Breaking News – Newsletter for February 28, 2011

National Food Security Bill to be introduced in Parliament

NEW DELHI – Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday announced that the National Food Security Bill (NFSB) will be introduced in the Parliament during the course of this year.

Presenting the Union Budget 2011-12 in the Lok Sabha, Mukherjee said that the government is close to finalization of this bill after detailed consultations with all … Read more »».

Mukherjee allocates Rs.2,14,000 crore for infrastructure sector

NEW DELHI – Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday proposed an allocation of Rs.2,14,000 crore for infrastructure sector, which is 23.3 percent higher than the current year.

This amounts to 48.5 percent of the Gross Budgetary support to plan expenditure.

Announcing the General Budget 2011-12 in the Lok Sabha today, Mukherjee stated that in order …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Hinduism discussion welcomed in rural Nevada

NEVADA – Well known Hindu statesman Rajan Zed spoke about religion in general and Hinduism in particular to a packed house of people belonging to different religions and denominations at “88 Cups Coffee and Tea” in Minden (Nevada, USA) on February 24 evening.

Audience, comprising of both older and younger seekers, including some atheists, had …. Source article  : Hinduism discussion welcomed in rural Nevada.

Foreign Direct Investment in India to be more user friendly

New Delhi, Feb 28 (ANI): Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said that to make the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy more user friendly, all prior regulations and guidelines have been consolidated into one comprehensive document, which is reviewed every six months.

Presenting the Union Budget for 2011-12 in the Parliament, Mukherjee said:”This is reviewed every … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Foreign Direct Investment in India to be more user friendly.

Larry the ratcatcher at Downing Street shows no interest in rodents

LONDON – The newly appointed rat catcher at Number 10, Downing Street, is said to show no interest at all in rodents and is spending most of his time curled up asleep.

Larry, the cat, had been expected to go after the rodents that had been seen scuttling down the street during television reports, but so …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

US Army’s syc-ops’ on American lawmakers visiting Afghanistan ‘didn’t affect me’: McCain

WASHINGTON – Arizona Senator John McCain has said that the United States Army’s tactics to use psychological operations on U.S. lawmakers visiting Afghanistan did not have any impact on him.

“That’s been tried on me in the past. I don’t see how it could have affected my positions in any way. So we’ll see what … Read more >>>.

Muslim teaching asst. ‘felt like jumping in front of bus’ after being racially abused at UK school

LONDON – A Muslim teaching assistant in Britain has claimed that he ‘felt like jumping in front of a bus’ after being racially abused by his pupils, and was forced to file a police complaint after a student had threatened to rape his wife and children.

The Daily Mail quoted Khalid Akram as saying that he … Read more : Muslim teaching asst. ‘felt like jumping in front of bus’ after being racially abused at UK school.

PML-N has no place for political schemers, says Nawaz Sharif

LAHORE – Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has said that there is no place in the party for those who are trying to undermine the party by joining former President Pervez Musharraf.

“The party’s doors are wide open for those who remained loyal and caused no harm to it,” the News quoted Sharif, as …. Read the original article  : PML-N has no place for political schemers, says Nawaz Sharif.

PML-N to continue monitoring PPP’s performance

ISLAMABAD – Two days after expelling the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) from its Punjab government, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has said that it would continue monitoring the federal government’s measures to curb corruption.

“The PML-N will continue to monitor the Zardari administration’s performance very closely,” the Express Tribune quoted PML-N spokesperson Ahsan Iqbal, as saying.

“It …. Original article  : PML-N to continue monitoring PPP’s performance.

Foreign Direct Investment in India to be more user friendly

NEW DELHI – Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said that to make the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy more user friendly, all prior regulations and guidelines have been consolidated into one comprehensive document, which is reviewed every six months.

Presenting the Union Budget for 2011-12 in the Parliament, Mukherjee said:”This is reviewed every six months, … Original article on : Foreign Direct Investment in India to be more user friendly.

International Award in memory of Rabindranath Tagore

NEW DELHI – Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today announced that an international award with a prize money of Rs. One crore will be instituted for promoting values of Universal Brotherhood in the memory of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore.

Presenting the Union Budget 2011-12 in the Lok Sabha, Mukherjee said that national celebrations of 150th Birth …. Original article  : International Award in memory of Rabindranath Tagore.

Finance Minister promises to strengthen regional rural banks

NEW DELHI – Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said the regional rural banks will be strengthened to enable them to maintain a Capital to Risk Weighted Asset Ratio (CRAR) of at least nine per cent as on March 31.

Presenting the Union Budget 2010-11 in the Parliament today, Mukherjee said the government will provide … Original article on : Finance Minister promises to strengthen regional rural banks.

Mukherjee announces new tax concession to ‘Aam Admi’

NEW DELHI – Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday raised the income tax exemption limit for individuals from one lakh 60 thousand to one lakh 80 thousand rupees.

The age of senior citizens for tax benefits has been brought down from 65 to 60 years and the exemption limit raised for them from two lakh … Read more >>>.

Washington’s calm response to Gaddafi’s action guided by fears over safety of Americans in Libya

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration’s calm and diplomatic response towards the massive unrest in Libya, which had left even its reliable supporters stunned, was due to the warnings given by its diplomats in Tripoli saying that forceful messages from Washington could “endanger the security of American citizens” in the disturbed oil rich country.

The Washington …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Washington’s calm response to Gaddafi’s action guided by fears over safety of Americans in Libya.

There “possibly could be” military option for foreign forces in Libya: McCain

WASHINGTON – Arizona Senator John McCain has said the United States or international forces could provide support to Libyans seeking to overthrow Colonel Muammar Gaddafi regime.

On being asked if there is “a military option in Libya” for either the U.S., the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or the United Nations, beyond a no-fly zone, Politico …. Original article  : There “possibly could be” military option for foreign forces in Libya: McCain.

Libyan forces using western arms to deal with anti- Gaddafi protestors: EU

LONDON – Military hardware worth hundreds of millions of pounds, which were supplied to Libya by European and British arms firms, are now being used by the Gaddafi regime in a crackdown against pro-democracy protestors, an EU document has revealed.

The European Union’s latest arms control report, released in January this year, said that … Read more >>.

Pak court seeks govt. response over Raymond Davis’ facilities in jail

LAHORE – A Pakistan court has directed the federal and Punjab governments to submit a reply on a petition challenging the facilities being provided to double murder-accused Raymond Davis in jail.

According to the Dawn, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has asked the governments to submit a response by March 14.

The petition states that jail authorities … Read more : Pak court seeks govt. response over Raymond Davis’ facilities in jail.

Brit oldest dad of twins has 13th child at 72 but still wants more kids

LONDON – A British man, who became the oldest father of twins less than two years ago, has welcomed his 13th child at 72 and insists he wants even more children.

Richard Roden’s 26-year-old wife Lisa, who gave birth to twins Emily and Ruby, delivered another daughter Madison last month.

All three of the couple’s children were …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Brit oldest dad of twins has 13th child at 72 but still wants more kids.

India continues to face inflation, cause for concern: Mukherjee

NEW DELHI – Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said inflation continues to remain a concern, but exuded confidence that the monetary policy of Reserve Bank of India will lead to reduction in inflation numbers in the coming months.

Presenting the Union Budget for 2011-12 in the Parliament, Mukherjee said: “It (inflation) clearly remains …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : India continues to face inflation, cause for concern: Mukherjee.

Highlights of Union Budget 2011-12 (Part-V)

NEW DELHI – Union Finance Minister Pranab Minister on Monday presented the Union Budget 2011-12 in the Parliament.

Highlights of Union Budget 2011-12 are as follows:

Allocation to health sector raised by 20 pct to 267.6 billion rupees in 2011/12

Nine lakh ex gratia payment for disabled defence personnel

50 more mega food parks proposed

Allocation for farm development increased

Agricultural …. Original source  : Highlights of Union Budget 2011-12 (Part-V).