The Hindu : Opinion / News Analysis : Corrections and clarifications

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Wednesday, Jun 07, 2006

Opinion

Opinion - News Analysis

Corrections and clarifications

*In a Guardian report headed "Desert cities are living on borrowed time, UN warns", it was said that "a 310-square mile area of the Sahara could, with today's technology, generate enough electricity for the whole world." The Guardian, in its "Corrections and Clarifications" column on June 6 said this was incorrect. What the UN environment report said was that an area of the Sahara 800 km x 800km (800 km squared, not 800 sq.km) could do that: 6,40,000 sq.km, or in square miles 2,50,000 (not 310). The total area of the Sahara is more than 90,00,000 sq. km. (The Guardian report appeared in The Hindu, International page, June 6, 2006, "Desert cities living on borrowed time", where the area had been erroneously converted to 803 sq.km.)

*Referring to "Two launch campaigns gathering speed at Sriharikota" (June 4, 2006), a reader asks for additional information on GSLV — the payload weight and potential uses, and whether the cryogenic stage is India or Russian. T.S. Subramanian clarifies that INSAT-4C that will be launched by the Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) in July from Sriharikota, weighs around 2,170 kg. It can be used for Direct-To-Home (DTH) telecast and business communication using very small aperture terminals. This GSLV uses a Russian cryogenic engine in its topmost stage. The GSLV that will use an indigenous cryogenic stage will be launched next year (2007) and will deploy a satellite called GSAT4.

*What nationality is tennis player Ana Ivanovic, asks a reader. The report "Nadal enters pre-quarterfinals" ("Sport", June 4, 2006) mentioned the 19th seeded player as being from SCG. SCG (Srbija i Crna Gora) is the abbreviation for Serbia and Montenegro.

*In "Postcard from Shangri-La — This way to paradise" (The Hindu-Magazine, June 4, 2006, page 8), the reference to James Hamilton being the author of the 1933 novel "The Lost Horizon" is incorrect. The author is James Hilton, as a reader points out.

*A reader has objected to the sentences "The last surviving members of the Russian royal family were allegedly executed by a Bolshevik firing squad in 1918. Philip is a direct descendant of Tsarina Alexandra who died alongside her husband Tsar Nicholas II and their children," in the Reuters report "A prince celebrated" ("Newscape", June 2, 2006). The reader says: The last-surviving members of the Russian royal family were not the Tsar, the Tsarina, and their children, but the Tsar's sister Grand Duchess Olga and her family. Second, there exists a coded telegram, sent by Yakov Yurovsky, head of the local Bolshevik secret police in Ekaterinburg and commandant of the firing-squad, that announces the assassination of the royal family. Therefore it is not an allegation that the Tsar, the Tsarina and their children were killed by the Bolsheviks. Lastly, it is stated that Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, is a direct descendant of Tsarina Alexandra. "A direct descendant" is one's progeny issuing from one's own children. Prince Philip is related to the Romanov family, though not in the manner suggested.

*In The Hindu Crossword 8615 ("Variety", May 29, 2006), a reader says that the clue 25 Down was "Parent of Abraham (5)". The solution ("Variety", May 30, 2006) was "Isaac", which is incorrect, the reader says. Isaac was the son of Abraham and not the parent.

It is the policy of The Hindu to correct significant errors as soon as possible. Please specify the edition (place of publication), date and page.

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