India villagers demand progress in fatal rape case
February 23, 2013
Villagers in western India threatened to continue a highway blockade if police do not show progress in finding those responsible for the rape and killing of three young sisters. The bodies were found Feb. 16 in a village well in Bhandara district in Maharashtra state.
India To Launch Mars Mission This Year in November
February 23, 2013
NEW DELHI – India will launch its first mission to Mars this year, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Thursday, as the emerging Asian nation looks to play catch up in the global space race alongside the United States, Russia and its giant neighbor China.
If Sachin Tendulkar retires, Test cricket will die: Ranatunga
February 23, 2013
BANGALORE: Sri Lanka's World Cup-winning former captain Arjuna Ranatunga feels Test cricket would "die" if players like Sachin Tendulkar call it quits.
Sri Lanka bans sale of land to foreigners
February 23, 2013
The measures were approved in the wake of intense local demand for land. Land bought by foreigners is often neglected.
Sri Lanka on Thursday banned the sale of land to foreigners, charging that prime properties bought by outsiders had been neglected and that the country was not reaping the full benefits of their tourism potential.
Pakistan army denies links with sectarian killers
February 22, 2013
Pakistan’s army is denying links to the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi extremist group following recent attacks targeting Shiite Muslims. The group is is Pakistan's most extreme Sunni Muslim terror group and is linked to both Al-Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban.
Sri Lanka Muslims try to defuse halal meat row
February 22, 2013
Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka recently launched a boycott of halal food claiming it is an affront to non-Muslims. Islamic clerks attempted to calm religious tension Thursday by requesting that merchants only sell halal food to Muslims.
Pakistan ambassador to US faces blasphemy probe
February 22, 2013
The Pakistan ambassador to the United States is under fire for alleged blasphemous remarks made on television several years ago. Officials confirmed Tuesday they have begun an investigation into the matter at the request of the Supreme Court. Those found guilty of blasphemy in Pakistan are sentenced to death.
India seeks greater cooperation with US in terrorism, defence
February 22, 2013
Washington — India Thursday suggested greater cooperation with the US in seven key areas ranging from terrorism, defence and enhanced trade to support in multilateral fora as they take their strategic partnership forward.
"From our perspective, closer and more effective cooperation between us on terrorism is critical," said Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai as he began consultations with his American counterparts on a range of bilateral and regional issues.
Jimmy Carter says President Obama ‘profusely’ thanked his grandson following release...
February 22, 2013
President Obama handily defeated Mitt Romney in last November’s presidential election. Jimmy Carter said Romney’s ‘47 percent’ comment about Americans was ‘the major factor’ that sealed his fate.
‘Same ills challenge agriculture in South Asia, Africa’
February 21, 2013
Washington — One solution may not fit all, but challenges to agriculture and food security are similar in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa requiring action by governments to grassroots, experts said here Thursday.
An outcome of intensive research by 41 experts across 10 countries in the two regions including India, the outcome papers revealed similar problems in all the five areas looked into -- farm produce pricing, irrigation, fertilizer use, marketing and sustainability of rural livelihoods.
