant population, Forest Law, forest region, gp 1, Habitat Fragmentation, havoc, herd, Jalpaiguri, massive deforestation, Natural Habitats, villager, west bengal, wild elephants

Elephant creates havoc in Kerala village

August 28, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Mallapuram (Kerala), Aug 28 (ANI): An elephant, a trained and tamed one that was brought to carry tree logs, turned violent and created havoc for a couple of hours at Elamkulam town in Mallapuram district of Kerala.

In the process, the errant elephant damaged several shops and houses.

After running around for hours in the narrow lanes and streets of the town, the jumbo was finally brought under control with the help of an expert firing a dart of tranquilliser at it to neutralise its violent behaviour.

Reportedly, the 24-year old tusker named Palod Govindan Kutty became agitated due to ill treatment by its mahout and unable to bear such an attitude of its master, it ran amok covering the entire village for nearly nine hours.

According to the villagers, the elephant rampaged the boundary walls of many houses, smashed iron gates and even tossed away the roof covering of a shop.

“At around 10.30 or 11a.m, I heard people shouting. I stepped out of my shop and saw that an elephant was running mad and entering the town area. Firstly it went inside a house where many people started shouting. Soon it left the place and then entered the road. Later it started running all over causing destruction on its way. It entered a nearby school as well,” said Girish, an eyewitness.

Consequently, Wildlife rangers and veterinarians of Kerala’s Forest Department have initiated a probe to ascertain the sudden violent behaviour of elephant. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: attitude, boundary walls, dart, elephant, forest department, havoc, ill-treatment, iron gates, jumbo, kerala, Kutty, mahout, Nearby School, Rangers, running, tree logs, tusker, Veterinarians, Violent Behaviour

Bihar flood victims allege government apathy

August 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Kevati (Bihar), Aug 27 (ANI): Angry and anguished villagers have blamed government apathy for the flood-related havoc across Bihar.

Thousands of people have been displaced after the Misraulia dam broke in theState’s Darbhanga district inundating several villages in the region.

The water has flooded the National Highway 105 Highway, taking away tracts of road with the flow.

Villages have turned into mini islands and are cut off from the rest of the region. Floods have affected around a million people in eleven districts of the state.

Reportedly, over 100 villages are reeling under floods in Darbhanga district.

The death toll due to floods has risen to 23 in the state, with seven fresh cases being reported on Wednesday.

The villagers alleged the government has turned blind eye to their woes and want the government to provide relief to them.

“The flood water has cut away large tracts of land in Khirma. The administration is turned a blind eye towards us. A boat was provided to the villagers, which was broken and hence it sunk with 25 people onboard. Till now, there has been no help from the government. Further on, there is a bridge, which has also been washed away by the flood water. There is around five to seven feet of water on the road but there is no rescue work being carried on to save the people,” said Janki Ahmed, a flood victim.

Movement is also restricted due to the washing away of roads in the region.

Paramilitary forces have been called in to rescue stranded people, but according to some paramilitary officials, it is impossible to carry out rescue work in inundated villages.

“Our main aim is to rescue people. But villages here are cut off from the rest of the region. We conducted a survey and found that the villagers here did not want to leave their homes, instead, they want the government to provide them with relief material. It is impossible to carry out rescue operation here,” said Manoj Kumar Chwarsla, a paramilitary official.

State Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is conducting an aerial survey of the flood-affected regions to assess the damage.

“I will conduct an aerial survey of the flood affected regions and hold discussions with the officials there. Instructions have already been issued to the officials there as to how to deal with the situation in the flood-affected areas. How people have to be rescued, how to provide relief material to them and all this work is being carried on by the disaster management department,” said Nitish Kumar.

The villagers are forced to remain indoors and are even facing food shortage in some areas.(ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: administration., ahmed, aim, angry, ANI, apathy, Aug, Bihar, blind eye, boat, bridge, Chief Minister Nitish, Dam, damage, Darbhanga, darbhanga district, death, death toll, department, disaster, district, eye, flood, Flood Victim, flood victims, Flood Water, floods, flow, food, Government, havoc, Havoc Across, help, highway, Instructions, janki, Kevati, Khirma, kumar, Kumar Chwarsla, land, management, manoj, material, mini, Misraulia, movement, national, official, onboard, operation, paramilitary, paramilitary forces, people, region, relief, relief material, reportedly, rescue, rest, road, shortage, situation, state, State C, survey, theState, till, toll, tracts, victim, water, Wednesday, woes, work

Flood-hit UP villagers forced to fend for themselves

August 26, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Pipraghat (UP), Aug 26 (ANI): Pipraghat villagers are caught in double trouble. Hit by flood, they have fallen victim to the government’s complacency.

The village is among the many hit by the rising waters of Narayani River in Kushinagar district. Thousands of people have been rendered homeless.

The villagers of Pipraghat complained that they have not received any government help so far.

“This is Pipraghat village in Kushinagar district, which is very backward. Twenty-five villages have been affected by floods and 20,000 people are suffering from it.

But the government has not made any arrangement. It has only been providing us with a boat and 2 litres of kerosene oil.” said Prabhunath Yadav, a resident.

People say they are left with very little food and are living on shells.

“The water has not receded. We are fetching shells and eating them and there is also no help from the government,” said Batulia Devi, a villager.

The villagers are facing a severe shortage of drinking water, apart from kerosene oil to cook their food.

The government officials say kerosene oil is on its way to reach people.

“Twelve thousand litres of oil has been ordered which will be distributed to people. The revenue administrative officer will make a list of people and those in the list will get two litres of oil,” said Mahendra Shukla, district supply officer.

Narayani River has swollen due to rains in Nepal, where it originates.

The river flows through Champaran district in Bihar to Maharajgunj and down Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh.

Heavy downpour after a delayed monsoon has wreaked havoc in many districts of Uttar Pradesh which skirt the India-Nepal border since the waters of swollen rivers and reservoirs in Nepal rush southwards into these districts. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: administrative officer, ANI, arrangement, Aug, Batulia, Bihar, boat, border, champaran, complacency, devi, district, Double Trouble, downpour, drinking, drinking water, due, flood, Flood-hit, floods, food, Government, government officials, havoc, heavy, Heavy Downpour, help, hit, India, kerosene, Kerosene Oil, Kushinagar, list, little food, Maharajgunj, Mahendra, Monsoon, Narayani River, Nepal., officer, oil, Pipraghat, Prabhunath, pradesh, reservoirs, resident, revenue, river, rush, shells, shortage, Shukla, skirt, supply, Swollen Rivers, trouble, twelve thousand, uttar, victim, village, villager, water, way, yadav