NRI's 4-seater plane lands on highway in Madhya Pradesh,India due to bad weather Tuesday Dec 31,2013

A 4-seater private aircraft made an emergency landing on a highway in Madhya Pradesh in rough weather on Dec 31,2013 Tuesday morning, bringing traffic to a halt and startling motorists.

The small aircraft, said to be Piper PA-30, belonging to NRI Sam Verma, was on a regular sortie when it was caught in strong winds and forced to land on a four-lane highway, about 180 km from Bhopal.

Dramatic TV videos showed the aircraft's descent amidst wooded surroundings and electric poles as traffic was brought to a halt for safe landing. The plane, with insignia VT-EUC, landed safely and pulled up yards away from rows of trucks parked on the roadside.

According to local authorities, the pilot had initially sought permission to land near the Sapna dam which was denied for security reasons.

 The pilot, who was on board alone, was unharmed.

Cyclone Christine batters Australia’s west coast Tuesday Dec 31,2013

Ships waiting to be loaded with iron wait at Port Hedland in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The port has now been closed

Tropical cyclone Christine is battering the Pilbara coast, forcing people to take shelter as it brings strong winds, heavy rain and dangerous storm tides.

The Category Three Storm crossed the coast between Whim Creek and Roebourne overnight, with wind gusts of 180km/h near its centre.
The Bureau of Meteorology said at 3am (WST) Christine was 190km southwest of Port Hedland and 70km south southeast of Karratha and moving southwest at 17km/h.
It is expected to take a more southerly track during the early hours of Tuesday.
Residents in the affected areas of the Pilbara have been told to take shelter while the storm moves over.
A red alert is in place for people in or near the coastal areas between De Grey and Mardie and extending inland to Tom Price and Paraburdoo.
This includes Port Hedland, South Hedland, Whim Creek, Roebourne, Point Samson, Wickham, Karratha and Dampier

Abdus Subhan Jamaat leader charged with war crimes in Bangladesh Tuesday Dec 31,2013

Abdus Subhan,a top fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami leader was on Tuesday charged by a special Bangladeshi court with war crimes during the country’s 1971 liberation war against Pakistan.

Abdus Subhan, in his 70s, has been accused of “murder, genocide, loot, abduction, confinement, arson and torture.”

According to charges,Abdus Subhan committed the atrocities at different parts of his northwestern home district in Pabna from April 17 to October 30, 1971.

“The charges are framed,” International Crimes Tribunal chairman Justice ATM Fazle Kabir said, indicting Abdus Subhan of nine counts as he appeared on the dock and set January 28 as the date of hearing.

Abdus Subhan, however, pleaded “not guilty”.

Abdus Subhan was arrested in September last year and his indictment came nearly three weeks after Bangladesh executed fellow party leader Abdul Quader Mollah on identical charges.

Train carrying crude oil derails, explodes in North Dakota,USA Monday Dec 30,2013

A mile-long train carrying crude oil has derailed and exploded, triggering a "giant fireball" after colliding with another train in North Dakota on Monday Dec 30,2013

The accident happened on Monday afternoon in North Dakota near the border with Canada when a train hauling more than 100 freight cars derailed and a second train then crashed into it, causing several explosions that sent black smoke up into the sky

An estimated 10 cars of the 106-car oil train were on fire, andauthorities said they would let them burn out. Train operators uncoupled about 80 cars and moved them away from the blaze

Authorities said the train went off the track less than a mile outside Casselton, North Dakota (2010 population: 2,329) and was then struck by a second train.

The town’s mayor told reporters that there were no casualties in the accident, though multiple blasts could be seen from miles away.

2014 India's Tour of New Zealand Jan 19 - Feb 18,2014

 India is touring New Zealand to play 5-ODI's and 2 Test Matches

The tour of New Zealand will start with the first ODI in Napier, followed by matches in Hamilton (January 22 and January 28), Auckland (January 25) and Wellington (January 31).

Indians will play a two-day warm-up match in Whangharei from February 2, followed by the two-match Test series in Auckland (February 6 to 10) and Wellington (February 14 to 18)

All-rounder Yuvraj Singh was on Tuesday axed from India’s ODI squad owing to his poor performance in South Africa and was replaced by Stuart Binny — son of former India all-rounder Roger Binny.

Another surprise inclusion in the team was Madhya Pradesh seamer Ishwar Pandey, who has been drafted into both the ODI and Test squad

Varun Aaron(24)has made a comeback to the ODI squad replacing Mohit Sharma, who failed to impress in South Africa

The Test team was not altered too much with Ishwar’s inclusion instead of Pragyan Ojha being the only change made to the 17-member squad for the two-match series against the Kiwis starting February 10 in Auckland after a two-day practice match.

Test squad: M.S. Dhoni (capt & wk), M. Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R. Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ishwar Pandey.

ODI squad: M.S. Dhoni (capt & wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Stuart Binny, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ambati Rayudu, Ishwar Pandey, Ishant Sharma, Varun Aaron, Amit Mishra

India's Tour of  New Zealand -Test Match Series So Far

India made their first Test tour of New Zealand in 1967-68 under the captainship of Tiger Pataudi and went on to register a historic 3-1 series win in the 4-Match Test Series

India made their second visit in 1975-76 and this time captains Glenn Turner and Sunil Gavaskar shared the trophy after India managed to square the three-Test series 1-1 with an eight-wicket win in the final Test at Auckland

India made their third visit in 1980-81 and after two consecutive draws in the first two test,NZ won the third and last Test Match by 62 Runs and  won the 3-Match Test Series 1-0

India made their fourth visit in 1989-90 under the Captaincy of Md Azaruddin but lost the 3-Match Test Series 1-0 to NZ under the captaincy of John Wright.This was also Sachin Tendulkar's first Visit to NZ

India made their fifth visit in 1993-94 and played just one test match which ended in a draw

India made their Sixth visit in 1998-99 to play a 3-Match Test Series which they lost 0-1

India made their Seventh visit in 2002-03 under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly to play a 2-Match Test Series which they lost 0-2 to NZ under the captaincy of Stephen Fleming

India made their Eighth visit in 2008-09 to play a 3-Match Test Series which they won 1-0

Colorado become the first U.S. state to legalize recreational marijuana use starting January 1,2014

Colorado will become the first U.S. state to legalize recreational marijuana use starting January 1,2014

The historic move means weed stores across the state will open their doors to anyone over 21 with a valid ID

Colorado marijuana growing facilities and dispensaries prepare to open their doors on Jan. 1, 2014, for recreational marijuana users

In a move as historic as the end of alcohol prohibition eight decades earlier, the drug will be on sale to anyone over 21.

For the past decade, here and in 19 other states, ‘candy stores’ like Medicine Man have legally sold marijuana to those carrying a medical certificate.

But under the new law all that will be required is ID showing age and residence, for anyone living in state to buy 1oz to smoke, chew, eat, drink or drop under tongue with a pipette if they choose.

Those from out of state can buy half that quantity and must consume it before crossing state lines.

Amendment 64, the act legalizing recreational pot, was passed by 55% in November 2012

More Coloradans voted to legalize marijuana than voted for President Obama in November 2012 though Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper did not support it

Elan Nelson of Medicine Man holds a 'beautiful bud'

Elan Nelson of Medicine Man explains how marijuana plants at the facility are watered manually

Lara Herzog, right, and other Medicine Man employees manually trim marijuana plants at the growing facility and dispensary on Dec. 30 in Denver.

Samsung Launch World's Largest 110 Inches Television in South Korea Monday Dec 30,2013

The world's largest television set, which measures 110 from corner to corner and is four times sharper than a high-definition TV,  was put on sale by Samsung on Monday Dec 30,2013

The company launched the monster screen in South Korea, priced at 160million won, or around £100,000.

It achieves its precise picture - which has been compared to looking through a window - through U-HDTV (Ultra-High Definition Television) technology, which packs in four times as many pixels per inch as current high-definition sets
The TV which is 102 inches wide and 70 inches tall, is bigger than a king-sized bed, and will also be sold in China, the Middle East and Europe

Sold out! Flights and buses full as Romanians and Bulgarians head for the UK

Bulgarians and Romanians were  preparing to travel to Britain as restrictions on working are lifted tomorrow Wednesday January 01,2014

When controls imposed in 2005 are lifted tomorrow Wednesday January 01,2014, 29million from the two countries will gain the right to work in Britain.

Almost all flights from Romania to England are full – even though one airline doubled the number to meet demand – with one-way tickets selling for up to £3,000 each.

And all tickets for seats on buses leaving the Bulgarian capital of Sofia until January 9 have been snapped up.
The central bus station in Sofia, Bulgaria where passengers will start travelling to Britain and European destinations

A poster promoting discounted tickets to the UK displayed at the central bus station in Sofia, Bulgaria

At the central bus station in Sofia, a large poster showing Big Ben, a London bus and traditional red phone box advertise the bus routes to a new life here.
The poster reads: ‘Regular routes to London, Germany, Spain, France, Luxembourg and Greece’ and offers a 5 per cent discount for booking  online with agent, Balkan Horn.
All seats on two British Airways flights from Sofia to London Heathrow next Sunday and Monday – each carrying more than 152 passengers – have been sold.

Inspiring Quotes To Start 2014

                                                                                  

2013-14 Barclays Premier League Wednesday Jan 01,2014

 

Swansea Vs Manchester City

Manchester City beats Swansea 3-2

Arsenal Vs Cardiff City

Arsenal beats Cardiff City 2-0

Crystal Palace Vs Norwich City

The match ended in a 1-1 draw

Liverpool Vs Hull City

Liverpool beats Hull City 2-0

Southampton Vs Chelsea

Chelsea beats Southampton 3-0

Stoke City Vs Everton

 The match ended in a 1-1 draw

Sunderland Vs Aston Villa

Aston Villa beats Sunderland 1-0

West Bromwich Albion Vs Newcastle United

West Brom beats Newcatle 1-0

Manchester United Vs Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham beats Manchester United 2-1

Iranian billionaire Babak Zanjani 'arrested' Monday Dec 30,2013

The news of Babak Zanjani's arrest was announced on Monday Dec 30,2013 by prosecutor general Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, who did not provide any other details, the official IRNA news agency reported

It added that Babak Zanjani had been taken to Tehran's notorious Evin Prison.

Babak Zanjani oversees a conglomerate that comprises 65 companies which bring him an annual income of six to seven billion dollars, according to his website.

His business empire came under scrutiny after President Hassan Rouhani took office in August, faced with accusations of not returning billions of dollars to the government.

The arrest came a day after President Hassan Rouhani ordered his administration to take measures to fight "financial corruption... particularly those who have taken advantage of economic sanctions".

The US Treasury put Babak Zanjani on its sanctions blacklist in April after finding he masterminded a network to move oil and money for Iran that involved a Swiss-based company and bank in Malaysia.

The European Union had imposed sanctions on him in December last year

Chaparrastique Volcano in El Salvador Erupts Sunday Dec 29,2013

Thousands of people in eastern El Salvador are leaving their homes after a volcano erupted on Dec 29,2013 Sunday morning. 

Residents in the coffee-producing region said they had heard a powerful explosion before the Chaparrastique volcano began spewing hot ash and smoke into the air.

No one has been hurt, say the authorities. Anyone living in a 3km (2 mile) radius will be evacuated.

Temporary shelters are being set up in the area.

Civil protection authorities say that some 5,000 people live in the area, in San Miguel province.

The eruption began at 10:30 local time (16:30 GMT).

Note
There are more than 20 volcanoes in El Salvador

At 2,129 metres (7,000 ft) above sea level, Chaparrastique is the third highest volcano in El Salvador