Rescued from Himalaya trails, trekkers find world in turmoil

Stranded in Kathmandu, running out of cash and with no way to get home, Alexander Sys is one of hundreds of tourists whose Nepal trekking adventure abruptly ended in lockdown. 

The Russian is among mainly European, Russian and Chinese foreigners stunned to discover the scale of the coronavirus pandemic after being rescued from their Himalayan treks.

Questioning Evolution

Pune Unlimited

Mandai

R K Laxman

Best Castles of Europe

Predjama Castle, Slovenia

The Gothic-style Predjama Castle is easily one of the world's most dramatic castles, built directly into the side of a 404-foot cliff that hides a network of cave passages. Tours of the castle—located in south-central Slovenia—are available year-round, although hibernating bats in the caves restrict underground tours to the months of May to September.

Best Beaches of the world

Laguna Beach

As you drive down the California coast, stopping at Laguna is a must. The sunsets are unmatched and that cool, California wind in your hair is fabulous.

Pj of the Day

“I saw a documentary on how ships are kept together. Riveting!” 

Saree Challenge

MPC News

New-delhi-reassuring-14-of-coronary-patients-in-the-country-recover-from-home

National Network

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Cityblog Science Club Link of the Day

Earth-size, habitable-zone planet found hidden in early NASA Kepler data

Thang Ta

Thang Ta

UAE Trip

UAE Trip

China denies cover-up as Wuhan coronavirus deaths revised up 50%

Authorities in the Chinese city where the global coronavirus pandemic began late last year have revised its death toll upwards by 50%, as the government in Beijing again denied there had been any cover-up in its handling of the crisis.

A local government taskforce in Wuhan charged with virus prevention added 1,290 fatalities to the city’s toll, taking the confirmed count to 3,869 from a previously reported 2,579. Wuhan, a city of 11 million people, suffered more fatalities than any other city in China as residents struggled get help from its overwhelmed medical system.

Beautiful Pune

R K Laxman

Lockdown Bermuda Triangle

Best Castles of Europe

Alcázar of Segovia, Spain

The Alcázar de Segovia was once a medieval fortress, but it was rebuilt in its current, castle-like style following a fire in 1862. Today, visitors can explore its many halls and secret passageways, museum, and towers overlooking Segovia's town square. Once inside, be prepared for some equally impressive interiors. They're marked by stained glass windows, polished suits of armor, lavish dining and dancing halls, and room after room with canopied beds.

Best Beaches of the World

Playa Norte

Mexico has plenty of gorgeous beaches, but the ones on Isla Mujeres, like Playa Norte, are extra special.

PJ of the Day

Money can't buy you happiness? Well, check this out, I bought myself a Happy Meal.

Lockdown

MPC News

IT-staff-refuses-to-work-from-office

National Network

Investors-get-richer-by-rs-2-83-lakh-crore-as-rbi-booster-shot-lifts-market

Cityblog Science Club Link of the Day

Can Clothes and Shoes Track COVID-19 into Your House? What to Know

Roadside School

Roadside School

Tourist Spots without Tourists

Tourist Spots with Tourists

Europe still 'in eye of the storm' despite moves to ease virus lockdowns

Parts of Europe moved cautiously to reopen their streets and economies on Thursday but the coronavirus pandemic was far from beaten and the World Health Organization warned the continent was still in the "eye of the storm".

Since emerging in China late last year, the virus has turned the world upside down, killing tens of thousands, forcing half of humanity indoors and raising the spectre of a second Great Depression. 

Effect of Lockdown

R K Laxman

Mumbai Janata Curfew

Best Castles of Europe

Catherine Palace, Russia

An essential stop during any trip to western Russia, the Catherine Palace (located in Pushkin, about 15 miles south of St. Petersburg) is one of the finest examples of Rococo architecture in the entire world. Commissioned by Catherine I and expanded by her daughter, Empress Elizabeth, in the 18th century, the massive structure showcases the design elements the movement is known for: think curves, pale colors, and secular, light-hearted themes. Oh, and over 220 pounds of gold decorating the building's facade.

Best Beaches of the World

Kabira Bay

Found in Okinawa in the Yaeyama Islands, the pristine waters of this beach are mesmerizing.

Pj of the Day

My Dad told me to invest my money in bonds. So I bought 100 copies of Goldfinger.

Corona

MPC News

Two-corona-victims-in-pune

National Network

PM-modi-reviews-covid-19-impact-on-economy-in-meeting-with-fm-2nd-stimulus

Cityblog Science Club Link of the Day

Representation of driving behavior as a statistical model

James Bond Mansion

James Bond Mansion

Planting Trees

Planting Trees

Global reaction to Trump withdrawing WHO funding

U.S. President Donald Trump has instructed his administration to temporarily halt funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump said the WHO "failed in its basic duty and it must be held accountable." He said it promoted China's "disinformation" about the virus that likely led to a wider outbreak.

Big Thanks

R K Laxman

Mumbai Janata Curfew

Best Castles of Europe

Kylemore Abbey, Ireland

Mountain and valley, lake and streams, all combine to make Connemara one of the loveliest regions in Ireland. See: Kylemore Abbey, in the heart of the Connemara mountains. This impressive structure was built in 1868 as one of the great neo-Gothic castles of the period. It is now a Benedictine abbey run by nuns, and the church and gardens have been completely restored.

Best Beaches in the World

Ora Beach

Live the hut life on Seram Island in Maluku, Indonesia.

PJ of the Day

Hey, if anyone knows how to fix some broken hinges, my door's always open.

Who's Responsible for COVID19

MPC News

Four-more-coronary-arrests-in-pune-total-death-toll-at-38

National Network

India-to-have-normal-monsoon-this-year-imd-comes-out-with-new-onset-and-withdrawal-dates-for-cities

Cityblog Science Club Link of the Day

American robins now migrate 12 days earlier than in 1994: New GPS data show birds adjust to shifting snow conditions as climate warms

Indoor Lockdown Fun

Indoor Lockdown Fun

Strong Hearted Fun

Strong Hearted Fun

IMF Sees Great Lockdown Recession as Worst Since Depression

The International Monetary Fund predicts the Great Lockdown recession will  be the worst in almost a century and warns the world economy’s contraction and recovery will be worse than anticipated if the coronavirus lingers or returns.

In its first World Economic Outlook report since the spread of the coronavirus and subsequent freezing of major economies, the IMF estimated on Tuesday that global gross domestic product will shrink 3% this year.

Amita Nene's Yummy Expressions: Tirammisu Mousse

Tiramisu Mousse…. The Sweet side of staying put at home….

Last few weeks all of us are staying put at home, one can see people generating lot of positivity through creativity, prayers, acceptance, gratitude and humility. 

Some are spending their time worrying and sending us all sorts of ‘gyaan’ or ‘home remedies’, sharing pandemic statistics and doomsday kind of forwards;

Some are lightening up the air by tickling our funny bones with witty quips and clippings;

Some others are giving and taking online lessons on Yoga, meditation, personal grooming, refresher courses and discourses on building positivity;

While some others are totally binging on all the movies and TV shows that they can lay their hands on!

Some old photo albums are getting their dust puffed off in order to relate those good old times to the younger ones at home..

My social media groups are flush with pictures and videos of friends and folks engaged in lot of creative and artistic pursuits….

Men have been proudly posing with an onion or a carrot on a cutting board; home-stuck dads posting amazing revelations of time spent with their new found friends – their kids; proud moms showcasing lots of creative handiwork of their children; and I am seeing pictures that are a proof of quality time in beautiful terrace gardens that are getting tended to with more love and care, and some others are putting on display their renewed interest in fabric painting or embroidery and then there are some more who have been posting pics that ooze delish….

RK Laxman

Mumbai Janata Curfew

Best Castles of Europe

Castel del Monte, Italy

Proving that castles don't need moats and pointed turrets to be beautiful, Castel del Monte sits pretty on a rocky hill in southern Italy (about three hours from Naples). The citadel and castle were built in the 13th century by Emperor Frederick II, whose culture and creative vision shine through the merging of classical and Muslim architectural influences, and the complex's perfectly octagonal towers.

Best Beaches of the World

Navagio Beach

Also known as Shipwreck Beach, you can find this gorgeous cove in Zakynthos, one of the Ionian islands in Greece.

PJ of the Day

I want to go camping every year. That trip was so in tents.

Yogi Adityanath

MPC News

Four-more-coronary-arrests-in-pune-total-death-toll-at-38

National Network

Why-was-nationwide-lockdown-extended-till-may-3

Cityblog Science Club Link of the Day

Nonreciprocal transport in the gate-induced strontium titanate polar superconductor

Holland

Holland

Earth Pyramids

Earth Pyramids

Israel’s Not-So-Secret Weapon in Coronavirus Fight: The Spies of Mossad

When Israel’s health minister was found to be infected with the coronavirus early this month, all high-level officials in close contact with him were quarantined, including one who stood out: the director of the Mossad, the storied Israeli spy service.

Mossad officers, primarily associated with covert operations abroad in the name of protecting Israel, are not normally in the business of public health.

So Israelis were immediately intrigued.

R K Laxman

Mumbai Janata Curfew

Grounded

Best Castles of Europe

Pena Palace, Portugal

Inspired by German Romantic architecture, Pena Palace—situated on top of a hill in Sintra—looks like a Disney castle with its pink and yellow towers, ornamental buttresses, and cartoonish gargoyles. The interiors are equally dramatic. Don’t miss the intricately carved ceilings and walls of Queen Amelia’s apartments and the striking all-white reception room. (Bonus: Sintra is only 40 minutes from Lisbon, meaning you really have no excuse not to visit.)

Best Photos of 2019

Pollution clogs the air in the Dari Ekh Ger district of Mongolia's capital, Ulaanbaatar. The rapid, unplanned urbanization of the city has contributed to the uncontrolled burning of coal, used for cooking and heating.

PJ of the Day

What did the clock do when it was hungry? It went back four seconds.

Humour

MPC News

There-is-no-positive-patient-survey-of-43-thousand-citizens-a-day-2155-home-quarantine

National Network

444-from-australia-fly-home-us-nationals-prefer-to-stay-back

Cityblog Science Club Link of the Day

On Mars or Earth, biohybrid can turn carbon dioxide into new products

Danielle Booth

Daniel Booth

Yanny of Laurel

Yanny of Laurel

Good Morning from Australia

Mana The last Indian Village

MPC News

Geography-paper-of-class-x-canceled-class-xi-and-xii-exam-canceled

National Network

Nihangs-cut-off-hand-of-policeman-after-scuffle-in-vegetable-market

International

US-coronavirus-reported-death-toll-tops-20000-more-than-any-other-country

UK's COVID-19 death toll nears 10,000 as PM Johnson makes "very good progress"

Britain's COVID-19 death toll neared 10,000 on Saturday after health officials reported another 917 hospital deaths, while Prime Minister Boris Johnson continued to make "very good progress" in his recovery from the virus.

Britain has now reported 9,875 deaths from the coronavirus pandemic, the fifth highest national number globally, and Saturday's increase was the second day running that the number to die had increased by more than 900.

RK Laxman

MUmbai Janata Curfew

Radioactiviy display at Purdue museum

Before PUR-1 was converted to digital technology, all US reactors worked using analog technology like vacuum tubes and hand-soldered wires, Townsend said in the release. Purdue's facility will be the US' first cyber-nuclear testbed for researchers and corporate partners. It's licensed by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which ensures safe use of radioactive materials. 

PUR-1 researchers have partnered with a nuclear measurement and detection company called Mirion Technologies to test how its detectors and reactor behave in different environments. 

Best Castles of Europe

Château de Chenonceau, France

The entire Loire Valley is a treasure trove of beautiful castles, but Château de Chenonceau easily rises to the top of the pack—both in terms of beauty and popularity. The current château was built on top of an old mill starting in 1514, while the trademark bridge and gallery were added about 60 years later. Today, the river-spanning structure and surrounding gardens are one of the most-visited attractions in the entire country.

Best Photos of 2019

A local street coal seller stands in Bayankhoshuu, one of the most polluted neighborhoods of Mongolia's capital, Ulaanbaatar.