Breaking News – Newsletter for February 25, 2011

Brit engineer returns ???2m paid by mistake to him by employer

LONDON – A turbine blade engineer in Britain has been lauded for his honesty after he repaid 2 million pounds that had been given to him by mistake by his employer.

The engineer, who earns 2,000 pounds making turbine blades at Alcoa Howmet in Exeter, was stunned when the massive amount appeared in his monthly … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Brit engineer returns ???2m paid by mistake to him by employer.

Pak artistes will need Culture Ministry’s NOC for foreign shows following Rahat fiasco

ISLAMABAD – In the backdrop of Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s detention in New Delhi for violating India’s customs laws, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry has announced that the country’s artistes will need to take permission from the Culture Ministry before visiting any other country.

Responding a point of order in the National Assembly, Interior Minister Rehman … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Pak artistes will need Culture Ministry’s NOC for foreign shows following Rahat fiasco.

India’s cumulative export growth in April- Dec stands at 29.5 per cent

NEW DELHI – : Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday tabled Economic survey 2010-11 in Lok Sabha, and said India’s cumulative export growth in April- Dec 2010 stands at 29.5 per cent with exports reaching US $ 164.7 billion during the period.

He said the exports have continued to rise with exports rising at the rate … Read more : India’s cumulative export growth in April- Dec stands at 29.5 per cent.

US clothing firm courts controversy with ad of model baring breasts

NEW YORK – A clothing firm in the US has courted controversy after it released an ad for its latest swimwear collection with a model exposing her breasts.

American Apparel, based in Los Angeles, has made headlines for questionable behaviour in the past, and its latest controversial ad is for a nylon-tricot suspender one-piece for 36 …. Read the original article  : here.

Indian citizens will not have to pay for evacuation from Libya

New Delhi (ANI) :The Ministry of External Affairs stated here today that ‘no payment will be levied by the government for the evacuation of Indian nationals from Libya”

The statement said the Ministry has noticed that some unscrupulous elements are asking for payments or fee for arranging evacuation through the Indian Embassy in Libya.

“These activities are …. Read the original article  : Indian citizens will not have to pay for evacuation from Libya.

Railways planning to invest Rs 57630 crore in 2011-12

NEW DELHI – Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, while presenting the Rail Budget 2011-12 in the Parliament, on Friday said the railways is planning to invest Rs 57630 crore in the 2011-12 fiscal.

Regretting over the two incidents of sabotage that led to a large number of deaths last year, Banerjee said: “Anti-collision devices will be commissioned …. Source  : Railways planning to invest Rs 57630 crore in 2011-12.

Women over 58 yrs now eligible for railway concession

NEW DELHI – Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced that the railways will give concession to women over 58 years.

Presenting the Rail Budget 2011-12 in the Parliament, Banerjee said: “Railways will give relief for senior citizens: to decrease the age for senior citizen (Women) to 58 years from 60 years and concession on rail … Read more >>>.

Industrial output grows by 8.6 percent

NEW DELHI – The Economic Survey 2010-11, presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Parliament today, states that the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) based cumulative industrial output growth during April-December 2010 was 8.6 per cent being at a par with the growth rate of the corresponding months of the previous year.

According to …. Source  : Industrial output grows by 8.6 percent.

Grave of LTTE chief’s mother ‘desecrated’ by leaving dead dogs at site

COLOMBO – The cremation ground of late Tamil Tiger chief Vellupillai Prabhakaran’s mother has been desecrated by the leaving of the dead bodies of three shot dogs at the site, relatives have claimed.

The bodies were left at the site on Tuesday night, in a major insult to the deceased woman, after 81-year-old Parvati Pillai …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

UK’s exams watchdog calls for end of pen, paper usage in written exams

LONDON – The head of Britain’s exams watchdog has called for usage of pen and paper in written exams to be brought to an end.

Isabel Nisbet, chief executive of Ofqual, said that if school exams did not go online soon, exam preparation “will become a separate thing to learning” for candidates brought up …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : UK’s exams watchdog calls for end of pen, paper usage in written exams.

Roses and more at Chandigarh festival

CHANDIGARH – If you want to be a ‘rose prince’ or a ‘rose princess’, come to the Rose Festival in Chandigarh that began Friday and which boasts of not only flowers but also music, dance and a host of competitions.

In the backdrop of drum beats and music, Chandigarh administrator and Punjab Governor Shivraj … Read more »».

Fringe sex groups more likely to be victimised: Study

WASHINGTON – Fringe sexual groups like gays, lesbians and bisexuals are more likely to be victimised, a new study says.

The correlation is prevalent among gays, lesbians and bisexuals, more so than in heterosexuals, says Tonda Hughes, professor of health systems science at the University of Illinois College of Nursing in Chicago, who led … Read more >>>.

Libyan revolutionaries used dating website to organize anti-Gaddafi protests

TRIPOLI – Libya’s revolutionaries used a dating website to organize their revolt against dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi, and to avoid detection by the country’s secret police, former opposition leader Omar Shibliy Mahmoudi has revealed.

Mahmoudi said that he used dating site ‘Mawada’ to rally people together while staying out of the gaze of the Libyan secret … Read : Libyan revolutionaries used dating website to organize anti-Gaddafi protests.

China to fulfill duty as rotating Security Council president in fair way: Envoy

UNITED NATIONS – To effectively maintain international peace and security, China will perform its duty as the rotating president of the UN Security Council in March in a fair, neutral way.

Li Baodong, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, made the statement in an interview with the UN-based Chinese media after he exchanged views …. Original article  : China to fulfill duty as rotating Security Council president in fair way: Envoy.

70 percent city governments in China fail administrative transparency evaluation

NEW DELHI – Seventy percent of 43 selected city governments of China failed to pass an administrative transparency evaluation, according to a blue book report.

Fifty-one out of 59 government administrations under the State Council also failed the transparency evaluation on Thursday.

The blue book, an annual report on China’s rule of law that was released …. Original article  : 70 percent city governments in China fail administrative transparency evaluation.

Highlights of Railway budget 2011-12 (Part-II)

NEW DELHI – Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday presented the railway budget in the Parliament.

The highlights of the Railway budget 2011-12 are as follows:

Restructuring of all the railway cadres to ensure promotion of employees

Larger scheme for railway employees introduced, Scholarship schemes for children of railway employees raised to Rs 1200

Charges for ticket … Read more : Highlights of Railway budget 2011-12 (Part-II).

Need for better implementation of unemployment, poverty schemes to ensure benefits: FM

NEW DELHI – The Economic Survey tabled by the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Lok Sabha today states that there is a need for better convergence of schemes related to unemployment and poverty alleviation, to avoid duplication and leakages and to ensure that the fruits of the schemes reach the targeted beneficiaries. …. Read the original article  : here.

Sharp rise in food prices cause of concern: Mukherjee

NEW DELHI – Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said that a sharp price in food price inflation has been a major cause of concern of economy during 2010-11

Presenting the economic survey in Lok Sabha, Mukherjee said: “A sharp price in food price inflation has been a major cause of concern of our economy during …. Original article  : Sharp rise in food prices cause of concern: Mukherjee.

Mukherjee underlines need to monitor emerging trends in inflation

NEW DELHI – Recognizing the fact that inflation continues to be high even though it has come down markedly from where it was at the start of the fiscal year, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today underlined the need to monitor emerging trends in inflation on a sequential monthly basis.

Presenting the economic survey in …. Read the original article  : Mukherjee underlines need to monitor emerging trends in inflation.

Sobha Singh’s painting goes for auction at Sotheby’s

SHIMLA – A portrait of Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh made by celebrated artist Sobha Singh will go under hammer in the US in March, an official of Singh’s art gallery said Friday.

The painting has been listed for auction at the renowned New York-based auction house Sotheby’s March 24.
“We received a communication from … Read more »»».