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UPDATE 1-Spirax-Sarco sees higher H1 sales, margins

July 7, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

July 6 (Reuters) – Britain’s Spirax-Sarco Engineering Plc (SPX.L) said first-half sales were up 8 percent at constant currency on the strength of its order book and recent acquisitions.

The Cheltenham-based company, which makes products such as pumps and boilers for processes using steam, expects adjusted operating profit margin to be above 19 percent, compared with 15 percent a year ago.

Spirax-Sarco said the Watson-Marlow pumps business was leading its growth.

The company, which sees high capital investment for the year, said rising material costs would impact the second half.

Spirax-Sarco said it had net cash balances of 18 million pounds ($27.2 million) and a strong balance sheet at end-June.

Shares of the company closed at 1,358 pence on Monday on the London Stock Exchange. ($1=.6608 Pound) (Reporting by Aditi Samajpati in Bangalore; Editing by Vinu Pilakkott)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: acquisitions, balance sheet, boilers, Capital Investment, Cash Balances, currency, London Exchange, london stock exchange, margins, Material Costs, Operating Profit Margin, pence, Plc, reuters, second half, Spirax Sarco, SPX, steam, Watson Marlow Pumps

It’s Full Steam Ahead for Hall of Fame Beverages, Inc.

May 6, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

LOS ANGELES, CA, May 05 (MARKET WIRE) —
Hall of Fame Beverages (PINKSHEETS: HFBG) is excited to announce that the
Company has secured funding necessary to commence production of its
flagship products. The Company would like to emphasize that the funding
was not secured from the sale of Hall of Fame Beverages stock. The
Company expects to begin the production of Grandmama’s Sweet Southern
Tea(TM) as well as the repackaged Atomic Dogg Super Soda(TM) in mid-May.
Although Atomic Dogg will have a new look, it will feature its
established award winning flavor and formulation. The initial production
will conclude just in time to capture the lucrative peak summer selling
season allowing the Company to take advantage of the increased revenues.
Upon completion of the production run, the products will immediately be
shipped to the Company’s established distribution channels.

“We are very excited about the accelerated progress for 2010. It has been
a long road thus far, but all the hard work is beginning to pay off.
Although our initial schedule was to produce only A.N.D. in May, because
of increased demand, we feel it is necessary to facilitate the production
of all the core brands including Grandmama’s Sweet Southern Tea and
Atomic Dogg Super Soda. We intend to complete the three production runs
in the same month. Big things are ahead of us. This is only the first
step in a long and rewarding journey,” states Larry Twombly, Hall of Fame
Beverages CEO.

The initial run of the A.N.D. products are on schedule to be produced
mid-May and will be shipped to the North East region for immediate
distribution. The Company is currently working to secure additional
funding that would be utilized in additional productions that would allow
for an earlier West Coast launch than was previously discussed. The
Company will continue to keep the shareholders informed as it proceeds
and progresses with many future developments.

It has come to the Company’s attention that some confusion among the
shareholders exists concerning the relationship between Hall of Fame
Beverages, Inc. and Party Dogg Llc. Party Dogg Llc is a broker and
marketing company that was established to aid in the relationships
between Hall of Fame Beverages and other distribution sources. Party Dogg
Llc does not have ownership in any of the Hall of Fame Beverages
products. They are purely a facilitator.

We welcome the relationship between Party Dogg Llc and Hall of Fame
Beverages and feel this will enhance our business efforts with a long
term association.

About Hall of Fame Beverages

Hall of Fame Beverages, Inc. is a new lifestyle company dedicated to
building long-term success through the creation, manufacture,
distribution, and marketing of innovative non-alcoholic beverages
recognized for their fresh, standout brand identities that rise above the
plethora of average products. Hall of Fame Beverages along with its
strategic V-Group partners is a team of visionary and seasoned beverage
industry executives who intend to leverage their expertise and their
established resources in beverage commerce to make Hall of Fame Beverages
one of the industry’s big winners via its signature brand product line
called A.N.D. (Antioxidant Nutritional Drinks), as well as through
multiple innovations just on the horizon.

“Safe Harbor Statement”

Under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The
statements in the press release that relate to the Company’s expectations
with regard to the future impact on the Company’s results from new
products in development are forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The results
anticipated by any or all of these forward-looking statements may not
occur. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the
result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be
made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to
reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes in the
Company’s plans or expectations.

Contact:
Hall of Fame Beverages Inc.

http://www.halloffamebeverages.com/

Investor Relations
info@halloffamebeverages.com

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: beverages, ceo, Core Brands, distribution channels, Flagship Products, Grandmama, hall of fame, Initial Production, initial schedule, Larry Twombly, launch, peak summer, Rewarding Journey, shareholders, soda, Southern Tea, steam, stock, Sweet Tea, West Coast

Goat abattoir reopens after flood woes

April 10, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Australia’s largest goat meat exporter is back in business after last month’s flooding in south-west Queensland closed the abattoir at Charleville.

Murweh Mayor Mark O’Brien says Western Exporters has reopened this week, which will mean a huge boost to the local economy.

About 160 workers were laid off after the floods.

Councillor O’Brien says it is another indication of how the community is recovering.

“It’s the biggest employer in south-west Queensland,” he said.

“I was talking to the proprietor and he said he was confident that he can get access to enough goats to keep it operating as per normal. That’s been the problem, just getting access to goats and they’re coming from near and far but at the moment it’s full steam ahead which is wonderful.”

Cr O’Brien says the reopening will boost the local economy by about at least $1 million a week.

“A lot of the employees in that plant would have had very restricted income during the period of its closure, so it was really important that we did whatever we could to help Western Exporters get up and running again, but it was great news this week that they’re back on deck and the impact of it filters through the community very quickly,” he said.

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Panax drilling produces steam

April 8, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

An exploration company has produced the first steam from drilling at its pioneering Salamander 1 well in the Otway Basin near Penola.

Panax Geothermal managing director Dr Bertus de Graaf says the company has successfully completed a short flow test.

He says it is an important step in establishing Australia’s first geothermal reserves and an exciting time for the company.

“It’s a great feeling to know that at least we have intercepted a geothermal reservoir,” he said.

“It took a while before the well heated up the well above there and then when suddenly it started spewing out steam it was a great feeling.”

Data collected during the short flow test will be evaluated and interpreted in combination with information secured during the drilling process.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Australia, Bertus, De Graaf, drilling company, Exploration Company, Flow Test, Geothermal Reservoir, managing director, Otway Basin, salamander, steam

Iceland’s erupting volcano forms new craters

April 1, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Thu, Apr 1 09:01 AM

A volcano blasting steam and ash into the atmosphere in the south of Iceland formed new craters spewing lava on Wednesday, Icelandic radio said.

The volcano under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier began erupting 10 days ago, forcing hundreds of people to leave the area and leading authorities to divert flights.

A new fissure about 300 metres long opened up on Wednesday, state radio said. Geologists believe this could mean activity is moving further north, towards the nature reserve of Thorsmork, a popular tourist site.

Vidir Gardarsson of the Civil Defence in Reykjavik told the newspaper Morgonbladid the fissure was still expanding.

“We want to move people away from the area while we figure out what is going on,” he said. “This is a security measure while this evolves.”

Police estimate that about 25,000 people have visited the site in recent days.

Iceland lies on a volcanic hotspot in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and is prone to eruptions, although most occur in sparsely populated areas and pose little danger to life or property. The last eruption took place in 2004.

Scientists had been monitoring the Eyjafjallajokull glacier, dormant since 1821, for signs of seismic activity but said there was little warning before the latest activity.

(Editing by Andrew Dobbie)

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Inpex ‘full steam ahead’ on EIS: Henderson

April 1, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The Northern Territory Chief Minister says he hasn’t heard that Inpex has again delayed its final decision to build an LNG processing plant in Darwin.

Paul Henderson says he met with Inpex executives in Darwin yesterday and there was no talk of a delay.

“They are full steam ahead on providing the EIS for public comment in the not too distant future,” Mr Henderson said.

“If you have a look at their website there’s over a billion dollars worth in Inpex tenders out at the moment for this project, so I have had no advice to that effect and Mr Koroda was in town just yesterday.”

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Australia, billion dollars, business-economics-and-finance, darwin, darwin-0800, distant future, Eis, final decision, industry, inpex, Mr Henderson, Northern Territory Chief Minister, nt, oil and gas, Paul Henderson, Public Comment, steam, tenders

Tahu endures torrid return

March 15, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Timana Tahu endured a torrid return to the NRL as opposite centre Beau Scott did all in his power to make life difficult in Parramatta’s loss to St George Illawarra on Friday night.

Tahu, whose Eels lost 18-12 at Parramatta Stadium on his return to the NRL after two years playing rugby union with New South Wales and Australia, was engaged in a running battle with big defensive centre Scott all night.

The dual international made his presence most felt with some bruising defence, absolutely smashing Dragons full-back Darius Boyd in the 32nd minute and shaking the ball loose in the process.

But the match flared up in the 37th minute when a Tahu high shot on Scott brought players running from all over the park to enjoy a bit of push and shove.

He never quite found himself in the clear and the frustration brought more niggle with Scott.

There was more push and shove in the 70th minute and plenty of gesticulating and verbals two minutes later after Scott appeared to slap Tahu in a tackle.

“There was a few cheap shots I got and I gave a few cheap shots back,” Tahu said.

“So, I think we ended up being even at the end of the day but it didn’t show on the scoreboard.

“League’s a confrontational sport. It was good to let out a bit of steam, that’s something you can do in league, run out of the line and do your best.

“I think it’s just my nature … players try and put a bit of stick into you and you give it back and at the end of the day we’re all mates.”

Eels coach Daniel Anderson was pleased with Tahu’s return after much of his two-year stint in the 15-man game was spent sitting on the Waratahs’ bench.

“It was a solid return, he did really well for us, he was positive in the whole game I thought,” he said.

- AAP

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: bench, cheap shots, Daniel Anderson, Darius, Dragons, Dual International, EELS, friday night, frustration, man game, match, mates, New South Wales, NRL, presence, scoreboard, St George Illawarra, steam, stint, two minutes

Sea levels rose as much as 2 feet this summer along the US East Coast

September 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, September 12 (ANI): Reports indicate that sea levels rose as much as 2 feet (60 centimeters) higher than predicted this summer along the US East Coast, surprising scientists who forecast such periodic fluctuations.

According to National Geographic News, though the immediate cause of the unexpected rise has now been solved, the underlying reason remains a mystery.

Usually, predicting seasonal tides and sea levels is a pretty cut-and-dried process, governed by the known movements and gravitational influences of astronomical bodies like the moon, according to Rich Edwing, deputy director for the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

But, NOAA’s phones began ringing this summer when East Coast residents reported higher than predicted water levels, much like those associated with short-term weather events like tropical storms.

These high seas persisted for weeks, throughout June and July.

The startling rise caused only minor coastal flooding, but puzzled scientists.

Now, a new report has identified the two major factors behind the high sea levels-a weakened Gulf Stream and steady winds from the northeastern Atlantic.

The Gulf Stream is a northward-flowing superhighway of ocean water off the US East Coast.

Running at full steam, the powerful current pulls water into its “orbit” and away from the East Coast.

But this summer, for reasons unknown, “the Gulf Stream slowed down,” Edwing said, sending water toward the coasts-and sea levels shooting upward.

Adding to the sustained surge, autumn winds from the northeastern Atlantic arrived a few months early, pushing even more water coastward.

The higher waters caused inconveniences for some anglers and boaters and rearranged a bit of shoreline.

“A couple of sand beaches we’d normally fish from were eaten up. And the volume of water was higher than it normally would be,” said Paulie Apostolides, owner of Paulie’s Tackle in Montauk on New York State’s Long Island.

Even before the new report, released by NOAA on September 2, Apostolides said that many local fishers had already attributed the sea level rise to the “ferocious” winds from the northeast. (ANI)

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Scientists using laser light to generate underwater sound

September 6, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, September 6 (ANI): The United States Naval Research Laboratory is working on a new technology that uses flashes of laser light to remotely create underwater sound.

Researchers behind the project say that the new technology has the potential to expand and improve both Naval and commercial underwater acoustic applications, including undersea communications, navigation, and acoustic imaging.

Dr. Ted Jones, a physicist in the Plasma Physics Division, is leading a team of researchers from the Plasma Physics, Acoustics, and Marine Geosciences Divisions in developing this acoustic source.

The researchers used a 532 nm laser pulse for their study at the Salt Water Tank Facility.

They also used air bubblers and controlled water and air temperatures to create ocean-like conditions in the laboratory.

The research team could efficiently convert light into sound by concentrating the light sufficiently to ionize a small amount of water, which then absorbed laser energy and superheats.

They said that the result was a small explosion of steam that could generate a 220 decibel pulse of sound.

Given that the driving laser pulse has the ability to travel through both air and water, the researchers say that a compact laser on either an underwater or airborne platform can be used for remote acoustic generation.

They believe that their method would be a significant addition to traditional direct backscattering acoustic data. (ANI)

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British wartime agents foiled Nazi plot before D-Day

September 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Sep.1 (ANI): British agents foiled a desperate German plot to monitor troop movements just days before D-Day, according to newly-released MI5 files on the Nazis.

During the Second World War, Iceland became tactically important for both sides and Germany sent a series of spies to gather weather information about the area to send back to the Luftwaffe.

But by May 1944 they had become convinced that any naval assault on their forces would be launched from Iceland, MI5 files released on Tuesday by the National Archives in Kew show.

According to The Telegraph, the Germans put together a hurried plan to send three spies to the country to monitor troop movements in a bid to foil Allied attempts to liberate France.

Three Allied forces agents, named Miller, Hoan and Frick, were having dinner in their hotel in Seydisfjordur, Iceland, on the evening of May 5, 1944, when they got wind of the scheme.

A seal hunter had spotted three strangers behaving suspiciously near Borgarfjordur.

The agents tried to alert an Allied ship anchored off the coast in that area but were told it could take hours before it got up enough steam to sail, by which time the men could be deep into the Icelandic wilderness.

So they persuaded the seal hunter to be their guide, borrowed a boat and in the early hours of the morning landed near where the men had been seen.

They hiked across the snow, through the night, following the faint trail left by the spies until finally, at 6 a.m. the following day, they spotted them.

Their report notes: “We cocked our pistols and quickened our pace.”

They surrounded the men, who very quickly confessed to being German soldiers, but claimed they had been sent only to gather meteorological information.

Ernst Fresenius, an avowed Nazi loyalist, was in fact the only German. The other two men, Hjalti Bjornsson and Sigurdur Juliusson, were Icelanders who had been hired as mercenaries by the Nazi military.

They were frogmarched to a farmhouse two miles away where Miller and Frick kept them prisoner while Hoan went back to find the radio transmitter the men had hidden.

A search revealed that the men had 9,000 pounds of sterling, dollars and German marks on them.

It took six interrogation sessions back in UK to establish that the arrested men were in fact trained spies looking for information on troop and naval movements and ships in fjords.

All three were handed over to the American forces and their file ends with a report from the interrogation camp. (ANI)

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Photo exhibition showcasing 128-year-old past of heritage railway in Darjeeling

August 26, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Siliguri, Aug 26 (ANI): To create awareness regarding the history and evolution of the heritage railway especially amongst schoolchildren, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) in collaboration with the Siliguri Science Centre has organised a week-long photo exhibition showcasing its glorious past of 128 years, in Siliguri.

The exhibition, which will conclude on August 30, depicts the evolution of the DHR from its inception to the modern times.

The DHR is an important landmark on the Indian tourism map especially after UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1999.

The DHR’s 82 kilometres of journey from Siliguri junction to Darjeeling is an enchanting journey offering a majestic view of the Darjeeling Himalayas.

The organisers believe that the exhibition will make young generation aware of the history of the DHR, an important part of their heritage.

“We have tried to display through photographs, through charts and through maps, the evolution of the DHR and also the different milestones and important events of the DHR. For example, when the Tindharia workshop (the workshop that undertakes major servicing of steam locomotives and coaches of DHR) was formed, how the monsoon disaster took place, and even the cyclone AILA has been put in,” said Subrata Nath, Director, Darjeeling Himalayan Railways.

Children, from various schools of the region, are thronging the exhibition and have been enthusiastic about it.

“It is an awesome feeling, because I have never experienced such a thing .I came here and saw the railways and the natural beauty of Darjeeling Himalayas. It was a fantastic experience,” said Rahul Sharma, a student.

The DHR toy train was the brainchild of Franklin Prestage, an agent of the then Eastern Bengal Railway, who foresaw the utility of a rail link between the hills of Darjeeling and the plains.

It was started in 1896 by the then British Lieutenant Governor Ashley Eden, offering riders an opportunity to enjoy the majestic beauty of nature along the Darjeeling hills. At the beginning, this railway was named as the Darjeeling steam Tramway Co. Later when India gained independence in 1947, the railway was renamed as the DHR.

The DHR was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO on December 5 at its 23rd session. By Taruk Sarkar (ANI)

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Brit car smashes century-old speed record by clocking 225 kms per hour

August 26, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, August 26 (ANI): A British-built car has broken the land speed record for steam-powered cars for the first time in more than 100 years, after it achieved an average speed of 225 kilometres per hour.

According to a report in New Scientist, Charles Burnett III has reached speeds of 219 km/hr (136 mph) and 243 km/hr (151 mph) during two drives at California’s Edwards Air Force Base.

That smashes the previous official record of 204 km/hr (127 mph) set in 1906 by Fred Marriott of the US in a modified version of the then-popular steam car known as the Stanley Steamer.

Officials from motor sport’s governing body, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), are expected to ratify the new record shortly.

Burnett drove a 7.6-metre-long, 3-tonne car called “Inspiration” that grew out of a 1997 student project at Southampton University.

The car’s engine burns liquid petroleum gas to heat water in 12 suitcase-sized boilers, creating steam heated to 400 degrees Celsius.

The steam then drives a two-stage turbine that spins at 13,000 revolutions per minute to power its wheels.

The FIA requires two 1.6-km-long runs to be performed in opposite directions – to cancel out any effect from wind – within 60 minutes.

Inspiration made the first run on August 25 and turned around for the return run with just eight minutes to spare.

Before and after each timed run, it took 4 km to accelerate and another 4 km to slow down.

The record-setting drives came after several earlier attempts had been thwarted by electrical faults, valve problems, a storm and a tyre puncture the previous week.

But, the team is planning another run today, to try to get even closer to the car’s theoretical top speed of 274 km/hr (170 mph). (ANI)

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Illegal constructions making Darjeeling vulnerable to landslides

July 10, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Darjeeling, July 9 (ANI): The massive construction of buildings, a majority of them illegal, has led to degradation of soil texture in the Darjeeling Hills area of West Bengal and making the place vulnerable to landslides.

A series of landslides hit Darjeeling and its surrounding areas in May, triggered by overnight torrents.

Local builders, however, have ignored the threat of landslides or public concern.

Geologists say that the construction of unauthorised buildings coupled with improper drainage systems has led to recent landslides.

“For the Since last 100 years, Darjeeling is witnessing an rapid increase in population. This migration of population has led to an increase in unauthorised constructions. This coupled with the lack of a proper drainage system in the Darjeeling Hills culminated in the recent catastrophic landslides,” said Subhir Sarkar, a geologist.

When asked about the problem, the State Minister for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Ashok Narayan Bhattacharya, said the state Government has asked the local civic body to take active measures against it.

“We would be organising a seminar in Kalimpong to ascertain the crisis, and whatever the meteorologists say is very much justified and the municipality must look into the matter,” said Bhattacharya.

Situated at a height of 2,134 meters, Darjeeling is also famous for its 125-year-old railway, a UNESCO world heritage site where the century old miniature steam engine still chugs.

During the late 50s of the 19th century, Darjeeling was developed as a hill station for Britishers, who wanted to escape the heat of the plains.

As time passed, Darjeeling emerged as a tourists destination. By Taruk Sarkar (ANI)

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Toshiba Corporation set to enter Indian thermal power industry

July 8, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Tokyo, July 8 (ANI/Business Wire India): Toshiba Corporation announced that Toshiba JSW Turbine and Generator Pvt. Ltd., a joint venture with JSW that will manufacture and market steam turbines and generators in India, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the government of Tamil Nadu.

The MOU allows Toshiba JSW to lease land for the construction of manufacturing facilities on a site in Chennai.

Established in September last year, Toshiba JSW will manufacture and market mid- to large-sized steam turbines and generators, ranging in size from 500-megawatts (MW) to 1,000MW, for highly efficient super-critical thermal power plants in India.

Located about 18km north of downtown Chennai, the major gateway to south-east India, the site has a ground area of some 400,000 square meters, and Toshiba JSW expects to invest some US160 million dollars in plant and manufacturing equipment over five years from fiscal year 2009.

Facility construction is scheduled to start in this month, and manufacturing is expected to start in January 2011. Keihin Operations, Toshiba’s power equipment production facility in Yokohama, will support Toshiba JSW in ramping up manufacturing, and in working toward establishing an independent production scale of 3,000MW a year. Toshiba JSW anticipates sales of US$400 million by the end of fiscal year 2015.

Toshiba JSW will now begin to recruit staff, and expects to have 500 employees by 2014.

With support from the government of Tamil Nadu, Toshiba will build a state-of-the-art heavy equipment manufacturing facility in Chennai, and hopes to contribute to the further development of local industry and to help India in its efforts to promote stable electricity supply.

Strong Growth in the Indian market for thermal power generation equipment driven by strong economic growth, the Indian power generation equipment market is expected to see demand growth of 15,000-16,000 MW a year for the next decade, according to the Eleventh (2007-2012) and Twelfth (2012-2017) Five- Year National Electricity Plans published by the Indian government.

Coal-fired thermal power stations will account for over 60 percent of the capacity growth, far surpassing other energy sources, and 80 percent of those power stations will be highly efficient super-critical thermal power plants.

Consistent with its long-term growth strategy of enhancing its thermal power plant business in India, Toshiba India Private Ltd. will establish a new in-house company in Gurgaon, Haryana state in August, which will initially provide engineering capabilities for thermal power plants in India.

With time, the new company is expected to provide a full engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) functions for the thermal and hydro power plant business in India, and to support customers in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

The new company will work closely with Toshiba JSW and with another Toshiba Group company in India, TPSC (India) Private Limited in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, a wholly owned subsidiary of Toshiba Plant Systems and Services Corporation that undertakes construction of power plants, and will be charged with channeling Toshiba’s comprehensive capabilities in thermal power plant toward meeting growing demand in India. (ANI)

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Giant volcanic eruption 260 mln yrs ago may have caused global mass extinction

May 29, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, May 29 (ANI): Scientists at the University of Leeds in the UK have uncovered a previously unknown giant volcanic eruption that led to global mass extinction 260 million years ago.

The eruption in the Emeishan province of south-west China unleashed around half a million cubic kilometers of lava, covering an area 5 times the size of Wales, and wiping out marine life around the world.

Unusually, scientists were able to pinpoint the exact timing of the eruption and directly link it to a mass extinction event in the study.

This is because the eruptions occurred in a shallow sea, meaning that the lava appears today as a distinctive layer of igneous rock sandwiched between layers of sedimentary rock containing easily datable fossilized marine life.

The layer of fossilized rock directly after the eruption shows mass extinction of different life forms, clearly linking the onset of the eruptions with a major environmental catastrophe.

The global effect of the eruption is also due to the proximity of the volcano to a shallow sea.

The collision of fast flowing lava with shallow sea water caused a violent explosion at the start of the eruptions – throwing huge quantities of sulphur dioxide into the stratosphere.

“When fast flowing, low viscosity magma meets shallow sea, it’s like throwing water into a chip pan – there’s spectacular explosion producing gigantic clouds of steam,” explained Professor Paul Wignall, a paleontologist at the University of Leeds.

The injection of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere would have lead to massive cloud formation spreading around the world, which cooled the planet and ultimately resulted in a torrent of acid rain.

Scientists estimate from the fossil record that the environmental disaster happened at the start of the eruption.

“The abrupt extinction of marine life we can clearly see in the fossil record firmly links giant volcanic eruptions with global environmental catastrophe, a correlation that has often been controversial,” said Professor Wignall. (ANI)

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Landslides disrupt toy train service in West Bengal

May 28, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Siliguri, May 28 (ANI): Landslides in West Bengal have disrupted the movement of the world famous toy train, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The famous Darjeeling toy train runs between Siliguri and Darjeeling.

The train stopped operation from Tuesday as heavy rains and severe landslides washed away a huge portion of the railway track. A huge pile of debris has accumulated on the tracks, halting the operation of the toy train.

“In 80 km route from Siliguri junction to Darjeeling, we have got landslides at 41 spots and total amount of muds and boulders is about 3500 cubic metres. We also have tree fallen on tracks at 16 spots. Out of the 16 spots, two spots are very heavy because very big tree trunk has fallen on track. We have got one location near Ghum where a portion of our track is washed away in between two buildings,” said Subrata Nath, director, Darjeeling Himalayan Railways (DHR).

The DHR is trying hard to resume the journey at the earliest, but the service is expected to resume not earlier than seven to ten days.

“We are trying our best to resume the services between new Jalpaiguri, Siliguri to Kerseong by Saturday. That will cover around 50 km of our track. So around 60 km, we will be able to make operational by this Saturday. And for the other one it may take another seven to ten days,” added Nath.

The DHR toy train was started in 1896 by the then British Lieutenant Governor Ashley Eden, offering riders an opportunity to enjoy the majestic beauty of nature along the Darjeeling hills.

At the beginning, this railway was named as the Darjeeling steam Tramway Co. Later when India gained independence in 1947, the railway was named as the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR).

DHR was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO on December 5 at their 23rd session. (ANI)

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North Korea threatens to launch strikes against South Korea

May 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Seoul (South Korea), May 27 (ANI): North Korea on Wednesday threatened to launch military strikes against South Korea if any of its ships were stopped or searched as part of an American-led operation to intercept vessels suspected of carrying weapons of mass destruction.

“We consider this a declaration of war against us,” an unidentified North Korean military spokesman said Wednesday in a statement carried by the North’s official news agency KCNA.

“Any hostile act against our peaceful vessels including search and seizure will be considered an unpardonable infringement on our sovereignty and we will immediately respond with a powerful military strike,” the statement said.

The strident rhetoric, although not unusual in North Korean statements released to the outside world, is likely to further sharpen tensions created by the North’s surprise nuclear test, which drew a condemnation that was swift, widespread and angry.

Earlier Wednesday, a South Korean newspaper reported that American spy satellites had detected plumes of steam and other signs of activity at a North Korean plant that reprocesses spent nuclear fuel to make weapons-grade plutonium.

The report from the newspaper, Chosun Ilbo, appeared to support a claim made by North Korea in late April that it had restarted its reprocessing plant at Yongbyon, 60 miles north of Pyongyang, the capital.

In its statement Wednesday, the North Korean military also questioned the “legal status” of five South Korea-held islands on the countries’ disputed western sea border. The military “will not guarantee the safe navigation” for American and South Korean vessels, both military and civilian, sailing in the waters near the border, the spokesman said. (ANI)

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North Korea reported to have launched a fifth missile

May 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Seoul (South Korea), May 27 (ANI): The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has reportedly launched a third short-range missile from its east coast, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported on Wednesday, citing presidential office sources.

According to a Sky News report, this was North Korea’s fifth missile launch since testing a nuclear weapon on Monday.

North Korea warned of a military response this morning after South Korea joined an anti-proliferation exercise, and said it is no longer bound by the armistice which ended the Korean War in 1953.

A military spokesman quoted by official media also said the North could no longer guarantee the safety of shipping off its west coast – suggesting a missile could be fired in that direction.

A South Korean newspaper reported US spy satellites have detected signs that North Korea has re-started its nuclear plant at Yongbyon.

The newspaper quoting intelligence sources said the satellites detected steam rising from the reprocessing facility at the nuclear plant.

North Korea had promised it would restart the reprocessing of spent fuel rods in protest at UN criticism of the launch of a long range ballistic missile in April.

In New York members of the United Nations Security Council have gone into closed meetings in an attempt to deliver a unanimous response to North Korea’s continued breach of previous UN resolutions.

Ambassadors from the two countries most affected by the nuclear test, South Korea and Japan, joined ambassadors from the five permanent members of the Security Council -the United States, Britain, Russia, France and China for an hour-long meeting that sought to agree on a new resolution.

But US Ambassador Susan Rice, speaking on behalf of the group, warned it would be a long process. (ANI)

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Peter Andre goes into hiding as Jordan returns

May 21, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, May 21 (ANI): Australian pop star Peter Andre has gone into hiding at his manager Claire Powell’s home, as he doesn’t want any kind of altercation with his estranged wife Jordan when she returns home from Maldives.

Peter, who headed back to London from Cyprus, was picked up at the airport by his manager and taken straight to a secluded house in Cowfold, West Sussex.

Jordan, on the other hand, is looking forward to mending things with Peter on her 31st birthday.

“It could turn out to be most miserable birthday, the day they decide to go their separate ways. Kate says she wants to save her marriage but insists she’s ready to move on if they can’t work things out,” the Sun quoted a source as saying.

“Peter is still devastated and very hurt by her behaviour and is not sure if he can face taking her back and trying to be a family again. They clearly have a lot of talking to do,” the source added.

However, Peter, who was looking forward to meeting his kids, decided to stay at a secluded place after he learnt that Jordan has got all his stuff removed from home.

“He felt she did it just to spite him. She has been calling him from the Maldives and trying to arrange a meet, but he has run out of steam,” the source said.

“He hasn’t got the energy for the fights. He knows any talking will end up in a row and he wants to keep things calm for the sake of the children. He doesn’t feel ready to see Katie yet,” the source added. (ANI)

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Challenges and Strategy: A new book argues for a rethink on India’s foreign policy

May 8, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 8 (ANI): If India has to become a major player in the 21st century, a major reappraisal of India’s foreign policy is needed.

This is the argument of a new book “Challenge and Strategy: Rethinking India’s Foreign Policy by Rajiv Sikri.

The former diplomat in his lucidly written book examines India’s current and looming foreign policy challenges from a strategic and policy oriented perspective.

The stated objective of the book is “to spread awareness of India’s foreign policy challenges in the 21st century by stimulating an informed debate on India’s foreign policy options among Indians, particularly the younger generation.”

The book contends that “India is no longer a pawn on the world stage; it is also a player”, and the new generation of India doesn’t want the country to be in the category of “also-ran”, it wants the nation to be a “major player in the emerging global scenario”.

“Challenges and Strategy” sees the emerging foreign policy challenges from the perspective of history. It believes that “a new stable balance of power and a new pattern of inter-state relations” have not yet emerged after the gradual death of the post World War Two international order.

The author thinks that the present world order looks as chaotic as Europe looked after the French Revolution of 1789 and it may take another decade or so for the incipient trends in the global balance of power to get consolidated and for the pieces of the “new global kaleidoscope to fall into place”.

In this “disorder” there is doubt about the “global weight” of America in the new emerging order; there is also uncertainty about the dominance of China in the 21st century as the author believes that its economic miracle could run out of steam”.

Sikri sees Russia coming out of the shadow of the post-Cold War era in the 21st century.

The former diplomat asserts that the “fulcrum of global politics and economics is inexorably shifting towards Asia” and “Vasco da Gama era of Asian history is coming to an end after five centuries”.

In this changing international scenario the global standing of India in the 21st century will depend to a large extent on whether India lives up to its promise and potential, whether China manages to sustain its economic growth, and inter-relationship between the two giants.

Sikri underlines the changing foreign policy dynamics and perspective in India. He calls the no confidence motion in parliament in 2008 on the issue of Indo-American nuclear deal as a “huge turning point for a country that is sometimes suspected of not even having a foreign policy”.

The book delves deep into the history and the need for India to rethink anew and in a new light the foreign policy of India.

The book claims to be “a must read” for policy makers, diplomats, foreign policy analysts and students of Indian politics and relations.

Rajiv Sikri was a career diplomat for over 36 years and retired as a Secretary in Ministry of External Affairs with responsibility for India’s relations with the Asia-pacific region, the Arab world, Israel, Iran and Central Asia. (ANI)

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