Royal Bank of Scotland fined $43 million for sharing price information with Barclays

Royal Bank of Scotland fined for competition lapse

LONDON – Royal Bank of Scotland PLC has been fined 28.6 million pounds ($43 million) for violating competition laws by sharing price data with rival Barclays PLC, the Office for Fair Trading said Tuesday.
The agency said individuals in RBS’s Professional Practices Coverage Team had disclosed generic as well …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Royal Bank of Scotland fined $43 million for sharing price information with Barclays.

Malaysian state civil service has only 10 Chinese and 116 Indians

JOHOR BARU – The 8,372-strong civil service of the Malaysian state of Johor Baru has only 10 Chinese and 116 Indians, The Star has quoted an assemblyman, as saying.

Bentayan assemblyman Gwee Tong Hian said in terms of percentage, Indians and Chinese made up 1.39 percent and 0.12 percent of … Read more >>>.

Tainted godman resigns as ‘Dhyanapeetam Ashram’ head

BANGALORE – Self-proclaimed godman Swami Nityananda, who was reportedly under the scanner ever since a video of him in a compromising position with Tamil actress Ranjitha surfaced, on Tuesday announced his decision to step down as the … Read more >>>.

Brit Muslims stigmatised and alienated”, says Commons report

LONDON – A key government policy on countering extremism in Britain has “stigmatised and alienated” Muslims and undermined community relations, a Commons report has said.

According to The Independent, many Muslims told the cross-party committee of MPs that they believed the purpose of the Prevent programme …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Pak to get four F-16s by June end : Officials

WASHINGTON – The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) would receive four of the first 18 F-16 fighter jets from the US in June, senior Pakistani and American have officials said.

The fighter jets are part of the 2.9 billion dollars arms package, … Read more »»».

Nawaz says ‘U-turn’ over constitutional reforms package in ’supreme national interest’

ISLAMABAD – Defending his action of taking a U-turn over the issue of the constitutional reforms package, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has said that he has no regrets over his decision, and that he had taken it in the ’supreme national interest.’

Speaking to media persons during … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Nawaz says ‘U-turn’ over constitutional reforms package in ’supreme national interest’.

ABVP agitates against AMU in Kishanganj

PATNA – Police officials baton-charged protesting activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad on Monday, as they staged a protest outside the Bihar Assembly against the opening of a branch of the Aligarh Muslim University in the state’s Kishanganj District.

Shouting slogans, … Read more »».

CRPF organises drug de-addiction camp in Jammu

KATHUA – In its special drive against drug abuse, the 121 battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is organising a seven-day drug de-addiction camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua District.

The aim of the camp, being organised in association with the … Read more : CRPF organises drug de-addiction camp in Jammu.

Kashmiri girls take up taekwondo for self-defence

SRINAGAR – Women in the Kashmir region are learning martial arts for self-defence and also to stay physically fit.

At a training centre conducted by Syed Shujat in Srinagar, nearly 100 girls from different schools are actively learning taekwondo.
The taekwondo trainees feel that the martial art would help them build their stamina … Original source on Gaea Times at : Kashmiri girls take up taekwondo for self-defence.

Karnal sessions court to pronounce judgement against Khap Panchayat killers

KARNAL – A sessions court in Karnal will on Tuesday deliver its verdict against the six Khap Panchayat members, who have been charged for the murder of a newly married couple.

The Khap Panchayat members had killed the two for they married against their will.
The court had …. Original article  : Karnal sessions court to pronounce judgement against Khap Panchayat killers.

SKorean president orders military on alert, visits Yellow Sea site where navy ship sank

SKorean president visits site where navy ship sank

BAENGNYEONG ISLAND, South Korea – South Korea’s president ordered the military on alert Tuesday for any moves by rival North Korea after the defense minister said last week’s explosion that sank a South Korean ship may have been caused by a North Korean mine.
The blast ripped the 1,200-ton …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : SKorean president orders military on alert, visits Yellow Sea site where navy ship sank.

The Sarkozys in Washington: Afghanistan, Mideast on menu for French leader’s talks with Obama

Obama set to ask visiting Sarkozy for Afghan help
WASHINGTON – France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy leaves behind a romantic sojourn in New York for an encounter he’s long been waiting for: talks Tuesday with President Barack Obama in the White House.
The meeting may boil down to one question: Will Obama persuade Sarkozy to buck …. Original article  : The Sarkozys in Washington: Afghanistan, Mideast on menu for French leader’s talks with Obama.

Military looks toward lengthy offensive in Taliban heartland expected to define the Afghan war

Military looks toward long offensive in Kandahar
WASHINGTON – The U.S. military this summer is looking toward a lengthy offensive in the Taliban heartland of Kandahar, an operation that could ultimately define the outcome of the war.
The two-month campaign, expected to begin in June, also will test President Barack Obama’s bet that tens of …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Hitler’s closest relatives tend cows in Austrian village

LONDON – Adolf Hitler’s closest surviving relatives are leading a quiet life in an Austrian village where they rear cows, a media report said.

Fortyfive-year-old Gerhard Koppensteiner, whose grandfather was the dictator’s first cousin, plays down the connection as he quietly looks after his cows in a village located in northern Austria.
Gerhard’s family …. Read the original article  : Hitler’s closest relatives tend cows in Austrian village.

Hijacked Indian vessels traced in Seychelles

SEYCHELLES – One out of the total eight boats that were kidnapped by Somali pirates was on Tuesday reportedly traced near the Seychelles port after the Kenyan Navy established communication with the crew.

There are reports that the authorities are giving indications that the other vessels have also been spotted in Seychelles.
Somali pirates had kidnapped the …. Original source  : Hijacked Indian vessels traced in Seychelles.

Brit men prefer to spend cash on moisturizer rather than booze!

LONDON – British men prefer to spend money on moisturizer rather than booze, a study has found.

According to the survey, almost half of blokes would give up nights out drinking in favour of face creams, aftershave or a good razor, reports The Daily Star.
And a quarter spend as much on their looks as their girlfriends, …. Source article  : Brit men prefer to spend cash on moisturizer rather than booze!.

Deadlock over Indo-Pak water issue continues

LAHORE – The deadlock between India and Pakistan over the sharing of Indus river waters continues, as no breakthrough was made during the meeting of Indus Water commissioners from both countries.

Talking to reporters after a day long meeting in Lahore, Pakistan’s Indus Water Commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah said the visiting Indian delegation was … Read : Deadlock over Indo-Pak water issue continues.

Princess Diana’s brother to sell family heirloom

LONDON – Princess Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, has decided to sell off his family treasures to collect up to 30 million pounds, a media report said.

Earl Spencer, who plans to marry for the third time, will increase his 100 million pounds fortune by clearing out the heirloom from the ancestral home in Northamptonshire and the …. Original article  : Princess Diana’s brother to sell family heirloom.

SAARC lawmakers’ workshop begins in New Delhi

NEW DELHI – A two-day workshop on Government Performance Management for senior lawmakers of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries began in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar inaugurated the programme, which is being attended …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : SAARC lawmakers’ workshop begins in New Delhi.

Three water jet fast attack crafts launched in Kolkata

KOLKATA – Three exclusive combat ships, known as water jet fast attack crafts (WJFACs), were launched for the Indian Navy by the Ministry of Defence managed Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) at its …. Original article  : Three water jet fast attack crafts launched in Kolkata.