PASADENA: A stereoscopic camera perched atop the Sagan Pathfinder station on Wednesday captured a Martian sunrise that scientists expect will be sharply different from the Earth's rosy dawn. The pictures were not expected to be transmitted back until the next radio link early on Friday.Scientists said they expected to see a bluish disc rising above the Martian horizon, rather than the rosy colours of an Earthly sunrise.It was also expected capture the pictures of the Martian sunset and, hopefully, an image of the Martian moon Phobos.Virus bugsATLANTA: Lyme disease? that's old news. Scientists have discovered a new virus carried by ticks. And they say it's just the beginning, now that the spotlight on lyme disease has sparked new interest on the biting, bloodsucking bugs.Scientists know of at least seven illnesses caused by tick bites.Now, researchers have isolated a new virus in deer ticks in New England. While they aren't sure how it will affect human health, related viruses discovered in Europe cause severe brain swelling and can be deadly.Eco-tourismBEIJING: An eco-tourism joint venture between China and United Nations Development Project (UNDP) will be launched to help in alleviating poverty-stricken people in the Mount Everest region.The project is expected to generate income and protect the ecology and bio-diversity in the Qomolangma Nature Preserve (QNP) on Mount Qomolangma (Mount Everest), bordering Nepal. Li Bosheng, botanist of Chinese Academy of Sciences, said increasing population is already a source of constant worry to the fragile mountain. ``Therefore eco-tourism is a must for the region,'' Bosheng added.`Laced' seawaterABU DHABI: The arid Arabian sands were soaked with liquor as United Arab Emirates (UAE) police used bulldozers to crush thousands of bottles of alcohol.The nearly 7,000 whisky and 1,500 beer bottles were ground into small pieces before they were embedded under the sand in the Emirate of Sharjah on Tuesday. Security sources said the alcohol was seized in a string of police raids over the past few months in a crackdown on illegal alcohol trade.Champagne catchLONDON: A champagne toast in front of press photographers by a doctor celebrating his acquittal of molesting two women led to a nine-month jail sentence after five women alleged further assaults on seeing his picture in newspapers. Reginald Myint was not prosecuted for the first two allegations by the Medical Council.But a newspaper picture showing him raising a glass of champagne to his success led to five other women contacting the police with similar allegations, and on Wednesday, the 54-year-old was jailed for nine months after being found guilty of indecently assaulting a patient.Jewish studyWALTHAM: American actress, singer and director Barbara Streisand has been named honorary chairperson of a newly founded Centre for the study of Jewish women.Streisand was named on Tuesday as honorary chair of the International Research Institute on Jewish Women. The institution will be underwritten by the organisation Hadassah and located at Brandeis University.``I have always been bothered by negative stereotypes about us,and in my films I have always tried to show Jewish women in a positive light,'' said Streisand, who is Jewish. The actress said she was delighted that the arts would be among the areas studied by the institute.Jacko & LisaLONDON: They split last year, but Michael Jackson and former wife Lisa Marie Presley were hand-in-hand on Tuesday night returning to his hotel after his sell-out London concert.Presley stood at the edge of the stage through the show at Wembley Stadium. Afterward, the two returned to the Carlton Towers Hotel and Jackson waved to fans.Elvis' daughter divorced the king of pop last year after a 20-month marriage. In November, Jackson married Deborah Rowe, a nurse who worked with his plastic surgeon. She gave birth to the couple's son Prince in February.
