Will young adults face ‘rate shock’ because of the health-care law?

Many young, healthy Americans could soon see a jump in their health insurance costs, and insurance companies are saying: It’s not our fault. The nation’s insurers are engaged in an all-out, last-ditch effort to shield themselves from blame for what they predict will be rate increases on policies they must unveil this spring to comply with President Obama’s health-care law. Insurers...

Read More..

EU states want 'fair tax share' from big business

MOSCOW: The finance ministers of Britain, France and Germany on Saturday launched a new drive to force big business to pay its fair share of tax and halt the schemes of top firms to keep payments to a minimum.Britain's George Osborne, France's Pierre Moscovici and Germany's Wolfgang Schaeuble said it was time for internationally-coordinated action to clamp down on the practice of shifting...

Read More..

Centre pays no heed to state leaders: Karunanidhi

CHENNAI: DMK president M Karunanidhi on Saturday charged the central government of not being bothered by statements from political leaders in the states on issues like the attack on Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan forces or fuel price hikes. Karunanidhi, whose party is a major constituent of the United Progressive Alliance ( UPA) government at the centre, said: "Every time fishermen from Tamil...

Read More..

Why the Dog Show Winner Looks Like a Monkey

Standing less than a foot tall and easily cradled in one of trainer Ernesto Lara's arms, Banana Joe made big news for a small dog when he became the first affenpinscher to win the Westminster Kennel Club dog show on Tuesday.His short stature and flattened face might not make Banana Joe look like a typical winner: The name "affenpinscher" is German for "monkey terrier," and its mug is definitely...

Read More..

Postmaster takes case for five-day mail delivery to skeptical senators

Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe took his controversial plan for five-day mail delivery before a congressional hearing Wednesday, where he told senators that the Postal Service “needs your help.” Donahoe’s refrain was familiar. ●The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is losing $25 million a day.●Last year, the Postal Service lost $15.9 billion.●It defaulted on $11.1 billion...

Read More..

Meteor strike in Russia hurts 250, sows panic

MOSCOW: A plunging meteor exploded with a blinding flash above central Russia on Friday, sowing panic as the hurtling space debris set off a shockwave that smashed windows and left over 250 people injured.Morning traffic ground to a sudden halt in the Urals city of Chelyabinsk as the falling meteor partially burned up in the lower atmosphere above the city and lit up the morning sky, television...

Read More..

National capital gears up for Jashn-e-Khusrau

NEW DELHI: It's that time of the year when the capital gears up to the many cultural and classical music concerts. Beginning Feb 15 is the Jashn-e-Khusrau music festival that'll spread over a month to conclude on March 27. Organised by the Agha Khan Trust for Culture, the multi-venue festival will feature concerts, exhibitions, films, seminars and heritage walks celebrating the life and works of...

Read More..

Why We Walk … and Run … And Walk Again to Get Where We're Going

You have to get to a bus stop to catch the once-an-hour express ... or to a restaurant to meet a friend ... or to a doctor's office. You've got maybe a half a mile to cover and you're worried you'll be late. You run, then you stop and walk, then run some more.But wait. Wouldn't it be better to run the whole way?Not necessarily.A new study by an assistant professor of mechanical engineering...

Read More..

Nightmare Ends: Passengers Leave Disabled Ship

After five days without power in the Gulf of Mexico, the Carnival Triumph cruise ship carrying more than 4,000 people arrived in Mobile, Ala., to greet a cheering crowd of friends and family members waiting to embrace their loved ones.Passengers began to disembark the damaged ship around 10:15 p.m. CT Thursday in Mobile, Ala. The last passenger disembarked the ship at 1 a.m. local...

Read More..

Postmaster takes case for five-day mail delivery to skeptical senators

Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe took his controversial plan for five-day mail delivery before a congressional hearing Wednesday, where he told senators that the Postal Service “needs your help.” Donahoe’s refrain was familiar. ●The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is losing $25 million a day.●Last year, the Postal Service lost $15.9 billion.●It defaulted on $11.1 billion...

Read More..

Third Japanese dies after Guam tourist attack

HAGATNA: The death toll from a frenzied attack on Japanese tourists in the Pacific nation of Guam rose to three on Thursday when a man mowed down by the killer's car succumbed to his injuries, officials said.The attack happened late on Tuesday when a local man drove his car up a pavement near a resort, injuring six, then went on a stabbing rampage after crashing into a convenience store,...

Read More..

Times campaign in support of #onebillionrising

NEW DELHI: People from all walks of life are coming together today to pledge their commitment to put an end to violence against women. A series of cultural events have been planned across the country as part of the global campaign which is being called #onebillionrising.The campaign was started by playwright and activist Eve Ensler (known for her play The Vagina Monologues) against all forms of "sexual...

Read More..

Are Honeybees Losing Their Way?

A single honeybee visits hundreds, sometimes thousands, of flowers a day in search of nectar and pollen. Then it must find its way back to the hive, navigating distances up to five miles (eight kilometers), and perform a "waggle dance" to tell the other bees where the flowers are.A new study shows that long-term exposure to a combination of certain pesticides might impair the bee's ability...

Read More..

Dorner Not IDed, But Manhunt Considered Over

Though they have not yet identified burned remains found at the scene of Tuesday's fiery, armed standoff, San Bernardino, Calif., officials consider the manhunt over for Christopher Dorner, the fugitive ex-cop accused of going on a killing spree."The events that occurred yesterday in the Big Bear area brought to close an extensive manhunt," San Bernardino County Sheriff John...

Read More..

Obama urges a move away from narrow focus on politics of austerity

Just about every argument in Washington since the 2010 midterm elections, which returned control of the House to Republicans, has centered on reducing the federal deficit. On Tuesday night, President Obama leaned into his second term by declaring that a single-minded focus on deficit reduction would jeopardize the nation’s future. And he sounded an urgent call to rebuild. Reelected by...

Read More..

16 gunmen killed in Thai military base attack: army

NARATHIWAT, Thailand: In one of the most deadly attacks in Thailand's long-running insurgency, scores of heavily-armed gunmen stormed a southern army base on Wednesday, leaving 16 militants dead, authorities said.In the unusually brazen early-morning assault, 100 militants, dressed in army fatigues and armed with AK47 and M16 assault rifles, attacked the unit in Narathiwat province, unit...

Read More..

Raman to lead BJP to a hat-trick in Chhattigarh, says Rajnath Singh

RAIPUR: Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh gave Chief minister Raman Singh a pat on the back for introducing the unique Food Security Act and other welfare schemes saying that he would lead the party to score a hat-trick in the upcoming assembly elections. Talking to newsmen here on his arrival here to attend a meeting of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), he said Chhattisgarh has...

Read More..

Charred Human Remains Found in Burned Cabin

Investigators have located charred human remains in the burned out cabin where they believe suspected cop killer and ex-LAPD officer Christopher Dorner was holed up as the structure burned to the ground, police said.The human remains were found within the debris of the burned cabin and identification will be attempted through forensic means, the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner...

Read More..

Impact of State of Union speeches isn’t very lasting

When President Obama delivers his fourth State of the Union speech Tuesday night, he is guaranteed an audience of millions of viewers, the rapt of attention of Beltway reporters and issues advocates, and for at least an hour, the undivided attention of Congress. What isn’t guaranteed is any lasting impact. Rarely have State of the Union addresses moved public opinion, and rarely have...

Read More..

Catholic Church in S'pore surprised by Pope Benedict XVI's sudden resignation

SINGAPORE: The Catholic Church in Singapore is reeling from the news of Pope Benedict XVI's sudden resignation. The 85-year-old pontiff announced on Monday that he will step down on February 28, and cited age as the main factor for his decision.Pope Benedict XVI is the first pontiff to resign in centuries, and Catholics in Singapore are still trying to come to terms with this break in...

Read More..

Joint Parliamentary Committee questions CBI director on 2G prosecutor's removal

NEW DELHI: CBI director Ranjit Sinha was on Tuesday quizzed by Opposition members about the removal of the prosecutor in the 2G case during a meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee examining the scam.Sinha is learnt to have told the Committee, chaired by PC Chacko, that the veracity of the purported taped conversations between CBI prosecutor AK Singh and Unitech Managing Director Sanjay...

Read More..

Kumbh Mela: Pictures From the Hindu Holy Festival

Holy BathPhotograph by Roberto Schmidt, AFP/Getty ImagesThe Hindu festival known as Kumbh Mela, often referred to as the world’s largest gathering of humanity, peaked on Sunday at...

Read More..

North Korea Says it Has Conducted a Nuclear Test

North Korea says it has successfully tested a miniaturized nuclear device Tuesday, according to state media.A large tremor measured at magnitude 4.9 was detected in North Korea and governments in the region scrambled to determine whether it was a nuclear test that the North Korean regime has vowed to carry out despite international protests.Official state media said the test...

Read More..

Being first lady’s guest at speech can yield positive and sometimes unexpected results

As President Obama delivers his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, the first lady’s guests will be on their best behavior. White House staffers will have coached those sitting in the gallery with Michelle Obama that at any moment the cameras might pan from the president’s podium to where they sit in the balcony. So they will watch their posture, stifle yawns and skip the chewing...

Read More..

New pilot scheme to fund youth projects which promote family bonding

SINGAPORE: The National Family Council has launched a pilot scheme to encourage youths to start projects that promote family values and bonding,The scheme, called Project Superglue, will provide successful applicants a one-time funding of up to S$10,000.Some of these projects will be showcased in June 2013 as part of the council's National Family Celebrations. One group which received...

Read More..

Allahabad stampede: UP minister Azam Khan quits as chief of Mahakhumbh organizing committee

NEW DEHI: Semnior SP leader Azam Khan, who is in charge of the Kumbh Mela Management Committee, resigned on Monday taking responsibility for the stampede that led to 36 deaths. The Uttar Pradesh government has blamed the railways for the tragedy. "The UP government's responsibility was restricted to the mela venue only," Azam Khan said. The death toll in the stampede at Allahabad railway station...

Read More..

Year of the Snake: The Serpent Behind the Horoscope

On February 10, people all around the world will ring in the Lunar New Year with paper lanterns and firecrackers. At the heart of it all sits the snake, a slithery reptile feared for its sharp fangs and revered for its undeniable charm. (Watch videos of some of the world's deadliest snakes.)Those born in the Year of the Snake are said to be intelligent and quick thinking, but they can...

Read More..