BJP slams Tharoor for ‘cattle class’ remarks

New Delhi1, - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday slammed Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor terming his twitter remarks about “cattle class” travel as an insult to a large middle class who led an austere lifestyle.

Tharoor travelled economy before austerity measures

NEW DELHI - Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor, who has come under fire for his stay in a luxury hotel, had been travelling economy class much before the austerity measures were announced by the government.

Tharoor’s taunt on austerity drive angers Congress

NEW DELHI - The Congress Wednesday said Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor’s remarks that he was prepared to travel in the “cattle class out of solidarity with all our holy cows” were not acceptable and the party high command may also decide if any disciplinary action is to be taken against him.

Obama’s ‘jackass’ remark about Kanye West was off the record, says CNBC

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama’s ‘jackass’ remark about Kanye West were off the record, claimed John Harwood, CNBC’s chief Washington correspondent.

Tharoor’s taunt on austerity angers Congress

NEW DELHI - The Congress Wednesday said Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor’s remarks that he would travel in “cattle class out of solidarity with all our holy cows” were not acceptable and the party high command may also decide if any disciplinary action is to be taken against him.

NASA concludes tests for prototype Moon rovers

WASHINGTON - NASA has concluded two weeks of technology development tests on two of the agency’s prototype lunar rovers.

Mexican-American astronaut calls for United States to legalize undocumented immigrants

MEXICO CITY — Spaceman Jose Hernandez said Monday the United States needs to legalize its undocumented immigrants — a rare, public stand for a U.S. astronaut on a political, hot-button issue.

Older, grayer AFL-CIO making greater push to pull in younger members

PITTSBURGH — The face of organized labor is getting older and grayer, but the AFL-CIO’s new leaders said Monday they intend to change that trend and spark a resurgence in union membership.

Shutterfly buys mobile photo and video sharing startup Tiny Pictures for undisclosed amount

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Online photo service Shutterfly Inc. said Monday it has acquired Tiny Pictures, a picture and video sharing startup, for an undisclosed amount.

James Bowthorpe to become fastest man to cycle round the globe

LONDON - Less than five-and-a-half months after James Bowthorpe ventured out on his 18,000-mile bike ride through 20 countries, the cabinet-maker from south London is set to become the fastest man to cycle round the globe. He is days away from taking three weeks off a record doubters called “unbreakable”.

Farooq talks windmills, thinks Kashmir (Capital Buzz)

NEW DELHI - You can take Farooq Abdullah out of Kashmir, but you can’t take Kashmir out of him. Even as a central cabinet minister in charge of new and renewable energy - that is bound to be a crucial ministry in some years as the country hunts for alternative energy sources - he is fixated on his home state.

Tweeting helps communicate product information

WASHINGTON - It’s not just individuals and NGOs — companies are tweeting too, and they are letting everyone know by displaying in their ads the logo of an animated blue bird that says “follow me”.

‘Bang, bang’: Coast Guard drill, phony gunfire shake up Washington on 9/11 anniversary

WASHINGTON — A morning of remembrance turned into one of flashbacks, fear and media missteps Friday when a Coast Guard exercise — unfolding near Pentagon ceremonies marking the Sept. 11, 2001, anniversary — was mistaken as an attack. The false reports of gunfire on the river briefly spooked the capital, sending FBI agents to the scene and grounding flights.

British govt apologizes for ‘inhumane’ treatment of gay code-breaker Alan Turing

LONDON — British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has apologized for the “inhumane” treatment of World War II code-breaker Alan Turing.

Teacher voted Cuba’s most popular blogger

HAVANA - The first contest for blogs written in Cuba attracted the participation of 66 bloggers, including dissidents and government journalists, and was ultimately won by school teacher Claudia Cadelo.

Obama accepts South Carolina Republican’s apology for shouting ‘You lie!’ on House floor

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama accepted a South Carolina Republican’s apology for shouting, “You lie!” during his speech to Congress, and House Democratic leaders showed no interest in sanctions against Rep. Joe Wilson.

Biden says Republican congressman’s outburst ‘demeaned the institution’

WASHINGTON — Vice President Joe Biden says a Republican congressman’s outburst during President Barack Obama’s health-care speech Wednesday night “demeaned the institution.”

House Democrats, Republicans denounce GOP Rep. Joe Wilson’s ‘You lie’ outburst at Obama

WASHINGTON — Democrats and Republicans alike are denouncing Rep. Joe Wilson for shouting “You lie” at President Barack Obama during his speech to Congress, an extraordinary breach of decorum for which the South Carolina Republican swiftly apologized.

Disney takes page from Comic-Con; hopes to boost enthusiasm by romancing fans at expo

LOS ANGELES — Taking a page from the wildly popular Comic-Con, Disney is wishing upon a four-day expo this weekend to draw more enthusiasm from its loyal and well-wired fan base.

Looking for a holiday airfare deal? Procrastination might not pay off

NEW YORK — The kids are back in school, and travel is likely the last thing on your mind. But it’s never too early to start scouting the best of those holiday airfare deals — which are now becoming more widespread and plentiful.

South Carolina Republican lawmaker apologizes for shouting ‘You lie!’ during Obama’s speech

WASHINGTON — A Republican lawmaker from South Carolina apologized Wednesday after shouting “You lie” at President Barack Obama as he addressed Congress.

Krishna, Tharoor forced to vacate luxury suites

New Delhi, Sept 9 (IBNS) Foreign minister S M Krishna and his MoS Shashi Tharoor who were staying at 5-star hotels since becoming ministers, as they did not find official accommodation to their satisfaction, were asked to vacate their suites by Pranab Mukherjee.

NH’s Kancamagus Highway: mispronounced and much beloved for 50 years

ALBANY, N.H. — New Hampshire’s famed foliage route, the Kancamagus Highway, is celebrating its 50th birthday, so it’s about time everyone learned how to pronounce it correctly.

Austerity catches up, Krishna, Tharoor move out of luxury hotels (Roundup)

NEW DELHI - Stung by criticism for staying in luxury hotels amid an austerity drive by the government, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and his deputy Shashi Tharoor have moved to modest homes, albeit temporary ones, till their respective official residences are ready.

I am spending my own savings: Tharoor tweets

NEW DELHI - After being asked to leave a five-star hotel, Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor used the social networking tool Twitter to give his reaction, pointing out that he was spending his “own savings”.

Prepared text of President Barack Obama’s speech to school students on Tuesday

The prepared text of President Barack Obama’s back-to-school address scheduled for Tuesdays, as released in advance by the White House:

The Google doodle linked ‘unexplained phenomenon’ cracked

LONDON - The mystery behind the meaning of a Google doodle that featured a UFO, and was linked to the search term ‘unexplained phenomenon’ has been solved.

Mass. lawmakers brace for hearing on bill to temporarily fill Kennedy’s vacant Senate seat

BOSTON — Democratic and Republican lawmakers are gearing up for a contentious public hearing over a bill that would allow Gov. Deval Patrick to name a temporary replacement for the late Sen. Kennedy’s vacant U.S. Senate seat.

Brit chef says Downing Street kitchens are worse than prison

LONDON - Television chef Jamie Oliver has condemned the state of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s kitchen.

Stop tuttutting about my tweeting, says Tharoor (Capital Buzz)

NEW DELHI - It seems Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor’s patience is wearing thin at the constant media attention to his twittering that has apparently drawn the notice of some sections of bureaucracy. In an exasperated tweet sent last week from Kerala, Tharoor tersely pointed out, “I’m astonished at the finger-wagging dislike of transparency amongst some in our democracy.”