'Ring Of Fire' Solar Eclipse To Be Visible On October 14, Details Here

Skygazers are in for the most exciting astronomical event of 2023, when a rare celestial spectacle will grace the skies on October 14. Come Saturday, a partial ''ring of fire'' solar eclipse will be visible across most of the Americas for the first time since 2012. On this day, the moon will be positioned in front of the sun, hiding much of it but leaving a brilliant ring or annulus, as per the Washington Post. 

Visible in parts of the United States, Mexico, and many countries in South and Central America, millions of people in the Western Hemisphere can experience the rare  phenomenon. The dazzling celestial event will allow millions of people to witness “the awe and the wonder of seeing a beautiful ring of fire eclipse,” said Peg Luce, acting director of the Heliophysics Division at NASA headquarters.

Your friends at SciJinks are counting down the days to the next annular eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023. Let's get ready together by learning what an annular eclipse is! 🧵 pic.twitter.com/FuffFuFxVe

— NOAA SciJinks (@scijinks) September 25, 2023

What is an Annual Solar Eclipse?

Notably, an annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the sun and Earth while at its farthest point from Earth. The moon does not cover the sun completely, leaving a thin ring of sunlight or a “ring of fire” effect in the sky. Meanwhile, total solar eclipses occur when the moon is close enough to Earth that it appears just as large as the sun in the sky

As per BBC Science Focus, for an annular eclipse to occur, the Moon must be in its new Moon phase, and far enough away from Earth so that it looks small. It's therefore unable to completely block out the Sun's central disc. 

The annular eclipse will travel from the coast of Oregon to the Texas Gulf Coast on Oct. 14. Weather permitting, the annular eclipse will be visible in Oregon, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas, as well as some parts of California, Idaho, Colorado, and Arizona, NASA said. It will then pass over Mexico and Central America, followed by South America. The eclipse will end at sunset in the Atlantic Ocean. The average duration of the Oct. 14 eclipse in the U.S. at any given point will be four to five minutes, according to the Great American Eclipse website.

Will the Ring of Fire be visible in India?

The ‘ring of fire' solar eclipse will not be visible in India. People in India and other parts of the world can watch it via the official NASA broadcast on their YouTube channel, which begins streaming at 4:30 p.m. on 14 October 2023.

Precautions during an Annular Eclipse

The Sun is never completely blocked by the Moon during an annular solar eclipse. So, it is never safe to look directly at the Sun without specialized eye protection designed for solar viewing. People will need protective eclipse glasses to avoid permanent eye damage when watching it. As per NASA, eclipse glasses are thousands of times darker than normal ones. The glasses also must have the ISO reference number 12312-2.

It is also not advised to look at the Sun through a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device, as it will not only burn through the filter but also injure your eyes.  Another way to view the eclipse is by using a pinhole projector.

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260 Bodies Found At Israel Music Festival Site Attacked By Hamas: Report

Arik Nani went to a dance party in southern Israel to celebrate his 26th birthday on Friday night but ended up fleeing a massacre as missiles roared overhead and Hamas gunmen shot down people as they tried to escape.

Thousands of young people attended the Nature Party, near Kibbutz Re'im close to Gaza, which became one of the first targets of Palestinian gunmen who crossed into Israel early on Saturday in the biggest attack on the country in decades.

"I heard shots from every direction, they were firing at us from both sides," he told Reuters. "Everyone was running and didn't know what to do. It was total chaos."

As rocket fire exploded around, panicked party goers tried to escape in any way they could.

"At one stage me and a friend got into a car with people we didn't know and we just jumped into a car with lots of people and started to drive," said 23 year-old Zohar Maariv. After the car came under fire, they fled on foot and hid for hours until they were rescued. But her boyfriend Matan, who had worked at the party, was still missing.

At least 700 Israelis were killed and dozens more were abducted into Gaza in scenes that have left a profound shock on a country which had long prided itself on its ultra efficient military and security services.

At the Nature Party alone, Israeli media said emergency services collected 260 bodies.

"Only this morning did I understand the scale of what happened, that what had happened was not only at the party, it's the whole south is on fire," Maariv said.

After hours of running, Nani and his friend finally reached shelter where he heard horrifying stories from others who had escaped. "People speaking about murder they saw in front of their eyes, someone who saw an entire kidnapped family and a small girl who was murdered," he said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed an unprecedented response to the assault and Israeli jets have bombarded Gaza continuously, killing more than 400 Palestinians.

For Nani, the feeling of those who had not been able to escape remained.

"There were lots of terrible things along the way, people I wanted to help but couldn't. People who were left behind, people who needed something," he said.

"We started texting"

Noa Argamani and her boyfriend Avinatan Or were also at the party but did not make it home.

They are now identified among dozens of Israelis apparently held captive in Gaza after video circulated showing Noa being carried away on the back of a motorcycle, pleading and reaching out towards her boyfriend being marched alongside on foot.

As warning sirens sounded across southern and central Israel when the missiles started flying in the early hours of Saturday, people started trying to contact friends and relatives.

"We started texting everyone," Amit Parpara, a friend, told Reuters. Other friends at the party managed to escape in their cars, he said but at first it was impossible to get in touch with Noa or Avinatan until he received a text himself.

"She texted me her live location and a message that says 'I hope someone can come save us,'" he said.

He said he had seen photos of the pair hiding in a hole, waiting for rescue.

Yaakov Argamani, Noa's father, told Channel 12 television that he had seen the footage of his daughter being driven away on the motorbike and confirmed her identity.

"She was so terrified. I always protected her and in this moment I couldn't."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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No Reason Why India Cannot Take Back Sindh From Pakistan: Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said if Shri Ram Janmabhoomi can be taken back after 500 years, there is no reason why India cannot take back "Sindhu" - the Sindh province, now in Pakistan.

According to a press statement issued by the state government, the Chief Minister, while addressing the two-day National Sindhi Convention, said, "After 500 years, a grand temple of Lord Ram is being constructed in Ayodhya. Ramlala will be seated again in his temple by the Prime Minister in January." 

He went on to add, "If Ram Janmabhoomi can be taken back after 500 years, there is no reason why we cannot take back Sindhu." 

As Yogi Adityanath made the remark, the auditorium rang out with thunderous applause, the statement said.

The Chief Minister said the Sindhi community needs to tell its present generation about its history, pointing out that the community suffered the most after Partition.

He also said that the stubbornness of just one person led to the Partition.

"When Partition of the country took place, lakhs of people were massacred. A large area of India became Pakistan. The Sindhi community suffered the most as it had to leave its motherland. Even today, we have to bear the brunt of the tragedy of Partition in the form of terrorism," he said at the event organised by the Sindhi Council of India.

"If we have to move forward on the path of the welfare of humanity, then the evil tendencies of the society will have to end. Our religious scriptures also give us the same inspiration. Be it respected Jhulelal ji or Lord Shri Krishna, everyone has talked about protecting the good and eliminating the evil for human welfare," he said.

"Where there is a country, there is a religion too. And when there is religion, there is a society in which we all exist," he said, adding that under the leadership of PM Modi, terrorism is on its last legs in India.

The Chief Minister appealed to people to take the pledge of "nation first" to prevent the repeat of a Partition-like tragedy. 

"We should be prepared to give a befitting reply to anyone who plays with the unity and integrity of the nation. The Sindhi community is an integral part of the Sanatana Dharma of India. The community has progressed with its efforts even in tough circumstances. It has set an example of how to reach the top from zero," he said.

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Watch: Passengers Cheer As Intoxicated Man Removed From UK-Spain Flight

A Ryanair flight from Liverpool to Ibiza was forced to land in France after a man's ''disruptive'' behaviour led to him being escorted off the plane. Notably, the Boeing 737 took off from Liverpool John Lennon Airport at 12.40 p.m. on Tuesday, October 3. The flight had only been in the air for around an hour before it was grounded in the south of France after an intoxicated man exhibited unusual behavior before passing out in his seat, the Independent reported. 

A video of the man being removed from the plane by police officers has surfaced on social media. The clip shows a seemingly intoxicated passenger, struggling to stand and walk, as three police officers guide him toward the plane's door. Meanwhile, passengers can be seen clapping and cheering as the man was escorted off the plane. 

The 45-second clip was uploaded on X with a caption that read, “Ryanair Liverpool to Ibiza, diverted to Bordeaux. Don't do drugs kids!”

Watch the video here:
 

Ryan air Liverpool to Ibiza, diverted to Bordeaux 😂 ffs don't do drugs kids! #ryanair #ibiza pic.twitter.com/2CQJFEpley

— Joanne (@Jostanley936) October 3, 2023

After the passenger was removed, the flight continued its journey to Ibiza. Ryanair has confirmed the reason the flight was diverted was due to a passenger becoming 'disruptive inflight'.

A spokesperson from the airline said, ''This flight from Liverpool to Ibiza (03 Oct) diverted to Bordeaux after a passenger became disruptive inflight. The crew called ahead for police assistance and the aircraft was met by local police upon arrival who removed the passenger. The flight continued to Ibiza following a short delay. This is now a matter for local police."

In yet another disruptive passenger behaviour during flights, a couple was removed from a plane by Southwest Airlines flight attendant. The action reportedly followed the flight attendant's observation of the woman engaging in drunken cartwheels before boarding. The flight attendant, whose identity remains undisclosed, consistently urged the couple to depart, citing concerns about 'compromising the aircraft's safety.'

The flight attendant is seen saying in the video to the passenger, "You're flipping all over the ground; you're engaging; you're loud; you want attention from everybody... The whole entire crew saw it, and all of us are in agreement that you cannot come on here." The incident happened in June and was first posted on Reddit

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200 Killed In Israel As Hamas Group "Massacred Civilians": Army

The Israel death count from the Hamas surprise attack Saturday has surged to more than 200, the army said, accusing the Palestinian terrorist of breaking into homes and "massacring civilians".

"Terrorists rampaged and broke into homes, massacring civilians," the army said, adding that more than 200 people were killed and more than 1,000 wounded in the assault that began at dawn.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Opinion: For Oil, Its Not 1973 Again But It Could Still Turn Ugly

History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes. On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the world's first oil crisis, the parallels between October 2023 and October 1973 are easy to draw: A surprise attack on Israel and oil prices rising. But the resemblance ends there.

The global economy isn't about to suffer another Arab oil embargo that would triple the price of a barrel of crude. Yet, it would be a mistake to downplay the chances that the world faces higher-for-longer oil prices. Half-Century of Oil Crisis | The cost of Arab Light crude, adjusted by inflation, is far from its peak

The situation is fluid, and for the oil market, everything depends about how Israel responds to Hamas, which launched the attack, and Iran, which typically pulls the strings of the Palestinian group. Still, we can draw a few tentative conclusions:

1) The crisis isn't a repeat of October 1973. Arab countries aren't attacking Israel in unison. Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Arab world are watching the events from the sidelines, not shaping them.

2) The oil market itself doesn't have any of the pre-October 1973 characteristics. Back then, oil demand was surging, and the world had exhausted all its spare production capacity. Today, consumption growth has moderated, and is likely to slow further as electric vehicles become a reality. In addition, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have significant spare capacity that they use to curb prices - if they choose to do so.

3) As importantly, today, OPEC nations aren't trying to boost prices beyond a few extra dollars. Riyadh would be content with oil prices rising another 10-20% higher, to just above $100 a barrel from $85 currently, rather than pushing them more than 100% higher to $200 a barrel. Just before the October 1973 oil embargo, OPEC nations unilaterally hiked the official petroleum prices by about 70%. Although the embargo is the element most vividly remembered of the crisis, the price hike was as crucial.

4) The fallout could yet have an impact on oil markets in 2023 and 2024. The most immediate impact could come if Israel concludes that Hamas acted on instructions of Tehran. In that scenario, oil prices could go much higher. In 2019, Iran demonstrated, via Yemeni proxies, that it's able to knock down a significant chunk of Saudi oil production capacity. It could do the same as retaliation if it finds itself under Israel or American attack.

5) Even if Israel doesn't immediately respond to Iran, the repercussions will likely affect Iranian oil production. Since late 2022, Washington has turned a blind eye to surging Iranian oil exports, bypassing American sanctions. The priority in Washington was an informal détente with Tehran. As a result, Iranian oil output has surged nearly 700,000 barrels a day this year - the second-largest source of incremental supply in 2023, behind only US shale. The White House is now likely to enforce the sanctions. That could be enough to push oil prices to $100 a barrel, and potentially beyond.

6) Russia will benefit from any Middle East oil crisis. If Washington enforces sanctions against Iran, it could create space for Russia's own sanctioned barrels to both win market share and achieve higher prices. One of the reasons why the White House turned a blind eye on Iranian oil exports is because it hurt Russia. In turn, Venezuela could also benefit, with the White House relaxing sanctions to ease market pressure.

7) The Saudi-Israeli diplomatic deal, which many had penciled in for early-to-mid 2024, is a casualty. Even if Riyadh is likely furious with Hamas, it's difficult to see how Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman would be able to sell the deal domestically. That, in turn, removes the potential for Saudi Arabia pumping more oil to help passage of the deal in Washington. The other victim of the Hamas-Israeli war is the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement, which itself was another bearish element for oil.

8) Finally, a key difference from 1973, Washington can tap its Strategic Petroleum Reserve to limit the impact on gasoline prices - and on President Joe Biden's approval rating. If oil prices surge because of tension in the Middle East, the White House is sure to tap the SPR. Although it's at its lowest level in 40 years, the reserve still has enough oil to deal with another crisis.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Video: Bridge Washed Away, MLA Ziplines Across River In Flood-Hit Sikkim

In a sign of his commitment to his constituents, an MLA ziplined across a surging river in flood-hit Sikkim to take stock of the situation in a town that has been worst-hit by the floods. 

Samdup Lepcha is the legislator from the Lachen Mangan constituency. Chungthang, which saw parts of the 1200-MW Teesta III Dam being washed away, is part of his constituency and has borne the brunt of the flash floods that hit the state on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of at least 53 people.

On Saturday, Mr Lepcha was leading a team from Pegong village in Mangan district to Chungthang, where residents have been complaining of inadequate relief efforts. The only log bridge leading to Chungthang has been washed away and, on the suggestion of his team, Mr Lepcha decided to take the only route available to them. 

A video shows the MLA suspended from two ropes as he is given a little push by security personnel. Mr Lepcha is seen smiling initially, but the danger becomes immediately apparent when he is seen dangling over the angry Chungthang River, swollen with floodwater, with just the temporary zipline holding him aloft. 

Sources said Mr Lepcha and his team, which also included the Deputy Inspector General of Police and Chungthang's Sub-Divisional Magistrate, were the first senior officials from the administration to reach the cut-off town since the flash floods hit.

Devastation

Residents of Chungthang said that when the South Lhonak Lake in the upper reaches burst its banks, flooding the Teesta River and sending floodwater rushing downhill, the existence of the Teesta III dam caused a whirlpool in the town, ravaging it. The floodgates and several other structures of the dam, which is the biggest in the state, were washed away by the river's fury. 

They complained that relief efforts in the town have not been up to the mark and claimed that none of the stranded residents were airlifted in the three days since the flood hit. 

A resident said two prominent villages close to the town, Lachen and Lachung, which are popular with tourists, have been completely cut off

Soldiers Among Dead

At least 53 people, including 8 soldiers, have been killed and over 140 people are missing since the flash floods hit the state on Wednesday. 

The Sikkim government has reported that 1,173 houses have been severely damaged and over 2,000 people have been rescued. At least 14 bridges have been submerged or washed away, disrupting connectivity to North Sikkim.

After a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Friday, officials had said reopening road connectivity to Chungthang is being prioritised. Compensation of Rs 4 lakh has been announced for the families of the dead.

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