World NEWS

SPRINT queen Vicky Pendleton says the huge pressure to shine in London 2012 is almost suffocating both her and the rest of the British cycling team. A spectacular haul of cycling gold medals at the Beijing Olympics and world championships has sent expectations soaring for the home Games. Pendleton chalked up yet another sprint first place at the recent track world championships in Copenhagen, adding a silver medal in the women’s keirin event. Pendleton, 29, is aiming for three golds in London and noticed the first rumblings of discontent in Denmark after Britain fell behind Australia in the overall table. And with the entire team now marked men and women with rivals, Pendleton is increasingly aware of the difficulties of staying clear of the field. She said: “Everyone is feeling the pressure already that Britain is expecting great things from their team, and the cycling team specifically. “I feel more pressure on me now than I ever have in succeeding in big competition...

Middle Ages In the first centuries the Merovingian kings of Gaul conquered many German tribes, these Colonists of Gaul were also focused in change the religion. The missionary activity funded monasteries at Würzburg, Regensburg, Reichenau, and other places. Many years later, from 772 to 814, the king Charlemagne extended his empire into northern Italy and the territories of all west of Germany, including Saxons and Bavarians. When Charlemagne was confirmed as emperor of Rome, the “Holy Roma Empire” was established. The years passed and the empire was divided into several parts because of the many fights between Charlemagne’s grandchildren, this division gave place to the beginning of the Frankish Kingdom under the government of Duke Henry of Saxony. The time between 1096 and 1291 was the age of the crusades and knightly religious orders were established: The Templars, the Knights of St. John and the Teutonic Order, many towns, castles, bishops’ palaces and monasteries we...

Other than buying chewing gum and a few more things that minister mentor Lee Kuan Yew would frown upon, there is little that those transiting through Singapore’s Changi airport cannot do. It has for years been a benchmark for airport excellence and passengers from all over the world know it for the calming little islands with orchids in the arrival hall, efficient baggage handling (bags are on the conveyor within 12 minutes of touchdown) and duty free shopping. But Changi is not content. It is going all out to add more attractions: The newest terminal has spacious art deco styled powder rooms for women, and for those with time on their hands, a butterfly park and movie theatres. And adding a completely new dimension, the airport, will also offer an exclusive area for storing and trading gold, diamonds and high value art. In the process, Changi, or at least a part of it, will turn into Fort Knox. ...

SNOOKER coaching guru Del Hill is staying away from the first week of this year’s world championship – because four of his prodigies are playing against each other and he does not want divided loyalties. This is typical of Hill, who is rated as the best coach in the game , having masterminded world titles with Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, Peter Ebdon and Graeme Dott . Hill operates from his snooker “farm” which is set in five acres of lush grounds that boast a large lake stocked with perch, carp and bream, where players can relax and fish after long spells of potting pressure. He is also head of World Snooker’s elite coaching team, manager of England’s amateur squad and has still found time to answer business calls from Russia, Thailand, Jordan, Romania, Belgium, Malta, Ireland and the United Arab Emirates. And if that is not enough, he also brokered a deal for Chelsea’s John Terry to buy The Crucible’s 2008 World Championship table – and arranged for technici...

HISTORY has always warned against displays of premature triumphalism, which is why Steve Waugh, a man who knows a little about these things, suggested that while Australia dominated much of the drawn first npower Test, there is still work left to do if the Ashes are to be retained. But former Australian captain Waugh, the man who handed over control in early 2004, believes that while England’s tail proved too devilishly tricky to grab who came, saw and was conquered in 2005. And Waugh says his time will come sooner or later. Ponting has taken time to mature into the role of skipper, but Waugh insists that there are two factors that have sharpened him from the rather blunt blade that failed to cut the mustard four years ago – namely fatherhood and then the moulding of his own side. The birth of Waugh’s own daughter 13 years ago proved the catalyst that gave the former skipper the perspective needed to start improving as a captain. “Becoming a parent was the key for me,” he ...

The very first steps The biggest mistake by people wanting to start in golf is to rush out and buy a brand new set of shiny and expensive golf clubs. While they are nice to look at you should keep in mind that today's golf equipment comes in great varieties to cater for different golfing types and abilities. Since you're just starting out you do not know which set fits you best. Just imagine the envious looks you get at the driving range when you come with your $2000 set, and the subsequent laughter when you try and just 'hack away' - not worth the embarrassment! Once you spend a few hundred or even thousand $$ on a set that doesn't suit your style you're stuck with it or you have to sell it to somebody else at a loss. GOLF COURSES IN GERMANY Taking a Golf courses can be very expensive, time-consuming effort. And like any good or service that will cost money and require time, you should be careful before you buy. It's OK to shop around for a gol...

Cyrus Poonawalla (24) You could say the man hoards horses, but his real collection is a fleet of more than 25 cars kept in Pune. Poonawalla even built a prototype for a sports car during his college days. He’s carefully collected cars that range from custom-built limousines to Rolls Royces to six-door Mercedes. And the craze for cars runs in the blood. Nephew Yohan Poonawalla was the first owner of the Phantom Rolls Royce in India (for Rs 3.5 crore) in 2005.

Dilip Shanghvi (14) He is almost fanatical in his devotion to the treadmill and never misses a chance to get on it. Shanghvi doesn’t ike parties; in fact he is a rare sighting even at pharmaceutical industry meetings. Instead, he is a homebody and is rarely seen outside the suburb of Andheri in Mumbai where he has a home and the factory. When he likes to take a break, it is usually at Kodaikanal or on the backwaters of Kerala.

Ingredients: 1 large Potato, peeled and quartered 2 large Carrots 3 large Herring Fillets 1 tbsp Freshly chopped Dill 1 Small Onion, finely chopped 2 large hard boiled Eggs, finely chopped 8 Cooked Beetroot 4 tbsp Mayonnaise-type Salad Dressing Black Pepper Dill To Garnish Lemon Wedges Brown Bread Preparation: 1. Place the potatoes in a large saucepan, cover with water, bring to the boil then cook for 15-20 minutes until just tender. 2. Meanwhile, cook carrots in salted water for 15 minutes until just tender. 3. Drain the cooked potatoes and carrots and allow to cool. 4. Grate or finely chop the cooled potato, place in a layer on serving platter and press down gently. 5. Chop the herring fillets and place in a layer on top of the potatoes but slightly smaller to start building mountain 6. Sprinkle with the chopped dill. 7. Continue building the mountain with a layer of onion, then eggs then grated carrots, in that order, pressing each layer down gently. 8. Finally, grate the ...

so when I got the opportunity to attend a conference there, I was excited. I tacked a couple of extra days on so that I would have a chance to see some of the city, and not just the inside of the hotel where the conference was.   The conference was at a hotel near the airport. I arrived a full day before the concert so I could have a day exploring the city before the opening night of the conference. The next morning, after a big breakfast at my hotel, I took the L into the center of the city. Before reaching downtown, the line I was on goes underground, so I emerged from underground into a forest of skyscrapers.   Chicago is known for it's incredible architecture, and rightly so. It was impressive. Once I got my bearings, I headed over to Millennium Park to see the Cloud Gate before heading into the Art Institute. On the way there, I saw some modern Chinese art installations. I swear the cold air made the colours brighter.   As it turns out, admission to the Art Institute...

Sunset at Waras Hut, Km 6 on the trail up Mount Kinabalu Waras Hut was my accommodation for the night on the trail up Mount Kinabalu, before attempting the summit. I reached Low's Peak at 5.45am the next morning.  

Dr M.S. Gill, Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports gave away Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for the year 2010 to Ms. Saina Nehwal at a simple ceremony here today. Recognising Ms. Saina Nehwal’s outstanding performance in the badminton sport and the glory she brought to the country, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for the year 2010 is conferred upon Ms. Nehwal. As she was in Paris taking part in World Championship when the National Sports Awards were conferred by the President of India on 29th August, 2010, she could not receive the Award on that occasion. In view of this, the Award was conferred on her today. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award . The award carries a medal, citation and cash prize of Rs 7.5 lakh . Saina Nehwal’s Achievements : Ms. Saina Nehwal is among the outstanding Badminton players ranking 2nd in the World. She has won the Indonesia Super Series ,2010, Singapore Open super Series,2010 , Indian Open Grand Prix,2010 , Indonesia Super Series,2009, and Indian Open Grand...

On July 1, 2004, Guangzhou won the competition to host the 16th Asian Games. The port city of the ancient "Maritime Silk Road", will once be again entrusted with enhancing ties between China and other Asian nations. In March 2009, a replica wooden sailing boat, the Cocachin, a symbol of the Guangzhou Asian Games "Maritime Silk Road" concept, set sail; nearly 30 countries and regions along its route welcomed this "ambassador of peace, friendship and Asian culture across the world". Since their debut in 1951, the Asian Games have witnessed the unyielding desire of Asian people for harmony and cooperation. They are a weathervane of peace in the region. The "blessing to Guangzhou Asian Games global relay", an Internet activity launched by NetEase, received positive responses from netizens of more than 100 Asian cities in Malaysia, Japan and other Asian nations and regions. In an Asia inhabited by nearly two-thirds of the world population, the Asian G...

The use of perfumes has become common these days. Aromas have become style statements. Previously, it was not possible for the common persons to purchase them because of high costs. But now, you can afford to   buy perfumes   and colognes online.   Due to online stores, now it has become much easier to get hold of perfumes and different colognes. You may go through some of the online outlets making available the fragrance items for you. Many are offering attractive discounts on lots of products and services. When you think about getting fragrance items of your choice over the internet, avail of discounts and other money saving offers available and save your money. You may explore the internet to look for new fragrances of colognes available at affordable rates. As there are fashion conscious people, so you will find new scents made available for the purchase of common men and women. You may find various types of organic as well as synthetic substances getting used for the...

The harder we have to try to obtain something, the more we realise its worth. This applies even to food we normally find unappetising, a study shows. A Johns Hopkins University study suggests that hard work enhances our appreciation for something as uninspiring as low-fat, low calorie food. For example, if we had to navigate an obstacle course to get to a plate of baby carrots, we might come to prefer those raw vegetables over the sweet Snickers bars or snacks, reports the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. `Basically, what we have shown is that if you have to expend more effort to get a certain food, not only will you value that food more, but it might even taste better to you,` explained Alexander Johnson, who led the study. Johnson is an associate research scientist in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences at Johns Hopkins. `At present, we don`t know why effort seems to boost the taste of food, but we know that it does...

It recommends working out whether snoring comes from the nose or throat, reports the Daily Express. If you can make a snoring noise with your mouth open and closed, try this: stick your tongue out as far as it will go and grip it between your teeth. Try to make a snoring noise. If it is reduced, you are probably a `tongue-base snorer`, meaning your tongue is vibrating and causing the problem. If you are a `nose snorer` you snore with a closed mouth, it says. The Association lists their solutions as follows: 1. Sleep on your side The theory is that when we lie on our backs the tongue and muscles in the throat collapse, constricting the airway and causing snoring. 2. Higher pillows This aims to keep the airways open by supporting the neck so the throat is less constricted. It works fairly well until you fall asleep and slump down in the bed. 3. Breathe Right Nasal Strips These are supposed to open your nostrils from the outside and they certainly do seem to do this. They can also provide...

The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) is planning to raise Rs.1,184 crore through the follow-on public offer (FPO) that is opening for subscription on November 30. The company has fixed a price band of Rs.135-140 a share. The FPO comprises a fresh issue of 4.23 crore equity shares and an ‘offer for sale' of a similar quantum of shares by the Government. The issue will close on December 2 for qualified institutional buyers (QIB) and December 3 for other bidders. “The Government will get Rs.592 crore through 10 per cent divestment and the company will get Rs.592 crore through the issue of fresh shares, which will be used to fund its vessel acquisition plans,” Chairman and Managing Director of the company S. Hajara told reporters here. “We plan to acquire 62 vessels in the XI Plan. We have already ordered 32 vessels and will place orders for 30 more vessels by the end of March 2012,” Mr. Hajara said. SCI has about 35 per cent share of Indian flagged tonnage as of June 30. It owned a...

Stock markets on Monday made a smart comeback with the Bombay Stock Exchange bellwether Sensex snapping four-day losing streak and ending with a gain of 268 points, on value buying in heavy weights like Reliance Industries and ICICI Bank. The BSE 30-share benchmark index, Sensex, which plunged by over 4 per cent in the last four trading sessions primarily on the housing finance racket and negative global cues, started the week on a firm note and settled at 19405.10, reflecting a jump of 268.49 points or 1.4 per cent. Witnessing a similar surge, the National Stock Exchange's wide-based Nifty finished the day with a gain of 1.36 per cent at 5830. Analysts attributed the market rebound to the emergence of bargain hunting following the steep fall in the Sensex in the last four trading sessions. “Last week's weakness in the market gave an opportunity to buy frontline stocks at attractive valuations. Besides, the concerns over 2G spectrum row and housing loan racket have been almost ...

Union Fertiliser Minister M. K. Alagiri on Monday invited global firms to invest in the revival of closed urea units. “With increased availability of gas, the government is also considering revival of closed urea plants. We welcome participation of the fertilizer industry across the world in this respect,” Mr. Alagiri said at a fertilizer conference here. Five units of Fertilizer Corporation of India (FCIL) and three units of Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation (HFCL) are closed, as of now. The government had constituted an Empowered Committee of Secretaries (ECOS) to evaluate all investment options for revival of the closed units of FCIL/HFCL and to make suitable recommendations for consideration of the government. A consortium of PSUs comprising GAIL India, Coal India and Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers (RCF) have expressed their intent to put up a fertilizer plant on coal-based technology at Talcher (unit of FCIL). Similar proposal has also been received from Steel Authority of Ind...

If you are admitted to a Non-network hospital you need to settle the hospital bills yourself and then submit the hospitalization documents along with the claim form for reimbursement of hospitalization expenses. We would require the following documents for fast processing of your claim. A photocopy of your previous policy details prior to taking your Health Guard policy from Bajaj Allianz (if applicable). A photocopy of your present policy document with Bajaj Allianz. First Prescription from the Doctor. The  Claim Form  duly signed by the claimant or family member. The Hospital Discharge Card The Hospital Bill giving detailed break up of all expense heads mentioned in the bill. E.g. if Rs.1,000/- has been charged towards medicines in the bill, please ensure that the names of the medicines, the unit price and the quantity used are mentioned. Similarly e.g. If Rs.2,000/- has been charged towards Laboratory Investigations, please ensure that the...

If you are admitted to a Non-network hospital you need to settle the hospital bills yourself and then submit the hospitalization documents along with the claim form for reimbursement of hospitalization expenses. We would require the following documents for fast processing of your claim. A photocopy of your previous policy details prior to taking your Health Guard policy from Bajaj Allianz (if applicable). A photocopy of your present policy document with Bajaj Allianz. First Prescription from the Doctor. The  Claim Form  duly signed by the claimant or family member. The Hospital Discharge Card The Hospital Bill giving detailed break up of all expense heads mentioned in the bill. E.g. if Rs.1,000/- has been charged towards medicines in the bill, please ensure that the names of the medicines, the unit price and the quantity used are mentioned. Similarly e.g. If Rs.2,000/- has been charged towards Laboratory Investigations, please ensure that the...

If you are admitted to a Non-network hospital you need to settle the hospital bills yourself and then submit the hospitalization documents along with the claim form for reimbursement of hospitalization expenses. We would require the following documents for fast processing of your claim. A photocopy of your previous policy details prior to taking your Health Guard policy from Bajaj Allianz (if applicable). A photocopy of your present policy document with Bajaj Allianz. First Prescription from the Doctor. The  Claim Form  duly signed by the claimant or family member. The Hospital Discharge Card The Hospital Bill giving detailed break up of all expense heads mentioned in the bill. E.g. if Rs.1,000/- has been charged towards medicines in the bill, please ensure that the names of the medicines, the unit price and the quantity used are mentioned. Similarly e.g. If Rs.2,000/- has been charged towards Laboratory Investigations, please ensure that the...