World Today

Godfather of Cambodia dies

2012-10-31T04:44:00.003-07:00

Norodom Sihanouk, the former Cambodian king died in China. The King who was crowned in 1941 ceded the throne to his son in 2004. In his long, colourful and complex rule as king and politician, he was praised for his role in obtaining independence from France and remembered mostly as someone concerned with the plight of the poor and powerless. But he was criticised for providing legitimate to the Khmer Rouge and assisting their rise to power. Some 1.7 million people are estimated to have died under the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s.

Is Order of Australia out of order?

2012-10-31T04:44:00.001-07:00

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's announcement of an honorary membership of the Order of Australia (known as AM) to Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar hasn't added a feather to his cap. Conferring one of the country's highest honours on an Indian batsman is in question in Australia, social networks and blogs. Along with Australian lawmaker Rob Oakeshott, former Australian batsman and recipient of the title Matthew Hayden had batted against Julia's move. The honour should be "exclusive" to this countryman, Hayden advocates. Gillard had made the announcement during her recently concluded India visit.

I'm mild and tolerant

2012-10-31T01:25:00.001-07:00

Former Bosnian Serb President Radovan Karadzic claimed that he was a 'mild' & 'tolerant' man, who reduced the 'suffering of all civilians'. This alleged mastermind of the ethnic cleansing of tens of thousands of Muslims in the 1990s told the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague: " I had done everything within human power to avoid the war. Instead of being accused of the events in our war, I shoulf be rewarded for all the good things I have done." Karadzic was arrested in Serbia in 2008 after 13 years living in disguise.

Altamas Kabir new CJI

2012-10-28T03:56:00.000-07:00

Senior Judge of the Supreme Court Altmas Kabir has taken over as the Chief Justice of the world largest democracy, India. Altamas started his career becoming an advocate in 1973 and practiced civil and criminal law in Kolkata courts. He became a permanent judge in the Calcutta High Court in 1990. In 2005 he was elevated to the rank of High Court Chief Justice and appointed at Jharkhand High Court . He became a judge of the Supreme Court of India on 9 September 2012 he became the 39th Chief Justice of India succeeding SH Kapdia.

Europe honors Helen Mirren

2012-10-28T03:47:00.001-07:00

Oscar winning British actress Helen Mirren is to be honored with this year's European Achievement in World Cinema at the 25th European Film Award Ceremony in Malta. Mirren began her film career in the late 1960s, with Michael Powell's "Age of Consent", and established her reputation with the gangster movie The Long Good Friday. Her impressive body of work includes iconic performances in films like Cal, The Madness of King George and The Queen, for which she won Oscar portraying Queen Elizabeth

Olimert gets a light sentence

2012-10-28T03:38:00.001-07:00

A Jerusalem district court fined former Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert for nearly $20,000 and gave him one-year suspended jail sentence. The four year old corruption case had forced Olmert to sted down in 2008, cutting off peace talks with Palestinians and forcing an election that brought to power a right-wing coalition led by Benjamin Netanyahu. This light punishment opens the door for a political comeback for him. The former Premier was punished for charges of illigal accepting money from a US bussiness man and double-billing nonprofits for official travel.

Nipping

2012-10-25T11:55:00.001-07:00

Mahatma Ghandi statue unveiled in America
How about here, any crows...
?

Actor Sridevi motivates English love

2012-10-25T11:53:00.001-07:00

The movie 'English Vinglish', starring actress Sridevi, depicting a Maharashtra housewife's struggle to be fluent in the English language, has induced Bihar's college-going Dalit girls to learn the language, shunning a sence of inferiority.
They are now coming in hordes to watch the movie and return with the determinationto learn the language, reports say.

Madam, take your pay home

2012-10-25T11:48:00.001-07:00

West Bengal Chief Minister is giving a headache to the state treasury by not accepting her salary. Since taking oath on 20 May last year, Mamata Banerjee hasn't taken her salary or allowances. Her monthly salary is Rs. 8,000 and various allowances add up to about Rs. 40,000.

Actor Kamal wants cinema tickets hike

2012-10-25T11:44:00.001-07:00

Indian actor Kamal Hassan strongly bats for increasing cinema ticket prices on a par with global rates, because the existing costs are less than that of a cola sold in developed countries. When asked whether the increased rate would affect the common man, he said: "People buy jeans for Rs. 10,000."

Paintings by Picasso and others stolen

2012-10-25T11:37:00.001-07:00

Paintings by Picasso, Matisse, Gauguin, Meyer de Haan, Lucian Freud and Monet were stolen from a gallery in Netherland's Kunsthal Museum, Rotterdam last week. Calling it a well-planned and bold operation, the police said the thieves might have used thw nearby port to swiftly move the paintings abroad.

Burglars can break through Facebook

2012-10-24T15:37:00.001-07:00

Don't share everything personal including your vacation plans on Facebook abd networking sites because it could increase chances of burglary, reports the British newspaper Daily Express quoting Quotemehappy.com.
A survey of 2000 homeowners shows 35% disclose their vacation plans, making it even easier for burglars to break in.

Shah Rukh Khan's Bengal promo wins award

2012-10-24T15:36:00.005-07:00

A two minute promotional on West Bengal starring Shah Rukh Khan has won an award in the Travel Section at the '2nd Festival Asia TV and Film' organised by the government of Japan. A blindchild of Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister, the movie was noted for its breathtaking scenes on Bengal's cultural heritage.

Neighbours' rivalry takes to waters

2012-10-24T15:36:00.003-07:00

While the border disputes between India & China over Arunachal Pradesh continues, China's increasing military buildup in the Indian Ocean could be the new ground of rivalry between the two Asian giants with growing economies, discloses international journalist Bertil Lintner in his new book," Great Game East".

Nipping

2012-10-24T15:36:00.001-07:00

Nobel Foundation reduced prize money due to economic crisis.

Next.....
The Nobel for Economics goes to .........us

Sachin's first batting as MP for sports

2012-10-24T15:35:00.001-07:00

Four months after entering Rajya Sabha, Sachin Tendulkar has written his first letter as MP to Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal expressing concern over the neglect of sports in India's educational institutions. The star also has offered to help develop a sporting culture among children and the youth.

Leng Thirith freed

2012-10-11T05:29:00.001-07:00

Former leader of the Khmer Rouge, Leng Thirith, has been declared mentally unfit for trail. While she was Social Affairs Munister in Cambodia, 1.7 million people died of execution, medical neglect, overwork and starvation. The tribunal initiallt announced its decision to free 'the First Lady' as she us unable to be tried due to a degenerative mental illness, probably Alzheimer's disease. The tribunal set some condition for her movement ordering her to inform the court about her address, turn in her passport, report to the court whenever it summoned her and not to leave the country.

Mother's 'gifts' to a son

2012-10-10T20:28:00.001-07:00

A Right to Information query asking for details of gifts received by former Indian president Pratibha Patil says that she dispatched them to a private museum run by her son Rajendra Singh Shekhawat. According to the rules, gifts received by presidents should gp to the government treasury.