MOSCOW (Reuters) President Vladimir Putin reached back to Soviet dictator Josef Stalin’s era for a plan to improve Russians’ physical fitness on Wednesday, and appeared with film actor Steven Seagal at an event aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles among young people. In a meeting at a martial arts school on Moscow’s outskirts, Putin called for physical education rooted in a Soviet-era system. (agencies)
Did Venezuela’s Chavez nudge Christ to pick South American pope?
CARACAS, Mar 15: Late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez’s influence may have stretched into the afterlife and had a hand in Christ’s decision to opt for a Latin American Pope, acting President Nicolas Maduro said on Wednesday. “We know that our commander ascended to the heights and is face-to-face with Christ,” Maduro said at a Caracas book fair. “Something influenced the choice of a South American pope, someone new arrived at Christ’s side and said to him: ‘Well, it seems to us South America’s time has come.'” (agencies)
Italian bishops thank God for wrong pope
VATICAN CITY, Mar 15: Italian bishops were so convinced that one of their own would become pope that they sent a congratulatory message to the media thanking God for the election of a prelate from Milan. The trouble was, the new pope had already been named as Argentinian cardinal Jorge Bergoglio. (agencies)
“Hand of God” brings Argentina pope: Maradona
ROME, Mar 15: The same “hand of God” brought the papacy to Argentina as helped it to the 1986 World Cup, says Diego Maradona, the soccer legend whose famously illicit, handled goal against England still excites passions at home and abroad. In a letter to Rome’s Il Messaggero newspaper on Wednesday from his base in Dubai, Maradona, 52, described himself as a devout Roman Catholic and said he rejoiced at the election of his compatriot Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio as Pope Francis. (agencies)
Pope returns to Rome hotel – to pay bill
VATICAN CITY, Mar 15: Pope Francis returned on Thursday to the Church-run residence where he was staying before becoming pontiff, and insisted on paying the bill, despite now effectively being in charge of the business, the Vatican said. The morning after his election, Francis asked a driver to take him to the clerics’ hotel, the Domus Internationalis Paulus VI, where he had stayed during the run-up to this week’s secret electoral conclave. (agencies)
Germany detains man trying to sell back stolen art
BERLIN, Mar 15: A man attempting to sell paintings by Picasso, Monet and other masters back to the Dutch gallery from where they were stolen has been arrested in Germany, German media said. Thieves made off with seven paintings worth more than 50 million euros from Rotterdam’s Kunsthal museum last October in a brazen and meticulously planned operation. (agencies)
Shark brought to Los Angeles for Kmart commercial dies
LOS ANGELES, Mar 15: A white tip shark shipped from New York and placed into an outdoor pool for a Kmart commercial in Los Angeles died after showing signs of distress, an official from the animal welfare group that monitored the production said yesterday. The American Humane Association (AHA), which certifies film and TV productions with animals, had a representative at the scene of the shoot on March 6 and it says everything possible was done to ensure the 5-foot (1.5 meter) shark’s safety. (agencies)
Beach becomes latest clash over technology titans’ property
SAN FRANCISCO, Mar 15: A prominent Silicon Valley venture capitalist has stepped into the middle of a long-standing controversy over a California tradition: open access to the state’s famed beaches. In a lawsuit filed this week, the Surfrider Foundation, a coastal protection group, alleges that the owner of a beachfront property south of San Francisco has violated the law by closing an access road that has long been used by local surfers and fisherman to reach a spit of sand called Martin’s Beach. (agencies)
7 students of Vaishno College selected in Fortsin Software Company
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 15: Seven students of Vaishno College of Engineering were selected in the Fortsin Software Company, New Delhi.
The students were selected during campus placement drive conducted by the Fortsin Software Company, New Delhi in the college premises.
During the placement drive, students of Computer Science and Electronics and Communication appeared in the aptitude test, in which 31 students were shortlisted.
After that, the shortlisted students went through the technical and HR round of interviews, which were conducted by the representatives of company including senior HR Shivani Tyagi.
Later, out of 31 students, seven were selected and offer letters were presented to them by the company officials.
All the company officials appreciated the college management, faculty and students’ hardwork.
College Directors Varun Gupta and Rahul Pathania said that they are committed and concerned about the students’ future.
They also added that the placement cell has been formed with the aim to achieve 100 per cent placement of the students.
They also informed that the college is getting very good response from the corporate world and many companies have booked their slots for the placement of students in the coming days.
At the end, Principal AK Khajuria presented vote of thanks.
UCO Bank organizes CSA meet
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 15: UCO Bank organized its Central Statutory Auditors (CSA) meet here today, which was attended by Dalip Kaul, Central Statutory Auditor along with other auditors.
During the meet, Zonal Manager, BB Rattanpal briefed the press about the policies of the Bank and also threw light on various decisions taken for the growth of the Bank’s business in the State.
He said that UCO Bank is having 2564 branches all over the country with the total business of Rs 291000 crore. Describing the Bank’s features, he said Bank has maximum rural branches, lead bank responsibility in 34 districts of the country and SLBC responsibility in two states.
Having its branch network in all states and Union territories and presence in Singapore, Hongkong, China and Malasiya, the Bank aims to have 3000 branches and 3000 ATMS by March 2014, he added.
After being nationalised in 1969, the Bank is taking care of all the sections of society and is also proactive partner in financial inclusion in the country, Rattanpal said.
He informed that in J&K, UCO Bank is having 15 branches with a total business of Rs 555 crore and it is further planning to expand branch and ATM network by another 15 to 20 branches in the State in the coming future.
Mr Bhanot, DGM Circle office Chandigarh, Mr Joshi DGM HO and Dalip Kaul also spoke on this occasion.