Breaking News – Newsletter for March 2, 2011

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

National School of Drama to get regional centres

NEW DELHI – Union Minister of Culture Kumari Selja Tuesday said her ministry was working on a proposal to set up five new regional centres of the prestigious National School of Drama (NSD) at Bengaluru and Kolkata and in Maharashtra/Goa, Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast.

The minister said the proposal to create the … Read more : National School of Drama to get regional centres.

CWG scam: Bhanot, Verma sent to Tihar Jail till Mar. 15

NEW DELHI – A Delhi court on Tuesday sent former Commonwealth Games (CWG) Organising Committee (OC) Chairman Suresh Kalmadi’s key aides Lalit Bhanot and V.K. Verma to Tihar Jail under 14-day judicial custody in connection with financial irregularities in a contract with a Swiss company.

The court took the decision following a plea by the Central …. Original article : CWG scam: Bhanot, Verma sent to Tihar Jail till Mar. 15.

Zardari says PPP will play democratic role in Pak Punjab

LAHORE – Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will continue to play democratic role in Punjab.

During his interaction with Punjab Governor Latif Khosa and Interior Minister Rehman Malik in Karchi, Zardari said the PPP did not believe in ‘lotacracy’. (term used to describe how Pakistani politicians had a … Read more : Zardari says PPP will play democratic role in Pak Punjab.

PPP will expose Shahbaz’s drama of good governance: Raja Riaz

LAHORE – Raja Riaz, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader in Punjab has claimed that his party has “documentary proof” of the so-called “good governance” of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and will bring facts before the people.

He flayed the Shahbaz for his statement against President Asif Ali Zardari and said the Punjab Chief Minister was …. Original article : PPP will expose Shahbaz’s drama of good governance: Raja Riaz.

IAF inducts second SU-30 squadron in northeast

CHABUA – The Indian Air Force Tuesday inducted a second squadron of its frontline Sukhoi-SU30 combat jets in the northeast as part of a strategic deployment of advanced assets close to the Chinese border, an officer said.

A single Su-30 has presently been stationed at the Chabua air base, about 450 km east of Assams … Read more : IAF inducts second SU-30 squadron in northeast.

One million PLEBS in UK are confused by modern everyday tasks

LONDON – A survey has found that one million Britons are left confused and helpless by easy everyday modern tasks like changing a tyre, hanging wallpaper and wiring a plug.

These people, known as PLEBS, People Lacking Everyday Basic Skills, have a tough time figuring out how to calculate credit card interest, and are left stumped … Read more : One million PLEBS in UK are confused by modern everyday tasks.

No early resolution of Sir Creek dispute: Navy chief

NEW DELHI – The Sir Creek maritime border dispute between India and Pakistan is unlikely to be resolved soon, the navy chief, Admiral Nirmal Verma, said here Tuesday.

“Really speaking, I cannot say it is doable because it is a question of both sides willing to follow a certain line of action. As far … Original article on : No early resolution of Sir Creek dispute: Navy chief.

China mulls delaying women’s retirement age

NEW DELHI – The Chinese labour authority is trying to delay the retirement age for women, according to a top official report.

The document, which was issued by the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said the possible change to women’s retirement age may be done alongside other improvements to the rights of working women, reports …. Source : China mulls delaying women’s retirement age.

Famous Los Angeles Getty Museum exhibiting Ganesha and Vishnu

NEVADA – Prestigious J. Paul Getty Museum of Los Angeles (USA) is currently exhibiting 13th century Lord Ganesha in its “Gods of Angkor” exhibition, which will continue till August 14.

This exhibition contains intricately detailed 26 historical bronze statues and ritual objects from Cambodia, including 11-12th century Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva’s bull Nandi, etc. Ganesha statue, …. Read the original article : here.

Brit couple find image of E.T. ingrained on chopped tree trunk

LONDON – A retired couple in Britain were surprised when while chopping firewood they discovered the image of E.T. etched on the tree trunk.

Pete Burford, 72, was chopping a poplar tree at Eldersfield, Gloucestershire, when he saw a familiar face staring back at him that reminded him of ET – the famous alien from Steven … Read more >>.

Sibal to launch program initiated by Australia-India Institute, Indian NGOs

NEW DELHI – The Australia-India Institute today announced its new programme with Indian NGO Asha and the Nossal Institute for Global Health called A New India-Australia Partnership to Support the Aspirations of Delhi’s Urban Poor.

The programme is the first of the Australia India Institute’s collaborative research projects to be launched in India. The Institute has …. Source : Sibal to launch program initiated by Australia-India Institute, Indian NGOs.

New “Harbor Shield” technology being developed to protect US ports from terror attacks

WASHINGTON – The United States is reportedly developing a new technology to safeguard its ports from being attacked by terrorists and smugglers.

America, which is the global hub of commerce, receives goods from all over the world. Over 11 million cargo containers enter the United States each year, but the real danger lies below the …. Source : Gaea News Network.

UNHRC poised to adopt report praising Libya’s Human Rights records

NEW YORK – Amid unrest in Libya, where on one side the United Nations has condemned the Muammar al-Qaddafi regime for its crackdown on pro-democracy protestors, the organisation’s Human Rights Council is poised adopt a report praising the oil rich country for its human rights records.

The review praises Libya for improving educational opportunities, for making [..] Read the original article: here.

India releases 20 Pakistani prisoners at Wagah check post

WAGAH – The Border Security Force (BSF) on Wednesday handed over 20 Pakistani prisoners to the Pakistani Rangers at the Wagah joint check post.

The prisoners were logged in various jails of India and were released after the completion of the sentences as per the Indian law.

Most of them were arrested in India on the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : India releases 20 Pakistani prisoners at Wagah check post.

MQM calls on Pak Army to save country from clutches of ‘feudal lords’

KARACHI – Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder-leader Altaf Hussain has called upon the Pakistan Army to save the beleaguered country.

Making a telephonic address from London at the 24th foundation day of the MQM Labour Division, Altaf said he was inviting the army to save Pakistan, and stressed that he had never met the army generals … Read more »»».

IMF to start critical review of Pakistan economy to decide further action

WASHINGTON – Pakistan’s financial managers and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission are set to start the much-awaited fifth review of the economy on Tuesday (today), upon whose successful completion Pakistan would receive 3.6 billion dollars- the remaining portion of the 11.3-billion-dollar Stand-By-Arrangement (SBA).

The IMF mission is expected to conclude its talks with the … Read more : IMF to start critical review of Pakistan economy to decide further action.

Pak media accused of “churning out anti-American conspiracy theories”

WASHINGTON – Most participants of the US-Pakistan Leaders Forum, which was convened by the US-Muslim Engagement Initiative- a non-governmental, non-partisan collaboration of four US-based organizations, agreed that the Pakistani media was “guilty of churning out a steady diet of anti-American conspiracy theories and rhetoric,” noted South Asian affairs analyst Lisa Curtis has said.

Amid the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Pak media accused of “churning out anti-American conspiracy theories”.