Indian envoy, TMDP leaders call on Maoist leadership
Kathmandu | May 11, 2008 9:16:19 PM IST
Newly appointed Indian ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood on Sunday called on the Communist Party of Nepal- Maoist (CPN-M) leadership.

 MPRF proposes new govt formation prior to CA meet
Kathmandu | May 11, 2008 9:13:53 PM IST
Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) on Sunday floated the proposal to form the new government prior to the first sitting of the Constituent Assembly (CA).

 Kids hearing foreign speech in first 9 months learn languages faster
London | Sunday, May 11 2008 IST
Infants who hear foreign speech in their first nine months of life find it easier to pick up languages in school later, a new research has found.

 U.S., Iraqi forces shoot at car, kill 4
Baghdad | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Coalition troops opened fire on a vehicle in northern Iraq, killing four people, including a woman and child, military officials said Sunday.

 Tata resumes talks with Bangladesh Govt on its $ 3billion investment
Dhaka | Sunday, May 11 2008 IST
The Bangladesh government and Indian industrial giant Tata resumed talks here today after a two-year deadlock on its proposed three billion dollars investment in steel, fertiliser, power plant and coal mine projects.

 British motorists highest taxpayers in Europe: study
London | Sunday, May 11 2008 IST
Britishers pay the highest fuel taxes in Europe, and probably in the world, a new study has revealed.

 3 pythons turn up in German parcel post
Darmstadt, Germany | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
A package sorter in Darmstadt, Germany, got a shock when a python crawled out of a parcel, the postal service said.

 Tornadoes rip though states, killing 19
Picher, Okla. | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Tornadoes and intense storms ripped through Missouri and Oklahoma, killing at least 19 people and leveling many homes, officials said.

 McCain and Obama look to November
Washington | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
The Democratic Party has yet to nominate its presidential candidate, but advisers for U.S. Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama say it's time to look to November.

 Businesswomen must be superior than men
London | May 11, 2008 5:21:08 PM IST
Matching their pace with men doesn't seem to satisfy women, at least not in the realm of business. A new survey has revealed that women think they have to be superior than men in order to succeed in business.

 Pranab Mukherjee to attend IBSA meeting in South Africa
Cape Town | May 11, 2008 5:19:55 PM IST
Union External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has reached Cape Town to participate in the fifth meeting of the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Ministerial Trilateral Commission, which is beginning today.

 Austrian cops to quiz dungeon dad's wife again
London | May 11, 2008 5:12:37 PM IST
Rosemarie, the wife of sex beast Josef Fritzl, is to be questioned again by police to determine whether she knew about his secret life in the cellar.

 Mum dives straight in to save man from shark attack
Perth | May 11, 2008 2:23:39 PM IST
A courageous mum risked her life to save a man savaged by a 4m shark just off a popular beach in Western Australia.

 Vatican introduces Latin website
London | May 11, 2008 2:17:34 PM IST
Latin, the Vatican's official language, has finally entered its website alongside Italian, English, French, Spanish, German and Portuguese.

 Hindus urge India Censor Board to halt Hollywood movie "The Love Guru"
Washington | May 11, 2008 2:11:29 PM IST
Hindu groups have contacted Central Board of Film Certification (Censor Board) and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of India, urging them not to screen upcoming Hollywood movie "The Love Guru" till its presenter Paramount Pictures makes necessary changes in it.Bhavna Shinde, representing Hindu Janjagruti Samiti and Sanatan Society for Scientific Spirituality, in communiqus to these organizations, said, "...stop distributing or screening the movie till Paramount has made necessary changes to the movie, so that it will not hurt the feelings of the worldwide spiritual and Hindu community.""If the trailer is an indicator of the content of the movie...then we feel that this movie is most likely to hurt the sentiments of seekers from various spiritual paths...it will hurt the religious sentiments of millions of Hindus worldwide, who hold the 'Guru-disciple' relationship as sacred," she said.

 BlackBerry leading to irrational behaviour among users
Melbourne | May 11, 2008 2:16:14 PM IST
Much like drugs and alcohol, the BlackBerry smartphone has become an addiction that is not only controlling lives and increasing stress loads, but is even threatening relationships with loved ones.

 Britain at risk of losing one fifth of its churches
London | May 11, 2008 2:15:01 PM IST
A new research has shown that Britain will lose up to a fifth of its churches in the space of a generation if an appropriate action is not taken to stop the decline.

 On this date in history:
| May 11, 2008 12:01:13 Am Ist | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
In 1858, Minnesota, dubbed the Land of 10,000 Lakes, joined the United States as the 32nd state.

 Today is Sunday, May 11, the 132nd day of 2008 with 234 to follow.
| May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
This is Mother's Day.

 Teens using drugs to alleviate depression: study
Washington | Sunday, May 11 2008 IST
Is your child suffering from depression? According to research teens are using drugs to alleviate feelings of depression ("self-medicating"), when in fact, using marijuana can compound the problem. The report, released to coincide with May's Mental Health Awareness Month, shows a staggering two million teens felt depressed at some point during the past year, and depressed teens are more than twice as likely as non-depressed teens to have used marijuana during that same period. "Marijuana is not the answer. Too many young people are making a bad situation worse by using marijuana in a misguided effort to relieve their symptoms of depression," said John P. Walters, Director, National Drug Control Policy. "Parents must not dismiss teen moodiness as a passing phase. Look closely at your teen's behaviour because it could be a sign of something more serious." Teen girls who use marijuana daily are more likely to develop depression than girls who do not use marijuana; Depressed teens are also more likely than non-depressed teens to engage in other risky behaviours such as daily cigarette use and heavy alcohol use. "Don't be fooled into thinking that pot is harmless," said Dr Drew Pinksy, internist, addiction expert, and host of VH1's Celebrity Rehab. "Marijuana is an addictive drug. Teens who are already depressed and use marijuana may increase their odds of suffering from even more serious mental health problems." "Not only are adolescents at greater risk for drug abuse, but they may suffer more consequences," said Nora D. Volkow, M. D., Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. "There is also some evidence that in vulnerable teens-because of genetic factors-the abuse of marijuana can trigger a schizophreniform disorder." ONDCP is urging parents to pay closer attention to their teen's behaviour and mood swings, and recognise that marijuana and other drugs could be playing a dangerous role in their child's life.

 Regulate Nepal and India border: Maoist leader
Kathmandu | Sunday, May 11 2008 IST
Senior CPN-M leader Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai has stressed the need to regulate the open border between Nepal and India to promote national economic interests and domestic capital, media reports said here today.

 Tornadoes kill at least 9 in Okla., Mo.
Picher, Okla. | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Tornadoes churned through Oklahoma and Missouri Saturday, killing at least nine people, authorities said.

 Legal work being sent to India
Washington | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
The latest U.S. business to experience an outsourcing boom in India is legal research, a research firm's study indicates.

 Jenna Bush marries quietly at ranch
Crawford, Texas | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Jenna Bush, the daughter of President George Bush, and Henry Hager married Saturday in a low-key, outdoor ceremony at the presidential ranch in Texas.

 Irish writer Nuala O'Faolain dies at 68
Dublin, Ireland | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Irish writer Nuala O'Faolain has died at the age of 68 of lung cancer.

 Irish dockers get food, pay for crew
Ringaskiddy, Ireland | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Irish longshoremen refused to unload a Liberian-registered tanker loaded with molasses until the Filipino crew was provided with new food supplies.

 Teen killed with shard of glass
London | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
A London teen who tried to intervene in a window-breaking was killed with a glass shard Saturday, the day after his 16th birthday.

 Horse pounds occupied car
Philadelphia | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Two women in Philadelphia had a frightening experience Saturday when an escaped horse attacked their car.

 No perjury charge for Diana's butler
London | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
British prosecutors have decided against charging Paul Burrell, the late Princess Diana's one-time butler, with perjury.

 Juvenile jail teachers complain of attacks
Baltimore | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Teachers at Baltimore's holding facility for boys accused of crime say they feel threatened by the inmates.

 Confession booths to be set up in Sydney
Sydney | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Organizers of the Roman Catholic World Youth Day plan to set up street confessional booths in Sydney for the event.

 FDA issues heparin alerts, withholds info
Washington | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
U.S. drug regulators are still issuing alerts about tainted supplies of heparin while refusing to give congressional investigators a list of Chinese suppliers.

 Reporter faces $5K/day fines
Washington | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
A former USA Today reporter is waiting for a U.S. appellate court to decide whether she should pay $5,000 a day for refusing to name sources.

 Skunk drives family from house
Highland Park, Ill. | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
A family forced out of its suburban Chicago home by a skunk more than a year ago desperately wants to go back home.

 Tornadoes kill at least 16
Picher, Okla. | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Tornadoes and severe thunderstorms tore through Oklahoma, Missouri and neighboring states Saturday, leaving at least 16 deaths in their wake, authorities said.

 Summations to start in Rezko trial
Chicago | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Testimony has finished after two months in the federal corruption trial of Chicago developer Antoin Tony Rezko.

 2 Chi. suburbs ban phosphorus fertilizer
Antioch, Ill. | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Two small Chicago suburbs have banned the sale of fertilizers containing phosphorus, arguing they threaten aquatic life in lakes and streams.

 Gas sales jump before price increase
Jakarta | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Gas sales rose sharply in Indonesia when the government oil company announced plans to raise the price.

 Have money? Honey will follow!
London | Sunday, May 11 2008 IST
When it comes to marriage, men would rather choose money over looks.

 Koirala says will talk with coalition partners on government formation
Kathmandu | May 11, 2008 11:21:12 AM IST
Nepal Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has announced that he has started a dialogue with leaders of all political parties within the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and other newly emerged Terai-based parties on the issue of government formation and commencement of smooth proceedings of the Constituent Assembly which is set to convene within a fortnight.

 Pak lawyers to observe May 12 as Black Day
Lahore | May 11, 2008 11:18:46 AM IST
Lawyers across Pakistan will observe Monday (May 12) as a "Black Day" to condemn the killing of innocent civilians in Karachi on the same day last year.

 Gilani may seek dissolution of Pakistan Parliament if coalition collapses
Islamabad | May 11, 2008 11:16:20 AM IST
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza gilani and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari are reported to be seriously thinking of dissolving the National Assembly if their coalition arrangement with Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) collapses.

 Sarabjit Singh should be pardoned, says Gilani
Islamabad | May 11, 2008 11:15:07 AM IST
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has reportedly advised President Pervez Musharraf to pardon Indian death row inmate Sarabjit Singh after reviewing his case.

 Mukherjee may propose new CBMs during visit to Pakistan
New Delhi | May 11, 2008 11:13:54 AM IST
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is likely to propose new confidence-building measures (CBMs) to Pakistan during his forthcoming visit to Islamabad on May 21.

 U.S. considering 'Anbar model' for FATA
Islamabad | May 11, 2008 11:12:41 AM IST
Concerned about the possible resurgence of militancy and extremism in Pakistan's Federal Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), the Bush Administration is reported to have suggested to Islamabad to implement the 'Anbar model' i.e. to train local communities in the use of arms to counter al Qaeda and Taliban-linked militants.

 Voters expect next U.S. President to fix the economy
Washington | May 11, 2008 11:21:07 AM IST
Americans are expecting the next president to provide economic relief, but a distinguished University of Mississippi economics professor says that the experience with tax-rebate initiatives indicate that most Americans will save their rebates or use them to pay bills.

 Pakistan to export 52,000 tons of cement to India
Islamabad | May 11, 2008 11:15:02 AM IST
Pakistan will export about 52,000 tons of cement to India in the next two months.

 Sporadic aid trickles into Burma
London | May 11, 2008 11:13:49 AM IST
Aid for Cyclone Nargis survivors in Myanmar is trickling in sporadically, and the United Nations fears that only a quarter of the survivors have received aid so far.

 Now, former UK Deputy PM Prescott defends Brown
London | May 11, 2008 11:12:36 AM IST
Former British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is the latest entrant to the controversy surrounding Gordon Brown over his alleged pressure tactics on Tony Blair.

 UK soldiers are taking loans to eat, says report
London | May 11, 2008 11:11:23 AM IST
Many soldiers in the British Army are living in poverty, and some of them are so poor, that they are unable to eat and are forced to rely on emergency food voucher schemes set up by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), claims a damning and highly sensitive internal report.

 Men marry women akin to their mothers
Washington | Sunday, May 11 2008 IST
A new study has established the truth of the old adage that men tend to marry women who resemble their mothers. A study of young men, who earn high salarkies and have graduate degrees, revealed that they were more likely to marry women who have been educated to the same level as their mothers. According to the University of Iowa study, those brought up by a working mother were also far more likely to marry someone with a well paid job. It found that 80 per cent of the high-achieving men whose mothers had college degrees, tied the knot with women educated to a similar level, while 62 per cent of them agreed with the statement, ''Smart women make better mothers.'' ''These young men look up to their mothers as role models,'' said sociologist Christine Whelan, an author of the study. ''When they make their own choices about someone who they think will be a good wife or a good mother in the future, they go back to their role models,'' he noted.

 'Women better managers than men'
Sydney | Sunday, May 11 2008 IST
Three cheers to womanhood! It's something they have always known but now it's official that women have better management skills than men, thanks to their confidence.

 Memory chip will help remember names and faces: study
London | Sunday, May 11 2008 IST
Have a habit of forgetting a name or face? How much would you pay to have a small memory chip implanted in your brain if it guaranteed you would never again forget a face or a name? Studies suggest that if you learn a word while slouching, you'll be better able to remember that word later if you're slouching than if you're standing upright.

 U.S. envoy arrives in Abkhazia
Sukhumi, Georgia | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
A U.S. envoy has arrived in the breakaway region of Abkhazia in Georgia in an effort to find a peaceful solution to the impasse there.

 Manson ranch to be searched for bodies
Independence, Calif. | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Authorities say they will dig at a desert ranch in California once used by 1960s convicted killer and cult leader Charles Manson in search of bodies.

 Lost family lit sled on fire to lure plane
Repulse Bay, Nunavut | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
A Canadian family lost in the Arctic burned half its sled in an unsuccessful effort to signal a search plane but was eventually tracked down and rescued.

 N.Y. mayor supports $1B railyard deal
New York | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he plans to urge keeping alive a $1 billion agreement to improve railyards in the city's Manhattan borough.

 Black voters rally round Obama
Washington | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Black voters' enthusiasm for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama has made them increasingly protective of his presidential candidacy, campaign watchers say.

 'Excessive' student testing criticized
London | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
A report claiming students are excessively tested is expected to put extra pressure on Britain's Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families.

 Skunks notably absent in Va. county
Arlington, Va. | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
The apparent disappearance of skunks from Arlington County, Va., could indicate a larger problem in the region, experts say.

 Quarantine train arrives in Toronto
Toronto | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
A Canadian train arrived in Toronto 12 hours late Saturday after being released from a quarantine imposed following the death of an elderly passenger.

 Report: Cablevision likely to get Newsday
New York | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Cablevision Systems Corp. has the inside track in its bid to purchase Newsday, a newspaper headquartered on Long Island, sources told The New York Times.

 Romance lives at Riker's Island
New York | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Prisoners at New York's Riker's Island still find time for a bit of romance, with 180 weddings taking place at joint last year alone, a minister said.

 Kids in remote China lured to factories
Beijing | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Residents in remote areas of China say children younger than 13 years old have been lured to work in factories for as little as 25 cents an hour.

 Katrina cost could inflate with pump costs
New Orleans | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
A discrepancy in the cost of several sewer pumps for New Orleans could increase the final cost of the city's Hurricane Katrina clean-up efforts, experts say.

 Tulane fraternity had history of problems
New Orleans | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
The Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity chapter suspended this week at New Orleans' Tulane University had a history of alleged illicit behavior, university officials say.

 General barred from Gitmo tribunals
Washington | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
A military judge conducting a war crimes tribunal for Guantanamo prisoners has barred a general who set up the tribunals, The New York Times reported Saturday.

 San Francisco may offer street yoga
San Francisco | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is attempting to find a way to close a major stretch of roadway to allow residents to do yoga in a wide open space.

 Rebels reported near Khartoum
Khartoum, Sudan | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
The Sudanese government claimed Saturday that an attempt by Darfur rebels to seize the capital of Khartoum had been put down.

 World Youth Day falling short for Sydney
Sydney | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
The upcoming papal visit to Australia for World Youth Day is proving to be less than a blessing, with hotel bookings falling far short of expectations.

 Study: British gas prices tops in Europe
London | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
The tax applied to a gallon of gasoline in Britain is higher than anywhere else in Europe -- and possibly the world -- a study has found.

 Researchers asked not to lobby for bill
London | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Scientists in England have been urged not to lobby lawmakers in support of the Embryology and Human Fertilization Bill for fear of provoking a backlash.

 Blackwater bounces back from crime probe
Washington | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
The U.S. State Department has renewed a contract for the Blackwater private military company to protect American diplomats in Iraq, officials said.

 Tsvangirai eyeing electoral return
Johannesburg, South Africa | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said Saturday he plans to return to Zimbabwe to take part in a presidential runoff election.

 Jenna Bush set to wed in Texas
Waco, Texas | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Jenna Bush, the 26-year-old daughter of U.S. President George W. Bush, is set to marry her 30-year-old fiance in Texas Saturday, the president says.

 Brawl breaks out at Los Angeles school
Los Angeles | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
A South Los Angeles high school was temporarily closed after a 600-person brawl broke out between Latino and black students, officials said.

 Clinton refocuses on Bush administration
Louisville, Ky. | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton has temporarily focused her attention away from her electoral rival to take aim at the administration of President George W. Bush.

 Israeli airstrikes kill four in Gaza
Gaza | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Israeli airstrikes on Hamas targets overnight Saturday in Gaza killed five terrorists and injured four Islamic Jihad operatives, Israelis said.

 Myanmar referendum goes on despite cyclone
Yangon, Myanmar | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Even as the country lay devastated from a cyclone, Myanmar's military government went ahead Saturday with a referendum on a new national constitution.

 Filipino lawmaker urges ASEAN action
Manila, Philippines | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
A Filipino political leader has called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to intervene to allow food and relief aid into Myanmar.

 Cherie Blair: Tony advising Brown
London | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is advising his successor, Gordon Brown, on how to win upcoming elections, Blair's wife Cherie told an interviewer.

 Early elections unlikely in Israel
Jerusalem | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Israeli lawmakers say it is unlikely there are enough votes in the Knesset to call an early election as pressure mounts on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to resign.

 Pentagon bans use of pet crematories
Washington | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
The Pentagon has ended the practice of cremating the remains of soldiers killed in Iraq at a Delaware facility that also cremated pets, sources say.

 Girl gang suspected in homemade bomb blast
London | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Police said they were searching for a group of girls after a blast caused by a suspected homemade bomb killed a man and injured a teenager in London.

 Aid workers seeking entry to Myanmar
Naypyidaw, Myanmar | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Scores of relief workers are awaiting approval in Bangkok to enter Myanmar, where Cyclone Nargis hit a week ago, killing as many as 100,000 people.

 Too much water might have caused sinkhole
Daisetta, Texas | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
A giant sinkhole in Texas might have been caused by a saltwater disposal company that was injecting too much saltwater into the ground, officials say.

 Myanmar exports rice despite food needs
Thilawa, Myanmar | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Rice exports were flowing through Myanmar's main port even as its military regime was restricting outside aid to cyclone victims, a report said Saturday.

 Mass transit ridership surges
New York | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
U.S. commuters increasingly are abandoning their vehicles and crowding onto mass transit as gas prices approach $4 per gallon, transportation experts say.

 Cellar incest suspect asks wife to visit
Vienna | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
Josef Fritzl, accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting his imprisoned daughter, wants his wife to visit him in prison, Austrian prosecutors say.

 Two killed during attack on Beirut funeral
Beirut, Lebanon | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
An attack on a funeral procession Saturday in Beirut has left at least two people dead in a Sunni area of the Lebanese capital, the BBC said.

 89 illegal immigrants arrested in Texas
Houston | May 11, 2008 12:01:13 AM IST
U.S. immigration officials Saturday were processing 89 illegal immigrants arrested in Houston during a four-day operation this week, officials said.