Horoscope Today: Daily astrological predictions for August 12, 2026


Horoscope Today: Daily astrological predictions for August 12, 2026

Horoscope Today: Read daily horoscope predictions for August 12, 2026. Know all about the astrological events and influences that will be affecting each of the 12 zodiac signs. Our astrologer has analyzed the movements of the planets and the alignment of the stars to bring you the most accurate and up-to-date horoscope predictions for the day ahead. Get ready to discover what the stars have in store for you today.Aries:You can evaluate yourself today and work through your inner weaknesses. This will boost yourconfidence and help you fight against negative habits or addictions. Singles are likely to find a suitablematch, while love birds will gain greater clarity in their relationship. Opportunities for overseas travelmay arise. Students are likely to receive good news regarding their academics.Taurus:You may settle disputes with your siblings today, which could strengthen your relationship with them.You’ll maintain a high level of energy and drive, so you’ll have no problem taking on difficult projects. Ashort business trip can help you grow your network. You can also help someone in need of assistance,which will boost your social reputation.Gemini:Today, you may remain busy with family gatherings and social events. Your polite and friendly naturewill improve your image among relatives and friends. You may spend money on artefacts or decorativeitems that enhance your social status. Good news from a close relative is also likely.Cancer:Today may bring dissatisfaction, and you may enter a period of self reflection. This can cause a delay inyour work or work in progress. You could also waste precious hours on fruitless pursuits. But thesituation is expected to improve after evening and you may regain your confidence.Leo.You may not be able to get out of reality today and you may not be able to do your duties. Yourinvestments could lose money so please read all documents carefully before you sign them. The healthof an elder can be a cause of worry. You may have plans to renovate or rebuild your house but it’s betterto postpone such plans for the time being.Virgo:Today could increase your social standing. You will work to the best of your ability, enabling you toaccomplish significant projects early. Also, expect good news from a sibling. Avoid unnecessary stresswhich can affect your professional and personal life and too much work can leave you exhausted.Meditation or fasting may help you maintain your inner peace.Libra:Today you may be tired due to an increase in household responsibilities. This may make you feel lazy orcareless so try to be patient. If you are planning for an adventure trip, it is better to postpone it for now.Old investments may turn into unproductive or dead assets. Students are advised to work harder toachieve their goals. Minor health issues related to the back, nervous system, liver, or skin may requireattention.Scorpio:Today, you may feel much better as situations gradually come under control. Your professional networkwill support you at work. You may also plan an overseas trip. This is a favorable time to strengthen yourdomestic life and romantic relationships. Your creativity may inspire you to purchase decorative items orartefacts for your home. You may also plan to watch a movie or enjoy an outing with friends or family.Sagittarius:Today, you may feel dull and lose focus on your goals. There is a possibility of making unrealisticdecisions based on assumptions rather than practical thinking. Your expectations may be too high, andimpatience could leave you feeling disappointed. Be cautious during adventurous activities and avoidrash driving. However, by the afternoon, your financial prospects are likely to improve. You may beginworking with new clients, which could contribute to future business growth.Capricorn:Today, your creativity will remain high, inspiring you to renovate your home or office. You may purchasedecorative items that enhance your surroundings and improve your social status. Harmony with yourspouse is likely to increase, bringing peace to your domestic life. Disputes with friends, coworkers, orbusiness partners may be resolved. You may also receive favorable news regarding a legal matter.Aquarius:Today, your creativity will be at its peak, and you may attend a creative or cultural event. Money thathas been stuck for some time is likely to be recovered. Job seekers are advised to update theirknowledge and skills to stay competitive. Students should put in extra effort to achieve better academicresults.Pisces:Today, you may remain busy with your children’s education and may plan for their higher studies.Couples may receive good news related to children. You may also consider upgrading your own skills orpursuing higher education to improve your chances of promotion at work. Singles are likely to find theirsoulmate.



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Americans, Nasa wants you to watch August 12’s Total Solar Eclipse as Europe will …


Americans, Nasa wants you to watch August 12’s Total Solar Eclipse as Europe will …
For Europe, the eclipse will therefore be more than an astronomical spectacle, as it will test whether authorities facing extreme summer conditions can manage one of the largest movements of skywatchers (Photo: AP) (Representative image)

Nasa is urging Americans to watch the August 12 total solar eclipse, even though most of the US will not see totality. The reason is simple: Europe is about to witness its first total solar eclipse in 27 years. The last total eclipse visible from central and western mainland Europe was in 1999. On August 12, the Moon’s shadow will again sweep across parts of Europe, including Iceland and northern Spain. The rare event will give millions of people a chance to see the Moon completely cover the Sun. NASA will also livestream the eclipse, allowing Americans and other viewers outside the path of totality to watch it online.The eclipse will last for a maximum of 2 minutes and 18 seconds. Nasa is highlighting the event as both a major science event and a rare skywatching experience.

Europe will see total solar eclipse after 27 years

The August 12 eclipse is special because it marks the return of totality to central and western mainland Europe after 27 years. The previous total solar eclipse visible from these parts of Europe took place on August 11, 1999. Since then, no total eclipse path has crossed central or western mainland Europe.This time, the path of totality will pass over parts of Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain, before reaching the Balearic Islands. A small part of Portugal will also fall within the path. For people standing inside the narrow path, the Moon will completely block the bright face of the Sun. Daylight will briefly turn dark and the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona, will become visible.

Where and when to watch the total solar eclipse

As mentioned, the total solar eclipse will take place on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. The Moon’s shadow will travel across the Northern Hemisphere before reaching Europe. Totality will be visible from parts of Iceland and Spain, while much of the rest of Europe will see a partial solar eclipse.The longest totality will last about 2 minutes and 18 seconds, with some of the best views expected from Iceland.

How to watch the total solar eclipse

People outside the path of totality will not have to miss the event. Nevertheless, Nasa will livestream the total solar eclipse, with coverage beginning at 1:15 p.m. EDT. The broadcast will include live views from locations along the eclipse path, along with commentary from Nasa scientists and eclipse experts.The European Space Agency will also provide live coverage from Spain, giving viewers another way to follow the event.

Will Americans see the August 12 eclipse

The US will not see totality on August 12. However, parts of the country will experience a partial solar eclipse. Alaska and 26 US states are expected to see at least part of the eclipse. Canada will also see the partial eclipse across all its provinces and territories.It is important to state that anyone watching a partial solar eclipse must use certified eclipse glasses or a safe solar filter. Looking directly at the Sun without proper protection can cause permanent eye damage.

August 12 starts a rare eclipse period

The 2026 eclipse is also the beginning of an unusual period for eclipse watchers. On August 2, 2027, another total solar eclipse will cross southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Totality will last as long as 6 minutes and 23 seconds near Luxor, Egypt, making it the longest land-based total solar eclipse between 1991 and 2114.The third event will arrive on July 22, 2028, when totality crosses parts of Australia and New Zealand.



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On This Day in Space: NASA launched the 100-foot Echo 1A balloon on August 12, 1960; the passive satellite reflected telephone, radio and television signals across Earth


On This Day in Space: NASA launched the 100-foot Echo 1A balloon on August 12, 1960; the passive satellite reflected telephone, radio and television signals across Earth
Echo 1 passes over NASA’s Goldstone Tracking Station on August 12, 1960, with the antenna and star trails visible. (Nasa photo)

Exactly sixty-six years ago from today, on August 12, 1960, NASA launched Echo 1A, a 100-foot-diameter balloon that became the agency’s first successful communications satellite. Unlike modern communication satellites, Echo 1A did not actively transmit signals. Instead, its large reflective surface bounced telephone, radio and television signals between distant points on Earth.According to NASA, the satellite was launched on a Thor-Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Once in orbit, residual air inside the folded balloon expanded, turning it into a large reflective sphere about 30 metres wide.The launch was part of NASA’s early effort to explore how objects in space could be used to improve long-distance communication. The idea was to send a signal towards a large object in orbit, reflect it off the surface and receive it at another location on Earth.Echo 1A was designed specifically for this purpose. It was a passive communications reflector. It did not receive and retransmit signals using its own communication system, but its job was to act as a giant reflector in space.The spacecraft was made from Mylar polyester and measured about 100 feet in diameter. Its large, shiny surface allowed it to reflect signals back towards Earth. The balloon was also bright enough to be seen from the ground as it passed overhead.

Echo I and 1A

The successful launch of Echo 1A came after an earlier attempt to put a similar satellite into orbit had failed. The original Echo I satellite was lost during an unsuccessful launch attempt in May 1960.NASA then launched Echo 1A on August 12. Once in orbit, the balloon expanded and became a large reflective surface around Earth.The satellite was built from a very thin sheet of Mylar polyester film. The sheet covered about 31,416 square feet and was 0.0127 millimetres thick. It was covered with a reflective aluminium coating, while the entire spacecraft weighed about 132 pounds.

Echo skin stress test

A giant balloon in orbit reflected signals between distant points on Earth.

The first signal

Echo 1A could be used for transcontinental and intercontinental telephone, radio and television signals. A few hours after its launch, the satellite reflected its first message. The radio signal travelled from California to Bell Labs in New Jersey after bouncing off Echo 1A.The message was an address by then US President Dwight Eisenhower. He said, “The satellite balloon, which has reflected these words, may be used freely by any nation for similar experiments in its own interest.”According to EDN, Echo 1A was also used by amateur radio operators, who were able to bounce signals off the satellite. NASA released daily schedules showing when and where the balloon could be seen overhead.

Echo 1A At A Glance Details
Launch date August 12, 1960
Launch vehicle Thor-Delta
Diameter 100 feet, or about 30 metres
Material Aluminised Mylar polyester film
Function Passive reflector for microwave, telephone, radio and television signals
First major relay Goldstone, California, to Bell Labs in Holmdel, New Jersey
Re-entry May 24, 1968

Use in research

The satellite was not limited to communication experiments. NASA used Echo 1A to collect information that helped with calculations of atmospheric density and solar pressure.The spacecraft was also used to examine the technical feasibility of satellite triangulation, which could improve mapping precision.At the Goldstone tracking station in California’s Mojave Desert, Jet Propulsion Laboratory used two 85-foot-diameter antennas to send and receive signals through Echo 1A.Those antennas later became part of NASA’s Deep Space Network, which communicates with spacecraft travelling to the Moon and beyond.The Echo programme continued after the launch of Echo 1A. NASA launched Echo 2, a similar but larger satellite balloon, in January 1964. Echo 1A eventually ended its time in orbit on May 24, 1968, when it re-entered Earth’s atmosphere.Echo 1A was an important proof of concept, but it was not a full communications network. Its passive design needed powerful ground transmitters and large receiving antennas, making it less practical than the active satellites that came later.Still, it showed that signals could be sent through space, paving the way for satellite-based television, telephone links, navigation and global data networks. By the time Echo 2 launched in 1964, active communications satellites had already shown greater potential.



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Trump promises ‘a great cheeseburger’ to marine veteran freed from Russian prison


Trump promises 'a great cheeseburger' to marine veteran freed from Russian prison
Trump announced the release of marine veteran Robert Gilman from Russian custody, saying Russia freed him on humanitarian grounds with no exchange

US President Donald Trump announced that American citizen and former marine Robert Gilman has been released from Russian custody and is on his way back to the United States, saying Russia agreed to free him on humanitarian grounds with no exchange involved.“I am proud to announce that American Citizen Robert Gilman, a former United States Marine, is coming HOME!” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “After my discussions with President Vladimir Putin, Russia has agreed to release him, very much on a Humanitarian Basis. We appreciate this decision, and the fact that Russia asked for no one in return — No exchange took place.”Trump said Gilman would land at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, DC, on Tuesday night, where representatives would welcome him back. He added that he had spoken to Gilman, who had one request: “A GREAT cheeseburger when he lands. I will take care of that!”“During my Administration, we have prioritized bringing home Americans Detained Abroad, and have done so at a level never seen before, returning hundreds of people to their families,” Trump said.Gilman, 32, had been in Russian custody since 2022, when he was arrested for allegedly beating a police officer after being taken off a train for causing a disturbance. He was initially sentenced to three years, but his sentence was extended multiple times, to seven years in 2024 and later to 10 years after additional convictions for assaulting prison guards.His health deteriorated significantly during his detention. Eric Lebson, chief strategy officer for the nonprofit Global Reach, which represented Gilman’s family, said he had been moved in June from a prison hospital to a psychiatric ward in a “dissociative stupor” due to abuse he suffered in prison.“Reports received from hospital officials conveyed Robert’s status as dire and life-threatening,” Global Reach said in a statement. “This spurred the US government into action that culminated in a unilateral humanitarian release of Robert by the Russian authorities, for which we are grateful.”Senator Ed Markey, whose office worked closely with the family, said Gilman was “essentially catatonic” and also suffered a severe case of pneumonia. “We don’t yet know the full details of his current condition or the long-term impact on his recovery,” he said.“I am so grateful to President Trump for saving my brother’s life,” Gilman’s sister Lexie Hudson said. “There is no other reason that Robert is alive today other than that President Trump heard about the case and took action.”Trump thanked his team, including Special Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler, Senior Director for Counterterrorism Sebastian Gorka, and Jared Kushner.



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FSSAI tightens pan masala packaging norms; bans plastic, foil and synthetic laminates | India News


FSSAI tightens pan masala packaging norms; bans plastic, foil and synthetic laminates
Pan masala may now only be packaged in paper, paperboard, cellulose, or other naturally derived materials (Photo: Agencies).

NEW DELHI: India’s food safety regulator has barred the use of plastic and plastic-laminated packaging for pan masala, under an amendment aimed at tightening existing packaging norms, according to a press release.The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has specified that pan masala may now only be packaged in paper, paperboard, cellulose, or other naturally derived materials. Such materials must be entirely free of plastic, including polyethene, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and other synthetic polymers, copolymers or laminates, as well as aluminium foil or metallised layers, the release said. Tin and glass containers continue to be permitted, it added.The press release further stated that packaging will also need to conform to clauses (f) and (i) of sub-rule 1 of rule 4 of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, framed under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.The amendment has been incorporated as a new entry in Schedule IV of the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, which lists suggested packaging materials. It has been placed right after the existing entries at Serial Number 10, the release said.

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