Italian diocese, deaf students who say they were abused by priests face off on state TV

Church, deaf students square off on Italian TV

ROME – Three deaf men who say they were repeatedly sodomized and abused by priests as children confronted the church diocese Friday about why it hadn’t punished their abusers, saying they want justice.
The three men, first interviewed last year by The Associated Press, appeared on a prime-time talk … Original source on Gaea Times at : Italian diocese, deaf students who say they were abused by priests face off on state TV.

Recalls this week include fireplaces and log sets, stair gates and children’s math sets

Recalls this week: Fireplace log sets, stair gates

NEW YORK – Among the recalled items this week are fireplace log sets that may not light properly and could explode, stair gates that can lose slats and allow children to fall through and educational math kits with a part that contains lead.
There were also more recalls of … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Recalls this week include fireplaces and log sets, stair gates and children’s math sets.

Nalanda University bill in parliament next month

SINGAPORE – Giving a push to reviving the Nalanda University, India Friday said the land to set up an international university in its Bihar state has been acquired and a legislation to take the project forward will be tabled in parliament next month.

“The land for the university is already acquired and the Nalanda University Bill … Original article on : Nalanda University bill in parliament next month.

Pelosi signing sends final piece of health bill to the president

Pelosi sends final piece of health bill to Obama

WASHINGTON – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is marking her 70th birthday by sending to President Barack Obama the final piece of legislation to overhaul the nation’s health care system.
The measure contains fixes to the sweeping health bill that Obama signed into law on Tuesday, including better benefits …. Read the original article  : Pelosi signing sends final piece of health bill to the president.

Muslims hail court order on Andhra quota, want states to follow

HYDERABAD/PATNA – The Supreme Court order restoring four percent quota for backward class Muslims in government jobs and education in Andhra Pradesh has come as a relief for students aspiring for professional courses and has been welcomed by the community, which now wants more to states implement it.

Students, who feared they would lose an … Read : Muslims hail court order on Andhra quota, want states to follow.

Congress overhauls college aid, strips banks of federal student loans and boosts Pell Grants

Congress alters student lending, hikes Pell Grants
WASHINGTON – Congress has sent President Barack Obama a vast rewrite of federal college aid programs.
The legislation will give more needy students access to bigger college Pell Grants and make it easier for many future borrowers to repay their government-backed loans.
The House passed the measure 220-207 as … Original article on : Congress overhauls college aid, strips banks of federal student loans and boosts Pell Grants.

Court asks NDMC to explain school admission policy

NEW DELHI – The Delhi High Court Friday asked the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) why 12 students were denied admission to its school, as their parents have claimed, after a delimitation exercise removed their residential areas from New Delhi parliamentary constituency.

Justice G.S. Sistani issued a notice to the NDMC, the Navyug Education Society, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

‘British varsities treating foreign students as cash cows’

LONDON – British universities were Friday warned against treating overseas students as “cash cows” to help fill declining coffers.

The head of the British Council, the cultural arm of the foreign ministry, said universities could harm the reputation of British institutions if they recruited more non-European students merely to tackle cuts in their budgets.
Students from … Read this article on Gaea Times at : ‘British varsities treating foreign students as cash cows’.

Struggling Savannah, Ga., school firing entire staff to avoid more sanctions, get federal cash

Struggling Georgia school firing entire staff

ATLANTA – A failing Savannah high school is firing its entire staff in an effort to avoid further sanctions from the state and to make the school eligible for up to $6 million in federal money, officials said Thursday.
The 200 employees at Beach High School – including the principal – [..] Read the original article: here.

67,000 children skip school in Britain everyday

LONDON – As many as 67,000 children skip school in Britain as truancy levels continue to rise, official data has revealed.

Pupils missing school due to unauthorised absences is now 44 percent higher than what it was in 1996-97, Daily Express reported.
About 67,000 pupils of all ages missed schools through truancy, family holidays and illness, …. Read the original article  : here.

College students get a boost from Congress; Pell Grants rise but don’t meet earlier hopes

Congress gives college aid a boost
WASHINGTON – More needy college students will have access to bigger Pell Grants, and future borrowers of government loans will have an easier time repaying them, under a vast overhaul of higher education aid on its way to President Barack Obama’s desk.

Under the measure, private banks would no longer get … Read this article on Gaea Times at : College students get a boost from Congress; Pell Grants rise but don’t meet earlier hopes.

Officials: Clashes kill 5 Pakistani soldiers, at least 21 suspected militants near Afghanistan

Pakistan: 5 soldiers, 21 alleged militants killed

PARACHINAR, Pakistan – Five Pakistani soldiers and at least 21 suspected militants were killed in clashes in a region near the Afghan border where the military is pursuing Taliban insurgents fleeing a U.S.-backed offensive, authorities said Friday.
The reports came a day after officials said 61 suspected militants died in …. Original source  : Officials: Clashes kill 5 Pakistani soldiers, at least 21 suspected militants near Afghanistan.

Carting children to school, the eco friendly way

VRINDAVAN – It could well be a case of back to the future. Bullock carts might be outmoded and belong to an era gone by, but it is the preferred mode of transport for a school here that is trying to cut down on vehicular emissions for a pollution-free tomorrow.

Equipped with all modern educational facilities, …. Original source  : Carting children to school, the eco friendly way.

Eisenhower Memorial in Washington would include 80-foot columns and metal ‘tapestries’

Ike memorial would include 80-foot columns

WASHINGTON – A national memorial to former president and World War II general Dwight D. Eisenhower would include eight-story columns and metal “tapestries” of photos, according to plans announced Thursday in Washington.
Architect Frank Gehry designed the memorial, but it still needs some $80 million in funding and the approval of [..] Read the original article: here.

UConn prodigy, 13, claims age discrimination for school’s denying him overseas study

Prodigy, 13, claims age discrimination by UConn

STORRS, Conn. – Even at 13, Colin Carlson believes he’s running out of time.
Colin is a sophomore at the University of Connecticut, seeking a bachelor’s degree in ecology and evolutionary biology and another in environmental studies. But he’s been knocked off course by the university’s rejection of his request …. Read the original article  : here.

University payments processor Higher One files for $100 million IPO

Higher One files for $100 million IPO
NEW YORK – Higher One Holdings Inc. is planning an initial public offering of up to $100 million, even as pending legislation could change its business.

The New Haven, Conn., company processes financial aid payments and provides banking services for colleges and their students.
The company said late Wednesday in a …. Original source  : University payments processor Higher One files for $100 million IPO.

Summary Box: AP test of Google searches shows sophistication of China’s ‘Great Firewall’

Summary Box: AP test offers peek at China filters

THE TEST: Associated Press reporters in Beijing and Hong Kong compared searches and other features using the Hong Kong-based Google site that mainland China and the semiautonomous territory now share.
THE FINDINGS: Experiences continue to widely differ. The difference is that the government, rather than Google, is now … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Summary Box: AP test of Google searches shows sophistication of China’s ‘Great Firewall’.

Calif. teacher pleads no contest after confessing to police she had sex with 14-year-old boy

Calif. teacher pleads no contest to student sex

BURBANK, Calif. – A former California teacher who confessed to having sex with a 14-year-old male student has pleaded no contest.
Amy Victoria Beck, of Burbank, entered her plea Thursday in Superior Court to charges of unlawful sex and lewd acts on a minor. Her lawyer says she is …. Original article  : Calif. teacher pleads no contest after confessing to police she had sex with 14-year-old boy.

AP test of Google searches in Beijing, Hong Kong shows sophistication of ‘Great Firewall’

AP test of Google offers peek at China Net filters
BEIJING – Type “Falun Gong” in Chinese into Google’s search engine from Beijing, and the Web browser suddenly becomes unresponsive for about a minute. Make the same search from Hong Kong, and you’ll get plenty of links to the spiritual movement banned by the …. Original article  : AP test of Google searches in Beijing, Hong Kong shows sophistication of ‘Great Firewall’.

Cheaper e-mail font? Wis. college says Century Gothic uses 30 pct. less printer ink than Arial

Wis. college says new e-mail font will save money

GREEN BAY, Wis. – A Wisconsin college has found a new way to cut costs with e-mail – by changing the font.
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay has switched the default font on its e-mail system from Arial to Century Gothic. It says that while the change sounds … Read more >>>.