2,000 Kashmiri youth to join paramilitary forces

NEW DELHI – It may not be enough to tackle the grave problem of unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir, which has around 300,000 jobless people, but the central government Friday announced that 2,000 youth from the state will be recruited in the central paramilitary forces.

“There was decline in violence in Jammu and Kashmir in the …. Original article  : 2,000 Kashmiri youth to join paramilitary forces.

Pranab to farmers: Payback loan on time and get two percent subvention

NEW DELHI – Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday offered two percent subvention on short-term crop loan.

Presenting the budget for the year 2010- 2011, Mukherjee announced that the farmers who pay the short term crop loan in time would be … Read more : Pranab to farmers: Payback loan on time and get two percent subvention.

Hundreds of people arrested in Xinjiang for spreading rumours through texts

BEIJING – Chinese authorities have punished hundreds of people in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region for spreading rumours and separatist content through text messages during the Spring Festival holiday.

Two persons were detained on Feb 20, while the rest received administrative …. Source  : Hundreds of people arrested in Xinjiang for spreading rumours through texts.

Plan allocation for Power Sector doubled

NEW DELHI – The Government on Friday doubled the Plan allocation for the Power Sector to Rs.5,130 crore for 2010-11 from the previous Rs.2,230 crore for 2009-10.

“The allocation does not include allocations for Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY),” said Finance Minister … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Plan allocation for Power Sector doubled.

Founder of renowned Swiss art museum Ernst Beyeler dies, age 88

Swiss art museum founder Ernst Beyeler dies at 88

GENEVA – Switzerland’s internationally renowned Beyeler Foundation art museum says its founder Ernst Beyeler has died. He was 88.
A secretary for the foundation confirmed Swiss media reports that Beyeler died Thursday evening at his home near Basel.
Beyeler’s eye for undervalued Picassos and Impressionists enabled him to become …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Founder of renowned Swiss art museum Ernst Beyeler dies, age 88.

News Agencies to get service tax exemption

NEW DELHI – Union Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday announced news agencies, which fulfil certain criteria, are proposed to be exempted from payment of service tax.

“Accredited news agencies which provide news feed online attract service tax,” said Mukherjee while presenting the 2010-11 budget in the Lok Sabha today.
“Acknowledging the yeoman services of such news agencies …. Source article  : News Agencies to get service tax exemption.

Peace allows trade between nations to flourish

WASHINGTON – American researchers have put forward a new theory according to which peace allows trade between nations to flourish while the same may not be true vice versa.

Omar Keshk and Brian Pollins from the Ohio State University and Rafael Reuveny from Indiana University investigated various assumptions behind trade and conflict models. Their study …. Original source  : Peace allows trade between nations to flourish.

David Mills escapes jail term over Berlusconi bribe

LONDON – Italy’s top appeals court has thrown out a case against David Mills, the British lawyer convicted of accepting a bribe from Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi.

The decision of the nine-man Court of Cassation came after a prosecutor told judges that the charges against Mills should be dropped because the case had expired under Italy’s … Original article on : David Mills escapes jail term over Berlusconi bribe.

Painting showing Nelson and Lady Hamilton to go under the hammer

LONDON – The only known painting from life depicting Admiral Lord Nelson and his mistress, Lady Emma Hamilton, has surfaced after more than two decades and is up for grabs.

The watercolour masterpiece shows the pair sitting side by side in a barge on the fringes of the Mediterranean in 1800, five years before Nelson’s died …. Read the original article  : Painting showing Nelson and Lady Hamilton to go under the hammer.

Entire Opposition stages walk out against UPA’s “inflationary” Budget

NEW DELHI – Having previously given the UPA government some relief on the issue of holding discussion on price rise under rule 193 without necessitating voting for the matter, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Opposition demonstrated an unprecedented unanimity in staging a walk out from Lok Sabha in opposition to the General Budget presented here on …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Entire Opposition stages walk out against UPA’s “inflationary” Budget.

MIC leaders urged to ensure Indian community’s participation in govt projects

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian Human Resources Minister Dr S. Subramaniam has urged MIC branch leaders to take the necessary action to ensure the participation of Indians in government projects.

The Star Online quoted the MIC vice-president as saying that although the Indian community was facing many challenges politically; it must not be left behind economically.
He added …. Original source  : MIC leaders urged to ensure Indian community’s participation in govt projects.

BBC plans to shrink its services to leave room for its rivals

LONDON – In an overhaul to be announced next month, BBC is set to close two radio stations, shut half its websites and cut spending heavily on imported American programmes.

BBC Director-General Mark Thompson is likely to admit that the corporation, which is funded by the 3.6 billion pounds annual licence fee, has become too large …. Read the original article  : here.

Women, child programmes enhanced, disabled get tax relief

NEW DELHI – India will allocate 50 percent more funds for women and child development and provide tax relief for the disabled, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced Friday while presenting the union budget 2010-11.

Several new initiatives will also be implemented to benefit women farmers and people suffering from disabilities especially hearing impairments, Mukherjee said [..] Read the original article: here.

Reunion of ancient scroll fragments illuminates missing link in Bible’s evolution

Pieces of rare biblical manuscript reunited

JERUSALEM – Two parts of an ancient biblical manuscript separated for centuries are going on display together for the first time.
Friday’s showing has been made possible by an accidental discovery that may help illuminate a dark period in the history of the Hebrew Bible.
The pieces of the 1,300-year-old manuscript include …. Read the original article  : Reunion of ancient scroll fragments illuminates missing link in Bible’s evolution.

NY Gov. Paterson, hounded by aide scandal and lacking party support, vows to run for full term

NY gov hurt by scandal, no support but plows ahead

ALBANY, N.Y – Democratic New York Gov. David Paterson finds himself weakened by an adviser’s domestic-violence scandal and with little support in his party as he vows to accomplish his two goals of saving the state from insolvency and running for a full term.
Now even his … Original source on Gaea Times at : NY Gov. Paterson, hounded by aide scandal and lacking party support, vows to run for full term.

Sarkozy acknowledges French ‘errors’ led to 1994 Rwandan genocide

KIGALI – French President Nicolas Sarkozy has accepted that France played a role in the 1994 Rwandan genocide that killed nearly 800,000 people.

It is alleged that France had played an active role in training and arming the Hutu militias and troops who led …. Source article  : Sarkozy acknowledges French ‘errors’ led to 1994 Rwandan genocide.

US romping up defence sales to India, Pak to strengthen ties: WSJ

NEW YORK – In an apparent bid to strengthen ties both with India and Pakistan, and create new opportunities for the country’s defence firms, the United States is considerably increasing arms sales to the two nuclear powered South Asian nations, a report …. Original article  : US romping up defence sales to India, Pak to strengthen ties: WSJ.

‘80 percent Pak National Assembly members have more than one wife’

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Minister of State for Ports and Shipping Nabil Gabol has claimed that 80 per cent of National Assembly (NA) members have more than one wife.

Gabol stunned the house by saying that most of the lawmakers had more than one wife while he was responding to former Information Minister … Read more : ‘80 percent Pak National Assembly members have more than one wife’.

Abandoned elephant wreaks havoc in Meerut

MEERUT – An elephant wreaked havoc on the streets of Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut city after being abandoned by his keeper.

Named ‘Happy’, the elephant became unhappy when abandoned and ran amok for the next 18 hours along the city’s main highway, trampling vehicles …. Source  : Abandoned elephant wreaks havoc in Meerut.

Defence budget hiked by four percent

NEW DELHI – The allocation for defence sector has been increased by mere four percent by the Union Government.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today allocated Rs 1,47,344 crore towards defence in 2010-11 budget. Last year the allocation for defence was Rs 1,41,703 crore.
The four per cent increase in real terms would …. Original article  : Defence budget hiked by four percent.