Longest Solar Eclipse of the century enthrals world

PAKISTAN : The first and longest solar eclipse of this century is underway in different parts of the world including Pakistan.

The eclipse will last for an average of about twelve hours. In Pakistan, it will begin at 1230 and ends at 1:00 approximately.

According to meteorologists, the eclipse can be partially observed in Pakistan and will also be visible in African countries, India, Sri Lanka, China and Myanmar.

Annular solar eclipses occur when the Moon is too far to cover the Sun entirely. Therefore, when the eclipse reaches totality, you would see a ring (Annulus) around the moon and hence the name annular.

Please do exercise caution while watching this eclipse. Do not look directly at the Sun during the eclipse for it might put your eyes at risk even with your cool sunglasses. Also, do not try to use binoculars or telescopes and point at the eclipse directly without sufficient protection as you run the risk of being blinded.

Japan ends refuelling mission for Afghanistan war

TOKYO:   Japan on Friday ended a naval refuelling mission that has supported the US-led military effort in Afghanistan since 2001 as the centre-left government flexes its muscle in its ties with Washington.

Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa ordered the two naval ships and their 340 personnel to return home after eight years of helping supply oil and water to vessels used by international forces that are engaged in Afghanistan.

"The defence minister issued an order today to the fleet commander to end refuelling activity in the Indian Ocean at 12:00 p.m. (1500 GMT) on January 15 and to send the troops home," a ministry statement said.

With the end of the refuelling mission, Hatoyama has pledged that Japan would instead step up humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. Tokyo has offered five billion dollars over the next five years to help rebuild the war-torn nation.

Haiti quake death toll may top 100,000: PM

WASHINGTON:   The death toll in the Haiti quake could top 100,000, Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive told a US news channel Wednesday.

The final death toll could be "well over 100,000," the prime minister told the US television channel after his Caribbean nation was struck Tuesday by a 7.0 quake.

"I hope that is not true, because I hope the people had the time to get out. Because we have so much people on the streets right now, we don't know exactly where they were living.

"But so many, so many buildings, so many neighborhoods totally destroyed, and some neighborhoods we don't even see people, so I don't know where those people are."

Yahoo! expands Web-connected TV push

LAS VEGAS:  Yahoo! announced partnerships with television and other device manufacturers as the Internet company joins others seeking to jump from the computer to the TV screen.

"Consumers are in love with their televisions, watching more TV, and demanding Internet connectivity to further enhance their viewing experience," said Arlo Rose, senior director of Yahoo! Connected TV.

Yahoo! said the online programs known as "widgets" for the increasing number of Web-capable televisions would be embedded in more models and include video on demand, social networks, games and online shopping.

One year after announcing partnerships with Samsung, LG Electronics, Sony and Vizio, Yahoo! used the annual Consumer Electronics Show here to announce tie-ups with China's Hisense, ViewSonic, MIPS Technologies and Sigma Designs.

Yahoo! also announced it was releasing a widget development kit to allow developers to create their own TV widgets.

Vizio's upcoming HDTVs will incorporate Yahoo! widgets as will Web-connected TVs from Hisense and ViewSonic's VMP80 media player.

Yahoo! said the VMP80 media player will allow HDTV owners to view movies, TV shows, Web videos, and photos and go shopping and play games with TV widgets.

"Consumers can enjoy the greatest Internet content while simultaneously viewing their favorite programming," said ViewSonic Americas vice president Jeff Volpe.

MIPS will include the Yahoo! widget platform on digital TV and set-top box applications while Sigma Designs said it will offer Yahoo! widgets on Blu-ray players and other devices.

Pakistan’s inflation will be 11 percent: IMF

NEW YORK : International Monetary Fund (IMF) hinted that Pakistan’s inflation rate will be increase from 9 to 11 percent for current fiscal year.

In an analytical report, IMF has increased the inflation rate for Pakistan from 9 percent to 11 percent for current fiscal year. The increased in the target has been made keeping in view increment in the crude oil prices and rise in power tariff. The economic growth rate will be 3 percent whereas threats to economic progress will also remain same.

The report added that there is increment in flow of remittances in Pakistan therefore, it is expected that current accounts deficit will be decline from 4.7 percent to 4.2 percent.