Travel briefs

Washington tourism launches ‘Lost Symbol’ Web site for Dan Brown book

After the crash, has the sun set on America’s ‘Sun Belt’?

ORLANDO, Fla. — We first heard the term decades ago: The “Sun Belt” was just starting a run of phenomenal growth — and no wonder. It conjured a sunny state of mind as well as a balmy place on the map.

Uttar Pradesh cops make ‘cosmetic changes’ to mollify Mayawati

LUCKNOW - With the reality of the electoral losses setting in, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has got the whip cracking on government officials, including many ertswhile blue-eyed policemen. On their part, senior police officers are making what many allege are mere cosmetic changes in the force.

Large parts of cyclone-hit Kolkata still without power, water

KOLKATA - For the third day running after Cyclone Aila swept the city with full fury, large parts of the metropolis continued to remain without water and power Wednesday as irate residents put up road blockades and held protests before utility offices.

Latest economic reports offer hope that recession may ease, lift S&P into black for the year

WASHINGTON — Evidence that housing is poised to improve and optimism about the results of banking “stress tests” raised hopes Monday that the recession is easing and helped lift a key stock market measure into the black for the year.

Severe storms cross Southeast, possible tornadoes in Ala., Ga.; 1 Miss. woman killed by tree

ATLANTA — Authorities say severe storms that rumbled across the Southeast killed one person, knocked out power to thousands and caused property damage in at least three states.

White House will probe Air Force One low fly-over, which Obama says won’t happen again

WASHINGTON — The White House plans an inquiry into the low-flying Air Force One photo shoot that panicked New Yorkers, and President Barack Obama said Tuesday it won’t happen again.

Tribeca Film Festival bows amid turbulent times felt off screen and depicted on screen

NEW YORK — The eighth annual Tribeca Film Festival bows amid a turbulent time for movies, which is evident at this year’s festival both on screen and off.

I didn’t want ‘Dev D’ to go ‘No Smoking’ way: Anurag Kashyap

NEW DELHI - On a high after the success of ‘Dev D’, director Anurag Kashyap admitted that he was nervous before the release of the movie as his last film ‘No Smoking’ was panned by critics and audience alike.

AIFF officials want professionals to run Bharati Academy

NEW DELHI - Now that All India Football Federation (AIFF) acting president Praful Patel has said that the work on the proposed Bharati-AIFF academy in Goa will kick-off by this month-end, his colleagues in the federation are keen that it should be run professionally.

New deep-sea denizens found in Australia

SYDNEY - Marine biologists working off Australia’s south coast were astounded when the cameras on their submersible spotted millions of anemones and sea spiders living in a trench 4 kilometres below the surface.