Reno (Nevada, USA), April 19:

Hindu Lord Ganesha becoming favorite of museums in America

Lord Ganesha appears to be becoming the favorite of museums in America and the West.
 
Many prestigious museums already own sculptures and other artifacts of Lord Ganesha. Internationally renowned Portland Art Museum recently acquired an 11th century Lord Ganesha sculpture for around US$69,000.

Jumbo tales: first Malayalam book on elephants

THRISSUR - One of Asia’s foremost elephant experts Jacob Cheeran has completed his fourth book on elephants, the first in Malayalam on the subject, which he says highlights ‘lesser known things about a better known animal’.

Empty streets, churches, stadiums, bars: Mexico City locks itself in as swine flu spreads

MEXICO CITY — The cardinal said Mass in a shuttered cathedral. Soccer teams played to empty stadiums. A televised variety show filled its seats with cardboard cutouts. Mexico’s overcrowded capital locked itself indoors Sunday, terrified by a new strain of swine flu that was spreading around the world.

Colombian drug lord sentenced in New York to more than 31 years in prison after apologizing

NEW YORK — One of Colombia’s once most feared drug lords was sentenced Wednesday to more than 31 years in prison, after telling the judge he only sold drugs to help his people and apologizing to Americans for harming so many of them with cocaine.

Origin of sound depicted creatively

NEW DELHI - Noise. That is the first thing that strikes us when we, urban Indians, wake up in the morning. Hardly any of us is blessed to be woken up to the sounds of birds chirping or waves lashing against the shore, or winds crashing against hilltops. More often than not, we wake up to alarms ringing or to dogs barking, vendors shrieking, cars reversing, servants shuffling, kids complaining, pressure cookers whistling. Jarring sounds that bring a frown to the face.

PM greets nation on Mahavir Jayanti

NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday greeted the nation on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, saying the monk’s message of peace and non-violence had become even more relevant in today’s world.

‘House of the Dead: Overkill’ named most profane in video games’ history

MELBOURNE - A computer game called ‘House of the Dead: Overkill’ has made a Guinness World Record for being the most profane in the history of video games.esigned for the family-friendly Ninetndo Wii console, the game features 189 uses of the F-word.

Website offers UK citizens to choose candidates for elections

LONDON - A political group has offered UK citizens a chance to choose candidates online for the upcoming national and European elections.

Mathura Priests celebrate Holi by walking through fireball

MATHURA/ NEW DELHI - Priests at Prahlad Kund in Phalen village in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura District celebrated Holi on Wednesday by walking through a fireball.

Preity charmed by New Zealand’s PM

MUMBAI - Its Preity Zinta who usually charms people wherever she goes, but this time around, the Bollywood actress was absolutely impressed by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key when they met in Wellington and talked about cricket and India.

Rushdie slams ‘Slumdog Millionaire’

WASHINGTON - India-born ‘Satanic Verses’ author Salman Rushdie is not impressed by the triumph of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ at the 81st Academy Awards and says

With fasts and prayers, Delhi celebrates Shivratri

NEW DELHI - Shiva devotees started the day early Monday with a ritual bath and prayers to celebrate Shivratri. Unmarried women fasted on the occasion while praying for a good husband - just like Shiva himself.

UPA poses threat to country’s ‘vital’ interests: Advani (Roundup)

NAGPUR - The continuation of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government posed a ‘threat to the vital interests of the country’, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s senior leader L.K. Advani said Sunday and demanded a high-level judicial inquiry in the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack.

Campaign to turn Bodh Gaya into vegetarian zone

PATNA - Lord Buddha preached non-violence towards all living beings and in accordance with the teachings of the founder of Buddhism a campaign is under way to turn Bodh Gaya, the land where the Buddha attained enlightenment, into a vegetarian zone.