Chhattisgarh lobbies for world heritage status for Sirpur

RAIPUR – Chhattisgarh is lobbying to get world heritage status for the Buddhist site Sirpur, Tourism and Culture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal said Monday.

“The Chhattisgarh government is lobbying for Sirpur to be granted world heritage status. It deserves to be placed in the list of world heritage sites as its archaeological pieces are connected to the …. Original article  : Chhattisgarh lobbies for world heritage status for Sirpur.

A tribute to Delhi in Penguin’s spring lit fest

NEW DELHI – Tales from the underbelly of the Indian capital told by a gamut of writers as diverse as William Dalrymple, Sam Miller, Mahmood Farooqui and Danish Husain brought the curtains down on the open air literature festival- Spring Fever 2010- at the India Habitat Centre Sunday night.

The festival, which began March 13, … Read : A tribute to Delhi in Penguin’s spring lit fest.

German government to introduce bank levy to cover costs of future crises

Germany to introduce bank levy
BERLIN – The German government plans to introduce a levy on banks to ensure that they pay for the costs of any future crises.

Volker Kauder, the parliamentary leader of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative bloc, told ZDF television Monday that her governing coalition has agreed in principle on the plan.
Kauder said coalition … Original source on Gaea Times at : German government to introduce bank levy to cover costs of future crises.

US drone strikes kill eight militants in North Waziristan

MIRANSHAH – An unmanned US predator attack killed at least eight terrorists in an al Qaeda and Taliban hideout in North Waziristan on Sunday, Pakistani intelligence officials have said.

The identity of killed militants in Inzar village of the North Waziristan is not known.
“The targeted compound belongs … Original article on : US drone strikes kill eight militants in North Waziristan.

Pak-US strategic talks going to be meaningless: Sources

ISLAMABAD – The much-anticipated Pak-US strategic dialogue, scheduled to be held in Washington on March 24, would end without any major breakthrough from Pakistan’s perspective, as the US is unlikely to address Islamabad’s “national security concerns” regarding India, diplomatic sources have warned.

“The strategic dialogue process would be of … Read more : Pak-US strategic talks going to be meaningless: Sources.

Muslim delegation from Britain visits Bangalore

BANGALORE – A four-member Muslim delegation from United Kingdom, presently in India to study various social and educational aspects arrived here on the first leg of their tour on Sunday.

The delegation consists of people who are willing to meet different …. Source article  : Muslim delegation from Britain visits Bangalore.

Five drug peddlers nabbed in Amritsar

AMRITSAR – The Special Intelligence Wing of Punjab Police have arrested five drug peddlers and seized 26 kilograms of heroin after a brief gun battle with them on Sunday.

Acting on a tip-off, the sleuths intercepted a SUV and arrested five suspected drug peddlers after a brief exchange of … Read more >>>.

China to become world’s top tourist destination by 2015

SANYA – The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary General, Taleb Rifai, has said that China is expected to become the world’s largest tourist destination by 2015.

Rifai stressed that China’s tourism economy has moved incredibly in the last ten years, and …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Research threatens to spark fresh ‘ageism’ controversy at BBC

LONDON – The BBC is at the centre of another ageism controversy after a research revealed that only one in five of its main channel presenters and acting talent are over 50.

According to the Older Faces audit commissioned by Anchor, England’s largest provider of …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Research threatens to spark fresh ‘ageism’ controversy at BBC.

Berlusconi to push for ‘greater powers’ by changes to Italian constitution

ROME – Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said that he will push for changes in the constitution by referendum to give him greater powers as a “directly elected president”.

Addressing supporters of his … Read more : Berlusconi to push for ‘greater powers’ by changes to Italian constitution.

German exports to China up 7 percent in 2009 despite sharp overall fall, data show

German exports to China up 7 pct in 2009
BERLIN – German data show that the country’s exports to China rose by 7 percent last year despite an overall decline that saw it lose its status as the world’s biggest exporter to the rising Asian power.

The Federal Statistical Office said Monday Germany exported goods worth euro36.5 …. Source article  : German exports to China up 7 percent in 2009 despite sharp overall fall, data show.

Maoists kill trader in Jharkhand

GUMLA – Suspected Maoists shot dead a trader at Kotam village in Jharkhand’s Gumla district on Sunday.

The slain trader was identified as Mohsin Ansari.
“We got information that in Kotam, Mohsin Ansari has been shot dead by a Maoist. e rushed to the spot after receiving the information,” said, R. iwari, … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Maoists kill trader in Jharkhand.

Nitish Kumar to embark on Bihar Diwas celebrations

PATNA – Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will on Monday inaugurate a three-day extravaganza at the Gandhi Maidan here to mark the 98th anniversary of separate statehood status to Bihar.

A three-day extravaganza, which includes colourful and academic events, will be held here.
The functions have also been organised at over … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Nitish Kumar to embark on Bihar Diwas celebrations.

Wolfgang Wagner, longtime patriarch of Bayreuth festival and composer’s grandson, dies at 90

Wolfgang Wagner, longtime Bayreuth director, dies

BERLIN – Wolfgang Wagner, the grandson of composer Richard Wagner and the leader of the Bayreuth opera festival for more than half a century, has died, the festival said. He was 90.
Wagner died on Sunday, the festival said in a brief statement on its Web site. It did not give …. Read the original article  : Wolfgang Wagner, longtime patriarch of Bayreuth festival and composer’s grandson, dies at 90.

Maoists blow up railway tracks in West Bengal during 48-hour shutdown

KOLKATA – The Maoists blew up a stretch of land along the railway track between Midnapore and Godapia Sal stations in West Midnapore district early on Monday morning during the two-day shutdown call given by them across [..] Read the original article: here.

Mumbai Customs detain four persons under FERA Act

MUMBAI – The Mumbai Customs Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) has detained four persons at the Mumbai Airport for violating the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) norms as they carried digital phone memory cards worth Rs 52 lakhs

The four passengers, …. Original source  : Mumbai Customs detain four persons under FERA Act.

Kerala Government orders probe into bomb found inside Kingfisher flight

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – The Kerala Government has constituted a high-level committee headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jolly Cherian to probe the low-intensity country-made bomb that was found inside a Kingfisher flight IT-4731 from Bangalore to Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday morning.

The state government has asked the security agencies to conduct a …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Kerala Government orders probe into bomb found inside Kingfisher flight.

Maoists call for two-day shutdown in six states

KOLKATA – A two-day shutdown called by Maoists across the six states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh as well as three districts of Maharashtra begins on Monday.

The shutdown is in protest against the Union Budget, …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Maoists call for two-day shutdown in six states.

Free market, religions fostered fairplay in society: Study

TORONTO – Free market and religions have played a huge role in the evolution of trust, fair-play and respect for others in human societies, says a new Canadian study.

Anthropologist Joe Henrich of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, who led the study which was published this week in the journal Science, called current human … Read more : Free market, religions fostered fairplay in society: Study.

Oil drops to near $80 in Asia, extending Friday’s losses as rally fizzles out

Oil drops to near $80, extending Friday’s losses

SINGAPORE – Oil prices dropped to near $80 a barrel Monday in Asia, extending losses from Friday as a monthlong rally fizzled out.
Benchmark crude for April delivery was down 59 cents to $80.09 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Oil drops to near $80 in Asia, extending Friday’s losses as rally fizzles out.