essay of mother goes on strike

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When you lose something then only you realize the value of that particular thing in your life. Just thinking of mothers going on a strike brings a chill down my spine..

My mother is the finest lady for me... Her smiling face brings a smile on faces of everybody around, she is the image of God's love, and mercy.

.. How can we afford to let her go on a strike? The proverb" east or west, home is the best" is true to hilt. Our home is no less than paradise because of our selfless mother. It would be in a complete mess without her.Mothers are the ones who have utmost influence on family members.

She guides, directs, leads and inspires us. We pick up values and principles from our mother, without her we would be like good for nothing. We are all aware of the influence of Jija Mata on Shivaji's childhood and his future glorious destiny, Mother cooks the food, cleans the house, washes the clothes, and keeps the house spick and span. So much work yet no complain.

It is when she goes on a strike that we realize that how hard it is to do all this work.It is when she goes on a strike that we realize how hard it is to step into her shoes, Instead of the fragrance of the mogra flowers that she daily picks up, with out her our day would begin with the smell of burning bread, To continue further my eyes would meet a crumpled stack of uniforms in place of neatly ironed and pressed clothes. The small valuable things that she keeps running to do for me tell me how costly her strike can prove for me...

infact all of us. I just can't bear the thought of having stale cold food instead of her hot steaming dishes on which I always have unnecessary comments to make.The thought of mothers putting up a strike makes us realize her importance and necessity in out life. Whatever good qualities we have, we owe to our mothers. Mother is an ideal teacher, store house of knowledge and wisdom, friend, philosopher as well as guide-an unique combination, she has made great contribution in making and shaping out personalities and character, Her necessity can be compared to that of salt in food and oxygen in environment, Her strikes can be a great headache for us.

Napoleon truly said"the future destiny of the child is always the work of mother. "

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English Essay on “The Day My Mother Went on a Strike” English Essay-Paragraph-Speech for Class 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 CBSE Students and competitive Examination.

The Day My Mother Went on a Strike

My mother has never been confrontational and has always been happy with her share of ups and downs in life. I cannot imagine her going on a strike. Then, is this idea of a mother going on strike so alien to me? No. A very dear friend of mine came to me one day asking me if she could share my lunch box. I did and she came out with her story.

Her parents had a little tiff over trivia during the course of which her father asked her mother what she did the whole day. The result was a locked kitchen and fridge, piled up laundry- the working of the house had come to a grinding halt. Initially, no one took it seriously and they were sure that this would pass but on that particular day, two days were up.

Those days, ready made food was not available and restaurants were expensive. Besides, everyone was dying to eat home cooked food. The uniforms were piling up as there was no washing machine! Well, later that evening, I got a call from my friend saying that the strike had been called off and that her father had given in, apologizing for having asked such a terrible question.

I was so thrilled with this episode and so proud of Auntie! Mothers should never be taken for granted.

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Mother go on a strike

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If mother went on strike Essay Example

• Pages: 2 (422 words)
• Published: August 13, 2016
• Type: Essay

When you lose something then only you realize the value of that particular thing in your life. Just thinking of mothers going on a strike brings a chill down my spine.. My mother is the finest lady for me... Her smiling face brings a smile on faces of everybody around, she is the image of God's love, and mercy... How can we afford to let her go on a strike? The proverb" east or west, home is the best" is true to hilt. Our home is no less than paradise because of our selfless mother. It would be in a complete mess without her.

Mothers are the ones who have utmost influence on family members. She guides, directs, leads and inspires us. We pick up values and principles from our mother,

without her we would be like good for nothing. We are all aware of the influence of Jija Mata on Shivaji's childhood and his future glorious destiny, Mother cooks the food, cleans the house, washes the clothes, and keeps the house spick and span. So much work yet no complain. It is when she goes on a strike that we realize that how hard it is to do all this work.

It is when she goes on a strike that we realize how hard it is to step into her shoes, Instead of the fragrance of the mogra flowers that she daily picks up, with out her our day would begin with the smell of burning bread, To continue further my eyes would meet a crumpled stack of uniforms in place of neatly ironed and pressed clothes. The small valuabl

things that she keeps running to do for me tell me how costly her strike can prove for me... infact all of us. I just can't bear the thought of having stale cold food instead of her hot steaming dishes on which I always have unnecessary comments to make.

The thought of mothers putting up a strike makes us realize her importance and necessity in out life. Whatever good qualities we have, we owe to our mothers. Mother is an ideal teacher, store house of knowledge and wisdom, friend, philosopher as well as guide-an unique combination, she has made great contribution in making and shaping out personalities and character, Her necessity can be compared to that of salt in food and oxygen in environment, Her strikes can be a great headache for us. Napoleon truly said"the future destiny of the child is always the work of mother. "

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Essay on If Mother Goes on Strike

Mothers are the unsung heroes of our lives. They work tirelessly to ensure our well-being, juggling multiple responsibilities and making countless sacrifices. However, have you ever stopped to consider what would happen if a mother went on strike? It may seem like an improbable scenario, but imagining a world without a mother’s love and care can shed light on the invaluable role they play in our lives. In this essay, we will explore the potential consequences and challenges that would arise if a mother decided to go on strike.

First and foremost, a mother’s absence would immediately disrupt the daily routines and functioning of the household. Mothers are often the ones who manage the household chores, including cooking, cleaning, and laundry. Without a mother’s presence, these essential tasks would either be left undone or fall upon other family members to complete. The family’s comfort and well-being would undoubtedly be compromised, leading to an environment of chaos and disorder.

Furthermore, a mother’s role extends beyond managing household chores. Mothers are nurturers and emotional pillars of support for their children and spouses. They provide comfort, care, and a listening ear during challenging times. Without a mother’s presence, family members, particularly children, would feel a void in their lives. The emotional support and guidance that a mother offers would be sorely missed, potentially affecting the overall well-being and development of the family members.

In addition to emotional support, mothers also play a crucial role in child-rearing and education. They are often involved in their children’s academic progress, helping with homework, and providing guidance in their studies. If a mother went on strike, the burden of assisting children with their educational needs would fall on other family members or external resources. This may result in a decline in academic performance and overall educational growth, as the personalized attention and care that a mother provides would be absent.

Moreover, a mother’s absence would also have a profound impact on the family’s physical and mental health. Mothers are often responsible for ensuring that family members maintain a healthy lifestyle, including nutritious meals and regular medical check-ups. Without a mother’s presence, family members may neglect their health, leading to potential health issues and a decline in overall well-being. Additionally, the stress and emotional strain of managing household responsibilities without a mother’s support could have detrimental effects on the mental health of family members.

It is important to acknowledge that the idea of a mother going on strike is hypothetical and highlights the indispensable role they play in our lives. Mothers are irreplaceable, and their love and care cannot be replicated by anyone else. The purpose of imagining such a scenario is to emphasize the significance of their contributions and to encourage appreciation and gratitude for their relentless dedication.

In conclusion, if a mother were to go on strike, the impact on a family would be significant and far-reaching. The absence of a mother’s love, care, and support would disrupt the functioning of the household, affecting daily routines, emotional well-being, and educational progress. Mothers play a vital role in maintaining the physical and mental health of their families. Therefore, it is crucial to recognize and appreciate the tireless efforts and sacrifices that mothers make every day. Let us cherish and honour our mothers, not just on Mother’s Day, but every day, for their unwavering love and immeasurable contributions to our lives.

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• व्याकरण
• निबंध

If mother goes on strike

 if mother goes on strike.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if mom went on strike? This question came to my mind and I was stunned, thinking what would happen to all of us if one day only mother went on strike? A mother is called the first teacher of a child. Mother is the best gift from God. It is said that "Swami is the mother of all three worlds without beggars". Mother does all the housework without ever complaining. Neglecting herself, she takes care of her children and family.

If my mother goes on strike, my father and I will not wake up till late in the morning. Which would make me late for school and my father for work. You have to heat your own water and take a bath, wash your own clothes. Tea and breakfast will not be made in the house as mother has gone on strike. Then me and father will have to cook breakfast together. And after that, father goes to work and I go to school. After coming home in the afternoon, there will be more food disorder. As the food is not ready in the house either we have to bring food from outside or we have to cook it ourselves.

We have to cover all the mess in the kitchen. If my cold cough makes me sick, I have to apply Vicks with my own hands. You have to go to the hospital yourself. Father or I have to go to the market and bring vegetables.

At the end of the day, mother works hard for every member of the family and it is difficult to walk home without her. If the mother goes on strike, there will be more quarrels between brothers and sisters in the house. Everything will fall into place and chaos will increase. It is because of the mother that the family organization survives. From a teacher to a nurturer, a mother plays an important role in every person's life. So we should always honor our mother. You should help her with the housework without ever getting angry with her. Because at one time God may be displeased with us but a mother will never be displeased with her children and she will not even go on strike to her family. This is the reason why the relationship of mother is said to be superior to all other relationships in life.

मराठी विषयातील इतर निबंध पाहण्यासाठी क्लिक करा

हिंदी विषयातील निबंध पाहण्यासाठी क्लिक करा

English विषयातील निबंध पाहण्यासाठी क्लिक करा

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Essay if mother goes on strike?

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You want a marathi essay on 'if mothers go on strike'?

Can you give an essay on importance of mother in life, do a reflective essay about mother in 2 paragraph.

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What would be a good grabber for the essay samurai and Knight's were the similaritys greater than the differences?

brothers from another mother

Will you write me an essay to speak in school on strike while the iron is hot?

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A reflective essay should strike a balance between?

A reflective essay should strike a balance between objectivity and subjectivity.

If mother go on strike essay n English?

WE ALL LOVE OUR MOTHER VERY MUCH BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MOTHER GOES ON A STRIKE?? WE HAD NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT. IF MOTHERS GOES ON A STRIKE OUR LIFE BECOMES HELL FOR US. BECAUSE ALL TIME OUR MOTHER HELP US IN EVERYTHING FROM MORNING TILL THE END OF THE DAY. WITHOUT MOTHER WE CANNOT DO ANYTHING PROPERLY. MY MOTHER IS THE FINEST LADY FOR ME. HER SMILE BRINGS A SMILE ON FACES OF EVERYBODY AROUND, SHE IS THE IMAGE OF GOD'S LOVE AND MERCY.... HOW CAN WE AFFORD TO LET HER GO ON A STRIKE??? THE PROVERB " EAST OR WEST, HOME IS THE BEST " IS TRUE TO HILT. BECAUSE OF OUR SELFLESS MOTHER THE HOME IS NO LESS THAN A PARADISE. THE HOME WILL BECOME A COMPLETE MESS WITHOUT HER. MOTHERS ARE THE ONE'S WHO HAVE UTMOST INFLUENCE ON FAMILY MEMBERS. SHE GUIDES , DIRECTS, LEADS, AND INSPIRES US. WITHOUT MOTHER LIFE IS IMPOSSIBLE . SO RESPECT HER, HELP HER IN HOUSEHOLD WORKS...THANKYOU.

Sanskrit essay on mother?

please give an essay on sanskrit on mother

What nicknames does Strike Silent go by?

Strike Silent goes by Silent Strike.

Is mother capitalized in an essay?

No, unless your saying Mother Goose.

How can we write an essay about Malayalam our mother tongue?

Malayalam our mother tongue

Where does the hook go in an essay?

The hook goes at the beginning of the introduction to get the reader's attention.

What should you do if your nose goes on strike?

Why did charlotte tell her mother that she was reading dr dillard's essay on patience.

Charlotte told her mother that she was reading Dr. Dillard's essay on patience to avoid revealing that she was reading a romance novel. She thought her mother would disapprove of her reading a romance novel, so she used the essay as a cover story.

Is scorpia after eagle strike or is ark angel?

it goes eagle strike, scorpia and the ark angel

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आई संपावर गेली तर

If mother goes on strike Essay in Marathi मित्रानो तुम्ही आई संपावर गेली तर हा कल्पनात्मक निबंध शोधात आहात का? या लेखात आम्ही हा कल्पनात्मक निबंध सांगितलं आहे तुम्हाला नक्कीच हा लेख आवडेल. चला तर मग जाणून घेऊया आई संपावर गेली तर काय होईल ते.

If mother goes on strike essay in Marathi जर आई संपावर गेली तर निबंध

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Aai sampavar geli tar Essay in Marathi

आई हि आपली प्रथम गुरु असते. ती आपली सकाळ पासून ते रात्री झोपेपर्यंत काळजी घेते, आपल्याला काही हवे नको ते सर्व बघते, आपल्या सर्व इच्छा पूर्ण करते. आई नेहमी निस्वार्थीपणाने कुटुंबास काय हवं नको ते बघता बघता पूर्ण दिवसभर काम करत असते. सकाळी उठल्यापासून नाश्त्यापासून ते रात्रीचा जेवणापर्यंतचे चे सर्व काम ती एकटीच सांभाळते. पूर्ण कुटुंब पुर्नपणे आईवर अवलंबून असते.

पण जर आई संपावर गेली तर ?, आई संपावर गेली तर संपूर्ण घराचे वेळापत्रकच बिघडून जाईल. आपल्याला माहित नसणारी पण आपल्यासाठी आवश्यक असणारी अशी किती तरी गोष्टी आई आपल्यासाठी करत असते त्यामुळं जर आई संपावर गेली तर संपूर्ण घराची तारांबळ उडून जाईल.

• If trees are destroyed essay in Marathi

आई संपावर गेली तर मला पहाटे शाळेत जाण्यासाठी कोण उठवेल त्यामुळे मला शाळेत जाण्यास नेहमी उशीर होईल. शाळेत जाताना मला आई कडून गरमा गरम तयार असणारा डब्बा मिळणार नाही. शाळेत जाताना सर्व वही पुस्तके घेतले आहेत ना याची आठवण करून द्यायला कुणी नसेल.

बाबा तर ऑफिस मध्ये व्यस्त असतात तर आम्हाला हवं नको ते बघणार कुणी नसेल. आमचे लाड करायला आणि आवडीचे पदार्थ बनवून देणार कुणी नसेल.

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आई संपावर गेली तर माझा अभ्यास मलाच करावं लागणार मला अभ्यासात मदत करायला, काही समजे नाही तर समजून सांगायला आई नसणार. आई मला शाळेतील अनेक प्रकल्प बनवण्यामध्ये मदत करते पण मला एकट्यालाच ते बनवावे लागणार.

अशा प्रकारे आई संपावर गेली तर सर्व घर गडबडून जाईल. सर्व कुटुंबाला आई घरासाठी किती करते ते कळून येईल.

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अशा रीतीने मित्रानो आम्ही या If mother goes on strike Essay in Marathi लेखात आई संपावर गेली तर काय होईल याबद्दल हा कल्पनात्मक निबंध सांगितलं आहे. आम्हाला आशा आहे कि आई बद्दलचा हा निबंध तुम्हाला नक्कीच आवडेल.

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"There are 133 cherished souls who are being held there, and it is time. We don't want any more progress, we want results."

Washington has been applying pressure on Israel to improve humanitarian aid to Gaza.

It comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doubled down on his pledge to go forward with his invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza. 

"We discussed a lot of different things, and one of the things we talked about is that there is a possibility of holding two truths you can believe, as we do, that it is horrible that innocent civilians in Gaza are suffering," Ms Goldberg added. 

"And at the same time, you can also know that it is horrible and against international law for hostages to be held against their will."

In the aftermath of the Israeli military's second operation at al Shifa Hospital, the largest medical facility in Gaza bears the scars of the war.

The raid has left the hospital's infrastructure in a state of severe damage, revealing collapsed walls and charred remains.

Health workers have also exhumed bodies from mass graves around the hospital.

"We are now exhuming the dead who were executed," Hussein Muhaisen, director of ambulances, said.

US senate majority leader Chuck Schumer met Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid at the Capitol today.

The meeting came as Mr Schumer suggested last month that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not operating in his country's best interests and called for Israel to hold new elections.

Mr Lapid recently said that the senate leaders' call for elections was evidence that Mr Netanyahu was pushing Israel to lose support from its biggest supporters in the US.

Mr Netanyahu has escalated his pledge to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah but the US has said a ground operation into the area would be a mistake and has demanded to see a credible plan to protect civilians.

Israel's "words must turn into action", Lord Cameron has said.

After the UK participated in the largest airdrop of aid into Gaza on a single day today, the foreign secretary said the UK would continue to "push Israel as hard as we can" to get more aid in.

Led by the Jordanian Armed Forces, a total of nine nations and 14 aircraft participated in the operation today, delivering essential food, water and other supplies to civilians.

An in-person meeting of Israeli and US officials on the planned operation in the Gaza city of Rafah will take place "in a couple of weeks", the White House has said this evening.

Earlier today, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doubled down on his pledge to go forward with an offensive in Rafah.

He said there were "many forces" trying to stop the Rafah offensive - a reference to other nations demanding that Israel does not go ahead - "but it will not help, because this enemy, after what it has done, will not do it again, it will cease to exist". 

It remains unclear why Israel seems to be withdrawing troops from Gaza.

Military analyst Michael Clarke  says while it is not clear why this has been done there may be both tactical and political reasons for this.

He says the reason this has happened now is due to the "build up of political pressure from outside".

You can watch Clarke's full analysis here...

Further to reports we brought you earlier on comments by US defence secretary Lloyd Austin at a senate hearing (see post at 4.19pm), we can bring you more on what the US official said.

Asked by a lawmaker what the impact would be from a deadly mass famine in Gaza, Mr Austin said: "It will accelerate violence, and it will have the effect of ensuring that there's a long-term conflict.

"It doesn't have to happen. We should continue to do everything we can, and we are doing this, to encourage the Israelis to provide humanitarian assistance."

Israel has said aid is moving into Gaza more quickly, but the amount is disputed and the United Nations says it remains much less than the bare minimum to meet humanitarian needs.

Mr Austin said it remained to be seen if the increase in aid could be deepened and sustained.

He added that an Israeli failure to separate the Palestinian people from Palestinian Islamist group Hamas "would just create more terrorism." 

Israel should make a deal with Hamas, the brother-in-law of Eli Sharabi has told Sky News.

Steve Brisley told The News Hour with Mark Austin that hope was all his family had and were "clinging onto".

"We emotionally hope and pray Eli is still alive but with every passing day time is running out," he said.

"Time ran out for his brother Yossi and time has run out for many of the hostages."

He said the "simple maths meant Eli's chances were not good".

Asked if Israel should make a deal with Hamas, he added: "Absolutely.

"The Israeli government have said time and time again the hostages are their first priority. 

"It's time for those words to be put into action."

Mr Brisley said "all the hostages were in mortal danger with every passing day" and if the end of the war would bring them home "then that is what must be done".

The war in Gaza has seen Yemen's Houthis attack cargo ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. 

They say they are doing this in support of the Palestinians in Gaza who have been under Israeli bombardment since the Hamas attack on 7 October.

Global shipping has been disrupted as a result.

Here, our  special correspondent Alex Crawford  looks at the crisis in Yemen...

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Russia-Ukraine war: Operators say another drone downed at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant – as it happened

Russian-controlled power station says drone shot down over roof over reactor number six, which is currently shut down

• 1d ago Summary of the day
• 1d ago Residents of flood-struck Orsk stage protest against local government
• 1d ago US House speaker faces revolt by hard-right Republicans over Ukraine aid package
• 1d ago 80% of Ukraine’s coal, gas power plants hit by Russian attacks, says minister
• 1d ago Russian missile hits industrial facility in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia, governor says
• 1d ago Operators at nuclear plant says another drone downed, falls on roof
• 1d ago Summary of the day so far
• 1d ago US threatens sanctions for China banks aiding Russia, amid Russian diplomatic visit to Beijing
• 1d ago Kremlin blames Ukraine for nuclear power station attack, Kyiv denies involvement
• 1d ago German lawmaker accused of taking Russian cash denies wrongdoing
• 2d ago German military presence in Lithuania will escalate tensions, says Kremlin
• 2d ago Russia's foreign minister visits Beijing, emphasises ties with China
• 2d ago 'This cannot happen': atomic watchdog chief condemns Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant attack
• 2d ago Opening summary

Operators at nuclear plant says another drone downed, falls on roof

The Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station has just announced that another drone was shot down over the roof of reactor number six, according to the Reuters news agency.

“Today, a kamikaze drone was shot down over the plant. It fell on the roof of Unit 6,” the plant said, below a picture of reactor No. 6.

Reactor number six is now shut down, according to the plant.

Summary of the day

It has just turned 6pm in Ukraine and Russia. Here are the key events you might have missed from the day:

Russian strikes on Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region killed three people on Monday, in a second day of deadly attacks on the area, its governor has said. “Three people were killed and three people were wounded in the Pologivskyi district” of Zaporizhzhia, Governor Ivan Federov said on social media.

At least six people have been injured after a Russian missile attack on Monday hit an industrial facility in Ukraine’s southern city, the regional governor has said. He did not provide any details regarding the type of facility. The Guardian is unable to independently verify this account.

Russia has hit up to 80 per cent of Ukraine’s conventional power plants and half its hydroelectric plants in recent weeks, in the heaviest attacks since the war began, Ukrainian energy minister German Galushchenko has said. “Up to 80% of thermal generation was attacked. More than half of hydro generation and a large number of substations,” Galushchenko told journalists in Kyiv. “This is the largest attack on Ukraine’s energy sector” since war began, the minister said, adding that he suspects that Russia has modified their weapons to now use Iranian-style explosive drones and missiles that cause more damage per attack.

The Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station has just announced that another drone was shot down over the roof of reactor number six , according to Reuters. “Today, a kamikaze drone was shot down over the plant. It fell on the roof of Unit 6,” the plant said, below a picture of reactor No. 6. Reactor No. 6 is now shut down, according to the plant.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has condemned a drone strike on one of six nuclear reactors at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine. “This cannot happen,” director general Rafael Grossi wrote on a social media post, adding, “No one can conceivably benefit or get any military or political advantage from attacks against nuclear facilities. This is a no go.”

The Kremlin continues to blame Ukraine for the attacks on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, calling them “very dangerous”, but a senior Ukrainian intelligence officer has denied Kyiv’s involvement. The Guardian is unable to independently verify either account.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Beijing on Monday to display the strength of ties with close diplomatic ally China , amid Moscow’s war against Ukraine. Despite its backing of Russia in the Ukraine war, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters Monday that “China has an objective and fair position on the Ukraine issue … We have been actively promoting peace talks and political solutions. China is not a creator or party to the Ukraine crisis, and we have not and will not do anything to profit from it.”

The US Treasury Secretary has threatened sanctions on China’s banks which aid Russia’s military capacity, amid Russia’s diplomatic visit to China. She told reporters, as she wrapped up four days of talks with China, that “any banks that facilitate significant transactions that channel military or dual-use goods to Russia’s defence industrial base expose themselves to the risk of US sanctions.”

The Kremlin has warned that a planned German military presence in Lithuania would escalate tensions. The Nato military alliance and EU member Lithuania, which borders Russia and its ally Belarus, said earlier it would partly finance permanently hosting of 5,000 German troops from 2027.

More than 10,400 homes across Russia have been flooded, triggering record water levels in the Ural mountains, Russia’s emergency ministry have said. “An increase in air temperatures, active snow melt and river openings are predicted,” Russia’s emergency ministry said. “More than 10,400 residential buildings remain flooded in 39 regions.” Russia’s government declared a federal emergency on Sunday over flood-hit areas, state media reported.

Residents of Orsk, the Ural Mountains city most affected by some of Russia’s worst flooding in decades, staged protests against local authorities’ perceived inaction on Monday. “Shame! Shame! Shame!” the crowd of about 100 is heard chanting in a video circulating on Telegram. The chants from the protest are believed to be directed at the local administration over low compensation for property damage and the burst dam’s structural deficiencies, according to reports from the Moscow Times.

A member of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) accused of taking money from a pro-Russian media site has denied any wrongdoing. German magazine Der Spiegel and Czech newspaper Denik N reported that Bystron had received money from the portal Voice of Europe, which was sanctioned by the Czech government late last month due to suspected Russian influence. Petr Bystron, a member of the German parliament and an AfD candidate in European parliament elections set for June, has “vehemently denied” the allegations, an AfD spokesperson told Reuters.

Residents of flood-struck Orsk stage protest against local government

Residents of Orsk, the Ural Mountains city most affected by some of Russia’s worst flooding in decades, staged protests against local authorities’ perceived inaction on Monday.

“Shame! Shame! Shame!” the crowd of around 100 is heard chanting in a video circulating on Telegram.

Much of Orsk is submerged underwater, after the Ural River swelled and burst through a dam on Friday, forcing thousands to evacuate. Russia has declared a regionwide state of emergency and officials have opened a criminal case against the local authorities for “negligence and violation of construction safety rules” over the burst dam.

The chants from the protest are believed to be directed at the local administration over low compensation for property damage and the burst dam’s structural deficiencies, according to reports from the Moscow Times, an English and Russian-language online newspaper.

US House speaker faces revolt by hard-right Republicans over Ukraine aid package

House speaker Mike Johnson returned to work on Monday facing mounting pressure to advance a Ukraine aid package as well as the threat of an intra-party revolt if he does so.

The Republican speaker has indicated the House will take up the issue of Ukraine funding this week, as the chamber reconvenes after a two-week recess. But many hard-right members of Johnson’s conference remain staunchly opposed to additional Ukraine aid, and one of them has already threatened to oust the speaker, complicating the potential timing of a floor vote.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday that Kyiv will lose the war against Russia if the US congress does not approve military aid to battle Moscow’s invasion.

Read the latest on this developing story from our correspondent in Washington:

80% of Ukraine’s coal, gas power plants hit by Russian attacks, says minister

Russia has hit up to 80 per cent of Ukraine’s conventional power plants and half its hydroelectric plants in recent weeks, in the heaviest attacks since the war began, Ukrainian energy minister German Galushchenko said on Monday.

“Up to 80% of thermal generation was attacked. More than half of hydro generation and a large number of substations,” Galushchenko told journalists in Kyiv.

“This is the largest attack on Ukraine’s energy sector” since war began, the minister said.

The country’s largest nuclear power station in Zaporizhzhia has been under Russian control since near the start of the war.

Galushchenko said that “the scale and impact of these attacks is much greater” than earlier attacks over the winter from 2022 to 2023 when millions suffered in freezing temperatures without electricity and heating.

“We see that Russians modified the weapons,” the minister said, adding that they now use Iranian-style explosive drones and missiles that cause more damage per attack.

Russian missile hits industrial facility in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia, governor says

A Russian missile attack on Monday hit an industrial facility in Ukraine’s southern city of injuring at least six people, local authorities said. Ivan Fedorov , the regional governor, did not provide any details regarding the type of facility in his message on the Telegram.

Last Friday, an unidentified industrial facility in the city was struck by a Russian missile strike which also damaged residential buildings and killed four people. It was not clear if Monday’s strike targeted the same site.

Separately, Russian officials accused Ukraine of launching drone strikes against the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, occupied by Moscow troops.

Moscow-installed officials have made a series of claims since last week. Kyiv said it has nothing to do with incidents at the power station reported by Russia and called them “armed provocations”.

Summary of the day so far

Us threatens sanctions for china banks aiding russia, amid russian diplomatic visit to beijing.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Monday, after four days of talks with China, that she has warned the country’s banks and exporters of aiding Russia’s military capacity.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Beijing earlier on Monday, emphasising the two country’s close diplomatic ties. Russian state news agency TASS reported that the ministers would “discuss the situation in Ukraine .”

Yellen said at a press conference in Beijing,

I stressed that companies, including those in the PRC, must not provide material support for Russia’s war and that they will face significant consequences if they do. And I reinforced that any banks that facilitate significant transactions that channel military or dual-use goods to Russia’s defence industrial base expose themselves to the risk of U.S. sanctions.

Kremlin blames Ukraine for nuclear power station attack, Kyiv denies involvement

Kremlin spokesperson Dmistry Peskov repeated on Monday Moscow’s assertion that Ukraine was behind the attacks on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, calling them “very dangerous”.

Russia said Ukraine struck the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station controlled by Russian forces three times on Sunday and demanded the West respond, though Kyiv said it had nothing to do with the attacks.

A senior Ukrainian intelligence official denied Russia’s accusations on Monday. Andrii Yusov, the spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency suggested there had been no attack, saying Russian forces routinely fabricate strikes on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

However, the strikes on this occasion were confirmed by U.N.’s atomic watchdog agency, though it didn’t attribute responsibility for the attack to either side.

The Guardian is unable to independently verify either account. The plant has repeatedly been caught in the crossfire since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and seized the facility shortly after.

The six nuclear reactors on site have been shut down for months, but it still needs power and qualified staff to operate crucial cooling systems and other safety features.

German lawmaker accused of taking Russian cash denies wrongdoing

A member of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has denied any wrongdoing following a media report alleging that he had received money from a pro-Russian media site, the party said on Monday.

Petr Bystron , a member of the German parliament and an AfD candidate in European Parliament elections set for June, has “vehemently denied” the allegations, an AfD spokesperson told Reuters.

“The party leadership is in favour of a comprehensive investigation and therefore calls on all those who claim to have circumstantial evidence and proof to include it in the investigation,” the spokesperson said.

“At this point in time, the federal leadership (of the party) must assume Mr Bystron’s innocence.”

German magazine Der Spiegel and Czech newspaper Denik N reported that Bystron had received money from the portal Voice of Europe, which was sanctioned by the Czech government late last month due to suspected Russian influence.

The AfD, with 78 of 735 seats in Germany’s parliament, leads polls in several poorer, post-industrial eastern states where its anti-immigrant stance resonates. It opposes Germany’s backing for Ukraine in the war with Russia.

US military presence in Japan impedes any peace treaty with Tokyo, the Kremlin said on Monday.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida i s due to hold a summit in Washington this week with US President Joe Biden , the first state visit by a Japanese leader in nine years.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday, “The de facto defence alliance is already there and we know about the United States’ military potential that is stationed in Japan - by the way, close to our borders.”

“This has always been a stumbling block in trying to reach a settlement of our main problem, the peace treaty problem,” he said.

Russia, the main successor state to the Soviet Union, and Japan have never signed a peace treaty formally ending their hostilities during World War Two.

German military presence in Lithuania will escalate tensions, says Kremlin

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that a planned German military presence in Lithuania would escalate tensions.

The NATO military alliance and EU member Lithuania, which borders Russia and its ally Belarus, said earlier it would partly finance permanently hosting of 5,000 German troops from 2027.

Russia's foreign minister visits Beijing, emphasises ties with China

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Beijing on Monday to display the strength of ties with close diplomatic ally China, amid Moscow’s war against Ukraine .

Russian state news agency TASS said the ministers would “discuss the situation in Ukraine and the Asia-Pacific region, issues of bilateral cooperation and interaction in the international arena,” quoting Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova .

Despite its backing of Russia in the Ukraine war, China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters Monday that “China has an objective and fair position on the Ukraine issue.” “We have been actively promoting peace talks and political solutions. China is not a creator or party to the Ukraine crisis, and we have not and will not do anything to profit from it,” Mao told reporters at a daily briefing.

“Relevant countries should not smear and attack the normal state-to-state relations between China and Russia... let alone shift the blame onto China and provoke bloc confrontation,” she added.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen , who is currently wrapping up a visit to China on Monday, said she had warned officials of the consequences of supporting Russia’s military procurement.

'This cannot happen': atomic watchdog chief condemns Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant attack

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) , Rafael Mariano Grossi, has condemned a drone strike on one of six nuclear reactors at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine .

“This cannot happen,” Grossi wrote on a social media post. Adding, “No one can conceivably benefit or get any military or political advantage from attacks against nuclear facilities. This is a no go.”

Today, for the first time since Nov 2022 & after I set out 5 basic principles to avoid a serious nuclear accident w/ radiological consequences, @IAEAorg ’s #ISAMZ confirmed that at least 3 direct hits against ZNPP main reactor containment structures took place. This cannot happen. — Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) April 7, 2024

Russia has blamed Ukriane for the strike, but Ukrainian intelligence sources have denied any involvement. The Guardian is unable to independently verify either account.

IAEA officials on site reported in a statement that “outside a laboratory, they saw blood stains next to a damaged military logistics vehicle, indicating at least one casualty.”

“This is a major escalation of the nuclear safety and security dangers,” director general Grossi said. “Such reckless attacks significantly increase the risk of a major nuclear accident and must cease immediately.”

While the team so far has not observed any structural damage to systems, structures, and components important to nuclear safety or security of the plant, Grossi warned of the dangers of such strikes on Sunday, saying, “Although the damage at unit 6 has not compromised nuclear safety, this was a serious incident that had the potential to undermine the integrity of the reactor’s containment system.”

More than 10,400 homes across Russia have been flooded, triggering record water levels in the Ural mountains, Russia’s emergency ministry said on Monday.

“An increase in air temperatures, active snow melt and river openings are predicted,” Russia’s emergency ministry said. “More than 10,400 residential buildings remain flooded in 39 regions.”

The Ural River several metres in just hours on Friday due to melting water, bursting through a dam embankment in the city of Orsk, 1,800 km (1,100 miles) east of Moscow.

Russia’s government declared a federal emergency on Sunday over flood-hit areas, state media reported.

Here are the latest photos coming through the wires:

Opening summary

Hello and welcome to our continuing live coverage of Russia’s war on Ukraine .

Russian strikes on Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region has killed three people on Monday, in a second day of deadly attacks on the area, its governor said.

“Three people were killed and three people were wounded in the Pologivskyi district” of Zaporizhzhia, Governor Ivan Federov said on social media.

In other key developments over the weekend:

Russia claimed on Sunday that Kyiv had attacked the Moscow-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant with a drone, but Ukraine has denied being behind the attack. An intelligence official said Kyiv had nothing to do with any strikes on the station and suggested they were the work of Russians themselves. The Guardian has been unable to independently verify either account.

UN Nuclear watchdog urges restraint after Ukraine attacked the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant on Sunday. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was informed on Sunday by authorities at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant that a drone detonated on site today. “Such detonation is consistent with IAEA observations,” the nuclear watchdog said in a post on a social media. IAEA director general, Rafael Mariano Grossi , also said of the attack, “I urge to refrain from actions that … jeopardise nuclear safety.”

Earlier, the administration reported an Ukrainian strike on the dome of the plant’s sixth power unit that caused no damage, and an attack that damaged a truck parked near the station’s canteen, according to Russian state news agency TASS reports.

Russia has been accused of systematically using illegal chemical gas attacks against Ukrainian soldiers. Ukrainian troops claimed that they have been subjected to “almost daily” attacks from small drones dropping teargas and other chemicals. The use of such substances, which is known as CS, is banned during wartime under the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov will make an official visit to China to discuss war in Ukraine. Talks scheduled on Monday and Tuesday between Russia and China will consist of bilateral cooperation as well as “hot topics”, such as the crisis in Ukraine and the Asia-Pacific, the Russian foreign ministry has said. On Saturday, the US warned allies that China has provided geospatial intelligence to Moscow in its war against Ukraine. According to reports, China has provided Russia with satellite imagery for military purposes, as well as microelectronics and machine tools for tanks.

Three civilians were killed in a Russian attack on the frontline village of Guliaipole, in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, according to reports from the regional government. The Guardian could not independently verify these claims.

One civilian was killed and four others were injured after Ukrainian drones were intercepted in Belgorod. A woman was killed and four more people were wounded after air defences downed Ukrainian drones on the approach to Russia’s Belgorod city, according to a statement from the local governor posted on Telegram.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said that Kyiv will lose the war against Russia if the US congress does not approve military aid to battle Moscow’s invasion. Republicans in Congress have been blocking tens of billions of dollars in military assistance for Kyiv for months.

The Russian government has declared a federal emergency over record floods in the Orenburg region. The floods, caused by rising water levels in the Ural River, forced over 4,000 people to evacuate, and has flooded more than 10,400, according to state media. Flooding in two more nearby regions has been deemed “inevitable” by the Kremlin. Russian authorities have opened a criminal case for “negligence and violation of construction safety rules” over the burst dam. The Orenburg regional governor said specialists assessed that the dam was built “for a different weight” and that the level of rainfall was “exceptional”.

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The Eclipse Chaser

As millions of americans prepare to see a total solar eclipse, a retired astrophysicist known as “mr. eclipse,” discusses the celestial phenomenon..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

Can you hear — Fred, can you hear me?

[DISTORTED SPEECH]:

The internet is a little wonky.

OK. Well, [DISTORTED SPEECH]: Arizona. So the internet speed here isn’t really fast.

I think we’re going to call — yeah, I think we’re going to call you back on a — for the first time in a really long time — a landline.

[PHONE RINGING]

Hey, Fred, it’s Michael Barbaro.

You can hear me OK?

I can hear you.

Perfect. So, Fred, where exactly am I reaching you?

I’m in Portal, Arizona, in a little community called Arizona Sky Village. And it’s a very rural community. So our internet and phone lines are not very good. And the nearest grocery store is 60 miles away.

Wow. And why would you choose to live in such a remote place with such bad internet?

Because the sky is dark. It’s like the sky was a hundred years ago before cities encroached on all of the country. I guess you’d call it an astronomy development. Mainly, amateur astronomers who have built homes here far from city lights for the express purpose of studying the sky.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

So it’s literally a community where once the sun goes down, it’s pitch black. And some, perhaps all of you, are stargazing?

Yes, exactly.

Well, I think I’m beginning to understand why you might have the nickname that you do. Can you just tell our listeners what that nickname is?

My nickname is Mr. Eclipse.

From “The New York Times,” I’m Michael Barbaro. This is “The Daily.” Today’s total solar eclipse will be watched by millions of people across North America, none of them as closely as Fred Espenak, a longtime NASA scientist who’s devoted his entire life to studying, chasing, and popularizing the wonder that is an eclipse.

It’s Monday, April 8.

Fred, help me understand how you become Mr. Eclipse, how you go from being Fred to this seemingly very hard-earned nickname of Mr. Eclipse.

Well, I was visiting my grandparents at their summer home. And it was a partial eclipse of the sun back in the early 1960s. And I was a 10 - or 12-year-old kid. I got my parents to get me a small telescope. And I watched some of the partial phases. And it was really interesting.

And I started reading about eclipses. And I found out that as interesting as a partial eclipse is, a total eclipse is far more interesting. The moon is only 1/400 the diameter of the sun. It’s tiny compared to the sun. But it’s 400 times closer to the Earth. So it’s just this incredible coincidence that the moon and sun appear to be the same size in the sky. And once in a while, the moon passes directly between the Earth and the sun. And you’re plunged into this very strange midday twilight.

But they’re limited to a very small geographic areas to see a total eclipse. And this little book I was studying had a map of the world, showing upcoming paths of total solar eclipses. And I realized that one was passing through North America about 600 miles from where I lived. And that eclipse was in 1970.

And I was reading about this in 1963, 1964. And I made a promise to myself that I was going to get to that eclipse in 1970 to see it because I thought it was a one chance in a lifetime to see a total eclipse of the sun.

So just to be very clear, you see a partial eclipse, and you immediately think to yourself, that was fine. But I need the real thing. I need a full eclipse. And you happen to find out, around this time, that a real eclipse is coming but in seven years.

Right. I mean, there were other eclipses between that time and seven years in the future. But they were in other parts of the world. And I couldn’t buy an airplane ticket and fly to Europe or Australia.

And by 1970, I’d been waiting for this. And by this point, I had just gotten a driver’s license. And I convinced my parents to let me drive the car 600 miles to get down into the path of totality to see this great event.

Wow. Wait, from where to where?

From Staten Island, New York, down to a little town in North Carolina.

How did you convince your parents to let you do that? I mean, that’s —

Well, I had seven years to work on it.

[LAUGHS]: Right.

And I was just a nerdy kid. I didn’t get into trouble. I was interested in science. I was out in the woods, studying frogs and wildlife and stuff. So this was just a natural progression of the type of things I would normally do.

Right. OK. So I wonder if you can describe this journey you end up taking from Staten Island. How does the trip unfold as you’re headed on this 600 mile?

So, I think, on March 6, 1970, it was a Friday. My friend and I left to drive to the eclipse path. We probably got on the road probably at 5:00 AM because it was going to be a very long day.

And we’ve got a detailed map in the car, which I’ve plotted the eclipse path on. And we’re just trying to get far enough south to get into the path of the eclipse, which for us is easternmost Virginia or Eastern North Carolina. And I drive and drive and drive all day long. Very long day.

We get down to North Carolina right about maybe 6:00 PM. And we just see this little town in North Carolina that we’re driving through. And it happens to have a convenient motel right in the center of the path. And that was good enough. Got a room available. And we check in. And that’s where we’re going to watch the eclipse from.

And the next morning was eclipse day. It was a bright, crisp, sunny morning. There weren’t any clouds at all in the sky. And I was amazed that outside the back of the motel, in this grassy field, there were dozens and dozens of people with telescopes out there, specifically there for the eclipse that morning.

We were really excited about this. We set up our — my telescope. And we had another camera set up to watch it. And we walked around and marveled at some of the other people and their telescopes and discussed the eclipse with them. And the eclipse started probably around noon or 1:00 in the afternoon.

Describe the actual event itself, the eclipse. How did it begin?

Well, all solar eclipses begin as a partial eclipse. And the sun is gradually covered by the moon as the moon takes larger and larger pieces out of the sun, as it slowly crawls across the sun’s surface. And you don’t really notice much going on with a naked eye.

It’s really only in the last 10 minutes or so that you start to notice changes in the environment because now enough of the sun has been covered, upwards of maybe 90 percent of the sun. And you start to notice the temperature falling. There’s a chill in the air.

Also, since so much of the sun is covered, the daylight starts to take on an anemic quality. It’s weak. The sun is still too bright to look at. But the surroundings, the environment is not as bright as it was a half hour earlier.

You start to notice animals reacting to the dwindling sunlight. They start acting like it’s sunset. And they start performing some of their evening rituals, like birds roosting, perhaps calling their evening songs. And plants start closing up and the dropping sunlight. And then the dropping temperatures.

And there’s an acceleration now of all these effects. The temperature drop, the drop in the sunlight, it starts happening faster and faster and getting darker and darker. And maybe about a minute before the total eclipse began, we noticed strange patterns on the ground beneath us, on the grassy field that we were on — these ripples racing across the field. And these are something called shadow bands.

They look a lot like the rippling patterns that you would see on the bottom of a swimming pool, bands of light and dark, and moving very quickly across the ground. The sky is — it’s a dark blue. And it’s getting darker rapidly in this dwindling sunlight. And you go from daylight to twilight in just 10 or 20 seconds. It’s almost like someone has the hand on the rheostat and turns the house lights down in the theater.

You just see the light just go right down.

And the sky gets dark enough that the corona, the outer atmosphere of the sun, starts emerging from the background sky. This ring or halo of gas that surrounds the sun, and it’s visible around the moon, which is in silhouette against the sun. And along one edge of the moon is this bright bead of sunlight because that’s the last remaining piece of the sun before it becomes total.

And this is the diamond ring effect because you’ve got the ring of the corona and this dazzling jewel along one edge of it. You only get to see this for 10 or 15 seconds — it’s very fleeting — before the moon completely covers the sun’s disk. And totality begins. Suddenly, you’re in this twilight of the moon’s shadow.

And you look around the horizon. And you’re seeing the colors of sunrise or sunset 360 degrees around the horizon because you’re looking out the edge of the moon’s shadow. And looking back up into the sky, the sun is gone now. And you see this black disk of the moon in silhouette surrounded by the sun’s corona.

Maybe this says more about my nature than anything else, but what you’re describing, a little bit, feels like the end of the world.

Well, I think, when you see this all transpire, you can easily understand how people thought this was the end of the world because it seems far outside of the realms of nature. It seems supernatural. So you can see how people panicked that didn’t understand what was going on.

That was not your reaction?

No. I think it’s a sense of belonging — belonging to this incredible universe, both belonging and a humbleness that how minuscule we are. And yet we’re a part of this fantastic cosmic wheel of motion in the solar system. You almost get a three-dimensional sense of the motions of the Earth and the moon around the sun when you see this clockwork displayed right in front of you, this mechanics of the eclipse taking place.

It almost lifts you up off the planet, and you can look back down at the solar system and see how it’s all put together. And you’ve only got to, in that case — in that particular eclipse, it was only 2 and 1/2 minutes to look at this.

Wow. It’s kind of a clock in your head, saying, you don’t have much of this.

You don’t have much of it. And it almost seems like time stops.

And at the same time, all of a sudden, the eclipse is over. Those 2 minutes just raced by. And it’s over. All of a sudden, the diamond ring forms again on the opposite side of the moon, as the sun starts to become uncovered at the end of totality. And the diamond ring appears. It grows incredibly bright in just a few seconds. And you can’t look at it anymore. It’s too bright. You’ve got to put your filters back on and cover your telescope with a solar filter so it doesn’t get damaged. And you’re trembling because of this event.

Everybody was cheering and shouting and yelling. I mean, you would have thought you were at a sports game, and the home team just scored a touchdown. Just everybody screaming at the top of their lungs. And I immediately started thinking that this can’t be a once in a lifetime experience. I’ve got to see this again.

We’ll be right back.

OK. So, Fred, it’s the early 1970s. And you are not Mr. Eclipse yet. You’re just a kid who felt something very big when you watched an eclipse. So how did you end up becoming the premier authority that you now are on eclipses?

Well, after that 1970 eclipse, I started looking into upcoming solar eclipses so I could get a chance to see the sun’s corona again. And the next total eclipse was in Eastern Canada in July of 1972. And I started thinking about that eclipse. And by then, I was going to be in college.

And I started planning because that one was still something I could drive to. It was 1,200 miles instead of 600 miles.

So the summer of 1972 rolls around. And I drove up to the eclipse in Quebec to see totality and was unfortunately clouded out of the eclipse. I saw some of the partial phases. But clouds moved in and obscured the sun for that view of the sun’s corona.

You were robbed.

I was robbed. And I realized, well, I’ve got to expand my outlook on what’s an acceptable distance to travel to see a total eclipse because the next total eclipse then, in 1973, was through the Sahara Desert in Northern Africa. So I traveled to the Sahara desert for the eclipse, where we had decent weather, not perfect but decent weather. And we got to see totality there.

You saw totality in the desert?

In the desert. In the Sahara Desert. After that, it was just trying to get to every total eclipse I possibly could get to.

At this point, you’re clearly starting to become an eclipse chaser. And I don’t even know if such a thing existed at that moment.

Yeah. I don’t know if it was called that then, but certainly, yeah.

And if you’ll permit me a question that might seem maybe dopey to someone in your field, after you’ve seen one or two or three of these, do they start to blend in together and become a little bit the same?

Not at all. Each one is distinctly different. The sun itself is dramatically different. The sun’s corona is different at each eclipse because the corona is a product of the sun’s magnetic field. And that magnetic field is changing every day. So the details, the fine structure in the sun’s corona is always different. So every eclipse is dramatically different. The appearance of the sun’s corona.

Right. If you look at one Renoir, it’s not the same as the next one. You’re describing the corona of each eclipse as its own work of art, basically.

Exactly. Yeah.

So as you’re chasing these eclipses around the world, what is the place of an eclipse in your day-to-day academic studies and, soon enough, your professional work?

So I went to grad school at University of Toledo and did some work at Kitt Peak National Observatory, learning the ins and outs of photometric photometry — that is, measuring the brightness of stars. And eventually, this led to a job opening at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

And I got interested in the idea of predicting eclipses and started studying the mathematics of how to do this. And I took it over unofficially and started publishing these technical maps and details. And we published about a dozen books through NASA on upcoming eclipses. People would just write me a letter and say they wanted a copy of the eclipse bulletin for such and such an eclipse. And I would stuff it in an envelope and mail it to them.

So you take it upon yourself to make sure that everyone is going to know when the next eclipse is coming?

And no doubt, during this period, you keep going to each and every eclipse. And I wonder which of them stand out to you.

Well, I’ve seen total eclipses from Australia, from Africa, from the Altiplanos in Bolivia, from the ice sheet on the coast of Antarctica, and even from Northern China, on the edge of the Gobi Desert. But one of the most notable eclipses for me was I traveled to India to see a 41-second eclipse, which was very short. And besides seeing a great eclipse in India, I also met my future wife there. She was on the same trip.

I have to hear that story.

Well, she had been trying to see a total eclipse for about 25 years.

She tried to see the 1970 eclipse. But her friends who were going to drive down from Pennsylvania down to North Carolina talked her out of it at the 11th hour.

They talked her out of seeing the same eclipse that was your first total eclipse that was so important to you?

Yes. And they talked her out of it because from Pennsylvania, they were going to have maybe a 90 percent eclipse. They didn’t know any better. They thought that was good enough. And she regretted that decision.

So then she said, OK, well, I’ve got to get to the next total eclipse, which was in Quebec in 1972, the same one that was my second eclipse. And we were probably within five miles of each other in Quebec. And we were both clouded out. Then she was married. She was raising kids. She got busy with domestic life for 20 years. She became a widow.

So now, 1995, there’s this 41-second eclipse in India that is very difficult to get to. It’s halfway around the world. But she’s still itching to see a total eclipse. And we joined the same expedition, a travel group, of 30 eclipse chasers and end up in India for the eclipse. And we have fantastic weather. It’s perfect.

She was in tears after totality. She had been waiting so long to see it. And we struck up a friendship on that trip. By the time the 1998 eclipse was taking place in the Caribbean, at that point, we were together. That was our first eclipse to observe as a couple. I think our wedding cake had a big eclipse on the top of the cake.

[LAUGHS]: Perfect.

We made a music CD for the wedding that we played during the reception. And of course, all the music on the CD had sun and moon themes to it.

Nothing I can say, a total eclipse of the heart

Of course, we had “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” It was a must-have.

Had to. Had to.

It strikes me, Fred, that eclipses are such an organizing principle in your life. Your life seems to literally orbit around them. When you were a kid, you started planning for them years in advance. This work becomes central to your career. It’s how you meet your wife.

And you said, when I asked you, about each eclipse that they’re all different. And obviously, you’re different at each eclipse because time has passed. Your life has changed. And it just feels like your life is being lived in a kind of ongoing conversation with this phenomenon of the sun and the moon overlapping.

Well, the eclipses are like benchmarks that I can use to figure out what else was going on in my life during these times, because I remember the dates of every single eclipse I’ve been to. And if I see a photograph of the solar corona shot during any particular eclipse, I know what eclipse that was. I can recognize the pattern of the corona like a fingerprint.

That’s amazing.

And I the year of the eclipse. It reminds me of when Pat and I got married and between which eclipse we were getting married and had to plan our wedding so it didn’t interfere with any kind of eclipse trips.

And they just serve as benchmarks or markers for the rest of my life of when various eclipses take place. So they’re easy for marking the passage of time.

So we are, of course, talking to you a few days before this year’s eclipse, which I cannot fathom you missing. So where are you planning to watch this total eclipse?

Pat and I are leaving for Mazatlán, Mexico, actually tomorrow. And we’ve got about 80 people joining us down in Mazatlán for this eclipse in our tour group.

And for you, of course, this year’s eclipse is just the latest in a very long line of eclipses. But I think, for the rest of us — and here, I’m thinking about myself — this is really going to be my first total eclipse, at least that I can remember. And for my two little kids, it’s absolutely going to be their first.

And given the hard-earned wisdom that you’ve accumulated in all your decades of chasing eclipses around the world, I wonder if you can give us just a little bit of advice for how to best live inside this very brief window of a total solar eclipse, to make sure, not to be cliche, but that we make it count.

Well, I think one mistake that people tend to make is getting preoccupied with recording everything in their lives, what they had for lunch, what they had for dinner. And seeing the eclipse is something that you want to witness firsthand. Try to be present in seeing the eclipse in the moment of it. So don’t get preoccupied with recording every instant of it.

Sit back and try to take in the entire experience because those several minutes pass by so rapidly. But you’ll replay them in your mind over and over and over again. And you don’t want technology getting between you and that experience. And remember to take your eclipse glasses off when totality begins. Note how dark it gets during totality.

Take the glasses off because?

Well, the glasses protect your eyes from the sun’s bright disk. But when totality begins, the sun’s bright disk is gone. So if you use your solar eclipse glasses to try to look at the corona, you won’t see anything. You’ll just see blackness. You’ve got to remove the eclipse glasses in order to see the corona. And it’s completely safe.

And it’s an incredible sight to behold. But during totality, you just want to look around without the glasses on. And take in the sights. Take in the horizon, 360 degrees, surrounding you with these twilight colors and sunset colors.

You’ll easily be able to see Jupiter and Venus shining on either side of the sun during totality. And look at the details in the sun’s corona, fine, wispy textures, and any possible red prominences hugging against the moon’s disk during totality.

And let’s say it’s now the moment of totality, and you, Mr. Eclipse, can whisper one thing into someone’s ear as they’re watching. What would you say to them?

Enjoy. Just take it all in.

Well, Fred, thank you very much. We really appreciate it.

No, thank you. I hope everybody has some clear sky.

After today, the next total solar eclipse to be visible from the continental United States will occur 20 years from now, in 2044. In other words, you might as well watch today’s.

Here’s what else you need to know today. Israel has fired two officers in connection with the deadly airstrike on aid workers from the World Central Kitchen who were killed last week while delivering food to civilians in Gaza. In a report released on Friday, Israel blamed their deaths on a string of errors made by the military. The airstrike, Israel said, was based on insufficient and incorrect evidence that a passenger traveling with the workers was armed.

Meanwhile, Israel said it withdrew a division of ground troops from Southern Gaza on Sunday, leaving no soldiers actively patrolling the area. The move raises questions about Israel’s strategy as the war drags into its sixth month. In particular, it casts doubt on Israel’s plans to invade Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, an invasion that the United States has asked Israel not to carry out for fear of large-scale civilian casualties.

Today’s episode was produced by Alex Stern and Sydney Harper, with help from Will Reid and Jessica Cheung. It was edited by Devon Taylor; fact-checked by Susan Lee; contains original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Corey Schreppel; and sound design by Elisheba Ittoop and Dan Powell. It was engineered by Chris Wood. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Anthony Wallace.

[THEME MUSIC]

That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Michael Barbaro. See you tomorrow.

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• April 3, 2024   •   27:42 The Accidental Tax Cutter in Chief
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• April 1, 2024   •   36:14 Ronna McDaniel, TV News and the Trump Problem
• March 29, 2024   •   48:42 Hamas Took Her, and Still Has Her Husband
• March 28, 2024   •   33:40 The Newest Tech Start-Up Billionaire? Donald Trump.
• March 27, 2024   •   28:06 Democrats’ Plan to Save the Republican House Speaker
• March 26, 2024   •   29:13 The United States vs. the iPhone

Hosted by Michael Barbaro

Produced by Sydney Harper and Alex Stern

With Will Reid and Jessica Cheung

Edited by Devon Taylor

Original music by Dan Powell ,  Marion Lozano ,  Elisheba Ittoop and Corey Schreppel

Sound Design by Elisheba Ittoop and Dan Powell

Engineered by Chris Wood

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

Today, millions of Americans will have the opportunity to see a rare total solar eclipse.

Fred Espenak, a retired astrophysicist known as Mr. Eclipse, was so blown away by an eclipse he saw as a teenager that he dedicated his life to traveling the world and seeing as many as he could.

Mr. Espenak discusses the eclipses that have punctuated and defined the most important moments in his life, and explains why these celestial phenomena are such a wonder to experience.

On today’s episode

Fred Espenak, a.k.a. “Mr. Eclipse,” a former NASA astrophysicist and lifelong eclipse chaser.

Background reading

A total solar eclipse is coming. Here’s what you need to know.

Millions of people making plans to be in the path of the solar eclipse on Monday are expecting an awe-inspiring. What is that feeling?

The eclipse that ended a war and shook the gods forever.

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

Fact-checking by Susan Lee .

Special thanks to Anthony Wallace.

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

Corey Schreppel leads the technical team that supports all Times audio shows, including “The Daily,” “Hard Fork,” “The Run-Up,” and “Modern Love.” More about Corey Schreppel

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